🎙️ The Books Insider Recap – The Housekeeper by Natalie Barelli
She wanted her life back. But how far would she go to get it?
Hey insiders,
This week’s episode was a ride — and if you’ve read The Housekeeper, you already know why. Natalie Barelli pulled us into a world of secrets, manipulation, and psychological tension so tight, you could practically hear it snapping by the end.
We had a blast (and maybe a mild panic attack) unpacking this one — a story that makes you question everything you’re being told, and everyone who’s telling it.
🧹 Meet Claire: The Housekeeper Who’s Not What She Seems
Claire. Oh Claire.
She’s a former nurse, a woman whose life was wrecked years ago by one person: Hannah Wilson. Now, Hannah’s a successful author, living the picture-perfect life Claire believes should’ve been hers. And what does Claire do? She takes a job as Hannah’s housekeeper.
Yup. That’s where the tension kicks off.
In the episode, we talked a lot about Claire’s inner world. She’s not your typical unreliable narrator — she’s emotionally calculated, laser-focused, and completely obsessed. But here’s the twist: you almost root for her. Almost.
One listener summed it up perfectly in the comments:
“I didn’t know if I wanted her to get justice or therapy.”
Same.
🧠 Mind Games, Lies, and Twisted Power Plays
This book is a slow unraveling — a psychological chess game. In the episode, we explored how Barelli messes with perspective. You start questioning what’s real, who’s lying, and whether revenge can ever really heal anything.
We all had something to say about Hannah too. She’s not innocent, but she’s also not the villain Claire paints her to be. Or is she? That’s what kept us talking — the way both women are deeply flawed, and the truth is somewhere in the toxic space between them.
And let’s not forget the side characters. We loved (and by loved, I mean loved to hate) the husband, the coworkers, the people who keep looking the other way. Everyone’s got something to hide in this story.
🔥 Themes We Couldn’t Stop Unpacking
Obsession vs. justice: Is Claire fighting for truth, or just revenge? And does it even matter?
Perception is power: This book had us thinking hard about how people reinvent themselves — and how easy it is to believe the version they show us.
Women and reputation: We got real about how quickly a woman’s entire life can fall apart if society decides she’s “unstable” — and how hard it is to get it back.
Final Thoughts from the Pod
The Housekeeper is unsettling in the best way. It doesn’t give you a clean resolution or an easy moral. It leaves you sitting in the mess, asking: What would I have done in Claire’s shoes? And the answer? It changes with every chapter.
This episode was all about morally grey women, unreliable truths, and the high cost of trying to fix what’s already broken.
If you haven’t listened yet — grab your headphones. And maybe double check who has a spare key to your house.
Until next time,
Trust no one… except your favorite book podcast.