Another beautifully written story on friendship, jealousy, domestic violence, leading double lives. The characters are plain and real, easy to connect with. It also emphasises on parenting and talking to your children which is very important. The detective could have been given more weightage. Excellent and highly recommended book for children and parents. Want to give more than 5 stars.

Riveting. Heartbreaking. Intense.

This was a beautiful read. I was hooked from the very beginning and quite literally could not put it down, and not to mention I sobbed multiple times. I genuinely got irrationally upset at my family members when they would ask me to do something, because all I wanted to do was finish devouring this book!

The writing was simple but got the job done. The plot was riveting and kept me on my toes. I admit there were aspects that were predictable, but strangely that didn't take away from the story at all. The sub plots in this were so intricate and complex I'm honestly amazed at how there were practically no loose ends or plot holes by the end. The talent is clear in Lucinda Berry, and I'm very interested to read what she puts out next.

The characters in this were incredible. They were real and raw and you could physically feel their pain while reading. I was rooting for everyone even though I trusted no one, and I was constantly throwing guesses and accusations around in my head. My one main complaint with this book was that the names and families were very hard for me to keep track of and I often had to stop reading and trace back in time to remember who was who's kid and so on. I feel like that confusion could have easily been cleared up if the chapter/POV headers were a little more informative.

I absolutely adored how this novel dove into human psychology and how everything felt so real and genuine. The themes of grief and domestic abuse and trauma were expertly dealt with, and although I found the discussion of sexuality lacking, I found little to complain about in the thematic department.

I adored all of the character development that took place in this novel, and for a mystery thriller, there was a lot of depth to everyone, and it was refreshing how each character had their own unique voice. None of them blended together for me at all.

I would highly recommend this book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy as soon as it comes out. All in all, a solid 4.5 star read.

Also, thank you NetGalley for this arc! It was a real treat.

The Best of Friends, by Lucinda Berry, explores the dynamics between and among a group of teenage boys (who are best friends) as well as their three mothers (BFFs forEVER) when a terrible tragedy occurs.

Written by a trauma psychologist (yikes), the story is told from various perspectives and (TBH) at first I had to actually draw out a sort of org chart for the three families. Once I got them straight, it was a fun read. Since the author lives in LA, she was able to perfectly capture the sort of quintessential wealthy southern California suburban community, which the families are just sure is the perfect place to safely raise their perfect children…

The three women are Dani, Lindsey, and Kendra, and their teenage sons are Caleb, Jacob, and Sawyer, respectively. One night an accident happens (or was it?) leaving one boy dead, one in a coma, and the third so traumatized he can’t speak.

As the mothers investigate the incident, they discover things that they didn’t know and reveal things they have chosen to deny or avoid. At the same time, the police are investigating, including a detective known to them…well, sort of: “He doesn’t even have a Facebook profile. What kind of a person doesn’t at least have that?”

Dani is married to Bryan, a real dog (“Alcohol turns him into a special kind of monster”). and they are the parents who might be seen as obviously at fault, since (mini spoiler alert) it was their gun. Lindsey, Jacob’s mom, is a special kind of shallow, describing the details of her home in terms of how she picked out her furniture thinking about the effect she wanted it to have. For her, it’s all about how things LOOK. Of the three, she is the only one who “didn’t move up” to the nicer neighborhood, so maybe she is insecure about that…in any case, she spends a lot of time in pursuits such as worrying about her new couch: “…I never expected people to sleep on it.” They live right behind Kendra and Paul, parents to Sawyer and their other son Reese, who seems pathetically forgotten as the drama unfolds.

As things are revealed, all three women come to realize their idyllic life is really just a façade, there is no safe place, and the image they present to the world can be shattered in a heartbeat. This was a quick read, and raises many issues around topics including image vs. reality, jealousy, parenting, domestic abuse, and trauma. Great for book clubs.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing a copy in return for this honest review. Four stars.

This is not my first lucinda berry book. Ive enjoyed her style of writing in each of the books ive read and the best of friends did not disappoint.
The story centres around 3 lifelong friends and their 3 boys and a terrible gun accident that leads to one son dying, one in a vegetative state and one who refuses to talk. Who shot the gun? Why? What lead the boys to be in that situation on that awful night?
As a parent this story broke my heart as no parent should ever have to lose a child in their lifetime.
Lucinda captures your heart in this story of pain, betrayal and shock. Its full of twists and turns and its so hard to put down because you will want to know what happens next.
Massive thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read this brilliant book from the equally brilliant Lucinda Berry

This is a fantastic domestic drama that focuses on the mother's of three teenage boys involved in an incident.

It had me intrigued from.the very first page, and I did not want to stop reading.

I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy reading this genre; It's a great one.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ebook via Netgalley.

Three lifelong friends, Kendra, Dina, and Lindsey, face tragedy when when there’s an incident between their teenage sons’ who have grown up together as best friends, just like their mom’s planned. One son is dead, another is on life support, and one is left a shell of himself and refuses to talk. As they search for answers to find out what happened that fateful night their friendship is tested to the limit and secrets start coming out.
This book captivated me from the very beginning and had me in tears right from the start. It’s a heartbreaking, gut wrenching read that is beautifully written. As a mom of teenage boys it made me want to go hug them and grill them at the same time. This is my Lucinda Berry novel and I will definitely be reading all of her others!

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.

Reeling from the worst night of their lives, the three mothers plunge into a desperate investigation of the bizarre incident. How could something so horrible happen in their wealthy Southern California suburb?

They soon discover that the accident was just the beginning, and troubling discoveries lead to chilling questions: Do they really know their children? Do they even know each other? As more secrets surface, a fog of doubt and suspicion threatens to poison their families, their friendships, and the whole community.

With the illusion of happiness and safety long gone, these women must now confront the hazards of heartbreak, the consequences of jealousy, and the dangers of living double lives.

Ahhh, I wanted to love the book. Hard to rate it. I seemed to put it down often. Hard to connect with the story.I did finish the book. It was good in the end.

<b><I>”She’s not the only one with secrets.”</I></b>

I will always always always read a new Lucinda Berry book. She paints the perfect picture and knows exactly how to write a thriller that keeps you on your toes.

This book hit me a little different than her others. Being a mom to boys myself, it hit close to home. I was surprised at the amount of emotion I felt, the sadness, the grief. This book is LOADED with that till the very end.

<b><I>”The thing nobody tells you about grief is that time moves on.”</I></b>

There’s a death. And another that’s almost just as bad. Not a death but just as damaging. Who did it? What happened? Things get very rough for the mothers’ friendship as the friends for decades start to turn against each other to get the bottom of what really happened that night. Lies, secrets, jealousy. It’s all going to come out.

The last couple of pages were probably my favorite. The perfect little jaw dropping twist to an epic mic drop of an ending.

Bravo, my friend! Thanks for another great read!

I absolutely loved this book! The author created a beautiful story about love, loss, anger, heartbreak, and hate that will touch many people because the characters and situations are so highly believable.
What makes this book different from all others, and why should anyone care?
This book is different from others because it tells the story of 3 teenage boys who have grown up best friends, as well as their 3 moms who have also grown up as childhood best friends. The focus is equally on the friendships between the women and the friendships between the boys. It’s easy to relate to the characters in different ways, and it’s even easy to understand some of the decisions they make-even if you don’t agree. The author brings the characters to life, and the events are so true to life that it feels like you’re there with them. The secrets, lies, and truths between best friends that emerged in the aftermath of the tragedy will keep you hanging on to every word.

Plot information: Right from the beginning the author grabs your attention. Gun shots have been fired at a sleepover the boys were having that left one of the boys dead, the other critically injured and in a coma, and the third so traumatically disturbed that he can’t speak anymore. Piece by piece, each of the moms learn new things about their sons and husbands...and are reluctant to share with their best friends. What would you do for your best friend? What do you hide from your best friend? Is there anything your best friend could do that would make you want to kill them? Does 3 really make a crowd where one is left out more than the other two? The tragedy causes all of the women and their husbands question their marriages, as well as the friendship between the 3 moms, and how well they did-or didn't- know their sons.

The author did an incredible job making the characters and events realistic. She also made the storyline so well developed that it is completely believable. All too often people are accidentally killed or injured by guns, so the emotions and actions between the close knit characters are much like those would be in real life. Not only does everything make perfect sense, but surprise after surprise will shock you until you just can’t even begin to expect what’s next. Once you think you’ve figured it out, you will be thrown off again all the way until the last page. What a powerful book with such a strong message, but also a book that you just can’t put down! I did have to reread a few pages at the beginning just to remind myself of who was married to who and who the parents of each son were, but that isn’t meant as criticism. It is a must read 5+ star that I highly recommend. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to preview this book. My review is voluntary and honest, and I am grateful the author allowed me to read it! I’m a big fan now!

This book centres around 3 women who have been close friends since childhood and their sons who have been close friends since birth. A shooting occurs leaving one son dead, one son on life support and the remaining son non verbal. The ensuing investigation opens all sorts of issues.

Many twists and turns and secrets right up until the very end. The secrets just kept getting deeper and deeper. Nothing is never as it seems.

This book has tons of promise but for me it fell a little flat for the simple reason that it was hard the keep the families separate. Which son belonged to which mother. Whose son was dead or whose son was on life support. I had to go back to previous chapters to check who was who. The names were not similar, I’m not sure why this happened. I will assume that it is my problem, not a problem with the book. But, it took away some of the enjoyment of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for a review.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book.

It was about a terrible " accident" among three best friends that were the sons of moms that had been best friends since childhood. So the story was very intertwined and went back and forth between the friendships with the moms and also with the 3 boys. Initially, I thought here we go another story about an entitled family. But really is was much more than that and worth the read. You want to know if it was an accident, or if there was more involved. And what price the parents pay as a result of their child's mistakes? I want to mention the husbands play an important role in this too. There's a lot going on, no question. However, it's worth your time to pursue and find out the truth.

The Best of Friends grabbed me from page 1. The action starts in the very first sentence and doesn’t let up from there. I was captivated, wanting to know what happened, to whom, and why.

Three best friends grew up together, married, moved close to each other and had kids.Their sons become best friends. Life was good-except that it wasn't. There were secrets in all the families that didn't surface until one boy dies. The parents are grief stricken and looking for answers. Working with the cops, they start to have their eyes opened to things that have been buried for years.

The surprise at the end I never saw coming. There was so much to this story and I loved how the author tied everything together. I really loved this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

Such a good book!

Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani endure the most horrific tragedy a parent must ever come to terms with - their three teenage boys get into an accident. The consequences that manifest from the accident leave them reeling. They have so many questions.. so many questions left unanswered. What will they discover about the accident?

This was a very readable book. I flew through it and had a hard time putting it down. I also felt extremely connected to the three mothers, Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani. They were emotive and raw. In addition, I felt that this was a plot that could happen to any person.. which made it terrifying.

Exceptional plot. pacing, and characters. Would definitely handsell and recommend!

I have no doubt that this will be on my top 10, maybe even top 5 list of BEST BOOKS OF 2020.

I was gripped by this story of Kendra, Dani and Lindsey, who have been best friends forever! Now they have children of their own, and each of their teens are best friends to each other. One night, a horrific event takes place while the teens are hanging out. One ends up dead from a shotgun wound, another is in coma due to a shot to the head, and the other is alive but seemingly unable to talk and explain what happened. This creates a domino effect in the lives of the three women and their families.

This is an unputdownable drama that doesn't stop pulling you until the very last page, which has a surprising little twist. The beautifully smooth and descriptive writing by Lucinda Perry makes a great reading experience and very difficult to set the book down. I absolutely loved THE BEST OF FRIENDS, and can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, author Lucinda Berry, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Best of Friends is a heart-wrenching, visceral story of friendships, dark secrets, and tragedy that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Three teenage boys, who’s mothers have been best friends since they were kids, are involved in a tragic sleepover that leaves one of them dead, another in a coma, and another in a catatonic state. What follows is the unraveling of decades-old tensions between the mothers, family secrets, and powerful teenage emotions in a story that is told brilliantly through narratives by each mother in alternating chapters. This is a book full of tension and suspense, as one mother relentlessly tries to learn what happened that night. Powerful 5 star read.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book is based on the secrets that people carry. Three long time female friends find plenty of secrets when their three sons face a catastrophic incident that leaves one son dead and another brain dead. What happened with their sons? What secrets were they carrying? What secrets are the friends carrying?

This is a challenging book to read as a mom, particularly as a mom to a teenaged boy but a good one to make you think about what you don't know.

The families of 3 best friends are forever changed when a terrible accident takes the life of a high schooler. As everyone tries to come to terms with what happened they start to wonder if it was really a tragic accident, or if there is more to the story.

This book held my attention from the very first page. I read half of it in one sitting. After the first half I could kind of tell where the story was going and figured out one of the "twists", but it was still an entertaining read and one I definitely recommend. Since 3 families were involved it took a little bit to get them straight, however once I did there were definitely ones I was rooting for and ones that were extremely unlikable. This is my first book by Lucinda Berry and I will be reading more from her.

This book kept me up half the night! It was so good and I had to find out what happened at the end. I keep wondering if the title "The Best of Friends" refers to the moms or the teenage boys. In either case, it fits the bill. I was not able to predict the ending and reading all the details was captivating.

The Best of Friends wasted no time in grabbing my attention. The action starts in the very first sentence and doesn’t let up from there. I was captivated, wanting to know what happened, to whom, and why.

Kendra, Lindsey and Dani have been best friends since they were children. They grew up, married, moved close to each other, and had children. Their sons, Sawyer, Jacob and Caleb also became best friends, and life was pretty good for everyone. Except that it really wasn’t. There were secrets in each family that just didn’t seem that important, until one of the boys dies from a gunshot wound, one is left on life-support, and one is intensely traumatized. What happened?

The parents, grief-stricken and looking for answers, find their worlds spinning out of control. As they work with the detective to get to the bottom of that horrible night of the shootings, other problems in their lives start to become important, and their eyes are opened to things kept buried or never known until now.

I was intrigued with this story from beginning to end, as the author, Lucinda Berry, releases only small tidbits throughout to let you know what might or might not be the answer to the what, who, and why of everything. I was never able to figure out exactly what happened until she made it clear, and even when I finally learned the truth, there was one more surprise at the end that I never saw coming.

There were so many pieces to this story, and the author tied them together skillfully, never losing my attention. What a gripping tale!

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Friendships can be tricky, especially in a group of three and this book illustrates that perfectly. One person always feels left out; two are always talking about one; two are always closer with each other, and there's always a bit of competition for attention. I really enjoyed all the sub-stories that gave more depth to the main story as well.