Trad Wife
A Novel
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!
A "traditional wife" influencer allows a demonic creature to impregnate her in this unnerving horror novel, perfect for fans of Nightbitch and Mary, from the author of Serial Killer Support Group.
Every #tradwife needs a baby. She’ll get one at any cost.
When Camille Deming isn’t cooking, cleaning, or homesteading in her picture-perfect country farmhouse, she’s posting about her tradwife lifestyle for her online followers. She takes inspiration from other tradwives on social media, aspiring to be like them, but Camille’s missing a key component: a baby. And contrary to what she posts online, things with her husband, Graham, have been strained. Pressured by her eager followers, Camille fears that without a baby, her relationship will suffer and her social media will never grow out of its infancy.
When Camille discovers a mysterious, decrepit well in the wheatfield behind her house, she makes a wish for a baby. Afterward, she has unsettling experiences that she convinces herself are angelic in nature, and when she’s visited one night by a strange creature, her wish comes true.
Camille’s pregnancy announcement gets more engagement than anything she’s ever posted—so what if Graham’s reaction is lukewarm? Camille’s life is finally falling into place. Never mind that her pregnancy is developing freakishly rapidly and she’s suddenly craving raw meat. Being a traditional wife is worth it.
Rosemary’s Baby for the digital age, this disturbing horror novel is one you’ll want to devour in just one bite.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Schaefer (Serial Killer Support Group) offers a gleefully gruesome take on the life of an influencer in this fun if predictable horror outing. Camille Deming is an aspiring social media star working to join the ranks of other hugely popular names in the trad wife sphere. Her repeated attempts to get pregnant, which would surely boost her following, have been met with disappointment—until she makes a wish into a mysterious well at the edge of her property. Soon thereafter, she has a dream visitation from a biblically accurate angel and finds herself finally pregnant. When the baby is born, however, there are some undeniable signs that she is not quite human. With Camille's husband largely absent and disengaged, she struggles to balance the life she performs online with her child's needs, especially after the infant's appetite proves bizarre and carnivorous. It's satisfying to watch as Camille's visceral love for her demonic daughter guides her to asserting herself and rejecting the oppressive traps she didn't realize she was snared in. The "be careful what you wish for" conceit feels familiar, and Schaefer doesn't go as deep as she could into unpacking the trad wife phenomenon. Still, this strikes a good balance of gore and tenderness, and is helmed by a heroine who's easy to root for.
