The Sublet by Greer Hendricks

In her standalone novella “The Sublet,” Greer Hendricks crafts a taut psychological thriller that explores the dangerous allure of aspirational living and the dark underbelly of wellness culture. Known for co-authoring bestsellers like “The Wife Between Us” and “The Golden Couple” with Sarah Pekkanen, Hendricks demonstrates her singular voice is equally compelling, delivering a story that feels both intensely claustrophobic and eerily relevant.

This short but potent tale follows Anne, a ghostwriter and frustrated novelist juggling nine-year-old twins, a stagnant marriage, and dwindling bank account from a cramped Manhattan apartment. When she lands self-help guru Melody Wells as a client, Anne sees a path toward financial stability. But as Melody dangles the promise of a spacious three-bedroom sublet with East River views—seemingly too good to be true—Anne finds herself entangled in a web of deception where nothing, not even the apartment’s history, is as it appears.

Wellness Culture Turned Toxic

What makes “The Sublet” particularly effective is how Greer Hendricks transforms contemporary wellness culture into something sinister. Melody Wells, with her lavender-themed branding and vague affirmations, initially seems merely shallow—another social media guru selling empty promises. As Anne notes:

“I liken my technique to a method actor preparing for a role…I’m discovering that it’s more than simply what she says that resonates with her followers; it’s the way she says it.”

But as the story progresses, this veneer of wellness becomes increasingly menacing. Melody’s supplements, her insistence on Anne wearing exercise clothes to meetings, and her intrusive involvement in Anne’s housing situation all hint at the control she exerts on those in her orbit. Hendricks masterfully builds tension through small, unsettling incidents that accumulate until Anne—and the reader—can no longer ignore them.

Architectural Anxiety

The apartment itself becomes a character in the narrative—initially a sanctuary but gradually revealing itself as a prison. Hendricks excels at using physical spaces to reflect psychological states. The mysterious locked closet, the wall marred with claw marks, and the balcony where Anne witnesses a hawk killing a pigeon all serve as metaphors for Anne’s growing unease.

The descriptive language creates a vivid sensory experience:

“The view is spectacular. A seagull swoops past in the cloudless blue sky and the water below sparkles as a powerboat cruises along, leaving a foamy trail in its wake…I don’t just feel like I’m in a different apartment; I feel like I’m in another city.”

This idyllic setting makes the gradual uncovering of the apartment’s dark history all the more disturbing, asking readers to consider what price we’re willing to pay for the appearance of success.

Narrative Strengths and Shortcomings

What Works Brilliantly

• Pacing: The story moves with incredible momentum, particularly in the final act when Anne confronts Melody at her Connecticut home.
• Sensory detail: Hendricks fills the narrative with vivid sensory information, from the “sweet and woodsy” scent of Melody to the “boiled grass” taste of green tea.
• Psychological complexity: Anne’s growing paranoia is depicted with nuance, making readers question whether the danger is real or imagined until the shocking revelation.
• Thematic resonance: The exploration of impostor syndrome, the pressure on working mothers, and the exploitative nature of wellness culture all resonate deeply.

Where It Falls Short

• Character development: While Anne is well-drawn, supporting characters like Paul (Anne’s husband) remain somewhat flat, functioning more as plot devices than fully realized people.
• Condensed timeline: The novella format necessitates a compressed narrative that occasionally feels rushed, particularly in the final confrontation and resolution.
• Convenient coincidences: Some plot developments rely on coincidence and luck rather than character agency, particularly Anne’s discovery of Holly’s fate.
• Underdeveloped subplot: Anne’s pregnancy reveal feels somewhat tacked on rather than integrated meaningfully into the narrative.

Signature Style

Hendricks’s prose is crisp and efficient, driving the narrative forward while allowing for moments of beautiful description. Her background as a former editor at Simon & Schuster is evident in her disciplined approach to storytelling—nothing feels extraneous, and each detail serves the plot or character development.

One of her strengths is creating mundane moments that suddenly shift into menace:

“In the rearview mirror, a dark vehicle approaches…The dark car whips by, and the woman on the passenger side glares at me and shakes her head. I realize I’m driving 25 in a 45-mph zone. My eyes prick with tears and the road before me blurs, so I jerk the car off to the shoulder.”

This ability to imbue everyday situations with dread creates a reading experience where tension builds incrementally until it becomes almost unbearable.

Reflections on Truth and Deception

At its core, “The Sublet” explores how easily we can be manipulated when what we’re being sold aligns with our deepest desires. Anne doesn’t simply want a bigger apartment—she wants a different life, one where she has time to write her novel, where her marriage is passionate, and where she feels in control.

Melody recognizes and exploits this vulnerability, using Anne’s aspirations against her. The novella raises uncomfortable questions about authenticity in an age of carefully curated social media personas:

“I feel a sense of déjà vu that makes me shiver involuntarily. A chill radiates through my limbs…It’s clear I need to do more than simply channel Melody—I need to let down all my guards and become her.”

This blurring of identity between Anne and Melody (and eventually Holly) creates an unsettling meditation on how easily we can lose ourselves when trying to become someone else.

Final Assessment

“The Sublet” by Greer Hendricks is a thrilling read for its atmospheric tension, psychological insight, and cultural relevance. While it occasionally suffers from the constraints of the novella format, Hendricks delivers a compelling tale that will resonate with anyone who has ever aspired to a life just beyond their reach.

This short but impactful story showcases Hendricks’s ability to craft psychological suspense that feels both timely and timeless. Fans of her co-authored work will recognize her keen eye for the fracture points in contemporary relationships, while new readers will find an accessible entry point to her storytelling.

For Fans Of:

• “The Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn
• “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides
• “The Last Mrs. Parrish” by Liv Constantine
• “Sometimes I Lie” by Alice Feeney

The Author’s Journey

After co-authoring multiple New York Times bestsellers with Sarah Pekkanen, Hendricks has been gradually establishing her independent voice. Beginning with her solo short story “A Show of Faith” in 2023, “The Sublet” represents another step in her evolution as a writer capable of delivering complex psychological suspense in her own distinctive style.

With its examination of impostor syndrome, toxic positivity, and the dark side of aspirational living, “The Sublet” confirms Greer Hendricks as a writer who understands our contemporary anxieties and knows exactly how to transform them into compelling fiction. This concise thriller proves that sometimes the most disturbing stories are the ones that feel closest to home.