Melanie Gideon is a superb writer and storyteller and this novel will keep you engrossed in the story of two single mothers and their daughters who became fast fasts when they meet at a kindergarten party held at Ruth’s home after Gemma enrolls her daughter. At first, the women view each other as outsiders, Ruth a rich socialite, often scorned for her excesses by the other mothers and Gemma, often scored for being poor and a free spirit. The two women, and their daughters Bee and Marley spend a decade in a relationship sometimes resembling true friendship but often toxic and cruel. Classified as a domestic noir, there is an uneasiness running through the story, the narrative often tense and foreboding as we watch lives affected by class, poverty, sexism, jealously, abuse and possessiveness change and become hardened and resentful. Add school peer pressure and social media into this mix and we know we are heading into unforeseen territory for these four female narrators. Extreme cruelty that makes you gasp, loving gestures that warm your soul and a story that stays in your head.

Oh my. What the heck just happened? Hold on and prepare yourself for a tumultuous ride. This novel is a mixture of Big Little Lies meets Mommy Dearest. Start this one early, for you’ll be reading late into the night.

Such a wild ride. Kept me guessing till the end.
Enjoyable. Check it out on release day. I think people will enjoy this. Gonna tell my fellow book reader about this one. Thank you for letting me read it early

Wow! This book is set to be a hit. Twists and turns galore with complex, fascinating characters. I can’t recommend this book enough. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

This was one of the twistiest thrillers I have ever read and I'm here for it.

Did I Say You Could Go was a book I truly couldn't put down, which means it truly deserves a 5-star rating in my books. It's a psychological/domestic suspense novel about Ruth and Gemma, two mothers and frenemies who find themselves in a vicious cycle of obsession and betrayal set amidst wealth and scandals. I went into this book knowing little about its plot, and I would recommend other readers to do the same for the maximum wow effect.

This book deserves attention not only for its absolutely crazy and thrilling plot, but also the exploration of class, status, popularity, motherhood, friendship and how "owing" someone can turn dangerous.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great thriller with many twists and turns. One of those “couldn’t put it down” books. Looking forward to what this author comes up with in the future!

Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon (On Sale August 3, 2021) kept me reading into the night. Ruth and Gemma meet as their daughters begin Kindergarten. Both women are the only single mothers there. They form an all-encompassing friendship. A scandal pulls them apart to Ruth's dismay but another will bring them back together. Someone will do what it takes to keep the friendship alive at all costs.

This book is filled with twists, manipulations, and great storytelling. I highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgally and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You know how they say keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Well this is one of those types of stories, Ruth and Gamma have that kind of relationship. They are frenemies, they have a very twisted relationship. Now this story has more twists than tornado alley in tornado season!
Ruth and Gamma had a falling out when but when Gamma is involved in an academic scandal at her testing center. Now this scandal brings the two frienemies together but his relationship suffocates Gemma and she is looking for an out! Beginning to think that she has found the perfect out to leave the friendship with Ruth  when Ruth starts an affair with a married man. However this is not the case Ruth is not willing to let Gemma end the friendship that easily!
I loved this book, it kept my interest and at points kept me turning the pages as fast as i could read! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves twisted thrillers! Thank you Netgally and Simon and Schuster for the ARC and the opportunity to read this one!

I....didn’t love this book. Actually, I didn’t like it all that much either when it comes down to it.

I was intoxicated and intrigued by the synopsis, thinking this book sounded right up my alley, with all the right ingredients needed to make an alluring, unputdownable read. and while it was all of that, with said ingredients, I was unfortunately neither allured, intoxicated, or intrigued. The writing was good, which is why I gave it one more star than I originally intended to, but writing aside, I didn’t enjoy my reading experience.

While this was an excellent book, one that I think many readers will enjoy even though I didn’t, on the study of toxic relationships in different forms, and the way in which abuse can mold and shape a person, there was just something that didn’t appeal or cling to me. I expected to
be gripped, on the edge of my seat, but instead I was mostly bored, and grew sick of the characters rather quickly. While I felt bad for the teenage characters in the story, and sympathized with them, I didn’t love or like any of the characters in this story, toxic traits and all.

But as stated earlier, I do feel that the author is a strong writer, and definitely has the ability to craft an intriguing, compelling story. That wasn’t that story, but I would still pick up another book from the author in the future.

This just wasn’t for me.

Ruth and Gemma become fast friends when their daughters are in kindergarten together, even though they're almost complete opposites. Each is a single mother in a community where that isn't very common, though, so that binds them together. Ruth invites Gemma and her daughter, Bee into her life, and she treats them to lavish vacations, fancy dinners out, and VIP passes to shows. Over the years, Gemma feels more and more uncomfortable with their situation,and when Ruth has an affair with a married father, Gemma cuts ties with her. However, when Gemma becomes involved in a scandal of her own a few years later, Ruth comes to her defense. While their daughters' relationship cools over the years, the mothers' relationship deepens, until Gemma starts feeling suffocated by Ruth. This was a page-turner with several great twists. Each of the main characters was interesting, and the author did a good job of keeping the reader in suspense. Even up to the last page I wasn't sure exactly what was going to happen. Thank-you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC of this terrific book.

Two mothers, two daughters, one terrible agenda. Ruth and Gemma and their daughters have bonded since kindergarten. One desperate to fit in , the other desparate period. Ruth through her money controls Gemma in ways she doesn’t see coming. Marley and Bee ,the daughters barely control their lives at school, and grow miles apart from one another . One becomes very popular and the other can only watch from afar. A world of cliques and mommy blogs explode with a disastrous results. Here is a read for anyone looking for a good time. It was a fascinating study in need and manipulation

TW: abuse, suicide, eating disorder

A quick, twisty, and thrilling read! Gideon overlays the competitiveness of adult female friendships with the complicated dynamics of high school female friendships in this book about a pair of mother-daughter duos. The unexpected twists certainly kept coming; each time I thought I'd figured out where the story was going, something new would be revealed.

Personally, I found the characters (particularly Ruth and Bee) to be a little over-the-top at times, bordering on caricatures of an obsessive suburban helicopter parent and a sassy popular teenager. I also wish Gemma had had more depth and been less naive, but I still find the story engaging regardless.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

A great twister. This story is about a woman who goes to great lengths to keep a friend, even if she has to lie to her. Some is predictable but not everything so keep your eyes open.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a DARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I'd read some of Ms. Gideon's previous books, and I particularly loved Wife 22. This current book caused me to lose ALL my sleep on Saturday night. Two friends, both getting something they need from the other. But what happens if that friendship tilts over to obsession? This book was so well done, alternating the narrative between the two friends, Ruth and Gemma. They initially bond over their daughters and the fact that they are a couple of the only single moms at the elite school the girls attend. Gemma struggles financially, and Ruth is able to shower her friend with things that are out of her reach. Two families, full of lies, this is a page-turner and I highly recommend this book.

Intense level of manipulation in this novel! What a great read. Melanie Gideon gives wonderful detail into each character allowing us to feel the true emotions of each age group. For example, such pop culture references of Twilight, Hello Kitty, and the need for a junk food and Netflix binge session was very relatable to that of a high schooler.

Gemma and Ruth have a loving relationship at times, but it is always for a cost. How do you value your best friend? Is it monetary value, true heart, or simply repaying a debt for an action or possession? Their relationship makes you question your own and the individuals in your life that are the same type of person and wonder what would make you break like they do at times.

Bee and Marley are a unique pair. You can imagine their childhood as one of friendship, sleepovers, and motherly love from both Gemma and Ruth, but with financial diversity in play it obviously comes at a cost. No one is perfect and no character is greater than the other, so as you watch their lives unfold in the pages of this novel you’ll see that money does not buy happiness and popularity will also be cause for ruin.

Simon is another questionable character. If it weren’t for my love of the other characters in this book, I would’ve given it 4 stars simply due to him. Yes, he’s a great father and he will do anything for his son, but the ease in which his character comes in and out of situation was not enough to keep up with Gemma and Ruth.

All in all, I loved this novel and can’t wait to read future books by this author. Great job with bouncing back and forth between characters in each chapter, it was easy to keep up with and made this book a very quick read.

TW Eating disorders, suicide, child abuse for this novel

A great, twisty women’s fiction/ suspense book that will keep you guessing, The book kept me engaged, though Ruth’s abuse of her daughter was so abhorrent at times. I have mixed feelings about that—I love characters who are flawed, but Ruth’s abuse toward Gemma regarding her relationship with food was triggering and disturbing, to the extent that it has to be mentioned. I valued the author’s portrayal of cyberbullying and the effects this can have on people. Also, the ending was great!

Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon is a dramatic thriller with a complex storyline that keeps you guessing from page one. The book opens with a dramatic scene of a woman, Ruth, following her old best friend, Gemma, around a store. This scene is interspersed with a scandal that has threatened the reputation and livelihood of a widowed single mother. You quickly are brought into the lives of an unhealthy co-dependent relationship between Gemma and Ruth and their daughters, Bee and Marley,

The book is told from four points of view, Gemma (a hands off mom who works hard), Ruth (a wealthy divorced mom who seems quite shallow and obsessive), Bee (the popular daughter of Gemma who has private struggles) and Marley (the introverted daughter of Ruth who is marginalized continuously). You are given glimpses of flashbacks of their childhood and history of their friendship via memories they share. All of the characters at times are painted as a sympathetic and you will wonder what is real and what has been manipulated.

The characters have flaws but are all seem to have redeeming characteristics.. You can not help but try to figure out who is the victim and who is at fault. Trust me though, you will be shocked when it is not at all what it seems. The superb handling of cyber bullying and respect for those with differing abilities is handled with grace by Gideon. This is a book you will want to finish in a single day, so carve out some time. For those readers who loved Wife 22, you will be equally thrilled with this gripping and fully engrossing psychological thriller.

I was provided a complimentary advance reader copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

Quick, entertaining read. Plot had me guessing and changing my mind often as to how the story would resolve itself. I have to say I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, but still a captivating tale.

While I was reading Did I Say You Could Go, I had this constant nagging feeling of dread that I just could not shake. Ruth very clearly had issues, which were demarcated as the story went on. Ruth and Gemma's friendship was very obviously unhealthy; it was oddly codependent, especially from Ruth's side, and it just seemed wrong. Marley and Bee, on the other hand, had a very typical teenage girl friendship, but the usual cattiness was taken up a few notches early in the story. The ending had a bit of a twist that I saw coming ahead of time, but I still enjoyed reading!