Super Short Summary

In Claire Messud’s 2013 novel, The Woman Upstairs, Nora Eldridge, a middle-aged elementary school teacher, feels overlooked and relegated to a life of quiet frustration and unfulfilled ambitions. Her world changes when she becomes entangled with the glamorous Shahid family, whose allure draws her into a deep, obsessive attachment, ultimately leading to moments of passion, betrayal, and a rediscovery of her own rage.