Today, Tuesday, September 30, marks the official publication date of The Mad Wife—a spellbinding new novel from bestselling author Meagan Church that promises to linger in the minds of readers long after the final page. ELYSIAN is delighted to celebrate this extraordinary release, which blends the quiet tension of domestic life with the chilling undercurrents of psychological suspense.
From the very first chapter, The Mad Wife grips readers with a haunting exploration of identity, motherhood, and the suffocating weight of societal expectations. Set against the pristine backdrop of 1950s suburbia, the novel shines a light on the cracks beneath the polished veneer of the “perfect housewife” ideal. Church poses urgent, timeless questions: What happens when the roles we are forced into conflict with the truths we carry inside? And what is the cost of survival when appearances matter more than authenticity?
At the center of the story is Lulu Mayfield, a woman who has spent five years perfecting the art of domestic grace. She keeps her husband content, her home immaculate, and her gelatin salads the talk of the neighborhood. But beneath the surface, Lulu is haunted by grief and drained by the weight of endless expectations. Following the birth of her second child, her carefully constructed life begins to fracture.
When Bitsy, a seemingly picture-perfect neighbor, moves in next door, Lulu becomes captivated by her flawless façade. Yet as she peers deeper into Bitsy’s life, Lulu discovers unsettling truths that mirror and magnify her own hidden struggles. As suspicions grow and whispers of hysteria swirl, Lulu must confront whether she is unraveling—or awakening to a terrifying reality that has long been silenced.
In the tradition of The Bell Jar and The Hours, The Mad Wife is a literary triumph that fuses domestic drama with psychological intensity. Church masterfully captures the fragility of a woman’s role in mid-century America, a time when societal expectations left little room for individuality or dissent. The result is a narrative that is at once unsettling and deeply resonant—a story that compels us to reflect on how far we’ve come, and how much further we have yet to go.
Meagan Church, Author
Meagan Church’s work is distinguished by her commitment to amplifying the overlooked and often silenced voices of women from the past. After earning her English degree with a focus on creative writing at Indiana University, she pursued a successful career as a storyteller for brands, blogs, and organizations. But it is in her fiction where her gift truly shines—bringing neglected histories and hidden struggles vividly to life. A Midwesterner by birth, she now resides in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a lively assortment of pets.
With The Mad Wife, Church continues her mission to give voice to women whose stories challenge us, move us, and demand to be heard. Released today, this powerful novel is destined to become a modern classic, inviting readers to not only witness Lulu Mayfield’s journey, but to question the hidden costs of conformity in their own lives. Available in paperback, hardback or Ebook – get your copy today by clicking here.