Title: The Housemaid
Actors: Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney, Brandon Sklenar
Director: Paul Feig
Writers: Freida McFadden, Rebecca Sonnenshine
Genre: Thriller
Length: 2 hours and 11 minutes
My Rating:

The Housemaid

Millie has a secret, and because of it, she struggles to find a job. But she refuses to give up. One day, she comes across a job opening as a housemaid for the Winchesters. The house, and everything in it, is beautiful. She doesn’t expect to get the job, but she does, and suddenly she’s living and working in this stunning home. Everything seems normal at first, until Nina starts acting strangely and blames Millie for everything that goes wrong. Millie then learns from other nannies about Nina’s past and the things she’s done.

Review

Last year, I decided to read the book because I saw that the movie was coming out in 2025 and I was really curious. At the time, I was mostly reading romance novels and not much else, but I still picked up a copy, and I loved it. I gave it 5/5 stars on Goodreads. It was that good. So of course, I wanted to watch the movie and find out if it was just as good as the book.

I think the actors did a great job. I’ve always been a fan of Amanda Seyfried, and she was amazing in this role. The cast overall was really strong. Millie did something in the past, and because of that, it’s hard for her to find a job, so she takes whatever she can get. She desperately needs the money and is living in her car at the moment. Getting this job, and having her own bedroom in the house, was a huge improvement for her situation.

The only thing I felt was missing was Cece’s character. In the book, she was a spoiled brat, very rude and annoying, and I didn’t fully get that from the movie. I think they tried to portray it, but if I remember correctly, Cece was much worse in the book.

Of course, I was also comparing the movie’s storyline to the book, and most things were the same. However, I was expecting the peanut butter situation to be included as well. Cece was supposed to be allergic to peanuts (or not), and this came up multiple times in the book.

And there was one big thing that was different from the book: they changed the ending. Honestly, I’m a bit sad about it because I loved the ending in the book. The movie’s ending was a bit disappointing, to be honest. Maybe there was a reason for the change, but this is exactly why I gave the book a 5/5 rating and the movie “only” a 4/5 rating.

I still enjoyed watching this movie, though. It was still really good, and even though I knew what was going to happen, I was still disgusted by it. I honestly couldn’t watch during a few moments when they were in the attic, that was just horrifying. Anyone who could watch that with a poker face is a sociopath. I had to look away.

Now I’m just wondering if they are also going to film the second and third books in the series. The second book was also very good, and I would definitely pay money to see it on screen. I still have to read the third book, but I’m planning to do that very soon. Overall, it’s still a great movie.

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Title: The Housemaid
Author: Freida McFadden
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 329
My Rating:

Buy this book on Amazon

The Housemaid

Millie just got out of prison, and finding a job hasn’t been easy. With no money to her name, she’s forced to live in her car while submitting job applications, hoping for a fresh start. When she lands a position as a housemaid for the wealthy Winchester family, it feels like her luck is finally turning around.

But working for the Winchesters is anything but easy. Nina Winchester, in particular, seems determined to make Millie’s life miserable, pushing her buttons at every turn. Still, Millie knows she doesn’t have many other options, so she grits her teeth and stays. Besides, there’s one silver lining—Andrew, Nina’s husband. Not only is he kind to her, but he’s also undeniably handsome.

However, beneath the surface of this perfect-looking family lies a web of dark secrets—secrets that might be more dangerous than Millie ever imagined.

Review

Most of the time, I stick to romance because I love a good love story with a happy ending. But this year, I’m making an effort to explore different genres—including thrillers. That’s why I picked up The Housemaid. I’ve heard so many people rave about it, and with the movie adaptation currently in the works, I figured it was the perfect time to give it a try.

Trying new genres is always a good idea because you never know what might surprise you. Last year, Fourth Wing completely blew me away, even though I wasn’t sure if romantasy was my thing. And I think it happened again with this book. I was a little worried that reading a thriller would make me feel anxious or unsettled, but that never happened. In fact, I flew through the first 33% in one night—I simply couldn’t put it down. It’s such an easy and addictive read.

This book is divided into three parts. In the first section, we only get Millie’s perspective, and let me tell you, Nina Winchester drove me insane. I wanted to scream at her—she seemed completely unhinged. But as the story unfolds, you start to realize that sometimes, people act a certain way for a reason. I’m trying really hard not to spoil anything, but trust me, you need to read this book for yourself.

The Housemaid is absolutely wild. Are the characters likable? Yes and no. Millie is someone you root for at times, but other moments make you question her choices. And the rest of the characters? Let’s just say they’re complicated. There’s so much happening in this house—secrets, manipulation, and mind games—and the only one who might have a clue is Enzo, the gardener.

This is the kind of book you cannot put down. It starts with a dead body and the police showing up, but you have no idea who died or who’s responsible. Naturally, you have to keep reading to find out. The pacing is fast, the writing is super engaging, and the twists keep you hooked until the very end.

I’m really glad I stepped outside my comfort zone for this one. That said, after finishing The Housemaid, I immediately picked up a cheesy New Adult romance—I needed something light after this intense and twisted ride. Still, I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to see how the movie turns out. The only reason I didn’t give it five hearts (or stars) is that, while it was incredibly gripping, it didn’t make me feel as deeply as other books have. I love books that make me cry, laugh, or stay on my mind for days. Maybe my rating will change over time, but for now, it’s a solid 4 to 4.5 hearts.

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