Well Behaved Wives

A Novel

By: Amy Sue Nathan

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert, Gail Shalan

Perfect wives, imperfect lives, and upending the rules of behavior in 1960s America.

Law school graduate and newlywed Ruth Appelbaum is acclimating to life and marriage in a posh Philadelphia neighborhood. She’ll do almost anything to endear herself to her mother-in-law, who’s already signed up Ruth for etiquette lessons conducted by the impeccably accessorized tutor Lillian Diamond. But Ruth brings something fresh to the small circle of housewives—sharp wit, honesty, and an independent streak that won’t be compromised.

Right away Ruth develops a friendship with the shy Carrie Blum. When Carrie divulges a dark and disturbing secret lurking beneath her seemingly perfect life, Ruth invites Lillian and the Diamond Girls of the etiquette school to finally question the status quo.

Together they form an unbreakable bond and stretch well beyond their comfort zones. For once, they’ll challenge what others expect from them, discover what they expect from themselves, and do whatever it takes to protect one of their own—fine manners be damned.

©2022 Amy Nathan Gropper (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“This book is an insightful and entertaining glimpse into the many struggles of housewives. Recommended for anyone wanting to know some of the true costs of ‘picturesque’ behavior in suburbia.”—Historical Novels Review

“Fans of Amy Sue Nathan’s previous four novels will be delighted with Well Behaved Wives. Nathan introduces us to a group of women who come together in the name of friendship and who each find the courage to stand in their own truth.”—Renee Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces and Park Avenue Summer

Good but long

This a great book and an extremely important topic. Just a little long. It was nice to have two narrators. It could have been shorter.

Excellent

Excellent writing. SPOILER ALERT: tells an accurate account of what generations of women have experienced. Leaving this book grateful for how far women’s right to a safe life our society has come and how far we still need to go.

Easy listening

The story line kept me interested. The narrator was pretty good. It was a light but engaging story. Entertaining enough for me to want to continue listening to the end.

Amazing

This was an awesome book. Perfect for anyone interested in marriage, families, & social justice. I love the insights into women’s minds in that era & the double-binds both women & men encounter navigating relationships.

Loved it

It’s a great way to learn where we come from as women so we can someday be, truly, men an women, equals