When Marilla and Matthew made the decision to adopt a boy, they never imagined their lives would be turned upside down by a red-haired, imaginative, and endlessly chatty girl who always seems to attract trouble. Little did they know, Anne, spelled with an E, would weave her way into their hearts and make their existence unimaginable without her.

Anne is 11 years old when the book begins, and nearly 17 by its conclusion. That’s why the book feels a little rushed, and it is more like a collection of short stories from Anne’s childhood than a traditional novel.

In every chapter in the first half of the book, we follow Anne in some funny adventures, from mistakenly putting painkillers instead of vanilla syrup in a pie, to accidentally dying her hair green. We tag along to tea parties with her friends, give magical names to trees and lakes, witness her mistakes, and even meet some of her earliest foes.

During the first half of the book, Anne somewhat annoyed me with her overdramatic behavior. But as she approached adulthood, I found myself regretting not fully appreciating the adventures of young Anne. I could understand Marilla’s tears when she realized how mature that girl was and that the time when she arrived at Green Gables is long gone.

This book is full of charming descriptions of all the beauty Anne sees around her. She is a person who adores her life, and even in the darkest moments of it, she finds love and joy in everything surrounding her. I only wish that this book was a little longer so that every pivotal event of Anne’s life could be explored deeper and in more detail.

I cannot wait to read the next parts of the series and discover what awaits Anne in the future!

Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Tears streamed down my face for a solid hour once I turned the last page. After reading Les Misérables, I naively thought that The Hunchback of Notre-Dame would finish with a happy ending! How mistaken I was…

I bought this book in Paris as a souvenir for myself. I'm a big fan of Hugo's stories, so starting The Hunchback of Notre-Dame right in front of the cathedral felt so special!
What I really enjoy about Hugo's books is how all the characters' stories weave together, like pieces of a puzzle or cogs in a machine. And this one was no different. In this book, we meet:

• Esmeralda, a beautiful 16-year-old Roma street dancer, and her pet goat Djali;
• Claude Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre-Dame and the main antagonist;
• Pierre Gringoire, a struggling poet;
• Sister Gudule, a recluse haunted by the loss of her child;
• And, of course, Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre-Dame.

If you have already read something by Hugo, you know how much he loves to describe everything in detail. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame has even more descriptions than Les Misérables, which is twice as big!

That’s why I had to combine physical reading with an audiobook when there was another 50-page-long chapter about royal matters or the history of architecture since the creation of times (literally). But this is the writer’s style, and even if it feels a little tedious sometimes, it makes you feel the atmosphere of those times and places to its fullest.

Despite long narrations, I absolutely loved this book with my entire heart (which is now broken into pieces, by the way). I could not expect such a devastating ending, and I cried my eyes out after reading the final chapter. This book will definitely stay in my thoughts for a very long time!

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The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The good news is: I didn't predict the plot twist this time! Which is actually surprising…

I quite enjoyed the first part of the series, and it pulled me out of my reading slump. Even though I figured out the plot twist at the start, I still liked the story. So, I decided to read the sequel right away.

In this book, Millie finds herself a new housemaid job some years after the events of the first part. This time, in a penthouse in Manhattan. And, as expected, things are not as they seem.

Why is it surprising that I didn't guess the ending? Because the story follows the same pattern as in The Housemaid. Firstly, there's a prologue told by another character (of course), then Millie's story, followed by the numbered guide/confession that reveals everything, and finally, the climax, with a sweet, movie-like ending prologue. Exactly as before!

There were a few plot holes, and at times, I felt the book was ridiculous and unrealistic. But! I could not put it down! Just like the first part, The Housemaid’s Secret is absolutely addictive. It is a popcorn thriller that offers an entertaining ride without requiring too much thought.

So, it is like watching TV after a long day. A good book for what it is, but not something I'd want to read again. Just like The Housemaid, this book is a nice remedy for a reading slump, so give this series a go if you're feeling like you're not enjoying reading anymore. You will devour this book in one sitting!

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The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I have been in a reading slump for months and couldn't enjoy reading as much as I was used to. Every book I picked up seemed to worsen the slump. I wondered if I had burned out, fearing I might never enjoy reading again. Then, I realized my last hope might be a fast-paced thriller with cliffhangers in every chapter. Guess what? It worked!

When I read the blurb, I understood this book was EXACTLY what I needed. Ex-convict Millie is desperate to find any job, and she accidentally lands a housemaid position at the gorgeous mansion of the incredibly rich Winchester family. What could be better? However, Millie's life becomes a nightmare thanks to the jealous Nina Winchester, who makes Millie's existence unbearable. And to top it all off, Millie's attic room can only be locked from the outside…

Good things first. This book is ABSOLUTELY unputdownable! It has always kept me on the edge of my seat. The chapters are very short and full of action, so I was completely glued to the pages. I could not stop reading; I just could not wait to know what happens next!

But… Perhaps I have read too many thrillers, as I guessed the plot twist in the very beginning. Not in all the details, of course, but I got the main point. And it was pretty disappointing to not be surprised when I was supposed to be.

Anyway, I still enjoyed this book a lot, and, most importantly, I have recovered from my slump! I devoured “The Housemaid” in a few days, and had it not been for work and studies, it could have taken me a day to read it from cover to cover.

I fully recommend “The Housemaid” to anyone in a reading slump, especially if you're new to thrillers. And you bet I'll be picking up the sequel! It feels fantastic to be excited about reading again!

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penguinna's reviews 277 reviews

penguinna's reviews
277 reviews