This book revolves around Sunny who according to the character was either emulated, feared, worshipped or despised whether it be from a relationship or physical appearance perspective. Amelia, Beth, Roxy and Jamie may have belonged to the same sorority and sang the same songs, but it was only in appearance to be part of the sorority did they have anything in common. Beth worshipped Sunny in the fact that she brought her under her wing and let her realize that she was more than a scholarship student that would be looked down upon at SCU. However, she had no qualms in letting Sunny's boyfriend, Ryan, make her feel special. Amelia felt exposed by Sunny who as the treasurer, was fully cognizant of her financial situation. Jamie was concerned of her exposure through Brett and her partnership with him at college. And Roxy wanted to be her and to steal who meant the most to Sunny, Ryan. Ryan created the house as a shrine to Sunny. It was only fitting that they all gathered to celebrate the marriage of Celeste and Zach, whose mothers Beth and Roxy respectively, never got along. This book has so many twists and turns and how the reader finds out how each one played a part in Sunny's death was truly captivating. I simply couldn't put it down. A great read.

If you want a highly entertaining read that plays out like a soap opera or in today's times, a reality show, then pick up a Kaira Rouda book!
in this one we have a group of now supposedly all-grown sorority sisters. Roxy, the leader of the group, has invited everyone to her Palm Springs mansion to celebrate her son's wedding. The son is marrying the daughter of Beth the sister who never quite fit in, but I didn't think the wedding really figured much into the story. It is mostly about the long simmering drama between the five women. Something happened twenty-five years ago and now everything is coming out. Yes, there are a LOT of books out there like this, but this one has decent characterization, dark humor and lots of twists and secrets popping out everywhere! This is all told from multiple POV's and I liked Roxy the best. She was a hoot. This story sort of hit home as I have been recently reading about RushTok and the Alabama sororities in the news right now and all that goes into actually getting into a sorority. Mind-boggling the money and work that goes into this whole thing! Well, anyway, this book is a blast and if you want a quick, fun read, pick this one up!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Kaira Rouda and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of February 3, 2026.

Okay, so I just finished We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda, and wow... this book was such a ride. You know that feeling when you're watching a group of people who are way too polished, and you're just waiting for someone to snap? That’s this book. It’s like being dropped into a rich, tense reunion where everyone has secrets, nobody trusts anyone, and you just know something bad is going to happen.

It hooked me right away—glamorous setting, old friends with too much history, and that unsettling feeling that the past is about to catch up to everyone. If you’re into messy friendships, hidden agendas, and a little murder on the side, keep reading.

The story centers around a sorority reunion turned engagement party in Palm Springs, hosted at an over-the-top estate owned by the Gentry family. It's the kind of place that screams money and status. But as the women—Beth, Roxy, Jamie, Amelia—arrive, it becomes clear that this isn’t just a party. It’s a reckoning.

What I loved most was how personal this book felt. The characters carry the weight of old college rivalries, buried guilt, and unresolved grief. Beth, the single mom with a quiet strength, really resonated with me. She’s always been underestimated, and seeing her navigate this minefield of fake smiles and subtle digs felt so real. Roxy, on the other hand, is the ultimate scene-stealer—glamorous, ruthless, and always performing.

Rouda plays with multiple perspectives, and it works. You never really know who to trust. Everyone’s lying to themselves in some way, and the tension just keeps building until it spills over. By the end, I was flipping pages like a maniac.

That said, a few things were a bit on-the-nose—some of the twists you can see coming if you’ve read a lot of domestic thrillers. And the characters, while fun, do lean into familiar types (the queen bee, the underdog, the wildcard widow). But honestly? It didn’t matter. The drama, the setting, the emotional payoff—it all just worked.

This book had me hooked. It’s fun, twisted, and full of that delicious social tension you get when people who pretend to like each other are trapped in one place with way too much history. If you’ve ever had a complicated friendship, this will hit home. I tore through it in a couple of sittings, and even when I saw some of the twists coming, I still wanted to know how it all went down.

It’s juicy without being trashy, smart without being slow—and it’ll definitely make you think twice before agreeing to a reunion weekend with your old college friends.
Would I recommend it? Yeah, 100%. Just don’t read it before a group trip. 😅

I really enjoyed this book, though there were a few elements that didn’t quite land for me.

The pacing was excellent—fast without feeling rushed—but the ending came around a little too quickly. If the conclusion had been given the same depth as the rest of the story, this might have been a five-star read for me.

The characters were fantastic. Roxy was my standout—so full of herself, so determined to project perfection, that you just knew everything was bound to crumble. Beth, on the other hand, felt a little underdeveloped. With such big personalities like Roxy, Amelia, and eventually Jamie taking up so much space, Beth was somewhat overshadowed, and I found myself wishing for more from her.

One thing I did love was the sheer number of secrets simmering beneath the surface. It felt like every character had something to hide, and that constant undercurrent of deception kept me hooked.

That said, I did find it a little confusing that the sorority sisters were there as “guests” to celebrate Roxy and Beth’s children’s engagement, when in reality the plot had very little to do with the kids. It almost felt like the engagement was just a backdrop to bring everyone together, which worked—but also left me questioning the relevance at times.

The ending completely surprised me. It wasn’t the typical twist I was expecting, and I loved that.

This was my first book by Kaira Rouda, and it definitely won’t be my last. Overall, I really enjoyed it and will be seeking out more of her work.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of We Were Never Friends!
Have you even been somewhere that feels awfully familiar and takes you back to a place with some not so great memories? Well these characters have.
This book was addicting, I really just wanted to keep on reading it. That chapters were short so I kept saying just one more chapter! I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fast paced book that keeps you thinking!

What I liked:
👉 Fast-paced, drama-filled plot
👉 Juicy, flawed characters you’ll love to hate
👉 Palm Springs setting felt very glamorous and perfect for all the revelations 👀

What I didn’t like so much:
👉 Felt a bit soap-opera 🎭
👉 Some threads left hanging 🤷‍♀️
👉 Dialogue felt a bit immature 😳

This was still an enjoyable read for me. I was gripped and read it over a few days.

This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the characters, although I felt the suspense/mystery was a bit lacking. Overall a great, fast paced thriller

I’m not sure about this one. I found myself very confused. 5 sorority sisters are getting together for the first time since they graduated, on a celebratory weekend for one of the sisters daughter and another sisters son. Yet, not one of the couples friends are there to celebrate?

Overall I wasn’t really sure what the premise of the book was supposed to be, and all the characters were very immature for being full grown adults. It was messy and filled with so many unlikable characters - although the premise could’ve been good if it were executed properly.

I’m giving it a very generous 3 star, just for the fact that aside from the childish behaviour and poor execution, there’s lots of potential that I could see.

As a teacher, I find *We Were Never Friends* to be a compelling and highly readable psychological thriller that is a great fit for a high school English literature class. Kaira Rouda masterfully crafts a narrative that explores the darker side of female friendships, making it a perfect text for analyzing **character archetypes**, **unreliable narrators**, and **thematic elements** like deception, betrayal, and the lingering consequences of past mistakes. The novel's suspenseful plot keeps students engaged, while its structure—shifting perspectives and timelines—provides rich opportunities for discussions on narrative technique and how an author builds suspense. It's a fantastic, modern option for moving beyond traditional texts and encouraging a thoughtful examination of complex relationships and human nature.

I’ve never really understood sororities, being from the UK, but something tells me this isn’t how these “sisters” are supposed to act.

We Were Never Friends is packed with twists, turns, and shock reveals! I will 100% be picking up more suspense thrillers after reading this.

We meet four women—each hiding their own secrets, grudges, and carefully crafted masks. From the very first encounter, the tension is palpable, and as a reader I could feel the unease in that room.

Kaira Rouda blends glamour with menace, crafting a setting so vivid you can almost feel the desert heat and get goosebumps when the seemingly impossible happens. Every chapter strips back another layer, revealing that the past these women share is far darker than it first appears.

The constant shift in narrators did cause a little confusion for me, particularly with Roxy and Amelia—whose similar personalities occasionally blurred together.

A perfect pick for fans of sharp, fast-paced, character-driven suspense—equal parts cattiness, mystery, and jaw-dropping reveals.

This was a perfect quick, easy, slightly mindless (meant in the best way possible) read. I love a multiple POV mystery; anyone and everyone could have been the killer and it would have been believable. I literally read it in a single sitting and enjoyed it! It was pretty predictable but still wanted to read it through to see if I was right.

Major thanks to NetGalley for the early copy ◡̈

Kaira Rouda's latest novel, We Were Never Friends, is a high-drama, high-octane thriller that's like watching your favorite soap opera. It's the perfect book to blow through in one sitting if you're in the mood for a crazy ride of secrets, stabbing in the back, and a good old-fashioned locked-room thriller. While it does live up to the hype of a tense reunification of sorority sisters gone bad, it doesn't give us the depth and ruthless plot twists needed to be truly unforgettable.

The book's greatest asset is the fabulously loathsome characters. The hot-headed and unapologetically self-absorbed Amelia and Roxy are a spectacle. Their egos are as massive as the Palm Springs compound they're staying in, and their poisonous antics provide much of the book's entertainment. Their chapters are a constant source of drama and are the reason this is an additively readable book. The eerie mood, with a sandstorm trapping the characters indoors, is also an absolute winner, making the tense and claustrophobic setting even more heightened.

Unfortunately, the mystery itself never quite fulfills the promise of the setup. Secrets are revealed and confessions occur, but the twists more closely resemble soapy plot twists than actual shocks. The plot does come at the cost of depth in favor of drama, and the characters (except for the wonderfully evil Roxy and Amelia) can be somewhat paper-thin. The ending is probably going to leave some readers feeling a bit shortchanged, as too many questions go unanswered.

A twisty story to keep you guessing! My mouth was actually on the floor by the end of this one! Finished it in 8 hrs. Highly recommend!

We Were Never Friends stands out as a potent psychological thriller for readers drawn to:
• Tense, reunion-driven plots rich with buried secrets
• Unreliable, morally gray characters
• A stylish atmosphere woven with dark humor and sabotage among friends

But if you prefer protagonists who are redeemable or mysteries with tight, jaw-dropping reveals, this one might leave you wanting more refinement.

This book is so cheesy but very readable. I enjoyed the first quarter of the book the most. Setting up the bitchy sorority girls with Queen Bee Roxy and Amelia simmering like Alexis and Crystal from Dallas. And there was a mystery to keep you hooked. Why did Sunny die?
Who did she have secrets about? So we are building up to a big reveal. And then it all goes a bit "pantomime baddie" The Brett character and mad Ryan really took the biscuit. But I was laughing at it. So I'm torn. I like the pace and the mystery and the reveal. I don't like Beth the supposed heroine or the ridiculousness of the final part of the book. If this was made into a movie it would be a bit like one of those Scooby Doo movies.
Good story, enjoyable enough, some good characters but a wee bit ridiculous. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. It made me giggle. Denise X

4.5 stars!

This book hooked me from the first page with its engaging writing, and I enjoyed the eerie atmosphere and nonstop tension as the book progressed! The multiple POVs were all distinct and compelling, and I loved how the flashbacks added layers to the present-day drama.

Rouda is a master at crafting deliciously villainous characters, and this story is no exception—dark motives, shifting alliances, and plenty of “wait, what?!” moments kept me glued.

Honestly, some loose ends (looking at you, engaged couple) make me hope a sequel is on the way. There’s definitely more story to tell, and I’d be SO here for it!

Unfortunately this book did not do anything for me. I felt the internal dialogue of the characters was so immature for aging women regardless of their past, and literally no one was likable. The plot fell way short of compelling, I just couldn't get into it, I appreciate the opportunity to read the arc, this is my honest review.

The sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu are all grown up now and meeting for an engagement party. Grown up doesn’t mean they’re over the tragedy from spring break twenty-five years ago and they all have secrets from then.

If you’re ready for some sorority sister drama, check this one out. The sisters are pretty stereotypical sorority sisters, all grown up, and they get worse and worse as time goes on. Don’t give anyone the benefit of the doubt in this one! It’s a very fast paced read as well.

“Friends become sisters; they say. But really, it’s desperate strangers become sisters, and then some of us become friends. It’s the way it works, always has, always will.”

We Were Never Friends comes out 2/3/26.

We Were Never Friends had all the makings of a juicy thriller, but it fell flat for me. The drama felt repetitive, the characters were one-note, and the twists were predictable. Instead of being tense and sharp, it played out more like drawn-out gossip that never paid off.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Kaira Rouda delivers a gripping, twisty mystery that pulls you right into the glamorous yet toxic reunion of the Theta Gamma Mu sorority sisters. The setting — a luxurious Palm Springs estate haunted by memories of a tragic past — created the perfect backdrop for secrets, lies, and betrayals to unravel. From the ruthless Roxy to the seemingly perfect Jamie, every character felt layered with hidden motives, making it impossible to put down.

What really stood out to me was how Rouda explored the complexity of female friendships and the fine line between loyalty and rivalry. This book reminded me that appearances can be deceiving — even those who seem like friends may harbor jealousy or hidden agendas. The past always has a way of catching up, as unresolved issues and buried secrets often resurface when you least expect them. It also showed how trust must be earned, not assumed, since even lifelong friendships can prove fragile if they’re built on appearances rather than honesty. Finally, it revealed how power and privilege can easily mask deeper flaws, reminding us that wealth and status don’t protect anyone from betrayal or consequences.

Dark, sharp, and addictive, We Were Never Friends is perfect for fans of sorority drama, toxic friendships, and slow-burn suspense that builds into shocking revelations. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read more from Kaira Rouda!