Viewership On September 11, 2024, Hulu announced that
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was the streaming service's most-watched unscripted season premiere of 2024. It reached No. 7 on the
Nielsen streaming ratings for original series during the week of September 2–8, 2024, becoming Hulu's first unscripted series to chart in the rankings. TVision, which utilizes its TVision Power Score to evaluate
CTV programming performance by factoring in viewership and engagement across over 1,000 apps and incorporating four key metrics—viewer attention time, total program time available for the season, program reach, and app reach—calculated that
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was the tenth most-streamed show during the week of September 2 to 8, 2024. It later moved to eighth place from September 9 to September 15, 2024.
Whip Media, which tracks viewership data for the more than 25 million worldwide users of its
TV Time app, calculated that the series was the tenth most-streamed original series during the week of September 15, 2024. The second season of the series was viewed 5 million times within the first five days of its release in May 2025.
Critical response David Oliver of
USA Today praised
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for its effective mix of elements from
Gossip Girl,
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and
Mean Girls. He found the series engaging, highlighting its focus on themes like friendship, faith, infidelity, and scandal within a group of Mormon influencers. Oliver noted that the show stands out for its candid portrayal of issues such as sex, divorce, and emotional abuse, presenting a bold and honest depiction of Mormon women confronting societal expectations. Samantha Nungesser of
Decider stated that
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives lives up to its reputation by keeping viewers fully engaged with its dramatic twists. Nungesser found the focus on Paul's swinging scandal and arrest particularly interesting, especially noting the shocking body-cam footage. She praised the series for effectively blending personal drama, such as marital struggles and trust issues, with insights into Mormon culture. Highlighting intense moments like Jen's marital threats and Whitney's departure from "#MomTok," Nungesser described the show as a must-watch reality series filled with scandal and emotion. Yonni Uribe of
SLUG Magazine complimented
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for sparking discussions about Mormonism and personal authenticity, despite initial concerns about its portrayal of the religion. They concluded with enthusiasm for the show's engaging drama and anticipation for future seasons. While
Jessica Grose of
The New York Times noted that the series was "being sold as regular reality TV dreck", she did not expect the series' deeper theme of religious conflict within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints community, particularly among women navigating tensions between the teachings of their faith and broader societal norms in the 21st century. Sarah Stiefvater of
PureWow described
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as a captivating reality series that she binge-watched in a single day. She praised the show for its blend of scandal, personal drama, and distinctive Mormon culture. Stiefvater highlighted the series's authentic portrayal of the complex struggles among the women of "#MomTok," noting its contrast to the more contrived drama of other reality TV series. She appreciated the mix of piety and hypocrisy, particularly in the dynamics between Taylor Frankie Paul and Whitney Leavitt, and valued the genuine moments of female solidarity. Despite the show's quirks and the sometimes questionable decisions of its cast, Stiefvater found it to be "reality TV gold" and eagerly anticipates the next season.
Monica Hesse of
The Washington Post said that
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives highlights the irony of social media influencers who promote traditional homemaking while secretly being the primary earners. Hesse found that, despite its "petty dramas" and "trash buffet" feel, the show effectively exposes the effort these women put into maintaining the illusion of domesticity. She praised the series for revealing the contradictions between the influencers' public personas and private realities, noting that their apparent self-subjugation is intertwined with self-possession in their successful careers. Kevin Fallon of
The Daily Beast asserted that
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives captures viewers with its chaotic mix of reality TV tropes, finding the cast's pursuit of fame both baffling and irresistible. Fallon noted that the show's tone is inconsistent and its storytelling shallow, particularly in how it glosses over major plot points such as the swinger scandal. Despite these shortcomings, Fallon complimented the series for being oddly captivating, drawing him into its web of drama, confusion, and intrigue, and leaving Fallon wanting more despite his initial reservations.
LDS Church response On August 16, 2024, ahead of the series' release,
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) released the following statement on their website: They also spoke to the fascination that viewers have with the LDS Church, stating: A
Change.org petition urging Hulu to cancel the series was created prior to the series' premiere. Along with the LDS Church, several leaders within the faith have spoken against the nature of the show and its virality, specifically what it means for the public perception of its followers. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, a sex therapist and marriage counselor, stated that the show could "feed the fantasies" of outsiders who believe LDS Church members do not believe in chastity and fidelity. In an opinion piece for the
Deseret News, which is owned by the LDS Church, editor Sarah Jane Weaver stated, "The
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is not a representation of me or my friends or my daughters or their friends or of the women I have met across the globe. It simply is not. My invitation and plea to any media writing about these women is simple. There are millions of Latter-day Saint women who live their faith differently than these outliers being promoted online. They are smart, educated, funny and content. Find them, talk to them and tell their stories." Dancer and businesswoman
Lindsay Arnold, a member of the LDS Church, stated, "I think there's a lot of people out there mad about the show, upset about it. I honestly really don't feel any of those things. I watched. I was entertained." ==Spin-offs==