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A light read. Funny and entertaining. Good for YA book club. A good title for readers looking for an easy read.

A story set in three parts, three points of view, as we visit with a group of friends as they meet, experience life, and ultimately uncover secrets that could destroy all of their lives.

Evvie, Maggie, and Topher would do just about anything for each other. What will happen when one betrays the other? Who will overcome trauma from the past?

A story that will span decades takes you on a journey that defies love, overcomes loss, and test the bonds of friendship.

This was my first book by the author. I wanted to love it as I'm a fan of stories about friendship but I just struggled with the character development, or lack of it I should say.

The Friends We Keep was a cast full of characters that were unlikeable and a smashing of many "hot topics" together in a way that wasn't compelling or captivating.

The premise: a reunion of friends is one that I loved, but this one just fell flat for me.

Bestselling author Jane Green returns with an ambitious saga about three friends who meet in college, the far-reaching directions their lives take them, and how they come back together years later.

Evvie, Maggie, and Topher were devoted to each other during college and convinced that they would always be friends. But as often happens, once they graduated, and embarked upon careers and relationships, they drifted apart. Green details what happens to each of the three friends.

Evvie learned in college to use medications to stay thin and attractive, and parlayed that knowledge into a highly successful career as a model. However, beauty fades and so did Evvie’s career as she allowed emotional eating to take over. She had a brief, but momentous affair with a married man and bore his son. A son that she has steadfastly kept away from Maggie and Topher.

Maggie had a crush on Ben when they were in college. In fact, they called him “Evil Ben” because he was a grumpy bartender in the same local pub where Evvie worked. Even back in college, Ben’s drinking was problematic. A chance meeting several years after graduation brought Maggie and Ben back together and they married, intending to start a family. Through Maggie, Green illustrates that life doesn’t always work out according to plan, especially when one is either too naive or chooses not to appreciate the significance of obstacles that present themselves.

In college, Topher thought he was just not a sexual being. He didn’t like to be touched by anyone, male or female. After college he pursued and enjoyed a career as an actor, scoring a steady gig on a popular daytime drama. And he discovered his sexual orientation and found love within a committed, if not passionate, relationship, as well as from supportive friends. After the death of his beloved partner, Topher enjoys a platonic relationship with an older gentleman and moves in with him. An inadvertent but irresponsible lapse in judgment derails his career and tarnishes his reputation, so he is eventually forced to confront the horror he endured as a child. That trauma explains fully why true emotional intimacy has always evaded him.

The three friends are reunited at their thirtieth college reunion, and they realize how deeply they all still care about each other. They fall right back into their old patterns — laughing, talking, drinking. Each of them has reached a crossroads in his/her life, and they realize that they not only like each other. They also need each other. Maggie has the perfect solution! And all is again well, despite the fact that Evvie has been keeping an explosive secret that, if revealed, will destroy the relationship that she has re-established with Maggie and Topher.

In true Green fashion, that secret has far-reaching ramifications for her three characters. She capably explores its impact upon each of them as they grapple with information that changes the basic facts they have assumed about each other. Green focuses on themes including taking responsibility for one’s own actions and choices; the consequences of an inability to appreciate the gravity of evidence of trouble; forgiveness; and what it means to be a family. Through her three characters, she also examines how destructive disappointment can be and the importance of being able to move past it in order to find a new, if not predicted or foreseen, normal.

The fact that the ending of The Friends We Keep is thoroughly predictable does not detract from the enjoyment of sharing the journeys of Green’s three characters. Each of them is highly flawed, but so thoroughly human that they are empathetic and likable in spite of their shortcomings. Each of them makes terrible choices and is required to confront the fall-out from their own behavior. Green never lets the book’s pace drag as she deftly navigates between the perspectives of each character over the course of more than three decades.

The Friends We Keep is engrossing and her characters are endearing. It’s precisely the kind of book to throw in one’s beach bag and enjoy while lounging by a pool or on the shore.

Interesting novel about how life and people can change from young adult to older adult, and about unpredictability and life choices. The ending seems a bit too good to ring true, too unrealistic to me.

This was a really interesting story about friends and their relationship through the decades. It offered a lot to think about and a lot of substance. I loved the layers of drama, love, and loss. A good one.

Oh, this book. I myself have a large friend group that I've kept up with for 20+ years, so stories of inseparable friends that find their way together again always stand out to me. In The Friends We Keep, Topher, Maggie, and Evvie were inseparable as college friends but struggle to find their rhythm as adults. No one is quite where they expected they would be- career wise or relationship wise- and their 30th college anniversary brings all of their shortcomings to light. I loved the dual perspectives and despite their flaws, this really made me miss my own friend group. Highly recommended for book club, or for anyone like me who's missing their circle.

Huge apologies in the delayed review. Jane Green is one of my favorite authors and somehow this book got buried in my Kindle. This was such an amazing book - loved Maggie, Topher, and Evvie! I could totally relate to their college years in the late 80's (as that's when I was in college as well). Thank you for the advanced copy! Even thought the book has been out for a while, I will definitely be recommending this one to everyone!!

It's been a long time since I've read one of Jane Green's novels but I always found them a fun escape. Knowing that right now light and easy is exactly what I need, I decided to pick up her newest. It was exactly what I remember liking about her books -- relatable characters, an engaging plot, and an overall entertaining read. If you've read and enjoyed any of Green's earlier novels, this one is sure to be up your alley.

Jane Green is a masterful storyteller. This book wasn't my favorite of hers, but still worth the read. Friendship saga, complicated characters, and then betrayal- all ingredients for a great read.

I can always rely on Jane Green for a good story. These three friends and the others they love make for quite a story. it all wraps up very neatly and a bit unrealistically, but it is still satisfying nonetheless. Excellent quick read.

I want to say I lived for this book, but I had the hardest time getting into it, which is unusual with Jane Green novels and myself. This wasn't her worst, nor her best- in fact, I'd place it firmly in the middle. I'm hoping for better luck with her next book.

Evvie, Maggie, and Topher have been close friends ever since they met in college in England. But that was many, many years ago. After college, Maggie married Ben, the college BMOC that didn't meet a girl that he didn't like. She let everybody think that they led the perfect life, but only she and Ben know the truth. Evvie went on from college to become a successful supermodel, but at great sacrifice to her health. She ended up making some choices that she regretted and would do anything to keep them a secret. Topher became a successful actor based in New York City, but even he had his secrets to keep. Including some that could cause problems for his career. They all gather back in England for their thirtieth class reunion. At their age, they all are ready for a change and decide to once again be roommates with Maggie at her country estate. But their peaceful co-existence is shattered when Evvie's secret is revealed. Will their friendship ever return to what it was or has it been destroyed forever?

I have been reading Jane Green books ever since she got her start in England. It was great to see her circle back to the country where it all started. The three friends have been through a lot together, but it isn't until they begin keeping secrets from each other that the problems with their friendship start. The author features each character equally, so it is hard to say if there is a "main" character, but I felt more of an affinity for Maggie. She was a "victim" in many ways but did not play the victim card. She fought so hard for her marriage, but even she had a final straw. There were many times in the thirty years since college that the friends went years without communicating and missed out on a lot in each other's lives, but when they reunited, it was as if nothing had changed. Until all of their secrets are revealed. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS - All of their issues are resolved the best way they could be, but Jane Green does a terrific job of highlighting the fact that real friendship can withstand even the most shocking secrets.

Bottom Line - How can you NOT like Jane Green? She is one of those authors whose books have "grown up" with me. Bookends to The Friends We Keep Jane Green has been a mainstay in my literary life and I cannot wait for next year's book!

Details:
The Friends We Keep by Jane Green
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Pages: 384
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication Date: 6/4/19
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

It never feels like summer without a new release from Jane Green! A beautifully-written story about three friends, over many years, which reminded me that some of us are privileged to choose our own true family and often find acceptance where we least expect it. Another wonderful contribution from one of my all-time favorite authors, this makes for great summer reading.

If I could use only one word to describe The Friends We Keep by Jane Green, it would be boring.
Even though the story takes place in time period of 30 years, and so many things happened during that time, it still felt like the story was dragging and dragging.
This novel has 384 pages, but it felt like I was reading 600 pages long book. It took me 4 days to finish it, even though I really do have time for reading on my hands at this point in my life.

The story follows three people, Evvie, Maggie and Topher who met in collage and started their friendship there.
Through the story they keep and lose contact with each other, but their lives are always intertwined in some way.

I usually love novels that explore human relationships, and I don’t mind when the story takes time, but this time I just couldn’t wait for it to be already over.

I think my main problem was with characters. Two of four main characters (yes, four, because one side character is very significant) were very superficial, one was alcoholic and I feel like person who knew about him only tried to find excuses for his behaviour, and one only made bad choices in her life.

The worst of them all was Evvie. I think with a friend like that you really don’t need enemies.

This is the story about forgiveness, and although I am aware that forgiveness is important for one to move on with his life, I also think that some actions are unforgivable and even if you do forgive with time, it’s better to move on with your life without a person who wronged you in it.

Jane Green is very popular author and I have to admit that, even though I haven’t read her work before, I was pretty disappointed with The Friends We Keep.

There's something about the story that encouraged me to continue it to completion. It could have been the topic of friendships, and how those can change over time (even with all the secrets we keep, and the different masks we put on for those closest to us). The storylines themselves were well thought through, but I was increasingly frustrated with the narration. They weren't distinct enough between the characters, and it detracted from what could have made me more empathetic to each of the characters.

Give it a read if you want to read about the realities of friendships changing, and how we relate to those we consider our best friends.

The timeline writing for this story was very easy to follow but I’m not sure that I enjoyed all the characters, particularly Evvie, as some of her decisions seemed selfish. This story will make for good book discussions as there are numerous topics to discuss.

This story about friendship fell short for me. Evvie was not a likeable character and I didn't like the decisions she made. Maggie needed to grow a backbone and I feel like we barely got to know Topher. After secrets spill out, the end happens abruptly and I still have questions about one of the events that happened in the book -- it wasn't resolved well. I've read other books by Jane Green and enjoyed them, but you can skip over this one.

Maggie, Evvie and Topher became firm friends at college but life since has seen them drift apart. Maggie marries Ben, the guy she had a crush on all throughout college, but she is struggling to keep up the façade of their perfect marriage because of his drinking problem. Meanwhile Evvie and Topher move to New York, where she becomes a supermodel and single mother, and he scores a role on a TV soap.
Delving into life choices, secrets and forgiveness, this novel takes readers through more than three decades, from their student days, right through to the present time when the trio reconnect at a college reunion. It’s a lovely, heartfelt story and I really enjoyed spending some time with these characters.