Joined in 2023 
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I read this book straight through in one sitting, and stayed up entirely too late to do so . . . Crazy twists and turns - I actually said "Wait, what?" out loud' Goodreads reviewer, FIVE STARS There is a dark humour underlying Millie’s narration, I liked those random funny moments even when the proceedings were not hilarious at all. In Part One, Nina Winchester is looking for a maid to clean, help out with her daughter Cecilia, and perhaps prepare a meal on occasion. The person she hires will need to be desperate for a job, and have CERTAIN personality traits. This constant vulnerability is also what makes Millie’s plan for revenge in The Housemaid’s Secret so much fun to follow. Not only are we constantly wondering what inventive and devilish plan she’s cooking up next, but we’re also eagerly awaiting the moves which will be made against her, forcing her to improvise and adjust on-the-fly. Which – I don’t even know how this book managed to feel so different, considering all the similarities. We follow Millie again. She’s in desperate need of money, again. She starts working for a wealthy family and something about the place feels very wrong.
Perhaps naturally enough, this leads to the novel having a fairly huge number of twists, at least many more than I’ve seen contained with in a single book in recent memory. While this did lead to a bit of numbness in regards to the surprise inflicted upon me by certain unexpected turns, on the whole they are handled well enough to be impactful, and whenever necessary Freida McFadden raises the stakes just a little bit. The Psychology of VengeanceI'm upgrading my rating from 4.5 stars to a solid 5, thanks to the clever twists, and eagerly looking forward to delving into more of the author's twisted tales sooner rather than later. I like Millie, but that stems from The Housemaid. She is a strong willed, powerful woman. Even when she is being less than honorable, I root for her to come out on top. I can’t explain it as I’ve disliked other characters for less flaws. I love trying to figure out what is going to happen, where the plot is going, who is telling the truth, who is reliable, etc. This one kept me on my toes. I found it to be fun, dramatic, surprising, and hard to put down!
I enjoyed The Housemaid and generally think McFadden’s books are fun popcorn reads, but this sequel was godawful. Clunky, repetitive writing. Cringey dialogue. Predictable plot with a “twisty” part 2 retelling the same boring story from another perspective. Skip this.
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It all started with a simple cleaning job. And now it might end with my blood being mopped off the cabin floor.
Every day she cleans the home - it's gleaming and spotless. That is until Nina comes down and makes a mess and makes Millie clean it up again. Millie can't help but wonder why. Then there is the groundskeeper who warns her of danger when she first arrives. But Millie shakes it off. She can deal with one spoiled housewife. Her spoiled daughter is another issue, but Millie tries to win her over. Then there is Andrew - the achingly handsome husband who must put up with a demanding and erratic wife.
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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.
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