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Keep Your Friends Close
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Isolated and embroiled in a custody battle, Mary needs a friend more than ever. When she meets the charming and enigmatic Willa at a Brooklyn playground, the women’s connection feels fated. Finally, she has someone on her side. During a margarita-fueled moms’ night out, though, Mary shares her darkest secret about her ex, George, and Willa simply disappears. No calls, no texts, nothing.
Two months later, Mary’s divorce is almost finalized, and she’s trying to build a new life for her son in upstate New York. On her first day in town, she runs into Willa…only Willa’s name is Annie now, and she’s got an entirely new family in tow. When George turns up dead and Mary becomes the prime suspect, she has no choice but to turn to her only friend in Willa.
As coincidences—and evidence—pile up, Mary begins to wonder whether Willa had something to do with George’s death. Is the other woman a friend or a foe, a confidante or just a con? Mary must uncover the truth before she loses everything.
Isolated and embroiled in a custody battle, Mary needs a friend more than ever. When she meets the charming and enigmatic Willa at a Brooklyn playground, the women’s connection feels fated. Finally, she has someone on her side. During a margarita-fueled moms’ night out, though, Mary shares her darkest secret about her ex, George, and Willa simply disappears. No calls, no texts, nothing.
Two months later, Mary’s divorce is almost finalized, and she’s trying to build a new life for her son in upstate New York. On her first day in town, she runs into Willa…only Willa’s name is Annie now, and she’s got an entirely new family in tow. When George turns up dead and Mary becomes the prime suspect, she has no choice but to turn to her only friend in Willa.
As coincidences—and evidence—pile up, Mary begins to wonder whether Willa had something to do with George’s death. Is the other woman a friend or a foe, a confidante or just a con? Mary must uncover the truth before she loses everything.
366 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2024
About the author
Leah Konen
14 books798 followersLeah Konen is the author of Keep Your Friends Close, You Should Have Told Me, The Perfect Escape, All the Broken People, and several young adult novels, including Love and Other Train Wrecks and The Romantics. Her books have been featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, Reader’s Digest and The NY Post, among others. She lives in Brooklyn and Saugerties, New York, with her husband; their daughters, Eleanor and Mary Joyce; and their dog, Farley.
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September 6, 2024
Leah Konen takes us to another wild, twisty, whodunnit wild ride by reminding us one of my favorite sayings; “With friends like this who needs enemies”
The short, intriguing chapters, two narrators: one of is Mary: a woman fighting to divorce with her powerful husband and trying to keep the custody of her two years old son and the other is Wilma who has also little boy, happily married, becoming her confidante in short time with a plot line resembling Strangers on Train progresses as Mary starts her secrets to her new friend she barely knows and she finds herself as a prime suspect of her husband’s murder case with suspicion that her new friend with great secrets who recently ghosted her and who might live double life might be involved with her husband’s demise.
Both women’s POVs are interesting, keeping your attention intact, making you invest into their story and reading those pages faster to find out what the hell happened the possessive husband George and who did kill him?
Prepare not to get fooled by unexpected twists that make you scream cause it’s humanly to impossible to see them coming.
I even wrote down the facts, the motives, the suspects one by one like I’m working on case study as I make my fast reading and I’m so happy there are not loopholes left open or unexplained. There are some explanations a little far fetched and some coincidental connections made my eyes roll but the heart throbbing resolution, exciting execution made me at the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this book as much as other works of the author. It’s definitely perfect pop corn reading! I highly recommend domestic meets psychological thriller lovers and author’s fans!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM /G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this unputdownable book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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The short, intriguing chapters, two narrators: one of is Mary: a woman fighting to divorce with her powerful husband and trying to keep the custody of her two years old son and the other is Wilma who has also little boy, happily married, becoming her confidante in short time with a plot line resembling Strangers on Train progresses as Mary starts her secrets to her new friend she barely knows and she finds herself as a prime suspect of her husband’s murder case with suspicion that her new friend with great secrets who recently ghosted her and who might live double life might be involved with her husband’s demise.
Both women’s POVs are interesting, keeping your attention intact, making you invest into their story and reading those pages faster to find out what the hell happened the possessive husband George and who did kill him?
Prepare not to get fooled by unexpected twists that make you scream cause it’s humanly to impossible to see them coming.
I even wrote down the facts, the motives, the suspects one by one like I’m working on case study as I make my fast reading and I’m so happy there are not loopholes left open or unexplained. There are some explanations a little far fetched and some coincidental connections made my eyes roll but the heart throbbing resolution, exciting execution made me at the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this book as much as other works of the author. It’s definitely perfect pop corn reading! I highly recommend domestic meets psychological thriller lovers and author’s fans!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM /G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this unputdownable book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
February 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Keep Your Friends Close…….And, Your Enemies Closer-is a popular idiom and good rule to follow.
But, first you have to figure out, who is who!
And, this wickedly, fun popcorn 🍿 thriller, will keep you guessing!!
THAT WAS THEN:
Mary is separated from her rich, privileged husband George and she could use a friend. So, when she meets Willa and her toddler son at a Brooklyn playground, the women’s connection feels like fate. But after one margarita too many, on a moms’ night out, Mary spills the tea about her darkest secret regarding her ex, and then suddenly Willa disappears.
No calls, no texts, no explanation.
THIS IS NOW:
Two months later, Mary’s divorce is almost finalized, and she’s trying to build a new life for herself and her toddler son in Woodstock, NY. On her first day in her new town, while sitting in a local bar while having lunch, she spots Willa walking by.
It isn’t possible, is it?
She chases her down but the woman denies knowing her, claiming her name is Annie. Sure, the hair is different, and she’s got an entirely new family in tow, but an heirloom piece of jewelry she is wearing gives her away.
Mary sends another text begging for answers.
When George turns up dead and Mary becomes the prime suspect, she has no choice but to turn to Willa-the only one she knows in town. But, will her old “friend” come through?
As the MANY coincidences and the evidence—pile up, Mary has to wonder whether Willa had something to do with George’s death and if the other woman is a friend or a foe?
The story unfolds through the POV’s of both Mary and Willa, over three parts and the two timelines, and although it wasn’t hard to follow, the story does feel a bit “choppy”, but short chapters keep the pages flipping!
A BIG positive is that this story was fresh and NOT one of the overly used plots that 2023 had way too many of! So, I ENJOYED trying to figure out who could be trusted-IF ANYBODY!!
And, “whodunnit”!
You can pick up this twisty, entertaining novel now!
Thank You to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the invitation to read this one early! Gifted ARC provided through NetGalley.
Keep Your Friends Close…….And, Your Enemies Closer-is a popular idiom and good rule to follow.
But, first you have to figure out, who is who!
And, this wickedly, fun popcorn 🍿 thriller, will keep you guessing!!
THAT WAS THEN:
Mary is separated from her rich, privileged husband George and she could use a friend. So, when she meets Willa and her toddler son at a Brooklyn playground, the women’s connection feels like fate. But after one margarita too many, on a moms’ night out, Mary spills the tea about her darkest secret regarding her ex, and then suddenly Willa disappears.
No calls, no texts, no explanation.
THIS IS NOW:
Two months later, Mary’s divorce is almost finalized, and she’s trying to build a new life for herself and her toddler son in Woodstock, NY. On her first day in her new town, while sitting in a local bar while having lunch, she spots Willa walking by.
It isn’t possible, is it?
She chases her down but the woman denies knowing her, claiming her name is Annie. Sure, the hair is different, and she’s got an entirely new family in tow, but an heirloom piece of jewelry she is wearing gives her away.
Mary sends another text begging for answers.
When George turns up dead and Mary becomes the prime suspect, she has no choice but to turn to Willa-the only one she knows in town. But, will her old “friend” come through?
As the MANY coincidences and the evidence—pile up, Mary has to wonder whether Willa had something to do with George’s death and if the other woman is a friend or a foe?
The story unfolds through the POV’s of both Mary and Willa, over three parts and the two timelines, and although it wasn’t hard to follow, the story does feel a bit “choppy”, but short chapters keep the pages flipping!
A BIG positive is that this story was fresh and NOT one of the overly used plots that 2023 had way too many of! So, I ENJOYED trying to figure out who could be trusted-IF ANYBODY!!
And, “whodunnit”!
You can pick up this twisty, entertaining novel now!
Thank You to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the invitation to read this one early! Gifted ARC provided through NetGalley.
January 5, 2024
The saying goes to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, which is very good advice, but what if you don’t realise a person is your enemy until the evidence is staring you in the face? Mary is going through a messy custody battle/divorce with her ultra wealthy husband, George and is in the process of moving out of Brooklyn to Woodstock in upstate New York. She has made few friends since becoming a mum, but she thinks Willa is one of the best, believing they have a real connection when they first meet in a Brooklyn playground. During a margarita fuelled night out, Willa encourages Mary to share secrets which involve George. Shortly after this, Willa seems to drop off the face of the earth. On Mary‘s first day in Woodstock, she sees Willa, only she isn’t Willa now she’s Annie, and there’s an entirely new family. if Mary thinks this is a mind blowing situation then it’s only going to get a whole lot worse. The story is told in the past on meeting Willa in New York and in the present day and by both women.
Well, this is twisty and entertaining! I alternate between feeling very sorry for Mary because George and his family, especially brother Henry, are entitled rich, powerful, controlling, and quite simply dreadful people, and wanting to shake her for being so weak and whiny! Willa is a puzzling conundrum from the get go, she gives little away, but finds out much, but why? What is her game? There are quite large hints that she isn’t who she says she is but Mary is so desperate for a friend that she either doesn’t notice or chooses to ignore it. Naive and maybe desperate but Mary doesn’t half dig big holes for herself. None of the characters are especially likeable but that’s what makes the novel darkly delicious and riveting.
This is a well written slow burner, domestic drama/psychological thriller with friendship at its core. The pacing lulls you into a sort of false sense of security, so that when something happens, it seems to jolt you more as you don't expect it. The past/present way of telling the story adds to this, making the novel more suspenseful and keeps you trying to figure out the who and whydunnit. It becomes creepy and claustrophobic, the tension jumps from the pages as it twists and turns its way through the building drama. The plot deepens and there are more and more connections you don’t initially see or are made unaware of so it’s about as far from a simple tale as you can get with characters playing with fire or pursuing deadly games that go very wrong Indeed. The ending requires some suspension of disbelief as there’s perhaps one coincidence too many, but that’s not to say it isn’t good.
Overall, this is an entertaining and an increasingly wild ride of a read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review .
Well, this is twisty and entertaining! I alternate between feeling very sorry for Mary because George and his family, especially brother Henry, are entitled rich, powerful, controlling, and quite simply dreadful people, and wanting to shake her for being so weak and whiny! Willa is a puzzling conundrum from the get go, she gives little away, but finds out much, but why? What is her game? There are quite large hints that she isn’t who she says she is but Mary is so desperate for a friend that she either doesn’t notice or chooses to ignore it. Naive and maybe desperate but Mary doesn’t half dig big holes for herself. None of the characters are especially likeable but that’s what makes the novel darkly delicious and riveting.
This is a well written slow burner, domestic drama/psychological thriller with friendship at its core. The pacing lulls you into a sort of false sense of security, so that when something happens, it seems to jolt you more as you don't expect it. The past/present way of telling the story adds to this, making the novel more suspenseful and keeps you trying to figure out the who and whydunnit. It becomes creepy and claustrophobic, the tension jumps from the pages as it twists and turns its way through the building drama. The plot deepens and there are more and more connections you don’t initially see or are made unaware of so it’s about as far from a simple tale as you can get with characters playing with fire or pursuing deadly games that go very wrong Indeed. The ending requires some suspension of disbelief as there’s perhaps one coincidence too many, but that’s not to say it isn’t good.
Overall, this is an entertaining and an increasingly wild ride of a read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review .
May 11, 2024
3.5🌟
Mary believed she met the man of her dreams in George, wasting no time getting married and having a son together.
But quickly enough Mary realized this wasn’t exactly the life she had hoped for and wants out.
The problem though, George wasn’t as keen on letting her go!
Mary befriends another mother Willa, becoming fast pals as Mary leans on her for support.
But after Willa ghosts Mary, she decides it’s time to make a new start. Relocating to another town close enough for George to see his son, but far enough away from his meddling family and Willa’s absence.
Not quite far enough Mary!
No one will leave poor Mary alone. George comes calling, fluctuating between threats and reconciliation. And now Willa is spotted with a new husband and child…huh? Now more confused than ever, Mary is left reeling.
I picked this audio up when I saw Karissa Vacker was one of the two narrators. Her performance and that of co-narrator Reba Buhr were entertaining, but the storyline itself felt weak. Not even the two outstanding narrators could completely salvage the read for me
Mary believed she met the man of her dreams in George, wasting no time getting married and having a son together.
But quickly enough Mary realized this wasn’t exactly the life she had hoped for and wants out.
The problem though, George wasn’t as keen on letting her go!
Mary befriends another mother Willa, becoming fast pals as Mary leans on her for support.
But after Willa ghosts Mary, she decides it’s time to make a new start. Relocating to another town close enough for George to see his son, but far enough away from his meddling family and Willa’s absence.
Not quite far enough Mary!
No one will leave poor Mary alone. George comes calling, fluctuating between threats and reconciliation. And now Willa is spotted with a new husband and child…huh? Now more confused than ever, Mary is left reeling.
I picked this audio up when I saw Karissa Vacker was one of the two narrators. Her performance and that of co-narrator Reba Buhr were entertaining, but the storyline itself felt weak. Not even the two outstanding narrators could completely salvage the read for me
March 1, 2024
Mary Haywood is in the throes of a bitter custody battle with her soon-to-be ex, George. A controlling and vindictive man, he and his family sadly have the means to run her ragged in court. On top of that, Mary is feeling isolated and alone without any true friends of her own. Until she meets the gorgeous and easy to get along with Willa at a neighborhood playground with her own son in tow, that is. The first woman who Mary has felt she can actually be herself around, she’s quickly enamored.
Before Mary knows it, she and Willa have become closer than close. Until one alcohol-fueled evening when Mary divulges some of her most deeply held secrets. The next thing she knows, her supposed best friend stops answering her calls and vanishes into thin air. Days turn into weeks and weeks into months. Despite never giving up on there being some sort of explanation, it seems Willa has ghosted her just like some guy from Tinder.
After months of contentious and heated discussions, Mary believes that George just might have turned the corner and agreed to a custody arrangement that will work for them both. Now determined to start over, she chooses a small town north of the city where she can create a new, stable life for her and her son. While visiting the area prior to her move, however, Mary swears she sees Willa. A woman who swears her name is Annie.
Not twenty-four hours later, Mary discovers George dead of an apparent murder. As the police investigation starts in earnest, it’s clear that Mary is the one and only suspect. Forced to rely on the only person in town that she knows, she calls Willa for help. But the more that she learns, the more Mary starts to doubt the innocence of her former friend. Could she have had something to do with George’s death? And is Willa her confidante or her nemesis? The only hope Mary has of clearing her name is by finding out the truth—no matter the cost.
Holy cow! A startling tale of female friendship, the power of wealth, and the expectations men sometimes have of the women in their lives, Keep Your Friends Close not only delivered a killer storyline, but provided profound insights into societal norms. While not exactly a pulse-pounding ride from beginning to end, this divine slow burn thriller kept me on edge as secrets and lies were revealed through a perfectly timed plot. Far from the first novel by Konen that I’ve read, I was blown away yet again by her masterful skill at crafting characters and drama alike.
From the start, I was captivated by both Mary and Willa, but for very different reasons. I instantly connected with Mary as she desperately tried to get away from her overbearing husband, but it was Willa who had me entirely within her thrall. The more I read, the more I questioned what her motives really were. A delightful conundrum, her secrets drew me in deep as they were kept not just from Mary but us as well. Add in the scores of morally gray characters that ran the gamut from a manipulative con artist to a cutthroat soon-to-be ex, and I was utterly sold hook, line, and sinker.
As for the storyline, it was simply sublime. Addictive and unputdownable, the format itself only added to its perfection. Told in three parts that shifted from dual timelines to that as well as dual POVs, the story was recast more times than I could count as one stunning twist after another was delivered at the perfect time and the perfect place. But it was the plot charging drama and ever ratcheting tension that kept me flying through the pages. Quite frankly, it was such a masterful slow burn of a whodunnit that it’ll likely singe your fingertips.
The only piece that somewhat missed the mark was the requirement to suspend all disbelief. Well, that and the mildly over-the-top climax. Just the same, it barely got my notice as I inhaled chapter after chapter, each deliciously short and with many a cliffhanger. So I guess in the end these two were just teeny, tiny imperfections in the grand scheme of things.
All in all, I was completely blown away by Konen yet again. With a thoroughly Hitchcockian plot that took my expectations and threw them out the window, there wasn’t a chance of me guessing the ending. And surprise, surprise, but that finale was everything I wanted and more. Wholly bingeable as well as a thoroughly brilliant popcorn thriller, it was packed full of finger-tingling dread and foreboding. All I know is, this should be your next must read novel of suspense. Take it from me, but this was Konen at her best. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Leah Konen and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DAY: February 20, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: divorce, custody dispute, con artist, loss of a spouse, mention of: gaslighting, infidelity
Before Mary knows it, she and Willa have become closer than close. Until one alcohol-fueled evening when Mary divulges some of her most deeply held secrets. The next thing she knows, her supposed best friend stops answering her calls and vanishes into thin air. Days turn into weeks and weeks into months. Despite never giving up on there being some sort of explanation, it seems Willa has ghosted her just like some guy from Tinder.
After months of contentious and heated discussions, Mary believes that George just might have turned the corner and agreed to a custody arrangement that will work for them both. Now determined to start over, she chooses a small town north of the city where she can create a new, stable life for her and her son. While visiting the area prior to her move, however, Mary swears she sees Willa. A woman who swears her name is Annie.
Not twenty-four hours later, Mary discovers George dead of an apparent murder. As the police investigation starts in earnest, it’s clear that Mary is the one and only suspect. Forced to rely on the only person in town that she knows, she calls Willa for help. But the more that she learns, the more Mary starts to doubt the innocence of her former friend. Could she have had something to do with George’s death? And is Willa her confidante or her nemesis? The only hope Mary has of clearing her name is by finding out the truth—no matter the cost.
Holy cow! A startling tale of female friendship, the power of wealth, and the expectations men sometimes have of the women in their lives, Keep Your Friends Close not only delivered a killer storyline, but provided profound insights into societal norms. While not exactly a pulse-pounding ride from beginning to end, this divine slow burn thriller kept me on edge as secrets and lies were revealed through a perfectly timed plot. Far from the first novel by Konen that I’ve read, I was blown away yet again by her masterful skill at crafting characters and drama alike.
From the start, I was captivated by both Mary and Willa, but for very different reasons. I instantly connected with Mary as she desperately tried to get away from her overbearing husband, but it was Willa who had me entirely within her thrall. The more I read, the more I questioned what her motives really were. A delightful conundrum, her secrets drew me in deep as they were kept not just from Mary but us as well. Add in the scores of morally gray characters that ran the gamut from a manipulative con artist to a cutthroat soon-to-be ex, and I was utterly sold hook, line, and sinker.
As for the storyline, it was simply sublime. Addictive and unputdownable, the format itself only added to its perfection. Told in three parts that shifted from dual timelines to that as well as dual POVs, the story was recast more times than I could count as one stunning twist after another was delivered at the perfect time and the perfect place. But it was the plot charging drama and ever ratcheting tension that kept me flying through the pages. Quite frankly, it was such a masterful slow burn of a whodunnit that it’ll likely singe your fingertips.
The only piece that somewhat missed the mark was the requirement to suspend all disbelief. Well, that and the mildly over-the-top climax. Just the same, it barely got my notice as I inhaled chapter after chapter, each deliciously short and with many a cliffhanger. So I guess in the end these two were just teeny, tiny imperfections in the grand scheme of things.
All in all, I was completely blown away by Konen yet again. With a thoroughly Hitchcockian plot that took my expectations and threw them out the window, there wasn’t a chance of me guessing the ending. And surprise, surprise, but that finale was everything I wanted and more. Wholly bingeable as well as a thoroughly brilliant popcorn thriller, it was packed full of finger-tingling dread and foreboding. All I know is, this should be your next must read novel of suspense. Take it from me, but this was Konen at her best. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Leah Konen and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DAY: February 20, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: divorce, custody dispute, con artist, loss of a spouse, mention of: gaslighting, infidelity
February 14, 2024
Mary has left her wealthy and controlling husband and is now fighting to keep custody of their 2 year old son, Alex. Her husband, George, comes from a wealthy family and is used to always getting what he wants. She's convinced that he'll win the fight and that her son will be lost to her forever.
One day at the neighborhood playground Mary meets, Willa. Willa, so cool and confident. Mary can't believe that a woman as fascinating as Willa would ever want to be her friend but the two hit it off and soon they are spending their days together at the park with the kids and sipping margarita's in the evening all while spilling secrets to one another.
Then one day, after a drunken night, Willa stops responding. She won't answer her phone or respond to texts. Mary's been ghosted and she's absolutely devastated. Was it something she said?
Sad Mary decides it's time to leave Brooklyn behind and she makes her way further upstate. While she's drinking away her feelings at the bar she spots Willa. Her hair is brown now and shorter than before but without a doubt it's her. Yet, when Mary confronts her she claims she's never met her before and that her name is Annie and she now has a daughter. What happened to her son?
All these questions will be answered but will these answers be satisfying? Unfortunately not for me.
To start, Mary was too pathetic to ever root for. If she wasn't whining and crying about the unfairness of her life then she was whining and crying over the loss of Willa. A woman she only knew for two months. Heck, she didn't even know her last name. How can you be best friends with someone and not know there last name? As far as the unfairness of her life goes, yes, she was once married to a wealthy man and draped herself in designer this or that and now that she's left him she can no longer afford those luxuries. Don't worry though because there will be many bottles of wine for her to wallow in her self-pity with. Are we all feeling sorry for her yet? I'm certainly not.
Be prepared to have every designer label dropped in this book which I always find irksome.
Willa is a typical cliche. Gorgeous, confident, smart, funny, wealthy - but she isn't who we think she is. Are you shocked? I wasn't.
I admit that I read 75% of this book yesterday so Konen did keep me interested enough to continue. I did want to see how this story played out. It was upon finishing this today that I realized all the things that bothered me.
I get that Konen was trying to get us to sympathize with these ladies but it completely failed. Poor pretty girls meet rich white men and then can't believe their life isn't perfect because the men are assholes. Surprise, surprise. Been there, done that in about a million other books.
And what is with the detective in high heels? In a profession in which you are on your feet all day, often at crime scenes, one would think they'd don more practical footwear. Take my advice and ditch the Louboutin's for some Skechers and you'll thank me for it.
Nothing about this story is surprising, nothing about it feels fresh, and the ending was beyond ridiculous so unless these kinds of stories are totally your thing then I'd say save your time and skip this. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group - Putnam for my complimentary copy.
One day at the neighborhood playground Mary meets, Willa. Willa, so cool and confident. Mary can't believe that a woman as fascinating as Willa would ever want to be her friend but the two hit it off and soon they are spending their days together at the park with the kids and sipping margarita's in the evening all while spilling secrets to one another.
Then one day, after a drunken night, Willa stops responding. She won't answer her phone or respond to texts. Mary's been ghosted and she's absolutely devastated. Was it something she said?
Sad Mary decides it's time to leave Brooklyn behind and she makes her way further upstate. While she's drinking away her feelings at the bar she spots Willa. Her hair is brown now and shorter than before but without a doubt it's her. Yet, when Mary confronts her she claims she's never met her before and that her name is Annie and she now has a daughter. What happened to her son?
All these questions will be answered but will these answers be satisfying? Unfortunately not for me.
To start, Mary was too pathetic to ever root for. If she wasn't whining and crying about the unfairness of her life then she was whining and crying over the loss of Willa. A woman she only knew for two months. Heck, she didn't even know her last name. How can you be best friends with someone and not know there last name? As far as the unfairness of her life goes, yes, she was once married to a wealthy man and draped herself in designer this or that and now that she's left him she can no longer afford those luxuries. Don't worry though because there will be many bottles of wine for her to wallow in her self-pity with. Are we all feeling sorry for her yet? I'm certainly not.
Be prepared to have every designer label dropped in this book which I always find irksome.
Willa is a typical cliche. Gorgeous, confident, smart, funny, wealthy - but she isn't who we think she is. Are you shocked? I wasn't.
I admit that I read 75% of this book yesterday so Konen did keep me interested enough to continue. I did want to see how this story played out. It was upon finishing this today that I realized all the things that bothered me.
I get that Konen was trying to get us to sympathize with these ladies but it completely failed. Poor pretty girls meet rich white men and then can't believe their life isn't perfect because the men are assholes. Surprise, surprise. Been there, done that in about a million other books.
And what is with the detective in high heels? In a profession in which you are on your feet all day, often at crime scenes, one would think they'd don more practical footwear. Take my advice and ditch the Louboutin's for some Skechers and you'll thank me for it.
Nothing about this story is surprising, nothing about it feels fresh, and the ending was beyond ridiculous so unless these kinds of stories are totally your thing then I'd say save your time and skip this. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group - Putnam for my complimentary copy.
January 14, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Separated from her husband, George, and embroiled in a tense custody battle over their 2-year old, Mary needs a friend to support her now more than ever.
She realizes, as she tries to put her life back together, that over time she's become estranged from the friends she had before she and George married. He took over her life. He changed her. She feels very alone.
It's at this low point when Mary happens to meet Willa at a playground in her Brooklyn neighborhood. Mary has never connected with another Mom organically like this before, so it feels a bit fated. Willa seems equally receptive.
The two become fast friends and Mary feels like she finally has someone she can confide in about everything she is currently going through.
One night though, after too many margaritas, Mary says some things about George that she later regrets. It seems too have turned Willa off as well, because after that night, Mary doesn't hear from her again.
Willa ghosted her.
A couple of months later, fed up with all things Brooklyn and with their divorce almost finalized, Mary decides she needs a completely fresh start.
She travels to a town halfway between NYC and her hometown, where her family still lives. She figures this will be a fair middle ground when sharing custody of Alex.
It's there that she bumps into Willa again, only Willa pretends not to know who she is. Oh yeah, and she claims her name isn't Willa, she's Annie. What the heck is going on? Mary feels like she's losing her mind.
Things go from bad to worse, when George tracks her down to try to win her back. Mary doesn't want any of this. She just wants a new life.
When George turns up dead shortly thereafter, Mary quickly becomes the prime suspect. With no one else to turn to, Mary seeks out Willa again for help.
As new evidence comes to light, Mary starts to wonder just how well she really knows Willa, if at all. Is she friend, foe, or something much, much worse? Mary needs to figure it out ASAP before she loses even more than she already has!
Keep Your Friends Close is an entertaining and fast-paced Domestic Thriller. Konen kept the drama high throughout, so it's easy to fly through. You want to get to the truth.
I liked the back and forth between Then and Now sections as the full scope of Mary's relationship with Willa, as well as the dissolution of her marriage are presented to the Reader. I actually really enjoyed getting to know Mary.
I think Konen did a great job of keeping me at the edge of my seat with short chapters and several mini-reveals. Just when I thought it was starting to come together, something else would come up that would leave me scratching my head.
I also appreciated getting Willa's perspective a bit as well. That helped to fill in some of the finer details of what all had happened in this messed up friendship.
I will say towards the end, it did start to get a little convoluted, IMO. It definitely toed the line into the dreaded, one twist too many territory. However, the ultimate conclusion did leave me satisfied.
I would recommend this to Readers who enjoy Thriller, or Suspense stories, involving complicated Female Friendships. Bonus if you love a Twisted Domestic Drama. This one definitely went there as well.
Thank you, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I enjoyed this and am definitely planning to read more from Leah Konen!
Separated from her husband, George, and embroiled in a tense custody battle over their 2-year old, Mary needs a friend to support her now more than ever.
She realizes, as she tries to put her life back together, that over time she's become estranged from the friends she had before she and George married. He took over her life. He changed her. She feels very alone.
It's at this low point when Mary happens to meet Willa at a playground in her Brooklyn neighborhood. Mary has never connected with another Mom organically like this before, so it feels a bit fated. Willa seems equally receptive.
The two become fast friends and Mary feels like she finally has someone she can confide in about everything she is currently going through.
One night though, after too many margaritas, Mary says some things about George that she later regrets. It seems too have turned Willa off as well, because after that night, Mary doesn't hear from her again.
Willa ghosted her.
A couple of months later, fed up with all things Brooklyn and with their divorce almost finalized, Mary decides she needs a completely fresh start.
She travels to a town halfway between NYC and her hometown, where her family still lives. She figures this will be a fair middle ground when sharing custody of Alex.
It's there that she bumps into Willa again, only Willa pretends not to know who she is. Oh yeah, and she claims her name isn't Willa, she's Annie. What the heck is going on? Mary feels like she's losing her mind.
Things go from bad to worse, when George tracks her down to try to win her back. Mary doesn't want any of this. She just wants a new life.
When George turns up dead shortly thereafter, Mary quickly becomes the prime suspect. With no one else to turn to, Mary seeks out Willa again for help.
As new evidence comes to light, Mary starts to wonder just how well she really knows Willa, if at all. Is she friend, foe, or something much, much worse? Mary needs to figure it out ASAP before she loses even more than she already has!
Keep Your Friends Close is an entertaining and fast-paced Domestic Thriller. Konen kept the drama high throughout, so it's easy to fly through. You want to get to the truth.
I liked the back and forth between Then and Now sections as the full scope of Mary's relationship with Willa, as well as the dissolution of her marriage are presented to the Reader. I actually really enjoyed getting to know Mary.
I think Konen did a great job of keeping me at the edge of my seat with short chapters and several mini-reveals. Just when I thought it was starting to come together, something else would come up that would leave me scratching my head.
I also appreciated getting Willa's perspective a bit as well. That helped to fill in some of the finer details of what all had happened in this messed up friendship.
I will say towards the end, it did start to get a little convoluted, IMO. It definitely toed the line into the dreaded, one twist too many territory. However, the ultimate conclusion did leave me satisfied.
I would recommend this to Readers who enjoy Thriller, or Suspense stories, involving complicated Female Friendships. Bonus if you love a Twisted Domestic Drama. This one definitely went there as well.
Thank you, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I enjoyed this and am definitely planning to read more from Leah Konen!
January 21, 2024
Keep Your Friends Close was an addictive, fun and well thought out book that kept me on my toes doing my best to figure not only who could be trusted but whodunit. Leah Konen first came on my radar when I read All the Broken People and I have been a fan ever since. This is the fourth book of Konen's that I have read, and she delivered yet again! I know that I can count on a twist filled, well written and gripping read when I pick up one of her books.
In the beginning of the book, Mary could really use a friend. She has decided to leave George, her controlling husband, and is amid a custody battle with him. When she takes her toddler, Alex, to a playground, she meets Willa and they become fast friends. But after Mary shares something with Willa, her calls are no longer returned. Months later, after moving, Mary sees Willa, who now goes by Annie, on the street in her new town. Top that off with George being found dead and well, Mary's life is turned upside down.
This proved to be a fast read for me. I never knew who could be trusted and at times wondered if Mary herself could be trusted. I enjoyed how this book was told going back and forth between the past and present. Readers are given information little by little but only enough to keep the carrot dangling in front of our noses.
I enjoyed the tension that flowed throughout this book. There is plenty of drama, secrets, twists, and turns along the way. I flew through the pages as I wanted to know who could be trusted, who is lying, who is manipulating, and the identity of the killer. The characters are an interesting lot. I felt for Mary. Wanting a friend so badly and being ghosted. I also felt for her having to deal with not only her controlling husband/ex-husband but also his family members as well.
Leah Konen delivered another thrilling and shocking read! I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Tense, dramatic, gripping, shocking, and hard to put down!
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
In the beginning of the book, Mary could really use a friend. She has decided to leave George, her controlling husband, and is amid a custody battle with him. When she takes her toddler, Alex, to a playground, she meets Willa and they become fast friends. But after Mary shares something with Willa, her calls are no longer returned. Months later, after moving, Mary sees Willa, who now goes by Annie, on the street in her new town. Top that off with George being found dead and well, Mary's life is turned upside down.
This proved to be a fast read for me. I never knew who could be trusted and at times wondered if Mary herself could be trusted. I enjoyed how this book was told going back and forth between the past and present. Readers are given information little by little but only enough to keep the carrot dangling in front of our noses.
I enjoyed the tension that flowed throughout this book. There is plenty of drama, secrets, twists, and turns along the way. I flew through the pages as I wanted to know who could be trusted, who is lying, who is manipulating, and the identity of the killer. The characters are an interesting lot. I felt for Mary. Wanting a friend so badly and being ghosted. I also felt for her having to deal with not only her controlling husband/ex-husband but also his family members as well.
Leah Konen delivered another thrilling and shocking read! I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Tense, dramatic, gripping, shocking, and hard to put down!
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 21, 2023
This is the story of Mary and Willa. One day Mary meets Willa at the playground with her son. After chatting for a while, Mary confides that she's going through a nasty separation with hopes of a divorce. She tells Willa how awful her husband, George, has really been. She claims life would be better if only George was dead.
I wish I could tell you more but then they'd become spoilers. I really enjoyed the pace of this book. It was definitely hard to put down. There are so many twists that my neck must be hurting now. This was a really fun domestic thriller. I rate it 3.5 stars.
Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy for my honest opinion. Expected publication date is February 20, 2024
I wish I could tell you more but then they'd become spoilers. I really enjoyed the pace of this book. It was definitely hard to put down. There are so many twists that my neck must be hurting now. This was a really fun domestic thriller. I rate it 3.5 stars.
Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy for my honest opinion. Expected publication date is February 20, 2024
January 31, 2024
Gripping and twisty with short chapters and cliffhanger’s delving into friendship, betrayal.. and yes🙋🏼♀️ MORALLY flawed characters (my favorite to read!).. along with a murder mystery to solve. Not to mention there’s a con-artist, a bitter ex, an ugly divorce and a custody battle. It’s drama filled, the tension is high. And that ending 🤯.. WHAT A SHOCK! Great storytelling, a fast paced domestic thriller I found highly entertaining!👏🏻🍿4.5 stars — Pub. 2/20/24
Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and G.P. Putnam's Sons for inviting me to receive an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and G.P. Putnam's Sons for inviting me to receive an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 3, 2024
Mary’s best friend, Willa, started ghosting her. She doesn’t understand why.
Mary is trying to start a new life in a new place. In looking up from her dinner she sees her old friend walking down the street with a different man and a small boy. What happened to her little girl?
She confronts the woman on the street who tells her she must be confusing her with someone else.
Chapters go between now and then bringing out the puzzle like a cat pulling a thread on a sweater.
Mary is trying to start a new life in a new place. In looking up from her dinner she sees her old friend walking down the street with a different man and a small boy. What happened to her little girl?
She confronts the woman on the street who tells her she must be confusing her with someone else.
Chapters go between now and then bringing out the puzzle like a cat pulling a thread on a sweater.
July 24, 2023
This was a twisty and fun read. It centers on Mary, who is going through a divorce from super rich and powerful George, who is not letting her go so easily. During this time, she makes a good friend named Willa but it turns out Willa also has secrets to hide. Poor Mary has been screwed over by basically everyone she let in and she is just trying to make a better life for herself and her toddler son.
While it seemed like Mary might be a pushover initially, I really didn’t think she was as the book continued. Sure, she made some bad decisions but she seemed like a genuine person who wanted to see the best in people, and she had the moxie to pull herself out of a bad situation when she got into one. There are a ton of twists in the 2nd half of the book that left me constantly changing my mind about who did what and how it all fit together. The loose ends were all tied up nicely when all was said and done, and I felt the ending was satisfying. If I had one complaint it’s that there were simply too many coincidences to be fully believable; this didn’t take away from my enjoyment, though.
Overall, this is a good book that is hard to put down. It has good twists and I’d recommend it for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While it seemed like Mary might be a pushover initially, I really didn’t think she was as the book continued. Sure, she made some bad decisions but she seemed like a genuine person who wanted to see the best in people, and she had the moxie to pull herself out of a bad situation when she got into one. There are a ton of twists in the 2nd half of the book that left me constantly changing my mind about who did what and how it all fit together. The loose ends were all tied up nicely when all was said and done, and I felt the ending was satisfying. If I had one complaint it’s that there were simply too many coincidences to be fully believable; this didn’t take away from my enjoyment, though.
Overall, this is a good book that is hard to put down. It has good twists and I’d recommend it for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2024
2.5 stars
July 24, 2023
★ ★ ★ ★//5
𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄
by Leah Konen
Pub Date: February 20, 2024
THOUGHTS:
I could not set this fast paced thriller down. Every page I turned was something new that made me think about who did it. This book has you thinking and guess to the very last page. The characters are well developed and their dialogue is perfect. The plot and setting is fabulous as well. I will continue to read books by Leah, I love her writing style and can’t wait to see what is next for her!
If you love :
- enjoy murder mysteries
- fast paced domestic thrillers
Thank you to netgalley, penguin group putnam, and leah konen for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄
by Leah Konen
Pub Date: February 20, 2024
THOUGHTS:
I could not set this fast paced thriller down. Every page I turned was something new that made me think about who did it. This book has you thinking and guess to the very last page. The characters are well developed and their dialogue is perfect. The plot and setting is fabulous as well. I will continue to read books by Leah, I love her writing style and can’t wait to see what is next for her!
If you love :
- enjoy murder mysteries
- fast paced domestic thrillers
Thank you to netgalley, penguin group putnam, and leah konen for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
April 5, 2024
I always love reading a novel by Leah Konen and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Keep Your Friends Close. At times it moved a little slow for me, but I was still invested in what was going to happen and I couldn't wait to get to the end. There are dual narrators between Mary (my name!! Not particularly common for MCs) and Willa and the story is broken into parts as well. Little by little our two timelines/narrators connect in an interesting way, and we find out exactly what is going on with these women with some surprise twists along the way. While I did at times feel sorry for Mary, she still wasn't my favorite character, and I did not think anyone was all that likable.
I loved the audiobook, and Reba Buhr & Karissa Vacker did a wonderful job with Willa and Mary respectively. I had to listen to it on a 2x speed due to the publisher's app and while that is normally pretty slow for me these days, it ended up being just fine. Buhr and Vacker each had their pacing spot on, and there were no awkward pauses or weird speech issues. I would highly recommend listening to Keep Your Friends Close if you enjoy audio. There is a lot of rich people drama, backstabbing, and friendship faux pas going on here, to say the least, and it made for an entertaining read. I was perfectly satisfied with the ending on all counts, and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys popcorn thrillers, slow-burn drama, and plenty of tension!
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I loved the audiobook, and Reba Buhr & Karissa Vacker did a wonderful job with Willa and Mary respectively. I had to listen to it on a 2x speed due to the publisher's app and while that is normally pretty slow for me these days, it ended up being just fine. Buhr and Vacker each had their pacing spot on, and there were no awkward pauses or weird speech issues. I would highly recommend listening to Keep Your Friends Close if you enjoy audio. There is a lot of rich people drama, backstabbing, and friendship faux pas going on here, to say the least, and it made for an entertaining read. I was perfectly satisfied with the ending on all counts, and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys popcorn thrillers, slow-burn drama, and plenty of tension!
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
February 21, 2024
★ 4 Stars ★
I have only read two novels by this author, but she seems to enjoy writing about complicated female friendships and messy divorces. This book follows two characters' perspectives with timelines that alternate between them. The chapters often end with cliffhangers, making it difficult to put the book down. The story immediately drew me in and kept me engaged.
Don’t expect a deep and meaningful novel, this isn’t it. However, this a light, humorous beach read that touches on the differences between the wealthy and working class. It's always enjoyable to see snobby characters get their comeuppance.
Mary married into a wealthy family that believes they can have anything they want. However, her husband George is different from the rest of his family, until their opinions clash. They separate, leading to a heated custody battle.
Mary makes a new friend, Willa, at the playground, who helps her through her tough times. But things take a dark turn when Mary discovers that Willa is not who she seems to be. To make matters worse, George is found murdered, and Mary becomes the prime suspect. Whew—a lot of twists.
Thanks to Putnam Books/PRH for providing a copy of this gifted book through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
#KeepYourFriendsClose #LeahKonen #partner #PutnamBooks #PRH #NetGalley #justfinished #ARC #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworms #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer
I have only read two novels by this author, but she seems to enjoy writing about complicated female friendships and messy divorces. This book follows two characters' perspectives with timelines that alternate between them. The chapters often end with cliffhangers, making it difficult to put the book down. The story immediately drew me in and kept me engaged.
Don’t expect a deep and meaningful novel, this isn’t it. However, this a light, humorous beach read that touches on the differences between the wealthy and working class. It's always enjoyable to see snobby characters get their comeuppance.
Mary married into a wealthy family that believes they can have anything they want. However, her husband George is different from the rest of his family, until their opinions clash. They separate, leading to a heated custody battle.
Mary makes a new friend, Willa, at the playground, who helps her through her tough times. But things take a dark turn when Mary discovers that Willa is not who she seems to be. To make matters worse, George is found murdered, and Mary becomes the prime suspect. Whew—a lot of twists.
Thanks to Putnam Books/PRH for providing a copy of this gifted book through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
#KeepYourFriendsClose #LeahKonen #partner #PutnamBooks #PRH #NetGalley #justfinished #ARC #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworms #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer
February 18, 2024
I felt this started out strong but as it progressed it sort of lost its way. The first half is told from Mary’s POV only, alternating between past and present, and the second half is told from Mary and Willa’s POV, told from Mary’s present and Willa’s past up to present. This way of telling things fills in gaps and brings you to the present of when Mary’s soon to be ex, George, is murdered. The focus is on could it have been Willa, or possibly even Mary who killed him, and while they started out friends, there is so much about Willa that Mary didn’t know.
One thing I am not a fan of is constant mini-cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. Once or twice is fine, but when you choose to tell a story non-linear or with multiple POVs, I don’t enjoy being left hanging because instead of being left in suspense, I end up forgetting as most of the time that little reveal turns out to be nothing or a red herring. Unfortunately, I felt like that happened a lot here.
Mary jumped to conclusions a lot and where she could have been a strong character fighting for custody of her son, she turned into someone who probably drank too much and made rash decisions. The amount of times she was sure who killed her soon to be ex husband and stormed the police station was comical.
Willa was a good unreliable character and I wish she could have been a little more developed because she was actually really interesting. You were never really sure what was truth or not. I thought the book ended on the perfect note for her character.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
One thing I am not a fan of is constant mini-cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. Once or twice is fine, but when you choose to tell a story non-linear or with multiple POVs, I don’t enjoy being left hanging because instead of being left in suspense, I end up forgetting as most of the time that little reveal turns out to be nothing or a red herring. Unfortunately, I felt like that happened a lot here.
Mary jumped to conclusions a lot and where she could have been a strong character fighting for custody of her son, she turned into someone who probably drank too much and made rash decisions. The amount of times she was sure who killed her soon to be ex husband and stormed the police station was comical.
Willa was a good unreliable character and I wish she could have been a little more developed because she was actually really interesting. You were never really sure what was truth or not. I thought the book ended on the perfect note for her character.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
January 4, 2024
I’ve read and enjoyed all of the authors books, she writes fast paced and engaging thrillers with unique edges and this was my favorite by her so far. I was totally addicted to it, the questions just kept piling up and I could not turn the pages fast enough. The first half was gripping enough and then the second half had so many great twists, (big and small) that I basically flew through it in one sitting. I HAD to know what was really happening and when all was revealed in the end I was pretty damn satisfied. Try this when you want an easy, pacey and really fun domestic thriller.
January 30, 2024
Ooh this was good! Maybe a little predictable, but twisty enough to keep me guessing. Konen has an immersive writing style- the more I read, the more I wanted to read. The flawed morally grey characters made the story so fun.
This is my second book by Konen and while I enjoyed the first one, this was even better. I can’t wait to read more by her!
4 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy. All opinions are my own.
Keep Your Friends Close comes out 02/20/24. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with friendships, betrayal, and a murder mystery aspect, definitely check this one out.
This is my second book by Konen and while I enjoyed the first one, this was even better. I can’t wait to read more by her!
4 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy. All opinions are my own.
Keep Your Friends Close comes out 02/20/24. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with friendships, betrayal, and a murder mystery aspect, definitely check this one out.
September 21, 2024
Wowza! This book was full of twists and such a fun read.
This proved to be a fast read for me. I never knew who could be trusted, and one twist after another was thrown in the mix. I thoroughly enjoyed how the book goes back and forth between the past and present. Readers are given information little by little as the story unfolds.
I was captivated by the main characters Mary and Willa but for very different reasons. A startling tale of female friendship, the power of wealth, and the expectations men sometimes have of the women in their lives, Keep Your Friends Close delivered a killer storyline. This is my third book by Konen, who has such an immersive writing style, it pulled me in and wouldn't let me go!
The flawed morally grey characters made the story so fun. If you like twisty domestic thrillers, definitely give this one a try!!
This proved to be a fast read for me. I never knew who could be trusted, and one twist after another was thrown in the mix. I thoroughly enjoyed how the book goes back and forth between the past and present. Readers are given information little by little as the story unfolds.
I was captivated by the main characters Mary and Willa but for very different reasons. A startling tale of female friendship, the power of wealth, and the expectations men sometimes have of the women in their lives, Keep Your Friends Close delivered a killer storyline. This is my third book by Konen, who has such an immersive writing style, it pulled me in and wouldn't let me go!
The flawed morally grey characters made the story so fun. If you like twisty domestic thrillers, definitely give this one a try!!
January 2, 2024
I'm not starting 2024 with a good read, sorry to say!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Keep Your Friends Close.
I wasn't a fan of this because the premise was unoriginal.
This is not the first book I've read where a lonely woman (insert: mother, wife, professional) befriends a glamorous woman who in turn turns out to be not who she says she is (con artist).
** Minor unoriginal spoilers ahead **
It was hard to like Mary, who married for money, and now finds herself at the mercy of her wealthy husband and powerful family when she tries to leave him, and Willa, who pretends to be someone who she is not, to scam money, jewels, and lavish clothes from her marks.
At least, she is honest about what she does and who she is.
Mary and Cassandra are typical stereotypes of this genre; women who fall for their handsome (aren't they all in these books), wealthy, entitled husbands until they realize they aren't who they pretend to be.
None of the twists were surprising, though the identity of the killer felt far fetched, in my opinion.
It felt forced, as if the author realized the big bad had to be someone in their social circle and chose this dude at the last minute.
All the talk about jewelry and selling it to start a better life was repetitive, redundant, and SO boring.
The writing was fine, but the narrative lacked suspense, drama, and characters to care about. There wasn't enough any bad characters to hate on!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Keep Your Friends Close.
I wasn't a fan of this because the premise was unoriginal.
This is not the first book I've read where a lonely woman (insert: mother, wife, professional) befriends a glamorous woman who in turn turns out to be not who she says she is (con artist).
** Minor unoriginal spoilers ahead **
It was hard to like Mary, who married for money, and now finds herself at the mercy of her wealthy husband and powerful family when she tries to leave him, and Willa, who pretends to be someone who she is not, to scam money, jewels, and lavish clothes from her marks.
At least, she is honest about what she does and who she is.
Mary and Cassandra are typical stereotypes of this genre; women who fall for their handsome (aren't they all in these books), wealthy, entitled husbands until they realize they aren't who they pretend to be.
None of the twists were surprising, though the identity of the killer felt far fetched, in my opinion.
It felt forced, as if the author realized the big bad had to be someone in their social circle and chose this dude at the last minute.
All the talk about jewelry and selling it to start a better life was repetitive, redundant, and SO boring.
The writing was fine, but the narrative lacked suspense, drama, and characters to care about. There wasn't enough any bad characters to hate on!
January 18, 2024
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE was an addicting story that grabbed my attention from the start. I enjoyed the alternating timelines and POV's. Although, I did find Mary to be very naive. I also wasn't quite sure if she was always truthful. If you enjoy a good whodunit story, then this one is for you. Overall, I found this enjoyable and would recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group, Putnam for my gifted ARC.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub date.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group, Putnam for my gifted ARC.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub date.
October 21, 2023
The first 3/4 of this book absolutely dragged. I found it cliche and boring and not very well written. The end didn’t make up for any of it.
March 1, 2024
Talk about one crazy read! Keep Your Friends Close starts off with a bang and never looks back.
Told from not only dual point of view but also, past and present tense, Keep Your Friends Close follows the story of Mary. Mary’s life has been quite the tailspin since leaving her husband. She’s isolated, alone, and in desperate need of a friend. When Mary meets Willa one day at the playground, she feels as though her prayers have been answered. Finally, she has someone on her side, someone she can turn to. But when Mary shares her darkest fears about her ex, Willa disappears without a trace…
Keep Your Friends Close had me hooked from the very first page. I was completely invested in Mary’s story and couldn’t put it down. Mary’s life had been completely turned upside down and I could not wait to see how everything would come together in the end.
This story was deliciously twisty and left me with a million questions. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, I would be thrown for another loop. I loved all the coincidences, drama, and moments that left me shaking my head.
Not gonna lie, I’m normally a romance-heavy reader, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I was glued to the pages, right until the very end. Keep Your Friends Close is my first book by this author and I can not wait to read more from her in the future.
*Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.*
Told from not only dual point of view but also, past and present tense, Keep Your Friends Close follows the story of Mary. Mary’s life has been quite the tailspin since leaving her husband. She’s isolated, alone, and in desperate need of a friend. When Mary meets Willa one day at the playground, she feels as though her prayers have been answered. Finally, she has someone on her side, someone she can turn to. But when Mary shares her darkest fears about her ex, Willa disappears without a trace…
Keep Your Friends Close had me hooked from the very first page. I was completely invested in Mary’s story and couldn’t put it down. Mary’s life had been completely turned upside down and I could not wait to see how everything would come together in the end.
This story was deliciously twisty and left me with a million questions. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, I would be thrown for another loop. I loved all the coincidences, drama, and moments that left me shaking my head.
Not gonna lie, I’m normally a romance-heavy reader, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I was glued to the pages, right until the very end. Keep Your Friends Close is my first book by this author and I can not wait to read more from her in the future.
*Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.*
February 21, 2024
This was such a fun and addictive domestic suspense! We get a deliciously deceitful tale from an unreliable narrator that explores the complexities of toxic female friendships and the juicy aspects of mom cliques.
It’s a murder mystery and whodunit and it’s super twisty! I devoured it as it’s such a quick read and also such an easy read to get incredibly immersed in!
Grab your popcorn, Konen has done it again with an entertaining and shocking dramatic read!
It’s a murder mystery and whodunit and it’s super twisty! I devoured it as it’s such a quick read and also such an easy read to get incredibly immersed in!
Grab your popcorn, Konen has done it again with an entertaining and shocking dramatic read!
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February 22, 2024dnf @50%
pretty typical domestic thriller tbh, Konen’s writing is good but I’ve read a ton of similar books and this one just didn’t hold my attention. a well-timed reveal at the 1/3 mark was good but still not enough to make me care about any of the characters enough to finish, a book like this shouldn’t have taken me 3 days to reach the halfway mark. I would recommend this more for beginners of the genre
pretty typical domestic thriller tbh, Konen’s writing is good but I’ve read a ton of similar books and this one just didn’t hold my attention. a well-timed reveal at the 1/3 mark was good but still not enough to make me care about any of the characters enough to finish, a book like this shouldn’t have taken me 3 days to reach the halfway mark. I would recommend this more for beginners of the genre
December 11, 2023
Rich men and the women they use and abuse is the subject of this thriller from Leah Konen. Mary is a woman in her 30's married to a wealthy, handsome and powerful man. She loves the luxury life she leads and adores her two year old son Alex, but her husband George is getting more and more controlling and she wants out. One day in the park she meets another mom, Willa, who is carefree and kind and very different than the rich women Mary meets in playgroups. She and Willa become fast friends and little Alex loves to play with Willa's son Jack. But all is not what it seems and after one night where the two women share secrets over drinks, Willa ghosts Mary and won't return her calls.
Mary moves to s small town in upstate New York and is trying to piece together her life. George is threatening her with seeking full custody of their son, Willa has disappeared from her life and the only person she was friends with, her sister in law Cassandra won't talk to her either. With her son Alex spending the week with grandparents, Mary is searching for a house and a new school when she spots Willa with a new family and different color hair. Willa at first insists she has the wrong person, but Mary is sure that something is going and she is right. Lots of secrets, twists and turns and I was rooting for Mary as she tried to save herself and her son from the clutches of her husband's rich family and to find out where Willa fits into the story. Some of the chapters are from the point of view of Willa and we find out she is also trying hard to survive and has plenty of secrets of her own. I flew through this book quickly and enjoyed the mystery elements. This would make a good movie or mini-series. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.
Mary moves to s small town in upstate New York and is trying to piece together her life. George is threatening her with seeking full custody of their son, Willa has disappeared from her life and the only person she was friends with, her sister in law Cassandra won't talk to her either. With her son Alex spending the week with grandparents, Mary is searching for a house and a new school when she spots Willa with a new family and different color hair. Willa at first insists she has the wrong person, but Mary is sure that something is going and she is right. Lots of secrets, twists and turns and I was rooting for Mary as she tried to save herself and her son from the clutches of her husband's rich family and to find out where Willa fits into the story. Some of the chapters are from the point of view of Willa and we find out she is also trying hard to survive and has plenty of secrets of her own. I flew through this book quickly and enjoyed the mystery elements. This would make a good movie or mini-series. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.
November 12, 2023
I’ve read all of this author’s adult thrillers and YA contemporaries. When I saw she had a new thriller coming out, I was definitely intrigued.
This book follows Mary, who is going through a messy separation from her wealthy husband George. Mary had one friend, Willa, who she was close to for a bit but who ended up ghosting her. There’s definitely more to Willa than meets the eye and Mary is trying to find out the truth about who Willa is and why she ghosted her.
Personally, I found the pacing of this book to be pretty slow, and I think the reason for that is Mary. I didn’t like Mary at all as a character. She made a lot of stupid decisions and definitely came off as TSTL. She was very wishy washy as well. I found myself enjoying Willa’s chapters much more.
The mystery was interesting enough, but it seemed like it took forever to get going.
Overall this was a fine thriller but not a favorite.
This book follows Mary, who is going through a messy separation from her wealthy husband George. Mary had one friend, Willa, who she was close to for a bit but who ended up ghosting her. There’s definitely more to Willa than meets the eye and Mary is trying to find out the truth about who Willa is and why she ghosted her.
Personally, I found the pacing of this book to be pretty slow, and I think the reason for that is Mary. I didn’t like Mary at all as a character. She made a lot of stupid decisions and definitely came off as TSTL. She was very wishy washy as well. I found myself enjoying Willa’s chapters much more.
The mystery was interesting enough, but it seemed like it took forever to get going.
Overall this was a fine thriller but not a favorite.
March 18, 2024
2.5 rounding up. This was interesting until the reveal half way through and then it became mind numbingly boring. I thought the concept of a con based on a woman’s mental load was interesting and new but at the end of the day it turned into a forgettable thriller with a ridiculous reveal.
Mary is leaving her awful husband, George, and has found a new friend - Willa - who has a kid almost the same age as her own son, Alex. As she relies heavily on Willa to get through the separation she turns around to find her friend has disappeared. When her husband turns up murdered and she runs into her old friend, she can’t help wondering if they’re connected or not.
The time jumps felt completely unnecessary. If this had been a linear story but split into POV I think it would have worked out much better. There also wasn’t a large enough cast to make the villain someone we really knew so it almost felt like she forced the reappearance of a minor character with a ridiculously complex back story just to have a motive and a villain at the end. Disappointing.
Mary is leaving her awful husband, George, and has found a new friend - Willa - who has a kid almost the same age as her own son, Alex. As she relies heavily on Willa to get through the separation she turns around to find her friend has disappeared. When her husband turns up murdered and she runs into her old friend, she can’t help wondering if they’re connected or not.
The time jumps felt completely unnecessary. If this had been a linear story but split into POV I think it would have worked out much better. There also wasn’t a large enough cast to make the villain someone we really knew so it almost felt like she forced the reappearance of a minor character with a ridiculously complex back story just to have a motive and a villain at the end. Disappointing.
April 11, 2024
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I’m backlogged with my ARC’s but working diligently to get caught up. This book felt like one deception after another! The story is told mainly for the two female characters points of view and definitely had unreliable narrators at points. As sad as it is, much of this book felt very realistic, I wish I could say my personal experience of most people has been completely different. If you’re thinking about making new mommy friends, you might think twice after reading this! I would recommend to anyone who likes domestic thrillers/psychological thrillers!
I’m backlogged with my ARC’s but working diligently to get caught up. This book felt like one deception after another! The story is told mainly for the two female characters points of view and definitely had unreliable narrators at points. As sad as it is, much of this book felt very realistic, I wish I could say my personal experience of most people has been completely different. If you’re thinking about making new mommy friends, you might think twice after reading this! I would recommend to anyone who likes domestic thrillers/psychological thrillers!
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