I loved this book and loved the twist at the end. I was fully convinced it was another character! The teacher component at the end was a bit confusing however. nevertheless, i loved this book and will recommend to everyone!

I had no idea what to expect when I started reading Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon. This one started out somewhat slow for me but it quickly picked up. This is the story of the friendship of Ruth and Gemma. They have been friends since their daughters were in Kindergarten. Ruth is wealthy and always seems to be there for Gemma both financially and emotionally. Ruth also helps Gemma pick up the pieces of her career. But, when Gemma starts dating a suitor; Ruth becomes obsessive and possessive over Gemma. The story also touches on both mothers relationships with their daughters and the friendship between the two daughters. Let's just say that things aren't always what they seem.

On a serious note, this book also touched upon some mental health issues and cyber bullying, This was a fast paced and addictive read for me. I thought it was cleverly written and I really enjoyed it. This may not be for everyone; but I quite liked it!

This one comes out August 3, 2021

I was only able to make it through half of this book. The plot was slow and the character development was even slower. The characters were not likable, especially Ruth, which makes it hard to read. If the plot is slow but characters enjoyable then it’s definitely a finishable book.

This book was a great combination of toxic friendships, lies, social status, child-raising, and manipulation. It was fast-paced, with a writing style I was drawn to.

It tells the story of two mothers of teen girls who met years before at a kindergarten meet-and-greet. Ruth is wealthy and Gemma has struggled with money for awhile. The plot turns darker when the daughters problems are opened up as well. Good twist at the end!

This book was very cool! I will definitely be getting myself a physical copy! The twists were so well thought out! I will be checking out the author’s other books!

Did I Say You Could Go was a fast and entertaining read. Plot was good and had me guessing. I personally really loved the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, for an honest review. #NetGalley #DidISayYou CouldGo #MelanieGideon

This book gave me total whiplash, in the best possible way. Just when I loved someone I hated them, and then I would love them again. Every sentence had me guessing and questioning myself. So well done.

Dark "mommy wars" prevail in Melanie Gideon's new domestic thriller, Did I Say You Could Go, a suspense novel about the shadowy side of motherhood. Raising a teenage daughter is difficult enough, but throw in mental illness and murky pasts, as well as social media scandal and competition not only among the girls, but their moms as well, and you have the recipe for Gideon's gossipy page turner.

Ruth and Gemma became friends when their daughters, Marley and Bee, were in the same kindergarten class and wealthy Ruth latched on to the less fortunate Gemma and Bee hoping that their families could be friends for life. Besties they did become, especially after Ruth lavished gifts, trips, and favors upon Gemma's family in hopes of essentially buying their friendship. However, Ruth and Gemma had a falling out over a scandal Ruth was embroiled in and didn't speak for six years. Now it is Gemma who is living the scandalous life, and Ruth comes to her rescue. What will it cost Gemma to let Ruth back into her life? And is she prepared to pay the price whatever the cost?

Did I Say You Could Go is a fast-moving novel focused on toxic relationships of all sorts. Told from the alternating POVs of Ruth, Gemma, Marley, and Bee, this book primarily takes place within the catty, high-drama atmosphere of life with teenage girls. Much of the story focuses on what is going on in Marley and Bee's lives and examines their relationships with their mothers, and hence, how those relationships affect Ruth and Gemma's friendship. Gideon's characters are frankly despicable and entirely unlikeable, but I believe that is the point. This book brings out the worst in high school girls and their helicopter mothers, and shows us the sinister side of raising teenagers..

*POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD*
The writing style of Did I Say You Could Go is disjointed and choppy, which made me have my guard up throughout most of the book. I felt like this technique was purposely put in place to set readers up for a big twist later in the story. Unfortunately, after sitting on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this novel, the payoff at the end was not entirely satisfactory. I expected something more original and shocking. This story is solid, but generally plays out much like I anticipated it would. I feel like most suspense lovers read these types of novels for the gratifying twists, so when they aren't there, it is easy to feel disappointed. That's not to say that Did I Say You Could Go is without twists, because it is not - it's just that they are the types of twists readers have come to expect.

Did I Say You Could Go is a book that is more about the journey than the arrival at the destination. Enjoy the story for what it is as it goes along, but don't expect to be thrilled by the ending, especially if you read a lot of suspense novels.

It is always hard to find a good twisty psychological thriller when you have been reading them for years like I have. Sometimes it seems like it is just the same old tired plots, just with different names and locations. But then every once in a while you get lucky and find a gem among all the rocks! This one is the gem!
You have two of the most despicable, unlikeable characters ever in the moms, Ruth and Gemma, and their daughters are not winning any prizes anytime soon for daughters of the year awards.
Filled with back stabbing, lies, betrayals, cyber-bullying, along with obsessions and a host of other disturbing personality disorder traits, this book takes you on a fast-paced, easy read, careening around corners to twist after twist until the final collision at the ending turn.
I loved that the story is told from all four POVs, mothers and daughters, with some background spots here and there so that we get a fair sense as t the why things are the way they are.
So as not to reveal any spoilers and ruin it for anyone I will just say this is a big DO NOT MISS READING THIS ONE. Totally worth the read, it won't fail to deliver.
The only down-side is that the book isn't set to publish until Oct. 1, 2021, so mark your calendars and don't miss out.
Thank you to the publishers at Simon & Schuster and to Net Galley for the free ARC of this novel. I am giving my honest review in return.

This wavered between a 3.5 and 4 star read for me. Did I Say You Could Go is a psychological thriller about two single moms and their daughters. All four of the characters have on-again-off-again friendships with one another, and eventually the secrets and betrayals begin with plot twists that just keep coming during the second half of the book.

What I liked about the story was the multiple points of view - each chapter alternates perspectives among the four characters. I liked that we not only got the moms' points of view, but also the teenage daughters'. I believe that made the story feel more complete - and interesting - in the end. I also really enjoyed that when I thought I had all the plot twists figured out, I really did not! This made for a quick page-turner of a read that was hard to put down.

Some of the betrayal between the characters seemed over-the-top and relentless, but in the end the storyline did feel true to the characters. This feels like the perfect summer read - a fast-paced thriller that I couldn't put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy.

I've always liked books about dysfunctional relationships and secrets.. and boy does this book have them all! A lot of secrets and a lot of hurt feelings. There's just a lot..and it's good! I really enjoyed the pacing in this novel and the arcs of the characters. I was invested in the characters and really wanted to see them grow and change. This is definitely a book I could easily recommend. 4 Stars!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4, since it was a fun, twisty read. I've read a good bit about narcissistic personality disorder, so I recognized it pretty quickly in one of the characters in this domestic suspense novel. Both of the main characters, Ruth, a very wealthy single mom of a teen daughter, and Gemma, a widow with a teen daughter and not much money, are unlikable - but Ruth's narcissism made her despicable. The way she treats her daughter, Marley, made me so angry that I wished I could reach into the book and give Marley a hug. Some of her behavior and actions seem over the top, but also make sense as she is a narcissist. Meanwhile, Ruth does what she needs to do to keep Gemma in her grips, and Gemma doesn't really want to be her friend, but is happy to take all of her financial help. Their daughters are going through high school having very different experiences (Bee is super popular, Marley is not). The word frenemies perfectly applies to all of them.

The story is told by all four of the characters, in alternating chapters. Sometimes, after a little 'intro' scene to a new chapter, it would revert to the past, which was confusing at times, but also gave a lot of background info, especially in explaining what caused Ruth to turn out as she did. I was interested but not fully invested for about half of the book, mainly because I didn't love any of the characters. But after that point I was sucked in and had a hard time putting it down. There are a few little twists throughout, most that I didn't see coming, a few that I suspected...and then a big one right at the end. I had only partially figured that one out and missed quite a few signs, which was fun.

There are a couple of uncomfortable scenes to read (trigger warning: attempted suicide, child abuse from the past), but overall it was a lighter read than most thrillers - definitely a domestic suspense rather than a thriller. I would recommend it and look forward to more from this author.

A big thank you to NetGalley and to Simon and Schuster for providing an early copy for my honest review.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This is a great book and how friendships made out of need can end in disaster. Ruth and her daughter are outcasts as soon as she moves to a new place. Desperate to make friends, she realizes on the first week of entering her daughter into kindergarten, that she's again an outcast. Until Gamma comes along. Filthy rich, Gamma quickly makes Ruth feel accepted by her. Gamma and her daughter are soon taking Ruth and her daughter on vacations, the Cirque d'Solei and many more expensive things, always footing the bill, but then Ruth starts to feel more and more like this will all come with a price and when Gamma has an affair with a father in the community, she uses that excuse to pull away.

Gamma is hurt, but a few years down the line, Ruth gets herself into some trouble that Gamma can help with and they renew their friendship, but to eat price? Ruth always knew one day there would be a price and her instincts were right. The this book was well worth the read. with twist after twist coming to a shocking conclusion, I give it 3.5 to 4 stars!

Did I Say You Could Go, written from four perspectives, dives into a codependent relationship spanning two generations. Conniving Ruth will stop at nothing to make sure fellow mom, Gemma, needs her, while Ruth's daughter Marley is being slowly sidelined by Gemma's more popular daughter Bee.

I liked the way the story was split into each person's narrative, and thought that the social media posts and texts contributed effectively. Not too short or too long, the book kept my attention throughout, even though there were a few clichés or elements that were a bit unbelievable. I also liked that the few 'ripped from the headlines' plot points (college scandal and Netflix's 'Cuties' debacle) didn't pull away from the story too much.

For those that love 'domestic thriller' type books, this is a solid hit.

Note: I received a free ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm torn on how I feel about this one. In pros, it has an eerie undertone throughout that is well done - it was hard to imagine what would happen next. I can't say I'm surprised by the ending, but it also felt like a cop out. Yes, we got proof throughout that Ruth treated her daughter horribly, but it was tied up too nicely and I wanted more of Marley's backstory from her early years. We get one brief story and that is supposed to be enough?

I'm also frustrated that Gemma just seems to forgive Simon in the end? The entire novel sets us up for Gemma to go back home and at the end she doesn't and it feels like a let down for a flailing company and a lying fake BF.

I know this was originally called "The Invitation" which wasn't a fitting name, but I also don't think the current title works either.

Like I said, this book has left me with a lot of mixed emotions. Overall it was enjoyable but it just seemed a bit outlandish and it could've been avoided (both in the fictional world and in writing style).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Melanie Gideon and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review"

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/did-i-say-you-could-go/

Welcome to Hillside Academy in Oakland, California, where the girls are mean, but their mothers are so much worse.

Ruth is desperate to make friends in her new neighborhood. Her daughter, Marley, will start kindergarten at Hillside Academy and Ruth wants to give her shy kid a chance to make friends. Hence, the kindergarten meet-and-greet. Ruth is hosting, complete with lobster, cocktails, a special movie for the young ones, and a caterer catering to the parents. While it is Ruth’s hope that she and Marley will make friends, the party has the opposite effect. Her obnoxious display of wealth turns the parents in crunchy Oakland off.

Enter Gemma and Bee, her friendly and loquacious daughter. Gemma is a widow, having lost her husband in a terrible accident when Bee was three. She is lonely and also looking to make new friendships. As she looks around the room at all the lucky families, her “singleness” feels apparent. Gemma gravitates towards Ruth, the only other single parent in the room, though divorced and not widowed. They become great friends and Gemma can’t believe how lucky she is. Ruth takes Gemma and Bee on lavish vacations, fancy dinners, and even buys Gemma a new car. After a while, Gemma feels smothered by the friendship, and indebted to Ruth. When scandal strikes and word comes out that Ruth is having an affair with a married man, Gemma distances herself.

Several years have passed where Gemma and Ruth have not spoken, and suddenly Gemma is the one struggling with scandal. Ruth sends a message to Gemma, offering her support, and it is like no time has passed and they are best friends again. But quickly, Gemma once again feels wary of Ruth, who is suddenly offering to buy her new cars and anything she wants.

Not only do Gemma and Ruth revive their friendship, but so too do Bee and Marley. Though Bee is popular, Marley is introverted and doesn’t have any friends. Despite Bee’s attempts to pull her into her group of friends at Hillside, Marley remains the outcast she always was.

Did I Say You Could Go has it all: backstabbing, gossip, mommy groups, and characters who are not quite what they seem. Melanie Gideon has done an amazing job re-creating a fictional high school that seems all too real to the reader who has experienced it. There are many twists and turns in this novel that kept us glued to our seat. There are also some triggers including cyber bullying, eating disorders, child abuse, and teen suicide. The shocking ending will have you obsessing over this book for days.

Did I Say You Can Go starts off with a slow burn but once the plot is totally twisted and form the rest of the book is a rollercoaster! Melanie Gideon write Gemma and Ruth perfectly flawed as well as the rest of the characters. The thriller aspect had me up late trying to figure out how this book was going to end!

This Author is really great. I really loved this book. This tale was highly engrossing and highly recommendable!!

With a slow pace at the beginning, the book at first did not seem to be one that I would enjoy. However, the more I read, the more engrossing it became. The story of Ruth and Marley plus Gemma and Bee is a compelling tale of secrets and obsession to the extreme. Ruth is vastly wealthy and Gemma is barely making it, so when Ruth offers to help her out, Gemma is very appreciative. After that, it seems that Ruth is always there for Gemma and expects Gemma to almost bow before her because of her generosity. The twists in the plot were certainly worth the reading! Bee and Marley are pawns in the machinations of Ruth and the acceptance of Gemma of whatever Ruth wants and whenever she wants it. I really enjoyed the character development which was a slow reveal of the inner workings of each person. I think that Marley was my favorite because she was intelligent, deep and determined. Bullied by her mother and locked in her room every night, Marley finds her own way in the world and I was almost cheering for her by the end of the book. The scenario is one that isn’t too realistic, but it was totally entertaining. The language is rough at times, so I’m not sure I would recommend this book for anyone except mature audiences.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did, and based on all the four and five star reviews, assumed I would. Unfortunately, the story didn’t seem to pick up the pace until I was halfway through it. The story is told from four viewpoints—two single mothers and their two (sometimes-best-friends) daughters who met when the daughters started kindergarten together. I found that I couldn’t connect with the characters and that the characters weren’t particularly likable or memorable. This made the first half of the book drag. Not to give anything away, but I felt that the good parts of this book happened in the last few pages and the summation wasn’t terribly unpredictable.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the provided e-ARC and the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest, unbiased, and voluntary. #NetGalley #DidISayYouCouldGo