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ashhoff 's review for:
The Mad Wife
by Meagan Church
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly, this book may be a contender for the best book I’ve read this year and it’s not even officially out yet. Although it took a completely unexpected and, in my own opinion, slightly disappointing turn toward the end, it does a fantastic job of encapsulating the story of so many women (to be completely fair, the turn is only disappointing because it’s not where I was personally hoping it was going, not because it was bad — because by all counts, it was fantastic).
This story does a great job at showcasing the inner turmoil, anger, and utter gaslighting nature women have had to face throughout all of history, but especially and particularly during the 1950s. By the halfway point of the book, I felt the need to scream, not because of the book itself, but because I felt immersed in Lulu’s world and needed *her* to scream.
The writing, even for an arc, is also stunning. The metaphors are poignant and nearly every chapter ends in a moment of reflection, acting as a perfect opportunity to mentally soak it all in before moving on.
Without spoiling anything, the twist was not something I saw coming, which is rare for me. So even if it wasn’t what I personally wanted to happen, it was beautiful and even had me tearing up.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the arc! This is one I’ll remember for a while.
This story does a great job at showcasing the inner turmoil, anger, and utter gaslighting nature women have had to face throughout all of history, but especially and particularly during the 1950s. By the halfway point of the book, I felt the need to scream, not because of the book itself, but because I felt immersed in Lulu’s world and needed *her* to scream.
The writing, even for an arc, is also stunning. The metaphors are poignant and nearly every chapter ends in a moment of reflection, acting as a perfect opportunity to mentally soak it all in before moving on.
Without spoiling anything, the twist was not something I saw coming, which is rare for me. So even if it wasn’t what I personally wanted to happen, it was beautiful and even had me tearing up.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the arc! This is one I’ll remember for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma
Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicide, Pregnancy