I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have really enjoyed the author's previous books, so I was excited to read this one, but unfortunately I could not get into it at all. I found the characters not likeable at all and struggled to finish it.

Ok WOW! I absolutely loved loved loved this book. I've always been a Lucinda Berry fan but this one takes the cake as her best book ever. I think it is my favorite read of 2023. The scandals, the wealth, the suspense, the PLOT TWISTS!!!!! I devoured this book and am genuinely sad it's over. I just know this is going to be a huge hit once released! Would give more than 5 stars if I could!

In true Lucinda Berry fashion, Keep Your Friends Close starts with bang and leaves you hanging bythe seat of your pants for the rest of the ride.
There's a wealthy mom group of friends and one ends up dead in a pool. An investigation which turns up many secrets and lies are uncovered.
This book was fast paced and had many twists and turns along the way. If your new to Lucinda Berry, this is a great book. If you're already a fan, then you'll enjoy this book too.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC for my unbiased review.

I received this book from NetGalley.

Wow, that's all I can say. Just wow. I haven't read a book this good in a long time!

The amount of twists and turns is just insane! Often books that have a lot of twists and turns can feel forced but this one didn't, not at all.

Whitney isn't painted in the best light at the beginning of the book but by the end she's the person you feel most sorry for. It also shows that you can't judge people's lives, even when their lives might seem idyllic.

Ryan is also a character that you start to root for towards the end - he really had a tough time of things.

Brooke - well with her my feelings went up and down, but the end of her story was a turn I didn't see coming!

Honestly such a good book and I definitely recommend it!

This book, overall, held my attention. I wanted to know "who dunnit" and why. I feel like it could've been a little better though. First of all, the chapters alternated between different characters and different timelines. Occasionally, I had to go back and see who was talking and when, and that made it a little comfusing. Second, I didn't like how ALL the characters were liars and you, as a reader, couldn't believe anything that ANY of them said. It was like having a book full of unreliable narrators. Lastly, after I found out all the details, I discovered the character that I hated and distrusted the most was actually the only good person in the book. 3-3.5 stars for this one.

I’m not really sure what goes on in the twisted mind of Lucinda Berry, but I do know I’m here for it and I love it. This one truly has it all. So many twists, you think it’s winding down and then bam.. wtf.

Oh. My. Goodness. 😳
This was giving Desperate Housewife vibes, but the last 30% of this book was actually insane.
Best ending I've read in a while. 🤯
If you're not feeling it right away, keep going because your mind will be blown.

I cannot ever get enough of this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! Wow! Wow! Never did I see that coming! This was my first book by Lucinda and I loved it! At first, I was trying to figure it all out and I was struggling. By the middle, I had no idea what was coming next and I loved that feeling! Whenever a book makes me think about it when I away from it, that’s my sign of a good story. Read this book! You won’t be disappointed!

This book started out as a slow burn that quickly spread into a wildfire. By the end of it I could not put it down as there were so many twists coming that I just had to know how it all ended. A rollercoaster of a novel where everyone is not who they seem. Who killed Kiersten? And why? I thought I had it figured out a few times but I couldn’t figure out the “why”. This book showed me it’s important to be careful who your rooting for and that people are never what they seem…or are they?

Keep Your Friends Close is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller that follows a close-knit group of Hollywood elites as they deal with the death of one of their inner circle. When it becomes clear that Kierstan's death was a homicide, the web of lies among this group of women begins to unravel. Soon, all the secrets, lies, and betrayals are made public. Keep Your Friends Close is fast-paced and told through multiple POVs. None of the characters are overly likable; with that said, that is definitely what the author was going for and it actually adds to the story. There were quite a few twists that I did not see coming, which was surprisingly nice, since a lot of thrillers lately have been quite predictable. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending for anyone looking for either a great summer/beach read or an exciting thriller.

This book was incredible! Fast-paced and twisty! Multiple POVs give you little hints at the story while keeping you on the edge of your seat and waiting for the next deception between this group of “friends” I love Lucinda Berry and credit her book Phantom Limb with getting me back into reading for enjoyment as an adult; so I have high expectations when I see her name and this book delivers on them! Awesome twists and turns I didn’t see coming, with a shocking and strange final twist that I never would have expected! Very enjoyable!!

Keep Your Friends Close is an intense slow-burn, twisting and twisting and twisting until the entire tortuous story becomes clear - or does it? Layer after layer, Lucinda Berry displays surprise after surprise.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Book: Keep Your Friends Close
Author: Lucinda Berry
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date: November 7, 2023

Well. This story was terrible. I couldn’t stand any of these women. Nor did I like the cops. And I kept trying to look at it from the perspective that they were the “elite” but does that mean you are just stupid. Kiersten, Whitney, Brooke and Jade all belong to the West Hollywood Mom’s Club and were best friends. And I use that term loosely because these women were not best friends or knew what the word meant. The story alternates between the women and between now and then. (I also didn’t like the font that was used for then and now. Weird I know.) There were so many great storylines in this story that should have been expounded upon but instead just silly stuff was thrown in. I would love to make bullet points on all of it but it would be spoilers. This book was so frustrating because it had such potential. There are so many cringey parts! And again most of the cringey parts are the twists and bombshells! The writing is good! I really like Lucinda Berry and I looked at few other reviews and I’m definitely in the minority with this review. This is definitely a book I would like re-write to make a better story. And this is one of those times I would love to give spoilers just so I could discuss what I would do differently. I gave it two stars because I did finish it and I wanted to know the ending. As bad as it was.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is November 7, 2023.

I seem to be in the minority, but I just could not get into this one. All of the characters were SO unlikeable! The story revolves around the murder of one of the members of the West Hollywood Mom's Club, an informal organization of rich Hollywood women who are new moms. Of course, each is hiding a secret (or more). The writing was good, and there were lots of twists and turns, but I didn't care what happened to any of the women, including the murder victim.

Thanks the NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I try to steer clear of books that center around rich, snooty women and their drama because they make me want to puke. But I couldn't pass on a Lucinda Berry book, and I'm glad that I didn't. This story was crazy! Loved the twists, which I never saw coming. There were some red herrings that led me to believe I knew what happened, but, of course, I was led astray. I didn't like any of the characters so I could care less what happened to them. I did feel sorry for Brooke, but her stupidity made me angry. Good old karma won out in the end and it was bittersweet and satisfying. I have to think that the title of this book is sarcasm at its finest. The last thing I would want to do is keep any of these women close. I definitely recommend this to all the Berry fans, thriller fans and anyone looking for a fast read! Even more so if you're like me and enjoy seeing privileged snobs getting exactly what they deserve.

Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for granting me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for allowing me this advanced copy of “Keep your Friends Close.”

Wow, what a wild a crazy ride this book was. It definitely had me on my toes from beginning to end. When one of the friends of a group of Hollywood elite moms drowns in a pool at a party, nobody seems to know what possibly could have happened. As we delve into the lives of these women, we find more secrets then the craziest episode of desperate housewives! You will be guessing from the beginning and as the secrets unravel, the truth slowly but surely comes out. Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get any worse….

Lucinda Berry has done it again! She has created a wild ride of emotions, relationships, lies, love and deceit! Everyone knows those couples that look like they have it all! Everyone watches them enviously and we are mesmerized by their perfection.

Keep Your Friends Close follows a close knit group of wealthy friends who are newly recent parents. Some of them have been lifelong friends while others are joining the journey. Their weekly meetings are all about swapping ideas and complaints about lack of sleep, breastfeeding and husband issues.

In order to maintain their own identities and friendships they decide to have a party for women only! No babies, toddlers or husbands invited!

Whitney hosts this glamorous event with flare until her BFF is Kiersten is discovered floating face down in the pool. Once Detective Perez becomes involved at the crime scene the friends soon learn not everyone is telling the truth. Kiersten’s death soon becomes an investigation with the word homicide upsetting and terrifying everyone.

Each of the 5 friends are now under suspicion for Kiersten’s death. Husbands are secretly called in to answer questions. Secrets are exposed all around and the definition of friendship is in question.
An excellent read leaving you questioning who in your life you can trust!

Lucinda has quickly become the author that I'll read everything they publish! This one captured my attention right away. Love the mystery around the group of Hollywood friends. Well done. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Lucinda Berry's latest novel, "Keep Your Friends Close" was a quick, thrilling read. She always delivers and never disappoints!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC of Keep Your Friends Close. Wow! Lucinda Berry did not disappoint! With myself being a psychology major, it was fascinating with how she worked in mental health, etc., into this book. A friend is found dead at one of their West Hollywood Moms' Club parties. The question is, who did it? The twist and turns that occur, one will be surprised! I felt like I was watching a desperate housewives and a csi episode mixed together, or even a Lifetime movie! Highly recommend this book!