Hi fellow bookworms,

What’s your favorite book from the queen of popcorn thrillers, Freida McFadden?

I definitely have a couple of favorites, but today I’m reviewing her latest release, Dear Debbie, and one that really stuck with me, Never Lie.

If you’re in the mood for fast, twisty thrillers that don’t give you a second to breathe, Freida McFadden is always a safe bet. Her books are built for binge-reading: short chapters, unreliable situations, and twists that hit before you’ve fully settled in.

Never Lie and Dear Debbie are perfect examples of her style, quick to hook you, easy to devour, and packed with secrets that unravel fast. These aren’t slow, atmospheric reads; they’re popcorn thrillers meant to be inhaled, preferably in one sitting, while constantly thinking, okay… something is very wrong here.

Let’s get into it 😊

Short summary 😊
This book follows a woman named Debbie. She is a mother of two daughters, Izzy and Lexi, and she has a husband, Cooper, who works as an accountant. Debbie works as a columnist for a local newspaper. Everything in her life seems to be going smoothly, until it doesn’t.

Her daughters begin acting strangely, she loses her job as a columnist, and her husband doesn’t get the promotion he was expecting. Debbie decides to take matters into her own hands and stop being the “bigger person.” She starts following the very advice she used to write in her column, and begins giving people exactly what she thinks they deserve.

This book contains multiple POVs. We see Debbie’s perspective, along with Cooper’s and Harley’s (I won’t spoil who Harley is, you’ll discover that soon enough).

Dear Debbie feels different from McFadden’s usual work. It’s more confessional and voice-driven, less “solve the thriller,” and more “watch the psychology unravel.” Debbie is the kind of character you won’t forget: dominant in a male-driven space, sharp, ambitious, and unapologetically smart. She’s confident to the point of being unsettling, and that edge is exactly what makes her so compelling to follow.

If you like Gone Girl / Killing Eve vibes — smart, dominant women, obsession, and psychological power games — Dear Debbie is for you.

My rating (4.2/5)

Short summary 😊
This book follows newly married couple Ethan and Tricia, who get snowed in while touring a remote house they’re considering buying. Once inside, they realize the home once belonged to a famous therapist who mysteriously disappeared years earlier.

Tricia is deeply unsettled and immediately feels uncomfortable staying there, while Ethan is more focused on the opportunity, especially since they could get the house for an incredibly low price. While they’re trapped by the storm, Tricia discovers a hidden room that belonged to the therapist and finds recordings of her sessions with patients. She begins listening to them and becomes particularly interested in one patient named EJ, whose story raises more and more disturbing questions.

This book genuinely gave me chills. I love a creepy house trope and unsettling atmosphere, and this delivered. I honestly thought I knew where the story was heading, but the twist completely threw me off. I did not see it coming at all. The ending is something I still think about to this day.

Tricia, the main character, reminded me not to trust first impressions. I loved her development, and the way the story is crafted keeps you hooked the entire time with twists you don’t see coming.

At this point, I’ve stopped trying to predict Freida’s plots, she always delivers something unexpected, and this book is proof.

I can’t say much more without spoilers, but if you’ve read it, please let me know your thoughts.

My rating (5/5)