If you’ve ever had a messy high school friendship (or ten), Murder Between Friends will hit you right in the teenage trauma—except with more murder and less cafeteria pizza.

Grace, Henry, and Ally were once inseparable… until Grace testified that Henry’s brother killed their teacher. Fast forward two years, Jake’s released on a mistrial, and now the ex-besties have to team up to uncover the truth. Because nothing says “bonding” like re-investigating a murder that blew your lives apart.

These characters are messy, emotional, and totally believable. Grace is guilt-ridden, Henry is about to combust, and Ally is basically a human lie detector on caffeine. Their dynamic is like a group text full of subtweets and trust issues—and I loved every second of it.

Liz Lawson’s writing is sharp, fast, and full of tension that crackles like a live wire. The twists don’t just surprise you—they slap you across the face and then politely offer you a tissue. It’s addictive, emotional, and just the right amount of chaotic.

Basically: If you like your thrillers with angst, friendship drama, and plot twists that make you yell “WAIT—WHAT?!”, grab this one. But maybe don’t read it around people. Unless they’re okay with you gasping loudly and flinging the book across the room.

Small town vibes, mixed media, and an ending I didn’t see coming!
My only critique is that I could never keep Ally and Grace separate in my head. I was constantly searching for context clues to remember which one was which. I think more variance in writing styles for the different characters would have helped.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

ARC Review!!!
Thank you to NetGalley!!

This was a good read, fairly quick read. It starts right off the bat. I found Ally freaking annoying! I get that everything she went through but it made her so insufferable. The story overall was good. I never really had a feeling on who it might be. There were moments in time but nothing concrete so I think that was really well done. The English teacher twist was crazy!! The ending was crazy!!! I for sure didn't see that coming but made a lot of sense.
3 stars!!

A twisty mystery-thriller with enough clues and suspects to keep an amateur detective guessing and enough danger, drug deals, and creepy old houses to keep a reader's pulse pounding. I thought I'd guessed the ending, and I was wrong, so Liz Lawson gets bonus points! If you're a YA thriller reader, this is will fit the bill.

This YA thriller is a compulsive page-turner that hooks you from the start and refuses to let go. With a vibrant, clever cast of teen neighbors at its heart, the story shines as these sharp-witted friends band together to clear their wrongfully convicted friend, accused of murdering his teacher. The characters’ intelligence and chemistry make their detective work a joy to follow, blending wit and determination in equal measure.
Fast-paced, fun, and brimming with clever twists, this book delivers a perfectly crafted mystery that keeps you guessing. Ideal for readers who love immersive, character-driven YA with a knack for unraveling secrets, it’s a must-read that you won’t want to put down.

This book was really good ! I enjoyed the plot, but also the side plots with the characters and their own battles. It was a really nice read. I didn't expect all of the twists and turns and they were really good !

This is a gripping mystery about three former best friends torn apart by a murder and a testimony that changed everything. When the accused is released due to a mistrial, old wounds reopen, and doubt creeps in. As the clock ticks toward a new trial, Grace, Henry, and Ally must decide if they can trust each other again—and if they’re willing to risk everything for the truth. A tense, emotional read perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying.

At first it was a slow start and getting to know the characters was difficult but for the most part towards the ending the book picked up and it was very enjoyable to read.

I thought that this was a solid thriller. The pacing was a little inconsistent (the beginning is quite slow, then it picks up, and then the last bit of the book throws every twist at you but the kitchen sink), and I struggled to connect with the story through the characters because I just disliked them all so much (which I think may be intentional). But, I was curious to see what was going to happen and how the story would end.

This was a little bit of a struggle. It could have been about 150 pages shorter and accomplished a similar effect. The first 1/3 or so of the book was really slow and didn't really feel like it did anything to progress the story. There were too many twists at the end that felt unnecessary or super compelling with questionable motive. The characters were unlikeable. The 2/3 that progressed the story were well done and fun to read. But overall just an ok thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved the characters in the book, they got me invested in their past and questioning what really happened that night.

I would like to thank NetGalley and also Random House Children’s Books for this ARC by Liz Lawson! Ally, Grace & Henry’s friendship is torn apart after the death of their English teacher. Grace was convinced that she saw Henry’s brother Jake walking through their English teacher’s yard the night she was unalived but after Jake is released she starts to question whether it was Jake she saw or someone else. As they all have to work together there will be secrets, betrayal and a shocking double twist. This book had me on the edge looking forward to the next chapter!! I rated this book 4 stars and it will be released 4/22. I recommend this book and hope to read more from the Author!

Another great YA Thriller! I did guess part of who it was very early but I really enjoyed this book. The main characters for me were very likable and I was engaged the entire time and I couldn’t wait to read more each day.
It reminded me a little of A Good Girls Guide to Murder because of the high school kids trying to solve a murder and writing a paper on it.

I really liked this book written for the young adult crowd. The language was appropriate and the setting and characters were realistically written. Jake was convicted of murdering a popular high school English teacher because all the clues pointed directly at him. Grace, best friends of his brother even testified that she saw him at the scene. But now Grace is not so certain about what she saw, Jake's brother Henry believes that Jake would not murder and neither does their friend Ally. The three of them are determined to prove that Jake was innocent. Good story, with some unexpected twists. Thanks to NetGalley for and arc with no pressure for a positive review.

If you are a fan of a good girls guide to murder this book is for you! Grace, Henry, and Ally are on a mission to find out who really killed their teacher. Henry’s brother Jake was the one initially convicted, but grace does not think he did it. This book goes along the journey of rekindle friendships, working together, and finding you can’t always trust everyone

This was an incredible, twisty and suspenseful thriller! It kept me guessing until the very end. I loved the friendship the three main characters had! This book had me at the edge of my seat, and I could not put it down!!

It was a great mystery that grabbed me from the first chapter with its many twists and turns that had me guessing to the end.

Murder Between Friends follows Ally and her friends at the two year anniversary of the murder of one of their teachers. One of these friends siblings is accused of being the murderer but are they? What secrets does everyone hold? This book was gripping for me and I would re read it again. I found a few errors in which a word was missing or for example a chapter in Allys point of view had a text message from Ally and Henry. Other than that no other errors and an overall really good book!!

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book but I ended up loving it. The alternating POV worked well and I grew attached to Henry, Grace, and Ally. I didn’t guess who did it until it was being revealed. Teens will love this book.

Fast paced engaging young adult mystery thriller about a well liked teacher who is believed to be murdered by a teenage boy in her neighborhood. The teenager’s younger teenage brother and his friends know he is wrongly accused and take it upon themselves to find the true killer since law enforcement and lawyers believe they have the rightful one.

I admit I did guess or see one part coming BUT there were a couple twists I did NOT see! The one at the end left me in awe.

Besides the mystery, the novel also explores the intricacies of friendships and relationships between partners and family members.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys teenage drama, suspense and mysteries. Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying.

4 stars!!! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Liz Lawson and Delacorte Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley! This was a different type of Young Adult book. I always enjoy the back and forth between the characters that help lead up to the big reveal. It had me gripped from page one