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Pinky Swear
Not yet published
Expected 26 Feb 26'Visceral, tense, and shocking Pinky Swear is an absolute must read.' Jeneva Rose
She is your best friend. You trust her. She is carrying your baby. So why has she disappeared?
Lexi is over the moon when her friend Mara offers to make her dream come true, by becoming a surrogate for Lexi's longed-for baby.
They have known each other since they were in middle school - who better to trust?
But four days before the baby is due, Mara disappears.
Desperate to find her friend and her child, Lexi is shocked to uncover that Mara may not have been telling her the truth - about anything.
Who is her best friend, really, and can Lexi save her baby before it is too late?
'Delivers a thrilling game of cat and mouse, blurring the lines between friendship and family and creating the kind of high-stakes tension that keeps the pages continually turning. You will genuinely feel for these characters, even when you're unsure of which ones you can trust.' Stacy Willingham
'Riveting, intense, and unputdownable your next binge-read. It's almost a shame how fast the pages fly. This is a triumph of character-driven, thrill-packed storytelling.' Ashley Winstead
'Gripping, emotional, and utterly propulsive, Pinky Swear is the kind of thriller that gets its hooks in from the first page and doesn't let go. Danielle Girard masterfully blends past secrets with present stakes in a story that's as much about friendship and motherhood as it is about survival. I tore through it with my heart in my throat.' Sally Hepworth
'What a hook, what a voice, what a ride! Pinky Swear is high concept with a heartbeat, and you are going to love it.' Joshilyn Jackson
'Gripping and emotionally charged, Lexi and Mara’s story held me from the first page. Pinky Swear is exactly what we want from great surprising at every turn and heartbreakingly relatable. I couldn’t read this fast enough.' Jamie Day
'When childhood best friends reunite under desperate circumstances, promises are tested—and loyalties fractured. In Pinky Swear, Girard delivers a daring, twist-laden plot that barrels toward an electric, heart-stopping climax with chilling precision. Girard outdid herself with this one, a white-knuckle tale of friendship, betrayal, and the true meaning of family.' Kimberly Belle
She is your best friend. You trust her. She is carrying your baby. So why has she disappeared?
Lexi is over the moon when her friend Mara offers to make her dream come true, by becoming a surrogate for Lexi's longed-for baby.
They have known each other since they were in middle school - who better to trust?
But four days before the baby is due, Mara disappears.
Desperate to find her friend and her child, Lexi is shocked to uncover that Mara may not have been telling her the truth - about anything.
Who is her best friend, really, and can Lexi save her baby before it is too late?
'Delivers a thrilling game of cat and mouse, blurring the lines between friendship and family and creating the kind of high-stakes tension that keeps the pages continually turning. You will genuinely feel for these characters, even when you're unsure of which ones you can trust.' Stacy Willingham
'Riveting, intense, and unputdownable your next binge-read. It's almost a shame how fast the pages fly. This is a triumph of character-driven, thrill-packed storytelling.' Ashley Winstead
'Gripping, emotional, and utterly propulsive, Pinky Swear is the kind of thriller that gets its hooks in from the first page and doesn't let go. Danielle Girard masterfully blends past secrets with present stakes in a story that's as much about friendship and motherhood as it is about survival. I tore through it with my heart in my throat.' Sally Hepworth
'What a hook, what a voice, what a ride! Pinky Swear is high concept with a heartbeat, and you are going to love it.' Joshilyn Jackson
'Gripping and emotionally charged, Lexi and Mara’s story held me from the first page. Pinky Swear is exactly what we want from great surprising at every turn and heartbreakingly relatable. I couldn’t read this fast enough.' Jamie Day
'When childhood best friends reunite under desperate circumstances, promises are tested—and loyalties fractured. In Pinky Swear, Girard delivers a daring, twist-laden plot that barrels toward an electric, heart-stopping climax with chilling precision. Girard outdid herself with this one, a white-knuckle tale of friendship, betrayal, and the true meaning of family.' Kimberly Belle
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 24, 2026
43 people are currently reading
10310 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Girard
21 books1,092 followersDanielle Girard is the USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the Annabelle Schwartzman Series, Chasing Darkness, and The Rookie Club series.
Her books have won the Barry Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and White Out was in the top 100 bestselling e-books of 2020. In addition, two of her titles have been optioned for screen. Her next thriller, Pinky Swear, will be out from the Emily Bestler Imprint of Atria books February 24, 2026.
Danielle is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.
Her books have won the Barry Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and White Out was in the top 100 bestselling e-books of 2020. In addition, two of her titles have been optioned for screen. Her next thriller, Pinky Swear, will be out from the Emily Bestler Imprint of Atria books February 24, 2026.
Danielle is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.
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January 30, 2026🥺💔A best friend turned surrogate that goes missing🥺💔!!!!!!!!
December 25, 2025
A white-knuckle ride of explosive dark secrets, Pinky Swear was as gripping and tense as it was thought-provoking in the extreme. You see, between the character-driven deep dive into the bonds of friendship and the emotionally resonant look at motherhood, it had all of the hallmarks of a poignant tear-jerking read. At the same time, it was the definition of a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse as Lexie raced to find her best friend before the very worst happened. Along the way, I was delighted at the found family vibe and strong character development. A one-sitting read that I quite literally couldn’t put down, I was absolutely mesmerized be this bingeable tale of how far one will go for friends, family, and one’s own child. Lifting a car to save your daughter or son? That’s nothing compared to the events of this novel. Bravo, Ms. Girard!
All said and done, despite a climax that felt distinctly over-the-top in a very Grey’s Anatomy way, I was beyond absorbed by the twisty, heart-stopping plot from beginning to end. Told via dual timelines and dual POVs, I was easily sucked in by the mysterious long-buried secrets within this tight-knit group of friends. What was most stunning of all, though, was how well I got to know them all despite only really meeting Lexie “in person.” Through a story that managed to show instead of tell, these characters worked themselves into my heart all while the adrenaline-soaked scenes hit fast and hard. The best part of all, though? That I didn’t know who to trust the entire time I was reading. After all, with both epic cliffhangers and breathtaking twists, it was all I could do to hold on for dear life as I waited for the truth to be revealed. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.
But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.
Lexi is shocked but certain there must be something wrong—Mara would never willingly leave with her unborn child. Or would she? As she embarks on a perilous cross-country hunt for the truth, Lexi is forced to reconsider a friendship she thought she knew—and what really happened that terrible night their senior year. How many secrets lie in their shared past, waiting to be uncovered? And just how far will Lexi go to bring her child safely home?
Thank you to Danielle Girard, Atria Books, and Book Around for my complimentary copy and including me in the traveling ARC program. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 24, 2026
Content warning: knife violence, infertility, pregnancy, missing person, anxiety, rape, blood, mention of: domestic abuse, school shooting, abortion, gun violence
All said and done, despite a climax that felt distinctly over-the-top in a very Grey’s Anatomy way, I was beyond absorbed by the twisty, heart-stopping plot from beginning to end. Told via dual timelines and dual POVs, I was easily sucked in by the mysterious long-buried secrets within this tight-knit group of friends. What was most stunning of all, though, was how well I got to know them all despite only really meeting Lexie “in person.” Through a story that managed to show instead of tell, these characters worked themselves into my heart all while the adrenaline-soaked scenes hit fast and hard. The best part of all, though? That I didn’t know who to trust the entire time I was reading. After all, with both epic cliffhangers and breathtaking twists, it was all I could do to hold on for dear life as I waited for the truth to be revealed. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.
But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.
Lexi is shocked but certain there must be something wrong—Mara would never willingly leave with her unborn child. Or would she? As she embarks on a perilous cross-country hunt for the truth, Lexi is forced to reconsider a friendship she thought she knew—and what really happened that terrible night their senior year. How many secrets lie in their shared past, waiting to be uncovered? And just how far will Lexi go to bring her child safely home?
Thank you to Danielle Girard, Atria Books, and Book Around for my complimentary copy and including me in the traveling ARC program. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 24, 2026
Content warning: knife violence, infertility, pregnancy, missing person, anxiety, rape, blood, mention of: domestic abuse, school shooting, abortion, gun violence
Review of advance copy received from Author
What do you do when your surrogate disappears days before the baby is due? Every woman's worst nightmare.
This was a gripping, tense, and emotional thriller that I could NOT put down! Lexi's friend Mara shows up after 16 years of being apart. Mara escaped an abusive relationship and sought out Lexi for comfort and a place to stay. What perfect timing, because Lexi is going through a rough patch in her marriage due to her longing for a child and her husband, who is 14 years her senior, not wanting any more children. He's happy with the two he has from his first marriage. Lexi decides, she's going to become a mother with or without her husband's assistance and asks Mara to be her surrogate. Of course, Mara agrees without hesitation.
Mara and Lexi have a doctor's appointment scheduled 4 days before her due date, only Mara isn't in her room. Her things are gone. She's not answering her phone. Lexi panics and will stop at nothing to find Mara and "Goose", her sweet nickname for the baby girl Mara is carrying.
In pursuit of the truth of what happened 16 years ago during their senior year of high school and what Mara has been doing for the past 16 years, Lexi takes off to Philladelphia, where Mara has been living previously, to find Mara and save Goose. Is Mara in danger or did she leave willingly and betray her best friend? How far will Lexi go to save Goose and find Mara? Anyone who is a mom or has a mom knows, that moms will stop at NOTHING until their baby is safe!
Lexi becomes the hunter in this intense cat-and-mouse chase with only 4 days before Goose is due to be born. Time is of the essence!!⌛ This story has everything, friendship, loss, dysfunctional family, trauma, found family, amateur sleuthing, and the length one goes to protect the ones they love. I really wasn't sure where this story was going, and the twists were twisty! I loved the character developement, especially the found family, although, I can't say much more about this without spoiling. Let's just say, they have a piece of my heart! The story is told in past and present tense, but the author did a great job of not making this confusing. I know I can be a sap, but I did shed some tears, you've been warned!
Danielle Girard knocked it out of the park with this one!
4.5 ⭐
It was my absolute pleasure being a part of the Traveling Arc program! Thank you to Flori Fundamentals and Danielle Girard for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Available February 24, 2026!!
This was a gripping, tense, and emotional thriller that I could NOT put down! Lexi's friend Mara shows up after 16 years of being apart. Mara escaped an abusive relationship and sought out Lexi for comfort and a place to stay. What perfect timing, because Lexi is going through a rough patch in her marriage due to her longing for a child and her husband, who is 14 years her senior, not wanting any more children. He's happy with the two he has from his first marriage. Lexi decides, she's going to become a mother with or without her husband's assistance and asks Mara to be her surrogate. Of course, Mara agrees without hesitation.
Mara and Lexi have a doctor's appointment scheduled 4 days before her due date, only Mara isn't in her room. Her things are gone. She's not answering her phone. Lexi panics and will stop at nothing to find Mara and "Goose", her sweet nickname for the baby girl Mara is carrying.
In pursuit of the truth of what happened 16 years ago during their senior year of high school and what Mara has been doing for the past 16 years, Lexi takes off to Philladelphia, where Mara has been living previously, to find Mara and save Goose. Is Mara in danger or did she leave willingly and betray her best friend? How far will Lexi go to save Goose and find Mara? Anyone who is a mom or has a mom knows, that moms will stop at NOTHING until their baby is safe!
Lexi becomes the hunter in this intense cat-and-mouse chase with only 4 days before Goose is due to be born. Time is of the essence!!⌛ This story has everything, friendship, loss, dysfunctional family, trauma, found family, amateur sleuthing, and the length one goes to protect the ones they love. I really wasn't sure where this story was going, and the twists were twisty! I loved the character developement, especially the found family, although, I can't say much more about this without spoiling. Let's just say, they have a piece of my heart! The story is told in past and present tense, but the author did a great job of not making this confusing. I know I can be a sap, but I did shed some tears, you've been warned!
Danielle Girard knocked it out of the park with this one!
4.5 ⭐
It was my absolute pleasure being a part of the Traveling Arc program! Thank you to Flori Fundamentals and Danielle Girard for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Available February 24, 2026!!
June 30, 2025
When childhood best friends reunite under desperate circumstances, promises are tested—and loyalties fractured. In PINKY SWEAR, Girard delivers a daring, twist-laden plot that barrels toward an electric, heart-stopping climax with chilling precision. Girard outdid herself with this one, a white-knuckle tale of friendship, betrayal, and the true meaning of family.
August 24, 2025
Read this if you enjoy: domestic thrillers and past/present timelines - This was such an original concept and was a quick read with a lot of suspense, I felt like a lot was going on and the pacing was off (slow start with a very fast finish)
January 15, 2026
How many secrets can a friendship endure?
After drifting apart after a tragic event, best friends since middle school, Lexi and Mara, are reunited sixteen years later under desperate circumstances. Through a series of unfortunate events, Lexi offers to carry a baby for Mara. But when Lexi disappears four days before she’s supposed to deliver, Lexi goes on what becomes a dangerous search for her friend and her baby.
This was a fun and original story!
Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on February 24, 2026
After drifting apart after a tragic event, best friends since middle school, Lexi and Mara, are reunited sixteen years later under desperate circumstances. Through a series of unfortunate events, Lexi offers to carry a baby for Mara. But when Lexi disappears four days before she’s supposed to deliver, Lexi goes on what becomes a dangerous search for her friend and her baby.
This was a fun and original story!
Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on February 24, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a great audiobook. The narrators were fantastic and the premise kept me guessing and was so twisty. Two childhood best friends, Mara and Lexi, drifted apart after a tragedy. 16 years later, Mara shows up on Lexi's doorstep after fleeing her abusive marriage, and they rekindle their friendship. Mara becomes a surrogate for Lexi, and days before the due date, Mara disappears. Lexi is left questioning everything. Why did Mara leave with her baby? She sets out on a mission to find the truth about her friendship, and the past. So good. I couldn't wait to see how everything was going to come together. Girard really surpassed my expectations with this one. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 13, 2025
I am willing to suspend a lot of belief when it comes to my thriller summer 2k25 however, I can't suspend it all!!!
Unfortunately, the plot of this, the characters, the relationships were either too out there, or too unbelievable to make sense of. I did want to find out what happened, so I did read until the end however it was all kinda...whatever; too silly and not in a fun way.
Thank you to the publishers for the arc.
Unfortunately, the plot of this, the characters, the relationships were either too out there, or too unbelievable to make sense of. I did want to find out what happened, so I did read until the end however it was all kinda...whatever; too silly and not in a fun way.
Thank you to the publishers for the arc.
October 11, 2025
This book had me hooked from the start!
Very eerie and suspenseful with plot twists I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the dual timelines as well as the characters!
A great quick read 😁
Very eerie and suspenseful with plot twists I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the dual timelines as well as the characters!
A great quick read 😁
February 24, 2026
She is boldly reckless and she is fiercely loyal. She is a liar, and she is my friend. She can be both.
Pinky Swear is a solid, if imperfect, thriller that will require you to suspend every ounce of disbelief you have. It gets high marks for originality, but then it loses marks for some ludicrous, frustrating plot beats I couldn’t overlook.
Sixteen years after a tragedy during their senior year drove them apart, Mara shows up at Lexi’s door after leaving her abusive spouse, and Lexi doesn’t hesitate to take her in; she could use a friend, since her marriage has become strained due to her desire for a baby. When Mara agrees to be Lexi’s surrogate, Lexi thinks all her dreams are finally coming true - but then, days before the baby’s due date, Mara disappears. Guided by what Lexi knows about Mara’s life and the smallest clues she left behind, Lexi trails Mara across the country, from Denver to Philadelphia, in a desperate attempt to save her best friend and her baby before it’s too late.
Pinky Swear is propulsive and full of tension, and with a missing pregnant woman who could give birth at any moment, the stakes are incredibly high. It’s compelling, and the surrogacy angle paired with the past-and-present timeline offers several opportunities for emotional depth that aren’t always found in a thriller. Lexi’s anxiety and fear are palpable, her heightened emotions are well-conveyed. She’s a sympathetic protagonist, and even if she does make questionable decisions, it makes sense to an extent based on the circumstances. To an extent.
Because even if Lexi’s dubious choices could potentially be justified due to the extreme scenario in which she found herself, I was still very conscious of the fact that she was consistently doing the most reckless, most wrong thing at every turn just for the sake of plot. I found myself rolling my eyes several times, and when I read THAT SCENE near the end (IYKYK, and if you haven’t read this yet, you’ll know immediately what scene I’m talking about when you get to it), I scoffed out loud at how ridiculous, unnecessary, and unbelievable it was. It was too over-the-top even for me, a reader who is usually a big fan of suspending her disbelief.
I’m also a big fan of “seedy underbellies” of cities, so I did enjoy seeing Philadelphia through that lens, although I could’ve dealt without the crime and corruption angle (just not my thing, and anyway, the way it all played out was a little confusing). I also wanted a bit more development out of the other characters, and I didn’t think Lexi’s marriage was explored as richly as it could have been; there was a lot to dive into there, but all of the emotion was kept at a surface level.
Overall, Pinky Swear is a unique take on a thriller with its themes of friendship and motherhood, even if it leans into the more sensational aspects of the plot rather than its emotional heart. Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the complimentary reading opportunity.
October 29, 2025
If you think you know your best friend, think again—Pinky Swear proves that some promises are meant to be broken. Pinky Swear was a thrilling blend of suspense and emotion that had me racing through the pages. The twists and intense domestic drama pulled me in right away, making it nearly impossible to put down.
This domestic thriller centered on estranged childhood friends Lexi and Mara. When Mara fled an abusive marriage and reappeared in Lexi’s life, she offered to be a surrogate for the child Lexi longed for. But just days before the baby was due, Mara disappeared, sending Lexi on a desperate search. As she hunted for her missing friend and unborn child, long-buried secrets from their shared past resurface, forcing Lexi to question how well she ever really knew Mara.
This was my first time reading Danielle Girard, and she delivered a fast-paced, emotionally charged thriller that seamlessly wove together past and present. Her taut, urgent writing captured the themes of friendship, motherhood, and betrayal, while building an atmosphere of unease that made even everyday moments feel tense and dangerous.
The strength of Pinky Swear lied within its emotional pull and suspenseful pacing. I liked how Girard explored friendship, motherhood, and buried secrets in a way that kept me invested, and the dual timelines added depth to the story. On the downside, some parts felt a little confusing with the shifts between past and present, and a few of the twists stretched believability. Still, the tension and emotional stakes made it an engaging read all together.
Overall, Pinky Swear was a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that blended suspense with heartfelt themes of friendship and motherhood. Danielle Girard’s taut writing balanced urgency with depth, pulling me into the twists and emotional stakes from start to finish. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who loves fast-paced domestic thrillers packed with secrets, drama, and plenty of surprises.
Once again, thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for an ARC in return for my review.
This domestic thriller centered on estranged childhood friends Lexi and Mara. When Mara fled an abusive marriage and reappeared in Lexi’s life, she offered to be a surrogate for the child Lexi longed for. But just days before the baby was due, Mara disappeared, sending Lexi on a desperate search. As she hunted for her missing friend and unborn child, long-buried secrets from their shared past resurface, forcing Lexi to question how well she ever really knew Mara.
This was my first time reading Danielle Girard, and she delivered a fast-paced, emotionally charged thriller that seamlessly wove together past and present. Her taut, urgent writing captured the themes of friendship, motherhood, and betrayal, while building an atmosphere of unease that made even everyday moments feel tense and dangerous.
The strength of Pinky Swear lied within its emotional pull and suspenseful pacing. I liked how Girard explored friendship, motherhood, and buried secrets in a way that kept me invested, and the dual timelines added depth to the story. On the downside, some parts felt a little confusing with the shifts between past and present, and a few of the twists stretched believability. Still, the tension and emotional stakes made it an engaging read all together.
Overall, Pinky Swear was a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that blended suspense with heartfelt themes of friendship and motherhood. Danielle Girard’s taut writing balanced urgency with depth, pulling me into the twists and emotional stakes from start to finish. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who loves fast-paced domestic thrillers packed with secrets, drama, and plenty of surprises.
Once again, thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for an ARC in return for my review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
NetGalley ARC.
Look I've been on the infertility train (took 12 years, 6 rounds of IVF, and 9 losses to get my son) but to bring someone back into your life from your teens that you don't know at all as an adult (and your youthful recollections are a bit wtf) and have them be your surrogate is big yikes. And I thought Lexi was kind of insane to spend all of Henry's money searching for Mara. She definitely lost her part-time job at the flower shop. 🤣 Also, this marriage makes no sense. This was just too over the top for me to really like. Also TW for graphic surgery not done by a doctor!
Look I've been on the infertility train (took 12 years, 6 rounds of IVF, and 9 losses to get my son) but to bring someone back into your life from your teens that you don't know at all as an adult (and your youthful recollections are a bit wtf) and have them be your surrogate is big yikes. And I thought Lexi was kind of insane to spend all of Henry's money searching for Mara. She definitely lost her part-time job at the flower shop. 🤣 Also, this marriage makes no sense. This was just too over the top for me to really like. Also TW for graphic surgery not done by a doctor!
February 23, 2026
Thanks to Atria and Simon Audio!
Synopsis: Lexi’s best friend and surrogate goes missing just days before her due date, sending Lexi on a frantic search to find her before it’s too late.
Thoughts: Pinky Swear is a fast, bingeable read that kept me on the edge of my seat! The story does start out a bit slow, but once the pacing picks up it is a wild ride. I listened to the audiobook in pretty much one sitting because I just had to know what was going to happen. I actually did guess the villain, but the twists and turns were still surprising. The audiobook narrators did a great job with the dual point of view narration!
Read this if you like:
🍼 psychological thrillers
🍼 toxic friendship
🍼 marriage in crisis
🍼 motherhood
🍼 missing person
🍼 dual timelines
🍼 dual pov
Synopsis: Lexi’s best friend and surrogate goes missing just days before her due date, sending Lexi on a frantic search to find her before it’s too late.
Thoughts: Pinky Swear is a fast, bingeable read that kept me on the edge of my seat! The story does start out a bit slow, but once the pacing picks up it is a wild ride. I listened to the audiobook in pretty much one sitting because I just had to know what was going to happen. I actually did guess the villain, but the twists and turns were still surprising. The audiobook narrators did a great job with the dual point of view narration!
Read this if you like:
🍼 psychological thrillers
🍼 toxic friendship
🍼 marriage in crisis
🍼 motherhood
🍼 missing person
🍼 dual timelines
🍼 dual pov
September 29, 2025
hi what the heck happened this entire book 👀 every chapter had me questioning everything I knew about these characters (and not in a fun way) and how the living HECK mara managed to get herself deeper into trouble…
I loved the original concept of childhood best friends lexi, mara, and cate telling their stories through journal entries, mixed with present day POV lexi in her journey to track down mara once again… and again, I really want to know what the heck these characters were thinking…
usually in thrillers, I’m all for suspending a bit of disbelief, but this one required way too much of that. everything that absolutely could have gone wrong in the girls’ childhood did, and don’t even get me started about mara’s adult life 🙄 at this point, drama was being created just for funsies
I did really love the secondary characters that lexi met on her quest to locate mara!! I would read a separate story about daemon and torrence’s adventures for sure!!
overall, a bingeable unique thriller that lost a few points to the anticlimactic ending, predictable twists, and pacing issues… thank you to atria books for the advanced copy!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: virginia sauvignon blanc
I loved the original concept of childhood best friends lexi, mara, and cate telling their stories through journal entries, mixed with present day POV lexi in her journey to track down mara once again… and again, I really want to know what the heck these characters were thinking…
usually in thrillers, I’m all for suspending a bit of disbelief, but this one required way too much of that. everything that absolutely could have gone wrong in the girls’ childhood did, and don’t even get me started about mara’s adult life 🙄 at this point, drama was being created just for funsies
I did really love the secondary characters that lexi met on her quest to locate mara!! I would read a separate story about daemon and torrence’s adventures for sure!!
overall, a bingeable unique thriller that lost a few points to the anticlimactic ending, predictable twists, and pacing issues… thank you to atria books for the advanced copy!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: virginia sauvignon blanc
January 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and author for an advanced copy of this novel!
Lexi is a prospective mom to a baby that her best friend, Mara, is carrying for her. Just days before the due date, Mara goes missing.
Throughout this book, readers experience the story through Lexi's POV and various timelines throughout her life. That was one of my biggest gripes about it. The timeline jumping back and forth felt choppy, forced, and unnecessary in parts. The timeline was very cheesy with journal entries that lacked connection we should've felt with the trio friend group.
There were some really great points made about motherhood and infertility that were just so poorly timed. It seemed like the outline was made for this book and the hints, red herrings, and possible clues were not stacked in a proper manner.
I thought the premise was very interesting and parts of the plot were good. However, similar to other reviews, I felt that the characters fell flat and the writing wasn't the greatest.
Lexi is a prospective mom to a baby that her best friend, Mara, is carrying for her. Just days before the due date, Mara goes missing.
Throughout this book, readers experience the story through Lexi's POV and various timelines throughout her life. That was one of my biggest gripes about it. The timeline jumping back and forth felt choppy, forced, and unnecessary in parts. The timeline was very cheesy with journal entries that lacked connection we should've felt with the trio friend group.
There were some really great points made about motherhood and infertility that were just so poorly timed. It seemed like the outline was made for this book and the hints, red herrings, and possible clues were not stacked in a proper manner.
I thought the premise was very interesting and parts of the plot were good. However, similar to other reviews, I felt that the characters fell flat and the writing wasn't the greatest.
February 17, 2026
Danielle Girard delivers a high stakes, emotionally charged thriller with Pinky Swear, and as a mom, this one hit me in a very real place. The premise alone is enough to send your anxiety through the roof: a woman desperate for a baby, finally pregnant via surrogate, only for that surrogate to disappear days before the due date. The fear, the urgency, the what would you do instinct—it all feels incredibly visceral. Lexi’s desperation and determination drove the story, and the emotional stakes felt just as intense as the physical danger.
The dual timeline worked well here, weaving between present day panic and flashbacks to Lexi and Mara’s teenage friendship. Those glimpses into their past added depth and tension, slowly revealing cracks in what once seemed like an unbreakable bond. It kept me engaged, constantly reassessing what I thought I knew about both women. The suspense is strong, the pacing tight, and several scenes genuinely had my adrenaline spiking.
That said, the ending veered a little too over the top for me. Without spoiling anything, some elements stretched believability, which slightly undercut the emotional realism the book had built so well. Still, this is a character driven thriller with sharp tension and compelling themes about friendship, secrets, and the fierce power of a mother’s love. I enjoyed much of the ride and would rate it 3.5 and I’ll round up to 4.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lexi is ecstatic to finally have a baby of her own when her childhood best friend agrees to be her surrogate. Mara showed up on Lexi’s doorstep just months before and later agreeing to carry her baby. Prior, Lexi and Mara had not spoke to one another since they were 18. At 18 years old, there had been 3 of them: Lexi, Mara, and Cate, before Cate passed away. Now just days before Mara’s due date, she disappears and Lexi realizes she may not have known her longtime friend at all.
Such a great premise, I was super excited to get this ARC from NetGalley. I just couldn’t help be so bewildered at how dumb the characters were. Lexi, how do you ask a friend you haven’t seen in YEARS carry your baby and not have any formal written agreement about it? How do you ditch your entire loving family because of this? As for Mara, regardless of the entire novel I do not like her and think she’s a liar regardless of what she admitted to. I thought this plot and its twists were pretty far fetched. It ultimately just annoyed me.
Such a great premise, I was super excited to get this ARC from NetGalley. I just couldn’t help be so bewildered at how dumb the characters were. Lexi, how do you ask a friend you haven’t seen in YEARS carry your baby and not have any formal written agreement about it? How do you ditch your entire loving family because of this? As for Mara, regardless of the entire novel I do not like her and think she’s a liar regardless of what she admitted to. I thought this plot and its twists were pretty far fetched. It ultimately just annoyed me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.2
Senior year, secrets, frantic…
Childhood friends Lexi and Mara haven’t seen each other for 16 years. When Mara shows up at Lexi’s house, Lexi takes her in. Unable to have her own baby, Mara agrees to be a surrogate for Lexi.
Days before the due date, Mara disappears. Lexi goes in a “Tom and Jerry” type hunt. What will Lexi discover? Will she find her in the remaining four days before the due date? Is Mara playing with her as prey?
Appearances can be deceiving with more to the situation than meets the eye. Lexi must look “beyond the surface to understand the full picture “
AVAILABLE Feb 24, 2026
THOUGHTS:
*Pretty sure I’m a first time reader of this author. My 2nd time in a traveling arc program. It’s fun, if you get the chance! I liked reading the post-it comments of the others. Thank you for including me!
*Dramatic, over-the-top ending.
*Twisty plot. Like a roller coaster ride. An all but the kitchen sink kind of plot!
*CHARACTERS - IMO:
Mara - A train wreck / Annoying
Lexi - too accepting
Maxwell - a cad
Henry - a good guy (who just doesn’t want any more kids)
* An emotional tale of female friendship, betrayal, and motherhood.
Senior year, secrets, frantic…
Childhood friends Lexi and Mara haven’t seen each other for 16 years. When Mara shows up at Lexi’s house, Lexi takes her in. Unable to have her own baby, Mara agrees to be a surrogate for Lexi.
Days before the due date, Mara disappears. Lexi goes in a “Tom and Jerry” type hunt. What will Lexi discover? Will she find her in the remaining four days before the due date? Is Mara playing with her as prey?
Appearances can be deceiving with more to the situation than meets the eye. Lexi must look “beyond the surface to understand the full picture “
AVAILABLE Feb 24, 2026
THOUGHTS:
*Pretty sure I’m a first time reader of this author. My 2nd time in a traveling arc program. It’s fun, if you get the chance! I liked reading the post-it comments of the others. Thank you for including me!
*Dramatic, over-the-top ending.
*Twisty plot. Like a roller coaster ride. An all but the kitchen sink kind of plot!
*CHARACTERS - IMO:
Mara - A train wreck / Annoying
Lexi - too accepting
Maxwell - a cad
Henry - a good guy (who just doesn’t want any more kids)
* An emotional tale of female friendship, betrayal, and motherhood.
January 27, 2026
I honestly went into this book pretty blind and I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it! From chapter one I was hooked and I couldn’t put it down until I was done. I was engaged the entire time and was invested to know how everything played out. There was so many twists that I wasn’t expecting and the ending had me tearing up. I liked the past timeline and seeing how it comes into play with the present. Lexi did frustrate me at times with her choices but I understood her reason behind it all.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes an addicting, twisty thriller that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes an addicting, twisty thriller that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
August 27, 2025
Pros: Pinky Swear was suspenseful, heartfelt, and compelling. Girard is an excellent, decisive writer.
Cons: The pacing wasn't quite right and I just wanted a bit more – more story, more character development, and more drawn-out suspense. I think this book would have benefitted from an extra 50-100 pages of fleshing out characters and conflicts.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!
Cons: The pacing wasn't quite right and I just wanted a bit more – more story, more character development, and more drawn-out suspense. I think this book would have benefitted from an extra 50-100 pages of fleshing out characters and conflicts.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!
January 20, 2026
I’ll admit this one started off a bit slow but once it got going, it was just so hard to put down.. There is obsession, dark secrets and just complicated friendships.. Overall, the twists and the turns was exactly what I needed..
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion..
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion..
October 19, 2025
Lexi’s best friend from childhood shows up on her doorstep out of the blue.. months later, said friend becomes her surrogate. A few days before the baby is due, the friend disappears.
A wild ride for sure! Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy.
A wild ride for sure! Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy.
January 26, 2026
I read this book through a traveling ARC program.
I really enjoyed the pacing and the storytelling the author provided to the reader. I do wish the characters were built out a little bit more, specifically Henry, Lexi’s step children, and all of the secondary characters in the second half of the book. There were also some unexpected twists that I really enjoyed.
I really enjoyed the pacing and the storytelling the author provided to the reader. I do wish the characters were built out a little bit more, specifically Henry, Lexi’s step children, and all of the secondary characters in the second half of the book. There were also some unexpected twists that I really enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 30, 2026
Trigger & Content Warnings
Rape
Domestic abuse mentioned
Anxiety
Infertility & pregnancy
Abortion mentioned
Knife violence
School shooting & gun violence mentioned
Missing person
Rape
Domestic abuse mentioned
Anxiety
Infertility & pregnancy
Abortion mentioned
Knife violence
School shooting & gun violence mentioned
Missing person
July 15, 2025
Friendship, motherhood, secrets, and loss anchor this engrossing and affecting novel about a woman’s desperate yearning for a child and her pursuit of the truth about a past she thought she knew. Girard mines her characters’ emotions with precision and skill, demonstrating a keen instinct for introspection. This is high-stakes storytelling delivered with heart, and one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a long time.
February 10, 2026
4 stars. This was a very enjoyable read. It had suspense, action, and the characters were well developed. Both of the main characters were pretty unlikable, but that might be why it worked!
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book, and this is my honest and unsolicited review. Since I enjoyed this book so much, I will now be going back and read more books by this author!
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book, and this is my honest and unsolicited review. Since I enjoyed this book so much, I will now be going back and read more books by this author!
February 24, 2026
Book Review 🩸🍼 #atriapartner
thank you @atriathrillers @atriabooks for the gifted copies!
Pinky Swear
by Danielle Girard
Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.
But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.
🩸 My thoughts:
Holy cow, I could not put this down. The tension is immediate and relentless, and every chapter made it impossible to stop just one more paging. I’m always drawn to stories about motherhood, no matter the genre, and this one completely delivered. It blended desperation, love, and fear in a way that had my full attention. I especially loved the dual flashbacks. Watching the layers of friendship and long buried secrets slowly unravel added so much depth to the suspense. This isn’t just a thriller about a missing surrogate, it’s a story about friendship, the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love, and how far someone will go for a child. Twisty, emotional, and packed with tension this is the kind of book you cancel your plans for. Pinky Swear is out TODAY!
Happy reading 📖🩸🍼🤫
thank you @atriathrillers @atriabooks for the gifted copies!
Pinky Swear
by Danielle Girard
Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.
But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.
🩸 My thoughts:
Holy cow, I could not put this down. The tension is immediate and relentless, and every chapter made it impossible to stop just one more paging. I’m always drawn to stories about motherhood, no matter the genre, and this one completely delivered. It blended desperation, love, and fear in a way that had my full attention. I especially loved the dual flashbacks. Watching the layers of friendship and long buried secrets slowly unravel added so much depth to the suspense. This isn’t just a thriller about a missing surrogate, it’s a story about friendship, the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love, and how far someone will go for a child. Twisty, emotional, and packed with tension this is the kind of book you cancel your plans for. Pinky Swear is out TODAY!
Happy reading 📖🩸🍼🤫
September 5, 2025
Thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for this ARC.
Friendship, trauma, and motherhood collide in this latest addition from a *master* of domestic suspense. From the first couple of chapters of Pinky Swear, I knew I was in the hands of a talented, capable, and enigmatic author, wondering what exactly she'd be serving up, curious and apprehensive at the same time as to what big feelings she'd pull out of me :). Premise: Lexi and Mara were best friends in high school, but tragedy pushed them apart. Sixteen years later, Mara reappears, fleeing an abusive husband—and agrees to be Lexi’s surrogate on the spot. Everything seems perfect until Mara disappears just days before her due date. Lexi embarks on a frantic cross-country hunt to find her & the baby.
So let me start by saying that I have a *very* high bar for emotional hooks in domestic suspense. It’s everything in this genre, at least to me. The emotional hooks in Pinky Swear were highly effective– childhood friendship, maternal desperation, past unresolved trauma. Wow. These were on point. As a result, I white-knuckled my iPad, hoping everyone would be ok especially the baby. Girard’s prose is really lovely and evocative and kept me interested. Overall, I’d highly recommend this to readers who love fast-paced domestic thrillers packed with secrets, drama, and plenty of surprises.
Friendship, trauma, and motherhood collide in this latest addition from a *master* of domestic suspense. From the first couple of chapters of Pinky Swear, I knew I was in the hands of a talented, capable, and enigmatic author, wondering what exactly she'd be serving up, curious and apprehensive at the same time as to what big feelings she'd pull out of me :). Premise: Lexi and Mara were best friends in high school, but tragedy pushed them apart. Sixteen years later, Mara reappears, fleeing an abusive husband—and agrees to be Lexi’s surrogate on the spot. Everything seems perfect until Mara disappears just days before her due date. Lexi embarks on a frantic cross-country hunt to find her & the baby.
So let me start by saying that I have a *very* high bar for emotional hooks in domestic suspense. It’s everything in this genre, at least to me. The emotional hooks in Pinky Swear were highly effective– childhood friendship, maternal desperation, past unresolved trauma. Wow. These were on point. As a result, I white-knuckled my iPad, hoping everyone would be ok especially the baby. Girard’s prose is really lovely and evocative and kept me interested. Overall, I’d highly recommend this to readers who love fast-paced domestic thrillers packed with secrets, drama, and plenty of surprises.
October 27, 2025
Pinky Swear is a very suspenseful thriller that takes us on a journey to find Mara our MC’s best friend who after 16 years of lost contact (after the tragic death of their other best friend Cate) shows up battered and seemingly broken in desperate need of help. This eventually leads to her becoming Lexi’s surrogate. They are very close friends so this is mostly a plausible leap but I feel a deeper more connected bind should have been conveyed in the book added conversations, concerns, all the things leading to such a serious commitment along with bit filling out legal paperwork even if Mara was a best friend in the past seemed unwise. In any case 4 days before birth Mara vanishes without a trace and Lexi with nothing more than a googled bus schedule and a few old receipts left behind throws herself into a cross country chase to find Mara at any cost. I loved the intuitive leaps and Lexi’s unwavering tenacity. Although I do find that there is much to the story that seems implausible especially at the end. But if you set that aside and look at it from an unwavering friend and desperate mother the story itself is riveting and at times quite touching. Despite its flaws I really enjoyed this book and I do recommend it as this is one of my favorite authors and it’s definitely still a solid story with great characters.
September 5, 2025
My review: As soon as I read it, I had so many questions. I couldn’t wait to find out why Mara would do this. Is she selling it on the black market for money? Is she hiding from Lexi because it’s not really her baby? Is she changing her mind and wanting to keep it for herself? Trust me, the questions are something you won't expect! In the middle of the chapter, it was a little slow burn, but wait until you read the end of the story. Oh my! 🤯 It got me emotional. This author got me really good!
Lexi and Mara had been best friends since middle school, but they drifted apart after senior year. Sixteen years later, Mara reappeared in Lexi's life. Fleeing her abusive husband, Mara was welcomed in by Lexi. Desperate to have a baby, Lexi was thrilled when Mara offered to become her surrogate. Their friendship became stronger than ever. However, four days before the due date, Mara vanished. Lexi was shocked, thinking Mara would never willingly leave her with their unborn child. Seeking the truth on her own, Lexi wondered: would Mara really do this to her? She thought she knew Mara very well.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria publisher, for exchanging for an honest review. E-ARC.
Lexi and Mara had been best friends since middle school, but they drifted apart after senior year. Sixteen years later, Mara reappeared in Lexi's life. Fleeing her abusive husband, Mara was welcomed in by Lexi. Desperate to have a baby, Lexi was thrilled when Mara offered to become her surrogate. Their friendship became stronger than ever. However, four days before the due date, Mara vanished. Lexi was shocked, thinking Mara would never willingly leave her with their unborn child. Seeking the truth on her own, Lexi wondered: would Mara really do this to her? She thought she knew Mara very well.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria publisher, for exchanging for an honest review. E-ARC.
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