BookTok has been pushing these five books at me for months and I finally caved. Five thrillers. Five Goodreads ratings. One unfiltered verdict on whether the hype is actually real before you commit to a 400 page read.
Watch the full haul video right here 👇
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That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally
Goodreads Rating: 4.06 out of 5 | 288,000+ ratings
A teenager wakes up on the side of a dirt road covered in blood with zero memory of who she is. A frantic man shows up claiming to be her father. But something is off. Something does not add up. And the question of whether she can trust the person standing right in front of her drives this entire story forward in a way that is completely impossible to put down.
With over 288,000 ratings on Goodreads sitting at a 4.06 this is one of the most talked about YA thrillers on BookTok right now and the hype makes complete sense. Fast paced, emotionally charged, and the kind of read that hooks you from the very first chapter. If you have been sleeping on Megan Lally this is your sign to wake up.
Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea
Goodreads Rating: 4.22 out of 5 | 42,000+ ratings
Forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore gets pulled into a decades old cold case involving five women who vanished without a trace in 1979. A mysterious woman named Angela Mitchell may have identified the killer years ago — and now someone is bringing that case back to life. Told across two timelines the story follows both Rory in the present and Angela in the past as the pieces of one of the darkest cases imaginable slowly come together.
A 4.22 on Goodreads with over 42,000 ratings tells you everything you need to know. Charlie Donlea was completely off my radar before this and now I am paying full attention. Dark, gripping, and the kind of thriller that makes you feel genuinely unsettled by the time you reach the end.
The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden
Goodreads Rating: 4.06 out of 5 | 245,000+ ratings
If you know Freida McFadden you already know this one is going to deliver. A caregiver named Sylvia moves into an isolated house to look after a man’s wife Victoria who was left severely injured after a mysterious accident. Victoria cannot speak but she has a diary and what Sylvia finds inside it begins to unravel everything she thought she understood about the man she is falling for and the woman upstairs she is supposed to be helping.
Over 245,000 Goodreads ratings at a 4.06 for a reason. This is Freida doing what Freida does best, suffocating atmosphere, dual perspectives, and a twist that reframes the whole story. Perfect for anyone who loved Ward D or The Divorce and wants more from the same author.
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum
Goodreads Rating: 4.03 out of 5 | 48,000+ ratings
This one is genuinely hard to categorize and that is exactly what makes it so interesting. Described as what happens when Lisa Jewell and Emily Henry write a book together it blends psychological thriller with a love story in a way that should not work as well as it does. True crime podcast hosts, an unexpected connection, and a mystery that keeps you guessing while the emotional core of the story keeps you invested in the characters beyond just the plot.
A 4.03 on Goodreads with nearly 50,000 ratings and BookTok has been absolutely obsessed with this debut. If you want something that breaks the typical thriller mold without losing the tension this one belongs on your list.
The Last Seat by Jenifer Ruff
Brand New 2026 Release
The newest release on the list and one I am watching closely. ER nurse Haley James saves a stranger’s life on a train and the moment is captured on video and goes viral overnight. Suddenly she is the center of a national media frenzy and reporters start digging into everything she has been hiding. Secrets about her failing marriage. A devastating revelation from her mother. And a charming lawyer who seems too good to be true.
Described as perfect for fans of Freida McFadden and Mary Kubica this is a brand new 2026 release from USA Today bestselling author Jenifer Ruff and it is already making waves. The premise alone had me adding it to the TBR immediately.
Watch the Full Haul
Want to see all five books up close and hear my full first impressions? The complete haul video is live on YouTube right now 👇
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Your next favorite thriller is already on this list. 📚🖤
Which one of these five would you read first? Drop it in the comments and if you have already read any of them tell me if they lived up to the BookTok hype!
