Abbott's latest brings the reader to the Upper Peninsula where a pregnant woman and her new husband stay with his father. She feels trapped, out of control, and uncomfortable. Much of the book is given over to her growing sense of creepinesses and the weird environment she finds herself in. Nevertheless, this novel (which perhaps should be only a novella) is not quite in the same universe as Abbott’s other work.

I really thought that this author could not do thrillers well until I finish this book. The atmosphere and the character development were done so well. I thought tI really thought that this author could not do thriller as well until I finish this book. The atmosphere and the character development were done so well. I thought that the creativity behind this novel was amazing

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read/review a copy of Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott in exchange for my honest review and opinion. WOW a total slow build up to one heck of a ride. I absolutely was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed this book and the ending absolutely shook me to my core. Loved it.

I ended up listening to the audiobook version of Beware the Woman and I listened to it in almost one entire sitting. It kept me distracted while I completed a bunch of chores I wasn’t looking forward to, and honestly kept me going. I felt for the main character and how she felt helpless during everything due to her condition.

As expected from Megan Abbott, this one goes hard and creeps up on readers with exactly how horrifying it's going to get. It's timely with its story of men feeling ownership of women's bodies, and truly frightening with its plausibility.

The Most Anticipated Mystery and Thriller Books of 2023

Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott

Imagine the twist that occurred when I was compiling this list—I didn’t even realize that Megan Abbott has a new book coming out! She’s been an auto-read author for me since Dare Me, though her last several protagonists have aged up, with varying domestic dramas to accompany her tight prose.

To wit, this thriller has big Rebecca vibes, with newlyweds Jacy and Jed venturing out to a cozy cottage in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to visit her long-widowed father-in-law Dr. Ash and (here’s the Daphne du Maurier connection) his icy housekeeper Mrs. Brandt. Complicating matters is Jacy’s pregnancy, as a health scare has everyone fluttering about her in a way that makes her feel less protected so much as smothered. And as cabin fever takes hold, Jacy begins to question the history of the family she’s married into. There’s always a fantastic last-minute twist that recontextualizes the entire Abbott novel, and I can’t begin to fathom what it will be this time.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. The writing style felt strange, almost as if I was reading very random incomplete thoughts with no order. I also tried to listen on audio but could not get through it enough to even get a sense of the plot.

An intense but rather predictable psychological thriller. I liked the descriptions of the pregnant main character and her sense that something is not right that she just doesn't want to believe. I felt that the ending was pretty predictable and certain things were not wrapped up. Not my favorite from Megan Abbott, but still an entertaining read.

Review of Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott

I listened to this one thanks to @prhaudio as well as reading the digital copy on NetGalley. Overall, I did enjoy this book. I liked the spooky isolated setting along with the family secret trope. However, while it started strong, it did fall flat at times during the book and left me overall with an underwhelmed feeling. I still won’t give up on this author and continue to read her new work consistently. I adored some of her earlier works and this one while it wasn’t a favorite was still a good book in my opinion.

Synopsis:

Honey, I just want you to have everything you ever wanted. That’s what Jacy’s mom always told her. And Jacy felt like she finally did. Newly married and with a baby on the way, Jacy and her new husband, Jed, embark on their first road trip together to visit his father, Dr. Ash, in Michigan’s far-flung Upper Peninsula. The moment they arrive at the cottage snug within the lush woods, Jacy feels bathed in love by the warm and hospitable Dr. Ash, if less so by his house manager, the enigmatic Mrs. Brandt.

But their Edenic first days take a turn when Jacy has a health scare. Swiftly, vacation activities are scrapped, and all eyes are on Jacy’s condition. Suddenly, whispers about Jed’s long-dead mother and complicated family history seem to eerily impinge upon the present, and Jacy begins to feel trapped in the cottage, her every move surveilled, her body under the looking glass. But are her fears founded or is it paranoia, or cabin fever, or—as is suggested to her—a stubborn refusal to take necessary precautions? The dense woods surrounding the cottage are full of dangers, but are the greater ones inside?

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. An all too timely horror/thriller about what happens when women lose autonomy over their own bodies.

Oh dear. What to say about this novel. In a concise and respectful nutshell, not the one for me. This was a slow burn if I’ve ever read one. The last 10% was the most interesting part of the book. The other 90%, felt like there was no plot. Jacy and Jed go meet the father in law and he’s weird. He does weird stuff but it’s just them existing at his home for 240 pages. Then you get to the twist, which I hadn’t totally seen coming, but then it ends. Literally, the book ends in the midst of a scene. Like, WTH happens next!? I need at least a chapter more to tie this up. I can get behind a good cliffhanger but when I’ve read a book for so long with nothing then something happens, it needs the bow.

In reading other reviews, a lot of people really enjoyed this novel. I still encourage you to decide for yourself if you want to pick this up!

I've read three other books by Megan Abbott and really enjoyed them, but I had a very hard time here with BEWARE THE WOMAN. First, it starts off a bit slower than some of her other books -- I love her ability to immediately draw me in with traumatic or tense situations, but this one just took too long to grab me and left me feeling like I wanted to do or read something else, even after the first 200 or so pages. I decided to push through with finishing it, thinking maybe the end would be a great payoff, but unfortunately, I was just a bit underwhelmed. I don't think it's bad or poorly written, but it's a bit too slow and meandering in pace/tone for me, I think.

Suspenseful and engrossing, with well delineated characters.
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Megan Abbott did it again! This was a slow burn psychological thriller about a pregnant couple named Jacy and Jed who go to stay with Jed’s father in a remote location. Strange things begin to happen that make Jacy feel like she might be going crazy, but the twists and turns along the way made this book worth the read in my opinion.

I love the cover of BEWARE THE WOMAN, which is honestly the first thing that grabbed my attention to pick this one up.

The writing and characters pulled me in, and while the beginning had a slower burn start, it definitely picked up pace and held my interest.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-slow burn
-plenty of twists
-creepy and dark

*many thanks to Putnam and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Currently at a 3.37 Goodreads’ rating????? Haters, man.

My friends gave this high marks . . . which is why I keep my friend count next to nothing. I’m assuming everyone who disliked this is still busy creaming their jeans over the new Riley Sager. And the shout-out to Todd is intentional here. While I have developed an appreciation for his ability to make a mint writing knockoffs, Megan Abbott’s newest (although probably not inspired by it at all) gave me all of the creepy Rosemary’s Baby vibulations. You know from the start that something is up with Jacy’s father-in-law . . . it just takes a long time to get there. This one is all about the ominous feeling you get while turning the pages. It is a slow roller, but one that confirms why I pick up every single new thing Megan Abbott puts out. She’s amazing.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

QUICK TAKE: Megan Abbott can do no wrong!! I loved this book. It's dark and claustorphobic and creepy and so well-written. I couldn't put it down.

Definitely slow and spooky and character-centric, but the writing was so marvelous, I was on the edge of my seat 90% of the time. Loved the end, just wish it didn't drag so much in the middle.

I really enjoyed "Beware The Woman." It was slow in the beginning, but the last half really picked up. It had a very interesting and unexpected ending. The characters were very authentic and as usual, the men in the book were very disappointing in their behaviors and actions. I think that readers who like mysteries would enjoy this book and I would recommend it. I did figure out the twist about half way through, but one part at the ending was surprising to me.

Megan Abbott's BEWARE THE WOMAN is a strange novel. The plot: Jacy and her new husband, Jed, go on a road trip to visit Jed's father, Dr. Ash, in Michigan At first, Jacy feels very comfortable and loves her father in law.

But Daddy Dr. Ash has a screw or three loose. Fairly early on the novel descends into REBECCA territory, and not in a good way.

The misogyny is front and center, Jed starts to behave like his father; Jacy, the damsel in distress, can't save herself. And by the end, I was ready for them all to go the way of Rebecca DeWinter.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.