I did not love this book. I feel like another missed opportunity with plot. I did not love the characters. I really am sad about not liking this book.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book but wished it would have been faster paced and a bit more exciting. I was a little disappointed in this book. I had way higher expectations.

Great thriller by Megan Abbott. If you like stories that will keep you guessing, this is the one for you. At times it did somewhat drag in some areas but picked right back up with drama and intrigue.

Megan Abbott has outdone herself with her latest book and her venture into adult horror territory. Now don't go thinking ghosts, monsters, or knife wielding madmen, oh no, this horror is much more realistic making it even more terrifying.

Jacy, a recent newlywed and just going into her second trimester of pregnancy, goes with her husband Jed to visit his father, Dr. Ash, in upstate Michigan. To call this place off the beaten path would be an understatement. No wifi and no cell signal seems almost quaint and peaceful at first until it no longer does anymore.

Dr. Ash is charming, charismatic, and he welcomes Jacy with open arms, gleaming smile, and twinkling eyes. She can't believe her luck at having married Jed and now having Dr. Ash as her father-in-law.

After Jacy experiences a medical scare things begin to change.

"The finest woman has some filthiness in her. She can't help it. Eve's curse."

The sense of menace in the air is thick as sludge. The claustrophobia is palpable. The disorienting nature had my head spinning, wondering, what in the actual fuck is going on?!?!? 😵

I realize this book isn't going to be for everyone. It's weird as hell and won't appeal to the masses, I don't believe so anyways, but this was damn near perfect for me. If I had to compare this reading experience with another book then I'm Thinking of Ending Things is the first one that comes to mind minus all the philosophical back and forth. It's the feeling, the vibe, and all the what the fuckery Abbott so gladly puts her reader through that makes them similar. This one starts out on the slow side but, be warned, you had better buckle up before she puts the pedal to the metal.

The ending was fantastic even if it does leave the reader hanging a bit. An epilogue may have been nice but that is really my only complaint and not a big enough one that I'm willing to even deduct a star for it.

This book had me seething with my heart racing and my blood pumping. Now that's my kind of cardio! Beware the woman, indeed! ALL. THE. STARS.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group - Putnam for my complimentary copy.

Jacy's road trip to rural Michigan takes a turn and all of a sudden, it's no longer idyllic any more and is clearly nighmarish that she feels more trapped than ever in her life. Like the author's previous book, it takes time to build up and is more of a slow-burn. The writing ensures there is a suspicion constantly without giving any details. The issue with this one is it would not work for those who enjoy fast=paced thrillers.

This novel is so Gothic. No, I haven't seen it billed as such, but the foreboding--from page one!-- is SO heavy that I continually found it difficult to emotionally catch my breath, and I have whiplash from continually checking behind me. Every conspiracy-theory nerve I have has jangled from word one. The difference here from Wuthering Heights or Dracula or the paperback romantic Suspense novels of which I was so enamored decades ago is in the first place, the feminism and the refusing-to-surrender protagonist (female) and also, one surely cannot hope for a happy ending in this--not hot, but cold--mess.

This one just didn’t do it for me, I enjoy a slow burn, but it just never took off and hooked me. Many thanks for the advanced digital copy to the author, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam.

Beware The Woman, by Megan Abbott

Short Take: It takes a while to get going, but the ride is worth it.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

Hello my beloved Nerdlings, and welcome to my favorite season! The days are full of sun and the nights are full of fireflies and even though it’s been a coupla decades, I still get that giddy “last day of school” feeling of endless possibility.

Which means, of course, that I’m going to read a bunch of books, but I’ll be doing it outside for a change.

In Beware The Woman, Jacy is a newlywed who is pregnant - a condition that makes all women both powerful and vulnerable. She and her husband Jed are taking a road trip to a rural part of Michigan to visit Jed’s father, Dr. Ash.

Dr. Ash is lovely, warm and welcoming, and it’s all quite idyllic. But everything changes when there’s an emergency with Jacy’s pregnancy. Suddenly, Dr. Ash’s attention seems suffocating, Jed is by turns overly controlling and negligent, and strange things seem to be happening in the dark and endless woods.

Duckies, this book took me a while to get into. Ms. Abbott’s writing style walks a very fine line - it’s hard to do “lush and sensual and poetic” without occasionally veering into “melodramatic and overwrought purple prose.” I think that overall, she mostly sticks to the former, but the first two-thirds of this one felt just a shade too draggy and overwritten.

But hoo boy, when it picks up, hold on to your hineys, because it is a four-wheeler through the woods at eighty miles an hour without a helmet. Although the setup kind of screams “Lifetime Movie” and it’s way too easy to figure out [spoiler] there’s definitely a couple of twists that made me screech “Wait, WHAT??” out loud, in such a way that the cat opened one eye and almost looked concerned.

So if you want something fun and twisty (and to maybe learn a thing or two about neon signs - trust me, it’s cooler than you think) grab this book, your beverage of choice, and your shades, and I’ll see you all in the pool.

The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and my car keys, I’m going to have them surgically attached to my wrist now.)

This was my first Megan Abbott and while we got off to a slow start I ended up really enjoying this one! Beware the Woman was a great thriller to kick off the summer.

Jacy’s mom always seemed to fall for the wrong man and it seems she passed that on to Jacy - until she meets Jed. Their relationship develops quickly and soon they’re married with a child on the way. The pair plan a trip to stay with Jed’s father and at first Jacy is all to happy to get to know the man who raised her wonderful husband. But soon she realizes she may not really know the man she married and her and her unborn baby may actually be in danger.

While the beginning of the story was slow burn, the author did a great job of making you feel unsettled and suspicious the whole way though. I found myself really paying attention to what the characters were saying, especially Dr Ash, and throughout the whole novel I wasn’t sure who I could trust. By the end I wasn’t even sure if Jacy was a reliable character.

I was also incredibly mad throughout most of this book. For Jacy and any woman who finds herself in the situation where doctors won’t listen to them when it comes to their bodies/health. Given the way the world is right now it was definitely a timely read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for a review copy.

I didn't really enjoy this book, but I didn't hate it either. It partly read like a fever dream, partly suspense/thriller, and partly a feminist perspective. I kept waiting for something to be revealed, some big thing. And I guess that it did get revealed, but I was still underwhelmed by it.

Because it was so underwhelming, I wouldn't recommend this book.

In Megan Abbott's latest spine-chilling thriller, BEWARE THE WOMAN, a newly married woman, pregnant, meets her husband's family, which takes a terrifying turn in a sinister game of cat-and-mouse.

"Beware of the man who wants to protect you; he will protect you from everything but himself."—Erica Jong

Jacy is married with a baby on the way. Jed, her husband, decides they will take a road trip to meet his eccentric father, Doctor Ash.

Off they go to Michigan's Iron Mountain, deep into the forest. At first, Jacy is excited about meeting her father-in-law in this secluded cabin in the woods.

Then soon, things take a menacing, sinister turn—no cell phone reception or WiFi. Doctor Ash is acting strange and very protective of the baby. Then there is the house manager, Mrs. Brandt, who is loyal to the family, enigmatic, and creepy. Jed is aso acting wierd.

Dr. Ash is creepy, old school, and controlling, and he appears to be grieving for his lost wife (who died during Jed's birth) 30 years ago. Mrs. Brandt gives Jacy suspicious vibes, as well as their family friend, Mr. Hicks.

Jacy has a health scare and learns about Jed's mother. Their family history is dark and complex. Jacy wants to leave, but they are holding her prisoner.

She is trapped, and her husband is acting strange. She is in danger, as is the baby she is carrying. The experience turns into a terrifying nightmare.

The novel is told over nine days, a slow burn, locked-room creepy mystery, claustrophobic, with feminism, Rosemary's Baby/Get Out vibes, gaslighting, and chauvinism old school. One highly dysfunctional family!

Haunting, unsettling, and disturbing— Abbott sets the mood with a dark foreboding, creepy cabin in the middle of nowhere in the forest and scary characters. When you are pregnant, you are vulnerable, and emotions are running high. You want to maintain control, and here she has no support.

This book is a cross between psychological and horror, and the ending is open-ended— for fans of Joyce Carol Oats and Jennifer McMahon.

@PutnamBooks #partner Thanks for the free/gifted book, @Putnam Books #PutnamInfluencers

Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded to 4
Pub Date: May 30, 2023
May 2023 Must-Read Books

I went into Megan Abbott's Beware the Woman blind, which almost never happens, and that was the perfect thing to do. I had seen it described as light horror, and that can honestly mean anything. In the end, I truly was horrified by the things that happened to Jacy. Not only the invasion of her privacy and being kept against her will, but the fact that her story isn't unrealistic. The fact that someone else felt that they had ownership over her body rings true from the headlines that we see in the news every day, and Beware the Woman is a thoroughly enjoyable, timely read.

BEWARE THE WOMEN
Megan Abbott

BEWARE THE WOMEN has a slow progression, and in the building, I had high hopes. But unfortunately, the concepts ended with unsure opinions written like whispers yelled into the wind and explanations for everything in the epilogue.

This is my first Megan Abbott and overall, I’d say I’m more disappointed by how the message was delivered rather than by the message itself.

In BEWARE THE WOMAN we are following Jacy and Jed. They are newly married and visiting Jed’s odd but charming father, Dr. Ash, somewhere in the woods of Michigan. This is her first time meeting Dr. Ash, so Jacy is putting her best foot forward and things are going well until a surprising turn of events renders Jacy more of a patient than a wife or daughter-in-law.

BEWARE THE WOMEN is showing exactly where the line is between concession and forfeiture. When being a people pleaser is no longer keeping you safe. It keeps you quiet and easier to dominate.

Every character in this book lets you down. The meat of the plot is missing. And there is a “bad guy” as scary as an empty bag caught in a warm breeze. The entire book felt like a simmer pot. I was dulled into anger. But was angry at the wrong person.

The thrilling part of this book could be resolved with a hard conversation. And I’m still not sure all of that even warrants three stars. However, that’s where I landed with my rating.

Recommended to readers new to the thriller genre. BEWARE THE WOMAN is out today where books are sold.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Audio, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advanced copies and the opportunity to provide feedback!

BEWARE THE WOMAN BY Megan Abbott...⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book since I have not read a Megan Abbott book before. It synopsis interested me so I figured I would try it out. I wouldn’t say that the book was scary but some of the characters did creep me out. Dr. Ash, Jed and Mrs. Brandt all gave me the creeps from day one. There were some twists and turns and things I was not expecting but overall it was a slow moving interesting book. I would rate this a 3.5/5 and would check out other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin group for the Advanced Copy.

I struggled to get into this book. Something about the writing style felt choppy and uncomfortable to me. I understand that Abbott has many dedicated readers, so I assume that my issues are a matter of personal taste in prose.

This is my first Meg Abbot book – although I do have a few of her other books on my bookshelf – and I am sad to say that this one did not work for me.

I am all for a slow burn thriller, but this was just felt SLOW to me. The characters were quite unlikeable which I don’t mind overall, but I just wasn’t really rooting for anyone or interested in their arc throughout the book. There really was not a lot that happened in the first 75% of the book and then when the action did finally take off, it seemed very quick with an incredibly abrupt ending.

I hope this works for other people but it just wasn’t for me. I keep seeing it compared to Rosemary’s Baby, which I love, but it just felt like the slowest version of Rosemary’s Baby with not as good of a payroff.

I am interested in reading more from Meg Abbott and giving her another chance because I know she is a beloved author and has a lot of buzzy books.

What Meg Abbott book should I try next?

Thank you to Netgalley & G.P Putnam’s Sons for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Beware the Woman is a superb psychological thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat with spine-tingling suspense. This gripping novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling and thought-provoking story. Abbott's masterful writing style will keep you engaged from beginning to end, as she expertly weaves together a complex plot full of twists and turns. With its well-developed characters and intricate storyline, Beware the Woman is a true masterpiece of the genre. So if you're looking for a thrilling and unforgettable reading experience, look no further than this incredible novel.

Unfortunately, this is not my favorite Megan Abbott book.

While a departure from her usual writing, some of Abbott’s normal style is still here. Many of her characters are wonderfully written “bad” people. But I found myself feeling somewhat unsatisfied by this book. The character development was weak, and the portrayal of the main female character made me angry that she had a voice and never used it. I honestly don’t like the idea of hurting pregnant women in any form of entertainment and that goes for this book too.

I will say it was a very fast read and the use of setting and descriptions of nature and the animals was intriguing but this book really wasn’t the right fit for me.

• ARC via Publisher

Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott

Thank you to @netgalley, @putnambooks, & @melizaabbott for the opportunity to read this #eARC in exchange for my #honestreview! This is available for preorder now and for purchase May 30.

Jacy has finally found a man she can build her happily ever after with, or so she thinks. Newly married to Jed, a neon sign maker, she is now pregnant with their first child when they decide to visit his somewhat estranged father, Dr. Ash in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Visiting the place where Jed grew up is straight out of a fairytale at first with Dr. Ash’s kind words doting on her. But after a minor health scare, all eyes become locked on Jacy and things turn from idyllic to straight out of a nightmare.

This was a wild ride! This is definitely a slow-builder with the end popping off twists like a series of fireworks. The way this is written adds to the suspenseful buildup - broken up with chapter breaks that pile on the suspense and urgency. I love the juxtaposition of the mountain lioness and her cubs against Jacy fighting for her own body and her unborn child. I highly recommend this for those who enjoy a slow-building thriller.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5

This is a slow burn, character driven, claustrophobic thriller, and it might not be for those that like their thrillers fast paced. However, if you can get past the slow burn, you are in for a treat because as the intensity builds, you are drawn in, and it really comes to a head in the second half. I was beyond angry at these men and wanted to go help Jacy myself. Men can be the worst, I mean really. I did not know how this would end, and I will say it is extremely satisfying but abrupt, however it absolutely worked for me.

The audiobook is wonderful, building the suspense so well and bringing out all of my emotions in this one. I definitely recommend this, it was such a great read.

Thank you to PRH Audio, NetGalley, and GP Putnam’s Sons for the free copies to review.