The Top 5 Freida McFadden Books, Ranked By Reviews

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Freida McFadden, the thriller author dominating BookTok, has no problem writing three or four books a year. "I am limited not by ideas or writing time but good twists," she told The Washington Post. "With a thriller, you have to have a fresh twist. I spend a lot of time planning books. Once I start writing, I can go very quickly." That's partially how she's published more than 30 books, which are famous for their inventive plots and hard-to-put down writing. From a psychological thriller that's taking the Kindle charts by storm to a forthcoming film adaptation, McFadden has thriller fans in a chokehold.

That's an intimidating oeuvre to choose from, especially if you're picking up McFadden's work for the first time. The choice is made even more complicated by the fact that her novels are so widely beloved, with nearly every one garnering more than three stars on Goodreads. Still, there are a few clear reader favorites. These make great entry points if you've never read anything by McFadden. Or, if you're a long-time fan, these are the must-read novels to make sure you check off your list. Each top-ranked book exemplifies McFadden's subversive storytelling, unexpected characterization, and jaw-dropping endings — great next-reads for old or new fans. Just don't ever make the mistake of assuming you know how a McFadden book is going to end.

The fifth most popular Freida McFadden book is "The Boyfriend," which has a shocking, high-octane plot about the horrors of online dating. It starts as a story of catfishing and spirals into a race against time, as a young woman in New York tries to figure out who is trying to kill her. Readers loved this book so much that it was a 2024 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller, and earned an average of 4.03 stars on Goodreads.

"The Boyfriend" has a swift plot and characters who aren't who they appear to be. "McFadden brilliantly maneuvers characters and readers through a complex plot line that keeps shifting and twisting at an ever-increasing pace before finally dropping a last minute, shocking bombshell that left this reader reeling," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "Authentic characterizations make it easy to feel empathy for some while making it difficult to discover who's being truthful and who's manipulative, carefully hidden beneath a mask." Just don't pick it up if you like slow, predictable plots.

Freida McFadden's 2020 novel "The Wife Upstairs" will be a hit with anyone who is still haunted by the first wives of Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" or Colleen Hoover's "Verity." Fresh out of a breakup, a young woman accepts a job in a elegant suburban home, where she cares for a wife and mother confined to her bed by an accident. But in true McFadden fashion, this domestic scene is far darker than it appears. Goodreads users awarded this popular novel 4.04 stars.

McFadden delivers another wild, unstoppable plot with twists even the biggest thriller fans won't be able to predict. "As a HUGE thriller fan, I have pretty high standards when it comes to plot twists — they need to be surprising but also make sense," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "Nothing ruins a good story faster than a twist that feels random or completely unrealistic. That's why I LOVED this book." It's a great place to start if you're looking for an introduction to McFadden's signature addictive prose and unhinged plotting.

Freida McFadden gives us her version of a haunted house story with "Never Lie," a 2022 psychological thriller that will keep you up all night turning pages. A freshly married couple find themselves snowed in at a rural estate, where they piece together clues from old audio transcripts in an attempt to locate a missing psychologist. Goodreads readers rated it 4.08 stars, praising the nerve-rattling suspense and shocking reveal.

Fans rave about the unstoppable plot and the multi-layered narrative. The writing is punchy and compelling, with likable characters. "These books will invade your every thought and activity as soon as you start," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "You will be desperate to get back to the story, as well as constantly thinking about how Freida might put her trademark twist in the story. This latest offering is no different." In fact, McFadden's twists are so unexpected that even she struggles to articulate how she comes up with them.

"The Housemaid's Secret" was written as a follow-up to "The Housemaid," and it's nearly as good. A young woman accepts a job as a housekeeper, where she is rapidly absorbed into the private lives of wealthy employers. Freida McFadden specified that you don't need to have read the first novel to enjoy this one, though you might like it more if you do follow the proper order.

Readers awarded it 4.19 stars on Goodreads, as well as a win as a 2023 Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller, and praised it for being nearly impossible to put down. "Love the snark, twists, and short chapters," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "I'll definitely be recommending both books to suspense fans." Another Goodreads reviewer described it more simply: "actual crack." As usual, McFadden delivers an edge-of-your-seat thriller. If you love wickedly plotted stories or jaw-dropping twists, then this novel won't let you down.

Freida McFadden's most popular book is her bestselling 2022 novel "The Housemaid." A film adaptation, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, is due to be released on December 19, 2025, and both actresses explain that they were eager fans of the book when it was released. "It's delicious, it's juicy, there's so many layers to it," said Sweeney during an interview with TODAY (via YouTube). "I was obsessed with it."

They're among the legions of fans who adore this high-adrenaline domestic thriller, which earned a whopping 4.28 stars on Goodreads, as well as a 2022 nomination for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller. The story opens with a young woman who takes a job as a wealthy family's housekeeper, but there are dark realities lurking within the home.

Thrillers usually hinge on a propulsive plot, but reviewers praised the rich characters who populated McFadden's novel, as well. "It was as twisted as 'Flowers in the Attic' and as delicious as the most decadent chocolate cake," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "I have a feeling lot[s] of us women identify with these characters more than we want to think about." Already finished it? B.A. Paris' "Behind Closed Doors" is the perfect book to read next if you loved this popular thriller.