Huge thank you to Thomas & Mercer for an early e-arc!

This book was INSANE. The synopsis draws you in, but it’s genuinely not even scratching the surface of what this books delivers. There’s rich wives, background husbands, deep, horrifying secrets, and so many plot twists.

This book is delicious and hooks you from the jump, dropping you immediately into the middle of a whodunnit type of crime. The characters — Whitney, Brooke, and Jade — are three of the most insufferable, but lovable women I’ve ever read about. Lucinda’s ability to write complex, unhinged characters and plots made this book an insane, beautiful ride.

This was a fast paced read and easily entertaining. Definitely will keep me interested in Lucinda’s future releases as well!

This was a drama filled mess and I loved it. Definitely a domestic thriller, but the domestic was the whole neighborhood. This book switches perspectives between six women who were all part of a mother’s group and at a party when a seventh mother was murdered. The book is full of suburban secrets some more scandalous than others as the mother try to figure out who killed their friend. There were some interesting subplots, but the divorcing women and custody battle one broke my heart. None of the women were likable, especially the murder victim. The twist at the end was unexpected and quite interesting. It’s hard to talk more specifically about the plot without giving anything away so I won’t get into the details.

Keep Your Friends Close by Lucinda Berry is another gripping and entertaining story.
I absolutely love Lucinda Berry's books - she is an absolutely fantastic author and every single book keeps me gripped, and this one was no different.
This book really captivated me from beginning to end. It had lots of twists and turns throughout the entire book
It was highly suspenseful and cleverly written with excellent plot development, interesting characters and a mystery that kept me guessing.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

This was a great read with a couple of huge twists. I really enjoyed the writing style and the flow of the plot. Even though there are a few characters and different timelines, overall it works. There was a couple spots I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening because it got a smidge muddy. But nonetheless it’s a good read and a definite recommend.

The appearances of the women in the West Hollywood Mom's Club may be very deceiving. On the surface, it looks like they're all wealthy, successful, and happily married, but is that real or an illusion? When Kiersten McCann, the organizer of the club, is found dead floating in the swimming pool of her house during one of their parties, all of the moms become suspects. As the police investigate Kiersten's death and discover it was a murder, they also uncover the women's deep dark secrets. The characters aren't very likable, but there are lots of fun twists and this is a quick and easy read at just 287 pages. This is my 4th Lucinda Berry book and I look forward to her next one. Thanks to #netgalley #thomasandmercer and #lucinda berry for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one which was really surprising to me because all of Lucinda's other books that I have read have been 4-5star reads.

Thank you so much Thomas & Mercer, Lucinda Berry & Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Another totally bingeable - finish in one sitting - book by Lucinda.

Fast paced, twisted and entertaining from start to finish. Comprising of short and quick chapters the story is easy to fly through. Multiple POVs - one of my fav things - was a great way to keep the mystery and to reveal Multiple truths.

Loved this one and highly recommend to all my thriller lovers!

Thank you Lucinda Berry, NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas Mercer for providing me an arc of this novel. Keep Your Friends Close is a domestic thriller loaded with suspenseful plot twists. In this story they have to be careful of who their friends are and who can be trusted. All the women in this close knit mother's club have secrets they keep from each other. As the story moves along you don't know who is the guilty party and who is not. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat and kept me up way past my bedtime reading.

As usual, so good! I will read anything from Lucinda Berry. Her writing is fantastic and this didn’t disappoint. Highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

I love Lucinda berry! I could not put this one down. It was a quick, easy read, and very good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️definitely recommend.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

The West Hollywood's mom clubs, the wealthy, the elite and all keeping secrets from each other. Their actions and secrets result in one of their very own being murdered. But who did it?

Keep your friends close is very Real housewives with a twist. Everyone has secrets. Everyone is lying to each other. You have divorce. Unstable POV's. Murder. If you like insane drama that is a train wreck everyone is standing around to watch. 10/10.

4.5/5 read.

*Thank you Lucinda Berry, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for my copy to review. *

Twisty, fun, voyeuristic.....all the great things people who read domestic thrillers love! A group of moms has formed their own support group. Supposedly they are all so very close but when one of them is killed, the cracks in the relationships start showing. The story is told through multiple points of view and with a then and now timeline to keep things moving quickly. This was over the top female drama with so much conniving and double crossing and back stabbing! At one point I debated making some popcorn to accompany my devilish readings. I will say, however, that I could have done without the last 2 chapters. It felt excessive and somewhat unrelated. Like all those epilogues I complain about, I wish authors would know when to say when.

My goodness what a ride! That was intense. If you want a twisty tell of friendship, loyalty, lies, deceit then this is the book for you.
In true Lucinda Berry fashion this book sucked me in and kept me hooked page after page. I got whiplash from the back and forth on who to believe and not to believe. Then when I got to the twist there was another twist.

Such a great read!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc for my honest review.

This was a great whodunnit! I couldn’t predict where the book was going which made reading more enjoyable and I love!

What a twisty, fun ride! Lucinda Berry never disappoints. This one takes us into the inner circle of the “West Hollywood Moms’ Club.” Kiersten, their leader, has turned up dead during a party in her own swimming pool. Accusations start flying and fingers start pointing. Secrets are exposed as an upper class group of moms start realizing their Instagram perfect lives are about to be shattered. This whodunit will keep you guessing! I just reviewed Keep Your Friends Close by Lucinda Berry. #KeepYourFriendsClose #NetGalley

Reading this book was one wild ride! So many twist and turns throughout the story. It was hard to put this book down. This was my first book by this author, now I can't wait to read more of her writing.

Synopsis: A wealthy mom’s club in Hollywood throws a party where one turns up dead. A classic whodunnit proceeds from there.
Pros/cons: I was so excited to get this arc from Netgalley/Thomas and Mercer because a good friend of mine who LOVES thrillers loves Lucinda Berry books. I will say, she had a nice, easy to read style to her writing- but I didn’t like this book at all. Boring, unlikable characters, weird/not totally surprising twists but disturbing nonetheless.
But I will always encourage you to check it out yourself and see what you think! This releases in November!

What lengths would you go to protect your secrets? “Keep Your Friends Close” explores that question and the answer may surprise you.

This engaging, twisty thriller explores the dark side of friendship. When Kiersten McCann turns up dead in her own pool, it quickly becomes clear this wasn’t an accident.

Whitney, Brooke, and Jade all have heavy secrets to bear and possible motives for their friend’s murder. As the police look closer, secrets, betrayals, and sinister plots are revealed..

Overall, this book was a quick, enjoyable read. While it was my first by this author, it won’t be my last!

In the realm of captivating narratives, this book stands as a testament to the art of storytelling. It skillfully intertwines secrets and lies, creating an intricate tapestry of mystery that keeps readers enthralled from beginning to end.

What truly sets this story apart is its richly developed characters. Each one, with their flaws and vulnerabilities, becomes a mirror reflecting the complexities of human nature. You can't help but feel deeply connected to their struggles and triumphs, making the emotional journey all the more compelling.

The narrative's pacing is masterful, propelling the reader forward with an irresistible force. The writing style, marked by its addictive quality, makes it impossible to resist the temptation to read just one more chapter. As you delve deeper into the plot, you find yourself constantly questioning the boundaries between truth and deception. It challenges your perceptions, leaving you eagerly anticipating the next revelation.

Amidst the gripping storyline, there's an underlying sense of melancholy that permeates the pages. The characters' sorrows and joys become your own, evoking a profound empathy. It's a testament to the author's ability to evoke genuine emotions, making the reading experience not just engaging, but profoundly moving.

This book is more than a mere story; it's an immersive experience that lingers in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page. Prepare to be spellbound, for this narrative journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

Keep Your Friends Close is a combination of love hating all of the deeply flawed characters and not being able to look away from a horrible car wreck. Ugh. Each of the characters are awful in so many ways and yet the author enables us to empathize with them even against our better judgement. This was a solid mystery even though I was not particularly connected to the subject of maternal bonding through backstabbing and cruelty to other women.