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shaney_swift's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual harassment
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
- I almost never read thrillers, especially the subgenre of Wife this and Wife that thrillers. But I made an exception for THE WIFE UPSTAIRS because it's a retelling of one of my favorite classic novels - JANE EYRE.
- And am I glad I did! I tore through it in less than a day. THE WIFE UPSTAIRS is pure book candy - rich people behaving badly, a young woman escaping a dark past, murder most foul, etc.
- You definitely don't need to have read JANE EYRE to enjoy this book, but if you have, you'll spot some delightful callbacks in the names and details.
- And am I glad I did! I tore through it in less than a day. THE WIFE UPSTAIRS is pure book candy - rich people behaving badly, a young woman escaping a dark past, murder most foul, etc.
- You definitely don't need to have read JANE EYRE to enjoy this book, but if you have, you'll spot some delightful callbacks in the names and details.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Violence
gwendolyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I have been putting off this review for a long time and I think it is because I am not quite sure what to say about this book. It was good. Interesting. But it didn't blow me out of the water. I have not read Jane Eyre, so I cannot speak on the connections to that story, but I was drawn in by Rachel Hawkins's twist on the story.
I found the characters to be intriguing but not likable. Quite honestly, I was annoyed by Jane's incessant want to be in the riches crowd. It was annoying and made her character come off as manipulative, fake, and vindictive. And Eddie's character, I just couldn't trust. I wanted to like him, but then something would happen and I would become super suspicious of him and his motives again.
As for Bea, I thought her character brought shape to the story along with some shocking events, but the transitions between her narration in the present and the past felt really choppy and muddy to me. This could be because I listened to the audio version, but I definitely think better transitions could have been used.
I did enjoy the story, and I am interested in reading this book in physical formate to see if that makes a difference in my opinions, but I think I would like to pick up Jane Eyre first.
I found the characters to be intriguing but not likable. Quite honestly, I was annoyed by Jane's incessant want to be in the riches crowd. It was annoying and made her character come off as manipulative, fake, and vindictive. And Eddie's character, I just couldn't trust. I wanted to like him, but then something would happen and I would become super suspicious of him and his motives again.
As for Bea, I thought her character brought shape to the story along with some shocking events, but the transitions between her narration in the present and the past felt really choppy and muddy to me. This could be because I listened to the audio version, but I definitely think better transitions could have been used.
I did enjoy the story, and I am interested in reading this book in physical formate to see if that makes a difference in my opinions, but I think I would like to pick up Jane Eyre first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Blood, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Murder
manipulation, blackmailkelecoo's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
kristinkravesbooks's review
dark
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to Libro fm for sending me an ALC in exchange for an honest review. I thought that the narration was fantastic and I didn't want to stop listening!
As The Wife Upstairs is a Jane Eyre retelling, there is an element of predictability that I expected going into it. That said, Rachel Hawkins added a few twists that I thought were interesting and I so appreciated how she made Jane less naïve and more conniving. She felt like less of a pawn in this retelling, which was refreshing to see!
None of these characters are likeable, but that is the entire point. I am not someone who needs likeable characters to enjoy a book, but know going into this that none of them have any redeeming qualities. That said, I did understand most of their motivations, which is important to me when reading about characters like this.
I actually liked the ending, but I found it to be rather abrupt!
I am picky when it comes to my thrillers, but this is one that I enjoyed and is more of a 3.5 stars! Definitely one I could see myself recommending to a lot of readers.
As The Wife Upstairs is a Jane Eyre retelling, there is an element of predictability that I expected going into it. That said, Rachel Hawkins added a few twists that I thought were interesting and I so appreciated how she made Jane less naïve and more conniving. She felt like less of a pawn in this retelling, which was refreshing to see!
None of these characters are likeable, but that is the entire point. I am not someone who needs likeable characters to enjoy a book, but know going into this that none of them have any redeeming qualities. That said, I did understand most of their motivations, which is important to me when reading about characters like this.
I actually liked the ending, but I found it to be rather abrupt!
I am picky when it comes to my thrillers, but this is one that I enjoyed and is more of a 3.5 stars! Definitely one I could see myself recommending to a lot of readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism and Violence
browneyedbookworm's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received an advanced copy from the publisher to participate in a book club.
I enjoyed the suspense and mystery of this novel. I found the writing to be very well down and the overall development of the story to be good. I did not enjoy the characters personalities though. I felt none of them were relatable. They were the cookie cutter rich community that no one likes imo. I also wish there was more to the ending.
Overall I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel.
I enjoyed the suspense and mystery of this novel. I found the writing to be very well down and the overall development of the story to be good. I did not enjoy the characters personalities though. I felt none of them were relatable. They were the cookie cutter rich community that no one likes imo. I also wish there was more to the ending.
Overall I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
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