Kiss, Marry or Kill: 21

A truly twisty snacky listen, your Mom's bookstore gets a makeover, why I'm not on Goodreads, winning the clutter war (I don't Kondo), how we're navigating Halloween this year

This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

I’m not big on the “thriller” genre. Every book review tries to compare itself to The Girl on the Train, and very few live up. But on a whim, I downloaded The Housemaid on Audible, and it turned out to be a delicious, satisfying snack. (I guess 120,000 5-star reviews can’t be wrong!)

A down-on-her-luck woman named Millie applies for a live-in position as a nanny and maid—she can’t afford to be picky. She’s hired by Nina, a woman as insufferable as she is rich. Millie spends her days caring for Nina, the house, and her even more insufferable child. The demands of the job grow more intense; the only bright spot is Nina’s charming and handsome husband, Andrew. He provides a brief respite from his wife’s unhinged demands and increasingly erratic behaviors, and soon Millie and Andrew begin to bond.

From there it all goes sideways in delightful ways, right up until the end. (The key to a good thriller is not to spoil the thrill.) I thought I knew which was things would twist, and still I was surprised! It was fun, it was suspenseful, and it came to a juicy and satisfying ending. Also, the narrator was fantastic—her accents were incredible. I know there’s a sequel, The Housemaid’s Secret, but I’m not sure this series needs a part two? If anyone has read the second one, let me know what you think.