I need to preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of Freida McFadden. She is a big part of the reason I am here, writing this review. Her books drew me out of a painfully long reading slump. I stumbled upon a few of her books and that was it.

With that being said, I have to give this one a 3.8 (4 rounded up,) The story itself was solid. We weren't dealing with multiple POV's or characters, and the pace was quick. I completed the book in less than 24 hours.

Tegan is young, living in a questionable neighborhood, picking up as many shifts as possible at the local grocery store. The pay stinks, the hours are long, but it affords her the ability to live in a studio apartment and the discount on groceries helps. Tegan dreams of being a nurse. She would love to go back to school, but there is one hiccup. Tegan is eight months pregnant, and the father isn't in the picture.

****SPOILERS AHEAD****



Ok, here we go. At the point where we learn that the father is very wealthy and is willing to provide financial security in return for no-contact, I was thinking this would turn into a fatal attraction situation. OR once Tegan realizes it was rape and not a one-night stand, she would be looking for justice.

Instead, I was handed a combination of Misery and Inside. Tegan takes one hit after another, and each is more grandiose than the last. The perpetrator becomes the hero and the (supposed) protector is the villain...it is a lot. Then there is a sub plot that is wrapped up with a happy ending for the woman who was willing to commit a heinous crime, and would have, had her husband not stepped in.

Finally, many trigger warnings in this one. Please check out Freida's website for more details.

TW:
Rape / SA
Infertility
Mental Health / Crisis
Child Abuse
Alcoholism
Loss of Parent
Death

I am incredibly grateful to have been chosen for this ARC - while this may not have been my favorite, that doesn't mean that it won't be yours!

Many thanks to Mandy at Sourcebooks for the ARC. Thank you also to NetGalley, and Freida McFadden.

The Crash will be available on January 28, 2025!

This is Freida’s beat yet! I consumed this in a day. Couldn’t put it down and per usual you think you know but you have no idea! Teagan is you and alone a very pregnant driving to see her brother and has an accident and then seemingly rescued. Such a fast paced suspenseful read for me. Loved every second of this book

Okay, this was surprisingly like a hard pill to swallow. I liked Ward D better. It just feels like every time she released a new book, the plot is a bit similar to the previous one. I was hoping that this time it's different. I thought it would be based on the summary/blurb that I read before requesting. I'm not sure why I keep reading but it's like a drug that once you have taken once, you can't help but reach for it again. Lol.

I'm entertained anyway to say the least. But now I'm just not sure if the next ones are worth it.

Thank you for the eARC!

I was excited to receive an ARC of this and made a goal to finish it before the publication date. I'm in right at the buzzer. My last Freida book was Never Lie, and I was afraid The Crash would feel too similar with the whole stranded in a blizzard setup. It was different enough but was kind of ho hum for me. For a thriller, there weren't too many thrilling elements until the very end, and then they were a bit outlandish.

The Crash is a gripping psychological thriller that takes readers on a journey of suspense, secrets, and unexpected twists. From the very first chapter, McFadden creates a sense of unease, expertly layering the narrative with flashbacks and shocking revelations. The characters are deeply flawed yet relatable, making their struggles and secrets feel all the more real. Just when you think you've figured out what's going on, another twist flips everything upside down. McFadden’s writing style is sharp and concise, making the book an easy and fast-paced read. Her vivid descriptions and realistic dialogue make the scenes come alive, immersing the reader in the story. You’ll find yourself racing through the pages, desperate to uncover the truth. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with unexpected endings, The Crash is a must-read. Freida McFadden has once again delivered a story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

Thanks Net Galley for the advanced arc. I'm a Freida fan, love her books and her writing. However I feel this book has a lot of holes in the plot and the end felt like it was dragging. The story starded great and immediately grabbed my attention bit kind of left me hanging on what was her original theory with Simon. Not one of my favorites.

Just when I think I’ve discovered my next favorite Freida read, then she comes out with another mind blowing novel!! I always say this, but this has to be one of my absolute favorite books….ever!!!
SHE HAS DONE IT AGAIN FOLKS!!!! I could not put this one down, and neither will you!!

If I could give 10 stars, I absolutely freaking would!

I swear I haven't read a Freida book that hasn't had my jaw on the floor with the twist. This one did not disappoint. I was engrossed until the very end because I just wanted to know what was going to happen. If you are a Freida fan, then you NEED to pick this one up. Even if you haven't read anything by Freida before this one is worth it for sure!

Thank you to the Author, Publisher, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Yes. Absolutely yes !

I read this in one day !

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy which I am super grateful. Thankfully it came on Friday because I started a little after 9p and read til 2a. No regrets

Tegan is absolutely relatable. What she thinking , how she reacting. And I love she stand up for herself and how quick she thinks on her feet.

I absolutely enjoy the fact that it all about perspective. So much miscommunication was occurring and probably could have been solved by talking or well make some cases worst.

I really enjoy the Hank and Sadie scene. Say what!!! Hank is loyal to Polly at the end of the day .

Excellent read! This is possibly one of my top 3 Freida books. I enjoyed this very much. I also look forward to the twists in Freidas books and this did not disappoint.

I think this is my favorite Freida book!!! It had me so hooked I couldn’t put it down. Of course the twist at the end was amazing and I didn’t see it coming! Would highly recommend!!!

My favorite book by Freida so far!! The twists and turns kept me intrigued the entire way! I could not stop reading! I had to know how it ended and finished in less than a day. I would give it 10 stars, if I could!

I don’t know how she does it, but Freida keeps hitting these books out of the park! This might be one of my favorites by her! Very suspenseful and lots of twists. I felt like I was there. I devoured this book in a day

i LOVED this book! per usual, i try to guess as i go along as to what is happening, but im always wrong! i couldnt put it down and kept gasping and was disgusted and shocked and anxious reading it. freida never lets me down! per usual, freida has shocked me again!!

I was so excited to be chosen as an ARC reader for Freida McFadden, one of my favorite authors! Unfortunately, this turned out to be one of my least favorite books of hers. 😢

I was hooked at the beginning, but the story quickly became frustrating.

Tegan's decisions were unbelievably naive, and I couldn’t get over how blind and reckless she was throughout the book. If she called her baby "Tuna" one more time, I might have screamed. The ending only made things worse—the epilogue felt unsatisfying, and it seemed like the bad guy or gal (I won't spoil it for you 😉) didn’t get the punishment they deserved.

While I had high hopes, the twists just didn’t land for me, it felt rather repetitive, and I closed the book feeling irritated. This one missed the mark.

I look forward to reading her next book and am grateful to have been given early access!

The Crash
by Freida McFadden
Reviewed by Valerie Palmer

I have read several books by Freida McFadden and she has yet to disappoint. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book! If you have not preordered this book, make sure you add it to your TBR list as soon as possible.

Summary
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 occurs: 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.

What I Liked
I like how Freida can write a story with very few characters in it and keep my attention. Her writing style is easy to read and moves quickly. I of course thought I knew what was going to happen, but per usual I was wrong. The twist at the end I did not see coming. Hank and Polly were a unique couple. Polly got on my nerves, but I believe that is what makes Freida a phenomenal author. The fact that I feel things about a ficticious character says a lot. I enjoyed reading about Polly and learning more about her obscure tendancies. Seeing her develop as a character made me feel sorry for her.

What I Didn't Like
I did not feel like the twist at the end was as big or surprising as some of her other books. I also felt that the ending was a bit rushed. I also did not like that Hank ignored the issue at hand, but I will not delve into that futher as I do not want to ruin the story for others. But it annoyed me how he neglected the situation to some extent.

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐

I gave this book four stars on Goodreads. The reason I gave it four stars is because I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and also that this book is not truly believable. But overall, I still highly enjoyed it and will continue to read every book she writes in the future.

Another Freida hit!

A lot of unlikeable characters within this story, and a lot of instability to be had.
It will keep you on your toes until the end!

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Press for the e arc. PUB day 01/28/25

Freida does it again!! The ending is full of surprises I didn’t see coming. The book was full of great twists and turns.

I really enjoyed this one! I have read all of Freida’s books and lately have been longing for her previous writing style. This one delivered that to me. It was well written and full of twisty moments throughout the book. Of course the last bit was her signature of wrapping it all up in a great way.

Kept me guessing…Teagan is heavily pregnant and heading 8th a blizzard. When her car breaks down, a couple offers her help and a place to stay until the weather clears. But all is not as it seems, and these people aren’t really here to help her.