It was difficult in the beginning of this book to keep certain characters and the characters families straight since there are quite a few. Once I immersed myself into the story and the drama surrounding each family I became really invested. This book deals with hard hitting topics such a grief, depression, and suicide among others. The author does a great job at setting up a realistic story and situations where you can't help but to but put yourself into the characters shoes.

This is the first book I've read by Lucinda Berry and I absolutely loved it. The story was so gripping and had me at the edge of my seat the whole way through. The characters were easy to relate too and the writing was amazing. I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

I always enjoy books from this author and this one is no exception. It hooks you in from the start and keeps you gripped all the way through. I can't wait to read more from them in the future - great book.

This was the first book that I read by this author but it won't be the last.

Kendra, Lindsey, and Dani have been friends for 30 years and now living in close proximity of the other. They were thrilled that their 16-year-old sons are also friends and hang out all the time, playing sports, and going to school together. But will their friendship survive after a horrific tragedy that is every mother's worst fear?

These three families are not only going through every parent's nightmare but they find during this time that there are many secrets within their own families with themselves and their other children. But can they face those head-on while trying to accept what happened that night?

As a mother of 2, now adult sons, this story was heartbreaking. I tried putting myself in the shoes of each of the women to see if I would react in the same way and I still can't answer that question. This story is so realistic, and unfortunately, happens every day to families. A tale that will pull on your heartstrings. I suggest having tissue close by since you will feel the emotions of each of the characters in this book. A story that will stay with me for a very long time.

Highly recommend!

Will post to blog on 03/04/21

Loved this book. Actually, this is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint. Couldn’t stop reading. Covid-19 quarantine has been difficult so this book was a life saver

As usually never disappointed with Lucinda Berry's books. She leaves you on the edge of your seat and just when you think you know who did it. Nope you are all wrong and she gives you another spin. Can not wait for the next book.

As a mother, this book blew my mind and really made me think “what would I do?” Lucinda writes the best books that twist your mind and make you second guess yourself on how you think her stories will go. This is another do not miss story.

Awesome, awesome, awesome book! The title doesn't really do this book much justice nor does it give you any idea of what you're in for once you start reading it. I read this in record time because I could not stand to put it down for long. The storyline kept me guessing and I was not at all disappointed with anything about this book.

honestly, i feel like i'm not in the proper age range for this book. which, probably didn't help the situation at all. but, i found this book to be pretty heartbreaking, even if i'm not a mother and probably never will be. or at least for awhile. but, there honestly was so many plot holes and things that were brought up but never really explained or fleshed out. which got to be pretty annoying after awhile.

Three best friends and neighbours--Kendra, Lindsey and Dani--idyllic, suburban lives take a nightmarish turn one night when gunshots are heard from one of the friend's house where each of their teenage sons have gathered for a sleepover. As a result of this one son dies, another goes into a coma and the third is traumatised by the event and rendered temporarily mute. As these three friends search for answers as to why this horrific incident occurred and the troubling secrets and discoveries about their sons' lives and friendship come to light, the cracks in their idyllic lives and friendship begin to show which threaten to ruin and poison everything they have built.

The premise of this book was very interesting with an emotional and heartbreaking ending but  what I did not like were any of the characters. All throughout the book I kept wondering how did these three women end up becoming best friends in the first place?? Beneath the gloss and veneer of their friendship there was a lot of envy/ jealousy for each other which this conflict brought to light. Kendra was selfish and self-centered, traits which her son Sawyer seemed to have inherited as well. The only character I liked was Dani and it was nice to see her getting the courage in the end to take control of her life and getting out of the toxic and abusive relationship she was in although it came at such a tragic cost.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Thomas and Mercer and the author for the e-Arc of the book. I had read this book in September and I apologise for sharing a very late review.

The book was published on 18th August 2020.

This was my first Lucinda Berry novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a fairly quick read and had just enough suspense and intrigue to keep you interested and wanting to know what was going to happen next as the novel unfolds around a shooting and what happened. There were many sub-layers to the characters that I felt distracted a little from the story and it was hard at times to remember who was who and what their backstory/sub-plot was because the book was told in three perspectives that changed every chapter. Other than that, I enjoyed it and didn't see the reveal coming!

Lucinda Berry never fails to disappoint me. Such well written books and completely unputdownable. Including this one. So well written as well. Enthralling, amazing intense and even heartbreaking. Thank you so much! All the stars!!

The Best of Friends is a story of three women's friendships and how they are being put to the test as they deal with a tragic event that affects all of their families. The book was heart-wrenching, fast-paced, and well-developed, with an unpredictable ending. All of the characters are realistically flawed and relatable. The story was captivating as each woman's perspective was revealed throughout the text, and secrets revealed along the way. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title. I look forward to reading more of Lucinda Berry's work.

This book is heartbreaking and horrible. The story starts off with a literal bang and three families lives have been changed forever. This was a difficult read yet quite addicting as well and I was compelled to know The Who and why.

A great and twisty suspense novel. I loved reading about the different experiences of the three main characters. I wasn't sure which son/mother to side with and enjoyed watching how this tragedy both united them and tore them apart.

At the beginning I had a hard time settling in and keeping everyone straight. They seemed so similar on a surface level that they seemed interchangeable but that feeling soon left as I read more and learned more about the women. This was a complicated story of grief, loss and so much more. I read it fast because it’s one of those books that just grips you tightly and as awful as some of the situations were, I just couldn’t stop reading it.

Dark, heartbreaking, fast-paced, edge of your seat and emotional thriller. It's about grief, friendships being tested and being a mother. Kendra, Dani and Lindsey have been best friends since childhood. An unforgivable tragedy rips their friendships apart and impacting their families. One of them goes far to find out what happened to her son after a tragic accident. Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this heart wrenching ebook.

I thought the book was interesting and I wasn't bored reading it, but I did find it a little confusing at times and there were a few times throughout the book that information was revealed that was not followed up upon. Also, I felt like the attention and level of detail and development with reference to the sons was confusing and I felt like the character development of Jacob and Caleb was a little off as compared to Sawyer, although that could be because the book opens with his death and the development of the other characters may have given away too much of the plot. I think I would have liked if the author went more in depth with the sons as well as the siblings.

Overall though, this was a quick read and the sort of book that I didn't want to put down because I wanted to find out what happened. However, I found the characters that I met along the way less than satisfying.

This is probably going to be one of my favorite books of the year. It has a lot of characters to keep up with which was difficult at the beginning but the story is so captivating. I was constantly wondering what happened. It’s about so much more than what happened on the night in question. It’s about friendships and marriage and parenting and all done so well.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

I really wanted to like this book, I just didn't. I really tried. The plot was intriguing; 3 teenage boys, best friends hanging out at one of their homes in a wealthy, suburban neighborhood when tragedy strikes. One boy is dead, the other in a coma, & the 3rd boy too traumatized to speak. Was it an accident or murder-suicide or just plain old murder?

Each chapter is from the viewpoint of one of the boy's mothers, who are also lifelong best friends. While I should have had my heartstrings pulled at these women dealing with the tragedy, I didn't. They were shallow & passive-aggressive & each one suspicious of the other. They aren't even likable in a love to hate them thriller kind of way. Had I not looked at the name of whose chapter it was I wouldn't have known whose chapter I was reading. They were just dull & boring. These ladies wouldn't have lasted one season on the Real Housewives. Well, maybe Beverly Hills.

Not only did the book lack interesting protagonists, but there were also so many extra characters. I forgot whose kid belonged to which woman as the story weaved through present-day & flashbacks to when the moms were in high school & then the events leading up to the tragedy. I read Game Of Thrones & had a much easier time keeping track of everyone than I did in this book.

I sped read through this book because I had to know what truly went down that night. And it was as uninteresting & predictable as the characters. The family "secrets" thrown in throughout as what I am assuming were supposed to be the "twists" fell flat & weren't shocking at all. All in all, it wasn't suspenseful & not a thriller.

I should write something nice about the book though. It was a fast read.