The Housemaid

Easy read. Quick and got a twist. 3***

If Chekhov was alive, he would be screaming angry on top of lungs because Frieda McFadden doesn't spare any guns in this book. She literally doesn't leave anything to the readers imagination and spells out every single thing in the book. I wished this book had a fast forward button because it was unbearable. In the first 200 pages, the only thing that happens is that we are shown that Nina has some mental problems and that Millie is attracted to both the men mentioned in the book. Frieda McFadden goes on and on about how Nina is crazy in the first part. Like I get it after a first few examples, please don't keep on repeating it. It felt like she was writing an essay where she had to meet a minimum word requirement and kept on adding ways in which Nina was acting crazy. The plot was so stagnant, that I wanted to simply stop reading the book. The plot barely moved in this book. Plot wise four things happen in this book: 1. We are shown Nina is crazy. 2. Its actually Andrew who is the crazy one. 3. Andrews gaslights Nina into being crazy and he tries to do the same with Millie. 4. He fails in driving Millie insane and ends up dying. That's it. That's all that happens in this book. You don't need over 300 pages to express this. McFadden does an underwhelming job of exploring the characters' depth. We barely get to see Millie's background. She has had a tough time growing up, but its only stated in passing. Andrew is a psychopath who has almost no reason to be acting so. A little light on his background would have been better. Enzo is simply confusing. He is, at times, portrayed as the savior, but is restrained in his actions. And Andrew's mom is a psycho who is happy that her son is taught a lesson at his life's expense. None of these characters are well flushed and developed. Its felt like McFadden chose the route of least resistance and simply wrote the easiest thing that could explain the characters behavior. I empathize with Nina because just as she was gaslighted by Andrew, I feel gaslighted by all the positive ratings for this book. The entire book felt so predictable and outrageous. What are the chances that the cop investigating Andrew's death would be someone related to Andrew's first fiancee and that his death would simply not matter??? I feel like a good storyteller would focus on this death and try to explain the circumstances and reasoning behind it, rather than simply try to hide it. And on top of this, what are the chances that the only person related to the dead man, i.e. Andrew's mother is simply content that his son learned his lesson, albeit he is dead? This plot made no sense at all. Hugely disappointed by the book.

I loved this book. It is easy to read. I liked all the characters, and it draws you in, and just when you think you have guessed what I'm happening, there is a twist. I loved the ending. I thought it was really well written, and although it was really easy to read, it was very descriptive, and you felt like you were watching everything unfold I would highly recommend this, and I am looking forward to reading the second one.

Crazy

Easy to read.