A review by rumade
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Probably one of the first explorations of pregnancy as a horrifying experience and the alienation and pain that can come with it. Rosemary is a likeable character and easy to root for- a normal Midwestern girl almost estranged from her huge Catholic family back in Omaha as she lives with her WASP husband in New York and longs for a baby. I wish I could have read this without knowing the premise; so I could feel the tension build up more and more. Even if you roughly know the story, it's worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Suicide

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Blood, Abortion, and Alcohol

There is a scene where a husband is very dismissive of him raping his wife the night before when she was passed out drunk