Chill with a Thriller this Summer

Hi, my bookish friend! Let’s start off the summer with a thrill by escaping into a mystery/thriller book with page-turning suspense!

Today, I’m sharing why thrillers make an excellent choice to toss into your beach bag for a day relaxing by the water. (I hope you’ll share your thoughts and book recommendations in the comments if you agree!)

Then, if you’re looking for your next thriller book to read, I’ve got plenty of great recommendations:

5 New Release Mystery, Thriller, Suspense Books to read this summer!

One to Read & Watch (on Hulu).

And why readers can’t get enough of Freida McFadden’s psychological thrillers.

However, if thrills and chills aren’t your thing, “stay tuned!” I’ve got a summer of different genres planned for you! (See “The Bookish AF Summer Reading Lineup” here!)

Happy Reading!

Your friend,

Audry

P.S. My reading update: I recently finished "Broken Country" and loved it, and then thoroughly enjoyed listening to Ina Garten’s memoir on audiobook. Now, I’m reading one that my mom recommended (after I featured it in my first-ever Substack post): Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley.

Share this week’s post with a friend whose beach bag contains five paperbacks, a melted chapstick, and one half-empty bottle of sunscreen! 🏖️

Share

Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer Bookish Thoughts: 3 Reasons Why Thrillers Make Great Beach Reads!

Mysteries, thrillers, and suspense books really seem like they belong in the darkly moody month of October. And they certainly work great then. But … what is it about thrillers that makes them particularly appealing during summer? I’ve got some theories!

It’s easy to toss a thriller in your beach bag and know you’ll be entertained. Why? Because you know what to expect: There will be danger. There will be plot twists to figure out. There will be fast-paced suspense right up to the last page. Check, check, and double-check!

Thrillers hold your attention. In fact, they’re so hard to put down, you need a long block of time, like a day at the beach, by the lake, or poolside, to devour them. These books keep you right where you want to be: lounging and reading the day away!

They provide a stress-releasing escape. You get to safely step into a world you fortunately aren’t living in, but have definite thoughts about what you’d do if you were in these situations. So you get to take a welcome break from the demands of your life as you puzzle together where the plot is heading. Ah, sweet escape!

Leave a comment

Bookish Recs: New Release Summer “Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense” Books

There are so many, many, many great thrillers being published all year long. So, if you love this genre, you’re definitely spoiled for choice!

I’ve already featured three of the most anticipated thriller books for summer a few weeks ago, including The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark, which reviewers are calling “unputdownable” and “a wild, twisty ride.”

Here are a few more new release mystery, thriller, and suspense books to add to your TBR!

Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer | Book covers from Bookshop.org

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers is getting so much hype! It’s more of a mystery and suspense book with a few thriller elements thrown in, but it’ll keep you turning pages way past your bedtime. For the past seven years, ever since her sister went missing, Nic’s life has been a mess. When the sister of another missing woman who’s linked to Nic’s sister’s disappearance contacts Nic and provides hope, the two of them embark to find answers … and eventually more than they expected!

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose is the sequel to the #BookTok sensation, The Perfect Marriage. I suggest starting with “The Perfect Marriage” since book two builds on everything that happened in the first one. And there was a lot that happened: an affair, a dead mistress at a lakehouse, a murder trial in which the cheating husband’s only hope to avoid prison is the legal counsel of his wife, Sarah.

In “The Perfect Divorce,” Sarah has moved on to a new marriage, but she’s cheated on again (boy, can she pick ‘em!). As she’s dealing with the divorce, a new investigation is launched against her first husband. Hold on tight: this book has more twists and turns than a roller coaster at Six Flags! Oh, and the hardcover edition features murderous, blood-soaked sprayed edges to add extra drama to your bookshelf.

The Tenant by Freida McFadden promises a twist at the end that you won’t see coming. Blake seemed to have it all: a high-paying job as a marketing VP, a lovely fiancée, and the owner of a gorgeous brownstone. When he’s abruptly fired and unable to make the mortgage payments, Blake rents out a room to the gorgeous and personable Whitney. However, Whitney isn’t all that she seems, and Blake has no idea he’s living in a trap.

Upcoming New Releases:

She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari Lapena (Publication date: July 29, 2025) tells the gripping story of a woman who inexplicably goes missing from her luxury condo.

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon (Publication date: July 8, 2025) features the reunion of a once-close couple, Frida and Gabriel, at a beautiful Utah desert. Their romantic getaway soon takes a turn with a guest's murder and unsettling suspicions growing about Gabriel’s involvement. (Check out !)

Bookish Entertainment: A Thriller to Read & Watch

READ: Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty ratchets the tension steadily through this story of nine strangers who are exclusively invited to take part in a ten-day health retreat. The story follows Frances Welty, a bestselling novelist and guest, who increasingly becomes suspicious of the retreat’s director and her intentions for the guests.

WATCH: The Hulu original series is now onto its second season. I really, really need to get Hulu because the cast looks so good! Nicole Kidman plays the enigmatic director. In Season One, Melissa McCarthy as Frances blends her comedic timing with the suspenseful drama. Season Two keeps Kidman but ushers in a new cast of strangers, including Henry Golding, Annie Murphy, and Christine Baranski. Watch the trailer for Season Two here!

Getting Bookish with Bestselling Psychological Thriller Author, Freida McFadden Book covers from Bookshop.org | Author Image from www.freidamcfadden.com

Three years ago, I curated two exciting booklists: one featuring dark, suspenseful mystery books and the other, plot-twisty psychological thrillers. While you’ll find plenty of great book recs, I can’t believe I left off what would become one of the most popular thrillers that’s still creating a buzz and topping bestseller lists today: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.

Although she started publishing books over a decade ago, The Housemaid was Freida McFadden’s breakout bestseller, and she hasn’t looked back since! (You’ll notice I’ve featured her latest psychological thriller above, The Tenant, which was just released last month.)

Why You’ll See Frieda McFadden’s Name Everywhere on Thriller Bestseller Lists

Sadly, I don’t read many thrillers, so I haven’t read a book (yet!). However, a good friend recently recommended I read The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie. This 150-page novella, published last year, promises much of what Freida McFadden’s readers have come to love about her writing style: easy-to-read, fast-paced chapters, enjoyable dialogue mixed with humor, emotionally riveting storylines, page-turning suspense, and plot twists she intentionally makes as unpredictable as possible.

Will the Real Freida McFadden Please Stand Up

Fascinatingly, Freida McFadden, the real-life person, may be almost as fascinating as her books (minus the murder parts, of course!). Did you know she’s a practicing physician who specializes in brain injury? It’s true! McFadden wrote all her books while working full-time and only recently scaled back her patient load to two days a week.

And get this: Freida McFadden is a pen name so she can separate her medical career from her creative works. In an interview, she joked that she didn’t want her patients to worry about winding up in one of her books. Isn’t that the worry of everyone who crosses paths with an author?! Interestingly, she came up with the name “Freida” because FRIEDA is a database medical school graduates use to search for a residency or fellowship.

But the lines do blur between McFadden’s two careers when she’s writing scenes that require medical knowledge. Other authors have to conduct research, but she only needs to consult her own brain!

Check out Freida McFadden’s collection of books here!

Bookish Quote of the Week

“What do you like to read?”

“Books.”

“What kind of books?”

“The kind with words.”

― Freida McFadden, The Housemaid

This content may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission (just enough to grab a coffee) at no additional cost to you!

Enjoy Bookish AF every week! 🤓 Become a free or paid subscriber. (Bonus 🎁 for paid subscribers: Get your super-fun Summer-Reading Bingo Card Printable!)