I wish the whole of the book had been as exciting and pacy as the final few chapters. Those chapters kept the revelations coming and I was gripped at the very end. Unfortunately, I found the rest of the story to be the opposite and rather lethargic.

This is my second read from Clarke and I definitely did not enjoy this book as much. Firstly, I found that I had predicted some of the main plot developments and this really lessened my enjoyment. Secondly, I wasn’t too invested in the drugs sub-plot and was frustrated by the attention that was paid to Mark’s character. I thought Clarke could have done more with developing the backgrounds of the three women instead: Kat, Beth and Saskia.

Beth is the perfect woman – apparently. To everyone, she is the perfect housewife, perfect mother, perfect wife and perfect friend. Of course, very quickly we discover that she is just as flawed as the rest of us and I was surprised by some of the secrets that Beth keeps. I liked how Clarke portrays this image of perfection because it is a concept that is constantly thrown into the media spotlight and one we all try and emulate: sometimes subconsciously, and even if we don’t want to. On the other hand, Saskia’s, Beth’s ‘best friend’, is a right busy-body and I was entertained by how accurate this personality was – a caricature of a stereotype I am sure we have all come across! She is a ‘do-gooder’ and seems to know Beth’s business – sometimes before Beth knows herself. Her meddling in Beth’s eventful night is the catalyst to changing all three women’s lives forever.

Juxtaposing these women again, I think the writer intends for readers to dislike Kat due to her behaviours. Yet, flashbacks to Kat’s childhood and teenage years demonstrate just how tough Kat’s life has been. Soon, my distaste evolved into sympathy but I was confused about her incessant desire to ingratiate herself with Beth’s life. What was driving this obsession? What was the connection between the two characters? And why would Mark not just leave Beth alone?

There are plenty of questions swirling around the narrative but not enough suspense to keep me thrilled. True, the different narrative perspectives and Kat’s flashbacks helped to develop the plot but I thought Clarke was too slow in the revelations. In this case, it did not feel like an exciting thriller but more of a slow-burner and I grew frustrated by this pace.

I liked the cover of this book because it looks so different to thrillers at the moment. I particularly appreciated the symbolism of the cracked mirror, having clever links to the story. However, I don’t think the plot was too original and felt like I had seen stories about obsession and past connections already. Having a female lead with many secrets about a previous life, whilst duping her best friend and husband… well, it felt vaguely similar to novels I have read in the past.

All in all, this was an ok read but I wanted more excitement and pace. It is set in the lead-up to Christmas so I would recommend this as a thrilling-festive read – if you don’t want too much tinsel! I liked seeing how some of the characters changed in the story but sought more intensity than what this narrative offered.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beth finds a squatter, John, overdosed on her street. His friend Mark is incensed when John dies, and believes Beth is responsible, so he stalks her, seeking revenge. This leads to Beth's past catching up with her, with devastating consequences.
An excellent thriller, with a very twisty plot! It kept me up all night, hooked on finding out all the secrets! Great read for psychological suspense fans, with great writing.

When is a friend not as friend, Beth on her way home a evening does a good deed. But the repercussions of
this take per perfect life down a very different route.

I thank Netgalley for this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This was such a good thriller with a twist that I honestly did not see coming! Things are not what they seem and you may think you know what is going to happen,but you don't! Beth is a married woman with two little girls and has a seemingly good life. Her decision to help someone in need ends up unraveling her life as she knows it. This was a page turner and it will keep you invested throughout.

I devoured My Perfect Friend in a single day - and I know all reviewers say that, but I really, really did.

Sarah Clarke has written a powerful psychological thriller whose main cast keep you constantly guessing.

The blurb describes how Beth has the perfect life. She has a beautiful home, gorgeous husband and two very cute little girls. But the perfect life comes under threat when one evening, she discovers a homeless man who has died of an overdose at the end of their upmarket street.

Hailed as a hero for not turning the other cheek, Beth comes to the attention of both Kat and Mark.

Kat is a friend from her troubled past, who parted with Beth on troubled terms. Mark is a close friend of the man Beth found, and convinced it was Beth's fault he overdosed, begins a campaign of intimidation.

It's clear both Kat and Mark pose a threat to the fragile world Beth has built...

I found the opening of My Perfect Friend really refreshing. It was such a different hook than I'm used to - the apparently blameless death of a homeless man and the discovery of his body. It both evoked sympathy and discomfort, but also subverted the trope of starting with a gruesome murder*.

Clarke's style is naturally easy to read. I quickly got used to the changing POV characters, with the main cast quickly established and cemented in my memory. Several interesting threads were established early-on, and I think it was this that kept me reading. Every character had secrets and I was teased through the first third of the novel, constantly on the cusp of discovering some new piece of the puzzle.

(I should say I still love an opening with a gruesome murder).

I can't say much without dropping huge spoilers - but I would say there was one character twist mid-way through the novel that made me gasp and slap my hand to my forehead. I like to think I'm quite savvy at seeing these things coming, but Clarke handled it masterfully.

I found myself warming to the characters I had initially distrusted and disliked. Kat is especially well-written and became my favourite.

At times I would find myself frustrated that I was taken out of the POV character whose story I was following to witness something else - but only because I was keen to get to the bottom of what was going on, and if anything it made me read faster.

I would also say this an excellent novel for anyone who is a fan of dogs. Plenty of doggo descriptions to keep you going!

I read the ending of My Perfect Friend very early in the morning, straining to stay awake - so I did re-read it for the writing of this review!

I didn't see the ending coming until it was basically upon me - and I refuse to say any more than that.

I'd love to buy Sarah Clarke a glass of wine and go through exactly how this book was constructed. It's so clever and it unfolds so naturally - it's one of those thrillers that reads like it must have been a dream to write (although I'm sure it wasn't).

With the themes and POV characters, it did put me in mind of Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins - I think fans of that novel will love this one.

Would be a great Audible listen but I think on this occasion I'd recommend the paperback. You need the satisfaction of flipping through those pages at great speed!

The book opens with Simon, husband to Beth, is at a funeral. He is thinking about his wife. Beth is a perfect mother and wife. She seems to be a perfect friend. For some reason, just the fact that she is beutiful make people want to be her best friend. She gets attention she doesn’t seem to want when she calls an ambulance for a homeless man who seems to have overdosed.

Kat sees a post about this heroic act and instantly recognizes Beth from long ago. She is determined to get back into Beth’s life. Somehow Beth does not recognize Kat, even though she is using a nickname easily identified as a shortened form of the name she once used. Kat tries to take the place of Beth’s best friend, who isn’t going easily.

Also obsessed with Beth is Mark, a young man who had been friends with the homeless man Beth tries to save. He is convinced she is responsible for his friend’s death. He threatens her and stalks her.

The story goes back and forth between the past and events Kat still feels guilty about to the present with Kat ingratiating herself into Beth’s life. The book works it’s way back to the funeral at the beginning of the story,

I found the book interesting. The “twist” is a little bit disappointing when you have been hearing the story, supposedly, through the viewpoints of several characters. Either way, once you know all of the players it is pretty easy to follow along and was a nice Sunday read.

A excellent domestic thriller. Never seen the ending coming.

Beth is a glamorous mother to two young girls everyone loves Beth. After a night out she try’s to do the right thing when she see a man who has overdosed on the street. It all turns horrible for Beth when her best friend puts a post online about how fantastic Beth was to try save the man it opens the door for other people to enter Beth’s life from her past which she has kept a secret from everyone. There are a lot of twists is this book and the ending is one you will not expect.

Wow. I thought I knew where this book was going and then Bam! A plot twist I really wasn’t expecting. The story flips between two timelines but is easy to follow. A well written story with an unexpected ending. Highly recommended.

A domestic thriller that starts when Beth, a glamorous mother and housewife who seems to have it all, walks past a man who has overdosed on heroin on her way home, She calls the ambulance but they can't do anything = unfortunately he passes away. The dead man's friend blames Beth for the death and starts plotting his revenge on her 'perfect life'.
Beth's story is intertwined with Kat's story - she is a local dog groomer whose life couldnt be further away from the pristine Beth. But Kat thinks she recognises Beth from teenage years, can she rekindle their friendship?

I liked the dual timeline and how the storylines supported one another. It was a good read with some gasp out loud moments - I'd recommend it!

This is a thriller set in wealthy London suburbia- a tale about female friendship/ love/ obsession. I liked the 2 main characters- one seemingly perfect and the other with flaws and imperfections- and I identified with the latter (kat) and felt that her character traits and inner thoughts were sensitive and well written. A good domestic thriller, although at times it felt a little predictable and similar to other books set in similar London neighbourhoods.

A novel about female friendship and secrets…. A perfectly crafted life. But nobody can escape their past. This novel is highly recommended for anyone who loves thrillers and secrets! “My perfect friend.” Or the perfect enemy?

This was everything you need for a thriller and crime story. It is not as black and white as you first think and like most typical thrillers, is full of twists. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. I enjoyed this book it was well written with a compelling storyline that was over several different timelines which were tricky at first but once I got used to it I didn't mind so much. It was slow burning at first but built-in pacing as tension increased. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

This was a gripping psychological thriller, with a good ending and plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters were interesting, the plot was great and the style of writing was perfect I have read many books by this author and none have disappointed me, I’ll be keeping my eye out for more in the future. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading this genre. .
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Beth seems to have it all - she's beautiful and she's wealthy with a happy marriage and two children. But when she stops one night to try and save the life of a homeless man, Beth's perfect world starts to wobble on its carefully constructed axis. Thrust into the local limelight, Beth is quickly the subject of unwanted attention from the dead homeless man's friend, Mark, and from a local dog groomer named Kat, who thinks she recognises Beth from another life when they were both teenagers.

As Kat's behaviour becomes increasingly obsessive and Mark's anger over friend spirals out of control, Beth tries desperately to retain control. Because it seems her perfect life isn't as perfect as it appears on the surface, and Beth will do anything to stop it from disintegrating altogether...

I very much enjoyed this twisty, well-paced thriller. I am always a fan of multiple narratives, in this case switching between Kat, Beth, and Mark, and also dual timelines, where we see the younger Kat and Beth as well as their present day incarnations. There were red herrings a-plenty in this one, and not clunky ones ether - deftly plotted, well executed and genuinely gripping. Will definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who provided a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great ending that I never saw coming.
Do you really ever know who the bad guy is?? This one takes you on a roller coaster ride.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Great Snowballs Of Fire! 😳😯🤯😳😯

Holy Mother Fluffer! I mean geez almighty what was this crazy catastrophe (in the best way possible!) Clarke is a crafty minx, thinking it's going to be so predictable, but nay nay! I'm gonna be honest and admit about half to three quarters through I wasn't aiming very high for a rating with this and then unforeseen, Clarke delved and dived into insanity and unreal thrills! Blow after blow! Dang Clarke was holding out that whole time and walloped me straight in my ka-noggin with warped after warped hit leaving my breathless. Trust me when I say, do NOT let the seemingly mundane-ness & predictability of the plot stop you because like all good things, they hit a whirlwind end that was worth waiting for. Just make sure you keep your guilty snack on hand for this one, darlings! Utterly captivatingly twisted.

Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Beth has it all - a wealthy husband, two beautiful girls, part of the right circle and a new dog. But all of that becomes threatened when she chooses to be a Good Samaritan one night on her way home, trying to help a homeless man who OD'd. Kat isn't who she used to be - she's transformed herself and finally let go of the past... until she hears about Beth's heroic efforts and realizes Beth is someone she used to be friends with before a tragedy ended it years ago. But Kat wants to rectify it and decides to intervene into Beth's life... as a stranger. Keep your enemies close, and your friends closer.

Thank you to NetGalley & HQ (HarperCollins UK) for this ARC.
Release Date: November 23, 2022

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4.5 / 5 Iced Coffees! 🧋

This is the story of Beth, mother of two young girls, who lives, in her own view the perfect life.
She created it.
She has a rich husband, perfect home, perfect children, is the person everyone seems to want to be friends with and looks up to.
Appearances though can be deceptive.
Beth may indeed be living the middle class dream, that is until one night coming home from a girls night out with friends she spots a middle aged man lying unconscious in a shop doorway.
It is obvious he has taken a drug overdose.
When her friend and neighbour Saskia, gets wind of the event she cant resist posting the details of Beths good deed involving the poor homeless man on her blog. Even going so far as adding a photograph of Beth for all to see.
From that point Beths life changes.
Secrets from her past and ones she has kept from her family begin to come to light and her perfect world begins to crumble as she loses control.
My Perfect Friend for me had the perfect plot, It kept me on the edge of my seat as I worked my way through the red herrings to reach the exciting twist at the end.
A perfect thriller and easy recommend.

Who can you trust? Pretty much no one.

In My Perfect Friend by Sarah Clarke, we meet Beth, a woman who seemingly has an ideal life. She’s rich and glamorous and has worked hard to create a perfect life for herself. But how quickly things can change…

Beth has a perfect life. She has constructed it carefully over the last eighteen years. But one night she makes a choice that risks everything.

When Kat sees an article about that night online, buried memories begin to surface. She and Beth were friends once. Things ended badly then, but now she has a chance to make them right.

Kat introduces herself to Beth. Not as her old friend, but as a stranger. Beth has no idea Kat isn’t who she says she is.

But then neither is Beth.

This intense story centers around three women and will keep you on your toes. I really enjoyed it and need to read the author’s other books!

This is out on November 23.

My Perfect Friend by Sarah Clarke
Earc: NetGalley
Publisher: HQ Digital
Publication Date:23 November 2022
Genre:General Fiction, Mystery and Thriller

The past can always catch up right. Beth.
Kat sees an article online and sees someone through her past. Wanting to change past wrongs but is she telling the right person.
Saski is Beth's best mate but has some jelous issues. Saski is a bit over barring and does not follow boundaries.
Mark is a homeless drunk who is threatening her.

I enjoy how the story flips from the past to present and it flows well.

There's plenty of twist and turns within this book.

#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads @HQDigital #myperfectfriend #mysteryandthriller #generalfiction

Enjoyable, well written book. Told from different characters viewpoints. Highly recommended. I couldn’t put it down