American Housewife

A Novel

De: Anita Abriel

Narrado por: Jennifer Jill Araya

For a beloved television star in 1950s America, image and reality clash in an insightful novel about fame, marriage, and secrets by the international bestselling author of The Light After the War.

New York City, 1950. Dreams come true for radio personality Maggie Lane when she gets her big break in the exciting new world of television. The Maggie Lane Baking Show is on the air.

All she has to do is act like the ideal housewife, create sumptuous desserts, charm the show’s sponsors, and sign a morality clause to ensure that her girl-next-door image remains untarnished. Although newlywed Maggie has never baked so much as a cookie, and knows even less about maintaining a home, keeping up appearances is a necessary ingredient for success. Easy. She has a supportive husband and a legion of fans who can’t wait to know her better and better, week after week.

That’s what she’s afraid of. Off camera, cracks are showing in her marriage, an old lover makes an unexpected return, and there are secrets from the past that could ruin everything Maggie has worked for. With every dream on the line, Maggie wonders if she can still have it all when the truth about what it really means to be an American housewife comes to light.

©2025 by Anita Hughes. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Interesting story with a historical view.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The societal expectations of women at the time were honestly portrayed.

war time romance and women empowerment?

can women have it all? a great question that is answered time and time again in this book.

So New York

To have lived in the city during this time would have been wonderful. This story brings NYC to life and tells a story of how one can have different kinds of love in a lifetime. Great ending!

Loved hearing details about the era.

This book was "ok". To me it drug on a bit too long. The story was good and a bit predictable. I am glad I read it, but it is not book club worthy, in my opinion.

OK Listen

The narrator made this an enjoyable listen, but the book felt too long. There was a lot of repetition.