Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

415 reviews

tlclark73's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

An absolute must read. A real page turner 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization

marytreybig's review against another edition

5.0

It lived up to the hype! I read this book so fast and lost sleep to keep reading. What an insane whirlwind. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Torture, and Violence

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

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

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.

hmwoodward's review

dark mysterious 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

4.0

The first book club selection of the year went by fast! The book starts at the end and you are left to try and piece it together before it is all over. You definitely are led to believe the story will take you one way and then it takes you another. I don't want to spoil it, but it doesn't go exactly how I anticipated it would at the start.

Was this the best book I'll read this year? No. But I definitely enjoyed the ride and would recommend it to others (who are ok with the large number of content warnings applied here).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent

fluffik's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.0

Insanely well written, horrifying story that I couldn't put down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

triggs4780's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Gaslighting

klo_bug287's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Really good and kept me reading by every chapter! Kind of a slow start but definitely worth it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, and Murder

Good book but it can get kinda graphic especially towards the end.

hue's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

Can I say I'm disappointed when I did not except a thing?

I liked the ending, however

I'm tired of reading thrillers that end up being about horny women bedding someone's husband.

The build-up wasn't great and the twists didn't work because there was barely any clues to begin with. Lack of information does not make a twist great. Poorly done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

cole_anthony's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• 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, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

eleanorives's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.5

A really good and fast paced thriller - loved the twist and turns at the end. But only downside was that it was a bit predictable, and the reveal of why Millie was in prison was anti-climatic after teasing us all book. I felt like the book could’ve expanded on a few things, like the main murder scenes, so could have been longer.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Torture, and Murder