The Boyfriend by R.L. Stine

I couldn’t put this book down! I read the whole thing in about a day and a half. The suspense was suspensing!! The twists were twisting!!
Definitely an edge of your seat read for those with the eye for detail!

The Boyfriend—now this is a book packed with surprises! What starts as a light, slow-burnish rom-com quickly takes a dark, bloody turn. Sydney Shaw, like many single women in New York, is no stranger to dating disasters—she’s met men who lie on their profiles, men who disappear when the bill arrives, and even the type who can’t stop talking about their mothers. But finally, she’s hit the jackpot with her new boyfriend, a charming, handsome doctor. Sydney is completely swept off her feet.

Then, the brutal murder of a young woman—the latest in a string of coastal killings—shocks the city. A mysterious man, known for dating women only to murder them, is the prime suspect. Sydney should feel safe with her dream boyfriend, yet suspicions begin to grow. What if he’s not as perfect as he seems? As blood-soaked revelations keep coming, tension escalates, and Sydney realizes someone may be watching her every move. 👀 She must uncover the truth before it’s too late—or she might be the killer’s next victim. The suspense builds until an absolutely jaw-dropping ending that left me stunned!

This book is pretty much perfect for spooky season—spooky, bloody, and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat!

This story starts with Sydney going on what could be called the worst first date of all time. The guy she met on a popular dating app looks nothing like his profile photo, he makes her split the bill, pressures her to drink, and then answers a call from his mother on their date. And then he’s aggressive when Sydney doesn’t want to kiss him, or go on another date.

But a mystery man comes to her rescue but then disappears back off into the night. Until weeks later, she’s on another date and runs into her mystery man again. Things take a different turn and they start dating. Until certain pink flags start popping up…

So Sydney’s character drove me a little crazy. She’s 34 years old and it seems like her whole life revolves around dating. Yes, that could be how the story is written and we just don’t learn more about her. But I think the other thing that drove me nuts about Sydney is that I know Sydney’s in real life, and I immediately thought of these people and how much their behavior drives me nuts. Just the sort of laser focus on dating and weddings and having kids and it’s like everything else barely exists. *As a caveat, you should do exactly what you want in life, but sometimes I feel like people sort of miss the forest for the trees when they do this*.

Tom is the other POV we see in this story and we’re seeing his past: from his first love, Daisy, to his father’s death, to the mysterious happenings in his hometown.

I know Freida McFadden is known for her big twists and I’d say this one was done quite well. I had suspected it to some extent just because some things were too obvious; kind of like in CSI when they aggressively interview the first person 10 minutes in; you know it CAN’T be them since there’s another 40 minutes of the show left.

I would definitely recommend this story if you’re looking for a popcorn thriller that’s an easy read, and fast paced. There isn’t a massive amount of character development, but the story moves quickly and this one is a quick read that will leave you wondering what the hell just happened.

Freida McFadden has once again proven why she is the reigning Queen of Psychological Thrillers! As someone who has devoured all of her books, I can confidently say that The Boyfriend is her most gripping and twisted story yet. Just when I thought she couldn’t possibly outdo herself, this book completely floored me with its suspense, tension, and mind-bending twists.

The story pulls you in from the very first page and keeps you on edge until the shocking finale. McFadden’s talent for creating complex, unreliable characters shines here, leaving you questioning everything and everyone. The pacing is perfect; I found myself unable to put the book down, desperate to unravel the mystery.

Every chapter had me guessing, and just when I thought I had things figured out, McFadden expertly threw in another twist that left me stunned. The psychological tension in this book is palpable—it plays with your mind in the best possible way, keeping you hooked right until the explosive ending.

I’ve read all of Freida McFadden’s books, and they keep getting better and more unpredictable with each new release. Her writing is sharp, her plots are ingeniously crafted, and she has a unique ability to delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche.

I cannot wait to get my hands on her next release, The Crash, coming in January 2025! If it’s anything like The Boyfriend, I know it will be another unmissable thriller. Freida McFadden is a master at her craft, and The Boyfriend is a perfect example of why she continues to dominate the psychological thriller genre. Highly recommend!

I started with Never lie from the author and went on to the next , the boyfriend. It was an amazing book for any one who enjoys a twist even at the last minute, even when you think you have figured it all out, it comes when you least expect it. But the book grounds us in a reality from how different characters react finally according to my pov. Perhaps an optimistic reader would have expected ‘the boyfriend’ to finally find happiness, I mean he does in his own way, I think, but this is also why I think the book ground us in a reality that says there are some things in life, some bonds for better or worst we can’t easily get rid of and we all are not capable of overcoming it. Some of us just dive more into the depths.