Pinky Swear

A Novel

By: Danielle Girard

Narrated by: Amanda Dolan, Rebekkah Ross

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?

If you think your group chat has drama, Danielle Girard is here to say, "Hold my coffee."

​Pinky Swear is a masterclass in why "long-term friendship" is sometimes just code for "we know where the bodies are buried." We follow Lexi, who takes in her childhood best friend, Mara, after sixteen years of silence. Mara isn’t just back for brunch, though; she’s fleeing a nightmare and ends up becoming the surrogate for Lexi’s long-awaited baby. Then—because this is a thriller and we can’t have nice things—Mara vanishes four days before the due date.
​Why You Should Be Reading This:
​The Infertility Rep: Girard doesn’t just gloss over the struggle to conceive; she dives into the deep end. The portrayal of the biological and emotional "need" to be a mother was handled with such grace and raw honesty that it gave me all the feels.
​The "Ride or Die" Family: Lexi’s family dynamics are top-tier. Even when they didn’t agree with her choices, they stayed in her corner. It’s a refreshing change from the "everyone is a secret villain" trope we usually see in domestic suspense.
​Complex Characters: I had a serious love-hate relationship with Mara. Her decisions made me want to shake her, yet her growth and development were so well-crafted that I couldn't help but root for her.
​Not Your Average Thriller: This isn't just a "chase the kidnapper" story. It’s a deep dive into how one single mistake in high school can ripple through decades, shaping every choice you make until the truth finally catches up.
​The Verdict:
​This book is a gripping reminder of how far a woman will go to protect the dream of motherhood and the childhood bonds that refuse to break. It’s twisty, it’s emotional, and it will make you think twice before making a blood oath in middle school.