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Emily May's Reviews > The Woman in the Window
The Woman in the Window
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Okay, I really don't want to misrepresent this book: The Woman in the Window is a pulpy, fast-paced popcorn thriller. It's not mindblowing or groundbreaking, but it is pageturning goodness. And it was exactly what I needed to get lost in right now.
The premise is a little bit of The Girl on the Train and a little bit of The Woman in Cabin 10 (what is it with these girl/woman/wife titles?!), with an unreliable narrator, faulty memories, alcoholism, and the author playing around with our perception of what is true and what is imagined. My need to know what would happen kept me turning pages late into the night until I was physically incapable of keeping my eyes open a moment longer.
The Woman in the Window treats a rather obvious plot element as a spoiler for most of the book, so I'll play coy too. It's about a woman called Anna who lives alone ever since separating from her husband and daughter. We're not told the circumstances of the separation, but we do know that Anna has a drinking problem and severe agoraphobia that prevents her from leaving the house.
Housebound and drunk, Anna spends her days spying on her neighbours, until one day she witnesses something shocking in the window of the Russell's home. Everything begins to unravel when Anna attempts to report what she saw, and soon everything is being questioned: Did Anna hallucinate? Is it a combination of alcohol and pills? Can she even trust herself?
The chapters are short and hard-hitting, making the fast-moving plot zip by even faster ("This is the LAST chapter. Oh wait, the next is only two pages? Okay, this is the last chapter"). I think the author does a great job of capturing both the fuzzy-headed confusion brought on by Anna's alcoholism and the suffocating claustrophobia of staying inside for almost a year. She makes for a pretty great unreliable narrator, and it is easy to feel her frustration when she can't even be sure herself if what she says is completely true.
I also really liked how the author included Anna's passion for classic thriller movies. These offer interesting parallels with her reality and make you question whether something really did happen, or if Anna just saw it in a movie. Plus there's something a bit creepy about all these black and white flicks playing out in the background.
The Woman in the Window is the kind of cozy psychological thriller that is easy to gobble up in a sitting or two. I didn't even mind that some things were obvious because the getting there was so damn fun and suspenseful. I'll be on the lookout for more from Finn.
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by
Who knows what goes on in a family?
Okay, I really don't want to misrepresent this book: The Woman in the Window is a pulpy, fast-paced popcorn thriller. It's not mindblowing or groundbreaking, but it is pageturning goodness. And it was exactly what I needed to get lost in right now.
The premise is a little bit of The Girl on the Train and a little bit of The Woman in Cabin 10 (what is it with these girl/woman/wife titles?!), with an unreliable narrator, faulty memories, alcoholism, and the author playing around with our perception of what is true and what is imagined. My need to know what would happen kept me turning pages late into the night until I was physically incapable of keeping my eyes open a moment longer.
The Woman in the Window treats a rather obvious plot element as a spoiler for most of the book, so I'll play coy too. It's about a woman called Anna who lives alone ever since separating from her husband and daughter. We're not told the circumstances of the separation, but we do know that Anna has a drinking problem and severe agoraphobia that prevents her from leaving the house.
Housebound and drunk, Anna spends her days spying on her neighbours, until one day she witnesses something shocking in the window of the Russell's home. Everything begins to unravel when Anna attempts to report what she saw, and soon everything is being questioned: Did Anna hallucinate? Is it a combination of alcohol and pills? Can she even trust herself?
The chapters are short and hard-hitting, making the fast-moving plot zip by even faster ("This is the LAST chapter. Oh wait, the next is only two pages? Okay, this is the last chapter"). I think the author does a great job of capturing both the fuzzy-headed confusion brought on by Anna's alcoholism and the suffocating claustrophobia of staying inside for almost a year. She makes for a pretty great unreliable narrator, and it is easy to feel her frustration when she can't even be sure herself if what she says is completely true.
I also really liked how the author included Anna's passion for classic thriller movies. These offer interesting parallels with her reality and make you question whether something really did happen, or if Anna just saw it in a movie. Plus there's something a bit creepy about all these black and white flicks playing out in the background.
The Woman in the Window is the kind of cozy psychological thriller that is easy to gobble up in a sitting or two. I didn't even mind that some things were obvious because the getting there was so damn fun and suspenseful. I'll be on the lookout for more from Finn.
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Reading Progress
January 1, 2018
– Shelved
January 11, 2018
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Started Reading
January 12, 2018
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 152 (152 new)
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Shannon
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rated it 5 stars
Jan 15, 2018 10:57AM
Just got this from BOTM and can’t wait to read it!
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I am doing a challenge and at some point I have to read a book about mental illness and I am struggeling to find a good one. Do you think this one would be a good fit?
Ooh great, this was one of my BOTM picks!
Linda wrote: "I am doing a challenge and at some point I have to read a book about mental illness and I am struggeling to find a good one. Do you think this one would be a good fit?"Hmm, it definitely features mental illness, though I guess it depends how strict the challenge is - I wouldn't say this is really about mental illness where the illness is the focus.
I just him him this weekend. He is a really nice guy :)
Dang! Now I wish I would have picked this as my BOTM.
Pop corn thrillers are fun too. Glad this one was good. Liked girl on the train.
Great review, as always, but I'm not so sure about the book. It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train down to the character's name - Anna was one of the characters of Train, right?... My attention to details is not so good, but I'm pretty sure.
Katya wrote: " It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train..."That's what I thought too! Guess we'll have to read it to be sure...
Katya wrote: "Great review, as always, but I'm not so sure about the book. It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train down to the character's name - Anna was one of the characters of Train, right?... My attent..."Thank you. I had exactly the same thought before starting it with the description of an alcoholic woman who witnesses something through a window, but I personally felt it took a very different route :)
i really enjoyed this novel.
Oh thank goodness. The author is actually a friend of a friend! I need to read this ASAP apparently as it’s popping up all over the place.
Emily May wrote: "Katya wrote: "Great review, as always, but I'm not so sure about the book. It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train down to the character's name - Anna was one of the characters of Train, right..."I sure hope it's different, I have a copy of this book waiting to be read... It's just that everything you described could be attributed to the Girl on the Train, minus the agoraphobia.
Dania wrote: "Katya wrote: " It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train..."That's what I thought too! Guess we'll have to read it to be sure..."
I definitely have to - I have a copy waiting to be read.
But it seems that Emily enjoyed it, so perhaps so shall we!
I feel like a lot of modern thrillers are created around an alcoholic woman.
Oh now I am really excited to read this book. I put a hold on it on my library. 😊
Strange! Another Author @Gabby who is as famous as you given only 2 stars to this book. After reading her review I thought I'll never buy this book but after reading your review I think I should give it a try.
So good. Great review!
I also enjoyed it, but the heavy inspiration from Hitchcock's Rear Window made it frustratingly predictable at times. The plot twists at the end somewhat redeemed these issues.
I can’t believe no professional publication has snatched you up to be a reviewer. I’m constantly in awe of the quality of your writing and the detailed content of your reviews. I read reviews of yours for books I have no interest in reading (I don’t like fantasy) just because reading them teaches me how to be a better review writer. Thanks for all you do to make GR great.
Katya wrote: "Emily May wrote: "Katya wrote: "Great review, as always, but I'm not so sure about the book. It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train down to the character's name - Anna was one of the characte..."Again, I really don't want to misrepresent it - this subgenre is pretty formulaic and there are definitely aspects this book shares with The Girl on the Train, as well as others. The main differences are: the protagonist dealing with agoraphobia, the classic thriller parallels, the crime she witnesses and how this plays out, the thing that is treated as a spoiler but is fairly obvious (though interesting), and the focus on her past and its secrets.
Amy's Book Reviews wrote: "I can’t believe no professional publication has snatched you up to be a reviewer. I’m constantly in awe of the quality of your writing and the detailed content of your reviews. I read reviews of yo..."Thank you so much, Amy :)
Oh yes, these titles are getting tiresome! When I picked up The Girl Before (a mistake) it was even marketed as "the latest Girl bestseller" or something along those lines...
Thanks for your review. you leave THE BEST reviews hands down! And I love how you leave honest # of stars. Some just give everything 5 stars and I never know. I know your reviews and stars are legit LOL
Brittini wrote: "Thanks for your review. you leave THE BEST reviews hands down! And I love how you leave honest # of stars. Some just give everything 5 stars and I never know. I know your reviews and stars are legi..."Thank you :)
I think this book has a different flavour than Girl on a Train did and it was better written - the author was really good with his use of language so even though some things might be a bit predictable or formulaic he wrote it so well I still enjoyed what I saw coming!
Katya wrote: "Great review, as always, but I'm not so sure about the book. It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train down to the character's name - Anna was one of the characters of Train, right?... My attent..."You're right, it was. I am currently reading this and so far it isn't very similar to Girl on a Train, other than the drinking and loneliness. I was skeptical to read it because it sounded so freaking similar, but once I started reading it I forgot all about Girl on a Train. :)
Meighan wrote: "Katya wrote: "Great review, as always, but I'm not so sure about the book. It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train down to the character's name - Anna was one of the characters of Train, right..."Good to hear, thank you for sharing! This book is sounding better and better! I wouldn't even mind the plot similarities if the book is well written, and again, it sounds like it is. It's definitely moving up in my to-read pile.
I recognized your name from having just read your review of _The Wife Between Us_. Thanks for writing engaging and helpful reviews. I’ve added this title to my lists. I’ll keep my eye out for more of your posts.
I might be only person , but I didn’t like The girl you on the train so may hold off on this for a flight read
The synopsis reads like Rear Window, but perhaps it would be just as entertaining...
Love the last paragraph of your review!! Spot on!! I thought it was a wonderful cozy read!!
Great review! Thx!
I looove the black and white movies in the background I started watching some of them.. I loved jimmy Stewart as well
Denise wrote: "what is BOTM?"Book of the month.
Finally a book I'm reading that you liked!!!
Dania wrote: "Katya wrote: " It sounds EXACTLY like the Girl on the Train..."That's what I thought too! Guess we'll have to read it to be sure..."
It is
Loved this book too! Hope you review The Broken Girls too. I am reading it and can’t put it down
I loved this book right to the very last page. I loved her writing, I devoured this book.
Ditto, I couldn’t put this book down. It is a page turner to the end! Enjoyed all the old movie references.... Anna is a female Jimmy Stewart.
I enjoyed this book. I didn’t enjoy Girl on a Train. Anna was someone I felt great sympathy for and wanted her to win.
Great review! This is exactly how I felt. I'd love to know what books you love.
You nailed it on the head with this review!
I enjoyed this and didn’t see the ending coming. What a surprise!!
Great review! Sums up all of my reactions to this novel accurately. I read it in one sitting, definitely a fast moving story
I’m half way through the book now and only started it last night. Love Emily May’s review and I completely agree. It’s not the best book I’ve read but just can’t stop turning those pages.
Excellent review. Exactly how I felt about this book. Not classic literature, but I stayed up until 5 am to finish the last 100 pages.
Myrna- what a fabulous review! I have post flare brain fog tonight so I read 3 different synopsis & still couldn’t remember the storyline in detail though I know I read & enjoyed the book very much. Your review was written so well that I instantly got flashbacks of the story & as I read your review, I was able to instantly grab the characters, the plot twists & the ending. You’re a very succinct writer! Thanks!
