This story was wonderfully messy, reminiscent of best Freida McFadden chaos. I was initially wary of the mean girl vibes, but it all clicked in the end. And the Edgar Allan Poe tie-in – pure perfection.! The ending was classic Freida McFadden bringing everything full circle in an unexpected way. Easily ranks in my Top 3 FM books alongside Never Lie and The Housemaid. While some may find the relationship dynamics challenging, it was a definite win for me! A male POV was also a refreshing change!

2.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Massachusetts
Publication date ~ February 6, 2024
Est page Count ~ 402 (p+ 80 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 35 minutes
Narrators ~ Leslie Howard, Danny Montooth
POV ~ dual 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ 3 part story, bullying, stalking, infidelity, manipulation, grooming, shoe fanaticness

*There is plenty of high praise for this one, so my review will have little effect on the overall rating for this super popular author. I'm here to be honest with my thoughts, so here is goes with possible spoilers*

That's quite a gripping prologue!

30 year old Eve is a Math teacher married to 38 year old Nate, the English teacher.
16 year old Addie is in both of their classes. One teacher can't stand her and the other likes her a little too much. Can you guess which is which?

Might I have liked this one a bit more if I wasn't a mother to a 16 year old girl right now? It's not like I have anything to worry about, and I know things like this probably really do happen more often than we know, but this is very inappropriate behavior. Although it still would not have been ethical, making the teenager 18 would have been slightly better. Out of curiosity I looked up the age of consent and in 31 states it's 16 in case you were wondering.

Regarding the bullying ~ I can see why Addie felt like she had to take it and couldn't stand up for herself. It's tough being a teenage girl and add in rumors from a scandal the previous year and it's even harder. So when someone shows a little interest in you it's easy to fall under their spell. I can also see why Kenzie was dishing it out because she was hurting too. If I wasn't already disgusted by how old Addie was it's way worse when we find out Kenzie's age. The manipulation and grooming is really sickening.

Look there is no doubt this author knows how to give us a shocking twist, but this one is very much 'what's good for the goose is good for gander' and I just couldn't believe it. There's a crazy plot hole at the end with the car rides, too, but I won't give anything away with that.

So, I'll just chill over here in outlier land, which is perfectly fine because I enjoy hanging out with my delightful self. Anyway, if I do read this author again I am going to make absolutely sure every character is over 18, maybe even 21 for good measure. I mean I don't even want a couple with a baby just in case.

Narration notes:
Leslie did an outstanding job for both female characters. She gave them both a voice and Addie sounded properly aged. Her emotions were on point. Danny doesn't have as many chapters, but he did a fine job too.

Freida McFadden is the queen of twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out, wham! She hits you with another one. I've read every single novel by this author, and this one takes the cake. My favourite one yet!

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, and it was so well done. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the story to life! I didn't want it to end. Thank you so much to the author for continuing to write such interesting psychological thrillers!

A truly fast paced Freida special. Set in the halls of a high school where both our main characters teach, scandals unfold. As expected, and in true Frieda fashion, there are several twists at the end.

Leslie Howard does an excellent job narrating this story. The narration had two different voice actors that made the story come to life. Chapter transitions were smooth. I found the speed to be a tad slow at 1.0x but perfect at 1.25x.

Fun, fast, enjoyable and exactly what I expect from Freida!

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Teacher is a fun popcorn thriller about a teacher in a battle with a troubled student. The characters are hilariously unhinged and the plot is full of twists and turns. Freida McFadden can always be depended on to deliver an entertaining thriller you can’t stop reading.

Overall, this audiobook is the perfect way to be shocked and appalled while doing your daily chores.

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Dreamscape Select, Hollywood Upstairs Press for this advance copy in exchange for my review.

I really liked the premise of this story and for the most part I enjoyed it. I did see the one twist coming when the poem was read in the cafeteria but I didn’t care when that came to fruition. I think if the book stopped with that twist it would have been enough.

Potential spoiler: The final twist was unnecessary. It felt like a twist was thrown in just for the sake of twistiness. You’re telling me a grown woman thought a 17 year old child was full grown with a wife and baby? COME ON. I don’t need my books to be realistic what so ever, but that’s a reach even Inspector Gadget couldn’t get to with his go-go gadget arms.

🎧📖 note: Leslie Howard & Danny Montooth did a great job narrating this story.

I listened to this audiobook in one day. The narrator was so captivating that I honestly could not stop listening. I found the plot disturbing because parts of the plot could be seen happening in real life with student/teacher relationships. I was mostly happy with how the story wrapped up for characters but felt like I could have use one or two chapters more with the wrap up. Believe it or not, this was the first book I've read by Freida McFadden but I'm off to read everything else now! Great audiobook!

It took me a second to settle in and realize which characters were which but once I got going I binged this one, I didn’t want to stop listening.

I enjoyed the pacing and learning about all of the characters. They were a mess…like this book was soooooo messy.

It’s got characters you’ll want to shake sense into.

I was totally invested. This is at the top of my pyramid of Freida Favs.

Were there a couple things that I was like wait, hold up that could’ve been more cohesive or been more fluid…tightened up, yeah but we are talking a story about HS kids, teachers and miserable marriages so I mean, it’s gonna be messy. I’m not mad about it though because I thoroughly enjoyed it and for that reason I’m giving this The Teacher all of the stars.

If you liked this book, you’ll probably enjoy Cruel Summer (season 1) too and vice versa if you enjoyed that show. Similar vibes but I think this is twistier.

Please check triggers. Sexual abuse and grooming.

I definitely recommend listening to this one as opposed to reading it. The audio narration was perfect. So I’m glad I chose that format.

Wish I could give it more than 5 stars. I could not put this book down! I didn’t want it to end but the revenge was so sweet! Thanks NetGallery!

Thought I’d give this author another try after not liking a backlist book. These books are popcorn thrillers and that’s really not my thing. I just found the narrator over the top, the story totally unbelievable and the overall story cringe.

The Gasppp I GUSPPPPED!
I CANT EVEN! AHHHHHHHHHH!
Five Stars! I Highly recommend this book!
One more scream. AHHHHHHH! 😲💀

I finished this book 4 hours ago and I'm still in shock!
I've explained the entire book and all of the twists to my husband and he even said oooo sounds like a good story!
thats a good reaction coming from him!

Thanks to NetGalley & Hollywood Upstairs Press for the advanced copy of this book!

*Publisher's summary*
Lesson #1: Trust no one.
Eve has a good life. She wakes up each day, kisses her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except…
Last year, Caseham High was rocked by a scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with one student, Addie, at its center. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumors than meets the eye.
Addie can’t be trusted. She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives. At least, that’s what everyone says.
But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And Addie will do anything to keep it quiet…

The Teacher
By: Freida McFadden
Narrated by: Leslie Howard, Danny Montooth
Publisher: Hollywood Upstairs Press
Release date: 02-06-24

Eve is a normal woman, married to Nate and employed at the local highschool as a math teacher. But this year she has Addie in her class. Addie, who has a reputation for lying and having a scandelous student-teacher affair. Eve knows there is more to the rumors that have spread throughout the school, but only Addie knows the truth to the secrets she holds dear, and she will do anything to protect them. OMG! Every Frieda book becomes my new favorite, and The Teacher is no exception! I love Frieda's writing style. She puts me right into the mind of the main characters and makes.you feel every emotion. The narration of this book was absolutely brilliant and pulled me right into the story. Twist after twist, The Teacher is guaranteed to score an A+ with readers and listeners alike. Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape for the opportunity to review this ARC audiobook. Five stars!

I wanted to like The Teacher and it started off with promise. An anonymous person is burying a body! From there we back up a bit and have the perspective of Eve a high school math teacher and Addie a sophomore student. Chapters alternate between the two.

That’s about all I’ll say other than I simply cannot like a story about a child and an adult having a sexual relationship. Teachers grooming students is an all too real and pervasive problem.

I wish I had known that this was a primary focus of the novel because I would have steered clear. I love The Housemaid series but this one just wasn’t for me. The narrators however, were excellent, and I will look for Leslie Howard and Danny Montooth again when choosing an audio book.

Thank you Freida McFadden, Dreamscape Select, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for gifted audio copy. All opinions are my own.

Eve and Nate have an enviable life. Teaching at the same elementary school, the pair gets to carpool to school, enjoy the same hours and school holidays, and generally enjoy the DINK lifestyle..... that is until Addie comes into their lives. Addie, a young student, is fresh off a scandal involving her relationship with another teacher; one that resulted in the teacher being fired and Addie becoming an outcast. Assigned to both their classes, Addie quickly develops a preference for Nate, and Eve sees the writing on the wall..... but Eve has issues of her own. Alternating perspectives between all three involved, this is another super quick read with a great narrator and a classic Freida twist you won't see coming.

I absolutely loved this one. Somehow, while all of the characters were flawed (and to be honest, not so likable), the story still moves quickly and keeps you interested. I blew through most of the book in a day, as I usually do with Frieda McFadden books. I absolutely love Freida McFadden's books because I always think I have the twist figured out. Every time. Even though I know she's famous for her twists. This time, though, I held it in check. I thought I knew where the book was going, but assumed I was wrong. Then I hit the end of the book, storylines were wrapped up and things had settled, and I thought "Yes! I finally got one right! I finally figured Freida out!". I was celebrating as I walked the woods with my dogs listening as the last bits of the story played out....... and then she got me again. I don't know how Freida McFadden creates these amazing twists, but I can't get enough of them. Anyone who is not reading her obsessively at this point is missing out!

It was such a fun read (or audiobook actually) and I binged it within 24 hours!

Freida always gets me hooked with her writing, the prologue was so captivating and the first sentence grabbed me IMMEDIATELY (idk how she does this every single time!!?)

What I loved about this book:
• High school setting
• Dual POV (teacher x student)
• Short chapters
• Fast paced
• I thought i guessed everything BUT NOPE

It wasn’t the best Freida book in my opinion, but I truly enjoyed every second of it. I just couldn’t stop reading and I would forever recommend Freida McFadden to every reader.

Oh wow I loved this audiobook! I literally flew through it because I couldn’t stop listening! It was great!

4.5 stars rounded up! This is my 4th read by this author and it’s my favorite one yet! I was hooked from the first page and the twists just kept coming. I was blown away actually after act - and that epilogue.. you did it again Freida!

Thank you to Net Galley, Poisoned Pen Press and Sourcebooks, for providing an early copy of The Teacher by Frieda McFadden.

Husband and wife, Nate and Eve Bennett, both teachers at Caseham High School.. On the outside they have a happy marriage but as you’ll quickly learn Eve hates her husband.

Adeline (Addie) Severson, a 16 year old student who has both Nate and Eve as teachers during the school year. Eve, being a very strict teacher and Nate more laid back, Addie seems to find herself being attracted to Nate, especially with his love of poetry and Edgar Allan Poe. Addie follows Nate's encouragement and joins a poetry club at school called Reflections where he continues to lay on the compliments. Addie already got one teacher to resign because of her.. is Nate next?

Throughout this book, I absolutely love Eve and Addie's POV and having their own chapters! But as I read further, I grew to despise Nate. There was something about his character that irritated me. As I got Part 2 of the book, it got worse. Until I figured out what my guy was telling me!

This is the most polarizing Frieda McFadden book I have read so far (I have only read 5 of her books yet). I can see many people disliking it for the same reasons I loved it.

Some of the things that happens in this book are far-fetched and you have to suspend your disbelief which I usually dislike, but not in the teacher. I liked how the multiple twists were previously laid out, I was able to predict the whole book until the last twist which was so unhinged that I kinda liked it. Only Frieda McFadden can make me like reading such despicable characters and actually be invested in what happens to them.

The main thing I disliked about this book was that the first 60% of the book wasn’t very thrilling, and I wasn’t as invested as I usually am by that point in a thriller book. But after that it did pick up and I did enjoy the last 40% a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select and Freida McFadden for an audio arc of The Teacher in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVE Freida McFadden and will read anything she ever writes. I haven't met a book by her that I didn't love.........until now.

It PAINS me to give this book a generous 3-Star review, but this one just fell short for me. McFadden has done & can do much better. I will chalk this one up as a fluke and anxiously await her next one.

Eve & Nate, husband & wife, seem to have a great life and both work as teachers at Caseham High - Eve in Math and Nate in English/Literature. But then we learn that their relationship is a bit odd. They only kiss an exact amount of time in an exact way each day and they only have sexual relations on a designated day. It's odd.

The other main character in this story is Addie, who is somewhat of a pariah at school because a well-loved teacher was let go from school the previous year because of inappropriate behavior with a student (Addie). Everyone, including the reader has jumped to conclusions about what that means. Even Eve, who has Addie in her math class, can't stand her. But, is Addie being unfairly targeted? Is she really as bad as everyone says?

This story is told in alternative POVs by Eve and Addie and explores the inappropriateness of student-teacher relationships, even seemingly innocent ones.

I can't put my finger on exactly why I didn't like this story. It just felt rushed and underdeveloped. It also didn't have McFadden's usual twist and "can't figure it out" ending.

It was just "blah."

This started out like the Frieda books I know and love. I had high hopes. To avoid giving away spoilers, I'm going to keep this very surface level. I found this content to be more repulsive than entertaining, and I wish I could give more detailed examples and dive into this further. I know this is a thriller, it's fiction, and Frieda McFadden is known for her shock value... But this was was unfortunately not my favorite.