Thriller – BUBBLE BUBBLE BOOKS & TROUBLE

I finally got on the Housemaid bandwagon and read the first couple of books in the hit series. I’d love to watch the movie, but I’ll hold off until I can find it for free somewhere because I really don’t want to support any Sydney Sweeney movies. Why, of all actors, did they have to cast her! Ugh. Oh well—the books are always better, and they don’t require a subscription to any fascist‑owned streaming channels… which are few and far between these days.

Anyhoo, here are my thoughts on the books, which I must admit are pretty great. I’m looking forward to reading the next two in the series.

Book 1: The Housemaid

The gist:
A down‑on‑her‑luck ex‑convict has little more than her car and the clothes on her back, but as luck would have it, she scores a job as a live‑in housemaid for a rich couple in a mansion—with a hunky gardener to boot! So, what’s the catch? Well, the lady of the house is a sadist, the child is a monster, and the husband is a little too nice, if you catch my drift. I’ll leave it there to avoid spoilers, but get ready for some wild twists and turns.

What I liked:
The suspense! Not once did my mind drift while listening to this on audio (the narrator is amazing, by the way), because I kept asking: Why is this crazy rich lady deliberately sabotaging her maid? Why did she really hire her? What horrible plans does she have in store? And what’s the deal with the husband who can’t stand up for himself? Oops… I’m entering spoiler territory, so I’ll stop.

What irked me:
The ending had quite a few loopholes, and some of the most questionable behaviors were explained away too quickly. I think the author really should’ve looked back at some of those chapters and adjusted a few scenes that were a little too extreme to tie up with a neat little bow at the end.

Overall:
This was a fun, super‑fast read that I highly recommend taking on a plane ride. The hours will fly right by.

Book 2: The Housemaid’s Secret

The gist:
Millie is caught in a pickle yet again—this time with a mysterious boss who keeps his sick wife hidden away in a room. Did Millie learn her lessons from her past boss from hell? Of course not! She noses around the posh New York apartment and quickly lands herself in a very sticky situation.

What I liked:
Although I was annoyed with Millie throughout most of the book, I enjoyed the suspense of figuring out how the heck she was ever going to dig herself out of the trap she fell into… which anyone with two working brain cells could’ve seen coming from a mile away. I also enjoyed the chapters narrated by the villain, who was PURE EVIL. I could not wait to see how she’d get taken down in the end.

What irked me:
Millie… girl! I really thought you were smart and, most importantly, that you wanted to stay out of prison. The second she got roped into a risky rescue mission, I knew she was cooked. She was also so awful to her perfectly nice—and rich—boyfriend who wanted to give her a safe place to live and unconditional love. Not only did she lie by omission about her lurid past, she also flaked on their dates time and time again. Her thoughtless antics annoyed me to the point where I didn’t much care about her impending demise.

Overall:
I lost some respect for Millie, but I did enjoy her many misadventures—and the author did a great job adding an intriguing new character at the end who will make the third book extra fun to read.

The gist: Told in alternating narratives (the “girl boss,” the husband, the mystery guest, the kitchen helper, the detective), this story revolves around a highfalutin, new-agey luxury resort called “The Manor.” Nestled deep in the English countryside, the resort is built on sacred ground rumored to be haunted by vengeful birds. The townsfolk hate it, yet they’re too busy enjoying the sweet life filled with lavish food and complicated cocktails (all gluten and tannin-free, of course). There’s a lot of bad blood between the Manor’s “girl boss” owner (think Gwyneth Paltrow meets Cruella De Vil) and a mysterious ghost from her past. Things escalate VERY QUICKLY, and I’m here to watch it all come crashing down!

The Plot: When I read the dust cover, I was sold. Lucy Foley had me at “haunted resort.” This was a fun ride with all my favorite elements: spooky lore, haunted woods, a super evil villain and vengeance–YES! With the multiple narratives and occasional time-skipping chapters, the book kept me glued to the pages, making me question everything about everyone! No one–not even the husband–is off the suspect list because the resort owner, Francesca, is EVIL AF! We soon learn that a dead body washed shore below the seaside cliffs, but the author doesn’t reveal the name until the very end. Way to dangle that carrot, Miss Foley! I had so many question marks, but thankfully, everything was answered at the end. And let me tell you, it was such a satisfying conclusion!

The atmosphere: There’s a reason why I’m always down to read a Lucy Foley book. She delivers on the atmosphere and weaves in elements of foreboding that give me the chills in the best possible ways. I felt like I was right there at the exclusive retreat surrounded by spooky trees and flocks of birds soaring through the dark clouds. I loved the creepy feeling of tree branches brushing against the windows in the guest cabin, where a mysterious guest had good reason to be afraid. Oh, how this would make such a fantastic movie. Why can’t Hollywood take a break from all the unoriginal superhero movies and turn these books into blockbuster hits?

Overall: If you are a fan of suspense and don’t mind the multiple narrator/time-kipping format, I highly recommend this one. This $30 hardback was worth every penny!