This was definitely more of a character driven novel than plot driven. The characters and relationships did read as believable.

I didn't find there was much story to follow, just a lot of character and relationship background, yet it still seemed to lack depth.

I never became fully invested in any of the characters or their experiences, unfortunately. I think the most compelling part of the book was the discussion of stroke and stroke recovery and how that impacted the characters' relationship.

<i>Thank you, Netgalley, for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I thoroughly enjoyed this family drama set in the world of New York City and Los Angeles' theatre scene. Flora, Julian, Margot, and David have been close friends since they met in New York when they were young. Flora and Julian went on to have a child (ruby) and a family; Margot and David did not but took on Ruby as their own. Years have gone by and now they are celebrating Ruby's graduation. A discovery leads to a rupture in their friendship and we follow along as we learn more about what happened years ago and the dynamics.

I enjoyed the characters and the reflections on ambition, aging, and friendship in this story. The characters, to me, were likable and I wanted to learn more about their shared history together. This one is quite emotional at times - a comparison to the movie <i>A Marriage Story</i> is accurate. I also enjoyed having this set in the world of theatre, it reminded me a bit of Lauren Groff's <i>Fates and Furies</i> in that way.

Wonderful book! Loved the emotions it invoked in me. Kept my interest the whole time. Choked me up once, but I quickly recovered! Such a good book about trust and the emotions it brings up! Love!!

Flora and Julian and Margot and David are two perfect bi-coastal couples, and the wives are the best of friends. Twenty some years later Flora discovers an unsettling truth that belies this beautiful premise. Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney is a masterful author who crafts such exquisitely detailed backstory, all the characters seem to spring immediately to life. I have to say I preferred the first half of the book to the second, somehow the minutiae that I loved so much when applied to setting the scene in contrast worked to bog down the impending crisis plot, for me. But the pitch perfect ending more than makes up for that.

3.5 stars. I did a combination book/audiobook on Good Company (the narration was very good) and I did enjoy this tale of the friendship of two couples over the years. The novel goes back and forth in time, as we follow friends and fellow actresses Flora and Margot, as roommates in New York City, young married couples, and then their diverging paths as Flora devotes herself to mothering daughter Ruby, while Margot becomes a television star on a middling medical drama.
This novel is lacking the satirical bite of The Nest, the author's previous novel. And I can't quite put my finger on it yet, but something feels somewhat incomplete in both the plot and the characterization. But all in all, a pleasant diversion.
Thanks to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the advance

This book has been touted in the media so much that I expected it to be - - what? Good? Interesting? Exciting? Well - - at least better than it was. It started ok but went steadily downhill for me until by the end I was slogging through just praying for it to be over..

I didn't like any of the characters and the whole premise of the book seemed to be based on their self-absorbed, aren't I great? behavior. Not to make light of infidelity - it's horrible and devastating. But the fact the book seems to gloss over the fact David and Margot got through David's stroke - - his STROKE - - like it was a common cold, and yet dwells on the angst of Flora and Julian overcoming infidelity just seems way out of proportion.

The book had it's moments but it was a disappointment.

Flora and Margot are best friends who meet in college. Good Company follows their lives intertwined with their husbands and the theater troupe they all started together. In the the twenty plus years this takes place over, both Flora and Margot face hardships. Margot's husband David who is a surgeon has a stroke while operating on a patient. Flora's husband Julian cheats on her with a fellow actress. Flora and Margot's friendship is tested because Margot finds out about the affair but does not tell Flora. This is a slice of life book. Nothing extraordinary happens. You're just following the choices the characters have made over the years and how they live with those choices.

I loved D’Aprix’s first novel The Nest and this is an amazing follow up. The characters are so well developed and the story real and touching. I highly recommend this book and look forward to many more from this author.

Glorious! Truly glorious. I have not been this mesmerized by a novel by an unknown author (to me) since I first read Anita Brookner or Elizabeth McCracken or Tessa Hadley. I ordered every single sentence, every single character, every single plot twist. Brava!!

Good Company is a modern women's fiction novel that covers aspects of society such as infidelity, marriage, friendships, betrayal, parent/child relationships, etc. The book is written in a relatable way, often switching back and forth between past and present.

The story revolves around the marriages/friendships of Flora and Julian, and Margot and David, as well as the relationships between all of them and Flora and Julian's daughter, Ruby. Touching on key points of infidelity and broken trust, much of the story is centered around how one moves on through betrayal involving spouses and friends. How much does one disclose to their child about their hardships? Is it better to forgive and move on or harbor ill feelings and resentment?

Overall I felt like this was a good book. The writing style was well done and flowed nicely. I do wish there was more vibrancy put into the characters, as I felt that they were somewhat flat in the depiction of their emotions and behaviors. I also wish there was more time spent on the ending of the book. I felt like it almost abruptly ended with not much closure between the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Ecco for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To start with , I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't quite sure of what to expect from every description of this book. Same old story about friendships and marriage and family. BUT , I really enjoyed the journey this book took me on flashing back to how everyone met and their relationships. I really felt like I. got to know each character well. In addition to the question haunting us through the entire book, Will Margo tell her husband she found his "lost" ring?
Well put together story about marriage and friendship that I highly recommend!

When Flora finds her husband’s wedding ring in an envelope tucked in the bottom drawer of a file cabinet in their garage, everything she thinks she knows about her life is called into question—because her husband Julian claimed to have lost this ring 13 years ago.

While I’d say Flora is the main character of this book, it does flip through different characters’ perspectives as well to tell the story. Hearing from Julian the husband, Ruby the daughter, and Margot the best friend and flipping back and forth between present day and memories/flashbacks added depth to both the narrative and the characters.

This was the second character-driven novel I read in a row, and while I’ve decided that I liked it, I wonder if I would have liked it more if I had split the two up with a different type of story in between. The author found a way to make me both frustrated with and sympathetic to several characters, which lent them a certain realness which is no small feat. I ended the book a little unsure how I felt about it. I don’t imagine it will be one that I reread, but the storyline and character development kept my attention throughout.

Good Company was just published on April 6! Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco Books for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to be a compelling and quick read. It centers around themes of adulthood, marriage, parenting, and friendship.
The chapters alternate between their points of views in found it amazing to see what they were thinking!
Great quick.read! Loved this book!

This is a very character driven novel. The story centers around Flora and Julian, their daughter Ruby and their best friends Margot and David.

The story focuses on the finding of Julians first wedding ring that he claimed to have lost, and the later discovery of what really happened.

Good Company is an engaging tale about friendship, marriage, parenthood, and betrayal.

I wish the end wasn't so vague but it was a good story! I would recommend this book to any book club. It would make a great discussion!

Secrets are revealed when Flora goes searching for a photo to share with daughter at her high school graduation. Flora finds her husband's original wedding ring which he claimed years ago to have lost. This novel explores what we give up for motherhood, becoming a wife and betrayal. Which betrayal is worse - that of a best friend or a husband?

The blurb I read for this really made me think it would have even a HINT of mystery or suspense. It didn't at all which was a huge let down. It's basically Flora ruminating on her life; her marriage and career. The cover is gorgeous though. As always, thanks to NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I thought it was very banal and none of the characters really interested me. I felt like I had read the book before. Seemed a lot like Cobble Hill which released last year. I would not recommend this one.

Compelling story and characters. I hated for it to end, but the ending was satisfying. Loved the theatrical setting. Listened to the audiobook.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

This book is a bit like an underwhelming roller coaster ride. There was a steady ascent that built excitement but the drop and the ride were mediocre. The story is exactly as described on the book flap. It’s very straightforward with no twist or revelation. I kept waiting for something to “happen” and it never did.

I supposed you could say the book is more of character journey than a thick plot. I enjoyed the story, but was disappointed by the vague ending. In fact, when I turned the last page, I thought “Wait...it’s over?” I can appreciate a hazy ending to keep the reader guessing, but this was too abrupt for my liking.

The characters are not necessarily lovable people but I did enjoy their development and diversity. I really liked how each chapter is told from a different perspective. At the beginning of each, you had to figure out who was “talking.”

Additionally, the setting (upstate NY) is described beautifully and now a place I’d like to visit. Lastly, I enjoy Sweeney’s style of writing and thought
her observations about marriage and theater life were insightful.

Overall, an entertaining story that I’ll likely forget in a few days. I recommend to theater peeps or those looking for a light read on the heavy topic of marital relations.


Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I really really enjoyed Good Company. It started a little slow, but after a while I couldn't put it down and I just so enjoyed the flow of life lived, jobs, marriage, kids....Nothing ever seems what it seems to be and I really loved the characters and where the story took us. It's a quick read and will stay with you for a while.