Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

364 reviews

abigaelf's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Torture, and Violence

abicaro17's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Oh damm. Oh DAMM. OH DAMM. This is awesome. Millie is an ex-con looking for a new job after she was fired from her last job. Nina Winchester is looking for a housekeeper to help cook and clean but, also look after her daughter Cecelia occasionally. As Millie spends more and more time in the house she realizes that the perfect Winchesters aren't so perfect. This book is the perfect mix of slow burn and engaging. The plot unfolds at a nice pace but leaves a lot for the ending climax. My only real issue with this is a level of predictability. Not sure if its my Criminal Minds addiction or what but, The first few chapters of character description and background told me all I needed to know. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Drug use, Infertility, Alcohol, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, and Violence

sophieamreacher's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

Read in one day. Good premise and kept me interested. Was unsure about how the book was split up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Murder, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Deportation, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Domestic abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Gore, Grief, Vomit, Misogyny, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Kidnapping, Self harm, Racism, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

naturenoble's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Loved this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cursing, Drug use, Infertility, Murder, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Trafficking

cerysmary's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Easily one of the best books I’ve read. The pace was perfect and the twists were excellent!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Infertility, Physical abuse, Torture, Gaslighting, Murder, and Toxic relationship

bobinsbooknook's review

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Finally jumped into the housemaid series and absolutely loved it! The nice short chapters made it very quick read and kept me hooked throughout. 

I love how the characters develop and shift throughout this book which really change up the dynamic of the plot - particularly with the dual POVs and parts. 

Nina’s behaviour in the first part of the book really set me on edge and the shift in POV really brought a whole new dimension to her character which made her a character I loved to hate - to one that I felt so sorry for.

I enjoy Friedas writing style a lot and the unraveling of the twists. I will say, whilst some of the plot points were a bit predictable in places, I enjoyed how they were written regardless and didn’t dampen my enjoyment in it.

I had predicted that Andrew would be twisted in some way though not to the extent that this book goes into - I mean the gaslighting sure and locking the women in the attic? Sure - but getting them to pull their own hair out and torture themselves … nope didn’t expect that!

I am loving the premise of this book and will be looking to dive into the next instalment soon! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Torture, and Confinement

Minor: Child abuse

nishalovesbooks's review against another edition

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Torture, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

tashy49's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Emotional abuse

alis143's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Infertility, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual content

cinzia_2509'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

3.0

What a disappointment. It’s too similar to "The Last Mrs. Parrish" (which I much preferred and which was released first and much better overall) and it’s also too similar to “The Wife Between Us” (also basically a copy of The Last Mrs. Parrish by the way). You can tell exactly what the twist is from the beginning if you have read any of the two books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Torture

Moderate: Infidelity and Gaslighting