Trad Wife

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.

Author: Saratoga Schaefer
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 02/10/2026
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.80w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9798892424714


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 01/01/2026 pg. 46

About the Author
Saratoga Schaefer (they/them) is the USA Today Bestselling author of Serial Killer Support Group, Trad Wife, The Last Time We Drowned, and A Thousand Monstrous Forms. Their cunningly dark debut Serial Killer Support Group was a "Best Pick of the Month" by Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Saratoga's second novel Trad Wife was an instant USA Today Bestseller and Indie Press Bestseller, a Library Reads and Aardvark Book Club pick for February 2026, as well as a best horror of the month by Variety and Reactor. Trad Wife was also featured in Book Riot, The Seattle Times, Goodreads, and Publisher's Weekly. Saratoga's books have been in People Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour. They have published poetry and essays in online publications, and their writing has appeared in Writer's Digest, CrimeReads, and more. They have a certificate in editing from the Poynter Institute (in partnership with ACES) and has a background in marketing, PR, film, and wellness. Originally from Brooklyn, Saratoga now lives upstate with several needy animals and a haunted clown table.