The housemaid is watching?🫠

So, after diving into 'The Housemaid Is Watching,' I have to be completely honest: I walked away feeling a bit underwhelmed. You know when you're super excited for a sequel, especially after loving the first two books like I did with 'The Housemaid' and 'The Housemaid's Secret'? Well, this one, for me, didn't quite hit the mark. My initial thought was truly, 'meh?' as you might have seen from my rating (I ultimately settled on 2 stars, even though my initial thought was probably closer to a 2.5/5 like the image suggested). One of the biggest disconnects for me was the genre. It's pitched as a psychological thriller, and while it does eventually get there, for a significant portion of the book, it felt more like a domestic drama or a 'slice of life' story about Millie and Enzo settling into suburban life with their kids, Ada and Nico. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy character development, but the thriller elements felt pushed to the very end, almost as an afterthought. I kept waiting for that chilling tension and the mind-bending twists that Freida McFadden is so brilliant at, but they just didn't materialize until the last few chapters. It made the build-up feel, well, kinda flat ngl. The plot twists, which are usually the highlight of McFadden's books, also left me a little confused. The original article mentions one was 'described in 2 pages right at the end,' and that's exactly how it felt. It was like, 'here's a big revelation – now move on!' There wasn't enough time to process it, or for the twist to truly impact the story in a satisfying way. It lacked the intricate layering and subtle clues that made the reveals in the previous books so impactful. Regarding the 'the housemaid is watching nico' query, Nico is Millie and Enzo's son. He's part of their new suburban family life, experiencing the move and the new environment alongside his sister, Ada. While he's a central family member, his role is more about being part of the domestic setting rather than directly involved in the thriller's core mystery, at least not in a way that truly drives the suspense. He's there, but the focus remains squarely on Millie's growing suspicions about her new housemaid and neighbors. If you're asking 'is the housemaid worth watching?' or 'is housemaid worth watching?' as in, is this particular installment worth your time, my honest recommendation would be to temper your expectations. If you love Freida McFadden and want to complete Millie's story, go for it, but don't expect the same level of white-knuckle suspense as the first two. However, if you haven't read 'The Housemaid' and 'The Housemaid's Secret' yet, I wholeheartedly suggest starting there. As the image in the post says, 'THESE 2 ARE MUCH BETTER.' They are truly fantastic psychological thrillers that will keep you guessing from page one. My advice? Read those first, and then decide if you're curious enough to dip into 'The Housemaid Is Watching' with a fresh perspective, knowing it takes a different, slower approach.