This was good but not the best Freida book I’ve read. It seemed to move slower than others but still kept me somewhat engaged. There is definitely an unreliable narrator at work here but it was slightly predictable. All in all it was a quick read with a twist at the end.

First I would like to thank Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Frieda for an ARC copy.
While I love most Frieda books I have read, this one wasn't it. I did not care for this book. It seemed to drag on and the main character annoyed me. I did not like the way she thought about her husband or other characters in this book. The plot was okay, but not enough mystery. I do not want to be very negative so I will leave it at that.

This was a fun one! Quick read that I had a hard time putting down. I did guess who was anonymous pretty early on in the book but was still tripped up a bit at the end with the twist. This book read like a typical horror film and I loved.

"One By One" by Freida Mcfadden is a truly unique thriller that will leave you astonished and pondering. Despite being a short read, the plot twists were fantastic and completely unexpected, keeping me hooked.

Unlike Freida's other books, I didn't find a particular pairing in this one. Nevertheless, I appreciated the overall outcome and wonder if a sequel could address the justice aspect.

Why the 4-star rating? Well, I was hoping for more. It felt somewhat like a cliffhanger, and the 294 pages left me with unanswered questions, sparking my curiosity even further. Despite this, the book is definitely worth reading.

Everyone and their sister have been telling me I need to try Freida McFadden's books. When the opportunity arose to read One by One, I jumped on it. I didn't realize at the time that this book is being rereleased and was originally published in 2020. I was a little worried that maybe One by One wouldn't stand up to the hype McFadden's newer books get, but I enjoyed reading it. Here my impressions of the book without anything away.

Initial Impressions:
McFadden's writing immediately sucked me in with its fast pace and intriguing characters. I can't say I loved the characters because none of them seemed like good people, but they were interesting. Claire, the narrator of the story, did things I didn't approve of but were understandable even when I didn't like her choices. The second narrator, Anonymous, had me curious about who they were. I liked what having Anonymous as a narrator did for the story.

Halfway Thoughts:
I could not go on a road trip or venture off into the woods with any of these people...
Claire: She is unhappy in her marriage but going about things all wrong. She also should have listened to her daughter. 
Noah: I would have left you a long time ago. 
Linsday: I'm legitimately worried about your self-esteem and who you pick to date.
Warner: You're the type of guy everyone follows on Instagram, but think is a tool.
Jack: Traitor. 
Michelle: Workaholic.
Anonymous: TELL ME MORE!

Final Reaction:
That didn't end how I was expecting at all. I should have figured out who Anonymous was, but I was so into what was going on in the story that I didn't even think about it much. I guess I was enjoying the ride. Overall, this was a fun thriller if you're looking for a quick, fast paced read. I can't wait to explore more of McFadden's books.

One By One was a true, old-fashioned, who-dun-it. Or, who-is-doing-it. Six people, three couples, are ready to go on a get away in the mountains. They appear to each other like happy couples, but not a one is. The reader see most of the events through the eyes of Claire. She hates her husband but she is by far the only one with secrets. The story is peppered with the memories of one character left unidentified. The reader has to guess who the abused child grew up to be.

There was not a lot of depth to any of the chracters but there was enough action and tension to make up for it. One by one, they begin to die or disappear. Is this just the rough wilderness they aren’t prepared for? A wild animal? A monster? A stranger? Or one of them? This was a great read as I stayed in from the snow. Fast-paced and slightly twisted.

I am a huge Freida fan, but this one wasn't my favorite. I really enjoyed the concept, but something about this one didn't hook me like her others. Don't get me wrong, it is still a good book, I just would rank it lower compared to Freida's other books. One thing I struggled with throughout this book was that their time trekking through was sort of monotonous.

I truly enjoyed this book. It keeps you on your toes like all other Frida McFadden books. It was very suspenseful, and had many twists and turns. Just when you think they are all going to die there is another twist! Thanks Freida for another great mystery!

Wow! Freida McFadden never disappoints! Read this book in a few hours today. Could not put it down. I was so sure I knew who the killer was. Boy was I wrong! I was like…. Waaaaiiit whaaat ?! lol! Loved !

Wow, what a rollercoaster of a read! 'One by One' by Freida McFadden had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. While it wasn't my absolute favorite, I have to admit, I had a blast reading it!

The story follows three couples on what was supposed to be a relaxing getaway, but quickly turns into a nightmare when their car breaks down in the woods. Stranded and isolated, they soon realize they're not alone, and someone—or something—is picking them off, one by one.

The plot is packed with suspense, and McFadden keeps you guessing until the very end. I found myself suspecting every character, trying to unravel the mystery alongside them. And let me tell you, the twists and turns? Mind-blowing! I couldn't believe where the story took me.

Sure, there were moments where I had to suspend disbelief a bit, and some of the characters' decisions had me shaking my head. But overall, it was a thrilling ride that kept me hooked until the final page.

If you're a fan of suspenseful thrillers with unexpected twists, then 'One by One' is definitely worth a read. It may not be perfect, but it's a wild ride that'll leave you breathless and entertained. I'm giving it four stars for the sheer fun and excitement it brought to my reading experience!

I swear I can't read a Freida McFadden book in more than one sitting. I don't know what kind of crack she puts in these books but I think I just have the most fun trying to guess the twist and I have to read the end to see if I'm right.

This book starts with 3 sets of couples heading off to a "luxury" inn where they're going to have a nice vacation. The main character, Claire, isn't happy, and is planning on using the getaway to literally get away from her husband. But before they can get there, things start to go awry. It becomes less of a vacation and more of a nightmare. Readers are left wondering if even the main character will survive.

As with The Housemaid, I spent most of my time reading this book trying to figure out who the Anonymous narrator was. I am proud to say (although maybe it's a ding for the author? Depends on who you are I guess) that I correctly identified the narrator before it was revealed! So when it turned out to be true, I wasn't that surprised, but it did give me a nice burst of adrenaline, and I also guessed at the narrator's motives as well! They turned out to be an absolute psychopath, but it's a Freida McFadden book, it wouldn't be complete without one.

I did have one GLARING issue with this book, and that is a consistency issue that had me going back and forth trying to figure out if I missed something. They are talking about one of the character's clients, and how he was a banker, and then either a page or two later (hard to tell I was reading on a Kindle with no page numbers) she said he was a surgeon. I sat there for a good five minutes trying to figure out if it was an intentional lie, but none of the other 5 characters noticed it, so I'm left thinking that it was a continuity error. I'm kinda surprised it hasn't been addressed considering the book has been out for a while now and is going through a reprint.

That one issue aside, I didn't find the characters unlikable. I actually commented to a friend that I adored McFadden's ability to get me to like characters that aren't good people. Her books are a fun exciting read and although I don't think her books are any kind of exemplary pieces of literature, they're entertaining as hell and REALLY good palette cleansers between high fantasy books or romance novels. This one was a really fund read that only took me about 4 hours to finish and it's only increased my opinion of this author. I currently own The Coworker (scored at the thrift store for a dollar!) So now I'm more inclined to read that now that I've enjoyed two of her books.

This book follows Claire and an anonymous POV. In all this was a quick read that ended my slump! I wouldn't necessarily call it a thriller. I wasn't on the edge of my seat and the twists weren't all that surprising. Definitely not a captivating book, but it helped pass the time. I have to say the ending wasn't surprising but very well written.

Can not get enough of Freida and her books this year! I’m shocked I hadn’t heard of her before 2023 but I’m so glad I did. I find her books are easy to read/listen to and the characters are mostly people who are relatable.
One by One had me trying to conjure up reasonable endings and I may have possibly missed the actual ending! It’s a start line that could easily happen, without the death though!

6 friends set off on a trip for a week. What should be a fun trip quickly becomes miserable. As the group gets lost in the woods they are quickly picked off one by one each night.

I've read a lot of Freida McFadden books and this is one of my least favourites. I predicted the twist at the end and found the rest a little monotonous.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you netgalley and poison pen press.

this was my first freida book after the housemaid series and I was so nervous that it wouldn’t live up to the hype that I felt with the housemaid. I had no reason to be nervous, this book was so good! frieda always has the best twists and I definitely did not see this one coming!

This review will be posted on GoodReads and Storygraph.

Have you ever been in such a rut from the constant demands of life and a failing marriage that the only thing that could get you out of it and potentially save your relationship would be a week away from it all? Well, that’s exactly what Claire Matchett was hoping to do by organizing a week long retreat with her husband and two other couples in a quaint cabin in the woods. With the prospect of a week ignoring responsibilities by going on hikes in nature, relaxing evenings spent sipping on wine in a hot tub, and enjoying the present with friends, Claire feels the trip is the only thing that's keeping her from snapping. But, her dreams of a perfect week are quickly jeopardized when her minivan breaks down on the side of a dirt road, seemingly several miles from their destination with no phone service and no other people in sight. As the group decides to trek through the woods in the hopes of finding help and getting to their cabin, concerns for their safety quickly arise as one by one they find themselves falling to a mysterious force. Is it the unknown in the wild woods that is claiming them, or is the danger someone right there among them? As the hours stretch into an endless struggle for survival, it becomes apparent that only one will survive. One by One by Freida McFadden takes you on a journey of suspense and survival with a narrative so gripping it refuses to release its hold until the very last page.

I am a huge Freida McFadden fan so it is no surprise that I really enjoyed this book. In true Freida fashion, One by One has twists and turns throughout the whole book and it is written to keep you on the edge of your seat. The plot is fast paced and it was difficult to put down once the story really got going. I love how Freida always has me guessing what is really going on until the very end and One by One did just that. This was not a five star read solely because I wasn’t a big fan of any of the characters in the story and I therefore did not care as much what happened to each of them, but I still was invested and surprised by the end. Additionally, some of the descriptive writing was repetitive so I found myself getting occasionally annoyed from that. Overall, if you like stories about betrayal and revenge with good twists, you will likely enjoy this book!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC of One by One in return for my honest review.

📚 PRE RE-RELEASE BOOK REVIEW 📚

One By One
By Frieda McFadden
Re-Release Publication Date: April 2, 2024

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

📚THE SYNOPSIS:

**Originally released in 2020, this book is being re-released with a new cover and bonus material.**

Claire Matchett needs this trip. It will be a break from work and raising children. A chance to repair her damaged marriage. A week of hiking and hot tubbing with friends at a luxurious hotel in the woods, disconnected from the pressures of real life.

Then, on a lonely dirt road, Claire's minivan breaks down. With no cell reception, the group has no choice but to walk the rest of the way to their remote accommodation. But the forest is dark and difficult to navigate and, hours later, they are lost. Hopelessly lost.

As they venture deeper into the woods, the members of their party are struck down mysteriously, one by one. Are they being hunted? And by what—or who? As Claire's dream vacation descends into a nightmare, something becomes clear: only one of them will return home alive.

A taut story of betrayal and survival from New York Times bestselling author @fmcfaddenauthor that will leave you wondering if there's any way out of the woods…

📚MY REVIEW:

How can you not love this book?! McFadden is the QUEEN when it comes to writing bingeable thrillers that will leave you guessing with twists and turns till the very end...and One By One was no exception.

This book captivated me from its opening prologue, and I flew through it in just a few hours in one sitting. To me, her writing style is so easy to read -- I always enjoy the way McFadden subtly melds the building suspense in with the character development. It's one of her strengths as far as I'm concerned. I always love a book where any one of the main characters could foreseeably be the villain...And give me a bunch of people lost in a woods, dying one at a time, leaving those who remain in a state of panic and distrust -- and I'm here for it.

Thanks to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I was so excited when I was notified this morning of my approval - I read it immediately and was not disappointed!

This is a unique review because this book originally came out in July of 2020, but Poision Pen Press (knowing what the people want) are republishing Freida McFadden's books so that people have a chance to add physical copies to their collections. I know I myself have been snatching them up on publishing day because I adore Freida's books so much! However, this one is very special to me because it was the first book that I ever read by her, back in 2022! It's the book that started my rabid obsession with Freida McFaddens books, and lets just say I have been barreling through them "one by one" ever since (see what I did there?). I originally listened to this (as well as many of her other books) via audiobook (her books have the BEST audiobooks) and have been revisiting her books as they are physically released, which has been so fun! It was cool to go back to the book that started it all! I originally picked this up because it's a survival thriller/who-done-it and I'm such a sucker for those! I stayed for the "popcorn thriller" fun and crazy twists and turns that left me with my jaw on the floor time after time. Will these be your favorite characters of all time? Absolutely not. Will you have the best time trying to solve the mystery while being hit over and over by jaw-dropping twists? Hell yes! I often notice people either really don't like Freida's books because they are so unhinged OR people love just that about her books, and I'm certainly in the ladder group. Her books are fun, fast-paced, and never fail to put me in a great mood. You'll laugh at the ridiculousness, you'll gasp at the reveals, and you'll think you have it all figured out (but let's face it, you won't)! If you want to have a damn good time, check out this book, as well as all of McFadden's other books! I'm so glad i picked this book up back then and it led me to discover all of the unhinged goodness McFadden's writing has to offer!

Freida can do no wrong! This was a 4 ⭐️ from me. As always, I couldn’t guess the ending. It was fast paced and I kept thinking what is happening, as usual the ending was shocking!

I always look forward to reading anything that Freida puts out! I know what to expect; that I'll be taken on a twisty-turny ride where I can't stop reading until the pieces are all put together. This one was exactly like that! Some pieces were predictable but every-time I thought I had it figured out, she threw something new at me. The style felt just a little different than what I've read from her in the past. As I read, I felt like this could have easily been made into a horror film more than just a thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Freida McFadden for this ARC copy.