Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

415 reviews

hhanock's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

jalexand's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Torture

Moderate: Mental illness

saraavowlerr's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

kjm19's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I haven’t read a book like this in a very long time - probably since the Girl on the Train?

An incredibly fast-paced crime/thriller novel about a woman on parole who is hired to be a live-in family maid. You can see twists and turns coming for the most part, but you don’t know the specifics and that’s what keeps you on your toes. 

The change of POV at a critical point in the story didn’t leave me wanting more, in fact it answered some questions but also gave me a thirst for more answers. 

The plot centring on the injustices of the prison system and how poorly women in abusive relationships are treated by law enforcement and the ‘establishment’ made it more impactful for me. 

Other than the police chief person’s daughter being Andy’s ex (cliche, lazy, forced…), the ending (last chapter with Andy’s mum at the funeral and the epilogue with Millie being interviewed at a new place) chefs kiss. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

key2's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

alyssams884's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Minor: Infertility, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

svalles's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

frubia56's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

If you can get past the first third of the book, you’ll absolutely love it. It’s a difficult read in the beginning with how awful Nina is, but the twists in the end explains it all and makes it worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Torture

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

aschmitttyy'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? Yes

4.5

One of my favorite thrillers I've ever read. The amount of detail that went into the plot line, and the way it wrapped up was just insane. Will be recommending this book to everyone who loves a thriller! Looking forward to reading more of Freida.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Blood

jessrad505's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Blood