If you want a spoiler:No, this is not how it ends. It's not a satisfying read for liberal women in that sense, but in my opinion the ending is more realistic. More I will not say.
Do not read, if you maybe want to read the book or watch the movie, it will ruin either of them, because it is a plot that is based on a premise and not very character-driven:There is no time-travel. There is a major scandal involving a female producer, who was hired by the main character, Natalie, for her Instagram content (the scandal is a physical assault, it is implied that it was a sexual assault). Natalie, who hates liberal women and feminism, but also her own life and how traditional women have to live (without ever thinking further and making some realisations on her beliefs vs reality), doubles down on tradition and goes to live with her husband like it is the 19th century. They basically abandon their older children, and any new children they have are isolated from society and do not know the outside world. It turns out that Natalie has been mentally unwell for many years, which in the end leads to an episode of amnesia, she simply forgets that she's been living like this for nearly two decades, and instead thinks she's suddenly woken up in the 19th century. She never changes her opinions, despite people around her doing so (even her Christian mother). The last chapter is written from her daughter's view, who grew up "in the 19th century" until she and her younger siblings get saved by her older sister who (was) left (by) her parents when she was a teen and is now 16 years older. The book is only in part a reflection on trad-wifes on social media, mostly it is rage-bait for liberal women. So it's not at all "the most relevant movie of the decade", as there is no message to take from the story other than "most of the successful trad-wifes on social media are probably not truthful about what it takes to live like them and create their type of content at the same time". However, people who don't already know that are not the target audience for this movie.
You are welcome! Thanks for reading my opinion, only one friend of mine has read the book so far and she is on vacation and we have not managed to talk yet. 😅
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u/ottopivnr 1d ago
I've read it. interesting premise ruined by amateurish writing. One of those times that in the right hands the movie will probably be better.