A review by shantastic_reads
The Maid by Nita Prose

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really enjoyed seeing the world through the neurodiverse main character's point of view.  There were several moments when my eyes teared up reading how she experienced bullying and her struggle to react in stressful situations.  The book evokes empathy and emotion, and I wonder if the author has experience with a loved one or worked with people with autism.  Although this book is a quick read and has feel-good moments, there are parts that are upsetting due to how others treat the main character, and her struggle to get by despite acute grief over her grandmother's death, when she was the only person who she could rely on to help her understand others' words and actions. 

As much as I appreciated the narrative, the story unravels in a hasty and wildly unrealistic way. I'm a lawyer, but I can set aside my annoyance with legal inaccuracies to indulge in a good story. This one stretches waaaaay too far, and suspension of disbelief is impossible.  The ending is heavy-handed, contrived, and sloppy regarding certain details (To avoid revealing spoilers I'll leave it at that.)  
Overall I'm glad I read it, but I wish more care had been put into the last third of the book.  It definitely takes a lot from Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, so if you liked that one, this one is worth checking out. Just temper your expectations. 
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