Rachel Hawkins’ The Wife Upstairs reimagines a classic Gothic tale with a modern Southern twist, offering a suspenseful and fast-paced narrative. Positive aspects include its engaging plot and well-drawn characters. However, some readers found the twists predictable and characters occasionally unlikable. Overall, it’s a gripping read for thriller enthusiasts.

Readers who savor suspenseful modern retellings of classic literature will delight in Rachel Hawkins' The Wife Upstairs. With its Gothic atmosphere and twisty plot, it appeals to fans of Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train and Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. Ideal for those who appreciate psychological thrillers with a nod to Jane Eyre.

Published in 2021, Rachel Hawkins’s thriller The Wife Upstairs adapts Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre for the 21st century. Best known for Hex Hall, her trilogy of young adult paranormal romance novels, Hawkins tells the story of Jane Bell: a young woman with a traumatic, mysterious past who starts over in the affluent community of Thornfield Estates. Hawkins alternates the narrative perspective throughout the novel to build suspense and highlight the shared experiences of outsiders Jane, Eddie, and Bea. Through her relationships with Eddie and Bea Rochester, Jane confronts her past and learns the consequences of blind ambition. This book includes references to intimate partner violence, self-harm, and murder.

Rachel Hawkins

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Novel

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The Wife Upstairs Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1 Summary: “Jane”

Parts 1-2

The Wife Upstairs Parts 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3 Summary: “Jane”

Parts 3-6

The Wife Upstairs Parts 3-6 Summary & Analysis

Parts 7-10

The Wife Upstairs Parts 7-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 11-Epilogue

The Wife Upstairs Part 11-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

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The Wife Upstairs

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