Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The premise was very promising, but the execution left me wanting.

Let's start with the good stuff. This book kept me at the edge of my seat. I was so stressed out because I just knew that bad things were going to happen to our heroine. All she wanted was a baby and when the opportunity came up, she grabbed it and even convinced her husband that they should go ahead and hire her assistant as a surrogate mother.

Where it went a little awry for me was the way her husband was described and how he acted. I don't know how many times "handsome" was used throughout the book. It went all the way from the beginning until the very end. Okay, I get it. He's very handsome and a lot of women are attracted to him. The other thing was the way he acted in the second half of the story. I don't want to spoil anything, but it really irked me to a point where I felt like this could have been done a better way.

I love Frieda McFadden and The Housemaid is one of my top reads this year. This book was enjoyable, but there were enough things that just didn't make sense to me and took away from the premise of the story.

Unputdownable. Once I started reading I can't stop. It kept me on edge guessing who is the real enemy. It was short & concise but filled with workplace drama & the twist that I didn't see coming. Recommended reading if you are on a 'reading slump' like me.

For those of you that are Freida Fans, all you need to know is that she has a new book out. For everyone else, let me ask you this...What would you do if your assistant offered to be your surrogate...and then went kind of nuts? This book had me from beginning to end.

Frieda McFadden has done it again!
I read this book in one sitting, she truly is the queen of psychological thrillers!
I just couldn’t put it down.
I absolutely loved all the secrets, twists, and mysteries. The plot kept me hooked from beginning to end. Nobody does it quite like her!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

All I can say is Wow! The book leads us through what we think is our typical married/having an affair until the end! Frieda got us again! This is one of her best ones yet!

The Surrogate Mother
by Freida McFadden
Pub Date: August 19, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
I feel like I have read this before!
Abby wants a baby more than anything.
But after years of failed infertility treatments and adoptions that have fallen through, it seems like motherhood is not in her future. That is, until her personal assistant Monica makes a generous offer that will make all of Abby's dreams come true.
Or all of her nightmares.
Because it turns out Monica isn't who she says she is. The woman now carrying Abby's child has dark, twisted secrets.
And she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
And Yes, I had. This book was released in 2018. What is it doing on NetGalley again?

✨Book Review✨
The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden
⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
Very typical Freida McFadden book. Captivating, not very well written, somewhat predictable, and really keeps you wanting more. I saved the end of this book for a plane ride which was so perfect because I didn't want to put it down. The ending to this felt super abrupt. I had to check that I wasn't missing anything. Seems like it's asking for a sequel so I'm surprised she never wrote one. I really don't recommend her books, but I will absolutely keep reading them since I love the feeling of wanting to keep reading. I don't know how she does it!

Ahhh Freida. I've been a big fan since The Housemaid, like so many others! This one did it's job--I was pretty freaked out. I'm thinking that may be due to the fact that there's kiddos in this one (pregnancy) which seems to add a layer of suspense to any story. Housemaid is still my favorite by far, but I had a good time. 3.5/5.0

Well choosing a surrogate mother... what could go wrong (haha). A little predictable, but always good from Freida McFadden. Fast, easy to read, hard to put down. The wife was a little annoying, but she wanted it to work out so bad. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Another excellent, quick read by McFadden. Her followers will gobble this one up like all her others.

This wasn't thrilling it was infuriating. None of the characters are at all likeable and the ending feels entirely unrealistic.

Frieda McFadden, renowned as the queen of thrills, returns with a captivating hardcover and paperback edition of her twisty suspense thriller, THE SURROGATE MOTHER. Accompanying this release is an enticing sneak peek at her highly anticipated upcoming book, THE INTRUDER.

Having purchased and listened to the audiobook version back in 2022, I was thrilled to finally hold the e-book in my hands, savoring both the gripping narrative and the tantalizing teaser that promises even more excitement ahead.

About...

The Prologue opens with a line that seizes your attention from the very first moment:

“In the next twenty-four hours, I will be arrested for first-degree murder.”

From this startling declaration, we embark on a wild rollercoaster ride of emotion and suspense.

Abby’s yearning for motherhood burns brighter than any desire she has ever known. After enduring years filled with the heartache of failed infertility treatments and the disappointment of adoption attempts that didn't bear fruit, she feels the gaping void of a childless existence. Together with her husband, Sam, she brims with anxiety, wondering if the dream of raising a child is slipping ever further from her grasp.

Then, like a glimmer of hope in the shadows, Abby’s assistant, Monica, steps forward with a generous proposition—to become their surrogate. This unexpected offer ignites a spark of optimism, allowing Abby to imagine the possibility of her long-cherished dream finally coming true.

But as the days pass, an unsettling atmosphere unfolds. Strange occurrences begin to plague their lives, revealing that Monica may be hiding dark secrets beneath her seemingly benevolent surface. As she carries their child, the once-trusted ally transforms into a figure shrouded in mystery and menace.

Driven by hidden motives, Monica is determined to possess everything that Abby holds dear. She will stop at nothing to achieve her twisted desires—ultimately setting her sights on taking over Abby’s very life and setting her up for MURDER?

My thoughts...

In the captivating and suspenseful style of Freida McFadden, nothing is ever as it seems. Every character harbors a hidden agenda, and you can be certain that someone will inevitably find themselves ensnared in a web of intrigue and deceit!

The narrative cleverly unfolds, transporting us back in time to a year prior and then zooming into the present, where we delve into Abby's life—her demanding job, her seemingly stable marriage, and her overwhelming yearning to become a mother. Her husband projects an image of normalcy, but Abby is grappling with shadows of guilt that loom ever larger.

The arrival of Monica heralds a turning point, igniting a series of escalating problems. Abby believed she could trust her, but this misjudgment led to heart-wrenching consequences that no one could foresee. Trust is shattered, and with it, Abby finds herself staring into the abyss as Monica now holds the key to her dreams—her baby.

THE SURROGATE MOTHER is a riveting twist on domestic suspense that will grip you, compelling you to turn the pages well into the early hours of the morning.

And don’t miss the tantalizing teaser for the forthcoming novel, The Intruder (set to release on October 7, 2025). Be sure to add this one to your pre-order list—it’s sure to be another rollercoaster ride!

Audiobook...

In addition to the e-book, I also listened to the audiobook years ago, narrated by the talented Alyson Krawchuk, making the characters come alive in this twisty drama.


Recs...

Fans of thought-provoking, suspenseful narratives and complex characters will find THE SURROGATE MOTHER an entertaining read. This novel is particularly appealing to admirers of Kaira Rouda's insightful storytelling and dark humor, Victoria Helen Stone's intricate psychological layers, Liv Constantine's suspenseful twists, and Jenova Rose's emotionally charged prose. Each of these authors brings a unique flair that complements the rich themes explored in this book.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 19, 2025
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Thanks to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!

The book was a great suspense/thriller. There were some parts that i had to skip through as i felt it was lagging a bit but overall it makes for a fun suspenseful read.

I ended up not finishing this book. The story line is something I've read time and time again, and I knew what was going to happen before I even turned the page. I've liked some ot Freida McFadden's books but this one wasn't for me,

The Surrogate Mother is an absolutely gripping psychological thriller that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. Abby’s desperate longing for motherhood collides with Monica’s chilling secrets in a story packed with twists, tension, and jaw-dropping reveals. Freida McFadden delivers another addictive, unputdownable read that will leave you breathless and second-guessing everyone.

Abby and her husband desperately want a child, but Abby is unable to conceive. When her assistant, Monica, offers to be their surrogate, it seems like the perfect solution until Abby realizes Monica isn’t doing them a favor at all, but trying to take over her life. In true Freida fashion, this was a quick read with a fun twist. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.

Thanks to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!

A classic, enjoyable Freida M novel. No matter the plot, these always manage to suck me in. I also love that the twist was laid out properly this time - I've read other FMF novels where the twist felt like it was not properly laid out and was just there for shock value. A solid 4 stars from me!

This is a classic Freida, strongly delivering on everything you expect one of her novels to be. Clear, distinctive characters; a tense plot that slowly builds as the narrative unravels; a thrilling confrontation in the final act. It had me gripped from the first page!

Out of the many Freida novels I've read, the Surrogate made me sympathise with the protagonist the most. With every miscommunication and dismissal of Abby's worries, I was angrily glaring at the page, willing myself to read faster to get to her vindication. The main driver of the plot - Abby's infertility - adds humanity and a distinct realism to her character that sometimes can be lost with Freida's other protagonists (as the twisty and elaborate plot's often test one's suspension of disbelief). No matter how twisty and crazed The Surrogate got, Abby's issues grounded the tale, making everything feel slightly more plausible.

The Surrogate takes its time to establish the characters and their situation. Reading the circumstances that leads Abby to surrogacy is gutting, and makes the following events hit even harder. Prolonging the first twist a little longer than other Freida novels pays off tremendously in this instance.

And of course, as with any book written by Freida McFadden, the twists were satisfying, well executed, and well paced. McFadden is a master at keeping a reader's intrigue. The Surrogate has you second guessing every throw away comment and every character's motivations. By the end, you feel guilty for angrily condemning those who turn out to be innocent, and foolish for trusting those with ultimately evil motivations.

There is nothing quite like a Freida McFadden thriller. She has a way of crafting her own distinctive atmospheres that are easily identifiable as hers. Who else would think to open a novel with a main character marketing...diapers? What's more, delivering it in a way that works!

After reading The Housemaid, I was curious about the rest of Freida McFadden's books. While I enjoyed that title, I did predict most of what happened in that book. I worried that her other books would fall into the same dilemma.

The Surrogate Mother starts easy. After Abby learns the baby she was going to adopt with her husband is no longer available, her assistant Monica offers to be her surrogate. As the story progresses, it's clear Monica is not the picture-perfect person she's supposed to be. There are constant twists and turns-- Most of them I was not expecting. I found myself surprised every few pages.

When it comes to the characters, I did want to scream at them at times. I did root for Abby, but some of her decisions were just plain ignorant. It was slightly frustrating at times, which led me to giving 4/5 stars instead of 5.

The ending is somewhat open to interpretation. I know that is not everyone's cup of tea, but I didn't mind it here. It makes you wonder what was true and what wasn't.

To me, this was better than The Housemaid. I'm glad I read another one of her books!

Freida McFadden does it again! The Surrogate Mother is another great thriller book with twists and turns right up to the very last page. It follows the story of Abby and Sam, who want nothing more than to be parents but soon realize that sometimes "too good to be true" is correct. Abby is a great main character and very relatable. It was a nice refresher to read an inner monologue that had a little bit of sass in it. McFadden's writing was fast paced and easy to follow. I found myself wanting to read the entire thing in one go. 5/5 stars would recommend. Thank you NetGalley!