Reviews

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

alliefreckles's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

katiegilley's review against another edition

Go to review page

I have been wanting to read this for so long because people talk about how frightening it is and hold it up as an ideal piece of gothic literature. I haven’t read a ton of gothic literature so I was really excited to finally finish this highly revered work.

And it was good and creepy. I loved Manderley, the sprawling mansion that is owned by Maxim de Winter – isn’t that just the perfect name? Mr. de Winter meets his new bride, the story’s narrator, on holiday in Monte Carlo. She is shy, inexperienced, and working as a lady’s maid for a horrible woman that is humiliating to be around. Much to the narrator’s surprise, they fall in love with each other, get married, and he whisks her off to Manderley.

Along the way, she learns minimal details about the tragic death of Rebecca, his first wife. And as soon as she walks in the doors of Manderley, she can feel Rebecca’s touch everywhere. Could she still be in the house?

This book is totally atmospheric. I could imagine myself sitting in Rebecca’s morning room and writing letters, reading the newspaper, and going over menus. I desperately want my own room like that!

This book wasn’t as terrifying as I’d hoped it would be but it was thrilling, nonetheless. It was a great read for the Halloween season!

ellacolton's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

valsometimesreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

4.0

Local delulu woman accidentally stumbles into a murder mystery 

Featuring: The most toxic main cast you’ll ever meet 

Interesting read, main thing for me was how slowww some of the early parts felt. Also I thought the portrayals of the MC’s paranoia/fantasizing was very interesting but it also made me want to DNF because I was getting so annoyed with her 

All that aside, the text in this is RICH and the prose is so incredibly vivid and well constructed. The characters themselves are also so interesting and I feel like I could literally write essays on them lol

cupie513's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I still think about this book weeks after reading and recommend highly to all. A must read that I will be revisiting.

epl's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lunacanread's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

(i fully recognize the value of this book, the rating just refers to how i enjoyed the story)
i wanted to like this more. i did love the setting, nature descriptions, flushed out characters and writing in general. i was just more interested in Rebecca’s life than in what’s going on in the main character’s mind. like what do you mean im supposed to hate the original female manipulator femme fatale? the creation of the feeling that Rebecca’s shadow is always present was brilliantly done though.

estellegodard's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-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

3.75

once I found my groove, I was very interested and invested in the story. I thought there was good tension and it did not take the path I expected at all. however, I find that the pacing can sometimes be irregular and it’s a really slow beginning. I enjoyed the mysterious ending a lot. 

hgwilley's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

leasa's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

3.75