This wasn't one of my favorites. In my opinion, it was a little slow. I did eventually finish it. Read it before forming your own opinion though.

Writer Carrie Colts hopes a move to Montauk will be a rejuvenating change of pace for her family. The last thing she expects to see is her former college roommate on her doorstep. Newly widowed, and with a daughter of her own, Maya would love to reconnect. As a gesture to an old friend in mourning, Carrie extends an invitation to stay. Just for a few days. After all, there are reasons that Carrie and Maya are estranged.
Carrie soon regrets her impulsive offer. Someone has taken a pair of scissors to her college yearbook. Her herb garden is destroyed. She’s starting to receive sinister texts. And Maya is making herself a little too much at home. What does Maya really want? What is she hiding? Carrie’s afraid to ask. Because Maya knows all her secrets, and exposing them comes with a price Carrie can’t afford to pay.

Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Kathleen Willett for the advanced copy of Anything for a Friend in exchange for my honest review.

I *loved* Willett's debut novel and was so excited when I found out she had another book on the way! I'm happy to report her sophomore novel did not disappoint. The pacing was excellently done and I was so curious about the secrets our female main character was keeping that it kept me turning pages to figure out how everything was going to end.

I didn't predict much of anything about this one, which is always a huge plus for me! Willett is undoubtedly an autobuy author for me and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Anything for a Friend will be on US bookshelves November 14!

Just captivating and riveting. We get past snippets to try and piece together the current time. Easily to get invested and sit and read through. Fantastic book

Anything for a Friend by @kathleenmwillett

After really enjoying Willett’s debut “Mother of All Secrets” I was excited to get the opportunity to read “Anything For a Friend” (out Nov 14)!

This book centers around Carrie who moves to Montauk from NYC with her husband and daughter after inheriting her mother in law’s house. One day she receives a call from Maya, her best friend from college who she hasn’t seen in years, saying that her and her daughter Lola are in the area and would like to stop by. Maya, clearly mourning and not really herself, tells Carrie that her husband has recently passed away. In an awkward situation and kind of backed into a corner, Carrie offers to have Maya and Lola stay for a few days. Then strange things start to happen, and Maya and Lola are in no hurry to get out of Carrie’s hair.

Read if you’re looking for:
🍃Mystery and suspense
🍃Dual timeline
🍃Friendships and family and secrets
🍃Clever twists
🍃Messy characters

I really enjoyed this one! Easy to read, keeps you on your toes, and everything comes together at the end.

Thank you to @netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own! PUB DATE: NOV 14th

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: Death of parent, drinking, language, smoking, cheating, alcoholism, infertility, adoption, cancer, death of child, sexual assault, suicide, complex friendships

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Writer Carrie Colts hopes a move to Montauk will be a rejuvenating change of pace for her family. The last thing she expects to see is her former college roommate on her doorstep. Newly widowed, and with a daughter of her own, Maya would love to reconnect. As a gesture to an old friend in mourning, Carrie extends an invitation to stay. Just for a few days. After all, there are reasons that Carrie and Maya are estranged.

Carrie soon regrets her impulsive offer. Someone has taken a pair of scissors to her college yearbook. Her herb garden is destroyed. She’s starting to receive sinister texts. And Maya is making herself a little too much at home. What does Maya really want? What is she hiding? Carrie’s afraid to ask. Because Maya knows all her secrets, and exposing them comes with a price Carrie can’t afford to pay.
Release Date: November 14th, 2023
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 235
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Loving the flow of the writing style
2. Sucked into this twisted friendship

What I Didn't Like:
1. So many dead parents
2. What is with the obsession of mascara in this book
3. Ending slowed down

Overall Thoughts:
Starting to question if Lola is really Maya's daughter past her 8 years.

The constant jabs and backhand comments from Maya would have me removing her from my house.

I don't need the continuous reminder that Maya knows something about Carrie's past that we don't know as a reader. Say it like a few times and move on. It feels like it's over and over that we are told that Maya knows everything about Carrie.

Omgosh and now we are introduced to Carrie is a sleepwalker.

Not me talking to my Kindle that "Come on Carrie, it was Kelsey that got a hold of Kyle." Think about it! She was up early, had access to your computer, and knew about the concert.

I thought Pete was a pretty stand up dude until he started blaming Carrie for not digging deeper into why Kelsey was acting out. Like isn't he also to blame? Why would the blame only be on her?

Carrie mentions Zzzquil in 2003 but Zzzquil didn't come out until 2012.

I will definitely give it to this book it had this weird way of keeping me guessing but also making me know what was going on. Everytime I was questioning the actions of things in the book the author was right there to give me an explanation. I thought that was great.

The author did a fantastic job at making me hate but then understood the friendship with Carrie and Maya. The way it feels like it's one sided but then the relationship will then shift.

Unfortunately for the book it was predictable. There is no real twists you didn't see coming. It's all laid out for you and a little paying attention and you'll get it. For some odd reason with the way the book was written I didn't mind that it was predictable. The characters are flowed and as much as they have aspects about them it doesn't seem so outlandish or unrealistic that they are this way.

Final Thoughts:
Writing style made this book a breeze to fly through. Chapters are short. For the book being on the small side (less than 300 pages) I felt like I read a 400 page book, but not in a bad way, in a way that was able to make you get character development.

The ending did drag for me though. It ends with them talking it out; first Maya and Carrie (Maya trying to kill Carrie) and then Shanna stepping in at the last moment to save Carrie and them talking about her giving her up for adoption. I suppose it was the talk that needed to happen with the characters but I was just bored with the ending because I already knew how they felt and thought on it, so it just felt dragged out.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Carrie is a writer and hopes the move to Montauk will be a rejuvenating change of pace for her family. The last thing she expected was her old college roommate to show up on her doorstep with her daughter. Maya’s husband has just died and is looking to get away. It doesn’t take long for Carrie to remember why they are estranged when weird destructive things start happening. Maya continues to make herself at home, much to Carries regret. What does Maya want because it doesn’t seem so innocent anymore? Can Carrie figure it out before it’s too late?

This was an interesting suspense book. The pacing was nice and held my interest throughout. I didn’t really care for the ending. The biggest reason for this is I didn’t feel that it really fit the story well, there should have been more clues and build up leading up to that point. This book is rather short, and I also felt that some more time could have been spent building the story, it would have also potentially helped with the ending. However, this was still an enjoyable book, and the writing was great. This is one of those books where none of the characters are really enjoyable, but that works, and I felt it added to the story instead of deterring from it. This was my first book by this author, but I wouldn’t hesitate to read another.

Thank you so much to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley, @netgalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was ok to me. The ending seemed a bit lackluster. An overall good storyline, just a bit lacking.

Writer Carrie Colts hopes a move to Montauk will be a rejuvenating change of pace for her family. The last thing she expects to see is her former college roommate on her doorstep. Newly widowed, and with a daughter of her own, Maya would love to reconnect. As a gesture to an old friend in mourning, Carrie extends an invitation to stay. Just for a few days. After all, there are reasons that Carrie and Maya are estranged.

Carrie soon regrets her impulsive offer. Someone has taken a pair of scissors to her college yearbook. Her herb garden is destroyed. She’s starting to receive sinister texts. And Maya is making herself a little too much at home. What does Maya really want? What is she hiding? Carrie’s afraid to ask. Because Maya knows all her secrets, and exposing them comes with a price Carrie can’t afford to pay.

This is a very slow burn story about friendship and has some mystery elements. I really enjoyed the chapters in the past to piece together their relationship and history together. The two have a complicated history and lots of secrets in the present day.

Probably wouldn’t call this a thriller so much but found it entertaining while not really liking the main character takes some skillful story telling there. Not my favorite ending but a decently entertaining read.

When Carrie’s best friend from college shows up at her house, she shares devastating news. Maya‘s husband is dead, and she and her daughter Lola needed to get away from their home and their grief. But Carrie and Maya haven’t been close for years, and Carrie is carrying more than one secret, from the past and in the now. Can she trust Maya and her daughter Lola? Why are strange things happening now that they are staying with her for a while?
Honestly, I didn’t like Carrie much. She was selfish in college and 20 years hadn’t changed her very much. I went back-and-forth, deciding whether or not Maya could be trusted too. As more of their shared past was revealed, I had that feeling, the one where I was sure this couldn’t end well. I was flipping the pages doing that just one more chapter dance until I missed my bedtime. Sorry not sorry. I didn’t love the ending, but the journey was very good.

Anything for a Friend by Kathleen M. Willett, the readers are plunged into a suspenseful and unpredictable world where old friendships, hidden secrets, and dark motives collide. The story follows writer Carrie Colts, who, seeking a fresh start for her family, relocates to Montauk. However, her hopes for a peaceful life are disrupted when her former college roommate, Maya, unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep. Maya, recently widowed and with a daughter of her own, is eager to reconnect with Carrie. As a gesture of compassion to an old friend in mourning, Carrie extends an invitation to Maya, albeit just for a few days.

Despite their shared history, there are reasons why Carrie and Maya have grown estranged over the years. Carrie soon begins to regret her impulsive offer when a series of unsettling events transpire. Her college yearbook is vandalized with a pair of scissors, her beloved herb garden is destroyed, and she starts receiving menacing text messages. To make matters more complicated, Maya seems to be making herself a little too comfortable in Carrie's life.

Carrie is left to grapple with the unsettling question: What does Maya really want, and what is she hiding? Her fear of confronting Maya with these questions is rooted in the knowledge that Maya holds the key to all her secrets, and revealing them could come at a price that Carrie can ill afford to pay.

It is a gripping and tension-filled thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The author skillfully weaves a narrative of suspense, mystery, and psychological intrigue that explores the complexities of friendship, trust, and betrayal. The character of Carrie Colts is relatable and sympathetic, making her an engaging protagonist. Her decision to offer Maya shelter out of compassion sets the stage for a suspenseful and unpredictable series of events. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into Carrie's world of uncertainty and fear as she grapples with the enigmatic and unsettling behaviour of her old friend.

Maya's character adds an element of mystery and unpredictability to the narrative. Her motives and secrets remain shrouded in darkness, creating a sense of unease that permeates the story. The author skillfully maintains the suspense and keeps readers guessing about Maya's true intentions. The novel explores themes of trust, manipulation, and the consequences of past actions. As Carrie tries to decipher Maya's agenda and protect her own secrets, the tension escalates, leading to a thrilling and climactic conclusion.

Willett's writing style is characterized by its ability to create a palpable atmosphere of suspense and paranoia. The pacing is well-executed, with each chapter revealing new layers of intrigue and deception. For fans of psychological thrillers who delve into the complexities of friendship and the dark secrets that can unravel it, "Anything for a Friend" is a must-read. It's a suspenseful and thought-provoking journey that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Anything for a Friend was a quick read, full of mystery and suspense.

This was my first novel by Kathleen M. Willett and definitely not the last. I look forward to her next book!!

Thank you for my uncorrected proof!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This novel was short and easy to keep reading, but it didn’t feel like a thriller. I also think the dual timelines should have been separated by chapters.

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the copy of Anything for a Friend. If you enjoy books about rekindling old friendships, this is the book for you. Carrie and Maya are old college roommates. Hen Maya asks if she can stop by, Carrie has no idea that Maya and her teenage daughter will end up staying. What secrets is Maya hiding, and are they safe with Maya?
Maya and Carrie were really good characters and I liked seeing who they grew up to be after seeing how they were in college. Neither one of them was likable though, so it was hard to root for anyone. The story was interesting, even though the reveal was easy to figure out. I’m not sure what the purpose of the epilogue was though. It felt like it was just tacked on but it didn’t really give any new insight.

"Anything for a Friend” by Kathleen M. Willett
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: November 14, 2023
Many thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book. All opinions below are my own.

Carrie, her husband Pete, and daughter Kelsey, move to Montauk after the passing of her mother-in-law. The small town is a break from their life in New York, where Kelsey is having issues at school, and Carrie is hiding secrets.
Carrie receives a phone call from Maya, her former college roommate, out of the blue one morning. Maya is in the area and wants to visit Carrie--a visit which turns into an extended stay at Carrie's house. While a bit odd, Carrie is excited to have her friend and daughter, Lola visiting. After all Maya is Carrie's oldest friend and knows all of her secrets...
Through Maya and Lola's visit strange things begin happening and Carrie is put on edge. Is it her friends strange daughter doing these things? Or is it Carrie herself, driven by all the stress and secrets she is keeping.

I enjoyed this book and felt it was a very quick, gripping read. I will say that I figured out the ending, but none-the-less it was a good read with the author using good foreshadowing throughout.

Good book. Kept me reading late in to the night. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy. Look forward to more from this author.

Ominous, twisty, and impossible to put down. I raced to the end! I absolutely loved the focus on complicated female friendships, and Kathleen is so talented at building suspense.

I could not put this book down! I have Kathleen’s first book on my kindle but haven’t read it yet. When I saw her name for this book on NetGalley I immediately wanted to read it. I definitely think I was rooting for the wrong character the whole time, but I still stand by that now, even after the conclusion of the novel. There were a couple plot twists I wasn’t expecting, I thought for sure I had things figured out but I didn’t! I do I wish there was an epilogue, because I like when things are all tied up with a bow at the end and I was left with a couple questions at the end.

What are friends are for right? How far can you go for a friend?.

It blown my mind. The twists and revelation of this story was unblievable. Thought-provoking I can't seem to gather my thoughts into words.

The ending was surpising. My question has been answered. Well it's for you to find out how Carrie can do anything for her friend like how Maya help her back way then.

Coping with grief and loss, she knows her friend needs her after everything happened.

The book starts off with an introduction to our main character, Carrie, a mom/wife/author, and we’re quickly introduced to her mostly idyllic life, until an old best friend and her daughter pop up on her doorstep, needing a place to stay. What ensues is chaotic and there are so many secret pasts and troubled relationships. I thought this was going to be a cliche thriller since I’ve read books with a similar plot, but what ends up happening takes me super off guard. I couldn’t put it down. Carrie frustrated me a lot but I loved reading about her past. 4.5 out of 5.