Dear Debbie

I listened to this on audio, and this twisty psychological thriller kept me going back for more. It's a quick and easy-to-follow listen with great narration.

Debbie Mullen is an advice columnist who offers guidance to women in New England struggling with marital strife and sometimes abuse. As her life as a wife and mother to two teenage daughters spirals, Debbie takes control and seeks revenge on those who have contributed to her plight.

This was an entertaining read with many twists and turns I didn't see coming. It's clever, dark, and filled with secrets and bad choices.

Sometimes, enough is enough. . .

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction. Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie's life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie's done being the bigger person.

She's done being reasonable and practical. It's time to take her own advice.

And now it's time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

1. How did your opinion of Debbie change from the beginning of the story to the end? At what moment did you start to question her reliability?

2. Dear Debbie plays with perspective and truth. How did the structure of Dear Debbie influence what you believed - and when?

3. Were there moments where you sympathized with characters despite their questionable actions? Which choices were hardest to judge?

4. The story revolves around buried truths. Do you think the damage came more from the original actions or from the secrets themselves?

5. Who truly holds the power in this story - and does that shift over time?

6. What scene or detail unsettled you the most, even if nothing "big" was happening on the surface?

7. How does the book explore the idea of who we really are versus who we present to others?

8. Did you see the major reveals coming, or did they catch you off guard? Were there clues you noticed only in hindsight?

9. Did you find the ending satisfying? Why or why not - and what emotions did it leave you with?

10. How does Dear Debbie compare to other Freida McFadden books you've read? Does it change or reinforce what you expect from her as a thriller writer?