American Housewife

by Helen Ellis
American Housewife cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Comedy/Humor
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  • ID: 11145
  • Added: 2026-02-21
  • Updated: 2026-02-21
  • ISBN: 9781471153815
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2016-01-14
  • Reviews: 3

American Housewife introduces a collection of women who navigate the mundane and the macabre with equal finesse. From redecorating to committing crimes, these stories are a darkly humorous take on suburban life. Each tale is a fine chocolate, laced with arsenic, offering a wickedly funny and painfully truthful glimpse into the lives of American housewives. The book is praised for its surreal and weirdly accurate portrayal of American life, with each story serving as a delightful yet sinister surprise. /n/n The women in these stories are not your typical housewives. They channel Beyoncé while doing chores, drown their sorrows in Chanel No. 5, and host book clubs where wine trumps literature. They are quietly capable of kidnapping, breaking and entering, and murder. The book is a collection of stories that anyone who has ever wondered what really goes on behind the façades of the housewives of America will find intriguing and darkly hilarious.

Reviews
Hopewell's Library of Life · 2021-01-28
excellent 4.50

The book is loved for its sharp critique of suburban life and the expectations placed on women. The author's happy marriage is also highlighted as a positive aspect.

This collection of stories is a scathing critique of suburban life and the expectations placed on women. The author's sharp writing and keen eye for detail make the stories both hilarious and horrifying. The book is also a celebration of the author's happy marriage, which is a refreshing change from the usual depictions of marriage in literature. The stories are not for the faint of heart, but they are sure to leave a lasting impression. The book is a great read for anyone who enjoys a good laugh and a sharp critique of modern society.

Quick quotes

    I loved it.

    Most of all, in all of Helen's writing, I love that she is happily married to a successful man who seems to adore her in return.

    There is a scathingness to the writing here, and my book club friends wondered just who was being satirized.

Goodreads · 2016-09-28
good 3.00

The book is entertaining and witty, with a mischievous and arch tone. The stories are mostly about wicked women and their antics.

This book is a collection of short stories that are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking. The author has a knack for creating characters that are both hilarious and horrifying, and the stories are filled with dark humor and sharp social commentary. The writing is witty and arch, and the stories are mostly about women who are not afraid to bend or break the rules. The book is a great read for anyone who enjoys a good laugh and a sharp critique of modern society. The stories are not for the faint of heart, but they are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Quick quotes

    Don't let my three-star review deter you from reading this book.

    It's plenty entertaining - witty, mischievous, and arch.

    The stories mostly involve wicked women and their antics.

The Guardian · 2016-02-13
brilliant 4.00

The book is delightful and biting, with characters that are both laughable and relatable. It offers a sharp critique of suburban life and the expectations placed on women.

This collection of stories is a witty and incisive look at the lives of American housewives. The characters are often exaggerated, but there's a kernel of truth in each one that makes them feel real. The humor is dark and sharp, and it's clear that the author has a keen eye for the absurdities of suburban life. The stories are also surprisingly moving, with moments of warmth and heart that balance out the biting satire. Overall, it's a delightful and thought-provoking read that will leave you laughing and thinking long after you've turned the last page.

Quick quotes

    American Housewife is delightful and biting, just as the book jacket promises.

    You'll laugh or roll your eyes at some of the women, but you may recognise yourself in others.

    There is a scathingness to the writing here, and my book club friends wondered just who was being satirized.

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