59 pages • 1-hour read
The Wife Upstairs
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and opinions about the book.
1. What were your overall impressions of The Wife Upstairs? What did you like about it, and what did you dislike about it?
2. Compare The Wife Upstairs to another of Freida McFadden’s domestic thrillers (The Housemaid series, etc.). What is similar between the books, and what is different? Which book did you like better, and why?
3. Did you see the ending coming? Why or why not? If not, how did you think it would end?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Which character did you most closely connect with, and why? Identify which characteristics of this person stood out most to you.
2. Victoria’s diary plays a significant role in the unraveling of the mystery. Would you let a stranger read your diary in dire circumstances? Why or why not?
3. Sylvia feels both physically and emotionally isolated in Montauk. Describe a time when you felt isolated. How did you react to that feeling?
4. Secrecy is a big issue in The Wife Upstairs. Describe a time when you had to keep a secret and what the ramifications of that secret were.
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. How did money and socioeconomic inequality play an important role in the development of Adam and Victoria’s relationship?
2. What commentary does McFadden make about gender in relationships, especially unhealthy ones?
3. What differences does McFadden establish between the setting of New York City (urban) and Montauk (secluded/rural)? How does the seclusion of the Montauk house enable Adam’s abuse?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. How does McFadden’s blending of the past and present through switching between Sylvia’s present point of view and Victoria’s past point of view impact the story? How does it heighten the tension surrounding the mystery?
2. Discuss which mystery-novel tropes you noticed while reading the book and which stood out to you most.
3. How does McFadden mirror the relationships of Sylvia and Freddy, Victoria and Adam, and Victoria and Mack? How does each relationship inform the themes related to manipulation and isolation?
4. How does McFadden’s use of irony add depth to the narrative? Which moments did you find most ironic?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. McFadden’s The Housemaid novel is currently being adapted into a film. If you were to make The Wife Upstairs into a movie, who would you cast, and why?
2. Now that Sylvia knows the truth about Maggie’s involvement in covering up Mack’s death, do you think she goes to the police? How do you imagine a sequel to The Wife Upstairs would play out?
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