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Amber
I read this first, and then not long after, read The Last Mrs Parrish. So, The Last Mrs. Parrish was basically ruined for me because I wasn’t surprised at all because of the similarities. I don’t understand how this isn’t discussed way more than it is because it’s so similar…down to the having them committed to look crazy and orchestrating the two going to a play and dinner together.
Daisy
It's so funny I am just now seeing this, because I noted this similarities in my review. Because of my love for the Last Mrs. Parrish, there were times I already knew exactly what to expect. There were small moments (like the return of Nina) that were a little different, but overall, it was almost identical. Even in the including of the two part perspective! Still wasn't a terrible book, however discouraging to see it done so similarly.
Michelle Neeley
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Leigh Ann
Yes, I have read both books, and as soon as I learned of the twist in The Housemaid, I instantly thought of The Last Mrs. Parrish. Great twist but disappointed the plots were so similar.
OhsnapitsMe
I read the Housemaid first and the book group on Facebook that I’m in demanded that I read The Last Mrs. Parrish after and tell them what I noticed and I could not believe Freida stole ANOTHER plot! What’s worse is that The Housemaid is doing better than The Last Mrs. Parrish. I wish more people would call her out on it.
January
It was several books. The Last Mrs. Parrish, by Liv Constantine, The Wife Between Us Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris (she has used this book several times) The Mother-In-Law by Kiersten Modglin (the peanut butter scene), I even got Finlay Donovan Is Killing It vibes and I hear but couldn't confirm The Housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil (DNF for me)
I have read several of her books most of them in fact and all of them remind me of multiple books or movie. And not the type where you read 3 different books about a woman whose husband got caught up in a ponzi scheme she became a social pariah moves back to her Hometown where she ends up dating her ex-boyfriend who's her best friend's brother period I've read several of those and they all have a similar plot but completely different stories. What makes freedom McFadden's books different is that you get the same plot and scenes that are identical from other stories so you know what's going to happen if you were familiar with those stories.
The Wife Upstairs was Verity and Behind Closed Doors
The Ex was The Wife Between Us again
I loved Never Lie but I heard it was The Therapist by B. A. Paris (DNF) I read that book first but I didn't finish it so I don't know but I do know that in that book there is a line that I thought was very similar to a scene in Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen M. McManus, but then I read One By One and it has the same scene at the end of the book, so she copied McManus and then recycled.
The Coworker has elements from Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Escape Room by Megan Goldin, The Appeal by Janice Hallett and The Network Chandler Baker.
The Ex is similar to The Wife Between Us and uses the same format. If it was one book it'd be 1 thing but I've read like 18 of her books and I recognize multiple stories seen by scene in 95% of them.
I read the prologue for the teacher and I stopped immediately picked up Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman and yep it's the remix. And although bearing someone in the opening scene is a great way to get attention it left a huge plot hole in The Teacher.
I have read several of her books most of them in fact and all of them remind me of multiple books or movie. And not the type where you read 3 different books about a woman whose husband got caught up in a ponzi scheme she became a social pariah moves back to her Hometown where she ends up dating her ex-boyfriend who's her best friend's brother period I've read several of those and they all have a similar plot but completely different stories. What makes freedom McFadden's books different is that you get the same plot and scenes that are identical from other stories so you know what's going to happen if you were familiar with those stories.
The Wife Upstairs was Verity and Behind Closed Doors
The Ex was The Wife Between Us again
I loved Never Lie but I heard it was The Therapist by B. A. Paris (DNF) I read that book first but I didn't finish it so I don't know but I do know that in that book there is a line that I thought was very similar to a scene in Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen M. McManus, but then I read One By One and it has the same scene at the end of the book, so she copied McManus and then recycled.
The Coworker has elements from Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Escape Room by Megan Goldin, The Appeal by Janice Hallett and The Network Chandler Baker.
The Ex is similar to The Wife Between Us and uses the same format. If it was one book it'd be 1 thing but I've read like 18 of her books and I recognize multiple stories seen by scene in 95% of them.
I read the prologue for the teacher and I stopped immediately picked up Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman and yep it's the remix. And although bearing someone in the opening scene is a great way to get attention it left a huge plot hole in The Teacher.
Pandora
I just finished The Last Mrs Parrish. A little into the book I searched my list on Goodreads to find it reminded me of The Housemaid. A lot of times there are similarities between books of this type but this was too much. It was basically exactly the same plot with just some details changed. I still read it and enjoyed it but kind of wished I had read the Last Mrs Parrish first since that was the book published long before The Housemaid.
Jen Rogers
Yes!!! This was my exact thought when Part II started. Kinda dimmed the allure for me because I LOVED Last Mrs. Parrish
Michele
I wrote that in my review of this book. The Last Mrs. Parrish was SO much better! One of my favorites!
Devita Walker
If it’s difficult to get published because editors are so selective, how do we end up with such similar books? I was so disappointed
Bhumirathod
Yes!! The whole time it felt like a mix of Verity and The Last Mrs Parrish
Holly
Yes! Still reading but ONLY because I have a 50 page rule so I have to keep going……same plot, same everything. Read Mrs Parrish first and liked it, but now I’m annoyed 😂
Tina
Read Housemaid first and now reading Parrish. I started to think that maybe I read this book before using Goodreads. Thank you for confirming I am not losing my mind. The similarities are ruining Parrish :(
Sheila
Oh my gosh yes !!! I just said this in my review, then had to go searching to see if anyone else thought the same. I get a lot of books have similarities in this genre, but this was too close to identical for me! I will say i felt the last Mrs. Parish was better written and had greater character development.
Tony Ryan
Are all of her books a 're-work' of someone else's story? I've seen a lot of comments online explaining the similarities in many of her books.
I'm not criticising; I've read a dozen of her books in the past 2 months!
I'm not criticising; I've read a dozen of her books in the past 2 months!
Angela
This is also nearly identical to Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris!
Sherri LaFever
There are a lot of books that have the same plot, just like there are a lot of tv shows & movies that have the same storylines. It doesn't bother me to have them be similar, and it doesn't mean anyone is copying someone else's work.
Carlee Hansen
Yes! There was a certain point in the book when that’s exactly what I thought of!
Heather Arsenault
Yes! I had just finished the last mrs parish then started this book right after. I thought the exact same thing. I’m done for now with books about rich abusive men.
Angie
I also read them both. I thought the housemaid was better and I read it second, but it was published before the last Mrs. Parrish. Makes you wonder where Liv Constantine got the idea for her book…
Shandy Roque
I have just finished reading the last mrs. Parrish (published earlier in 2017) and was astounded by plot similarities and presentation, like telling the story through the 2 women’s POVs.. the only thing missing is the hot Italian gardener!
Cherie
Ugh, yeah I read The Last Mrs. Parrish. Few years ago and this is L
Kay exactly the same book . It’s annoying
Kay exactly the same book . It’s annoying
Lisa
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Robyn B
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Melanna
The similarities are insane. I’m so happy I read The Last Mrs. Parrish first.
Leigh Ann
I am 4 chapters in to The Housemaid and am already googling this. So here I am! Four chapters in, I could tell I was already reading The Last Mrs. Parrish again. I’m so disappointed!!
Rebekah
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Peggy
Very disappointed that both books were so sim. I often had to ask myself “which one am I reading?” Does anyone know which one was written first?
Diane Hession
yes, too simular…,liked the last mrs parrish better
Selwana
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Kelsey
I know this was posted a year ago but I read The Housewife a few months ago and just finished The Last Mrs. Parrish and felt like I was rereading the same book, not only that but I also read The Coworker (another Frieda McFadden book) and couldn’t help but remember the odd “turtle obsession” and in The Last Mrs. Parrish, turtles are something the character specifically hates throughout being taunted by them.
Cobygirl517
Yes! I thought the exact same thing, and it actually allowed me to figure out the "twist" early on because I could see this one heading down that path. Kind of bummed that it wasn't an original plot line. I still enjoyed it, though. (I discovered this question when I typed "The Housemaid vs The Last Mrs. Parrish" into Google, and this was the first hit. Glad I'm not alone!)
Brandi Davis
I kept thinking I've already read this book, but was pretty certain it wasn't the same one. It was the last Mrs. Parrish.
J.
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Kathy
Yes I did. And as I was reading this book I had to look on my book lists to see if possibly I had read it and forgotten because it was so similar to The last Mrs Parrish but I couldn’t think of the book until I read your question!!! Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I still enjoyed this one though also.
Sruti Bhagavatula
Yes omg I wrote this exact same thing in my review and now seeing your question. That book was my first thought as I was reading this book. :)
Jess Gignac
Yes!! I couldn’t remember what book it was, but as I was reading it I kept thinking that I read something extremely similar to this book!
Lauren Lentz
I was thinking the same exact thing as I was reading this book! I also read The Wife Upstairs by Freida Mcfadden and was getting serious Verity vibes.
Romy
this book is a mix of the last of mrs. parrish, verity, and behind closed doors. very disappointed. the stories are all the same.
Jessica
I was thinking this the whole time
Lauren James
YES! I’m soooo annoyed. I knew exactly what was happening.
Jillian Cruwys
Hahaha! Yes. I just finished reading and posted my review, then came to look at the questions and saw this.
Renee Lee
Which was written first? Someone definitely stole the other’s idea
Zully
It’s so funny because I read The Last Mrs. Parrish right before The Housemaid and once I started reading more and more I was like “wait a minute….” 😂 I loved them both, tho!
Rikki
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