A wickedly funny and darkly imaginative collection of short stories about the absurd, subversive, and sinister side of domestic life.
 
In American Housewife, Helen Ellis takes readers inside the polished, picture-perfect world of modern womanhood—and gleefully exposes the chaos simmering beneath the surface. From a writer who enters a reality TV competition for authors, to a Southern hostess who exacts revenge with style, Ellis’s heroines are sharp, witty, and not to be underestimated. Each story is a masterclass in humor, irony, and quiet rebellion.
 
Balancing satire and sincerity, American Housewife celebrates and skewers the rituals, expectations, and contradictions of contemporary womanhood. Ellis’s narrators are housewives, social climbers, book club members, and beauty queens—women who smile through their frustration, conceal their fury under lipstick, and occasionally snap spectacularly.
 
Through her sharp humor and keen observations, Ellis crafts stories that are equal parts feminist, funny, and frighteningly relatable. From domestic perfection to total chaos, American Housewife explores the ways women navigate identity, power, and performance in a world that insists on tidy appearances.
 
Playful yet profound, this collection will resonate with anyone who’s ever smiled through clenched teeth—or used a casserole dish as a weapon of charm and defiance.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A hilarious, biting satire of modern domesticity and femininity.
Smart, sassy writing with emotional and psychological depth.
Perfect for fans of dark humor and feminist short fiction.
Stories range from absurd comedy to unsettling truth.
Helen Ellis’s voice is bold, clever, and unforgettable.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Bad Behavior.
Readers who love sharp, funny takes on everyday life.
Book clubs looking for short, discussion-ready stories.
Anyone who enjoys domestic satire with a dark twist.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed American Housewife, you might also like:
You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld — witty insights into modern womanhood.
Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill — edgy, unforgettable short fiction.
Florida by Lauren Groff — rich, sharp stories about women and place.