Slightly over dramatic and far fetched, but a thoroughly enjoyable read!!! Newly single mother Susanna arrives in a small town and forges a friendship with the queen of the manor and wife of the handsome Dan, que dramatics....

Susannah is mother to Luke, 8, and Jamie, 11. After her husband’s business failed, they lost their family home and she and Justin divorced. Susannah has moved to a new town and has bought a small house.

Charlotte is married to Dan, a very successful and wealthy man. They have 4 sons and live in a lovely, elegant home. Susannah and her boys are invited to a neighborhood get-together at Charlotte’s. She enjoys seeing the woman’s home and the boys all get along well together. A few days later, Charlotte stops by and they women end up chatting and drinking wine for hours getting to know one another. Charlotte learns that Susannah likes to play tennis and suggests that she play with Dan at their club.

Susannah and Dan begin a weekly tennis match and then Susannah gets a job at the club’s cafe. This helps her with earn much-needed extra money.

Charlotte is hiding a huge secret that has her very frightened and always looking over her shoulder. Susannah has a big secret from her past as well.

When Susannah and Dan’s tennis games become a little too frequent, things heat up leading to danger.

This is a great cat and mouse game, which much like a tennis game, we watch the back and forth to see which one wins.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoyed Alex Day’s first book, and I couldn’t wait to see what she would write next. The Best of Friends is a chilling and an utterly gripping psychological thriller. We meet Susannah and Charlotte, two women who both come from very different social backgrounds. Susannah is now raising her two sons on her own following a messy divorce. She has recently moved to a new town, where she has opened up a café, and it is here that she meets Charlotte. Charlotte lives in a huge house and lives a lifestyle many would dream of having. But as they begin to grow close, Susannah begins to grow close to Charlotte’s husband. And soon, both of their worlds will fall apart.

Alex Day expertly builds on the tension in her book. From the moment Susannah first meets Charlotte’s husband, I could see that there was something there between them. I wanted to know if this would expand into anything. Also, what this would do to her friendship with Charlotte. Would Charlotte realise what was happening between Susannah and her husband if things went any further? As I was reading, it felt as though the characters were walking on eggshells around each other. And the suspense continues to simmer away.
I really liked how Alex Day developed Susannah and Charlotte’s characters. They both have intriguing backstories, Charlotte, particularly, as it appears as though she is being followed. I wanted to understand what had happened in her past and why she was so fearful of these people, especially as she didn’t want to get her husband involved.

It’s hard to talk much more about the plot without giving what happens away. The tension really begins to heat up as we reach the conclusion. I was turning the pages faster and faster as I was desperate to find out what would happen. Alex Day really surprised me with the direction she took the story in the final stages, and it’s what makes it so chilling. I thought it was very cleverly done, and it really gets you thinking about the characters. The writing was taut, and I was utterly invested in the story and the characters. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to them at the end.

Psychological thriller fans, this is a book that’s not to be missed. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll definitely be reading what Alex Day writes next.

This book was good. Parts of it pulled me in and left me wanting to read more to find out what was going on. However, other parts were slow for me and I didn't rush back to reading it. I did guess most of the twists since some were pretty obvious and predictable but a few things didn't pop out to me until they were revealed. The book is written through two perspectives and told through almost a diary-like style. That took me a bit to get into but I got use to it. I didn't find any of the characters likeable and that turned me off a bit too. This is classified as a suspense thriller but I think it's more of a domestic drama. Overall, a good book if you're looking for a domestic thriller/drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for my review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 2/5 stars.

“The Best of Friends” is a tantalizing domestic suspense novel from author Alex Day. While the opening hooks the reader in immediately, the plot is a little disappointing, featuring a lot of overused thriller clichés. The twists are a little too drawn out, and very predictable. I was hoping the author would bring something new to the table, but I was sadly disappointed.

The chapters flip between the points of view of the two main characters, Susannah and Charlotte, which is fairly standard for this type of thriller. In this case, the problem is that both characters are so similar that there is very little contrast between the points of view, especially since both are written in the first person perspective. It can be difficult to distinguish just whose chapter you are reading! More than a few times, I had to flip back to the start of the chapter, just to make sure I understood who was telling their story. I think perhaps if the author had chosen one character’s story to be told from third person instead, it would help a lot and created more contrast, and in turn, make the novel more interesting.

This similarity in the two characters and their writing also causes the plot to lag and the story to be kind of boring as there are no real changeups in writing style. On top of that, the conversations that the two characters have just feel off and awkward, and not like how two middle-aged women would actually speak to each other. I will not give any spoilers, but the main twist of the novel is rather unbelievable based on what we had seen from the character up until that point. This is just one of many plot holes in the story.

Overall, this is a decent if predictable domestic suspense novel, but might be worth skipping for something a little more exciting and thrilling.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*

EXCERPT: 'There were things that you had hidden from even your closest friends, weren't there?'

Silence.

'One thing in particular, wouldn't you agree?'

He's going to reveal it and very soon everyone will know her history. She wills it over and done with. The jackals wait with bated breath, eager for the next titbit to feast upon. The QC inhales deeply before continuing, as if believing that oxygen will be in short supply once he has made the revelation.

The collective gasp that follows seems to prove him right. It emits forth with such force it might have come from the walls themselves. The woman's blonde hair falls across her face as she drops her head in despair.

The case that has hitherto slithered back and forth has turned on a sixpence. The entire courtroom can see that the defendant has no way back from this.

The QC turns back to the judge. 'No more, m'lord.'

He sits, and his black gown balloons around him like the darkening sky before a thunderstorm.

ABOUT 'THE BEST OF FRIENDS': Susannah is rebuilding her life…
Susannah has had a tough year. After a sticky divorce and losing the life she had grown accustomed to, moving to a small town in the south of England with her two sons is exactly the fresh start she needs.

Charlotte seems to have it all…
Charlotte is delighted when Susannah moves in. Charlotte may appear to have the perfect husband, the perfect family, the perfect house, but deep down she’s lonely, and she needs someone to confide in.

But one of them is not who they pretend to be…
The two women instantly become best friends. But underneath the surface, secrets, lies and betrayals are all hiding. And when the truth comes out, not everyone will live to tell the tale…

MY THOUGHTS: I thought that I would like The Best of Friends by Alex Day more than I did. There's a poor little rich girl, Charlotte, and a poor little poor girl, Susannah, who become best friends. Both are needy. Both have secrets. Both lie. But Charlotte has something Susannah wants - a wealthy, handsome husband - and it would seem that Dan is ripe for the picking.

So, you know where this is going, right? And you would be mostly right. There are few surprises and even less tension and suspense in this read. There is a twist at the end that didn't quite work for me. It left me with more questions than answers. And a vital piece of information is given away in the prologue, which spoiled things for me. The best part is around the middle of the book where the two women are circling each other like a pair of male lions spoiling for a fight.

Other than an overabundance of cliches and similies, there is not much wrong with the author's writing that a good edit couldn't fix. But overall, it is decidedly average. Not bad. Not
good. Just average. Next week I won't even remember the plot.

⭐⭐.5

#NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #onemorechapterhc

@HarperCollinsUK @OneMoreChapter_

#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #psychologicalthriller

THE AUTHOR: Alex Day is a writer, teacher, parent and dreamer who has been putting pen to paper to weave stories for as long as she can remember. The Missing Twin is her first psychological thriller but she is a bestselling author of fiction under the name Rose Alexander.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for providing a digital ARC of The Best of Friends by Alex Day for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

I devoured this book in one day!! The Best of Friends has the perfect amount of twists & turns making it the perfect thriller. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more from Alex Day!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
I love thrillers and their increased popularity in recent years has made the market saturated for them. This means to stand out in the field that really need to shine. This book held promise. The writing and character development is excellent. Where I feel it went wrong for me is the plot. I found it predicable and lacking in the aspects needed for it to excel as a thriller. As a drama, the book works better for me.

If you like reading domestic psychological thrillers, I highly recommend this book. The premise of the book is about two main characters, Charlotte and Susannah becoming best friends. Although they are best friends they are as different as night and day. The thing is, they both have a secret!

I was hooked from the start, I liked the writing style, the fact that from one chapter to the next I wasn't sure who I trusted. I was actually guessing until the final chapter and was totally blown away at the end!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the free download of, "The Best of Friends" with my promise for my honest review. I look forward to reading more from author, Alex Day in the future.

5 Stars.

This is a bit of a slow burner and more of a drama than a thriller.
Charlotte is the wife and mother who seems to have it all. Susannah is recently divorced and trying to rebuild a normal life for her two boys.
Friendship forms between their children and it's not long before Charlotte and Susannah are best friends but both have secrets that they'd rather stay hidden.
The story is told from each woman’s perspective and I didn’t really trust either of them.
The pace picks up towards the end and there’s a few twists in store but it would have benefited by being more gripping during the first half of the book.
Overall a good read.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

It's easy to see why newly-single Susannah, impoverished mum of two young boys, wants to make friends with Charlotte, mum of four boys and owner of the manor house in the village where Susannah has settled after losing her marriage and home. But why does Charlotte want to be friends with Susannah? It's clear from the start she has some ulterior motive ...
The scene is set for the story of a flawed friendship that turns out to be toxic in more ways than one! Well-paced and beautifully plotted, the story races along taking readers on a roller-coaster ride as their sympathies veer between Susannah and Charlotte, who both have challenges to deal with in their present lives, and secrets to hide from their past.
I particularly liked the characters of the two women - the story is told from their alternate viewpoints, giving us the chance to examine their motives as they circle each other's lives. Despite the secrets they keep, they're both refreshingly honest with themselves, which makes them both likeable despite their flaws.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley.

I whizzed through this and loved it!

It was everything a psychological thriller needs to be ,especially about friendships.

Unpredictable and intoxicating this was a exciting sexy read about a new friendship. What happens when you get too close? Will you let your walls down and trust…

Twisty and clever and I highly recommend.

A fantastic book and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

Published 9th April

Susannah and Charlotte both tell their stories in this tale of poisonous secrets. Susannah and her boys are new to the village where Charlotte, also the mom to boys, is the reigning queen bee. Charlotte's got a hole in her, though, that Susannah fills, at least for a bit. Know that these two are both unreliable narrators and that they both have something they'd like to hid. While it's not that suspenseful, it does have some nice twists that will keep you turning the pages. Neither woman is especially appealing but that worked here. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc. This would be a good beach (or under the current conditions, garden) read.

Sounded like a great read,it was however just ok,took me a long time to get into it and wasn’t keen on the characters, Sadly quite predictable and another book that is saying it is a psychological drama when really it isen’t and is more a family drama

I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Best Of Friends’ by Alex Day in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Following her divorce, Susannah and her two sons Jamie and Luke move to a quiet village in the south of England. Susannah has no acquaintances until she’s invited to affluent Charlotte’s party where the two women become unlikely friends. But they both have secrets that could destroy them if they become common knowledge.

When I opened ‘The Best Of Friends’ and read the prologue I was positive I was going to get involved in an exciting psychological thriller. Following on from the prologue, the story told through the eyes of Susannah and Charlotte quickly went downhill and despite a couple of attempts it failed to ignite my enthusiasm and never got any more interesting. I didn’t like the characters and couldn’t empathise with them, and very soon realised I didn’t care enough to want to find out what happened. I apologise for not finishing it as I know how much hard work goes into writing a novel but this is solely my opinion and I hope other readers enjoy it.

The Best of Friends was a semi-decent read for me. Honestly, I had a hard time sticking with it. To put it lightly, it was just a mundane "thriller". The writing was messy and I didn't connect with the characters. Sorry to write a bad review on this one, but it just wasn't for me.

The Best of Friends by Alex Day - Harper Collins - Publication Date 9th April 2021

Susannah moves from london to a small village, with her 2 sons after divorcing her husband. She meets Charlotte, who lives in the village big house, married to Dan and her 2 youngest boys are the same age as Susannah’s - so they become the best of friends. BUT both of them have their secrets that as always.... the secrets come out and change both their lives!!

I had read mixed reviews but I always judge a book by reading it myself. I really enjoyed this book. The ending was a bit back and forth, but then that was the point in the story! You will understand what I mean when you read it! 📚

#alexday #netgalley #thebestoffriends #harpercollins


https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagramshaz

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Susannah has had a tough year. After a sticky divorce and losing the life she had grown accustomed to. moving to a small town in the south of England with her two sons is exactly the fresh start she needs.

Charlotte seems to have it all. She's delighted when Susannah moves in. Charlotte may appear to have the perfect husband, the perfect family, the perfect house, but deep down she's lonley.

But one of them is not who they pretend to be....

Charlotte and Susannah are suposed to be best friends. Both of them have secfets and they think that they are outsmarting each other. We are toldd the story alternately by Charlotte and Susannah's point of views. We get a true sense of who they are. At times it was a little far fetched. The pace is steady until we reach the last twenty % when the suspense escalates. Filled with twists but i loved the twist near the end of the story. I did guess what had happened. A story of secrets, betrayals and lies.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsUK, #OneMoreChapter and the author #AlexDay for my ARC of #TheBestOfFriends in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well-written book, but ultimately not thrilling enough more my tastes. To me, there are three really important ingredients to a thriller: writing, plot, and characters. And then other more specific components of these things like pacing, twists, and dialogue are what really make a spectacular thriller for me.

My least favorite kind of thriller (and there are many these days!) is one where the writing is subpar but the plot might have been interesting otherwise. This isn’t that book! Alex Day can write and she holds your interest. And the characters were well thought out. But the plot needed more attention. I liked the idea of two women, potentially competitive with each other, who have secrets. But this is a pretty common premise these days and I found that aside from that, not a lot of action or plotting happens until close to the end. That made reading it kind of a task (even though the writing was pleasant) when I was expecting a thriller. A thriller where not much happens can still be fun if the author is able to instill a sense of terror, foreboding, or impending doom, but that did not really happen for me with this book

I think if this book were marketed more as women’s fiction, it might find its home within readers interested in relationships and general drama. But as a thriller it fell a bit short for me.

Thanks to Harper, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC.

The premise of the novel was good, but the ultimate result let me down. I didn’t enjoy this book, the main characters were flat and boring and the storyline was predictable. Although the writing in itself was nice. I expected a psychological thriller however this was more womens fiction / drama.


Thank you NetGalley / Harper Collins One More Chapter for providing me with this arc in exchange
for a honest review.