** spoiler alert ** So I was pretty excited to read this book, because I’ve seen both movies (and am going to watch the newer one when I’m done with this review) and I LOVE the older movie version with Katharine Ross. Amazing.

Overall, though I was a little disappointed in the book. Which… doesn’t surprise me. I’m a very critical reader.

First thing that bothered me was the crude manner in which sex and desire and… other awkward bedroom-only subjects were thrown in. There are no actual sex scenes, but it is smattered with curses as well as the aforementioned bedroom stuff. Which was awkward. You know, there are some people who can write about subjects like that with grace, and there are people who don’t. Levin, unfortunately, was one of the “don’ts”. The book, like the movies, would probably get a PG-13 rating from me.

But on the other hand, I think that the premise and the ending are both brilliant. You never do find out definitively if the Stepford wives are all robotic- it’s all left up to you to assume that they are. Several facts are presented, but the actual statement “Oh my gosh, the Stepford husbands are making their wives into robots!” is never said. Which I love. I adore books that leave you hanging.

I would have liked a little more description throughout- it seemed a little rushed to me… and I never really did get attached to the main character. There were two side characters that I loved- Bobbie and Charmaine both had a lot of spunk and life in them, and they were very easy to like. But Joanna Eberhart was… I don’ t know. I just couldn’t connect with her, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m really hard to please, or that the book was a little rushed.

For most people, though, it would probably be a moderately enjoyable read.