At Harvard Bee, Sara, Dina, Allie, Wesley, and Claudine not only became roommates but family. They had their whole lives ahead of them until tragedy struck senior year and changed everything.

Twenty years later the roommates still keep the tradition they have been playing since at college. Circus is a harmless elimination-style game called Circus. This years game bring out the worst in the girls and they aren't playing by the rules.

I enjoyed this book and the story was unique and flowed very well. I ended up reading this in one day because it held my attention.

Thank you NetGalley for being able to read this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee due to be published November 4, 2025.

Sara, Bee, Dina, Allie, Wesley, and Claudine were Harvard roommates who became like family. Then, during their senior year, a tragedy changed everything. Twenty years later, five of them keep a secret tradition alive – the Circus, a “harmless” elimination game. This year some of them are not playing by the rules. Will this year’s game be deadly?

This was a great debut book and a unique premise. We not only learn about the game they started in college, but much backstory about the girls, now women, and their stories. I found myself turning pages quickly so I could see how the game ended and if any of them ended up not finishing the game! A great read!

#NetGalley #AlissaLee #AtriaBooks #WithFriendsLikeThese