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.

This was a very good and unique thriller. I loved the setting and how it can accurately portray the gossip in towns..even among well intentioned people. The characters were well developed and the mother daughter relationships fascinating. This had quite a twist, and it will be well received by patrons who enjoy thrillers as well as those who may not be as into the typical thriller. Definitely look forward to more from this author. Thanks for the opportunity to preview this book!

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!

This book was fun to read but the story was kind of slow. I enjoyed it enough but didn’t really Do much for me.

I received an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book more than iI did. It really felt like a time filler. None of the characters to draw you in or are especially interesting, all seem a bit flat. Just turning pages to get to the end of the story. Three stars

Ruth and Marley are alone in the word until they meet Gemma and Bee. Ruth's money and Gemma's warmth meld them into a family, a family that Ruth tries to hold unto with a death grip, but she slips up. Gemma and Bee slip away until Bee and Marley are starting high school, and Ruth finds her way back into Gemma's good graces. Now--she just needs to do everything possible to stay there--to show Gemma that she needs her.

This book starts like as a light read but ends on a dark note and will leave you wondering who the master manipulator really is while ardently hoping that both Bree and Marley are able to move forward with their lives leaving past traumas behind them.

An excellent tale of friendship and duplicity, in the beautiful setting of a school academy for the wealthy. This gorgeous environment hides bitter rivalry and frightening secrets.

This was an interesting idea but poorly executed. It was very predicable (of course it was the daughter!) and seemed poorly edited. I felt like it was supposed to be very over the top and at times bordering on satire but it never quite landed as there were some parts that didn’t fit the tone. I was honestly a little disappointed they didn’t link in the death of the husband to the story more. It seemed some obvious.

Best friends or worst enemies? When does love and friendship border on obsession? These are the question that readers are left to ponder as they navigate their way through this novel. This book focuses on two best friends and their daughters: Ruth, a wealthy and controlling divorcee and mother to Marley, who is shy and insecure and Gemma, a hard-working widower, owner of a college preparation company and mother to Bee, who is loud, popular and fun-loving. Ruth, Gemma and their daughters met at an event hosted for kindergarten parents and had been friends ever since. Then Ruth found herself in a controversial situation causing Gemma to pull back on the friendship. Years later, Gemma finds herself in a sticky cheating scandal professionally causing Ruth to come to her defense and rekindle the friendship. Ruth once again rushes in time and time again to rescue Gemma, both emotionally and financially but are her motives purely innocent?

The book is told from alternating character perspectives – Ruth, Gemma, Marley and Bee which keeps readers attention and helps understand the perspective of each character. The author does a good job of presenting the entire character. While I did not necessarily find any of the characters likeable and often felt their behaviors were silly and unrealistic, I was able to sympathize with them at times and understand the reasons for their behavior and/or actions. The author did an admirable job of presenting these toxic relationships and how their actions are shaped by past experiences playing out years later. It keeps the reader engaged throughout the book.

The book has many twists and turns, some predictable whereas others are not. Yet, just when you think you have figured it out, the most shocking reveal comes in the final chapter (which I will not spoil). The author leaves you with the theme that revenge is a dish best served cold and the reader gets some satisfaction despite the resulting deception.

While I don’t think they are intended to be major focal points of this novel, the author did a praiseworthy job on two other themes, which while not dominant stood out. Throughout the novel there is much discussion of social media and cyberbullying and the unfortunate unintended consequences on young impressionable children. I think there is a powerful hidden message in this book – the importance of parental supervision and awareness of children’s online presence and the power social media has over children. The author did a notable job of showcasing the effects of social media, cyberbullying and depression in impressionable teenagers. The author did a commendable job in describing Tom and explaining his autistic diagnosis in positive terms. It brought to light the importance of labels and other positive ways to look at a situation which is not widely discussed in the media. Rather than feel sorry for Tom, the author leaves you feeling inspired by this amazing young man and the strides he makes in daily life.

Overall, this book was enjoyable and keeps the reader engaged. The pace moves quickly, and it is an easy read to get through despite somewhat unlikeable characters. The author captures the readers attention and keeps the readers involved in the story as they seek to unravel the dynamics between the characters. The author does a great job of giving the reader small answers at different points of the book while building the bigger plot. This book was well-thought out and suspenseful. It makes for a great beach read or vacation escape. It brings home the old saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

It’s a tale of two frenemies, Ruth and Gemma, both were single moms with their daughters Marley and Bee who have been in the same class since kindergarten. Ruth is stinky rich and helps Gemma financially but Gemma had left Ruth in the lurch when she was involved in a scandal.

Fast forward a few years, Ruth welcomed back Gemma with open arms, did for her when tables were turned and Gemma was embroiled in a sticky situation.

The discussions in Momonymous were fun. This is a virtual group where the identity of moms was hidden, nothing is off limits for discussion and everyone can gossip without worrying about repercussions. These moms were utterly hilarious when they were hidden under their cloaks. Another thing I liked was their chosen account names were completely opposite to their persona so no one could blow their cover. Who doesn’t love to read about gossips especially when no holds barred environment?

My heart goes out for Marley, stuck in her helicopter mom’s clutches who leaves no breathing room and always dictates her every move. Ruth is alone in the world, always worries about Marley leaving her, spends every waking minute on Marley. It’s incomprehensible how a mother sees imperfections in the daughter and saps her self-esteem.

My blood boiled while reading how Ruth treated Marley. Poor girl had suffered a lot and that might have had a psychological impact on her. I don’t understand how a teenage daughter gaining a few pounds was the end of the world for Ruth. I wanted to shake Ruth to make her understand that inner beauty is far more important than the outer beauty.

Ruth’s friendship is toxic and employs devious schemes to keep everyone near to her. I’ve thought I figured out the twist when it was in its inception stage but Gideon’s reveal blindsided me and it’s very satisfying when the revenge is indeed a dish that best served cold.

Overall, enjoy this book teemed with teenage angst, tantrums and their first world problems, and moms who love tittle tattle. I would recommend this book for fans of Big Little Lies.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow a true page turner.Ruth Gemma two adults best friends& then the=friendship goes bad.An absolute wild ride of a read.So. Tense so twisted kept me reading late into the night.A book I will be recommending an author to follow.#netgalley #simon&schuster

Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon was fantastic and I loved it from the opening pages.

Ruth is a rich single mom who immediately sinks her claws into another single mother, Gemma. Their friendship spans years and at times, Gemma pulls away from Ruth’s overbearing and bossy personality. Yet Ruth has always been there for Gemma and has helped her through countless tough times. So Gemma is reluctant to cast off Ruth’s friendship. Their daughters used to be best friends but as they’ve grown older, Marley and Bee have grown apart due to Bee’s popularity. Marley is subject to her mother’s (Ruth) moods and we sense something simmering below the surface.

This book held me captive from start to finish. I couldn’t wait to see who the real villain was here as Ruth tries to control everyone around her. Would Gemma discover Ruth wasn’t a good friend at all? Or is Gemma the one to blame for everything that happens inside the story?

When Ruth, a wealthy divorcee, offers to host the Hillside Academy kindergarten meet-and-greet, she hopes this will be a fresh start for her and her introverted daughter, Marley. Finally, they’ll be accepted into a tribe. Marley will make friends and Ruth will be welcomed by the mothers. Instead, the parents are turned off by Ruth’s ostentatious wealth and before kindergarten even begins, Ruth and Marley are outcasts.

The last guest to arrive at the meet-and-greet is Gemma, a widow and a single mother to her daughter, Bee. Ruth sets her sights on the mother-daughter duo, and soon the two families are inseparable. Ruth takes Gemma and Bee on Aspen vacations, offers VIP passes to Cirque de Soleil, and pays for dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants. For Gemma, who lives paycheck to paycheck, Ruth’s largesse is seductive, but as the years go by, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s accruing an increasingly unpayable debt. When Ruth’s affair with a married Hillside dad is exposed, and she’s publicly shunned, Gemma uses it to sever ties with Ruth.

Six years later, when Gemma finds herself embroiled in a scandal of her own—Ruth comes to her defense. Their renewed friendship rehabilitates their reputations, but once again, Gemma starts to feel trapped as Ruth grows more and more obsessed with their relationship.

I appreciated the little details and clever dialogue, at times this book made me laugh but its also a serious look at toxic people and friendships. Really well done, I was left wanting more from Melanie Gideon. Cant wait to read her next book!

This comes out on August 3.

This book was loads of fun- a quick, psychological drama about 2 frenemies, Ruth and Gemma. This is domestic suspense at it's best- even when nothing was happening, there was a thrum of drama throughout the narrative that kept me reading late into the night. The book primarily alternates between the POVs of Ruth and Gemma, with occasional chapters dedicated to their respective daughters, Marley and Bee.

A lot of the book is just bad behavior between the women, and neither is all that likable, though both are deep enough that the reader can empathize with them at times. I really felt for the daughters, who were navigating high school drama along with their own parental drama. There were some minor twists throughout the book and a bigger one at the end- I had a inkling of that twist but it played out a little differently than what I expected, and I felt that it was satisfying.

All in all, this is a really fun read that I had trouble putting down- I'd recommend it to those who like domestic suspense. I am going to find out what else this author has written. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon is a great read and a riveting story. A true examination of a friendship gone bad, you can't help but feel sorry for both of the lead characters, Ruth and Gemma. This is a well executed book and kept me turning the pages. I didn't see the end coming. Great story and great commentary on how we perceive our daughters.

Are you looking for a quick, engrossing read? One that can be read in one sitting? Look no further friends, Did I Say You Could Go is the domestic drama you are craving.

Gemma and Ruth are single mom frenemies along with their daughter's Bee and Marley. After meeting at the kindergarten social, together they weather through the school drama, girl mom drama, and their own drama, with many ups and downs. Together the four bring the love-hate relationship between friends and mother-daughter to a whole new level of crazy. There are many points throughout the story where you will not find anyone that likable, and still, I could not stop reading.

Enjoy the escape from your every day routine, and ride the crazy train for a day, you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Simon and Schuster, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a great psychological thriller! I read this in 2 days. I had to know what happened!

Gemma and Ruth are single moms and form a friendship when their daughters start school together. Ruth is a little much for Gemma so she eases back from their friendship. Many years later, they rekindle their friendship and chaos ensues.

This is one of those books you won’t want to put down. I loved the multiple POVs. My only complaint is that it seemed a little longer than it needed to be.

Overall, this is a great book! Would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Excellent psychological thriller. Ruth and Gemma are best friends and single moms who meet when their daughters are in kindergarten. As their friendship progresses Ruth becomes more and more needy and controlling. Extremely fast paced and impossible to put down, read this book in one day. Highly recommend.