Girl Friends by Alex Dahl is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of female friendships and the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface. The novel centers around two women whose seemingly perfect lives unravel as past traumas and hidden agendas come to light.

Dahl excels in creating multifaceted characters with intricate backstories. The dynamics between the protagonists are both compelling and relatable, capturing the nuances of friendship and rivalry. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, leading to some genuinely surprising twists that kept me engaged.

One of the strengths of Girl Friends is its exploration of themes such as trust, betrayal, and the impact of past experiences on present relationships. Dahl's writing is both evocative and suspenseful, effectively drawing the reader into the story. The pacing is well-managed, with a good balance between character development and plot progression.

However, there were moments where the narrative felt a bit predictable, and some of the twists, while surprising, could have been foreshadowed more subtly. Despite these minor flaws, Girl Friends is a strong entry in the psychological thriller genre, offering a deep and engaging look at the darker side of friendships.

Overall, I found Girl Friends to be an intriguing and well-written novel that will appeal to fans of psychological dramas. Alex Dahl has crafted a story that is both thought-provoking and thrilling, making it a recommended read for those who enjoy exploring the complexities of human relationships.

This was little show to get going for me but it was an entertaining read. I didn’t like any of the characters pretty much but I kind of felt like that was the point, they were all fairly toxic in their own ways. The plot was a little hit and miss for me at times, some bits I felt were a little rushed over after taking time to get to them but overall it was a decent read.

This novel presents a fascinating premise and delivers a captivating story. Initially offering a subtle critique of the Scandinavian community in London and the influence trend, it evolves into a dark psychological narrative. The plot unfolds compellingly, with characters gaining depth and complexity as the novel progresses. While occasionally stretching plausibility, the story remains engrossing, keeping readers engaged throughout. The ending, though somewhat brutal and slightly far-fetched, is ultimately satisfying. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I think I'm officially done with Alex Dahl at this stage. The writing is just silly and it gets to a point that I just feel frustration, I get frustrated with the characters and it ruins the reading experience

I read this book on holiday and absolutely devoured it. A dark friendship, obsession and murder, what more could you want from a twisty thriller?

Thoroughly enjoyed reading Girl Friends by Alex Dahl. It was a packed story with interesting characters. Told from three different characters POV, Charlotte 'Keto Queen', Bianka and Storm. Following a group of Norwegian expats in Wimbledon, London - Charlotte and Bianka create a friendship. Both women who are in unhappy marriages for different reasons end up together on a girls trip to Ibiza. (Charlottes annual trip at her place in Ibiza). I disliked Bianca and Charlotte and found it slightly hard to get into, but once in over half way I was hooked. I love books about dark unhinged friendships and Bianca was top level crazy. I think at times a little far fetched but addictive and once they are on the holiday the drama is irresistible.

You really find out what a toxic friendship feels like, a messy twisted story resulting in death. I think this would be brilliant to read by the pool ... maybe even on holiday in Ibiza! Thank you Net galley!!

Would you kill for love?

Charlotte has everything, a successful career, loving family, beautiful home. She doesn't think that she is lacking anything, until she meets Bianka.

When Bianka arrives in to Charlotte's life in a whirlwind, Charlotte realises that she can't live without this woman in her life.

Much to her other friends' annoyance ands skepticism Charlotte invites Bianka on their already planned holiday to her ancestral family home in Ibiza.

Charlotte and Bianka bond and become more than just friends quicker than anyone could imagine. It's a dangerous relationship...

But Charlotte doesn't realise just how dangerous until she is in too deep.

The hedonistic setting of Ibiza is ideal for the darkness of what unfolds.

I really liked how the Norwegian families were linked even after moving to London. Their community was already close, and clearly skeptical when Bianka and her husband arrived. With good reason!

I can't say too much more without spoiling this for others, it was, overall, an enjoyable read.

However, if I'm totally honest, this book left me with mixed feelings.

It explores toxic relationships brilliantly but doesn't really have a satisfying or believable ending. With Charlotte ultimately becoming just as unhinged as Bianka.

A thrilling book with a lot going on. Charlotte, a self-made, ‘Keto Queen’ on the surface has it all, when she meets Bianka who emanates confidence, charm, and charisma, she is completely taken a back. What starts as a friendship, quickly escalates to a relationship during a girl’s trip to Ibiza.

What unfolds in Ibiza is a combination of drugs, partying, poor decisions which ultimately ends up with a murder. At which point Bianka’s toxic and manipulative nature is exposed.

Storm’s point of view adds another dimension, as he is Bianka’s step child and as he starts digging to uncover the truth about his biological mother, all kinds of secrets get dragged up.

The plot is slow in places, however for the most part many of the loose ends are tied up.

A decent read – 3 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book okay. I liked the way it was written, I felt the main character had depth and an interesting backstory but in places I feel like the pace wasn’t quite right. The first half felt too slow and the final 10% of the book sort of felt misplaced as the actions of the main character didn’t match up to what we knew of her! Although I know why Storm’s chapters were important I wish we could have come about the same conclusion without his chapters as I didn’t really have interest in his character and much preferred reading as Charlotte or Bianka!

Overall I think it was decent and I just feel like it has so much more potential! Interesting storyline and characters just fell a bit flat!

REVIEWED MARCH 29 2024

Girl Friends is a decent read with short chapters allowing you to read whenever you can.
Charlotte has it all, husband, family, lovely house, holiday home and her own cookery show being the keto queen. Her life is a bit dull though so when Bianka arrives in the neighbourhood with her husband who works for Charlottes husband everything seems to fit together. Charlotte invites Bianka to her week at her holiday home with her two other friends but things get deep very quickly and Charlotte is led astray quicker than anyone would have thought and then they have to deal with something that will affect the rest of their lives.
This was a decent read, it was far fetched at times!! But I can live with that as I liked non of the characters and that added to the enjoyment slightly. Chapters were a good length and the book didn’t stagnate at any point.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Head Of Zeus for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the blurb of this - something happening on holiday, threatening to ruin someone's life back home - I immediately thought of Nikki Smith's The Beach Party. But then I read it, and it was completely different to that book 🤣

I enjoyed GIRL FRIENDS. I could see myself reading this one again, by the pool, if I ever went on holiday 😑 Charlotte was an interesting character and I liked getting to know her. She seemed likeable to begin with and I wanted to hear more of her story. Bianka is very manipulative which I loved, and poor Charlotte fell for anything she said 🤦🏼‍♀️

A death occurs. There is toxic friendships and unbalanced relationships. Give it a read for a fun jaunt to Ibiza with a bit of violence and escapism :)

Love love love this book! found everything about it from the storyline to the characters to the twist amazing, could really immerse myself into the story and would love to see this made into a film / tv series

Awful rubbish. Got to 35% through what started as a promising read when I gave up. If gratuitous lesbian sex, drugs and an elicit ‘affair’ were supposed to hold this book up it failed miserably. No plot, tenuous potential plot lines and a cast of characters who were one dimensional and unlikeable. Frankly I wish what had happened in Ibiza had actually stayed there.

If you are looking for a thriller that will transport you to glamorous locations full of intriguing characters you will love to hate as you are taken on a wild ride, then can I recommend Girl Friends, a book that would make a perfect holiday read.

Norwegian Charlotte Vinge appears to be leading a charmed expat life - great career as the “Keto Queen”, successful husband, big house in Wimbledon, happy family. But her marriage has hit a stalemate and her life lacks excitement - so when she meets Bianka, the wife of her husband’s colleague, she finds herself strangely drawn to this free-spirited individual. Charlotte invites Bianka on a girl’s holiday at her house in Ibiza, and away from her normal life, Charlotte lets loose in a way she never has done before - but the consequences prove to be devastating ….

Told from the points of view of Charlotte, Bianka, and Bianka’s sixteen year old stepson Storm, this is a story of toxic friendship, jealousy, loss and obsession. The first half enables us to get to know the characters, from the more naturally uptight Charlotte to the beguiling Bianka, and the teenagers who are probably the most “normal”, and the glamorous Ibiza setting is vividly captured. The story gathers momentum and as the twists keep coming, it becomes a gripping read as things spiral and as a reader you strap in for a slightly crazy but thoroughly entertaining read.

Meet two complex heroines.
Bianka and her husband move to Wimbledon and she befriends Charlotte, as both have moved from Norway to London.
Bianka is everything Charlotte admires - she’s brave, bold and full of confidence
Bianka is invited with Charlotte’s two other friends, Annette and Linda to Ibiza
Charlotte holidays in Ibiza every year, in her late mother’s house.
But was it a good idea to invite Bianka?
You know something is going to happen in Ibiza
Showing where a toxic friendship and jealousy can lead - Bianka is just pure evil and always gets her own way
An interesting thriller with lots of twists and turns
Perfect holiday read only not with your best girl friend 😝
Thanks @alexdahlauthor @headofzeus and @netgalley for one of my favourite reads of 2024 so far

I really enjoyed this book - what's not to love about sex, obsession, partying and murder.
It kept me interested right the way through, and I stole some time I normally wouldn't have to keep reading. I liked the twisted relationship between Bianka and Charlotte, and learning about Bianka's past.
Reminded me a bit of sex in the city, but a darker version!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

What an absolute page turner this was, this a book that you will stay up late long into the night to finish as you just need to know what happens.
This read is full of twists and turns with lots of dark aspects & I real insight into the toxic side of friendship and the world of influencing. An exceptionally well written book with well developed & brilliant characters who will often shock you with their behavior.
A really great read.

This starts of at fairly slow pace and at times it doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere. But it’s worth sticking with as the book does start to come together in the last third and I did like the ending. The author does a great job of describing her leading characters and their toxic relationship. Not so much a thriller but more of a book about obsession with deadly consequences!

When Charlotte’s husband suggests she gets to know the wife of his new boss, she isn’t particularly keen. Charlotte is successful, rich, happily married with two children and has an active social life with the Scandinavian expat community in Wimbledon. But… looks can be deceiving. Charlotte is not happy, and when she meets Bianka she is intoxicated by her.

Meanwhile, Bianka is keeping secrets about her past and she certainly doesn’t like it when things don’t go her way. Charlotte and her friends find this out the hard way when their girl’s trip to Ibiza takes a sinister turn!

Is there a sub-genre for Frustrating Thrillers? There should be, and this book would be right at the top of the list!

Girl Friends is one of those books that has you screaming at the page, events just begin to spiral out of control and there’s nothing you can do about it except read on and hope that things work out.

This was a really surprising read for me, it was the equivalent of a Scandi Crime Popcorn Thriller - really readable and a lot of fun. Unlike the more typical Nordic Noir books, this in contrast is more Scandi Sinister Sun. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers or thrillers based around toxic relationships!

I really struggled with this book there are multiple POVs, but they're all written from different aspects, which was really confusing. Multiple POVs is just not my thing therefore I just think the book wasn't for me.