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dcnireads 's review for:
The Housemaid Is Watching
by Freida McFadden
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
SPOILERS AHEAD
i forgot how good this series is at putting me through a rollercoaster of near absolute shock, rage, and dread. im normally the kind who cannot handle when things go on a steady stream downhill during a tense book but in the case of the housemaid series, i just couldn' tput them down no matter how angry and stressed i got.
these books manage to evoke all these emotions in me while still managing to be an easy, simple read that isn't too hard to follow like some mystery novels are. not to mention, a good amount of time has passed since i read the last two books, and yet my feelings for these characters did not change and i still felt immensely attached and protective of them.
i missed enzo and millie, im so proud of how far they've come and the life they built for themselves (especially millie, my best girl with her unintentionally hilarious inner monologue), and i had no trouble at all falling in love with their children as well. the whole time i was just fearing for nico's safety and mental state, same goes for ada, but i was also simultaneously cheering her on for avenging her brother and embracing those genetics her parents passed down to her. if ada's already that badass at 11, i cant wait to see what nico will be like once he recovers from his trauma and grows into himself. both of these kids are gonna be cool as shit imo.
my only real problem with this series has always been the same as before, and that sometimes the endings do feel a little rushed and cheap, especially on this particulara novel. i appreciated that millie's reputation as a savior of abused women wasn't just a forgotten plot that was thrown away, and i like that martha had a small connection to her from the start, but i didn't like how she was used as a plot device for freida's signature final plot twist in the epilogue. that reveal kinda felt cheap, not to mention unfair towards ada bc now her parents are fully concerned and believe that she intentionally mutilated and murdered that man (although he would've 100% deserved it from her) when the truth all she really did was defend herself and martha finished him. great way to give martha a more significant role in the plot, but it did feel a bit lazy
that being said, i have no other complaints. this series is so fun and while i understand the importance of letting stories stay ended, i am a simple gal who loves to eat up sequels and spin offs, so i wouldn't mind one about a grown up version of the accardi siblings (with millie and enzo alive and well of course. wouldn't accept it any other way.)
in conclusion: 4.5 stars
P.S. justice for that kid spencer. he's way too old to be on a leash and doesn;t deserve to grow in such a strict, sheltered, unhealthy environment. with a mother like janice, poor boy's gonna be in therapy for the rest of his life if he ever makes it out. and i hope he does. #freespencer
i forgot how good this series is at putting me through a rollercoaster of near absolute shock, rage, and dread. im normally the kind who cannot handle when things go on a steady stream downhill during a tense book but in the case of the housemaid series, i just couldn' tput them down no matter how angry and stressed i got.
these books manage to evoke all these emotions in me while still managing to be an easy, simple read that isn't too hard to follow like some mystery novels are. not to mention, a good amount of time has passed since i read the last two books, and yet my feelings for these characters did not change and i still felt immensely attached and protective of them.
i missed enzo and millie, im so proud of how far they've come and the life they built for themselves (especially millie, my best girl with her unintentionally hilarious inner monologue), and i had no trouble at all falling in love with their children as well. the whole time i was just fearing for nico's safety and mental state, same goes for ada, but i was also simultaneously cheering her on for avenging her brother and embracing those genetics her parents passed down to her. if ada's already that badass at 11, i cant wait to see what nico will be like once he recovers from his trauma and grows into himself. both of these kids are gonna be cool as shit imo.
my only real problem with this series has always been the same as before, and that sometimes the endings do feel a little rushed and cheap, especially on this particulara novel. i appreciated that millie's reputation as a savior of abused women wasn't just a forgotten plot that was thrown away, and i like that martha had a small connection to her from the start, but i didn't like how she was used as a plot device for freida's signature final plot twist in the epilogue. that reveal kinda felt cheap, not to mention unfair towards ada bc now her parents are fully concerned and believe that she intentionally mutilated and murdered that man (although he would've 100% deserved it from her) when the truth all she really did was defend herself and martha finished him. great way to give martha a more significant role in the plot, but it did feel a bit lazy
that being said, i have no other complaints. this series is so fun and while i understand the importance of letting stories stay ended, i am a simple gal who loves to eat up sequels and spin offs, so i wouldn't mind one about a grown up version of the accardi siblings (with millie and enzo alive and well of course. wouldn't accept it any other way.)
in conclusion: 4.5 stars
P.S. justice for that kid spencer. he's way too old to be on a leash and doesn;t deserve to grow in such a strict, sheltered, unhealthy environment. with a mother like janice, poor boy's gonna be in therapy for the rest of his life if he ever makes it out. and i hope he does. #freespencer
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Blood, Murder
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Dementia