Thank you to Serpents Tail and Net Galley for a #gifted copy.

Oh, high school reunions. You know the drill - who got married? who stayed single? do they have kids now? what are they working as? did they "make" it?

20 years later after graduation, these are the questions raised in the breakfast club-esque setting of "Who We Were" by BM Carroll. Both friends and rivals are forced to face their past: the popular girl who fell pregnant in high school, the unforgiving bully who has strived to redeem himself as a doctor, the wallflower who is now noticed and even stalked, and the bullied victim who even in adulthood as yet to find a foothold. Yet there is a grudge in their midst - someone who hasn't forgotten, nor forgiven, what happened two decades ago, and begins to systematically pick apart their deepest secrets and fears, culminating in threats, harassment and perhaps even murder.

I enjoyed "Who We Were" because it fit the thriller genre well. Fast paced, intriguing and plenty of red herrings while you try to figure out who the culprit is. My main critique would be that the ending wrapped up too nicely - yet this is more because I enjoy loose ends, and feel that they portray the imperfection of humans better. The eventual culprit was a bit of a stretch for me as well, as I would have preferred a more "elegant" revelation, rather than a character who was mentioned, largely ignored, and then only resurfaced towards the end, with tenuous motive.

Fun read overall, and would recommend it a book to take on holiday!

Who We Were is incredible! Dark twisted and full of thrills and chills!

Extremely entertaining and I thought the pacing was perfect! My only complaint is the amount of characters!

4/5

I really enjoyed this book. Flicking back and forth between the characters kept it interesting and it was great getting to know them all. Really good whodunit that keeps you guessing until the end. Highly recommend.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was highly addictive read, with good characters and a good story line

Thanks to Serpent's Tail / Profile Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely riveting and compelling - Friends Reunited with a killer twist! If you are thinking about attending that school reunion you've been invited to you may think twice after reading this engrossing psychological thriller. from B.M. Carroll. Told from seven perspectives (yes, I promise it does work) we soon learn that high school was not the halcyon days of fond remembrances for all of the attendees. There is the usual bullying, of course, but something more insidious went on 20 years ago, and one alumni is out for revenge. From the outset it may seem obvious who the likely candidates with a simmering grudge are, but as the story progresses it becomes obvious that not all is as it seems. There is a Janus face amongst the crowd of attendees of a 20 year high school reunion, but who? As the story builds to its inevitable climax, the truth of events over two decades ago are revealed with panache and style. There is a great deal of carnage to come before this point, however, and I loved every page. A deliciously dark and wicked tale of revenge - simply unmissable.

#WhoWeWere #NetGalley

4.5 stars

Twenty years after school finishes and a reunion to prepare and attend, set the scene for an interesting plot.
Told from different characters and perspectives I found the book to be interesting and I enjoyed the different views from each individual.
Very enjoyable and although at times it dragged and thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to others.

It’s been 20 years since high school finished and Katy is organising a reunion, she’s excited to show everyone that she’s not the same girl she was 20 years ago, but mention of a reunion doesn’t spark happy feelings for everyone, someone is holding a grudge and will stop at nothing to get revenge....

This is book was certainly entertaining! Once I was nearing the end I couldn’t stop reading because I just wanted to know how it would all unfold. The ending took me by surprise but I didn’t necessarily love it either.

Told from seven (yes, seven!) points of view, I did find it a little overwhelming at the start but as the story progressed, I actually enjoyed it and felt like each character did have enough time to develop and each point of view did add to the story and it was all wrapped up nicely at the end. Id recommend giving this one a go if you like multiple points of view books.

Sadly this wasn't for me.
The plot seemed interesting at first, but then I couldn't connect with the characters. They didn't call my attention at all. Although, this is just my point of view, so it doesn't mean there's something wrong with the book, this is more like a "sorry, it's not you, it's me" but literally.
I really wanted to like it, because thrillers are my cup of tea. Anyway, thank you so much Serpent's Tail / Profile Books and NetGalley for providing me this digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I can only imagine what these reunions could be like. I've never been to one and never intend to.

The inner core group of friends who were the popular ones and the ones they cast out of the group and the ones they ignored or mocked and bullied are the central characters, with a few on the periphery who got on and did their own thing.

That first year book in which you said where you would be and what you would be doing in ten years, then twenty years later what you are really doing. Soon emails and notes start to appear in the same format, but they are more sinister and disturbing. Who knows all this information?

Most of the characterisations are very believable, teens can be very cruel and without the benefit of hindsight.

The book tells the story from the perspective of the different characters and while it starts out well does drag a little in the middle. The action ramps up towards the end and the conclusion is well done.

Overall a worthwhile read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for my ARC in return for an honest review.

What a great book. Would definitely recommend to it others I no. Great work will look out for this author again

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. My 20 year class reunion is actually this year, and I think I will skip it after reading this! Loved the different views of the past and now, as well as the chapters belonging to different characters. Little slow in the middle. Overall, the ending was not a huge shock.

I enjoyed reading this book.I like the chapters telling different characters stories,and I thought the characters were well described.The plot was good, and so was the pace of the book.It was a winner for me,and a good read.

Overall I thought it was a very good read and an interesting premise. A school reunion 20 years on brings back old secrets and long held grudges leading to murder, assault and shattered lives.
Not really chapters but different voices giving their own story. The book did drag a little in the middle where I thought nothing really much happened to advance the plot. A few red herrings but no real surprises. A satisfactory ending given all that had gone before Recommended

Also on www.goodreads.com

Book structure still needs a lot of work. Sudden addition of numbers to names of chapters- why? Layout and editing still needs to be done. Addition of page number at the bottom rather than location needs adding

Who we were is a story that has a very interesting setting.

A high school reunion, with an updated yearbook for all the class mates. However, some people have been receiving weird and unsettling messages, with personal information that was not public. Who could be behind these messages?
The story is told from multiple view points, but it never became overwhelming or annoying. I actually enjoyed it a lot and would recommend this book!

#WhoWeWere #NetGalley
A good read.
Twenty years after they went their separate ways, friends and enemies are coming together for their school reunion. Katy, who is desperate to show that she's no longer the shy wallflower. Annabel, who ruled the school until a spectacular fall from grace. Zach, popular and cruel, but who says he's a changed man. And Robbie, always the victim, who never stood a chance.As the reunion nears, a terrible event that binds the group together will resurface. Because someone is still holding a grudge, and will stop at nothing to reveal their darkest secrets
Narration of the story is excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley and Serpent's Tail for giving me an advance copy.