This book was different than I was expecting.

Maggie & Teddy are in love, and they get married. But, unbeknownst to them, they're both keeping their past a secret from the other.

While I enjoyed the story, It wasn't great, and I'm not sure if I'd recommend it or not.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this! The writing was magnificent, the characters and world immersive. I did not love the ending but it did not take away from the quality of the book!

American Housewife is a lovely book about the struggles of relationships, and the responsibility of 'having it all'.

Maggie Lane lost her first love, Jake, during WW2 and feared that she might never love again. Until she meets Teddy and realises that it is possible to find happiness again.

Maggie and Teddy both work in radio.

Maggie has her own slot, sponsored by the Deluxe Baking Co and Teddy is more behind the scenes as a producer. He had his fair share of the spotlight during the War as a journalist and correspondent, and no longer craves the attention partly due to some of the atrocities he witnessed on the front.

When Maggie is approached by her Radio show sponsors and offered her own Television show she is dumbfounded. But when she meets with the sponsor and they assume she is married, she doesn't correct them. She can't bake, isn't cut out for television and isn't a married woman.

Why could they possibly want her to be on TV?

When she and Teddy talk about it though, he is encouraging, and they decide to marry anyway, no matter her decision.

She and Teddy get married quickly. He has been asking her for months, and something has always held her back, though she could never pinpoint exactly what. Things begin to move quickly for Maggie once she agrees to host the show, and she is catapulted to fame almost overnight, whilst Teddy can only watch from the side-lines.

Can their new marriage survive Maggie's newly acquired fame, and will Teddy be content to be known as 'Maggie Lane's husband'? Well, of course you will have to read the novel yourself to find out, and I highly recommend that you do!

American Housewife is an interesting journey back in time to an era when a woman's work was never done.... at home. Cooking and cleaning, having children, making drinks before the husband arrives home sums up what a "working woman" was expected to do in the 1950s. It didn't matter if that is what she really aspired to do. The story which is witnessed through the eyes of a progressive 1950's woman who notices the restlessness of some housewives which begins as an itch to being a husband's trophy wife/cook/cleaner instead wanting to be treated as their husband's equal.

Maggie Lane is a radio personality who has just been offered the job of hosting a TV show. The Maggie Lane Baking Show is her ultimate dream job. The problem is she's not married and in this particular era you had to be married to discuss cooking topics to other women, but also know a thing or two about baking, both of which she knew nothing about.

But Maggie, who never really wanted to get married but is dating a very wealthy war hero who had been asking her to marry him for months, decides with his support to quickly marry and hesitatingly accepts the job.

But life as a married couple is quite the adjustment. With Maggie's long hours and sudden popularity, her new husband's horrible dreams at night and unwillingness to talk to her about them, they discover the beginnings of cracks in their already not so honest relationship. Her stardom begins to interfere with the marriage as well. You see, no matter what, it's still a man's world and Maggie is not a man.

As their problems grow deeper and although they try to hold each other accountable in their marriage and as Maggie who herself holds secrets from her past afraid to open up about, secrets we learn in flashbacks, is terrified that if she tells him he will divorce her.

Part of Maggie's job is answering letters from viewers, mostly housewives. She does it with honesty as opposed to expectation. Through the letters she begins to understand the advantages she has and the rules some of these married women must follow and the burden they carry. She even sees it in her best friend who is desperately in love but fears she is not good enough for her boyfriend.

But when Maggie's past becomes her present it could not only impact her career but more importantly her marriage which is already hanging by a thread. Being a 1950's housewife should have been easy but for Maggie who always wanted more and will not stop until she's succeeded in her dreams desperately must decide what to sacrifice as she sees her husband slipping away.

American Housewife is a wonderful impactful story about a woman's past meeting her present a woman emerging as a celebrity in an era when most women were not even allowed to voice their own opinion. But, as women began to find their voice one word at a time, it certainly could be said it was the start of the feminist movement as housewives began to dip their toes into their backyard pools while becoming their own person.

Thank you #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing #AnitaAbriel #AmericanHousewife for the advanced copy.

Thank you for the ARC! Sadly unable to read as this was downloaded onto a device I no longer have access to and the book has since been archived.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was in a genre that I don't normally read very much, but I wanted to branch out. I enjoyed this book a lot and it made me want to read more books in this genre!

really good mystery. Kept me on my toes and loved all of the characters and what they went through on this journey. Loved that they a happy ending happened.

🍰Book Review: American Housewife by Anita Abriel 📺
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Set against the glitz and pressure of 1950s New York, American Housewife follows Maggie Lane—a newlywed turned surprise TV baking star—trying to embody the “perfect housewife” on-screen, all while keeping her real life from crumbling behind the scenes.

This book was a quick, enjoyable escape with just the right sprinkle of drama and vintage charm. I loved:
👗 The era’s fashion—so glam, so fun.
📺 A female lead making waves in early television? Yes, please! Especially in an era where that was anything but typical.

💌 The “letters from viewers” segment gave the story a fun, heartfelt layer—Maggie’s responses were smart, kind, and thoughtful.

🗽 The NYC atmosphere was perfection—bustling, dreamy, and full of 1950s flair.

Where it missed the mark: the characters could’ve had a bit more depth. I didn’t fully feel them, but the story kept me turning pages anyway.
Not emotionally intense, but definitely entertaining. A stylish snapshot of the pressure to “have it all” long before that phrase existed.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this one early. American Housewife is out now—so if you're in the mood for a light, charming read with 1950s flair and a touch of New York City glitz and glamour, this one’s for you!

American Housewife by Anita Abriel is a story about Maggie Lane and her rise to fame on her daytime Televison show The Maggie Lane Baking Show.

From humble beginnings Maggie lived on her family farm in Pennsylvania with no ability to cook let alone see her future on a cooking show. She moves to New York because her parents could not afford to pay for university or secretarial school. Her first job was serving coffee at CBS radio and then she became the voice to commercials on air after her predecessor was sick one day.

Two months later she meets Jake Pullman form Ohio in a New York bookstore in Feb 1944. Jake is a Navy and was on leave from his duties in Pearl Harbour. They share their love for book. He loves Agatha Christie Murder Mysteries, and she was about to buy Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Instead, later she chooses Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Jake asks her to lunch at the Woolworth Sandwich counter for a club sandwich, and this begins a love affair between them, but does it lead to marriage? Jake returns to Pearl Harbour after his time off, writes to Maggie and their love affair grows through correspondence.

Shortly after Jake returns to War, Maggie is on her way to work and is involved in an accident. Charles a playwright is her Saviour he rescues her from the accident and take care of her in his apartment near Central Park. He later offers her a live in job as his secretary and for a while Maggie is content with the arrangement at least until Jake returns. She is still in love with Jake and wants to marry him. There are a few twists and turns that happen next. Will Jake return to Maggie, will she marry her first love and sweetheart or will her life change direction?

Some time passed and Maggie is now with Ted a returned War Radio Correspondent and Journalist. He is deeply in love with Maggie often asking her to marry him. She is not ready to settle as yet but will one day as she loves him too. They love eating out and going to museums together. Spending their nights together and working during the day. They both love living in New York and she aspires for them to own an apartment on 5th Avenue Central Park one day. Will she marry Ted eventually? She wants to however they are both holding onto secrets from their pasts they have not told each other about. Will this be a deal breaker for their relationship? Time will tell........

Maggie then meets Tommy Fisher from Deluxe Baking Co and creator of The Maggie Lane Baking Show to be televised during the day for housewives across America. Tommy wants Maggie to host the show. Only problem is Maggie doesn't know how to cook, and Tommy needs her to be married before she can host the show. Especially if the show is for housewives who spend their time doing household duties and looking after children. She also can't have a sketchy past and is required to sign a waiver denying any past issues. Will she take the job will it be successful?

Maggie wants to take up the new role it will mean more money and a quicker way to buy the apartment of her dreams with Ted. She consults with Ted about the new job, including all the conditions, especially that she need to be married to take on the role. He immediately suggests they marry, and he is so excited for her to take the job.

Maggie now is happily a newlywed and the host of her new show. She spends her day filming each episode and replying to letters from her ever-growing fans. With each day and episode, the show is becoming more successful by the minute. During this time, she meets Dolly a fellow Televison Star and her boyfriend Ian who become Maggie and Ted's friends. They go out on double dates together. Ian and Ted play squash together; Dinners and outings are done together. They are a double team and are separable.

Maggie is becoming famous as a new Television Celebrity. She and Ted are invited to many Gala nights and celebrations. Dolly and Ian are always supportive of Maggie and Ted's achievements. Ted is really happy for Maggie; however, he is starting to be showing a different side to himself that Maggie has never seen before. Is she able to help Ted? Is there marriage going to be a success just like the show has become?
Can Dolly help Maggie or is there someone else she can turn too?

I appreciate NetGalley and the publishers Union Publishing for this advanced copy of Anita's new book. I have enjoyed Anita's previous books, and this one doesn't disappoint. I highly recommend reading it. It has different style and is unique in its own way. Something that makes you realize as you read this book about just how women have become stronger in their careers and home life. Women can do it all if they choose too, especially if they have a caring, loving and supportive partner and colleagues alongside her achievements. 5 stars.

I enjoyed reading this book. One of my favourite time periods to read is women in the 1950s to 1970s. I am amazed at the strength of women to live then and push to make changes for those of us that followed.

Even though there’s not a lot of emotional depth to this story, it was a great read that was fairly quick that had me engaged from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this story.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

New York City, 1950. Radio personality Maggie Lane 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. With every dream on the line, Maggie wonders if she can still have it all.

In the recent past I've read a few novels about strong career-minded women in the 50s. Some books were better than others but the stories always make me glad I wasn't a working woman in those days. At the beginning of this one I was worried it was going to turn into another Lessons in Chemistry which I didn't enjoy but it took a different path and was a mostly pleasant and entertaining story. The story follows Maggie and her troubled marriage in the present and her troubled past, told through the use of flashbacks. It's much more than a piece of fluff and I really cared about what happened to Maggie and her friends. I'd rate this at 3.5 stars rounded up because it's well written in spite of some repetition. Love the cute cover too.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing, via Netgalley, for providing access to this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: April 1, 2025

Thankyou for the ARC. Netgallery, I absolutely loved this book! Page turned for me, I finished it within 2 days .

Maggie Lane has always wanted to leave rural Pennsylvania and live in NYC. She gets the opportunity for a radio show which evolves into hosting a baking show on television even though she has never baked a cookie in her life. Part of her show is to provide advice to women to keep their marriages happy and their husband's stomachs full of yummy desserts but being a housewife is something Maggie does not want to do and then she marries Teddy who seems supportive of her career but they each have secrets they want to keep.

Maggie's past was written in flashbacks and it all felt kind of flat for me. Teddy seemed like a nice guy and I did like the character. Maggie's best friend was Dolly. She drove me nuts with all her insecurities and doing everything she could to hide the fact that she was Jewish. There was a lot of focus on whether or not Teddy was smoking and Charles comes off as smarmy. I didn't feel any emotion and the whole thing just felt flat. The ending came together nicely with the help of Eleanor Roosevelt.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Lake Union for providing me with a digital copy.

Well written but it didn't keep my attention as I couldn't connect to the story
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A baking show, love story and New York setting, what’s not to love! I loved Maggie Lane and everything about this book! The narrator is fabulous! Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing

Reading American Housewife by Anita Abriel was like stepping into the glamorous yet turbulent world of 1950s television. The story follows Maggie Lane, a radio personality who lands her dream job as the TV host of The Maggie Lane Baking Show. On the surface, Maggie embodies the ideal American housewife, charming audiences with her poise and picture-perfect persona. But behind the scenes, her life is far from perfect.

Maggie’s newfound fame comes with a price. She must adhere to a strict morality clause, maintain her flawless image, and navigate the pressures of a demanding industry. As cracks begin to show in her marriage, an old lover reappears, and secrets from her past threaten to unravel everything she’s worked for, Maggie is forced to confront the question: Can she truly have it all?

What I loved most about this book was how it explored the tension between public image and private reality. Maggie’s struggles felt authentic, and her journey of self-discovery was both poignant and empowering. The vivid descriptions of 1950s New York and the behind-the-scenes look at early television added depth to the narrative, making it a richly immersive read.

The story was engaging and the characters well-drawn, Abriel captured the complexities of fame, marriage, and identity to make a compelling and thought-provoking novel.

Historical fiction with a touch of glamour.

I really enjoyed this one! Deff gave me Lessons in Chemistry vibes. Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for this E-Arc

American Housewife is a nostalgic and charming novel that readers Anita Abriel's readers will devour. Maggie Lane has clawed her way to modest success in NYC; from the farm in Pennsylvania where she was raised to her own apartment in the city, Maggie has displayed grit and determination to succeed. The host of her own radio show, Maggie is living paycheck to paycheck and loving being an independent lady in the city. When one of the show's sponsors taps her for a TV show featuring baking and answering questions from housewives Maggie is excited-and terrified. She can't bake, she's not a housewife and she doesn't do laundry-all of the things women were generally responsible for in the 1950s. Her supportive boyfriend Teddy encourages her to take it-hopeful she will finally agree to marry him. Readers will go on a journey with Maggie as she embarks on unexpected stardom but at what cost? She's kept secrets from Teddy that would violate her morality clause if found out-and when the past comes back to haunt her, Maggie is faced with a difficult choice. With warmth and Abriel's stellar depiction of life in NYC in the 1950s and the challenges women faced, American Housewife as delightful as it is charming. Maggie is well developed and at times it was easy to forget how young she was as women in their early 20s had very different expectations placed upon them than women do today. The fashion and trends of the era are featured throughout and are a great backdrop to the novel. 4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was decent as far as historical fiction books good. It kept me interested enough to finish the book but was not very memorable to be honest. I enjoy the housewife trope but I do think there have been others that have done it better. I would read from this author again.