With Friends Like These got me out of a book rut, so I'm very happy about that. It had an interesting setup and a good narration, but with a few changes it could have been a fantastic book. I appreciated the single POV, but I wish there had been more emphasis on the Circus itself. The friends were all tense and ... nothing *really* happened. I also wish there was more to build up the tension around the mysterious notes and other strange happenings. There was so much the author could have done to make this an incredibly thriller, versus just an intriguing drama.

I liked the premise of this story, with the college friends getting together annually for a competitive yet secretive game. While I enjoyed the read, there were a couple of glaring inconsistencies for me in the foundation of the story.
1. First off, regardless of the game they were playing, I failed to see why it had to be so secret. I get the rules of the game, but it made it sound like they were worried about legal issues which didn't appear to apply. With this year's Circus being the last, and with the change in rules, it sure did ratchet up the level of competition and subterfuge. I still didn't see the need for their extreme secrecy.
2. Even with a whiz financial planner, I can't see a couple of thousand dollars growing into almost a million in 20 years.
3. What was with how the money was dispersed in the end? I don't want this to be a spoiler, so I will just say, Um, not likely. No matter how many times I think about it, just No.
4. The re-investigation into Claudine's death. The circumstances surrounding her death didn't sound so ambiguous to me. Did the original investigators just suck at their jobs?
Now, I don't mean to pick on the book, because the basis of the Circus and the tie-in to a classmate's death were interesting elements, and it was an exciting book for sure. I am grateful to SS Atria Marketing for granting me access to an ARC of this book, for it was entertaining for the afternoon. I can see this story being made into an edge-of-your-seat thriller of a movie!

about a college friend group who continued the assassin squirt gun game of their university days to commemorate the loss of their friend, this was a complete dud. a classic masterclass in why telling—not showing—disengages readers. & there was far too much exposition for the plot to be propulsive. the only reason i continued reading was because assassin was my favorite game in high school (honestly, so fun).

I really wanted to love this book. I love a good suspense novel that makes my heart pound and I can't flip the pages fastest enough. Unfortunately, the book lost momentum in the second half. I guessed the ending (not in a proud of myself kind of way), and by the end I wasn't rooting for any of the characters. The ending was pretty anti-climactic. It was a good idea, but I thought it could have been better executed. It also felt like a ripoff of the story/movie Tag, just the female, Harvard-educated version.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee.

This was a fast, enjoyable read with a solid plot. A group of former Harvard roommates reunite for one final round of their annual high-stakes game, The Circus. I liked the dynamic between the characters and how the book explored aging friendships, ambition, and regret. While it leans more into drama than thriller (despite the setup), I stayed engaged and finished it quickly. Some of the plot points stretched believability, but the twist toward the end pulled things together in a satisfying way. A good pick for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a touch of suspense.

SPOILERS AHEAD
(3.25/5 Stars)
Sara and her college friends, now in their forties, uphold a tradition by playing a game known as the Circus each year. This tradition began during their time at Harvard and has continued ever since, even after the death of their roommate and one of Sara's closest friends, Claudine. Claudine's death still lingers in Sara's mind, haunting her to the point where she occasionally feels as if she sees her.

As the group gathers for their annual dinner to plan the Circus, Sara and Allie reveal their desire to end the game. They agree that this will be the final round, but the stakes have risen dramatically; the prize has grown to nearly a million dollars since Wesley invested the original cash pot back in their college days. This not only heightens the tension among the friends but also leads to faltering relationships and the revelation of long-held secrets.

While I found the book enjoyable overall, I have to admit that there were a handful of plot holes that I struggled to overlook. I appreciated the glimpses into their Harvard days, especially since some of the locations resonated with me as a Jersey girl. The choices these women make after the final game are a testament that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams and change career paths.

I initially expected a dark mystery filled with gruesome murders, but I found it to be more YA in a way. I genuinely enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book, but the ending was slightly absurd in my eyes. It was clear from the beginning that Coulter had some involvement, given his insights into the games and his disdain for Sara's participation. Additionally, the women should have been aware of Clementine's significance; her name was mentioned in the eulogy, and she was present at the college with her father when they encountered Dina. There were wild theories suggesting that Dina was impersonating Claudine and had lost her sanity, but in reality, it was her sister all along.

This was a quick, enjoyable read. I liked the characters, the plot, and the way the story was laid out. A solid 3 star read!

A group of friends from the past reunite and this novel covers the secrets from the past, lies that were told, and how relationships change over the years.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee. A short thriller about a group of friends who continue a tradition of The Circus, in memory of the death of one of their roommates. The Circus takes place every year and each friend has to “kill” one of the other fiends and collect all the medallions. I think this was an interesting yet odd thriller which was a little on the slow side. The characters were not very likeable.
2.5-3 stars

I don’t know if it was the book or the fact that I may not be into thrillers as much anymore. I just felt like it lacked in many areas and was not for me.

A story of friendship and betrayal. A quick paced mystery with some fun twists. Ya friendly. One pov. A good read for thriller/ mystery readers.

With Friends Like These offers a compelling blend of women's fiction and suspense, centering on a decades-long friendship and a thrilling, yet dangerous, tradition. For 20 years, a group of ambitious women, bonded since Harvard, have played an annual game called "The Circus"—a game that ended tragically their senior year. Now, adults with careers, families, and secrets, they reunite for what's meant to be the final round. Sara wants out, until she learns a small fortune is at stake. But as the game intensifies, the women begin to suspect foul play.

What truly resonated with me was the realistic portrayal of Sara and her friends' lives. The narrative skillfully explores how their goals have shifted, the strains on aging friendships, and the complicated ways ambition can clash with relationships. The emotional core—friendship, grief, growing apart—felt incredibly relatable. My only minor wish was for more emphasis on the suspense. The description hinted at a thriller, but the plot leaned more into women's fiction. While thriller elements were present and effective in complementing the interpersonal themes (like Sara's growing distance from her friends making the game feel more high-stakes), they never quite escalated to the full-blown tension I anticipated.

I'd recommend With Friends Like These to readers who enjoy women's fiction with an edge, especially those interested in evolving friendships, personal ambition, and uncovering buried secrets. Just don't go in expecting a pure thriller.

Psychological thrillers continue to be in high demand in public libraries. This one is no exception. Five roommates at Harvard started to play Circus, and continued after graduation. It was all fun and games until one of the participants was killed, leaving the others bereft. But what actually happened? And was that really Sara on the streets? How could that be. A dark mystery recommended for all public libraries.

3.5 stars.

The cover and length are *chefs kiss* but it definitely falls more in the Mystery category than Thriller, I think if your looking for a super fast paced thriller this may not be your cup of tea but if you want to have a good time and figure out the mystery you'll really enjoy this. The last 20% really ramps up and had a bit of a twist I didn't see coming but I was looking for more of the "game" element that I thought would be included.

Thank you to Atria Books, Alissa Lee and Netgalley for access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was really hyped for this based on the blurb, but was entirely underwhelmed the entire time. The story line has so much potential and I was excited for an action packed suspense. But I was left with a silly, boring, plot line that hung entirely too much on college history. While background was definitely necessary, it just didn’t flow well for my liking. I also think this could have been longer to focus more on the stakes instead of the “who’s out to get us?”.

This was an interesting read. It's pitched as a thriller, but I feel like the thriller elements were more low key than the description made them out to be; so be aware of that going in. The characters were interesting and the whole "terrible thing" the girls did wasn't really that terrible once it was revealed. The twists were fairly good and did keep me reading to the end to find out who was responsible for what. But I do think its not quite as exciting as it's hyped to be? and more character studies with thriller elements versus a straightforward, high octane thriller.

With Friends Like These is a Mystery book by Author Alissa Lee.

The story is about a group of friends, Alums from Havard.

They played a game in college called The Circus.

One of the six friends lost her life during these times, and the remaining five friends have gone about their lives and careers for twenty-five years.

They meet up, and we learn about their current lives, and find out if they should have another game this year.

This is an innocent game of skill, and the hunt.

3 ½ stars for me, as I enjoyed this fast pace and engaging book.

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Alissa Lee and Atria Books for my advanced copy to read and review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy.

It's hard to like a book with such unlikeable characters. I wanted to enjoy the mystery but it fell flat for me. Would be interested in other works by this author in the future.

This was honestly an okay thriller for me. I requested the arc due to the plot and the idea of their secret tradition the “killing” game that they played with each other during college and decided to play one last time.
The characters were okay, I couldn’t really connect to any of them which was unfortunate, and I didn’t like one over the other. They came off super annoying, especially Sara. She acted like a child almost in certain situations and it rubbed me the wrong way.
For the mystery and thriller part, I was expecting a tad bit more. The synopsis made it seem like the game was more “high stakes” then it truthfully was. And because of the lack of high stakes, it was easy to figure out the potential twists and turns the story threw at you.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal. When a tragic event shakes a close-knit group, long-buried secrets begin to surface, unraveling their carefully constructed bonds. Lee skillfully builds suspense through layered character development and well-paced twists, resulting in a thoughtful exploration of trust and the fragile nature of relationships. A gripping read for fans of domestic suspense.