Querida Debbie

by Freida McFadden

Debbie Mullen está à beira de um colapso. Durante anos, dedicou-se a partilhar os seus conselhos na coluna Querida Debbie, um espaço onde as esposas de Nova Inglaterra procuravam apoio, empatia e orientação. Ao longo do tempo, respondeu a histórias de incontáveis mulheres ignoradas, humilhadas, ou até maltratadas pelos maridos e pela família, e sempre fez tudo para as ajudar a encontrar o melhor caminho.

Até agora.

Ultimamente, a vida de Debbie parece estar a desmoronar-se. Foi despedida. As filhas adolescentes estão a comportar-se de forma inquietante. E, graças à aplicação de partilha de localização que instalou no telemóvel do marido, percebeu que ele esconde um segredo.

Mas, por vezes, tudo se torna demasiado… e Debbie está cansada de ser sempre a compreensiva, a sensata, a responsável, a razoável, e decide que chegou, finalmente, a altura de seguir os seus próprios conselhos… e ajustar contas com todos aqueles que merecem receber a paga por tudo o que fizeram. Com juros.

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

304 pages, Paperback

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

[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…






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

[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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[SK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everyone in this book needs therapy.

[Geethika]

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

[Emily May · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave McFadden three tries and I can now conclude it's not meant to be! Despite my desperate attempts to join the fanwagon, I just don't get the popularity of these books. Short chapters, I suppose. And very easy to read (nix the mention of rape and murder and my 8 year old would make quick work of this). But utterly ludicrous and hinged on at least ten different coincidences.

The protagonist is a housewife and part time columnist, but also a closeted genius who has complex apps tracking her entire family and a penchant for petty revenge. Though, naturally, despite being the cleverest clever clogs that ever clevered, she doesn't think to turn off her location tracking when committing an actual crime 🫠

Plot-wise, it's a revenge fantasy. Revenge stories are great when done well, but they rely on the villains being despicable enough so we can enjoy the revenge, meaning that Debbie’s neighbours are atrociously obnoxious, the boss she wants to get revenge on is conveniently having an affair, and a high school coach is stupid enough to tell not only a teen girl but also her mother that she needs to lose a few pounds.

Genuinely, how do people deal with how ridiculously convenient things are? How convenient is Zane's criminal past? What luck her boss was having an affair! How wild the reveal about Ken? And, my god, the absolutely batshit thing with Harley and you-know-who?! MAJOR SPOILER: What are the actual chances that the guy who raped Debbie years ago is now pretending to be Debbie's husband in an affair with a woman who has pretended to be Debbie's friend?!

I didn't guess the twist because I didn't count on that many absurd coincidences.

Then we get to the epilogue and I must have rolled my eyes about twenty times. It moves through the characters as they all reveal various new twists and wild coincidences. I was begging just STOP. I can only imagine there must be a bunch of readers who read this and think "oh my god, I never saw that coming, amazing" so each to their own. I am officially parting ways with McFadden's books.

[Clace]

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

[ahmeeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

women in male dominated fields

[shanayaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly wish Freida McFadden would release a new book every single week so my entire year could be brighter, twistier, smarter—and most importantly, endlessly entertaining—just like her unputdownable, incredibly addictive writing. Who am I kidding? Even if she released a book a day, I’d still struggle to keep up with the pace at which I devour them. Thankfully, she’s basically a writing machine and releases around three books a year… but is that enough?

No. Never. Absolutely not.

I know it’s early in the year, but I’m calling it now: when the Goodreads Choice Awards roll around—whether in the thriller category or any mystery-related award—this book already has my vote. It’s a more-than-five-stars read for me. And I’d also like to officially award myself a trophy for “Most Paranoid Twist-Catcher,” because for the first time ever while reading a McFadden book, I guessed all the twists… including the biggest one in the final third.

Yes, I shocked myself.

Clearly my McFadden Spidey senses have evolved. Since The Teacher-which had one of the most jaw-dropping, absolutely unforeseeable twists ever—I’ve trained myself to stay alert while reading her books. Honestly, I should thank her for providing the most entertaining form of brain exercise imaginable.

Now, let’s talk about this book—because it is unhinged in the best possible way.

One of the most common criticisms of McFadden’s books is the perceived naïveté of some of her characters. Some readers practically scream at the women in their reviews. (Side note: I will forever defend book-version Millie from The Housemaid—less… anatomy, more heart.)

But Debbie? Oh no. Debbie is a different beast.

Debbie is brilliant. A literal genius with a 178 IQ. She designs apps, left MIT for mysterious reasons, writes a popular advice column as Dear Debbie—empowering women with sharp, no-nonsense relationship advice—and balances all of this while being a stay-at-home mom to two teenagers in her early forties, plus a freelance writing career.

What no one seems to realize, though, is that Debbie can snap. When she witnesses injustice, something inside her ignites. Call it karma, call it vigilantism—but without a silly costume, Debbie delivers her own brand of justice to protect the people she loves.

And trust me… she’s about to explode.

Debbie is fuming—practically breathing fire like a Targaryen dragon. It all begins with the cancellation of her interview with a gardening magazine. She’s worked tirelessly to create a pastoral paradise in her backyard, only for her sneaky neighbor to steal her spotlight by secretly advertising her roses behind her back. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

She despises her daughter Lexi’s boyfriend, who not only empties their fridge but also their liquor cabinet. Her younger daughter Izzy is depressed after quitting soccer—could it have something to do with her creepy coach, rumored to be a peeping Tom lurking around the girls’ showers? Her husband is hiding something big… and yes, it might involve another woman. And then there’s Harley, her new gym friend, who seems way too invested in Debbie’s personal life. What are her real intentions?

But when an unexpected final crisis hits, Debbie completely unravels.

Twenty years ago, something happened to her—something she chose to ignore, to let slide. But she’s done playing the nice, agreeable housewife. Enough is enough. It’s time to take matters into her own hands.

Because nobody messes with our girl.

Bring it on, Debbie.

I don’t say this lightly, but Debbie might just be my favorite character Freida McFadden has ever created. Sorry, Millie—you’re iconic and unhinged in your own right, but Debbie is on another level. Wilder. Smarter. Even more dangerous. And that’s exactly why I loved her more.

This is my favorite thriller of the year so far. I had an amazing time reading it. I full-on villain-laughed out loud every time Debbie unleashed another vigilante move. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Absolute perfection.
My ideal popcorn-and-Cabernet read. 🍿🍷

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[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.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ★

Dear Debby,

You are truly unhinged, but everyone will get why after reading this addictive, at times emotional revenge thriller.

Sincerely,
A Reader Who Couldn’t Look Away

In Dear Debbie, advice columnist Debbie Mullen is pushed to her breaking point when she loses her job and begins to suspect her husband is keeping secrets. As her life continues to collapse around her, Debbie stops trying to be the “bigger person” and decides it’s finally time to take her own advice and deliver payback to those who deserve it most.

I really liked this one! This is definitely going to be a hit with Freida McFadden fans. I’ve read so many of her books now I couldn’t even list them all, and she never misses for me (aside from The Crash last year).

This one had an extra layer that genuinely surprised me, compared to other Freida books I’ve read. Beyond the twists, deception, and absolutely unhinged characters, there was real heart here, and I found myself truly caring about Debbie and her family. Freida did an excellent job creating characters that felt believable and relatable to everyday families… just significantly more reckless. I especially loved the dynamic between Debbie and her teen daughters. Their comments toward her were hilarious and so real.

Debbie was easily the standout of the book, and she’s the kind of main character you won’t forget. She even reminded me a bit of the protagonist in Best Offer Wins (4.5 ★). I’m starting to love thrillers with characters who really go there and don’t hold back.

Like all of Freida’s books, this one is incredibly fast-paced and easy to sink into. The pages absolutely flew for me. I went into it while at the start of a reading slump, and once again she pulled me right out of it.

I don’t really have any major complaints. It wasn’t quite a five star read for me, but it was certainly entertaining.

I definitely recommend it!

—

Follow my Bookstagram for all the latest thriller and horror news, tons of recommendations, giveaways, and more!

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[Nancy (Busy feeding 6 rescued baby bunnies) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 crazy train ⭐️

I switched up my usual chore listening this past weekend and, instead of reaching for smut, I opted for this popcorn thriller instead. 🍿👀

I’ve only read a handful of Freida McFadden’s books, and while they always keep me entertained and flying through the pages, there’s something that keeps me from rating them higher. Usually it’s the clueless FMCs and the frustratingly silly decisions they make, but thankfully that wasn’t the case with Debbie.

Debbie is completely unhinged, boasting an IQ of 178 and a firm belief in karma and revenge. I found myself laughing, probably inappropriately, at the dark humor woven throughout the story. It was undeniably fun for a while, but by the end, that initial enjoyment started to wear thin and I found myself ready for it to wrap up.

At this point, I know exactly what I’m getting with her books: a fast paced, propulsive read that doesn’t demand much brainpower but does require a hefty suspension of disbelief.

The narration by Julia Whelan, January LaVoy, and Scott Brick was perfection as always.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (Semi-Hiatus-attempting return) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up!

I don’t typically reach for Freida McFadden expecting nuance — the twists can be wild and the female leads sometimes make choices that have me side-eyeing the page.

But Debbie? Debbie came to play. 🤺

She’s sneaky in the best way. Cool under pressure. Handling business with ease while everyone else is fumbling. No panic. No sloppy mistakes. Just calculated moves and quiet confidence. I was fully invested, silently cheering her on.

Over-the-top? Sure.
Entertaining? Very.

Debbie had swag 💁🏻‍♀️ — and that made all the difference for me.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹


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3.5 stars rounded up. Debbie was an unhinged bad ass. Full RTC

Something quick on audio while working. 🤞🏻

[Nat · 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.

4.2 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 [Ramadan 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.

[manas · Rating 4 out of 5]

#women in male dominated fields. 🤍

[levi (semi-ia)]

Dnf @20% this is not what I’m looking for right now 😔😔

[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.

[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+.

[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 🫂

[desiree(finally back) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another day, another Freida McFadden read finished — and to my genuine surprise, I actually liked this one(don't mind the 3 star rating, it's a good version of it this time🫠). It’s easily one of her stronger recent releases. While it may not rank among my all-time favorites, it also wasn’t a frustrating waste of time, which, if you read enough thrillers, feels like a win.

One of the standout elements for me was the advice column format woven throughout the story. Those sections were engaging and added an extra layer of intrigue that kept me invested. I experienced this book via audiobook and honestly, that format probably saved me from abandoning it during slower stretches. The pacing swings between gripping and sluggish. Moments of real curiosity are followed by chapters that stall the momentum, creating a reading experience that feels both compelling and tedious.

A major win here: I genuinely enjoyed the female main character. That alone feels noteworthy, since her heroines often irritate me. This one was fun, sharp, and delightfully unhinged in a way that made her fascinating to follow. She may rank among my favorites to date and is absolutely the type of person you would not want to cross. Let’s just say karma plays a memorable role...💀🙈.

That said, there are moments later in the book that could have been handled with more nuance and care. Some developments feel rushed, and the novel occasionally overstays its welcome. Some moments that could've and should've been handled with more care and better worded than they were. A handful of chapters could have been chopped without losing anything essential.

As for the twists, they are unmistakably her style: bold, slightly outlandish, and requiring a healthy suspension of disbelief. Not the strongest reveals, but far from the weakest — very much a “just go with it” experience. Ultimately, the writing feels stronger than in some of her other recent works, which elevates the entire book. And in a rare turn for me, the epilogues were a highlight rather than an afterthought, providing a satisfying close instead of a coin toss.

Not perfect and not top-tier, but a solid, entertaining thriller that proves she still knows how to keep readers hooked, even when the ride gets a little uneven.


...

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..😩🫠

[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

[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!

[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? 😉

[aislinn ୭ ˚.⁺⊹ .ᐟ · 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.

[Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ this was hilarious tbh

[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. 🥀

[Teres · Rating 2 out of 5]

Admittedly, I'm not a fan of talking books. But, audio was the only format my library had available.

I gave it my best shot — 50% listen — before throwing in the towel and calling it a DNF.

Just not my cup of tea. Characters and storyline did not hold my interest.

Next!