Pinky Swear

by Danielle Girard

From Danielle Girard, the USA TODAY bestselling author who “effortlessly ratchets up the tension” (J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author), comes a pulse-pounding thriller about a young woman whose surrogate disappears just days before the baby’s due date, leading to a frantic search that uncovers dark truths and the power of a mother’s love.

Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.

But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.

Lexi is shocked but certain there must be something wrong—Mara would never willingly leave with her unborn child. Or would she? As she embarks on a perilous cross-country hunt for the truth, Lexi is forced to reconsider a friendship she thought she knew—and what really happened that terrible night their senior year. How many secrets lie in their shared past, waiting to be uncovered? And just how far will Lexi go to bring her child safely home?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Adult, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction

1 pages, Audio CD

First published February 24, 2026

About the author

Danielle Girard is the USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the Annabelle Schwartzman Series, Chasing Darkness, and The Rookie Club series.

Her books have won the Barry Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and White Out was in the top 100 bestselling e-books of 2020. In addition, two of her titles have been optioned for screen. Her next thriller, Pinky Swear, will be out from the Emily Bestler Imprint of Atria books February 24, 2026.


Danielle is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.

Reviews

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A white-knuckle ride of explosive dark secrets, Pinky Swear was as gripping and tense as it was thought-provoking in the extreme. You see, between the character-driven deep dive into the bonds of friendship and the emotionally resonant look at motherhood, it had all of the hallmarks of a poignant tear-jerking read. At the same time, it was the definition of a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse as Lexie raced to find her best friend before the very worst happened. Along the way, I was delighted at the found family vibe and strong character development. A one-sitting read that I quite literally couldn’t put down, I was absolutely mesmerized be this bingeable tale of how far one will go for friends, family, and one’s own child. Lifting a car to save your daughter or son? That’s nothing compared to the events of this novel. Bravo, Ms. Girard!

All said and done, despite a climax that felt distinctly over-the-top in a very Grey’s Anatomy way, I was beyond absorbed by the twisty, heart-stopping plot from beginning to end. Told via dual timelines and dual POVs, I was easily sucked in by the mysterious long-buried secrets within this tight-knit group of friends. What was most stunning of all, though, was how well I got to know them all despite only really meeting Lexie “in person.” Through a story that managed to show instead of tell, these characters worked themselves into my heart all while the adrenaline-soaked scenes hit fast and hard. The best part of all, though? That I didn’t know who to trust the entire time I was reading. After all, with both epic cliffhangers and breathtaking twists, it was all I could do to hold on for dear life as I waited for the truth to be revealed. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.

But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.

Lexi is shocked but certain there must be something wrong—Mara would never willingly leave with her unborn child. Or would she? As she embarks on a perilous cross-country hunt for the truth, Lexi is forced to reconsider a friendship she thought she knew—and what really happened that terrible night their senior year. How many secrets lie in their shared past, waiting to be uncovered? And just how far will Lexi go to bring her child safely home?

Thank you to Danielle Girard, Atria Books, and Book Around for my complimentary copy and including me in the traveling ARC program. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: February 24, 2026

Content warning: knife violence, infertility, pregnancy, missing person, anxiety, rape, blood, mention of: domestic abuse, school shooting, abortion, gun violence

[Kimberly Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When childhood best friends reunite under desperate circumstances, promises are tested—and loyalties fractured. In PINKY SWEAR, Girard delivers a daring, twist-laden plot that barrels toward an electric, heart-stopping climax with chilling precision. Girard outdid herself with this one, a white-knuckle tale of friendship, betrayal, and the true meaning of family.

[Michelle (Murder Books and Wine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when your surrogate disappears days before the baby is due? Every woman's worst nightmare.

This was a gripping, tense, and emotional thriller that I could NOT put down! Lexi's friend Mara shows up after 16 years of being apart. Mara escaped an abusive relationship and sought out Lexi for comfort and a place to stay. What perfect timing, because Lexi is going through a rough patch in her marriage due to her longing for a child and her husband, who is 14 years her senior, not wanting any more children. He's happy with the two he has from his first marriage. Lexi decides, she's going to become a mother with or without her husband's assistance and asks Mara to be her surrogate. Of course, Mara agrees without hesitation.

Mara and Lexi have a doctor's appointment scheduled 4 days before her due date, only Mara isn't in her room. Her things are gone. She's not answering her phone. Lexi panics and will stop at nothing to find Mara and "Goose", her sweet nickname for the baby girl Mara is carrying.

In pursuit of the truth of what happened 16 years ago during their senior year of high school and what Mara has been doing for the past 16 years, Lexi takes off to Philladelphia, where Mara has been living previously, to find Mara and save Goose. Is Mara in danger or did she leave willingly and betray her best friend? How far will Lexi go to save Goose and find Mara? Anyone who is a mom or has a mom knows, that moms will stop at NOTHING until their baby is safe!

Lexi becomes the hunter in this intense cat-and-mouse chase with only 4 days before Goose is due to be born. Time is of the essence!!⌛ This story has everything, friendship, loss, dysfunctional family, trauma, found family, amateur sleuthing, and the length one goes to protect the ones they love. I really wasn't sure where this story was going, and the twists were twisty! I loved the character developement, especially the found family, although, I can't say much more about this without spoiling. Let's just say, they have a piece of my heart! The story is told in past and present tense, but the author did a great job of not making this confusing. I know I can be a sap, but I did shed some tears, you've been warned!

Danielle Girard knocked it out of the park with this one!

4.5 ⭐

It was my absolute pleasure being a part of the Traveling Arc program! Thank you to Flori Fundamentals and Danielle Girard for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Available February 24, 2026!!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, fast paced read with a good plot twist! I think the people rating it low were expecting a masterpiece instead of what it actually was, a fun popcorn thriller. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for something to keep you entertained

[Kira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am willing to suspend a lot of belief when it comes to my thriller summer 2k25 however, I can't suspend it all!!!

Unfortunately, the plot of this, the characters, the relationships were either too out there, or too unbelievable to make sense of. I did want to find out what happened, so I did read until the end however it was all kinda...whatever; too silly and not in a fun way.

Thank you to the publishers for the arc.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship, motherhood, secrets, and loss anchor this engrossing and affecting novel about a woman’s desperate yearning for a child and her pursuit of the truth about a past she thought she knew. Girard mines her characters’ emotions with precision and skill, demonstrating a keen instinct for introspection. This is high-stakes storytelling delivered with heart, and one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a long time.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this if you enjoy: domestic thrillers and past/present timelines - This was such an original concept and was a quick read with a lot of suspense, I felt like a lot was going on and the pacing was off (slow start with a very fast finish)

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

How many secrets can a friendship endure?

After drifting apart after a tragic event, best friends since middle school, Lexi and Mara, are reunited sixteen years later under desperate circumstances. Through a series of unfortunate events, Lexi offers to carry a baby for Mara. But when Lexi disappears four days before she’s supposed to deliver, Lexi goes on what becomes a dangerous search for her friend and her baby.

This was a fun and original story!

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on February 24, 2026

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great audiobook. The narrators were fantastic and the premise kept me guessing and was so twisty. Two childhood best friends, Mara and Lexi, drifted apart after a tragedy. 16 years later, Mara shows up on Lexi's doorstep after fleeing her abusive marriage, and they rekindle their friendship. Mara becomes a surrogate for Lexi, and days before the due date, Mara disappears. Lexi is left questioning everything. Why did Mara leave with her baby? She sets out on a mission to find the truth about her friendship, and the past. So good. I couldn't wait to see how everything was going to come together. Girard really surpassed my expectations with this one. I highly recommend it. 

Thank you to the publisher and author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

She is boldly reckless and she is fiercely loyal. She is a liar, and she is my friend. She can be both.

Pinky Swear is a solid, if imperfect, thriller that will require you to suspend every ounce of disbelief you have. It gets high marks for originality, but then it loses marks for some ludicrous, frustrating plot beats I couldn’t overlook.

Sixteen years after a tragedy during their senior year drove them apart, Mara shows up at Lexi’s door after leaving her abusive spouse, and Lexi doesn’t hesitate to take her in; she could use a friend, since her marriage has become strained due to her desire for a baby. When Mara agrees to be Lexi’s surrogate, Lexi thinks all her dreams are finally coming true - but then, days before the baby’s due date, Mara disappears. Guided by what Lexi knows about Mara’s life and the smallest clues she left behind, Lexi trails Mara across the country, from Denver to Philadelphia, in a desperate attempt to save her best friend and her baby before it’s too late.

Pinky Swear is propulsive and full of tension, and with a missing pregnant woman who could give birth at any moment, the stakes are incredibly high. It’s compelling, and the surrogacy angle paired with the past-and-present timeline offers several opportunities for emotional depth that aren’t always found in a thriller. Lexi’s anxiety and fear are palpable, her heightened emotions are well-conveyed. She’s a sympathetic protagonist, and even if she does make questionable decisions, it makes sense to an extent based on the circumstances. To an extent.

Because even if Lexi’s dubious choices could potentially be justified due to the extreme scenario in which she found herself, I was still very conscious of the fact that she was consistently doing the most reckless, most wrong thing at every turn just for the sake of plot. I found myself rolling my eyes several times, and when I read THAT SCENE near the end (IYKYK, and if you haven’t read this yet, you’ll know immediately what scene I’m talking about when you get to it), I scoffed out loud at how ridiculous, unnecessary, and unbelievable it was. It was too over-the-top even for me, a reader who is usually a big fan of suspending her disbelief.

I’m also a big fan of “seedy underbellies” of cities, so I did enjoy seeing Philadelphia through that lens, although I could’ve dealt without the crime and corruption angle (just not my thing, and anyway, the way it all played out was a little confusing). I also wanted a bit more development out of the other characters, and I didn’t think Lexi’s marriage was explored as richly as it could have been; there was a lot to dive into there, but all of the emotion was kept at a surface level.

Overall, Pinky Swear is a unique take on a thriller with its themes of friendship and motherhood, even if it leans into the more sensational aspects of the plot rather than its emotional heart. Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the complimentary reading opportunity.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75✨

Pinky Swear comes across as any ordinary thriller. Yet it truthfully surprised me by being high action packed and a slow emotional rollercoaster. A disappearance quickly unravels into a web of secrets, betrayals, and buried trauma. When a tragic accident claims Cate’s young life, it fractures the remaining trio members for years to come. Lexi and Mara’s reunion doesn’t just reopen old wounds; it rips them wide open.

Girard’s novel has a sharp and unflinching edge to it. Spiraling into something much darker and more consuming than I anticipated. Grief lingering like a ghost. The novel digs into a plethora of themes: childhood friendship, motherhood, sexual assault, crime. Keeping the emotional stakes painfully high and tension pulsing beneath every chapter. Every major and minor character carries scars and is much more than meets the eye. I did not in any way shape or form anticipate a large crime aspect to come into play. Very nice touch even with some predictability and intensified the mystery. The past/present timeline unfolds agonizingly slow. Luckily, the measured pacing served a purpose. Secrets begin clawing their way to the surface, dramatically shifting the momentum.

Personally with having the disappearance being on the verge of the baby’s due date helped here brilliantly. As it ticks closer, Lexi descends into this reckless but dazzling overdrive. Her desperation in general for a child combined with the desperation to find her childhood best friend is synchronizing and simmering to a boil. This was a major turning point for me as a reader. Being my first time with this author, the character development was exquisite. Lexi is portrayed as a well put together and financially stable woman. Meanwhile before Mara everything felt crumbling and her marriage has been in crisis for months. Now finally having that one desire coming to fruition; its vanished causing her to enter a frantic state. It is as if she took her sane decision making and completely tossed it out the window. The ticking clock becomes suffocatingly beautiful to the point I found myself emotional towards the end.

Chaotic, raw, emotionally charged, and relentlessly tense, Pinky Swear is a bingeworthy thriller that will keep you on your toes.

Thank you to Danielle Girard, Atria Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Keisha Beal · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the more ridiculous books I’ve read in awhile. No further comments.

[Aggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexi’s quest for a baby is the catalyst for this novel. She would stop at nothing to protect her surrogate.

The birth scene was triggering for me.

[Kaileigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the start!
Very eerie and suspenseful with plot twists I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the dual timelines as well as the characters!
A great quick read 😁

[Cindy(groundedinreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
Lexi and Mara have been friends since middle school but drifted apart sixteen years ago. When Lexi is at a low point in her marriage due to her being unable to conceive a child, Mara mysteriously appears when Lexi needs her most. After they reconnect, Mara offers to be a surrogate for Lexi’s baby. Mara moves in with Lexi and everyone is happy getting ready for the new baby until Mara vanishes just four days before her due date. Obviously panic sets in and Lexi Goni to full-on detective mom trying to find her baby! This is a heartfelt domestic l thriller with true emotions and I could feel every ounce of dread in Lexi’s character. As she pushes on in pursuit of Mara and her baby, Lexi is reminded of a significant tragedy she and her friends experienced in high school and Lexi wonders if there’s a connection. I tore through this novel as I was so invested as to what happened to Mara and the baby! The author expertly filled in the missing pieces of the haunting backstory using care all while highlighting the power of friendship.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danielle Girard delivers a high stakes, emotionally charged thriller with Pinky Swear, and as a mom, this one hit me in a very real place. The premise alone is enough to send your anxiety through the roof: a woman desperate for a baby, finally pregnant via surrogate, only for that surrogate to disappear days before the due date. The fear, the urgency, the what would you do instinct—it all feels incredibly visceral. Lexi’s desperation and determination drove the story, and the emotional stakes felt just as intense as the physical danger.

The dual timeline worked well here, weaving between present day panic and flashbacks to Lexi and Mara’s teenage friendship. Those glimpses into their past added depth and tension, slowly revealing cracks in what once seemed like an unbreakable bond. It kept me engaged, constantly reassessing what I thought I knew about both women. The suspense is strong, the pacing tight, and several scenes genuinely had my adrenaline spiking.

That said, the ending veered a little too over the top for me. Without spoiling anything, some elements stretched believability, which slightly undercut the emotional realism the book had built so well. Still, this is a character driven thriller with sharp tension and compelling themes about friendship, secrets, and the fierce power of a mother’s love. I enjoyed much of the ride and would rate it 3.5 and I’ll round up to 4.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think you know your best friend, think again—Pinky Swear proves that some promises are meant to be broken. Pinky Swear was a thrilling blend of suspense and emotion that had me racing through the pages. The twists and intense domestic drama pulled me in right away, making it nearly impossible to put down.

This domestic thriller centered on estranged childhood friends Lexi and Mara. When Mara fled an abusive marriage and reappeared in Lexi’s life, she offered to be a surrogate for the child Lexi longed for. But just days before the baby was due, Mara disappeared, sending Lexi on a desperate search. As she hunted for her missing friend and unborn child, long-buried secrets from their shared past resurface, forcing Lexi to question how well she ever really knew Mara.

This was my first time reading Danielle Girard, and she delivered a fast-paced, emotionally charged thriller that seamlessly wove together past and present. Her taut, urgent writing captured the themes of friendship, motherhood, and betrayal, while building an atmosphere of unease that made even everyday moments feel tense and dangerous.

The strength of Pinky Swear lied within its emotional pull and suspenseful pacing. I liked how Girard explored friendship, motherhood, and buried secrets in a way that kept me invested, and the dual timelines added depth to the story. On the downside, some parts felt a little confusing with the shifts between past and present, and a few of the twists stretched believability. Still, the tension and emotional stakes made it an engaging read all together.

Overall, Pinky Swear was a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that blended suspense with heartfelt themes of friendship and motherhood. Danielle Girard’s taut writing balanced urgency with depth, pulling me into the twists and emotional stakes from start to finish. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who loves fast-paced domestic thrillers packed with secrets, drama, and plenty of surprises.

Once again, thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for an ARC in return for my review.

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review 🩸🍼 #atriapartner
thank you @atriathrillers @atriabooks for the gifted copies!

Pinky Swear
by Danielle Girard

Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.

But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.

🩸 My thoughts:

Holy cow, I could not put this down. The tension is immediate and relentless, and every chapter made it impossible to stop just one more paging. I’m always drawn to stories about motherhood, no matter the genre, and this one completely delivered. It blended desperation, love, and fear in a way that had my full attention. I especially loved the dual flashbacks. Watching the layers of friendship and long buried secrets slowly unravel added so much depth to the suspense. This isn’t just a thriller about a missing surrogate, it’s a story about friendship, the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love, and how far someone will go for a child. Twisty, emotional, and packed with tension this is the kind of book you cancel your plans for. Pinky Swear is out TODAY!

Happy reading 📖🩸🍼🤫

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC.

Look I've been on the infertility train (took 12 years, 6 rounds of IVF, and 9 losses to get my son) but to bring someone back into your life from your teens that you don't know at all as an adult (and your youthful recollections are a bit wtf) and have them be your surrogate is big yikes. And I thought Lexi was kind of insane to spend all of Henry's money searching for Mara. She definitely lost her part-time job at the flower shop. 🤣 Also, this marriage makes no sense. This was just too over the top for me to really like. Also TW for graphic surgery not done by a doctor!

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of you know Danielle Girard is one of my favorite authors, and when I heard she was coming out with a new book, I was beyond excited! This was most definitely one of my most anticipated reads this year, and boy, did it deliver! I absolutely loved it!

Lexi, Mara, and Cate were the best of friends growing up. They were inseparable until tragedy struck. They drifted apart and haven't seen each other or really even spoken in 16 years. But when Mara shows up on Lexi's doorstep, it seems like no time has passed. Lexi has been having issues with getting pregnant, and when Mara agrees to be her surrogate, she's over the moon. But four days before the due date, Mara disappears without a trace. Where could she have possibly gone? Is she in danger? Lexi needs answers and will stop at nothing to get her baby back.

This was a fast-paced page-turner that was completely unputdownable! The mysteries of why Mara disappeared and what really happened to Cate had me completely intrigued. I was hooked from the very first chapter. It was suspenseful, engaging, and even a bit emotional. Told in dual timelines and dual POVs, this thrilling read explored friendships, family, motherhood, and past traumas. There was lots of tension, dark secrets, and twists I didn't see coming. I loved Lexi's determination and the inclusion of Damon, Terrance, and Gladys Knight in the story. If you're looking for a captivating, gripping, bingeable domestic thriller look no further! I HIGHLY recommend adding this one to your TBR🩷

[KaseyG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Atria and Simon Audio!

Synopsis: Lexi’s best friend and surrogate goes missing just days before her due date, sending Lexi on a frantic search to find her before it’s too late.

Thoughts: Pinky Swear is a fast, bingeable read that kept me on the edge of my seat! The story does start out a bit slow, but once the pacing picks up it is a wild ride. I listened to the audiobook in pretty much one sitting because I just had to know what was going to happen. I actually did guess the villain, but the twists and turns were still surprising. The audiobook narrators did a great job with the dual point of view narration!

Read this if you like:
🍼 psychological thrillers
🍼 toxic friendship
🍼 marriage in crisis
🍼 motherhood
🍼 missing person
🍼 dual timelines
🍼 dual pov

[Clarice Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and author for an advanced copy of this novel!

Lexi is a prospective mom to a baby that her best friend, Mara, is carrying for her. Just days before the due date, Mara goes missing.

Throughout this book, readers experience the story through Lexi's POV and various timelines throughout her life. That was one of my biggest gripes about it. The timeline jumping back and forth felt choppy, forced, and unnecessary in parts. The timeline was very cheesy with journal entries that lacked connection we should've felt with the trio friend group.

There were some really great points made about motherhood and infertility that were just so poorly timed. It seemed like the outline was made for this book and the hints, red herrings, and possible clues were not stacked in a proper manner.

I thought the premise was very interesting and parts of the plot were good. However, similar to other reviews, I felt that the characters fell flat and the writing wasn't the greatest.

[Tessa Pacelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for this ARC.

Friendship, trauma, and motherhood collide in this latest addition from a *master* of domestic suspense. From the first couple of chapters of Pinky Swear, I knew I was in the hands of a talented, capable, and enigmatic author, wondering what exactly she'd be serving up, curious and apprehensive at the same time as to what big feelings she'd pull out of me :). Premise: Lexi and Mara were best friends in high school, but tragedy pushed them apart. Sixteen years later, Mara reappears, fleeing an abusive husband—and agrees to be Lexi’s surrogate on the spot. Everything seems perfect until Mara disappears just days before her due date. Lexi embarks on a frantic cross-country hunt to find her & the baby.

So let me start by saying that I have a *very* high bar for emotional hooks in domestic suspense. It’s everything in this genre, at least to me. The emotional hooks in Pinky Swear were highly effective– childhood friendship, maternal desperation, past unresolved trauma. Wow. These were on point. As a result, I white-knuckled my iPad, hoping everyone would be ok especially the baby. Girard’s prose is really lovely and evocative and kept me interested. Overall, I’d highly recommend this to readers who love fast-paced domestic thrillers packed with secrets, drama, and plenty of surprises.

[shannon (books by the glass) · Rating 3 out of 5]

hi what the heck happened this entire book 👀 every chapter had me questioning everything I knew about these characters (and not in a fun way) and how the living HECK mara managed to get herself deeper into trouble…

I loved the original concept of childhood best friends lexi, mara, and cate telling their stories through journal entries, mixed with present day POV lexi in her journey to track down mara once again… and again, I really want to know what the heck these characters were thinking…

usually in thrillers, I’m all for suspending a bit of disbelief, but this one required way too much of that. everything that absolutely could have gone wrong in the girls’ childhood did, and don’t even get me started about mara’s adult life 🙄 at this point, drama was being created just for funsies

I did really love the secondary characters that lexi met on her quest to locate mara!! I would read a separate story about daemon and torrence’s adventures for sure!!

overall, a bingeable unique thriller that lost a few points to the anticlimactic ending, predictable twists, and pacing issues… thank you to atria books for the advanced copy!

rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: virginia sauvignon blanc

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

Pinky Swear had an intriguing premise: Lexia and her husband have been navigating fertility challenges. Lexi and Henry are thrilled to be expecting a baby using Mara, Lexi's childhood friend, as a surrogate. But when Mara mysteriously vanishes right before her due date, Lexi starts on a dangerous hunt for her friend and her unborn daughter, "Goose."

For my reading taste, Pinky Swear had a LOT going on. Yes, I love a good popcorn thriller, but this book was more like popcorn with Reese's Pieces, Junior Mints, and Milk Duds.

There were flashback chapters using a sort of Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants notebook that teen best friends Mara, Lexi and Cate. Then there were the somewhat murky circumstances surrounding Cate's death. Then there was Lexi, flying all the country trying to track Mara down. Between Mara's shady endeavors, the journal, Cate's story in the past, Lexie's flying all over the country, I had narrative whiplash. I understand the inclusion of the journal to give the reader a sense of the friendship between Mara, Lexie and Cate, but I found the back and forth sort of jarring.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!

[paige (paigesofbookss) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lexi is ecstatic to finally have a baby of her own when her childhood best friend agrees to be her surrogate. Mara showed up on Lexi’s doorstep just months before and later agreeing to carry her baby. Prior, Lexi and Mara had not spoke to one another since they were 18. At 18 years old, there had been 3 of them: Lexi, Mara, and Cate, before Cate passed away. Now just days before Mara’s due date, she disappears and Lexi realizes she may not have known her longtime friend at all.

Such a great premise, I was super excited to get this ARC from NetGalley. I just couldn’t help be so bewildered at how dumb the characters were. Lexi, how do you ask a friend you haven’t seen in YEARS carry your baby and not have any formal written agreement about it? How do you ditch your entire loving family because of this? As for Mara, regardless of the entire novel I do not like her and think she’s a liar regardless of what she admitted to. I thought this plot and its twists were pretty far fetched. It ultimately just annoyed me.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

📌New Review

Thank you #partner @simon.audio for my gifted copy.

🎧: Pinky Swear
✍️: Danielle Girard
🖨️: Atria
📈: 4⭐️
🩸: Thriller

📝: “I will carry your sweet baby & I will do everything I can to protect your child. Pinky swear.”

Lexi wants a baby so badly that it cost her marriage. She’s gone through many failed attempts: miscarriage, failed IVF & a surrogate that changed her mind. But she’s determined to be a mother.

When her childhood best friend Mara agrees to carry a baby for her, Lexi jumps at the chance. But it’s during this excitement she misses a few crucial steps, especially a contract.

She also doesn’t know much more about Mara’s recent history besides she left her abusive husband. After a tragedy their senior year she & Lexi went their separate ways for sixteen years. So when she shows up she’s grateful to see her & doesn’t think to interrogate her.

“…Bruises formed dark shadows on her neck & face & her left eye was swollen to a slit. She was thinner than I’d ever seen her with a broken arm & a deep laceration on her thigh.”

Now it’s four days until her due date & Mara not only doesn’t show up at her doctor’s appointment but has disappeared entirely. Lexie’s engagement ring is missing & the phone she bought Mara is left in her room. Dust settles in wake of her presence along with items of little value purchased by Lexie such as clothing & personal care.

“…Panic is a weed that grows inside me. My thoughts seed the fear, then sprout every poison that comes after.”

When fear takes Lexie cross country to try to find her best friend & child, secrets from both their past & present start to reveal themselves. Suddenly the world she thought she knew comes crashing down. Not only can she not find them, but now her own life is in jeopardy.

“I want to fear FOR Mara, not fear Mara herself.”

What will it take to bring them home alive & will she get to be the mother she’s always dreamed of being?

This was a fast-paced popcorn thriller that I zoomed through on audio! I needed to get to the bottom of what was happening! The ending punches a pack you won’t see coming.

💭What are you reading?

🏷️
#newrelease #newbook #audiobook #thrillerbooks

[BookWormBecky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2

Senior year, secrets, frantic…

Childhood friends Lexi and Mara haven’t seen each other for 16 years. When Mara shows up at Lexi’s house, Lexi takes her in. Unable to have her own baby, Mara agrees to be a surrogate for Lexi.

Days before the due date, Mara disappears. Lexi goes in a “Tom and Jerry” type hunt. What will Lexi discover? Will she find her in the remaining four days before the due date? Is Mara playing with her as prey?

Appearances can be deceiving with more to the situation than meets the eye. Lexi must look “beyond the surface to understand the full picture “

AVAILABLE Feb 24, 2026


THOUGHTS:

*Pretty sure I’m a first time reader of this author. My 2nd time in a traveling arc program. It’s fun, if you get the chance! I liked reading the post-it comments of the others. Thank you for including me!

*Dramatic, over-the-top ending.

*Twisty plot. Like a roller coaster ride. An all but the kitchen sink kind of plot!

*CHARACTERS - IMO:

Mara - A train wreck / Annoying
Lexi - too accepting
Maxwell - a cad
Henry - a good guy (who just doesn’t want any more kids)

* An emotional tale of female friendship, betrayal, and motherhood.

[Sabrina (witchy.library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly went into this book pretty blind and I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it! From chapter one I was hooked and I couldn’t put it down until I was done. I was engaged the entire time and was invested to know how everything played out. There was so many twists that I wasn’t expecting and the ending had me tearing up. I liked the past timeline and seeing how it comes into play with the present. Lexi did frustrate me at times with her choices but I understood her reason behind it all.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes an addicting, twisty thriller that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Leah Wingenroth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: Pinky Swear was suspenseful, heartfelt, and compelling. Girard is an excellent, decisive writer.

Cons: The pacing wasn't quite right and I just wanted a bit more – more story, more character development, and more drawn-out suspense. I think this book would have benefitted from an extra 50-100 pages of fleshing out characters and conflicts.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!