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A review by chondritesandchondrites
The Maid by Nita Prose
emotional
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
3.5
The Maid is a difficult book to review. Like most mysteries, the first half of the book is set up and the second half is about revealing answers. Once I hit the midway point in this novel, I really started to enjoy it. It was fast paced, playful, and unexpected. I was incredibly invested, and had trouble putting the book down. At one point, I was crying while reading.
All this said, I nearly didn’t get to the mid point of this book. The first half I found slow and difficult to read. I felt, at times, that the author did not trust the reader as certain points were repeated with a heavy hand. Additionally, Molly’s social awkwardness plays a key role in this book, but it also feels over done to the point of caricature.
I’ve seen other readers speculating on whether Molly is autistic. There is no point in the book where Molly is identified as such, and that’s honestly a good thing. It would be a very poor representation of an autistic person.
As such— I give this book 3.5. While readers might have to weather the first half of the book, the second half is a great read and incredibly fun.
All this said, I nearly didn’t get to the mid point of this book. The first half I found slow and difficult to read. I felt, at times, that the author did not trust the reader as certain points were repeated with a heavy hand. Additionally, Molly’s social awkwardness plays a key role in this book, but it also feels over done to the point of caricature.
I’ve seen other readers speculating on whether Molly is autistic. There is no point in the book where Molly is identified as such, and that’s honestly a good thing. It would be a very poor representation of an autistic person.
As such— I give this book 3.5. While readers might have to weather the first half of the book, the second half is a great read and incredibly fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Suicide, Drug use, Infidelity, Abandonment, Deportation, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Additional Content Warning: Assisted Suicide