Audiobook Review: The Crash by Freida McFadden
The Crash
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrator: Leslie Howard
Published: January 28, 2024
Audiobook: 9 hours 13 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: February 10-15, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
The nightmare she’s running from is nothing compared to where she’s headed.
Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn’t realize she’s heading straight into a blizzard.
She never arrives at her destination.
Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she’s made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.
But something isn’t right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn’t what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.
And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.
Jessica’s Review:
Freida did it again!
I really enjoyed The Crash. It was fast moving and intense and starts out with a death. It had some similarities to Misery with a snow storm and a main character keeping the other character locked away against their will. Granted we have a pregnant woman instead of an author, but still, why would you even go out and drive in bad weather!?!?! Some people just don’t have common sense… But then if Tegan did have common sense then we wouldn’t’ have this story to read!
Tegan is eight months pregnant and her life is not going the way she planned. After some ‘baby daddy’ drama she decides to go stay with her brother for a while until she figures out what to do next with her life. She never makes it as she crashes into a tree. And ends up with a broken ankle. Depending on how you look at it, Tegan is ‘saved’ by a couple and stays in their home. Until she realizes that she doesn’t want to stay there and she is unable to leave. Tegan’s rescue becomes her worst nightmare.
Polly is the wife and Hank is the husband and something is not quite right with the way things are going with them. We know from the start of the novel that there is a death, but we don’t know who the killer is and who is dead. This is a Freida book, so you may change your mind so many times as to what is going to happen. Just when you think you know what’s going on McFadden brings on yet another twist!
The Crash is very fast paced, and from the accident forward it is just four very intense days for Tegan. I am proud to say I picked out who the killer from the beginning is, just not who the victim is. And there were twists I never saw coming: I was shocked at one particular one. For most of the book I was thinking I would give it 4.5 stars, but the final part of the novel was just… perfect for me!
The narrator is Leslie Howard and she did a great job with the narration! She has been around for a while and has narrated several of McFadden’s previous novels.
I am excited to see what McFadden brings us next! Whether I read an older book of hers or an upcoming novel. I am definitely a Freida Readah! Keep on writing Mrs. McFadden!
Short Story Sunday: The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden
The Housemaid’s Wedding
Series: The Housemaid #2.5
Author: Freida McFadden
Published: November 22, 2024
Paperback: 63 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: November 26, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Short Story Description:
The Housemaid’s Wedding is a winter-themed short story meant to fill in the long gap between Book 2 and Book 3 of The Housemaid series . It can be read either between Book 2 and Book 3, or after Book 3.
Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
I’m engaged to the man of my dreams, and in a few short hours, I’m going to stand before a judge, who will declare us husband and wife, till death does us part. Despite some bumps in the road, this day is everything I dreamed it would be.
There’s only one problem:
Someone out there doesn’t want me to live long enough to say my vows.
And if I’m not careful, they may very well get their wish.
Jessica’s Review:
The Housemaid’s Wedding is a short story and just 63 pages. It is meant as a quick filler between books two and three of the Housemaid series. It’s not to be taken seriously; and is a fun and very quick read for the fans who wanted to read about Millie and Enzo’s wedding.
I didn’t have to read about their wedding, but when McFadden mentioned it and I was able to buy a paperback copy for the inexpensive price of $2.79 I jumped at the chance! McFadden wrote this for the fans and is not making any money off this short story being written. I enjoyed it and I listened to the entire Housemaid series on audiobook, I heard the narrator Lauryn Allman’s voice as Millie again as I read this one! Allman is perfect as Millie for me with the audiobooks. I can’t wait to see how the movie will be.
Read it or not, that is up to you as the reader. If you have enjoyed The Housemaid series then I say go for it. Just remember, it’s a very short and quick read!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Review: The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
The Boyfriend
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrators:
Victoria Connolly
Adam Blanford
Published: October 1, 2024
Audiobook: 9 hours 20 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: October 11-16, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
She’s looking for the perfect man. He’s looking for the perfect victim.
Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can’t shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.
Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He’s charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.
Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.
Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim…
Jessica’s Review:
**Please note that I listened to this book with the original male narrator Adam Blanford, so my review will be based off of his narration.
I enjoy Freida McFadden, but not obsessed with her like some of her fans are. Her newest book is The Boyfriend and I most likely see it with a different perspective now than I would have a year ago Hello dating.. I’m not sure when I will be ready for that; then books like this make you want to think twice about dating and any internet dating/apps!
We have two POVS with two different narrators: Single girl Sydney taking place in present day and 16-year-old Tom taking place in the past. We experience a super bad date Sydney has, and then later she has a boyfriend that she feels is perfect. But is he? While Sydney’s relationship is going on the police are investigating a series of murders believed to have been committed with the connection of online/app dating.
As usual with McFadden, we have short chapters! And she can just pull the reader in where they don’t want to stop reading or listening and keep going at all hours! (Not me, as I value the sleep I am able to get!) And most likely who you think the villain is… you are wrong! I had convinced myself that so-and-so was the killer, and I told myself that I am wrong, but as I continued the book, I still thought it was that person…. And I was 1000% wrong!
The narrators: Adam Blanford was the original male narrator. Two days after I finished the audiobook, it was announced that he was replaced, and Ms. McFadden is very happy with the new narrator. I had no problems with Mr. Blanford and listened to the audio at 1.2 speed. Others who had issues with him listened at ‘normal’ speed, while others just did not like his narration. I’m not going to listen to the audio again so soon, but if you listen to the audiobook now or in the future it is now the ‘new’ narrator. Victoria Connolly is our female narrator and I also had no issues with her.
I enjoy McFadden and will keep reading her backlist and her future novels.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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