Why the Hype? What to Expect
Have you ever started reading a book before bed, intending to read just one chapter, only to find yourself staring wide-eyed at the last page at 3:00 AM?
By now, you’ve probably seen The Housemaid all over TikTok, Instagram (#BookTok can’t stop talking about it), and best-seller lists. Freida McFadden has become the reigning queen of the fast-paced, addictive psychological thriller. Her books are known for being “popcorn reads”—you devour them quickly, and you never see the ending coming.
If you are ready to dive into this wildly popular series filled with domestic secrets, unreliable narrators, and shocking revelations, you’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to the world of Freida McFadden.
Before we get to the books, why is everyone obsessed with this series?
- The Vibe: Think Gone Girl meets The Girl on the Train, but faster and punchier.
- The Readability: The chapters are short, the language is accessible, and the pacing is breakneck. These are perfect books for reading slumps or beach vacations.
- The Twists: The defining feature of McFadden’s work is the mid-point twist. Just when you think you understand the characters and the situation, she pulls the rug completely out from under you.
The Reading Order
The Reading Order
While some thrillers work as standalones, The Housemaid series must be read in order. The main character’s journey evolves significantly from book to book, and later books contain massive spoilers for the earlier ones.
Here is the definitive order to read them:
- The Housemaid (2022)
- The Housemaid’s Secret (2023)
- The Housemaid Is Watching (2024)
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1. The Housemaid (Spoiler Alert)
The Hook:
Every good thriller starts with desperation. We meet Millie Calloway, a young woman with a troubled past who desperately needs a fresh start—and a job. She thinks she’s struck gold when she’s hired as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy, picture-perfect Winchester family.
But things get weird fast. Her room is a tiny attic space that locks from the outside. Her boss, Nina Winchester, is erratic—sweet one minute, a screaming tyrant the next. And Nina’s husband, Andrew, seems almost too perfect, trapped by his difficult wife.
Millie tries to keep her head down and just clean the house. But she soon realizes the Winchesters are hiding secrets darker than her own. And in this house, you don’t want to be caught watching.
Why you’ll love it:
This is the foundational book that sets the tone. It perfectly establishes the “upstairs/downstairs” dynamic where the help sees everything. The twist in the middle of this book is legendary among thriller fans.
The Housemaid's Secret (Spoiler Alert)
The Hook:
Note: This summary assumes you have finished Book 1.
Five years have passed since the events at the Winchester house. Millie has rebuilt her life. She’s older, wiser, and has established certain… rules for survival. She is still working as a housemaid, but she is very careful about who she works for.
Then, Douglas Garrick hires her to clean his stunning, modern penthouse. The pay is incredible. The catch? He has explicit instructions: Do not disturb his wife, Wendy, who is ill and stays locked in the guest bedroom.
Millie knows she should just do her job and take the money. But she hears strange crying from behind the closed door. She sees shadows. And Millie, being Millie, can’t help but get involved.
Why you’ll love it:
Sequels are hard to pull off, but many readers find this one even better than the first. It takes the established formula and raises the stakes, showing us a more confident and complex Millie facing a new, terrifying puzzle.
The Housemaid Is Watching (Spoiler Alert)
Note: This summary assumes you have finished Book 2.
The tables have turned. Millie is no longer the struggling housemaid living in someone else’s attic. She has a family of her own—a husband and two kids—and they have just moved into their own beautiful house on a quiet suburban street.
It seems like the dream. But the neighborhood is strange. The neighbors are overly watchful. And Millie, given her own history, is paranoid. When she hires a local teenager to help out around the house, the old familiar feelings of dread begin to creep back in.
This time, Millie isn’t the one watching from the shadows. She’s the one being watched.
Why you’ll love it:
This book flips the script. It brilliantly explores what happens when the person who used to be “the help” becomes the employer. It brings Millie’s character arc full circle, questioning if you can ever truly escape your past.
