Updated April 8, 2026, 7:27 p.m. ET
The bestselling creator identified to the world as Freida McFadden is revealing her true identity.
McFadden, whose prolific output consists of “The Housemaid” and different home thrillers, makes use of a pseudonym, wig and glasses to take care of her privateness in public. When she first started publishing, she lived a Hannah Montana-worthy double life as a health care provider however stored the 2 personas separate.
It might seem to be a thriller ripped from certainly one of her books, however McFadden by no means meant it to be. But as her reputation grew, so did the key. On the heels of the primary “Housemaid” film (starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried) and a second one on the way, to not point out a slew of new bestsellers, McFadden says “it’s time” to disclose her identity.
“I’m at a point in my career when I’m tired of this being a secret. I’m tired of people debating if I’m a real person or if I’m three men,” McFadden says. “I am a real person and I have a real identity and I don’t have anything to hide.”
Freida McFadden reveals real identity to USA TODAY
Outside of the e book world, McFadden is Sara Cohen, a health care provider who treats mind problems. And although it seems like a disguise, she actually does put on glasses. The hair is a wig, however solely as a result of “I have no idea how to style my hair,” she tells USA TODAY in a telephone interview.
“It’s so much more boring than anything that happens in my books,” McFadden says.
McFadden solely created the pseudonym as a result of she did not need her writing profession to battle with her hospital job.
“My whole goal was to keep it a secret until I was (ready to) step back from my doctor job, so it wouldn’t be like everyone I work with suddenly knew and it compromised my ability to do my job,” McFadden says. In late 2023, she stopped working full-time. “But I have stepped away from my job. I’m only working like once or twice a month.”
But her coworkers did discover out, she says, and so they had been “really nice about it” and stored her secret. Many of them had been followers of her books and had no concept they had been working with the creator herself. She’s began bringing books into the hospital.
“I just realized I was completely overwhelmed from trying to do both,” she says.
Though McFadden is now “unmasked,” she’s adamant she’s nonetheless the identical author her readers know and love. She’s glad to have shed the key she by no means meant to maintain, however she desires the e book world to nonetheless know her as “Freida.”
“Even though I haven’t told my real name until now, I feel like I have shared the real me all along and everything I’ve told them has been the truth,” McFadden says. “Even though the name will be a surprise, nothing else will. I’ve always been genuine with my readers.”
Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, the place she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the tradition of studying. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or inform her what you’re studying at cmulroy@usatoday.com.
