This is a quick engrossing read about three childhood friends all grown up with families but all still living in the same town. An accident occurs involving their three sons and with facts hard to come by, the reader is drawn in quickly to the plot. I certainly didn't agree with most of the lack of parenting going on in the book, but I think that was the author's point: teenagers need supervision. My only point of contention was the three female characters' voices were too similar, but otherwise a decent read!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy to read and review.

This was a super fast read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Told in alternating points of view from three best friends about a tragic incident with their sons. I HAD to find out what happened which is exactly the reason I flew this book. It was raw and emotional and I kept thinking how hard and difficult each of their situations were. I related to them as a boy mom myself and how easy something like this could happen and the repercussions of the decisions made. Definitely pick this book up when it releases in August!

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced readers copy.
Pub Date August 18, 2020
#TheBestofFriends

The Best of Friends focuses on three women who grew up together as best friends. Each chapter is the point of view of one of the women. When tragedy occurs that affects all of their families, many secrets come out. Their "perfect lives" are not so perfect.

At the beginning of the book I had trouble remembering who was who because their are so many characters including the three women, their husbands, and kids. But over time you remember because each woman is dealing with their own set of problems. Many secrets came out that kept me on my toes. There were some twists and turns that I thoroughly enjoyed. It took a tragic incident for each woman to realize the cracks in their marriages and families. You also realize that they really are not the best of friends. The more lies that were exposed, the more interesting the book became.

Thanks to Net Galley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, though it can pack a gut punch , at times.
Heartrending story about 3 friends who grow up still close and are raising their children. Each woman has a son about the same age who are all best friends also...until one horrific night.

Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani are best friends and have been friends for years. Their 3 teenage boys are also good friends. One night while the boys are together, something tragic happens. It leaves one boy dead, one boy in a coma, and one boy is so traumatized he can not talk about what happens. As the mothers try and piece together what happened and why it happened, many many secrets come to light. How well do parents really know their children? As a mother, this book was heartbreaking to read. I truly felt everything the mother's were going through. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

A mother’s worse nightmare to have her child killed or injured. What happens when you don’t know why it happened and the people you trusted the most are in the middle of the situation. Friendships and relationships are tested in this amazing book by Lucinda Berry. Lucinda’s writing style makes it a quick read and enjoyable. Will definitely be on the look out for more books from her!

I liked it for the most part, but I had a few issues with it. For one, the women's voices are too similar and it could be tricky telling them apart. Also, the epilogue was too much. It would have resonated more with me if it'd ended with the section right before then, or had a different epilogue altogether.

Wow!!! This was an intense read!!

Lucinda Berry is one of my favorite authors . Every book she writes tells an extremely believable tale that grips you in from the very beginning. The Best of Friends was no different. A highly dramatic read that will play all your emotions.

Once again Lucinda Berry has written a book that will easily make it to the top reads of the year!

I enjoy books that make me question myself and what my core values are. This book did just that. A tragic event, secrets and the overwhelming drive to protect and keep the family together at all costs. How far is too far to go? How far would I be willing to go ? The characters show emotions we all feel at one time or another but rarely express. Like Lucinda Berrys’ other two books this one is a gem not to be passed up.

Lindsey, Dani, and Kendra are best friends. Now married with children of their own, they are thrilled when three of their sons, Sawyer, Jacob, and Caleb become friends. Until the night something goes wrong leaving one boy dead, one in a coma, and one too traumatized to speak. Why did they have a gun and what could have sparked this tragedy?
As the police investigate, Kendra, Lindsey, and Dani struggle with their grief. Did these women know each other and did any of them know their children? Be prepared for secrets and lies to be revealed amongst the adults as well as the children. A heartbreaking tale that races to a shocking conclusion. Those that are left standing will never be the same.
It took me a bit to remember who was married to who and who each child's parents were, but after a few chapters, everything became clear to me. A truly horrific night that made me wonder if anyone could have intervened and altered the outcome. There is certainly plenty of room for book discussions. I will be looking for Lucinda Berry's next book.

Description:
An unthinkable tragedy forever changes a group of teens and turns family against family in this edge-of-your-seat thriller that begs to be read in one sitting.

Yeah, just the first line of the description hooked me and I was sucked in. It's the story of three best girlfriends from childhood that happened to have boys at the same time and were also best friends. Ever heard of the phrase "twos company threes a crowd?" Well the girls survived it growing up but the boys didn't sadly.

This book honestly terrified me slightly because of the ages of the boys being in the teenage years and having secrets from their parents, considering that I'm heading into the high school phase with my own daughter. However, that did not stop me, I couldn't put this one down, with one secret after another coming out between the parents and the kids. I'd definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and #NetGalley for an advanced readers copy.
Pub Date 18 Aug 2020
#TheBestofFriends

#TheBestOfFriends#NetGalley
This is a new author for me. I will seek out more of her books. The Story starts with three boys who are in a accident. The parents are all friends and looking for answers, one of the boys has died, one seriously injured, and the third boy is so traumatized and cannot speak. You cannot put the book down as you also want answers. Secrets come into play in friendships and marriages, twist and turns. It will be emotional as you the reader can see this happening to you or people you may know. What do we really know about our children? It becomes personal and emotional if you have teen age children. Great read. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book to me was a little, out of character, so to speak for Dr. Lucinda Berry. I anticipated much greater twists and turns, like in her previous novels. This novel was less dramatic, and more emotional. She really captured true raw emotion and made it feel so real. Made it feel as if you are part of the story, feeling the hurt, grief, anger, shame, right along with them.

This story follows a group of 3 friends. Three wives and three husbands. And their children. The woman are best friends, and lucky for them, their husbands get along well. They vacation together, they live close to each other, their lives intertwined. Their children have grown together, none a stranger at the others house. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes the group. Cuts through the very core. The accident, as they refer to it, affects each family differently. One son dead, another in a coma, one so traumatized he cannot speak. As each family tries to navigate their new normal, try to adjust, they try not to implode from within as well.

Besides dealing with the tragedy that stuck their family, they are searching for answers. What happened? Why? How did it come to this? Each family wants the answers to these questions. Some more so, than others. The women learn a lot about their children that they did not know. Some they knew and turned a blind eye too. As if dealing with tragedy is not enough, they have marital problems to deal with. Will they ever get to the bottom of the truth? Can their friendship survive the tumultuous storm? I know the answer, but I will not give it away.

Dr. Lucinda Berry has written a hit once again. She has such a way with words, that she sucks you into the story and her hold does not let go until the very last word. The Best of Friends is a 5-star hit for sure. If not for the suspense, then for the sheer emotional connection alone.

I want to thank the writer, Dr. Lucinda Berry, the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book, wow was just so readable and relatable. The story starts of with 3 teenage boys in an accident. one has died, one is in a comma, and one can't tell them what happened. With their moms being best friends, they struggle together and apart to find out what happened that night. The boys lives come to veiw and the led up to the "accident" . Not everything is what is seemed.

I couldn't stop reading, couldn't put this down. It is a heart breaking, all to real read. All the secrets that are held that lead up to this event. I just really wanted to know what led to these 3 best friends ended up where they did. small bits of why and how are dropped through the story, had me constantly engaged. I don't know how to tell you more of how I feel about this book without spoiling, so I won't! Go read it!!!

I really liked this one and I'm keen to read more from this author. It was engrossing, good plot but the ending felt a little rushed. Overall, a solid 3.5 star read for me. Looking forward to picking up some more of Berry's books.

This book kept me gripped throughout. Really enjoyed the narrative changing between 3 characters each chapter. This format allowed the secrets and lies between friends, children and parents, and husbands and wives to creep up on the reader and really kept me hooked. Some characters were more likeable than others but really enjoyed this book and loved the ending! Would definitely recommend.

3.5 🌟 The story is told from the point of view of three mothers whose sons are involved in a devastating incident. Kendra, Lindsay and Dani have been best friends since childhood and their son’s become best friends too. Outwardly their lives appear perfect but they all have their secrets. The incident leaves one boy dead, one critically ill and one alive but unable to speak due to the trauma. The story is intriguing from the beginning as the author slowly revels their secrets. There was a lot going on with each character and I struggled a bit to remember who was who for quite a while as the book slowly develops the characters. I got there eventually though and the author does pull all the story lines together well by the end. This did detract a bit for me hence the 3.5 stars but overall an enjoyable read! Not as good as Lucinda Berry’s precious offering ‘perfect child ‘ though - see my older reviews for that one 😊 Thanks netgalley and Lucinda Berry for the advance copy!

I’ve previously read this authors novels and I think I enjoyed this one the most so far. Three teenager boys, the best of friends until one night one of them is dead, one is seriously injured, and the last is too traumatized to speak, I couldn’t get to the end fast enough to find out what happened that night and was pretty surprised. Definitely recommend this book!

Lucinda Berry Is one of my favorite authors, she just writes daring stories. The writing in this book was so good, fast paced and entertaining and of course you are at the end of your seat all of the time. The story was great it was just the ending, I'd really like to know what happened with one couple and I can't help but feel that the true ending was cut. One thing is to have an open ending but other thing is not to give closure to something that needed it.

Friendship means different things to everyone. The ups and downs, the secrets, ebbs and flows and typical motherhood busyness can really affect each friendship in different ways. How well do you REALLY know your friends? This book was extraordinary with twists and turns that have you second guessing your own theories. A slow burn that picks up the pace in a few spots makes for a book you can’t put down. I love the authors writing style with an emphasis on trauma and an in-depth look at what happens when tragedy takes its toll on friendship, marriages, teenage drama and everyday life. Each character is intertwined and the different viewpoints of each set of relationships makes you question your own friendships. What would you do if a tragic accident took the life of someone in your circle? Who would you blame? In the end, everyone has their own agenda and the way each person in the book is truly affected by actions of another are fascinating. 5 stars!!! I want more, I need to read more from this author!