A Promising Setup and Classic McFadden Energy
Whenever I pick up a Freida McFadden book, I know there’s an 80% chance I’m going to love it and 'The Boyfriend' definitely did not disappoint. McFadden has built her reputation on writing winding, fast-pace thrillers that are part mystery, part scoop opera, and 100% addictive. This book follows Sydney Shaw, a 34 year old single woman living in New York City who’s been having the worst luck with men. Think of every type of terrible date. Guys who lie on their profiles, make her pay the bill, or can’t stop talking about their mothers and you’ve got Sydney’s dating history in a nutshell.
When she meets Tom, a handsome, charming physician, everything appears to be finally looking good. He's kind, caring, and, most of all, normal. Or at least she thinks so. But when a young woman is brutally slain, one of a series of unsolved killings, Sydney begins to sense warning signs surrounding her ideal new boyfriend. Is Tom the kind doctor she thinks he is, or does he have a much darker secret?
That’s the setup, and it’s a strong one. McFadden’s writing style makes it impossible not to keep turning the pages. She knows exactly how to hook readers from chapter one and never lets go. The story flips between two timelines: one from Sydney’s point of view in the present and one from Tom’s high school years. "Past Tom" chapters are creepy, disturbing, and fascinating regarding his fascination and peeping into his mind before he meets Sydney.
You feel something amiss regarding him, but McFadden keeps you guessing right up until the end as to what that "something" actually is. Even before things go dark, I was hooked on how real Sydney's world felt. Her dating struggles, her friends, and her insecurities all rang true — even when she did make a couple of questionable choices along the way (and trust me, she makes lots of those!).
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Flawed, fun, and slightly frustrating characters
Now let's discuss characters because this is where McFadden novels succeed or fail, depending on your reading forgiveness level. Sydney, for instance, is nice but frustratingly naive. When a girl is killed after just starting to date a new guy, perhaps don't rush into that one headfirst, huh? But Sydney does it. She gets a bad vibe sometimes, but she waves it away. However, as bad as her judgment is, I couldn't help but root for her still. She's relatable in that sense, especially since we can all think of that one time we ignored red flags, especially not quite up to the serial-killer level.
Tom is an intriguing package of charm and creepiness. His flashbacks in high school reveal how he transformed into the individual he is today. He had an abusive father, a creepy obsession with blood, and a poisonous friendship with a kid named Slug, who's the human equivalent of a cockroach. Tom's coming-of-age narrative brings a lot more depth to the book and provides the book with that psychological thriller feel that McFadden readers adore. You’ll spend the whole time wondering: is Tom the killer, or is someone else pulling the strings?
The side characters add their own flavor. Sydney’s best friends Bonnie and Gretchen are total opposites. Bonnie’s bubbly and outgoing, while Gretchen seems a bit too perfect and mysterious. Then there’s Randy, Gretchen’s creepy boyfriend, and Kevin, Sydney’s horrifying first-date-from-hell who refuses to go away. And yes, all of these individuals somehow get roped into being suspects in the big murder mystery. McFadden populates her books with a blend of "hot and charming" and "disgusting and suspicious," with little to no middle ground. It's over-the-top, it's hyperbolic, and it completely works for this type of book.
The characters aren't going to sit with you and have a beer, but they're a blast on a wild ride. You don't read a Freida McFadden book for character development; you read it for the excitement, the intrigue, and the "wait, WHAT just occurred?" factor. And in that particular way, The Boyfriend gives you just that.
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Twists, Red Herrings, and a Totally Wild Ending
If Freida McFadden is famous for anything, it's her twists. The kind that leave you gasping, laughing, and sometimes eye-rolling simultaneously. 'The Boyfriend' is rife with them. Every few chapters, I was positive that I had solved it all. I was certain Tom was the murderer. Then Randy. Then Gretchen. Then Kevin. And every single time, McFadden threw in something that made me question everything.
The dual timeline maintains the suspense at a high level. The flashbacks to Tom in his teenage years create this unsettling feeling of foreboding that is enhanced with each chapter. In contrast, the chapters set in the present with Sydney offer her gradually breaking down as she comprehends that her dream man could be different from what she imagines. The novel is quick paced, and the chapters are brief — ideal for reading in one sitting.
And that conclusion? Totally bonkers in the best possible way. Without giving away too much, let's just say the killer reveal isn't who you think it is. The ending twist brings everything full circle in an absurd but terrific fashion. It's over-the-top and kinda crazy, but that's half the appeal. McFadden is able to take all the red herrings she planted earlier in the book and turn them on their head by the end.
The epilogue introduces one final scary moment — a quintessential "Freida touch." It's that sort of conclusion that has you grinning and thinking, Okay, that was crazy… but I loved it.
Does it all make perfect logical sense? Not really. Are there some scenes too hyperbolic to be believed? Absolutely. But in a psycho-thriller such as this, it's not about reality — it's about the ride. And The Boyfriend is quite the ride.
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Final Thoughts
In the end, The Boyfriend is precisely what I crave from a Freida McFadden novel: a quick-read, twisty thriller that keeps me on my toes and completely engages me from beginning to end. It's not flawless. The characters can be infuriatingly shallow, the prose a little redundant, and the plot sometimes verges on melodrama but frankly, that's part of the appeal. It feels as if you are watching an incredibly good crime show, as you feel that the logic does not add up but cannot stop watching.
Irrespective of Sydney's dubious decisions, I loved the way McFadden balanced both timelines and built tension. The mystery had me on my toes, and even when I guessed a couple of things, I never had a clue how it would all fit. That's what makes McFadden so much fun to read, she's always one up.
If you’re a long-time fan, you’ll enjoy this one for sure. And if you’ve never read McFadden before, The Boyfriend is a great place to start. It captures everything she does best. Messy relationships, flawed characters, jaw-dropping twists, and that signature mix of humor and horror.
Not her best ever but certainly one of the most entertaining books she has written. Great pacing, suspense throughout, and a satisfying ending make it an easy 4 out of 5 stars for me. Not perfect by any stretch, but the book is fun and sometimes that's just exactly what a good thriller should be.
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⭐Final Rating: 4/5
Why you'll like it: Quick, twisty, dramatic, and addictive ideal for when you want a thriller that grabs you till the last page. Why it's not 5 stars: Over-the-top characters, a few unrealistic scenes, and some plot holes