bookapotamus's review against another edition
4.0
Talk about dysfunctional family - holy heck are there some serious issues and baggage and secrets within the Winters family! And what a fun ride it was to watch them all unravel! (Gosh that sounds so mean, but it's fiction right.. no guilt here!)
I really enjoyed this crazy suspenseful novel, and just actually found out AFTER I read this, that it's inspired by duMauriers Rebecca. Which I haven't read. Sigh.... I can't believe I still haven't read that classic tale, but THIS has made me move it up to the front of the list!
It starts with an intense and fast paced romance in the Cayman Islands. And within weeks, there is a proposal, and a move to a cold snowy Long Island, and a mansion full of secrets. Max seems to be perfect, although much older, and heartbreakingly widowed - he charms her, he's wealthy, and he adores his daughter Dani, no matter what issues she harbors from the sudden death of her beautiful and perfect mother Rebekah. The scenery is so new, she's never had money, or luxury or family really, and she tries to settle into becoming this new person, and a stepmother to a teenager who seems to want to make her life hell. As she steadily grows more and more in love with Max, her fear of Dani grows just as much, and slowly secrets begin to spill and skeletons emerge from every closet in the mansion.
I was SO entertained by this story and I loved the twists and turns it took, relishing every shock and secret. With every turn of the page it becomes more and more obvious that someone is telling lies and you have no idea who to trust. A fun exciting read, surprisingly addictive with every turn of the page, and a really satisfying ending!
I really enjoyed this crazy suspenseful novel, and just actually found out AFTER I read this, that it's inspired by duMauriers Rebecca. Which I haven't read. Sigh.... I can't believe I still haven't read that classic tale, but THIS has made me move it up to the front of the list!
It starts with an intense and fast paced romance in the Cayman Islands. And within weeks, there is a proposal, and a move to a cold snowy Long Island, and a mansion full of secrets. Max seems to be perfect, although much older, and heartbreakingly widowed - he charms her, he's wealthy, and he adores his daughter Dani, no matter what issues she harbors from the sudden death of her beautiful and perfect mother Rebekah. The scenery is so new, she's never had money, or luxury or family really, and she tries to settle into becoming this new person, and a stepmother to a teenager who seems to want to make her life hell. As she steadily grows more and more in love with Max, her fear of Dani grows just as much, and slowly secrets begin to spill and skeletons emerge from every closet in the mansion.
I was SO entertained by this story and I loved the twists and turns it took, relishing every shock and secret. With every turn of the page it becomes more and more obvious that someone is telling lies and you have no idea who to trust. A fun exciting read, surprisingly addictive with every turn of the page, and a really satisfying ending!
mkinne's review against another edition
3.0
This reads more like a romance novel than a mystery or gothic romance (both of which describe DuMaurier's original, Rebecca). The narrator is unbelievably naive it at times and some of her emotional journey doesn't hang together. Still, the final denouement was compelling and the modern touches were done quite well.
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
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...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death