This was one of those books I wanted to read simply because it was a thriller that I’d never heard of. Just sort of a random pick sort of day. I’m really glad I went with this one because it was just a good story that kept you guessing the entire time.
Kate left her hometown right after something terrible happened. She and her best friend, Emma, went to a party in the woods and rather than betray Emma, Kate left. She couldn’t stay knowing what Emma had done. There was no way she could go on living a perfectly normal life or watch her live that way either. So she left.
Ten years later Kate is back. She is racked with the guilt and fear that have stayed with her all these years. She is beginning to realize that if she wants to move on she has to tell the truth but the very day she arrives back home Emma is found dead. The way she died causes Kate to begin doubting everything she thought she knew about that night ten years earlier.
As Kate’s grief begins to turn into anger at all the years lost of friendship, she realizes that it’s very possible that what she thought she saw wasn’t the entire story. Someone else could be out there. Someone close to both Kate and Emma who knew the smallest of details about what happened back then. There could be a murderer out there. One that has struck way more than once.
This book was very well written. I had a hard time putting it down because I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. It had a nice build up and a good finish. I enjoyed this one a lot and definitely recommend it.
I wanted to add here that I got a copy of the audio book of this book from NetGalley for review. The narrator is top notch. She's absolutely fantastic and brought life to the story. If you like this form of media, you should like this book that way.

This was a new to me author and narrator and I enjoyed this one! I thought I had it all figured out but I was wrong in some ways and right in others and that was just fine with me!

Kate Handford's narration was excellent and I will definitely listen to her again!

This was an excellent thriller that kept me guessing I look forward to reading more from this author!

4 stars

I received this book from the publisher Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: January 12, 2023

A dual timeline mystery, I unfortunately (for myself) guessed the ending to this one very early on. I had to listen on to confirm my suspicions though, and while there were a few unexpected twists along the way, it slowly took us exactly where expected. The audiobook was well narrated though!

I just finished #BestFriendsForever by #ShannonHollinger and absolutely loved it. This book kept me guessing till the end and then I was shocked 😳. I can’t wait to read more books by Shannon. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for choosing me again to review your books!

What’s worst the past you tried to leave behind or the present you can’t run from? I listened to the audiobook for this book. I’m not gonna lie it did take me and minute to get into the story, but the last half definitely had me hooked I had to find out what happened! Our girl Kate (the main character) was driving me crazy when she knew things, but wouldn’t tell us. Although that did make me want answers even more. There were so many twits and turns in this book. So I didn’t even see coming. It also have a dual time perspective and I enjoyed that. You got to I see what happened back in high school alongside what was happening presently. I really enjoyed this story, thanks NetGalley for the early copy!

When Kate left Florida she was running from all the things that scared her like not knowing who her best friend was and not knowing how to fix her sister Lily but when she gets a silent phone call she knows who it is and knows she must go back. Which Shirah‘s back in Florida after 10 years of being going she’s confronted with all the things she ran from but when her best friend is found dead Police are calling it accidental but she knows that her best friend was murdered not only that she thinks her best friend was a serial killer that’s not the only strange thing why is her ex Jeff so obsessed with her talking to her sister Lily Kate doesn’t know who to trust but what she doesn’t know if she’s going to get to the bottom of this that is if she lives long enough to. The story is told in present and past and I really enjoyed the parallel stories and was not prepared for where the book was going in although there were a few times I rolled my eyes I would definitely still read another book by this author. I think the readers we get caught up reading the same trope from the same authors and it was refreshing getting into a new writing style with the new take on a thriller note really thoroughly enjoyed it. I listen to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a superb job and don’t think anyone could’ve done it better. She was so natural and I love her narration. I received this book from NetGalley and Bookoucher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I really enjoyed listening to this audio book. The narrator was very good The storyline was suspenseful and there were lots of twists. The characters were vividly portrayed. This facilitated my feeling part of the story. I was palpitating and nail biting. Highly recommend this book to all
Enjoy...

I emerge from the trees, drenched in sweat, my voice lost as I take in the scene in front of me. The blood. The body. Emma’s eyes meet mine for a second. “It was an accident,” she whispers

Fast forward 10 years when Kate returns home for the first time since the incident to take care of her mother when Emma is found dead.

Kate stays to investigate when she finds out a homeless person is murdered in the same spot in the exact same way as that night every year..
But how? Was Emma a serial killer? Is there a copycat on the loose?

This book had dynamic characters and the twist was hidden very well. Usually I can figure out a twist by the end but I didn't until the reveal with this one.

Thank You Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook.

#thriller #bookstagram botm #booksta #book #booktok #bestfriends #creepy #horror

This was a wild ride and I did NOT see the end coming. However, I did figure out who the asshole rapist was in the book. Shocker, not. Parts of this were a total mind-fuck and the murder was a total sociopath and wow she was awful! The happy ending part always makes me smile, so yay! I am certainly going to look for more books by this author!

#BestFriendsForever
#NetGalley

On their high school graduation night, Kate witnesses what she thought was her best friend, Emma killing a man. Her 12 year old sister, Lily, also witnesses it and becomes mute that night. Filled with hurt, anger and confusion, Kate leaves town shortly after and doesn’t return for ten years, when her mom breaks her hip and needs her help. Kate has been disturbed by that night ever since and wants to confront Emma, but she is found dead before Kate can. Kate, with the help of her high school friend and local police detective, Jimmy, sets to solve both Emma’s death and the one from ten years ago.

As I listened to Best Friends Forever on audio, the start was slow for me and the narrator’s voice made me sleepy, but about twenty five percent in, it started adding to the suspense of the tale and I was intrigued to find out who was the murderer. With the contrasting theme of sister versus best friend relationships, and the most unexpected twist at the ending, I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

Listened to this in a couple of days I really enjoyed this audio book
I liked the characters and it had lots of twists and turns just what I love about a book

After a slower start this booked had me gripped, I couldn't put it down I just needed to know the outcome. The narrative is so well written and the twists had my heart in mouth at times. I was constantly wondering what twist would be revealed next. If you love a thriller where you feel like you trust no one, and are left doubting everything this is perfect.

Reading Between the Wines book review #2/115 for 2023:

Rating: 4 1/2🍷🍷🍷🍷
Book 🎧: Best Friends Forever
Author: Shannon Hollinger
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers | General Fiction Adult
RELEASES on January 12, 2023!!!

Sipping thoughts: This was a really good book. It was my second one for this year and really enjoyed it. I almost gave it 5 stars but I figured out a major twist very early on. However, there was still so much to the story which I couldn't even fathom! This is a twisted, thrilling book that would be great to start your year.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley, @thiswritersays and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @BestFriendsForever.

#BestFriendsForever #ShannonHollinger #Bookouture #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley, and Shannon Hollinger for allowing me to preview this pre-publication. I devoured this audio is 1 sitting, relishing in the suspense. Kate left town 10 years ago after one tragic night that left her sister mute. She is back in town right in time for her childhood best friend to be found dead. Kate dives right back into that night in this narration that alternates between past and present. The plot thickens as she gets closer to answers and the plot twists were exquisite and unexpected. I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this title to my fellow readers.

This audiobook had me hooked from the beginning. Every character introduced left me suspicious. While I did figure out part of the twist midway, there were lots of other twists that I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed the suspense and buildup to the the big reveal(s). I listened to 60% of this audiobook in one day because I was so engaged.

The narrator was excellent and pleasant to listen to. I would happily listen to other audiobooks narrated by Kate Handford.

Talk about hard to put down! This one is hard to turn off. I love the narrator. Well done and not overdone. Perfectly sets us up for the twists and chills Hollinger delivers.

A twisted tale of murder, mental illness, and trauma so intense that it's almost unspeakable.

How one little town could have so many people that had so many issues is beyond me, murder, abuse, adultery, this story drew me in and kept me listening until the very last words.

Speaking of listening, I had the oppertunity to listen to the audiobook and it was intense, our narrator Kate Handford is impeccable, giving drama, tension, and fear in just the right amounts at the right time.

Now on to the story, Kate goes home to help her mom recover from a broken hip after being gone since a tragedy changed her life right after high school.

Once she's there it seems death and pain, betrayal and heartbreak follow her wherever she goes, from losing her "best friend" from high school to finding out her high school sweetheart.... well you'll just have to read the book if you want to know about that.

Overall this is an intense thriller that had me guessing until the very last chapter, I had no idea who was going to be our killer until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an advance copy of this Audiobook, I have voluntarily listened to and reviewed it and all thouhts and opinions are my own.

This one started out slow but ended up being really good! I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narrator, she made the story come alive and is an excellent storyteller. Lots of twists and turns!

Childhood friends Kate and Emma, best friends forever, are torn apart when one night Kate finds Emma kneeling over a dead body. Forever was irretrievably broken and Kate left town. It is now 10 years later, Kate has returned home and a day later Emma is found dead. What happened to Emma, did she really kill someone? Did Kate make a wrong assumption? She needs to know what really happened.
The first part of this book was very slow paced for me. I almost put it in the DNF category. But I did read on and the twists the author added made an effective ending. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for this ARC. The comments and review are my honest opinion.

This mystery had many twists and turns that I did not expect. It started out a little slow, but it picked up and kept me engaged right up to the end. I liked the ending and was glad that it resolved the way it did.
I enjoyed this book overall and would recommend it for someone who enjoys mysteries.