The Mad Wife

by Meagan Church

This was unexpected. Mad Wife by Meagan Church is a novel I approached with real optimism; having spent time as a natural childbirth coach and instructor, I deeply understand why a book like this needs to exist, and I wanted, almost urgently, to like it. Church’s intention to interrogate how women’s pain, rage, and autonomy are dismissed, particularly in medical and marital contexts, is both necessary and timely. However, for me, the execution undermined that goal: the constant pitch of hysteria overwhelmed the underlying critique rather than sharpening it. Instead of feeling illuminated or provoked, I often felt bludgeoned, as though nuance had been sacrificed for volume. I admired the aim and respected the anger fueling the story, but the relentless intensity ultimately counteracted the very point the novel was trying to make.