Two unlikely childhood friends renew their friendship as adults with devastating consequences. On the surface, Lucy seems to have it all, a devoted, highly respected husband, who’s also a top surgeon. But behind closed doors her husband is brutal and controlling and his behavior is escalating. On a trip home to visit her father, Lucy runs into old school friend, Adele, and mindful of the secrets that they keep, she enlists Adele to help her do something about her husband. A sharp, intelligent thriller

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have only read one of the author's prior novels, one I was lucky enough to get from here and really enjoyed it, with that being said, I really enjoyed this book as well, interesting characters and the plot kept me interested from beginning to end, a real page turner, can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

A good read with well developed characters, not one of my most favourite reads but it is a well written book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

One privileged , one not so much. An unlikely friendship develops between two girls who could not be more different. All that changes on that fateful day of a terrible accident.
Fast forward to the adulthood. Both the women still have different financial backgrounds both now living a life that is hard. One has access to money, one has connections to people who can get things done for money. How much would you pay to make it all go away? Can you trust in the old friendship? A taut thriller that will come full circle proving unlikely friendships can be found in the most unexpected places.

Absolutely brilliant. A quick read, absolutely gripping from the moment I started. Had me reading well into the night, and completed in one day. Thoroughly enjoyable and full of twists and turns.

A quick suspenseful psychological mystery thriller that kept me glued to the book till the final page.

It's the story of a childhood friendship that continues into adulthood with so much memories and a tragic incident that they made a pact to never revisit.

But as we well know the past never really dies and always finds one way or another to resurface when least expected.

With plenty of clever twists and turns, this book will surely entertain and grip seasoned fans of this genre.

Thanks Netgalley, Bookouture, and author Alison James for an ARC in exchange for a fair opinion.

Thoroughly enjoyed this twist and turn psychological thriller. So many secrets. From childhood to adulthood, a control freak husband. To actually beginning to live at last. Had my attention from the start. Thank you netgalley.

What a whirlwind of a book! Great read, loved it, kept me guessing. Look for more from this author in the future for sure. A good solid 4 star.!


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early release of this book.

The Friendship Pact is the latest in the psychological/domestic thriller genre. Told in alternating time lines, readers are introduced to Lucy and Adele, unlikely friends from childhood, who have a secret pact that still binds them today. Present day Lucy is married to a wealthy surgeon with a dark side while Adele, who Lucy's family didn't approve of based on her behavior and background, had some run-ins with the law and other struggles. Lucy realizes she needs to escape her husband if she is to survive as his behavior is increasingly dangerous. On a trip home visiting her father the past whispers to her as she sees Adele at a local store. Soon, the two will reconnect as Lucy tries to fight for her independence. The story picks up after they reconnect and has some twists and turns that will keep the reader engaged. The ending was a little frustrating in that it seemed a little far-fetched but is rooted in the original pact.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I have been on a suspenseful thriller reading binge lately and have truly enjoyed each one, including The Friendship Pact! It is a gripping thriller with never-ending twists thrown in. Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be another, one popped up, but it was done in a tasteful and masterful way. Instead of making me groan in frustration, I gasped with delight and shock! I flew through this book in delight, and loved every page. The author shows immense talent with this one!

A quick paced psychological thriller where the past comes back to haunt. For one year a long time ago Lucy and Adele were best friends - according to Adele. A tragedy occurs and the two pledge to keep the secret. A happenstance siting many years later leads to a series of twists that will keep you reading into the wee hours.

This was a really good read for me and I read it in pretty much one sitting , we have 2 timelines the present and the past when Lucy and Adele are teenagers . They are from totally different backgrounds and Lucy's parents do not approve of the friendship . Something terrible happens one summer day and they both swear to keep the secret . In the present we find Lucy desperately searching for a way out of her abusive marriage , she unwisely decides to look up Adele for help . A few good twists and fast paced writing kept me hooked right until the end . I will definitely seek out more from the author . 5 stars from me

The Friendship Pact is a fantastic psychological thriller that has great characters and a good storyline. The book is well written and I would read more by this author.

my 1st book buy this author and so enjoyed Lucinda and Adele become friends in school become friends but one has it all and other has nothing they are so different they grow up lucinda has it all a rich husband but all is not what it seems and something happened in her childhood that she kept quiet its deffo a must read very addictive twisty and a must read

When Lucy and Adele meet at school a friendship between them seems highly unlikely because they are so different and so are their backgrounds. They’re like chalk and cheese. Nevertheless they do become friends and together they have a certain chemistry that makes sparks fly when they are out together and they literally roll around laughing. They have the most amazing fun together. Lucy feels more alive that she has ever done. Together they make a solemn pact; a friendship pact, they will be the guardians of their secrets and stick up for one another come what may. Adele soon puts her friend’s commitment to the pact to the test and Lucy stands firm, she honours their pact. But Lucy’s mother and father soon become very concerned about the friendship. They are very protective and try to intervene. Adele is allowed what seems to be total freedom to roam and she appears to have no boundaries. She is a bad influence on Lucy so they send their daughter to a different school. Adele does not give up and still tries to see Lucy out of school but inevitable as they grow up they go their own ways.
Years later their lives are thrust together in the most unusual circumstances. Lucy is married to an eminent and well respected surgeon and Adele is a single parent raising two young daughters. She is weighed down and lacks her zest for life with all of the responsibilities she bears alone. They have met on a few occasions when Lucy has returned to her family home, but their closeness is questionable. Lucy finds herself in trouble and hopes against all hope that their friendship pact will be honoured by Adele just as she had stood by her friend when she needed her most. She wonders whether Adele will come through for her even though the challenges ahead seem unsurmountable or will she have to resort to other means to get the help she desperately needs. This is their story of a pact put to the test for the second time.
What a cracking stand-alone novel! It races along like the proverbial runaway train. It’s exciting and full of thrills and spills and it’s totally addictive as well. It held my attention from the very first chapter, but I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined what a truly shocking and unexpected ending the story would reveal. I thought the characterisation was really fitting to this genre, relatable characters from all walks of life, the virulent ‘baddies’ truly dark and horrible verses the downtrodden ‘goodies who had a terrific battle to even survive. It was brilliantly dark and masterly envisaged. I loved the vivid and suspenseful writing. This author has immense talent and a fantastic, out of this world imagination. The story is so original and yet it comes with all of the trademark attributes of an excellent and pacey psychological crime thriller. I received this superb novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Bookouture in return for an honest review. Thank you most sincerely for my copy. I recommend it as an excellent read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher's for an advance copy of this book.
A fast moving packed story about domestic abuse and friendship,nothing seemed as it was,hidden messages throughout the book.
Loved the character's,and the small differences between the rich and lower class,although you wonder how gullible was Lucy.
Definitely would recommend this book,so readers put it on your books to read list.

The Friendship Pact by Alison James is a fast-paced, riveting domestic thriller that had me glued to the edge of my seat for the duration. A brilliant read, this one has me clamouring to devour more from the talented Ms James. I could not put this down.

Lucy Gibson is an introverted and promising student when she strikes up a friendship with the streetsmart, and slightly older, Adele Watts. But drama seems to follow Adele everywhere she goes, and Lucy can link the few times she has found herself in trouble to their friendship. But when a tragic accident occurs, the two girls find themselves forever bonded by the shared traumatic experience.

Fast forward to present day, and Lucy finds herself living in a domestic nightmare. Will calling on her old friend Adele, with whom she has long lost touch, be Lucy's ultimate undoing? Or can a decades old pact be trusted to withstand the ultimate test of friendship?

This is a gritty, gripping thrill ride of a read that will have you guessing until the final page. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

The Friendship Pact by author Alison James is a great twisty psychological thriller! I loved the way this read and the characters have their character as well! ;) The plot it great and easy to follow. Definitely recommend this!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!!! This is the first book I read by this author and it did not disappoint. This is a stand alone novel so you don’t have to read other books in a series. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This book is about a friendship and secrets that spill into adulthood. Lucy is married to a man who is controlling and abusive and wants to escape. The only way she knows how is to use a past pact she made with her best friend but she’s wondering if she made the right decision. She gets tangled up in a web of lies and deception. Lucy finds out in the end the past always comes back to haunt you.

I have to say that I really loved this book. I really liked how all the characters intertwined with each other especially at the end. I also liked the authors depiction of Lucy. At first you don’t know what to think about Lucy. She takes the abuse of her awful husband but then she really grows as the book goes on and becomes stronger. Oh and the plot was awesome. Who doesn’t love a book about an abusive man who gets what he deserves. The great twists never stopped coming in this book either. There were so many twists by the end that you were glued to the pages as you never knew what was coming next.

Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Fantastic book. So much detail and an brilliant story and the thought gone into the twists and turns is fab. How on earth the Author was able to give so much - just brilliant! kept me on the edge of my seat brilliant.