The Boyfriend

A new, twisting thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Teacher and The Housemaid!

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 all: 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...

A dark story about obsession and the things we'll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest...

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Published Oct 1, 2024

368 pages

Average rating: 7.51

2,276 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The Boyfriend* by Freida McFadden is a fast-paced, twisty psychological thriller that keeps readers hooked with suspenseful pacing and ja...

Karla
Apr 10, 2026
10/10 stars
Every Freida book is 10 stars to me, this is no different. Just when I THOUGHT I knew, I obviously didn’t. I suspect everyone in all her books and yet I still didn’t see it coming. My fave thriller author for SURE
ValerieRuiz
Apr 06, 2026
10/10 stars
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden is a thriller about Sydney, a woman who started dating a charming doctor named Tom. Everything seems perfect—until women in the city started turning up dead, and she begins to wonder if her new boyfriend is hiding something dangerous. Sydney has to uncover the truth before she becomes the next victim. In a race against time, she discovers that love can be deadly. This book was easily one of my absolute favorites from her. The twist completely caught me off guard—I genuinely didn’t see it coming at all. I wasn’t picking up on any clues, which made the big reveal hit so much harder. That shock factor is exactly why I read thrillers in the first place, and this one nailed it. It gave me that “wait, what?!” moment I live for, and for that reason alone, it’s a solid five-star read from me. One thing I really love about Freida’s writing is how quick and to-the-point her books are. She doesn't waste time with unnecessary filler—she gives you the setup, the tension, and the chaos, all at a pace that makes it impossible to put down. I’m almost positive I read this book in one sitting because once I started, there was no way I was stopping until I knew the truth. Her style makes it so easy to get lost in the story, and even easier to binge through in a single night. But if you're into fast-paced thrillers with a jaw-dropping twist, The Boyfriend totally delivers. It’s creepy in the best way, and the kind of story that stays with you after you’ve finished.
Bookish Lainy
Feb 08, 2026
10/10 stars
Holy guacamole!!🥑😱 The Boyfriend was so good! 🥰😱The story was told in alternating timelines, past and present. However, it was not hard to follow at all. This style worked beautifully with the story as it kept you invested. 🔐📚❤️I couldn’t put the book down and wanted to continue reading to see what would happen next! I must also point out that I enjoyed all the medical terms and information embedded into the characters’ conversations. If you love a good twisty thriller… check this one out for sure! Rating: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TheBookishMind
Jan 13, 2026
8/10 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Charlieswife4ever!
Sep 23, 2025
10/10 stars
This book left my head spinning, especially the end. Not your everyday Bonnie and Clyde but a love like no other. A MUST READ!

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