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.

Be careful who you befriend on the playground. Just because she is the perfect best friend doesn’t mean she isn’t hiding secrets that could destroy your life, and marriage.

This book is so good! I loved it! The story of Mary and Willa and their friendship. Willa says "it can be hard to connect with other women, for me at least." The story alternates between past and present, each section picking up a detail from the previous chapter. In one part of the book, Willa says "who was the evil witch, me or George" (Mary's ex). Me, of course. Because women always are. They can pull your life together, make your home lovely, your children loved. We can book summer camps, clip toenails, wipe nose, arrange every last appointment, but step out of line, even for a second, and we're every name in the book. Men like George, they don't love women. They used women.

The character building is amazing! Mary shares her darkest secret about her ex with Willa. After that, no communication from Willa. Mary runs into her two months later and she now goes by the name of Annie. Later, George turns up dead and Mary becomes the prime suspect. What really happened to him? So many secrets to unpack!

Wild Ride, Twisty and Whodunnit? 4.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This amazing book will be released 2/20/24.

Keep Your Friends Close is an adrenaline-pumping rollercoaster that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This is one of those unputdownables I can't wait to recommend to my thriller book-loving friends! Thanks, Putnam, for the eARC.

In this captivating tale, the author skillfully weaves a narrative of trust and disbelief, taking readers on an emotional rollercoaster. The intricate exploration of human relationships challenges preconceived notions, making it a truly thought-provoking read. As characters navigate the complexities of trust and betrayal, the story unfolds with unexpected twists, keeping the reader engaged until the last page.

The author's ability to delve into the intricacies of belief adds depth to the narrative, prompting reflection on personal convictions. Amidst life's ups and downs, the characters' resilience and choices resonate, making the novel not just a story but a mirror to our own journeys.

This literary work stands out for its poignant exploration of trust, belief, and the human experience. A must-read for those who appreciate novels that delve into the complexities of relationships and the profound impact of trust on our lives.

Mary is going through a divorce, when meets a young mom, Willa, at Park Slope's playground. What follows is a twisted, but rathered cliched, twisty story of lies and murder. It took me so long to get into it, but in the second half, it was rolling. It was fine, a bit predictable but fun.

Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Expected publication date is February 20, 2024

3.5 ⭐️

Keep Your Friends Close…….And, Your Enemies Closer-is a popular idiom and good rule to follow.

But, first you have to figure out, who is who!

And, this wickedly, fun popcorn 🍿 thriller, will keep you guessing!!

THAT WAS THEN:

Mary is separated from her rich, privileged husband George and she could use a friend. So, when she meets Willa and her toddler son at a Brooklyn playground, the women’s connection feels like fate. But after one margarita too many, on a moms’ night out, Mary spills the tea about her darkest secret regarding her ex, and then suddenly Willa disappears.

No calls, no texts, no explanation.

THIS IS NOW:

Two months later, Mary’s divorce is almost finalized, and she’s trying to build a new life for herself and her toddler son in Woodstock, NY. On her first day in her new town, while sitting in a local bar while having lunch, she spots Willa walking by.

It isn’t possible, is it?

She chases her down but the woman denies knowing her, claiming her name is Annie. Sure, the hair is different, and she’s got an entirely new family in tow, but an heirloom piece of jewelry she is wearing gives her away.

Mary sends another text begging for answers.

When George turns up dead and Mary becomes the prime suspect, she has no choice but to turn to Willa-the only one she knows in town. But, will her old “friend” come through?

As the MANY coincidences and the evidence—pile up, Mary has to wonder whether Willa had something to do with George’s death and if the other woman is a friend or a foe?

The story unfolds through the POV’s of both Mary and Willa, over three parts and the two timelines, and although it wasn’t hard to follow, the story does feel a bit “choppy” .

A BIG positive is that this story was fresh and NOT one of the overly used plots that 2023 had way too many of!
So, I ENJOYED trying to figure out who could be trusted-IF ANYBODY!!

You can pick up this twisty, entertaining novel on February 20, 2024.

Thank You to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the invitation to read this one early! Gifted ARC provided through NetGalley.

Keep Your Friends Close pulled me right in from the start and I could not put this down until I knew whodunnit! Twisty, packed with secrets, and highlights the struggles of getting out of a relationship gone wrong. Told from the two main female POV´s, you will fly right through the chapters. It is hard to really get into the story without spoilers, but I promise you if you are intrigued by the synopsis, you will enjoy this psychological thriller.

Mary is going through a divorce and custody battle when she meets Willa. They have alot in common and because fast friends. When Mary reveals a secret to Willa, she suddenly disappears.

After months go by, Mary runs into Willa; but Willa states it is not here and that she is someone else.

This book keeps you engaged and def makes you want to find out what is going on. The characters kept you engaged and interest in the book was very engaging. Will read more by this author loved this book.

Publication 2/20. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read and review.

5 star read i loved it. Great writing.

Mary is going through a divorce and custody battle when she meets Willa. They quickly become good friends. When Mary reveals her secret to Willa, Willa suddenly disappears. Months later, drama ensues and Mary runs into Willa; but Willa says she is someone else.

I enjoyed the mystery of this one and wanted to find out what was going on. There were a few mysteries. Once one answer was revealed, another mystery would occur. It definitely kept my interest. I wish we had gotten more of Mary and George’s marriage and past together. I’m sure they had some epic arguments that would have added decent drama. I enjoyed the female characters and their intents.

“After all, that’s what friends are for right? Keeping each other’s secrets.”

Keep Your Friends Close comes out 2/20.

This book was a very engaging read. It immediately thrusts you into a murder scene, then slowly builds up to the discovery of who-done-it.

The story fluctuates between two points of view and two time periods, so it could be a bit jarring if you aren't paying attention to the labels at the beginning of the chapters. However, that never detracts from this being an excellent murder mystery.

Many women will identify with the character of Willa when she starts talking about the unpaid mental labor wives and mothers are subjected to. I found this piece of her characterization very real and engaging.

With questionable characters, too many motives, and unreliable points of view, this is a twisty-turny read, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery.

Keep Your Friends Close was a quick and easy read. It goes back and forth between two ladies, Willa & Mary. They become fast friends but as the story unfolds, you begin to realize how little we can truly know about our friends?
The twists & turns in this book were interesting. I tried to figure it out while reading and it kept going in a different direction. I like that there are many different options to pick from so you really don't know what is going on until the very end.
The downside of this book to me was how some of the storyline felt like it was just thrown together to tie up loose ends. (ie. the key)
Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. I appreciate the opportunity to get this ARC. And when it comes out, I will be recommending it all my friends. To you know... Keep Your Friends Close.