History of The Housemaid (novel) in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 31, 2025

In "The Housemaid" by Freida McFadden, Millie, a young woman with a troubled past, takes a live-in housemaid position for the wealthy Winchester family. Nina Winchester is erratic and emotionally abusive, while her husband Andrew seems oblivious. Millie initially struggles with Nina's bizarre demands and attempts to sabotage her. As the story unfolds, Millie uncovers dark secrets within the family and realizes that nothing is as it seems. The plot thickens with twists and turns, revealing hidden agendas and unexpected alliances. Ultimately, Millie must fight to protect herself as she becomes entangled in the Winchesters' dangerous game, revealing her own carefully concealed secrets in the process. The novel explores themes of deception, manipulation, and the complexities of family dynamics.

April 2022: Publication by Bookouture

In April 2022, Bookouture published "The Housemaid" after Freida McFadden decided to give it to them for publication and promotion on their mailing list. This marked the initial release of the novel.

July 2022: Film Rights Acquired

In July 2022, the film rights for "The Housemaid" were acquired by Todd Lieberman's Hidden Pictures in partnership with Lionsgate, marking the beginning of the novel's adaptation into a film.

August 23, 2022: Paperback Publication by Grand Central Publishing

On August 23, 2022, Grand Central Publishing published "The Housemaid" in paperback. This followed the book's initial success and McFadden's decision to seek a print publisher.

February 2023: Bookouture published sequel The Housemaid's Secret

In February 2023, Bookouture published a sequel novel, "The Housemaid's Secret", which expanded the universe of the book.

April 2023: Rebecca Sonnenshine to adapt the screenplay

In April 2023, Rebecca Sonnenshine was announced to adapt the screenplay, marking a key step in its transition to film.

June 2024: Publication of The Housemaid Is Watching

In June 2024, "The Housemaid Is Watching", the third book in the series, was published, expanding the fictional universe.

June 2024: The New York Times reports on the book's success

In June 2024, The New York Times reported that "The Housemaid" sold more than two million copies, had been on Amazon's best-seller list for 83 weeks, and had spent 60 weeks on The New York Times trade paperback best-seller list, and that the novel's success also caused a surge in popularity for McFadden's earlier novels.

October 2024: Paul Feig to direct with cast of Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried

In October 2024, Paul Feig was announced to direct the film adaptation of "The Housemaid" with Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried cast as Millie and Nina, respectively. Brandon Sklenar joined the cast as Andrew later that same month.

October 2024: The Washington Post reports on book sales

In October 2024, The Washington Post reported that "The Housemaid" sold around 1.6 million print copies.

2024: Bestselling novel in France

In 2024, "The Housemaid" sold more than 630,000 copies in France, according to GfK, and was the best-selling novel of the year. It received mixed reviews from L'Express and Libération.