Title: The Mad Wife
By: Meagan Church
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads:
From bestselling author Meagan Church comes a haunting exploration of identity, motherhood, and the suffocating grip of societal expectations that will leave you questioning the lives we build―and the lies we live.
They called it hysteria. She called it survival.
Lulu Mayfield has spent the last five 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 constant 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. But is Lulu truly losing her mind? Or is she on the verge of discovering a reality too terrifying to accept?
In the vein of The Bell Jar and The Hours, The Mad Wife weaves domestic drama with psychological suspense, so poignant and immersive, you won't want to put it down.
Review:
Atmospheric and haunting, The Mad Wife paints a vivid portrait of a woman trapped by circumstance and perception. Meagan Church’s writing is both lyrical and unsettling, pulling you into a story that lingers with gothic tension and emotional weight. The characters are layered, and the themes of identity, freedom, and societal judgment are woven with care. While the pacing drags in places, the overall effect is powerful and memorable. A chilling yet beautiful read.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
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