The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

I’m kind of weird about taking book recommendations from other people. My mom has given me a couple of books that I’ve read where I just wonder “Why did she recommend this?” However, in most of those cases, it turns out that she was just giving me a book once she finished it. My sister and I tend to have fairly similar book tastes. We both loved Wild by Cheryl Strayed (an amazing book if you haven’t read it yet).

My sister recommended The Woman In The Window a few months ago. I was a bit backed up with some other books that I had to read, so she ended up getting it for my mom first. My mom ended up reading it in just a few days (#retirement). I was a bit skeptical, but I’m definitely glad that I read it.

Initial Thoughts

When I first started reading it, I was not immediately impressed. I don’t love when authors write in a way that essentially “assumes” you already know the character’s backstory. AJ Finn ended up telling the backstory through a series of flashbacks and reflections from the main character’s (Dr. Anna Fox) point of view. The first night I read the book, I made it about 50 pages in and I wasn’t enjoying the book. Everyone told me that I wouldn’t want to put it down and to be careful whenever I started reading it.

Over the next few nights (I read it in about a week), I was quickly engrossed in the novel. A lot of it deals with Anna’s battle with agoraphobia (to the extent that she does not leave the confines of her home, not even opening windows or anything) and difficulty with her family. She’s a psychologist who went through something traumatic (no #spoilers here), and helps others online battling the same agoraphobia.

Plot Twist

The Woman in the Window comes from Anna’s fascination with watching her neighbors through the window in her study in her MASSIVE home. She builds histories and conversations for them while she watches them. Then, a new family moves in “across the park” that changes everything. There’s a husband and wife, and their 16 year old son. Dr. Fox quickly becomes obsessed with the family.

That’s all I can say without giving too much away. I’m telling you that you should definitely read this book. It will be a quick read and actually keep you guessing until the very end. AJ Finn’s The Woman in the Window is a dramatic tale. Now, I would be curious to see if they turn this one into a movie because it would have so many more opportunities than The Girl on a Train.

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