Book Review: The Housemaid

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

Pages: 329

Format: ebook

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

So, let me start by saying: this book is addictive. Like, I blinked and I was halfway through, wondering if my cat had secretly turned the pages for me. The pacing is fast, the drama is juicy, and it does exactly what it’s supposed to do: entertain. But was it a five-star masterpiece? Oh, no. Not even close. This one lands firmly at three stars for me, and here’s why I think so.

First off, let’s talk about the writing. Now, I’m not expecting Shakespeare here, this is a thriller, not a sonnet. But the writing style felt… how do I put this nicely… meh. Like, did an AI write this? (And if so, job well done.) It had that rushed, slightly disjointed feel where you’re constantly thinking, “Wait, did I miss something, or did the author just decide to skip over an explanation?” Well, I guess the author skipped. A lot.

And then there are the plot holes. Oh boy. You could drive a truck through some of them. Things just happen, and you’re expected to accept them without question. Like, “Sure, that makes total sense, nothing weird here at all.” Except, it is weird, and I kept finding myself side-eyeing the book, like, really? We’re just not going to talk about that again? Okay then.

The storyline itself is predictable, at least for me. I know thrillers are supposed to keep you guessing, but I was more or less three steps ahead the entire time. I could see the so-called “big twists” coming like a giant neon sign flashing in the distance. “Oh, you thought I’d be shocked? Cute.”

The pacing of the book was fast, which I’ll admit was a plus. It kept me hooked, even when I was side-eyeing half the plot. I didn’t get bored, and I wasn’t tempted to DNF. But it felt rushed. Events unfolded so quickly, with barely any breathing room for more buildup or explanations. 

Now, I have to bring up something I kept seeing in other people’s reviews: apparently this book is nearly identical to The Last Mrs. Parrish. I haven’t read that one, so I can’t confirm or deny. But if it’s true, then yikes. Nobody likes a copycat.

Character-wise, let’s just say I was confused about my own feelings. From the beginning, for some reason, I actually had sympathy for Nina. Don’t ask me why. Maybe I just like to root for the woman society paints as unstable, who knows. But deep down, I trusted her. Something in my brain whispered, “She’s not the villain here.” I really didn’t believe she’d ever hurt Cece, no matter what everyone wanted me to think. 

And oh boy! Let me not forget Millie, our heroine. I just couldn’t like her AT ALL. She gave me gold-digger vibes. Apparently, we’re supposed to root for her, feel her struggles, and want her to “win.” But the whole time I was like, “Girl, please stop. You are not the main character energy you think you are.” She waltzes into someone else’s marriage, starts daydreaming about her boss, and then has the audacity to act like she deserves it all. Excuse me? No, thank you. And honestly, I was hoping she’d end up behind bars. She's a monster. Justice for Nina!

And Andrew? Oh, please. I had zero trust in him the moment he opened his mouth, my instincts did not fail me. Red flags were practically pouring out of his ears. If there’s ever a prize for “Most Suspicious Husband in Fiction,” this man wins by a landslide. I don’t know how anyone was supposed to buy into his perfect husband act. Well, maybe he and Millie deserved each other.

Speaking of the ending, it tied up in a way that was supposed to feel satisfying, but I was mostly left with unanswered questions. The kind where you finish the book, stare at the last page, and go, “Wait, that’s it?” It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t as shocking or clever as I hoped.

Final verdict? The Housemaid is entertaining. It’s like fast food: quick, easy, a little greasy, and you’ll probably regret it if you think too hard about it. But it does the job. I enjoyed it, I had fun judging the characters. But five stars? Not a chance. For me, it’s a solid three. Fun, but predictable.