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Lady Tremaine
A breathtaking reimagining of Cinderella, as told through the eyes of its iconic "evil" stepmother, revealing a propulsive love story about the lengths a mother will go to for her children
A widow twice-over, Etheldreda is now saddled with the care of her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, and a razor-taloned peregrine falcon. Her entire life has become a ruse, just like the manor hall they live grand and ornate on the exterior, but crumbling, brick by brick, inside. Fierce in the face of her misfortune, Ethel clings to her family’s respectability, the lifeboat that will float her daughters straight into the secure banks of marriage.
When a royal ball offers the chance to secure the future she desperately desires, Etheldreda must risk her secrets, pride, and limited resources in pursuit of an invitation for her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the heir of the kingdom unfolds with unnerving speed, she discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she’s sought for years and the wellbeing of the feckless stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.
As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairytale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes.
A widow twice-over, Etheldreda is now saddled with the care of her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, and a razor-taloned peregrine falcon. Her entire life has become a ruse, just like the manor hall they live grand and ornate on the exterior, but crumbling, brick by brick, inside. Fierce in the face of her misfortune, Ethel clings to her family’s respectability, the lifeboat that will float her daughters straight into the secure banks of marriage.
When a royal ball offers the chance to secure the future she desperately desires, Etheldreda must risk her secrets, pride, and limited resources in pursuit of an invitation for her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the heir of the kingdom unfolds with unnerving speed, she discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she’s sought for years and the wellbeing of the feckless stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.
As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairytale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes.
339 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2026
7624 people are currently reading
125081 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hochhauser
1 book665 followersRachel Hochhauser was born in Santa Barbara, CA. She graduated from New York University and has a masters in fiction from the University of Southern California. Outside of writing, she is the co-founder of Piecework, a design-forward puzzle company. She lives in Portland, OR with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,351 reviews
May 3, 2026
Every so often, a book takes a story you think you know by heart and cracks it wide open, revealing something unexpected, raw, and breathtakingly human. Lady Tremaine does exactly that. Forget the wicked stepmother trope — this reimagining dares to ask us to see Etheldreda Tremaine not as a villain, but as a woman clawing for dignity, stability, and hope in a society that would rather watch her crumble.
Twice widowed, trapped in a decaying manor, and responsible for two daughters with no marriage prospects, Ethel fights like a cornered lioness. Add in a polished yet frustrating stepdaughter and a falcon perched ominously at her side, and you have a heroine unlike any I’ve encountered in a fairy tale retelling. She is flawed and prideful, sometimes sharp enough to wound, but every action, every sacrifice, is driven by the desperate need to secure her children’s futures. Watching her maneuver for invitations to the royal ball, only to see her plans unravel in dangerous and unexpected ways, had me glued to the page.
What elevates this story beyond a simple “twist on Cinderella” is its emotional core. This is not about glass slippers or magical transformations — it’s about motherhood in its rawest form. The sacrifices made in silence, the constant worry that keeps you awake at night, the small acts of love that never make it into fairy tales. Through Ethel’s narration, we feel the ache of compromise, the sting of failure, and the ferocity of a woman who refuses to stop fighting for her daughters, even when the world insists on labeling her cruel.
The writing is stunning — lyrical yet razor-sharp, rich with atmosphere and brimming with lines that linger in your mind. The world feels both familiar and startlingly fresh: a royal family with secrets festering behind its golden façade, a crumbling estate heavy with dust and desperation, and women who refuse to fade quietly into the margins of history. Even Elin, the Cinderella figure, is reframed not as an angelic victim but as a complicated young woman whose choices and flaws challenge both Ethel and the reader to reassess everything we thought we knew.
This retelling is a feast for fans of gothic drama, historical realism, and morally complex characters. It’s not about villains and heroes — it’s about survival, sacrifice, and the messy, complicated truths of love. By the end, I didn’t just sympathize with Lady Tremaine; I admired her resilience, her courage, and her unwavering devotion to her daughters.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this remarkable retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of the “evil” stepmother in exchange for my honest thoughts that I highly appreciated.
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Twice widowed, trapped in a decaying manor, and responsible for two daughters with no marriage prospects, Ethel fights like a cornered lioness. Add in a polished yet frustrating stepdaughter and a falcon perched ominously at her side, and you have a heroine unlike any I’ve encountered in a fairy tale retelling. She is flawed and prideful, sometimes sharp enough to wound, but every action, every sacrifice, is driven by the desperate need to secure her children’s futures. Watching her maneuver for invitations to the royal ball, only to see her plans unravel in dangerous and unexpected ways, had me glued to the page.
What elevates this story beyond a simple “twist on Cinderella” is its emotional core. This is not about glass slippers or magical transformations — it’s about motherhood in its rawest form. The sacrifices made in silence, the constant worry that keeps you awake at night, the small acts of love that never make it into fairy tales. Through Ethel’s narration, we feel the ache of compromise, the sting of failure, and the ferocity of a woman who refuses to stop fighting for her daughters, even when the world insists on labeling her cruel.
The writing is stunning — lyrical yet razor-sharp, rich with atmosphere and brimming with lines that linger in your mind. The world feels both familiar and startlingly fresh: a royal family with secrets festering behind its golden façade, a crumbling estate heavy with dust and desperation, and women who refuse to fade quietly into the margins of history. Even Elin, the Cinderella figure, is reframed not as an angelic victim but as a complicated young woman whose choices and flaws challenge both Ethel and the reader to reassess everything we thought we knew.
This retelling is a feast for fans of gothic drama, historical realism, and morally complex characters. It’s not about villains and heroes — it’s about survival, sacrifice, and the messy, complicated truths of love. By the end, I didn’t just sympathize with Lady Tremaine; I admired her resilience, her courage, and her unwavering devotion to her daughters.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this remarkable retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of the “evil” stepmother in exchange for my honest thoughts that I highly appreciated.
medium blog
April 26, 2026
2.5 ⭐
So this is a villain origin story in which the villain is not evil? Hmm, I'm not sure that works for me.
But let's backtrack a little. When it comes to fairytale reimaginings, there are two aspects that really matter. One, does the story bring something new to the table when viewed through the lens of the original fairy tale? And two, does it stand on its own as fresh and compelling? I’m sorry to say that Lady Tremaine didn’t really succeed on either front for me.
When you think about it, the evil stepmother in the original Cinderella had a distinct but abbreviated role. She was the gatekeeper to all of her stepdaughter's dreams, preventing her from living a life of love and dignity. But what did she really do from scene to scene? Well, not much. And so right off the bat, with such meager inspirations, the reimagining started to flounder.
What is there for our Lady Tremaine to do in this narrative? Well, she schemes for her daughters to get invited to the ball, then she prepares for the ball, then she attends the ball, and then she laments the wretchedness of her plans not coming to fruition after the ball. If that all seems rather bland, then yeah, that’s almost the whole tale.
Now back to the problem of Lady Tremaine not being evil in this version. What made the original character compelling is that she is both evil to the world in general as well as a fiercely "good" mother to her girls, and that juxtaposition between the two is where all the fascination lies. So to cut away the evil in its entirety is to also effectively exorcise all that is interesting about the character in the first place.
In fact, the evil isn’t just removed from Lady Tremaine, it is instead transferred to other characters. And so of course every scene with those characters—few though there were—felt fascinating and striking, and they were the origin stories I wanted and was quite frankly promised.
It wasn't until near the end that this reimagining deviated from the original and gained even a modicum of interest. But not only did the changes seem to come out of nowhere and bear no resemblance to Cinderella, they didn't even make much sense. I was honestly left a bit baffled.
I wish Rachel Hochhauser had just gone ahead and wrote a whole new story instead of deciding to follow in the limited footsteps of Cinderella. But as it stands, the parts that remained faithful to the original were bland and lackluster, while the parts that deviated (strange and perplexing though they might've been) were the only parts that held my interest at all.
I also have to mention the writing. It was ornate, often using ruminations and fancy language to give meaning to mundane happenings. It constantly pulled me out of an already glacial narrative, and it didn't do anything for me. I like complex messages as much as the next reader, but the overwrought writing here didn't match the thin plot or the lack of substance underneath.
So this was a pretty thorough disappointment for me from beginning to end. I kept waiting and waiting for the story to grab me, but it never really did. I signed up to read the origin story of a villain and instead got some uninspired and watered down version of a goody two-shoes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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✧ This was a pick for my BOTM box. Get your first book for $5 here.
So this is a villain origin story in which the villain is not evil? Hmm, I'm not sure that works for me.
But let's backtrack a little. When it comes to fairytale reimaginings, there are two aspects that really matter. One, does the story bring something new to the table when viewed through the lens of the original fairy tale? And two, does it stand on its own as fresh and compelling? I’m sorry to say that Lady Tremaine didn’t really succeed on either front for me.
When you think about it, the evil stepmother in the original Cinderella had a distinct but abbreviated role. She was the gatekeeper to all of her stepdaughter's dreams, preventing her from living a life of love and dignity. But what did she really do from scene to scene? Well, not much. And so right off the bat, with such meager inspirations, the reimagining started to flounder.
What is there for our Lady Tremaine to do in this narrative? Well, she schemes for her daughters to get invited to the ball, then she prepares for the ball, then she attends the ball, and then she laments the wretchedness of her plans not coming to fruition after the ball. If that all seems rather bland, then yeah, that’s almost the whole tale.
Now back to the problem of Lady Tremaine not being evil in this version. What made the original character compelling is that she is both evil to the world in general as well as a fiercely "good" mother to her girls, and that juxtaposition between the two is where all the fascination lies. So to cut away the evil in its entirety is to also effectively exorcise all that is interesting about the character in the first place.
In fact, the evil isn’t just removed from Lady Tremaine, it is instead transferred to other characters. And so of course every scene with those characters—few though there were—felt fascinating and striking, and they were the origin stories I wanted and was quite frankly promised.
It wasn't until near the end that this reimagining deviated from the original and gained even a modicum of interest. But not only did the changes seem to come out of nowhere and bear no resemblance to Cinderella, they didn't even make much sense. I was honestly left a bit baffled.
I wish Rachel Hochhauser had just gone ahead and wrote a whole new story instead of deciding to follow in the limited footsteps of Cinderella. But as it stands, the parts that remained faithful to the original were bland and lackluster, while the parts that deviated (strange and perplexing though they might've been) were the only parts that held my interest at all.
I also have to mention the writing. It was ornate, often using ruminations and fancy language to give meaning to mundane happenings. It constantly pulled me out of an already glacial narrative, and it didn't do anything for me. I like complex messages as much as the next reader, but the overwrought writing here didn't match the thin plot or the lack of substance underneath.
So this was a pretty thorough disappointment for me from beginning to end. I kept waiting and waiting for the story to grab me, but it never really did. I signed up to read the origin story of a villain and instead got some uninspired and watered down version of a goody two-shoes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
✧ This was a pick for my BOTM box. Get your first book for $5 here.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm so sorry to the author, but I am simply not picking up what you're trynna put down.
The evil stepmother is SUCH a great villain character, and I felt like this book did not do her justice. I love a good women empowerment novel, but was not expecting it in this book. It was written very pinterest, with female empowerment quotations slapped between every other page. The evil stepmother can be a great mother and a horrible person at the same time and I don't think the author understood that.
I understand this is a reimagine, but I think it's safe to say, I find it a bit impossible that the evil stepmother would be so big on feminism. Like girl look at how she treated Cinderella omg. The connection between Cinderella and this book was very paper-thin, it honestly could've passed (and made it more enjoyable), without the marketing of it being a Cinderella reimagine. I was cringing and bored for the latter half of the book.
The cover is reallly pretty though and I think it was well written. I enjoyed the immersive details, but the pacing was very slow and I found myself taking breaks because I just could not deal with the sluggish plot. I kinda feel tricked because the synopsis did not relate to what was written or maybe I just had different hopes.
I was hoping that the POV was of the evil stepmother being a psychopath trying to find justification of her treatment of Cinderella, while literally going loony pins and crashing the hell out. Now how fun would thattt book have been? Someone else write for me pleaseee and thank uuuu.
The evil stepmother is SUCH a great villain character, and I felt like this book did not do her justice. I love a good women empowerment novel, but was not expecting it in this book. It was written very pinterest, with female empowerment quotations slapped between every other page. The evil stepmother can be a great mother and a horrible person at the same time and I don't think the author understood that.
I understand this is a reimagine, but I think it's safe to say, I find it a bit impossible that the evil stepmother would be so big on feminism. Like girl look at how she treated Cinderella omg. The connection between Cinderella and this book was very paper-thin, it honestly could've passed (and made it more enjoyable), without the marketing of it being a Cinderella reimagine. I was cringing and bored for the latter half of the book.
The cover is reallly pretty though and I think it was well written. I enjoyed the immersive details, but the pacing was very slow and I found myself taking breaks because I just could not deal with the sluggish plot. I kinda feel tricked because the synopsis did not relate to what was written or maybe I just had different hopes.
I was hoping that the POV was of the evil stepmother being a psychopath trying to find justification of her treatment of Cinderella, while literally going loony pins and crashing the hell out. Now how fun would thattt book have been? Someone else write for me pleaseee and thank uuuu.
April 14, 2026
A jagged twist on a classic fairytale.
The evil stepmother has been reimagined in this story. But, she isn’t so evil. She has 2 daughters and a stepdaughter; she has lost 2 husbands and is fighting to maintain her stature in the community. A royal ball presents itself and she manages to get her 2 daughters invited while her stepdaughter already received an invitation. The crux is, she knows the queen. And the queen hasn’t forgotten what Ethel did to her years ago.
Hochhauser’s debut has created Ethel, a most relatable mother, whose hopes and dreams will echo with many. She is fierce and firm having faced adversity many times over. She is not without her flaws - and at times, these were frustrating to me.
This has been dubed a fantasy. I really didn't find it to be so. It more reflected the times with the traditions synonymous with royal customs.
My favourite was Lucy. The falcon of all birds.
5⭐️
The evil stepmother has been reimagined in this story. But, she isn’t so evil. She has 2 daughters and a stepdaughter; she has lost 2 husbands and is fighting to maintain her stature in the community. A royal ball presents itself and she manages to get her 2 daughters invited while her stepdaughter already received an invitation. The crux is, she knows the queen. And the queen hasn’t forgotten what Ethel did to her years ago.
Hochhauser’s debut has created Ethel, a most relatable mother, whose hopes and dreams will echo with many. She is fierce and firm having faced adversity many times over. She is not without her flaws - and at times, these were frustrating to me.
This has been dubed a fantasy. I really didn't find it to be so. It more reflected the times with the traditions synonymous with royal customs.
My favourite was Lucy. The falcon of all birds.
5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 5 ⭐️ What is hunger if not a drive to survive?
This is a story about a girl she once was and a woman she became in the world that wanted to silence her (and women in particular). It’s an emotionally rich tale that shows the depths of a mother’s love, care and sacrifices that a woman makes for the sake of her children. Lady Tremaine completely rewrites everything that you know about the original Cinderella and gifts us a new version of Lady Tremaine that is shocking and epic all in its own right. Is she really a villain or perhaps a struggling mother?
We meet Ethel when she was just a little girl, growing up in a home full of boys (brothers) and men with no real motherly guidance or a female touch that will raise her to be a genteel woman. Since childhood, Ethel develops a strong connection to nature which further solidifies when she married her first husband. The first marriage results in two daughters but she becomes a widow too soon when her first husband dies tragically and unexpectedly. She learns that her marriage (one of true love and affection) wasn’t as financially stable as she thought it was and to provide for her daughters futures she decided to remarry, but he too dies shortly after, leaving her with a crumbling estate and a difficult stepdaughter to raise. When an opportunity rises to present her daughters to the prince, Lady Tremaine will do anything in her power to secure a future for her daughters. But that opportunity is not as simple as it appears—it’s dark, twisty, sinister even. The Prince is not as charming and gentle as he appears. It’s a complete deviation from the story that we all know and love. But it will shock and surprise you, perhaps even startle you!
Instead of a detestable character, we are given a very admirable one. Hochhauser took a morally grey character, a villain to be exact, and gave a complexity that supersedes everything that we know about her. We’ve known her as the wicked stepmother who was cruel, cold, conniving. But here, Lady Tremaine is a mother who suffered the loss of two husbands, financial ruin and was under constant scrutiny from a society that judged a woman’s worth on appearance and social standing. In that world, nature was a system, not a nurturer. Lack of resources left her bare handed, testing her limits of preservation. Dire conditions only made her work harder. From letdowns, disappointments and road blocks, there wasn’t anything that she couldn’t and wouldn’t do to protect her children. It’s how she tackled those hurdles, is what made this book so compelling and empowering.
I was completely in awe of how deeply the book explored motherhood, mother-daughter relationships (and friendships) and the concept of ‘a mother’s cry for help’. In the movie, Lady Tremaine's jealousy and ambition manifest as cruelty and contempt towards Cinderella. Elin's character (Cinderella) in the book was quite different--she was portrayed as pious, devoted to her genteel studies, unwilling, always finding things that were requested of her beneath her, perhaps even lazy. She was very unlikable and needed a good wake up call. I was surprised by how patient, kind and understanding Tremaine was towards her. Her attitude, given Elin's unlikable traits, was always positive and supportive. She really didn't view her as an unnecessary stepchild. She’s given that love and support and extended her wing of protection just as far out for Elin as she did for her own daughters. It’s truly a propulsive story about the lengths a woman and a mother would go to keep her children safe and secure from all the evil in the world.
I was NOT expecting this to be so immersive, dark and twisty, so sharp and gritty. This was unputdownable! Don’t hesitate to add this, it’s desperate, it’s protective, it’s resilient. It’s dark but dark in the feminist sense of way. It’s so much more than a shiny glass slipper.
This book was featured on BOTM in March! You can get this book just for $1 until April 30th using this link: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
You can cancel anytime! I love this subscription service and always highly recommend them!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Rachel Hochhauser for an early ARC!
Publication date: March 3, 2026
This is a story about a girl she once was and a woman she became in the world that wanted to silence her (and women in particular). It’s an emotionally rich tale that shows the depths of a mother’s love, care and sacrifices that a woman makes for the sake of her children. Lady Tremaine completely rewrites everything that you know about the original Cinderella and gifts us a new version of Lady Tremaine that is shocking and epic all in its own right. Is she really a villain or perhaps a struggling mother?
We meet Ethel when she was just a little girl, growing up in a home full of boys (brothers) and men with no real motherly guidance or a female touch that will raise her to be a genteel woman. Since childhood, Ethel develops a strong connection to nature which further solidifies when she married her first husband. The first marriage results in two daughters but she becomes a widow too soon when her first husband dies tragically and unexpectedly. She learns that her marriage (one of true love and affection) wasn’t as financially stable as she thought it was and to provide for her daughters futures she decided to remarry, but he too dies shortly after, leaving her with a crumbling estate and a difficult stepdaughter to raise. When an opportunity rises to present her daughters to the prince, Lady Tremaine will do anything in her power to secure a future for her daughters. But that opportunity is not as simple as it appears—it’s dark, twisty, sinister even. The Prince is not as charming and gentle as he appears. It’s a complete deviation from the story that we all know and love. But it will shock and surprise you, perhaps even startle you!
Instead of a detestable character, we are given a very admirable one. Hochhauser took a morally grey character, a villain to be exact, and gave a complexity that supersedes everything that we know about her. We’ve known her as the wicked stepmother who was cruel, cold, conniving. But here, Lady Tremaine is a mother who suffered the loss of two husbands, financial ruin and was under constant scrutiny from a society that judged a woman’s worth on appearance and social standing. In that world, nature was a system, not a nurturer. Lack of resources left her bare handed, testing her limits of preservation. Dire conditions only made her work harder. From letdowns, disappointments and road blocks, there wasn’t anything that she couldn’t and wouldn’t do to protect her children. It’s how she tackled those hurdles, is what made this book so compelling and empowering.
I was completely in awe of how deeply the book explored motherhood, mother-daughter relationships (and friendships) and the concept of ‘a mother’s cry for help’. In the movie, Lady Tremaine's jealousy and ambition manifest as cruelty and contempt towards Cinderella. Elin's character (Cinderella) in the book was quite different--she was portrayed as pious, devoted to her genteel studies, unwilling, always finding things that were requested of her beneath her, perhaps even lazy. She was very unlikable and needed a good wake up call. I was surprised by how patient, kind and understanding Tremaine was towards her. Her attitude, given Elin's unlikable traits, was always positive and supportive. She really didn't view her as an unnecessary stepchild. She’s given that love and support and extended her wing of protection just as far out for Elin as she did for her own daughters. It’s truly a propulsive story about the lengths a woman and a mother would go to keep her children safe and secure from all the evil in the world.
I was NOT expecting this to be so immersive, dark and twisty, so sharp and gritty. This was unputdownable! Don’t hesitate to add this, it’s desperate, it’s protective, it’s resilient. It’s dark but dark in the feminist sense of way. It’s so much more than a shiny glass slipper.
This book was featured on BOTM in March! You can get this book just for $1 until April 30th using this link: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
You can cancel anytime! I love this subscription service and always highly recommend them!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Rachel Hochhauser for an early ARC!
Publication date: March 3, 2026
April 14, 2026
4.5 Stars
“You are the scariest thing in the woods.”
“My experience of happiness is that it comes in two forms: a potent dose so extreme that you are overwhelmed with fear it will disappear, or a subtle kind that envelops you with such stealth you’re hardly aware of its presence.”
This is the Cinderella story you thought you knew—only told from the perspective of its infamous “wicked” stepmother. Rachel Hochhauser delivers a rich, immersive reimagining that flips the fairy tale on its head and makes you see Lady Tremaine in an entirely new light.
I really loved this one. It felt incredibly immersive and atmospheric, like stepping into a lush historical novel with the ghost of the classic Cinderella tale hovering just off to the side.
Hochhauser did such an exceptional job crafting an origin story that everything simply clicked into place. By the end I was thinking, “Well of course she came across as sharp and uncompromising—look at what she was up against!”
The believability was spot-on. The circumstances, the pressures, the impossible choices… it all made perfect sense and turned Lady Tremaine (and her daughters) into characters I genuinely championed.
You can tell the author poured massive research into this—the details feel seamless and lived-in, like you’re experiencing the world of the fairy tale from a completely different vantage point. I was fully inside it, believing every moment.
The writing is gorgeous and lush, though it does lean slow and descriptive at times, which is the only reason I held back from a full five stars. Still, I was hooked and highly recommend it.
I read about 70% on my Kindle during a busy weekend, then switched to the audiobook to finish it quickly—the narration is fantastic and really brought the story to life. Plus I went out and bought the physical copy 😅 any format- this book hits.
If you enjoy thoughtful fairy-tale retellings with depth, strong female perspectives, and that satisfying “everything suddenly makes sense” feeling, this is a must-read. I’ll definitely be watching for whatever Hochhauser writes next!
✴︎a˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
“You are the scariest thing in the woods.”
“My experience of happiness is that it comes in two forms: a potent dose so extreme that you are overwhelmed with fear it will disappear, or a subtle kind that envelops you with such stealth you’re hardly aware of its presence.”
This is the Cinderella story you thought you knew—only told from the perspective of its infamous “wicked” stepmother. Rachel Hochhauser delivers a rich, immersive reimagining that flips the fairy tale on its head and makes you see Lady Tremaine in an entirely new light.
I really loved this one. It felt incredibly immersive and atmospheric, like stepping into a lush historical novel with the ghost of the classic Cinderella tale hovering just off to the side.
Hochhauser did such an exceptional job crafting an origin story that everything simply clicked into place. By the end I was thinking, “Well of course she came across as sharp and uncompromising—look at what she was up against!”
The believability was spot-on. The circumstances, the pressures, the impossible choices… it all made perfect sense and turned Lady Tremaine (and her daughters) into characters I genuinely championed.
You can tell the author poured massive research into this—the details feel seamless and lived-in, like you’re experiencing the world of the fairy tale from a completely different vantage point. I was fully inside it, believing every moment.
The writing is gorgeous and lush, though it does lean slow and descriptive at times, which is the only reason I held back from a full five stars. Still, I was hooked and highly recommend it.
I read about 70% on my Kindle during a busy weekend, then switched to the audiobook to finish it quickly—the narration is fantastic and really brought the story to life. Plus I went out and bought the physical copy 😅 any format- this book hits.
If you enjoy thoughtful fairy-tale retellings with depth, strong female perspectives, and that satisfying “everything suddenly makes sense” feeling, this is a must-read. I’ll definitely be watching for whatever Hochhauser writes next!
✴︎a˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser.
The most sophisticated and lyrically eloquent f#k you to " The man" & men I have ever come across. Before there was Destiny's child belting out Ms independent, there was Lady Tremaine.
Ummmmmmmmmm.. yeah.. so, if we could just have this author rewrite/retell every fairytale ever known to man, that'd be grreeat.. thanks 🫶🏼
Honestly though, reading this book is the closest one can get to the feel fairytales brought to us as children..Like a completed rubrics cube. This story feels like the full circle completion to the story of Cinderella most of us first heard so long ago.
Personally, all my flabbers were gasted.. especially with the duality here. This story fits so seamlessly into the classic tale but knowledge of the story isn't needed to enjoy this book. You could have never heard of Cinderella in your entire life and still thoroughly enjoy this book from start to finish.
There are very few books I wouldn't change an ATOM of, and this is without a doubt one of those. The cover is beautiful, the writing is beautiful, the creativity is beautiful. If you like retellings , there is absolutely no question about it, you absolutely have to read this book! The only regrets will be from not starting it a millisecond sooner, and finishing it.
Definitely a hardcopy book trophy that will be added to this Under Lord's collection!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
The most sophisticated and lyrically eloquent f#k you to " The man" & men I have ever come across. Before there was Destiny's child belting out Ms independent, there was Lady Tremaine.
Ummmmmmmmmm.. yeah.. so, if we could just have this author rewrite/retell every fairytale ever known to man, that'd be grreeat.. thanks 🫶🏼
Honestly though, reading this book is the closest one can get to the feel fairytales brought to us as children..Like a completed rubrics cube. This story feels like the full circle completion to the story of Cinderella most of us first heard so long ago.
Personally, all my flabbers were gasted.. especially with the duality here. This story fits so seamlessly into the classic tale but knowledge of the story isn't needed to enjoy this book. You could have never heard of Cinderella in your entire life and still thoroughly enjoy this book from start to finish.
There are very few books I wouldn't change an ATOM of, and this is without a doubt one of those. The cover is beautiful, the writing is beautiful, the creativity is beautiful. If you like retellings , there is absolutely no question about it, you absolutely have to read this book! The only regrets will be from not starting it a millisecond sooner, and finishing it.
Definitely a hardcopy book trophy that will be added to this Under Lord's collection!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
August 10, 2025
SPECTACULAR. Read an ARC of this one for a potential quote, and will definitely be giving one.
March 29, 2026
The author says this story is an “untelling”, not a retelling, which I love. Who needs yet another retelling?
The story is narrated by Ethelsreda (Ethel, pronounced with a long E), the evil stepmother, who, it turns out, was not so evil. She’s a product of the times in a patriarchal society and must, through grit and determination, work to secure her daughters’ futures.
We hear her backstory, which is quite moving. Twice widowed, she is raising her two daughters, as well as her stepdaughter, Elin (Cinderella), in a crumbling dilapidated castle, with no money to speak of. She scrimps and saves, sells off belongings, and hunts with her falcon, Lucy, to survive. In fact, Lucy was one of the most compelling characters in the story.
And what of her stepdaughter, Elin? Well let’s just say she acts like a princess, refusing to roll up her sleeves and work alongside her stepmother and stepsisters. But, in her own way, as a grieving orphan, she was sympathetic too.
Is Ethel determined to see her daughters attend the ball and marry the Prince? Yes, she is, but women were essentially powerless with limited opportunities.
They were a product of the times & circumstances, when marriage was the only way to save them from dire circumstances. Seen through this lens, her fierce determination is admirable.
There no magic or fairy godmother here to swoop in and save the day. Lady Tremaine must use her wits and intelligence to save her family. The love of a mother is powerful indeed.
Meanwhile, her frenemy, the Queen, and the Prince have secrets of their own that they want to keep hidden. Will Lady Tremaine turn a blind eye in order to be a part of the royal family, thereby securing their futures?
I do love a strong woman and this story has a depth I wasn’t expecting. The women are the heroines here, women who write their own futures and make their own fortune.
The last sentence in the book? Perfection!
5 enthusiastic stars and sure to be a top read of 2026.. This was thoroughly enjoyed by both Marialyce & myself.
The narrator of the audio, Bessie Carter, was excellent and definitely enhanced the story. I highly recommend listening to this one. I could not stop listening.
The story is narrated by Ethelsreda (Ethel, pronounced with a long E), the evil stepmother, who, it turns out, was not so evil. She’s a product of the times in a patriarchal society and must, through grit and determination, work to secure her daughters’ futures.
We hear her backstory, which is quite moving. Twice widowed, she is raising her two daughters, as well as her stepdaughter, Elin (Cinderella), in a crumbling dilapidated castle, with no money to speak of. She scrimps and saves, sells off belongings, and hunts with her falcon, Lucy, to survive. In fact, Lucy was one of the most compelling characters in the story.
And what of her stepdaughter, Elin? Well let’s just say she acts like a princess, refusing to roll up her sleeves and work alongside her stepmother and stepsisters. But, in her own way, as a grieving orphan, she was sympathetic too.
Is Ethel determined to see her daughters attend the ball and marry the Prince? Yes, she is, but women were essentially powerless with limited opportunities.
They were a product of the times & circumstances, when marriage was the only way to save them from dire circumstances. Seen through this lens, her fierce determination is admirable.
There no magic or fairy godmother here to swoop in and save the day. Lady Tremaine must use her wits and intelligence to save her family. The love of a mother is powerful indeed.
Meanwhile, her frenemy, the Queen, and the Prince have secrets of their own that they want to keep hidden. Will Lady Tremaine turn a blind eye in order to be a part of the royal family, thereby securing their futures?
I do love a strong woman and this story has a depth I wasn’t expecting. The women are the heroines here, women who write their own futures and make their own fortune.
The last sentence in the book? Perfection!
5 enthusiastic stars and sure to be a top read of 2026.. This was thoroughly enjoyed by both Marialyce & myself.
The narrator of the audio, Bessie Carter, was excellent and definitely enhanced the story. I highly recommend listening to this one. I could not stop listening.
March 26, 2026
4.5 💫
The audiobook is the way to go!!!! I was told this was a fairytale reimagined, but it was wayyyyy beyond that! I didn’t initially pick it up because fairytale reimagined books aren’t my thing but the story leaned more into a historical fiction vibe with great character development.
Bessie Carter delivered us an Oscar winning audio performance!
The audiobook is the way to go!!!! I was told this was a fairytale reimagined, but it was wayyyyy beyond that! I didn’t initially pick it up because fairytale reimagined books aren’t my thing but the story leaned more into a historical fiction vibe with great character development.
Bessie Carter delivered us an Oscar winning audio performance!
February 18, 2026
Wow! This book was amazing! If I could give it more than five stars, I would. This is a retelling of Cinderella, but through the step mother’s eyes! It took me on an adventure that I had no idea I needed. It is emotional, reflective and very dark. This historical retelling really explored the trauma that shaped the villain in this novel. It is a medium paced book that is primarily character driven. The characters in this story were extremely well developed. Furthermore, it contained both lovable and unlikable characters. I really enjoyed the world building, it wasn’t too much or too little. I felt like the world building was perfect for the story! It starts off a little slow, but then quickly builds up as this book comes along. This novel is very powerful and intense! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
If you enjoy retellings from a different perspective, I highly suggest checking this one out! It gave me “Circe” and the movie “Ever After” vibes!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Rachel Hochhauser and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on March 3, 2026!
If you enjoy retellings from a different perspective, I highly suggest checking this one out! It gave me “Circe” and the movie “Ever After” vibes!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Rachel Hochhauser and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on March 3, 2026!
March 14, 2026
I just love it when a fairytale reimagining gives so much depth to the original story, especially when exploring stereotypical "villain" characters. Lady Tremaine gives a backstory to Cinderella's stepmother, who originally has one single character trait: being evil. No name, no personality, just evil. But here I was introduced to Lady Etheldreda Tremaine-Bramley. A mother of two daughters and stepmother of a third one, widowed twice-over, and desperately trying to uphold her social status although her land is barren and her roof is leaking and all assets are exhausted. But an opportunity presents itself when a grand ball is announced, and rumor has it that the prince is looking for a wife among all the eligible young women of the land. You know the story. Etheldreda is doing everything humanly possible to secure a safe future for her daughters, and doing that is unladylike work. There is nothing romantic or fairytale-like or virtuous about it. That's also where the conflict with the Cinderella character of the story, Lady Elin Bramley, comes in. Unlike Etheldreda, she is noble-born and delicate and believes that good will come to her if she only stays true to society's rules for young women. Etheldreda and Elin do not get along, but there is nothing evil about their interactions. Both women stay true to the life that they were either taught was right or learned was necessary. It was a rather complex relationship and it was such a unique spin on the dynamic between Cinderella and her stepmother. It's also such a deep exploration of women of this time period. What their beliefs were and what their reality looked like. How few prospects they had. Etheldreda is completely disillusioned by society and knows exactly that it will not be kind to her daughters, but at the same time she has no other choice than see them married. I didn't expect that this book would be so full of commentary on womanhood and motherhood, but it stood out to me in a positive way. Sometimes these themes would be discussed in somewhat unnatural inner monologues of Etheldreda, but I didn't mind too much. It wasn't a quick read for me and some parts could have been shortened in my opinion, but I never lost interest. At first there were also chapters about Etheldreda's youth and her first marriage as a young woman, and later the story took some, surprisingly dark, twists and turns. So I was always invested. Overall, this was a successful debut and a great fairytale reimagining. It doesn't quite beat my number one "evil" perspective Cinderella story (The Ugly Stepsister), but it's an easy recommendation for sure.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2026
A reimagining of Cinderella through the eyes of Lady Tremaine gives us another look at the well known classic. What if there were reasons for everything Lady Tremaine did pertaining to her stepdaughter? What if she wasn’t as evil as once thought? The novel gives a completely different spin on the traditional Cinderella story, one that will make you see things from a completely different perspective, a much darker perspective. There are no talking, helpful mice.( Sorry, Gus Gus)
This is the first retelling that I’ve read, and it was definitely a good one. I liked how original it was, but yet kept to the bones of the traditional story we all are familiar with. My only complaint would be it seemed a little drawn out at times and could’ve been scaled back just a bit. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read and one that has you questioning what would you do in those situations.
I would love to read any future novels by this author, especially any new retellings.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first retelling that I’ve read, and it was definitely a good one. I liked how original it was, but yet kept to the bones of the traditional story we all are familiar with. My only complaint would be it seemed a little drawn out at times and could’ve been scaled back just a bit. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read and one that has you questioning what would you do in those situations.
I would love to read any future novels by this author, especially any new retellings.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lady Tremaine is a gorgeously written character study that explores a villain we love to hate, both in fiction and the real world—a strong woman willing to make sacrifices for her daughters.
This book explores, grief, love, sacrifice, and motherhood. It answers the question, what if the women we think of as villains are really just doing the best that they can, in a world built to break them?
We certainly love to hate a strong woman don’t we? We pass judgement on the choices women make to protect themselves and their loved ones. Whether it be a fictional woman, a woman in the spotlight, or a woman we know irl. Judging women, painting them as villains, is a beloved pastime, or so it would seem. It’s no wonder that so many of the Disney villains are female. I, for one, am ready to chuck that pastime in the bin.
Pretty sure Rachel Hochhauser is with me if this book is any indication. She’s taken a villain and shown us an alternate framing. One that is as unexpected as it is moving. History is written by the victors and this time Lady Tremaine has come out on top.
The heart of this book is motherhood. The sacrifices mother’s make to protect their children. The challenges they’re faced with, and the impossibly difficult decisions they make to ensure that their children don’t suffer.
Lady Tremaine is a god-damn masterpiece.
Audio Narration: 5/5 Bessie Carter did such an amazing job on this audiobook performance! I have no critiques. Pacing, pausing, inflection, voice variation were all perfect! She’s been added to my “must listen” list - I’m actually a little bummed to discover she’s only narrated a handful of other titles.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
This book explores, grief, love, sacrifice, and motherhood. It answers the question, what if the women we think of as villains are really just doing the best that they can, in a world built to break them?
We certainly love to hate a strong woman don’t we? We pass judgement on the choices women make to protect themselves and their loved ones. Whether it be a fictional woman, a woman in the spotlight, or a woman we know irl. Judging women, painting them as villains, is a beloved pastime, or so it would seem. It’s no wonder that so many of the Disney villains are female. I, for one, am ready to chuck that pastime in the bin.
Pretty sure Rachel Hochhauser is with me if this book is any indication. She’s taken a villain and shown us an alternate framing. One that is as unexpected as it is moving. History is written by the victors and this time Lady Tremaine has come out on top.
The heart of this book is motherhood. The sacrifices mother’s make to protect their children. The challenges they’re faced with, and the impossibly difficult decisions they make to ensure that their children don’t suffer.
Lady Tremaine is a god-damn masterpiece.
Audio Narration: 5/5 Bessie Carter did such an amazing job on this audiobook performance! I have no critiques. Pacing, pausing, inflection, voice variation were all perfect! She’s been added to my “must listen” list - I’m actually a little bummed to discover she’s only narrated a handful of other titles.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
April 15, 2026
I didn't want to pass up a retelling of Cinderella!
I love the original story with the evil stepmother and in this retelling, she is just too bland and not the villain I was hoping for. 😲
Who doesn't love to hate an evil woman. 😂
For me this story was rather slow-moving, not captivating in any way and the language is a bit flowery and not the Cinderella story I expected. Narration from Bessie Carter was pleasant to listen to, I just didn't care to much for any of the characters.
Lots of praise from friends, so I'm an outlier here. 🏝️ It is what it is..........
Audible edition
I love the original story with the evil stepmother and in this retelling, she is just too bland and not the villain I was hoping for. 😲
Who doesn't love to hate an evil woman. 😂
For me this story was rather slow-moving, not captivating in any way and the language is a bit flowery and not the Cinderella story I expected. Narration from Bessie Carter was pleasant to listen to, I just didn't care to much for any of the characters.
Lots of praise from friends, so I'm an outlier here. 🏝️ It is what it is..........
Audible edition
Read
April 16, 2026I am absolutely blown away that this is a debut
January 11, 2026
I love a good retelling from the villain's perspective and in Rachel Hochhauser’s Lady Tremaine, we get the story of Cinderella from the ‘evil’ stepmother’s point of view.
Lady Tremaine is a beautifully written tale centered around a mother's love and hard work to give her daughters and stepdaughter a promising life. The story also centers on the importance of self-reliance.
Of course, the author took her own creative liberties, and the story isn't an exact retelling of the Cinderella we all know. Without giving anything away I will say the author removes the romanticized notions in a fairy tale and makes it more realistic (in the best way possible). Rachel’s prose and word structure are those of a seasoned author and I was blown away to learn this is her debut.
I alternated between listening to the audiobook format and reading the book myself. The audiobook is narrated by Bessie Carter who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life.
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser will be available on March 3. Many thanks to St Martins Press, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies!
Lady Tremaine is a beautifully written tale centered around a mother's love and hard work to give her daughters and stepdaughter a promising life. The story also centers on the importance of self-reliance.
Of course, the author took her own creative liberties, and the story isn't an exact retelling of the Cinderella we all know. Without giving anything away I will say the author removes the romanticized notions in a fairy tale and makes it more realistic (in the best way possible). Rachel’s prose and word structure are those of a seasoned author and I was blown away to learn this is her debut.
I alternated between listening to the audiobook format and reading the book myself. The audiobook is narrated by Bessie Carter who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life.
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser will be available on March 3. Many thanks to St Martins Press, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies!
April 30, 2026
Wow, I can't believe that Lady Tremaine is Rachel Hochhauser's debut novel.
It certainly reads like the work of an experienced author who's been honing this story for years.
And let's be clear: this is not the Cinderella fairy tale that I grew up with, nor is it a whimsical retelling.
Lady Tremaine reimagines Cinderella’s so-called “evil” stepmother as a desperate widow fighting to keep her daughters from destitution in a world where marriage is a woman's only currency.
In this world there is no magic, only the brutal reality of poverty and the illusions twice-widowed Etheldreda constructs to keep up appearances — not out of vanity but as a means of survival.
The crumbling manor house mirrors her circumstances perfectly: grand and ornate on the outside, falling apart within.
Ever resourceful, Etheldreda hunts rabbits at dawn to feed her household. She trades her jewels piece by piece to buy sugar and lace.
Rosamund and Mathilde, the so-called “ugly” stepsisters, are also reimagined: Rosamund is warm and talented with a needle and thread, and Mathilde is shrewd and bookish.
Elin, the Cinderella figure, is not the put-upon stepdaughter of the fairy tale. She is passive-aggressive, pious, and frustratingly impractical.
While the rest of the household scrubs floors and mends dresses, Elin walks around quoting ad nauseam from her beloved little Book of Virtues.
Without revealing specific plot points, the second half of the novel pivots sharply from domestic drama into something far more harrowing.
Suffice to say, Prince Charming ain't so charming after all.
If you're in the mood for a fairy tale grounded in historical reality, Lady Tremaine belongs on your nightstand.
April 28, 2026
There seems to be a new trend of re-imagining the classic stories, especially with the twist of the villain becoming the hero. Now, Lady Tremaine seeks to make the evil stepmother of Cinderella into the heroine. In this rendition, the family has fallen on hard times after the death of Elin’s father and everyone has to pitch in. And everyone does. Well, everyone but Elin who is a self absorbed prig of a stepdaughter unwilling to dirty her hands with the necessities of surviving.
I adored Ethel, the stepmother. She’s the kind of strong willed, determined, resourceful woman I love as a main character. When faced with a moral dilemma, it’s a question as to how she will react and who exactly she owes her allegiance to. There are lots of interesting questions raised about family and motherhood.
The story is well thought out, even if the main romance arc is a tad obvious and predictable. The good news is that there’s no magic or fairy godmother in this telling. But there are plenty of secrets being kept by everyone. And plenty of evil as well.
I listened to this and Bessie Carter excelled as the narrator.
I adored Ethel, the stepmother. She’s the kind of strong willed, determined, resourceful woman I love as a main character. When faced with a moral dilemma, it’s a question as to how she will react and who exactly she owes her allegiance to. There are lots of interesting questions raised about family and motherhood.
The story is well thought out, even if the main romance arc is a tad obvious and predictable. The good news is that there’s no magic or fairy godmother in this telling. But there are plenty of secrets being kept by everyone. And plenty of evil as well.
I listened to this and Bessie Carter excelled as the narrator.
March 29, 2026
Loved it!
What if there was an evil mother who was not so evil? What if there were mean stepsisters who were not so mean? What if Cinderella was the opposite of what we have come to know? What if Prince Charming is not charming at all?
If the questions above pique your interest than this story written so well will answer those queries.
A mother is suppose to protect her children and perhaps when she does she hurts herself and others but the mama bear instinct is strong and alive in Etheldreda. (Ethel) She came from poor roots but married twice which increased her status but not her fortune. Left a widow by both men, she endeavored to raise her two girls and her one step daughter in the ways of the man's world they lived in. She also had a peregrine falcon, named Lucy, who she couldn't always control, but was an animal she loved and relied on.
They lived in a falling down castle in a district where her sometime nemesis resided as queen and had a son ready for marriage. This seemed the perfect scheme if Ethel played her cards right for one of her daughters to snag him and eventually secure all of their lives. However, as they often say one plains and God laughs.
It is not one of Ethel's natural daughter who acquired a price but her step daughter, a priggish young woman who one might have thought snagged a gem. However, this is not a happy ever after tale, as Rachel Hockhauser gives us the down and dirty story of this two hundred year old tale.
I so enjoyed this telling for life is so real but fairy tales are just that tales of the wished for not the actual reality. Loved the concept of mothers doing what needed to be done to secure their children's futures even if it involved deception and rolling around in the mud.
Jan and I both liked the story. Her review will be coming soon.
“No one tells you now to mother. It is presumed to be buried within you, a deep, primordial instinct that awakens in your body—in your breast —when the time is right.”
What if there was an evil mother who was not so evil? What if there were mean stepsisters who were not so mean? What if Cinderella was the opposite of what we have come to know? What if Prince Charming is not charming at all?
If the questions above pique your interest than this story written so well will answer those queries.
A mother is suppose to protect her children and perhaps when she does she hurts herself and others but the mama bear instinct is strong and alive in Etheldreda. (Ethel) She came from poor roots but married twice which increased her status but not her fortune. Left a widow by both men, she endeavored to raise her two girls and her one step daughter in the ways of the man's world they lived in. She also had a peregrine falcon, named Lucy, who she couldn't always control, but was an animal she loved and relied on.
They lived in a falling down castle in a district where her sometime nemesis resided as queen and had a son ready for marriage. This seemed the perfect scheme if Ethel played her cards right for one of her daughters to snag him and eventually secure all of their lives. However, as they often say one plains and God laughs.
It is not one of Ethel's natural daughter who acquired a price but her step daughter, a priggish young woman who one might have thought snagged a gem. However, this is not a happy ever after tale, as Rachel Hockhauser gives us the down and dirty story of this two hundred year old tale.
I so enjoyed this telling for life is so real but fairy tales are just that tales of the wished for not the actual reality. Loved the concept of mothers doing what needed to be done to secure their children's futures even if it involved deception and rolling around in the mud.
Jan and I both liked the story. Her review will be coming soon.
“No one tells you now to mother. It is presumed to be buried within you, a deep, primordial instinct that awakens in your body—in your breast —when the time is right.”
February 17, 2026
I love a fairy-tale reimagining and using one of my favorites makes it even better. Rachel Hochhauser spins a unique take on Cinderella with a soft feminist enchantment, told from the perspective of the “evil” stepmother, who isn’t that evil at all. She’s a mother doing what she believes will protect her daughters.
This Cinderella isn’t helpless, obedient, and dreamy or waiting to be rescued. The stepsisters are not envious and insecure. They are surprisingly likable. They all show strength and survival in different ways. The bonds between them felt real and layered, the kind that make you wish the book lingered longer in their relationships.
What Hexed Me
The pacing faltered for me. Lady Tremaine spends a lot of time explaining her feelings about motherhood when her actions already showed it. The repetition weakened the emotional spell. Instead of tempting me into “one more chapter,” I sometimes felt relieved once a chapter ended.
Reading vs Listening
I both read and listened to the audiobook and I preferred listening.
When a story feels long-winded, audio works better for me. I can stay immersed without over-focusing on every sentence, whereas reading had my mind drifting toward other books I wanted to pick up instead.
Bessie Carter’s performance carried warmth and personality that grounded the characters and made me want to keep going.
Mood Rating
Loved the concept and character dynamics, but the pacing dragged a little. The audiobook performance lifted it.
A softer stepmother, stronger sisters, and a Cinderella who doesn't need saving herself. I just wish the story trusted its magic instead of explaining it.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra!!
I received both an Ebook and Audio book from the publisher through NetGalley.
This Cinderella isn’t helpless, obedient, and dreamy or waiting to be rescued. The stepsisters are not envious and insecure. They are surprisingly likable. They all show strength and survival in different ways. The bonds between them felt real and layered, the kind that make you wish the book lingered longer in their relationships.
What Hexed Me
The pacing faltered for me. Lady Tremaine spends a lot of time explaining her feelings about motherhood when her actions already showed it. The repetition weakened the emotional spell. Instead of tempting me into “one more chapter,” I sometimes felt relieved once a chapter ended.
Reading vs Listening
I both read and listened to the audiobook and I preferred listening.
When a story feels long-winded, audio works better for me. I can stay immersed without over-focusing on every sentence, whereas reading had my mind drifting toward other books I wanted to pick up instead.
Bessie Carter’s performance carried warmth and personality that grounded the characters and made me want to keep going.
Mood Rating
Loved the concept and character dynamics, but the pacing dragged a little. The audiobook performance lifted it.
A softer stepmother, stronger sisters, and a Cinderella who doesn't need saving herself. I just wish the story trusted its magic instead of explaining it.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra!!
I received both an Ebook and Audio book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 27, 2026
"As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairytale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes."
Ethel is the "wicked" stepmother who has been widowed twice and works hard to support her daughters Rosamund and Matilda and her stepdaughter Elin. She pitches in to maintain the estate. When Elin is invited to a royal ball, she naturally insists on invites for her and her daughters as well. When things progress following the ball, she discovers a sinister royal plot and comes up with a plan.
A masterful and lush retelling of a classic that can be passed down to today’s daughters. Not the love at first sight, happily ever after we grew up with. A story of a mother and stepmother who wasn’t all bad and a stepdaughter who wasn’t completely perfect. Ethel is actually a stepmother you come to understand and even like. She also has a pet falcon named Lucy who is an important character (rather than Lucifer the cat). I loved it and highly recommend this to anyone who loves a fairytale with a twist and a celebration of resilient and resourceful women!
The audiobook performance by Bessie Carter is perfection and brought the lush prose and richly layered characters to life. It is the ideal companion to the printed copy.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Rachel Hochhauser for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧📚
Ethel is the "wicked" stepmother who has been widowed twice and works hard to support her daughters Rosamund and Matilda and her stepdaughter Elin. She pitches in to maintain the estate. When Elin is invited to a royal ball, she naturally insists on invites for her and her daughters as well. When things progress following the ball, she discovers a sinister royal plot and comes up with a plan.
A masterful and lush retelling of a classic that can be passed down to today’s daughters. Not the love at first sight, happily ever after we grew up with. A story of a mother and stepmother who wasn’t all bad and a stepdaughter who wasn’t completely perfect. Ethel is actually a stepmother you come to understand and even like. She also has a pet falcon named Lucy who is an important character (rather than Lucifer the cat). I loved it and highly recommend this to anyone who loves a fairytale with a twist and a celebration of resilient and resourceful women!
The audiobook performance by Bessie Carter is perfection and brought the lush prose and richly layered characters to life. It is the ideal companion to the printed copy.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Rachel Hochhauser for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧📚
October 14, 2025
4.25 / 5 Stars
Wow, what an incredibly well-written, special book. “Lady Tremaine” is an exceptional reimagining of Cinderella told through the “evil” stepmother’s point of view. What if Ethel (Lady Tremaine) isn’t a (literal and metaphoric) cartoon villain and instead is a strong but flawed woman who is trying to make the best out of a horrible situation for her daughters? Twice widowed, she is left to take care of her two daughters, her stepdaughter, and a crumbling estate with no money. She desperately tries to cling to the image and title of a proper Lady while having to make ends meet in ways that were not lady-like during those times. She hunts for food in the woods with her falcon. She sells off furniture and belongings and literal scraps for money. Ethel fights tooth and nail to give her daughters a chance to have a better life. When only Elin (Cinderella) is invited to the royal ball, Ethel has to shallow her pride and beg for an invitation for all three of her daughters. As the story goes, Elin is the one who gets engaged to the prince. But something feels off about their engagement and as Ethel learns the truth about the royals, she has to decide what is most important to her: the security that comes with titles and money or doing right by her stepdaughter who she doesn’t really understand or connect with.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💛 Feminist retellings of classic princess stories
💛 Discussions of grief
💛 Exploration of motherhood
💛 Female friendships
💛 Complex family dynamics
💛 Nuanced, fully formed, beautifully written characters
The prose was spectacular. The characters were all so fully alive and deeply human: they were layered and flawed and real. No one was the villain but no one was the hero either. We got to read Ethel’s backstory to even better understand her motivations and character traits and how her world view was shaped. Elin was not perfect either so you could see how a rift would have formed between them. Because we understood each character so well, the dialogue became a game to understand the true meaning behind the “proper” things that they said which added to the meaningfulness of the story. The world building was also super lush and vibrant.
It was impossible not to root for Ethel. She was so fierce, independent, clever, and strong willed. My heart broke when hers did. I felt embarrassed when she did. I just wanted the best for her (which is a sign of good writing). Even Ethel’s flaws (her judgementalness, her lack of patience for weaknesses, her sometimes imposing her will on to daughters without asking what they wanted) were understandable because of how the characters and the world were written. Ethel had to try to succeed in a world set up to fail her. Women only had power within the context of men and within the rules that were written for them and yet Ethel fought and fought and fought. I also loved the exploration of what it meant to be a mother, what power and challenges that allowed the women of this time, and what it meant to be a mother to a child that you may not connect with. And there is a very small romantic subplot for those of us (me) who need something romantic to feel satisfied with the story.
Also, I loved Ethel’s connection to falconry and how it served as a metaphor for motherhood. Ethel’s peregrine, Lucy, was one of my favorite characters in the story. Give me more books with badass women with falcons, please!
The first 70% of the book followed the plot that we know with additional connective tissue unique to this story. The rest of the book veered off from what we know in a way that felt tonally different but still connected. It wrapped up the story in a satisfying way that connected to the themes and showed character growth for our lovely group of women.
My only real qualm is that, because the prose was so rich, sometimes the pacing felt slow, especially in the first half of the book. I would sometimes find myself checking how long I had felt in the chapter.
I am hoping that the final version of the book will have a content warning but if not (or if you are ARC reading as well), please note that there was incest and rape (happened off the page but was discussed on the page) and an animal death (on the page).
Overall, I definitely recommend this book, especially if you loved Cinderella but wanted a more nuanced look at the story.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
______________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I am so excited to read this one. This is a Cinderella retelling told from the "evil" stepmother point of view. Also her full name in the book is Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley. How 👏 fucking 👏 iconic 👏.
Wow, what an incredibly well-written, special book. “Lady Tremaine” is an exceptional reimagining of Cinderella told through the “evil” stepmother’s point of view. What if Ethel (Lady Tremaine) isn’t a (literal and metaphoric) cartoon villain and instead is a strong but flawed woman who is trying to make the best out of a horrible situation for her daughters? Twice widowed, she is left to take care of her two daughters, her stepdaughter, and a crumbling estate with no money. She desperately tries to cling to the image and title of a proper Lady while having to make ends meet in ways that were not lady-like during those times. She hunts for food in the woods with her falcon. She sells off furniture and belongings and literal scraps for money. Ethel fights tooth and nail to give her daughters a chance to have a better life. When only Elin (Cinderella) is invited to the royal ball, Ethel has to shallow her pride and beg for an invitation for all three of her daughters. As the story goes, Elin is the one who gets engaged to the prince. But something feels off about their engagement and as Ethel learns the truth about the royals, she has to decide what is most important to her: the security that comes with titles and money or doing right by her stepdaughter who she doesn’t really understand or connect with.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💛 Feminist retellings of classic princess stories
💛 Discussions of grief
💛 Exploration of motherhood
💛 Female friendships
💛 Complex family dynamics
💛 Nuanced, fully formed, beautifully written characters
The prose was spectacular. The characters were all so fully alive and deeply human: they were layered and flawed and real. No one was the villain but no one was the hero either. We got to read Ethel’s backstory to even better understand her motivations and character traits and how her world view was shaped. Elin was not perfect either so you could see how a rift would have formed between them. Because we understood each character so well, the dialogue became a game to understand the true meaning behind the “proper” things that they said which added to the meaningfulness of the story. The world building was also super lush and vibrant.
It was impossible not to root for Ethel. She was so fierce, independent, clever, and strong willed. My heart broke when hers did. I felt embarrassed when she did. I just wanted the best for her (which is a sign of good writing). Even Ethel’s flaws (her judgementalness, her lack of patience for weaknesses, her sometimes imposing her will on to daughters without asking what they wanted) were understandable because of how the characters and the world were written. Ethel had to try to succeed in a world set up to fail her. Women only had power within the context of men and within the rules that were written for them and yet Ethel fought and fought and fought. I also loved the exploration of what it meant to be a mother, what power and challenges that allowed the women of this time, and what it meant to be a mother to a child that you may not connect with. And there is a very small romantic subplot for those of us (me) who need something romantic to feel satisfied with the story.
Also, I loved Ethel’s connection to falconry and how it served as a metaphor for motherhood. Ethel’s peregrine, Lucy, was one of my favorite characters in the story. Give me more books with badass women with falcons, please!
The first 70% of the book followed the plot that we know with additional connective tissue unique to this story. The rest of the book veered off from what we know in a way that felt tonally different but still connected. It wrapped up the story in a satisfying way that connected to the themes and showed character growth for our lovely group of women.
My only real qualm is that, because the prose was so rich, sometimes the pacing felt slow, especially in the first half of the book. I would sometimes find myself checking how long I had felt in the chapter.
I am hoping that the final version of the book will have a content warning but if not (or if you are ARC reading as well), please note that there was incest and rape (happened off the page but was discussed on the page) and an animal death (on the page).
Overall, I definitely recommend this book, especially if you loved Cinderella but wanted a more nuanced look at the story.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
______________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I am so excited to read this one. This is a Cinderella retelling told from the "evil" stepmother point of view. Also her full name in the book is Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley. How 👏 fucking 👏 iconic 👏.
March 30, 2026
the setup…
What if there was another side to the Cinderella fairy tale? Introducing Lady Etheldrada (Ethel) Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley, better known as the evil stepmother. She’s twice widowed with two daughters from her first marriage, Mathilde and Rosamund (Rosie), and stepdaughter Elin from her last. Both men left her virtually penniless except for the home of her second husband, Bramley Hall, a manor stately looking on the outside but crumbling underneath its facade. Theirs is an unconventional life as Ethel trains them in the life of the manor born while teaching them real life skills to survive. She’s pragmatic, fierce and a reckoning force who also is a skilled falconer. When they receive an invitation to the Prince’s upcoming ball, Ethel is distraught to find that Elin is the only invitee despite the fact that Rosie has caught his eye.
the heart of the story…
This isn’t a retelling, rather a reimagining of the fairy tale. I loved Ethel who did what she had to do to care for all of her daughters, biological and found. Elin isn’t the put upon stepchild, more the entitled only child of her father. In this world, the only safety route for women is through marriage and Ethel uses her skills to prepare and present her daughters despite their circumstances. The Prince seems to be that route but is he truly the charming man he appears to be?
the narration…
I’d never heard of Bessie Carter until this story and she is magnificent here! She nailed everything.
the bottom line…
I was riveted to the story from the outset and think it’s going to be the one I think of as “Cinderella” going forward. All of the fairy tale elements are turned upside down and believably so. I gave this a pass until Reese selected it as a book club choice and took another look. It’s will be one of my favorites for the year.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
What if there was another side to the Cinderella fairy tale? Introducing Lady Etheldrada (Ethel) Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley, better known as the evil stepmother. She’s twice widowed with two daughters from her first marriage, Mathilde and Rosamund (Rosie), and stepdaughter Elin from her last. Both men left her virtually penniless except for the home of her second husband, Bramley Hall, a manor stately looking on the outside but crumbling underneath its facade. Theirs is an unconventional life as Ethel trains them in the life of the manor born while teaching them real life skills to survive. She’s pragmatic, fierce and a reckoning force who also is a skilled falconer. When they receive an invitation to the Prince’s upcoming ball, Ethel is distraught to find that Elin is the only invitee despite the fact that Rosie has caught his eye.
the heart of the story…
This isn’t a retelling, rather a reimagining of the fairy tale. I loved Ethel who did what she had to do to care for all of her daughters, biological and found. Elin isn’t the put upon stepchild, more the entitled only child of her father. In this world, the only safety route for women is through marriage and Ethel uses her skills to prepare and present her daughters despite their circumstances. The Prince seems to be that route but is he truly the charming man he appears to be?
the narration…
I’d never heard of Bessie Carter until this story and she is magnificent here! She nailed everything.
the bottom line…
I was riveted to the story from the outset and think it’s going to be the one I think of as “Cinderella” going forward. All of the fairy tale elements are turned upside down and believably so. I gave this a pass until Reese selected it as a book club choice and took another look. It’s will be one of my favorites for the year.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
April 30, 2026
M'Lady Tremaine is more struggling widowed mother than evil stepmother. She is getting a bad rap and this book beautifully retells the Cinderella story without all the romanticism.
This story will take you into a deeper dive into all the characters in their multi-dimensional traits. Lady Tremaine is quite literally trying to keep a roof over her two daughters and step-daughter's head. She is looking for her children to marry well and boost the future for them as a family, in a time and age that society places your worth on your dowry and wealth.
Think Bridgerton, Think Downton Abbey - and throw in the study of falconry. I found the bird portion of the book to be so intriguing. My dad has raised homing pigeons all of his life, so birds hold a special place for me.
I knew I would like this book, but I absolutely loved it. I think people are judging it as a fairy tale and it much more in depth than that. Dare I say, I found moments where I thought I was reading Maggie O'Farrell.
" I think you will find being a woman is nothing like being a girl. And that grace and justice are sometimes pursued by means less grace and less just."
Oh what we women must do to protect our children...... that turns us women into the "evil side" of things.
This story will take you into a deeper dive into all the characters in their multi-dimensional traits. Lady Tremaine is quite literally trying to keep a roof over her two daughters and step-daughter's head. She is looking for her children to marry well and boost the future for them as a family, in a time and age that society places your worth on your dowry and wealth.
Think Bridgerton, Think Downton Abbey - and throw in the study of falconry. I found the bird portion of the book to be so intriguing. My dad has raised homing pigeons all of his life, so birds hold a special place for me.
I knew I would like this book, but I absolutely loved it. I think people are judging it as a fairy tale and it much more in depth than that. Dare I say, I found moments where I thought I was reading Maggie O'Farrell.
" I think you will find being a woman is nothing like being a girl. And that grace and justice are sometimes pursued by means less grace and less just."
Oh what we women must do to protect our children...... that turns us women into the "evil side" of things.
April 8, 2026
*Protection*
This is far better than I anticipated. As a reimagining of Cinderella from the stepmother’s perspective, I entered with my own expectations but was pleasantly surprised. I actually warmed to her and her resilience after loss.
Ethel, the stepmother, is twice bereaved and has two daughters Rosamund and Mathilda. She also has a stepdaughter Elin and a peregrine falcon named Lucy.
Her home is in ruins, crumbling before her. Determined to see her daughters wed and their status improved, Ethel presents a facade of substance. However, this is far from reality.
A ball is announced, and the prince will be there. Ethel believes it’s a done deal until her stepdaughter Elin unexpectedly appears at the ball. However, when the prince arrives the next day, his chosen bride isn’t who Ethel hoped for.
Ethel questions the impending wedding and visits the palace, uncovering a secret. This secret forces her to confront her nemesis, the Queen. The Prince is not what we all remember….
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Ethel’s focus on improving her daughters’ fortunes has distracted her from the real goal. Her daughters remind her of her principles, prompting her to reflect honestly on what truly matters.
Ethel must confront her preconceived notions and realise that the security she thought she was providing was actually herself.
I admire her resilience. Life has shaped her tough exterior and motherhood at its core instils a fierce determination to fight for what’s right, unleashing an unexpected strength within her.
This is far better than I anticipated. As a reimagining of Cinderella from the stepmother’s perspective, I entered with my own expectations but was pleasantly surprised. I actually warmed to her and her resilience after loss.
Ethel, the stepmother, is twice bereaved and has two daughters Rosamund and Mathilda. She also has a stepdaughter Elin and a peregrine falcon named Lucy.
Her home is in ruins, crumbling before her. Determined to see her daughters wed and their status improved, Ethel presents a facade of substance. However, this is far from reality.
A ball is announced, and the prince will be there. Ethel believes it’s a done deal until her stepdaughter Elin unexpectedly appears at the ball. However, when the prince arrives the next day, his chosen bride isn’t who Ethel hoped for.
Ethel questions the impending wedding and visits the palace, uncovering a secret. This secret forces her to confront her nemesis, the Queen. The Prince is not what we all remember….
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Ethel’s focus on improving her daughters’ fortunes has distracted her from the real goal. Her daughters remind her of her principles, prompting her to reflect honestly on what truly matters.
Ethel must confront her preconceived notions and realise that the security she thought she was providing was actually herself.
I admire her resilience. Life has shaped her tough exterior and motherhood at its core instils a fierce determination to fight for what’s right, unleashing an unexpected strength within her.
November 6, 2025
Wow wow! A stunning story of an amazingly strong woman.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you think you are too old for fairy tales, I am going to challenge you on that right here!
Have you ever been blown away by a writer and their imagination? This new author has done just that with a retelling of a classic book. Cinderella as you have never seen her!
At first, I was not sure about reading this book. It hit my inbox time and time again, and finally, I said yes. Thank goodness! My mind is swirling!
Lady Tremaine is an amazing story of the evil step-mother and her children, but it is nothing like you think it will be. The author has created characters who are fierce and unbelievably strong for the time, considering what we read in fairy tales.
Hochhauser has writing skills for days. Her storytelling ability will suck you in, mind-bend you, and spit you out, jaw dropped and shaking your head, saying, “What did I just read??”
This is a stunning story of an amazingly strong woman. Imaginative and creative writing skills that will change the way you think about many books we grew up on, asking, What if…!
Do yourself a favor and read it!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* * Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/lady-tremain...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you think you are too old for fairy tales, I am going to challenge you on that right here!
Have you ever been blown away by a writer and their imagination? This new author has done just that with a retelling of a classic book. Cinderella as you have never seen her!
At first, I was not sure about reading this book. It hit my inbox time and time again, and finally, I said yes. Thank goodness! My mind is swirling!
Lady Tremaine is an amazing story of the evil step-mother and her children, but it is nothing like you think it will be. The author has created characters who are fierce and unbelievably strong for the time, considering what we read in fairy tales.
Hochhauser has writing skills for days. Her storytelling ability will suck you in, mind-bend you, and spit you out, jaw dropped and shaking your head, saying, “What did I just read??”
This is a stunning story of an amazingly strong woman. Imaginative and creative writing skills that will change the way you think about many books we grew up on, asking, What if…!
Do yourself a favor and read it!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* * Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/lady-tremain...
April 1, 2026
This imaginable retelling of Cinderella in Lady Tremaine blew any preconceived notions of the characters out of the water. It’s a character study of the mean stepmother, Etheldreda. She’s more complex and completely relatable when her background is revealed. She’s a single parent who wants the best for her two girls and being widowed with a stepchild has its own challenges. She’s doing the best she can with what she has. She puts everything on the line to secure the futures for her daughters only to have Elin(Cinderella) seize the opportunity for herself. This is an enjoyable and captivating read that’s a little nostalgic with a refreshing twist. I highly recommend for those wanting to read something familiar, but open to creative interpretation. A joy to read.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy.
March 8, 2026
(4.75 stars)
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to an advance copy of Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser.
Even if you’re not always a fan of fairy tale retelings, I can wholeheartedly recommend Lady Tremaine to you. It’s a fabulous retelling/reimagining of the Cinderella story, from the point of view of the stepmother, with a feminist twist.
(If you follow these things, note that it’s been chosen as a Reese’s Book Club Pick.)
Ethel is the titular Lady Tremaine (short for Etheldreda), the twice-widowed stepmother of lore, and she tells the tale. Her two daughters from her first husband, who she loved, are Matilda and Rosamund; the stepdaughter is Elin. Their household has fallen on very hard times after the death of Elin’s father, Ethel’s second husband. And yet they must keep up appearances somehow, because how else will Ethel manage to find worthwhile husbands for all three of them? “I had already cut so many corners, I was holding a circle,” Ethel thinks.
All the characters are such distinct people, with their own personalities, skills, etc. Not a single cardboard stereotype here. You get a real flavor of what people had to go through to do/obtain things that we think virtually nothing of - such as countless household tasks, or having to (as opposed to choosing to) make your own ball gown with very little to work with and very little time to do so. There’s no magic or fairy godmother here! There’s some interesting information on hawking and falconry as well.
Narrated beautifully by Bessie Carter, the audiobook totally held my interest throughout. The pace of the story really picked up after the ball, however, and I sped through it at that point. The ending was totally unexpected and I loved it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to an advance copy of Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser.
Even if you’re not always a fan of fairy tale retelings, I can wholeheartedly recommend Lady Tremaine to you. It’s a fabulous retelling/reimagining of the Cinderella story, from the point of view of the stepmother, with a feminist twist.
(If you follow these things, note that it’s been chosen as a Reese’s Book Club Pick.)
Ethel is the titular Lady Tremaine (short for Etheldreda), the twice-widowed stepmother of lore, and she tells the tale. Her two daughters from her first husband, who she loved, are Matilda and Rosamund; the stepdaughter is Elin. Their household has fallen on very hard times after the death of Elin’s father, Ethel’s second husband. And yet they must keep up appearances somehow, because how else will Ethel manage to find worthwhile husbands for all three of them? “I had already cut so many corners, I was holding a circle,” Ethel thinks.
All the characters are such distinct people, with their own personalities, skills, etc. Not a single cardboard stereotype here. You get a real flavor of what people had to go through to do/obtain things that we think virtually nothing of - such as countless household tasks, or having to (as opposed to choosing to) make your own ball gown with very little to work with and very little time to do so. There’s no magic or fairy godmother here! There’s some interesting information on hawking and falconry as well.
Narrated beautifully by Bessie Carter, the audiobook totally held my interest throughout. The pace of the story really picked up after the ball, however, and I sped through it at that point. The ending was totally unexpected and I loved it.
May 2, 2026
the way I would have whooped elin’s ass … that redemption and ending was delicious
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