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So...14 year old T.J. loved this book. 18 year old T.J. loved this book. 23 year old T.J. loved this book. But...40 year old T.J. has some...concerns. 😬

During this reread as a grown-ass, married adult, I was forcibly struck by several things: the narrator is obnoxious, and Max DeWinter is predatory and creepy. Truly, I found the narrator difficult to like this time around, whereas I think I identified with her a lot when I was young. (A sign of personal growth?? Hooray!) She never says anything worth hearing and spends all her time stuck in her head imagining out past and future scenarios. Tedious. And yikes, Maxim. (view spoiler)[The scene where he confesses to the narrator that he murdered Rebecca and then IMMEDIATELY tries to make out with her?? And when she does not respond ardently to his groping, because she is digesting this bombshell news, he gets pouty and pettish?? Um. Super icky. (hide spoiler)] Really, their whole relationship is suspect from the beginning. I no longer found it romantic at all. The narrator should run away with Frank.

But maybe it was never supposed to be romantic, and I was just a confused, insecure, awkward teenager to whom the idea of a man preferring my doppelganger to a ravishing beauty was irresistible. I probably completely misread the book the first three times. 😅

In spite of my current dislike of all the characters, the book is still beautiful. Incredibly atmospheric. Well-crafted. Compulsively readable in parts. (view spoiler)[.The scene where Ms. Danvers almost talks the narrator into committing suicide is so powerful. Best part of the whole book. (hide spoiler)] Maybe I will reread it in 10 years and see if I have any other personal discoveries. 😂