Unfortunately this was a DNF as I just couldn't get into the story.

Normally this is the sort of book that I can't get enough of but for some reason I just couldn't get into it.

I received a digital arc of this from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read a book by Dawn before so was excited to read this one. It grabbed my interest and kept me wanting to read all lie way through - I didn't want to put it down. However for me the ending was flat. I anticipated it from the get go and there was no huge surprise reveal. I now feel a little deflated as this could have been an amazing book but the ending let it down for me.

Anna and Vicky have been best friends forever. They didn’t have the normal relationship that two best friends usually share. Theirs was full of manipulation, jealousy and anger. It was very toxic.

When Anna dies, Vicky thought that she could finally have Anna’s life. Her husband, her children, her house. Everything that Anna loved and held dear was finally Vicky’s.

There were times during this book where I thought I wasn’t going to finish it but the suspense made me push through. It’s an ok book. Not bad not terrible. I was glad I finished though. All my questions were answered.

Another brilliant read by this author. I loved the blurb for this book and from the very start I was hooked. A complete page turner from start to finish.

Friendship can be deadly. This book is for anyone that has ever had a friend that they secretly envied. That they secretly hated. If you’ve never wondered about your friends motives, this book is sure to change that.

I couldn't stop reading and really needed to find out what the big secrets were and whether Vic was involved in Anna's death. Enjoyed the back and forth narrative revealing bits of both characters, which further teased the plot. Both characters have major flaws, which keeps you guessing.

Synopsis:
Vicky and Anna are two peas in a pod or say they claim. Their inseparable friendship, since their schooldays, survived through everything. From silly pranks to some serious misdemeanours, they're still as thick as thieves after all those years. Sometimes their friendship even led David to believe that in his marriage with Anna, he was the third wheel. Still, David was leading a happy and comfortable family life with his wife and two kids, Harper and Lewis. But, it all starts to unravel with Anna's death in what seemed to be a simple road accident. Was it only that? Or was somebody else responsible for her death?

Review:
The story starts on 13 May 2012, when Vicky Dean receives a call from David Price in her hungover state. That Anna was dead and that it was an accident. Vicky's first thought was: What had they done?

It opens then to a lonely David four weeks later, the truth of having lost his wife not yet sunk in. Louisa Price, his mother, is helping with his kids Harper and Lewis, aged seven and five. But when his mother has had enough and makes him understand that he has to pull himself together and look after his kids, Vicky comes to the rescue in the form of a text message. And then she's physically there, slowly settling herself into the family life she always craved but didn't have.

Best friends since the age of thirteen, Vicky and Anna had been separated only during the latter's University years where she met David. Coming from a well-to-do family, Anna had all the material comforts of life while since her mother's death Vicky has had to suffer at the hands of her abusive father.

"Everything was quiet now, the kind of silence that you only experience at night, dense, oppressive."

It has a perfect domestic setting, which won't indicate anything untoward had I not read the blurb before. But there are eerie hints throughout, especially the way Vicky drops some of her thoughts or feelings. Narrated in the third person, this story is all about damaged people and their twisted sense of love. Do not speak ill of the dead, but was Anna really the Saint that her husband David made her out to be? Then there's Vicky, who seems to be the one always suffering because of other people's actions. And finally, David. Is he the victim in all this manipulation or is he a conspirator too. In everything that happened.

The story goes back into the past to September 1986, the day when Vicky befriended the posh Anna Maxwell. Anna's nature, and Vicky's as well, is a revelation throughout the story. The narration moves between the past and the present, with Vicky's letters to the now-dead Anna establishing a chink in their friendly armour. But, with the story being revealed from each of the three individual's perspective, whom to believe and whom not to? What is true and what is false? Who is saintly and who's evil incarnate?

In all of the ensuing drama, my heart went out to the little kids. Without a mother and a father who doesn't seem to know a thing about them, their habits, or what they like or don't like, I was glad that David's family was there to pick up some of the pieces and put it all into perspective for him.

"...he could feel some of the broken pieces rattling around inside him start to fit together again, the edges knitting together like a healing wound."

There's animal abuse as well as physical abuse in the story. This is a chilling story of a toxic friendship with some of the other characters no less venomous. I couldn't fathom who was the biggest psychopath, as not even the author's acknowledgement could make me believe 'that no one's perfect'. Something obviously didn't work for me, it all seemed a bit too farfetched is all. Also, the story stretched over for my liking during the build-up to the climax. And, there also, I felt cheated. Maybe because I wanted more explanations as to what exactly happened. The going back and forth in time that was intriguing in the beginning, surrounding the mystery around Anna's death, was just confusing at the end.

Thank you to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for an e-ARC of the book.

I've never read anything by Dawn Goodwin before but now I shall be reading everything.
A fantastic, gripping thriller that had been hooked from the start.
Best Friends Forever is based on the toxic relationship between Anna & Vicky and how that relationship affects the lives of those around them too. What a weird atmosphere between all characters - it definitely added to the storyline and shows Goodwin's clever writing.

A dark and twisted tale that will have you wanting more, I read it fast and was surprised by how much it had gripped me. I definitely highly recommend.

I absolutely adore a book, particularly a thriller, that deals with friendship themes. Even better if it's a toxic friendship, which the relationship between Anna and Vicky definitely was.

While this was an easy and quick read, I found it to be quite predictable and too much left open to interpretation.

If you're looking for an easy to read thriller with toxic friendship themes, then check this one out.

Best Friends Forever by Dawn Goodwin is a book about flawed characters and an extremely flawed friendship. This is one of those books where you just don't like the characters, and it's like reading an especially scandalous Lifetime movie. This the story of Anna and Vicky who have been, well, best friends forever. Anna has been tragically killed, and Vicky shows up at her house to help David, her husband, and two young children. However, David senses something is just not right with Vicky's insertion into their lives. The book goes back in time to show the evolution of Anna and Vicky's friendship, and there are heaping helpings of problematic dynamics and situations in that y'all. In real time, it is David trying to make sense of what happened to his wife, why Vicky has taken the role she has, and how the two might be related. I really like a plot that uses the past and the present to weave a story together, and this was very much that. This is also used to build more complete pictures of the characters, and that does mean lots of secrets and lies are revealed. I would also offer strong content warnings as there are instances of sexual assault, abuse, and very unhealthy relationships. Thanks to NetGalley for access to this read in exchange for my review.

Best Friends Forever is a dark psychological thriller which tells the tale of dysfunctional friendships and families.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well written and engaging story, the twists and turns and the switching from past to present worked extremely well.
I have not heard of this author before but will certainly be looking out for her books now.

Oh this book perfectly sums up the whole "I hate her, but shes my best friend!!" comments I have heard so often.
I think I enjoyed this book a lot...perhaps because it was written with the main characters right around my age, although I really couldn't stomach Anna at all. Seriously, if you look up mean girl in the dictionary there will be the name Anna. Vicky seems to have tried so hard to live up to her, which made her seem a little on the meek and weak sidem but she really wasn't.

Very good read and I enjoyed it alot

I really had mixed feelings about this book. It had an interesting premise as you can read from the blurb.

While I liked the premise of the book, story was somewhat stilted, and the ending was disjointed. The three main characters were all equally unlikable in my opinion. Closer to the end the author tried to redeem Vicki, by providing more information about her formative years, but it does not explain her need to become Anna, to take over her life.

I would give another book by this author a try, going forward.

*thank you to Netgalley, Aria and Dawn Goodwin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


Trigger warnings: child abuse, rape, alcoholism, parental neglect, animal cruelty (one scene, over pretty quickly).


4 stars.

Wow, what a wicked ride this was! For those who are unfamiliar with just how catty girls can be, then this will give you a good idea.

Vicky and Anna are best friends since they first met in school. The story doesn't start off there's though. It works backwards almost and twists both past and present together like they are vines entwining. Anna is dead. There was a car accident and the police suspect it was just an accident. But what really happened? Well, this story will take you back to the beginning and unfold the truths along the way. At the time of her death, Anna had a husband, David, and two small children, Harper and Lewis.

I could not believe the type of person Anna was. There are so many multiple layers to her and her friendship with Vicky was just so toxic. They mastered the love-hate relationship like nothing I've read before. Anna likes to be incontrol and is a master manipulator. She is just plain nasty but tries to sugar coat what she says at times. She's, dare I say it, a mixture of a fun character to read about while at the same time you just can't believe how purely awful she is. It's rather cringe worthy. I have to say that thought I was horrified at her thought processes, she made for such an unstable character but she made you want to read more about her. It's not really that hard to figure out why her behavioural issues were so off the normal mark, but it did seem to go to extremes at times.

Once Anna has passed, Vicky ends up moving into Anna's home and helps out David by looking after the kids and being there for him too. But at the same time, she's there for herself equally as much. We find out her story along the way and I did have empathy for her. She's had a rough life. I liked her more as a person but Anna was still the more interesting of the two.

There is a lot in this I thought. Quite a few twists and turns and it's really one of those that keeps you wanting to know more. I devoured this pretty quickly because I was so interested in what was going to happen next. It was so well put together with the past and present blended so well. That's what stood out to me actually. That each chapter gave you so much information that made you want to "read just one more." I really loved that. It didn't get dull. The reader is kept on their toes while this brilliant story unwinds.

This is a really well written story with interesting characters and thrills from start to finish. If you love rollercoaster rides then this is one to jump onto. Just make sure to buckle up.

3 for neural. This book was not for me, I tried on many occasions to read it, but was unable to continue. Being a moody reader, I know it wasn’t due to terrible writing, hence the 3 for neutral! Will update at later time, if able to read and enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC for my honest opinion.

Most best friends have a few secrets and times where they may not always get along, but this one takes it to extremes. Anna and Vix are complete opposites. Anna is rich, beautiful, spoiled, and evil. Vix is poor, average looking, abused and just looking for someone to live her. She thinks she has found it in Anna. So begins a life full of secrets, lies, verbal abuse, manipulation and envy. There are plenty of twists and turns and cringe worthy scenes.
This book made me want to find out what was going to happen next. There really weren't any likeable characters, so it was a bit disappointing.

I received Best Friends Forever as an ARC from NetGalley. This is a suspense novel that kept me interested until the very end. Anna and Vicky have been best friends since they were kids. Anna is killed in a car accident and Vicky steps into her life with Anna's husband Dave and her two kids. Then Dave begins to question Anna's death. Anna & Vicky have lots of secrets between them and they haven't always treated each other as the best of friends. This book is full of twists and turns until you finally learn what happened when Anna died.

Best Friends Forever by Dawn Goodwin, and my first book by this author. This book was like riding a wild roller coaster. The twists and turns just kept coming. Caution this book contains rape, child abuse and cheating. I did not like the characters, they were not likable people. I recommend this for anyone looking a thriller.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

Well the blurb got me hooked , line and sinker. The writing was so well done. The book changes from past to present and will have you on a roller coaster ride. So many lies, secrets, She really had me wanting more and more. I cant wait to read more of her books.

This felt a little single white female and creepy! It kept you reading as you wanted to know what happened and why it happened. Good holiday read.