The Mad Wife by Meagan Church is historical fiction set in the 1950s about a housewife named Lulu who has just learned she is pregnant with her second child. The first half of the book nicely sets the scene of what it was like to be a suburban wife at that time: the expectations for women as far as motherly and wifely duties; the conformity within neighborhoods and the microscopic scrutiny from those around you; and the subservience of women to all men, not just their husbands. Church includes a lot of period details that provide a good glimpse into Lulu’s life and routines The second half of the book takes a darker turn, though, as it becomes clear that Lulu’s mental health is at risk. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll leave it at that. I enjoyed The Mad Wife and appreciated the author’s note at the end about the research that compelled her to write the book. If you like historical fiction with a thriller-y edge to it, you might want to pick this one up. PS I am so glad I am not a housewife in the 50s. UGH.