I never read When Life Gives You Lululemons, so I don't know if all the comparisons between that book and this are accurate. I do know that I enjoyed That's What Frenemies Are For a great deal. Littlefield and Gershell make a bunch of unlikeable characters surprisingly relatable and enjoyable.

You have to be ok with hating most characters in the book you’re reading (including the “heroine”) to be ok with this read. I am, so that didn’t bother me. There were three things that did:

1) The plot wraps up in an underwhelming way. The title has “frenemies” in it - I was expecting some epic final showdown, and nothing remotely like that occurs.

2) The main character and her spouse each make an error. Her error is, in my opinion, unforgivable (it involves bringing illegal drugs into the house in a way that endangers a child) yet he acts like it’s not big deal and immediately brushes it off. His is kind of an issue (it involves money and honesty) but not in comparison to hers, yet she is far more upset with him over this than he was with hers.

3) Completely stereotypical portrayal of an out bisexual character. While I did appreciate that everyone in the book acts like bisexuality is no big deal, the bisexual character is a cheater who does threesomes for sugar daddy style money and performatively engages in f/f activity. She’s also the big bad of the book. While I acknowledge that of course bisexual people can do all these things, it is a harmful stereotype. I ultimately was more ok with it in this book than others because they’re all terrible people, to be fair, but it was still disappointing.

All of this said I was engaged and wanted to find out the ending. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have been disappointed with the wrap-up the way I was.

What a book! This is certainly one of those novels where the main characters (well, really, all of the characters) are people that you love to hate. Offering a glimpse into what it's like to live with money in NYC, Littlefield and Gershall have created the rare book that makes you cringe while not being able to put it down. Julia Summers'
works to raise her social status at the expense of her family through 'mentoring' Tatum, a girl she finds at a local spin studio. As Tatum's star rises, Julia learns what she is willing to do, and not do, for her so-called friends. This is the perfect book to read poolside this summer!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When push comes to shove, you'll find out who your true friends are. This book put into perspective the true meaning of friendship in a more upper class world. Even though society separates so many into different classes, everyone comes from somewhere. It reminds me a little of the book Big Little Lies. Same little upper class town where everyone knows each others. They even influence their kids and groom the kids to be their future self. The story does speaks to the true outlook out today society. A little vain and superficial. There are little honesty or humbleness anymore. I truly enjoyed this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for an honest review in exchange for an advanced copy.
That's What Frenemies Are For is a great summer beach read! Julia is a Upper East Side mom and is stuck in NYC when disaster strikes their Hamptons house. How will she survive the summer when all of her friends are elsewhere? She turns her spin instructor into her summer project and things start to get messy.

Julia really annoyed me, but I guess that can be the UES life, despite that It was a fun, quick read and I enjoyed the book!

I loved this book. I am biased though - I enjoy books that showcase the lives of the UES (Upper East Side) residents. Cut-throat competition among be perfect Moms, whose lives are bankrolled by wealthy husbands in often shady finance or real estate positions. We get to learn the mettle of one of these moms when their curated life topples.
However, I did not enjoy the main character’s constant fixation on impressing her peers. She comes off as shallow and silly, but that is the characterization of UES moms, I know. I found her annoying but found her world entertaining.
I did enjoy the writing, pacing, and content of this light read. Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read and review it.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Julia is a typical Upper East Side mom who feels like she’s losing her edge. After their house in the Hamptons is unusable for the Summer, Julia decides she needs a project. Enter Tatum. Soon though, Julia soon finds out that people have a mind of their own and sometimes the hand that feeds gets bit. That being said, it’s Chick Lit so you know there is a happy ending. Read this this summer!

That’s What Frenemies are For is the perfect light, fun, beach read for the summer.
In the fickle, judgemental Upper East Side that Julia lives in, she has always stood out by being the tastemaker of the group. The one to discover a new woodworker or jewelry maker or her latest discovery: a spin instructor, except this time, things don’t go as planned...
Littlefield and Gershel’s book does a great job of keeping the reader entertained, while also providing a heartfelt look into what it’s like trying to raise a family when all eyes are on you. Julia is a likeable protagonist and as things go wrong you are really rooting for her to come out on top!

All the laugh-out-loud, snarky, fun stars to That’s What Frenemies are For!

Being a self-professed SoulCycle freak (there’s just no other way to describe it), when I heard a book was coming out centered around New York City boutique fitness (namely, spin), I knew I had to get my hands on this! When Upper East Side mom Julia decides to make a “project” out of spin instructor Tatum, what could go wrong? Well, a lot.

Throw Frenemies in your beach bag this summer because it is the perfect summer read - if you loved When Life Gives You Lululemons, then Frenemies will be right up your alley! You do not need to be a spin fan yourself to enjoy this book, just a sense of humor and an appreciation for sharp writing!

Thank you Random House Ballantine for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own

Once you start this book, be prepared to not want to put it down until the very last page. The pacing is quick, the twists and turns are plentiful, the road is unpredictable, and the drama is high. I have not been this invested in a book in a long time. While I initially disliked Julia, her character development was intense and I was really pushing for her by the end (and proud of the changes she made). There were moments I was close to tears, especially as they related to the way Julia was treated by her so-called friends. In truth as well as in fiction, women can be so catty and disloyal and it hurts no matter how old you are. This book is a reminder to be true to yourself and not let the mean girls get to you and to treat others as you'd want them to treat you! I highly recommend it to fans of Lauren Weisberger and Candace Bushnell.

REVIEW
This is the perfect summer read for lovers of books like When Life Gives You Lululemons. Gershell and Littlefield bring the snark and fun with That's What Frenemies Are For. Julia Summers is a Manhattan socialite who seems to have it all, but she feels like something is missing. Enter a project - turn spin instructor Tatum into the "next big thing." Like all of the best laid plans, however, Julia cannot control other people. Things do not go as planned, and that's where the fun begins.

PRAISE
“This smart, insider look at today’s Upper East Side will be your dream come true!”—Nicola Kraus, New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny Diaries

“Littlefield and Gershell have hatched a witty, wise romp through the lives of the status-seeking parents and would-be influencers of Manhattan’s upper echelons. With a delicious plot and a surprisingly winsome heroine, That’s What Frenemies Are For is a smart, escapist read.”—New York Times bestselling author Michelle Gable

AUTHOR
Sophie Littlefield is the author of more than twenty bestselling adult and YA novels. She is the recipient of an Anthony Award and a RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, and she has been shortlisted for Edgar, Macavity, Barry, and Crimespree Awards. The New York Times has called her “a regular writing machine.”

Lauren Gershell was born and raised on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where she now lives with her family. She holds a B.A. and law degree from Columbia University. That’s What Frenemies Are For is her first novel.

Julia Summers seems to have it all: a sprawling Upper East Side apartment, a successful husband, and two adorable children attending the best private school in the city. She relishes wielding influence over her well-heeled girlfriends . . . but her star appears to be fading. That’s why, when stranded in Manhattan for the summer as her entire crowd flees to the Hamptons, Julia is on the hunt for the next big thing that will make her the envy of her friends and put her back on top.

Enter Flame, the new boutique gym in her neighborhood. Seductive and transformative, Flame’s spin classes are exactly what Julia needs—and demure, naïve instructor Tatum is her ticket in. But rebranding Tatum as a trendy guru proves hard work, and Julia’s triumphant comeback at summer’s end doesn’t quite go as planned. Tatum begins to grasp just how much power her newfound stardom holds, and when things suddenly get ugly, Julia realizes she’s in way over her head.

Julia’s life is already spiraling out of control when her husband is arrested for fraud and bribery. As her so-called friends turn their backs on her, and Tatum pursues her own agenda, Julia is forced to rethink everything she knew about her world to reclaim her perfect life. But does she even want it back? Witty and incisive, Sophie Littlefield and Lauren Gershell’s That’s What Frenemies Are For provides an engrossing glimpse into the cutthroat moms’ club of the Upper East Side.

The rich Julia befriend Tatum and shows her the ups and downs of the good life. The good, bad and ugly.

Thank you, NetGalley for the advance copy for a review.

Finally she found her voice and gave herself the confidence she deserves! It's not the spin, the weight loss or shedding the UES facade that made her strong but finally knowing those superficiality meant nothing that have her strength back. Great book.

What a FUN and easy read! This book is essentially Gossip Girl meets When Life Gives you Lululemons—add spin classes on top of that and you get That’s What Frenemies Are For. The book is is about the lives of the status-seeking parents in Manhattan and the extremes they will go to for their reputation. There is character development and many twists and turns in the book that will have you finishing this book in no time. I had so much fun reading this book! It is perfect for a summer read and an added bonus is that definitely motivated me to spin.

This is a fun, easy, perfect for summer reading kind of book. The novel allows a reader a sneak peek into the life of a rich "semi Queen B" that's lost her edge and devises a plan to take back her status among her "friends." As we all know things rarely go according to plan and Jules' plan is no exception. Now the story, although not that different from other rich, mean girl (adult) books or television shows, has just the right amount of instances where you think you know what's was going to happen and end up being completely wrong. This, plus the strength and character of Jules, is what kept me reading without wanting to stop or have the story end.

This book is definitely a page turner. A Manhattan socialite takes a seemingly poor girl under her wing. She buys her clothes and helps her advance her career.
There were definitely twists to this story. I absolutely loved the characters and the development the plot took.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43152815