Not my favorite but a new to me Freida book. It has her usual plot twists and still a decent thriller read.

I will forever be Freida McFadden's fangirl. She never disappoints. Another twisty thrill ride where nothing is as it seems - I loved it. Okay, it's not sophisticated world literature, but you get pulled in immediately and cannot stop reading. Thank you #netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Abby and Sam, desperate for a child after Abby's fertility struggles, face a crushing disappointment when an adoption falls through. Their world is then upended when Monica, Abby's seemingly helpful office assistant, offers to be their surrogate. Things start to go weird Monica's increasing proximity to Sam, the suspicious changes to Abby's work schedule, and Abby's growing paranoia about things going wrong—are all expertly crafted elements that make you question everyone's motives.

If you like a fast paced thriller this book is for you. Thanks NetGalley

Once again, I was fool by a brand new cover but it was still a good read. Freida McFadden is always a go-to author with books that flies by.

Just when I think I know Freida McFadden's MO, she writes another book that I did not see the final twist coming!!!!! The Surrogate Mother is about a woman, Abby, who can't have children. She is about to adopt a baby and complete her family when it suddenly falls through. Enter Monica, Abby's assistant. She is young, in need of money, and convinces Abby and Sam to let her carry their child. Well, Monica and Sam's child. Things start to unravel when Monica and Sam begin to get close and Abby starts to become paranoid. Is there something going on with Sam and Monica? Is Abby being gaslit by her attentive assistant? You will not see then ending coming in this thriller!

This author and her books really do Have me in a sort of chokehold lol. They are always, I read this one in just a couple of hours. But they are also always super engaging and make you want to turn the pages as fast as possible. Even when you think you’ve figured out what’s going on you really haven’t because there’s always another pot twist. There’s not much that I can say that the summary here doesn’t already say other than to say, that is always a good read with a Freida McFadden.

A quick, thrilling read. The characters made this one hard to love but I still appreciated all the twists and turns. Freida never disappoints!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of The Surrogate Mother. This one was really enjoyable! If you like Freida's other books, this one did not disappoint! Lots of twists and turns leave you never expecting what comes next!

Suspenseful but a bit too far fetched for me! I always enjoy Frieda books but unfortunately this wasn't my favorite. Still recommend for thriller lovers!

I'm quite disappointed in myself that I didn't see the plot twist coming, and I fell for another Freida McFadden mind bend.

Abby is desperate to start a family with her husband. He doesn't want to be an "old dad" since his dad passed when he was young due to being an old dad. When their adoption falls through, parenthood presents itself in an weird way: Abby's assistant offers herself as a surrogate. It all seems to work out, and then cracks start showing.

It was good, typical Freida McFadden. For once, I'm glad I was wrong.

Thanks, NetGalley!

I really enjoyed the twist and turns of this book. Freida McFadden never disappoints! I read this when it first came out and it was interesting to reread it now that she has made it big!

SO fun. Freida has a formula, but it works! This one was bonkers in the best way. Suspend your disbelief a bit, but settle in for another great thriller from Freida.

I always have a great time reading Freida's books, and while this was not one of my faves from her collection, I am so glad I got the chance to read it! I could not put it down and had to know how it ended.

Abby is very successful in her job at an advertising agency. She's the recipient of a trust fund, meaning she can relax and excel in her profession without worrying about money. Her husband, Sam, is a somewhat nerdy math professor. They have everything they ever wanted except for one thing: Abby is unable to get pregnant. After suffering a disappointment about adopting a baby, Abby is startled when her assistant Monica offers to have a baby for Abby and her husband as a surrogate. At first, Abby refuses but Monica is very persuasive -- she wants to go back to school to study for a degree in a field she's really interested in, and if Abby pays for that, the arrangement will benefit them both. Sam is reluctant to go along with it, but they draw up paperwork, so the arrangement is legal. As the pregnancy progresses, odd things begin to happen to Abby at work -- missed meetings, neglected emails, and mix-ups with her calendar. Then there's the fact that Sam seems to be getting a bit too chummy with Monica. As Abby struggles to figure out what's real and what her distracted mind might be conjuring up, she begins to doubt her own thoughts.

As usual with this author, the twists come one after the other. It's easy to get caught up in Abby's paranoia and to wonder what might be going on in the background. It's a race to the finish to try to work out just what is going on with the surrogate.

I’ll admit it—I’m a full-blown Freida McFadden addict. I devour her fast-paced thrillers like they’re slices of Basque burnt cheesecake: indulgent, intense, and totally addictive. Her books are my ultimate guilty pleasure, especially when they come with those signature sucker-punch twists that leave you wide-eyed and whispering, “Wait—what?!”

This one, originally published in 2018, is one of her earlier works, and when I saw it pop up on NetGalley, I didn’t hesitate. I clicked request faster than you can say “domestic thriller.” Now, is it as mind-bending as her more recent releases? Not quite. You can see some of the turns coming, and the twist doesn’t knock you flat like her latest jaw-droppers—but that’s okay. You can already sense the McFadden magic brewing here, and it’s wildly entertaining from start to finish.

Our main character Abby has all the hallmark traits of a McFadden heroine: a little too trusting, a little too naïve, kind of like a Disney princess crossed with a toothpaste commercial—smiling brightly while chaos brews behind her. And then there’s her husband Sam. Oh, Sam. He commits the cardinal sin of marriage: believing a stranger over his own wife. Boo, Sam. Instant deduction of husband points. You broke the sacred rule: the wife is always right!

The plot? Deliciously chaotic. Abby has the perfect life on paper: a successful career, a charming professor husband, and a dream of starting a family. After fertility struggles and a failed adoption, hope seems lost—until her sweet, seemingly selfless assistant Monica offers to be their surrogate in exchange for help pursuing her dreams in graphic design school. Sounds like a dream, right? Well… no surprise here—things spiral quickly. Red flags flap like crazy, especially since the novel opens with Abby may go to prison for murder. (Cue dramatic music.)

As Abby begins to suspect Monica isn’t who she claims to be, things unravel at breakneck speed. Suddenly it’s not just her marriage or future baby on the line—it’s her very survival. And just when you think it can’t get worse, McFadden tosses in a few more curveballs.

While the ending didn’t land with the explosive force I hoped for, and a few plot points were admittedly far-fetched, I still tore through this book in just a few hours. It grabbed my attention and didn’t let go—and honestly, that’s what I’m here for. McFadden delivers her signature suspense-soaked ride, and I’m always ready to buckle in.

Plus, the sneak peek of her upcoming novel Intruder at the end? Chef’s kiss. That was the cherry on top—or, more accurately, the icing on the cheesecake.

Four stars from me. Another thrilling ride from the queen of twists that slap you in the face and leave you grinning like a maniac.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing another unputdownable Freida McFadden digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m already counting down to the next one.

All Abby’s ever wanted is a baby. Unfortunately when that cant happen, a miracle arrives when she finds Monica, who will be their surrogate.
As they get to learn more about Monica, things don’t seem to add up. Will the future of Abby and her unborn baby be everything she’s imagined… or worse?

Thank you Net Galley!!! I always love a Frieda McFadden read and the surrogate mother did not disappoint! Would recommend!