Secrets, Twists, and Cleaning House: My Thoughts on The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

By Cecilia Belmontes

Introduction

Ok, imagine this: You land your dream job, a free place to stay, a nice room in a beautiful house. Life seems perfect… until your boss starts acting super weird and you realize the doors lock from the outside. Uh oh.

A friend from work lent me Freida McFadden’s The Inmate about six months ago, and I absolutely loved it. I tore through that book and was left with a jaw dropping ending that had me shook. So, when we started a book club at work with the theme “books that are becoming movies,” The Housemaid came up. We didn’t end up choosing it for the club, but I was already too curious not to read it.

Let me tell you, I'm SO glad I did.

This book is a roller coaster. You’ll hate one person, then realize you’ve been aiming your hate in the wrong direction. Your emotions go from high to low and back again as secrets start unraveling. Some of the twists are absolutely wild and totally mess with your head in the best way.

Spoiler-Free Mini Review (for the curious but cautious)

This psychological thriller is best described as: "Intensity with a side of ‘what is even happening right now?’”

What worked: The pacing is solid, the tension builds perfectly, and the twists keep hitting. I loved the short chapters! it made the book fly by and really hard to put down. One of those “just one more chapter… okay maybe one more” kind of reads.

What could’ve been better: It did start off a little slow for me. Still interesting, but I wasn’t totally hooked until around Chapter 20. After that it was twist after twist after twist.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely. If you enjoy reading anything, especially thrillers or stories that keep you on edge, this is a must-read. And if you loved The Inmate, you’ll love this one too.

My Reactions While Reading

Throughout the chapters, I was seriously talking smack about the characters. No joke, every other chapter had me yelling at someone in my head (okay… and out loud). Never a dull moment. Some scenes had me like, “WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!” and others were like “OHHHH now it makes sense!” Such a ride.

Spoiler Alert: Let’s Talk About THAT Twist

Spoilers Ahead! Stop here if you haven’t read the book yet.

Alright… let’s talk.

You think it’s Nina, the wife, who’s the problem the entire time. But no. It’s the husband. Mr. Winchester is an abusive jerk and the real danger in the story. The way the book flips the script was crazy. Then, just when you think Millie might end up with him in a twisted plot turn… BAM. He tries to pull the same manipulative stuff on her too.

How I felt about it: He got what he deserved. The ending delivered big time!I had so many mixed feelings, but in the best way.

What I didn’t see coming: The depth of his abuse. It was darker and more shocking than I expected. The way it affected both Nina and Millie was heartbreaking but also powerful.

What I kind of predicted: I had a feeling something was off with Mr. Winchester early on, but I couldn’t put my finger on what. I didn’t expect the full extent of it.

What did you think of the twist? Let’s talk in the comments!

Final Thoughts & Rating

This book is a solid 10/10 for me. No one is who they seem, and the whole thing is creepy, clever, and super bingeable. Whether you’re into thrillers or just looking for a book that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime, The Housemaid delivers.

Let’s Chat

Have you read The Housemaid yet? What did you think of the ending? Any psychological thriller recs you’d recommend? Drop them in the comments. I need my next fix!

P.S. The Housemaid’s Secret, The Housemaid’s Wedding, and The Housemaid Is Watching reviews coming soon.