Six friends, a lifetime of lies and a day of reckoning. The plot is complicated and it subtly moves between the present and the past. I found it hard to follow all the different characters and situations but was so intrigued that I needed to keep going to find answers. Addictive.

The writing style of this book irritated me, it jumped between characters, past and present very quickly and haphazardly. I really struggled to get into the story, at all. I expected a little more from the story line and was disappointed with the ending. Not one for me.

Six people. Three couples. And too many secrets. Ann, John, Edmund, Ovidia, Jasper and Holly. They all have a past. Will they have a future?
This is a very well constructed story, full of turning points. The characters are complex and correctly developed.
It's not the story I was expecting when I read the premise, but it worked out great in the end.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Everything can change in a day.

Theres some uncomfortable subjects in this book which might put some readers off. For me some of the detail didnt read add any benefit and I'd rather have had more at the end rather than the unknown. I think the uncomfortable situation everyone finds themselves in means you dont really empathise with any of the characters making it hard to like them.

I really enjoyed this one in the long run more than I did to start. This book goes into some deeper issues than I was expecting. And the twist that we learn were really well done. I enjoyed this book.

I found this book a bit slow but half way through started getting into it and the characters. It’s good that the storylines in this book are both realistic and thoroughly researched. It was very well written and bought together at the end.

I was confused in the beginning but I'm glad I stuck with it. There are a multitude of feelings in this book being told by the different characters but the common denominator is that just about everyone is lying or hiding something. Everything comes to a head on one important day.

Such a good read. A violent start with Edmund smashing to pieces the playhouse in the garden, moving to his to his grief and sadness at something we the reader are not made aware of . His partner is also incredibly sad and accepting that this is a relationship that will be over at the end of the day. However, we are party to the love they share, so something doesnt make sense. This mystery and tension prevail throughout the book as we wait patiently for the denouement. The sadness is interrupted by the arrival of his brother Jasper, and his fiance Holly, together with another couple. The book explores each individuals story, whilst building further on the initial tension.
A well written book that could easily transition to stage or screen. Contains some very original concepts

Thank you to netgalley for an ARC of this book.
I dont really know where to begin with this review, I don’t know what I was expecting when I started this book but I feel a little bit disappointed. For the first 60% of this book I really didn’t enjoy it. In fact I had to force myself to pick it up to read but then once I got to the 60% mark I couldn’t put it down I felt like there were so many twists and turns and very unexpected ones at that! I felt like I didn’t really connect with the characters in this book however the topics that were highlighted in it are so important and they are also so well written. This review is of my opinion so I would definitely recommend giving this book a try as it may be a read that someone absolutely loves and just because I didn’t doesn’t mean it’s a bad book. The transitions between the characters were written so well. And the topics were a hard read but important!
Trigger warning - Domestic Violence

The main action of this book takes place over the course of a Saturday; however, through internal monologues, conversations and flashbacks we cover snippets of the previous four or five years to bring the situation up to date.

Edmund and Ovidia have plans for Saturday, which are thrown in to chaos when Edmund’s brother Jasper arrived unannounced with his new fiancé and two friends, John and Anne. What follows is a very awkward “celebration” for the happy couple, with everyone trying to work out what’s going on.

This is a hard book to review without stumbling in to spoiler territory. I initially struggled because the plot is slow moving; however, it is all part of the scene setting and, if you can persevere, it is arguably worth it. I found it hard going at times because I had too many questions in my head, but if you like making predictions and trying to puzzle things out, then this could be the perfect read for you.

I liked the darker themes within the story – especially Agatha’s take on them, which should be commended. Though, I can see how some readers may struggle if they are triggered by domestic and emotional abuse. Whilst not gratuitous in any way, it is handled frequently throughout.

A strong debut, and definitely an author to keep an eye on.

The Stars
I’ve struggled trying to decide how to star this particular read. On one hand the concept is excellent; however, the execution let it down slightly. Whilst I understand the need to have more than just the three main characters, at times it felt the other three were just fluff filling in the gaps. There was not enough character development, and it seemed pointless. What they added to the momentum could have bene provided in a different way that wouldn’t have felt so contrived.

Equally, I felt there was a little too much left unsaid at the beginning in an attempt to build suspense. It made it so slow-moving that it could have been tempting to leave this as a DNF.

I also struggled with the fact this needed a good proofreading. There were so many errors that it was really distracting in parts, and many times I had to re-read sentences. Such a shame, as without the editor dropping the ball, this would have been a four stars.

Jasper and Holly arrive at his brother’s house to announce their engagement, along with another couple of friends.
What ensues is a complex web of overlapping relationships, secrets and lies.
This novel reminded me of Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends. The characters aren’t always likeable or endearing, but it’s well-written and intriguing, if a tiny bit cold..
Zaza has quite a matter of fact writing style -this felt more plot than character-driven - but I enjoyed the story slowly developing and touching on some unexpected and challenging themes.
In summary, I’m sure this will be a bestseller. It’s topical and interesting although a little bit of a slow burn.

To celebrate his engagement to Holly, Jasper arrives unannounced at his brother Edmunds house, together with friends Anne and John.
As the reader is introduced to the couples in a fly on the wall exposé, we learn the secrets they have been keeping from one another which force them to examine their futures.
This book easily draws you into the action, which takes place over one day with occasional flashbacks. The couples lives are cleverly interwoven into strange patterns which I found uncomfortable with at times. and as the story unfurled became even darker.
This is a book I will remember.

Well, where to start with this book? It was really not what I was expecting but after a bit of a slow start as I settled in to the story I was soon drawn into the lives of brothers Jasper and Edmund. In some ways they seem very close siblings but in others they barely seem to know each other at all.
Jasper has decided to call in to surprise Edmund at his home in London to announce his engagement to girlfriend Holly. Best friend John and his wife Anne have tagged along too, having heard so much about Edmund and his high-flying career from Jasper. So when they arrive at Edmund's home something feels very off. He's sitting in his contemporary glass cube conservatory in his pyjamas and food-spattered dressing gown staring out into the garden. Hardly the successful, focused businessman they were expecting.
The enigma grows as a woman arrives at the house dressed in running gear. Her body language at first suggests that she lives here but then changes in an instant as she becomes unsure of herself and the situation she finds herself in. Meanwhile, Jasper is looking as if he's seen a ghost.
The book gradually peels back the layers of the six people's lives and we are presented with twist after shock revelation until we get to point where it all makes some kind of sense. There are quite a few triggers which people should be aware of before indulging in this book - domestic abuse and depression to mention just a couple.
This won't be a book for everyone as it's a bit of a slow burner which hits on some sensitive subject material but the style of writing is excellent and the facts are disclosed very cleverly so I would encourage people to stick with the slow introduction as it leads to a pretty shocking conclusion.

This suburban noir story takes place over a long day, which is full of discomfort, secrets coming out, pain and tragedy. None of the characters are likeable. I enjoyed hearing how their lives intertwined and their secrets unravelling. A good first book from this new author.

Three couples are celebrating an engagement. As time travels on, secrets are revealed.

Jasper has just got engaged to Holly. Anne and John also turn up at Edmunds House. But when they arrive at Edmonds, they are surprised to see that Edmund is in a relationship with Jasper's ex, Olivia.

This is the story of three couples who's deceptions and indiscretions reach a climax one night over a period of around twelve hours. The pace is steady as more and more secrets are revealed. The story touches on: love, misunderstandings, depression and abuse. There are some parts that some readers might find difficult. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. It's well written with lots of twists.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AgoraBooks and the author #AgathaZaza for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wasn't For Me... 🤔

Not really sure what to say about this book. I couldn't really get into it, I found it too slow throughout. Lots of secrets, toing and froing of peoples memories then present time. Personally I found it was like being stuck in the same day with a handful of characters in a tv soap. Sadly not for me.

This book follows three couples, Jasper and Holly, ready to celebrate their engagement.
John and Anne are ready to join in celebrations. Edmund and Ovidia who had different plans for their Saturday.

I liked that this book really took a deep dive into these characters. They each had a well developed personality.
It also tackled some difficult themes (TW for miscarriage, infant death and domestic abuse).
It's a deeply complex, domestic drama that takes place over one afternoon.

For me, I just felt that this book was little like wading through mud, it was a bit too complex and heavy at times, however it did deal with very complex topics so that's to be expected.
If you really enjoy character development, domestic drama, complex, narrative driven books, then this is for you.
For me this was 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Agora Books, Netgalley and the author for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a masterfully written story about three couples and the secrets that they hold and how on one fateful afternoon, each couple's carefully constructed set of lies is blasted to smithereens. The reader can't anticipate any of it, but is compelled to turn pages, digging deeper behind the false face each person has presented to the world. This novel takes the reader on a page turning ride of unexpected twists and turns.
#netgalley

With thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for the arc for an honest review.

This book was a slow burner but for a reason, it took time to get to know the characters well. Each one was intriguing in their own way and had their own hidden secrets.

A dark read that I found a bit hard to read towards the end as it came to a climax. But the ending was definitely the best part of the book, with the author not shying away from such a difficult topic.

This is an uncomfortable read, quite claustrophobic as the present day element is set in one house with a group of six people over the course of one day. I didn’t find myself particularly warming to any of the characters, although I didn’t dislike them either. We are gradually drip fed their back stories, intertwining in some cases. I think this would be a great book to read as a book group as it poses lots of ethical questions about relationships.