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jhbandcats 's review for:
The Housemaid
by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read the first half thinking this book was ho-hum, another psychological thriller with unpleasant characters told by unreliable narrators. None of the characters were at all likable. It reminded me of Gone Girl with its horrible people treating others terribly.
Then I got to Part II and, boy, what a twist. The narrators really aren’t that unlikable after all, and they aren’t unreliable either. The entire story shifted, everything I’d thought was happening was wrong. And it was such a delightful surprise.
I’d seen the movie trailer and decided to read the book. I’m so glad I made that decision. This was really pretty darned great.
Then I got to Part II and, boy, what a twist. The narrators really aren’t that unlikable after all, and they aren’t unreliable either. The entire story shifted, everything I’d thought was happening was wrong. And it was such a delightful surprise.
I’d seen the movie trailer and decided to read the book. I’m so glad I made that decision. This was really pretty darned great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Classism