Bookquote.net Bookquote.net – Books Review and Quote site
Related Articles
| Categories | Genre Fiction |
| Author | Freida McFadden |
| Publisher | Independently published (December 5, 2022) |
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 50 pages |
| Item Weight | 3.53 ounces |
| Dimensions |
5 x 0.12 x 8 inches |
I. Book introduction
It’s Christmas Eve and Stella Hansen is broke.
She is so broke that despite working two jobs, she can’t even afford a present for her husband on their first Christmas as man and wife. But then a mysterious storekeeper at a pawn shop offers Stella an intriguing trade.
Stella wants more than anything to buy her husband the Christmas gift of his dreams. But will it come at a terrible price?
The Gift is a gripping Christmas-themed thrilling short story inspired by the classic O. Henry tale, The Gift of the Magi.
About the Author (Freida McFadden)
Freida McFadden is the pen name of an American thriller author and practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida’s work has been selected as one of Amazon Editors’ best books of the year, she is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback, and she is a Goodreads Choice Award winner. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages. These include the Housemaid series (The Housemaid (2022), The Housemaid’s Secret (2023), and The Housemaid is Watching (2024)) and standalone novels such as Never Lie (2022), The Coworker (2023), Ward D (2023), and The Teacher (2024)). She is a New York Times bestselling author and has won the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback.
From New York City, McFadden attended Harvard University as an undergraduate. She practices medicine in the Boston area. McFadden self-published her first book through Amazon KDP in 2013. Her 2022 book The Housemaid was an international bestseller. A movie adaptation of the book is set to be adapted for Lionsgate with Rebecca Sonnenshine to pen the screenplay, and Hidden Pictures’ Todd Lieberman and Alex Young to produce.
Freida McFadden lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
II. Reviewer: The Gift by Freida McFadden
| Here is a summary of the book Review “The Gift by Freida McFadden”. Helps you have the most overview of the book without searching through time. Please access “BookQuote.Net” regularly or save it to keep track and update the latest information. |
1. LTJ reviews for The Gift
“The Gift” by Freida McFadden gets right into it from the moment you start reading. I first got into McFadden thanks to her fantastic novel “The Housemaid” which was honestly one of the best books I’ve read in 2022. I saw she recently released this short story just in time for Christmas and I knew it was worth reading as soon as I got a chance to jump in.
Boy, I’m glad I was able to read it just a few days after Christmas. McFadden’s style of writing is absolutely excellent. I’ve noticed now with this being the second book of hers I’ve read that she writes genuine page-turners where you simply can’t stop reading even if you tried. With this short story, I loved the tone, setting, atmosphere, and characters right off the bat.
The sign of a great author is how she’s able to make this quick, 53-page book into a jam-packed story. This is now the second time I’ve been so impressed with her writing skills as once again, this was an addictive read from start to finish.
Don’t worry, I will not spoil anything for you but I loved this short story. There are a few jaw-dropping moments with an epilogue that totally blew me away. This is a must-read Christmas thriller I’d recommend to everyone to read around this time of year. It’s incredible, short, and you can easily finish this in 30-60 minutes tops.
I give “The Gift” by Freida McFadden a perfect 5/5 as she’s becoming my favorite new author I discovered in 2022. She’s so talented that I plan to read every single thing she’s written. I loved “The Gift” and will remember it for many years to come since it’s such a unique Christmas story.
2. HOLLY B reviews for The Gift
C-R-E-E-P-Y
Poor Stella is working two jobs. She is waitressing on Christmas Eve and can’t wait until closing time so she can go home to her husband. It is their very first Christmas together.
If she could get the last customer to leave, she could finally go home. Her co-worker decides to get in the ladies face! “We’re closing…..” I laughed so hard at this scene!
One thing leads to another…
This is a short story from KU. I read it in an hour and couldn’t put it down. I was kinda horrified.
3. JAYME reviews for The Gift
This has been all over my GR page-and I had FOMO!
It’s the Christmas short story for thriller/HORROR fans-IT ISN’T SWEET!!
Bessie and Stella are finishing up double shifts at the diner, with 15 minutes to go, and two customers lingering. It’s time to let them know that it’s closing time, and to settle their bills.
They realize that neither of them ever waited on the elderly lady in the corner.
They have two choices-get her a cup of coffee now-or pretend they don’t realize she hasn’t been served and show her the door, with a cheery “Merry Christmas!!”
Stella chooses the second.
UH OH!
If you have Kindle Unlimited-download and read for free!
4. AJ HOLMES reviews for The Gift
I loved The Gift of the Magi and was looking forward to reading Frieda’s spin on it. As usual, she did not disappoint. However, Frieda, this should have been a novel. I want to know more about Helga, her shop, and her practices. I want to know exactly what Eve did to Justin. I just want this to be more drawn out and in depth. This was a great short, but I want more.
5. JOSEPH J. TRUNCALE reviews for The Gift
An unusual ending twist for a Christmas story.
Lately, I have been reading the kind of books I seldom seek out; however, when I saw this 51 page novelette (The Gift, by Freida McFadden) on Amazon I decided to purchase it.
This is a strange kind of Christmas story that keeps you turning the pages to find out how things will turn out at the end. I never give away too much information and give away the plot of any novel I review, but like this well-known author’s other books there is a unique twist at the end.
This is a very concise small volume that you may want to check out if you are a fan of Freida McFadden’s novels.
6. LMURPHIN reviews for The Gift
Christmasy and creepy!
Short story very similar to O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi, which is one of my favorites.
The twist at the end is great and very Freida-like! Fun and quick read. Highly recommended!
7. TERRIE D. ROBINSON reviews for The Gift
A Jaw-Dropping Christmas Thriller Novella!
Newlyweds, Stella and Justin Hansen are spending their first Christmas together as a married couple and Stella wants it to be special.
Stella’s the breadwinner and currently working two jobs, while her husband attends law school, so money is tight and right now they’re broke.
On Christmas Eve, Stella is working at the diner and knows she’ll be exchanging gifts with Justin tonight when she gets home.
Stella tells her co-worker, Bessie, about her plans after work, about not having a gift for Justin, and about not having the money to buy one.
Right before closing, Stella sees a strange old lady in a back booth who heard Stella telling Bessie about her dilemma.
The old lady, Helga, owns a business that is always open and she’ll help Stella find the perfect gift for her husband. No money? No problem! They’ll make a deal…
If you think this is a retelling of a classic Christmas story, like I did, think again. I was so wrong and so surprised!
For me, this was the perfect Holiday Fiction Novella to read during my lunch break today. The twist at the end was very unexpected. If you’re looking for a Christmas story that’s a bit of a jaw-dropper, this is one for you. I highly recommend!
8. JDHERNANDEZ13 reviews for The Gift
Great short story
Nothing of what I expected! Tbh, this is my very 1st short story book, lol! I know I know, I have never read anything less than 100 pages. I did not like Justin at all & I knew he was gonna be a POS! I felt so bad for Stella. I LOVE the ending actually…. cause it makes one have all sorts of conclusions running through ours minds of what she did back at the apartment. Even though giving the pocket watch to Helga tells you the ending. Good thing Stella didn’t know Helga’s story cause I think that would’ve broken Stella.
9. RACHEL HANES reviews for The Gift
This was a fast, quick, short story to read on Christmas Day 🎄. While I would have liked this story to have been longer, it gave us exactly what we needed.
I guess the message we can all get from this book is – “Is it really necessary to sacrifice or work ourselves to the bone for loved ones at Christmas time?”
If you love thrillers, short stories, or are a McFadden fan- then you need to pick this short story up. You will not be disappointed! 🎁🎅🏻
10. LISA reviews for The Gift
CREEPY
Stella & her husband Justin are spending their first Christmas together as man & wife, Stella decides to get something nice for Justin but what she does doesn’t go down to well. Creepy characters were rife eye rolls at times.
I finished this in an hour loved the plot line MERRY CREEPNESS I enjoyed this short novella straight into it was jaw dropping at times am becoming a fan of this author.
III. The Gift Quotes by Freida McFadden
The best book quotes from The Gift by Freida McFadden
“Waitressing is my second job, the first being a preschool job that allows me to utilize my early childhood education degree, all at minimum wage. Four years of college, tons of debt, and I need two jobs just to pay the bills. I should have majored in Not Being Poor.”
“You don’t know what it’s like to meet the man of your dreams, then meet his beautiful wife, she sobbed to me.”
“Do not be sad,” Helga says in that sage-like way of hers. “This is love. You sacrifice for him. He sacrifices for you.”
“The point is,” I say, “I sacrificed something important to me to get you a great present!”
“You don’t know what it’s like to meet the man of your dreams, then meet his beautiful wife,”
“He looks happy. Although honestly, I thought he’d be a little happier. I thought he would be over the moon, but instead, he’s just smiling politely.”
“He’s holding a pan, which contains what looks like brownies. There’s a red bow on top. “Merry Christmas,” he says. I frown. “What’s that?” “Brownies,” he says. “I made them for you. From scratch.”
“She runs her thumb over the glass cover, halting on a dark red stain. Her eyes widen in alarm. “That’s, um, tomato sauce,” I quickly explain. “It will wash right off.” “Yes,” she says. “I am sure.” I”
“She is the first in our family to go to college, and after that, she went to law school. She is in her second year now. I am so proud.”
“The old woman finally blinks at me. She might be alive, but I very well could have a heart attack right about now. Bessie doesn’t look much better.”
“So I pull open the closet and grab a hanger for my coat, although I leave my hat on. Just as I’m closing the door, I notice Justin moved our large suitcase to the hall closet.”
“This is my store,” the old woman says. “I am Helga.”
“I should have majored in Not Being Poor.”
“You would think that if you screw up as a waitress, the worst thing that could happen is somebody has a bad meal. But apparently not. Apparently, my neglect has killed this woman. She starved to death while waiting for one of us to bring her food.”
“Hair is power. In the Bible, the source of Samson’s strength was his hair, and when the beautiful Delilah tricked him and cut it off, she stripped him of his power.”
“This will be the best Christmas we will ever have.”
“Hair is power. In my many years of making wigs, I have been reminded of this fact again and again. When I took Stella’s hair last night, I took her power. But now she has taken it back.”
“Even my blisters have blisters.”
“Working a double shift on Christmas Eve at a diner in the Bronx is pretty bad too.”
“Yeah, I don’t have anyone to go home to. Get out of here, and don’t bother with that stupid store.”
“Justin and I got married over the summer, after being together for the last two years.”
“He is in his second year, which is why I am mostly paying the bills.”
“I am pouring refills for half of my customers, who then tip in coins only, many of them copper.”
“years of college, tons of debt, and I need two jobs just to pay the bills. I should have majored in Not Being Poor.”
“She has smiled at me a few times, but I have never seen any teeth in her mouth. I’m wondering if she has any.”
“What is this woman doing with a human skull?”
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
“I can’t go home without a Christmas present for my husband. I can’t.”
“Yes, I like to have electricity and heat in our apartment, but I’m not stealing from a dead woman. You have to draw the line somewhere, and that’s mine.”
“You would think that if you screw up as a waitress, the worst thing that could happen is somebody has a bad meal. But apparently not. Apparently, my neglect has killed this woman.”
Excerpted from The Gift by Freida McFadden
….
Note: Above are quotes and excerpts from the book “The Gift by Freida McFadden”. If you find it interesting and useful, don’t forget to buy paper books to support the Author and Publisher!
| The above content has been collected from various sources on the internet. Click the Share button to recommend the book to your friends! |
BookQuote.Net Sincerely Introduced!
