Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

44 reviews

kt2e56's review

dark 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? It's complicated

2.5

The narrator was awful (begging more voice actors to learn what an actual Brooklyn accent sounds like. Also she outright just didn’t know how to pronounce simple words? Is there no editing in Audiobooks?) and both Millie and Nina were competing in the Pick Me! Olympics and were really frustrating to read about because they both felt so completely underdeveloped .

It’s weird how little detail McFadden gives us. Is this a new trend? Taylor Jenkins Reid writes like this too. They just assume “a large, expensive looking room” or “white pants” are enough when none of that actually paints a picture for me as a reader. There was more detail (like ten pages worth) and description when Nina accidentally squirts breast milk everywhere at work than there is like anything else in this book.

Also

Millie’s backstory makes zero sense to me. You’d think someone who spent 10 years in prison would have more street smarts and common sense but no. She makes the most absurd mistakes.

And she really leans HARD into the whole “pick me!” NLOG thing. It was hard not to roll my eyes every time she said something along the lines of “Nina is an ugly fat bitch unlike me who is sexy and petite and model gorgeous (despite doing 10 years in prison then living in my car for months) but also young and fertile.” Like girl, STAND UP. Have some self respect lmfao. No man is worth it.

Especially not the blank void of a character that is Andrew (we just know he’s hot but we’re never given much description part that and even before shit gets crazy, he has no personality at all). 

Nina and Enzo’s scheme also makes ZERO sense. And is pretty revolting tbh. It’s weird that they both really thought setting up another woman to be tortured by Andrew was a good idea.

This is another example of an author being so wrapped up in having a twist that they forgot how to actually develop one that makes sense.

This was a fast listen and entertaining enough so 2.5 stars is I think an adequate rating but yeah, the author has a lot of work to do before writing anything else 😬

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

eryncaroline's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.5

Book Club has started strong this year! It is incredibly fast-paced, with short chapters that keep you powering through it. I love a mystery that makes you desperate to know more and understand, and this sucks you in from the very first chapter. That "I need to know" feeling propels you through this story. The twists that they advertise on the cover do not disappoint, and I was absolutely shocked. The last 40% of the book keeps you on your toes. Be prepared to read this in one sitting!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Murder, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Infidelity, Body shaming, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Infertility, Gore, and Death

The confinement and physical/mental abuse in a domestic violence situation are prevalent throughout this book. The fat shaming and comments on one of the character's body, weight and general appearance can be difficult to read.

missinfermiera's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, Misogyny, Torture, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

ju_harue's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Murder, Torture, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Stalking

anaam38's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence

ajhowe2's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Deportation, Confinement, Medical trauma, Classism, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Body horror, Blood, Physical abuse, Torture, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Death

sharlapeggy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Devoured in a day. Loved this book. Loved everything about it. Gripped me from start to finish and was everything I needed. 

This gave me the same feelings as Verity and What Lies Between Us and Gone Girl. All the same feelings. It’s fantastic and I can’t stop thinking about it. 

WWW:
- First person 
- Millie was a fun character to get to know
- THE ENDING
- THE TWIST
- NINA’S POV
- THE OTHER TWIST
- Made me think 
- Read in a day

EBI 
- Could have been a bit spicier in places but really didn’t need it. 
- loved it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Domestic abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, Torture, Rape, Misogyny, Mental illness, Self harm, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

sarah_amy's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Up there with my favourite thrillers - so much so that after my first listen, I started again immediately. Very cleverly crafted; I did not see the twists coming. It made me feel strong things about the characters and what was going on - a sign of a great read. Be prepared - it's very dark and graphic but will leave your jaw on the floor.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Stalking, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Confinement

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Infertility, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content

kaelizaco's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Infertility, and Rape

lilla_j's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Death of parent, Deportation, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, and Suicide