I think I read this book where it was meant to be read- on a beach!

There was a bit of scandal, drama and intrigue thrown in with hot Ibiza nights and a group of friends who should know better than to think they’d be going on a relaxing trip.

Whilst not a classic, this book was a bit of fun and I enjoyed reading it on holiday. Thank you for the opportunity to review.

The novel opens in Wimbledon, where there is a significant Scandinavian expat community. Charlotte Vinge is the Keto Queen, well known on TV, with a well curated Social Media profile. She likes everything to be just so, but underneath she is not wholly fulfilled. Newly-arrived from Oslo is Bianka, who strides into Charlotte’s life like a whirlwind, and soon the two become friends.

Bianka is married to Emil and is step mother to Storm, who is a successful youth ski champion. His birth mother died under curious circumstances but his family unit protects him from untoward memories around the end of her life.

Charlotte has a lovely villa on Ibiza, built on the land which houses her late mother’s derelict dwelling, a building which hasn’t really been touched for years. The modern building serves as a wonderful, restful retreat for Charlotte and two friends and they spend a week together every June, just chilling and shooting the breeze. This year Charlotte intends to ask Bianka to join them and of course she is aware of the change in dynamics this will inevitably cause but an unspoken sexual frisson drives her to a certain degree of recklessness – which is certainly not part of her public persona.

The novel bowls along with a nicely drawn Ibiza backdrop, and Wimbledon Village and environs will also be recognisable as a setting, what with walks in Cannizaro Park and get-togethers in Gail’s (artisan bakery). The sexual tension in the book is like an overlay that drives the plot forward until there is a death. And thereafter the ramifications puddle around the women, getting stickier and deeper, seeping into so many areas of their lives.

This is a good pool-side read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m usually a big fan of books portraying jealousy, unstable and unreliable characters, and multifaceted friendship dynamics, however I really struggled with this book. Despite finishing it, I feel that although the premise was good, the execution was poor; some of the twists were predictable and the characters didn’t feel different enough from each other to keep the story interesting. Elements of the story also seemed far fetched and not realistic, which further deterred me. I also think that the book could have been shorter whilst still having the same (if not better) impact.

I did however like the writing style, and would read more of this authors work in the future. This story was just not for me.

Norwegian Keto Queen-influencer Charlotte Vinge and her husband have made the shift from Oslo to London. To the world, she has it all, but there is a gap in her apparently perfect life that new friend Bianka Langeland almost immediately fills. They are suddenly best friends, inseparable, and Bianka naturally joins Charlotte and her other girlfriends for a getaway at Ibiza. What ought to have been a fun-filled and exciting girls’ weekend turns into a nightmare. Just how will it all end?
Girl Friends by half-American, half-Norwegian, Alex Dahl is a twisty psychological thriller of dark friendships, obsession, jealousy and worlds about to implode. A little far-fetched but enjoyable and recommended for fans of psych thrillers with a Scandi feel.

I loved this book! A breath of fresh air and a different take on a thriller. Can’t wait to read more from Alex Dahl

This is an unputdownable book. It has everything, it is unsettling, tense and thrilling. When Charlotte and Bianka meet through their husbands’ work connections it is obvious there is a spark between them. Charlotte is bored with her life and Bianka is confident, outgoing and very attractive. Every year Charlotte goes to Ibiza with her two close friends to close the villa for the season, this year she has asked Bianka to join then, thinking it may bring some excitement into her life.
As the attraction between Charlotte and Bianka grows into an affair it becomes Clare that Bianka is not all she seems.
This book is exciting and hard to put down. A great page turner.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. The concept and premise were interesting, and the writing was good.
There were no surprising twists and turns and the plot felt contrived in parts. The ending was not believable.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I found this pretty hard to get into and the beginning was really slow. It took a lot of time to get into the story. I liked the theme of female friendships and forming bonds though.

ARC for review

I really wanted to like this book, I try and give every book I read a fair go. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. The dialouge was a little too far fetched for me and too many characters for me to keep up with. I'm very sorry

This is a mystery primarily centred on Charlotte and Bianka, who become fast friends. There are POV chapters from both characters, and occassional chapters from Biankas' stepsons POV - however these felt very odd and non-essential until around 60%, but for the majority were boring and added little. I found that this book seemed to go on forever, with most of it detailing Charlottes' perfectionism, their growing relationship, and then a holiday in Ibiza. None of it was surprising, and I just wanted it to get on with it. I did like the multiple POV for the main characters, and it had a satisfying enough ending. If you’re looking for an easy mystery, then you will probably enjoy this, but I prefer more suspense.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

More of a summer holiday read. Apart from that good book with good storyline would recommend to my friends.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book Girl Friends.
Two new friends develop a strong bond quickly resulting in the new girl on the block, Bianka, being invited to the infamous girls weekend in Ibiza. What was meant to be a relaxing trip away turns into a nightmare. Can Charlotte maintain her perfect life back home after all that occurs?

While I wanted to love this book I absolutely struggled. The dialogue and the descriptive paragraphs throughout made me roll my eyes. The paragraphs describing Bianka, Can Xara and the landscape felt like someone trying to be something their not and not in an ironic way. The book was slow, and the side story of Mia was stupid and pointless.

Now for the ending… what the fuck… no no no. Rushed, stupid and just no.
Unfortunately this book overall was a no from me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Head of Zeus and Alex Dahl for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED Girl Friends. It was atmospheric, intriguing and mysterious. I loved everything about it, it had all you need in a great psychological thriller: Intriguing storyline, likeable and not so likeable characters, mystery and a bit of spice.

I loved Charlotte and loved hating Bianka, they had an interesting dynamic, which made for great reading, especially when things started to turn.

I was hooked right away and couldn't put it down, I read it in a day. I loved the ending, it was both surprising and satisfying.
This is my first book from Alex Dahl and it definitely won't be the last.

5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was kept well entertained by Girl Friends. the story of two wealthy middle class Norwegian women living the high life in London and still dissatisfied with their lives. Charlotte Vinge is the Keto Queen, obsessively watching every morsel she eats, shunning all carbs and persuading others to follow her life style thanks to her new TV series Viking Keto.

Bianka is married to Charlotte's husband's boss. She breezes into South London life and stirs everything up, proud of who she is and where she's come from.

The two women become fixated with one another, and when its time for Charlotte's annual trip to Ibiza with some longstanding girl friends, she invites Bianka to join them. What is usually a sedate yoga filled week morphs into a boozy week. The relationship between Bianka and Charlotte becomes physical and the obsession continues. Until something happens that no-one can come back from.

There's also a sub plot with Bianka's stepson Storm which is well woven in.

It is a taut thriller that kept me hooked until the very last page.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you to the author Alex Dahl, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the opportunity to follow this story of Charlotte, Bianka and their families!

What an ending!

But to get there felt a little like a journey, I felt the book started off really strong and fast paced then between 40% and 60% of the way through it slowed down.

I am glad I kept going though, the twists in the last 20% really sped things up and made me want to keep reading. The romance build up and tear down was intriguing, along with the piecing together of multiple POVs.

I felt there was a lot of development through Storm's story and discovery but that nothing ever came of it and it felt wasted in the end.

I’ve tried, I mean really, really, tried with this book but I admit defeat. From the awkward dialogue to step-son Storm’s name, I just can’t get on with it.

Charlotte, an “influencer” is a – sorry THE – Keto Queen. If you don’t know what Keto is, it’s a type of diet where carbs are food of the devil and must be avoided at all costs. Anyway, Charlotte is famous for avoiding carbs and telling everyone else how to live their lives without them. She meets Bianka, second wife of some rich banker, stepmum to said Storm who is apparently a world champion skier and very popular in their native Norway and is fluttering his eyelashes at Charlotte’s daughter whose name I can’t even remember. They are all, by the way, ex-pat Norwegians living in posh, leafy Wimbledon, and they’re all incredibly rich and over-indulged….blergh.

Every year Charlotte and her friends have a shindig at Charlottes little place in Ibiza and this year she invites Bianka. I think it was at the this point that my eyes finally glazed over to the point where I couldn’t see the words on my kindle. This is slow. So slow - I’ve seen snails in my garden gallop in comparison.

I thought I was in for a rainy afternoon, snuggled by the fire, bit of escapism into the world of Rich and Glam. Instead I was bored out of my skull and if this had been a hard copy book, instead of a download, it would have gone straight on the fire.

I think I can safely say I will not be persuaded to read anything else by this writer.

4.5 rounded up⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

So I LOVED this book from the get go. And the 2 distinct parts of the book were so different but both just as engrossing in my opinion .

And the Storm part of the story was great but somewhat gave away that he would be involved in the ending somehow.

Rich people behaving badly, raucous parties, sex and drugs all set on the party island of Ibiza .

Loved Charlotte and Bianka as characters and how they developed, just felt a little rushed at times but with a 💥 ending never saw that coming

Two new friends. Infatuation. Murder.

A friendship between two Norwegian expats blossoms when they both find themselves living in a wealthy area of London. The friendship is intense and fast progressing which leads an invitation on a well established annual girls trip. The friendship turns to more and the girls find themselves with a dead body on their hands. But who was the true killer? And what was the real intention behind the murder?

I wanted to love this book and the plot itself has a lot of potential. Unfortunately the story was just too slow and the first 50% had me question whether I had accidentally picked up a romance instead of a thriller. I needed more of the twisty deceit from the girls that we see in the very final few chapters.

Interestingly this book used both first and third person for different character perspectives which was different. There are a few editorial errors which will hopefully be ironed out before publication.

Overall the book had potential and was an easy read but didn’t have me on the edge of my seat. A good poolside read.

I struggled a little with this one, and it didn't really keep my attention if I'm honest. It was an unusual story, but I just couldn't engage with it. I did persevere right to the end, but it wasn't really for me.

A new arrival on the Scandi-London scene has Charlotte, the famous Viking Keto Queen all in a fluster. Trapped in a sexless marriage and starved of affection, Charlotte finds herself enthralled with Bianka but is she really the perfect housewife & step-mum?

Their intense friendship steps up another level when Bianka is invited to Charlotte's annual girl's trip to her holiday home in Ibiza. However, the relationship heads in another direction when they are swept up in the Ibiza hedonism. Sex, drugs, carbs and murder are on this holiday's agenda.

I enjoy a gripping thriller but found the 1st 50% of this novel was scene setting and character building. When the story kicks up a gear I was hooked! However it lost it again with the most ridiculous of endings. It could have been so good so I am left disappointed.