[82] The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden
Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological, loan from Sandra, paperback

Synopsis: Set between books two and three of The Housemaid series, this short story follows Millie on her wedding day.

Review: I had no idea this short story even existed until my gym friend Sandra loaned me her copy. Unfortunately, it was bad. Completely unnecessary. Nothing really happens, and the prologue doesn’t even make sense (like… did it actually happen or was it a dream sequence?). It was one of those books where as soon as I finished I immediately went to Goodreads to see if others disliked it as much as I did.

Recommend? No

[83] Ready or Not by Cara Bastone
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, rec from Tiff, Snis, & Val, audio

Synopsis: When Eve discovers she’s unexpectedly pregnant after a one-night stand, her carefully predictable life is thrown into upheaval. Her once-rock-solid friendship with her best friend Willa grows strained, while Willa’s dependable older brother Shep steps in to support her in ways she didn’t anticipate. As Eve navigates the complexities of her relationships – including with the conflicted baby’s father – she begins to question whether she’s been holding herself back from the life she truly wants.

Review: Stephany’s Goodreads review summed it up perfectly: “This book was a goddamn delight.” The audiobook was fantastic, and despite my usual reservations about friends-to-lovers stories (as mentioned in my last post), I absolutely loved this one. Watching the lovable characters fall in love without any unnecessary dark moments was so satisfying. I didn’t think I’d care much for the plot, but it completely won me over. This was such a feel-good read!

Recommend? Big YES!

[83] The Housemaid is Watching (The Housemaid #3) by Freida McFadden
Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological, loan from Sandra, paperback

Synopsis: Millie moves her family into the dream home they can barely afford, determined to leave her troubled past behind. But her new neighbors are far from welcoming. One is overly nosy and judgy, while another seems suspiciously interested in Millie’s husband – despite having one of her own. As Millie struggles to settle in, she keeps feeling that something in the neighborhood just isn’t right.

Review: These books must have something going for them if I read all three, right? And they do – they’re entertaining, addictive pageturners, whose super simple writing makes it easy to read longer than you intended. But by the end of the series, I was completely over the author’s writing style, Millie’s personality, and the over-the-top twists.

Recommend? I mean, I read all three, so sure?