Very clever! There is something so satisfying about reading a book by an intelligent author, which Freida McFadden clearly it. It's an interesting challenge for the author to all-but-spell-it-out for us in the beginning and still keep the book compelling. And the twist? Perfection.

One star off for Sydney constantly talking herself out of reporting what are the brighest of red flags, (I have a personal vendetta against the trope of female characters who just won't say what's on their minds when everything could be solved if they just said it out loud) but this was a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the ARC!

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Are you serious...you're dating a guy you think is a serial killer?!"
"Look, he seemed like a really nice guy!"

"You killed Allison!"
"You say that like it's a bad thing."

Did I DM Dreamscape Media and beg them to help me get a copy of the latest audiobook, The Boyfriend, by bestselling, give her her flowers, psychological thriller author Freida McFadden? You bet I did and I can't thank them enough for coming through for me.

Sydney just wants a decent man. Seems her dating app is only for losers until she meets a man who rescues her from one of those losers attacking her.

Then Sidney finds her best friend brutally slaughtered and her ex-boyfriend is the detective on the case. Seems other single women were killed in the same horrific way.

In between Sydney's drama, we hear a story from a teenage boy in love with a girl named Daisy. He's awkward, nerdy and unsure of himself. It doesn't help that his father's abusive and his only friend is weirder than him. When teen girls go missing, Daisy's Dad, the sheriff, has his eye on our teen.

I bet you think, it's obvious who the killer is; well so did I, then the are you effing kidding me ending twist happened, and, once again, this writer blew my mind.

Voice performers Victoria Connolly and Adam Blanford have a new fan. Listening to them be these unreliable, wild characters was so much fun. They had just the right amount of undertones of innocence and guilt to make me doubt the real killer.

As usual, this writer uses her clever sneaky abstract brilliant mind to make me gasp in utter shock. The Boyfriend is reliably unreliable and you will love him.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. All opinions are my own.

the idea was cool and the plot twist was fun but the characters were really stupid especially the main character. I also didn’t enjoy the narration it sounded very childish which the writing was as well so maybe not entirely their fault. I was still entertained I might try the author again

I have to admit, I was bored for the first 50% of this book. There was little to no character development, the plot connections were painfully obvious until the last major twist (which I was so happy I did not see coming, however it was almost unbelievable). Sydney was an insufferable female lead, who used no common sense in her actions. The book was a quick, mindless read for me so for that I gave it 3 stars. Usually McFaddens writing is very easy to read which I enjoy, and her books have often pulled me out of slumps , but I wish she would slow down and put more time into her books. I think this was her fourth release this year alone🫣 If you are looking for an ending that will catch you off guard, I would reccomend this book, but you will have to endure the rest of the book in the process.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ALC of The Boyfriend, in exchange for an honest review.

🎧 "The Boyfriend" by Freida McFadden is undeniably one of my favorite books from the author thus far. The audiobook delivers a super cool and different plotline that kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to uncover the truth. The use of a dual point of view and timeline added an extra layer of complexity, making the story even more engaging.

As with any Freida McFadden book, I was immediately drawn into the narrative and found myself unable to put it down. Freida has a knack for writing fast-paced thrillers, and "The Boyfriend" is no exception. I listened to the audiobook in less than 24 hours.

However, while the book held me captive, I must admit that I figured out the twists earlier than I would have liked. As a reader/listener, I love being completely stumped by a book, and I was slightly disappointed that I managed to unravel some of the mysteries ahead of time. Nonetheless, the story still offered enough suspenseful moments and unexpected turns to keep me engaged until the end.
Despite this small letdown, "The Boyfriend" remains an enjoyable read that showcases Freida McFadden's signature style. If you're seeking a thrilling and fast-paced audiobook, I highly recommend giving it a go.

"The Boyfriend" is a four-star audiobook that delivers an entertaining and captivating story filled with suspense and intriguing characters. It may not have left me completely stumped, but it still held my attention and provided an enjoyable reading experience. Fans of Freida McFadden's work and those who appreciate thrilling suspense should add this book to their TBR.

This is my first Freida book and wow! I will definitely be picking up more.

Sydney is kind of annoying, I’ll admit it. As a character I kind of struggled to be on her side but that’s ok with me.

I enjoyed the dual timeline, when it finally converged I really did not pick the twist which is always a great recipe for me enjoying a thriller.

The ending was a bit odd for me, but I still enjoyed it overall!

The narrators really brought this one to life and I enjoyed their take on the characters.

4 stars!

Thank you to Net Galley for the Audio ARC!

I am shocked did not see that coming I saw something it was close but not quite. This is my first Freida Mcfadden book I am pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this book I was so invested in it I received a audio copy from netgalley I had to get a kindle copy to read during work so I could finish it. It was that good I didn't want to put it down.

Another Freida book where I thought I knew the answer 😂. Great easy listen! Male Narrator needed to be sped up a little. Listened at 1.5. Can’t wait for the crash!!!

Freida took me on A JOURNEY with this one 😮‍💨 I could not wait to see what happened next, in this twisty thriller. And I promise, that you won’t see it coming. Every time I thought I had things pinned, Freida threw me for a loop!

Can’t recommend The Boyfriend enough!

This book was just amazing! Sydney is on the dating scene but can you trust anyone these days? This was a fast-paced read with twists I didn’t see coming! Another great job!!

The boyfriend review

4/5⭐️
In typical Freida style this book leaves you questioning everything, needing to know what will be next. From the beginning there’s a few people that are more suited to possibly being the perpetrator and as you continue through the read you constantly change your mind.

There are two POVs through out, Tom with it being set in the past, and Sydney or “Syd” which is set in the present. I found this could get a little confusing at times but it also helps with explaining a lot of the background for the read.
Tom had a troubled upbringing with an abusive alcoholic father but made a life for himself as a successful doctor.
Sydney a single 30 something year old, who’s mother won’t stop pressuring her to find someone and settle down, is trying her luck at the dating apps but isn’t having much luck. That is until she meets someone organically but is then faced with a tragedy close to her.
This will leave you guessing til the end with some shocking truths coming to light!

Freida delivers once again! Just when you think you have it all figured out, she hits you with twist after twist. I don't typically give 5 stars, but this book was beyond deserving!

I love Freida McFadden, she is just amazing at throwing a twist into her stories that manages to throw you for a loop - even when you're expecting it! I thought this book was another fun, intriguing McFadden novel, however, I was pulled out of the story a little bit by the male narrator. It may have been that he was leaning into the teenage voice a bit too much, but I felt a little jarred every time it switched to his perspective. Otherwise, this was another hit - and I loved the roller coaster ride I was put on!

I was so convinced this was a Freida book that I had all figured out… I was so so wrong! (Like always 😂)

Tom is the perfect boyfriend. Sure he has dark secrets and a creepy best friend “slug”. Slug is super creepy, one of the kids you would want to stay away from. And Tom wants to know how the human body works… he can see your blood moving through your body. Well okay maybe not see, but he thinks he can. Tom has been in love with Daisy his whole life. Daisy has her own issues, she is the daughter of the town sheriff.

Tom has a whole new life where he has left behind the dark secrets of his adolescence…or has he?!?! He starts a new relationship with Sydney and while he does seem to be perfect he doesn’t really want to intertwine his life with hers. He doesn’t want to meet Syd’s friends. Gretchen is Sydney’s best friend and wants to double date with her boyfriend Randy and Syd and Tom. Things take a MAJOR twist when Tom meets Syd’s friends.

In typical Freida fashion I love this book!

If Freida drops a new book, it’s guaranteed that I will read it! Freida McFadden has a nack for throwing curve balls out of nowhere that throw the reader for a loop. The Boyfriend is a thriller that captures the reader from the first chapter.
Sydney is a single woman living on her own in a New York apartment. After many failed dating attempts, she finally meets a man that sweeps her off her feet. He’s handsome, charming, and is a doctor in a local hospital. When one of Sydney’s close friends who lives in the same apartment complex is murdered, the primary suspect seems more and more like her new dreamy boyfriend. Is she his next victim?
This book kept me guessing all the way through! Just when I thought I had it, I found that I was so wrong! This story is told in a dual point of view between two timelines. Victoria Connolly and Adam Blanford narrated this audiobook. It was adequately paced and there was clear delineation between timelines and character point of views.
Thank you Dreamscape Select, NetGalley, and Freida McFadden for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook and provide my honest feedback.

Well I got impatient and bought this one one Audible and listened to it yesterday! Then last night seen it on my NetGalley shelf!
So I'll give my review either way! I LOVED the twist in this one, just like any other Freida McFadden book! I cannot think of anyone as dumbbbbb as Sydney but I wont say more on that. I really liked the time jumps seeing them as teenagers but I did feel like the teenager voices were a little more immature for the age. Overall I had a good time & it has a killer twist! 3.5!

Publisher's 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...

Thanks to NetGalley & Hollywood Upstairs Press

The Boyfriend
By: Freida McFadden
Narrated by: Victoria Connolly, Adam Blanford
Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-01-24
Language: English
Publisher: Hollywood Upstairs Press

Sydney is 34 years old and not in a serious relationship much to her mothers disappointment. She is on the dating app for people in NYC and has been on many interesting dates, the latest being with a man named Kevin who turns out to be way more than she bargained for, and not in a good way. When she meets Tom there is automatic electricity and she knows he feels it too. Could he be her perfect match? All the while we are learning the story of Sydney and Tom, we are also learning the story of Tom's past, which is super shady. Is Sydney safe in her new relationship or will she fall victim to her new beau?

I didn't mind the narrators of this book. I liked the female better than the male...he seemed more unhinged than I thought he should. Tom might be unhinged on the inside, but I didn't picture him like that on the outside. Freida is still the master of twists. I thought I had read enough of her books to be able to figure out what was coming and once again I was wrong! Always a good read!

To THINK I had this one figured out…SMH. I should’ve known better with a Frieda book! I was shocked to say the least, I was not expecting it and my jaw hit my lap when I read the words!

Another great book Frieda, well done 👍 👏🏼

Frieda McFadden always delivers incredibly entertaining stories which often feature some wildly bizarre characters. But not since The Coworker has any of her characters struck as so twisted, in such a fun and yet disturbing way.

Sydney is single. Not for lack of trying, but finding a decent man in NYC isn’t easy. After a particularly bad date she ends up being ’rescued’ by a handsome stranger. Unfortunately she never got his name and she can’t track him down. Then one of her close friends is brutally murdered and Sydney falls down a rabbit hole trying to figure out who it can be. Is it possible she knows the killer? Is it possible she is dating the killer?

The story is told in dual timelines; present day with Sydney and the past with Tom telling his story. Those flashback scenes were so delightfully twisted and hinted at so many red herrings. This was a wild story with so many twists and turns that every time I was certain I had it figure out McFadden would throw in a new wrinkle to ruin my theory. Victoria Connolly and Adam Blanford both do an excellent job with their narration. I’d like to thank Dreamscape Select | Hollywood Upstairs Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the audio version of Frieda McFadden’s The Boyfriend.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3811H6F5BT3UC/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Freida keeps you guessing in this thriller!
The story, set in New York, alternates between Then and Now. Some of the characters are kinda creepy. The story seems to drag on a little too long when, all of a sudden, BAM!! ….A jaw dropping twist!
I thought I’d figured it out but turns out I didn’t see that coming!
Not my favourite Freida McFadden book but the twists certainly make iThe Boyfriend worth the read.
I think that I might’ve enjoyed reading the book more, rather than listening to the audiobook. The narration is well paced and easy to listen to but I didn’t particularly like either of the narrators voices.
Thank You to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity to listen to an audiobook version of this ARC.