Freida McFadden's Best Books (So Far) Ranked By Reviews

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Freida McFadden has sold about 36 million books around the globe, according to The Independent, so it's no surprise that every time she releases a new novel, it's big news. "It's still shocking to me. I genuinely started doing this for fun," the author, whose real name is Dr. Sarah Cohen, told The Gloss of her stratospheric success. "I didn't expect it to go anywhere and then it became a fun challenge – let me see if I can get more readers – and then it just exploded," she added. But all the hype around one of the world's most popular authors also makes it hard to know where to start if you're new to (or just looking for more of) her collection, which includes over 30 books — and counting.

That's where we come in. We looked over McFadden's repertoire of books released before May 2026 ("The Divorce" was not included, as, following its May 26, 2026, release date, it needs more time, at the time of writing, to accrue accurate reviews) to determine which readers loved most. We ranked the top 12 based on each one's overall Goodreads rating out of 5. Books with the same score were favored depending on how many ratings they'd received. So make room on your Kindle or e-reader, because your TBR list is about to give some serious side-eye when one of McFadden's releases bypasses your existing queue.

At the time of writing, "Do You Remember?" is Freida McFadden's No. 12 most popular book according to Goodreads ratings. It's been rated over 179,200 times and has racked up an average score of 3.91 out of 5, which isn't bad considering there are still 11 more popular books ahead of it. The novel tells the story of a woman named Tess Strebel, who loses her memory following a life-changing accident. Tess wakes up each morning to the same letter, seemingly written by her, that tells her what happened and informs her she's now married to a man named Graham Thurman. But things get creepy when she receives a mysterious message from an unknown person urging her not to believe everything Graham says. That makes Tess question whether her so-called husband is actually who he says he is or whether something sinister is going on in her own home.

"Absolutely twisted & crazy with things you never see coming. I'm still trying to catch up with my brain after all that. [Freida McFadden] knows how to mess up your brain in the best way!" one of over 10,500 reviews stated of the psychological thriller. Another reader recommended the novel for those who want to dive into a quick, suspense-filled thriller, while a third remarked, "It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but I really enjoyed it. The twist surprised me!"

"Ward D" has an average rating of 3.96 on Goodreads at the time of writing from more than 688,800 ratings. The mystery thriller introduces us to medical student Amy Brenner, who's on shift at a locked psychiatric ward known as Ward D. She grows suspicious that something's not right, shortly before some of her co-workers and patients seemingly start vanishing into thin air — despite Ward D supposedly being locked and totally secure.

One Goodreads user recommended that those new to Freida McFadden's world make "Ward D" their first read due to the book's gripping, unexpected developments. "The twists are extra delicious! You keep questioning who's sane and who's delusional!" they wrote. "'Ward D' by Freida McFadden is a book that brings all your nightmares to life," another warned in their 5-star review, while a third ranked the book higher than McFadden's "The Housemaid" and "Never Lie," which both landed in higher positions on our ranking.

With an average Goodreads user rating of 3.97 at the time of writing, "Brain Damage" cracked the top 10 of Freida McFadden's best books thanks to more than 167,800 ratings. This psychological mystery, which one reviewer praised for its comedy despite its dark subject matter, delves into the life of Dr. Charly McKenna. The talented doctor experiences tragedy when she's shot in the head, which causes her immeasurable trauma. But Dr. Charly isn't willing to let the person who changed her life forever disappear into the night. Instead, she uses her smarts to find out who did this to her — and why.

Though many of McFadden's books are classed as thrillers, one reviewer encouraged readers not to expect the same from "Brain Damage." "Come for the characters, the charm, and the humor," they stated in their 5-star review. Another also praised McFadden's exploration of her characters, writing: "The book's characterizations were ultra-compelling and the author's scintillating wit was ever-present." "Brain Damage" makes it easy to see why Freida McFadden's favorite thriller is the equally mysterious and twisty "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn.

"Dear Debbie" sits at No. 9 on our ranking of Freida McFadden's best books. It has a 3.97 average score on Goodreads at the time of writing, but with more than 448,800 Goodreads ratings, that means it ranks just higher than "Brain Damage." The book tells the story of advice columnist Debbie Mullen. Debbie finds herself at a devastating crossroads in life after losing her job. To add to her dismay, she has grown suspicious of her husband (so much so, she decides to track his every move) and she has serious suspicions about what her kids are up to, too. All that proves too much for our protagonist. And she snaps.

"What truly surprised me is how mature and emotionally impactful this book feels," wrote one reviewer of the suspenseful story. "Beneath the chaos and madness, there's something genuinely moving here, layered with anger, vulnerability, and deliciously dark humour," they added. Others praised the author for the way she builds tension throughout "Dear Debbie," while another loved the book's fast-paced nature and its multiple twists and turns.

"The Locked Door" has been reviewed over 698,700 times on Goodreads and has an average rating of 3.98 at the time of writing. In the dark thriller, our main character Nora grapples with the horror of knowing that her dad, Aaron, is a serial killer — something she intends to keep quiet. But while the surgeon's father is behind bars, she discovers the grisly news that one of her patients has been murdered. Mysteriously, the way they were killed shares some eerily striking similarities to her dad's old methods, and it seems someone may be trying to frame Nora for this senseless act. But as much as Nora doesn't agree with Aaron's actions during his time on the outside, she may not be as innocent as she seems.

Plenty of reviewers gushed over the book's various unpredictable plot twists, while another noted in their 4-star review, "The story moves at a breakneck speed, and the killer's identity isn't revealed until near the end." Another reader teased while giving the story 5 stars, "Buckle Up... This One's WILD!"

"The Perfect Son" has racked up over 547,000 ratings and an average score of 3.99 on Goodreads at the time of writing. That makes it Freida McFadden's closest book to a 4.0 score without crossing the threshold. The book is about a mom named Erika Cass, whose life is shaken up when she learns that her son Liam is in the frame for the murder of a school friend. Liam was the last person to see her before she disappeared. Erika is undoubtedly suspicious of Liam, but she's still his mom, and she has to decide if she's willing to defend her son amid the widespread whispers, knowing there's a chance he could potentially have been involved in a horrific crime.

One reader praised Freida McFadden for developing a surprise plot twist they didn't expect. Another warned that the thriller has some very dark themes, which may not be for everyone, while a third wrote, "This is a fast-paced Whodunnit mystery novel, with short chapters and relatable characters which makes for a gripping read. Lots of red herrings with a twisty ending that will keep readers guessing all along the way."

"The Inmate" has an average Goodreads rating of 4.0 at the time of writing and has been reviewed more than 1.1 million times, which is pretty impressive by any author's standards. This thriller is set in a maximum-security prison, where nurse practitioner Brooke Sullivan has landed a new job. It's only after taking the job that she realizes that dangerous criminal Shane Nelson is an inmate at her new workplace — and that spells serious bad news. Not only was Shane her high-school boyfriend, but it was she who spoke out against him in court that ensured his fate was sealed. And, chances are, the convicted murderer won't be in a forgiving mood if the two ever came face-t- face again.

"This had it all – mystery, suspense, crime, thrill and dark, twisted secrets that give you chills! Spine-tingling, heart-racing, endless suspense," one enthralled Goodreads reader wrote. Multiple others noted they couldn't guess the ending thanks to Freida McFadden's penchant for smart, unforeseen twists, while another reader teased, "The last chapter and the epilogue of this book, produced a true jaw-dropping gob-smacked exclamation of 'WOW' from my lips. I'm not kidding."

Cracking the top five of Freida McFadden's best books according to Goodreads rankings is "The Wife Upstairs." The novel has slipped slightly in popularity since we ranked Freida McFadden's top five books in 2025. Back then, the 2020 novel outranked "The Boyfriend" on the site with a rating of 4.04. Further ratings (it has 304,200 reader ratings at the time of writing) have decreased its average score by 0.02 to 4.02. In the book, which users praised for its suspense, we're introduced to Victoria Barnett. Following an accident that left her unable to care for herself, she meets Sylvia Robertson, who is hired as her caregiver. As Victoria gets to know Sylvia better, she discovers her diary, which reveals Sylvia's unbelievable story.

Multiple users compared the fictional offering to Colleen Hoover's "Verity," one of Hoover's best books based on reviews, which fares slightly better on Goodreads with a score of 4.29. One reviewer claimed it was one of Freida McFadden's more predictable tales, but others gave the talented author props for character development. "McFadden writes them with so much depth and detail that they feel incredibly real. Their backstories are so well thought out, and you really get a sense of who they are and why they make the choices they do," they said.

"The Boyfriend" has an average Goodreads rating of 4.03 at the time of writing from more than 1.05 million reviews. It details the plight of Sydney Shaw, who hasn't had much luck finding the man of her dreams. But when she meets a handsome doctor named Tom Brewer, she thinks she's finally found the one. Only, as with many of Freida McFadden's books, Sydney's seemingly perfect life suddenly comes crashing down. She hears about a woman who was murdered by a man she was dating, and Sydney grows suspicious that it could be her new Mr. Right ... But is she right?

Multiple readers remarked on how difficult it was to predict Freida's signature twists or theorize the ending of "The Boyfriend." "Creepy, kept me on the edge of my seat, & super twisty as per usual! The ending was a little odd & felt really quick, but the book was solid overall!" one reader wrote. However, another was a much bigger fan of the novel's end, writing: "The dual timeline narration is what makes it shine. It cranks up the tension bit by bit, and then—boom! It hits you like a ton of bricks with that killer ending."

The novel "Never Lie" has a rating of 4.08 on Goodreads from over 1.62 million reader ratings at the time of writing, meaning it sits comfortably inside the top three Freida McFadden books per Goodreads rankings. McFadden builds suspense in the thrilling mystery book that Kindle readers can't get enough of as she introduces us to Tricia and Ethan. The couple visits an old manor once owned by a doctor named Adrienne Hale. While there, Tricia stumbles across the long-gone psychiatrist's logs of conversations she had with patients. But they're more than just chats about wellness. They slowly unravel the truth about how and why Adrienne went missing without a trace all those years ago. And it turns out there's a web of lies she needs to untangle to find the truth.

"Edge of your seat suspense! A captivating psychological thriller that has twists and turns galore. I thought I had it figured out but I was so wrong," wrote one reader in their 5-star review, while praising McFadden's writing. Others were highly complimentary of the writer's ever-present plot twists as well. "When I tell you my jaw dropped, I sat up, I was gasping for air. like deadass HEADSPINS at that plot twist. I forgot to breathe. It was immaculate," they wrote, demonstrating why this book has proven so popular.

"The Housemaid's Secret," the second book in "The Housemaid" series, has a Goodreads average rating of 4.15 from more than 1.88 million ratings at the time of writing. That places it just behind its series predecessor to take the runner-up spot on our ranking. The novel brings back "The Housemaid"'s Millie, who is looking for a new job following the dramatic incidents of the first book. She lands one cleaning a bougie penthouse. While there, she learns about Mrs. Garrick, who is confined to the guest bedroom. When Millie starts noticing blood on Mrs. Garrick's laundry, she decides it's time to find out what's really going on in that guest room. And what she finds makes her more determined than ever to seek justice.

Readers are recommended to dive into the first book before reading the second installment. Another even claimed they preferred the second book to the first (though not everyone agreed). Most readers couldn't get enough of the continuation of Millie's life story. "I'd highly recommend to anyone that wants a wild psychological thriller with crazy plot twists, mystery, and an incredible reading experience," one impressed reviewer noted.

The first book in "The Housemaid" series, titled "The Housemaid," is not only Freida McFadden's highest-rated book on Goodreads, but it's also her most reviewed on the site. The hugely popular novel has more than 3.7 million ratings at the time of writing and an average score of 4.27. The New York Times best-selling book was turned into a movie starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, and introduces us to Millie. She's the Winchester family's housemaid, and she has some suspicions about her employer, Nina. Nina is married to Andrew, and they seem to have the perfect life together, but Millie soon finds out that she's signed on for far more than she bargained for. It becomes clear that Andrew isn't what he seems. Neither is Nina — or Millie's job and place in the family, for that matter.

The twisty thriller has predominantly 5-star reviews, and the reviews show why the novel helped put McFadden on the map. Readers shared why they felt the book was worth the immense hype, with one writing: "From McFadden's excellent writing style to all the characters I absolutely loved, this is easily one of the best novels of 2022." Another shared, "I love how this book started out so creepy and eerie, with Nina behaving so weirdly, and then really escalated in the second half to full-on dangerous." But don't fret. Once you've made it through McFadden's best books, as we've also outlined what to read next if you loved this thriller.

To rank Freida McFadden's best books, we included her 12 most popular releases based on their Goodreads reader ratings out of 5.0 at the time of writing. We considered all of McFadden's books, including her short stories, released before May 2026, but did not include compilation releases, such as "Freida McFadden 3 Book Thriller Book Set: The Locked Door, Never Lie, One by One." For books with the same rating score, we ranked the release with more ratings higher.