*3.5 stars, rounded up to 4*

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The Things We Do to Our Friends is a dark academic thriller that got better as it went along. I would describe this book as a cross between The Secret History and Bunny, without the supernatural elements of the latter. Although it doesn't quite execute its premise as successfully as those novels, I still enjoyed this read.

If you are the kind of person who needs likeable or relatable characters to get through a book, this book isn't for you, as these characters are roundly insufferable. This typically doesn't bother me, but I do wish the characters were fleshed out a little more because I didn't find any of them overly compelling, even in their evil. Our heroine, Clare, is a narrator to whom things happen because of the actions of more colorful side characters, although the plot reveals more about Clare and her backstory throughout and she becomes the most interesting character by the end. That being said, I would have loved to see the side characters of TTWDTOF expanded upon more throughout the narrative because by the end, they feel pretty thinly drawn and a lot of questions about their motivations remain. That might have been intentional on the part of the author, but it did leave me feeling a little unsatisfied with the conclusion to their stories. While the characters left something to be desired, the plot points are interesting and drive the book well if you're able to get past distaste for the central characters. It took me a little while to get through the first 2/3 of the book, but I raced through the final third. The action builds in an exciting way and I found myself getting sucked into it - I stayed up all night to finish it once I got into a groove of reading. There are moments of The Things We Do to Our Friends I found genuinely disturbing, and I appreciated the elements of gothic horror woven throughout to contribute to the unsettling vibes of this book.

I'll read anything written in an academic setting, so The Things We Do to Our Friends was right up my alley. This book treads a lot of the pathways taken by stand-outs in this genre such as The Secret History, Bunny, and If We Were Villains, but doesn't execute them quite as successfully. However, if you're a fan of dark academic thrillers, I'd definitely check this book out. Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC!

3.5 stars--somewhere between liked and really liked.

Toxic college friendships--why am I such a sucker for this trope? Also books set in colleges? I don't know, but this was a real page-turner. This is a plot-centered book rather than a character-centered one; I think readers looking for a deep character analysis will be disappointed. But the story--dark and shocking--is gripping.

The ending felt slightly anticlimatic to me after the plot's buildup, but that's a minor complaint. I really loved the Edinburgh setting; the descriptions of the city added a layer of depth to the story.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

The Things We Do To Our Friends is told from the perspective of Clare, a girl who is desperate to fit it. From the jump there is a something "off" about Clare. You can't put your finger on what's different about Clare but there is definitely an air of foreboding to her. You don't find out why she is the way she is until you're far into the book and that's what make its SO. FREAKING. GOOD. You are invested and then BAM!

Despite Clare's desperation in wanting to make friends, she's incredibly picking about what type of friends she is willing to accept. After Clare moves to Edinburgh to attend college, she meets a group of people, and one character in particular gives off an incredibly bizarre subservient "need to please at all costs" vibes.

As the book goes on we watch the level of depravity that each character is willing to accept as “OK/normal” and it keeps you completely hooked since you want to see what happens next and who is willing to do what. This book was so so good and I LOVE the cover design. It reminded me of Horrid by Katrina Leno. Gorgeous! 4.5 out of 5 stars! Absolutely recommend to anyone who loves a book with a lot of complexity and plot twists.

Thrillers are pretty much the only things I can focus on these days with social media frying my attention span.
I loved this dark twisty thriller! I haven't read the secret history but I enjoyed this! Loved the setting.


We got Clare who is trying to reinvent herself. I tried to like her so much but I don't think she's supposed to be likeable.

I loved every twist/reveal and could not put this down!

Everything about this book was absolutely stunning. It has all the capstones of dark academia — lush settings, intellect, love and desire that borders on obsession — but with a modern, feminist twist that the genre needs. From page one I was captivated by the narrative voice and even when I didn’t trust the narrator I was completely enthralled by seeing the world through her eyes. The author perfectly captured the feel of Edinburgh and did such justice to the city, bringing out its beauty and eeriness in a way I’ve never seen done on the page before. Even when I anticipated a twist — of which there were many — the story always surprised me with how it was executed and just how elaborate and intricate the thrills of this book were.

This book had all the elements that would usually add up to a five star story for me. European setting, clique-y group of eccentrics, alluded to sinister back story...but alas, halfway through, it was clear that they just wouldn't mesh.

The Shiver was too unlikable, Clare too flat, and the motivation for the grand plan too lacking. A story like this thrives on making the in group compelling and enviable, so you can understand how someone could be swayed. But The Shiver seemed like a collection of miserable people doing unfun activities. Additionally, Clare's history was just a tad too vague...was she actually a psychopath or were here parents just total weirdos who should never have had a kid?

And lastly, the grand plan seemed very short sighted. Word would likely get around if there is only one person acting as 'bait', especially if the goal is to trap men of a certain social and financial standing. I would have loved for the grand plan to be a bit more realistic.

Clare is a university student in Edinburgh who becomes friends with an eclectic group of three classmates. While she didn't grow up with much and had to work hard to get where she is, these three are privileged and immersed in a world Clare always believed was out of her reach. The ringleader is Tabitha, wealthy and beautiful, whom everyone seems to be dazzled with, even though she comes across as obnoxious and terrible. Samuel is an old friend of Tabitha's, wealthy and bland. Ava dresses like a dominatrix for some reason and is a bit more relatable than Tabitha. Imogen is forever scowling and inexplicably hostile towards Clare.
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Tabitha comes up with a moneymaking scheme that she says won't work without Clare's assistance. Everyone in the group has been working on it and now they need Clare to help put it in action. It seems unethical to her and reminds her of an event in her past that she has always kept a secret from her friends. But of course, she goes along with it, as she doesn't want them to shun her from their group. They soon get in over their heads and Clare regrets ever agreeing to participate. But will they be in more danger continuing their scheme or trying to leave it all behind them?

I would have enjoyed the story more if I liked the characters. I just get tired of these exalted mean girl type characters that are so admired by everyone even though they are terrible people. And the flipside is that the characters that cling to these girls are weak followers who never stand up for, or think for, themselves. But it makes for good drama, I suppose, which is why we see these types of characters so often. Hopefully, it won't be an issue with this author's next book, because I like how she tells a story and I'm interested in seeing more of her work.

Dark, intriguing, intense, frustrating, full of unlikeable characters and yet delightful.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From the description of this book, I felt that it held great promise for an exciting read. I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed. The book is not a thriller or suspenseful at all. The book begins with an epilogue that sets a tone that it fails to uphold later in the book. Clare is introduced to us as the narrator; not quite normal, just a bit awkward. As the book progresses, we see her desire to join a group, but never quite knowing how. I found the book to be more of a character study and less of narrative of an event. The planning for the "project" takes place well over a year and the book dragged on in too many places for me. At times it was just plain boring. The characters were all unlikeable and at times repellent. Clare seemed unable to form connections with people. Every relationship was based on what the other person could potentially give her. You could say the same for Tabitha, who was the ultimate manipulator. When the 'secret' was finally revealed, as that was something I had come to realize early on. The writing itself has good potential from a first book, however, I felt the theme of it once you got to the end checked off every block of textbook behaviors.

Wow! Definitely a book that you can’t put down. I found myself frustrated by all characters yet I was absolutely engaged by them. Some moments you can see coming, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. A story someone can read and ponder in one sitting!

I received an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I picked this one up multiple times and about half way through, I started scrolling to see if it would pick up.
I did not finish book, it was not my cup of tea, but I am sure that many readers will find the strange characters intriguing. Thank you Net Galley!

I received an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

I always love checking out new authors. It's exciting to love an author from the start and add them to your "auto buy" category when they release something new. Unfortunately, that will not be the case for this author as I was unable to finish this book. I tried 3 separate occasions to make progress, however, I disliked the writing style, the chapter cut offs, and pretty much all the characters.

This is a slow build, and might take people a bit to get into. But I do think it’s worth it to push through. I was intrigued and wanted to know MORE.

I do think the ending is satisfying, and meshes well with how the book begins.

I will admit, I read this book straight for a day because it kept my interest for the entire time, although when I look back on that, I wonder about my own personality. Why do I like stories about twisted personalities and strange people? Do I see myself in any of the characters? Would I ever behave as the young women in this story do to try and fit in with a group of people I perceive as better than myself?

Don’t worry, friends, I would never go as far as these women did. This is a dark tale of a young woman named Clare with a secret past, who is trying to reconstruct herself and her life by latching on to a group of fellow college students who seem to have a lux and exciting life.

Clare is the trendy new narrator found in many novels recently; unreliable, not likable and with a dirty secret. She finds a group of students (or do they find her?) including Tabitha, the beautiful and formally rich woman the others all orbit around like the sun, Sam, a handsome young man with a penchant for fast cars and fast living, Ava, a deeply layered character, and one I found the most interesting, and Imogen, who loves to cook.

Tabitha draws Clare into her web like a spider, wrapping her up in a life Clare always imagined. They summer in France, they lounge about their fancy pad, they eat scrumptious meals and they play games.

Although not really games, as I would call them. More plots and plans, intricately detailed, dangerous and exciting. And Clare is the chosen star of their newest plan.

None of the characters in this book are likable. None of them have any redeeming qualities. They scare me. The things they do made me squirm. But I kept reading.

Eventually the reader will suss out Clare’s secret and a little about what makes the others the way they are. However, the author does manage to throw in some twists and surprises I did not see coming. The ending was cold and flat, much like I assume Clare’s eye would be. I enjoyed the ending though.

I rate this book 5/5 stars for keeping my interest even though I hated the characters. Thank you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Clare Just Wanted To Have Friends

Clare has finally broken the chains and moved away to university, now the hard part begins. She wants so badly to fit in and be part of a group of friends, something that has been denied to her all of her young life. She doesn’t know how to talk to people and she doesn’t relate to the rich people that surround her. Suddenly there is Tabitha, fresh, bubbly, and rich, who goes out of her way to talk with Clare, introduce her to her friends, and invites Clare to her home. Is this the friendship that will change Clare’s life?

I started reading this book one evening and as the story began to develop it became clear that the author had written a diary of a person who was looking to create a life for herself. Clare’s thoughts are explored in detail as days and events take place. From the references to a problematic past to her every day struggles to become part of something, the details written into the story are abundant and, at times, tedious.

The book has been classified as a thriller, but I disagree. I would classify it as a fictional biography of a timid female whose need to feel part of something leads her to make poor choices in life. The things she allows herself to take part in are devious and dangerous, with no benefit but to feed her mentor’s ego. The writing is excellent, Heather Darwent has captured Clare’s uncertainty and capitulation perfectly. Readers who enjoy diving into the depths of humanity will certainly enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and the author for an advance copy of this book.

This book did not have any really likable characters. Clare is so eager to reinvent herself and fit in at her new school. Her desperation was palpable and at what cost? A strange group befriends her and they all seem to be under the control of Tabitha. At some points it was not only creepy but disturbing to see the lengths they were willing to go to for revenge on behalf of paying clients.

We follow Clare to a university in Edinburgh as she tries to reinvent herself and forget her past. With all the moody, dark history of Scotland and the mysterious friendships she finds herself entangled in, this book has the perfect Fall/Winter feel to it. It made me want to snuggle up in front of the fireplace with a mug of tea.

While I’m glad it’s a slow burn, I did find myself getting antsy at times trying to figure out where the story was going but was pleasantly drawn into Clare’s ventures as she reinvents herself surrounded by her new, wealthy friends.
Interesting premise and unique story.

If you like plots that keep you guessing and have a bit of a dark undertone, definitely read this novel—the perfect book for cold, dreary days. Not a light summer read, in my opinion.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has lots of comparison's to Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History', so makes me want to read that for a comparison. I love a good dark, academic thriller, and this book could be what 'The Maidens' was not. It's the story of Clare, as she gets swept up into clique of girls at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She has a dark past and thinks that getting in with the right crowd might help her forget that. However this gang is a bit different and the price she has to pay might be too high. The pacing is a bit slow in spots, but the writing style is compelling, and there are some good twists 1/2 way through that keep you intrigued until the end.

A solid thriller with Victorian gothic vibes.

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set at Edinburgh, where outsider Clare is adopted by a group of charismatic friends, led by blonde Tabitha, and recruited to join a “project” that she never expected. From the book’s vivid, jarring opening, it’s hard not to be both confused and sucked in. It’s not the easiest book to read, because it sucks you in so deeply. An empathetic reader loses themselves alongside Clare, sucked in to Tabitha’s world and plans that often seem as unnecessary as they are dangerous. You learn that sometimes, the villain isn’t who you think, and these realizations aren’t always comfortable. But keep going: the journey is its own reward.

This is a great, creepy, revenge thriller! Clare is low on funds and takes a job at a bar until some young "beautiful" people come in and offer her an opportunity. She has no idea what it will eventually entail but is enticed by these gorgeous women who are willing to lend her clothes and a place to stay when she needs it. And it's a business, albeit an odd one where women who want revenge for cheating spouses will pay for exposure. Of course Clare has no clue that she too, is being "seduced" by these young, rich hipsters who only have their own best interests at heart. It's dark, it's fast-paced, it's one that will keep you up at night for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!