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Wet Ink
Not yet published
Expected 9 Feb 27Housewife and mother of two, Mitzy Barlow is tired of the stifling monotony of her everyday life. With a husband who brushes off all affection and a routine that leaves her bored out of her mind, playing pretend is no longer enough.
To help make ends meet, she hosts Tupperware parties, selling plastic promises of the perfect home. But her true escape has always come when scribbling fantasies in her journal each night to soothe the ache of a loveless marriage.
Soon she begins typing up her own stories, rewriting the endings of classic novels with bolder and steamier scenes, much to the delight of the neighborhood women who start sending in requests of their own. Under the safety of her new pseudonym 'Queen B', Mitzy creates an air-tight system to deliver her erotica, slipping stories into Tupperware containers and taking discreet orders at her parties.
Demand is high, and as her secret career starts to blossom, Mitzy allows herself to dream of a different kind of life. But when whispers of indecent, unmotherly conduct start to spread that could put her family's livelihood at risk, is Mitzy too naïve in thinking she can rewrite the ending of her own story before it's too late?
Blending wit, warmth, and rebellion, Wet Ink is a story of desire and embracing ambition, set in 1969 London, in which the indomitable Mitzy Barlow builds a Tupperware empire by slipping erotic short stories in with her orders, accidentally sparking a feminist revolution among the housewives of her London suburb.
To help make ends meet, she hosts Tupperware parties, selling plastic promises of the perfect home. But her true escape has always come when scribbling fantasies in her journal each night to soothe the ache of a loveless marriage.
Soon she begins typing up her own stories, rewriting the endings of classic novels with bolder and steamier scenes, much to the delight of the neighborhood women who start sending in requests of their own. Under the safety of her new pseudonym 'Queen B', Mitzy creates an air-tight system to deliver her erotica, slipping stories into Tupperware containers and taking discreet orders at her parties.
Demand is high, and as her secret career starts to blossom, Mitzy allows herself to dream of a different kind of life. But when whispers of indecent, unmotherly conduct start to spread that could put her family's livelihood at risk, is Mitzy too naïve in thinking she can rewrite the ending of her own story before it's too late?
Blending wit, warmth, and rebellion, Wet Ink is a story of desire and embracing ambition, set in 1969 London, in which the indomitable Mitzy Barlow builds a Tupperware empire by slipping erotic short stories in with her orders, accidentally sparking a feminist revolution among the housewives of her London suburb.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 25, 2027
About the author
Abigail Avis
3 books50 followersAbigail Avis is a London-based author with a keen interest in women that fell between the cracks of the swinging sixties, especially those who initiated domestic revolutions in surprising and brilliant ways. Her love of saucy stories began early, sneaking books from the adult section of the library as a curious pre-teen and she still proudly uses the Tupperware inherited from her Nan’s 1960s party stash. She has two young children, and studied and taught English literature before entering a fellowship with the Royal Literary Fund, which facilitated the writing of Wet Ink.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you are a woman of a certain age, you remember the Tupperware jingle: “We’re Here for a Party, A Tupperware Party…….🎵
It’s 1969 and in a London suburb, housewife and mother of two, Mitzy Barlow is locking more than “freshness” in the Tupperware items that she sells!
She and her friends love to exchange paperback romance novels, and one day a conversation leads her to discover that she isn’t the only one disappointed by their “fade to black” endings.
So under the pseudonym “Queen B”, Mitzy begins typing up her own stories, rewriting, by request from a friend, a much steamier ending, for a favorite novel.
As word of mouth spreads, the parties become the place where the neighborhood women can send in their own requests to Queen B, asking for the fantasy they want to read about, on the back of the Tupperware order forms, with Mitzy delivering the erotica, in the Tupperware containers when she delivers them.
Sadly, I LOVED the premise of this book a bit more than the execution.
The inclusion of the spicy stories that Mitzy wrote was a fun touch, and it is always nice to read about women finding their voices and learning to speak up for what they deserve and desire.
BUT the book felt too long at 400 pages, and the pacing was uneven. The first 75% of the novel felt SLOW and repetitious and then A LOT of changes occurred in the last 25% making the ending feel rushed.
Also, with the exception of the Tupperware Parties, it could have benefited from more nostalgic references that I enjoy reading about from this era.
So a bit of a mixed bag for me, but do check out the reviews of DeAnn and Marilyn to see if they felt differently!
Expected publication date February 9, 2027
Thank You to Dutton for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
It’s 1969 and in a London suburb, housewife and mother of two, Mitzy Barlow is locking more than “freshness” in the Tupperware items that she sells!
She and her friends love to exchange paperback romance novels, and one day a conversation leads her to discover that she isn’t the only one disappointed by their “fade to black” endings.
So under the pseudonym “Queen B”, Mitzy begins typing up her own stories, rewriting, by request from a friend, a much steamier ending, for a favorite novel.
As word of mouth spreads, the parties become the place where the neighborhood women can send in their own requests to Queen B, asking for the fantasy they want to read about, on the back of the Tupperware order forms, with Mitzy delivering the erotica, in the Tupperware containers when she delivers them.
Sadly, I LOVED the premise of this book a bit more than the execution.
The inclusion of the spicy stories that Mitzy wrote was a fun touch, and it is always nice to read about women finding their voices and learning to speak up for what they deserve and desire.
BUT the book felt too long at 400 pages, and the pacing was uneven. The first 75% of the novel felt SLOW and repetitious and then A LOT of changes occurred in the last 25% making the ending feel rushed.
Also, with the exception of the Tupperware Parties, it could have benefited from more nostalgic references that I enjoy reading about from this era.
So a bit of a mixed bag for me, but do check out the reviews of DeAnn and Marilyn to see if they felt differently!
Expected publication date February 9, 2027
Thank You to Dutton for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 Tupperware Party Stars
Did you grow up in a home with lots of Tupperware? I certainly did, and hunting for the right lid could be a challenge! I haven’t thought much about how selling Tupperware could be a lifeline for some women. That extra money could give them some breathing room. This story focuses on women's empowerment at a time when women still had to fight for anything approaching equality.
Our main character, Mitzy Barlow, is a wife and mother of two children. As is sometimes the case, things have cooled between husband and wife, and Mitzy is unhappy. She escapes by jotting down short love stories focused on women and what will make them happy. Now she is selling Tupperware, hoping to add a bit to the family income as her husband’s hours keep getting cut. She also takes on typing projects at home.
Now that she has access to a typewriter, she can type up more of her stories, and a friend asks for a different ending to a book. As fate would have it, word gets around among her friends that she can custom-write stories, and demand for stories from “Queen B” grows. Soon, women are placing Tupperware orders and secretly also ordering custom stories that are getting increasingly erotic. For some requestors, it was the first time they'd considered what they wanted as women.
Several of the stories populate the book, and those were a fun addition. I had to remind myself that this was a very male-dominated world, and women weren’t encouraged to vocalize their thoughts and wishes. They weren’t encouraged to work outside the home. Most also had to ask their husbands for money and account for every penny spent. And of course, they had no access to the bank account.
As her success grows, Mitzy builds a nice nest egg. Her friend's strongly conservative husband finds one of her stories, and the gig is up. Mitzy’s husband reacts badly, and my heart ached for her. The story takes a sharp turn when she loses everything, including her children.
Several unlikely people step forward to help her; could her stories have a broader audience and bring her a respectable income? I appreciated how women help other women. The book doesn't paint men in a good light. Things have changed quite a bit, but some perceptions remain that men need to be the breadwinners and run the family. I appreciate real women like Mitzy, who pushed boundaries and helped drive change in the world.
This made for an interesting discussion with buddy readers Marilyn and Jayme. Be sure to check out their reviews to see if it resonated with them.
My thanks to Dutton for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. Scheduled to release on 2.23.2027.
Did you grow up in a home with lots of Tupperware? I certainly did, and hunting for the right lid could be a challenge! I haven’t thought much about how selling Tupperware could be a lifeline for some women. That extra money could give them some breathing room. This story focuses on women's empowerment at a time when women still had to fight for anything approaching equality.
Our main character, Mitzy Barlow, is a wife and mother of two children. As is sometimes the case, things have cooled between husband and wife, and Mitzy is unhappy. She escapes by jotting down short love stories focused on women and what will make them happy. Now she is selling Tupperware, hoping to add a bit to the family income as her husband’s hours keep getting cut. She also takes on typing projects at home.
Now that she has access to a typewriter, she can type up more of her stories, and a friend asks for a different ending to a book. As fate would have it, word gets around among her friends that she can custom-write stories, and demand for stories from “Queen B” grows. Soon, women are placing Tupperware orders and secretly also ordering custom stories that are getting increasingly erotic. For some requestors, it was the first time they'd considered what they wanted as women.
Several of the stories populate the book, and those were a fun addition. I had to remind myself that this was a very male-dominated world, and women weren’t encouraged to vocalize their thoughts and wishes. They weren’t encouraged to work outside the home. Most also had to ask their husbands for money and account for every penny spent. And of course, they had no access to the bank account.
As her success grows, Mitzy builds a nice nest egg. Her friend's strongly conservative husband finds one of her stories, and the gig is up. Mitzy’s husband reacts badly, and my heart ached for her. The story takes a sharp turn when she loses everything, including her children.
Several unlikely people step forward to help her; could her stories have a broader audience and bring her a respectable income? I appreciated how women help other women. The book doesn't paint men in a good light. Things have changed quite a bit, but some perceptions remain that men need to be the breadwinners and run the family. I appreciate real women like Mitzy, who pushed boundaries and helped drive change in the world.
This made for an interesting discussion with buddy readers Marilyn and Jayme. Be sure to check out their reviews to see if it resonated with them.
My thanks to Dutton for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. Scheduled to release on 2.23.2027.
July 11, 2026
Who knew Tupperware could be so empowering?
Mitzy Barlow, housewife and mother of two, is tired. Tired of her every boring everyday life. Tired of her unaffectionate husband. And tired of not being appreciated. She begins selling Tupperware to help ends meet, but at night- she finds her mind wandering and fantasying of what a relationship could be if a woman’s wants were considered. To encourage Tupperware sales, Mitzy begins writing stories for other women, and delivering them in the Tupperware- and unexpectedly starting a movement.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. This one did have a slow start, but once it took off, I was hooked!!
Mitzy Barlow, housewife and mother of two, is tired. Tired of her every boring everyday life. Tired of her unaffectionate husband. And tired of not being appreciated. She begins selling Tupperware to help ends meet, but at night- she finds her mind wandering and fantasying of what a relationship could be if a woman’s wants were considered. To encourage Tupperware sales, Mitzy begins writing stories for other women, and delivering them in the Tupperware- and unexpectedly starting a movement.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. This one did have a slow start, but once it took off, I was hooked!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wet Ink is a book that sparks the well needed conversation about romance and erotica, more specifically how women's sexuality and desire is in literature is often considered at worst taboo and best "unrealistic."
This book has a bit of a slow start, and it took me a few months of coming and going before finally finishing. Wet Ink picks up, but doesn't take off quite how I wanted it to. Despite being well written, having dynamic characters and an interesting concept, the plot just didn't grab me the way it thought it would.
There also were a few details I thought could have been clarified or expanded upon: I thought it was set in the 50s but turns out it was 1969? The focus on the popularity of Tupperware made me think it was much earlier, but this could just be a disparity between the US and Australia. A major one was the name Mitzy chose for herself - "Queen B” felt kind of random as a pseudonym?
Aside from that, I truly did love the commentary on romance being made for women to enjoy themselves, especially sexually, in a time where that kind of entertainment was only available for men. It had strong feminist points that were well articulated. My favorite quote is as follows:
“Boys grow up not realizing that their mothers are human beings who want exactly what everyone else does. Girls too—that’s why it’s all such a shock when you get older and have children yourself. When you’re a mother, you’re expected to get on with it, to kiss goodbye to the life you had before, but the fathers? What changes for them? Children happen to be there, and life continues as normal. Boys grow up not realizing that their mothers are human beings who want exactly what everyone else does. Girls too—that’s why it’s all such a shock when you get older and have children yourself. When you’re a mother, you’re expected to get on with it, to kiss goodbye to the life you had before, but the fathers? What changes for them? Children happen to be there, and life continues as normal."
I HATED Ron!!! Hated hum so much that it almost took away from the story for me - he was essential to the plot but his misogyny, insecurity, selfishness were so overbearing that I hated her staying with him in the end. I didn't see him as redeemable at all. Overall, I really wanted to like this more than I did. While having a redeeming premise, the book itself was just okay for me. I felt like this was a better version of Lessons in Chemistry, but that's not saying a ton since that was a one star read from me...
This book has a bit of a slow start, and it took me a few months of coming and going before finally finishing. Wet Ink picks up, but doesn't take off quite how I wanted it to. Despite being well written, having dynamic characters and an interesting concept, the plot just didn't grab me the way it thought it would.
There also were a few details I thought could have been clarified or expanded upon: I thought it was set in the 50s but turns out it was 1969? The focus on the popularity of Tupperware made me think it was much earlier, but this could just be a disparity between the US and Australia. A major one was the name Mitzy chose for herself - "Queen B” felt kind of random as a pseudonym?
Aside from that, I truly did love the commentary on romance being made for women to enjoy themselves, especially sexually, in a time where that kind of entertainment was only available for men. It had strong feminist points that were well articulated. My favorite quote is as follows:
“Boys grow up not realizing that their mothers are human beings who want exactly what everyone else does. Girls too—that’s why it’s all such a shock when you get older and have children yourself. When you’re a mother, you’re expected to get on with it, to kiss goodbye to the life you had before, but the fathers? What changes for them? Children happen to be there, and life continues as normal. Boys grow up not realizing that their mothers are human beings who want exactly what everyone else does. Girls too—that’s why it’s all such a shock when you get older and have children yourself. When you’re a mother, you’re expected to get on with it, to kiss goodbye to the life you had before, but the fathers? What changes for them? Children happen to be there, and life continues as normal."
I HATED Ron!!! Hated hum so much that it almost took away from the story for me - he was essential to the plot but his misogyny, insecurity, selfishness were so overbearing that I hated her staying with him in the end. I didn't see him as redeemable at all. Overall, I really wanted to like this more than I did. While having a redeeming premise, the book itself was just okay for me. I felt like this was a better version of Lessons in Chemistry, but that's not saying a ton since that was a one star read from me...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2026
I liked this concept and thought it was super fun I guess I just didn’t need them beating into my head that erotica could be empowering for women. like i got the message actually with the narrative that was told! don’t need to have characters verbalize it like they’re making a hot take tiktok
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for the eARC!
The premise of this book sold me on reading it. The gumption of Mitzy and her friends made me love it! I loved the way these women came together to create change in their own lives and bravely pursue the freedom of desire and autonomy. It is often discouraging to look at all the ways women are still not treated equally, such as the right to make decisions about her body and the pay gap. This book is a little reminder that we've gained some freedoms such as the right to write and read our own stories. The romance genre is often seen as kitschy or without intellecutal merit, but any media where a person can see themselves or their desires lived out, is worthwhile. Who says learning and growing has to be boring. Let romance live!!
The premise of this book sold me on reading it. The gumption of Mitzy and her friends made me love it! I loved the way these women came together to create change in their own lives and bravely pursue the freedom of desire and autonomy. It is often discouraging to look at all the ways women are still not treated equally, such as the right to make decisions about her body and the pay gap. This book is a little reminder that we've gained some freedoms such as the right to write and read our own stories. The romance genre is often seen as kitschy or without intellecutal merit, but any media where a person can see themselves or their desires lived out, is worthwhile. Who says learning and growing has to be boring. Let romance live!!
September 13, 2026
Oh, I need you to know what a delicious read this is. Women rebelling against their overlooked and undervalued positions in society through the act of reading and writing their desires through smutty prose = YES PLEASE.
Margo is one of the best female protagonists I've journeyed with, and I'll be injecting her persona into my own life, conversations and writing forever.
Not only is the writing juicy, but there really is a cause here to rally behind. How it all unfolds is unpredictable, exciting, and dizzying. I adored this book!
Margo is one of the best female protagonists I've journeyed with, and I'll be injecting her persona into my own life, conversations and writing forever.
Not only is the writing juicy, but there really is a cause here to rally behind. How it all unfolds is unpredictable, exciting, and dizzying. I adored this book!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
An entertaining read. At times was happy, then became very sad. Enjoyed the Tupperware parts. Thank you to Goodreads and Dutton for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
this was made in a maddie factory
August 14, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this unique story that every woman should read! This story took me by total surprise, and it became a totally entertaining experience where I couldn’t stop talking about the book as I was reading! So many parallels with women’s struggles today and the invisible labor load we all take for granted. It was a literary novel woven into a feminist tale of survival that I just adored. If you don’t feel empowered after reading this, you read a different book. Well done!
TikTok review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDEhNp8a/
TikTok review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDEhNp8a/
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been a Tupperware Lady for 39 years. I knew I had to read this. My head is exploding in several directions.
First and foremost this is a story that starts out in 1969. It is a story of regular families needing more than one income. It is a story of men and women, perceived roles, roles we want and roles we are assigned. It is a story of double standards. It is awesome.
Second, the Tupperware party. I loved it. I could hear myself saying some of the same things. I could hear the peddling of the plastic. (Mine were not delivered with erotica, although we sometimes heard some pretty juicy stories at parties.) Remember what happens and is said at the Tupperware party, stays at the Tupperware party!!
Growing pains, maturing, discovering what you want and need and remembering that you are also leading the next generation, ah, all of that and then some is in here.
My only complaint is that it ended too quick. It was satisfying, but I would have liked a tad more.
First and foremost this is a story that starts out in 1969. It is a story of regular families needing more than one income. It is a story of men and women, perceived roles, roles we want and roles we are assigned. It is a story of double standards. It is awesome.
Second, the Tupperware party. I loved it. I could hear myself saying some of the same things. I could hear the peddling of the plastic. (Mine were not delivered with erotica, although we sometimes heard some pretty juicy stories at parties.) Remember what happens and is said at the Tupperware party, stays at the Tupperware party!!
Growing pains, maturing, discovering what you want and need and remembering that you are also leading the next generation, ah, all of that and then some is in here.
My only complaint is that it ended too quick. It was satisfying, but I would have liked a tad more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wet Ink by Abigail Avis
Wet Ink has many aspects to it, mostly connected in one way or another. It's 1969 London and housewife and mother of two, Mitzy Barlow, is struggling to make ends meet while she's allowed to do almost nothing that will make a financial difference. The spark has long gone out of her marriage and her husband seems happier to spend time with his rude, crude, cretin of a work buddy. They are close to not being able to pay any bills and trying to stretch something out of nothing is not working.
So Mitzy is hosting Tupperware parties and to make them really work she needs more resources, more product, more tempting food goodies, and more friends and strangers to invite. And somehow she has to encourage people to buy things they might not even need. Plus, she has to act like she loves being a housewife, loves the dreary life that she really hates, loves so much that she can't stand about her life.
In her private life, Mitzy has been keeping a diary of her most romantic and sizzling fantasies. Dreams of these things happening to her have to be dreams since her marriage is dead in more ways than one. Once Mitzy gets a part time, work at home, job as a typist she also gets a typewriter as part of that job, a temporary typewriter that she could never afford on her own. And then Mitzy goes to town, typing up steamy fantasies for her friends and for strangers, as her writing talent takes off. But no one can know it's Mitzy because the world would fall on her head since Mitzy is getting more risqué, not holding back. What Mitzy is writing is erotica and her writing is making money for the family.
But life just gets harder as Mitzy has her overwhelming duties as a housewife, mother, and parttime typist while also trying fill her burgeoning erotica orders. Oh yes, and the Tupperware parties, which make a great way to get erotica orders and deliver erotica inside purchased Tupperware products. But word is getting out in ways that can ruin Mitzy's life, could give her husband a way to destroy her life, take from her what is most important. Mitzy has supporters, fans, and even those who will try to help her help herself. Life is changing, for better or worse, but no matter what happens, Mitzy does not want to go back to what she was in the past.
I enjoyed the story but I did not enjoy reading the stories Mitzy wrote. I'm more a fan of closed door spice, let it take place on the other side of the door from me. But this story is about the opposite of that, it's about women asking for and getting what they want, no holds barred, right out in the open, right there on the page. Some readers might want more explicit stories within this story while others might be like me and prefer the actual stories to stay hinted at and there are hints of much more than we read within this book. Really, anything seems to go as far as Mitzy is concerned and she is someone who is raring to be let loose in so many ways.
Expected publication February 25, 2027
Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for this ARC
Wet Ink has many aspects to it, mostly connected in one way or another. It's 1969 London and housewife and mother of two, Mitzy Barlow, is struggling to make ends meet while she's allowed to do almost nothing that will make a financial difference. The spark has long gone out of her marriage and her husband seems happier to spend time with his rude, crude, cretin of a work buddy. They are close to not being able to pay any bills and trying to stretch something out of nothing is not working.
So Mitzy is hosting Tupperware parties and to make them really work she needs more resources, more product, more tempting food goodies, and more friends and strangers to invite. And somehow she has to encourage people to buy things they might not even need. Plus, she has to act like she loves being a housewife, loves the dreary life that she really hates, loves so much that she can't stand about her life.
In her private life, Mitzy has been keeping a diary of her most romantic and sizzling fantasies. Dreams of these things happening to her have to be dreams since her marriage is dead in more ways than one. Once Mitzy gets a part time, work at home, job as a typist she also gets a typewriter as part of that job, a temporary typewriter that she could never afford on her own. And then Mitzy goes to town, typing up steamy fantasies for her friends and for strangers, as her writing talent takes off. But no one can know it's Mitzy because the world would fall on her head since Mitzy is getting more risqué, not holding back. What Mitzy is writing is erotica and her writing is making money for the family.
But life just gets harder as Mitzy has her overwhelming duties as a housewife, mother, and parttime typist while also trying fill her burgeoning erotica orders. Oh yes, and the Tupperware parties, which make a great way to get erotica orders and deliver erotica inside purchased Tupperware products. But word is getting out in ways that can ruin Mitzy's life, could give her husband a way to destroy her life, take from her what is most important. Mitzy has supporters, fans, and even those who will try to help her help herself. Life is changing, for better or worse, but no matter what happens, Mitzy does not want to go back to what she was in the past.
I enjoyed the story but I did not enjoy reading the stories Mitzy wrote. I'm more a fan of closed door spice, let it take place on the other side of the door from me. But this story is about the opposite of that, it's about women asking for and getting what they want, no holds barred, right out in the open, right there on the page. Some readers might want more explicit stories within this story while others might be like me and prefer the actual stories to stay hinted at and there are hints of much more than we read within this book. Really, anything seems to go as far as Mitzy is concerned and she is someone who is raring to be let loose in so many ways.
Expected publication February 25, 2027
Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
this premise was amazing, it's execution was not. honestly, it really just left me wanting more. it felt like a rag i was trying to squeeze any drop of water out of but ultimately being left with nothing.
the characters, story, and writing all felt extremelyyyy cliche. i knew exactly what was going to happen and when it was going to happen because the women followed the most basic (feminist) tropes. i know that mitzy represented real women of the 1960s(?), but the author leaned into that character form just a litttle bit too much. i wanted a unique perspective that added something fresh, but everything felt stale...insert tupperware joke here.
this is a personal gripe, but mitzy was supposed to be an erotica writer, but the samples we're shown in the book of her writing were simply not that...erotic. it felt very safe and watered down. perhaps that was the point considering the time period and a reflection of the fact she had to hide her writing? not sure exactly but everyone was talking like it was absolutely scandalous stuff and it was just..... not.
it was also incredibly sad? like depressing that people had (have?) relationships/marriages like that. how many times can you scream “GIRL LEAVE HIM” before it gets old? honestly who wants to read that?? i just really couldn’t stand that there wasn’t one depiction of a normal, healthy romantic relationship. all the men were shit, but honestly that tracks.
it was interesting enough, but nothing enough to wow me.
thanks to net galley and the publisher for my e-arc!
the characters, story, and writing all felt extremelyyyy cliche. i knew exactly what was going to happen and when it was going to happen because the women followed the most basic (feminist) tropes. i know that mitzy represented real women of the 1960s(?), but the author leaned into that character form just a litttle bit too much. i wanted a unique perspective that added something fresh, but everything felt stale...insert tupperware joke here.
this is a personal gripe, but mitzy was supposed to be an erotica writer, but the samples we're shown in the book of her writing were simply not that...erotic. it felt very safe and watered down. perhaps that was the point considering the time period and a reflection of the fact she had to hide her writing? not sure exactly but everyone was talking like it was absolutely scandalous stuff and it was just..... not.
it was also incredibly sad? like depressing that people had (have?) relationships/marriages like that. how many times can you scream “GIRL LEAVE HIM” before it gets old? honestly who wants to read that?? i just really couldn’t stand that there wasn’t one depiction of a normal, healthy romantic relationship. all the men were shit, but honestly that tracks.
it was interesting enough, but nothing enough to wow me.
thanks to net galley and the publisher for my e-arc!
August 10, 2026
I am the daughter of a woman who like Mitzy, bringing up two children as the 1970s decade started, who needed to earn money to make ends meet. With a breadwinning husband who liked spending on new cars every two years my Mum also turned her attentions to earning money like having Tupperware parties, hosting other parties to earn commission, shoes, underwear etc and being an Avon lady. The historical accuracy drawn by Abigail Avis is truly an authentic voice in Wet Ink. It was not difficult for women to fall into domestic drudgery, taken absolutely for granted by their husbands and scorned by other women who ‘didn’t have to work.’ Neither was divorce a realistic option for women wanting to escape a loveless marriage in which the men would turn round and say to their wives ‘well you wanted children. You should look after them.’ An era when women couldn’t have their own bank accounts as a general rule or their names go on property.
The opening of the story with the Tupperware therefore awakened nostalgia for my childhood. However, in mine Tupperware was not quite the revolution that Mitzy awakens. Well done for Abigail Avis in drawing a parallel between growing women’s awareness, community and solidarity with Tupperware as the premise. Mitzy was believable. I don’t think her friends were simply caricatures of the time either.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loved Lessons in Chemistry or Jennie Godfrey’s books. Four stars. Nostalgia aroused by Tupperware will never be quite the same!
The opening of the story with the Tupperware therefore awakened nostalgia for my childhood. However, in mine Tupperware was not quite the revolution that Mitzy awakens. Well done for Abigail Avis in drawing a parallel between growing women’s awareness, community and solidarity with Tupperware as the premise. Mitzy was believable. I don’t think her friends were simply caricatures of the time either.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loved Lessons in Chemistry or Jennie Godfrey’s books. Four stars. Nostalgia aroused by Tupperware will never be quite the same!
August 26, 2026
Abigail Avis you are a gem. This novel starring the fabulous Mitzy Barlow is now my favorite character of the year. In 1969, London, Mitzy is unhappy, unsatisfied, and unable to live the lie of her marriage anymore.
At the rise of women’s liberation, Mitzy must take it upon herself to create an income as her dispassionate husband’s job is cut in half. Mitzy starts hosting Tupperware parties all the while writing fantasies about love and sex in her personal journal.
Mitzy begins building her Tupperware empire by slipping erotica stories by request of the women, into the sealed containers they buy.
Mitzy writing under the pseudonym, Queen B, begins to rise, her stories so popular that she finds it hard to keep up with the demand. Her already shambling marriage begins to break as her secrets are brought to life, and her true self is revealed to her husband and community.
With wit and aspiration, Mitzy finds her true calling in her new life as a writer, as she wills a way not to hide, and emerge into a truer self with ambitions and desires. This story is an inspiration to women’s empowerment in that time, and the examination of sexual desire and the shame that was attached to it. Mitzy’s stories are nothing to be ashamed of, but to be celebrated. Queen B’s stories that are scattered throughout are true erotica and fierce.
I loved this story of a woman’s struggle and ultimate triumph.
“What is life, if you’re not allowed to be yourself in it?”
Thank you to edelweiss and the publisher.
At the rise of women’s liberation, Mitzy must take it upon herself to create an income as her dispassionate husband’s job is cut in half. Mitzy starts hosting Tupperware parties all the while writing fantasies about love and sex in her personal journal.
Mitzy begins building her Tupperware empire by slipping erotica stories by request of the women, into the sealed containers they buy.
Mitzy writing under the pseudonym, Queen B, begins to rise, her stories so popular that she finds it hard to keep up with the demand. Her already shambling marriage begins to break as her secrets are brought to life, and her true self is revealed to her husband and community.
With wit and aspiration, Mitzy finds her true calling in her new life as a writer, as she wills a way not to hide, and emerge into a truer self with ambitions and desires. This story is an inspiration to women’s empowerment in that time, and the examination of sexual desire and the shame that was attached to it. Mitzy’s stories are nothing to be ashamed of, but to be celebrated. Queen B’s stories that are scattered throughout are true erotica and fierce.
I loved this story of a woman’s struggle and ultimate triumph.
“What is life, if you’re not allowed to be yourself in it?”
Thank you to edelweiss and the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wet Ink is a bold, brave, and empowering story about friendship, independence and finding courage.
The main character Mitzy, is doing everything she can to support her family and put food on the table. What begins as an attempt to make extra money by selling Tupperware turns into something so much bigger.
I loved the plot of this book; it was incredibly original unlike anything I have read before. Mitzy’s character was believable, and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story, willing her to be brave and take control of her own life.
The friendships between the women were one of my favourite aspects of the book. They were bold women who valued friendships. In contrast, many of their husbands were truly horrible, which made reading the women's independence more satisfying to read.
I did feel that the book could have been just as enjoyable without including the stories Mitzy wrote. I think leaving some of those details to the reader’s imagination might have made them more intriguing. I also didn’t find the stories particularly erotic, despite their importance to the plot.
If you have read the blurb and found yourself intrigued by this book, I don’t think you will be disappointed. It is an original, entertaining story with plenty to say about friendship, independence and finding your voice.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for letting me read this book.
The main character Mitzy, is doing everything she can to support her family and put food on the table. What begins as an attempt to make extra money by selling Tupperware turns into something so much bigger.
I loved the plot of this book; it was incredibly original unlike anything I have read before. Mitzy’s character was believable, and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story, willing her to be brave and take control of her own life.
The friendships between the women were one of my favourite aspects of the book. They were bold women who valued friendships. In contrast, many of their husbands were truly horrible, which made reading the women's independence more satisfying to read.
I did feel that the book could have been just as enjoyable without including the stories Mitzy wrote. I think leaving some of those details to the reader’s imagination might have made them more intriguing. I also didn’t find the stories particularly erotic, despite their importance to the plot.
If you have read the blurb and found yourself intrigued by this book, I don’t think you will be disappointed. It is an original, entertaining story with plenty to say about friendship, independence and finding your voice.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for letting me read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
While I'm probably not the target demo for this book (old, male, southern), I have to say I loved it.
Wet Ink is about a housewife, Mitzy Barlow, in late 60s London who decides to sell Tupperware to help her family make ends meet. Her husband, Ron, treats her effort as a more of a hobby and doesn't think it will amount to anything.
But, somewhere in between the Tupperware parties, Mitzy begins writing steamy erotica. She and a group of friends were romance novel readers, but some didn't think the sex went far enough or the stories weren't relatable to the housewife of the 60s. Mitzy took on the challenge to correct that.
Wet Ink (I love the title, naughty, but not really) has a few things you can see coming, but, I thought, but there were other turns I never saw coming.
The writing is great, both the story and the erotica. I really loved the characters, as well, even when you were disappointed or angry with them. The book will make you laugh, blush, angry, sad and joyful.
I'd recommend it to anyone as it's just a fun read.
Wet Ink is about a housewife, Mitzy Barlow, in late 60s London who decides to sell Tupperware to help her family make ends meet. Her husband, Ron, treats her effort as a more of a hobby and doesn't think it will amount to anything.
But, somewhere in between the Tupperware parties, Mitzy begins writing steamy erotica. She and a group of friends were romance novel readers, but some didn't think the sex went far enough or the stories weren't relatable to the housewife of the 60s. Mitzy took on the challenge to correct that.
Wet Ink (I love the title, naughty, but not really) has a few things you can see coming, but, I thought, but there were other turns I never saw coming.
The writing is great, both the story and the erotica. I really loved the characters, as well, even when you were disappointed or angry with them. The book will make you laugh, blush, angry, sad and joyful.
I'd recommend it to anyone as it's just a fun read.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you to Goodreads for the advanced copy of Wet Ink by Abigail Avis, coming February 23!
I absolutely LOVED this book! Set in the 1960s, it follows Mitzy, a misunderstood housewife who, when her husband’s hours get cut, finds an unexpected way to help support her family: selling Tupperware and writing steamier endings to her friends’ favorite romance novels under the pseudonym Queen B. What begins as a way to make ends meet might just change her life forever.
This book has everything I love: historical fiction, romance, and women discovering they’re capable of so much more than the world expects of them. But what I loved most was the friendships at the heart of the story. Mitzy and her friends are finding their voices and pushing boundaries in a time when women were beginning to change the world—and they’re doing it one romance novel at a time!
A delightful, empowering story about friendship, ambition, and daring to rewrite your own ending. If you love historical fiction or romance, put this one on your TBR!
I absolutely LOVED this book! Set in the 1960s, it follows Mitzy, a misunderstood housewife who, when her husband’s hours get cut, finds an unexpected way to help support her family: selling Tupperware and writing steamier endings to her friends’ favorite romance novels under the pseudonym Queen B. What begins as a way to make ends meet might just change her life forever.
This book has everything I love: historical fiction, romance, and women discovering they’re capable of so much more than the world expects of them. But what I loved most was the friendships at the heart of the story. Mitzy and her friends are finding their voices and pushing boundaries in a time when women were beginning to change the world—and they’re doing it one romance novel at a time!
A delightful, empowering story about friendship, ambition, and daring to rewrite your own ending. If you love historical fiction or romance, put this one on your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh, the misogyny of the 60s, and the way women were expected to quietly accept the lives they were handed. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping for a little more erotica, a little more steam, a little more hot and bothered. I think I was expecting a bit more from the story overall.
That said, I did enjoy the idea of Mitzy quietly pushing back against the rules of the time in her own way. There’s something wonderfully satisfying about a woman being told to stay in her lane and instead deciding, “Actually, I’ll be starting my own erotica business, thanks.” I just wish the book itself had been a little more spicy. For a story about secret smut, I was expecting to need a cold shower. Still, a fun premise and an interesting look at women finding little ways to claim some freedom of their own.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
That said, I did enjoy the idea of Mitzy quietly pushing back against the rules of the time in her own way. There’s something wonderfully satisfying about a woman being told to stay in her lane and instead deciding, “Actually, I’ll be starting my own erotica business, thanks.” I just wish the book itself had been a little more spicy. For a story about secret smut, I was expecting to need a cold shower. Still, a fun premise and an interesting look at women finding little ways to claim some freedom of their own.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Date Read: 23 July '26
⭐️3 | 📖
This was good, but I feel like maybe I was the wrong audience for it. There are a few things in the book that I’m not really a fan of, that maybe other people wouldn’t mind.
Things I liked:
> The story was interesting
> I loved the setting
> The writing itself was good
> Everything felt very well thought out, and I liked how the story progressed
> I love the cover
Things I didn't like:
> The pacing is very slow for what the story gives us
> We had so many filler sentences and paragraphs that those 400 pages could’ve easily become 200. There’s nothing wrong with a writing style like this, I’m just not a fan of it.
> There’s a lot of feminine rage in this, which again, I’m not a fan of (I have plenty of that in me 🤷♀️)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
⭐️3 | 📖
This was good, but I feel like maybe I was the wrong audience for it. There are a few things in the book that I’m not really a fan of, that maybe other people wouldn’t mind.
Things I liked:
> The story was interesting
> I loved the setting
> The writing itself was good
> Everything felt very well thought out, and I liked how the story progressed
> I love the cover
Things I didn't like:
> The pacing is very slow for what the story gives us
> We had so many filler sentences and paragraphs that those 400 pages could’ve easily become 200. There’s nothing wrong with a writing style like this, I’m just not a fan of it.
> There’s a lot of feminine rage in this, which again, I’m not a fan of (I have plenty of that in me 🤷♀️)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
August 10, 2026
Review of an advanced copy received from NetGalley.
This was a great story about women’s strength, determination and fight against the patriarchy. I don’t often get on with stories set in this era (50s/60s) but Wet Ink was really easy to read & thoroughly enjoyable. Mitzy was a strong main character with relatable traits and I loved her fierce need to fight for what she wanted and what made her happy.
Some of the other female characters I feel could have had a little more depth to them but overall everyone seemed to have their rightful place in the story. The husbands didn’t overshadow the women’s roles (even though they tried - looking at you Tony!) and I found myself really rooting for the wives.
Overall I really liked Wet Ink & I’m so grateful to have been chosen to read this in advance of its release next year!
August 20, 2026
I was kind of thinking (hoping?) this would take a bit of a thriller twist part way through and all of the husbands would be victims (:
This was such a fun concept and the way that all of the women (even those who you may not expect) rallied for each other when it came down to it. There was subterfuge, and caring for each other, and supporting of their sometimes dangerous hopes and dreams. Meanwhile the men are causing all of their problems and getting mad at them for adapting. Typical!!!
The amount of anxiety building up in me the more Mitzy added to her plate could have powered a small building. Ma’am that’s enough slices. Please check your paper both sides!!!!! I AM SO STRESSED.
Also, can we please appreciate that this is the world some people genuinely want to go back to and then consider my thriller-twist idea.
This was such a fun concept and the way that all of the women (even those who you may not expect) rallied for each other when it came down to it. There was subterfuge, and caring for each other, and supporting of their sometimes dangerous hopes and dreams. Meanwhile the men are causing all of their problems and getting mad at them for adapting. Typical!!!
The amount of anxiety building up in me the more Mitzy added to her plate could have powered a small building. Ma’am that’s enough slices. Please check your paper both sides!!!!! I AM SO STRESSED.
Also, can we please appreciate that this is the world some people genuinely want to go back to and then consider my thriller-twist idea.
Read
September 12, 2026I grew up with Tupperware parties being held regularly in my household... oh boy, if I'd read this back then, I would have looked at those plastic containers with their satisfying click-clips VERY differently! And now I'm wondering what Avon could be getting away with, right under my nose!
I requested this book on the strength of the premise, as I've been wanting to read more "spicy" things without letting go of my literary tastes. This delivered - the right level of erotica, not twee - and I enjoyed it in the same way that I enjoyed Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry and Gilliann Anderson's collection Want. I really hope they televise this, it would make a great companion-piece to Mad Men for sure!
I requested this book on the strength of the premise, as I've been wanting to read more "spicy" things without letting go of my literary tastes. This delivered - the right level of erotica, not twee - and I enjoyed it in the same way that I enjoyed Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry and Gilliann Anderson's collection Want. I really hope they televise this, it would make a great companion-piece to Mad Men for sure!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a good read this book was; I found the storyline really gripping and unique. Set in the late 60s, Mitzy is a housewife who finds herself in need of funds when her husband's work starts to dry up. So, she starts selling Tupperware. However, Mitzy also has a talent for writing erotic stories, and her Tupperware sales become a useful decoy for this sideline. That is, until rumours spread and her husband finds out...
I loved how strong a character Mitzy was despite the time she lived in. I loved the support of the women around her and how they also gained from the experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I will look out for other books by this author.
I loved how strong a character Mitzy was despite the time she lived in. I loved the support of the women around her and how they also gained from the experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I will look out for other books by this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The setting: London suburbs, in 1969. Mitzy is a stay at home mom to two kids and a shiftless husband, Ron, who loses his job, lies about it, and ultimately won't let Mitzy do anything about it. But HER secret is she's already been finding ways to supplement their meager budget: by selling Tupperware along with self-written erotic stories that are far more popular than the plastic. The premise of this was better than the execution, as I found the first 2/3 to be really slow and depressing, but things finally turned around and got interesting (though not terribly surprising) in the last third. I'm glad I stuck with it, especially given how long it was, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it unless you're really interested in this time period and the early women's liberation movement.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mitzy Barlow is tired, and her life is not going the way she would like. Set in the suburbs of 1960s London this novel is an interesting mix of 1960s domestic life and the short romantic stories that Mitzy writes and distributes to her growing cadre of fans in their Tupperware orders. She starts selling Tupperware to make her family budget work when her husband’s job becomes more and more unreliable. The stories end up putting even pressure on her marriage and Mitzi has to start making choices that seem impossible. This novel started a little slow, but I enjoyed the ride and loved the ending.
Thanks to Dutton for allowing me to read this early.
Thanks to Dutton for allowing me to read this early.
Review of advance copy
I am lucky enough to work in a small indie bookstore that sees many a proof copy come through the door. This is how I came to read Wet Ink.
I was gripped immediately. I love a feminist storyline and most books I read must have a strong female protagonist at the forefront. Wet Ink stands out. Describing itself as a voice for the women of the 60s/70s the book does more than that, and I think that was the intention. Despite being set in a time way before my own, I found myself relating to each woman, to their frustrations towards men, feeling as though they are bound to a life where they are actively ignored.
I highly recommend this book, it’s a fantastic read and for sure a 5 star!!!
I was gripped immediately. I love a feminist storyline and most books I read must have a strong female protagonist at the forefront. Wet Ink stands out. Describing itself as a voice for the women of the 60s/70s the book does more than that, and I think that was the intention. Despite being set in a time way before my own, I found myself relating to each woman, to their frustrations towards men, feeling as though they are bound to a life where they are actively ignored.
I highly recommend this book, it’s a fantastic read and for sure a 5 star!!!
October 19, 2026
Reading this book was like watching a movie in my mind! Set in the 60s but this book encapsulates so well what it’s like to be a woman even now!! This is a story of feminism, sex, and gender gaps but told through the unique lens of a woman writing erotica for the FEMALE gaze during a time when it was not something men and even some women thought was important!
A fun, frustrating, fulfilling book! The importance of community and how women can empower one another was written so beautifully💗 but don’t get me started on the men, the author did really well at building up my hatred for certain male characters🤣
A fun, frustrating, fulfilling book! The importance of community and how women can empower one another was written so beautifully💗 but don’t get me started on the men, the author did really well at building up my hatred for certain male characters🤣
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think that fans of Made in Dagenham will like this. This book made me laugh and cry at certain points. Realising the lack of agency that married women had and taking control of their lives through tupperware parties initially until the story develops demonstrates the real power of women.
Mitzy the main character and her friends are realistic women. They're not perfect and they are managing marriages and family lives with different circumstances that we can all relate to. I rooted for Mitzy to succeed and it was really refreshing to have a story that shows having to juggle multiple jobs, childcare and managing a household - although set in 1969 it still resonates today.
Mitzy the main character and her friends are realistic women. They're not perfect and they are managing marriages and family lives with different circumstances that we can all relate to. I rooted for Mitzy to succeed and it was really refreshing to have a story that shows having to juggle multiple jobs, childcare and managing a household - although set in 1969 it still resonates today.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I predict this is going to be one of the buzziest books of 2027, and with great reason. The premise is so unique and draws you in: a stay-at-home mom in 1970s London starts an erotica empire through Tupperware parties. And the read not only delivers, it exceeds expectations. It’s a whip-smart, razor-sharp, and heartfelt look at motherhood, female desire, societal expectations, and the feminist revolution. It’s equal parts funny, tender and thought-provoking. This is one of my favourite reads of the year, and I know readers are going to fall in love with Mitzy just as much as I did !
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