Chelsea Bieker's 6 favorite books dramatizing domestic violence's impact
The novelist recommends works by Anna Quindlen, Anita Shreve, and more

When you make a purchase using links on our site, The Week may earn a commission. All reviews are written independently by our editorial team.
In Chelsea Bieker's new novel, "Madwoman," a married mother of two fears her secret past could be exposed when she's asked to testify about a traumatic childhood event. Below, the author recommends other books that dramatize domestic violence's impact.
'Animal' by Lisa Taddeo (2021)
The unforgettable lines "I am depraved. I hope you like me" resound as Joan leaves New York City on the heels of her boss's suicide in search of the one person who holds a key to her past. What has driven her to this desperate moment? As the narrative narrows in on the truth, the reader can't help but better understand the subtle and unsubtle ways patriarchy and violence come between women. Buy it here
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Black and Blue' by Anna Quindlen (1998)
What happens when your abuser is a well-respected police officer in your community? Quindlen's third novel shows readers how far mothers will go to create a new life for themselves and the children they love, detailing what it takes to escape and break the cycle of abuse. Buy it here
'Sleeping With the Enemy' by Nancy Price (1987)
The Julia Roberts–starring movie adaptation was my first encounter with this story, but I love the novel just as much. We go deep into the psychology of the young protagonist as she fakes her death to escape her abusive husband. The story is one of the first narratives of domestic violence I ever encountered, and I believe it changed my life. Buy it here
'Memorial Drive' by Natasha Trethewey (2020)
In one of the most stunning, brutal, and beautiful memoirs I've read, Trethewey confronts her mother's 1985 murder by her stepfather. The book is a gorgeously rendered depiction of the generational impact of domestic abuse, racism, and how male violence interrupts the mother-daughter connection. Buy it here
'Strange Fits of Passion' by Anita Shreve (1991)
An escape story with a wildly inventive structure, this novel tracks the dissolution of the marriage of two New York City journalists who seemed to have a perfect life. It perfectly illustrates how long-reaching the effects of domestic violence can be. Buy it here
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
'No Visible Bruises' by Rachel Louise Snyder (2019)
I believe our world would be changed if everyone read Snyder's study of domestic abuse. Writing with a journalist's keen eye and a novelist's knack for story, she exposes the nuances of the often invisible war that so many endure daily in their own homes. Buy it here
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
-
Quiz of The Week: 26 July – 1 August
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Uttar Pradesh: from a once-in-a-generation festival to tiger tracking in an ancient forest
The Week Recommends Soak up the state's rich culture on one of Explorations Company's specially curated tours
-
The Week Unwrapped: Could AI replace catwalk models?
Podcast Plus, should countries sue each other for climate damage? And what does Grand Theft Auto 6 tell us about the video game industry?
-
Gazer: 'paranoid noir chiller' is a gripping watch
The Week Recommends Ryan J. Sloan's debut film is haunted with 'skin-crawling unease'
-
William Kentridge: The Pull of Gravity – a 'bold' exhibition
The Week Recommends The South African artist brings his distinctive works to Yorkshire Sculpture Park
-
Sarah Dunant shares her favourite books
The Week Recommends The British novelist picks works by Sergeanne Golon, Jill Burke and Natalie Zemon
-
Inter Alia: Rosamund Pike is 'electric' in gut-wrenching legal drama
The Week Recommends Australian playwright Suzie Miller is back with a follow up to her critically-acclaimed hit play Prima Facie
-
Unforgivable: harrowing drama about abuse and rehabilitation
The Week Recommends 'Catastrophic impact' of abuse is explored in 'thought-provoking' series
-
The Bad Guys 2: 'kids will lap up' crime caper sequel starring Sam Rockwell and Awkwafina
The Week Recommends 'Wittier and more energetic', this film 'wipes the floor' with the original
-
I Am Giorgia: 'self-serving' yet 'amazing story' of Italy's first female prime minister
The Week Recommends Giorgia Meloni, once a 'short, fat, sullen, bullied girl', explains how she became one of the most powerful people in politics
-
The First Homosexuals: The Birth of a New Identity, 1869–1939
Feature Wrightwood 659, Chicago, through Aug. 2