slavic_bookworm's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
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? Yes
1.0
I enjoyed the first parts of the chapter with the recipies and advice from the 1950’s on how to be a good wife (although some of it was mindblowing and horrible). But that is where I stop liking the book. Nellie as a character was ok. I understand why she did what she did (even though I would never go to those lengths unless my husband was about to kill me and I was defending myself).
Alice on the other hand. Oh God where do I start with her! Horrible horrible person. Toxic, abussive as a wife and a friend. I felt really bad for her husband being shunned and manipulated by her time and time again. And honesty? What the hell is that? I bet she never heard of that word. And the fact that at the end Alice ended getting what she wanted, again by manipulating her husband is beyond me. At least of the author gave any indication that the narrative thinks it’s bad but no. I have zero sympathy for that woman and I wish her hubby would have kicked her to the curb and found a loyal and loving wife that he deserved!
Alice on the other hand. Oh God where do I start with her! Horrible horrible person. Toxic, abussive as a wife and a friend. I felt really bad for her husband being shunned and manipulated by her time and time again. And honesty? What the hell is that? I bet she never heard of that word. And the fact that at the end Alice ended getting what she wanted, again by manipulating her husband is beyond me. At least of the author gave any indication that the narrative thinks it’s bad but no. I have zero sympathy for that woman and I wish her hubby would have kicked her to the curb and found a loyal and loving wife that he deserved!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I picked up this book while I was killing time in a bookstore out of state. The title and cover really caught my eye, and I was so intrigued by the premise.
This novel follows dual perspectives and two different timelines. Nellie is a picturesque housewife from the 1950s. She seems to have the perfect life AND the perfect husband, but her life is not everything everyone believes it to be. Alice, a modern woman, was a successful publicist until she lost her job. Her and her husband decide to leave the city life behind and move into a house in the suburbs that needs a little TLC. Alice discovers letters that uncover the former house owner: Nellie. Alice becomes obsessed with learning what happened to Nellie in this house.
This is a very interesting book because one of the main characters is HIGHLY unlikable. Alice is insufferable at times, and despite having the seemingly perfect and supportive husband that most woman would kill for, she continues to make choices that hurt him, and she continues to lie to him even when she is given the opportunity to tell him the truth. I found it slightly unbelievable and entirely disheartening that she did not tell her husband why she got fired from her job, instead she told him that she quit. She also continued to lie to him about wanting children and strung him along, even though she was on birth control. Then, at the end she gives him an absurd ultimatum that made no sense to me (I get it from a novel perspective and furthering her character's state of mind, but as a soon-to-be wife, I hated it). Nellie on the other hand was amazing. She was thoughtful and tactful in her schemes against her abusive husband. I loved Nellie and I think she epitomes strength and intelligence.
I really enjoyed that we got Nellie's perspective through letters, and I also loved seeing her in comparison to Alice. Women have come a long way from the oppressive times of the 1950s. I think this book opens up the conversation that some women want to be housewives, and that is okay, but it is not okay when that is the only option. I loved this book, and I really enjoyed the mystery of what happened to Nellie.
The only reason I docked this book a star is because I hated Alice so much, but otherwise I highly recommend this!
This novel follows dual perspectives and two different timelines. Nellie is a picturesque housewife from the 1950s. She seems to have the perfect life AND the perfect husband, but her life is not everything everyone believes it to be. Alice, a modern woman, was a successful publicist until she lost her job. Her and her husband decide to leave the city life behind and move into a house in the suburbs that needs a little TLC. Alice discovers letters that uncover the former house owner: Nellie. Alice becomes obsessed with learning what happened to Nellie in this house.
This is a very interesting book because one of the main characters is HIGHLY unlikable. Alice is insufferable at times, and despite having the seemingly perfect and supportive husband that most woman would kill for, she continues to make choices that hurt him, and she continues to lie to him even when she is given the opportunity to tell him the truth. I found it slightly unbelievable and entirely disheartening that she did not tell her husband why she got fired from her job, instead she told him that she quit. She also continued to lie to him about wanting children and strung him along, even though she was on birth control. Then, at the end she gives him an absurd ultimatum that made no sense to me (I get it from a novel perspective and furthering her character's state of mind, but as a soon-to-be wife, I hated it). Nellie on the other hand was amazing. She was thoughtful and tactful in her schemes against her abusive husband. I loved Nellie and I think she epitomes strength and intelligence.
I really enjoyed that we got Nellie's perspective through letters, and I also loved seeing her in comparison to Alice. Women have come a long way from the oppressive times of the 1950s. I think this book opens up the conversation that some women want to be housewives, and that is okay, but it is not okay when that is the only option. I loved this book, and I really enjoyed the mystery of what happened to Nellie.
The only reason I docked this book a star is because I hated Alice so much, but otherwise I highly recommend this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Miscarriage, and Domestic abuse
kimberlymarrinan's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There might be spoilers in here, I just dislike this book a lot.
Alice, the 2018 main character, has just moved into her new home with her husband because he wants to settle down and start a family. She tells him that she is okay with that and would also like to start a family, even though in her heart that is not true and she would rather go back to the workforce. She also lies to her husband about multiple things other than the baby. She got fired from her job but tells her husband that she quit, and she also goes and gets an IUD without telling her husband, and when he finds out all he wishes is that she would have told him. She starts to smoke, a hobby that is bad for all, and hides it from her husband because he cares about her and would tell her to stop (because he thinks she wants to have a child with him and she doesn't tell him otherwise). This man wants a wife that talks to him and are not forcing her into anything. Nelly, the 1950's woman, has a physically, sexually, and overall abusive husband. He forces her to have a child, just because they "have to" have one. He rapes her and beats her. She performs abortions on herself because she does not want to have this man's child. I understand that. Brown attempts to draw a parallel between the two female main characters' husbands. Which just is not there. The two men are completely different, even though they would both like the start a family. Nate, Alice's husband, is not raping her to have a child and believes her to be enthusiastic about it. Brown attempted to write a feminist piece of literature, in which the similarities between the 1950s and today are apparent, and that men have always and will always trap women into a marriage with children, and only want the same thing. However, that is not true in the slightest and Nate is not even close to manipulative towards Alice. I hate Alice, I love Nelly and this book is atrocious.
Alice, the 2018 main character, has just moved into her new home with her husband because he wants to settle down and start a family. She tells him that she is okay with that and would also like to start a family, even though in her heart that is not true and she would rather go back to the workforce. She also lies to her husband about multiple things other than the baby. She got fired from her job but tells her husband that she quit, and she also goes and gets an IUD without telling her husband, and when he finds out all he wishes is that she would have told him. She starts to smoke, a hobby that is bad for all, and hides it from her husband because he cares about her and would tell her to stop (because he thinks she wants to have a child with him and she doesn't tell him otherwise). This man wants a wife that talks to him and are not forcing her into anything. Nelly, the 1950's woman, has a physically, sexually, and overall abusive husband. He forces her to have a child, just because they "have to" have one. He rapes her and beats her. She performs abortions on herself because she does not want to have this man's child. I understand that. Brown attempts to draw a parallel between the two female main characters' husbands. Which just is not there. The two men are completely different, even though they would both like the start a family. Nate, Alice's husband, is not raping her to have a child and believes her to be enthusiastic about it. Brown attempted to write a feminist piece of literature, in which the similarities between the 1950s and today are apparent, and that men have always and will always trap women into a marriage with children, and only want the same thing. However, that is not true in the slightest and Nate is not even close to manipulative towards Alice. I hate Alice, I love Nelly and this book is atrocious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism
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