Thrillers by Freida McFadden and More

 Review

I enjoyed this book so well, I went out and borrowed three more by the author. 

Brain Damage by Freida McFadden

Genre: suspense thriller, to be published Aug. 25, 2026, NetGalley

Review: Charly wakes up in a hospital with a feeding tube in her stomach and no memory of why she is there, what happened to her, or who she is. As she slowly regains her strength, some memories come back as she tries to put together who had shot her in the head and left her for dead. 

The amnesiac angle of the story made it suspenseful and had the reader eagerly waiting for the protagonist to figure out what happened to her. This trope is becoming more used in thrillers and I am a fan. Enjoyable and well written, plotted, with realistic characters, the book made me look for the author's previous books.

Listening to:

I'm listening to the audiobook in spurts. It's another suspenseful and mysterious novel by the author. 

The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden

Genre: thriller 

Published March 23, 2020

Brief description: Victoria is confined to her room, unable to speak or walk after a terrible accident. Her husband hires a woman, Sylvia, to keep her company, read to her, and be a friendly companion. 

Sylvia soon discovers Victoria's diary, written before the accident, and tries to piece together the mystery behind the silent woman, who keeps trying to communicate something to Sylvia. 

Next on the list:

I enjoy the thrillers by Camilla Sten. This is a new one that I hope to read soon.

The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten

Publication: June 9, 2026, Minotaur, NetGalley

This book is described as a "creepy thriller" about an undercover journalist who visits a women's psychological wellness center that caters to those who want to recover from heartbreak. I'm curious about it. 

And something more relaxing inbetween thrillers:

Out of Her League by Ava Rani

May 12, 2026, Avon, NetGalley

To make her ex jealous, an ambitious young surgeon recruits a charming star soccer player to be her date to a lavish Parisian wedding—but love might have a game plan of its own, in this stand-alone romance (publisher)

Tropes: fake dating, only one bed, fancy Paris hotel, and more. 

What are you reading this week?

Memes:  The Sunday Post, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves

What to Read Next?

 

The Washashore

by Christopher Mirabile, Aprpil 7, 2026

Genre: mystery, thriller, adult fiction

Description

A fatal late-night hit-and-run shatters the quiet of Provincetown, drawing interim police chief Silas Lopez into a case that appears straightforward—until the cracks begin to show. 

From windswept dunes and secretive cranberry farms to the gritty docks of New Bedford, Silas chases a trail of shifting lies.

I'vee heard a lot about Provincetown, but I didn't know about cranberry farms and the gritty docks, if these are real and not fiction. 

I finished the 

Littlest Library, a cozy romance set in a small town in England. About a librarian who moves to the town and lives in a cottage that has a red phone booth in the front yard that she turns into a grab and go community library.

My NetGalley haul - next to read

This women's fiction was published March 22, 2026 by Books Go Social. I love the idea of Greece, so the description of a woman empty nester who travels to Greece to find her new self really made me want to read it. 

Published June 9, 2026 by Berkley, the mystery thriller looks fascinating, judging by the title and the cover illustration. Makes me want to know more about the story behind it. 

A love triangle in NYC has me intrigued. Sounds like a gossipy kind of novel. Published June 16, 2026 by Knopf. 

I should get back to the unfinished books on my ereader! These new ones are piquing my interest too. 

What are you reading this week?

Memes:  The Sunday Post, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday