Cassie thinks she has met the perfect man.
Joel is sweet, handsome, romantic, and best of all, he’s crazy about Cassie. She thinks she’s found the guy she’ll spend the rest of her life with. Have children with. Grow old with.
Yes, she knows about his perfect ex-girlfriend, Francesca. The beautiful, brilliant chef, beloved by all his friends. But she thinks Francesca is out of the picture. She thinks Francesca is gone for good.
Think again, Cassie.
Please note that this is an updated and revised edition of The Ex with new dual narration.
I’ve read several of Freida McFadden’s books, and even when one doesn’t entirely work for me, there’s almost always a twist that surprises me—and The Ex is no exception. I was drawn to this audiobook because it’s re-recorded by two of my favourite narrators, Patricia Santomasso and Brittany Pressley, so I had to listen. The new dual narration works really well because the story has two complex FMCs through alternating chapters labelled “The Ex” and “The New Girl.” The writing, like McFadden’s other books, is very straightforward and easy to binge in a day, especially if you love slow-burn domestic thrillers where the FMC becomes increasingly unhinged!
The story is told from the first-person POVs of both “The Ex” and “The New Girl,” Cassie, and it opens with a dramatic prologue as the Ex meets her longtime live-in boyfriend Joel for dinner because he has something important to tell her. She’s expecting a long-awaited marriage proposal, but Joel ends their relationship and walks out on her. From there, we jump to Cassie’s POV at her used bookstore that she inherited, where Joel comes in and ends up asking her on a date. Meanwhile, the Ex realizes she still has a tracking app on her phone that shows her where Joel is, and her lingering feelings and obsessive thoughts lead her to start following him—and eventually she sees him in a new relationship with Cassie.
Without giving anything away, the first half of the story is VERY slow-burn suspense as the Ex, who’s forced to move in with her feisty Italian grandmother, goes back and forth between wanting to follow Joel and trying to manipulate his relationship with Cassie. Watching her make increasingly poor decisions was entertaining but also frustrating, as there were moments when I wanted to yell at her to STOP and move on already! She’s very unlikeable at times, but also has some redeeming qualities that had me wondering if she’d stop all the nonsense. And her Italian Nonna was such a highlight! She’s outspoken, feisty, and not afraid to tell her exactly what she thinks.
Through Cassie’s POV, we learn she’s hiding secrets of her own—not just from Joel but from her best friend/coworker Zoe—and you have to wait until late in the story for her secrets to come out. This is definitely more of a domestic drama-type thriller, with lots of inner monologues and slowly escalating stakes. I did find some scenes repetitive, particularly in the first half, with some of the Ex’s antics and Cassie’s recurring anxieties as she’s uncertain about her relationship with Joel.
I recommend paying close attention to the dialogue and behaviour of the suspicious side characters, especially the women surrounding Joel. There are small details that may seem insignificant but become much more interesting once you start putting the pieces together. It’s definitely one where you’ll find yourself questioning which characters you can trust.
The chapters are very short, and the writing is very straightforward—sometimes even a little basic. The story picks up in the second half, beginning with a major twist that I didn’t see coming, although I probably should have, followed by more twists toward the end, including one in the epilogue that is VERY Freida! The twists increased my enjoyment of this book and bumped my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars.
Overall, The Ex probably wasn’t one of Freida McFadden’s best thrillers for me, but it’s still an easy, binge-worthy listen that kept me entertained and gave me what I was hoping for from a Freida book: twists I didn’t see coming! If you’ve enjoyed McFadden’s other books, I HIGHLY recommend this new audio recording! Patricia Santomasso and Brittany Pressley are both excellent in this book, and their contrasting performances bring the Ex and Cassie to life and kept me engaged, even through the repetitive and slower sections. A perfect one for a casual weekend or vacation read!
Narrator Performance
This re-recorded version of The Ex is narrated by award-winning narrators Patricia Santomasso and Brittany Pressley.
Santomasso immediately pulled me into the opening prologue, portraying the Ex with a bright, excited voice as she sits down for dinner with her longtime boyfriend Joel, convinced he’s going to ask her to marry him. You can hear how hopeful and emotionally invested she is, but when Joel announces they’re not right for each other and bolts, Santomasso captures the Ex’s shock, confusion, and desperation perfectly. When the Ex discovers that she still has a tracking app showing Joel’s location, Santomasso gradually shifts her performance from simple curiosity to obsession. Her inner monologues are really well narrated, as you can hear her trying to justify her increasingly questionable behavior while simultaneously questioning what the heck she’s doing. That back and forth made her somewhat relatable (in the first half), and I refrained from completely disliking her too fast.
One of the highlights of Santomasso’s performance is her portrayal of the Ex’s Italian Nonna, who she’s forced to move in with. She gives her an authentic Italian elderly accent and portrays her as a feisty, levelheaded woman who isn’t afraid to call the Ex out and try to talk sense into her. Their exchanges were some of my favorite scenes because their dynamic was so entertaining. Santomasso also does a great job with the Ex’s interactions with potential new love interest Dean, making the chemistry between them palpable. I became increasingly frustrated as the Ex got pulled back into her plans involving Joel despite having another guy right in front of her, and Santomasso’s dialogue delivery makes her increasingly unhinged thinking very entertaining. Later scenes between the Ex and Joel are particularly well done, as you can hear the disgust and exhaustion in his voice. The final chapter delivers one last twist, and Santomasso narrates it with the perfect sly, manipulative tone to end on a very entertaining note.
Pressley gives Cassie a younger, uncertain voice that fits her character perfectly. Cassie is in her mid-twenties, running a struggling used bookstore she inherited, and you can hear the character’s financial pressure and anxiety in a lot of her inner dialogue. You can also hear Cassie trying to convince herself that everything’s going to work out while also questioning her relationship with Joel. Pressley also does a great job narrating Cassie’s conversations with Zoe, especially early in the story. Their friendship has a fun, natural back-and-forth, and you can hear how protective Zoe is of Cassie and how much she wants her friend to move her life forward.
As Cassie’s relationship with Joel develops, Pressley’s delivery makes it clear that Joel’s more invested in the relationship than Cassie is. The scenes between Cassie and Joel’s friends are also a lot of fun, especially her interactions with Lydia, where there’s an obvious tension. Pressley captures Cassie’s discomfort and makes Lydia’s manipulative and increasingly unstable personality come through.
By the end of the story, Pressley does a great job with Cassie’s character arc. You can hear the difference in her confidence and the way she processes everything that’s happened to her, and her growth feels convincing.
If you enjoy Freida McFadden’s other books or have The Ex on your list, I highly recommend this re-recorded version of the audiobook. The story itself is quite slow-burn and wasn’t one of McFadden’s strongest thrillers (for me), but Santomasso and Pressley deliver convincing, entertaining character portrayals and narrate the twists with lots of drama and shock value. This is a great option for an easy and entertaining weekend binge listen!
Narrator Performance
This re-recorded version of The Ex is narrated by award-winning narrators Patricia Santomasso and Brittany Pressley.
Santomasso immediately pulled me into the opening prologue, portraying the Ex with a bright, excited voice as she sits down for dinner with her longtime boyfriend Joel, convinced he’s going to ask her to marry him. You can hear how hopeful and emotionally invested she is, but when Joel announces they’re not right for each other and bolts, Santomasso captures the Ex’s shock, confusion, and desperation perfectly. When the Ex discovers that she still has a tracking app showing Joel’s location, Santomasso gradually shifts her performance from simple curiosity to obsession. Her inner monologues are really well narrated, as you can hear her trying to justify her increasingly questionable behavior while simultaneously questioning what the heck she’s doing. That back and forth made her somewhat relatable (in the first half), and I refrained from completely disliking her too fast.
One of the highlights of Santomasso’s performance is her portrayal of the Ex’s Italian Nonna, who she’s forced to move in with. She gives her an authentic Italian elderly accent and portrays her as a feisty, levelheaded woman who isn’t afraid to call the Ex out and try to talk sense into her. Their exchanges were some of my favorite scenes because their dynamic was so entertaining. Santomasso also does a great job with the Ex’s interactions with potential new love interest Dean, making the chemistry between them palpable. I became increasingly frustrated as the Ex got pulled back into her plans involving Joel despite having another guy right in front of her, and Santomasso’s dialogue delivery makes her increasingly unhinged thinking very entertaining. Later scenes between the Ex and Joel are particularly well done, as you can hear the disgust and exhaustion in his voice. The final chapter delivers one last twist, and Santomasso narrates it with the perfect sly, manipulative tone to end on a very entertaining note.
Pressley gives Cassie a younger, uncertain voice that fits her character perfectly. Cassie is in her mid-twenties, running a struggling used bookstore she inherited, and you can hear the character’s financial pressure and anxiety in a lot of her inner dialogue. You can also hear Cassie trying to convince herself that everything’s going to work out while also questioning her relationship with Joel. Pressley also does a great job narrating Cassie’s conversations with Zoe, especially early in the story. Their friendship has a fun, natural back-and-forth, and you can hear how protective Zoe is of Cassie and how much she wants her friend to move her life forward.
As Cassie’s relationship with Joel develops, Pressley’s delivery makes it clear that Joel’s more invested in the relationship than Cassie is. The scenes between Cassie and Joel’s friends are also a lot of fun, especially her interactions with Lydia, where there’s an obvious tension. Pressley captures Cassie’s discomfort and makes Lydia’s manipulative and increasingly unstable personality come through.
By the end of the story, Pressley does a great job with Cassie’s character arc. You can hear the difference in her confidence and the way she processes everything that’s happened to her, and her growth feels convincing.
If you enjoy Freida McFadden’s other books or have The Ex on your list, I highly recommend this re-recorded version of the audiobook. The story itself is quite slow-burn and wasn’t one of McFadden’s strongest thrillers (for me), but Santomasso and Pressley deliver convincing, entertaining character portrayals and narrate the twists with lots of drama and shock value. This is a great option for an easy and entertaining weekend binge listen!
This re-recorded version of The Ex is narrated by award-winning narrators Patricia Santomasso and Brittany Pressley.
Santomasso immediately pulled me into the opening prologue, portraying the Ex with a bright, excited voice as she sits down for dinner with her longtime boyfriend Joel, convinced he’s going to ask her to marry him. You can hear how hopeful and emotionally invested she is, but when Joel announces they’re not right for each other and bolts, Santomasso captures the Ex’s shock, confusion, and desperation perfectly. When the Ex discovers that she still has a tracking app showing Joel’s location, Santomasso gradually shifts her performance from simple curiosity to obsession. Her inner monologues are really well narrated, as you can hear her trying to justify her increasingly questionable behavior while simultaneously questioning what the heck she’s doing. That back and forth made her somewhat relatable (in the first half), and I refrained from completely disliking her too fast.
One of the highlights of Santomasso’s performance is her portrayal of the Ex’s Italian Nonna, who she’s forced to move in with. She gives her an authentic Italian elderly accent and portrays her as a feisty, levelheaded woman who isn’t afraid to call the Ex out and try to talk sense into her. Their exchanges were some of my favorite scenes because their dynamic was so entertaining. Santomasso also does a great job with the Ex’s interactions with potential new love interest Dean, making the chemistry between them palpable. I became increasingly frustrated as the Ex got pulled back into her plans involving Joel despite having another guy right in front of her, and Santomasso’s dialogue delivery makes her increasingly unhinged thinking very entertaining. Later scenes between the Ex and Joel are particularly well done, as you can hear the disgust and exhaustion in his voice. The final chapter delivers one last twist, and Santomasso narrates it with the perfect sly, manipulative tone to end on a very entertaining note.
Pressley gives Cassie a younger, uncertain voice that fits her character perfectly. Cassie is in her mid-twenties, running a struggling used bookstore she inherited, and you can hear the character’s financial pressure and anxiety in a lot of her inner dialogue. You can also hear Cassie trying to convince herself that everything’s going to work out while also questioning her relationship with Joel. Pressley also does a great job narrating Cassie’s conversations with Zoe, especially early in the story. Their friendship has a fun, natural back-and-forth, and you can hear how protective Zoe is of Cassie and how much she wants her friend to move her life forward.
As Cassie’s relationship with Joel develops, Pressley’s delivery makes it clear that Joel’s more invested in the relationship than Cassie is. The scenes between Cassie and Joel’s friends are also a lot of fun, especially her interactions with Lydia, where there’s an obvious tension. Pressley captures Cassie’s discomfort and makes Lydia’s manipulative and increasingly unstable personality come through.
By the end of the story, Pressley does a great job with Cassie’s character arc. You can hear the difference in her confidence and the way she processes everything that’s happened to her, and her growth feels convincing.
If you enjoy Freida McFadden’s other books or have The Ex on your list, I highly recommend this re-recorded version of the audiobook. The story itself is quite slow-burn and wasn’t one of McFadden’s strongest thrillers (for me), but Santomasso and Pressley deliver convincing, entertaining character portrayals and narrate the twists with lots of drama and shock value. This is a great option for an easy and entertaining weekend binge listen!
