Wow! What a thriller of twists and turns this is. I read it in just over a day, it kept me absolutely gripped. I immediately disliked the lead character, Lizzie, but I didn’t fully understand why until the book developed. It is the very best kind of modern thriller, the kind you can place yourself in, with workplace bitchiness and social media gone wrong etc. I would definitely recommend!

Friends like these was an interesting read with some good twists and turns to the story. It just goes to show you cannot always believe what is put on social media. A good read.

I felt this started off well but was let down by a confused ending. While it's clear what happens, it's terribly far fetched and doesn't really gel, which is a shame because I really enjoyed the first half. Even if it were better written, I'm not convinced it would work because, without giving anything away, how the two main characters deal with things is unlikely for both of them. One, maybe, but not both.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

How can our lives be manipulated by social media? This novel really interestingly shows how we could potentially be manipulated or manipulate our lives via the internet. We could even disappear and become somebody else! Unfortunately we get too much social media thrown at us almost as though the author is determined to prove that this is what the story is about. At one point, it was almost death by Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.....
Although at times gripping and tense, I struggled to connect with any of the characters in any meaningful way. I didn't trust any character and maybe that was why the 'shocking twist' wasn't so shocking.

I think we've all had moments of jealousy when seeing a friends or acquaintances social media...we all know it's all bs but still...what if their life is that perfect? Why them and why are the sods flaunting it? Becca is one of those people, shes beautiful, has a great career and a gorgeous AND rich boyfriend. The cow. Her workmate Lizzie, who has and is none of these things but she also knows the truth about Becca. What's shes really like...or does she? Several years after a life changing accident the roles have been reversed. Lizzie should be happy but one catty message to the wrong inbox suddenly brings her new life crashing around her ears.

In parts a little slow this is still an entertaining and addictive read. There are a few genuine surprises along the way. However if you hate books with a plethora of unsympathetic characters then stay away. Pretty much everyone is an ass in this!

5 stars hands down without hesitation. Fabulous juicy thrill ride. Loved it! Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Hmmmm yet another single white female type of thriller was my first thought... however it is so much more than that! Completely addictive and compelling, you wont want to put this down!

Well written, engaging characters and twists that I loved. Having never read anything from this author previously I was very pleased with being able to give this a massive thumbs up and would love to read more.

Be very careful before pressing “send” if you are being less than complimentary - something Lizzie should have done, otherwise who knows what might happen! This was really entertaining as you are dragged into each character’s “reality”. Don’t believe any of the characters who were awful, shallow and devious. I didn’t want to put the book down, wondering what would happen next, so raced through it. A fantastic novel that I would happily recommend to those who like nail biting plots. I haven’t read any of Sarah’s books before but would definitely choose another if this is a sample!

A good book with a few twists and turns, not one of my favourites unfortunately as I guessed the plot halfway through.

Gripped from the first page, so many twists and turns to this book didn’t want to put it down, very well written and will highly recommend it to friends.

Oh my! Susan Alderson has penned an intense story that will constantly keep you on your toes. The great character development and the way that the story unfolds feels fresh and exciting.This is a multiple POV tale and while I am often not a huge fan of this style of storytelling, in this case it is the perfect way for Friends Like These to be told.For a book to get 5 stars from me, it has to hold my attention throughout. In the case of thrillers I have to feel an air of suspense and tension. Friends Like These ticked all of those boxes.

Wonderful twists and turns that keep you guessing just where it’s going. Good reminder to everyone about the illusion that is #brilliantlife

Well worth the read

I absolutely loved this book!
I found it totally addictive and kept trying to guess where the story was going.
However I certainly didn't see the twist coming! Scary to think this could probably actually happen in real life! Totally brilliant!

Excellent gripping book full of twists and turns, easy reading to devour! Excellent thanks ! Will keep an eye on books by this author!

A well-written plot with characters who are not all they seem. Plenty of twists and turns this book grabbed my attention from beginning to end. Recommended.

Clever twisty turny plot. Very well written and entertaining and very now with the use and abuse of social media. All is really not as it seems

This book was a big surprise to me, I’ve not read any of Sarah Alderson’s previous books so went into this novel free of expectations and it was a blast!

Friends Like These is about Lizzie and Becca. Becca used to work at the celebrity management agency where Lizzie works in the Finance Department. She was the object of envy for many of the women working there for her good looks and seemingly perfect life, and none more so than Lizzie. Constantly posting with the hashtags #blessed #bestboyfriendever and others designed to make life seem sublime, Becca drives Lizzie crazy as she trawls through her posts only wishing her frumpy looks and life could be the same. When there is a terrible accident at an office Christmas party life changes completely for Becca and she withdraws completely from life including deleting all of her social media profiles.

Years on (although not clear how many - I did find some of the timelines confusing in this novel), a physically transformed Lizzie finds Becca online and sends a profile link along with a scathing email to a colleague, slating Becca and her baby. Here lies the catalyst that sets off a deliciously twisted storyline that will keep you guessing until the end. As always I won’t elaborate further on the plot as don’t wish to provide any spoilers but this is a great book which explores the lies we can portray online and how technology can be a hindrance and so easily get us into deep doo doo! It also looks at how things are often very very different to how they appear on the surface and that we should never make assumptions about people and their circumstances.

For me, the only negative is that some of it is a tad unbelievable but, and it’s a big but, it was such a dark and clever plot that I didn’t really care and just enjoyed it for the great read that it was. For lovers of a good psychological thriller this book is a must. And if you’ve not ventured into this genre then why not give it a try with this for starters!

My thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of #FriendsLikeThese in return for an honest review.

It feels like a lifetime ago when actress Myanna Buring introduced me to a new Young Adult book written by a friend of hers. That early pre-publication copy of Finding Lila has left me with a huge appreciation of all of Sarah Alderson’s books.

A dramatic opening. A transcription of a 999 call on December 10th. A panicked female caller is talking to the operator. There is an intruder in her house with a knife. She is hiding in the bathroom. There is a scuffle and the intruder is dead.

Lizzie is popular at work. She loves working at the publishing company and although she is only in the Finance department she enjoys being part of that industry. Best friend Flora also works there and they have a lot of fun even when work is quite stressful. Lizzie gets lonely though and has joined some dating sites to help her find that special someone.

On one of the sites she recognises James. The perfect boyfriend of Becca who used to be a PA at their firm. Becca had the perfect Instagrammed and Facebooked life. Everything was amazing or hashtagged “Blessed”. Then Becca had a horrific accident at the works Christmas Party. Noone at work ever saw her again and there were rumours of a big payout from the company. This was a couple of years ago and now here is James. Dating strangers.

Desperate to find out if he is a cheating boyfriend Lizzie gets a bottle of wine and spends the night searching the internet for anything she can find on James or Becca. Using facial recognition software she tracks Becca down to a new Facebook profile with a new surname. A gorgeous husband and a cherubic little baby. She also seems to be running a creative design company from her fabulously decorated home in the countryside. Lizzie is shocked and takes screenshots of the pages and sends those and the links to Flora. The accompanying message is fairly bitchy and likens the child to Gollum. She presses send.

When Flora doesn’t get the links or the photos Lizzie is a bit perplexed. But she doesn’t get time to ponder about what has happened as she is swiftly escorted off the premises at work. An email tipoff from an unknown source suggesting that she has been falsifying expense claims. Realising that the drunken message has been sent to Becca and not to Flora, Lizzie finds her life turning upside down. She has to find Becca and apologise before she does any more damage but its not quite that easy…

This is a superb thriller that twists and turns making you suspect virtually everyone in the book at some point. And while this type of story has become increasingly hackneyed in recent years this is a fresh take on the genre that you really won’t be able to put down.

Friends like These is the first psychological thriller from Alderson. Published by Mulholland Books they already have a second book from her lined up for publication in November 2019. Hooray!

Supplied by Net Galley and Mulholland Books in exchange for an honest review.

Terrifying and action packed this book kept me on tenterhooks from start to finish. I just about read it in one sitting I was so engrossed.

A top read.