Rebecca
The multi million copy bestseller that has enthralled generations of readers. A haunting tale of obsessive love. A mesmerizing psychological thriller. In Monte Carlo, our unnamed heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady's maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at Manderley, her husband's cavernous estate on the Cornish coast, that she realizes how vast a shadow his late wife, Rebecca, will cast over their lives--introducing a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their love from beyond the grave. This universally acclaimed novel has remained consistently in print since its original publication in 1938 and has frequently been adapted--for television, radio, the theater, and film. Notable adaptations include the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film, which received the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the 2020 Netflix film starring Lily James and Armie Hammer. "Excellent entertainment ... Du Maurier created a scale by which modern women can measure their feelings." --Stephen King, New York Times bestselling of author of You Like It Darker "One of the most influential novels of the twentieth century, Rebecca has woven its way into the fabric of our culture with all the troubling power of myth or dream." --Sarah Waters, bestselling author of Fingersmith
BUY THE BOOK
Join a book club that is reading Rebecca!
Community Reviews
S
I can't believe that I had never read this book. I think I was put off by thinking that it was more of a romance novel than a pseudo ghost story/gothic novel. Although there isn't an actual ghost, there is an overbearing presence and there are enough chilling scenes to make you shiver. There is a lot of psychological drama and the no name narrator is necessarily intimidated by her circumstances. Loved it.
The pacing for me with the gothic writing left me wanting to skim the pages rather than take in the beauty of the writing. Not to say it isn’t written well, it is just not the style I prefer. I have not ever been a Jane Austin or Frankenstein Fan of that era of writing. It was an interesting take though on the perspective of what would a person do if they found that their spouse had a colored past.
For 2 days, I slowly read this book finally getting to page 85. I thought this was a very creepy ghost story and I kept waiting for the dang ghost lol. Then, day 3, I became HOOKED on the story and devoured the next 300+ pages in a couple of hours. I had to know what happened!
This was an incredible book. I loved the imaginings if the main character and her growth as a person. So good!
Considering my ratings for other books this year, this one could only be a five-star read.
I had a few minor issues ( e.g, our unnamed protagonist repeating too many times how unsure of herself she is at the beginning) —nothing is ever perfect—but none of them diminish the experience.
This is a novel I know I will return to again and again. I was completely enthralled, transported, and at times even stopped reading (taking a full week to finish it) simply because I didn’t want it to end.
Du Maurier’s prose and rhythm are impeccable, and the story unfolds with a quiet, suffocating tension that never fully releases its grip. And that ending—infuriating, unsettling, and brilliant—feels perfectly earned, lingering long after the final page.
This is a novel I know I will return to again and again. I was completely enthralled, transported, and at times even stopped reading (taking a full week to finish it) simply because I didn’t want it to end.
Du Maurier’s prose and rhythm are impeccable, and the story unfolds with a quiet, suffocating tension that never fully releases its grip. And that ending—infuriating, unsettling, and brilliant—feels perfectly earned, lingering long after the final page.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.