"Good Company" is a compelling exploration of friendship, marriage, and the complexities of identity. Through a diverse cast of characters, including Flora, Julian, and Margot, Sweeney creates a rich tapestry of interconnected lives that resonate with authenticity and depth. Set against the backdrop of New York City and the idyllic California coast, the novel's atmospheric setting serves as a vivid backdrop for the characters' journeys of self-discovery and redemption.

Sweeney's writing style is elegant and immersive, effortlessly drawing readers into the lives of her characters and the intricacies of their relationships. The plot of "Good Company" is filled with intrigue, as secrets from the past come to light, leading to unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. While the logic behind some of the characters' decisions may feel questionable at times, the overall enjoyment of the novel is undeniable, as readers become fully invested in the fates of its characters. "Good Company" is a poignant and thought-provoking read that will linger in readers' minds long after they've turned the final page.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book — almost exactly three years ago. I am not exactly sure what happened or why I did not read the book until now, but I’m glad I did. What’s most interesting about the circumstances surrounding this book is that I must have thought I would really like it, because not recalling the advanced readers copy I had received previously, I BOUGHT myself a copy in January, 2023!

I won’t rehash the book’s plot, but I will say that it is cleverly written from the perspective of several different characters and goes back and forth in time between the present and the past in these characters’ intertwined lives. The author, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, expertly explores the intricate, intimate interplay between married spouses, friends, and parent/child relationships, delving into the characters’ innermost thoughts and motivations and the consequences of their actions. She correctly demonstrates that people are the products of their upbringings but also have the choice to change the trajectory of their lives. There were several instances in the book where I found myself considering how I would feel or act if I were confronted with similar circumstances and whether I agreed or disagreed with, or at least understood, the choices the characters made.

After reading Good Company, I look forward to reading Ms. Sweeney’s other novel, The Nest. Ironically I purchased The Nest just days before receiving the ARC of Good Company from NetGalley but inexplicably have yet to read. The adage “too many books, too little time” definitely rings true for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, and the publisher Ecco for providing me the chance to read Good Company as a ARC, despite the fact I wound up purchasing a copy! I’ve provided this review VOLUNTARILY.

I enjoyed this book about friendship and marriage. Thanks for the review copy. I liked The Nest more, though.

I love a book that has love, friendship, family, and marriage. I also appreciate showcasing marriage when not at its best. How some hold on to resentment or pursuing second chances. Or reflect on the life they shared and how might have it been different. If domestic drama is your jam, I say this is a great book from Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney.

I began reading this. DNF. This one just couldn't keep my interest nor did I seem to care enough about the character to continue reading. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The book closely examines the lives of Julian and Flora, happily married for twenty-something years. The marriage takes a darker turn when Flora, on the eve of her daughter's graduation, unearths her husband's original wedding ring, a wedding ring she long though lost. Flora must examine her relationship and challenge the assumptions she made about her marriage in the wake of this find. Good Company is riveting, giving the reader an intimate look at how a perfect marriage can go awry.

I gave the author's other novel "The Nest" 5* and I was hoping for a similar experience with this one. Unfortunately, while the writing itself was still good, the story was flat and a little hollow.

Flora Mancini has been happily married for more than twenty years. But everything she thought she knew about herself, her marriage, and her relationship with her best friend, Margot, is upended when she stumbles upon an envelope containing her husband’s wedding ring—the one he claimed he lost one summer when their daughter, Ruby, was five.

Flora and Julian struggled for years, scraping together just enough acting work to raise Ruby in Manhattan and keep Julian’s small theater company—Good Company—afloat. A move to Los Angeles brought their first real career successes, a chance to breathe easier, and a reunion with Margot, now a bona fide television star. But has their new life been built on lies? What happened that summer all those years ago? And what happens now?
.
My thoughts:
I really didn't care for it. I had to pay attention to what she was even thinking about. I had to get the audiobook to finish it and it still didn't help.
Im sorry but this was a 3 star for me.

Good Company focuses on two married couples who are close friends with each other and were brought together by a small theater production. The story fluctuates between past and present, with the main character being Flora. We also have chapters told from the perspective of supporting characters, including Flora's husband Julian, their daughter Ruby, Flora's best friend Margot and Margot's husband David. As they're getting ready for Ruby's high school graduation party, Flora makes a discovery that makes her question everything that has happened in her life over the span of several years.
It's easy to fully immerse myself into the internal and external world of Flora and her loved ones as the story progressed. There were some minor characters thrown in there and a lot of detail regarding the theater stuff that was a bit overwhelming. Overall, I really liked the story and was sad when I got to the end because I grew attached to the characters and wanted to know what happened beyond the summer.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this title.

Sweeney start this book with a bang right out of the gate and the question posed in the opening chapter helps unspool the thread for this propelling story the rest of the book. She does such a great job weaving in these relationships and friendships and the theater way in a fascinating, touching and entertaining book.

The cover is breathtaking! The book was amazing. I was transported to every part of this story with the author's writing. Well done!

This was my first book by this author, but I look forward to reading more of her work.

Good Company is written by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney who also wrote the brilliant 'The Nest'. I loved it and really admired the author's writing style and the way she develops her characters.

Flora and Julian have been married for almost twenty years, they've been best friends with David and Margot almost as long as that as well. While David is a doctor, the rest are actors; they've all lived in NYC and LA for most of their lives. Flora and Julian have a high school daughter, Ruby, and shortly before her graduation party, a surprising revelation comes out about an incident that happened fifteen years earlier. While searching for a photo to include in the graduation gift for Ruby, Flora finds Julian’s original wedding ring, which he lost years ago, making her question everything. It leads to several awkward moments, job changes, and questions about love, commitment, trust, and the future of all their lives.

I really enjoyed the multiple POVs. The book deftly explores the relationship between a husband and wife, a woman and her best friend and parents with their daughter.

I struggled with the ending a bit. After the big reveal and the subsequent impact, I felt like things were left open-ended and addressed a little too casually. Having said that I must reiterate that I still enjoyed this novel. It was a well-written character-driven novel. I can't wait to read the author's next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I hated the Nest so I shouldn’t have even tried this one but I like to give authors two chances before I give up. I found this to be boring and flat

First of all, the cover of this book is absolutely stunning. This book was so dynamic and the story line was unique. I loved how each chapter started a different character. You can really feel the pain and growth between all of the characters.

It took me awhile to get through this one. I just didn't hook me into reading in one sitting, and it's easy to get distracted by other books. This is a good book for fans of Anne Tyler. You really become immersed into a family drama, but it's not at all that riveting or jaw dropping.

Thank you to the publisher. Ecco, for my advanced copy via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Did not enjoy this book as much as the author’s first, The Nest. The character back stories were a little long and confusing. Liked the entertainment aspect of it and overall it was well plotted. Not t being able to fully connect with the characters kept this from being a 5 star read for me.

Good Company tells the story of two friends – Margot and Flora. As the synopsis says, this novel begins with Flora finding her husband’s old wedding ring – the one he told her he lost a the bottom of a lake many years ago. This revelation has Flora realizing that maybe her picture-perfect marriage wasn’t as flawless as she had once thought, and makes her question if their past was as rose-tinted as she remembers it.

…And that’s about it. Honestly, my biggest critic of this novel is that nothing really happens in it. Things go exactly as you expect, there’s no surprise, hardly any drama, and no real resolution at the end either.

The best part of this novel was definitely the writing. D’Aprix Sweeney is obviously a talented writer, and the story itself is very well written, but I was left at the end scratching my head and wondering what the point of this novel was.

Nevertheless, all the characters in this story felt full and believable. Unfortunately, however, it also felt as if most of the characters stayed stagnant throughout the novel. Nobody really grew or changed that much. They ended up ruminating on their past more than they actually dealt with the conflicts happening in their present.

And the flashbacks themselves, woven throughout the novel, were stellar. They were so enjoyable to read, brimming with life and conflict and growth – they wound up overshadowing the present tense this story was set around.

I know I’ve been complaining a lot, but really, this story wasn’t a complete letdown! I think this story would have dragged a lot more and had a lot less going for it if a different author wrote it. But because the characters felt real – even if annoyingly so at some times – and had writing that infused so many small moments of revelation and heart into this novel, Good Company was still was an enjoyable read overall (despite its hiccups).

Thank you to the publisher, Ecco/HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Loved this book, about two couples who are friends and an unearthed secret. The author (just as she did in The Nest) is so good at writing all the everyday details of life that make each character so human and relatable.

After thoroughly enjoying the author's debut novel, THE NEST, I was eager to try her follow up release. While the writing was good, I found it difficult to stay engaged with the story and thought it was much slower-paced and harder to follow than her previous novel. For me, it may have been a case of overly inflated expectations but I was definitely hoping for more.

This book is a great example of why you should not always follow what celebrities recommend. Or judge a book by its cover. It’s beautiful though, right?

This book was one I chose because it was a Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick. I should have known better considering I often don’t like the books she chooses. I have also learned over the past few months that I really don’t care for character driven books. Of course I want a well developed character, but I also like to have a great plot.

I have been convinced of a few things:
1. Actors are superficial
2. If they aren’t famous, they want to be
3. Actors or actresses often have affairs with costars
4. I would not want to live in a shoebox apartment in NYC

Overall, the novel did not show any growth of characters through the years and it was quite depressing.

I do appreciate giving a chance at reading this. Thanks to Ecco publishing!