This book was a great read. I enjoyed all the twists. Most of the characters were irritating but that was the point. I enjoyed the ARC. It was similar to other books in this genre but a pleasant read and I would definitely read more by this author in the future. Thank you!

OMG! if you make it through 45 percent of the book and can sleep, do it because the last 55 percent promises to have you up all night til you finish this book. Got an early morning meeting? Plan to go to it with a readers hangover. And worth every minute of it. Great, great, great. Her books are in a class by themselves.

Audiobook Review
Really enjoyed this, listened to the entire book in 2 days, even with work through it!
The narrator Katie Villa has narrated other Boland books and I recognised her voice straight away! She always gives a fantastic performance on the books I have listened to previously.
I loved this, the trope of 'someone making someone look crazy' always makes for a suspenseful and gripping read, and this was no different!
I was gripped throughout, and although I didn't quite 'get' the ending, and had to relisten without distractions, this was a fantastic book and I loved how it all came together.
Boland always gives me a really enjoyable read!

Also posted to my Facebook and Twitter pages Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle

I have enjoyed all of Shalini's books/audiobooks. I find themes around female friendships particularly interesting. This was good apart from it was very far fetched at times. The narrator was good apart from this slightly irritating inflection when she is using a different voice to the protagonist.

I enjoyed this story which followed mum Louisa as she makes a new friend, but soon begins to realise that the woman isn't everything she appeared to be at first. It starts with small things, such as confusions over their sons' joint birthday party, but seems to escalate - and Louisa is left to wonder if it is all in her head, or if her so-called friend is out to get her.

I enjoyed the story, which was paced well and kept just enough doubt about which of the women to believe, but I felt that the ending went a step too far to be believable.

The narrator was very good and I enjoyed listening to her read the story.

I definitely didn’t see all of the plot twists coming with this one. As a mom, the stories that involve kids, always hits differently than before. I enjoyed this listen and ALWAYS enjoy Shalini Boland.

Usually I enjoy Shalini's books but this one was nearly too much for me.
So we have Louisa who has a nice family and makes friends with Darcy her new neighbour. Darcy seems to have everything that Louisa seems to be lacking; most of all self confidence.
All of a sudden everything, and I mean really everything, starts to go wrong in Louisa's life. This went up until a point I hardly could take. Even her husband does no longer trust in her. So she has to set things right by herself.
I really enjoyed the narration but from time to time I could not put up with Louisa's reactions. I wanted to shout at her! But maybe these reactions as a listener are what the story is about?

Thanks #Netgalley #Bookouture Audio for the advanced listening copy

It’s been a while since I have enjoyed an audiobook and having this be a Shalini Boland book made it perfect. This story is true to her style, a gripping, edge-of-your-seat tale that you will not want to drag yourself away from. I found myself receiving some curious looks while sitting in the car park outside a shopping centre, refusing to turn the audiobook off before at least reaching the end of the chapter. The Best Friend looks at friendship, family and a very disturbed individual. You are in for a treat when you reach for this book.
This is my second Shalini Boland book and sadly I have a few sitting on my TBR that I simply must read. I enjoy how her stories are about everyday people and families that face unusual situations. Her characters are realistic. I love how the one weak, vulnerable character finds the strength to fight back. This book ends leaving you feeling good as justice is served.
When Louisa meets Darcy, she cannot believe that this woman wants to speak to her, much less spend time with her. They are complete opposites. Darcy seems to have everything. Louisa cannot believe how sweet and helpful Darcy is. It almost seems too good to be true. Darcy is simply perfect…. But is anyone that perfect?
I quickly become obsessed with the story and since I did most of my listening while driving, I started driving slower everywhere I went trying to spend as much time in my car as possible. I enjoyed the story. It’s scary to think how easily we can misjudge people, or how people can appear to be something so far removed from who they are.
The author did a wonderful job with her character. Louisa’s character gets stronger the more that goes wrong with her life until she finally has the strength to fight back. I loved this character growth. As for Darcy, the author was brilliantly creative with this woman. I loved her.
Shalini Boland’s work is hugely entertaining, and I cannot wait to spend more time reading her work. This book is well worth adding to your TBR. It is a light read with a real-life feel. It’s about family and motherhood and looking out for your own.
I have spent quite a bit of time listening to audiobooks and I battle with the acting. Yes, I know, the different voices are what is expected these days. I would rather just have someone read the book – in their own voice. With that said, I have to say the narrated performed very well while reading this book. She managed to create a different voice for each character and maintained a good grip on the various characters. Despite my personal preferences, she did a good job narrating this book.
Whether you select the audiobook or the book, you can expect an entertaining read, with realistic characters and twists and turns along the way. The Best Friend is sure to turn you into a Boland fan.

I spent half the book annoyed by the West Country accent that kept slipping out of the American’s mouth. I now forgive the narrator. Well done!
Another good creepy, twisty book that I really enjoyed

Audio version of this book 📚- A really good listen with a gripping storyline and a great twist at the end ! The narrator made it easy to listen to .

It was rather clear from the start how the besties were going to work out. But this story is really well done. It isn’t so much about who was the nutter, but rather just how crazy and how far she would go.

It was neither “shocking” nor “stunning” as the advance reviews indicated it would be, but it was a great read. It left one truly wondering just how far Darcy would go, what she would do next. For me, that was the fun in the book – just how crazy was this woman going to get.

The narration was excellent.

Well, you know from the title that Darsi will definitely not end up being Louisa's best friend. From the beginning, it seems like a dream, you change your son's school and from day one he makes a best friend. The moms get along and, when their husbands meet, they get a long fabulously. What could possibly go wrong? Is Louisa imagining that Darsi is hurting her on purpose? If so, what could possibly cause her to do this? And, the more Louisa talks about her doubts, do her husband and sister think she's losing it? I devoured this fast-paced audiobook in just over a day. May 2022 Pub Date

This book starts friendly and turns toxic , great twist . I really enjoyed this book! Had me wanting to know more well reading !

Oh my this is good! I listened to the audio version and must be careful here as it would be so easy to give away crucial points of the plot which would definitely spoil it for the reader/listener. Safe to say it is a thriller which starts out as a rather innocent feeling story of neighbours and new friendships. All is not as it seems and there are a few twists and turns alone the way. I liked the ending and felt gratified for all concerned, even Louisa, who I have to say is rather gullible!!

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Louisa meets Darcy at the school gates when their sons become friends. At first Darcy is kind and friendly but their relationship soon becomes toxic. A great read with a surprise twist.

The Best Friend, by Shalini Boland was the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author. I listened to the audiobook. I liked the narrator Katie Villa. The book takes place in England.

The title and description caught my attention. From the description, “Darcy is a woman who has everything – a dream house, a powerful husband and enviable wealth.She’s the perfect wife.The perfect friend.The perfect liar.” I had to see what Darcy’s deal was and this book did not disappoint!

The beginning of the book definitely starts out suspenseful because there’s a man following the other main character, Louisa. The scenes at the school and the play date gave me A Simple Favor vibes.

This book was paced well and held my attention. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but if you like books with sketchy friends, check this out! I’m going to read other books by Boland. I heard The Secret Mother is a good book.

Thank you for the audiobook #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio #shaliniboland #katievilla #books #mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #suspensereads #frienemies #thebest friend

The best friend
Thanks to Net Galley and bookouture I received this story as an audiobook. The narrator Katie Villa was really good at the various accents.
The story is okay but Louisa must be one of the slowest thinkers on the planet.
Tales of the showy, wealthy American D'Arcy Lane are interspersed with snippets about Nicola and Callum from a sink estate in Poole.
None of this seems to have much connection with our plodding heroine who gets caught up in Darcyl's circle. Initial misgivings are ignored- even when her supposedly beloved child is slighted and almost excluded from what was to be a joint birthday party. Louisa is aware of this but too gutless to act. She whinges about her feelings about D'Arcy to her husband, but not in any lucid narrative. Her big sister wants to help but inexplicably she holds back telling her about a stalker.
So when the denouement finally arrives only Louisa could possibly be surprised.
It's good the wat conversation and descriptions move the narrative along. The style is okay its just the way so many hints are peppered throughout that robs the final explanation from any sense of surprise.

An exciting psychological thriller by author Shalini Boland.

A fast paced story that I finished in a day. The narration was fantastic, good pace and the different voices on point. Publication date: 31 May 2022.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Best Friend tells the story of Louisa, who moves into a new area and is quickly befriended by the glamourous Darcy, who seems to have it all. Before she knows it, their children are having sleepovers and joint birthday parties and the two families become fast friends. However, it soon becomes clear that Darcy Lane is not all that she seems.

This was a super quick read and was very easy to get into. There were only a small number of characters so it didn't take long to get to know them all. The book is mainly set in the present day, but does occasionally flick back to past events.

It was nothing dramatically different to what I've read before, but I still enjoyed it.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookature Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

I found this book to be interesting, but not gripping. I could relate with Louisa as I too had a "best friend" who was so toxic that she tried to ruin my life. That part of the story was relatable. However, there were a few twists that I thought were predictable and the book didn't offer anything unique. Just your typical friends to enemies thriller. I did finish it quickly, but I didn't find it to be overly exciting. I predicted the twists as they were happening, so it wasn't "mind blowing'.

Louisa meets Darcy and they quickly become friends, but soon after meeting, Darcy begins to show her true colors and Louisa finds herself in danger.

I liked Louisa, but her husband was awful. He didn't seem realistic. I know when I had troubles with my best friend, my husband was on my side the entire time and he knew her well. I just don't see her husband behaving like that. All in all it was a decent book. I would recommend, but not "highly recommend". Three stars. The audio was great.