An exciting thriller from Alex Dahl. Although totally unbelievable this well written novel was great escapism and what’s not to like in a case of overpowering ‘friendship’, trauma, murder with a touch of sex thrown in for good measure?? A few nice little twists too.

From the cover and description of this book it looked like a perfect match for me, unfortunately I really struggled to get into it.

The first half of the book seems to focus on introducing the characters and the world, while this was well done it could have been shortened by a significant amount.

The characters were interesting and each were unique. I enjoyed reading their interactions and seeing how their relationship progressed throughout the book.

I enjoyed the ending however I felt some of the important moments were skipped over and could have been more fleshed out.

I would read more from this author as there were parts of this book that I really enjoyed, I think this book just wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with this arc.

This was a really fun read! I really enjoy Alex Dahl's books and this one did not disappoint either. I would have loved the plot to have delved further into Storm and Charlotte's mothers throughout the story to give a bit of backstory to the twists, but all in all it was an interesting story with characters you love to hate!

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the advanced electronic copy of this novel prior to publication - due out in April 2024.
I’m a big fan of Alex Dahl’s dark, gritty stories but unfortunately, this one didn’t have the same vibe.
I enjoyed the Ibiza background to the story, with scenes also in London and Norway, but the characters were all so unrelatable and unreliable that I didn’t really care what happened to any of them. The outcome was predictable and fairly anti climatic in its delivery. There’s a lot happening in this book and at times, it feels very chaotic and unnecessary.

Charlotte meets Bianka by chance or does she really? So deliciously disturbing and dark.
The plot had me shaking with nerves and I absolutely love it.

Charlotte and her family are part of the Scandinavian ex-pat community in Wimbledon . Emil and Bianka have just arrived. Emil is Charlotte's husband's boss. Charlotte develops a bit of a crush on Bianka and invites her to her regular summer Ibiza holiday with a couple of other friends. Everything goes a bit crazy there, and the story takes an ugly turn, with lots of scheming and revelations from the past.
A good beach read.

Such an addictive read….a new friend joins an Ibiza holiday with dramatic consequences….indulgent and racy and fun to read!

I found this to be an utterly gripping book that just refused to let me put it down!

I love books with a mix of tension, thrills, and a dash of unease which is exactly what I found in this book.

Charlotte and Bianka become friends, sparked by their husbands' work ties. Charlotte is eager to find fun in her mundane life and is drawn to the confident and attractive Bianka. She invites her on her annual Ibiza retreat, hoping for a dose of excitement. Except Charlotte quickly finds there is more to Bianka than what meets the eye.

The story unfolds with excitement, making it a true page-turner that keeps you hooked till the very end. If you're looking for a thrilling and unputdownable read, this book is your perfect companion!

I think I read this book where it was meant to be read- on a beach!

There was a bit of scandal, drama and intrigue thrown in with hot Ibiza nights and a group of friends who should know better than to think they’d be going on a relaxing trip.

Whilst not a classic, this book was a bit of fun and I enjoyed reading it on holiday. Thank you for the opportunity to review.

The novel opens in Wimbledon, where there is a significant Scandinavian expat community. Charlotte Vinge is the Keto Queen, well known on TV, with a well curated Social Media profile. She likes everything to be just so, but underneath she is not wholly fulfilled. Newly-arrived from Oslo is Bianka, who strides into Charlotte’s life like a whirlwind, and soon the two become friends.

Bianka is married to Emil and is step mother to Storm, who is a successful youth ski champion. His birth mother died under curious circumstances but his family unit protects him from untoward memories around the end of her life.

Charlotte has a lovely villa on Ibiza, built on the land which houses her late mother’s derelict dwelling, a building which hasn’t really been touched for years. The modern building serves as a wonderful, restful retreat for Charlotte and two friends and they spend a week together every June, just chilling and shooting the breeze. This year Charlotte intends to ask Bianka to join them and of course she is aware of the change in dynamics this will inevitably cause but an unspoken sexual frisson drives her to a certain degree of recklessness – which is certainly not part of her public persona.

The novel bowls along with a nicely drawn Ibiza backdrop, and Wimbledon Village and environs will also be recognisable as a setting, what with walks in Cannizaro Park and get-togethers in Gail’s (artisan bakery). The sexual tension in the book is like an overlay that drives the plot forward until there is a death. And thereafter the ramifications puddle around the women, getting stickier and deeper, seeping into so many areas of their lives.

This is a good pool-side read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m usually a big fan of books portraying jealousy, unstable and unreliable characters, and multifaceted friendship dynamics, however I really struggled with this book. Despite finishing it, I feel that although the premise was good, the execution was poor; some of the twists were predictable and the characters didn’t feel different enough from each other to keep the story interesting. Elements of the story also seemed far fetched and not realistic, which further deterred me. I also think that the book could have been shorter whilst still having the same (if not better) impact.

I did however like the writing style, and would read more of this authors work in the future. This story was just not for me.

Norwegian Keto Queen-influencer Charlotte Vinge and her husband have made the shift from Oslo to London. To the world, she has it all, but there is a gap in her apparently perfect life that new friend Bianka Langeland almost immediately fills. They are suddenly best friends, inseparable, and Bianka naturally joins Charlotte and her other girlfriends for a getaway at Ibiza. What ought to have been a fun-filled and exciting girls’ weekend turns into a nightmare. Just how will it all end?
Girl Friends by half-American, half-Norwegian, Alex Dahl is a twisty psychological thriller of dark friendships, obsession, jealousy and worlds about to implode. A little far-fetched but enjoyable and recommended for fans of psych thrillers with a Scandi feel.

I loved this book! A breath of fresh air and a different take on a thriller. Can’t wait to read more from Alex Dahl

This is an unputdownable book. It has everything, it is unsettling, tense and thrilling. When Charlotte and Bianka meet through their husbands’ work connections it is obvious there is a spark between them. Charlotte is bored with her life and Bianka is confident, outgoing and very attractive. Every year Charlotte goes to Ibiza with her two close friends to close the villa for the season, this year she has asked Bianka to join then, thinking it may bring some excitement into her life.
As the attraction between Charlotte and Bianka grows into an affair it becomes Clare that Bianka is not all she seems.
This book is exciting and hard to put down. A great page turner.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. The concept and premise were interesting, and the writing was good.
There were no surprising twists and turns and the plot felt contrived in parts. The ending was not believable.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I found this pretty hard to get into and the beginning was really slow. It took a lot of time to get into the story. I liked the theme of female friendships and forming bonds though.

ARC for review

I really wanted to like this book, I try and give every book I read a fair go. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. The dialouge was a little too far fetched for me and too many characters for me to keep up with. I'm very sorry

This is a mystery primarily centred on Charlotte and Bianka, who become fast friends. There are POV chapters from both characters, and occassional chapters from Biankas' stepsons POV - however these felt very odd and non-essential until around 60%, but for the majority were boring and added little. I found that this book seemed to go on forever, with most of it detailing Charlottes' perfectionism, their growing relationship, and then a holiday in Ibiza. None of it was surprising, and I just wanted it to get on with it. I did like the multiple POV for the main characters, and it had a satisfying enough ending. If you’re looking for an easy mystery, then you will probably enjoy this, but I prefer more suspense.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

More of a summer holiday read. Apart from that good book with good storyline would recommend to my friends.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book Girl Friends.
Two new friends develop a strong bond quickly resulting in the new girl on the block, Bianka, being invited to the infamous girls weekend in Ibiza. What was meant to be a relaxing trip away turns into a nightmare. Can Charlotte maintain her perfect life back home after all that occurs?

While I wanted to love this book I absolutely struggled. The dialogue and the descriptive paragraphs throughout made me roll my eyes. The paragraphs describing Bianka, Can Xara and the landscape felt like someone trying to be something their not and not in an ironic way. The book was slow, and the side story of Mia was stupid and pointless.

Now for the ending… what the fuck… no no no. Rushed, stupid and just no.
Unfortunately this book overall was a no from me.