4 Stars • In The Devil You Know (Dr. Jane McGill, Book 2) by Freida McFadden, Dr. Jane McGill, now an internist at a VA hospital, juggles her demanding job, motherhood, and a strained marriage to Ben. When her charming ex, Dr. Ryan “Sexy Surgeon” Reilly, joins her workplace, old feelings resurface, forcing Jane to confront past choices and current frustrations. ⬇️

4 Stars • In The Devil Wears Scrubs by Freida McFadden, Dr. Jane McGill, a new medical intern, navigates the chaos of County Hospital. Under the tyrannical senior resident Dr. Alyssa Morgan, dubbed "The Devil," Jane faces sleepless nights, tough patients, and a sadistic surgeon. With humor, she tackles self-doubt, romance, and the brutal realities of medical training in this satirical, fast-paced novel.

I‘m just wondering what kind of genius developed this audiobook app? Probably the same person who came up with daylight saving time.

3.5 Stars • Baby City by Freida McFadden and Kelley Stoddard is a light-hearted medical drama following Emily McCoy, a third-year OB/GYN resident in a chaotic New York City hospital's Labor and Delivery unit, dubbed "Baby City." ⬇️

Dead Med was originally published as Suicide Med. Dead Med is a revised edition with about 20% changes.

4 Stars • Dead Med by Freida McFadden is a medical thriller following Heather McKinley, a student at DeWitt Medical School, dubbed "Dead Med" for its history of student overdoses. ⬇️

4 Stars • The Ex by Freida McFadden is a fast-paced psychological thriller following Cassie, a young bookstore owner, who starts dating Joel, a charming doctor. As their relationship grows, mysterious and unsettling events—vandalism, strange messages, and intrusions—begin to disrupt Cassie‘s life. ⬇️

3.5 Stars • The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller centered on Sylvia Robinson, who takes a job caring for Victoria Barnett, a woman supposedly disabled after an accident, and her handsome husband, Adam. Sylvia uncovers Victoria's diary, revealing shocking secrets about the couple, leading to twists involving deception, power dynamics, and danger.

#TheWifeUpstairs #FreidaMcFadden #Bookish

Stolen from FB

5 Stars • Want to Know a Secret? by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller about April Masterson, a YouTube baking star with a seemingly perfect life. Dark secrets, including her son‘s odd behavior, an affair, and a buried secret, unravel when she receives threatening texts. Set in a drama-filled suburban neighborhood, the story builds suspense throughout and is a fast-paced, twisty read for fans of domestic thrillers.

5 Stars • Death Row by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller novella about Talia Kemper, on death row for murdering her husband, Noel, despite an alibi and no clear motive. As her execution looms, she spots a man resembling Noel, hinting he may be alive. Dual timelines explore her prison life and past suspicions of Noel‘s infidelity. ⬇️

5 Stars • In Freida McFadden‘s One by One, Claire, Noah, and two couples vacation in the woods to mend relationships. Their minivan breaks down, stranding them, and group members die mysteriously. Claire‘s affair with Jack and Lindsay‘s resentment surface. Lindsay and Warner orchestrate the deaths, but Lindsay fakes her own and tries to frame Noah. ⬇️

5 Stars • Never Lie by Freida McFadden follows newlyweds Tricia and Ethan, trapped in a remote manor during a blizzard. The house belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a psychiatrist who vanished. Tricia finds audio tapes revealing secrets about Hale‘s disappearance. Alternating between past and present, the thriller unveils deception and twists, leading to a shocking conclusion.

#NeverLie #FreidaMcFadden #Bookish

Read in May 2025
18 Books
Five 5-Star reads this month:
• The Tenant
• The Fountains of Silence
• Six Days in Bombay
• The Family Experiment
• Ricochet

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #Litsy #Libby #Audible #Kindle #Bookish

4 Stars • I have not found a Freida McFadden book that I didn‘t like. I‘ve already read quite a few but now I am on a “Freida Frenzy“ and am determined to finish the rest of her catalog.

The Locked Door follows Nora Davis, a surgeon hiding her past as the daughter of a serial killer. When her patients are murdered in her father‘s signature style, Nora becomes a suspect. ⬇️

4 Stars • Freida McFadden‘s Do You Remember? is a taut psychological thriller about Tess Strebel, who, after a car accident, wakes daily with no memory of the past decade. Living with Graham, who claims to be her husband, Tess receives a cryptic warning, unraveling his deceptive control over her life. McFadden‘s fast-paced narrative, driven by Tess‘s unreliable perspective, uses sharp twists and foreshadowing effectively.

Book Haul

4 Stars • In Brain Damage by Freida McFadden, Dr. Charly McKenna, a dermatologist, suffers a brain injury from a gunshot, causing left-side neglect and memory loss. As she navigates rehab, she uncovers fragmented memories to identify her attacker, blending suspense, medical realism, and themes of trauma and betrayal.

#BrainDamage #FreidaMcFadden #Bookish

5 Stars • The Tenant by Freida McFadden is a tense psychological thriller about Blake Porter, a marketing VP, who finds his life unraveling after being fired for allegedly selling company secrets. Desperate, he agrees to take in a tenant, Whitney Cross, to help with mortgage payments. However, strange occurrences start to plague Blake, and he suspects Whitney is sabotaging his life and relationship with his fiancée, Krista.

Reading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • Poirot Investigates (1924) is a collection of eleven short stories by Agatha Christie featuring the meticulous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. ⬇️

4 Stars • Elektra by Jennifer Saint retells the Trojan War through three women: Clytemnestra, betrayed by her husband Agamemnon‘s sacrifice of their daughter; Cassandra, a Trojan princess cursed to foresee doom but never believed; and Elektra, their daughter, torn between loyalty and revenge. It‘s a vivid, emotional take on myth, exploring female strength, trauma, and war‘s toll.

#Elektra #JenniferSaint #Bookish #GreekMythology

2 Stars • Pamela Dean reimagines the Scottish ballad as a 1970s urban fantasy set at Blackstock College, Minnesota. Freshman Janet Carter navigates academic life, friendships, and romances with Classics majors tied to the mysterious Professor Medeous. Amid literary discussions and subtle supernatural hints, the novel builds slowly to a magical climax. Blending coming-of-age themes with lyrical prose. It really didn‘t hit the mark for me.

4 Stars • Yes, I do read non-fiction. Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari dives into humanity‘s next chapter. With hunger, sickness, and war mostly under control, we‘re now chasing eternal life, constant joy, and superhuman powers through tech like AI and gene editing. ⬇️

5 Stars • The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys is set in 1957 Spain under Franco‘s regime. Daniel, an American teen photographer, uncovers the dictatorship‘s secrets through his photos while falling for Ana, a hotel maid with a tragic past. The novel explores oppression, forced adoptions, and Spain‘s silenced history, blending romance and historical truth.

#TheFountainsOfSilence #RutaSepetys #Bookish

5 Stars • Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi, set in 1930s British India, follows Sona, an Anglo-Indian nurse, who bonds with Mira, a half-Indian painter. After Mira‘s sudden death, Sona is blamed and fired. Tasked with delivering Mira‘s paintings to Prague, Paris, Florence, and London, Sona travels across Europe to clear her name, exploring identity and art amid a looming war.

#SixDaysInBombay #AlkaJoshi #Bookish

3 Stars • In Let Her Be (Hush #6) by Lisa Unger, Will, a troubled aspiring novelist, investigates his ex-girlfriend Anisa‘s seemingly perfect life after a toxic breakup and his suicide attempt. Obsessed with her social media, he suspects something sinister behind her idyllic posts. With friend Emily, Will uncovers clues, but his unreliable perspective blurs truth and deception in this 56-page psychological thriller.

#LetHerBe #LisaUnger #Bookish

Thank you #LiuBookGroup and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is August 5, 2025.

4 Stars • In Berlin by Eric Silberstein hits all the feels. Anna, a high-flying software engineer, gets blindsided by a spinal stroke, flipping her Berlin life upside down. ⬇️

5 Stars • In The Family Experiment by John Marrs, set in a dystopian Britain, overpopulation and poverty push couples to raise virtual "MetaBabies" in the Metaverse. A reality show pits contestants against each other for the chance keep their AI child or enough money to get a child through IVF, adoption. or other means. ⬇️

4 Stars • In The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose, Sarah Morgan, now married to Bob with a daughter, faces chaos when Bob‘s affair sparks a divorce. New DNA evidence reopens her ex-husband Adam‘s murder case, and the woman Bob slept with vanishes. Sarah battles suspicion and secrets in a twisty, fast-paced thriller, showcasing her cunning as past and present collide. I hope there will be a third episode in this series.

5 Stars • Ricochet by Kellyn Carni is a thrilling YA historical fantasy where Anastasia and Alexei Romanov, saved by a magical garnet, navigate an alternate 1918 Russia. Blending rich history with multiverse twists, the story shines with Anastasia‘s fierce loyalty and fast-paced plot, though secondary characters could use more depth. A captivating 5-star debut for fans of magic-infused history.

#Ricochet #KellynCarni #Bookish #Romanov

4 Stars • The Perfect Marriage follows Sarah Morgan, a high-powered defense attorney, whose seemingly perfect life with her husband Adam unravels when he‘s accused of murdering his mistress. The plot twists are wild—every time I thought I had it figured out, Jeneva Rose threw in another curveball. Sarah‘s fierce determination to defend Adam, kept me glued to the pages, wondering if love, betrayal, or something darker was at play.

4 Stars • Lights All Night Long by Lydia Fitzpatrick gripped me with Ilya‘s quest from Russia to Louisiana, chasing truth about his jailed brother, Vladimir. The mystery unfolds through vivid dual timelines, blending suspense with deep family ties. Ilya‘s bond with Sadie and their search for answers hit hard, delivering a heartfelt, hopeful tale of loyalty and sacrifice.

#LightsAllNightLong #LydiaFitzpatrick #Bookish

3.5 Stars • The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden is a gripping, emotional ride through World War I. Nurse Laura Iven hunts for her lost brother Freddie in a war-ravaged world, blending raw history with a touch of spooky magic. Arden‘s beautiful writing pulls you into the heartbreak and horror, with a creepy figure, Faland, adding chills. A must-read for anyone who loves deep, atmospheric stories.

The air in the Baton Rouge airport tasted like toothpaste.

#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl

Read in April 2025
18 Books
Five 5-Star reads this month:
• All Good People Here
• The Marriage Act
• The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
• The Seven Year Slip
• Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #OUABC #Litsy #Libby #Audible #Kindle #Bookish

5 Star • All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers is a tense thriller following journalist Margot Davies as she probes a cold case murder and a new abduction in small-town Indiana. The dual-timeline story delivers suspense and twists, though its JonBenét Ramsey parallels and ambiguous ending may polarize readers. A solid debut for true crime fans.

#AllGoodPeopleHere #AshleyFlowers #Bookish

(re)Reading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • Agatha Christie‘s The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) is a thrilling mystery-adventure that grabs you tight. Spunky Anne Beddingfeld, chasing a shady death and a brown-suited stranger in London, follows a cryptic note to a South Africa-bound ship. ⬇️

3 Stars • Christina Lauren‘s The Paradise Problem is a sparkling rom-com blending wit and warmth. Anna Green, a struggling artist, and Liam Weston, a reserved professor, fake a marriage at a lavish island wedding to secure his $100 million inheritance. ⬇️

4 Stars • The Inmate by Freida McFadden is a gripping psychological thriller that I couldn‘t put down. Brooke Sullivan, a nurse at a maximum-security prison, faces her ex, Shane, a convicted murderer she helped put away. ⬇️

4.5⭐️ • The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley is a gothic mystery set in 1938 at Thornleigh Hall. Gillian, a lonely teen, befriends Violet Claybourne and visits her decaying estate. A tragic accident entangles Gillian in the manipulative schemes of Violet‘s sisters, leading to betrayal, guilt, and decades of consequences. Alternating between 1938 and 1999, the novel explores family secrets, mental health, and the cost of belonging.

5 Stars • The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston is a romantic novel with a time-slip twist. Clementine West discovers her apartment sends her seven years back, where she falls for Iwan, a chef. In the present, he‘s her neighbor with no memory of her. The story is a contemporary romance with a blend of time travel and magical realism. ⬇️

5 Stars • In The Marriage Act by John Marrs, a dystopian Britain enforces the Sanctity of Marriage Act, promoting "Smart Marriages" with AI surveillance and penalizing singles. Four couples navigate the oppressive system, facing privacy loss, betrayal, and government control. A resistance group fights back in this suspenseful, twist-filled thriller.

#TheMarriageAct #DarkFuture #JohnMarrs #Bookish

4 Stars • Eleven Numbers by Lee Child, is a short story about a math professor Nathan Tyler who is recruited by the White House to decode a Russian nuclear algorithm. Sent to a Moscow conference, he faces danger and betrayal in a tense, twisty espionage mission.

#ElevenNumbers #LeeChild #Bookish

2.5 Stars • Awe by Dacher Keltner explores the science of awe—the feeling of wonder from encountering something vast. Triggered by nature, art, kindness, or rituals, awe reduces stress, boosts empathy, and fosters connection. Keltner shows it‘s accessible daily, promoting health, creativity, and meaning. Through science and stories, he encourages cultivating awe to transform life.

#Awe #DacherKeltner #Bookish

4 Stars • American Housewife by Anita Abriel follows Maggie Lane, a 1950s radio host turned TV star of The Maggie Lane Baking Show. Despite her lack of domestic skills, she must uphold a perfect housewife image. As fame grows, her marriage falters, an old lover reappears, and a past secret threatens her career, forcing Maggie to confront her ambitions and identity.

#AmericanHousewife #AnitaAbriel #Bookish

4 Stars • Wish You Were Gone is a thriller about Emma Walsh, whose husband, James, dies in a suspicious car crash. Planning to confront him about his alcoholism, Emma instead uncovers his secrets and questions his death's circumstances. With her friends and grieving teens, she navigates mistrust and hidden truths. Multiple perspectives reveal James‘s facade, blending family drama and suspense with twists until the end.

3.5 Stars • Trust by Hernan Diaz is a Pulitzer-winning 2022 novel about wealth and perception in early 20th-century New York. Told through four perspectives—a fictional novel, a tycoon‘s memoir, a ghostwriter‘s account, and a secret journal—it follows financier Andrew Bevel and his wife, Mildred. Each section reframes their story, revealing Mildred as the true genius behind their fortune. The book explores truth, power and narrative unreliability.

5 Stars • Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3: Scheherezade; Sleep adapts two short stories by Haruki Murakami into manga.

• Scheherezade: Habara, a confined man, relies on a woman dubbed "Scheherezade" for supplies, sex, and stories. She recounts her teenage obsession with breaking into a boy‘s house, but her tale cuts off, leaving Habara longing for her return. ⬇️