Lieve Debbie

by Freida McFadden

Lieve Debbie is de sensationele nieuwe thriller van internationale bestsellerauteur en crimequeen Freida McFadden, bekend van De hulp.

Debbie Mullen is ten einde raad. Jarenlang heeft ze haar beste adviezen verzameld in haar column Lieve Debbie, waar de vrouwen in haar buurt terechtkonden voor begrip en wijze raad. Via haar werk hoorde Debbie van talloze vrouwen die door hun echtgenoten werden genegeerd, gekleineerd of zelfs mishandeld. En Debbie deed haar best om hen in de juiste richting te leiden.

Nu lijkt Debbie's eigen leven uit de hand te lopen. Ze is net haar baan kwijtgeraakt, er gebeurt iets vreemds met haar tienerdochters en haar man heeft geheimen, volgens de tracking app die ze op zijn telefoon heeft geïnstalleerd. Debbie is klaar met redelijk en praktisch zijn. Het is tijd om haar eigen advies op te volgen. Het is tijd voor wraak.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2026

About the author

#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!

Reviews

[Nikos Drosinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️- What in the Desperate Housewives meets unfiltered female rage did I just read?! 😳🔥🍷 Because WOW.

I can confidently say this is Freida McFadden’s best book to date 🏆📚✨ I finished it in one sitting because putting it down was simply not an option 😮‍💨🛋️📖

The writing is addictive, sharp, and relentless 💉✍️⚡ Debbie as a character is completely unhinged but somehow grounded enough to feel disturbingly real 😈🧠👀 A menace. An icon. A walking red flag 🚩💅🔥

And the twists. THE TWISTS. 🤯😵‍💫💥 Some of Freida’s more recent books played it a little safe, but not this one 😌🔪 🪤 You will NEVER see them coming. 🌀😱

What truly surprised me is how mature and emotionally impactful this book feels 🖤🥀💭 Beneath the chaos and madness, there’s something genuinely moving here, layered with anger, vulnerability, and deliciously dark humour 😤💔😏

If I had to sum up my experience in one sentence, it would be this: we support women’s rights, but even more importantly, we support women’s wrongs 💅🔥👑

_________________________

Pre-Read:

“Freida, honey, you write like you got a deal with the devil and a sponsorship with Red Bull. It’s giving fast fashion but for thrillers.” Said whilst adding it to his TBR!! 🤣

[ashlyn]

someone book miss Freida a flight to the Bahamas because my girl needs a vacation

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

EVERYONE HAD DEBBIE ALL THE WAY F&CKED UP!!!

Dear Debbie,

You are indeed that bitch! Your personality and unhinged ways carried this book, and I truly enjoyed reading through it! Your advice column had me howling, because I know a lot of women would really want to act out the not so nice options you advised them if all else failed. I feel sorry for the people who ever encounter you and don’t treat you with the respect you deserve because I know their comeuppance won’t be pretty. You had me laughing, you had me in shock, you really put the MAMA in Mama Bear, and I commend you on your zero fucks given attitude!

Ms Frieda McFadden… touché!! You gave me an entertaining, suspend your disbelief to the cows come home novel and I’m not mad at it! You made Debbie relatable in a crazy unhinged way and it was enjoyable following a protagonist in your book that I actually liked and rooted for. Because I have read just about every single one of your books I know to go into your novels not trusting a soul, but I will admit the twist took me by surprise in this one. The explanations for how everything panned out was PHENOMENALLY DIABOLICAL especially the epilogues from everyone. But it is indeed a popcorn thriller so I’m going to accept the nonsensical-ness of it all!

I must say again I enjoyed the writing in this one. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a wonderful job, it was truly a one sit listen and that’s something us book readers can all agree that you are able to achieve. It was a wild, fast paced, dramatic read and I am excited to read what you put out next…






-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Debbie is losing it!!
Freida is losing it!!
We are losing it!!
😭🥵😭🥵😭🥵😭

[Geethika]

Freida’s book releases are more regular than our menstruation cycle

[SK]

I need me a good revenge story

[Nat (short hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Freida McFadden—and I’m enthralled! I was initially skeptical about starting this, as I’d seen many mixed reviews of her prior works. I’m pleased to say I don’t regret picking this one up.

Debbie runs an advice column, offering guidance to the wives of New England who are seeking advices. Her husband, Cooper, seems to be hiding something—and, at the same time, so are her daughters. Dear Debbie stands as a remarkable story that weaves in layers of profound emotional weight—trust, acceptance, and ultimately, revenge.

The story is told through the voices of Debbie, Cooper, and Harley in first-person. One thing I struggled with is this narration style, as it often veers into a modern tone that feels less immersive and formal, instead bordering on the clinical. That said, the writing remained my least favorite aspect of the narrative, with the first 30% feeling somewhat dull. Still, I eventually warmed up to it.

What’s striking about this book is our protagonist. She’s resilient and intelligent. Yet one detail threw me off: Debbie apparently has an IQ of 178. Even considering that she studied computer science at MIT, I can’t help but reflect on how incredibly unrealistic this feels. Talk about authors and their tendency to go over the top. But that doesn’t mean I dislike her. She’s a character of remarkable complexity, with a backstory that brings in a wave of sorrow and vulnerability, making even her questionable actions feel somewhat justified. Besides her skewed moral compass, both she and Harley’s tendency to brag about their wrongdoings—if only to feel some temporary satisfaction—can be seen as a careless mistake that may ultimately lead to their downfall.

Moving on from the characters, the trajectory of the story is largely unsettling, with Debbie constantly on her ominous excursions. There’s nothing better than a good plot twist in a thriller, and Dear Debbie certainly delivers. I’ll be frank—I did not see it coming. Freida does an excellent job of keeping the eventual calamity hidden, making the revelation all the more shocking.

While some elements fell short, the escalating tension kept me on edge. The selfish temperaments of all three characters are unmistakable, but don’t fret—their unlikable traits are fully explained in the cataclysmic revelation at the end.

Beyond the thrilling moments, I found Debbie’s dynamic with her teenage daughters deeply relatable—especially with one of them the same age as me. This connection made the reading experience even more potent. Perhaps the reason why I enjoyed this so much is by this very emotional pull to the characters. By the ending, I must admit, I shed a few tears. This story is, to me, an incredible introduction to Freida’s books; and it’s definitely not going to be my last book of hers.

4.5 stars

[ahmeeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

women in male dominated fields

[Sydney Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t mind this one! It didn’t necessarily blow me away but I enjoyed myself and Debbie’s POV. I felt like her writing was better in this one too. Solid 3 stars.

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This was my favorite from the author so far! Debbie was completely unhinged in the best way! 😲

I love a revenge story and Debbie is the Queen of Karma! 👑 Don't cross Debbie!

Debbie writes an advice column for a local family oriented newspaper. People send in questions seeking Debbie's wisdom. Lately, she hasn't been holding back. She may even begin taking her own advice because well, things have gotten out of hand.

I think fans of Freida will love it! Her signature exaggeration plays well with this plot! I had to keep saying to myself, "Oh no she didn't"! The ending also played well! Hoping for a Debbie sequel. 🤞

This was a buddy read with Kaceey and we both flew through it!

Thanks to EW and the publisher for my ARC. Comes out Jan 26, 2026

[Salma [HIATUS] · Rating 2 out of 5]

⤿ rating: 2 stars
⤿ age: 18+
⤿ spice: none
₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ Review will contain a minor spoiler.

══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══╡ Overview: ╞══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══

Please don't mind how boring this review looks. I'm too lazy to write a long one, and I'd rather not waste my time anymore on this book.

This was very mid and boring. It was enjoyable at times, but it wasn't catching my interest as much. However, the plot twist made my jaw drop. I dropped my rating from three stars to two, because it doesn't deserve that much.

As usual, like every thriller I've read, the characters pissed me off, and I'm so glad they had this ending. I love seeing bad people get what they deserve.

══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══╡ Characters: ╞══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══

જ⁀➴ Debbie and Cooper: I support women's rights and women's wrongs. I loved seeing her kickass. I was skeptical of Connor at first, and I hated him, but I'm glad he turned out to not be a shitty husband.

જ⁀➴ Lexi and Izzy: They would NOT survive Arab parents.

જ⁀➴ Harley and Hutch: I hope they both rot in hell.

── .✦ 𝓕𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: Overall, this was fine, I suppose. I think it worsened my slump.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺ Pre-read: ༻ *ੈ✩‧₊˚

I read a lot of books by Freida, and I wasn't a fan of most of them, honestly. However, her books are quick and great for a reading goal, which is why I read them 😂. Also, I'm unable to read anything at the moment, so I hope this helps!

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈

Plot twist: Ali Hazelwood and Freida McFadden are the same person.

[Clace]

Not me adding this to my tbr after giving the past 6 Freida books 1,2 or 3 stars.

[manas (traveling) · Rating 4 out of 5]

#women in male dominated fields. 🤍

[levi (semi-ia)]

I have an arc for this so why not.

(IK IK PLEASE IGNORE THE FACT THAT I HAVE 9 BOOKS ON MY CURRENTLY READING SHELF)

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Shooty Balls this one owned me! Viciously satisfying, darkly funny, & jaw dropping from start to finish!

Right away, there was this electric feeling that told me I was in the hands of a thriller that knew exactly what it was doing. Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden is a domestic thriller with claws and unapologetic energy that hooked me completely. I tore through all of it. Debbie kept my devoted interest from start to finish. The voice, the pace, the everything. I devoured it. The excerpts from the Dear Debbie column? I laughed out loud. Absolutely bingeable. And the fact that this is my very first Freida McFadden? I do not know what the heck I was waiting for.

Key Thoughts
📖 Pacing that never dipped. The chapters snapped forward with that addictive must keep reading momentum.
👀 Debbie. Debbie. Debbie. An all time favourite character for me. Her momma bear ferocity, her flaws, and that one moment that had both our hackles raised. I felt every beat of her.
💭 A wicked blend of humour and righteous fury. This is a story fuelled by women pushed past the edge and deciding enough is enough.
🏡 The setting gave me that creeping tension where everything looks perfect on the surface but you can feel something unsettling in the air just beneath it.
🧩 The twists were paced like detonations. One in particular shifted the entire landscape of the story with a single line. I sat back and just said wow.

This book completely wowed me. I am sitting here after finishing and I feel energized by what Freida McFadden just delivered. I am so glad I went in blind and let it hit me exactly the way it wanted to.

Anticipated publication date: January 27, 2026

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press for offering me this DRC which I received via Edelweiss+.

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freida is a hit or miss author for me, and finally I was blown away. Debbie was smart and devious, but her motivation made sense so I found myself following her slightly off-kilter moral compass. As ever, the pace was fast, there was a twist that I actually found interesting and justice was served.

[ivy · Rating 1 out of 5]

i’m covinced Freida gave Debbie a 178 IQ because we called her fmcs stupid.

⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹

ᝰ ⋆ ── preread ✶
i always fall for it 🤠 hopefully this one isn't as disappointing as her last releases 🤞🏻

— buddy reading with my beautiful bsf mads (she already finished) 🤍 i adore reading the most outrageous books with you 😭 my partner in crime forever 🫂

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Debbie,

I’m writing to you because my life has officially reached the point where advice columns exist for a reason. I live in a neighbourhood where the ladies on my street smile sweetly but are downright nasty, and let me tell you, they will pay for it. Slowly. Preferably when they least expect it.

Then there’s my boss, who fired me without a second thought. That one still stings, and yes, that score is very much being kept. While we’re at it, my daughter’s boyfriend is dark, eats all my food, drinks all my booze like it’s a personal challenge as he is not the right choice for her. He contributes absolutely nothing, and my patience is running on fumes.

At home, things aren’t exactly calm either. My husband quit his job, just quit, and while that’s stressful enough, I have a feeling there are more secrets lurking beneath the surface. The kind you don’t find out all at once.

As if that wasn’t enough, my other daughter has been kicked off her soccer team, and her coach has some serious explaining to do. I don’t buy the story I’ve been given, and I won’t be letting this one slide quietly.

Dear Debbie, I know there will be twists and turns in how all of this plays out. Consequences will come. Truths will surface. And honestly, at this point, my life should probably be made into a book, because even I can’t believe half of what’s happening.

So tell me, Debbie… how do I keep my sanity?

Yours in chaos,
The Freida addict

[aislinn ౨ৎ · Rating 1 out of 5]

─── ୨ৎ 1.75 stars
⤿ .ᐟ spoiler-free review

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎⤿ ‎⋮ ⟢ started: january 30th, finished: february 1st

thoughts
I'm going to keep this very quick because I really don't have much to say. this is getting the .75 stars for the beginning of the book because I actually really liked it for the first 70-ish pages. I thought debbie's mom humour was actually pretty funny and I was really eager to see where the story was going to go.

but then the story started to get a bit boring. I found that I quickly became uninterested which doesn't really happen to me with Freida books so that was a let down. almost every character really started to piss me off. debbie herself was okay honestly but still, everyone else was insufferable. this book lacked that classic thriller feeling; I want to feel uncomfortable and paranoid while reading a thriller, not like I want to put the book down.

and then came the twist. was I expecting it? well, no. but was it good? NO. I was so underwhelmed by the twist, I genuinely thought I was missing something 😭 instead of the jaw dropping twist I was expecting, I was in disbelief that that was it. it didn’t even made any sense in my opinion 🙄

and honestly as I'm writing this review I can barely remember things that happened so that really solidifies my rating.

[seeraaa ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✎ᝰ.𝟐.𝟓☆
"𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑦…𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑎."





This book was boring, and honestly, I can’t even consider it a thriller. 😴

It’s basically about a woman who goes out at night to take revenge on anyone who hurts her or her family.
Do I agree with her motive? Yes. Every single one of them deserved what happened to them.
But the methods were extremely brutal… which makes Debbie feel more like a mentally unstable character. Still—deserved 🥀✂️

Harley? A disgusting home-wrecker who steals married men. I didn’t even want revenge—I just wanted her to suffer, but she absolutely deserved it.
This is what should happen to people who destroy families. And no, I’m not excusing cheating men at all—but what about the wife? The children? Are there really not enough men in the world that you have to fall for a married one? 😤

As for Cooper… I genuinely felt bad for him. I didn’t want him to be a cheating husband—I truly hoped he wasn’t.
But then came that plot twist… one I never saw coming. Like, ever. 😶 It was unexpected, shocking, and honestly a smart move. I have to admit—most of the time, Frieda McFadden really delivers when it comes to unpredictable plot twists. 👀✨

Overall: despite everything, this is a short, fast read that you can finish quickly 🥀✂️💚






⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ |𝑃𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑✂️
Starting this today 💚
Didn’t even realize it was released yesterday ✨ and it’s my first Frieda McFadden read of the year. let’s go. 🥀

[shanayaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had been in my luteal phase, I probably would’ve hated this 🏃🏻‍♀️💨

[Renata Annese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this thinking: quick, fun thriller.
I ended this like: WHO CAN I EVEN TRUST ANYMORE?! 😵‍💫📚

This book pulls you in fast and then quietly starts messing with your head in the most delicious way. Every time I thought I had it figured out… nope. Every time I trusted someone… mistake. Every time I made a new theory… Freida laughed. 😏

Debbie is smart, bold, unintentionally hilarious, and so easy to underestimate... which makes watching everything unfold ridiculously satisfying. And the dry humor? I was actually laughing. Shmarvart took me OUT. 💀😂

The pacing is flawless. A slow psychological simmer that absolutely explodes at the end. And that ending?! Jaw. On. The. Floor. 🤯

Snarky. Twisty. Psychological. Fast-paced. Cliffhangers everywhere. Impossible to put down. 🙌

If you think you know where this story is going… you don’t. Freida did it again!

P.S. Freida… where can we download Debbie’s new app? 😉

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGGG!! Get this book!! 🤯 Thank you SO much @poisonedpenpress for my gorgeous gifted copy!! I was lucky enough to grab a copy at Boucheron! 🥰

I had only read one @fmcfaddenauthor .. and now I have read two in a month… I just ordered like umm 12 more...literally.. I am OFFICIALLY obsessed. 🤩 Thanks @poisonedpenpress 😂 Okay I absolutely loved Dear Debbie!! Ten stars ⭐️ people!! Seriously. 👏👏

This book is totally unhinged… crazy and twisted!! Our girl Debbie is my favorite kind of character. She is absolutely cray! 😬 Like scary cray… 😳… Lock 🔒 your doors… don’t make eye contact. 😂 I LOVED her so much!! What does that say about me?😬🤷‍♀️

Debbie’s life is falling apart.. but no worries.. 😉 She has it ALL under control. 🫣😳😂 She’s FINE… She is tracking her husband and kids. You just wait until you read the advice she dishes out in her column.. you guessed it.. Dear Debbie. 😉

That ending!! WOW! 🤯 👏👏 I seriously binged this in a day. I couldn’t stop!! Whew! Okay now go read this so we can talk about how crazy it was! 😂

Pub date: 1/27/26! 🥳🥳

[desiree(finally back)]

it's timeeee😤 let's see how this goes !!


debbie’s losing it, i’m losing it, we’re all losing it. freida, please. let’s just spiral on into january..😩🫠

[Court Zierk · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

How much fun can one man reading about reading about female rage and revenge? Well, let me count the ways…

Surprisingly, a lot. Maybe more than I can count.

This was definitely one of my favorites from Freida to date. Debbie somehow managed to be wicked and plotting, yet relatable and sympathetic. It’s quite the balance to strike. She never once felt villainous to me. I was in her corner the entire time, and now I’m second guessing what that says about me.

As always, the writing pulls you along effortlessly, the short chapters keep you saying “just one more”, and the twist never fails to surprise me. But I’m also easily fooled.

If you love Freida, you’ll love this one

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a longtime McFadden reader, I’ve had a bit of a love-hate relationship with her thrillers—but this one really worked for me! It’s wildly entertaining, delightfully unhinged, and driven by an unreliable main character I probably shouldn’t have been rooting for… yet absolutely was.

The dark humor hits just right, and I loved seeing McFadden step away from her usual formulas to try something a bit different with the storytelling. It’s out there in the best ways—messy, bold, and unapologetically chaotic—while still weaving in some surprisingly real and relevant issues.

Overall, this isn’t a “take it seriously” thriller, but it is a ridiculously fun ride that kept me entertained from start to finish!

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

Oh my goodness, what a crazy read! Debbie is one of the most unhinged and deranged character I have ever read. This book is fabulous, so dark, so fun and so addictive. I read this in an afternoon and I didn’t even realise time was passing by. I was hooked, what in earth was this nutcase going to do next. You will never guess.

Debbie is the kind of psychopath that you don’t see coming. She is a devoted mother, wife, housewife, and she writes an advice column for women. She is glamorous and super smart, and she does everything with a smile on her face. You don’t want to get on this lady’s bad side. And don’t mess with her family.. big mistake!

I loved this book, pure entertainment. I won’t forget Debbie anytime soon. A must read.

Thank you Poisoned Press on Edelweiss for my advanced copy to read. Out now.

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up! This was the best book Freida has written recently in my opinion. I want more of Debbie! 🖤

Debbie was taking down everybody. She was like a villain and a hero rolled into one which is my favorite kind.

The twist definitely got me and took me a moment to understand what was going on. I saw people complaining about the twist saying they didn’t think it was done right, but if you really think about it, there were hints all along. The reason it was surprising was because it was like a one in a million chance thing. It would never line up that perfectly in real life but idc I loved it all.

Some of Freida’s recent books have disappointed me a bit, but this one was great and I want a sequel. I just want more Debbie! What a great character!

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts
Holy hell this was so good! I had so much fun with this one! The full circle feeling was so fucking satisfying 😂 y'all know how I say I have a soft spot for emotionally messed up MMCs? Well the same goes for unhinged FMCs and this was a wild one! I'm surprised but also happy to say that this read is a well deserved 4.5 star read rounded up after giving so many 3s lol! This one hit in all the right places! Freida's books are usually a hit or miss kind of situation but this one delivered to the very last page!

Plot Summary
For years, Debbie Mullen has been the trusted voice behind Dear Debbie, offering comfort and guidance to women navigating difficult marriages. But as her own life begins to unravel—losing her job, growing distant from her daughters, and uncovering troubling secrets about her husband—Debbie realises she’s no longer willing to play peacemaker. Turning her hard-earned advice inward, she begins a dangerous reckoning that threatens to upend everything she thought she knew about herself and the people closest to her.

My Bookstagram

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH DEAR....

It's January 2026, and I've already listened to my first Freida book.
😍😍😍

How many popcorn thrillers will prolific author Freida McFadden write this year?
❓❓❓❓❓❓

This darkly funny, twisty, compulsively readable popcorn thriller's endearing female protagonist is a vengeful advice columnist.

(Yes, protagonists don't get much better than that!)

And she's no frazzled suburban mom advice columnist.

She has a genius‑level IQ and has been using her highly refined IT expertise to investigate and sabotage people who’ve wronged her.

My favorite "Debbie" IT project?
Her "Punish Your Husband" app.

WHY NOT 5 STARS?
While the book's first compelling twists landed well, the final twists felt contrived, exaggerated, and unrealistic.

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by three of my favorite narrators: Julia Whelan, January LaVoy, and Scott Brick.

All gave outstanding performances.

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars MAYBE 4.5 honestly - this one hit


Vlog:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTM2jDCjF/