Okay so I was genuinely obsessed with this. It's so well-written with how you never actually see Rebecca on page but she looms large over the entire book and haunts the narrative in a way that feels like she's actually there. It's just so well done. I did think the main character was a bit of a melt but she was with a dude old enough to be her dad and he was pretty controlling so I don't blame her for that. Basically all the men sucked but what's new? Rebecca did seem like a brilliant woman so I think I just wanted more for her than a cheating bitch who is murdered. Lowkey the way her character was presented reminded me a little bit like Amy from Gone Girl with how she controls the narrative too. I think other people have compared those books before and I loved both of them.I just think this was so well done and didn't feel like a 450 page book to me. The gothic overtones, just I love it.
Also alternate theory. There was definitely a vibe with Mrs Danvers towards Rebecca and she acted like the spouse who lost her love so what if Rebecca being the excellent mastermind that she was actually slowly drove Maxim insane and just made him think that he killed her and planted evidence to make it look like she did, got that doctor to fake her diagnosis (because he conveniently didn't have her x-rays and just the notes he made), and actually ran off somewhere and then Mrs Danvers followed later. Also the comment about how Rebecca despised men and basically just liked toying with them. I think at the very least there was some sapphic undertones but this way I get my good for her vibes and a happy-ish ending for such a fascinating character. Not saying this actually happened but the modern thriller enjoyer in me has ideas.
General book spoilers: Also the way the MC doesn't have a name and she's basically living in Rebecca's shadow the entire time I love it.
