Pinky Swear
- Judith D Collins
- Mar 8
- 5 min read
By: Danielle Girard
Narrators: Amanda Dolan, Rebekkah Ross Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 9781668096529
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: 02/24/2026
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC)
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?
My Review
"A high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat domestic thriller about betrayal and the dark side of friendship."
Danielle Girard's PINKY SWEAR is a pulse-pounding domestic thriller featuring Lexi, a woman whose lifelong dream of motherhood is finally within reach through her surrogate, Mara Vannatta. Mara and Lexi were inseparable in middle school but drifted apart following a traumatic tragedy during their senior year. Sixteen years later, Mara reappeared at Lexi's door, fleeing an abusive husband and offering to be her surrogate.
The tension spikes when Mara vanishes just four days before her due date. Desperate to find her child, Lexi embarks on a cross-country search from Denver to Philadelphia, uncovering dark secrets from their shared past and realizing that Mara may not be who she claimed to be.
My thoughts..
Danielle Girard masterfully ratchets up the tension by combining a modern-day race against time with a haunting dual timeline. The story follows Lexi, whose dream of a family rests in the hands of her childhood friend, Mara. Their relationship is a "tightrope" of comfort and suspicion, especially after Mara disappears just days before delivery.
As Lexi tracks Mara from Denver to the "seedy" underbelly of Philadelphia, the novel shifts from a quiet domestic drama into a propulsive car-chase thriller. While the search is relentless, the true "visceral" weight comes from the flashbacks to their senior year of high school and the mysterious death of their friend, Cate.
"A heart-pounding, ticking-clock thriller that explores the lengths a woman will go for motherhood. When Lexi’s surrogate—and former best friend—vanishes four days before her due date, a desperate search unearths dark secrets from a shared past that was never truly buried. It’s a fast, bingeable read perfect for fans of domestic suspense who enjoy high stakes and gritty urban settings."
The Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 /5 Stars)
Pinky Swear is a winner for readers who prioritize pacing and emotional intensity over strict realism. While it may be over the top at times, its addictive nature makes it a perfect one-sitting binge.
Best for: Fans of Jeneva Rose and Sally Hepworth who want a "popcorn thriller" with an emotional core.
Skip if: You prefer grounded, realistic police procedurals or are sensitive to themes of infertility and pregnancy trauma.
Vibe...
~Pace: Propulsive / Ticking Clock
~Themes: Feminine Rage / Toxic Friendship / Motherhood
~Tone: Suspenseful / Tense / Unsettling
~Ideal For Fans of "Popcorn Thrillers" who don't mind a bit of logic-stretching
Title Significance:
In childhood, a pinky swear is an innocent, ironclad promise. In this thriller, Girard subverts that innocence to explore how such promises can become a form of "mutually assured destruction," forcing characters to protect one another even when it becomes dangerous or immoral to do so.
Takeaway:
The biggest takeaway from Pinky Swear is that it’s a high-octane "popcorn thriller" that trades realism for relentless momentum. It’s less about a logical police investigation and more about the visceral, desperate lengths a person will go to when pushed to the edge.
Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 24, 2026
Praise
“Visceral, tense, and shocking—Pinky Swear is an absolute must read.”
—Jeneva Rose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Divorce
“Gripping, emotional, and utterly propulsive, Pinky Swear is the kind of thriller that gets its hooks in from the first page and doesn’t let go. Girard masterfully blends past secrets with present stakes in a story that’s as much about friendship and motherhood as it is about survival. I tore through it with my heart in my throat.”
–Sally Hepworth, New York Times bestselling author of Darling Girls
“Pinky Swear delivers a thrilling game of cat and mouse, blurring the lines between friendship and family and creating the kind of high-stakes tension that keeps the pages continually turning. You will genuinely feel for these characters, even when you're unsure of which ones you can trust.”
–Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author of Forget Me Not
“Pinky Swear is riveting, intense, and unputdownable—your next binge-read. A triumph of character-driven, thrill-packed storytelling that is destined for readers’ favorites shelves.”
–Ashley Winstead, USA Today bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me
“Danielle Girard has written an epic story about who we once were and who we become, the deep bonds of high school friendships, and the harrowing lengths a mother will go for her child. Heartfelt, twisty, and even shocking, Pinky Swear is a triumph. Make an oath to pick up this stunning novel.”
—Alex Finlay, bestselling author of Parents Weekend
"A high-stakes, twisty tale of friendship, betrayal, and the darkest of secrets. Pinky Swear is both a gripping thriller and a moving exploration of chosen families, trauma, and motherhood."
—Robyn Harding, Bestselling author of Strangers in the Villa
“Pinky Swear is exactly what we want from great fiction: surprising at every turn and heartbreakingly relatable. I couldn’t read this fast enough.”
–Jamie Day, bestselling author of The Block Party
“Girard delivers a daring, twist-laden plot that barrels toward an electric, heart-stopping climax with chilling precision...a white-knuckle tale of friendship, betrayal, and the true meaning of family.”
–Kimberly Belle, bestselling author of The Expat Affair
“What a hook, what a voice, what a ride! High concept with a heartbeat.”
–Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of With My Little Eye
"A fast-paced thriller with a unique focus on motherhood and pregnancy."
— Library Journal
“A fun and fast-paced thriller… this page-turner would make an entertaining vacation read.”
—Booklist
About the Author
Danielle Girard is the USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of several novels, including the Annabelle Schwartzman series and Pinky Swear. She is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast, where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in creative writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana. WEBSITE
