Review: The Wife Upstairs

Hi, and welcome to the reading world!

Today, I’m going to be sharing my thoughts about Rachel Hawkins’s first adult thriller, The Wife Upstairs.

This book is pitched as a Southern gothic thriller retelling of Jane Eyre. It follows Jane, a young woman with a mysterious past working as a dog walker in a ritzy neighborhood and dreaming of a life among the wealthy elite. Her chance encounter with the enigmatic and charismatic Eddie leads to a story where you don’t know who to trust.

I read this one as a buddy read with some friends on Bookstagram (@bookswithjazzy and @_nailsandnovels_) and really enjoyed discussing this one with them as we read on.

This novel does a great job of building suspense and intrigue throughout the book. The different perspectives left me shocked as I read on, and I was definitely curious to unravel the mysteries surrounding both Jane and Eddie. The snarky commentary glimpsed throughout Jane’s narration was something I’d enjoyed in Rachel Hawkins’s YA novels I’d read a long time ago and was happy to see in her adult novel as well.

I will say that the character development was good throughout the story, but by the big plot twists at the end the characters began to feel inconsistent. The plot twists and resolution also seemed a bit rushed compared to the slow build up we’d been getting throughout the story.

Overall, I enjoyed The Wife Upstairs, but I wanted more from the big plot twists and ending. I think this is a fun thriller read, and I’m definitely curious to pick up Jane Eyre and see the tie ins.
Have you read The Wife Upstairs?

Thank you for stopping by!

-Rae