Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

42 reviews

jessthemess8112's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

I enjoyed this read! I definitely was not expecting the ending however, I feel like Enzo's character was kind of a throwaway. He didn't add any real value to the storyline and could've been written much better. I also wish we would've gotten more background on the main character. We get small snippets of her past but not enough to really paint a whole picture as to why she does things the way she does or how she got involved in the lifestyle.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Stalking

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

k8lynn's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

binged this in a day!

i just didn't like how the structure mirrored the first book. i wish she would have made it more diverse!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Rape, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Blood, Death, and Toxic relationship

drybay's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.5

The book kept me entertained, but I cannot really compliment it on its literary accomplishements. It was quite frustrating how Millies situation hadn't really changed from the first book, the writing style was a bit pretentious from time to time and I'm still a bit on the fence about the ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Blood, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Chronic illness, Gun violence, and Fatphobia

Minor: Suicide

kfquarium's review against another edition

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Alcohol, Blood, Stalking, Excrement, and Vomit

ava_rec16's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Blood, Torture, Toxic relationship, Grief, Kidnapping, Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Gore

sharlapeggy's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Gripped. Start to finish. I loved the Housemaid but somehow, this was better. You didn’t really need to have read the housemaid to read this - apart from knowing Millie’s backstory. But both books are 5*. I genuinely didn’t see either twist coming!!!! Amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Stalking, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Infertility, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Gore, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Vomit, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Blood

purplesky25276's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I really enjoyed this sequel.  I loved how it was different from the last one. I like the different approach to this second book. The characters were fantasticly done well. This book was well written.  The storyline was a masterpiece.  I can't wait for the next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Torture, Murder, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Self harm, Death, Police brutality, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Blood, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Infertility, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Torture, Infidelity, Bullying, Vomit, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Abandonment, Suicide, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Self harm

vbarker91's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Death, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Minor: Suicide, Rape, Infertility, and Gun violence

besidemyshelf's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Infidelity, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Violence, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

ara_beg's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No

3.5

Ok but not as good as the first one in my opinion. The story wasn’t as intriguing and the writing was not great (a bit repetitive and unrealistic at times).

For example, Millie’s reasoning for not getting back with Enzo and trying to make it sound like he abandoned her (when in fact he was supporting his sick mother) was really annoying. Also, I thought Wendy’s character was poorly written, at least in part two and forward, when we got to see her perspective. I get that she is supposed to be a highly unlikable character which is fine, but it just wasn’t written well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Vomit