I will start by saying there is nothing like the original story. I LOVED The Housemaid, however I think as the series progressed it became a bit more predictable. I was able to figure out a lot of this storyline which for me was disappointing. While I still liked it, it's definitely not a favorite for me from Freida.

Thank you Frieda McFadden & Bookouture for giving me the pleasure of reading and reviewing the third and final installment of the Housemaid series. I enjoyed this ARC as I am a Freida McFadden fanatic. I loved seeing what Millie and Enzo have been up to in the last 14 years since the last Housemaid book. There were times when every character was annoying me. But to me Millie could do no wrong. I wasn’t at all surprised by the twists in this story. I kind of had a bad feeling when it came to certain characters. Although Freida said this is the last book in the series I really hope we get another book or a spinoff someday.

Having read the other Housemaid books in this series I knew I had to read this book. I was familiar with the author's writing style and knew what to expect. NOT!!! With this author though you may have read her other books you never know what to expect. Reading it in one day was what happened, and this book sure didn't disappoint. I know it's been said before but, in this case, it's so true, once you start you won't be able to put it down. I had a late night reading it, but I didn't mind. All of the characters have an important role and the more you read the more you'll discover their role. This book really took me by surprise. As you read you believe things to be a certain way but don't settle in too comfortably because this book will take you on a joy ride you may not recover from. A must read for fans of psychological thrillers!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I love this series.  It really is the author’s best work.  Don’t get me wrong, I like her books, but I absolutely adore this series.  This can be read as a stand alone, but you will be doing yourself a disservice.  It really does build to this.  I am assuming this is the end of a trilogy, but you never know.

I feel like I’ve been through a lot with Millie and had the right to yell at her over some of her choices in this one, but I guess there wouldn’t be a book without those choices.  It was nice to see her and Enzo and their family.  I loved their kids and that their personalities differed and really shone through.  They became integral to the story.

I think this one is a little longer than the other two and that extra time and nature of it allowed me time to figure out most of the twists.  I know we are always joking about figuring things out early in her books, but I actually did on just this one.  But that said, I still enjoyed the journey.

In addition to the length, I think this one distinguishes itself from the other two in the series because it is about Millie the Mom and wife.  The first two were really all about her and that can no longer be.  She grew into this role.

I spent a lot of the book a little disappointed in Enzo and some of his choices, but there was one that really pulled on my heartstrings and redeemed him.  So when you are reading this, know he does figure out all his priorities.


And that very last twist.  I did not see that coming but it makes a lot of sense in hindsight. 

I’m a huge audiobook listener due to convenience, but sometimes books really lend themselves to this format and I think this one does.  Ina Marie Smith and Lauryn Allman narrate this one and did a dynamic job with it.  That accent for Enzo and when he turns on the charm was perfectly narrated.  I was drawn in from the start and instantly entertained.

If you are late to jump on this bandwagon, I highly recommend binging this series as part of your summer reading.

I am a huge Freida McFadden fan and was so excited when I received this ARC however ever after finishing it, this was not my favorite book of hers. As much as I love Millie and Enzo’s story, I feel like it could’ve ended with the second book. This book did leave me guessing a little bit, but I felt like it lacked the “hook” That Freida is known for.

I LOVE Freida McFadden, and have loved almost all of her books so much. This book fell a little flat for me, but it was still good! I didn’t think the twist was as big as it normally is, and it took me some time to get into the book. I give it a 4-star rating because I liked the book, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for or expecting from Freida!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Housemaid Is Watching' by Freida McFadden.

OMG!!! MIND ABSOLUTELY BLOWN!!!! YET ANOTHER MASSIVE SUCCESS BY THE EXTREMELY TALENTED FREIDA AND ANOTHER ADDICITIVE MUST READ BOOK IN THIS AMAZING SERIES!!!

Freida does it yet again!! I have been eagerly awaiting this amazing addition in 'the Housemaid' series and Freida has not disappointed!! I am always a bit dubious when it comes to book series as I wonder how on Earth the author is going to manage to write a book that is as good as or even better than the previous books in this series but I had absolutely nothing to worry about!! I mean, to be fair, it is Freida at the end of the day, I really should not have had any doubts as she manages to blow it out of the bag each and every time and this is definitely no exception!! I Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolute page turner!! I absolutely LOVED 'The Housemaid' and 'the Housemaid's Secret' and genuinely didn't think a book could get more explosive and shocking than that but Freida did it yet again!! The storyline is absolutely ram packed with mystery, deceit, secrets, lies, romance, tension, suspense and OMG the twists just kept on coming again and again!!! Just when I thought everything that could happen had happened BOOM there was another shocker around the corner. Every time I kept telling myself one more chapter the one I was in ended at a point where there was no way I could stop reading so I absolutely devoured it in one sitting!! I WAS absolutely blown away and considering I read approximately 30 books a month that is certainly no easy feat so a HUGE congratulations on that Freida. My heart was absolutely pounding throughout and I loved being wrong about sooo many things (don't tell my partner I said that 😂)!! This is just one of those books that you will not forget and that you will devour in one sitting!! It can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend also reading 'The Housemaid' and 'The Housemaid's Secret' either before or after you have blown through this one!! Freida has an absolutely exceptional writing talent where she grasps your attention from the first sentence to the very last. I love the dark humour that she expertly weaves into an absolutely must read, addictive one of a kind psychological thriller!! I really could not recommend this book any more. If you are looking for something unique, filled with suspense and that will blow your mind then this is definitely the book for you!! Although this is the third book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it if I hadn't read the first book 'The Housemaid' and the second book 'the Housemaid's Secret' previously . Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader. This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrators Lauryn Allman and Ina Marie Smith who did an absolutely amazing job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity Lauryn Allman and Ina Marie Smith did a brilliant job of portraying the characters feelings through their voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Amanda but also to listening to more books narrated by Lauryn Allman and Ina Marie Smith!

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!

I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. The every one of the characters were well defined, realistic and strong. Unfortunately I am not going to be able to say much at all about them as I don't want to run the risk of giving anything away. However, I can say that I absolutely loved meeting Millie again who is one woman you do not want to get on the wrong side of!!! I really enjoyed seeing her character as a mother and seeing her interactions with her family and other characters as a parent as well as her own person. Needless to say each and every one of the characters all worked perfectly together to make this page turner as amazing as it is!!!

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Freida on what promises to be yet another massive best seller!!! I WAS absolutely shocked by so many events!! I thought 'The Housemaid' was epic and 'The Housemaid's Secret' was mind blowing but OMG you absolutely rocked this even more!! I can't say anything else but when you've read it you'll know!!! This is why you are one of my authors Freida and here's to your next explosive success 🥂!!!

Overall an absolutely addictive, explosive mind blowing page turner that will keep you up with a racing heart until you've finished!!!

#TheHousemaidIsWatching #TheHousemaid #FreidaMcFadden #Bookouture #HachetteUK

@FreidaMcFadden @Bookouture @HachetteUK

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This book was exactly what I expected it to be - a popcorn thriller with twists and turns that were fun and entertaining but nothing mind-blowing. I love that McFadden gives us short, propulsive chapters that make it so easy to breeze through her books in a day or two.

I LOVED The Housemaid - it was so bananas and crazy and fun! I feel like the other two Housemaid installments didn't live up to my hype after the first one, but it was still fun to be back with Millie and, in this third book, get to know Enzo more and see Millie as a mom and the dynamics of the family. There were some fun twists - nothing mind-blowing like the first one - and it was very fun to have some characters from the previous books pop up in a surprising way.

So overall, it was a lot of fun and I have loved getting into Millie's head throughout these books.

Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

And the award goes to : Freida McFadden for a third in a series of an outstanding psychological thriller book! How does she do it? The first chapter had me hooked, a little mystery, a little intrigue. Millie and her family have moves in to this cozy neighborhood, the house they bought at a price they couldn't refuse. As they are getting settled, they notice little things about their neighbors. Hmmm. Not giving anything away, as the book goes on, the nosy neighbor, is really getting on Millies nerve, she's having bad feelings about her neighbors, about the decision of moving...
Of course as I'm reading, I know "who did it" but, as Freida does, there is a twist you don't see coming. Another highly recommended book!

Firstly, thank you for @poisonedpenpress and @bookouture for sending me an advance digital copy of this book. I was very excited to receive this.

I know a lot of people are excited for this book coming out, me included. However, I have to say I have been left a little disappointed.

The story follows Millie and Enzo 20 years after the events of the housemaids secret. They’ve just stretched themselves to buy their dream home on what appears to be a lovely, safe street. However, things are not quite as perfect in the neighbourhood as they seem.

This wasn’t the usual fast paced, straight into the drama that we’re used to with the housemaid books. For me, nothing much really happened for the first half of the book. I checked my kindle percentage and the first dramatic thing to happen was 54% into the book. Up until that point, the story was more about Millie’s life, her family , motherhood and her relationship with Enzo.

Once we got into the drama it really picked up pace and was a bit more like the housemaid we’re used to. However, I have to be honest the twists and turns just all felt a bit rushed and a bit lacking compared to her other books.

I still read this book in 48 hours, it’s an easy read. This was more of a story my about Millie and her life, with a murder thrown in half way through to just add a bit of intrigue.. If you’re expecting twists, turns and excitement then you may be disappointed. If you go in expecting it to be more about her relationships and adjusting to her new life rather than an exciting thriller then you will enjoy this.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always blown away by how much Frieda can add to and enhance a story! This one is many years after the series starts and I would definitely recommend reading in order for the full experience. As always, there’s so many twists and turns you’ll never see coming and even a little extra at the end like a cherry on top! If you like psychological thrillers and mysteries, you definitely need to read this series!

Someone is always watching the goings on in the neighborhood.
Millie and her family are wondrous at their fortune at buying a house in a ritzy Long Island neighborhood or is it their misfortune?
A seductress and a hostile biddy are the new neighbors and trouble is afoot very quickly.
I held my breath during some parts because I didn’t know how it would turn out.
I cheered when Millie finally put the biddy in her place and cornered the seductress.
The house and the move were expensive mistakes but Millie has come through worse.
An excellent end to the Housemaids series. Or is it? Read the book to find out.

Frieda has done it again! The suspense! The twist! The Housemaid is Watching is a must-read!
Millie has just finally got the house of her dreams. No more stuffy tiny apartment for her, her husband Enzo, or their two kids. Millie can't stop herself from enjoying the space of the new house. Although something feels off, something is just not right. She can't quite put her finger on it. Is it the house itself? Is it her new neighbors? Is someone keeping secrets? This book will leave you guessing and your jaw on the floor!

When the family moves into their new house there is a nosy neighbor right away and another one who flirts all the time with the husband. So right off the bat I could not wait to see what happens. Mrs. Lowell does not stop leaving Enzo alone, Even having him help her with her backyard and she will give him his name to her clients, as she is a real estate person.
Then their son becomes violent and not his self. Their daughter is still the same but not quite sure what to think of her brother.
We also meet the neighbor's maid who is now coming to Millie's house twice a month.
There were somethings that I had a feeling of what was gong on but not quite all of it, and some twists I did not see.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Ugh. I wanted to love this book, but I don't. Frieda is usually one of my go-to authors when I want something thrilling and fast -paced. Do I sometimes need to turn down the rational part of my brain, sure, but it's usually a good time when I read her books. This wasn't it though. The storyline between Enzo and Millie felt soooo drawn out. Millie didn't feel like a strong character, she was needy, insecure and whiny.

There were some parts that could use some more research about kids and their interactions, book choices and ways of talking to each other. Maybe I should have turned the rational part of my brain down more. I can't help but think that maybe talking to people who work with kids would have been helpful.

It was a book. Did I want to find out how it ended and if I was correct, yes. It delivers on that end. I'm hoping that's the last of Millie but I doubt it is. Will I read more of them if there are, probably.

Does it make me upset with myself, most definitely. Lol

This was an amazing conclusion to The Housemaid series. Taking place over a decade after the housemaids secret. Millie is married with two kids, no longer a housemaid and moving out to a house in a small cul-de-sac with some busybody neighbours. It was a little slow to start but was sooo worth it. I truly devoured this series.

Thank you, netgalley and poison pen press for an arc.

Millie is back, but she isn’t a maid anymore; she is a mother, a professional and a wife; left behind is the life of secrets.
Finally making a life for herself things have moved forward. But the simple life isn’t all it seems, and neither are her neighbours.
This fits a different narrative from the previous novels in this series, but I can see why this was done. I loved being back with Enzo and Millie and seeing the new life they have built.
I found this to be a fast-paced novel with twists throughout and one for any thriller lover to enjoy.
Although this is a series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Absolutely loved this book and it was definitely worth the wait after reading the first two books last summer!

The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden. Pub Date: June 11, 2024. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Freida is one of my go-to authors for a binge worthy rollercoaster ride of a story and boy did she deliver with this one! We are back in Millie’s world, but she is now a professional with a career and young family. She just bought a fixer upper house in a nice neighborhood but the neighbors are suspect. A nosy neighbor and an over the top next door neighbor who acts interested in Millie’s husband are just two of the interesting characters in this story. When the over the top neighbor’s husband turns up murdered, it is a chase to see who committed the crime. Was it Millie, one of her kids, her husband or someone else? In true Freida fashion, the short chapters and fast paced storytelling keep the pages flying. I read this one in less than 24 hours. I highly recommend! Thanks to #netgalley and #sourcebooks for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. @netgalley #thehousemaidiswatching #bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #bookworm #freidamcfadden

This is the 3rd book in McFadden's Housemaid series. Millie is older, and we see her life as a working mother and a wife. This was very different than the 1st two books in the series. It was not what I was expecting. I did love seeing Millie live life as a wife and mother. Her husband, Enzo, and her two children had big roles in this story. I also flew through this book. It was written in a way that it kept my attention.

On the flip side, there was a lot of lull. The beginning starts off with a gripping prologue. The last 30-40% of the book packed a lot of twists, turns, and secrets. Yet the entire middle of the book, nothing happened. Again, I was engrossed in this book waiting for something to happen, but it took a loooong time for that to occur.

The circumstances surrounding the big twist weren't revealed, so when it happened, it felt rushed and not well executed. There was also something lacking for me with Millie and Enzo's relationship. Depth was missing there, as it was from some of the other characters.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story that had twists that I've come to expect from Freida. She kept me furiously reading right up until the very end. I do suggest those that have read the 1st two books in the series read this one! 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.