Normally, I really love Lucinda Berry but this was just not it. I felt like I have read this same kinda of story 100 times which sucks. But maybe her next will be better.

murder mystery meets rich housewives. This group of women aren’t just any housewives, they are housewives in the West Hollywood Mom’s Club, meaning they are the elite. However, after one of the group members turns up dead at a party, 3 of the women find themselves immersed into the investigation. All 3 women have secrets that could potentially be motive to kill their friend, yet, would any of them risk it all and ruin their perfect Hollywood life?

A very different Lucinda Berry book than what I’m used to. Her normal dark and deeply disturbing books take a turn with this “popcorn thriller”. Although, I love what I’d consider a “normal” Lucinda book, this one was still extremely captivating and kept me on my toes. I felt all of the characters were unlikeable and could only find myself partially rooting for one of them. The shocking twists and turns were all tied together with a jaw-dropping, yet messy ending leaving me unsatisfied and yearning for more. As you know, there hasn’t been a Lucinda Berry I wouldn’t recommend, and although this one is very off brand for her, I’d still recommend.

ALSO, thank you to @lucindaberryauthor herself for sending me this copy for my kindle 🖤

goodreads rating: 3.86⭐️
my rating: 4⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! Extremely scandalous and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time!

This book gave me chills in the best way possible. Lucinda definitely does not ever disappoint in her storytelling. I can’t wait for her next read!!!

This book is a thriller with an ending you will never guess. It is about a group of friends where one was murdered at a party. I just thought the ending was just too much unbelievable for me. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I definitely look forward to reading more books by this author.

Another twisty mystery from Lucinda Berry. I really enjoyed this one. I love messy mom stories so this was right up my alley. It gave me some "Big Little Lies" vibes, which is my favorite book. Definitely had a jaw dropping twist that brought up my rating. Very memorable and fun.

The most unhinged book I’ve ever read! My jaw is on the floor, I couldn’t put this down! In general the plot was insane but the all twists…wow wow wow! This was everything I want out of a thriller and more.

Reading Between the Wines book review #54/130 for 2024:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: Keep Your Friends Close
Author: Lucinda Berry
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: …And your enemies closer!! This saying was perfect for this book. Why is it that a bunch of women that are all supposed to be friends always has some drama in it? This group of women don’t just have drama but lies, secrets, and disloyalty. I just had no clue who killed Kiersten. I didn’t think it could be the obvious choice but then again was this Berry trying to do a switcheroo!? I loved the reveal of who done and why and it definitely had my jaw on the ground.

Cheers and thank you to @ThomasAndMercer and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @KeepYourFriendsClose.

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Perfect read for a stormy day! Fast paced and will keep you on your toes! Lucinda does a great job at getting you hooked from the first page and never giving away what’s going to happen. You think you may know but trust me you don’t.

I read this in one day. So many twists and turns, yet still a bit predictable. Ms. Berry is a good storyteller. These five “friends” are super close, yet there are so many delicious secrets between them. Even though I knew who did what, it was still a satisfying wild ride.

Great fast paced read. Interesting and kept my interest the whole time. Perfect for a beach or summer escapist read.

When Kiersten McCann, president of the West Hollywood Moms’ Club, turns up dead in her own pool, it quickly becomes clear this wasn’t an accident. And the party guests―all members of the exclusive club―are now key suspects in her murder. Accusations fly, and three mothers find themselves at the center of the investigation. Whitney, Brooke, and Jade all have heavy secrets to bear…and possible motives for their friend’s murder. But as the police look closer, more secrets, betrayals, and sinister plots are revealed than the women could ever imagine. With everything at stake, deceit threatens to shatter their illusions of the perfect life. West Hollywood will never be the same. Not the most likebale you will ever meet but you will be happy with the ending. Lots going on and I did get a bit bogged down about 2/3 of the way through but all in all an enjoyable binge read.

This was fast paced & bingeable. Not my favourite from LB but if you enjoy mean rich people getting what they deserve then you’ll eat this up!

A very good book and story fully of twists. There were a few main characters and there were some times where it felt like there was too much going on to keep it all straight.

This book seemed like your run of the mill who dun it. Until the last few chapters that is. The ending absolutely blew my mind and I never saw it coming. Just when you think it’s all wrapping up and figured out there’s another twist.

Keeping up with the (fill in any popular Hollywood family name) was the main goal for this cast of female characters in KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE. A close-knit group of ladies' worlds are destroyed when one of their own is found floating in a pool. Murrdddeerrrr.

For those readers who are mothers, a lot of the pressure these characters feel will resonate. The need to be liked, the hope you are doing the right thing for your family, the complicated workings of being there for your friends who are like sisters to you... Of course, most of us don't have even a tenth of the secrets these ladies had, but the mystery was an interesting one.

The only aspect of the book I did not care for, were the numerous references to the 2020 pandemic and lockdown. I still find it to be "too soon." The references did not advance the plot in any way and could have been left out.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an e-copy of KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE to review.

I rate KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE four out of five stars.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Lucinda Berry has done it again with this book! This cast of characters are awful and brilliant frenemies. The story is told in dual timelines of past and present. The story just flew and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend

Lucina Berry is a new to me author. Unfortunately this one did not do it for me. I enjoyed that the story was told in a dual POV, typically my favorite format but I felt that there was too much going on with the story line. I didn’t really care for the characters either.

Lucinda Berry is an auto read author for me. I have enjoyed any of her books, so I was super grateful to be able to read this. I loved how fast-paced this book was overall. I also took away the life lesson of "keep your friends close" because you simply never know who you are dealing with. I devoured every page of this book up until the very last page and was left speechless. Lucinda is the queen of thrillers!

Who needs enemies when your friends are this backstabbing? I loved this book. The amount of unreliable narrators made you feel just as lost as the detectives. I honestly did not see the ending coming