The Boyfriend

A new, twisting thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Teacher and The Housemaid!

She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She's seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can't shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn't get to the truth, she'll be the killer's next victim...

A dark story about obsession and the things we'll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest…

#1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, USA Today, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author Freida McFadden is a physician who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida is the winner of the International Thriller Writer Award for Best Paperback Original, the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Thriller, and was honored as one of TIME 100’s most influential people in the world for 2026. Her novels have been translated into more than 45 languages.

​ Freida lives with her family and cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

To hear Freida talk about herself more in the third person, check out her website freidamcfadden dot com.

"Bestseller McFadden’s jaw-dropping latest (after The Housemaid Is Watching) keeps the author’s trademark twists coming fast and furious...McFadden extends her hot streak with this canny exploration of love, death, and dating." ― Publishers Weekly

"Freida McFadden delivers every time. The Boyfriend has more twists than a corkscrew. Riveting!" ― Tami Hoag, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bad Liar

"The Boyfriend" by Freida McFadden is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into the complexities of love, trust, and deception. The story follows Gemma, a lonely young woman who has always struggled to find genuine connection in her life. Working a menial job and living a quiet, uneventful existence, Gemma is cautious but secretly yearning for affection. Her life takes a sharp turn when she meets an attractive, seemingly perfect man named Ben at a local coffee shop. Ben appears kind, attentive, and genuinely interested in her—something Gemma hasn’t experienced in a long time. She becomes enamored with him quickly, believing that maybe this time she has finally met the man of her dreams. However, as Freida McFadden is known for doing in her psychological thrillers, appearances soon prove deceiving, and things spiral into dark, unexpected territory.

Gemma’s relationship with Ben progresses at a lightning pace. He moves in with her shortly after they begin dating, and at first, everything seems blissful. Ben is charming and says all the right things. He makes Gemma feel seen and cared for—something she’s always wanted. But soon, small details start to make her uneasy. Ben seems to know things about her that she never told him. He occasionally slips in conversation as if he has been following her life long before they met. His temper begins to show in subtle ways, and Gemma notices how he reacts possessively whenever she talks to other men or spends time apart from him. These moments make her question whether Ben’s love is genuine or dangerously obsessive.

Despite her instincts telling her something isn’t right, Gemma finds herself trapped by her own loneliness and her desire to hold onto this relationship. McFadden masterfully portrays this psychological conflict—how people can become ensnared by manipulation even when warning signs are flashing all around them. The tension builds slowly but steadily, leaving readers questioning what is real and who can be trusted. Every chapter ends with a sense of unease, a lingering suspicion that something terrible is waiting just around the corner.

Things begin to unravel further when Gemma’s coworkers and friends start to notice Ben’s strange behavior. One of her colleagues expresses concern about how fast everything has moved, pointing out that Ben never talks about his past. But whenever Gemma tries to bring this up, Ben deflects with charming excuses or turns the situation around to make her feel guilty for doubting him. The reader witnesses how easily Gemma becomes ensnared in Ben’s emotional manipulation—a realistic depiction of the slow erosion of self-confidence that often occurs in controlling relationships. McFadden’s writing captures not only the fear that builds through these experiences but also the heartbreak of realizing that someone you love might not be who you think they are.

As the plot progresses, Gemma begins uncovering disturbing clues about Ben’s past. She finds out that he’s been involved with other women before her, and those relationships ended under mysterious circumstances. Some of these women even disappeared without a trace. When she tries to confront Ben, his calm demeanor shatters, revealing the dark and menacing side he had kept hidden. The once-perfect boyfriend becomes her worst nightmare, and Gemma realizes she is in grave danger.

At this point, the book transforms into a fight for survival. Gemma, who once felt powerless and naive, begins to tap into her inner strength to outwit and escape Ben’s control. McFadden creates intense psychological tension as Gemma pieces together the truth and tries to find a way out before it’s too late. The pacing quickens, and the story becomes a fast-moving thriller filled with shocking twists. Just when the reader feels certain they understand what is happening, McFadden pulls the rug out again with revelations that add new dimensions to each character’s motives.

One of the strengths of *The Boyfriend* lies in how McFadden balances psychological tension with emotional realism. Gemma is not portrayed as a helpless victim; rather, she is a complex, flawed character whose vulnerabilities are deeply human. Her struggle with self-doubt and her need for love make her decisions believable, even when they lead her into danger. Through Gemma’s journey, McFadden explores deeper questions about trust, identity, and the ways trauma and loneliness can cloud our judgment.

In the final act, Gemma’s confrontation with Ben reaches a nerve-racking climax that forces her to face everything she’s been running from—her fear, her guilt, and her desperate need for independence. The book’s ending is both shocking and satisfying, delivering McFadden’s signature twist that reframes much of what the reader thought they knew. Without spoiling specific details, it’s safe to say that nothing is as straightforward as it first appears, and even the most observant reader will be taken aback by the final reveals.

Ultimately, *The Boyfriend* is a chilling exploration of obsession wrapped in the guise of romance. McFadden uses the simple setup of a new relationship to peel back layers of deceit, danger, and psychological manipulation. What begins as a love story quickly becomes a terrifying study of control and survival. The novel draws readers into Gemma’s mind, making them feel her confusion, fear, and fleeting hope all at once. McFadden’s clear, fast-paced prose and sharp sense of timing make the twists land with stunning impact.

By the time the story concludes, readers are left with a haunting reflection on how easily appearances can deceive and how the human desire for love can sometimes lead us into the darkest places. *The Boyfriend* stands as another testament to Freida McFadden’s skill in crafting psychological thrillers that keep readers hooked from the first page to the last—full of suspense, emotional depth, and unexpected revelations that linger long after the book is done.