I'm sorry but this book was middle of the road for me. I struggled to care about any of the characters. For the most part, they didn't have many discernible traits. I gave three stars because I liked some of the twists and the premise was good.

In Keep Your Friends Close, for me part two was my favorite part of the book. I liked that in that section readers are given both perspectives of Mary and Willa, which I thought moved the story along quick. Some things in the book were predictable, like Willa’s motivation, but with the way Konen wrote the story, it didn’t bother me. The reveal to who the killer was did feel a bit out of left field and like it was done to really throw the reader off.

I wish half stars were a thing because while this is solidly a three star read, it doesn't feel like a full four star to me. This book had two big features that I enjoy - dual POV and Then/Now structure.

Exploring the tangled relationship between Mary and Willa was entertaining. As different layers in their relationship were revealed, the reader was able to predict how things might have escalated along the way. I think domestic thriller readers will be intrigued by this puzzle.

On another note, I'm getting a bit tired of reading thrillers that vilify the wealthy and/or focus so much on children. This seems to be quite the trend lately and I I do not find it entertaining or anything I can relate to. This is another factor in why I can't push this to a four star read.

The blurb of this book really was astounding and I just had to have it! As far as domestic thrillers are concerned the is she an enemy or a friend trope isn’t my usually read, but this was just so intriguing and after having read it it didn’t disappoint.

You go into this book knowing that something is up with Willa but of course you don’t know what that is. There were tons of secrets, twists and the book as a whole was a very well-thought out puzzle that I enjoyed putting together.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up

I received an ARC of this book from Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. I found the book entertaining - it was quick to read and kept my interest. As a mother of a toddler living in the general vicinity where the book takes place, I found those aspects relatable.

Some aspects were a little unbelievable, and the reveal of a villain, though surprising, didn't quite leave me satisfied.

I can't remember reading anything with a similar premise, so that is always a positive. And I did enjoy the very end when we learn what happens to the two main characters.

I liked the first half of this story better than the second. The build up was solid as it went back and forth between present and a few months prior. You’re trying to puzzle out what happened to her friendship with Willa along with her.

I found her actions in part 2 and 3 to be a little frustrating. And the investigation aspect a little unrealistic and I don’t think it added much to the story.

The last section became easier to put together and not really very shocking. But all in all, it was an entertaining read.

A super quick read that felt a tad bit off-center? I would have liked it more I think if it was primarily Willa's POV

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Although a promising premise, I was disappointed with this latest by a recent favorite author. I had a difficult time connecting with any of the characters, with the female leads leaning a bit hard on the victim card. I found too much emphasis on pity parties and the grouping of all men into the greedy/power tripping/lord over women trope. It all resulted in a plot that was a tad too unrealistic and predictable all at the same time.

Mary is freshly separated from her wealthy husband, George. George comes from old money and has been making this separation very difficult by threatening to take their young son. Mary has been staying in one of the apartment's that his family owns and she has no one to confide in, all of her friends were part of his world. She was at the park with her son and she met a woman name Willa. She was open, funny, and so unlike all the other moms in the city. Mary and Willa became fast friends, but out of no where Willa begins to ghost Mary. Mary discovers that Willa and George have their own secrets. Will she figure them out before its too late?

This novel about female friendships and relationships is by an author I haven’t read before. Mary and George are divorcing with no agreement in sight regarding their young son Alex. Their lavish home in Brooklyn will be George’s, his parents status and wealth will see to that. Mary is planning on moving closer to her family near the Catskill Mountain area. Mary had made a new friend at the park where all the mothers, nannies and children gather. She felt they were very close and she’d shared many personal struggles with her. When Mary arrives in Woodstock she’ll be getting a rental and trying to reestablish her journalistic career. Meanwhile her son is staying with the in-laws. When she thinks she spots her girlfriend in the area, looking completely different, she calls out her name. No response or recognition – is it her? Is Mary mistaken? From this point forward nothing I thought I’d guessed was close to the crazy twists to come. Warnings! Be careful who you trust, who you tell your secrets to and who you think will have your back in a pinch.
Some of the characters are dark and ruthless, some are naïve, weak and vulnerable, a few are sympathetic, but most aren’t very likeable. I didn’t care for the back of forth between past and present time periods. There were revelations I didn’t expect. The theme of women’s friendship is well portrayed and worthy of exploration.
A digital advance reader copy of “Keep Your Friends Close” by Leah Konen, publishers G. P. Putnam’s Sons, was provided by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without any compensation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy!

I really enjoyed this one - con artists impersonating rich people falls squarely in my interests, and I thought this had a lot of twists and turns as the story unfolded in the latter half. At parts, it was a little unrealistic, but not to the point of taking me out of it. In general, it was a solid domestic thriller and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes the genre!

I love books with good twists and turns and this book definitely had that . This is a domestic thriller, it had a great plot

Leah Konen is a new author to me.
Exceptional writing and character evolution, coupled with compelling dialogue, were big plus for this book. While the plot wasn't overly intricate, the pacing left me waiting for significant developments. The excitement picked up towards the end, but it took a considerable amount of time to reach that point—my primary concern with this book. It's a slow burn, and I generally prefer a faster pace with quick, short chapters and a more rapid plot progression.

When starting mysteries and thrillers, I aim to keep my pre-reading exposure to a minimum. Initially, I anticipated a stronger emphasis on con men and women, stranger on a train type trope, but the story felt more of a family /domestic drama intertwined with a murder mystery.

Rich men and the women they use and abuse is the subject of this thriller from Leah Konen. Mary is a woman in her 30's married to a wealthy, handsome and powerful man. She loves the luxury life she leads and adores her two year old son Alex, but her husband George is getting more and more controlling and she wants out. One day in the park she meets another mom, Willa, who is carefree and kind and very different than the rich women Mary meets in playgroups. She and Willa become fast friends and little Alex loves to play with Willa's son Jack. But all is not what it seems and after one night where the two women share secrets over drinks, Willa ghosts Mary and won't return her calls.

Mary moves to s small town in upstate New York and is trying to piece together her life. George is threatening her with seeking full custody of their son, Willa has disappeared from her life and the only person she was friends with, her sister in law Cassandra won't talk to her either. With her son Alex spending the week with grandparents, Mary is searching for a house and a new school when she spots Willa with a new family and different color hair. Willa at first insists she has the wrong person, but Mary is sure that something is going and she is right. Lots of secrets, twists and turns and I was rooting for Mary as she tried to save herself and her son from the clutches of her husband's rich family and to find out where Willa fits into the story. Some of the chapters are from the point of view of Willa and we find out she is also trying hard to survive and has plenty of secrets of her own. I flew through this book quickly and enjoyed the mystery elements. This would make a good movie or mini-series. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

Oh Mary! What a ride. This book had me changing my mind constantly. Everything was tied up nicely though, but it did feel a bit too coincidental to be truly believable. Such a fun psychological thriller. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the genre!

Mary is a dutiful and loving wife until her husband's need to control every aspect of their life drives her away. But she's still very much tied to him, through their child and because he holds all the money, and his wealthy and powerful family make sure she's still doing what they want. Her sister-in-law left her husband's brother earlier and she sided with her husband's family in that mess, too timid to help her SIL retrieve her own possessions and believing the stories the family now tells about her. So now she's living in places owned by her husband, trying to resuscitate the career he insisted she leave when they married and dealing with the drudgery of the full-time care of a toddler for the first time. Then, at the playground, Mary meets another young mother and for the first time in a long time feels like she has a friend.

This is the story of two ex-wives, one willing to fight for what is hers and for her freedom and one who keeps hoping that her husband will change, or that her in-laws will love her again, and of one woman's best friend, who is willing to do what it takes to support her friend. Told in alternating viewpoints of the meek wife and the good friend, this thriller involves murder and deception, but is told primarily from the point-of-view of the least interesting character. It's such an interesting choice by Konen to lead with this narrative, and give hints of the real story in the portions narrated from Willa's point of view.

As with most thrillers, this one doesn't entirely make sense, but it's well written and fast paced and fun. Mary may want to just go along with what she's being told, but the author is looking out for her and there is plenty of vengeance against abusive husbands, which given how horrific all the men in this book prove to be, is very satisfying indeed.

Ooo, I LOVED so many things about this book! First, the setting - I cannot resist a domestic suspense set in NYC. Add in the Upstate, New York present day setting and I was absolutely sold.

People are truly never who they seem to be and you never quite know what someone is capable of. These were the crystal clear lessons learned in this book.

If you like surprises, unpredictability, rocky relationships (friends and marriages), money and murder - this modern day story is definitely for you.

How well do you know your friends?

Mary is in the midst of a divorce from her controlling husband and trying to keep custody of her son. One afternoon, she meets Willa at the playground and quickly finds a much needed confidante and friend. After Mary pours her heart out to Willa one night, Willa suddenly disappears.

Months later, Mary comes across Willa only to find her using a different name and with a different family. To top it off, Mary’s husband turns up dead with Mary as the prime suspect. Who killed Mary’s husband? And why is Willa suddenly going by a new identity?

With a fast pace and short, intriguing chapters this was an easy book to devour. This is a twisty domestic thriller meets murder mystery and will certainly keep you guessing until the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Keep Your Friends Close by Leah Konen
Pub date: February 20, 2024

Mary, mother to toddler Alex, is in the process of divorcing her uber wealthy husband, George. Things aren’t pleasant for her and George isn’t exactly a nice guy when he doesn’t get what he wants – and he wants Mary.

When she meets fun outgoing Willa with her son, Jack, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Mary needed a friend to uplift her and just someone to vent to. And boy, does Mary vent – even telling Willa how easy her life would be if George would just die! But then, Willa completely ghosts her and Mary’s husband is murdered, with Mary as the prime suspect with absolutely everything to gain.

This is a twisty, quick domestic thriller that leads the reader down a merry path of guessing! The secondary characters all play important roles and I loved the twists that I did not see coming!

My thanks to @PutnamBooks #Partner for this gifted copy to review!

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.