Wow! This book was great! It’s a book that makes you question if you can really trust someone you call a friend. I enjoyed the writing style as well. It flowed well. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book first!

I found this book full of twists and turns. Once I thought I knew what was going on, I was wrong.! Erika and Mary seen to be destined to meet during Mary's difficult divorce and tricky custody battle, but then she is ghosted and reeling from Willas unexpected exit.

This is my third book by the author and probably my favorite. This one had me questioning everything to the end.

Mary is hoping for a fresh start after her recent divorce from her husband. She plans on moving to Woodstock, NY and plans a week off to find a new home and daycare for her son. But problems arise when she runs into someone who looks like her former best friend, Willa. Willa ghosted Mary and disappeared from NYC. Mary hasn't spoken to her in months and is shocked when she runs into Willa. But Willa isn't going by Willa and swears her name is Annie. She also as a whole new family to go along with her new identity. Mary is shocked and confused as to what could be even happening. Things get even crazier when Mary's ex-husband is found dead. Now Mary needs to uncover the truth before she is arrested for her ex-husbands murder. Who is Willa really and is she behind her husband's murder?


What I enjoyed:
- this was a quick read and the pacing keeps you interested. I finished this book in less than 24 hours
- Dual timelines and POVS.
- An interesting take on female friendships
- Twisty and quite a mind whirl

This was an enjoyable and quick read! I finished this ine one sitting. I have enjoyed previous books by this author. But this one stands out the most to me! I can't wait to read more by the author in the future. A solid, and twisty read that is perfect for any thriller fan! 4 stars out of 5. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun and quick read. I loved the setting, which helped build the atmosphere of the novel. Lots of twists and turns! Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

This was by far one of my top 5 favorite books I've read this year and my number one favorite I've read by Leah Konen. She does such an amazing job of keeping those plot tests and turns that you think you know where the character is going, and out of left field, she sneaks one in, and you're left blindsided. She takes an unfortunate life event of divorce that Mary is going through and shows it leading up to the divorce, during and a little of after. She details, of course, the ugly side with the soon to be ex-husband, his family, and sister in law. In comes a wonderful breath of fresh air in the form of a best friend, Willa. Willa helps Mary to keep a mental hold on life as she struggles with the divorce and learning to be a single mom, then one day she just ghosts Mary. The betrayl and loneliness only add to all the emotions in Mary's head. Ready to try a fresh start, Mary picks a new town, who shows up but Willa?! But seeing Willa is only the beginning of what turns out to be a true test of friendship, trust, and how far you will go to protect yourself and the ones you love? This was one book I couldn't put down, and the huge twist right at the end , well you definitely won't believe it, I read it and I had to go back and read it twice to believe it! Leah konen really does an amazing job with this mystery thriller! I honestly couldn't put this book down, I read from cover to cover in about 5 days!

Keep Your Friends Close was a fast paced read that kept me guessing until the very end. I wasn’t a fan of how repetitive some of the phrases were, but beyond that it was a very enjoyable story.

When Brooklyn mom, Mary, meets another mom, Willa, at the playground, a tangled web begins to unfurl. This novel had twists and unexpected events that kept me guesstimate. The end felt a bit rushed but overall I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you Netgalley & Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC of Keep Your Friends Close by Leah Konen! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Mary is in the middle of a custody battle and finds herself needing a friend now more than ever - Perfect timing, she meets Willa at a Brooklyn playground. They become close and she shares her secrets about her ex - When right after, Willa ghosts her without a word or trace.

A couple of months later Mary finds herself trying to rebuild her life in a new town, and runs into Willa. But Willa is Annie...and she's got a new family.

I'm going to leave the synopsis HERE because I don't want to give away more of the plot and IMO the full synopsis does just that.

This is a twisty book that I found myself really invested in. Some parts fell flat, so I enjoyed it but wasn't in love with it overall. I really enjoy Konen's work!

This mystery was so fast paced and twisty that I devoured it in just a matter of hours. The cast of secretive characters who lie, cheat, and manipulate others to get what they want will keep you guessing and rooting for the main character. I liked the short chapters, multiple points of view, and satisfying ending. Perfect relaxing read.

Keep Your Friends Close is not a bad book by any means, but I would not consider it original nor memorable. Just a generic, entertaining thriller. 3.75 stars.

Pros: Easy read, short chapters, multiple POVs/timelines, plot twists, entertaining, frenemies
Cons: Difficult to keep different settings (houses) straight, clunky, unbelievable/unlikable characters/dialogue

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Leah Konen for the advanced copy.

Keep Your Friends Close had the ability to be an interesting read but it fell short me.

We follow Mary who is going through an ugly divorce with her husband who comes from a very wealthy family. The story is told POV style from Mary and her new friend, Willa. The story is broken down into 3 parts but I’m honestly not sure why.

The story was creative and could have been much more interesting but I think the author failed to make any of the characters very likable or deep. Everything was a bit shallow and surface level.

Overall, this was a shorter book and POV style so it made reading it fun and easy but I was really hoping for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group -Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC before it’s intended release date in February, 2024

I would first like to thank Leah Konen, NetGalley, and Putnam for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a perfect domestic thriller meets murder mystery where Mary meets Willa at the park while their children are playing and they become great friends. After Mary pours her heart out to Willa during a night at the bar Willa disappears for months, only to turn up under a different name with a different child.
Mary is going through a nasty custody battle and her soon to be ex ends up dead — who is responsible?

This twisty thriller kept me guessing until the end! This is the first book I’ve read by Leah Konen but definitely not the last! I was hooked until the end!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Keep Your Friends Close.

I wasn't a fan of this because the premise was unoriginal.

This is not the first book I've read where a lonely woman (insert: mother, wife, professional) befriends a glamorous woman who in turn turns out to be not who she says she is (con artist).

It was hard to like Mary, who married for money, and now finds herself at the mercy of her wealthy husband and powerful family when she tries to leave him, and Willa, who pretends to be someone who she is not, to scam money, jewels, and lavish clothes from her marks.

At least, she is honest about what she does and who she is.

Mary and Cassandra are typical stereotypes of this genre; women who fall for their handsome (aren't they all in these books), wealthy, entitled husbands until they realize they aren't who they pretend to be.

None of the twists were surprising, though the identity of the killer felt far fetched, in my opinion.

It felt forced, as if the author realized the big bad had to be someone in their social circle and chose this dude at the last minute.

All the talk about jewelry and selling it to start a better life was repetitive, redundant, and SO boring.

The writing was fine, but the narrative lacked suspense, drama, and compelling characters. I didn't like anyone, nor did I care what happened to them.

Mary is a struggle new mom trying to find her way. When she meets a fellow mom at the playground, she knows she has met a new best friend. Willa is different from the other moms-bold, confident, and funny. Mary feels a sparkle in her life again. With the prompting of Willa, she spills secrets and unhappiness in her marriage. She finds the courage to leave her husband, The problem is she has now also lost Willa, who has disappeared without a seeming trace.

Drama ensues and the story help strong to the end!

Keep Your Friends Close was a solid read it for me. It started off a bit slow, but it picked up relatively quickly, and I became invested in the main character. I did think it was a bit strange how quickly she befriended Willa and barred her soul to her but I think some of that can be attributed to her need to find someone who cared about her and was kind to her. I did think the unveiling of the relationship between Cass and Willa was a bit disjointed, and the end felt a tad clunky. The killer was not believable for me because we never saw or heard anything to make it seem like they would be violent or lose control. It felt a bit like a cop out. But, I still enjoyed the read, and how fast paced was. Thank you to Putnam Books for my advanced reader copy.

I LOVED this book, that is no understatement. Konen sucked me in from the first chapter and didn't let me go. I loved the alternating viewpoints and could not wait to find out what happened next. Keep Your Friends Close does not lack any twists and turns and certainly does not disappoint. A delicious rollercoaster ride, this book will leave you wanting and waiting for more. I definitely thought about this book long after I finished. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor a few times, but I loved that and crave that in a book. The only negative thing that I can say about the book is that I guessed the killer before the ending which just wasn't as fulfilling to me as if it would have been a complete shocker and surprise. I'm definitely going to have to start thinking who I can trust and what their motives are in my real life after this book. I will definitely be looking forward to more from Leah Konen.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. This is my first book by this author and I will be seeking out more! I easily finished this book in 2 days. It was a page turner from start to finish!

I absolutely loved this book! The plot was freaking good, I loved the twist and the way the book was written. I cant wait for the release and recommend this book!

As far as thrillers go, this was entertaining. Though I could guess each twist that came my way but I was pleasantly surprised. Witty.

This book turned me off within the first 5% .of reading. A journalist would not tell all her personal business to a bartender she has just ordered 1 drink from. Started off unbelievable and it seemed mindless to finish.