Lady Tremaine

One thing I really liked about Lady Tremaine was how human Rachel Hochhauser makes these characters feel. Going in, I expected a clever Cinderella retelling. But this book is much more about survival and the complicated relationships between women living under impossible expectations. Lady Tremaine herself isn't written as a villain at all. She's sharp, exhausted, and honestly doing the best she can while trying to hold her family together.

I also very much enjoyed the family relationships in the story. Ethel and her stepdaughter Elin have a frustrating but realistic relationship. I loved that none of the characters are completely good or bad, which makes them more believable and less fairy-tale-ish. Another aspect of the book that I appreciated was that it also shows women making difficult choices in a world where marriage and social status matter for survival.

I should also say something about Elin's character. What makes this retelling especially interesting is that Elin feels almost like the opposite of the endlessly patient Cinderella we grew up with in the Disney version. In this version, she's stubborn and just trying to survive, which honestly makes her reactions feel far more believable to me; however, it's a bit overdone at times. But, to be clear, my heart is still firmly grounded in the original Cinderella.

The plot stalls a bit at times, but the writing is sharp and totally engaging. What really makes it perfect for book clubs is the conversation it opens up: about the women we've been conditioned to write off as villains, and why we're always so quick to do it. If you like character-driven historical fiction with emotional depth, complex women, and a fresh take on a familiar story, you should read this book.ok.