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A review by jenn_o_3
The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden
2.5
I don’t think I’ll read this author again. This book was recommended to me or I wouldn’t have chosen it. But it was pretty formulaic and predictable. The first “twist” isn’t one at all and the second “twist” just takes you back to if there weren’t any twists. So I don’t understand the reviews saying it’s so twisty and unpredictable.
Aside from that, I also don’t love the writing style. Short sentences, limited vocabulary… it almost reads young adult to me. And the author repeats info over and over like readers are dumb. For example, in chapter 1 the narrator is very poor. Saying she’s about to be evicted paints that picture pretty clearly, but the author mentions it again in every single paragraph. Ok, we get it. And the “foreshadowing” that was like a hammer over the head. “She got a terrible feeling” again, repeated about 5 times in chapter 1 alone.
The revealing clue also makes zero sense Victoria gives Sylvie a diary that talks about Mack and only Mack but then when speaking of him she uses a different name? How on earth does that make sense?!?!? Especially when every word requires so much effort? And there’s no effort by the author to even try to make it make sense. Lazy writing.
Aside from that, I also don’t love the writing style. Short sentences, limited vocabulary… it almost reads young adult to me. And the author repeats info over and over like readers are dumb. For example, in chapter 1 the narrator is very poor. Saying she’s about to be evicted paints that picture pretty clearly, but the author mentions it again in every single paragraph. Ok, we get it. And the “foreshadowing” that was like a hammer over the head. “She got a terrible feeling” again, repeated about 5 times in chapter 1 alone.
The revealing clue also makes zero sense
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage