Best Friends by Rebecca De Winter

This book features two unreliable narrators, an old friendship, pregnancy, miscarriage, and lies. I found both of these women to be untrustworthy which I always enjoy in a thriller/suspense. Give me all of the unreliable narrators!

Here’s the scoop

She knows everything about you… and she’s about to share your deepest, darkest secret.

Alice has everything, I mean everything. A stunning suburban house, Instagram-perfect in its soft grey walls and textured neutrals. And then there’s her handsome husband, with his flat stomach and that sexy sleeve of tattoos he keeps hidden for his well-paid job in the city. The PTA mamas can’t stop staring at him, and who can blame them? And let’s not forget her three adorable, well-behaved children.

Meanwhile, here in Boston, I’m struggling to start a family with my husband Ollie. Our marriage is suffering, and I feel so isolated all the time. It’s hard not to compare myself to Alice, especially when we unexpectedly reconnect after two decades of silence. I can’t help feeling I’ve been dealt the inferior hand in life.

The worst thing is, I know Alice doesn’t deserve any of it. I was once her very best friend in the world, and I know the real Alice better than anyone else.

And here’s me thinking… I know where the bodies are buried, literally. Maybe it’s time to make her pay?

Coming out on July 18.

Twisty tale of toxic friendship!! The writing was engaging and it was quick to get through. Rebecca De Winter has an engrossing writing style and a clever eye for the pitfalls of female relationships and the insatiable need to fit in and have it all. The ending left me a little flat. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm publishing for my ARC.

The book promised a thrilling tale of friendship turned sinister, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver on its enticing blurb. While the premise had potential, the execution left much to be desired. The book started with a promising setup, introducing us to Evie's struggles with her marriage and desire for a family, in stark contrast to Alice and her seemingly perfect life.

However, the pacing was a major issue. The initial build-up was slow, and it took too long for the plot to gain momentum. By the time the story finally picked up speed, it felt rushed, as if the author was trying to make up for lost time. The lack of proper pacing made it difficult to become fully invested in the characters and their plight.

Speaking of characters, this was another area where the book fell short. The cast felt one-dimensional and lacked depth. The protagonist, despite being the narrator, remained underdeveloped. Alice, the supposed central figure of intrigue, wasn't explored enough to create a sense of mystery or curiosity about her past actions.

Additionally, the promise of numerous twists seemed forced and contrived. Instead of organically integrating surprising moments into the narrative, the story relied on sudden revelations that felt disconnected from the events leading up to them. The twists appeared to be inserted solely for the sake of shock value, rather than serving as natural progression of the plot.

Despite these shortcomings, it did have its moments, and the book's premise had the potential to be captivating but it needed more careful execution and better character development to be truly engaging.

In conclusion, it may appeal to readers seeking a fast-paced, easy read with a twisty plot. However, those looking for a deep, well-crafted psychological thriller might find themselves disappointed.

This book started strong for me but it felt like too much to decode exactly what Is going on
The idea that we all have someone who’s so toxic for us that the thought of hearing for them wasted because once you realise that final twist you are already trying to work out who’s doing what to who
The writer seemed to try and jam too much into the story. Thanks netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book for my honest thoughts

I enjoyed many aspects of this book however found the plot hard to keep up with in many instances and struggled to related to any of the main characters.

Whilst the emotional aspects of Alice and Evie were easy to follow along with and well explained and thought out the actual twists themselves left lots to be desired

I do not know how to feel! I couldn’t put it down! I stayed up so late reading it 😬

A fantastic psychological thriller, depth and confusion. I could read it again I’m sure and feel exactly the same.

Read this in 2023!

In the glamorous world of Boston's high society, envy and jealousy take center stage as I share my captivating experience with Best Friends by Rebecca de Winter. Evie, leading a life of privilege and trying to start a family with her husband Ollie, can't help but compare herself to the stunning and seemingly perfect Alice. After unexpectedly reconnecting after decades of silence, memories of their friendship flood back, and I find myself torn between the past and the present.

As I immerse myself in the entangled lives of Evie and Alice, the story takes thrilling twists that keep me on my toes. De Winter's masterful storytelling unravels a complex web of friendship, love, betrayal, and revenge. The more I delve into the characters' lives, the more I discover secrets buried deep within their past.

The book's plot is a rollercoaster of emotions, and the numerous twists and turns keep me guessing until the very end. Best Friends is not your average thriller, and the unconventional yet satisfying ending left me speechless. I'm grateful to NetGalley and Storm Publication for providing me with an ARC copy of this gripping novel that kept me hooked from start to finish, proving that the best friendships can be as beautiful as they are treacherous.

What a story! An intricate story of "frenemies!" I really enjoyed this book and felt it delved into the dark depths of the complexity or female relationships. The writing style was easy to read and I really enjoyed the storyline. Would recommend!

I loved the cover. And the burb. Told from one characters pov this is a compelling physiological thriller full if twists and turns. The characters develop and the nonlinear tale is compelling. I enjoyed every page especially when i thought i had worked it out but was wrong. I felt sad when it ended by could see a follow up. I was hooked i felt the raw emotion of the characters and it deal with some really tough issues in a very adult way.
Highly recommended 5 star read that will keep you up. Thank you net gallery and publisher for my arc

Alice and Evie are childhood... frenemies? An incident during their teen years sends them in different directions, losing touch. Now as 30-somethings they reconnect. I feel as though any more would give away too much plot, better to go in slightly blind to the plot.

Honestly, this one was a slow start for me. About halfway through it picked up. And while I had figured out most of the twists about that point, I still couldn't wait to pick it back up and finish it. Overall, this was a great read and well-worth the time!

This book had me gripped from the start and the world could have ended and I would have been blindly carrying on reading. I found myself holding my breath as I frantically turned the pages not knowing what was going to happen next.

If you love a juicy thriller about friendship and secrets with a dose of revenge then this is the next read for you. Intrigued ... you should be!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

This is the story of Evie, told from her point of view. It goes between then and now and it's clear she had a very trying childhood, raised by a single mother and living next door to her 'best friend' Alice and her parents.

Alice isn't really nice to Evie and when a terrible accident occurs, Alice is quick to blame Evie.

Fast forward to now and Evie has moved to Boston with her husband, Ollie, where she has been trying for a while to get pregnant.

Without spoilers, Evie and Ollie divorce and Evie moves back to England on a work secondment determined to destroy Alice and her marriage to Jake, who was Evie's childhood sweetheart.

The premise for this story is good, however, it didn't have me turning the pages in anticipation and excitement. I felt it was a bit flat in places and quite far-fetched. It was readable though and not badly written, just not gripping enough for me. 3⭐️

This was such a brilliant read and I kept going back to it as I couldn’t put it down. This is the type of book where you want to keep reading so you can find out what’s going to happen next. Loved this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book has a great premise which drew me in right away. Plus the cover was intriguing. I was caught up in this book so quickly. Alice and Evie were the best of friends even though their lives were very different. The novel does go back a few times into Evie’s past that gives essential insight that is sometimes hard to read. The two best friends haven’t seen each other in many years. One may be married to the others first love and the other may not be who she seems to be. I read this in 2 days. Great ending with a surprise twist.
Thank you to Rebecca De Winter, Storm Publishing, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Best Friends.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the ARC of #BestFriends by #RebeccaDeWinter. I really enjoyed this book with all the lies, deceit and the very twisted ending. Highly recommend.

3.5 ⭐ Overall, the book kept me interested and was a good read. The first half of the book is a bit slow, building the characters and flashbacks of past events. It does get twisty and I didn't see the last twist coming. I did feel like the ending could have used something more. I felt the rise of anticipation, but I think it fell flat for me. It seemed when I was finally hooked, the book ended.
I will also say, I didn't really like any of the characters, there was no connection.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Best Friends" by Rebecca de Winter is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of friendship, love, and the darkest corners of human nature. The story follows two women, Alice and Evie, who were once inseparable best friends but have since grown apart.

Alice seemingly has it all—a picture-perfect suburban life, a beautiful home, a handsome husband, and well-behaved children. In contrast, Evie struggles in her marriage and feels isolated in Boston. When the two women unexpectedly reconnect after a long silence, Evie can't help but compare her own life to Alice's seemingly perfect one.

However, beneath the surface, Evie knows that Alice doesn't deserve the life she has. She harbours a profound secret, knowing where the bodies are buried, and contemplates seeking revenge on her former best friend. As the story unfolds, the reader is taken on a thrilling journey filled with twists and turns, as the narrator navigates the complexities of her emotions and the desire for retribution.

Best Friends is a suspenseful and engrossing read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With its exploration of friendship dynamics, secrets, and the consequences of past actions, this book is sure to captivate fans of psychological thrillers. Prepare to be immersed in a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and the dark side of human nature as the gripping narrative unfolds.

Evie and Alice were best friends as teenagers, until that one event that changed everything. Now they are about to meet up again for the first time in many years. Will their friendship prevail or will old hurts win out?

I did not like either main character. I don't think I was supposed to. It was hard to find a secondary character to even care about.

We learn all about the girls childhood through a then and now timeline. They sure didn't have an easy one.

So many secrets.

So many lies.

So many toxic relationships.

This one kept me guessing: did she or didn't she until the very end.

It took a while for me to get into this one, but I really enjoyed it once I did.

Great psychological debut!

Thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc.

This was very enjoyable, it’s full of twists and turns and the ending was brilliant. The characters were great, the story was suspenseful and the style of writing was perfect. This is the first book that I have read by this author.. I’ll be keeping my eye out for more in the future.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Evie and Alice were best friends from a very young age. Until a terrible event occurred in their teenage years which sent Evie off to live in the foster care system. Now, more than a decade later, it seems as if fate once again reunites these two. Their friendship was plagued with lies and betrayal, will their adult relationship with one another be any different?

Evie is struggling in all aspects of her life. Her career, her marriage and her dream of having children seem to be falling apart in front of her eyes. Alice, on the other hand, has it all. As she always has.

When fate brings these two together, it seems as if Evie and Alice will have everything they both desire. But both of them hide terrible secrets from one another that go as far back as their childhood. As these secrets begin to emerge, the cracks in their facade to one another begin to show.

One of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a very long time. I could not put this book down and will be looking for more of this author's books.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC.