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The Ladie Upstairs
Scullery drudge Ann longs to become a lady's maid. Ann can't quite remember how or when she arrived at the grand Ropner Hall, but she loathes spending her days toiling in the dank kitchen.
When a chance meeting with Ropner's Lady Charlotte leads to the opportunity to become her personal maid, Ann is convinced she has finally escaped her own version of hell. But has she? As Ann's new life above stairs takes a sinister twist, will it turn out that the terrors lurking there are worse than the devils she knows below?
Jessie Elland's deeply visceral debut is a dark and twisted tale of ambition and desire. Are you brave enough to enter Ropner Hall?
When a chance meeting with Ropner's Lady Charlotte leads to the opportunity to become her personal maid, Ann is convinced she has finally escaped her own version of hell. But has she? As Ann's new life above stairs takes a sinister twist, will it turn out that the terrors lurking there are worse than the devils she knows below?
Jessie Elland's deeply visceral debut is a dark and twisted tale of ambition and desire. Are you brave enough to enter Ropner Hall?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2025
65 people are currently reading
2463 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
October 22, 2024
Ooooooh wow. What a disturbingly beautiful book. There was something so unnerving about this, between Ann and Ladie and their constant commentary, this felt suffocating to read. I adored the writing, it felt like I was drowning in sentences and paragraphs full of earthly descriptions. Elland has a real talent, her writing leaps off the page, so much so I could taste the food and smell the awful scents of the house.
Around 60% in I knew something was wrong. The narration got even more unreliable and I was on the edge of my seat. The ending caught me by surprise, I couldn’t believe how clever and well written this entire novel was. I loved it, for all of its awful descriptions of the human body and sin, I couldn’t put it down. A truly devious book, this was unrelenting and thrilling to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheLadieUpstairs #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Around 60% in I knew something was wrong. The narration got even more unreliable and I was on the edge of my seat. The ending caught me by surprise, I couldn’t believe how clever and well written this entire novel was. I loved it, for all of its awful descriptions of the human body and sin, I couldn’t put it down. A truly devious book, this was unrelenting and thrilling to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheLadieUpstairs #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 31, 2025
I've been sitting with this one for a while, and I haven't gotten any more enthusiastic about it.
The cover seemed to endorse those queerbaiting Sapphic claims, so it sucked me in.
I could not be more disappointed.
'The Ladie Upstairs' is so similar to Victorian Psycho, it reads like sections of it were written in direct response to that novel. And 'Victorian Psycho' is so sublimely pitched and stupendously executed that this could only ever pale in comparison.
Ann is all painting-by-numbers psychotic. Unlike Virginia Feito's exquisite writing, the numbers show through the paint here. It reads as try-too-hard to be bad and gross, and that completely turned me off.
The cover seemed to endorse those queerbaiting Sapphic claims, so it sucked me in.
I could not be more disappointed.
'The Ladie Upstairs' is so similar to Victorian Psycho, it reads like sections of it were written in direct response to that novel. And 'Victorian Psycho' is so sublimely pitched and stupendously executed that this could only ever pale in comparison.
Ann is all painting-by-numbers psychotic. Unlike Virginia Feito's exquisite writing, the numbers show through the paint here. It reads as try-too-hard to be bad and gross, and that completely turned me off.
May 29, 2025
cw for review: mentions of bulimia/eating disorders
i didn't get this one at all. the writing was beautiful, and i get that it's supposed to be enigmatic but i didn't quite understand where the author was coming from and the plot/ending was extremely unsatisfying. i wish some aspects had been more clear cut, but i suppose that's the whole point? i just found it all very wishy-washy. this is something i find is quite common in gothic fiction though, so maybe it's just a case of me not particularly liking the genre (although i have enjoyed some gothic works in the past).
one thing i liked a lot was how ann's bulimia was written though, i'm always interested by portrayals of mental illnesses in historic times when they didn't really have names for these things and bulimia as primarily a method of self-flagellation was quite psychologically incisive.
this is a minor gripe because it's not the author's fault or anything, but it's also annoying how everyone is calling it sapphic (and how i got queerbaited by the cover) because there's nothing sapphic about this. ann has sapphic vibes when she obsesses over a female statue for a few pages but there wasn't any attraction between her and ladie whatsoever. she expresses a desire to be like ladie, and admires how pure she perceives ladie to be, but there's nothing that indicates attraction. she admires her body but again it seems more like jealousy/wanting to be like her than attraction. maybe there is subtext but subtext isn't enough to be calling this lgbtq. unless i missed something? idk.
anyway i definitely wouldn't recommend this. if you want sapphic victorians with a lady/servant dynamic, read Fingersmith. if you want sapphic horror with an enigmatic edge and beautiful writing, read Our Wives Under the Sea. if you want horror that touches on social issues and has kinda feminist vibes then read Rouge.
and if anyone reading this has (preferably queer) recs for characters wracked by sin in historical times then let me know because i love that shit but this just wasn't good. and i paid for the hardcover too :(
i didn't get this one at all. the writing was beautiful, and i get that it's supposed to be enigmatic but i didn't quite understand where the author was coming from and the plot/ending was extremely unsatisfying. i wish some aspects had been more clear cut, but i suppose that's the whole point? i just found it all very wishy-washy. this is something i find is quite common in gothic fiction though, so maybe it's just a case of me not particularly liking the genre (although i have enjoyed some gothic works in the past).
one thing i liked a lot was how ann's bulimia was written though, i'm always interested by portrayals of mental illnesses in historic times when they didn't really have names for these things and bulimia as primarily a method of self-flagellation was quite psychologically incisive.
this is a minor gripe because it's not the author's fault or anything, but it's also annoying how everyone is calling it sapphic (and how i got queerbaited by the cover) because there's nothing sapphic about this. ann has sapphic vibes when she obsesses over a female statue for a few pages but there wasn't any attraction between her and ladie whatsoever. she expresses a desire to be like ladie, and admires how pure she perceives ladie to be, but there's nothing that indicates attraction. she admires her body but again it seems more like jealousy/wanting to be like her than attraction. maybe there is subtext but subtext isn't enough to be calling this lgbtq. unless i missed something? idk.
anyway i definitely wouldn't recommend this. if you want sapphic victorians with a lady/servant dynamic, read Fingersmith. if you want sapphic horror with an enigmatic edge and beautiful writing, read Our Wives Under the Sea. if you want horror that touches on social issues and has kinda feminist vibes then read Rouge.
and if anyone reading this has (preferably queer) recs for characters wracked by sin in historical times then let me know because i love that shit but this just wasn't good. and i paid for the hardcover too :(
June 1, 2025
2.5🌟.
jessie elland had a lot of ideas in this novel. some of them worked, some of them didn't.
the first half of this book felt very slow. for a femgore book, i was expecting this to be brutal and bloody, but we had a lot of scenes where ann simply *imagined* the gory acts she wanted to commit. can a book be femgore in thought alone?
i did enjoy the writing. it can be slightly overwritten at times, burdened with a plethora of—sometimes meandering—figurative language, but i'm quite partial to purple prose, so i didn't mind this too much. i also found our main characters of ann and lady charlotte to be interesting. they are both clearly mentally unstable and that made for an interesting reading experience with unreliable narrators. unfortunately, some of the side characters felt under-utilised, and i was disappointed that they didn't seem to play as much of a role in the story as i would've hoped or expected.
ultimately, i believe this would've worked better as a novella, pruning off some of the more meandering scenes that don't contribute to the story's overall development. i personally found the very ending to be rather lacklustre. i don't mind open ended finales, but this ending just felt slightly undeveloped.
i liked some of the ideas in this book and i think the author's writing has potential, so i will likely still give her next book a try.
jessie elland had a lot of ideas in this novel. some of them worked, some of them didn't.
the first half of this book felt very slow. for a femgore book, i was expecting this to be brutal and bloody, but we had a lot of scenes where ann simply *imagined* the gory acts she wanted to commit. can a book be femgore in thought alone?
i did enjoy the writing. it can be slightly overwritten at times, burdened with a plethora of—sometimes meandering—figurative language, but i'm quite partial to purple prose, so i didn't mind this too much. i also found our main characters of ann and lady charlotte to be interesting. they are both clearly mentally unstable and that made for an interesting reading experience with unreliable narrators. unfortunately, some of the side characters felt under-utilised, and i was disappointed that they didn't seem to play as much of a role in the story as i would've hoped or expected.
ultimately, i believe this would've worked better as a novella, pruning off some of the more meandering scenes that don't contribute to the story's overall development. i personally found the very ending to be rather lacklustre. i don't mind open ended finales, but this ending just felt slightly undeveloped.
i liked some of the ideas in this book and i think the author's writing has potential, so i will likely still give her next book a try.
Want to read
October 14, 2024I can already tell that I’m going to make this book my whole personality 🥲❤️
August 13, 2025
Could not tell you a single thing about the plot or the point of this book…lots of alliteration though
November 8, 2025
Obsessive, dark and disturbing. I love femgore horror.
September 27, 2025
This is a hard one to review! I do not like horror books, I do not really vibe with lots of descriptions and almost no dialogue, I felt uncomfortable and unsettled at times, and I was not really that invested. The prose was wonderful though! And I was definitely intrigued: I was drawn to story and (surprisingly enough) the characters, and I really wanted to know what was happening. This made me fly through the book in one weekend.
I guess I was needing a good dose of fear and claustrophobia and gore! (Spoiler: no, I was not, ha.)
I really felt for Ann, Rachel, and even Charlotte. Definitely did not feel for anyone else. Or anything else.
Minus points for all the yucky bodily gore descriptors and the lack of sapphic elements (I want to say this was implied and I was sad it was not there). Also I could have done with more gothicness!
Halfway through the book I could not really see how things would continue for the last fifty percent. Things really stared moving then, thankfully.
I saw the ending coming, but I did not mind that. Still, I feel there is a part of the story still missing to finish off various plot lines and make all the various connections.
This was not my book, I was not feeling it for most of it, but the last third of the book plus the ending was satisfying, it was well-written, and I had a really fun time annotating.
EDIT: discussing the book with the author changed this into a 4 star book for me. Am also looking forward to a reread!
Read for a reading retreat with Boutique Book Breaks.
I guess I was needing a good dose of fear and claustrophobia and gore! (Spoiler: no, I was not, ha.)
I really felt for Ann, Rachel, and even Charlotte. Definitely did not feel for anyone else. Or anything else.
Minus points for all the yucky bodily gore descriptors and the lack of sapphic elements (I want to say this was implied and I was sad it was not there). Also I could have done with more gothicness!
Halfway through the book I could not really see how things would continue for the last fifty percent. Things really stared moving then, thankfully.
I saw the ending coming, but I did not mind that. Still, I feel there is a part of the story still missing to finish off various plot lines and make all the various connections.
This was not my book, I was not feeling it for most of it, but the last third of the book plus the ending was satisfying, it was well-written, and I had a really fun time annotating.
EDIT: discussing the book with the author changed this into a 4 star book for me. Am also looking forward to a reread!
Read for a reading retreat with Boutique Book Breaks.
May 9, 2025
I don’t know what just happened
Edit - 30th March ! Full review also posted on waterstones.com
What a fabulous descent into madness. The blurb doesn’t quite do the story justice, but the less context you have going into this spiral the better. Think, The Turn of the Screw meets Monster House meets The Yellow Wallpaper…?
Jessie Elland has a way with words that managed to drown the chatter inside my head, I was swept under by Ann, Ladie and Ropner’s story. The writing is so sumptuous and tangible that each sentence burrows its way under your skin. I really enjoyed how Elland managed Ann’s unbridled disgust throughout this tale. Ann holds shame and fear so close to her chest from the first page to her last, and Elland really manages to make you, the reader, understand - and sometimes even sympathise - with Ann’s complete and utter revulsion at herself, the world and people around her.
If you love historical landscape settings, visceral disgusting gore and nasty but relatable women then this is the book for you!
Thank you to Hachette UK and John Murray Press for sending me a reading copy!
Edit - 30th March ! Full review also posted on waterstones.com
What a fabulous descent into madness. The blurb doesn’t quite do the story justice, but the less context you have going into this spiral the better. Think, The Turn of the Screw meets Monster House meets The Yellow Wallpaper…?
Jessie Elland has a way with words that managed to drown the chatter inside my head, I was swept under by Ann, Ladie and Ropner’s story. The writing is so sumptuous and tangible that each sentence burrows its way under your skin. I really enjoyed how Elland managed Ann’s unbridled disgust throughout this tale. Ann holds shame and fear so close to her chest from the first page to her last, and Elland really manages to make you, the reader, understand - and sometimes even sympathise - with Ann’s complete and utter revulsion at herself, the world and people around her.
If you love historical landscape settings, visceral disgusting gore and nasty but relatable women then this is the book for you!
Thank you to Hachette UK and John Murray Press for sending me a reading copy!
December 27, 2024
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I devoured this book in one sitting. The Ladie Upstairs is visceral, sensory, and immersive; I felt as if I were right there in Ropner. It would spark an amazing book club discussion.
Every time I think I have a grasp on what might be happening, the intentionally vague narrative invites a multitude of abstract, metaphorical interpretations. I approached The Ladie Upstairs from a psychological angle, contemplating themes of delusion, fantasy, the shadow self and the repressed parts of our psyche. I loved the poetic, visual prose, and I can tell this book will stay with me for weeks to come.
I devoured this book in one sitting. The Ladie Upstairs is visceral, sensory, and immersive; I felt as if I were right there in Ropner. It would spark an amazing book club discussion.
Every time I think I have a grasp on what might be happening, the intentionally vague narrative invites a multitude of abstract, metaphorical interpretations. I approached The Ladie Upstairs from a psychological angle, contemplating themes of delusion, fantasy, the shadow self and the repressed parts of our psyche. I loved the poetic, visual prose, and I can tell this book will stay with me for weeks to come.
December 7, 2025
Ann the scullery maid becomes obsessed with the Lady upstairs.
I didn't like this at all. A fire-hose of verbiage is splattered on every page. Everything is overly described, often luridly. It wasn't scary, horrific, or uncomfortable to read, just very, very tedious. I quickly became bored as all characters are two-dimensional cardboard cutouts, and a story barely exists. Once done, it just felt like I'd wasted my time. No real story, no real characters, middling writing, no real horror, no sapphic romance, a stretch to call it historical fiction, not for me.
I didn't like this at all. A fire-hose of verbiage is splattered on every page. Everything is overly described, often luridly. It wasn't scary, horrific, or uncomfortable to read, just very, very tedious. I quickly became bored as all characters are two-dimensional cardboard cutouts, and a story barely exists. Once done, it just felt like I'd wasted my time. No real story, no real characters, middling writing, no real horror, no sapphic romance, a stretch to call it historical fiction, not for me.
May 22, 2025
Firstly, this is the *perfect* cover for this audacious and enigmatic story. Elland's writing is the star of the show: luscious, grotesque, hallucinatory, and with more than a touch of Angela Carter about it.
The story itself plays effectively with our expectations: with deceptive nods to all the 'big house' classics: to Fingersmith, to Lady Chatterley's Lover and - of course - the Brontes... and yet it remains subversive to the end.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley
The story itself plays effectively with our expectations: with deceptive nods to all the 'big house' classics: to Fingersmith, to Lady Chatterley's Lover and - of course - the Brontes... and yet it remains subversive to the end.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley
May 31, 2025
I had this book on pre-order since October last year - more out of interest than anything else. The writing, in parts, left a bitter-sweet after taste cloying at your throat. However, in other parts, the writing also perplexed me somewhat. Final sum - a somewhat successful debut novel but not my cup of tea.
May 24, 2025
” She was being half chewed and swallowed whole by this wild desperation, she was festering in the pit of its stomach, dissolving slowly in its acid. But what did she care is she was eaten to death? All that mattered was that Ladie should like her”
This is easily the most beautifully written fever dream I have ever had the pleasure of being privy to!
Reading this felt like a slow spiral descent into madness. The way Jessie Elland can keep you unbalanced, unnerved and utterly enthralled with her words, characters and sitting is second to none.
I can feel this book becoming my whole personality, and I am already a big believer of unhinged women. The femgore, Anns utter self disgust and the unsettling atmosphere of ropner is actually beautiful.
This is easily the most beautifully written fever dream I have ever had the pleasure of being privy to!
Reading this felt like a slow spiral descent into madness. The way Jessie Elland can keep you unbalanced, unnerved and utterly enthralled with her words, characters and sitting is second to none.
I can feel this book becoming my whole personality, and I am already a big believer of unhinged women. The femgore, Anns utter self disgust and the unsettling atmosphere of ropner is actually beautiful.
May 13, 2025
sick and twisted, deliciously deranged downton abbey with a fantastic amount of femgore! and the writing was so fairytale-esque! perf for mona awad fans, i loveeeed
May 21, 2025
3.5 ~ Im not sure how to feel about this. The writing was evocative (if a smidgeon overdone at times) but it felt overlong for what the plot was. I think this could have been a cracking novella. (Esp as my expectation for a novel in terms of character, narrative and payoff is much higher, and more experimental writing can be fab in a shorter form).
As advertised the book is very “dream-like” (so accurate) but almost to the point you don’t know what’s going on for 300 pages. I did feel it start to pick up in the second half but the ending didn’t work for me and I found it unsatisfying. (But I’ve always been the type of person to not enjoy too many questions being unanswered at the end).
The characters aren’t easy to connect to — and it feels almost as though the prose and the atmosphere is more important than them. Motif, theme and recurring ideas wise it was all v interesting. (Love the doubling).
But because it was so dream-like, I wasn’t asking many questions about what is going on in the house? (as I usually do with gothic novels). That made it so when I got to the end, I was very very intrigued and was enjoying what was going on. Maybe I’m just dumb but I sort of know what was going on, but not really, and for me, one of my favourite part of a gothic is the explanation of what’s been going on.
SPOILERS: I know it’s maybe a bit typical and I see why it wasn’t done, but I wanted to know what was beyond Ropner Hall, and maybe even for Ann to escape. But I understand why she doesn’t (punishment/torture). I’m just one of those readers who needs to know 80% of what’s going on. What I got from this is that the house / people in the house kinda feed off young women in the house for youth ?????? Like ok, cool idea, but I never got to sink my teeth into it, and I care more about my satisfaction as a reader than what befell Ann. (Sorry gal).
I think I would still recommend this to people — but with a full expectation what to expect! (a lot of gross imagery ❤️🐇⚰️)
books with similar vibes: the yellow wallpaper, the silent companions, fyneshade, victorian psycho (but more weirdness + dreamlike vibes)
As advertised the book is very “dream-like” (so accurate) but almost to the point you don’t know what’s going on for 300 pages. I did feel it start to pick up in the second half but the ending didn’t work for me and I found it unsatisfying. (But I’ve always been the type of person to not enjoy too many questions being unanswered at the end).
The characters aren’t easy to connect to — and it feels almost as though the prose and the atmosphere is more important than them. Motif, theme and recurring ideas wise it was all v interesting. (Love the doubling).
But because it was so dream-like, I wasn’t asking many questions about what is going on in the house? (as I usually do with gothic novels). That made it so when I got to the end, I was very very intrigued and was enjoying what was going on. Maybe I’m just dumb but I sort of know what was going on, but not really, and for me, one of my favourite part of a gothic is the explanation of what’s been going on.
SPOILERS: I know it’s maybe a bit typical and I see why it wasn’t done, but I wanted to know what was beyond Ropner Hall, and maybe even for Ann to escape. But I understand why she doesn’t (punishment/torture). I’m just one of those readers who needs to know 80% of what’s going on. What I got from this is that the house / people in the house kinda feed off young women in the house for youth ?????? Like ok, cool idea, but I never got to sink my teeth into it, and I care more about my satisfaction as a reader than what befell Ann. (Sorry gal).
I think I would still recommend this to people — but with a full expectation what to expect! (a lot of gross imagery ❤️🐇⚰️)
books with similar vibes: the yellow wallpaper, the silent companions, fyneshade, victorian psycho (but more weirdness + dreamlike vibes)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2024
This whole book was a fever dream on paper and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. It did its job it was unsettling and atmospheric but it felt too complicated, the over use of metaphors took it from intriguing and tense to confusing in certain parts and I know that you’re meant to be a little thrown off, but it was had to digest. Though as far as unreliable narrators go this is a great example.
May 28, 2025
A nightmarish hell scape of feminine desire; to be loved, to be seen, to be beautiful, to be free. But then... also not?
I thought I understood the plot, until I really didn't, but I still did. It's like being dragged through the woods in the dark by a new best friend that you don't yet entirely trust.
I thought I understood the plot, until I really didn't, but I still did. It's like being dragged through the woods in the dark by a new best friend that you don't yet entirely trust.
June 2, 2025
this is my favourite genre of fiction
June 2, 2025
The Ladie Upstairs is not a book for the faint of heart. It's dark, manic, and drenched in sensory detail—full of smells, textures, and gore that leap off the page. Reading it feels like someone is sitting on your chest and whispering feverishly in your ear; you're trapped in Ann's head, and it's a wild, suffocating ride.
The writing is visceral and relentless. You can't look away from the racing, spiraling thoughts, and the narrative keeps you gripped until the very last page. The ending is absolutely unhinged in the best way—it left me stunned, wondering what I had just experienced. I had a dozen theories throughout and genuinely enjoyed the tension of trying to piece it all together.
This book won’t be for everyone, but if you’re into body horror and don’t mind a bit of madness and blood, I highly recommend it.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
The writing is visceral and relentless. You can't look away from the racing, spiraling thoughts, and the narrative keeps you gripped until the very last page. The ending is absolutely unhinged in the best way—it left me stunned, wondering what I had just experienced. I had a dozen theories throughout and genuinely enjoyed the tension of trying to piece it all together.
This book won’t be for everyone, but if you’re into body horror and don’t mind a bit of madness and blood, I highly recommend it.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
September 3, 2025
(This book was initially provided as an arc by netgalley)
Ann may be a servant but she believes she is better than the rest and destined for greater things, the greater things that live upstairs.
The Ladie Upstairs is a story of Ann, an ambitious maid dreaming of a life beyond her days of service. The gritty life she lives is made bearable by the dreams of the upstairs, the luxurious lives led just a stones throw away. Really this is all I can say about the plot without spoiling it, imagine Downton Abbey as a psychological gore horror…you're there.
The first ⅔ of the book were enjoyable, if that's a word you can use for gore based horror, but it lost me at the end where plot seemed to be rushed and not make a whole lot of sense. The gore aspect was interesting at the start but became samey and gratuitous towards the end. Sometimes it felt like edgy for edgys sake and maybe those gross moments would have been more effective if they were fewer and far between.
Overall not a bad addition to the “weird girl” horror genre but similar stories have been done better unfortunately.
Ann may be a servant but she believes she is better than the rest and destined for greater things, the greater things that live upstairs.
The Ladie Upstairs is a story of Ann, an ambitious maid dreaming of a life beyond her days of service. The gritty life she lives is made bearable by the dreams of the upstairs, the luxurious lives led just a stones throw away. Really this is all I can say about the plot without spoiling it, imagine Downton Abbey as a psychological gore horror…you're there.
The first ⅔ of the book were enjoyable, if that's a word you can use for gore based horror, but it lost me at the end where plot seemed to be rushed and not make a whole lot of sense. The gore aspect was interesting at the start but became samey and gratuitous towards the end. Sometimes it felt like edgy for edgys sake and maybe those gross moments would have been more effective if they were fewer and far between.
Overall not a bad addition to the “weird girl” horror genre but similar stories have been done better unfortunately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2025
Wtf var detta?? Älskar böcker om besatthet och typ vidrighet! Känner lite dock att jag ej fatta slutet heheheh men mycket bra
April 21, 2025
i gotta cook on this one for a while. it feels like it was meant to be re-read, almost immediately after finishing. i did find it to have a slow first act, but once i was in, i was fucking Locked In.
fantastic femgore twisted shit!
fantastic femgore twisted shit!
June 20, 2025
The book that made me want to claw at the wallpaper!
Downton Abbey meets Lady Chatterley’s Lover – if Lady Mary went rot girl and Anna sacked off Bates to embrace feral girl summer.
The Ladie Upstairs is a fever dream on longing, obsession, and sexual tension. Think period drama but with teeth... and blood on the hemlines.
Ann, is the girl from downstairs, gripped by a hyper fixation with The Ladie Upstairs. She is absolutely unwell in the most compelling way, and perhaps a little too handy with a chamber pot!
The Ladie? She’s a high functioning depressive with secrets deeper than her silk lined knicker drawer. Gliding around the upstairs of Ropner Hall like a ghost made of velvet and nerve endings.
Ann aches to be seen.
Backstairs betrayals, fevered glances, the occasional foul thing fermenting in the chamber pot, and whatever the old crone has cooked up and they’ve spat in, all wrapped up in a fuzzy lace bow ready for a glorious slow burn unravelling.
If you’re looking for corsets and candelight, prepare to be shocked because you’ll be waist deep in gaslight and girl rage before you know it. Jessie Elland has delivered rot-coded historical fiction with unhinged women spiralling in taffeta, and I am here for it.
If Ann had her own soundtrack, it would be No Light, No Light by Florence + the Machine. This is rot core meets corset chaos – 5 stars
Downton Abbey meets Lady Chatterley’s Lover – if Lady Mary went rot girl and Anna sacked off Bates to embrace feral girl summer.
The Ladie Upstairs is a fever dream on longing, obsession, and sexual tension. Think period drama but with teeth... and blood on the hemlines.
Ann, is the girl from downstairs, gripped by a hyper fixation with The Ladie Upstairs. She is absolutely unwell in the most compelling way, and perhaps a little too handy with a chamber pot!
The Ladie? She’s a high functioning depressive with secrets deeper than her silk lined knicker drawer. Gliding around the upstairs of Ropner Hall like a ghost made of velvet and nerve endings.
Ann aches to be seen.
Backstairs betrayals, fevered glances, the occasional foul thing fermenting in the chamber pot, and whatever the old crone has cooked up and they’ve spat in, all wrapped up in a fuzzy lace bow ready for a glorious slow burn unravelling.
If you’re looking for corsets and candelight, prepare to be shocked because you’ll be waist deep in gaslight and girl rage before you know it. Jessie Elland has delivered rot-coded historical fiction with unhinged women spiralling in taffeta, and I am here for it.
If Ann had her own soundtrack, it would be No Light, No Light by Florence + the Machine. This is rot core meets corset chaos – 5 stars
October 29, 2024
Jessie Elland’s ‘The Ladie Upstairs’ was truly promising to me. However, despite its vivid descriptions (which it frequently got lost in), I found myself sadly disappointed. The author has inserted herself too much into this story—which isn’t at all coherent. There is no linear story, rather bits and pieces of framework. The writing shows promise, but even as someone who adores imagery, the balance was way off. If you are going to write a poetic novel, there needs to be a frequent switch between simple and complex sentences; otherwise you may as well have written a long poem.
The occasional vulgarity felt out of place, often feeling like gleaming errors. Another issue ‘The Ladie Upstairs’ suffers is the stilted nature of telling v. showing. The author seems distrustful of the reader’s subjective conclusions. Though I’m not sure what the intention was with this novel as there is a lack of storyline. Thus the characters were inevitably flattened, soon becoming ghosts of people.
The setting itself could do with more development. I can see the passion the author has for this place, but I cannot share in it due to the lack of concrete detail. Jessie Elland has inserted herself so firmly that it is hard to penetrate the narrative. I almost feel this would have worked better as a series of vignettes.
Additionally, this book is falsely advertised. I almost didn’t pick it up because I thought it was a Bridgerton-esque novel, but it really isn’t. The front cover is very misleading.
The positives of ‘The Ladie Upstairs’ are the promise of an eventual great writer and a promising voice. Further down the line I can envision Elland producing interesting work, and despite my disappointment here, I will look out for them.
The occasional vulgarity felt out of place, often feeling like gleaming errors. Another issue ‘The Ladie Upstairs’ suffers is the stilted nature of telling v. showing. The author seems distrustful of the reader’s subjective conclusions. Though I’m not sure what the intention was with this novel as there is a lack of storyline. Thus the characters were inevitably flattened, soon becoming ghosts of people.
The setting itself could do with more development. I can see the passion the author has for this place, but I cannot share in it due to the lack of concrete detail. Jessie Elland has inserted herself so firmly that it is hard to penetrate the narrative. I almost feel this would have worked better as a series of vignettes.
Additionally, this book is falsely advertised. I almost didn’t pick it up because I thought it was a Bridgerton-esque novel, but it really isn’t. The front cover is very misleading.
The positives of ‘The Ladie Upstairs’ are the promise of an eventual great writer and a promising voice. Further down the line I can envision Elland producing interesting work, and despite my disappointment here, I will look out for them.
August 24, 2025
I don’t know if I missed something but I really don’t understand this book, nothing against the author because her writing is simply beautiful but maybe the book just wasn’t for me
July 10, 2025
A strong debut that shows just how much potential Elland has and how unique her voice is.
Scullery drudge Ann longs to become a lady's maid. She can't quite remember how or when she arrived at the grand Ropner Hall, but she loathes spending her days toiling in the dank kitchen.
Lady Charlotte wishes to escape the confines of Ropner, penetrate its woodland borders, but she is cursed with a sickness that has her thinking the paintings are alive and following her every step.
This book is a fever dream. A descent into madness. A dark and twisted tale of desire to rise above one's station. Ann is ambitious and judgemental and will do whatever it takes to drag herself from the bowels of hell and the disgusting, sinful servants quarters, up and into the light.
As much as I enjoyed this book, it became very dense, with a confusing, unweildly plot from about the 50% mark.
Elland's writing is heavy with descriptive, and after a while, it's simply too much. Like feasting on rich food, it soon becomes sickly, and you're unable to consume anymore. Basically, I was struggling to pay attention.
I also didn't really understand the what the hell happened after our two female protagonist's confrontation in the woods. I have theories, but am also second guessing whether I'm just being very stupid.
Is this supposed to be like Turn of the Screw? Are they in purgatory? Hell? Is the house a malevolent being chomping on the youthful souls of young women, or are they all mad? Is Ann Ann and Charlotte Charlotte? Is any of this real? Are we in a time loop?
While I like an ambiguous ending, I felt this was actually just too many ideas smooshed together into one book. I think it would have benefitted from Elland showing a little more restraint personally.
Saying that, I absolutely will be picking up her next release.
*final note*
I saw nothing to suggest this book was sapphic before picking it up, so I don't know how some reviewers felt cheated by the fact it isn't.
Scullery drudge Ann longs to become a lady's maid. She can't quite remember how or when she arrived at the grand Ropner Hall, but she loathes spending her days toiling in the dank kitchen.
Lady Charlotte wishes to escape the confines of Ropner, penetrate its woodland borders, but she is cursed with a sickness that has her thinking the paintings are alive and following her every step.
This book is a fever dream. A descent into madness. A dark and twisted tale of desire to rise above one's station. Ann is ambitious and judgemental and will do whatever it takes to drag herself from the bowels of hell and the disgusting, sinful servants quarters, up and into the light.
As much as I enjoyed this book, it became very dense, with a confusing, unweildly plot from about the 50% mark.
Elland's writing is heavy with descriptive, and after a while, it's simply too much. Like feasting on rich food, it soon becomes sickly, and you're unable to consume anymore. Basically, I was struggling to pay attention.
I also didn't really understand the what the hell happened after our two female protagonist's confrontation in the woods. I have theories, but am also second guessing whether I'm just being very stupid.
Is this supposed to be like Turn of the Screw? Are they in purgatory? Hell? Is the house a malevolent being chomping on the youthful souls of young women, or are they all mad? Is Ann Ann and Charlotte Charlotte? Is any of this real? Are we in a time loop?
While I like an ambiguous ending, I felt this was actually just too many ideas smooshed together into one book. I think it would have benefitted from Elland showing a little more restraint personally.
Saying that, I absolutely will be picking up her next release.
*final note*
I saw nothing to suggest this book was sapphic before picking it up, so I don't know how some reviewers felt cheated by the fact it isn't.
January 31, 2025
Ann is a scullery maid with dreams above her station. With a violently black and white outlook on the world, she associates the ethereal beauty of the house's mistress - the titular Ladie Upstairs - with goodness, cleanliness and Godliness. The Ladie stands in sharp contrast to the vulgar, bestial serving class that populates Ann's world. Like a fairytale princess unjustly swapped at birth, Ann knows in her soul that she is above the drudgery of this life. A chance encounter opens the door for her to be elevated upstairs, closer to her true station, closer to her Ladie. But rot has permeated all levels of Ropner Hall.
Despite having some great scenes, overall, this wasn't really for me. I think it could be super popular with Mona Awad/Eric LaRocca fans. In the opulent world of Ropner, Ann's distorted thinking twists food into grotesqueries; purging and restriction become synonymous with saintliness. The writing luxuriates in Ann's disgust for everything of the body. The descriptions became so dense, though, and came so often, I found myself skimming more and more as the book went on. I found the intentional awfulness lost a lot of its impact through excessive repetition.
I agree with other reviews that given how amorphous (non-existent?) the plot is, it's difficult to see what the scenes of sexual assault add.
Despite having some great scenes, overall, this wasn't really for me. I think it could be super popular with Mona Awad/Eric LaRocca fans. In the opulent world of Ropner, Ann's distorted thinking twists food into grotesqueries; purging and restriction become synonymous with saintliness. The writing luxuriates in Ann's disgust for everything of the body. The descriptions became so dense, though, and came so often, I found myself skimming more and more as the book went on. I found the intentional awfulness lost a lot of its impact through excessive repetition.
I agree with other reviews that given how amorphous (non-existent?) the plot is, it's difficult to see what the scenes of sexual assault add.
August 23, 2025
I truly believe The Ladie Upstairs has been severely underrated within the genre (though horror, historical fiction or fantasy doesn't quite capture it). Don't go into this book expecting it to neatly fit into popular social media genre tropes, it is a narrative unto its own that is best experienced with no prior expectations, and seen through to the end.
The Ladie Upstairs deals heavily with obsession, class and autonomy through the medium of a scullery maid descending into her own increasingly mad interior monologue, at odds with the docile exterior she presents to the other occupants of the estate. I found Ann to be such a strangely sympathetic protagonist, much more complex than the typical jealous maid archetype often seen in upstairs/downstairs type stories.
Without wanting to spoil anything, I had correct theories about the way in which I thought the plot might unravel throughout reading, though was still surprised by the exact way in which Elland chose to reveal this information. If I knew someone else that had read it, I imagine there would be a great conversation to be had about the different ways in which the ending could be interpreted. I'm looking forward to eventually re-reading and perceiving things slightly differently with the knowledge of having already experienced this delightfully mad and gothic plot unfold.
The Ladie Upstairs deals heavily with obsession, class and autonomy through the medium of a scullery maid descending into her own increasingly mad interior monologue, at odds with the docile exterior she presents to the other occupants of the estate. I found Ann to be such a strangely sympathetic protagonist, much more complex than the typical jealous maid archetype often seen in upstairs/downstairs type stories.
Without wanting to spoil anything, I had correct theories about the way in which I thought the plot might unravel throughout reading, though was still surprised by the exact way in which Elland chose to reveal this information. If I knew someone else that had read it, I imagine there would be a great conversation to be had about the different ways in which the ending could be interpreted. I'm looking forward to eventually re-reading and perceiving things slightly differently with the knowledge of having already experienced this delightfully mad and gothic plot unfold.
July 29, 2025
The Ladie Upstairs had an intriguing concept that initially drew me in, but overall, it did not quite live up to my expectations. While there were some strong moments throughout, I found it difficult to fully connect with the characters, and the pacing felt uneven in places. At times, the plot lost momentum, and I struggled to stay fully engaged.
That said, Jessie Elland clearly has talent. There were flashes of sharp observation and emotional depth that suggest real promise in her writing. Her style is distinctive, and I appreciated her willingness to explore complex themes. Though this particular book did not resonate with me as strongly as I had hoped, I believe she is a writer to watch.
I am looking forward to seeing how her work evolves with future novels. I suspect we will see some exciting growth as she continues to develop her voice and storytelling craft.
That said, Jessie Elland clearly has talent. There were flashes of sharp observation and emotional depth that suggest real promise in her writing. Her style is distinctive, and I appreciated her willingness to explore complex themes. Though this particular book did not resonate with me as strongly as I had hoped, I believe she is a writer to watch.
I am looking forward to seeing how her work evolves with future novels. I suspect we will see some exciting growth as she continues to develop her voice and storytelling craft.
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