This murder mystery/whodunit was a very enjoyable read! The story was fast-paced, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough due to the anticipation of where the twists would go. I thought I knew where the story was going until nearly the end, but I was shocked by the final few twists.I love the way Frieda's books resemble an exciting rollercoaster ride, filled with tension, thrills, and the gratification of a satisfying conclusion. This might be my favorite non Housemaid series book by her.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for my copy of the book.

Freida does it again! Anyone that has been through the trauma of online dating (because let's be real- it sucks and there's rarely a ring in the end) is gonna get the heebie jeebies from this book. Dark. Creepy. Sinister. And dare I say bloody?! Easily slides into top 3 of all time Freida books! Perfect for Spook-tober!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but would need to give it a 4.5 rating overall. The only reason I rated it a 4.5/5 and not a 5/5 is because I just couldn't understand how the FMC was so oblivious to everything in front of her. As a single female in Manhattan, it just doesn't fully make sense why she would overlook certain things in the book, or some of her overall actions. It's a personal observation and opinion and not all will see it that way, but it's why I couldn't justify a full 5-star review. The story itself was incredibly entertaining and had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. I read this in one sitting since I could not put it down! I love Freida's books, and she really does a great job at creating stories and twists that you can't predict. It was the same with this book. I constantly thought I knew what was going to happen and I was wrong every time. Very good read and have already been recommending it to others. Again, my opinion of the main character is my own and not everyone will have that same opinion, so I do highly recommend reading it for yourself.

so amazing!
I was so excited to be chosen to read this book and it was better than expected. I thought I had it figured out towards the middle but as usual, I was wrong. It was a great twist and a very good read!

First off thank you Freida and Mandy at Poisoned Pen Press for my digital ARC of The Boyfriend. This was my first ARC and was thrilled it was a Freida book!

I would have to say that I would give this one a 3.5/5 stars. Personally I felt the book was little slower to get to plot twists than a lot of her other books. Although per usual the big reveal I did not figure out even though I thought I may have, and did shock me a bit. Which is why I would give 3.5 instead of 3.

I think this wasn’t my favorite also due to the fact that I really didn’t like the main character Sydney. She just seemed very ignorant compared to most of the women characters Freida creates. Still would recommend as a read and thankful I was able to read it early! Can’t wait for the next Freida book in January.

When it comes to Freida’s books, if you think you know what’s going to happen, no you don’t.

Freida has done it again! I’ve read most of her books and at this point nothing should shock me, but this may be my new favorite! Even if I was single I don’t think I’d ever join a dating website thanks to this.

I love how we got flashbacks of Tom’s childhood, but at the same time that’s what really threw me off with the plot twists. I had 4 different people who I thought for sure “did it” (don’t want to spoil it) and all of them were wrong. I was basically pointing the finger at everyone by the end.

If you’re looking for a book that will leave you mind blown, questioning your morals and everything you know about love, then this is for you! I loved the complexity of the characters, albeit all their mental states are questionable. Freida really gets my brain working and that’s why she’ll always be an auto read author for me.

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and Frieda McFadden for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review

I have two rules when reading Freida McFadden's books: 1. Trust no one, 2. Give into the outlandishness of it all. I was talking with a friend about how certain books are like junk food, and with all due respect to Ms. Freida, that's how I feel about her books. With the speed that she writes I never expect them to be literary masterpieces, but they are addictive and I find myself craving them from time to time. I can usually count on her books to be suspenseful and dark page turners that are quick and easy to read. This one fits that description, although it's getting a little easier to recognize her strategies in leading readers down the wrong paths and then surprising them at the end with the unexpected twists. This ending did surprise me though! 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️. 💫

Finished in one day. Such a good, suspenseful, easy read. One things for sure, Freida is good for keeping you on your toes. I really thought I had the whole story figured out and the ending really threw me for a loop. In true Frieda fashion. Definitely will be recommending this book to others!

The Boyfriend
So, I literally made a Net Galley account in hopes to read The Boyfriend, and I feel honored and super lucky that I got picked to read the boyfriend early! Freida McFadden is one of my all-time favorite Authors and this book did not disappoint! There were a few times where I did want a little bit more out of the main character but other than that this book was a shiny 5 stars. I loved how it flashed back and forth from the past to the present. I feel like Freida really showed what it is like to date in this day and age with apps and I loved the twists at the end. I thought I had everything figured out, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ending! A great twisty thriller! You have no idea who to trust and what to believe. I really enjoyed all of the characters and would recommend this book to anyone who will listen! I finished this book in one day!

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Boyfriend
by Freida McFadden

Reviewed by Valerie Palmer

I was thrilled to receive this book as an ARC from Netgalley as I am a huge fan of all and any books written by Freida McFadden. This book will be released on Tuesday,October 1, 2024, my advice to you is to pre-order now! If you like to read books by Jeneva Rose, John Marrs, Lucinda Berry or Riley Sager you will definitely enjoy this book.

Summary
She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...


A dark story about obsession and the things we’ll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest…

What I Liked
I loved how I was kept guessing who was responsible for the murders throughout the book. The more you learned about a character, the more you thought all signs lead to that person. The twists that McFadden puts into her novels are amazing, and I have yet to figure one of them out before getting to the end.

I enjoyed going back and forth between present and past tense. Learning Tom's background and history is important to the present tense part of the book. It highlights his character development from high school to adulthood.

I liked experiencing Sydney's awful dates with the men she met on Cynch, even if they were brief. We all have had horrible dating experiences at one point or another and it made me chuckle a bit. I honestly felt bad for her as she went from one dud to the next and kept seeing red flags.

What I Didn't Like
I found that I did not like several of the characters. Kevin, Tom, and Randy, all annoyed me to some extent, but that is also a sign of extraordinary writing. The fact that I felt negative feelings towards fictitious characters says alot. I can honestly say that I do not have negative feedback to share regarding this book. The ending may a felt a bit rushed, but other than that I fully enjoyed it.

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I gave this book five stars on Goodreads. McFadden never disappoints with her unpredictable twists toward the end of her novels. I thought this one was obvious and this was not her typical style, until I got three quarters of the way through and realized I was wrong yet again.

WOW! I thought I'd figured it out at one point. I was impressed with the author's cleverness. Nope! Turns out Ms. McFadden was even more clever than I realized. Outstanding! This was a one-seating read. I'll be kicking myself when the alarm goes off in five hours, but it had to be done! Enjoy!!

Freida has done it again! I really thought I had it figured out but in usual Freida fashion, everything I thought was wrong. This put really is a page turner I couldn’t put it down!

I absolutely loved this book and read it in just a few days! I love a good thriller and Freida McFadden is always putting out books that are amazing! I’ll be recommending this one for sure!!

This book was such a great read. It had me wanting to finish to learn who was the killer and how these two narratives are essential for the ending. I loved hearing about Tom's past and where he got to where he got along with Sydneys dating horror stories. Find the perfect boyfriend is never what you think it will be!

Definitely had me believing I knew who “did it” the whole time, just to end up with a big twist at the end. Per Freida’s normal. I enjoyed “The Boyfriend” might be my new Freida favorite. Quick easy read, that grabs the reader from the beginning.

Such a good book! I thought I figured it out around 50% and again around 70% and I was still wrong! The book caught my attention quickly and I had a hard time putting it down. I definitely enjoyed it more than Freida’s last two books, the Coworker and the The Teacher.

I had the pleasure of being selected to get an ARC of this and Freida never fails to impress. As always, a mind boggling ending! Can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us!!

I have been lucky to be one of the early readers of this book. Thank you Freida, Mandy and Poisoned Pen Press!!

Well what can I say, Freida did it again. Making you think and guess who the real culprit is.. but I will give this 3.5 out of 5.

I will not spoil anything but for being honest I was very annoyed with Sydney's charater VERY.
But anyhow its a good read, a bit boring on some chapters but the thrill gets back right up.

Still, The housemaid remains my favorite book of Freida.

Freida did it again! This book was so good that I wanted to read it so fast becuase it was so good but then had to slow my roll never wanting it to end. Sydney a lovable but down on her love luck woman. She has a disastrous date with jerk and is saved by a night in shining armor. Who then disappears into the night…. Only to show up later and sweep her off her feet. Meanwhile a long time ago a boy named Tom is having some indecent and disturbing thoughts as he navigates his first relationship with a girl named Daisy. In the past and present people start to come up dead and missing. Oh my! What is the connection with the past and present? It all comes out in a very Freida way! I really thought I had it figured out at various times but I was wrong wrong wrong! I really enjoyed the at the book was slowly peeled back layer by layer and it left me just wanting to known what was happening. I really love the Sydney character and how much you are pulling for her throughout the book.

At no point throughout the book did I guess the ending. Or should I say many twists and turns. Which is why I love Freida’s books, they have this alluring effect of being so easy to guess how it ends and yet it’s never as it seems. And it always gets you so into the feel’s of all the emotions. It’s like a rollercoaster that you don’t want to get off till the end and you go over every drop, round about and upside down circle. I recommend picking this book up and reading it because you won’t out it down.