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dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization
Minor: Drug use, Suicide attempt
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
RECAP: Each day, Millie cleans Andrew & Nina Winchesters’ beautiful home, cares for their daughter & cooks their meals - at the end of the day, she retreats to her attic room. She tries to ignore Nina’s mind games & Andrew’s quiet sadness, though his eyes make Millie wonder what it'd be like to live Nina's life. Millie only tries on one of her employer's dresses once, but when Nina finds out, Millie learns that the door to her room locks from the outside. Still, the Winchesters' have no idea who the housemaid really is, or what she's capable of.
REVIEW: Quick listen, thought it was dual narration for a hot minute. This was The Last Mrs. Parrish on a darker level. It was entertaining, but I found it all too predictable - the twist (twists?) wasn't all that jaw dropping either... Good popcorn thriller, though.
PS: Author's headshot on her Goodreads account reminds me of Kitty from Arrested Development (IYKYK)
REVIEW: Quick listen, thought it was dual narration for a hot minute. This was The Last Mrs. Parrish on a darker level. It was entertaining, but I found it all too predictable - the twist (twists?) wasn't all that jaw dropping either... Good popcorn thriller, though.
PS: Author's headshot on her Goodreads account reminds me of Kitty from Arrested Development (IYKYK)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture
Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Murder
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual content
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Housemaid was a thrilling book that was engaging until the very end. The author did a great job building characters that you started out hating and then loved by the end. This book was not something I would typically read as it has a lot of content warnings that I tend to avoid, but it was a gift, so be warned before reading. A few portions of the book I tried to read as fast as possible because it was making me so uncomfortable. Kudos to the author, but not really something I want to experience again! The ending was a bit rushed. I would’ve liked a bit more detail on the aftermath of the story. Also, just a PSA, it is illegal for a company to have you pump breast milk in a bathroom, they must provide a sanitary separate room! I don’t want anyone to think that is normal or okay! PSA over!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting
Moderate: Infertility, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
📚 Book Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 out of 5 “What in the actual hell?!” stars
Listen… this book right here? It’s plot twist thick and full of Grade A certified crazy.
When I first started listening, I was like, “Yep, it’s the wife. She’s unhinged. Case closed.” Then the daughter started giving off weird little creepy doll energy and I’m like “Wait… maybe it’s her?” But THEN, the husband’s behavior started getting real suspect, and I was convinced he was the puppet master behind it all. But oh no—Freida McFadden said “hold my plot twist.”
Because boom—it was the mother-in-law that made the son crazy and passed the crazy down to him. Then walked away all nonchalant like oh thank you for making him learn his lesson.
This book is a psychological circus and I was here for every unhinged moment. It was absolutely wild—but in the best way. I couldn’t stop listening. Millie is the true MVP, okay? That woman deserves a damn vacation and a therapy fund. And Enzo? Our quiet king? He came through like a boss and deserves an honorable mention.
Needless to say, I’m fully invested in this series now. Bring on the next one—I’m ready for more madness. 🎧🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was recommended to me by a coworker and I listed to the audiobook. I found it to be very easy to listen to and one I didn’t want to end. There were unexpected twists and I didn’t mind how it ended. It was a bit of a slow start and a fast paced end. Overall I enjoyed the story and will most likely listen to the rest of the series as well as check out the authors other books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Gaslighting
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the previous work I have read from Freida, and this is obviously one of her most loved books. I get nervous when I read popular books as I try not to get too sucked in to the hype. This book was alright, I think I was expecting more.
This book is based on Millie and every day she cleans the Winchesters' beautiful house from top to bottom. She collects their daughter from school, and she cooks a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in her tiny room on the top floor. She tries to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch her clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as she looks into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to love Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car and the perfect husband. Millie only tried on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once, just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out, and by the time she realises her attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late. But she assures herself: the Winchesters don’t know who she really is, and they don’t know what she is capable of.
I think I was waiting for something creepier and more sinister, I mean yeah, this book was freaky and messed up. But from all the hype around Enzo and Millie, I was expecting more. I knew it wasn’t Nina, and I knew Andrew wasn’t perfect. I thought this was going to be more Enzo related and I was just waiting for more. This book was about to be rated three stars until that last chapter and then I was so shocked at what happened when it became a full circle moment. I think that is the main thing is Freida’s work, it’s all very chill and then BAM, I think I was just hoping to have the BAM a bit sooner. It was the same with The Inmate. I like crime thriller books from Chris Carter and Steve Cavanagh and all those books are very fast and action-packed from page one where I feel like I must make myself push through with Freida’s books to get to the BAM point. I think it could have been a bit darker and more graphic.
I liked Millie and how she was a strong woman but was also terrified and just trying to keep a job. Freida did a great job at showing how difficult it could be for convicts to get a job after they leave prison, especially for Millie’s case where she was convicted when she was young. I loved how she ended up standing up for herself and Nina. I would have liked to see their friendship develop more especially with Nina’s child as she doesn’t trust anyone, I would have liked to see Cecilia trust Millie. It was very fast paced and a different storyline besides the fact of the “perfect husband and psycho wife” which has been done several times.
I’m intrigued with how this is going to carry on as a series when I feel like it should be a standalone, but we shall see how it goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture
Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Murder
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content