Author Meagan Church unpacks the hidden lives of women in her chilling novel, The Mad Wife, as we explore the history of hysteria in women’s health diagnoses.
If you loved Meagan Church’s historical fiction, you’ll be captivated by the bold turn she takes in The Mad Wife, her third novel. Rooted in the untold medical stories of women’s lives, this book lulls readers into the familiar rhythms of mid-century domesticity, before flipping the script with a shocking plot twist.
In our revealing conversation, we explore:
- Building a Vivid 1950s World – From S&H stamps to molded salads, how Meagan nailed the texture of the era, weaving ordinary domestic details into a setting that feels both authentic and unsettling.
- From History to Suspense – Why Meagan pivoted from a traditional historical fiction lens in her earlier novels to the creeping tension of domestic suspense, and how she made the genre shift feel authentic to her writing process. We discuss the bravery required for this project and how she felt haunted, both in real life and on the page, as she told Luella’s story.
- The Medical History of “Hysteria” – What her chilling research revealed about diagnoses like hysteria, prescriptions like Miltown, and procedures like lobotomy and ECT that shaped women’s lives in disturbing ways.
As a bonus for listeners, don’t miss this week’s companion list: Books With Good Plot Twists That Will Make Your Jaw Drop. Patrons will also receive today’s printable checklist to take on their next visit to the library.
Unmasking Hysteria in The Mad Wife with Author Meagan Church
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Mentioned in this episode:
UPDATED BOOK LIST: Books With Good Plot Twists
Join the October Book Club on 10/24 at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)
The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church
The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church
The Mad Wife by Meagan Church
The Best Book Club Books to Spark Conversation
Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan
On Writing by Stephen King
Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild
Donut Dollies of Vietnam
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities
Megan’s Jello Instagram
How to Make Glow in the Dark JELL-O
Miltown
Mother’s Little Helper
Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Terah Shelton Harris
Episode Two: How Meagan Church Became a Beloved Bestseller
Bestselling author Meagan Church returns to discuss our March Book Club selection, The Mad Wife, and its whirlwind success.
This month, we welcome Meagan Church back to Book Gang to celebrate our March Reader’s Choice selection, The Mad Wife—the most-voted book by our community. Meagan first joined us earlier in her writing journey to discuss the inspiration behind this story. Now she returns following the novel’s breakout success, including appearances on the bestseller lists and recognition as a Barnes & Noble Fiction Pick.
In this follow-up conversation, we talk about how Life has changed since The Mad Wife reached readers around the country—from touring and meeting fans to seeing Lulu’s story resonate with audiences. We also take a lighter turn with a fun round of writer habits, reading life confessions, and quickfire questions designed to help listeners get to know Meagan beyond the page.
In this spoiler-free conversation with my friend, we explore:
- Celebrating a bestselling moment: Meagan reflects on The Mad Wife becoming a Barnes & Noble Fiction Pick and landing on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.
- Life after publication: From book tours to meeting readers face-to-face, Meagan shares how the response to Lulu’s story has shaped her perspective on storytelling and future projects.
- Getting to know the writer: In a fun closing segment, Meagan talks about her writing rituals, reading Life, favorite bookstores, and the habits that keep her creative process moving.
BONUS BOOK LIST: Don’t miss this week’s NEW companion list with 24 Medical Drama Books to Get Your Heart Racing, available to reserve now for your best weekend ever. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!
Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:
Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!
Mentioned in this episode:
Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week’s episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you’d like to keep the conversation going, you’re invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on March 26th at 8 PM ET, where we’ll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions WITH MEAGAN. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%.
Buy Me a Coffee – I’m grateful for your support this year!
NEW BOOK LIST: 24 Medical Drama Books to Get Your Heart Racing
Join the March Book Club 3/26 at 8 PM ET (The Mad Wife)
2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)
Unmasking Hysteria in The Mad Wife Podcast
Meagan’s spoiler episode
The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church
The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church
The Mad Wife by Meagan Church
Cleary Bookstore
The Mad Wife Spotify Playlist
Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Orbital by Samatha Harvey
The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
Hit the Road with Annie Hartnett Podcast
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
How Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her Readers (Podcast)
Olivia Muenter – Such a Bad Influence Podcast
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Parnassus Books
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
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The Mad Wife Book Summary
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.
Meet Meagan Church
Meagan Church is the Southern indie bestselling author of The Girls We Sent Away, The Last Carolina Girl , and The Mad Wife, this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. She writes to tell grounded stories that explore the complexity of human nature. Her historical fiction chronicles the plight and fight of unheard voices of the past. After receiving a B.A. in English from Indiana University, Meagan built a career as a storyteller and freelance writer for brands, blogs, and organizations. She is an adjunct professor for Drexel University’s MFA in Creative Writing program, helping authors tell their own stories through editing, coaching, and workshops. A Midwesterner by birth, she now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a plethora of pets.