Ottessa Moshfegh's Eileen offers a dark, compelling narrative filled with complex characters and a chilling plot. Reviewers praise Moshfegh's sharp prose and psychological depth, but some find the pacing slow and the protagonist difficult to empathize with. Overall, it's a gripping yet disturbing read that leaves a lasting impact.

Readers who enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with complex, flawed characters would find Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh compelling. Fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle will appreciate the novel's unsettling atmosphere and exploration of the human psyche.

Eileen, set in 1964, follows 24-year-old Eileen, who plans to escape her grim life in X-ville, New England, for New York City. She works as a secretary at a juvenile penitentiary and cares for her alcoholic father. Eileen becomes infatuated with her new co-worker Rebecca, leading to a series of unsettling events that culminate in a decision that drives Eileen toward her desperate escape. Topics of suicide and child abuse are presented.

Dark / Unnerving / Mysterious / Melancholic / Gritty

- Eileen was Ottessa Moshfegh's debut novel, and it was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize in 2016.
- Moshfegh wrote Eileen during a time when she was experimenting with her writing process, including using a guidebook for writing a novel in 90 days.
- The novel delves into themes of identity and self-perception, reflecting Moshfegh's interest in understanding the complexities of human nature.

**Eileen Dunlop**  
A twenty-four-year-old secretary living in X-ville, Eileen is depressed and dissatisfied with her life, caring for her alcoholic father and working at a juvenile penitentiary, while fantasizing about a new life in New York City.

**Rebecca**  
A recent Harvard graduate and the new head of education at Moorehead, Rebecca is seen by Eileen as beautiful, confident, and independent; she plays a significant role in motivating Eileen to pursue her own ambitions.

**Eileen's Father**  
An ex-police officer struggling with alcohol addiction, he is verbally abusive towards Eileen and represents a source of rigid structure and unhappiness in her life.

**Eileen's Mother**  
Recently deceased, she suffered from a painful illness and had an alcohol addiction; she was nonreligious and critical of Eileen's appearance.

**Joanie**  
Eileen's sister, who lives independently with her boyfriend and represents a life of relative freedom compared to Eileen's constrained existence.

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