I have been wanting to read this for so long because people talk about how frightening it is and hold it up as an ideal piece of gothic literature. I haven’t read a ton of gothic literature so I was really excited to finally finish this highly revered work.

And it was good and creepy. I loved Manderley, the sprawling mansion that is owned by Maxim de Winter – isn’t that just the perfect name? Mr. de Winter meets his new bride, the story’s narrator, on holiday in Monte Carlo. She is shy, inexperienced, and working as a lady’s maid for a horrible woman that is humiliating to be around. Much to the narrator’s surprise, they fall in love with each other, get married, and he whisks her off to Manderley.

Along the way, she learns minimal details about the tragic death of Rebecca, his first wife. And as soon as she walks in the doors of Manderley, she can feel Rebecca’s touch everywhere. Could she still be in the house?

This book is totally atmospheric. I could imagine myself sitting in Rebecca’s morning room and writing letters, reading the newspaper, and going over menus. I desperately want my own room like that!

This book wasn’t as terrifying as I’d hoped it would be but it was thrilling, nonetheless. It was a great read for the Halloween season!