Reviews with content warning for Sexism - The Last Housewife

This book was absolutely addicting and I finished it in a single work day. It was that good. I’m not normally a thriller person, but this one seemed intriguing so I gave it a try. The narrator is so incredibly perfect with different accents and perfect inflections that set the mood of the story. This book moves quickly and it is so easy to be swept up into the plot. Two best friends murdered and both look like suicides? Trying to help the case to only get turned away by the police and having to turn to an old friend instead? The layers of the case get peeled back and more intense with every turn. I was continually surprised by the plot and still am mulling over the open ending. An ending I’m okay with, but I also wanted it more closed and happy - which I know isn’t normal for a thriller! There were aspects of the book I didn’t love - the manipulation was very quick, the initiation was even quicker and bizarrely permanent, Cal, and the multiple escapes. Overall, still an excellent plot and really addicting read. 4⭐️, 4⚠️

Content Warnings

kaylanbacon's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

hannasifaka's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

hollyamber's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Plotline: After the suspicious death of her 2 college friends, Shay returns to the place where she died, and where they experienced a collective trauma that may be linked to her death in an effort to uncover the truth.

This was super interesting, but verrrrry heavy! Many trigger warnings needed for this one. I was hooked though - I loved the story being told partially through interview recordings and recollections of past events. A really good twist too. I'd have loved to have heard more of the back story of the "bad guy" in this.

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diamondjade's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This story was different, and kept me very interested. It was a pretty wild ride and not like any other book I’ve read before. I admire that. I like that the main character is somewhat implicated and for most of the book there is no clear defining line between good/evil. The author did a very good job building a story where you can understand how people got to the point that they are at, even if they are very questionable. The only part I was not a fan of was the story line with main character and her husband. I felt that it was unnecessary, and very typical. It didn’t really add to the story and it seems like the ending of that plot line is what we see at the end of any suburban gender crime type story. Also, take the trigger warnings seriously. It’s very messed up and can be very graphic at times.

Content Warnings

memydogandbooks's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A cult + a podcast + a disturbing plot = one of the darkest thrillers I’ve read in a long time! This book is NOT for the faint hearted.

What’s It About?

Shay Evans and her friends were manipulated by a man in college, but she and Laurel escaped. Years later, Shay learns of Laurel’s death through a true-crime podcast and suspects their past is resurfacing. She returns to investigate, uncovering a dark, disturbing, privileged world and questioning the possibility of justice in a male-dominated society.

What Did I Think Of It?

- WOW! This is dark, twisted and downright terrifying. I was gripped.

- The twists were *chef’s kisses oh and that very last page = perfection!

- The dark secrets of the disturbingly misogynistic cult that Winstead creates is hard to read, scary but unputdownable.

- There’s a whole podcast element to how this story is told between the MC Shay and her friend Jamie that was the perfect storytelling format inbetween chapters.

- This is a chilling and haunting story that left me dumb struck after reading

- The social commentary, and the uncomfortable connection between female desire and male violence in this story is profound.

I will be thinking about this book for a while…

READ IT! After checking the content warnings.

Content Warnings