Who Would Like This Book:
This book is a twisty, Hitchcock-inspired psychological thriller that keeps you guessing about what is real and what isn’t. The story follows Anna Fox, an agoraphobic woman who spends her days watching classic movies and spying on her neighbors - until she witnesses something she shouldn’t. With a compelling, unreliable narrator and clever nods to noir films, it’s perfect for fans of thrillers like The Girl on the Train, anyone who loves plot twists, or readers who enjoy unraveling mysteries with complex, flawed protagonists. If you appreciate atmospheric suspense and stories that blend nostalgia with modern psychological tension, you’ll likely be hooked.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the book’s pacing, especially in the first half, to be slow or bogged down with repetitive details about Anna’s drinking and daily routines. If you prefer lightning-fast plots or have little patience for unreliable narrators, this may test your resolve. A few also felt the story borrowed too heavily from other thrillers, making certain twists easy to predict. The constant classic movie references and the focus on Anna’s mental state weren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and skepticism about some plot points or character decisions popped up for more detail-oriented readers.
About:
'The Woman in the Window' by A.J. Finn is a psychological thriller revolving around Dr. Anna Fox, an agoraphobic woman living in New York. She spends her days watching her neighbors, playing online chess, and drinking. When new neighbors move in, she becomes entangled in a web of mystery and intrigue after witnessing something she shouldn't have. The book delves into themes of isolation, obsession, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with its twists and turns. The writing style is described as gripping, with sharp and meaningful lines that create a deep connection to the protagonist, Anna.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of mental illness, trauma, alcoholism, violence, and potentially triggering references to death and crime.
From The Publisher:
LibraryReads Selection
#1 New York Times Bestseller - Soon to be a Major Motion Picture starring Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, and Gary Oldman - Available on Netflix on May 14, 2021
"Astounding. Thrilling. Amazing."-GILLIAN FLYNN
It isn't paranoia if it's really happening . . .
Anna Fox lives alone-a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her days drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn't, her world begins to crumble-and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one-and nothing-is what it seems.
"The Woman in the Window is one of those rare books that really is unputdownable. The writing is smooth and often remarkable. The way Finn plays off this totally original story against a background of film noir is both delightful and chilling."- Stephen King
Ratings (366)
Incredible (17) | |
Loved It (108) | |
Liked It (133) | |
It Was OK (68) | |
Did Not Like (31) | |
Hated It (9) |
Reader Stats (644):
Read It (377) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (180) | |
Did Not Finish (11) | |
Not Interested (74) |
9 comment(s)
Edit: changing my rating to 2.5.
The setup was intriguing enough, which is what kept me reading. But the first 60% dragged on and on; things only started to kick up a notch 2/3 of the way through. It’s only taken me 5 days to read this, but it felt like forever. A good third of the parts about pills and wine could have been cut down without losing anything.
I guessed one significant plot point, didn’t guess the others.
I don’t know. It was okay. I know psychological thrillers are about the gradual unravelling of the hero, and maybe that’s why I didn’t enjoy this. Maybe it isn’t my genre - too slow, perhaps. This was my first psychological thriller.
The article published in the New Yorker about Finn, or rather, Dan Mallory, is rather instructive.
I loved this book, the style of writing was everything I love about a book and the story was so good, definitely want to see more from this author!
While I enjoy reading book with a common cencept in one way or another. I didn't enjoy this as much as I had wanted to. When someone takes something common (or over usused) but still make it uniqe and their own, its a winning concept. But this one missed the mark for me. Anna Fox, the untrustworthy narrative just wasn't intriguing to read about and it didn't add anything great to the plot. Found myself to be rather bored by the book.
Such a good read. Did not see the twist coming.
I loved this book! I'm horribly nosy and would totally spy on all of my neighbors if I were afraid to leave the house. And I adore an unreliable narrator. One of the twists I called pretty early in the book. I was feeling pretty smug about my fabulous brain when BAM -- I was hit with something I completely didn't expect.
Plot
3.5 stars
RTC
Happy Reading!!
Kept me involved the way. Kept me guessing .
This book brings back memories of Girl on the Train. It’s so hard to get behind a train wreck of a protagonist that continually makes the worst decisions possible.
What can you read after
The Woman in the Window?
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