High on Books/ March 20, 2026April 7, 2026

Every Freida McFadden Book I’ve Read, Ranked

Every Freida McFadden Book I've Read, Ranked

If you have spent any time on BookTok or in a thriller reading community online, you already know the name Freida McFadden. And if you somehow don’t, consider this your introduction and your warning because once you start, you are not going to stop. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you purchase through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to books I have actually read and have opinions about.

Before we get into the ranking, let me tell you a little bit about who we are dealing with here. Freida McFadden is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a practicing physician specializing in traumatic brain injury. If that combination does not already have you intrigued, I genuinely do not know what will. She writes under a pen name to protect her privacy as a doctor, which honestly makes her even more fascinating to me. She has written over 30 psychological thrillers, her novels have been translated into more than 45 languages, and The Housemaid was adapted into a major film in 2025. She is the real deal, and the body of work she has put together is honestly impressive.

Now, I do want to pause here and say something that has been sitting with me as a Black woman and a thriller lover. I would love to see more Black women authors celebrated in this space. We have some incredible ones emerging like Shanora Williams, Angela Henry, and L.S. Stratton, and I want to see that list grow. Beyond that, the thriller genre as a whole could use more diversity across the board. More voices, more perspectives, more stories. That is not something I am putting entirely on Freida because what she knows is what she knows, and honestly there is something powerful about our stories being told by our own people rather than waiting for someone else to include us. But as a reader I notice the gap and I am always rooting for more representation in the space.

I have read 13 of Freida’s books at this point and it felt like time to put my thoughts somewhere official. Keep in mind this is MY ranking. You might read this and completely disagree and that is perfectly fine. These are my feelings, my memories, and my honest reactions to each book. Some of you might be like, she put WHAT where? And that is exactly the kind of conversation I want to have!

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to books I have actually read and have opinions about.

#1 — The Boyfriend

The Boyfriend follows Sydney, a woman with terrible luck in dating who finally thinks she has found someone worth keeping. Her new boyfriend Tom seems perfect on paper. But as small unsettling things start to stack up, Sydney begins to wonder if she is the one in danger or if history is about to repeat itself in the worst possible way.

I went into this book fully convinced I already knew what was happening. I had my suspect locked in from early on, I was reading with that smug energy of someone who thinks they have already figured it out. And then Freida McFadden completely humbled me. I did not see the ending coming at all and that almost never happens to me with her books. What made this one stand out beyond the twist is the premise itself. A serial killer storyline woven into a dating thriller is such a smart combination and it kept me locked in from start to finish. This one is my number one for a reason.

#2 — The Housemaid

The Housemaid introduces us to Millie, a woman with a complicated past who takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for the wealthy Winchester family. What starts as a fresh start quickly turns into something much darker as Millie realizes the picture-perfect family she is working for is hiding some very disturbing secrets behind closed doors.

Yes, this is the cliche pick. Yes, everyone loves The Housemaid. Yes, they made it into a movie and the casting had me ready. But here is why it earns the number two spot for me. The tension in this book is slow burning and strange. Not a lot is happening on the surface but there is just enough weird energy to keep you uncomfortable the entire time. And then when the story shifts and things start rolling, it hits. It reminded me a lot of The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liz Constantine, which I have also reviewed here on the blog and which happens to be another one of my all time favorite thrillers. If you loved that one, The Housemaid is essential.

#3 — The Ex

The Ex follows Cassie, a woman who thinks she has finally found the perfect man in Joel, a charming doctor. She knows about his ex-girlfriend Francesca, the beautiful and beloved chef that everyone assumed Joel would end up with. But Cassie is not worried because Francesca is out of the picture. Or is she?

I was semi confused for a good portion of this book and I mean that as a compliment. The kind of confused where you keep turning pages because you need things to make sense. And then everything comes to a head at the end and it all clicks into place in a way I genuinely did not see coming. The twist felt original and earned rather than forced, and that is rare enough to be worth celebrating. This one flew under the radar for me going in and ended up being one of my favorites.

#4 — The Teacher

The Teacher is set at Caseham High School and told from two perspectives. Eve is a math teacher who seems to have a good life with her husband Nate, who also teaches at the school. Then there is Addie, a student who has been ostracized since last year when a scandal involving a teacher-student relationship got a teacher fired. Addie swears nothing happened. Eve is not so sure. And as their stories collide, it becomes clear that neither woman is who she appears to be.

Full disclosure, I used to be a teacher so I came into this one with a personal investment. I want to flag for readers that the teacher-student relationship element is present in this book. Nothing explicit because Freida keeps her thrillers relatively family friendly in that regard, but it is there and worth knowing going in if that is something that affects your reading experience. That said, the twist in this one is genuinely wild and the ending had me sitting with my mouth open a little. I remembered finishing it and thinking, wow, that was really something. Loved this one.

Update: Even better news, while researching for this blog post I saw that Apple is developing this one into a movie! I’m super excited for this one friends!

#5 — The Housemaid’s Wedding

The Housemaid’s Wedding is a short story that follows Millie and Enzo as they prepare for their wedding. It gives readers a look into Millie’s past and the life she is finally building for herself after everything she has been through.

I do not usually gravitate toward novellas but I knew I needed to read this one before diving into the final Housemaid book and I am glad I did. It is a short read but it gave me everything I wanted as a fan of Millie’s journey. Getting that peek into her history and seeing her in a moment of genuine joy made this feel like a satisfying pause in the series. A great quick read for anyone who is invested in the characters.

#6 — The Tenant

The Tenant follows Blake, a man who loses his VP job and can no longer keep up with the mortgage on the townhouse he shares with his fiancée Krista. Desperate to make ends meet, they take on a tenant named Whitney. She seems perfect at first, or is she?

I figured out the twist toward the end of this one but honestly it did not matter because I enjoyed every single minute of getting there. This is a solid, well-paced thriller that does exactly what it promises. I actually think this one would translate beautifully as a streaming movie. It has that contained, claustrophobic energy that works really well on screen. One of her newer releases and a strong one.

Update: A little birdie (my research lol) has told me that Amazon MGM studios bought the rights for this one, we might see this adaptation soon!

#7 — Dear Debbie

Dear Debbie follows Debbie Mullen, an advice columnist who has spent years listening to women describe bad marriages and difficult situations and offering them guidance. When Debbie decides to take matters into her own hands in a very direct way, the story takes a sharp and satisfying turn.

I actually wrote a full review of this one on the blog so make sure you check that out here. What I will say here is that this book surprised me. It has a dark humor running through it that I did not expect to work in a thriller and I honestly thought I would not like it. I like my thrillers serious. But the humor fit the premise perfectly and it never undercut the tension. This is also one of the first Freida books where you know from the beginning that the main character is not exactly innocent, and yet you understand every single decision she makes and you are rooting for her the whole way through. The ending was satisfying in the best way.

Update: Great news on this one, we will be getting this adaptation soon with Amazon MGM Studios! Read about it here.

#8 — The Housemaid’s Secret

The Housemaid’s Secret picks up after the events of the first book with Millie now working as a cleaning woman. When she starts to suspect that one of her wealthy clients, a woman named Wendy, is being abused by her husband Douglas, she decides to intervene and help her escape. But nothing about this situation is what it appears to be, and Millie quickly realizes she has walked into something far more dangerous than she bargained for.

Honestly, I think this one suffered for me because the first Housemaid book set such a high bar that I kept holding it up for comparison and that is not entirely fair. On its own it is a good read with a solid premise and an adequate twist. It just did not leave me with that same feeling that book one did. This might actually be one I revisit on a reread because I have a feeling my opinion could shift when I am not measuring it against the original. We will see.

#9 — The Surrogate Mother

The Surrogate Mother follows Abby, a woman desperate for a baby after years of failed fertility treatments and a fallen-through adoption. When her personal assistant Monica offers to be her surrogate, Abby thinks her dream is finally coming true. But as the pregnancy progresses, Abby starts uncovering disturbing truths about Monica and realizes that nothing about this arrangement is what it seemed.

This one had a great premise and solid writing and it moves at a good pace. It is the kind of book that works perfectly as a quick Sunday afternoon read when you want something engaging but not necessarily life changing. Not every thriller needs to leave you wrecked and this one delivers exactly what it sets out to do. A good book, just not one that stuck with me the way some of her others did.

Update: Wow Freida is really out here killing it! Another proposed adaption from Sony!

#10 — Do You Remember

Do You Remember follows Tess, a woman who wakes up unable to recognize her own face, her home, or the man who claims to be her husband. A letter written in her own handwriting tries to explain the situation but when a text shows up warning her not to trust the man she is supposed to love, everything begins to fall apart.

My partner and I have actually had debates about this one, which tells you it sparks something worth talking about. Here is my honest take. The people around Tess are deeply untrustworthy and that tension kept me reading. But I was genuinely upset when the twist turned out to be what it was because I felt like it could have been something more thrilling. I am historically not a fan of the memory loss or groundhog style of storytelling, with the exception of the Hulu movie Palm Springs which is just excellent, and I found myself getting a little bored in the middle. That said I appreciated the ending for what it was and I understand why a lot of people love this one. Not every ranking is going to land the same for every reader.

#11 — The Perfect Son

The Perfect Son follows Erika, a mother who has always believed her son Liam is exactly what the title says. When a girl Liam was seeing goes missing and the police show up at her door, Erika is forced to consider a possibility she has been refusing to look at directly.

This is a lifetime movie in book form and I mean that with full affection. It is your classic, well-constructed domestic thriller with a premise you have seen variations of before. What makes it interesting to me personally is that this was actually the first Freida McFadden book I ever read and it is what sent me down the rabbit hole of reading everything else she has written. It is a great starting point if you are new to her work and want to ease into the style before hitting her best stuff.

#12 — The Locked Door

The Locked Door follows Nora, a surgeon who has spent her entire adult life trying to outrun her past. When she was eleven years old her father was arrested for being a serial killer. Decades later she has built a quiet, controlled life and nobody knows who her father is. Then one of her patients is murdered in the exact same manner her father used to kill his victims. Somebody knows who Nora is. And somebody wants her to take the fall.

I went into this one with high expectations based on the premise and came out feeling like it did not quite deliver what I was hoping for. I liked that Nora is sharp and self-aware, which made her easy to read. There was a twist that I thought was cool. But I genuinely struggled to locate where the thrill was for most of this book. It just did not connect with me the way I wanted it to. Not a bad book at all, just not the book for me.

#13 — The Housemaid Is Watching

The Housemaid Is Watching is the final installment in the Housemaid series. Millie and Enzo are now settled into suburban life with their family, but strange and unsettling things start happening in their new neighborhood. The threat this time feels closer to home than ever before.

Out of every Freida McFadden book I have read, this one landed at the bottom for me. I finished the series because I love Millie and Enzo and I genuinely wanted to see their story through. And there are moments in this book that I appreciated, particularly anything centered on their family dynamic. But the thriller itself felt rushed and underdeveloped to me. The tension was built more on memory and perception than on concrete events, which made it feel less grounded than her other work. I also want to flag that this book touches on child abuse, which some readers may want to know going in. It was an okay read but as a series finale it did not hit the way I hoped it would.

Where Should You Start?

Here is my genuine recommendation: do not feel pressured to read in order or to start at the top of my list. Start somewhere in the middle or toward the bottom and work your way up. Let yourself build up to the best ones. There are no rules here. We are all just out here reading and having a good time. Pick whichever premise sounds most interesting to you and go from there.

As for me, I still have a few of her books left to get to and I am thinking about making my way through the ones I have not read yet. I have also been giving other women authors a try lately and I am loving expanding my reading list beyond one author.

Interested in reading more Ashley Jane Lit Reads? Try this book review about Do What Your Godmother Says by L.S. Stratton! Definitely a good thriller!

High on Books/ March 18, 2026March 18, 2026

How to Host a Thriller Book Club That People Actually Want to Come Back To

You finish the book at midnight. The twist is still rattling around in your head. You have questions, theories, things you need to say out loud to someone who has also read it. That is the whole point of a book club, right?

Except most book clubs do not actually get there. Someone summarizes the plot for twenty minutes. A few people nod politely. Nobody really disagrees about anything. Then you pick next month’s book and go home feeling like something was missing.

Thriller book clubs specifically have this problem because psychological thrillers are designed to mess with you individually. The unreliable narrator, the twist you either called or completely missed, the moral gray area you are not sure how you feel about. That experience is deeply personal. And getting a group of people to actually open up about it takes more than just showing up with wine and a list of questions you found on Google.

Here is what actually makes a thriller book club worth coming back to.

Pick the right book for the right group

Not every psychological thriller works for every group. Some books are slow burns that reward patient readers. Some have content that will make certain members genuinely uncomfortable. Some have twists so divisive that half your group will love it and half will feel cheated.

Before you commit to a book, think about who is actually in your group. Is this a crowd that loves dark, disturbing content or do they prefer tension without graphic material? Do they like to argue about endings or do they want something everyone can agree was good? A book that lands perfectly for one group can completely derail another.

It also helps to know the subgenre you are working with. Domestic noir sits differently than a true crime adjacent thriller. An unreliable narrator book requires a different kind of conversation than a procedural mystery. Knowing what type of thriller you are picking means you can set expectations for your group before they even start reading.

If you are looking for a good starting pick, Freida McFadden is always a safe bet for a group that wants something to argue about. My review of Dear Debbie breaks down exactly why it works so well for a group discussion.

The best book pick is not the most popular one. It is the one that is going to give your specific group the most to say.

Do not wait until the meeting to think about what to discuss

The host who does the most prep has the best meeting. That is just the reality.

Before your group gets together, sit down and think through the book seriously. What are the three most important things that happen? Where is the real pivot point, the moment everything shifts? What clue did most readers probably miss on first read? What is this book actually about underneath the plot?

That last question is the one that unlocks the best conversations. Every good psychological thriller is about something beyond its twists. Trust. Control. How well we actually know the people closest to us. Grief. Obsession. When you can name that theme, you can steer the group toward discussions that feel meaningful instead of just recapping what happened.

Also prepare a few things to say if the conversation dies. Every host needs these. A question that reframes the whole book, a take that is slightly controversial, a specific scene to revisit. Have them ready and you will never sit in awkward silence.

Send something to your group before the meeting

One of the most underrated moves a host can make is sending a short note to the group two or three days before you meet. Nothing long. Just three or four questions to think about.

Did you trust the narrator from the beginning? When did that change? Who was your number one suspect? What was your actual reaction when the twist landed?

Members who arrive having already thought about the book show up differently. They have opinions ready. They have noticed things they want to bring up. They are not starting from zero when they walk in the door. That pre-meeting email costs you five minutes and completely changes the energy of the first twenty minutes of your meeting.

Members who arrive prepared make your job as a host ten times easier. A short preview message is the cheapest investment you can make.

Never open with a plot summary

This is the number one thing that kills a thriller book club meeting before it starts. Someone starts explaining what happened in the book to the group of people who all just read the book. Everyone zones out immediately.

Instead, open with something that gets a reaction right away. Go around the table and have everyone say one word that describes how they felt finishing the book. Just the word, no explanation yet. Then ask why. You will have a real conversation in under two minutes.

Or start with a show of hands. Hands up if you saw the twist coming. Hands up if you were completely blindsided. Then ask a few of each to explain. The disagreement is instant and it is genuine.

The goal of your opener is to skip the small talk and get straight to the part where people actually have different opinions about something. Thrillers are perfect for this because the twist alone guarantees that not everyone had the same experience reading the book.

Have a plan for when the conversation stalls

Every meeting hits a moment where things slow down. Somebody has said their piece, a few people have agreed, and now the energy drops. This is not a failure, it is just a natural pause. A good host knows exactly what to do with it.

The move is usually a reframe. Instead of asking what happened next, ask what it meant. Instead of asking if someone liked the book, ask what it says about trust, or about how we decide who to believe. Instead of letting everyone agree that the villain was terrible, ask someone to make the strongest possible argument for why the villain was justified.

You can also use the book’s craft as a conversation pivot. Ask the group whether they noticed the author rationing information to keep them hooked. Ask where they felt the unreliable narrator slipping. Ask what the dual timeline was hiding and whether they caught it. Most readers experience these techniques without naming them, and once you name it out loud the whole discussion shifts to a different level.

A good flow guide means you never have to improvise. You just reach for the right move at the right moment.

Make sure everyone reacts to the twist before anyone else speaks

Here is something that makes a genuine difference in how a twist conversation goes. Before you let the group start discussing it, go around the table and have every single person answer three questions in order, without anyone else responding until the round is complete.

Did you see it coming? What was your first thought the second you hit the reveal? Does the twist make the book better or does it feel like it came out of nowhere?

No interrupting until everyone has answered. This sounds like a small rule but it matters because once one or two people share their reaction, everyone else unconsciously adjusts to match the group. You lose the genuine range of reactions that way. The person who saw it coming early and the person who was completely blindsided have completely different things to say, and you want both of those voices before the conversation collapses into consensus.

Go deeper than whether people liked it

The conversations that people remember and come back for are the ones where something clicked, where someone named a thing they had been feeling about the book without being able to say it.

One of the easiest ways to get there is to look at the craft of the book itself. Great psychological thrillers use specific techniques to manipulate the reader. Gaslighting you about what is real. Dramatic irony where you know something a character does not. Trauma as misdirection. A character who is too perfect for too long. Information rationed so precisely that you keep turning pages even when you are not sure why.

When you walk your group through that list and ask which ones they noticed happening to them, the whole conversation changes. It stops being about whether the book was good and starts being about how it worked on them specifically. That is the kind of discussion people talk about afterward.

The host kit that does all of this for you

Everything covered in this post, the book selection, the member prep, the opening moves, the flow guide, the twist roundtable, the technique breakdown, plus a post-meeting log, a group rating card, a next book selector, and a reading history tracker, is inside the Thriller Book Club Host Kit.

It is a 23-page printable PDF built specifically for psychological thriller book clubs. Genre-wide, so it works for any thriller your group picks. Freida McFadden, Shanora Williams, Lisa Jewell, Angela Henry, whatever you are reading next.

Get the Thriller Book Club Host Kit in the Ashley Jane Shop.

Your group deserves a meeting they actually talk about afterward. This kit makes that a lot easier to pull off! Happy Book Club Planning!

High on Books/ February 11, 2026April 7, 2026

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden Book Review

I’m not usually a dark-humor girl when I pick up a thriller. When I want thrills, I want thrills. No jokes unless it’s an ironic, “did that really just happen?” kind of laugh. So I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden and the humor woven throughout the story.

This isn’t laugh-out-loud comedy, but it is the kind of humor that makes you smirk or pause and shake your head. And somehow, it works. The balance between suspense and subtle humor felt intentional instead of distracting, which is not easy to pull off in a thriller.

At its core, Dear Debbie follows Debbie Mullen who seems like your typical suburban mom, she keeps the house running, raises her kids, and writes an advice column called Dear Debbie for her local paper, where woman after woman turns to her for sympathy, encouragement, and practical guidance. But when her own life starts to unravel , losing her job, family tensions rising, and secrets bubbling just beneath the surfaces, Debbie begins to question what being reasonable really gets her.

She’s always been someone who solves problems and not just for her readers, but for the people she cares about most. And when life starts pushing her to the edge, she doesn’t sit back and stay “reasonable” for long. Instead, she starts taking her own advice in ways that are surprising, unsettling… and sometimes downright ruthless. Debbie’s fierce loyalty to her family slowly reveals itself as a kind of warped justice: she’ll do anything for the people she loves, even if it means fighting fire with fire.

What I really liked was reading a thriller from the point of view of the person doing the dirty work. Debbie has a reason for everything she does. Whether you agree with her logic or not is another story, but she’s convinced she’s justified, and that makes the experience way more engaging. You’re constantly questioning whether she’s right, wrong, or somewhere in between.

The premise also hit a nostalgic note for me. I was obsessed with Dear Abby growing up and genuinely believed I could be the kid version of her. I even wrote in once with that dream in mind. Spoiler alert: she never responded. So when I saw the concept behind this book, I knew I had to read it as soon as it came out.

It’s no secret that I love Freida McFadden’s books. If you’ve read my review of The Boyfriend, you already know she’s one of my go-to authors when I want something fast, twisty, and bingeable. Dear Debbie absolutely delivered on that front. The twists were satisfying, and even though I’m starting to recognize some of her patterns, I still enjoy the ride every single time.

I finished this in about a day and a half. The only reason it took that long is because I had to work. Otherwise, this easily could’ve been a one-sitting read.

🔥 Lit Meter: 4.9/5 Lighters

Readability When High:

Very easy to follow and quick to get through. The chapters move fast, the perspective stays clear, and nothing feels overly complicated. This is a true binge read, even if you’re only half paying attention at first.

Mind-Blown Factor:

The twists aren’t jaw-dropping, but they’re satisfying. Once you start to understand Debbie’s mindset and motivations, things begin to fall into place. The fun is less about shock and more about watching how far she’s willing to go.

Vibe Check:

Everyday mom life, small-town routine, and quiet frustration simmering under the surface. It feels grounded and familiar, which makes the darker choices and humor hit harder as the story unfolds.

Smokability:

A smooth hybrid vibe. Relaxing enough to stay comfortable, but engaging enough that you don’t zone out. This is a “one more chapter” kind of read.

Would I Reread While Baked?:

Yes. This feels like a good reread because knowing Debbie’s motivations adds another layer to her decisions. The buildup and internal logic are just as entertaining the second time around.

If you enjoy thrillers that are quick, a little messy, and told from an unexpected point of view, Dear Debbie is worth picking up. It’s not heavy or emotionally draining, but it is entertaining and easy to get lost in. You can grab your copy here and see for yourself why this one kept me hooked until the very last page.

Not sure if this one is for you? Take the quiz below and find out what you should actually be reading right now!

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High on Books/ January 25, 2026April 7, 2026

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine Book Review (Domestic Thriller)

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine is a domestic psychological thriller that gives rich-people chaos, obsession, and a woman who wants someone else’s life way too bad. The wealth in this book is actually insane. I don’t even know if I fully understand how the wealthy live for real, but it was still such an interesting perspective to read through, because everything is bigger, shinier, and somehow more dangerous.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All reviews are my own, and I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it using my Libby library card.

I loved this book even though I’m not going to lie… I did think the ending was a little predictable once the twist started coming into focus. Not in a way that made it unenjoyable, just in a “okay yeah I see where this is going” kind of way. But the thing is, the author set this story up really well, especially with the way the perspectives are written. The pacing made it hard to stop, and the voice for each main character was distinct enough that you stay locked in.

What really worked for me was the way the story builds tension with image, status, and control. It’s not just a “she’s jealous” book. It’s very much about power, access, and how someone can quietly insert themselves into your life while you’re not paying attention. I also liked how the writing made the setting feel real, even when I couldn’t relate to the lifestyle at all. It still felt immersive.

My only real critique is that I wanted more time with the controlling behavior and the full impact of it. I wanted to see more of the tension and the ways it affected the women beyond what we got, but maybe that’s something the second book explores more. I’m still deciding if I’m even reading the next one though, because the premise looks like a lot of teaming up and back-and-forth and I don’t know if I’m in the mood for that… but I also might be judging too early.

Also, I heard Jennifer Lopez is filming the Netflix movie adaptation for this, and I’m not even mad at it. Actress J.Lo? I like her. I think she could be a great Mrs. Parrish.

🔥 Lit Meter: 4.9/5 Lighters

Readability When High: Easy to follow and super bingeable. The writing flows and the perspective shifts keep it moving.

Mind-Blown Factor: The twist is good, but I did find the ending a little predictable once it started clicking into place.

Vibe Check: Wealthy suburb perfection on the outside, messy intentions underneath, and tension that builds quietly but consistently.

Smokability: A clean hybrid. Something that keeps you relaxed but not too sleepy, because you’ll want to keep going.

Would I Reread While Baked? Yes. I’d reread it for sure, especially for the buildup and the way the perspectives are set up. It’s one of those books that’s fun to revisit once you already know what’s coming.

If you want a domestic thriller with rich-people obsession, shifting perspectives, and a smooth bingeable pace, The Last Mrs. Parrish is worth picking up. Pick it up here!

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High on Books/ January 18, 2026April 7, 2026

Do What Godmother Says by L.S. Stratton Book Review (Black Gothic Thriller)

Do What Godmother Says by L.S. Stratton is a dual-timeline Black gothic thriller that moves between a present-day writer and a Harlem Renaissance artist, tied together by a painting with a deadly secret. It’s tense, eerie, and layered in a way that feels culturally rich instead of generic. And yes, it kept me turning pages… even when the main character had me wanting to reach through the book and shake her.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All reviews are my own, and I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it using my Libby library card. Thank you for supporting Ashley Jane!

The story follows Shanice Pierce, a present-day writer whose life starts spiraling while she’s dealing with grief, stress, and the kind of mental exhaustion that makes everything feel heavier than it should. When a mysterious painting comes back into her life, it opens the door to a whole history she wasn’t prepared for. At the same time, the book flips you back into the Harlem Renaissance timeline, where we meet Estelle Johnson, an aspiring painter who gets pulled into the orbit of a wealthy patron who insists on being called “Godmother.”

What made this book hit for me was the atmosphere and the cultural alignment. This wasn’t just a thriller with Black characters dropped in. It had voice, texture, and a real sense of place. The Harlem Renaissance chapters were my favorite part, and every time the story jumped back, I was locked in. Those sections had that mix of beauty and danger that makes a book feel cinematic, especially with the way “Godmother” positions herself as a protector and benefactor while everything underneath her feels off.

I also loved that the book didn’t treat mental health like a quick plot device. Shanice’s stress, overwhelm, and family dynamics felt human, not just “thriller stuff happening.” The tension wasn’t only coming from the mystery, it was coming from her life already being heavy, which made everything feel sharper.

My only real annoyance was some repetition and the fact that Shanice stressed me out. There were moments where the same thoughts kept circling and I found myself like okay girl we get it. And she made choices that had me whispering “why would you do that???” more than once. But honestly, that’s also how I know the thriller was working. If the main character has your blood pressure up, the tension is doing its job.

Another critique is that I wanted the damage to feel more concrete. The concept of Godmother is so strong that I wanted one or two more moments that showed exactly how deep her reach goes, not just hints and vague references. That would’ve made the threat feel even bigger and the impact hit harder.

🔥 Lit Meter: 4.9/5 Lighters

Readability When High: Easy to follow and the timeline switching doesn’t get confusing. The pacing is steady and it keeps you locked in.

Mind-Blown Factor: Not constant shock twists, but the suspense builds in a way that keeps you reading because something feels wrong the whole time.

Vibe Check: Black gothic thriller energy with Harlem Renaissance beauty, art, power, and control layered underneath it all. Creepy, cinematic, and culturally rich.

Smokability: Something that keeps you calm but alert. Not too heavy, because you’ll start side-eyeing every character like it’s personal.

Would I Reread While Baked? Yes. Especially for the Harlem Renaissance chapters. That timeline was elite.

If you’re in the mood for a thriller that feels eerie, layered, and culturally aligned, Do What Godmother Says is worth the ride! You can pick it up here!

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High on Books/ January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Thrillers That Weren’t For Me (But Might Be For You)

Not every thriller book is a bad book. Sometimes it’s just not my thriller book.

I’m picky about thrillers and I’ve realized I have a few “red flags” that will make a story fall flat for me fast. So this isn’t a drag on any author, and I’m not telling you not to read these. These are thrillers that weren’t for me, but they might be for you depending on your thriller taste. If you want a thriller that actually did work for me, here’s my review of The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden.

So if you’re a thriller reader who likes honest opinions (without all the dramatic “worst book ever” energy), here are four popular thrillers that weren’t for me, why they didn’t work, and who I think they might be perfect for.

My Thriller Red Flags

What usually makes a thriller not work for me:

When it’s marketed as a thriller but reads more like romance or drama
When the middle gets too messy and loses the main plot
When characters feel off or the writing choices pull me out
When the ending doesn’t have enough payoff and I’m left like… “that’s it?”
When characters of color are written in a way that feels off, unnecessary, or distracting

If any of these don’t bother you, honestly you might have a better time with these than I did. Heads up: this post may include affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you)!

Four Thrillers That Weren’t For Me

1) Verity — Colleen Hoover

Premise

Verity follows a writer who’s hired to finish a bestselling author’s book series after an accident leaves that author unable to continue. But once she enters the author’s home and life, she finds a manuscript full of disturbing “truths,” and things get messy fast.

It wasn’t for me because…

I kept waiting for the suspense to really kick in, but for me this read more like romance/drama with a dark twist than an actual thriller. It didn’t feel suspenseful or intense the way I want thrillers to feel. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat… I was more like “okay so… when are we getting to the THRILL?”

And I’ll be honest, the writing style felt immature in a way that made it hard for me to take the story seriously. I’ve heard people say that’s a thing with some of Colleen Hoover’s books, and I definitely felt it here. It just wasn’t the type of writing voice I enjoy in this genre.

But you might like it if…

You love relationship mess, obsession, shock value, and books that feel like a fast binge-read. If you like thrillers that lean more emotional, dramatic, and scandalous, this might be your kind of chaos.

Also… she’s clearly doing something right because there’s a movie coming and Anne Hathaway is going to KILL it. I’m honestly more excited for the film version than the book.

2) Last Girl Ghosted — Lisa Unger

Premise

This one follows a woman whose online dating experience turns into a mystery when a man she’s been seeing suddenly disappears, and she starts realizing she might not be the only one he’s done this to. It’s a modern thriller with that “something is not adding up” vibe from the start.

It wasn’t for me because…

This one actually started strong. It was well-written, the plot idea was interesting, and it pulled me in fast. But somewhere in the middle, it started getting too in the weeds. The story felt like it was juggling too many directions at once, and it lost some of the focus that made the beginning so gripping.

I also felt like the most interesting part of the story was the angle involving the past girls and their situations, and I wish the book leaned harder into that and what it meant with the characters of the book. That part had the most potential to be intense, haunting, and emotionally heavy. Instead, it felt like the story rushed through pieces that could’ve been more developed, and then suddenly we were at the conclusion.

But you might like it if…

You enjoy modern mysteries, online dating thrillers, missing person stories, and books with a steady slow-burn unraveling. If you like a plot that gets more complicated as it goes, you might love this one.

3) Creep — Jennifer Hillier

Premise

Sheila Tao is a psychology professor who’s engaged, but she ends up in an affair with her graduate teaching assistant, Ethan. When she tries to end it and move on with her life, Ethan does not take rejection well and things spiral into blackmail, obsession, and a nasty cat-and-mouse situation.

It wasn’t for me because…

I tried so hard to like this book because the premise is strong and the thriller angle is definitely there. But I spent most of the book frowning. The story kept pulling me out instead of pulling me in.

And I’m going to say it plainly: I didn’t like how the book wrote characters of color. But to be fair, as little as they were in there at least she tried to put them in versus other authors. Certain choices felt off to me, and once that feeling set in, it kept distracting me from the suspense. So even when the plot was doing what it was supposed to do, I wasn’t enjoying the reading experience. I finished it, but it just wasn’t for me.

But you might like it if…

You like darker thrillers that lean into obsession, control, and “this is getting worse by the page,” and you don’t mind characters making messy decisions that set the whole plot on fire.

4) Every Last Secret — A.R. Torre

Premise

This is a domestic/psychological thriller about two couples in a wealthy neighborhood: Cat and William Winthorpe, and their new neighbors Neena and Matt Ryder. Neena becomes fixated on William and the Winthorpes’ lifestyle, and the story turns into a rivalry between Cat and Neena that escalates into manipulation, secrets, and a lot of calculated behavior.

It wasn’t for me because…

It wasn’t that A.R. Torre cannot write, the writing is strong and the alternating perspectives are one of the best parts of the book. I also liked the way the characters were drawn because you can feel the power struggle.

But the payoff didn’t hit for me. I got to the end like… okay? That’s it? I wanted more suspense and more “thriller” energy. It felt like it was building toward something sharper or more shocking, and then it just kind of… landed. So I walked away disappointed because I could see the potential, but it didn’t deliver the impact I wanted.

But you might like it if…

You like rich-neighborhood drama, messy power dynamics, and psychological tension that’s more about rivalry and control than jump-scare twists.

Final Thoughts

If you loved any of these thrillers, don’t jump me 😂 they just weren’t for me. Everybody’s thriller taste is different, and sometimes a book can be popular as hell and still not hit your personal buttons. These are just the books that weren’t for me, but they might be perfect for you depending on what you like. And if you have a thriller that actually delivered suspense the whole way through and had a real payoff at the end… I need recommendations immediately. I’m always looking for my next “can’t put this down” read.

High on Books/ June 15, 2025April 7, 2026

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest – All The Feels

Book Review: The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest, All The Feels

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest is a contemporary romance that delivers all the cozy, slow-burn vibes. Centering on Lily, an aspiring editor, and Nick, a mysterious author, this story begins through anonymous emails and blossoms into an unexpected in-person connection. What starts as a virtual pen pal relationship soon becomes deeper without either of them initially realizing it. It’s giving You’ve Got Mail for the modern reader, but better. With a Black couple at the center, soft moments, and a drama-free romance arc, this book was refreshing and joyful.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All reviews are my own, and I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it using my Libby library card.

Kristina Forest became an auto-read author for me with this one. I picked up the book after seeing it around during her promo tour, and I’ll admit, the gorgeous cover featuring a Black couple drew me in immediately. I was looking for a feel-good romance, and this gave me exactly what I needed. The initial email thread felt cheeky, nostalgic, and sweet, just like a 2000s rom-com.

What made this book resonate with me was its writing style. Kristina’s voice is smooth and familiar in the best way, like a friend telling you a love story. From the song references to the cookout moments, it felt like I was reading something written for me, not just at me. The supporting characters added depth and warmth, too. I didn’t realize this was part of a series with Lily’s sisters, but I plan to read the others once I come down from my thriller phase.

If I had one tiny complaint, it’s that I wanted more from the email exchange. That part of the story pulled me in, and I wish it had lasted just a bit longer. But maybe I was going too fast because I was enjoying it so much.

This is the kind of romance that lets love be soft. No trauma bonding, no heartbreak Olympics, just chemistry, tension, and joy. It made me feel stoned and in love in the best way.

🔥 Lit Meter: 5/5 Lighters

Readability When High: Super easy to follow, even if you’re a little faded. The writing flows, the pacing is smooth, and the dialogue feels real.
Mind-Blown Factor: This isn’t a twisty read, but emotionally? The vibes hit hard. Especially if you’re craving soft love stories.
Vibe Check: Romantic, nostalgic, and just a little cheeky. It’s like slipping into your favorite hoodie and watching a rom-com that gets you.
Smokability: This is a warm-tea-and-a-hybrid type of book. Something that relaxes your body and lets your heart stay open.
Would I Reread While Baked? Yes. 100% yes. Especially the email parts. They’re cozy and intimate in a way that feels timeless.

If you’re looking for a romance that gives you joy without dragging you through the mud, The Neighbor Favor should be next on your list. You can grab it here and let yourself fall in love a little.

Category: High on Books