American Wife
by Curtis Sittenfeld
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld holds a well received rating of 3.72 out of 5, based on 38.5K reader ratings. First published in 2008. The book spans 555 pages.
About American Wife
On what might become one of the most significant days in her husband's presidency, Alice Blackwell considers the strange and unlikely path that has led her to the White House–-and the repercussions of a life lived, as she puts it, “almost in opposition to itself.”A kind, bookish only child born in the 1940s, Alice learned the virtues of politeness early on from her stolid parents and small Wisconsin hometown. But a tragic accident when she was seventeen shattered her identity and made her understand the fragility of life and the tenuousness of luck. So more than a decade later, when she meets boisterous, charismatic Charlie Blackwell, she hardly gives him a second look: She is serious and thoughtful, and he would rather crack a joke than offer a real insight; he is the wealthy son of a bastion family of the Republican party, and she is a school librarian and registered Democrat. Comfortable in her quiet and unassuming life, she feels inured to his charms. And then, much to her surprise, Alice falls for Charlie.As Alice learns to make her way amid the clannish energy and smug confidence of the Blackwell family, navigating the strange rituals of their country club and summer estate, she remains uneasy with her newfound good fortune. And when Charlie eventually becomes President, Alice is thrust into a position she did not seek–one of power and influence, privilege and responsibility. As Charlie’s tumultuous and controversial second term in the White House wears on, Alice must face contradictions years in the making: How can she both love and fundamentally disagree with her husband? How complicit has she been in the trajectory of her own life? What should she do when her private beliefs run against her public persona?In Alice Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld has created her most dynamic and complex heroine yet. American Wife is a gorgeously written novel that weaves class, wealth, race, and the exigencies of fate into a brilliant tapestry–-a novel in which the unexpected becomes inevitable, and the pleasures and pain of intimacy and love are laid bare.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Curtis Sittenfeld |
| Published | 2008 |
| Pages | 555 |
| Genres | Fiction, Historical Fiction, Chick-lit, Fiction |
| Average Rating | 3.72 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 38,537 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is American Wife?
American Wife is categorized as Fiction, Historical Fiction, Chick-lit, Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Historical Fiction.
Is American Wife worth reading?
Based on 38.5K reader ratings, American Wife has an average score of 3.72 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is American Wife?
American Wife has 555 pages. It is a longer read suited for dedicated readers.
Who wrote American Wife?
American Wife was written by Curtis Sittenfeld. It was first published in 2008.
What is the ISBN for American Wife?
The ISBN-13 for American Wife is 9781400064760.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
