This book is so addictive and compulsively bingeable that I flew through it!

The story pulls you right in and the writing is easy to breeze through. But at the same time, some parts (especially the characters) were quite unbelievable and unconvincing just so they could be twisty and shocking.

I had my suspicions as to what was going on and the book actually fell flat for me halfway through. Yet, The Housemaid not only managed to redeem itself but even won me over in the end. Why? Because it just keeps getting better and better after the earlier miss, before culminating in a brilliant final chapter and last line. And that, my friends, is how you end a thriller 👏

Ultimately, I really enjoyed this rollercoaster ride of a book. It's my first Freida McFadden novel but definitely not my last. I can see why she is so popular and rightfully so!

This is one of the best mystery thriller book I’ve ever read. The book started strong and it is not slow paced, I read it in one sitting! You wouldn’t see the twist coming and you won’t get bored with this story, it will leave you on the edge of your seat.

This is the first book I have read by Frieda McFadden, and I immediately went to the AppStore to purchase others. This was a fast paced read for me, with twists around every corner!

Millie is on parole after being released from prison. She must maintain steady employment as part of her freedom, and after she loses her waitressing job, she is desperate for work. She thinks she has completely lucked out when she is hired to work as a live-in housekeeper/nanny for the wealthy Winchesters. At first, Nina is very pleasant. But then Millie begins to feel uncomfortable. Nina makes huge messes and demands Millie clean them, accuses Millie of stealing, and their daughter Cece is a total brat. Andrew Winchester, however, is the polar opposite of his deranged wife. But Millie needs this job if she hopes to stay out of prison, so she forges through. Even though she is sure Nina Winchester is crazy. Even though her room is in the attic which locks from the outside and the door has scratch marks on it. Millie is determined to stay out of prison, and will do anything she can to stay free.

Millie Calloway, desperate for a job after a period of time in prison, gets hired by the Winchester's to take care of their home and daughter. Though she can't be picky when it comes to employment given her history, she knows something is off with the Winchesters, especially Nina. After getting warned from their landscaper, Enzo, that the Winchester house is dangerous, Millie tiptoes around crazy Nina Winchester, even as her attraction to Andrew Winchester grows stronger. I won't get into the details of the rest of this book for fear of spoiling it, but it does take some wild turns.

This is my second book by Freida McFadden. I wasn't a huge fan of the last book I read--the writing was smooth, but the twist seemed too outlandish for my tastes. This book was much better, in my opinion.

The Housemaid was an incredibly easy read with fun twists. While at first I found it too similar to another book I read last year, I liked some of the ways that the author differentiated the story from some of those other mainstream thriller books. Overall, this book was a fast-paced, fun read and I'd definitely be open to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Housemaid
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: ebook (kindle)
Author: Freida McFadden
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: 4/26/22
Pages: 322
Goodreads Rating: 4.70

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book before it officially releases next month.

Synopsis: Millie just spent ten years in prison and lost her last job, leaving her homeless, living in her vehicle. She interviews with Mrs. Winchester to be a housemaid. This would be her dream situation, to not be homeless and gainfully employed. Soon after working for the Winchesters, Millie soon learns that their secrets are far darker than her own and by the time she realizes, it may be to late?

There are two POV’s in this story, from Millie (Housemaid) and Nina (Mrs. Winchester). The chapters are really short. This book absolutely blew my mind! I was hooked in from the first page. Once I got about 1/3 away through the book, I had to read the rest in an entire Sunday afternoon, there was no putting it down. The development of the characters, immediately drew you to one character with you right along that character, good, bad or indifferent. You felt what that character felt. The writing style was brilliant and is the best book I have read this year. In fact, I have saved the remainder of Freida McFadden’s books to my Amazon/TBR list, as I plan to purchase and read the remaining books. I would read anything Freida McFadden puts out. I cannot say enough about this book. Add to your TBR immediately and pre-order!!!

Millie Calloway has recently lost her job and is living out of her car. When she is offered employment as the housekeeper for the wealthy Winchester family, Millie jumps at the chance. She now has a small cot and closet in the attic bedroom, but wait why does it lock from the outside? While Nina Winchester is constantly making messes and confusing dates and times, Andrew treats Millie well. Over time, Millie starts to like Andrew and imagines what it would be like to be his wife. Millie is so happy to have employment and a roof over her head that she overlooks some major red flags. Things are definitely not what they seem in the Winchester household.

I love Frieda McFadden books and The Housemaid definitely didn’t disappoint. McFadden has a talent for twists and turns and keeps you guessing throughout the book. You can never imagine the ending. I very seldom read books in one sitting, but the short chapters and fast pace of this thriller had me reading until I was done. If you’re looking for a new twisty thriller, look no further! Enjoy the rollercoaster ride because you will not be able to put this book down!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Bookouture and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

What a wild ride. Twists and turns, suspense and entertainment.

What the whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat did I just read?!
Back the bus up. I need a moment to regroup here to introduce the characters:

Meet Millie, recently released from prison and looking for a job. She is currently living out of her car and desperate to find work. She cannot believe her luck when she receives a job offer as a nanny. Not only will she have an income but she will have a place to live as well and she won't violate her parole.

Nina, from first impressions, seems like a typical entitled wealthy housewife with a child and a really hot husband but with each passing day Nina becomes a nightmare to work for. She creates messes everywhere, accuses Millie of lying about things and seems overall unstable and forgetful. Millie cannot understand why Andrew puts up with her.

Husband Andrew is not only wealthy, he is incredibly successful, good looking and nice. Millie is amazed how he handles his wife's erratic behaviour and always remains calm during her outbursts.

Enzo, gardener who speaks only Italian. Mysterious and a man of little words. When he first meets Millie he says one word to her in Italian - "pericolo"

I have to admit, the first quarter of the book I spent being annoyed and angry at the characters. Nina is an absolutely horrible person. She treats Millie like garbage and makes me absolutely livid. I want to jump in the book and donkey kick her. And Millie, we don't know what she was in prison for but she is just letting this lady walk all over her and it is annoying me to no end. I didn't know how much of this abusiveness I could handle reading.

Luckily, things picked up quick and the book took me on the ride of my life. I cannot say much more without ruining the storyline so I will say this....if you like a full on fast paced book full of twists and turns -THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. I didn't see it coming and even when it was there in front of me, I was still in awe. This book has some of the best twists I have read in a long time! Yes, maybe a few details were a bit unrealistic but this is a fiction novel and here, they fit perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the opportunity to read this in advance in exchange for my review.

Five solid stars!

Wow!! Loved this book. I loved Millie from the first page because of her dry wit and her willingness to work hard and do anything it took to rebuild her life after her release from prison. I also appreciated the way Millie tried to empathize with Nina despite Nina's odd and unpleasant behavior. Although the book gets dark-very dark, it is also a fun read due to the author's engaging voice, short chapters and all the story questions that keep you turning pages. I admit it- I stayed up too late and finished in one sitting. I won't say much about the ending because I don't want to spoil the book, but I definitely appreciated the way the women did not totally disregard one another's welfare. A really great read and I'll be going back (and forward) with this author to read more of her work.

This book!!!

It's a fairly simple premise: Millie Calloway is hired to be Nina and Andrew Winchester’s live-in maid and nanny, but soon realizes that everything may not be as it seems.

I’m not sure how, or why, this is my first Freida McFadden book, but please believe I will be working my way through her backlist ASAP. This book had so many things that I love in a good thriller – a fantastic setup, unlikeable and questionable characters, short bingeable chapters, and a fast-paced plot that kept me in the dark and dying to know what would happen next. Freida didn’t waste a single page, serving up one WTF moment after another – including a couple that were especially sinister and twisted that I absolutely loved!

*** Possible spoiler: I usually don't include comparisons to other books or popular movies because they're often spoilers, but there were parts of this book that were so reminiscent of Verity and Gone Girl without compromising the integrity and originality of the story. It was really well done! ***

Huge thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley, and Fredia McFadden for the arc!

I couldn’t put this book down!!!
Loved every bit of it, Non stop from beginning to end, really glad I have this author a go for this genre

A mind-blowing tale fraught with gripping tension.

Having lost her job and forced to live in her car, Millie Calloway thanks her lucky stars when she gains employment at the Winchesters' home as their live-in housekeeper. Millie soon finds herself at the mercy of the psychotic tantrum-throwing shrew, Nina Winchester and her brat of a daughter, Cece. The only saving grace is kind Mr. Andrew Winchester, who is also easy on the eyes; though no matter how attracted she is to him, Millie knows that Andrew is strictly off-limits. But what happens when Millie gets a chance to have it all?

Nothing is as it seems in this masterfully crafted thriller. I spent the first half of the book wondering where exactly the story was headed and the second half marveling at the plot twists while also being horrified at the turn of events. The climax was fitting but the ending and what it meant for Millie's future was simply wow.

Overall, simply fantastic; I loved this one. Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Crazy is as crazy does.........

The Housemaid is one of those illogical reads that just keeps your sticky fingers gripped to the pages. You want to shake it loose, but you simply can't. It is so bizarro that you keep clicking on your cell phone to check if the world is still out there and you're not registered somewhere in a padded cell.

Millie comes up short where luck is concerned. She's always been at the wrong place and at the wrong time pretty much all of her life. Millie's been living in her cramped little car for some time now. Her last job didn't pan out and she's counting the slices of her cheap bread and bologna. She can't even get a job flippin' burgers. No good references. No good options.

But then an ad has been posted for a live-in maid with light duties. Millie interviews with the elegant wife/mother in her elegant house with her elegant handsome husband. Against all odds, Millie gets the job. But Nina, her new boss, is a bit "off". Nina has spent some time in a psychiatric hospital. She spins on a dime from day to day. Cecelia, nine years old, is spoiled rotten and lights up Millie every chance she gets. Millie feels sorry for Andrew, the husband, who is caught in this emotional blender on high speed.

Freida McFadden presents a whirlwind of events here. The pace and the short chapters keep this one afloat. The storyline has a familiar ring to it as those of us who've read a billion psychological thrillers know. McFadden throws in a few zingers and twists to liven it up. Foolish people get fooled. Street wise never do. But you press on just to experience the final outcome. And when it comes......it comes. Not a blockbuster read by any means, but it's already been popular because of that eye-poking cover. Check it out and see what you think.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bookouture and to Freida McFadden for the opportunity.

Description
“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

I was so excited to read this ARC of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and wow! It did not disappoint! I read (devoured) this book in one day…super good, full of surprises, lots of suspense, and twists and turns.

I don’t know what else I can say about this book that’s not in the description (without giving anything away 😅) except to say, look for The Housemaid when it’s released April 26th. Add this to your summer reading list. Five fabulous stars!

So so so good! The storyline is explosive right from the start and doesn’t let up until the very end. Basically read it in one sitting. You can’t help liking Millie even when you discover just who she is. And nina has so many layers you are left puzzled until the story begins to unravel. A rollercoaster of emotions. Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

This book was absolutely incredible. Pulled me in with the first sentence. Very few authors and books are able to do that, and continue to hold my attention. I'd have to say my favorite quote of the book, "She frowns like I offended her. "I prefer to read." "That's great! What do you like to read?""Books." "What kind of books?" "The kind with words."

This has to be by far my favorite book @fizzziatrist has written. She continues to blow me away with her talent and ability to write amazing titles. I Absolutely recommend this. You will not be disappointed!

A really good page turner that is told through the narrative of two people Nina and Millie.The flow of the story was fast paced thought out and kept me guessing right till the end.
Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC

A fabulous thriller, dark and twisty throughout. The storyline plays out well with interesting and complex characters. I could see this book being adapted for a Netflix movie.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4+ stars

Quick fun read with several twists I didn’t see coming. Fantastic mic drop moment at the end.

This was a reasonable read. I enjoyed the story, the writing wasn't as slick as other thrillers I've read.

I did really enjoy the twist with the real bad guy and didn't expect the character turn around with Nina, the rich wife.

Would recommend as an easy read.