This book was easy to devour over a couple of days. The lives of these two friends quickly draws you in to root for them to find themselves as they navigate a new path in life. When they make a list to help each other take these steps forward hilarious and heartwarming things happen.

This is a fabulous book! I was literally laughing out loud, no lie. The banter between all the characters was wonderful, fun, heart wrenching and complete! Susan Mallery really knows how to write a book that pulls are your heart strings!

This was a cute women’s fiction romance. I liked that it dealt with grief and the idea of focusing on yourself. I felt some parts were a bit unbelievable like a 30 something that still didn’t have a smart phone. Overall, I enjoyed it.

This is an amazing book about friendship, second chances, new beginnings, finding yourself and love. I so enjoyed the characters in this story, every single one of them. Unity and Ellen both had issues and baggage that caused them to shut off their emotions when it came to love and dating. They were both stuck and to encourage each other, they came up with their lists. It was a contest of sorts to see who could complete their list first. I loved the things they put on their lists. It was almost like a bucket list, including having sex with a handsome man. Keith and Thaddeus were both men who had played the field but were ready to settle down and they had their hearts set on Unity and Ellen. How they get there is a wonderful ride. I loved all the things that happened to them and the things they tried and enjoyed. I enjoyed the banter, the caring and the support they gave each other. The kids, Lissa and Cooper played a huge part in the growth their parents experienced and it was great that they were also friends.

The story is narrated by both Unity and Ellen. They shared everything with each other and there were a lot of laughs in this story along with some sad and heartfelt moments. Unity had to get over the death of her husband three years earlier, and Ellen was dealing with being a single mom for the last 17 years and the guilt her parents made her feel. There were times that I got frustrated with Unity. I understand how she feels, but she is still so young and has so much life to live. The characters were well-developed, the story well-written and I loved how it all turns out. I read this book on one rainy day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are a few steamy, descriptive scenes, but they really are a necessary part of the story. Overall, a story that has a Happily Ever After, but there is a lot of growth and issues to overcome along the way. I definitely recommend this one to lovers of Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction and Susan Mallery.

Best Summer Cover ever! Ok, the cover for sure attracted me to this book but the storyline kept me reading. I am honestly a sucker for any story that dives into friendship. It's such a personal and challenging topics but I think Susan Mallery did a beautiful job. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Susan Mallery's newest release is a story about two longtime best friends who resolve to help each other shake things up when they are approaching the bland middle of their lives, only to discover that life contains endless unexpected possibilities if you are willing and ready to accept them.





Ellen and Unity have been best friends basically since birth, but their lives couldn't be more different. Unity married her childhood sweetheart just after high school and became a traveling Army wife...until the devastating death of her husband in the line of duty. Grief-stricken, she needs Ellen—the only person she can trust to help her rebuild her life. But Ellen has troubles of her own. Boys never seemed to notice Ellen...until one got her pregnant in high school and then disappeared. Her son, who is her entire world, is now 17 and she's wondering what to do with herself now that he's heading off to college… and the rest of his life.

But now that Ellen and Unity are reunited, they're done with their stale lives. It's time to start living again, knowing that they'll always have one another to lean on. So they create a list of challenges they have to accomplish—from getting a tattoo to skydiving to staying out all night, and everything in between. With new adventures and love right around the corner, anything is possible, and this may just be their best idea yet.

I really enjoyed this work. The characters are all likable, and I especially enjoyed the teens. In our neighborhood teens get a pretty bad rap, so it is refreshing to read about teens who talk about anything and everything. Ellen did a wonderful job in her story about her coworker and his lover. The book looks at friendship from many angles, and does it with a romance, starting over and discovering that change is not always a bad thing.



SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations," and readers seem to agree—forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.

Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She's passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two Ragdoll cats and an adorable poodle who think of her as Mom.

Q&A with Susan Mallery

Q: Where did the inspiration for The Friendship List’s plot come from?

A: The inspiration for The Friendship List came from a reader—but I don’t think it’s exactly the story the reader was asking for. A couple years ago, a reader suggested I write a story about empty nesters, a couple whose children had grown up and were moving out. I considered the idea, but it didn’t immediately sing for me.

Then, while washing dishes—which is when I often get ideas—I thought to myself, “What if it isn’t a couple, but a single mom? And what if she had her baby really young, like in high school? She would be in her mid-thirties when her kid went to college. What would that be like?”

That’s the spark that led to Ellen, a single mom who had her son when she was a senior in high school. Since then, she has put his needs first, always, to the point where she hasn’t dated really at all in her adult life. When her son was little, she worked her butt off to raise him and go to college to become a math teacher.

The story starts as Ellen overhears her son telling a friend he can’t go away to college because his mom doesn’t have a life without him. They’re a team, and she needs him. Ellen is horrified that she’s holding him back, and she knows she has to do something drastic to convince him that it’s safe for him to follow his dreams.

Unity, Ellen’s best friend for as long as they both can remember, is a young widow, still mourning the death of her husband three years ago. She’s stuck in her grief, and reluctant to change that because getting over her grief might mean really letting go of the love of her life forever. But for Ellen’s sake, Unity comes up with the friendship list—a series of challenges designed to shake up their lives.

One way or another, this will be a summer that will change them forever. The Friendship List is a celebration of friendship. I know authors aren’t supposed to have favorite books, but I have to admit, this is one of my favorite things that I’ve ever written—certainly the funniest. Every day, I couldn’t wait to get to my desk, excited to write that day’s fun scene. It was pure joy from page 1 to The End, and I hope you’ll love it, too.

Q: Who is your favorite character in this novel and why?

A: I love both of the friends, but Ellen probably squeaks out a narrow win over Unity simply because her journey was so much fun. Think about it—she had her kid when she was seventeen years old, and from that moment on, her life revolved around him so she missed out on the things most people experience in their twenties. Dating, parties, bar-hopping. She was home studying and taking care of her kid.

And in fact, he’s the impetus for her to change, as well, because she sees that what’s best for him now is for her to let go, to get a life of her own. When she realizes all that she’s been missing, she dives in with her whole heart and body, with such enthusiasm that she had me laughing every day. Suddenly she wants to try everything all at once. Love, love, love, love her.

Q: Of the challenges in the book, which was the most fun to write about? Why?

A: Oh, that’s a tough one! I don’t know if I want to tell you my favorite-favorite because it might be too much of a spoiler. So instead, I’ll tell you one of my other favorites, which is more of a teaser than a spoiler. 😊 One of Ellen’s challenges is to wear clothes that fit, instead of her normal habit of wearing clothes that are at least three sizes too large for her. Baggy is her comfort zone. The first time she wears an outfit that shows the shape of her body, her pal Keith can’t help looking at her in a whole new way. Here’s a clip:

He stared at her in confusion. Something was different with Ellen, he thought, trying to figure out what it was.

He cataloged her appearance. Her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail, just like always. She had on makeup maybe, which was a surprise, but made her eyes looked bluer than usual. As for what she was wearing, it was just some shirt thing and pants that stopped just below her knee. Nothing out of the ordinary except—

He swore silently. The clothes fit. For once they weren’t swirling around her, the extra fabric concealing every part of her body. He could see the shape of her waist and her hips, the outline of her thighs. And breasts. Ellen had breasts!

He realized he was staring and forced his gaze away. Of course she had breasts. Women had breasts. Ellen’s were no big deal. Only he’d never noticed them before and he didn’t want to see them now.

Q: What is your idea of a good personal challenge for yourself?

A: The challenges in The Friendship List are meant to push the women out of their comfort zone and be a little intimidating for them, so my personal challenge will have to do the same. Hmm… Oh! How about a plunging V neckline? Cleavage makes me really self-conscious, but I admire women who can proudly show off their curves.

I’m nervous just thinking about it!

Q: Do your characters tell you their stories a bit at a time or all at once? Do they ever pull you in unexpected directions changing up the plot you originally planned?

A: Yes, yes, and yes. It depends on the story. Very rarely, a story will come to me fully formed. Daughters of the Bride was like that. A gift book. That almost never happens. Usually, I get a spark of an idea. I write up some notes, then set it aside. If I’m still thinking about it, I know it has potential. I get a lot of ideas that never go anywhere. They might make fine stories for someone else, but if they’re not tugging at me, I let them go.

I’m on the extreme-plotter end of the plotter/pantser spectrum. (For those who don’t know, a plotter is a writer who plots the story in advance. A pantser is a writer who flies by the seat of her pants, without knowing where the story is going.) I generally work out story problems during my plotting process, which makes me feel free to relax and sink into the story while I’m writing.

When I get into the flow of a book, the characters do take over and sometimes they do surprise me. When they take me in a direction I didn’t expect, I have to step back to look at the big picture to adjust. I never try to force a character to do something that doesn’t feel right for him or her. Every decision must be motivated.

In The Friendship List, Unity threw me for a loop early on. I knew she was still in love with her late husband, but until I wrote a particular scene, I didn’t realize just how broken she still was. I did have to make some very serious adjustments to her road to a happy ending. And in the end, as I brought her out of that darkness, I cried. So satisfying!

Q: Do you have pets? How do the animals you have now or have had in the past influence writing animals into your stories?

A: Yes, I have three pets. Two ragdoll cats, siblings Alex and Lucy, and a miniature poodle named Kelli. I love animals of all kinds. I’m a big supporter of Seattle Humane and the amazing work they do for animals in and around Seattle.

Animals play a big role in my books. When they have a part in the story, they are genuine characters because I believe, like humans, each animal has its own unique quirks and personality traits. The book I’m working on right now will be the first book in my new series, Wishing Tree—Christmas romances—and there are two dogs in the book who I adore. Bella is a Great Dane who loves to play dress-up in cute canine ensembles, and who is intimidated by a dachshund named Burt. The first Wishing Tree romance will be out in 2021.

Q: Is there a genre of books that you have not written yet but might contemplate writing in the future? What might that be?

A: I recently toyed with the idea of writing a thriller. I even did quite a bit of research on Bitcoin, which was going to be a big subplot. I decided against the thriller, but research is never wasted—one of the characters in The Friendship List became a Bitcoin millionaire, and then a regular-money millionaire. Plus, I'm kind of proud of myself—it took me two weeks of research to be able to understand crypto-currency, but I'm now I'm at least cocktail-party level literate. 😊

Q: What was the first book you sold/published and how did you celebrate when you received the acceptance letter from the publisher?

A: The first book I sold was a historical romance called Frontier Flame. A few months after that, I sold a book to (then Silhouette) Special Edition. Both books came out the same month, so the first time I was published was with two books. It was very heady! Of course, before that and after that I had many story ideas rejected. Even now, although infrequently, one of my ideas can be rejected. It happened recently. Still stings, but not as badly.

I celebrated my first sale by calling all of my writer friends and squealing over the phone, and then by going out for a nice dinner with my husband.

Q: What do you love to do when not writing?

A: I love hanging out with my friends—and I miss that right now because of the coronavirus. Friendship is one of the most fundamental relationships in a woman’s life. You might argue “in a man’s life, too,” but from what I’ve observed, most men don’t have the same visceral need for community that women do. My husband once told me, “You’re all I need.” Which is sweet and romantic and probably true. I love him dearly, more than any other human being on the planet, but I need friends, too. My friends are the family I chose, and I nurture those relationships in every way I can.

If you are looking for a good contemporary romance to read this summer then look no further. I mean come on look at the cover! Anyways I enjoyed getting to know the character Ellen and Unity as they go on their own journey towards changes in their life by making a list of things do with a sweet prize at the end of a spa day but more then that they managed to find love. There was ups and downs, watching as Unity still trying to get past her grief. Watching as Ellen as a single mother is facing being an empty nester as her child is college touring and the absent after wanting to make an appearance. So much goes on to keep to keep this book interesting and I loved seeing the romance and the friendship between Unity and Ellen they are such supportive friend which was pretty nice to see. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.

A touching story about friendship, motherhood, life and stepping out of your comfort zone. This is the first book, I've read from this author and now a big fan. Her storytelling is moving and really takes you into these characters lives.

Great summer read revolving around two best friends in their thirties and their resolve to get out of their ruts to start living their best lives. With a touch of humor and sensitivity, Susan Mallery never fails to entertain with her terrific writing. I highly recommend this book! Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

The Friendship List by Susan Mallery is a light, summery read. While I enjoyed the idea of the lists that the two friends agree to complete, I found myself annoyed with many of the characters and their reactions to certain things. I couldn't get over Unity being so hung up on her late husband. I mean I understand how tragic this must be but if she is ready to move on, she's ready. If she is not then she's not. There was way too much back and forth with this that I constantly found myself just annoyed and frustrated with this character.

While I loved Ellen's relationship with her son and her friendship with Keith, I couldn't get over how, towards the end, she became overly attached and was essentially begging for Keith to be with her. I felt uncomfortable when she was throwing herself at him when he was obviously still upset with her.

All in all, not my favorite read. I found some parts to be enjoyable but I just couldn't get over the bits that put me off.

What a fun, engaging, and heartwarming story about friendship, love, and family. The Friendship List by Susan Mallery was such a treat to read on a rainy afternoon. I just fell in so deep, that I wound up finishing the book in one sitting. It was just too good to put down.

Ellen and Unity are BFFs who have known each other since birth. They have been there for one another all of their lives. Middle-aged and feeling out of sorts, the two decide to create a list - challenges to push them to shake up their lives. Challenges like, getting a tattoo to skydiving. Yep, these two want to show everyone around them that they are just fine and living life to the fullest. You see, Unity is a widow, mourning her husband; while Ellen's son is afraid to go to college and leave her all alone. By joining forces, these two best friends plan on embracing life once more and having a few exciting adventures of their own.

Talk about a love letter to friendship! This book shows the true meaning of friendship through Unity and Ellen's relationship.The ups and downs they go through, their deep bond, and the love they have for one another just shines through. I really enjoyed getting to know them both and reading all about their misadventures. Such a great story!

The Friendship List by Susan Mallery is about two friends, Ellen and Unity, creating challenges for each other to fix their stagnant lives... but did not happen quite as expected. I had every belief these two would be doing the same list items together with hilarity ensuing, but they spent at least half of the novel in different cities doing different things. While somewhat disappointed by that —I was all for a girls trip book— the novel is full of drama, bits of humour, and so many of life’s ups and downs.

The two women and their romantic counterparts all went through some sort of personal growth: Ellen needing to create a life outside of being a mother, Unity coming to terms with the loss of her husband, Keith dealing with the fact his daughter is growing up, and Thaddeus discovering things do not always happen they way he wants them too.

There are two standout characters that really help bring this story to life. The first is Ellen’s son Cooper, a sweet seventeen-year-old athlete who clearly has a great relationship with his mom, teachers, and friends. The other is Thaddeus’ aunt Dagmar, a spitfire retired librarian with a huge heart. Their roles had impact not only on the action but on the the two females' personal growth as well.

I have been a fan of Susan Mallery’s books for years; her writing and characterization is, as ever, exceptional. Just do not go into this expecting a girl-power adventure, as it is really about two women needing to deal with their past issues in order to find future love.

The chick lit book to read if you’re ever in a rut! It was cute and funny- just what I needed as a quarantine read. No war, murder, politics- just fun romance. Susan Mallery never disappoints in providing a great read that can be shared with friends.

This title is out now and oh what a great way to enjoy the tail end of summer reading vibes and friendship! 🌞👯‍♀️👯‍♀️
Both Ellen and Unity are stuck in a rut😕 So what do these best-friends-since-childhood do? Why they make a list of course! Each one has a list of items to complete, items that push them out of their comfort zone (like getting a tattoo and skydiving) and hopefully jumpstarting new chapters for both ladies. This was a fun read with lots of humor and and some wise insights into the human condition. I highly recommend this book for contemporary fiction and romance readers alike!

What a great book. It wasnt what I was expecting but was a pleasant surprise. Interesting storyline and characters. A nice way for the characters to get out of the rut they were in.

The Friendship List was so much fun to read!

Two friends each stuck in their past. Following self-imposed rules that shouldn't exist. Rules which stop them from living a full life.

Ellen Fox is a single mother. Her son is finishing high school and it is time to decide about picking a college. Ellen admits she doesn't want him to leave the nest until she realizes he is not even considering the college he wants because he feels responsible for her and he is willing to sacrifice his future for her.

Unity Leandre is living in the past. She became a widow 3 years ago. Her husband died in the line of duty. She is living in his childhood home and in his childhood bedroom. His clothes are still hanging in the closet. She hasn't been able to take anything away since she lost him.

Neither woman has dated recently. Ellen since she became a mother and Unity since the passing of her husband. They do have each other. They have been friends for many years and they support each other unconditionally.

Unity creates the Friendship List. A list of challenges for them to achieve including dating again. Unity writes it more for Ellen than for herself. She is not sure she wants to change at all.

The Friendship List was a charming and witty novel. The main characters Ellen, Unity, Keith, Thaddeus, Cooper, Lisa, and Dagmar were all well written and well developed.

I love Ellen's spontaneity with Keith. She also had a great relationship with her son, Cooper. She was probably my favorite character. A close second was Dagmar. Unity was lucky to have her.

Keith went a little too far with his daughter, Lisa. He went from caring for her to becoming too controlling for my taste.

I love Thaddeus. He was perfect. He was so patient and understanding. He was ready for a relationship and he played no games.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by HQN via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

No summer is complete without a new book by Susan Mallery! This one is perfect for the pool or the boat or the couch or the porch or stolen moments in the bathroom! I loved the family dynamics and friendships in this book. The characters were well-developed and pacing was excellent. I can't wait to read more and hope for companion novels for this one in the future.

This book was a surprise, somehow it went in a different direction than I thought it was going and I enjoyed how different this title was!

Ellen is a single mom with a junior in high school, and it’s been just the two of them so long she can’t imagine what life will be like when he goes to college. Then she finds out he plans to stay close to home with her, and she knows she has to change so he can go out and live his life to it’s potential.

Her best friend, Unity, is having a hard time as well. She has a successful business but can’t seem to let go go her late husband and move on with her life. SO, she creates a list of challenges to challenge them each to get out there and live life.

The characters were so well-written, with a story that showed how you can put yourself out there no matter what your situation in life is. I had a great time reading this story, and it made me want to make a list and join in on the fun as well!

I enjoyed Susan Mallery's "The Friendship List" primarily because of its unique mix of romance and women's fiction. A lot of time was spent developing two central romances, the first between single parents Ellen and Keith and the second between widow Unity and wealthy bachelor Thaddeus. However, to me the most important relationship in the book was the lifelong friendship between female leads Unity and Ellen. I really loved the way they always supported each other and that they acted like sisters as much as best friends. They rarely fought, but when they did, they missed each other so much that they couldn't even go a full day without making up.

Unfortunately, when the story began Ellen and Unity's strong friendship actually seemed to be holding them back from moving forward with their lives. Neither was willing to push the other out of the rut they'd fallen into, and as a result, Unity remained mired in grief over her husband Stuart's death three years earlier and Ellen hadn't dated since her teenage son, Cooper, was born. It wasn't until Ellen accidentally overheard Cooper making plans to give up his dream of going away to college to stay home with her that she realized something had to change. The Friendship List was born out of Unity's determination to help her friend figure out a way to convince Cooper that she could make it on her own, and the story really took off from there.

Unity and Ellen's competition to complete the items on the list was a lot of fun, and it was a great motivation for each of them to finally get of their comfort zone. Not all of the challenges were easy, however, and Unity really struggled with anything that meant letting go of her old life with Stuart. Fortunately, her love interest, Thaddeus, was very patient with her as she worked through her grief, and after a few false starts, Unity finally realized that she was ready to take a risk on love again. Ellen and Keith also had to overcome several obstacles as they transitioned from friends to lovers, but I enjoyed their banter and it was very easy for me to cheer them on to their HEA.

Overall, "The Friendship List" was an enjoyable read and I recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and women's fiction. I look forward to seeing what Susan Mallery writes next!

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

You cannot go wrong with a Susan Mallery book. I feel like character development and relationships are her strong suit. Fantastic beach read. Inspiring story about living your life and checking off those bucket list items.