Buddy Reads & Big Twists
I always get a little nervous diving into a thriller sequel—matching the lightning-in-a-bottle tension of a hit first book is a rare feat. But thanks to my friend Tess pushing me to pick this up (turns out, I’m a buddy-reader at heart and read so much better with a friend!), I jumped back into Millie’s world. I am so glad I did, because Freida McFadden absolutely pulled it off again. We’ve already picked up book 2.5 to read later on down the road, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
This second installment finds Millie back in America, having left the handsome gardener behind to look for city employment. She quickly lands a job with a wealthy couple, but there’s a massive catch: she is strictly forbidden from ever seeing the wife. Naturally, things feel incredibly off, and Millie’s signature suspicion kicks in. The formula here works just as beautifully as it did in the first book, using short, punchy chapters and a constant sense of unease that leaves you flipping pages at a rate of knots.
Just when you think you know where the story is heading, McFadden completely flips everything on its head. I was seriously impressed by how seamlessly she executed this massive twist while keeping the narrative airtight and free of major plot holes, even throwing in a few extra gems at the very end.
The character work deserves a strong 4.5/5. Instead of using people as simple placeholders to move the plot along, McFadden gives them real, distinct personalities. Watching the story unfold mostly from Millie’s perspective, alongside a few chapters from an alternate point of view, gives the entire book a fantastic energy that makes you genuinely care about the outcome. My only real critique is the romantic subplot; it starts off incredibly strong with a mature, understandable friction, but ultimately takes the easy route.
Even with that slight detour, matching the momentum of the original was a rare task, and McFadden totally delivered. It’s a fast-paced, engaging thriller that proves she is an author to watch, and buddy-reading it made the experience even better.
