Here’s the second batch of books I read in the first half of 2025, during the stretch when I wasn't yet posting on the blog but still reading constantly. Most of these reviews lived on Goodreads first, so I’m bringing them over here, cleaned up and collected in one place. This round includes thrillers, medical fiction, and an admittedly aggressive amount of Freida McFadden.
Do You Remember? by Freida McFadden
Thriller ◦ 2024 ◦ ★★★★☆
This was another great Freida book about a woman with severe memory loss. She wakes up each day to a man who claims to be her husband, though she doesn’t remember him, and has essentially become a prisoner in her own home. Freida's books tend to be a little formulaic, but I can't deny that they suck me right in. This book moved at a fast pace and was extremely intriguing. The twist was a little odd and left me with a few questions, but all in all, I really enjoyed this book.
The Devil Wears Scrubs by Freida McFadden
Medical Fiction ◦ 2011 ◦ ★★★☆☆
I'm a big Freida fan, and this was the first of her non-thriller books that I've read, following a young medical intern as she navigates hospital life, impossible workloads, and difficult personalities. All in all, I enjoyed it. It was humorous and gave a glimpse into the world of medical interns and doctors, which I always find interesting. However, I will say that she seems to focus a bit TOO much on being funny and witty, and it detracted from the story somewhat. Every other sentence seemed sarcastic or comical, to the point where it hampered the plot a bit. All in all though, I did like it and definitely plan on reading the sequel soon.
The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden
Thriller ◦ 2024 ◦ ★★★☆☆
A fast and fun short story addition to The Housemaid series. I'm not a big fan of short stories, but I like how this added a little background to the overall storyline of the series. It was an enjoyable read.
Want to Know a Secret? by Freida McFadden
Thriller ◦ 2021 ◦ ★★★★☆
Another great Freida thriller about a woman’s carefully curated suburban life that begins to unravel as buried secrets come to light. This one started a little on the slower side, but definitely picked up pace and became hard to put down. I didn't love the very last twist and epilogue, but all in all, I found the story to be fun and intriguing.
The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden
Thriller ◦ 2020 ◦ ★★★★☆
One of my top Freida books! This one is about a couple who have been dealing with infertility for years. After a recent failed adoption, the woman's coworker offers to be a surrogate for them. Despite initial apprehension, they decide to go for it. And while the storyline may seem obvious and predictable, it's a Freida book, so of course you have to expect the unexpected. The story and the characters become pretty much unhinged and go off in some crazy directions. A fun and fast read!
The Ex by Freida McFadden
Thriller ◦ 2019 ◦ ★★★☆☆
Freida is one of my favorites, and this one had all the usual twists, turns, and excitement. It follows a woman who thinks she has found the perfect man... until his ex-girlfriend reappears and refuses to stay in the past. It was a fast read and kept me pretty well engaged. However, while I enjoyed it, it was not one of my favorites. The twist itself was shocking, but ultimately confusing. I had to kind of think back to previous chapters to try and piece things together, and it was challenging. All in all, another good Freida book that was fun to read, but not one of her best.
Baby City by Freida McFadden & Kelley Stoddard
Medical Fiction ◦ 2015 ◦ ★★★☆☆
This was an overall light and fun book about an OB/GYN resident working in labor and delivery at a hospital. I really enjoy medical fiction and kind of getting that peek behind the curtain. This book does a good job of doing that while also being humorous and easy to read. A couple of minor issues: the book was a bit long and meandering with not too much plot or action, and had too many characters to keep track of, particularly all the patients. There were also so many typos that it became a bit distracting. Overall though, I enjoyed my time with this book and am glad I read it.
Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson
Thriller ◦ 2024 ◦ ★★★★☆
Really gripping thriller about a true crime podcast host facing down the man who claims to be her mother's murderer from many years ago. Though the book was a bit lengthy, short chapters and an engaging mystery kept it moving at a fast pace. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more of this author's books soon.
Brain Damage by Freida McFadden
Medical Mystery ◦ 2016 ◦ ★★★☆☆
This is not your typical Freida thriller. Instead, it's a story about a woman recovering from a gunshot to the head and her ensuing brain injury, memory loss, and slow recovery in the hospital. Though it's not a thriller, it does have an intriguing mystery aspect, as Charly must figure out who shot her and why, but her memory of that evening is very fuzzy. I enjoyed this book overall, and found it pretty fascinating. I enjoyed seeing Charly's progression and struggles along with all the other patients on the unit. Not my favorite Freida novel, but definitely an engaging and interesting read, nevertheless.
That wraps up another chunk of my 2025 reading backlog. Apparently I spent part of the year bouncing between thrillers, hospital drama, and Freida McFadden’s entire catalog. More catch-up reviews still to come.
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