How to Read “The Housemaid” Book Series in Order
- - How to Read “The Housemaid” Book Series in Order
Katie MannionDecember 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM
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Grand Central Publishing
The Housemaid books
Freida McFadden’s first film adaptation, The Housemaid, based on her bestselling thriller, hits theaters on Friday, Dec. 19.
In 2022, nearly 10 years after McFadden started her writing career, The Housemaid went viral on BookTok, launching the self-published author into literary stardom. That same year, Lionsgate acquired the film rights in partnership with Hidden Pictures.
The Housemaid was initially intended to be a standalone story, but thanks to the book’s massive popularity, McFadden decided to turn it into a series with multiple sequels. The saga, which consists of three novels and a short story, is now finished, at least on the page. While McFadden has confirmed that there won’t be another Housemaid book, she’s expressed interest in film adaptations for the rest of the series.
“Oh my God, I would love that,” the author told PEOPLE when asked about the possibility of seeing her sequels on the big screen. “That would be a dream, and hopefully, you know, I know Paul Feig would do an amazing job in the sequel. He’s incredible."
The film, directed by Feig, stars Sydney Sweeney as the titular housemaid, Millie Calloway, a young woman with a troubled past who takes a live-in job with a wealthy couple. Nina and Andrew Winchester, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, seem like the perfect family, but Millie soon discovers they are hiding dark secrets.
Here’s everything to know about how to read the Housemaid series in order.
How to Read the Housemaid Series in Release Date Order
Grand Central Publishing
The Housemaid
McFadden published her three Housemaid novels before releasing a short story as a bonus chapter. Here’s how to read the series in the order it was originally released:
The Housemaid – published April 2022
The Housemaid’s Secret – published February 2023
The Housemaid Is Watching – published June 2024
The Housemaid’s Wedding – published November 2024
How to Read the Housemaid Series in Chronological OrderThe Housemaid
The first book in the series, The Housemaid, introduces readers to protagonist Millie, a young woman with a criminal past who is homeless, recently fired and in desperate need of a fresh start.
As luck would have it, she lands her dream job when she’s hired as a live-in maid for the affluent Winchester family. Nina is a glamorous but unstable housewife who initially seems charming and generous before revealing a volatile, manipulative side.
She’s married to Andrew, a handsome and successful tech mogul who appears to be a doting father to their defiant and spoiled daughter, Cecelia, and a kind and loving husband trapped in a difficult marriage.
Right away, though, things start to feel off for Millie, particularly when Enzo, the family’s mysterious landscaper, portrayed by Michele Morrone in the film, warns her that the house is dangerous.
“I’ve always been a fan of psychological thrillers, along with characters that are in psychological thrillers,” Sweeney told Good Housekeeping about the role. “It’s always interesting for the audience not to be able to trust a character. And as an actor, you have to find different levels of performance for when the character is telling the truth and when they’re not.”
The Housemaid’s Secret
Grand Central Publishing
The Housemaid's Secret
Book number two, The Housemaid's Secret, takes place four years after the events of the first book. Millie is now pursuing a degree in social work at a local community college. To make ends meet, though, she takes a part-time housekeeping job for the Garricks, a wealthy couple living in a lavish Upper West Side penthouse.
Douglas Garrick is a billionaire tech genius who hires Millie, giving her clear instructions not to disturb his wife, Wendy, who is unwell and stays hidden in a guest room. Soon, Millie begins to notice unsettling things in the Garrick home, though: bloodstains on the laundry, bruises on Wendy and the sound of crying coming from the guest room.
Suspecting abuse, Millie decides to intervene to help Wendy escape, leading to a dangerous situation and shocking twists. In addition to Millie, Enzo also returns in The Housemaid's Secret as her friend and confidant.
The Housemaid’s Wedding
Grand Central Publishing
The Housemaid's Wedding
The Housemaid's Wedding isn’t a novel, but rather a novella that was meant to bridge the gap between the events of books two and three. Although it was published last in the series, it takes place after The Housemaid’s Secret.
According to McFadden, it can either be read before or after book number three, but if you want to read the series in chronological order, it should be read here, in between the sequel and the threequel.
Described as a “winter-themed short story,” The Housemaid’s Wedding follows Millie and Enzo on their wedding day. However, what was supposed to be a joyful occasion turns into a tense thriller when she receives threatening calls from someone in her past.
The Housemaid Is Watching
Grand Central Publishing
The Housemaid Is Watching
The Housemaid series concludes with book number three, The Housemaid Is Watching. In the final installment, the story jumps forward in time about 13 years.
Now Millie and Enzo are married with two kids and moving to a new home in a quiet Long Island suburb. However, Millie is unsettled by their odd neighbors, Suzette and Jonathan Lowell, along with the Lowells' suspicious maid, Martha. After a murder occurs, Enzo becomes the prime suspect, plunging the entire family into a twisty tale.
Continuing with her theme of adding a previous character in each new Housemaid book, McFadden brings back another player from the original book: Cecilia Winchester.
In The Housemaid Is Watching, Cecilia is all grown up and working as a public defender. She reconnects with Millie and Enzo when she is assigned to his case.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
