By: Kendra Danielson 

     In Spring 2022, bestselling psychological thriller author, Freida McFadden, released her breakthrough novel, The Housemaid. This book immediately gained popularity for its addictive plot and shocking twists that effortlessly captivated the audience. The excitement around this book led to it recently turning into a major motion picture in December 2025, starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar.  

     The Squire asked Samantha Childs her thoughts on the book, and she shared, “The Housemaid was so different from other books I’ve read because of the suspense, plot twists, and detailed visuals it gives the reader.” 

     The story begins when a young woman named Millie Calloway accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy, seemingly nice couple. With Millie’s troubling past leaving her homeless and out on parole, she gratefully accepts the opportunity to work for and move in with the Winchester family. She soon realizes that the job isn’t quite what it seemed, and the Winchester family harbors sinister secrets of their own.  

     Millie cleans the house from top to bottom daily, picks up their daughter Cecelia from school, and cooks dinner for the whole family, yet she can’t seem to do anything right. Mrs. Nina Winchester can’t give her a break, constantly pointing out her mistakes that Millie swore she didn’t make. Afraid of losing her chance at a fresh start, Millie puts up with Nina’s crazy behavior, Nina’s difficult daughter, and begins bonding with Andrew Winchester in the meantime.  

     The movie accurately portrays the character’s actions and behaviors while following the same plot and key scenes in the book. A lot of online reviews praise Amanda Seyfried’s performance as Nina, highlighting her intense and overwhelming behavior. In comparison to the book, several readers noted the lack of Winchester’s home landscaper, Enzo’s, presence in the movie, claiming that he played a bigger role in the novel. Another difference was how Andrew punished Millie in the room in the attic, with the movie creating a more violent and suspenseful scene than the book. Slight changes were also made to the novel’s ending in order to make the onscreen adaptation more appealing to the audience.  

     The Squire asked Lainey Font her overall thoughts on the movie, specifically the ending, and she expressed, “I really enjoyed the movie. It was a highly entertaining ending and kept me on the edge of my seat almost the whole time. The movie did a good job of keeping tension through the characters interactions and the unexpected plot twists.” 

     Ultimately, the novel’s intense nature was able to be accurately portrayed onscreen because of good casting and directing of the film. Most people would argue that the film was a solid representation of the novel’s key plot, despite the small onscreen changes for dramatic effect. Childs, as well as many other readers, would recommend reading the book first to get the original version and feel for the story.  

     Be sure to check out The Housemaid in theaters while it’s still showing. After The Squire’s research, we’ve found that it is definitely a movie worth your time. Also be on the watch for Freida McFadden’s newest releases, as all her books have a captivating plot for readers looking for a fast-paced thriller.