Another great read by Freud's McFadden! It started off slow but quickly made you start guessing and second guessing who the bad guy was. The ending was always was a real twist!

If you are looking for a quick and easy thriller that you can tackle in just one sitting, then this is a good option. It’s eerie, suspenseful and will have you second guessing who the culprit is. However, I did find some aspects quite repetitive and I think the plot could have benefited with more descriptive writing to really add impact. I also found all of the characters quite unlikeable. Looking past all of this, an engaging read that kept me entertained for a good couple of hours!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!

These couples/friends go on a little baecation to a hotel in the woods. Claire was a little hesitant leaving the kids back home because of her kid’s premonition that they would get eaten in the woods. Listening to her husband she goes anyway to have that hope of rekindling their troubled marriage, or maybe something else…

We all know that Ms. Frieda doesn’t miss! I was a little worried in the beginning of this one because I’m used things happening from the very beginning. Once that plot twist hit me at around 30% I said ok, here we go! It was on from there! Fitting with the title, our baecation takes a turn for the worst when our couple/friends start to get picked off 𝑂𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑂𝑛𝑒. There was a little added spin in there with an “anonymous” POV which was wild to see that piece unfold as we find out all the back story of our crazy couple/friends!

As always I love how FM adds in the twists and turns to turn my brain up a notch and have me think WTH! She gets me every time!

I've seen a lot of people saying that this book was not for them but I personally enjoyed it very much. The twist at the end had my jaw on the floor. I did not guess who was behind everything.

If you want a nice quick read that will keep you guessing until the end I definitely recommend this one. The chapters are short and the pace is fast.

This is one of the best Freida books I have read.

Overall I think this was done really well and it excites me to read more of Freida McFadden's books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC. All opinions in this review are entirely my own honest opinion.

One by One is another fast-paced, gripping, twisty tale from Freida MacFadden. Boy does she know how to keep you reading! She has that magic formula that means you simply have to read the next chapter, and then the next… This tale takes place in the great outdoors. When their vehicle breaks down, six friends have to walk through the woods to their inn – with deadly consequences. If you like great characters, twists galore and a story you can race through, this is for you.

This book, just like other Freida McFadden thrillers, is very well constructed to keep the reader guessing and engaged.
The plot begins with a group of six "friends" traveling towards a getaway destination and on their way they found themselves in the middle of the woods with a broken car. One by one each member of this six person group begins to die but we are unsure of how it is happening or who is causing this to happen. The shift from trusting your friends to not trusting anyone is very satisfying.

Similar to other books by Frieda McFadden, this story has more than one point of view. Interestingly, however, we do not know who one of the narrators is as they are labeled as "anonymous" throughout the book. This was the highlight of this book because it raised more questions and doubts as the book progressed. I really enjoy the twists and and epilogues in McFadden's books and this book was not the exception.

My only issue while reading this book is that I never grew sympathy towards the characters because they did not seem organic as a group. I felt that their interactions, especially during survival mode seemed a bit unrealistic and it was hard to get invested in the characters. Given the size of the group, I would have also have enjoyed hearing other perspectives other than Claire and the anonymous voice.

Overall I was still very satisfied by this book and I am always going to look forward to any future Freida McFadden publications. The short chapters really help build a sense of urgency to want to know what happens next and it makes you speed through the novel as if it were a novella.

Freida McFadden does it again!! I could not put this book down and it had me guessing on every single page until the very end! I’m so obsessed with this book and it’s now my favorite of hers, which is saying a lot!

freida bamboozled me with this one! i was entertained the entire time and i literally could not guess who the culprit was until the minute before it happened. there were some parts that were repetitive but other than that, this was a good, binge-worthy read. i really enjoyed it! freida mcfadden never misses.

This is one of those GOOD classic thrillers - like when you want to curl up on the couch in the fall + watch scary movies.. but in book form!

Was some of it predictable? A little. But it also had those twists that she is SO good at dropping on us! + I was on the edge of my seat pretty much the whole book!!

At first, Noah + Claire are insufferable: BOTH OF THEM!! I can’t stand anyone who will cheat rather than leave their crappy situation BUT it doesn’t make Noah’s attitude any less annoying. I would HATE to be the people on vacation with them: 😬🫣 but by the end you’re rooting for them - except that epilogue.. OOF!

Adding this to my list of Freida McFadden faves!!

Wow! I absolutely love Freida McFadden books!!!
This was such an easy read and it kept me hook the whole time. I really thought the husband would get his revenge but the plot twist got me good!
Definitely recommend!!

This book had you guessing everyone was the anonymous person. It kept you wanting to hurry and finished the book to see if you got the person right. Did I guess the right person? Heck no I didn’t I was shocked when I found out who was killing everyone! Let’s just say never trust your best friend.

Actual Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

This was my first Frieda McFadden book and I wasn’t disappointed.

This book follows three couples who decide to go on a vacation together. On their way to an Inn, their car breaks down and they get lost in the woods. They wander the woods and slowly, one by one, they go missing. The big question is…who is the killer?

While I enjoyed this book, I did find a few of parts to be a little slow. I had no idea the main setting of the book was going to be in the woods so I was expecting them to eventually find the Inn and not simply remain in the woods for basically 90% of the book. I also found a few parts to be a little redundant. I get being lost in the woods is going to make you miss your children or make your feet her from walking for miles but I don’t need to hear it every few chapters.

However, the setting did change in the last 30% of the book and that’s when I started feeling anxious. I just knew things were going to take a turn and I was completely right. While I had a hunch who the killer was, Frieda still managed to throw me off. I was shocked.

Overall, I enjoyed the book enough to want to pick up some of her other books.

For thriller fans looking for a quick read!

Synopsis:
When a group of friends experience car trouble en route to their vacation destination in the woods, the group is forced to trek to the inn they’ll be staying at. There’s no cell service, the map is taking them in circles, and what’s up with all the animal markings? As the group starts to dwindle down one by one, the question looms, “Who is the hunter, and who is the prey?”

What to expect:
✨Quick read
✨Thriller
✨ Plot twist
✨ Intermingled relationships
✨Flashbacks

Review:
Freida McFadden stands out as one of my favorite thriller authors— I loved The Teacher and Never Lie! However, One by One just didn’t quite hit the same for me. The narrative felt somewhat repetitive, and the plot twist lacked the element of surprise I’ve come to expect from McFadden’s work. It was still a highly enjoyable read and McFadden is an auto-buy author for me. I particularly appreciated the POV flashbacks to "anonymous," which provided compelling insight into their motivations. I would recommend this book to anyone needing a weekend escape, or a lighter thriller fix.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be available on Goodreads immediately, and shared to Instagram on April 2, 2024. I do not post star ratings with my reviews, just my thoughts and recommendations.

Freida McFadden must have a whole memory store or google doc full of jaw dropping twists. How am I possibly fooled and so naive with every story of hers I read?!

This book was such a quick and easy read! She incorporated the perfect amount of plot and detail in each chapter that made it impossible to put the book down! The marriage in turmoil, the best friends, and the new boyfriend leave so many endless possibilities!!

One by One is a heart-pounding thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
Set against the backdrop of a remote getaway, the story delves into the intricacies of friendships and the depths of commitments as tensions rise and suspicions mount.
As the plot unfolds, nothing is as it seems, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very last page.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, I have not read a book by this author before, and I will definitely check out her other books based on this wonderful book.
Thank you to author Freida McFadden, Hollywood Upstairs Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance of the publish date.
Charlene 📚🤗🌸 @lastnownext

I was drawn in from the first chapter - "I can tell you my secret right now: At the end of this week, only one of us will make it home alive." I finished the book in one day as I had to know how the story ended. I also loved the two timelines and perspectives which gave you two mysteries to solve - who is Anonymous and who is the killer.

I really enjoyed reading this book! Freida McFadden always has the BEST plot twists in her books! She is one of my favorite thriller/suspense authors. At some point during reading this book I had doubted all of the characters and couldn’t make up my mind on who I thought had a part in all of the bad things happening. And just when you thought the book was over and you knew everything there was another twist! I however would not consider this book to be thriller, maybe a little bit of suspense but was definitely a good mystery.

One by One is a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Freida McFadden does a fantastic job of building tension and suspense as the group struggles to survive in the wilderness. The characters are well-developed and the twists and turns of the plot keep you guessing until the final page. If you enjoy a fast-paced, suspenseful read, One by One is definitely worth checking out. Highly recommend!

While I thought this was a quick, fun read, it wasn't my favorite Freida book. None of the characters are likeable, there are so many phrases that repeat during the entire book (if I have to read about balled up fists one more time....), and it's the first Freida book I've actually predicted the ending to. I did enjoy the quick pace of the book, read it in one sitting.

3/5 stars - not my favorite, but not bad!

I could not put this book down, guys. I read it in a day, which is insane for me.
This is the third Freida McFadden book I've read, and she never seems to fail with the twists and turns she puts in her books!

From the beginning I was trying to make guesses who "Anonymous" was. Ultimately getting it wrong (lol). I was constantly bouncing between literally every character as to who the killer was.

I found myself screaming at the characters more than once, as some of the things they chose to do was like a bad scary movie (let's take the road less travelled!) but ultimately, how are you supposed to make a thriller/suspense without characters making the wrong decisions?