The Rebel Housewife Rules: To Heck with Domestic Bliss

For all their cheeky rebellion, fun-loving housewives Caldwell and Todd succeed in imparting lots of practical advice in this slim little book. In six sections (""And Baby Makes Three,""""Men, Sex & Other Fantasies,"" etc.), the saucy pair present a slew of housewife myths (""you can turn your frog into a prince""), shatter them with bold reality checks (""once a frog, always a frog""), declare rules (""buyer beware!"") and then tack on a laundry list of quirky Rebel Rx to keep domestic life sane and happy. Seasoned wives and mothers probably won't encounter anything new in the book--it focuses on familiar issues like surviving the in-laws, a tight budget and underappreciation. However, women new to the roles will find useful tips on how to cope with life after the honeymoon, the arrival of children and OPMs (other people's monsters). The authors even cover the basics of choosing when to indulge in a mental health day and if and how to flirt with the handyman. Not all the advice is groundbreaking or brilliant, but some of it is, and the light humor saves the book from feeling hackneyed. As a solution to lack of post-marriage passion, for example, the duo suggest:""Have an affair, if you must! Just be sure it's with your husband. It's a lot safer, easier, less expensive, and can be really fun!"" Perfect for readers with short attention spans, this series of snippets is aimed at no-nonsense, contemporary women who, at the heart of it, are decent and loving wives and mothers.