The Mad Wife: A Novel

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.

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Published Sep 30, 2025

352 pages

Average rating: 7.53

68 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Mel Carletta
Dec 20, 2025
8/10 stars
I really enjoyed this book, even though so much of it broke my heart. It’s a powerful and unsettling story that shines a harsh light on what women were expected to endure and how mental health was misunderstood and mistreated in that era. Reading it made me feel such deep sympathy for this woman and the impossible reality she was forced into.

It’s also a reminder of just how strong women are — and how absurd it is that we were ever treated as anything less. This story stays with you long after you finish it, and it made me grateful for how far we've come while still recognizing how important it is to keep pushing forward.

Highly recommend for anyone who appreciates historical fiction that challenges you, moves you, and makes you think. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC
Erinlester
Dec 14, 2025
7/10 stars
I found The Mad Wife interesting and thoughtfully written. It offers a revealing look at the expectations placed on women and how limiting — and often unsettling — those roles could be. Reading it now, the way women are treated is uncomfortable at times, but it also adds depth and meaning to the story.
Larry Burns
Oct 27, 2025
8/10 stars
A well written and informative book.

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