An absorbing novel about every parent's worst nightmare. Lifelong friends Dani, Lindsey and Kendra are neighbors and their sons have become the best of friends just like their mothers. Life clicked along seemingly happily for all until when the three boys were apparently having a video game night together, but one is shot to death, another is in a coma from bullet wounds and the third is so traumatized he can no longer speak. The mystery of what happened on that fateful night is unraveled in increments with three intertwined narratives from each mother's point of view. I did have trouble keeping the three mothers straight, but each of them has their own richly developed backstory, making this a rich and interesting read beyond just being a thriller.
Thanks #netgalley

This is a hard to pin down book. There were a lot of things to like and a lot of things to dislike. I liked the story of a family dealing with turmoil and loss. Even more so when three families are so close and intertwined that they are defined by their relationships with each other. I liked the story of three women who have been close since school, whose husbands get along and whose children grow up together and become inseparable themselves. This book started off so well. A regular family night. A loud noise. A parent's fear and intuition. All of that was great and that alone would have been a 4 star novel. This wasn't really a thriller or mystery. It was more of a family drama. There was a story that was unknown, but not edge of your seat unknown. There was a "twist" at the end that was pretty easy to see coming a mile away.

But there were things that bothered me about the book, as well. First was that the three women were so similar and so undefined that I sometimes had to stop and figure out who was narrating. The narration changed between the three women and they were just not different enough to keep straight. Remembering which one was married to which guy and which kids belonged to whom...far too difficult. It didn't have to be this way. The characters could have been better developed, the women more defined, the men less flat. The story itself, the secret, was easy enough to predict. To keep it interesting their were a lot of little subplots that just never got off the ground. Had they been followed up on the characters would have probably been more interesting.

Overall, if you go into it with the right expectations, this is a good book that could be better.

This was such a good Read and unexpectedEnding . Lucinda Berry you’ve done it again. Could not but it down such an amazing read

The friendship of three women is put to the test after an event affects the lives of their children and their entire family. Event that also affects the reader and invites them to read non-stop to know its outcome. Fast paced, with great suspense, intrigue and twisted plot, this book captured me from start to finish. Like all Lucinda Berry books, its suspense is eloquent and captivating. Very well written and well conducted from start to finish. 👏👏👏

The Best of Friends, by Lucinda Berry, is the heartbreaking story of every parent’s nightmare; the police car’s siren screams that get louder and louder, approaching your house, letting you know that your life will never be the same. Told from the point of view of three mothers of teenage boys, this is a story of friendship between the moms and between the boys. It also is the story of three marriages. Mostly, it is the story of the relationship between mothers and children as the three women attempt to figure out what happened during one cataclysmic night. A night which turns everything upside down and inside out.

Part suburban drama and part thriller, this book was so well-written that I was unaware of turning pages or time passing. While it will divert your attention from the current troubles in the news, it is painfully sad. Although I was disappointed by one unnecessary and improbable twist, which I will not share, this was a wonderful story which is still living in my head even as I write. I highly recommend that you grab a box of tissues and read this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer Publishing, and Lucinda Berry for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#TheBestofFriends #NetGalley #LucindaBerry

The tragic death of a teenage boy, who dies while hanging out with two friends, has ramifications that cause even starker pain.

Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani have been friends since girlhood, and now they each have sons who, too, are friends. One of the boys dies while with the other two, but his mother is not convinced that it was an accident. She refuses to consider suicide, which leaves only murder as the cause. This means that one of her friends' sons is the killer.

Lucinda Berry's story is more than a psychological-suspense, though. Berry takes you deep into the grief, confusion, guilt, and relief of the three friends. She also lets you learn, along with the mothers, how little they knew about their sons. With each revelation, the three are brought nearly to breaking.

This is a compelling book, one you won't be able to put down. But there are holes. There are some elements that receive repeated mentions, yet they never pay off or are never explained. There are also a couple of conveniences, but to Berry's credit, they don't feel contrived.

I'd love to know your thoughts about this book, which I also think would make a fantastic choice for a book club. There is so much to discuss!

The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry is an emotionally stirring, and thought provoking drama, part mystery/part thriller. A story of friendships being tested when tragedy strikes one catastrophic night and things will never be the same again for these friends.

The characters are well developed and the story is so realistic that it will have you wondering if this is really a fictional story at all!

I would recommend this book!

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Rating: 3.5 rounded down to 3 stars

Oh boy! This is a merry-go-round of a story. In the opening chapter, three teen-age boys were partying together. Two of the boys, who have been life-long friends, are shot. Sawyer is killed that night. Jacob survives but is comatose. Caleb has not spoken since the incident.

The rest of the book is a round robin of chapters narrated by the mothers of each of the boys. Kendra, Lindsey and Dani have also been friends since childhood. They all live in the Southern California suburbs. They each have their own family dynamics that they have to deal with, as well as to trying to figure out what happened that night. This book was drama filled. I had to work hard to keep the stories straight between the three women. As we kept bouncing from mom to mom in some short, and some long chapters I had to reorient myself about the narrator’s family members and backstory.

I think that the writing was good, and the author, Dr. Lucinda Berry is a trained clinical psychologist. She clearly understands how the pendulum of grief can swing. She brought immediacy to the crisis, including how the incident affected the remaining kids in the three families.

I would recommend this book to readers who like an interesting multi-family drama that involves all sorts of issues we face today. There was a mystery to find out what actually happened, but that really was not the main thrust of this story. This book focused on the trauma and how all three families involved processed it and its aftermath.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher via NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry is an emotionally stirring, and thought provoking drama of friendship being tested during the aftermath of a shocking turn of events.
The multi-perspective writing transitions smoothly from character to character. As the dark plot unfolds, secrets and lies are revealed. Nothing is as it seems, and nothing will be the same ever again.
Part mystery/thriller, part women's fiction, this well developed and highly believable book will leave you wondering if it is entirely fictional.
*Thank you NetGalley, Lucinda Berry, and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry is a highly recommended drama that follows three families after a tragedy.

In a wealthy southern California neighborhood best friends Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani are devastated after a tragic incident with a gun involving their three sons, Jacob, Sawyer, and Caleb. The teens were having a sleepover which resulted in the death of Kendra's son, Sawyer, and left Lindsey's son Jacob in a coma. Dani's son Jacob was not shot, but is uncommunicative but has nightmares and breakdowns. Do they really know each other and their sons? Is their friendship going to withstand the tragedy and resulting investigation?

Alternating chapters are told from each woman's point-of-view as they try to deal with the tragedy and figure out what happened and why. Everyone has secrets, shortcomings, and questions which, as they are revealed, put a strain on relationships. Detective Martin Locke questions the couples and their other children, but they all know he is keeping some information to himself (obviously).

The plot is well done, creating tension and questions, as these women face the nightmare their lives has become. The Best of Friends is a straightforward story. It is focused on these three women after a tragedy involving their sons and the disclosure of secrets involving each family and their sons. This isn't a thriller. We aren't looking for a suspect. We're looking for answers as to why this incident happened.

Berry slowly provides clues and reveals secrets about the night and the teens. The writing does have some flaws. The individual voices of the three women are not as distinctive as clearly defined as individuals as I would have liked. Reading did require paying close attention to who was talking to avoid confusion. The characters are portrayed more like caricatures rather than complex unique individuals. The plot, however, and seeking out the truth about that night is what will keep you glued to the pages.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer.
The review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The blurb reads 'Best friends Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani endure every parent’s nightmare when a tragic accident befalls their teenage boys, leaving one dead, another in a coma, and a third too traumatized to speak.' Well who wouldn't want to read this book?

This is an emotional and heartbreaking story of friendships, secrets and loss, it is told from the three mothers points of view. Three seemingly perfect families...... Or are they?

For the most part I enjoyed the story, it only took me 2 nights to read. There are a few dark issues raised; abuse, guns, homosexuality and teenage sex to name a few so do be aware of these if they may be difficult for you.
Thank you Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer and Lucinda Berry for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Best of Friends.
Overall well written 4 stars!

Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani have been best friends since they were young girls. They live in the same town, and now their teenage sons are best friends too. When tragedy strikes leaving one son dead, one in a coma, and the other so traumatized he can’t speak; this will test the strength of their friendship. How can these ladies remain the best of friends when they don’t even know what happened to their sons?

This was my first book from Lucinda Berry, and it was a heavy read. The chapters alternate between Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani’s perspectives. I liked how the author did this since we see what’s going on and how it affects each one differently. She also included how the tragedy affects their immediate families which makes sense in this sort of book.

There is a bit of a mystery involved in finding out what happened that lead to the awful events that night, but I would not classify this book as a mystery. It’s really about coping with a tragedy and how each person handles if differently. This was a very emotional read, but very worth it.

The author did elude to something that happened to Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani when they were teenagers, something they never spoke of, but didn’t ever reveal what that was. For that reason I had to rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A fast-paced, provocative page-turner.

Two generations of friends, one catastrophic night and these intertwining lives will never be the same.

Now living in an upscale Southern California neighborhood three women who have been friends since childhood face a tragedy that shows them that perhaps their friendship has always been perfunctory at best. Their three teen-age sons were also considered “best friends” and the three women are at a loss when trying to determine what series of events could have culminated in one boy dead, a second in a coma and the third aphasic.

Everyone in this tale has led a life of privilege, keeping secrets, turning a blind eye to obvious problems and never having to answer for any of their mis-deeds……until now.

This is one of those “teens with little guidance or parental control” in their lives and parents who are either clueless or just too involved with their own personal demons to notice what is happening right in front of their eyes. 3 1/2 stars

Having read Lucinda Berry's other book The Perfect Child and loving it, I was really looking forward to reading her new book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This book was very good. 3 best friends Lindsay, Dani and Kendra suffer a tragedy involving each of their sons.My heart broke for these mothers. I didn't think Paul's secret was so bad and really didnt add anything to the story. Bryan is a bully and a jerk to Dani. This book kept my interest and was a quick read. I look forward to other books by this author.

Loved it...an emotional read. Was hooked since the start. Told in 3 different mothers POV...the best friends.

Best friends, Mothers, Secrets, Lies, Teenagers, Heartbreak, Tragedy, and Tears....

Three women who have been friends for an awfully long time have their worlds shattered when a tragic accident leaves one of their children dead, another in a coma, and one unable to speak due to trauma.
How do you go on, how do you find the answers, how do you move forward?

Reeling from that devastating night, each woman is faced with challenges not only withing themselves, in their marriages and in learning that no matter how well you think you know your children, there are just some things they manage to keep a secret. As a police officer investigates the tragedy, the reader becomes the proverbial fly on the wall, watching as each woman's world is altered forever.

She sucked me in with this one and initially I had a hard time keeping track of who was who until the women's characters were more fleshed out. I was not too shocked at one part of the reveal, I saw that coming but the reveal in the epilogue was a bit of a shocker for me!

Overall, once I got going, I found this to be a fast and absorbing read. This is an emotional one folks, so be warned. It is also thought provoking. There are a lot of characters that feel the same in the beginning, so if you get frustrated by this, my advice is to hang in there as they do become fleshed out.

**This may have some triggers for some.

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer 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.

3.5 stars, rounded up
This is an intriguing mystery that starts with an incident in the first chapter and is not resolved until the end. I could really feel for the three mothers and their different reactions to what happened, and how their lifelong friendship both ebbed and flowed as the investigation continued. At times, I felt like a voyeur into their marriages and family relationships.
Graded it down a bit because I really, really dislike reading about spousal abuse. Even if the person eventually gets up the courage to leave, everything surrounding the situation made me feel angry. I know it happens, but I don't like reading about it.
This is the second inventive suspense novel of Berry's that I've read and I'm impressed yet again. I applaud her creativity and look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

It deserves a gazillion stars. Dark and twisty this book is unputdownable. Buckle in and hang on for dear life because this story has so many twists and turns it'll make you dizzy and nauseated. In the best way. A total must read. Happy reading!

Kendra, Lindsey and Dani have been friends since grade school. Naturally their teenage boys become best friends. None of the mothers worry when the kids have random sleepovers at each others houses, theres an unspoken trust.
Then the "accident" happened. One boy is killed, one is brain dead and the other had gone mute. Parents blame each other, secrets are told and friendships divide. Grief engulfs the families and murkys up the truth of what happened that night. Was it really an accident or was it murder?

The big plot twist reveal in a book is usually what the reader will want to discuss once they have finished the book. For me, with this book, that's not the case. The plot twist was good, maybe a little expected after all the pieces fell into place. But the real discussion starter is the accident.
Guns are a hot topic in my house. I do not have them and won't allow them in the house, even toys. I am aware that my children play in houses that have them, but i know they are locked away, like in the book. Somehow, in the book, the gun is taken out of the safe. Big hole in the story for me! If the child doesn't know the combination, how the hell did he get the gun? This big hole gives me anxiety. I trust the parents to be responsible with the guns, but it has never crossed my mind to worry about their children. Yes my son knows not to touch a gun unless supervised in a control setting, but do his friends? How well do I really know the kids he hangs out with? I poke and ask questions like most parents, even ask the uncomfortable questions, but would they lie to me?
I liked this book, the fact that it made me question things. It was well written, and the puzzle was pieced together well. I recommend that anyone who reads this, use it as a discussion starter with your spouse and children about gun safety. No parent should be put in the situation these fictional parents are in.