The Underdog

by Sagit Schwartz

When Liz, a down-on-her-luck director stuck working as a chaperone for a reality TV music show, picks up a new contestant from a psychiatric hospital, dubbed “The Singing Patient” by fans online, things take an unexpected turn. The contestant disappears at the airport, and Liz finds herself under police suspicion, accused of helping the woman flee in exchange for money.

Across the country, Norma, an obsessive viewer of The Underdog, is captivated by one contestant's story. Feeling an intense connection, she travels to Los Angeles to watch the show filmed live and meet her.

As the mystery deepens and the investigation into the missing contestant intensifies, the shocking murder of The Singing Patient’s husband leads Liz and Norma into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. With each twist and turn, Liz discovers that Norma is not your average fan—but someone far more dangerous.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

Thank you so much for being here! The best part about writing books is connecting with readers like you! If you've read and enjoyed my work, I'm so glad. You can sign up for my infrequent newsletter through my website to get the latest updates on new releases. You can also contact me through there. I do my best to respond to all emails. Happy reading!

Reviews

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The queen of “WTF?!” twists, Sagit Schwartz knocked it out of the park yet again with her newest novel, The Underdog. From the dual mesmerizing plot lines to the two highly memorable narrators, my eyes didn’t veer from the page from the moment I started reading until I reached the last juicy word. You see, not only was the whole thing the very definition of deliciously unhinged, but the interwoven storyline kept me happily guessing. Expertly plotted, blindingly fast-paced, and filled with brilliant edge-of-your-seat insanity, I alternated between gleefully smirking and gasping in delight as this feisty off-her-rocker grandma blew me away. I shouldn’t, however, be all that surprised by Schwartz’s knockout of a second novel after her short story, Broken Threads, easily cemented her masterful skill in my eyes.

While I loved absolutely everything about this novel, I have just one teeny, tiny forewarning: you’re definitely going to need to suspend all disbelief. A somewhat satirical tale, the realism was faint in this completely and utterly perfect popcorn thriller. So as long as you don’t mind putting all expectations aside, I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did. After all, it was a quick, easy read that proved to be the absolute best kind of palate cleanser to my harder-hitting, dark thrillers. Now that I’ve said my piece, let’s get back to my gushing applause.

Okay. So what else did I love about this dynamite novel? Well, the characterizations were dead-on perfection. To name just a few examples, there was a man you’ll love to hate, a down-on-her-luck sleuth, and, of course, my favorite one of all: the on-point over-the-top granny. That being said, the plotting was just as successful given the cat-and-mouse antics and wicked gamesmanship going on. With some truly thought-provoking themes underneath all of the fun, it’s no big surprise that my colleagues and friends with Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse have been raving about this one for ages. So if you’re looking for a rollicking good time, you needn’t look any further as you’ve found it right here. Twisted, hilarious, and sharp, now all I need is the much wanted sequel to this addictive wild ride. Rating of 5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

When Liz, a down-on-her-luck director stuck working as a chaperone for a reality TV music show, picks up a new contestant from a psychiatric hospital, dubbed “The Singing Patient” by fans online, things take an unexpected turn. The contestant disappears at the airport, and Liz finds herself under police suspicion, accused of helping the woman flee in exchange for money.

Across the country, Norma, an obsessive viewer of The Underdog, is captivated by one contestant's story. Feeling an intense connection, she travels to Los Angeles to watch the show filmed live and meet her.

As the mystery deepens and the investigation into the missing contestant intensifies, the two women will find their paths crossing in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. One thing is certain, though. By the time the dust settles, Liz will discover that Norma is not your average fan—but someone far more dangerous.

Thank you to Sagit Schwartz for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: October 14, 2025

Content warning: infant death, blackmail, violence, kidnapping

[BiblioPeeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One of the most painful realizations of motherhood was knowing Cookie would never be able to adequately thank Norma for the countless sacrifices she had made for her."

Wild, wacky and unhinged just the way I love it! Norma is deliciously OFF. HER. ROCKER! I couldn't get enough. There are not many things I love more than a wildly delusional and unhinged character and Norma is FASCINATING. She's clearly a raging narcissist who can't seem to comprehend why her adult daughter doesn't want to have anything to do with her. You'll be able to see clearly why that is within just a few chapters. On the other hand there's poor Liz, who is just trying to make her way in Hollywood and ends up trying to chase down a runaway contestant on a reality singing show. How do these two perspectives entwine? Brilliantly and you'll have to read THE UNDERDOG to find out how!

I couldn't put this down once I started. I loved Norma in all her crazy glory! Don't get me wrong, Liz is just as interesting, but for me, Norma stole the show. I'm not sure what it says about me that I was able to predict such twisty deranged events, (and NOT just from Norma!) but there you have it. It must be that Sagit Schwartz expertly provides subtle foreshadowing that allowed me to anticipate MOST of the insanity before it happened AND keep me on the edge-of-my seat. I say most because well...some things you just can't see coming and don't even get me started on that clever sequel-worthy ending!

THE UNDERDOG is wildly entertaining, impossible to put down and above all else, is wicked good FUN! You can expect the UNEXPECTED along with a taut and dangerous game of cat and mouse that you'll want to devour. If you're looking for a read that will have you flipping pages furiously while shaking your head at demented shenanigans, look no further!
____


Thank you Sagit Schwartz for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did I just read?? The Underdog is nuts….and I mean that in the nicest possible way. I almost read this in one sitting, but my tired eyes had other ideas and I wanted to savour it. I loved this authors first book and her insane short story, so reading this was a no brainer. This is going to be a year’s favourite, all my friends at the thrillerloversthepulse are so excited for this wild story.

I don’t even know where to start, honestly there is a lot to unpack here. Crazy mothers, a reality TV show for people who are doing it tough in life, a missing patient and so much more. Liz and Norma are both couch great characters, and could not be much different. It looks at public perception on what they see in TV, mental illness and so much more I can’t mention without spoilers.

All I can say is get comfortable and settle in for a wild wild ride.

Out in October 14th, this has got to be on your TBR

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twisty, creative story with twists I didn't see coming.

Taking place in the world of reality TV, a contestant goes missing triggering a domino effect leading to one crazy event after another.

A completely bingeable unputdownable popcorn thriller.

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a twisty, fast-paced popcorn thriller read; my fellow Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse members feel the same!

The story, built around a reality TV singing competition (The Underdog), was told in alternating dual POVs. The author kept me on my toes as I tried to work out how the pieces would come together, but come together they did in a satisfying ending.

This was pure escapist fun with a wild, over-the-top storyline and one unhinged character. I enjoyed the inclusion of social media posts by The Underdog fans, and the gentle mocking of the hype and popularity surrounding reality TV shows.

This was a great way to spend a day getting pulled in and entertained by this fun read. I can’t wait for more from this author! If you haven’t already, check out her excellent novella, Broken Threads.

Thanks to the author for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

[Krissy (books_and_biceps9155) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything that Schwartz has written and when I heard about The Underdog, I couldn’t wait. This is the definition of a popcorn thriller! All the characters are unhinged, and I loved seeing how Schwartz spun the two POVs together at the end. It’s a cat and mouse game that will keep you hooked until the last page. I just had to know how all this crazy was going to mix.

I must mention that even though this is dark, there are some very real LOL moments involved. I sniggered out loud several times when reading. This was a great palette cleaner that solidified my love for Schwartz once again.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible cat and mouse novel with twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Everyone in the Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse is raving about this so much, I can't believe I waited so long to read it. The characters were well written and so very unhinged. Sagit did an amazing job writing from the POV of Liz and Norma and I loved how seamless both stories wove into one big reveal. You're gonna definitely want to run and not walk on October 14th when this is released. Bravo!

[J.L. Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for The Underdog. Schwartz can write unhinged like nobody else. The main character is absolutely out of her mind, but she's written in a way that the reader can see why she's justifying her actions. This book is a quick read and has twists and turns throughout. I believe it will be live in October - you don't want to miss out!

[Kate Hergott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of twisted mother-daughter relationships, reality competition shows, and delusionally unhinged characters will devour The Underdog!

Liz, a chaperone for reality TV series The Underdog, loses track of one of the contestants in an airport bathroom, and is trialed in the court of public opinion for whether she let the woman escape.

Across the country, Norma, a sixty-something woman who is estranged from her adult daughter, fixates on a contestant on The Underdog. When she travels to LA to meet the contestant, her plans are derailed, setting off a chain of unexpected events.

As the story unfurls, Norma and Liz's stories cross and lead to an utterly wild climax.

This new thriller from Sagit Schwartz is packed with reveals, and provides a fresh take on the obsession trope in thrillers through Norma's estranged relationship with her daughter. For anyone who's ever been close to a delusional, martyred narcissist, Norma's wild justifications in her mind for how she is in the right will be thoroughly cathartic.

The Underdog has the voice and tone of a villainous woman of a certain age that Samantha Downing brings to Too Old for This with the dark mother-daughter dynamic of John Marrs' What Lies Between Us.

[Kait Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a thriller I enjoyed this much. It kept my attention the entire time. I have found myself so bored with traditional thrillers lately and by the last 50 pages wanting to give up — but not with this one! Each chapter is 2-3 pages long and the plot moves fast. Lots of fun twists and turns - and will keep you guessing until the last page. What a blast! Thank you Sagit for the gifted copy! I will be recommending this one again and again! 🖤

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

Liz was living out of her car until she got a call to work on a new music reality TV show called The Underdog. Her dream is to direct, but right now she'll take any job, including being a chaperone to the contestants on the show. One contestant, fans are calling "The Singing Patient," has to be picked up outside a psychiatric hospital. She's definitely a fan favorite, and when Liz "loses" her at the airport, things take a turn for the worst. Liz is now under investigation because the police think she helped the woman escape in exchange for money.
Norma, who has become obsessed with the show and especially one contestant, decides she's going to go to LA to meet her.
As the investigation into the missing contestant intensifies Liz starts to do her own digging. She discovers some unsettling secrets about "The Singing Patient" and when her husband is found murdered things really hit the fan. Who killed "The Singing Patient"'s husband? Where did "The Singing Patient" go and why did she run?

Told in the dual POVs of Liz and Norma, this was an incredibly entertaining read. It was fast-paced, wild, crazy, and seriously unhinged! The twists were absolutely shocking, and I loved the ending. This was such an original story. I loved the way the author tied the characters together. It was so unexpected. If you're looking for a totally bingeable, fun, twisty popcorn thriller, this is it! I definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR🩷

[Kyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! That was an absolute rollercoaster ride! This went from nuts to crazy to WTF and I couldn’t read it fast enough!
I thought I was so smart and had things figured out and boy did I have it wrong!
This was so entertaining and I cannot wait to read more from Sagit!

[Krista crone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE POPCORN THRILLER of 2025! I devoured this twisty thriller and couldn’t stop reading. Do yourself a favor and add this AMAZING book to your TBR.

Thanks to Sagit Schwartz and Thriller Book Lovers (The Pulse) for my gifted copy!

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. This was fun, chaotic, and completely diabolical. A popcorn thriller in the best way- fast-paced, twisty, and totally bingeable.

We follow two seemingly unrelated storylines:

👵 Norma – older, obsessive, and spiraling over being cut off by her daughter.
🎬 Liz – an aspiring director stuck chaperoning a singer, who the show recruited from a psych hospital (fans call her The Singing Patient). But when the singer disappears in transit and her husband is found dead, Liz becomes a prime suspect.

At about the 40% mark, these two stories collide, and from there, it becomes a full-on cat-and-mouse game with dark turns and wild reveals.

My Reactions while reading:
• OMG, Norma – What the hell?! Your world is so warped. Unhinged doesn’t even begin to cover it.
• Liz – Girl, can anything go right for you?! You seriously can’t catch a break.

Final Verdict: 👍 Completely original. A wild, binge-worthy ride packed with jaw-dropping twists. If you love your thrillers dark, fast-paced, and unhinged, this one’s for you.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was nuts and I loved every second of it.

[Julie Maleski (juliereads_alot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Underdog By Sagit Schwartz
Publication Date: October 14, 2025
Publisher: Jagged Edge Press

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(4.5⭐ -- Rounded Up to 5⭐)

A big thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and Sagit Schwartz for the #gifted e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

The Underdog was a propulsive and captivating popcorn thriller that had me in its grip immediately! This was a wildly unhinged read that really raised the bar when it came to maximum craziness -- and I was here for every page of it.

With its short chapters and alternating chapters told from dual POVs, this was a fast read. We meet Liz and Norma. Liz is a production assistant on LA's hottest new singing competition reality show, The Underdog. Liz 'loses' one of the show's frontrunners at the airport and gets tangled up in some legal troubles because of it. And the only person who can help Liz get out of this mess vis the contestant -- but nobody knows where she went. Norma is an older woman living across the country who's estranged from her pregnant daughter Cookie and is REALLY not okay with the no-contact boundaries Cookie recently put in place. Norma is willing to do WHATEVER it takes to show Cookie that no matter how old she gets, she'll always need her mom. Norma also decides she is meant to befriend one of the Underdog contestants who was abandoned by her foster parents, because Norma understands being abandoned too - by her own daughter. She heads to LA for a taping of The Underdog, planning to bring this contestant home with her - that'll teach Cookie a lesson! In a nutshell, Norma is delusionally unhinged and utterly fascinating -- and a brilliantly written character!

There were a lot of storylines going on, with lots of minor subplots that felt like the equivalent of busy work at school. I thought there were a few tangents that could've been left out of the story and the book would've been just as good. But with that being said, I enjoyed all these subplots and they didn't slow the story down at all; they were just maybe a lil bit extraneous.

Though there were moments I had to suspend my disbelief, it didn't give me pause -- I continued to turn page after page as I waited for these unhinged storylines to intersect. And when the characters' storylines finally intersected? Well, it was the purest unhinged chaos I didn't even know I wanted -- and totally loved.

The Underdog was such a wild and twisted ride, I lost track of how many times I said "what the actual f*ck?!" out loud as I read. If you're a fan of unhinged characters - to the point of narcissistic and sociopathic behaviors - you're going to love this story. Grab this book and buckle up, baby -- it's about to be a twisty and bumpy ride. Kudos to Schwartz for one hell of a fun read!

#TheUnderdog #SagitSchwartz #JaggedEdgePress #thrillerbookloversthepulse #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #popcornthriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

[Chelsea (gofetchabook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vibes of this book were immaculate, and it was the perfect read for me. It was a breath of fresh air in a sea of mundane and recycled thriller plots that readers have been inundated with this year. I was just so excited to come across something so new and unique.

The book has two intertwined storylines. One follows an American Idol type singing contest with the twist that all of the participants are down on their luck and uniquely situated. The main focus is a woman from a psychiatric ward who is nonverbal except for when she is singing. When she is cleared to leave the ward to attend the taping of the show, she goes missing, her husband ends up dead, there is a massive manhunt for her, and the entire country is captivated by the story.

The second storyline is about a mother who can't understand or accept why her adult daughter would choose to go no contact with her. As the book progresses, the mother becomes more and more unhinged in the best possible way for a thriller, as she comes up with more and more tricks and tactics to try to get close to her daughter who wants nothing to do with her. I loved this storyline the most until the two came crashing together and merged into one.

I was fascinated by the concept of using estranged adult children going "no contact" as a plot in a thriller book. This isn't a new phenomenon, but it is certainly one that has all of a sudden taken TikTok by storm and being widely talked about with the millennial generation. I just think it is such a fantastic and unique (right now) idea to work into a thriller book. There are just endless, untapped, unhinged situations that an author could create with this. I am also willing to bet that this is a thriller trope that we will start to see over and over again in the future, but Sagit Schwartz is the first I have seen use it.

Overall, I highly recommend that thriller lovers read this book. I think all types of thriller readers will enjoy it, but it is especially good for those who read a ton of them and are bored with the same basic, mundane plots. This was something entirely new, and I loved everything about it.

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW - THE UNDERDOG
by Sagit Schwartz
Release Date: 10/14/2025

My favorite Instagram group, @thrillerbookloversthepulse, really picked a winner with this one. “The Underdog” is a twisted, layered thriller that managed to keep me guessing and chuckling at the same time! It is easily one of my top reads this year. It’s dark, tangled, and just the right amount of unhinged.

“The Underdog” is the kind of thriller that makes you stop every few chapters just to ask yourself, “What on earth did I just read?” Sagit Schwartz doesn’t just grab your attention; she hijacks it and takes you on a wild, twisty detour through reality TV, family dysfunction, and psychological suspense.

There are two chaotic and fascinating storylines that collide. First, a reality TV singing competition gets a jolt of pure weirdness when a contestant known as "The Singing Patient" goes missing. She’s just been released from a psychiatric hospital and doesn’t speak unless she’s belting out a tune. Then her husband is found dead, and everyone’s an armchair detective, glued to the manhunt that’s stranger than a true crime documentary.

Then there’s Norma. She’s a mom on a mission to figure out why her adult daughter wants nothing to do with her. Norma joins a support group for estranged parents, but spoiler: these folks are not exactly pillars of sanity. Norma’s desperate, half-baked schemes to win her daughter back are equal parts hilarious and disturbing. She’s the kind of character who’s so off-the-wall, you kind of can’t help but cheer her on.

Seeing these storylines come together feels like binge-watching real reality TV. If you enjoy unpredictable stories, complicated characters, and books that keep you guessing, "The Underdog" should be at the top of your list

Thanks to the author and Jagged Edge Press for providing this #giftedARC.

#TheUnderdog #SagitSchwartz #JaggedEdgePress
Twisty Thriller ~ Unhinged Moms ~ Reality TV Gone Wrong ~ Mother Daughter Drama ~ Darkly Funny ~ Messy Characters ~ Psychological Suspense ~ Multiple Storylines ~ Fame and Madness ~ Love-to-Hate Characters ~ Toxic Relationships

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first thriller I've read by Sagit Schwartz, but I definitely want to read more from her. I was really impressed by The Underdog. It grabbed me right from the beginning and had me invested the entire way through.

The concept of this thriller is clever and there are so many twists that it kept me on my toes the entire time. I was surprised by a lot of what was revealed, but I can't say anything more so as to not spoil the experience. All I will say is that Norma is unhinged. I understand why, but she takes it to the next level. I really liked Liz and wanted her name to be cleared from any wrongdoing. I also appreciated that she was Jewish, which made her feel even more relatable.

Overall, The Underdog is really well-told and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good suspense thriller.

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Liz: Zoey Deutch

Norma: Julie Warner

Cookie: Katherine Langford

Jeff: James Wolk

Jennifer: Sara Waisglass

Liam: Arty Froushan
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TW: Death of infant. Death of mother (off page). Gruesome murder scene. Kidnapping. Post-partum depression. Infidelity. Parental estrangement. Poverty.

[Larry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHOA. This was one wild ride! Thanks so much to the amazing Sagit Schwartz for sharing an ARC of her upcoming popcorn thriller with me!!

Liz dreams of being a filmmaker. A graduate of the American Film Institute, she showed early promise but never got the support she needed to get her movie idea off the ground. Swimming in debt thanks to student loans, she now works as a chaperone for the singing competition show, The Underdog .

Meanwhile, Norma has sacrificed everything for her daughter Cookie. But Cookie has repaid Norma by telling her she wants nothing to do with her. Cookie and her fiancé are starting their life together and expecting a baby, leaving Norma out in the cold.

Liz is assigned to pick up the show’s newest contestant, Jennifer. She is a patient at a psychiatric hospital who only communicates via singing, she doesn’t speak. Yet when Liz and “The Singing Patient” go to the airport to fly to LA, Jennifer escapes, and Liz is suspected of helping Jennifer in exchange for money.

Feeling abandoned by her daughter, Norma goes to LA to try and meet Svetlana, an orphan and contestant on The Underdog . She’s also determined to make Cookie regret banishing her from her life.

This book is a little like a roller coaster; once it starts picking up speed and the tension ratchets up, there’s no stopping it. I couldn’t wait to see how it all wrapped up…and maybe a sequel at some point?

The book will publish 10/14.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Jagged Edge Press and Sagit Schwartz for the ARC!

I loved Sagit Schwartz’s previous book (Since She’s Been Gone) and I was eager to dive into this one with my friends at The Pulse. I am happy to report it surpassed all my expectations!

Liz, a down-on-her-luck director, is working as a contestant chaperone for a popular reality tv show, The Underdog. This show is a singing competition for people from different backgrounds. Their newest edition is a woman from a psychiatric hospital who doesn’t speak, only sings. Dubbed “The Singing Patient”, Liz is responsible for picking her up from the airport. When she disappears, things get complicated very quickly.

I have to say, lately I have been over the “reality tv show” trope, but this book was something else. The reality show isn’t the main focus here, only part of it, so I didn’t feel like the entire story was wrapped up in the rules etc of the competition. The characters themselves were intriguing and their backstories immediately took hold of me. Told from a dual perspective, we have Liz, just trying to survive the nightmare she has found herself in, and Norma, a woman across the country who is a huge fan of the show. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how their storylines were going to converge (if at all!) The fast pacing kept me locked in and if I didn’t physically fall asleep (don’t get old kids), I could have easily read this book in one sitting! WIth laugh-out-loud moments, an unhinged FMC and twists I didn’t anticipate at all, this was the perfect thriller. If you are in a slump and looking for a book to get you out of it, grab this one - you won’t be disappointed!

This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Sagit Schwartz has become a favorite of ours at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, so I couldn’t wait to read this one!

Synopsis:

When Liz, a down-on-her-luck director stuck working as a chaperone for a reality TV music show, picks up a new contestant from a psychiatric hospital, dubbed “The Singing Patient” by fans online, things take an unexpected turn. The contestant disappears at the airport, and Liz finds herself under police suspicion, accused of helping the woman flee in exchange for money.

Across the country, Norma, an obsessive viewer of The Underdog, is captivated by one contestant’s story. Feeling an intense connection, she travels to Los Angeles to watch the show filmed live and meet her.

As the mystery deepens and the investigation into the missing contestant intensifies, the shocking murder of The Singing Patient’s husband leads Liz and Norma into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. With each twist and turn, Liz discovers that Norma is not your average fan—but someone far more dangerous.

My Thoughts:

Wow! As a lover of reality television, this was the perfect book for me! It’s a quick popcorn thriller full of twists and turns that takes you on a wild ride! If you’re looking for a different kind of thriller that’s fun and bingeable, then you need to read this one! How could you go wrong when you combine a reality television show with a contestant from a psychiatric hospital who goes missing, and a cast of unhinged characters! I love a story that’s told from dual timelines and cleverly comes together in the end, and this one did not disappoint… Full of drama, tension, and obsession, this is one intense read that can easily be devoured in one sitting!

Thank you to Sagit Schwartz for this advance reader copy!

[Thrillerswineandchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎵 F R E A K Y F R I D A Y review 🎵 featuring “The Underdog” by Sagit Schwartz!

After living in her car for months and desperate for any job to pay off her suffocating debts, Liz gets a job as a chaperone for a reality music TV show. The Underdog is a singing competition that features contestants from questionable backgrounds who have talent like no one has ever seen before!

Liz must fly to LA with the show’s most promising and popular contestant Jennifer Addis, who is known as the Singing Patient. Jennifer had a breakdown after having a baby 4 months ago and has not spoken a word since … besides singing. Jennifer pulls a fast one on Liz at the airport and disappears, leaving Liz as a suspect in helping Jennifer to flee in exchange for paying off her debts.

Meanwhile, Norma is an obsessive fan of the show and feels a strong connection to one of the contestants. She flies to LA to watch the show live and try to figure out a way to meet the contestant.

These two women begin a dangerous game of cat and mouse … as their stories get woven together into a reveal that you’ll never see coming!

💭 My friends and I at @thrillerbookloversthepulse are dying over how unhinged and entertaining this book is. I have never read anything like it and I found myself glued to its pages. Fast paced, competitive, razor sharp, twisted, deranged and deliciously dark … everyone needs to read this book wild ride!

Thank you kindly to Sagit Schwartz, Jagged Edge Press and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my #gifted advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on October 14, 2025!

[Helya · Rating 4 out of 5]

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
‼️Warning: once you pick this one up, it’s going to be hard to put down. With incredibly short chapters, “just one more” easily turns into ten more. In her acknowledgements, Sagit said she wanted to write a fun, popcorn thriller that would pull us away from everyday struggles, and that’s exactly what this book delivers. It’s twisty, fast paced, and completely entertaining. The characters are unhinged in the most over the top way, which made for some ridiculous but wildly fun moments. At times, the mother daughter relationship felt a little petty and I found myself rolling my eyes, but I loved how everything came together in the end. The way all the characters intertwined was so satisfying. If you’re looking for a quick, fun, and binge worthy thriller, this one is a great pick!

📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
🍿Popcorn thrillers
🎤Singing competition
🔀Twists and turns
😳Unhinged characters
🎭Dysfunctional family
🧶Intertwined characters
📖Short chapters
🗣️Dual POV

🎤𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾🎤
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

💕Q U O T E: “𝒟𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓈𝓃'𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓎, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒹𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉.”

🙏 Thank you Sagit Schwartz for sending me a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💕

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ The team at @thrillerbookloversthepulse are reviewing The Underdog and what a ride !! 🔥 Fans of popcorn thrillers will devour this one.

The Underdog is an addictive, fast and easy popcorn thriller. This novel is filled with toxicity and obsession. I loved the originality and uniqueness of the plot. The storyline was fun to follow with short chapters that just kept me saying "just one more chapter”. It just felt nice to get something different from a thriller, a different vibe, plot and just overall direction. I applaud the author for her creativity.

I loved how we got the 2 POV’s consistently alternating. I had no idea how they would merge or intersect together but when they did, it created an explosion. The tension and suspense were high all through the book, it kept a consistent pace. There was always something happening that just kept me hooked.

Overall, this was a super fun and entertaining popcorn thriller that is so easy to read and highly bingeable. If you're looking for something different, this one might just scratch your itch!

✨ ️ Thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse & @sagitschwartz my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me asking “wait! What is going on?” and “how is this connected?” and “OOOOOOHHHHHHH!” and I had to keep reading until I figured it out. With multiple points of view and timelines it kept me guessing. Liz is down on her luck and struggling to make ends meet when she lands a position on a reality show. It is acting as a chaperone but at least it is in show business. When the Singing Patient disappears on her watch and her debt is mysteriously paid off Liz becomes a suspect. Liz is willing to risk it all to figure it out and clear her name. Norma is estranged from her daughter but still keeps doing whatever she can to help her have her best life. But how far will Norma go? The connection between the two storylines I thought I had figured out, until I realized I was off track. Add in social media and a fan fiction connection and it makes for a timely and enjoyable thriller. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy thrillers that have them scrambling to figure out all of the connections.

Thanks to the author and Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kristin (Always With a Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ALC and ThrillerBookLovers The Pulse, #partner, for an advanced e- copy of The Underdog in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this author’s debut novel, Since She’s Been Gone. And her sophomore novel is just as good!⁣
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This is escapist reading at its best…a popcorn thriller to be binged in whatever format you select — I did the audio and it was fantastic! The twists were expertly placed, keeping me guessing at every turn and I loved the characters…they are perfectly unhinged – which just kept me further engaged, wondering how their stories would come together and why. ⁣
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I cannot recommend this one enough. Sagit is definitely an author not to be missed!⁣
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Audio thoughts: Thanks to the author, I had an early audio version of this one and it was such a delight to listen to! The book is narrated by Sagit and Kate Wilder, otherwise known as @imbookwild , a bookstagrammer/podcaster. I loved listening to this and loved that I “knew” both narrators! ⁣


My reviews can also be found on my blog: Always With A Book

[Sarah [ Page.Turning.Thrills ] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Sagit Schwartz, for the eARC copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I absolutely loved this popcorn thriller, and I'm not even a fan of TV singing competitions. I couldn't get enough of the dual POVs with Liz and Norma. They each had their own separate stories, and it truly kept me engaged the whole time—with Liz and her urgency to find "The Singing Patient" and Norma with her completely unhinged personality. It was true bliss.

I was so anxious to find out how these two women's lives intersect, and once they do, trust me, it's pure chaos. I loved every bit of it.

Readers will surely enjoy the twists in this book; I know I did. One big twist caused my jaw to drop to the floor—literally. It was that shocking.

Do yourself a favor and mark your calendar because on October 14th, "The Underdog" will be widely available, and you don't want to pass this one up. Happy reading!

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @sagitschwartz #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

Holy moly macaroni, The Underdog by Sagit Schwartz is another twisted, and I mean can’t see straight from start to finish kind of thriller! Sagit has done it again with a wild, unhinged, edge of your seat story that I accidentally (okay, not really accidentally) devoured in one sitting. Just when I thought, “No way something more could happen,” she hit me with another jaw-dropper. And oof… it was a doozy!

This story is the ultimate look at a mother-daughter relationship. The one that is competitive, dark, intense, emotional, and just plain wild. Let’s just say I’m feeling extra thankful for my mom after reading this one! I’ve read a couple of Sagit’s books now, and while they’re all deliciously unhinged, this one definitely takes the cake.

If you love thrillers that keep you guessing (and, in my case, guessing wrong the entire time) and leave you absolutely gobsmacked by the end, you need this one on your list. It’s out next week, you don’t miss it! 🔥📖

[ASH (ASHisallbookedup) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎤𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗢𝗚
𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔯
🗓️𝙿𝚞𝚋 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝚃𝙾𝙳𝙰𝚈! 𝙾𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟺, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟻
🤩𝕄𝕪 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝟝 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤!!★★★★★

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝... A reality show chaperone becomes entangled in a mystery when a contestant vanishes..and a fans obsession turns dangerously real

💖𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢....HELLLA GOOD! 🙌I mean WTF, but also bravo!! 👏 I absolutely devoured this bonkers at times book! The two POVs were so incredibly different that you are kept wondering how in the world will these come together? Sagit Schwartz, you are such a fav!!! 🥰I loved her last book just as much..well, maybe this one a bit 🤏more bc just 🤯...Norma, one of the POVs is so unhinged & whack a doodle but it’s also not a gruesome book at all. I feel like when a character is that nutso it ends up being gorey, but this one was not that at all. I highly recommend it as I do her last thriller too. So.damn.good. 🤩🥳