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Never Lie
Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams.
But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.
In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.
Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.
And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.
The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth.
But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.
In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.
Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.
And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.
The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2022
About the author
Freida McFadden
42 books96.4k followers#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53,578 reviews
February 22, 2024
Check out my 10 thriller recs to read instead of Freida McFadden on YouTube💖
I read this as part of a group buddy read on Instagram which is why I didn't yeet it into outer space.
One sentence review: L M F A O you're joking
SYNOPSIS
Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are snowed in during their viewing at the creepy, dusty, secluded mcmansion once owned by Dr. Adrienne Hale, who mysteriously disappeared without a trace four years ago. When Tricia finds her secret tapes of her sessions, she starts listening to get to the bottom of the doctor's disappearance.
MY OPINION
BUCKLE TF UP. THIS IS ABOUT TO BE A LONG ONE.
Where to start, where to start? Ok let's do the writing. I truly believe there are sixth graders who can write more compelling sentences. Here's an excerpt that nearly gave me an aneurysm:
But my attention goes back to that white cashmere sweater I had been slobbering over last night. I love cashmere. I mean, everyone does. What sort of freak doesn’t like cashmere? And the sweater is so white. Like unblemished snow. I grab the sweater and pull it off the hanger. I throw it over my head, almost groaning in ecstasy at how nice the fabric feels against my skin. I love cashmere.
I wish I was joking. Yep, she writes "I love cashmere" twice in a matter of sentences. I was almost hoping the cashmere was going to be laced with some kind of toxin that would kill Tricia and her four brain cells just so something interesting could happen, but nah, homegirl just looooooOOOOves cashmere.
Then we have the aggressive spoon-feeding. I felt like I was being choked to death with the flashing neon sign foreshadowing that Freida deployed. Here's a sample:
I don’t know why my friends don’t like him. Whenever we talk about him, they always say, this is a red flag, or that’s a red flag. But Ethan is a genuinely good guy. What does it matter that he hasn’t had many girlfriends before me? And why should the fact that he lost his parents and doesn’t have much family be a reason I should avoid him?
The author repeats this train of thought so many times that even Ray Charles could see what was coming.
Next, we have the "click baity writing" where the author mentions a secret (in this case, many, many times) but won't reveal the secret until much later in a lazy attempt to create suspense. See: I hope he still feels that way after what I have to tell him this weekend. I have a terrible feeling that the conversation will not go well.
Ok and if by the grace of Beyonce you can get past this amateur hour writing, the characters are asstastic and plot has more holes than a cheese grater. Yes, yes, I know this is a popcorn thriller, so yeetage of disbelief is required. But I refuse to yeet my logic just for some Hallmark-grade entertainment. And once again, stop inserting "intelligent" and "highly educated" psychiatrists into these books if they're gonna have the logic of a bloated dead fish. Just stick with the naive mom of three who works in a craft store.
SPOILERS SO SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM
At first Freida makes sure we know the house is very dusty, much dust, dust everywhere. And this dustiness grosses Tricia out because it totally clashes with Ethan's BMW (it's not a car, it's a BMW), her Manolo Blahnik boots and Ralph Lauren wool coat. But then she's okay with sleeping in her undies and bra in a bed that has been empty for THREE years?? And puts on a dead woman's RED FUZZY ROBE AND SLIPPERS?????? The real mystery is how the house was selectively dusty.
Another one of my pet peeves is the unreliable narrator that lies for funsies, which of course we have in this shitshow of a book. Surprise, Tricia actually has a history with the house even though the readers are led to believe she's shooketh. And she had been stalking Ethan beforehand. Now why did she lie about these things? No reason, just trying to force a twist where there isn't one.
Tricia's behaviour doesn't even make sense. So homegirl comes back to the house to find the bodyodyody that Dr. Hale left in the house (need that chemical spray she ordered off Amazon for my dog's bed tbh) but instead of searching the house, she decides to listen to recorded sessions... for what? Was she hoping that EJ would say "hey, if you decide to murk me, can you bury me under your living room floor??? Tysm." Priorities!!!!! This would've made more sense if ETHAN listened to the tapes and then put 2+2 = Tricia is a crazy bish together.
Lastly, tell me how Tricia can get away with murdering nearly ten people that are all intimately known to her. So her grammy and fiance and besties all die and no one bats an eye? Even Detective Pikachu could make the connections. Cmon now.
Ok, I'm going to cut myself off, but overall, this book was STANKY. I've read two others by her: The Locked Door was ight and The Housemaid was not ight in the slightest. Adding her to my avoid list lol.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: funny rants with the buddy readers, she did have some good red herrings in there tbh
Cons: ... did I stutter? 😂
___
Check out my YouTube
I read this as part of a group buddy read on Instagram which is why I didn't yeet it into outer space.
One sentence review: L M F A O you're joking
SYNOPSIS
Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are snowed in during their viewing at the creepy, dusty, secluded mcmansion once owned by Dr. Adrienne Hale, who mysteriously disappeared without a trace four years ago. When Tricia finds her secret tapes of her sessions, she starts listening to get to the bottom of the doctor's disappearance.
MY OPINION
BUCKLE TF UP. THIS IS ABOUT TO BE A LONG ONE.
Where to start, where to start? Ok let's do the writing. I truly believe there are sixth graders who can write more compelling sentences. Here's an excerpt that nearly gave me an aneurysm:
But my attention goes back to that white cashmere sweater I had been slobbering over last night. I love cashmere. I mean, everyone does. What sort of freak doesn’t like cashmere? And the sweater is so white. Like unblemished snow. I grab the sweater and pull it off the hanger. I throw it over my head, almost groaning in ecstasy at how nice the fabric feels against my skin. I love cashmere.
I wish I was joking. Yep, she writes "I love cashmere" twice in a matter of sentences. I was almost hoping the cashmere was going to be laced with some kind of toxin that would kill Tricia and her four brain cells just so something interesting could happen, but nah, homegirl just looooooOOOOves cashmere.
Then we have the aggressive spoon-feeding. I felt like I was being choked to death with the flashing neon sign foreshadowing that Freida deployed. Here's a sample:
I don’t know why my friends don’t like him. Whenever we talk about him, they always say, this is a red flag, or that’s a red flag. But Ethan is a genuinely good guy. What does it matter that he hasn’t had many girlfriends before me? And why should the fact that he lost his parents and doesn’t have much family be a reason I should avoid him?
The author repeats this train of thought so many times that even Ray Charles could see what was coming.
Next, we have the "click baity writing" where the author mentions a secret (in this case, many, many times) but won't reveal the secret until much later in a lazy attempt to create suspense. See: I hope he still feels that way after what I have to tell him this weekend. I have a terrible feeling that the conversation will not go well.
Ok and if by the grace of Beyonce you can get past this amateur hour writing, the characters are asstastic and plot has more holes than a cheese grater. Yes, yes, I know this is a popcorn thriller, so yeetage of disbelief is required. But I refuse to yeet my logic just for some Hallmark-grade entertainment. And once again, stop inserting "intelligent" and "highly educated" psychiatrists into these books if they're gonna have the logic of a bloated dead fish. Just stick with the naive mom of three who works in a craft store.
SPOILERS SO SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM
At first Freida makes sure we know the house is very dusty, much dust, dust everywhere. And this dustiness grosses Tricia out because it totally clashes with Ethan's BMW (it's not a car, it's a BMW), her Manolo Blahnik boots and Ralph Lauren wool coat. But then she's okay with sleeping in her undies and bra in a bed that has been empty for THREE years?? And puts on a dead woman's RED FUZZY ROBE AND SLIPPERS?????? The real mystery is how the house was selectively dusty.
Another one of my pet peeves is the unreliable narrator that lies for funsies, which of course we have in this shitshow of a book. Surprise, Tricia actually has a history with the house even though the readers are led to believe she's shooketh. And she had been stalking Ethan beforehand. Now why did she lie about these things? No reason, just trying to force a twist where there isn't one.
Tricia's behaviour doesn't even make sense. So homegirl comes back to the house to find the bodyodyody that Dr. Hale left in the house (need that chemical spray she ordered off Amazon for my dog's bed tbh) but instead of searching the house, she decides to listen to recorded sessions... for what? Was she hoping that EJ would say "hey, if you decide to murk me, can you bury me under your living room floor??? Tysm." Priorities!!!!! This would've made more sense if ETHAN listened to the tapes and then put 2+2 = Tricia is a crazy bish together.
Lastly, tell me how Tricia can get away with murdering nearly ten people that are all intimately known to her. So her grammy and fiance and besties all die and no one bats an eye? Even Detective Pikachu could make the connections. Cmon now.
Ok, I'm going to cut myself off, but overall, this book was STANKY. I've read two others by her: The Locked Door was ight and The Housemaid was not ight in the slightest. Adding her to my avoid list lol.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: funny rants with the buddy readers, she did have some good red herrings in there tbh
Cons: ... did I stutter? 😂
___
Check out my YouTube
March 10, 2024
4/5 ★’s
⁀➷ everybody lies.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
i’ve never had so many trust issues in my life. freida…idk how you do it. i seriously want to crawl inside this woman’s head, but i fear i’d lose my mind within the first hour of living in there. freida is my go-to author when i want to get out of a reading slump because all of the books i read by her so far…i’ve read in less than 7 hours. once you start, you can’t stop. since it’s so hard to write a spoiler free review for a mystery/thriller, i’m going to keep it short and sweet🤭
❥ 𝓂𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈:
my rating for this book went from a 2.5 to a 4 star rating after reading the last 100 pages of the book. my only reasoning for the possible 2.5 rating was simply because i thought i knew everything going on. i thought i finally had freida’s mind figured out. i was so excited, but at the same time was bothered because i was thinking that if all my theories i had were right…then it was all pretty predictable. i seriously thought i ate and left no crumbs, turns out i was missing my mouth the entire time and left a complete mess😀
❥ 𝓅𝓁𝑜𝓉:
the plot was plotting…completely plotting against me. freida’s plots: 3. me: 0. why 3 you ask? because i read 3 of her books and freida made a fool out of me 3 times. the setting of the book was aaaaaaa so good!!! gave all the spooky vibes and i loved it. the best way to go into a mystery/thriller is completely blind, i promise it gives you the best experience. the plot twist…i would seriously like to know who saw that one coming because it sure as hell wasn’t me. the way my jaw dropped. freida really said fuck you and your theories and i was like okay slay. the only thing i can trust freida to do is write a good plot and i can’t wait to read the rest of her books. the more books of hers i read, the more i’ll have her like figured out…*nervously laughs* right?? freida if she read this: wrong bitch.
❥ 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔:
the writing is so descriptive and i just can’t get enough of it. the chapters are short, the writing is really easy to read/follow, and her books are just overall really fast paced. you’ll be on page one, blink, and then all of a sudden you’re closing the book with your jaw on the floor. i always get chills while reading a freida book and that’s the power of a well written story.
❥ 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈:
my main reason for not being able to give this book 5 stars. i just didn’t really have a connection to any of the characters…while the plot was amazing, the characters were just meh. there’s two in particular that i really couldn’t stand. it was just the things they’d do or say that had me like…please close your mouth and never open it again🙂i’m definitely comparing these characters to the one’s in the housemaid by freida. i has such a strong connection with the fmc, millie, and didn’t feel that kind of connection with any character here.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
10/10 recommend reading this book if you’re a fan of mystery/thrillers that’ll have you wowed at the end.
the only way two people can keep a secret is if one of them is dead.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥03/05/24
𝓅𝓇𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
i told shei every single theory of mine and was wrong about every single one of them. THAT IS SO EMBARRASSING. i’m embarrassed. i thought i ate😔
i finished this book in 4 hours and 29 minutes. i’m flabbergasted. rtc soon!
❥ 02/25/24
my baby shei told me this was her favorite freida book and i trust her with my entire being🥹🫶🏼
⁀➷ everybody lies.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓲𝓵𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀
i’ve never had so many trust issues in my life. freida…idk how you do it. i seriously want to crawl inside this woman’s head, but i fear i’d lose my mind within the first hour of living in there. freida is my go-to author when i want to get out of a reading slump because all of the books i read by her so far…i’ve read in less than 7 hours. once you start, you can’t stop. since it’s so hard to write a spoiler free review for a mystery/thriller, i’m going to keep it short and sweet🤭
❥ 𝓂𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈:
my rating for this book went from a 2.5 to a 4 star rating after reading the last 100 pages of the book. my only reasoning for the possible 2.5 rating was simply because i thought i knew everything going on. i thought i finally had freida’s mind figured out. i was so excited, but at the same time was bothered because i was thinking that if all my theories i had were right…then it was all pretty predictable. i seriously thought i ate and left no crumbs, turns out i was missing my mouth the entire time and left a complete mess😀
❥ 𝓅𝓁𝑜𝓉:
the plot was plotting…completely plotting against me. freida’s plots: 3. me: 0. why 3 you ask? because i read 3 of her books and freida made a fool out of me 3 times. the setting of the book was aaaaaaa so good!!! gave all the spooky vibes and i loved it. the best way to go into a mystery/thriller is completely blind, i promise it gives you the best experience. the plot twist…i would seriously like to know who saw that one coming because it sure as hell wasn’t me. the way my jaw dropped. freida really said fuck you and your theories and i was like okay slay. the only thing i can trust freida to do is write a good plot and i can’t wait to read the rest of her books. the more books of hers i read, the more i’ll have her like figured out…*nervously laughs* right?? freida if she read this: wrong bitch.
❥ 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔:
the writing is so descriptive and i just can’t get enough of it. the chapters are short, the writing is really easy to read/follow, and her books are just overall really fast paced. you’ll be on page one, blink, and then all of a sudden you’re closing the book with your jaw on the floor. i always get chills while reading a freida book and that’s the power of a well written story.
❥ 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈:
my main reason for not being able to give this book 5 stars. i just didn’t really have a connection to any of the characters…while the plot was amazing, the characters were just meh. there’s two in particular that i really couldn’t stand. it was just the things they’d do or say that had me like…please close your mouth and never open it again🙂i’m definitely comparing these characters to the one’s in the housemaid by freida. i has such a strong connection with the fmc, millie, and didn’t feel that kind of connection with any character here.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
10/10 recommend reading this book if you’re a fan of mystery/thrillers that’ll have you wowed at the end.
the only way two people can keep a secret is if one of them is dead.
⤷okay pretty little liars, pop off💅🏼
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥03/05/24
𝓅𝓇𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
i told shei every single theory of mine and was wrong about every single one of them. THAT IS SO EMBARRASSING. i’m embarrassed. i thought i ate😔
i finished this book in 4 hours and 29 minutes. i’m flabbergasted. rtc soon!
❥ 02/25/24
my baby shei told me this was her favorite freida book and i trust her with my entire being🥹🫶🏼
October 22, 2022
What is with all these 4 star+ rated thrillers being so awful?
I mean, I get that this book is quite compelling, especially with the use of short chapters and the psychiatrist's tape recordings to keep the pacing up... but, come on, go back and reread the first few chapters after finishing this book and tell me the twist makes sense. Because it really doesn't.
So many people have recommended McFadden to me. I actually went and picked up this book and The Housemaid at the same time, but now I'm reluctant to start her other stuff because parts of this were laughably bad.
It's hard to say which was the worst thing. The repetition of the same thing over and over?
The way the author hammered us over the head with a red herring to the point that I felt a little insulted?
Or the ludicrous twists that may have worked if this book had been written in third person, but in first person are utterly absurd?
Also, the author does this weird thing where a character will say something via dialogue, then the narrator will make an extremely obvious observation about it in their inner monologue. For example:
No shit! She does this multiple times.
In some ways, two stars feels generous, but then I did blast through this with a need to know what the hell was going on. Not many authors manage to keep the suspense going like that.
I mean, I get that this book is quite compelling, especially with the use of short chapters and the psychiatrist's tape recordings to keep the pacing up... but, come on, go back and reread the first few chapters after finishing this book and tell me the twist makes sense. Because it really doesn't.
So many people have recommended McFadden to me. I actually went and picked up this book and The Housemaid at the same time, but now I'm reluctant to start her other stuff because parts of this were laughably bad.
It's hard to say which was the worst thing. The repetition of the same thing over and over?
It was a worrying reminder of the fact that I’ve only known my husband for a little over a year.
It’s yet another reminder that I’ve only known this man for a little over a year.
The way the author hammered us over the head with a red herring to the point that I felt a little insulted?
Or the ludicrous twists that may have worked if this book had been written in third person, but in first person are utterly absurd?
Also, the author does this weird thing where a character will say something via dialogue, then the narrator will make an extremely obvious observation about it in their inner monologue. For example:
“Don’t let him manipulate you,” Ethan says. “He isn’t a good person. He killed [spoiler]. He killed one of the people closest to him. What kind of person does that?”
Ethan doesn’t have a clue that [spoiler] isn’t the one who killed [spoiler].
No shit! She does this multiple times.
In some ways, two stars feels generous, but then I did blast through this with a need to know what the hell was going on. Not many authors manage to keep the suspense going like that.
October 15, 2022
Ok, I’m an outlier based on the reviews so far. I don’t think the book is bad or not worth reading, it has the Freida trademark suspense vibe with a crazy twist. It actually reminded me a bit of one of her previous book that I also had trouble with for the same reason as this one. Without going into too much detail my problem was that the ending made some of the previous events unlikely. There were too many inconsistencies. The author was clever when it came to leading you in a direction that might or might not be the right one, but that is because some reactions should have been different based on what you learned later.
I also have an observation; Why did he go to work when they had no internet access in the house ?
I also have an observation; Why did he go to work when they had no internet access in the house ?
July 4, 2024
3.75 stars! Fun quick twisty easy read. I did not see the twist coming at all which was really fun. I also loved the dual timeline and dual pov. It felt like two stories in one! And it was cool to see the two stories come together. I also really liked that one of the main characters is a psychiatrist. It was really interesting to hear psychiatrist's fun facts and hear the stories of her patients. Definitely gave me the creeps at many points!
The only reason I didn't rate it higher is I've just read other thrillers I liked more and I didn't feel super attached to the characters. But! Overall a really fun twisty read. And the ending was so perfect and unpredictable.
The only reason I didn't rate it higher is I've just read other thrillers I liked more and I didn't feel super attached to the characters. But! Overall a really fun twisty read. And the ending was so perfect and unpredictable.
October 27, 2022
If you like horrible writing and a plot that makes no sense then this is for you
October 22, 2022
A book that could’ve been so so good, if the author wasn’t desperate to throw in a twist that absolutely nobody could guess.
The only problem is - no one guessed it because it made no sense. If I read it again, knowing the twist, about 85% of the book wouldn’t add up.
Makes me feel like I just wasted my time reading this.
The only problem is - no one guessed it because it made no sense. If I read it again, knowing the twist, about 85% of the book wouldn’t add up.
Makes me feel like I just wasted my time reading this.
September 23, 2022
***5 STARS***
What a ride! I couldn’t put this book down until I read the last word.
Edge of your seat suspense! A captivating psychological thriller that has twists and turns galore. I thought I had it figured out but I was so wrong.
Very well written with an intricate plot and well developed characters. A must read.
What a ride! I couldn’t put this book down until I read the last word.
Edge of your seat suspense! A captivating psychological thriller that has twists and turns galore. I thought I had it figured out but I was so wrong.
Very well written with an intricate plot and well developed characters. A must read.
July 9, 2024
4.50!
Never lie imo is Freida McFadden's finest work because the way it managed to surprise me in a way that I had most definitely not expected and how well written it was for me + the level of enjoyment I got and how fast I finished it on one go. Just wow!! I really did not expect that twist and how everything tied up to it was 🤯
Tricia and Ethan were the two characters we follow, both of them marry after only knowing each other for 6 months and decide to move to house far away from the city which was previously owned by Adrienne Hale antoher main character in this book who's pov follows the events that took place before tricia and Ethan move in. I would say I was expecting so many people but I just couldn't get any right 😭 and the way the pov switched and how tricias emotions, dialogues and the way she acted was described was truly amazing.
The plot overall was very enjoyable because this was only 270 pages long but the way they alternated betweent he past and the present and the whole secret room with tapes scene and how every tape had a story and was explored in depth was amazing. The portrait scene was also so creepy 😭 + hiw Adrienne had a different story and how good it was and how everything intertwined together was amazing and ngl the atmosphere that this book created was 💯💯
Now SPOILERS AHEAD‼️
I was buddy reading this with Roxy and my first words to her were what kind of weird ass name is Tricia (sorry to anyone named Tricia) and she says thank god it's not named Patricia 😭😭😭 and the way Tricia was Patricia and she was also the one who killed everyone?? Like I did not see that coming, her being a murderer and killing Adrienne as well?? Wow! And the fact that I wanted to read this book again just to see how Tricia acted because the way she acted I was so sure that she was going to be the protagonist not the fucking antagonist. Also her husband also being a killer and them killing Adrienne's bf?? WOW 🤯😭 THIS BOOK WAS INSANE.
SPOILERS END‼️
Overall, one of the best thrillers that I've read!!
___
Continuing my buddy thriller marathon with Roxy. Super excited for this one because it has the best plot twist I heard. 😌
Never lie imo is Freida McFadden's finest work because the way it managed to surprise me in a way that I had most definitely not expected and how well written it was for me + the level of enjoyment I got and how fast I finished it on one go. Just wow!! I really did not expect that twist and how everything tied up to it was 🤯
Tricia and Ethan were the two characters we follow, both of them marry after only knowing each other for 6 months and decide to move to house far away from the city which was previously owned by Adrienne Hale antoher main character in this book who's pov follows the events that took place before tricia and Ethan move in. I would say I was expecting so many people but I just couldn't get any right 😭 and the way the pov switched and how tricias emotions, dialogues and the way she acted was described was truly amazing.
The plot overall was very enjoyable because this was only 270 pages long but the way they alternated betweent he past and the present and the whole secret room with tapes scene and how every tape had a story and was explored in depth was amazing. The portrait scene was also so creepy 😭 + hiw Adrienne had a different story and how good it was and how everything intertwined together was amazing and ngl the atmosphere that this book created was 💯💯
Now SPOILERS AHEAD‼️
I was buddy reading this with Roxy and my first words to her were what kind of weird ass name is Tricia (sorry to anyone named Tricia) and she says thank god it's not named Patricia 😭😭😭 and the way Tricia was Patricia and she was also the one who killed everyone?? Like I did not see that coming, her being a murderer and killing Adrienne as well?? Wow! And the fact that I wanted to read this book again just to see how Tricia acted because the way she acted I was so sure that she was going to be the protagonist not the fucking antagonist. Also her husband also being a killer and them killing Adrienne's bf?? WOW 🤯😭 THIS BOOK WAS INSANE.
SPOILERS END‼️
Overall, one of the best thrillers that I've read!!
___
Continuing my buddy thriller marathon with Roxy. Super excited for this one because it has the best plot twist I heard. 😌
January 19, 2023
★ 1 star
Absurd.
Not to mention dry and tedious.
Anytime someone goes house shopping and set their eyes on the people-may-or-may-not-have-died-here-but-you-can-get-it-for-a-low-low-price-of-uhmm-say-your-eternal-soul it's a plot hole for sure.
It's also very possible that this was written by two people who had very different ideas. You write the intro and the middle and I'll do the ending then we'll call it a book! Exciting!
Did the writer actually read the first 200 pages before she published it? —asking for a friend.
This book's saving grace is that these two dysfunctional human beings ended up together, saving the world from their chaos. Well done, they deserve each other.
Also, in this economy I can totally understand the urgency to close on a real estate property on a steal price and 100% get on board with living in a mcmansion in the middle of nowhere even if it's with dead corpses.
“Everyone dies eventually, right? So unless we buy a brand new house, you’re kind of guaranteed somebody has lived in it who’s now dead. So what?”
It's a good financial move. I can totally respect that.
Poor writing. If this tried to be a read-it-again-for-a-different-story type of book, it failed. Mood setting is lousy. And I never appreciated the inner dialogues that just keeps on going in circles which only serves to make the characters look dumber but I get it, it does help fill the word count. For once, if the floor creaks I'd want someone to actually investigate and not be like 'it be like that sometimes', 'that's just how it be' or not dismiss it with 'maybe that's just — ', 'i guess it's —', if not, you best believe I'll be rooting for your character to dies first.
I don't know about you but when I read psychological thrillers I crave for my brain to be challenged! I want it to be engrossing enough that I analyze everything and actually care about what happens next.
I believe that precisely to be the hallmark of attentive reading/listening — it's when your audience comprehend the story enough that they are able to make solid assumptions and predictions as the story progresses. Don't you love it when you try to figure the mystery out? It's gratifying when you're right and incredibly disappointing when you don't. That in itself I think is a rewarding feeling as an author/creator/producer, to have your audience care about your work enough to be feel satisfaction in experiencing your stories/art. And I believe that is how the author and their readers communicate through the pages — forgive me for saying this but I believe that's the magic of books!
Unfortunately, some thriller writer have become so invested in surprising their audience — so many twist!, woahhh the twist!, wait for the twist!— they try outmaneuver their audience that they messed up the story they had been building. This is exactly what happened here. Even worse is the story completely ignored earlier events and details to fit the twist into its narrative! That's just mean and disrespectful.
A good twist rewards the most attentive audience and while it's true that the most satisfying twist are the ones you figure out seconds before it's revealed, it's also imperative that the details and foreshadowing clicks into its place otherwise it's all just a big fat scam. As they say, the devil is in the detail.
It's dark-lite. Not exactly addictive. It's a psychological thriller by virtue of it being sensational. Popcorn thriller for sure.
Good thing it's short.
I rated it 2 star and I explained my whys in great details. Avid fans can be so rabid sometimes.
Edit: I was being generous by giving it a 2-star rating. It's a 0-star. I'm sorry but everything she puts out deteriorates my braincells from the cosmic amount of stupidity. Pure lazy stupid writing.
Absurd.
Not to mention dry and tedious.
Anytime someone goes house shopping and set their eyes on the people-may-or-may-not-have-died-here-but-you-can-get-it-for-a-low-low-price-of-uhmm-say-your-eternal-soul it's a plot hole for sure.
It's also very possible that this was written by two people who had very different ideas. You write the intro and the middle and I'll do the ending then we'll call it a book! Exciting!
Did the writer actually read the first 200 pages before she published it? —asking for a friend.
This book's saving grace is that these two dysfunctional human beings ended up together, saving the world from their chaos. Well done, they deserve each other.
Also, in this economy I can totally understand the urgency to close on a real estate property on a steal price and 100% get on board with living in a mcmansion in the middle of nowhere even if it's with dead corpses.
“Everyone dies eventually, right? So unless we buy a brand new house, you’re kind of guaranteed somebody has lived in it who’s now dead. So what?”
It's a good financial move. I can totally respect that.
Poor writing. If this tried to be a read-it-again-for-a-different-story type of book, it failed. Mood setting is lousy. And I never appreciated the inner dialogues that just keeps on going in circles which only serves to make the characters look dumber but I get it, it does help fill the word count. For once, if the floor creaks I'd want someone to actually investigate and not be like 'it be like that sometimes', 'that's just how it be' or not dismiss it with 'maybe that's just — ', 'i guess it's —', if not, you best believe I'll be rooting for your character to dies first.
I don't know about you but when I read psychological thrillers I crave for my brain to be challenged! I want it to be engrossing enough that I analyze everything and actually care about what happens next.
I believe that precisely to be the hallmark of attentive reading/listening — it's when your audience comprehend the story enough that they are able to make solid assumptions and predictions as the story progresses. Don't you love it when you try to figure the mystery out? It's gratifying when you're right and incredibly disappointing when you don't. That in itself I think is a rewarding feeling as an author/creator/producer, to have your audience care about your work enough to be feel satisfaction in experiencing your stories/art. And I believe that is how the author and their readers communicate through the pages — forgive me for saying this but I believe that's the magic of books!
Unfortunately, some thriller writer have become so invested in surprising their audience — so many twist!, woahhh the twist!, wait for the twist!— they try outmaneuver their audience that they messed up the story they had been building. This is exactly what happened here. Even worse is the story completely ignored earlier events and details to fit the twist into its narrative! That's just mean and disrespectful.
A good twist rewards the most attentive audience and while it's true that the most satisfying twist are the ones you figure out seconds before it's revealed, it's also imperative that the details and foreshadowing clicks into its place otherwise it's all just a big fat scam. As they say, the devil is in the detail.
It's dark-lite. Not exactly addictive. It's a psychological thriller by virtue of it being sensational. Popcorn thriller for sure.
Good thing it's short.
I rated it 2 star and I explained my whys in great details. Avid fans can be so rabid sometimes.
Edit: I was being generous by giving it a 2-star rating. It's a 0-star. I'm sorry but everything she puts out deteriorates my braincells from the cosmic amount of stupidity. Pure lazy stupid writing.
June 16, 2023
I've never read a book faster in my life...
This review was long overdue.
There's not much you can say about a thriller without spoiling it but let's try!
PLOT A young couple goes to take a look at the house they possibly want to purchase. But, there's a snow storm and they're stuck in the house. From the first moment, the house seems kind of weird. In the living room, there's this portrait of a woman with piercing green eyes that covers the whole wall. And also, there's this huge bookshelf filled with many copies of the same book, "Anatomy of Fear" written by a psychiatrist who was murdered three years ago. Is this her home? Did she die here? Are they alone in this house? Not likely.
THOUGHTS I often tell a book is fast-paced (everything is when you have ADHD). BUT THIS, THIS WAS OVER IN A HEARTBEAT. It was simply written, just how I like my thrillers, I don't need good descriptions, just give me the creeps. And it SURE DID DELIVER. I want to read everything this author has put out and I'm so glad I jumped on this band wagon.
And of course it ended on such a plot twist, I simultaneously started screaming and banging my head CUZ HOW HAVEN'T I NOTICED THAT BEFORE?
AMAZING, GO READ IT!!!
This review was long overdue.
There's not much you can say about a thriller without spoiling it but let's try!
PLOT A young couple goes to take a look at the house they possibly want to purchase. But, there's a snow storm and they're stuck in the house. From the first moment, the house seems kind of weird. In the living room, there's this portrait of a woman with piercing green eyes that covers the whole wall. And also, there's this huge bookshelf filled with many copies of the same book, "Anatomy of Fear" written by a psychiatrist who was murdered three years ago. Is this her home? Did she die here? Are they alone in this house? Not likely.
THOUGHTS I often tell a book is fast-paced (everything is when you have ADHD). BUT THIS, THIS WAS OVER IN A HEARTBEAT. It was simply written, just how I like my thrillers, I don't need good descriptions, just give me the creeps. And it SURE DID DELIVER. I want to read everything this author has put out and I'm so glad I jumped on this band wagon.
And of course it ended on such a plot twist, I simultaneously started screaming and banging my head CUZ HOW HAVEN'T I NOTICED THAT BEFORE?
AMAZING, GO READ IT!!!
April 16, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ FREIDA MCFADDEN CAN DO NO WRONG.
this is my fourth book by her in a week and i’m quite literally obsessed. idk what she puts in these but GIVE MEEE MOREEE.
that ending!!!!!!!!! i never saw any of this coming. obsessed.
this is my fourth book by her in a week and i’m quite literally obsessed. idk what she puts in these but GIVE MEEE MOREEE.
that ending!!!!!!!!! i never saw any of this coming. obsessed.
January 2, 2023
The problem I have with this book is that it's dishonest. If you reread it from the beginning, it doesn't make any sense. The MC is the killer and very familiar with the house, yet when reading from HER perspective in her own thoughts, she acts like she has never seen the house before and it's her first time inside it. Even though she gifted the painting to the psychiatrist, in her own head she acts like she's never seen it before. In her thoughts, she pretends to be suspicious of her own husband even though she knows his past and she also knows that she herself is the killer?
This is deceptive and lazy writing.
I gave it three stars because I couldn't put it down and read it in less than a day. However, I won't be reading any more books by this author. When I read a mystery/thriller/whodunit, I want the facts to add up in the end. This book has more plot holes than Swiss cheese.
This is deceptive and lazy writing.
I gave it three stars because I couldn't put it down and read it in less than a day. However, I won't be reading any more books by this author. When I read a mystery/thriller/whodunit, I want the facts to add up in the end. This book has more plot holes than Swiss cheese.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2024
HOLLY SH*T!!! The ending ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I had theories let me tell you, but THAT, UMMM WOW!! I ate that shit up and left no crumbs behind, NONE WHATSOEVER!
July 4, 2023
if someone asks me why i have trust issues, i’m just gonna tell them to read this.
November 5, 2023
➳ 𝟓/𝟓 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨
❞𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝.❞
"Never Lie" is a captivating story that centers on the lives of Tricia and Ethan, a couple deeply immersed in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, as they embark on the exciting journey of finding their ideal home. Their plans take an unexpected turn when they find themselves stranded in the midst of a relentless snowstorm, compelling them to seek refuge in the seemingly deserted home of Adrienne Hale, a psychologist who mysteriously vanished without a trace.
As the narrative progresses, it peels back the layers of this perplexing mystery, unveiling a web of intricate and sometimes twisted plotlines. Each revelation adds a new dimension to the story, keeping the reader utterly engaged and often taken by surprise. It's a narrative that gradually builds to a crescendo, leaving you with an ending that is not just jaw-dropping but also thought-provoking, resonating with you long after you've turned the final page.
I really enjoyed this book because my friends had raved about the author so much that they practically forced me to read it. The writing was straightforward and easy to follow, and the pacing was just right. What stood out the most was the plot's unpredictability. Unlike previous thrillers where I could often guess the twists early on, this book kept me guessing right up to the end. It was a refreshing change from the usual predictability I've encountered in the genre.The pace at which the story unfolds is perfectly balanced, keeping my interest piqued throughout.
The author's ability to seamlessly interweave both timelines added a beautiful dimension to the book, rendering it a truly accessible and engaging read. However, I encountered a writing style quirk that didn't quite align with my personal taste. It felt as if the narrative had a distinct influence from the Wattpad era, characterized by a prevalence of short, punchy sentences that often concluded rather abruptly. While this stylistic choice might appeal to many readers, I found it somewhat irksome. The lack of full sentences and the frequent terseness in the writing gave the prose a staccato quality, which, in my opinion, disrupted the fluidity of the narrative. This, of course, is a matter of personal preference, and others may not share the same sentiment.
—
Overall, if you're in the mood for a thrilling read that keeps you engaged from start to finish and delivers a jaw-dropping twist that you won't see coming, this book should be on your must-read list.
❞𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝.❞
"Never Lie" is a captivating story that centers on the lives of Tricia and Ethan, a couple deeply immersed in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, as they embark on the exciting journey of finding their ideal home. Their plans take an unexpected turn when they find themselves stranded in the midst of a relentless snowstorm, compelling them to seek refuge in the seemingly deserted home of Adrienne Hale, a psychologist who mysteriously vanished without a trace.
As the narrative progresses, it peels back the layers of this perplexing mystery, unveiling a web of intricate and sometimes twisted plotlines. Each revelation adds a new dimension to the story, keeping the reader utterly engaged and often taken by surprise. It's a narrative that gradually builds to a crescendo, leaving you with an ending that is not just jaw-dropping but also thought-provoking, resonating with you long after you've turned the final page.
I really enjoyed this book because my friends had raved about the author so much that they practically forced me to read it. The writing was straightforward and easy to follow, and the pacing was just right. What stood out the most was the plot's unpredictability. Unlike previous thrillers where I could often guess the twists early on, this book kept me guessing right up to the end. It was a refreshing change from the usual predictability I've encountered in the genre.The pace at which the story unfolds is perfectly balanced, keeping my interest piqued throughout.
The author's ability to seamlessly interweave both timelines added a beautiful dimension to the book, rendering it a truly accessible and engaging read. However, I encountered a writing style quirk that didn't quite align with my personal taste. It felt as if the narrative had a distinct influence from the Wattpad era, characterized by a prevalence of short, punchy sentences that often concluded rather abruptly. While this stylistic choice might appeal to many readers, I found it somewhat irksome. The lack of full sentences and the frequent terseness in the writing gave the prose a staccato quality, which, in my opinion, disrupted the fluidity of the narrative. This, of course, is a matter of personal preference, and others may not share the same sentiment.
—
Overall, if you're in the mood for a thrilling read that keeps you engaged from start to finish and delivers a jaw-dropping twist that you won't see coming, this book should be on your must-read list.
November 3, 2022
You can tell when an author seems to be trying to hit a specific word count. A lot of words like “it’s” and “hasn’t” become “it is” and “has not” and so on. It makes it feel very choppy. Also why do we need entire paragraphs describing turning on a light or other mundane things? Lol …there were also many repetitive inner dialogues. At one point the characters inner dialogue said “this room is about the size of a walk in closet” … then two paragraphs later says “I was right about the size of the room, it’s about the size of a walk in closet” …another paragraph describing a bathtub and letting us know it had separate handles for hot and cold. Suffering through overly explaining the use of putting a tape in a cassette player, “I blow some dust off the tape recorder, then I pick up the tape I found. I remove the tape from the case and shake it out, then slide it into the tape deck. With one quick movement, I push the tape deck closed” …it just gives the vibe of trying to hit a specific word count rather than tell a story that flows.
And how many times do we have to hear her tell us her friends think her husband she married that she barely knew has red flags but they are clearly wrong because he’s just “so sweet”? Or how many times do we have to hear that he wants this house and her thinking to herself “nope! Not going to happen!”? How many times do we have to hear that they saw a light on upstairs as they approached the house? We get it!!
It’s so hard to concentrate on anything with the juvenile-esque writing style. It would be different if any of the characters were interesting or had a personality, but we don’t have that here either. Unless you count the female MC being utterly vapid as having a personality. Not my jam. I’ve given two books a shot now and am not even a little impressed.
If you like books that are repetitive, glaringly obvious red herrings and that lack plot, I have a book recommendation for you!
And how many times do we have to hear her tell us her friends think her husband she married that she barely knew has red flags but they are clearly wrong because he’s just “so sweet”? Or how many times do we have to hear that he wants this house and her thinking to herself “nope! Not going to happen!”? How many times do we have to hear that they saw a light on upstairs as they approached the house? We get it!!
It’s so hard to concentrate on anything with the juvenile-esque writing style. It would be different if any of the characters were interesting or had a personality, but we don’t have that here either. Unless you count the female MC being utterly vapid as having a personality. Not my jam. I’ve given two books a shot now and am not even a little impressed.
If you like books that are repetitive, glaringly obvious red herrings and that lack plot, I have a book recommendation for you!
May 26, 2023
*audiobook*
I got cocky after predicting the plot of the inmate, and honestly thought I had this one figure out too. then Frida was like BITCH YOU THOUGHT.
I got cocky after predicting the plot of the inmate, and honestly thought I had this one figure out too. then Frida was like BITCH YOU THOUGHT.
June 19, 2023
this is so stupid.
March 8, 2024
“The only way two people can keep a secret is if one of them is dead.”
Freida, this was so fucked up. Please, do it again.
Freida, what did you put in this book? It was so addicting. The perfect thriller and mystery book I have ever read and this is my new favourite by Freida. This was fast paced and the story is told in dual pov from Adrienne and Tricia's. I was HOOKED from the very first page. I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook because the narrator "Leslie Howard" did an astounding job!
The plot was twisted and confusing with jaw droping plot twist in the last five chapters. I NEVER SAW IT COMING! LIKE NEVER! The story starts when newlywed Tricia and her husband Ethan has to stay at Dr. Adrienne's house because of the blizzard. Tricia discovered the tapes of sessions that Adrienne recorded with her patients and soon Tricia can't stop listening to the tapes and to figure out the mystery as to why Adrienne disappeared three years ago without any trace.
There were some mind-blowing and jaw-dropping revelations. Seriously, you all have to read this because it is one of the best works of Freida in my opinion.
I can not talk about these characters without spoiling anything so I won't. But one thing that I always say after reading Freida's books is that NEVER TRUST ANYONE! But it's so hard when she writes her character with such sweet and incredible personality only to fuck it up later in the end. I have some serious trust issues because of reading her books.
The ending? I have never read such a fucked up and yet a happy ending in my life.
Freida, this was so fucked up. Please, do it again.
Freida, what did you put in this book? It was so addicting. The perfect thriller and mystery book I have ever read and this is my new favourite by Freida. This was fast paced and the story is told in dual pov from Adrienne and Tricia's. I was HOOKED from the very first page. I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook because the narrator "Leslie Howard" did an astounding job!
The plot was twisted and confusing with jaw droping plot twist in the last five chapters. I NEVER SAW IT COMING! LIKE NEVER! The story starts when newlywed Tricia and her husband Ethan has to stay at Dr. Adrienne's house because of the blizzard. Tricia discovered the tapes of sessions that Adrienne recorded with her patients and soon Tricia can't stop listening to the tapes and to figure out the mystery as to why Adrienne disappeared three years ago without any trace.
There were some mind-blowing and jaw-dropping revelations. Seriously, you all have to read this because it is one of the best works of Freida in my opinion.
I can not talk about these characters without spoiling anything so I won't. But one thing that I always say after reading Freida's books is that NEVER TRUST ANYONE! But it's so hard when she writes her character with such sweet and incredible personality only to fuck it up later in the end. I have some serious trust issues because of reading her books.
The ending? I have never read such a fucked up and yet a happy ending in my life.
November 24, 2022
Finally, Tricia and Ethan are ready to buy their first home together. They’ve found a remote house with an extensive but disturbing history. The previous owner mysteriously vanished and is presumed to have been murdered.
Ethan is fascinated and desperately wants this home. On the other side of the coin, Tricia says, (to herself) over her dead body will she ever agree to live here!
But fate intervenes with a massive snowstorm that strands them during the showing. They have no cell service, and with their realtor conveniently a no show, the couple realize they need to just settle in until a rescue can be made. Who knows…maybe that gives them extra time to learn more about the house and its previous owner.
I never completely meshed with this story. So much of it was over-the-top unrealistic. I think we all want to feel that we could walk in the shoes of the characters we read about even if only for a moment. (Or a chapter). But it just wasn’t possible here.
I’ve read (listened to) one other book by this author The Inmate and enjoyed it. Perhaps the next will play out better (for me).
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
Ethan is fascinated and desperately wants this home. On the other side of the coin, Tricia says, (to herself) over her dead body will she ever agree to live here!
But fate intervenes with a massive snowstorm that strands them during the showing. They have no cell service, and with their realtor conveniently a no show, the couple realize they need to just settle in until a rescue can be made. Who knows…maybe that gives them extra time to learn more about the house and its previous owner.
I never completely meshed with this story. So much of it was over-the-top unrealistic. I think we all want to feel that we could walk in the shoes of the characters we read about even if only for a moment. (Or a chapter). But it just wasn’t possible here.
I’ve read (listened to) one other book by this author The Inmate and enjoyed it. Perhaps the next will play out better (for me).
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
March 5, 2023
This book makes me mad, it makes no sense and I don’t understand how the reviews are so high.
March 27, 2024
okay, this was SO GOOD!!!!🤯
4.5 stars!🌟
The audiobook was also brilliant!! Narrated by Leslie Howard
4.5 stars!🌟
The audiobook was also brilliant!! Narrated by Leslie Howard
February 10, 2024
nah like I loved this and need to talk about it immediately. maybe 5 stars is a bit ambitious cause I’m coming down from the reading high. this book took less than 4 hours, I couldn’t stop reading. It was so easy.
what I loved about it, was that I thought I knew where it was going, I thought I knew exactly what was happening and I was connecting all the dots. 50 pages in I literally remember thinking “okay I know how this ends” but also kept second guessing myself - it was almost TOO easy. But the rest of the book gaslit me into thinking I was on the right track. Until page 245/246.
when I tell you my jaw dropped, I sat up, I was gasping for air. like deadass HEADSPINS at that plot twist. I forgot to breathe. It was immaculate.
I was genuinely scared at times at the beginning of the book, the “haunted” house was definitely freaking me out. I do love Freida books, but usually give around 3 stars, because they’re fun, good, quick reads that don’t have much substance. This one was definitely above par.
I am just so stoked with this book - maybe if I revisited my rating in a week it would be 4 stars. But YOLO - I’m giving it 5 cause that was EPIC. So clever.
what I loved about it, was that I thought I knew where it was going, I thought I knew exactly what was happening and I was connecting all the dots. 50 pages in I literally remember thinking “okay I know how this ends” but also kept second guessing myself - it was almost TOO easy. But the rest of the book gaslit me into thinking I was on the right track. Until page 245/246.
when I tell you my jaw dropped, I sat up, I was gasping for air. like deadass HEADSPINS at that plot twist. I forgot to breathe. It was immaculate.
I was genuinely scared at times at the beginning of the book, the “haunted” house was definitely freaking me out. I do love Freida books, but usually give around 3 stars, because they’re fun, good, quick reads that don’t have much substance. This one was definitely above par.
I am just so stoked with this book - maybe if I revisited my rating in a week it would be 4 stars. But YOLO - I’m giving it 5 cause that was EPIC. So clever.
June 5, 2024
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⁀➷ 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓵𝓲𝓮 ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
·˚ ◌༘͙ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔! ⋆｡🕯. -ʚɞ
{𝟒 ☆’𝒔}
{𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕: 𝟐𝟗𝟕}
{𝟒𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒂𝒚!}
{𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓}
:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:
~ 🛋️ y’all Freida got me good 😭 i was absolutely flabbergasted.
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 ~ 🛋️
╰┈➤ idk what Freida did to this book but it was so addicting. this book is told from a then and now perspective. we get Tricia’s pov in the present and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s in the past. some of the chapters are just a transcript of the audio tape! it’s been a while since I’ve read a whole book in a day but this book changed that for me. so backstory! i went to the store with my mom and they had this book there and i was like “oh i know this author she wrote another book that i have” (still haven’t finished reading the housemaid 😭) anyways she bought it for me 🙌🏽 (thanks mom!) i get home that night and read one chapter. the next morning i wake up and boom i read the whole thing in one sitting 🧍♀️#noregrets i was flipping through those pages like a madwoman 😭 i owe it to this book for getting me out of my slump <3
~ 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂 & 𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 ~ 🛋️
╰┈➤ the newlywed couple that goes to see the house. they end up staying there for a couple of days bc there is a blizzard outside and they’re snowed in. Tricia starts looking around the house and things start to unravel. Tricia ends up finding all of the psychiatrists audio tapes that she had recorded with her clients. Tricia tries to piece together what happened to Dr. Adrienne Hale.
~ 𝑫𝒓. 𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒆 ~ 🛋️
╰┈➤ the psychiatrist that owns the house Tricia and Ethan are trapped in. she disappeared 4 years before. nobody knows what happened to her. the body was never recovered. she was widely famous for her abilities; an author and renowned psychologist.
~ 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ~ 🛋️
╰┈➤ this book was so fast paced! there was something revealed at the end of each chapter that you had to keep reading to find out what happened next. that’s ultimately why i enjoyed this so much! i did guess one thing right and i was proud of myself for that 😌 i thought i knew what was happening the whole time but unfortunately i was so wrong 😭 FREIDA KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING. the final reveal was absolutely mind blowing! definitely recommend this if ur in a slump 🙌🏽
:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:
~ 🛋️ no quotes bc i didn’t have time to underline anything 😭 that’s how good it is.
➳ 𝒓𝒕𝒄! -༉‧₊˚✧ 4🌟 well guys i did guess right on one thing so that’s fun 😍 the way i read this so quickly- it’s a good one and the big reveal was insane. rtc after exams! <3
ೃ⁀➷ 𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭: i need a good thriller rn and this one intrigued me the most! i actually bought this today hehe 🤭
·˚ ◌༘͙ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔! ⋆｡🕯. -ʚɞ
{𝟒 ☆’𝒔}
{𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕: 𝟐𝟗𝟕}
{𝟒𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒂𝒚!}
{𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓}
:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:
~ 🛋️ y’all Freida got me good 😭 i was absolutely flabbergasted.
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 ~ 🛋️
╰┈➤ idk what Freida did to this book but it was so addicting. this book is told from a then and now perspective. we get Tricia’s pov in the present and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s in the past. some of the chapters are just a transcript of the audio tape! it’s been a while since I’ve read a whole book in a day but this book changed that for me. so backstory! i went to the store with my mom and they had this book there and i was like “oh i know this author she wrote another book that i have” (still haven’t finished reading the housemaid 😭) anyways she bought it for me 🙌🏽 (thanks mom!) i get home that night and read one chapter. the next morning i wake up and boom i read the whole thing in one sitting 🧍♀️#noregrets i was flipping through those pages like a madwoman 😭 i owe it to this book for getting me out of my slump <3
~ 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂 & 𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 ~ 🛋️
╰┈➤ the newlywed couple that goes to see the house. they end up staying there for a couple of days bc there is a blizzard outside and they’re snowed in. Tricia starts looking around the house and things start to unravel. Tricia ends up finding all of the psychiatrists audio tapes that she had recorded with her clients. Tricia tries to piece together what happened to Dr. Adrienne Hale.
~ 𝑫𝒓. 𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒆 ~ 🛋️
╰┈➤ the psychiatrist that owns the house Tricia and Ethan are trapped in. she disappeared 4 years before. nobody knows what happened to her. the body was never recovered. she was widely famous for her abilities; an author and renowned psychologist.
~ 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ~ 🛋️
╰┈➤ this book was so fast paced! there was something revealed at the end of each chapter that you had to keep reading to find out what happened next. that’s ultimately why i enjoyed this so much! i did guess one thing right and i was proud of myself for that 😌 i thought i knew what was happening the whole time but unfortunately i was so wrong 😭 FREIDA KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING. the final reveal was absolutely mind blowing! definitely recommend this if ur in a slump 🙌🏽
:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:
~ 🛋️ no quotes bc i didn’t have time to underline anything 😭 that’s how good it is.
➳ 𝒓𝒕𝒄! -༉‧₊˚✧ 4🌟 well guys i did guess right on one thing so that’s fun 😍 the way i read this so quickly- it’s a good one and the big reveal was insane. rtc after exams! <3
ೃ⁀➷ 𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭: i need a good thriller rn and this one intrigued me the most! i actually bought this today hehe 🤭
December 12, 2023
The Coworker was my first read by this author and I loved it, so I was very disappointed that this one didn't work for me at all. I didn't expect that, especially since it has a much higher rating on GR than The Coworker.
I didn't care about any of the characters, and that has nothing to do with finding them unlikable. The story was repetitive, full of plot holes, very far-fetched, and once the big reveal came, none of the things that happened previously made any sense. That's the complete opposite of what I expect and enjoy in a mystery/thriller.
The only reason I didn't dnf the book after all the twists was because I was listening to it on audio.
I didn't care about any of the characters, and that has nothing to do with finding them unlikable. The story was repetitive, full of plot holes, very far-fetched, and once the big reveal came, none of the things that happened previously made any sense. That's the complete opposite of what I expect and enjoy in a mystery/thriller.
The only reason I didn't dnf the book after all the twists was because I was listening to it on audio.
September 19, 2022
I have yet to read all of Freida's books, but I can say with some certainty that one words sums them up perfectly.
OBSESSIVE.
These books will invade your every thought and activity as soon as you start. You will be desperate to get back to the story, as well as constantly thinking about how Freida might put her trademark twist in the story.
This latest offering is no different.
It truly is the definition of unputdownable. I'd have read it in one sitting had I not been working. And when the twist happened, I gasped, put my hands to my face and gave a bark of laughter. My fiance was concerned and confused lol.
The characters are incredibly written, totally genuine and the whole book gave me creepy chills. The house at the centre of the story is so well described I was so freaked out.
Freida is a genius. A magician. A music conductor- juggling all the threads with such effortless ease until the wonderful crescendo.
I finished this last night and there's a reason I try not to read thrillers late at night- they give me nightmares. I couldn't stop reading last night though, so I have myself to blame for the messed-up, crazy nightmare I had.
Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY.
OBSESSIVE.
These books will invade your every thought and activity as soon as you start. You will be desperate to get back to the story, as well as constantly thinking about how Freida might put her trademark twist in the story.
This latest offering is no different.
It truly is the definition of unputdownable. I'd have read it in one sitting had I not been working. And when the twist happened, I gasped, put my hands to my face and gave a bark of laughter. My fiance was concerned and confused lol.
The characters are incredibly written, totally genuine and the whole book gave me creepy chills. The house at the centre of the story is so well described I was so freaked out.
Freida is a genius. A magician. A music conductor- juggling all the threads with such effortless ease until the wonderful crescendo.
I finished this last night and there's a reason I try not to read thrillers late at night- they give me nightmares. I couldn't stop reading last night though, so I have myself to blame for the messed-up, crazy nightmare I had.
Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY.
November 19, 2022
Oh the potential of this book, and then the epic letdown... The book starts off well, gets you hooked, then makes you angry at how ridiculously bad it is. I never give one star ratings, and I typically enjoy Frieda's books. I especially loved Housemaid and recommended it to everyone I know, but this...
*spoilers below*
The first 50ish% of the book is great and hooks you. Then suddenly there's this twist, but the thing is, the twist makes no sense. Imagine reading someone's thoughts, and based on those thoughts, you know this person is pretty much as vanilla as can be. Next thing you know, they're a psychopathic murderer who has killed multiple people. And is ready to go kill some more. Sounds interesting, right? But now imagine the same scenario, but the thoughts are from a random lady who is viewing a missing/potentially dead psychiatrist's home and is snowed in with her husband. Her thoughts make her sound pretty wimpy and, again, very vanilla. She's always thinking about the missing psychiatrist and wondering about her. Next thing you know, turns out this vanilla lady is the one who killed the psychiatrist some odd years ago. There's more too. She was a patient of the psychiatrist. Her husband was another patient. And the psychiatrist murdered someone too. What is this, Oprah? You're a murderer. You're a murderer. Oh, YOU'RE A MURDERER TOO! It's... so bad? And don't get me wrong, it could have been great, had it made any sense... It doesn't.
Oh and there's some "random" man hiding somewhere in the house too, which is creepy, but pretty much entirely useless to the plot, lol.
Would not recommend. Read Housemaid instead!
*spoilers below*
The first 50ish% of the book is great and hooks you. Then suddenly there's this twist, but the thing is, the twist makes no sense. Imagine reading someone's thoughts, and based on those thoughts, you know this person is pretty much as vanilla as can be. Next thing you know, they're a psychopathic murderer who has killed multiple people. And is ready to go kill some more. Sounds interesting, right? But now imagine the same scenario, but the thoughts are from a random lady who is viewing a missing/potentially dead psychiatrist's home and is snowed in with her husband. Her thoughts make her sound pretty wimpy and, again, very vanilla. She's always thinking about the missing psychiatrist and wondering about her. Next thing you know, turns out this vanilla lady is the one who killed the psychiatrist some odd years ago. There's more too. She was a patient of the psychiatrist. Her husband was another patient. And the psychiatrist murdered someone too. What is this, Oprah? You're a murderer. You're a murderer. Oh, YOU'RE A MURDERER TOO! It's... so bad? And don't get me wrong, it could have been great, had it made any sense... It doesn't.
Oh and there's some "random" man hiding somewhere in the house too, which is creepy, but pretty much entirely useless to the plot, lol.
Would not recommend. Read Housemaid instead!
December 7, 2022
Never Lie by Freida McFadden was a creepy and suspenseful psychological thriller. It kept my interest for the most part but parts of it were so over the top and almost predictable. I also never developed a real connection with any of the characters and some of the things certain characters did or said made me roll my eyes more often than I would have liked to admit. The chapters were rather short and I did listen to the audiobook in its entirety. I should have figured out the ending way before I did. It was so obvious once I did figure it out. Overall, I didn’t hate it but it was clearly not one of my favorites by Freida McFadden. The audiobook was narrated by Leslie Howard. Sometimes it was hard to distinguish between the different characters but overall the performance was good.
Tricia and Ethan were still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage. They recently started to look for homes in Westchester County so they could move out of their tiny apartment in New York City. Their real estate agent had recently sent them information about a new listing. Tricia and Ethan had driven Ethan’s BMW up to the showing. On the way, it began to snow and the intensity of the snow started to pick up rather quickly as they got closer to the house they were going to view. Tricia thought that Ethan had passed the street they were looking for a ways back but Ethan was insistent that he knew just where it was. I thought that was strange since supposedly he had never been to the house before. His instincts were correct, though. The only problem was that snowstorms and front wheel BMW’s don’t do well together. They had to leave the BMW at the bottom of the driveway and the couple trudged through the snow. Of course, Tricia was wearing expensive shoes not designed to wear in the snow so Ethan carried Tricia on his back to the front door. Tricia noticed an upstairs light on in the house but also noticed that the rest of the house was dark. Why would their real estate agent leave a light on upstairs but not turn on any lights downstairs? By the time Ethan and Tricia got to the front door the light was off. Did Tricia just imagine it? There was no sign of their real estate agent. Finding a hidden key to the front door, the couple let themselves into the empty house. When they tried to call their real estate agent to see if she was on her way they discovered that they had no cell service. Tricia and Ethan soon discovered that they were in Dr. Adrienne Hale’s home. Dr. Hale had been a prominent practicing psychiatrist who had just disappeared a little over four years ago. There had been a major investigation about her disappearance. The police believed that her boyfriend had killed her and had disposed of her body somewhere but her body had never been found. Who would enter an empty house without confirmation from the real estate agent that it was permitted? Why didn’t the couple just turn around and find a place where they had cell service to contact their agent and find out where she was?
Tricia and Ethan decided to stay in the house until the snow let up. They explored the house. Ethan was sure this was the house for them. It was perfect! Tricia wasn’t so sure. Ethan made himself right at home. He discovered fresh cold cuts and other items in the fridge and proceeded to make lunch for both Tricia and himself. This made Tricia even more nervous that someone else was in the house with them. Ethan even took a shower and helped himself to clothes that he found in the master bedroom. While Ethan showered, Tricia found a bookcase by the staircase. She decided to take one of the books to read. To her surprise, the bookcase moved and revealed a hidden room with recorded tapes of all Dr. Hale’s sessions with her patients. Tricia could not resist. She went to Dr. Hale’s office and over the course of the next few days and nights, she listened to all the tapes. More evidence started to materialize that made Tricia even more convinced that her and Ethan were not alone in the house. Were her suspicions correct? What would she learn from the tapes?
Never Lie by Freida McFadden was told from different points of view. Tricia represented the “now” and Dr. Adrienne Hale represented the “ before”. There were many inconsistencies throughout the book. It left me scratching my head and wondering. The ending was quite unexpected and yet based on the rest of the book, it fit. My feelings about this book were in the middle. It was not my favorite but I did not hate it entirely. Some parts just bothered me a lot. I look forward to reading her next book.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media LLC for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Never Lie by Freida McFadden through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tricia and Ethan were still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage. They recently started to look for homes in Westchester County so they could move out of their tiny apartment in New York City. Their real estate agent had recently sent them information about a new listing. Tricia and Ethan had driven Ethan’s BMW up to the showing. On the way, it began to snow and the intensity of the snow started to pick up rather quickly as they got closer to the house they were going to view. Tricia thought that Ethan had passed the street they were looking for a ways back but Ethan was insistent that he knew just where it was. I thought that was strange since supposedly he had never been to the house before. His instincts were correct, though. The only problem was that snowstorms and front wheel BMW’s don’t do well together. They had to leave the BMW at the bottom of the driveway and the couple trudged through the snow. Of course, Tricia was wearing expensive shoes not designed to wear in the snow so Ethan carried Tricia on his back to the front door. Tricia noticed an upstairs light on in the house but also noticed that the rest of the house was dark. Why would their real estate agent leave a light on upstairs but not turn on any lights downstairs? By the time Ethan and Tricia got to the front door the light was off. Did Tricia just imagine it? There was no sign of their real estate agent. Finding a hidden key to the front door, the couple let themselves into the empty house. When they tried to call their real estate agent to see if she was on her way they discovered that they had no cell service. Tricia and Ethan soon discovered that they were in Dr. Adrienne Hale’s home. Dr. Hale had been a prominent practicing psychiatrist who had just disappeared a little over four years ago. There had been a major investigation about her disappearance. The police believed that her boyfriend had killed her and had disposed of her body somewhere but her body had never been found. Who would enter an empty house without confirmation from the real estate agent that it was permitted? Why didn’t the couple just turn around and find a place where they had cell service to contact their agent and find out where she was?
Tricia and Ethan decided to stay in the house until the snow let up. They explored the house. Ethan was sure this was the house for them. It was perfect! Tricia wasn’t so sure. Ethan made himself right at home. He discovered fresh cold cuts and other items in the fridge and proceeded to make lunch for both Tricia and himself. This made Tricia even more nervous that someone else was in the house with them. Ethan even took a shower and helped himself to clothes that he found in the master bedroom. While Ethan showered, Tricia found a bookcase by the staircase. She decided to take one of the books to read. To her surprise, the bookcase moved and revealed a hidden room with recorded tapes of all Dr. Hale’s sessions with her patients. Tricia could not resist. She went to Dr. Hale’s office and over the course of the next few days and nights, she listened to all the tapes. More evidence started to materialize that made Tricia even more convinced that her and Ethan were not alone in the house. Were her suspicions correct? What would she learn from the tapes?
Never Lie by Freida McFadden was told from different points of view. Tricia represented the “now” and Dr. Adrienne Hale represented the “ before”. There were many inconsistencies throughout the book. It left me scratching my head and wondering. The ending was quite unexpected and yet based on the rest of the book, it fit. My feelings about this book were in the middle. It was not my favorite but I did not hate it entirely. Some parts just bothered me a lot. I look forward to reading her next book.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media LLC for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Never Lie by Freida McFadden through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2022
3.5* Another easy, quick “popcorn” thriller that was super entertaining. Just when I thought I had it all figured out..🤣
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