The Never Expected Plot Twists of Freida McFadden

This was the first book I ever discovered by Freida McFadden, and it is the book that made me fall in love with her plot-driven writing. It surprised me just how much I enjoyed a book because, as a reader, I tend to focus more on the language. Yet, this book became an exception for me. In this book, you get introduced to a newlywed couple finding themselves in a house of their dreams, or maybe a better word is nightmares, as unexpected things begin to happen and the truth of the mysterious owner who disappeared starts to unravel. Who can you trust?

I would be shocked if you say you haven’t seen this book and the rest of the series on your TikTok for-you page yet. This book has taken over with nearly 2,000,000 reviews on Goodreads alone. Although I cannot speak for the rest of the books in the series as they still remain in my TBR, I can confidently say that THIS book is worth the hype even as a stand alone. In this book, you follow the life of a housemaid within a picture-perfect family, and as Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina, ‘each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.’ Under that perfect roof, identities are hidden, secrets are kept, and the tension rises. Will you figure out the twist of this book before it happens?

I read this book on the beach, and honestly, it was a perfect, easy and mysterious piece of writing. This book follows the life of a serial killer’s daughter who grew up and got a new identity due to the horrific reputation of the family. I feel like this book was twist after twist after twist. The daughter tries to lead an everyday life and has a successful career, but everything goes wrong when she begins to be framed for crimes she did not commit, or did she? 

Everything seems to be perfect in Natalie’s work life until the sudden disappearance of her coworker Dawn. Without having much choice, Natalie is swept up in the case of Dawn’s disappearance, and doubt begins to settle among everyone. Did she have to do something with her coworker’s disappearance? As perspectives change, the interrogation continues. I really enjoyed the rising tension of this book; the build-up was just perfect. I believe this is one of the books that you must read if you are already a fan of McFadden’s writing! Who will be found guilty?

This was my latest read from McFadden (so I wanted to include this here), and I was unsure about it at the start, if I have to be honest. With certain moments that allude to Nabokov’s Lolita, I thought I would dislike it, like Russell’s My Dark Vanessa. Yet, after choosing to continue reading and awaiting the twist of the book, I was surprised. The story focuses on two perspectives from Addie, a student at Caseham High, and Eve, a maths teacher at that same school. Rumours are rooted deep in this book, but their nature is not revealed at the start. Overall, it was a decent read, even though it has not reached the potential of the other books previously mentioned! 

Mini SPOILER? (The final twist of the book was so unnecessary in my opinion)