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.

war time romance and women empowerment?

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

Interesting story with a historical view.

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

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.

A true American story

This isn’t the typical book that I read, but I loved it! It’s a really great (and juicy) story of finding yourself and stardom as they get out of the war and into the 50’s. It also describes the struggle of being a housewife, or a working woman in the new times. As well as the switch from radio stars, into television stars. The woman who read this aloud also has a great voice that fits in quite well with the book!

Great story! Tied up in a nice little bow.

Ended up more predictable than I hoped, but fun story! I was hoping for a twist at the end, but it was a fun listen!

Enjoyed it

I would never have survived as 1950’s housewife. Loved the story, narrator did a phenomenal job bringing this story to life.

Apparently no historical research

There are multiple instances in this story that do not match what would have actually happened in the 1950’s.

excellent book

this was a great book. it kept my interest from front back. I will keep my eye out on more from this Author.