Janelle Harris is a new-to-me author and I'm glad I found he.! Keep Your Friends Close is a riveting and raucous ride of a thriller! I read and read until I finished it in a day - unable to stay away because I wanted to know what happened next. Eagerly awaiting her next!

Twenty years ago, Luke, Darcy, Gillian and Tina were students at the exclusive St. Peter’s school. Events that happened then have followed them into the present and may destroy their lives.

Keep Your Friends Close is narrated by Darcy, Gillian and Tina. Darcy, a social media star, is in the last weeks of a difficult pregnancy. She and Luke, now married, run a successful company producing frozen, organic meals. Gillian is the daughter of a wealthy investor. She disappeared when she was at school but is now working for her father’s company. Tina is still a loner, damaged by the constant bullying she received at school. As their lives intersect, Darcy must unravel their troubled relationships before it is too late.

Janelle Harris has crafted a near perfect psychological thriller. The story has a slow, deliberate pace in the early chapters but the action soon picks up. The suspense is unbearable in the final chapters. The characters are well described, some deserving sympathy more than others. This is the first book I’ve read by Janelle Harris and it won’t be the last! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Janelle Harris for this ARC.

“Keep Your Friends Close” is an interesting title for this book; you’ll understand why if you read it.

While I’ve read a lot of very good books lately, it’s been a while since I came across one that kept me up at night because I could not put the book down. The suspense had me that tightly in it’s grip. The author, Janelle Harris wove an exceptionally intriguing story with believable reasons why the main character could be so completely duped, and if you’ve ever read a book like this, I’m sure you understand why I felt like yelling at her to look closer at the circumstances.

I thoroughly enjoyed this EXCEPT for the cursing that contains the word that starts with a g that so many Christians hate. It comes up about 3 times, honestly, I don’t feel it should be in any book. So 4 stars for this one.

The storyline in this book was good but I didn’t feel an empathy for any of the characters. I didn’t find them likeable.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I found this to be an enjoyable read, although sometimes I found it to be a little repetitive. I enjoyed the way it was written both now and in the past so we could find out why things happened the way they did. It picked up its pace quickly towards the end and I was happy with the way the story ended.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story tells its tale through the alternating points of view of three women (Tina, Darcy and Gillian) who were classmates at the same boarding school. Gillian mysteriously disappeared years ago only to show up as our Darcy's neighbor. It feels like someone is gaslighting a very pregnant Darcy - but who is it and why? In the meantime, why is Darcy's husband Luke acting so strangely?

Darcy, Gillian, and Tina all narrate this suspenseful story where not everything is as it seems. They've been friends since school and support one another, something Darcy needs right now. Her perfect life- the life she's perfected as an image- really isn't. She confined to bed rest for her difficult pregnancy and her relationship with her husband Luke is failing, in part because their debt just keeps getting larger. Someone is out to get Darcy- or are they? Who is is? This moves back and forth in time a bit so that you can see why the gaslighting. It's well paced with good characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I found this a good pacy thriller with some great twists and turns. I was properly spooked at some early points ans trying to figure out what had happened.

This is my first book by this author and, overall, I thought it was fine. The writing style definitely made for a quick read and I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved the feeling of tension through the entire book. My issue with the book was that the “twist” was completely obvious from about halfway (if not earlier), which made me think something even more twisty must be coming....but it never did. The end felt a little rushed as well. Darcy was extremely unlikable in my opinion because there were so many signs that things were not right and she did nothing to try to address any of it.

Overall this book was just okay for me but I would definitely give this author another try in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK for an early release of this novel. I was confused, I knew the characters were who they were BUT I was still very confused. (I don't want to put spoilers in). The ending was soooooooooo far fetched BUT there was something in the book that kept me wanting to read it.

Thank you to Amazon and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for an honest reivew.
This was my first Janelle Harris she was a new author to me so I was excited to read.
I started reading really quickly as I got so involved in the story and was telling my colleagues and the people I read with about this new book I couldn't put down.
Until about half way through I guessed the ending and the twists that were coming and I don't think I will be the only one that will be let down in that sense.
It was gripping nice easy read and kept me wanting more just shame I predicted the ending in my head. Maybe I have read too many of the same style.
I would recommend the book to people that like this type of story and those that don't try and suss where its going unlike my mind... it's not terrible just felt the ending could be more woah!
I enjoyed how it was written and kept me reading it, I like Luke and Darcy and HATED Tina what a crazy bitch!! ahaha! Actually thought WTF!
So it was nice that the epilogue they all got the happy ending.

This psychological thriller is about boarding school experiences and how these can hurt and linger. Darcy Hogan who is outwardly successful with a vegetarian food business is haunted by strange occurrences while being pregnant and resting at home. It is not clear if she is just hyper sensible or imagining these till things come to a chilling climax.
The different points of view with different years were a bit confusing at the beginning but it is a pageturner.

3.5 Stars

This was a slow burn until the last 100 pages or so. It was a bit repetitive BUT I liked the writing style and the flashbacks between now and then. This story kept me wanting more and trying to figure out how it would end. I have to say I was surprised with the ending and wouldn’t have guessed how it would wrap up.

Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I look forward to reading more books by this author and that's the best compliment I can give.

Darcy is pregnant and unwell. Her husband, Luke, drives Darcy to a TV studio to appear on Lindsay St Claire's morning show. This, to tout her vegan "Darcy's Dishes". And, of course, also to help other mothers who have dealt with being ill during pregnancy. Callers phone into the show. One caller is Tina - who trashes Lindsay on the air.

Tina is someone from both Darcy and Luke's past.. Will this appearance and phone-in on air hurt or help "Darcy's Dishes"? And why is Darcy so anxious about the past?

Excellent characterization and a different type of plot. An enjoyable read!

Many Thanks to Lake Union Publishing / Amazon Publishing, UK
and NetGalley for the chance to read and review!

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Nothing could be more true than that for this book.

Darcy seems to be living a perfect life, she is married to her high school sweetheart, a baby on the way, and together (but mostly Darcy) they have created a successful company. But all isn't as perfect as it seems, the company is in trouble and Darcy is afraid of losing not only her company but her sense of self. She is also having issues with her pregnancy. When Darcy appears on a TV show that allows viewers to call in their questions she gets spooked by a call from her old schoolmate Tina. The call sets a serious of events in motion that lead to Darcy questioning her husband, her friends, and the newcomer in her life.

This book was extremely predictable to me, how the main character Darcy didn't notice it is beyond me. She seems like a flimsy person, I don't like her. Nor did I like the Tina character. I understand how this book is supposed to make you question who's who and does what, but I think the chapters from different characters take away from the suspense. I realised right from the get-go what was going on and I am sure I won't be the only one. Although the suspense was gone for me I did enjoy reading this book, it is an easy read and entertaining even when you know what is about to happen.

There is a giveaway going on right now for Keep Your Friends Close by Janelle Harris, so head over to Goodreads.com and enter to win!

I was intrigued right away by the premise of this story, a woman who shares her incredible life on social media, you know the type. This person has the perfect marriage, is successful with her cooking business, she is gorgeous too. And she never has a bad day. But the reality of Darcy’s facade differs from what she shows the world.

When she must stay home because of her pregnancy, she wonders if she’s being watched. Creepy phone calls and knocks on the door are scaring her. Someone is out to get Darcy but who?

Take a look:

Darcy Hogan’s perfect life is all over social media. She’s beautiful, she’s successful, and she and her childhood sweetheart are about to become parents for the first time. But behind all the followers and the superficial likes lurks a darker truth…

In reality, Darcy feels isolated and afraid. Her difficult pregnancy has her confined to the house, she’s being harassed online, and out-of-control debt threatens to ruin everything she’s worked so hard for.

When her husband is summoned away on business, Darcy’s cabin fever soon spirals into fear. Who is making mysterious phone calls and knocking on her door? Is it an old friend trying to reach out—or a stranger determined to push in?

As her due date creeps closer, Darcy feels ever more certain that someone is out to get her. She’s desperate to get away—but is she running from the right person?

This is such a timely story, social media plays a huge role in everyone’s life and putting your “perfect life” on display will spark jealousy within someone where its a friend or stranger.

This must-read novel comes out on October 6! Pre-order it here. Free if you have Kindle Unlimited!

Luke and Darcy Hogan seem to have it all - they’ve been in love since school days, have a successful food business and a baby on the way. However, whilst making a television appearance Tina, a caller into the programme, says a number of strange things that leads to a car crash interview. Why is Darcy so unsettled? From this point on Darcy feels a growing sense of paranoia or is someone really out to get them and ruin the couples lives? The story is told from several perspectives from the present and back to school days at St Peters Boarding School.

There are aspects I really like in this easy read. The first half contains tension, some chill and Darcy’s unease is conveyed well. Tina’s personality comes across strongly though I think Darcy is way too naive to be completely believable. The storyline in the school where the roots of the issues begins is really good.

However, the switching of characters gets confusing, the ‘big twist’ is very obvious from about half way through and the final part is too much of a stretch for me.

Overall, a mixed read though I appreciate other readers may enjoy the twists more than I did. It’s a quick read and mostly enjoyable.

With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon for the ARC for an honest review.

Darcy has it all. A handsome husband, a thriving business and a baby on the way. However, she didn’t realize that back in high school she might have made someone very mad at her and that person wants revenge. A quick read - perfect beach book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Keep Your Friends Close
This book is a Psychological Thriller. This was a very quick read. It kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going on. It’s well written and plot is excellent. It flips back and forth between characters in the book and time frames. It’s easy to keep track of though so it doesn’t complicate the reading.
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Darcy is pregnant and is Married to Luke. They own a business called Darcy’s Dishes and it’s dangerously close to falling apart. Gillian is a runaway teenager who is suddenly back and she’s the daughter an investor, Andrew, that wants to save Darcy’s business who suddenly dies. Tina is an old boarding school girl who latches onto Darcy and becomes obsessed with her and her life. Strange things begin happening from the start with Darcy. Not sure who it is has Darcy feeling trapped and isolated with being pregnant and on rest from work.
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I did struggle to like Luke in the book. A man who is condescending, patronizing, and doesn’t listen makes me want to slap the snot out of him but it’s definitely needed in this story for the plot to work.

I loved the description of Keep Your Friends Close and the writing was fine, but this very by the numbers ( the "twists" are all very obvious, as are the characters' actions) that great writing was needed to elevate this to a standout novel. But it never gets there and Keep Your Friends Close was an average read; not bad, but nothing to make it truly memorable either.