bookchew's review against another edition
3.0
This book is marketed as a modern response to Rebecca, one that explores how gender roles have shifted since Rebecca’s publication. I am not sure it achieves what it sets out to do. Its themes jostle about—from dealing with the ghost of the ex wife, to the menace of the teenage daughter, and the precarious situation of taking on a new spouse’s life—but these themes (and the very blah main character grappling with them) don’t feel fully realized. The story is relatively boring and slow moving, until the last few chapters which, by contrast, are riveting. There could have been so much more here. Fittingly, with the specter of the original—and exceptional—novel (Rebecca), this one fell flat.
marcccb's review against another edition
3.0
I've heard such good ratings about this novel and I've been told that it was a great thriller, but I didn't think it was that much of a thriller. I found it to be more of a domestic drama, maybe even more of a romance. The thrilling part of this book (a very little one) did not come in until the end of the novel which made me a little bit annoyed since I was waiting the entire time for a twist to appear. Not a very shocking twist but it did the trick.
A novel about a woman, who we still don't know the name of even after the novel is over, marries Max Winter and lives with him in his large estate. With a difficult daughter, an ex-wife who is haunting her and family secrets, she tries to find a way into this wealthy world and tries to uncover the secrets that rest in the grounds of the Winter estate.
I know it sound intriguing but I wasn't that hooked. I have to admit that the first sentence of the novel was very interesting to read, but it just didn't have the thriller aspect that I usually look for in a thriller novel. Maybe it's just me, but I do feel that a few more twists could have been added in some places to make the novel a bit more intriguing for me.
That being said, it was still a very enjoyable to read!
A novel about a woman, who we still don't know the name of even after the novel is over, marries Max Winter and lives with him in his large estate. With a difficult daughter, an ex-wife who is haunting her and family secrets, she tries to find a way into this wealthy world and tries to uncover the secrets that rest in the grounds of the Winter estate.
I know it sound intriguing but I wasn't that hooked. I have to admit that the first sentence of the novel was very interesting to read, but it just didn't have the thriller aspect that I usually look for in a thriller novel. Maybe it's just me, but I do feel that a few more twists could have been added in some places to make the novel a bit more intriguing for me.
That being said, it was still a very enjoyable to read!
julija_1975's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sooky's review against another edition
3.0
“Last night Rebekah tried to murder me again.” Creepy ass opening line is creepy!
I’ve never read Daphne Maurier’s Rebecca, the book that inspired The Winters, so I can’t possibly tell how it compares. I kind of feel like I should read Rebecca, but also… What for now? #bookwormdilemmas
Suggested bookworm drinking game: every time I say ‘pleasant’ with regards to this book, you drink a shot. I’m warning you though. It’s not for lightweights!
The Winters could be best described as pleasant. Quite eerie, with lovely prose and an even pace, this book is the very definition of pleasant. It’s nice. However, as a friend of mine once pointed out, you don’t want someone to describe you as just ‘nice‘. Why not amazing? Brilliant even?
The story unfolds from our unnamed protagonist’s perspective. She’s a pleasant young woman, who lives on a lovely island and works hard because she’s not particularly fortunate in life. When she meets Max, this pleasant, older gentleman, he sweeps her off her feet in a few short weeks.
Away he takes her, all the way to Asherly, this beautiful mansion on a private island. The staff is pleasant enough, the in-laws are friendly, and even Dani, Max’s teenaged daughter is only mildly rebellious. You see, she’s trying to be unpleasant, but her half assed attempts to be defiant and confrontational with the new lady of the house just seem kind of pathetic and not scary or alarming at all. Everyone keeps ignoring her antics anyway. Everyone is so bloody reasonable!
I can’t say the suspense was killing me, but as time went by in the life of our characters, more and more secrets got unearthed, and the resolution was pretty neat.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style, and will be on the lookout for more stories by Lisa Gabriele.
I’ve never read Daphne Maurier’s Rebecca, the book that inspired The Winters, so I can’t possibly tell how it compares. I kind of feel like I should read Rebecca, but also… What for now? #bookwormdilemmas
Suggested bookworm drinking game: every time I say ‘pleasant’ with regards to this book, you drink a shot. I’m warning you though. It’s not for lightweights!
The Winters could be best described as pleasant. Quite eerie, with lovely prose and an even pace, this book is the very definition of pleasant. It’s nice. However, as a friend of mine once pointed out, you don’t want someone to describe you as just ‘nice‘. Why not amazing? Brilliant even?
The story unfolds from our unnamed protagonist’s perspective. She’s a pleasant young woman, who lives on a lovely island and works hard because she’s not particularly fortunate in life. When she meets Max, this pleasant, older gentleman, he sweeps her off her feet in a few short weeks.
Away he takes her, all the way to Asherly, this beautiful mansion on a private island. The staff is pleasant enough, the in-laws are friendly, and even Dani, Max’s teenaged daughter is only mildly rebellious. You see, she’s trying to be unpleasant, but her half assed attempts to be defiant and confrontational with the new lady of the house just seem kind of pathetic and not scary or alarming at all. Everyone keeps ignoring her antics anyway. Everyone is so bloody reasonable!
I can’t say the suspense was killing me, but as time went by in the life of our characters, more and more secrets got unearthed, and the resolution was pretty neat.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style, and will be on the lookout for more stories by Lisa Gabriele.
adnaram's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sammy234's review against another edition
2.0
DNF @ 50%
I love Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. This novel just proves what I already suspected. Such a brilliant story can't be improved upon. I tried with this novel. But I've figured out the twist already, and honestly? It made me feel kind of ticked off. Retellings aren't supposed to completely spit on the original work. And the original work was a love story as much as it was a thriller.
So yeah.
I don't recommend this book.
Even if the writing is atmospheric and lovely.
Sometimes it's better not to mess with a good thing.
I love Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. This novel just proves what I already suspected. Such a brilliant story can't be improved upon. I tried with this novel. But I've figured out the twist already, and honestly? It made me feel kind of ticked off. Retellings aren't supposed to completely spit on the original work. And the original work was a love story as much as it was a thriller.
So yeah.
I don't recommend this book.
Even if the writing is atmospheric and lovely.
Sometimes it's better not to mess with a good thing.
calhoun_crew's review against another edition
3.0
Good book and an easy "lazy day" read . I dint find my self pulling an all nighter to finish or promising my husband just till the end of this chaper. But I enjoyed the book. I felt like the characters of danie and few others could have e definitely used a little more so that some of the scenes didn't come of as unbelievable or "eh" as they did. Over all a good read .
amandadelbrocco's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable enough retelling of Rebecca, but did the kitten have to die? I was super tense the entire story because I could just tell that it was coming...
lisaeirene's review against another edition
4.0
This was an odd book. It was a domestic thriller, I guess, but it was subtle. The unnamed young woman, in her late 20's, lives and works in the Cayman Islands and is swept off her feet by an older man. Max Winter, a recent widow, a rich politician from New York, he brings her back to his home, Asherly, in the Hamptons. It's a stark change from the sunny, warm beauty of the Caribbean. Especially when she meets Max's spoiled teenage daughter, Dani.
The narrator tries her best to become friends with Dani, to show that she's not just some gold digger trying to replace her dead mother. But Dani is spoiled, evil and trying to punish her. So you think. The story unravels slowly, but it draws you in and keeps you guessing. I did not expect the ending at all!
The narrator tries her best to become friends with Dani, to show that she's not just some gold digger trying to replace her dead mother. But Dani is spoiled, evil and trying to punish her. So you think. The story unravels slowly, but it draws you in and keeps you guessing. I did not expect the ending at all!
krislynv's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve wanted to read this one for a long time and it didn’t disappoint. Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca is one of my all time favorite books. Nothing will replace the classic but this was a fun modern twist on it. It’s not meant to be like the original. I feel like they could do an updated version of the movie as well from this book.