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The Tenant by Freida McFadden delivers the kind of fast-paced psychological suspense that fans of her work have come to expect. It’s a bingeable thriller with just enough tension to keep the pages turning—but it also falls into some frustratingly predictable patterns.

The story follows Blake Porter, a man whose life crumbles after losing his high-powered job. Desperate to stay afloat, he rents out a room in his brownstone to the seemingly perfect Whitney. But from the moment she moves in, things start going downhill—mysterious smells, creepy noises, and a growing sense that someone knows more about Blake than they should.

While the premise is intriguing and the pacing never drags, much of the plot unfolds in a way that feels overly familiar. As the story progresses, it becomes increasingly obvious where things are headed, robbing the final act of the punch it might have delivered.

A bigger letdown is how the female characters—particularly Whitney—are portrayed. McFadden often writes women with a sharp edge, but here it veers into a tired trope: the "unhinged" woman as a source of chaos and danger. This recurring depiction can feel reductive, and in this case, it detracts from what could have been a more layered and impactful narrative.

That said, The Tenant is undeniably entertaining. McFadden knows how to keep readers hooked, even if the twists are a little too easy to see coming. If you’re in the mood for a quick, eerie domestic thriller and don’t mind some cliché character dynamics, this one will do the trick.

Recommended for: fans of domestic thrillers who enjoy tension and don’t mind sacrificing some originality for a solid, quick read.

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This was a fast paced, binge able read that keeps you on your toes! True to Freida’s style it has you looking for the twist from the very beginning. This ride will make you feel like you’re losing your mind right along with the main character. The twist for me was not super shocking but definitely made the second half interesting in its revealing details which Freida is so good at tying those ends together right down to the end! Overall enjoyable read. Thank you @poisonedpenpress for the advanced copy!

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I was so excited to get this early read. It was not difficult to stay up reading The Tenant.

Blake Porter was promoted to VP of his company while being engaged to the love of his life and living in his dream brownstone in Manhattan. That is until it all goes downhill when he is unexpectedly fired from his job. He denies the accusations against him but circumstances don’t go in his favour and he and his fiance have to take in a tenant to make ends meet. But is it worth it when Whitney seems to have it out for Blake? And why does she have it out for Blake?

This was a change-up reading from the male perspective for the most of the book and I liked it. Blake’s mental state deteriorates through the book and adds to the tension and guessing about what’s actually going on. Things are never as they seem in a Freida book and this one surprises you right up until the last page. There are themes of betrayal and revenge. Do you believe in people getting what they deserve?

Beware: the cookie cravings are strong in this one.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this Early read!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When you life looks like everything is falling into place and then it all comes crumbling down and you have no idea why!

You lost your dream job but are trying to keep your dream girl and so you decide to rent out a room…..

The Tenant seems to be amazing from the start but things go south very quickly!

This book is a fast paced read, with many twists and turns! I could not put it down!!!

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✨ My 1st ARC ✨

Happy Release Day to The Tenant by Frieda McFadden 🎉

Wow what a book!! Right off the bat I was hooked. The twist and turns keep you sucked in, I never wanted to put it down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After Blake loses his job, him and his fiancée Krista become desperate for money. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into when Whitney became his tenant. Strange things keep happening around the house and to Blake he can’t tell what’s real and what he’s imagining. He is losing his mind and desperately wants answers. Little did he know those answers were going to throw his world even more upside down. What will he do with this information? Will he confront Krista & Whitney to get to the bottom of this? 🥀🩶🩸🫣

Thank you Frieda McFadden & Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me an ARC copy of The Tenant❤️‍🔥

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Loved this book so much!! Freida is so talented! I love the way Freida is always able to give the same energy no matter which story she is spinning. I love trying to guess who is really a victim. Such a great book!

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Holy moly this book!!! I flew through it in about 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down. I can’t even tell you how on the edge of my seat I was while reading this. I had no idea how it was going to turn out and it made me not trust anyone in the book!! Frieda did it again with the suspense and me questioning my own sanity while reading this!!! It gave me slight PTSD with the roommate situation since I’ve unfortunately had the worst case of roommates in NYC!! It hit very close to reality for a while there ha! Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes her books, as it was very well done!! I received an arc copy of this book for an honest review.

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I couldn’t figure out if I was losing it or if the main character was — and honestly, I loved every second of it. This book had twists coming at me from every direction. Just when I thought I cracked the case… nope! Plot twist. I literally sat there more than once like, what is even happening right now? Freida pulled it off again. She’s the queen of messing with my head, and I’m here for it!

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Fast-paced with unexpected twist! If you did not have the opportunity to receive an ARC of The Tenant, you’re in for a treat on release day. Honestly, I rate this book 4/5 stars. The plot was engaging, the ending is CRAZY. I did not expect it! Thank you Freida McFadden and publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Freida McFadden does it again. This books was amazing! I loved all the characters and the way the story unfolded and was explained. If you love Frieda, grab it! If you don't know her work, grab it, you will not be sorry.

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I’m fully on the Freida train having read all of her books. I rewlly enjoyed this one even though for the first time I predicted the twist - I didn’t let this put me off as always the end twist got me. I really enjoyed the male perspective for this one as I feel a lot of the books are female perspectives so was really good getting a different main character perspective.

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Freida McFadden has done it again—The Tenant is another jaw-dropping masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything until the final page. From the very first chapter, the suspense hooks you in, and the tension only tightens with every turn. McFadden masterfully crafts a chilling atmosphere that’s equal parts psychological and domestic thriller, keeping readers on edge as secrets unravel layer by layer.

The plot twists are relentless. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, McFadden pulls the rug out from under you—and then does it again. The characters are complex and mysterious, and you’ll find yourself second-guessing every single one of them. The pacing is pitch-perfect, and the chapters are so addictive that putting the book down feels impossible.

If you're a fan of The Housemaid or Never Lie, this one will not disappoint. The Tenant is the kind of book that keeps you reading way past your bedtime and leaves your mind racing long after it’s over. Another brilliant, twisted ride from the queen of psychological thrillers. Bravo, Freida!

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This book kept me on my toes. Just when I thought they were going to follow a certain storyline, it went the other way. Freida hit it out of the park with the twists once again!

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Oh my goodness- my first FREIDA MCFADDEN ARC?! I am SWOON!!! As someone who has read all of her thriller books, I was over the moon excited to be chosen to red The Tenant!!

This book was a wild ride!! Classic Freida McFadden with twists I didn’t see coming. I really appreciated that the story was told from a male point of view; it added a unique layer I don’t always get in her other books. I honestly hope that she writes more from other perspectives, this was SO much fun! The writing kept me fully engaged, and I flew through it trying to piece everything together.

If I had one small critique, it’s that the ending felt just a bit too quick for me. I would’ve loved a little more time with the resolution, but that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the overall experience. (It was like WOAH, bam bam bam!! NO WAY!!! Still incredibly exciting!) It’s a fun, fast-paced read I’d absolutely recommend to anyone who loves a fantastic psychological twist...or two, or three!

Thank you for the advance reader copy of this gem, I cannot wait to purchase it and display it on my shelf!!

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This was my first ever Frieda book and WOW why the heck did it take me so long! I totally understand the hype now and why so many people love her work. Her writing is SO ADDICTIVE (like Krista's cookies)

All the characters are relatable and feel so real to the point where it doesn't feel like a fictional story. Blake is charming and charismatic while Krista is sweet and caring. The dynamic between this couple so easily likable. When things start to happen you can feel the frustration between these two and not knowing how to cordinate the new normal when Blake looses his job and eventually his mind. Then Whitney comes in and you can't quite figure her out, is she really doing these awful things or is Blake imagining it all?

Also THAT TWIST 🤯 My jaw was on the floor and didn't expect it AT ALL.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting, and I cannot compare this book with any of her other work, but this needs to be on everyone's TBR!

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I originally picked up this book for an easy read that I knew I would be able to finish quickly. The Tenant reads much like McFadden's other books. I found it to be an interesting storyline, something that seemed very original. However, you could also tell that writing from the male's perspective was new. I felt like this book had a lot of repetition, that was honestly annoying and made it difficult to get through the book. While I am not a huge fan of McFadden, I do enjoy her titles for a more relaxing read compared to my typical picks. However, the more I read of her's, the more frustrated I become with how she chooses to end her stories. This one was no different. By the time I got to the end of the story, I was very frustrated with how she chose to end the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more reviews and discussions, listen to my podcast The Honest Book Reviewers with Nate and Emma.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3H3ugH4xlzvjMXuUo1Lyvh?si=ewdzfkUnSVKyDmAvHMHIPQ

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OMG!!! "There's no place like home..." especially when "Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set."
I was riding on the pity train for Blake, who lost his VP marketing job and almost lost his home until him and his fiance Krista took in a tenant to help alleviate the cost. When Blake sees the beautiful tenant Whitney, he realizes it is a mistake. Walking around in her skimpy nighties will be the least of his worries after he ruffles her feathers. The house begins to reek of ferocious smells, strange noises and his neighbors steer clear of him.
This psychological thriller becomes tense and disturbing. As we watch Blake descend into madness, the lies and twists keep coming. I wasn't sure what to believe, as the tables turned until the last page. Krista appears as a clueless partner to what is happening as I questioned every motive and allusive truths. An incredibly fast paced psychological thriller that will tangle you into their web leaving you breathless. This author is one of my favorites and she seems to blow it out of the park with every book.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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I was lucky enough to be picked as an ARC reader of the Tenant, and I’ll be honest; after being ever just so slightly disappointed after reading The Crash (I know, I know, I’m one of the few!) I was interested to see how I would feel about this one. I must say, I was blown away. I finished the entire book in half a day because I couldn’t put it down, and then, when I thought I got to the twist, Freida threw me a curveball that left my jaw on the floor! This is a must read for fans of Freida McFadden, and for new Freida McFadden fans, a great place to start!

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Freida has done it again! The Tenant had me hooked from the very first page. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen there were twists and turns to shock me and keep me on the edge of my seat. I finished this book in just one day, something I never do. Forget all those unfinished chores!

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Thank you Poisoned Press publishing, Freida McFadden and Mandy Chatham for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

“Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone he shares with his fiancée, he's desperate to make ends meet.
Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she?
Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets...
Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set.”

I’m a huge Freida fan so I was really excited to get this ARC. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t do it for me. It was a quick read but the characters were just eh. I did feel bad for Blake because everything for him just kept getting worse and worse making him look like he was crazy. It didn’t really have the same keep you on your seat like her other books do.

Not my favorite one by her.

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