A shorter novel by Freida Mcfadden but still just as twisty and very easy to read in one sitting. The multiple POV chapters left me guessing right to the end and I could have never predicted the ending.

[2⭐️]

Received this as an arc from Netgalley, in preparation for its rerelease.

I will be honest. This was bad. The writing, the plot, the setting and the characters were all bad.

Firstly, the writing was not convincing. Considering the characters are lost in the woods and one by one they go missing, i wasn’t at all scared or on the edge of my seat. Descriptive writing? There was none. I few comments about claw marks and broken branches evoke no fear or anything even similar. Not to mention, the writing is extremely repetitive. If i had to hear about how handsome Warner was one more time…

The plot is just silly and unrealistic. These group of people do not like each other, they would not go on a group trip together - simple as. The plot/characters are just so inconsistent and BORING. I did not care for any of the characters, didn’t feel sad on their behalf, or offended or even anything. Claire’s POV is so repetitive, i get it you miss your children. Anonymous’ POV doesn’t make me feel sorry for the child due to the bad writing. The only
positive is that i didn’t guess who the murderer/anon was but i was so disinterested that i wasn’t surprised or shocked.

I feel bad giving such an in-depth negative review but honesty is the best policy…

A big thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This story opens with Claire Matchette, a special education teacher, wondering when her marriage and her love for her husband started to unravel. In the everyday tasks of folding laundry, taking care of children, and balancing a career where did this loathsome feeling come from? From her perspective, he feels the same way. On the verge of leaving for a week's get away with four of their friends to a remote resort, we find out just how much Claire has started to resent her husband with how trapped she feels.

That feeling of entrapment continues disaster sneaks up in quick progression as the group finds themselves stuck in the remote woods. As group whittles down one by one, mistrust deepens, and sinister motivations fly. Reminiscent of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie this one keeps the reader on the edge of their seat wondering who might be next and who or what is the threatening presence that follows their every move. This is told from two points of view: Claire's and a person who is anonymous. While we have the current storyline, there is also a back story from an anonymous POV which provides the context and psyche of who they have become. Needless to say, Claire might not know her friends as much as she thought.

While this was a quick read, it did border a bit on the far-fetched end scale of things for me. That might speak to me about my preferences as a reader. I like it to be smart and to make sense and the making sense piece was what I missed at times. Was it entertaining - yes! I loved how this story began, because the inner monologue of Claire about her spouse and expectations from knowing someone for a decade or more was insightful and fascinating. I rate this one a 3.5 stars.

This book was awesome! It’s a thriller that had me all over the place. At first it starts out really calm and of course there’s couple conflict but it gets crazy real fast! It’s a page turner!

Woo! Talk about a prologue. That one definitely got my attention. 🫣

This book was eerie and creepy and uncomfortable and my worst nightmare - getting lost in the woods!

Ruth Ware nailed it. All the twists and turns and revelations and crazy just made this one so good!

I say it’s definitely worth a read if you like mysteries and thrillers!

Yooooo a new favorite thriller! Will for sure be recommending this one to friends. I did not guess even ONE of the plot twists. Obsessed.

Are your friends who they say they are?

Wowwww Frieda this one read like a movie going on in my head. Something sorta like “Cabin In the Woods”.

I enjoyed this story but i hated how Claire was so unsure the entire time, but that plays a big part in her character.

Really enjoyed this one a lot!!

Believe it or not, this was my first Freida book. What a ride! A group plans a trip and break down in the woods. One by one, members of their groups start to die. Who is doing this and who will make it out alive?

OMG!! It never is who you think it will be! There were so many secrets in this one and so much drama. I am usually a romance genre reader and I enjoy mystery and thriller books when I need a break from romance. This book was a quick and enjoyable read that kept me on my toes. The end was a twist I didn't see coming and I am now working my way through Freida's backlist.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hollywood Upstairs Press for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

This book turned me into a detective so fast!
Freida is without a doubt my favorite thriller author and this book just proved more to that fact.
From the very start, I was absolutely hooked! The storyline was super fun & spooky and I really enjoyed the diverse characters! I was 15% in and had already gasped!
Freida is just so good at making you think one thing while a completely different thing is happening. I had so many thoughts and theories that I literally wrote them down to see if I could narrow down my suspects lol. I was so invested in this thriller and it was so fast paced. I finished this book in two sittings and the ending? I felt proud because I put one piece in the right spot, but as per usual with Freida, there were more puzzle pieces than the one in my hand. What a plot twist!
So fun like always! Forever recommending Freida!

McFadden is queen of the outrageous but still somehow plausible ending twist. as I’ve said before reviewing her books, sometimes the endings can be quite far-fetched and how the plot comes together pretty unlikely, but for some reason, most of the time they work for me. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with this one.

The set up features a bunch of classic murder-mystery tropes that I love: isolation, a group of friends with secrets and tension between them, betrayal, drama. I couldn’t put down most of this book. I did struggle to like any of the characters, which I think ultimately contributed to my apathy towards the ending.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I've read many Freida McFadden novels and they all have this magical way of drawing me in and before I know it, I've read half of the book.
But what is also becoming a repetitive factor, is that the female MCs always believe they are "silly" or less than. They brush off their beliefs because their partners beliefs differ. In some instances playing into the stereotype adds to the mystery. But for the most part, its frustrating and a little dated.

That being said, McFadden never fails to create a plot twist in the last 40 pages. Absolutely out of pocket, unpredictable plot twists. I'm always terrified when there hasn't been a twist early in the book because anything could happen.

Another easy to read, psychologically thrilling read from the author.

One by one is a psychological thriller which sees 6 people start the trip and only 2 make it back. It’s a fun thriller with an interesting plot twist that I couldn’t put down.

Wow! Freida McFadden knows how to write a thriller! You do need to suspend reality a bit to get totally into the story, which is why I am not giving it the highest rating. People Lost in the woods with no way to communicate with the outside world is horror story fodder, but the way they arrived at that point is what left me with many questions. No matter, the action is enthralling and the twist at the end is worth the read. I also like that the end of the story gives some of the control back to the villain. Awesome!

Freda is always a great author I turn to when I need to get out of a reading slump! Immediately hooked, I was intrigued by this plot and couldn’t put down once I started. Of course Freda weaves in a domestic/family drama into the wild and intense plot to up the ante even more. Loved this read - thank you for the copy!

This book had me in an absolute choke hold for a majority of my read. It had one of my favorite settings ever, deep in the wilderness that just adds so much eeriness. Then people started dropping dead like flies and my eyes couldn't read this book fast enough. In true Freida McFadden fashion the very beginning of the book grips you in and then there's twist after twist after twist until the grand finale of twists at the end. I don't know how she comes up with the ideas for these books or how she can scramble my brain so hard with plot twists but she has very quickly became one of my favorite thriller authors. All hail the queen of twists.

I love Freida McFadden, but this wasn't my favorite novel. It seemed too fast, the characters were underdeveloped and unlikable. The entire story seemed unrealistic and a bit far-fetched. I will always read this author, but this book may have missed the mark.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book.

Im typically a huge Freida McFadden fan but this one fell short for me. I didn’t like any of the characters, the book was super repetitive, and there was a lack of details. Did I guess the plot twist? Not entirely. Was I surprised at the plot twist? Not entirely. Very quick and easy read. Not sure I would recommend.

Wow, just wow. This one was a treat, and it was surely tough to put down and come back to! I thought I had this one figured out shortly into the book, but boy was I all wrong! This was a fast and easy read.

A group of 6 friends heads out on vacation, and little do some of them know just what is planned for this vacation. Claire is the main character, and she is having a rough go of things with her husband Noah. She is thinking that by the time they return from the trip that they will be coming back to finalize a divorce and determine how to move forward separately. Jack is Noah's long time best friend, and his wife Michelle that the other girls aren't a huge fan of, are also on this trip. And lastly, Lindsey, Claire's best friend and her new boyfriend Warner are the last couple along for the trip. The drive is a bit rough with Claire and Noah not getting along, and then, Claire's van breaks down. From there, the twists and turns begin.

Get ready for a wild ride!

I hardly ever find myself finishing a book in one sitting these days, but 'One by One' by Frieda McFadden was an exception – I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN! The fast-paced narrative and short chapters had me on the edge of my seat, eager to uncover the next twist in the plot. While I did manage to guess one of the surprises (I was actively searching for it), and it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. McFadden's thriller is perfect for fans of the genre, with its gripping storyline, well-developed characters, and atmospheric setting. If you love a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, 'One by One' is a must-read."

This book is a fast paged thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end! Everyone has secrets and motive but the ending will leave you shocked!