Renowned as the queen of deliciously dark suspense, Freida McFadden is the pen name of Sara Cohen, a bestselling author and still-practicing physician born in New York City in 1980. Raised in Manhattan, Cohen studied mathematics at Harvard before earning her medical degree from Stony Brook University and specializing in brain injuries — a background that would inform the clinical authenticity and psychological tension that define her fiction.
McFadden began self-publishing in 2013 with The Devil Wears Scrubs, a humorous novel inspired by her experiences as a medical resident. After a decade of quietly building a catalogue of bingeable domestic thrillers, her breakthrough came with 2022’s The Housemaid, a Booktok hit and international bestseller that was adapted into a Paul Feig film starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. Known for her breakneck pacing, unreliable narrators, and twists that pull the rug out from under readers, she has since become one of the biggest names in contemporary suspense.
But what does a master of pulpy page-turners reach for when she’s reading for pleasure? In a Page Six interview celebrating the 2026 release of Dear Debbie, McFadden shared six favorite books that showcase her eclectic tastes. From the romantic comedy Remember Me? to Daphne du Maurier’s masterpiece of gothic fiction and Michael Crichton’s sci-fi classic, check out her recommendations below, and explore the bookshelves of other acclaimed authors here.
Freida McFadden’s Reading List
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
“While I’m a thriller author, I’m also a romantic at heart. Nobody does a romantic comedy like the great Sophie Kinsella, and this particular one made me both laugh and cry. On a personal note, her final autobiographical novella inspired me to step out of my comfort zone, and I’ll be forever grateful to this incredible woman.” -FM
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (also rec’d by Emma Watson)
“Rebecca is a haunting masterpiece that is the mother of every gothic thriller. Mandalay lingers in the back of my mind every time I read about an isolated mansion full of dark secrets.” -FM
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (also rec’d by Neil Patrick Harris & Samantha Irby)
“I believe this book reinvented the modern domestic thriller. Even more than a decade after reading it, Gone Girl still lives rent-free in the back of my head.” -FM
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (also rec’d by Richard Branson)
“I’ve never read a book that was so much like taking a ride in an amusement park. Jurassic Park has an incredible scientific premise, executed perfectly, and it’s easy to see why this book spawned a franchise. And I admit it — it’s also one of my favorite movies!” -FM
Scandalous Women by Gill Paul
“As a female author who attempts to create crowd-pleasing, fun books, this novel felt like a must-read. Scandalous Women is a fictionalized historical novel about Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann that is equal parts heartwarming and empowering.” -FM
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
“As a physician specializing in brain-related disorders, I found Still Alice to be a masterfully done account of a woman coming to terms with an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Lisa Genova is a neuroscientist herself whose books are all so authentic and heartfelt.” -FM
(via Page Six; photo by Kieran Kesner)
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