I just love books about young people in college, especially if it involves a "cool" group and an outsider who somehow manages to join! Because of this, I couldn't help but request this book, and I was absolutely not disappointed. Bad decisions, backstabbing and questions are aplenty as this story weaves on. Highly recommend to anyone who loves well written characters and a little bit of darkness.

Book Review:
Title: The Things We Do To Our Friends
Author: Heather Darwent
Rating: ⭐️⭐️/2 stars

I don't give very many books such a low rating, so obviously, this one was a doozy imo. I not only tried to read the book, but I also followed along with the audiobook and still couldn't like it. I just felt it was all over the place, and I was constantly confused about what was going on. Some books just don't match the reader, and in this case, I believe that is what happened. I'm not really going to waste much time on a summary because I barely remember what I read! No offense meant to the author, I swear!

Published: January 10th, 2023

Thank you, @netgalley and @randomhouse, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really really tried to care about these characters but found them so obnoxious. I just wanted to shake and scold them.

As soon as I saw the cover for The Things We Do to Our Friends I knew I had to read it - look at how stunning! This was a somewhat gripping story about toxic friendships and revenge full of all the atmospheric vibes. I loved visiting Edinburgh a few years ago and I think having been there really helped me enjoy the story more.

We don't know much about our main character Clare, only that she's escaping a dark part of her past and hoping to reestablish herself at a new school in Scotland. While working in a pub she draws the attention of Tabitha and her small group of friends. As Clare gets drawn in deeper to their friend group, Tabitha starts scheming up a business idea that only Clare can help with. And she'll recruit her to the team by and means necessary - even a little blackmail isn't off the table,

This book did get dark at times, but I still kept waiting for it to get darker. I think this could have been a great read if the author really went a bit further. Still enjoyed it though and will read from them again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for a review copy.

A seductive thriller about the toxic battle between those who have and those who covet, between the desire to truly belong, and the danger of being truly known.

She’s an outsider desperate to belong, but the cost of entry might be her darkest secret in this intoxicating debut of literary suspense following a clique of dangerously ambitious students at the University of Edinburgh. How much is an extraordinary life worth if others have to pay?

An eclectic group of friends (that Clare refers to as The Shiver) initiate a honeytrapping project, one that Clare was accurately wary of from the beginning, and soon realized just how wrong and deep it all was.

Creepy, disturbing, yet deliciously enticing…

Obsessive friendships, deceit, secrets, lies...

Oh, my!

I want to first start out by saying that this has been one of the best debut's I have read in a long time. I am angry it took me so long to pick this one up.

Heather Darwent didn't shy away from pushing boundaries in her debut suspense novel, The Things We Do to Our Friends. I was completely submerged within the plot in the first couple of pages. The women, flawed as they were, were engaging and interesting.

There was no shortage of twists and I was riddled with anxiety throughout the entire book. The phrase "edge of your seat, thriller" does not even begin to explain this one.

Don't believe me, check it out for yourself!

Teaser:

Edinburgh, Scotland: a moody city of labyrinthine alleyways, oppressive fog, and buried history; the ultimate destination for someone with something to hide. Perfect for Clare, then, who arrives utterly alone and yearning to reinvent herself. And what better place to conceal the secrets of her past than at the university in the heart of the fabled, cobblestoned Old Town?

When Clare meets Tabitha, a charismatic, beautiful, and intimidatingly rich girl from her art history class, she knows she’s destined to become friends with her and her exclusive circle: raffish Samuel, shrewd Ava, and pragmatic Imogen. Clare is immediately drawn into their libertine world of sophisticated dinner parties and summers in France. The new life she always envisioned for herself has seemingly begun.

Then Tabitha reveals a little project she’s been working on, one that she needs Clare’s help with. Even though it goes against everything Clare has tried to repent for. Even though their intimacy begins to darken into codependence. But as Clare starts to realize just what her friends are capable of, it’s already too late. Because they’ve taken the plunge. They’re so close to attaining everything they want. And there’s no going back.

Reimagining the classic themes of obsession and ambition with an original and sinister edge, The Things We Do to Our Friends is a seductive thriller about the toxic battle between those who have and those who covet—between the desire to truly belong and the danger of being truly known.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick. Our library purchased and our patrons have been checking out and and enjoying the book. I see it is a popular book club choice as well we hope to have more oppurtinies to support authors like them

“Heather Darwent’s ‘The Things We Do to Our Friends’ unfolds the journey of our protagonist, Clare, starting from her days as a newly enrolled student pursuing a History of Art degree at the University of Edinburgh. It marks her transition from her previous life in Hull, where she resided with her grandmother, to a new chapter filled with promise and intrigue. Clare finds herself drawn into the inner circle of a wealthy group of friends.

At first, Clare can hardly believe her fortune, quickly gaining entry into the exclusive ‘cool kids club.’ However, her entry into this charmed world comes with a twist – an invitation to partake in a scheme. What initially appears as harmless games takes a sinister turn, revealing that their coveted status carries a steep price, and their nefarious plans are just beginning.

As a fan of dark academia thrillers, I approached this book with high hopes. The prologue, with its unsettling and intriguing tone, immediately captivated my attention. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I found the rest of the book somewhat lacking. I struggled to connect with Clare, and her character remained somewhat elusive, leaving me yearning for a deeper understanding of her.

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

The Things We Do to Our Friends is the debut novel by Heather Darwent. This is a mystery thriller/coming of age that follows students at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Typically when it comes to books like this, the characters are often unlikable and this proved to be no different.

Clare just wants to get by with a quiet life, not drawing much attention to herself. At University she meets Tabitha who's magnetic personality draws Clare into her circle of "friends". Tabitha changes everything when she proposes an "experiment" that Clare is perfect for. Will Clare be able to go along with this experiment, or will she be wishing she could walk away from Tabitha forever?

There were(as with many books) things to love and things to dislike. Clare as a narrator was hard to take at times, he deep desire to be accepted by Tabitha and the "Shiver", but this paid off in the end when everything came together. It helped the reader fully understand the lengths those around Tabitha were willing to go to. Tabitha was a hard character for me to like, making her pull almost non existent for me, but the members of the Shiver is where this book shines for me. Samuel, Imogen, and especially Ava navigate Tabitha and her quirks expertly while trying to keep Clare grounded. Without them, this book would have been a much lower rating from me, but that's a nod to the author in her character development. Having strong background characters makes me intrigued to see what more this author has to offer.

4.25 stars rounded down to 4. Recommended for readers who like such novels as One of Us is Lying. Age recommended for 14+, some of the content is questionable for younger and impressionable readers. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Things We Do to Our Friends' cover is what immediately grabbed my attention. That cover is amazing!! Some parts of the book were a little repetitive but overall a good read. Would definitely pick up more books from this author.

This book had a very interesting start, but I couldn't get into it as a whole. It felt kind of like a trudge throughout and I was saw a lot of plot opportunities for the author to take, but they didn't. It felt like there could have been more conflict or drama. This style might not be for me.

I was SO excited for this book, and while it wasn't the worst thing I've ever read, it left me wanting for more.

This book had a great premise but I feel like it under delivered on it. The marketing likening it to Secret History or If We Were Villains was a stretch. That said, I loved the setting and the atmosphere the author created, I just wish it had more plot.

I was excited for this because of the dark academia vibes but it felt like the author focused on the atmosphere instead of the plot. While it was very atmospheric, the plot felt like it could have gone through another couple drafts before publishing

This one unfortunately didn't do it for me. I thought the premise was interesting enough, and I really like dark academia, but this fell super flat and didn't fit the bill. We have a cast of characters who are all unlikable in their own ways, but they also are just so uninteresting that even by the halfway point, I was forgetting who was who. I could see the idea behind the book and where the author wanted to go with it, but it was missing tension or anything to really keep me invested.

Moody atmospheric backdrop, "The Things We Do To Our Friends" is filled with toxic friendships and devious plots. Taking place in Edinburgh, a city filled with history and mystery, it is a perfect parallel to our protagonist Claire, who herself possesses secrets from her past.

Claire moves to Edinburgh, Scotland as an enrolled student at the university to pursue her art degree. Leaving behind her dark past and the effort to reinvent herself, her life dramatically alters when she meets Tabitha and her group of friends. In Claire's desire to fit in, how far is she willing to sacrifice in the name of friendship?

The book is written in the first-person narrative through Claire's perspective. As the plot unravels, we get a brief glimpse peppered throughout the novel on Claire's unreliable psyche. The plot has its slow-burn moments halfway into the book. But it is through these moments where we delve into Claire's struggles and these awkward moments with her new friends providing realization that there's something amiss about the protagonist. Darwent explores toxic female friendships, social class differences and one's cost of obsession. Without giving away any spoilers, I truly appreciated the ending. The way it came to a full circle was innovating, imprinting a sense of haunting feeling. As Heather Darwent's debut novel, it's not perfect but it still intrigued me. A darkly seductive thriller that enthralled me at its best. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for Darwent's next project.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lately I’ve grown tired of the obsessive close-knit friend group who shut everyone else out and act more special than those outside of the group, with a newcomer who becomes just as obsessed trope. Not sure what the trope is called- or if it even is one, but this is the latest book I have read with this type of set up, and I just end up frustrated.

The book started off intriguing and dramatic. I though the tone would run through the book, instead it became a slog just reading the absurd things this group thought were deep and made them different than everyone else.

I felt disappointed and bored through out. By the end I was just glad it was over, not even the reveals at the end made up for how much I did not like this.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Difficult to follow at times and a little slow. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sadly, this wasn’t for me and was a bit of a struggle. The characters were very two dimensional, without any depth. I felt like I barely knew any of them so it was impossible to connect. The first third of the book was incredibly slow and lacked direction. Only when I got to the 30% mark did I see where the story was going, but at that point it lacked real intrigue and felt fairly predictable. I did decide to listen to the audiobook and thought the narrator was fairly entertaining but not enough to keep me invested.