This book owes a debt to the ones that came before it, notably The Bell Jar and The Yellow Wallpaper. Admittedly, those books ran so that this one could….crawl, but I understand what the author was trying to do here. All in all, this was a good, solid effort. I enjoyed the neighborhood setting as well as the bored/overworked/under-appreciated suburban housewife trope. What I wish for is that this story would’ve been more fleshed out- more time with Esther and that whole situation would’ve been nice, even after the “twist” reveal. But, listen- women are everything! Men expect so much from us and are so quick to seek solutions when we don’t perform “our duties,” instead of just letting us feel what we need to feel and being understanding. A woman who doesn’t shower or put on her makeup for a few days?!? Gasp! Send her straight to the asylum! Also, there wasn’t really any need to try so hard to make this husband “one of the good ones.” He still jumped to conclusions, didn’t give his wife time or space to recover from a massive trauma, worked too much, and expected too much of this poor woman! It’s ok for a man to be a bad guy- I’ve encountered many of them in my 41 years as a woman. All in all, despite the previous shit talking, I did enjoy this book and found it to be a quick and well written novel. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC.

4 stars. The plot twist got me real good. It’s the 1950’s and Lulu is a housewife. Expected to keep her husband happy, keep the household from falling apart, have a perfect meal every night, and take care of her child it’s a lot but she makes do. After giving birth to her second child, things begin to unravel and Lulu begins to spiral. When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in and Lulu meets her, she doesn’t buy what Bitsy is showing her and begins to fixate on her life while her own is unraveling before her very eyes. The more she finds out about Bitsy, the more she questions her own life. Is she actually losing her mind or is she close to discovering the truth? This was written so well and was just such a good read. As always, thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the earc.

This one is going to sit with me for a long time. I felt so many different emotions while reading. I didn’t anticipate the twist at all and am just absolutely heartbroken for all that Lulu went through. This story was beautifully written and covered a lot of heavy topics. It was so, so good – absolutely loved it! I am so excited to read more from Meagan Church.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Equal parts heartbreaking and suspenseful, THE MAD WIFE is superbly written. The demands on housewives in the 1950’s was isolating and pressure-filled, and they always felt the need to be perfect.

Lulu Mayfield had what most people would call an idyllic life. She had a husband, a nice home, one child, and was known as the Queen of jello molds. When she became pregnant with her second child, she felt as though her life was complete, but in actuality this is when she is spiraling out of control. She becomes obsessed with a new neighbor, she stops cooking nice meals and forgets to clean her house. She is no longer the perfect housewife.

This book is immersive and atmospheric. You can feel the pressure that Lulu was under and I was cheering for her every step of the way. This book is written with pure emotion. It is one of my favorite books this year and I will be recommending it to everyone.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmarks for the early copy of this 5-star book.

"The Mad Wife" is one of those books you don't often come across, but when you do it lingers with you long after the final page. The author, Meagan Church, expertly evocates the setting for life in 1950's suburbia. The story focuses on Lulu Mayfield and the journey of her mental decline, which is flippantly diagnosed as housewife malaise. I felt that the story was carefully crafted in the first part, laying the foundation for each of the main characters. And while the second half was not as lengthy, I think it's brevity really strengthened the story. It was a conclusion I didn't anticipate, but I did think both parts dovetailed nicely. The author's notes at the end of the book were also very insightful and did provide a bit of background on why the medical industry has not always been well versed on why certain afflictions affect women differently than men. Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the Advanced Reader Copy

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 arc review! — A quietly searing, feminist triumph I devoured in one flight.

I read this entire novel on a plane and found myself completely consumed—by Lulu, by the tension, by the weight of everything left unsaid. Raised on a farm and rooted in resilience, Lulu steps into the world with promise and purpose. She earns the scholarship, marries the ideal man, and becomes the pristine 1950s housewife suburbia expects her to be.

But behind the manicured lawn and polished smile, something begins to splinter.

A new couple moves in across the street, and a subtle but powerful shift begins. Grief seeps in. Expectations suffocate. And when Lulu finally speaks her truth, the world around her refuses to listen.

This is a haunting, beautifully written novel about the isolation of womanhood, the burden of performative perfection, and the courage it takes to break the silence. It’s feminist in the most essential way—holding space for pain that often goes unspoken, while also challenging the roles women are expected to play.

A quiet powerhouse of a book. Important. Devastating. Unforgettable.

This was a painfully accurate depiction of how our medical system failed women in the sixties, often dismissing their very valid concerns as hysteria. This book touches on mental health, personal autonomy, and the far reaching effects of grief. Would make a wonderful book club read.

It took some time for me to get engaged with this story. It seemed too melodramatic, with main character repeating her nostalgia and dissatisfactions. I felt it could have been improved by more concise and clear editing. I was more engaged as the mystery developed and there was more outside action. Great surprise ending. Would provoke some interesting book club conversations!

I really enjoyed this book. The little twist, I did not see coming. Would love to read more from this author.

They called it hysteria. She called it survival.
Lulu Mayfield has spent the last 5 years molding herself into the perfect 1950s housewife. Despite the tragic memories that haunt her and the weight of exhausting expectations, she keeps her husband happy, her household running, and her gelatin salads the talk of the neighborhood. But after she gives birth to her second child, Lulu's carefully crafted life begins to unravel. When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in, Lulu suspects that something darker lurks behind the woman's smile. As her fixation on Bitsy deepens, Lulu is drawn into a web of unsettling truths that threaten to expose the cracks in her own life. The more she uncovers about Bitsy, the more she questions everything she thought she knew—and soon, others begin questioning her sanity.

I really liked this! I loved the writing and I was hooked from the start. It was quite a dark book that spoke on mental health & postpartum motherhood. I thought the twist would be predictable and that I figured it out.. I did NOT see that one coming toward the end!! (4 ⭐️)

✨ Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts ✨

Available November 4th, 2025

Unsettling, powerful, and exquisitely crafted!

This novel unsettled me in the best possible way. Set in the 1950s, The Mad Wife chronicles the unraveling of Lulu, a housewife on the precipice of collapse, who finds herself compelled to question everything—her role, her reality, and ultimately, her sanity. The arrival of a mysterious new neighbor serves as the catalyst for long-buried secrets to surface, dismantling the fragile illusion of a perfect life.

Part psychological suspense, part feminist reckoning, this narrative evokes echoes of The Bell Jar and The Stepford Wives. Meagan Church’s prose is haunting, unflinchingly raw, and strikingly relevant. I found it impossible to set this book aside—and I suspect I will not soon forget Lulu’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

What a powerful commentary on women's rights, privacy, medical needs, and place in the world. There is a major twist that made me re-read it, which was a great touch. Strong plot line, solid subplots, engaging characters. I wanted to hate Gary even more than I did. Infuriating yet real. Highly recommend.

I have mixed feelings about The Mad Wife. For the most part, I enjoyed the story of Lulu, a housewife from the 50's. I thought that learning about the 50's and the roles and responsibilities of the typical housewife was fascinating. The author did a great job of portraying that time period and making it really come to life. I also found it so interesting learning about lobotomies and how they were common place back then. The pace of the book, however, was a bit slow for me and I thought that more was going to happen in the book. But the story was a slower read than the typical books that I read and the characters were really detailed - but ultimately not much happened.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book!

A historical domestic thriller set in the 1950s with twists and turns. This book grips you from the first page! Make sure to read the triggers in the author's note.

This is the first book I read from this author, I really liked her style of writing. I love the fact the novel was set in the 1950,s, and talked about how the characters dressed, ate and acted. The book did touch on some very serious mental health issues, though I think it shows how far we have come today. I definitely want to read more from this author. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unsettling, powerful, and beautifully written

This book wrecked me in the best way. Set in the 1950s, The Mad Wife follows Lulu, a housewife on the edge, as she begins to question everything—her role, her reality, and her sanity. When a mysterious new neighbor arrives, secrets unravel and so does the illusion of the perfect life.

Part psychological suspense, part feminist awakening, this story feels like The Bell Jar meets The Stepford Wives. Meagan Church’s writing is haunting, raw, and so timely. I couldn’t stop turning the pages—and I won’t stop thinking about Lulu anytime soon.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half slowed down for me. The author draws on some very uncomfortable truths in the story of how it was in the 1950's, which made me have to pause my reading and take little breaks due to the heaviness. Dark but entertaining, I am glad I read it!

This was my first read of a book written by Meagan Church and it didn’t disappoint. I adore her writing style and the plot of this story was just brilliant! It tells the story of a 1950s housewife and her struggles of motherhood and mental health. The warning page at the beginning was a lovely touch.
I feel a lot of women could connect with the main character whether it be the difficulties of motherhood or medical professionals not taking women’s health seriously. I feel this is a must read for everyone.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark , Netgalley & Meagan Church for the arc in exchange for an honest review

For some reason, I really enjoy reading about house wife life in the 50's. While that lifestyle isn't for me, this book was.

The main character Lulu is trying her best, really, to cater to her family and keep up with her cleaning schedule and card games in her picture perfect neighborhood. Having grown up on a farm it doesn't come naturally to her but luckily there is a Good Housekeeping list she can reference for reminders and neighbors to help keep her in line. During her second pregnancy however things start to unravel and her new neighbors across the street seem a little odd.

I wasn't too sure of what to expect going into this book, but the journey through of Lulu's mental health struggles kept my interest and really pulled at my sympathy and ignited my outrage towards the end. It's hard to believe that things like this could actually happen and not all that long ago. As a reader it's easy to wonder if you too could end up in her shoes.

The Mad Wife serves as a powerful reminder of how society has failed women throughout history. The influence of writers like Sylvia Plath is clearly felt throughout the novel. It tackles difficult subjects including postpartum depression, medical professionals dismissing women's legitimate health concerns as "hysteria," and the ways healthcare has been used to silence women. The pacing is somewhat uneven. The story starts strong, slows down in the middle sections, but gains significant momentum in the final quarter. Once Lulu's true reality becomes apparent, the book becomes genuinely gripping. The prose ranges from beautiful and moving passages to some over-written flowery prose that was just a bit too much. The conclusion and author's note are deeply impactful and had me in tears.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. While this territory has been explored in literature before, The Mad Wife brings relevance to familiar themes and deserves attention!