bigmamahughes 's review for:

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

3.25

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

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I liked the premise of this story, liked the nods to Jane Eyre that at the same time acknowledged that Rochester was an ass, but it felt way too short. I’d have liked the characters to be more fleshed out, and the Southern-ness of it to be more pronounced. I found it predictable, probably because of how rushed it was. The characters felt flat (but that might be because of my visceral dislike of most of them).

I did like the very open ending, and that Jane and Adele wound up comfortably on their own. I liked the alternate ending as well.

I’m not a huge fan of the writing style, but I think that’s a me thing (I’m old and have noticed that many newer books are written this way).  If you’re looking for a quick read that’s dark, not at all sappy, and semi-mindless, this is for you. If you’re looking for an opulent Southern gothic novel that makes you smell the magnolia blossoms and feel like the humidity is smothering you until a light breeze causes the Spanish moss to sway in the centuries-old sprawling live oaks, all while feeling a growing sense of dread covered in honeyed manners… you better keep looking.