The Gift by Freida McFadden - Book Review
Release: May 12, 2022
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Hollywood Upstairs Publishing
Source: Amazon
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: It’s Christmas Eve and Stella Hansen is broke.
She is so broke that despite working two jobs, she can’t even afford a present for her husband on their first Christmas as man and wife. But then a mysterious storekeeper at a pawn shop offers Stella an intriguing trade.
Stella wants more than anything to buy her husband the Christmas gift of his dreams. But will it come at a terrible price?
The Gift is a gripping Christmas-themed thriller inspired by the classic O. Henry tale, The Gift of the Magi.
Goodreads
Amazon
About the Author Freida McFadden: #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels.
She lives with her family and possessed 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.
Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!
Quick Thriller with a Decent Twist
Freida McFadden delivers a compact psychological thriller that entertains in the moment but fades quickly from memory. At just six chapters, "The Gift" works as a breezy palate cleanser between longer reads.
What Works:
The novella format keeps things moving, perfect for readers craving a quick fix. McFadden lands a nice twist in the final pages that recontextualizes earlier events satisfyingly. Stella generates genuine sympathy, particularly regarding her hair-related struggles; McFadden captures that specific vulnerability with emotional precision. The core concept that explores how far someone will sacrifice for loved ones also holds inherent intrigue.
What Falls Short:
"Nice" twist aside, nothing here truly wows. The thriller landscape overflows with other novellas that deliver genuine shock; "The Gift" settles for competent rather than extraordinary. McFadden's prose also grows repetitive. Stella's financial desperation gets hammered home so constantly it feels like page-filler rather than meaningful characterization. For a work already slim, that redundancy stands out.
Moreover, the abbreviated length undercuts emotional investment too. The sacrifice theme demands deeper exploration to resonate fully; six chapters simply don't provide space to root for characters or feel the weight of their choices. Other authors have packed more devastating impact into similarly tight word counts.
Verdict:
"The Gift" isn't bad, it's perfectly okay. McFadden's twist rewards attention, and Stella's plight evokes empathy. Yet the execution feels routine, the repetition grates, and the brevity prevents full immersion. Fine for a commute or lunch break, but don't expect the lingering impact of McFadden's stronger works or competitors' standout novellas.
Perfect for: Freida McFadden completists, readers seeking quick psychological thrillers, and those who enjoy sacrifice-driven premises.
If you enjoyed this, check out my review of Master of Murder by Christopher Pike.
The Gift
by Freida McFadden
Synopsis
"It’s Christmas Eve and Stella Hansen is broke.
She is so broke that despite working two jobs, she can’t even afford a present for her husband on their first Christmas as man and wife. But then a mysterious storekeeper at a pawn shop offers Stella an intriguing trade.
Stella wants more than anything to buy her husband the Christmas gift of his dreams. But will it come at a terrible price?
The Gift is a gripping Christmas-themed thriller inspired by the classic O. Henry tale, The Gift of the Magi."
Release
May 12, 2022
Format
Kindle
Publisher
Hollywood Upstairs Publishing
Source
Amazon
About the Author
Freida McFadden
#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels.
She lives with her family and possessed 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.
Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!
My Review
Quick Thriller with a Decent Twist
Freida McFadden delivers a compact psychological thriller that entertains in the moment but fades quickly from memory. At just six chapters, “The Gift” works as a breezy palate cleanser between longer reads.
What Works:
The novella format keeps things moving, perfect for readers craving a quick fix. McFadden lands a nice twist in the final pages that recontextualizes earlier events satisfyingly. Stella generates genuine sympathy, particularly regarding her hair-related struggles; McFadden captures that specific vulnerability with emotional precision. The core concept that explores how far someone will sacrifice for loved ones also holds inherent intrigue.
What Falls Short:
“Nice” twist aside, nothing here truly wows. The thriller landscape overflows with other novellas that deliver genuine shock; “The Gift” settles for competent rather than extraordinary. McFadden’s prose also grows repetitive. Stella’s financial desperation gets hammered home so constantly it feels like page-filler rather than meaningful characterization. For a work already slim, that redundancy stands out.
Moreover, the abbreviated length undercuts emotional investment too. The sacrifice theme demands deeper exploration to resonate fully; six chapters simply don’t provide space to root for characters or feel the weight of their choices. Other authors have packed more devastating impact into similarly tight word counts.
Verdict:
“The Gift” isn’t bad, it’s perfectly okay. McFadden’s twist rewards attention, and Stella’s plight evokes empathy. Yet the execution feels routine, the repetition grates, and the brevity prevents full immersion. Fine for a commute or lunch break, but don’t expect the lingering impact of McFadden’s stronger works or competitors’ standout novellas.
Perfect for: Freida McFadden completists, readers seeking quick psychological thrillers, and those who enjoy sacrifice-driven premises.
If you enjoyed this, check out my review of Master of Murder by Christopher Pike.
