Release date: February 24, 2026
Publisher: Atria
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
From Danielle Girard, the USA TODAY bestselling author who “effortlessly ratchets up the tension” (J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author), comes a pulse-pounding thriller about a young woman whose surrogate disappears just days before the baby’s due date, leading to a frantic search that uncovers dark truths and the power of a mother’s love.
Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.
But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.
Lexi is shocked but certain there must be something wrong—Mara would never willingly leave with her unborn child. Or would she? As she embarks on a perilous cross-country hunt for the truth, Lexi is forced to reconsider a friendship she thought she knew—and what really happened that terrible night their senior year. How many secrets lie in their shared past, waiting to be uncovered? And just how far will Lexi go to bring her child safely home?
Review:
Danielle Girard delivers a high stakes, emotionally charged thriller with Pinky Swear, and as a mom, this one hit me in a very real place. The premise alone is enough to send your anxiety through the roof: a woman desperate for a baby, finally pregnant via surrogate, only for that surrogate to disappear days before the due date. The fear, the urgency, the what would you do instinct—it all feels incredibly visceral. Lexi’s desperation and determination drove the story, and the emotional stakes felt just as intense as the physical danger.
The dual timeline worked well here, weaving between present day panic and flashbacks to Lexi and Mara’s teenage friendship. Those glimpses into their past added depth and tension, slowly revealing cracks in what once seemed like an unbreakable bond. It kept me engaged, constantly reassessing what I thought I knew about both women. The suspense is strong, the pacing tight, and several scenes genuinely had my adrenaline spiking.
That said, the ending veered a little too over the top for me. Without spoiling anything, some elements stretched believability, which slightly undercut the emotional realism the book had built so well. Still, this is a character driven thriller with sharp tension and compelling themes about friendship, secrets, and the fierce power of a mother’s love. I enjoyed much of the ride and would rate it 3.5 and I’ll round up to 4.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 