A review by booksbytheglass
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

freida does it again!!! I’m so happy I preselected this one on BOTM before reading it because I knew my thriller plot-twist queen would never let me down 🫡

THE BOYFRIEND starts out as a typical dual timeline thriller: sydney, a single woman trying her hand at dating apps in the present day, and tom, a high schooler with a massive crush on the popular girl in school… and as the characters developed in both timelines, I was sure the rest of the story would play out very predictably…

readers: I WAS SO WRONG!! around 60-70% in the book, I started to develop another theory that I was absolutely sure was the big plot twist - and the clues freida laid out definitely solidified my theory. but chat, I was wrong again 🤡🤡🤡

I love getting fooled in a thriller, especially as I tend to read more of them than any other genre!! the domestic cat and mouse chase left my heart pounding!! 

the only thing that really annoyed me was the idiocy of the MC, sydney. she actively chose not to call the police on multiple occasions and decided to keep on the dating apps when there’s a 🥣 killer around?? 

anyway another win by freida in the books!!

rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: finger lakes cabernet franc