Author Freida McFadden’s decision to tell The Tenant from a shifting first-person point of view is central to the tension and suspense of the novel. McFadden hides the reality of the events of the novel until the final pages, instead using Blake’s point of view to explore his psychology and reaction to the events unfolding around him. For much of the novel, the truth of the situation is ambiguous, as McFadden hints toward Whitney, Krista, or even Blake himself as being responsible for the events in the brownstone, showing only Blake’s reactions instead of the truth of the events themselves. With this limited perspective, The Tenant explores the idea of secrets and hidden truths, emphasizing how easily reality can be masked and hidden from others.

Blake’s behavior, and the way it contrasts with his thoughts, underscores the way that people hide the true versions of themselves from others. Blake repeatedly objectifies the woman in his life, revealing hints about his infidelity in the past. He notes how Stacie “got [his] attention. In that skirt—yes, holy crap, she has my attention” (5), then how he “can see [Whitney’s] nipples through the tank top. Which is bad news, considering [he’s] wearing boxer shorts” (48). Moments like these repeat throughout Blake’s sections, emphasizing both his misogyny and his unfaithfulness to Krista. Through it all, however, he repeatedly insists that he would not cheat on her, noting how he’d “have to be not only the world’s biggest asshole but also a complete idiot” (32). However, the revelation that Blake did cheat on Krista with Stacie underscores the unreliability of his narration. When he finally reveals the truth, he insists that he “regretted it,” stating: “I don’t cheat—I’m not that guy” (323), still trying to rationalize his behavior. In this way, Blake’s character highlights the tension between perception and reality. He presents himself as a caring, devoted husband while secretly pining over other women and cheating on Krista.

Similarly, the reality of Krista’s character is hidden for much of the novel, emphasizing how easy it is for someone to consciously mask the true version of herself. While she is honest with the reader, she builds an entire life with Blake while lying about even her name. The revelation that she is behind Blake’s torment, which is only revealed when the novel switches to her point of view, is a plot twist that subverts the version of herself that Blake has been representing. As Blake confesses her love to Krista as she dies, she responds, “You…don’t…even…know me” (333). In this way, her dying words underscore the truth of her character: She has crafted a version of herself that has fooled even her husband, calling into question how well people ever truly know each other.

Blake and Krista each harbor their own secrets about who they truly are. With them, McFadden creates complex characters who are neither wholly good nor wholly bad, blurring the line between right and wrong. While Krista is largely responsible for the events of the novel, Blake’s infidelity also contributes to the destruction of their lives. Ultimately, McFadden emphasizes the tendency of people to present the best version of the self to others while hiding the reality of the misdeeds that everyone commits, in one form or another.