This was a great, well written, popcorn thriller. I did enjoy it, but not a standout. I won't remember anything about it two weeks from now, but I did enjoy the story while I was in it! 4 stars

This book was suspenseful and kept me guessing. The characters were well developed. A good thriller.

One massive book of secrets where everyone is hiding something from everyone else. I enjoyed this, but i feel like ive read better thriller/mystery books.

Twists and betrayal. Mary and George are separated. One day Mary meets Willa at the playground with her son. Mary confides in Willa that she's going through a bad separation, and wants a divorce. She tells Willa how horrible her husband George is. He is rich and powerful and is not giving up so easily. She says how her life would be so much better if only George was gone. Willa also has secrets to hide. Mary has been screwed over by almost everyone she has let in her life and she is just trying to make a better life for herself and her toddler son. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Keep Your Friends Close by Leah Konen in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I was so excited to read this as I love all of Leah's books and couldn't wait to free my night to start her newest release. I was drawn in on page one and couldn't put it down until the very last sentence. I loved this! So many twists and turns and just when you think you figure it out whammo something else crazy happens! I so enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by Leah in the future.

I enjoyed this book, it held my interest. Really loved the dynamics between Mary and Willa. Just when Mary needs a friend, on the brink of her divorce, she meets interesting Willa, but then she disappears and leaves Mary wondering what she did wrong? Running into Willa months later, Willa has changed her name and suddenly has a new child. What is going on? Who is this chameleon?

I’ve read other books by Leah & this was on par for how I enjoyed her other books. The deceptive new best friend had me leery from the very beginning. I felt bad for Mary. The plot twists were great & I was fully entertained throughout the book.

As far as mysteries or thrillers go, I don't read many. This was an ok book but there were a few boring spots for me. If you are a mystery fan you will probably like the book. Thanks to the author, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This book had everything I love in a psychological suspense novel—an unreliable narrator, toxic friendships, and the creeping sense that nothing is as it seems.

From the start, I found myself completely drawn into Mary’s world. She’s in the middle of a messy divorce and custody battle, feeling lonely and vulnerable, so when Willa enters her life, their connection feels almost too perfect. And maybe it is. That’s what makes this book so deliciously unsettling. When Willa vanishes after a wild night out, it’s suspicious enough—but when she reappears months later, living under a new identity with a different family, I felt my stomach drop.

Konen’s writing is sharp and immersive, making it easy to slip into Mary’s paranoia. I loved the way the tension built slowly, layering mystery upon mystery until I was completely tangled in Mary’s uncertainty. Is Willa (or Annie?) truly her friend, or is she orchestrating something much more sinister? As the evidence mounts and Mary becomes the prime suspect in her ex-husband’s murder, I genuinely had no idea who to trust.

The pacing was spot-on—just enough detail to build intrigue but never so much that it felt bogged down. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another twist threw me off balance. And the themes of female friendship, betrayal, and survival made the story feel even more gripping.

If you’re into thrillers that keep you on edge and make you second-guess every character’s intentions, Keep Your Friends Close is a must-read. It’s clever, unsettling, and deeply addictive—I flew through it in a day because I had to know how it ended.

Mary, who’s recently left her controlling husband, makes a new friend at the playground. Alex, Mary’s 2-year-old son, whines that he’s hungry, and the beautiful young mother sitting next to them on the bench offers up a bag of potato chips. This is Willa, and at this vulnerable moment in Mary’s life, she’s thrilled to connect with someone. Willa is so attentive and engaging. After leaving her husband, Mary has been struggling to build a new life. Her relationship with fun, irreverent Willa is the one bright spot in her drearier new existence. Willa is the best thing to happen to Mary. When Willa disappears suddenly, Mary feels there is no reason to stay in Brooklyn. She moves upstate with Alex as there is nothing left for her in Brooklyn, She is eager to start over., but has a shock when she bumps into someone near her new home who looks exactly like Willa. However but the woman insists her name is Annie. Mary decides to find information about Willa that she could never have imagined about her. What did Mary find out?

The novel has a fast-paced, plot that manages to poke fun at millennial parenting. . The author’s writing of building suspense kept me guessing what would happen next. The story ends with a surprising twist.

Engaging, fast-paced thriller with short chapters. It has alternating timelines and point of views. The story centers around Mary who is recently separated from her wealthy, controlling husband. She is trying to make a new life for her and her toddler son. She meets Willa. They become fast friends. Willa suddenly disappears. Months later, Mary runds into Willa. Willa claims not to know her at all and says she is someone else. What is going on? Then George is killed. What is happening?

Maybe there is a theme for 2025. Much like the novel Rosarita that I reviewed, do you ever truly know anyone? It was thought provoking and made me rehash so many people I’ve known that have been different than my perception of them or what I was taught about them. Terrifying.

Willa is an ostensibly morally gray character that I found strangely relatable and was rooted for… Of course, I side with and worried for Mary the entire time, at least when I wasn’t suspicious of her. What a fun ride!

I thought this was turning into a single white female thriller for approximately the first half of this novel. While I ultimately solved the mystery, I do feel like it was spoon fed to me slowly. I saw another review calling is a “popcorn thriller”, which is a perfect description of this book. Clearly, I loved it. Eat the rich, just not the character Rich… not advocating for cannibalism.

Leah Konen’s Keep Your Friends Close is the literary equivalent of a social media friendship request: enticing, a little suspicious, and ultimately full of drama. With a plot that weaves through betrayal, secrets, and a friendship gone horribly wrong, it’s an addictive thriller, though not without its moments that’ll make you raise an eyebrow.

The story follows the relationship between best friends, Emily and Tatum—one is seemingly the picture of success, while the other is... well, a bit of a hot mess. But as is the case with many friendships, things aren't always what they seem. When a tragic accident shakes their lives, the veneer of their perfect bond starts to crack, revealing deeper, darker secrets. The twists are swift and sharp, keeping you guessing as to who’s truly trustworthy. Hint: it’s probably not the one you think.

Konen’s writing style is slick, and she does a great job building tension with short chapters and alternating perspectives. It’s a book that pulls you in without overwhelming you with too many subplots. The pacing is pretty spot-on, keeping the suspense bubbling while providing enough character development to actually care about the stakes. That said, some of the plot twists feel a little... well, extra—like the author was channeling her inner soap opera creator just to make sure you’re still paying attention. It doesn’t necessarily take away from the fun, but it might make you roll your eyes in disbelief every now and then.

Emily, the protagonist, is a relatable, flawed character you’ll both root for and shake your head at. Her vulnerability adds an interesting layer to the mystery. But let’s not forget Tatum—the sort of friend we all hope we don’t have. You know, the one who’s a little too perfect, a little too charming, and a little too good at hiding a knife behind their smile. She's a walking red flag disguised as a best friend.

In the end, Keep Your Friends Close is a thrilling exploration of the complicated terrain of friendship and trust, with enough suspense to keep you on your toes. It’s a great pick for fans of psychological thrillers that balance character drama with juicy, page-turning twists. Just don't be surprised if it leaves you questioning your own friendships by the final page. After all, who needs enemies when you’ve got a friend like this?

I feel like this was a fun popcorn thriller that is a domestic thriller!
Thinking she met the man the wealthy George, she marries him and they have an adorable son. Now Mary is fighting to divorce her powerful husband and trying to keep custody of her two years old son. Mary makes a new friend, Willa, at the local playground, she helps her through her tough times with the divorce. During a margarita-fueled moms’ night out, though, Mary shares her darkest secret about her ex, George. But soon things take a dark turn when Mary discovers that Willa is not who she seems to be. Willa disappears and leaves Mary with more questions than answers. Fast forward it’s now two months later, Mary’s divorce is almost finalized, and she’s trying to build a new life for her son in upstate New York. On her first day in town, she runs into Willa…only Willa’s name is Annie now, and she’s got an entirely new family . When George turns up dead and Mary becomes the prime suspect, she has no choice but to turn to her only friend in Willa. But will
It be her biggest mistake yet??

Keep Your Friends Close by Leah Konen is a mix of Strangers on a Train and A Simple Favor. If your problem disappears, do you question it? How about that nagging feeling like you owe someone.... Deception runs deep in this story and it will having you at the edge of your seat.

***Thank you Netgalley for the E- arc in exchange for an honest review.***


This story is about Mary who after leaving her wealthy and controlling husband George,is trying to build a new life for herself and her toddler. So when Mary meets a new mom at the playground she feels less lonely and excited to have a new friend. So after a few too many margaritas one girls' night, she accidentally spills secrets. The next day, her new friend, Willa, ghosts her. Unsure of who she can trust, heartbroken Mary randomly runs into her old friend in the most unlikely of places and learns that Willa has a secrets she’s been hiding all along. When Mary’s estranged husband ends up dead, her trust and friendship will be put to the ultimate test. There are twists and turns I didn't see coming and just when I thought it was all figured out something else comes along. First book from this author and won't be the last.

Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book.

Mary is trying to build a new life as almost divorced mom in upstate New York when she runs into her ex friend Willa who goes now by a different name. As their friendship ended up abruptly after Mary shared a secret with Willa, Mary wants to figure out why she was ignored all that time. When Mary’s husband turns up dead in Mary’s new apartment she seeks Willa’s help as she is the only one she knows in this town.

It was hard to put down this book for me, I needed to know what was going on. I was tricked (in a nice way) several times and I keep guessing until very end.

This book was impossible to put down! Leah Konen expertly created tension in her writing with a slow-burn plot that leaves no stone unturned. Focusing on themes of motherhood, friendship, and toxic relationships, the story unfolds from different perspectives and timelines. The twists in this book are expertly crafted, and highly unpredictable. I highly recommend this book for any domestic or psychological thriller fan!

This was a decent thriller! It was nothing new or original, but a good read! I enjoyed the plot and characters.

I just finished reading Keep Your Friends Close by Leah Konen, and I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you!

This book is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. It delves into the complexities of friendships and the dark secrets that can lurk beneath the surface. Konen's writing is sharp, compelling, and filled with suspense.

One of the standout moments for me is when the protagonist, Liana, discovers a hidden letter in her best friend’s house that hints at a dark past. The tension is palpable as she reads the letter, her heart racing with every word. This discovery sets off a chain of events that makes you question everyone’s motives and keeps you guessing until the very end.

Konen masterfully weaves a story that’s both chilling and thought-provoking. The characters are well-developed, each with their own secrets and flaws, making the twists and turns all the more surprising. The dynamic between Liana and her friends is particularly intriguing, as their trust and loyalty are put to the test in the most dramatic ways.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that explore the darker side of human nature, Keep Your Friends Close is a must-read. It's a rollercoaster of emotions and suspense that you won't be able to put down.