This was one of those quick reads that I read in a whole two sittings- not necessarily because it was short, but because I read it well into the night, then picked it right back up upon waking the next morning. I legitimately didn't see the curveball coming that was thrown halfway- I figured Justin was just another jerk. Once Olivia and Eden's narratives converged, I sped through this book, eager to see the outcome. (Which, again, I didn't see coming). I'll definitely be recommending this book (easily), and will obviously be looking for future books by Samantha M. Bailey. (Hello Juliet is already on my Barnes and Noble/Amazon wish list.).

I enjoyed both women's stories and the way the story jumped in time and POV as we get to know what happened with each woman's relationship with a bad boy drummer and the fateful frat party that ended with one of their friend's dying.

Edgy, relatable and filled with trauma, catfishing, stalking and tons of twists with a killer ending. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Robyn Harding and Samantha Downing. 7+

I saw someone else’s #review (and I am so sorry because I cannot remember whose it was) about this being one of those #suspensethrillers that you CANNOT put down and will end up finishing in one night. The #bookreview was accurate. It is short and you cannot put it down - it is addicting - albeit laughably unrealistic (although I still would recommend it just for the pure entertainment and fast paced nature of this one). If you need out of a #readingslump and need a #quickfix, this is perfect!

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A woman finds herself in the depths of hell when her husband unexpectedly leaves her and her only child - who appears to blame her and her alone for their failed marriage - leaves for college. She finds herself in a thrilling and unexpected newfound correspondence with the only man she’s ever loved before her husband, however - a combination of “what if” and desperation at rock bottom.

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Unfortunately, everything is not what it seems. And sometimes certain people are better left in the past. And sometimes… the people that enter your life are not who they say are.

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Again, extremely ridiculous at parts, particularly the woman’s appearing to inflate a texting relationship to some sort of deep, endearing love. Still, this one is just so wildly entertaining and holds your attention so well, it is absolutely worth it. Would recommend to anyone if you need a solid non-deep #thriller to spice things up.

They say we never really know who we are talking to online and A Friend in The Dark by Samantha M. Bailey is about to prove that as we first start with a party happening twenty years ago in college where Eden went along hoping to hook up with singer Justin, only to end up in the bathroom blacked out and saved by Dave - her now-husband. The pair have just dropped off their daughter to college and Dave has told Eden he wants a divorce. This drives Eden to hop on Facebook and send a spontaneous friend request to Justin Ward - the guy she believes got away. That party has always stuck in her mind as it's also the party where one of their college friends disappeared and never was found. Of course, some people know what happened and have been hiding the secrets for the past twenty years but like any secret, when that person is pushed- they are willing to go to lengths to have that secret out in the open - no matter what the cost. That cost happens to be Eden as she falls into an online romance with Justin, but is it Justin or someone else from her college past who was also at the party? How deep will Eden fall and will it cost her relationship with her daughter Ava? Find out in A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey. A deadly cat-and-mouse game of catfishing.

I didn't love this one. The plot was very rushed to be believable.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own

Enjoyable light read with a twisty turn. I did guess the twist before it happened but it didn’t spoil the book

This was a 3.5 star read for me. It was a quick read and It is relatively fast paced. It pulled me in right away and I wanted to keep reading.

There were lots of twists in this book. Some twists I figured out right away, but the main twists surprised me.

This book shows that not everybody is what they appear to be and you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read an ARC of this book.

This is a fantastic thriller! Immerse yourself into Edens world, a lost, lonely, middle aged woman who just needs a little attention.
Eden finds herself in her 40's newly separated from her husband who is all she has ever known, with a teenage, college aged daughter who appears to hate her.
Eden sends a DM to an almost flame from college and her life spirals from there.
The twist was a bit unexpected, but I should have seen it coming. Great read, fast paced and entertaining!

Eden a 45 year old mother and soon to be ex-wife reconnects with her old college flame.
This dark and twisty book takes readers on a physiological adventure right to the very end.

I am really conflicted with this one, it started off really good, I thought it was set for a 4 or 5 star and I couldn’t put it down but when it got to around 60% I thought it just went downhill and I lost interest. I did finish it and thought the ending was far fetched.
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Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to review this book.

Binge-worthy unputdownable romance thriller (check cons)

Her marriage is a mess, in the brink of a divorce due to reasons she doesn't know, her only child is leaving for college, and the void left along with a few drinks made her add her college ex-situationship on facebook!
And things went tumbling downhill from there.

You should NOT expect a strictly romantic scenario. The writing style and the twists and reveal are very much in the style of the known Freida McFadden ( less the repitition)

Pros:
1- bingeworthy, page turner with a very smooth writing style that keeps you on edge and makes you devour the book in 1 or 2 sittings!

2- Even though i expected the twists, they were really interesting and not at all short of worth it!

3- the pace of the way things are going, the mess that is happening, the problems, the secrets that were revealed, the issues that were uncovered about several characters doesn't leave you any time to get too bored!

4- The action and ending are satisfying, and what is expected of a popcorn thriller (check cons)

Cons:
1- Some of the history revealed was a bit far-fetched, too perfect for my liking!

2- The characters were shallow and slightly dumb (maybe too dumb). Did it get on my nerve? Slightly! But it's not too bad, i mean, it's what i expected from this thriller

3- don't go in expecting great mystery, and masterfully plotter thriller, because you will be disappointed, as i stated its a popcorn thriller, something light and easy to read, not too much thinking is required!

4- Some things did not add up in the book. Some of the coincidences were weird ( when she met him in front of his work as a surprise and the act and excuse that happened after)

This book was absolutely insane! I did not see any of that coming. I really enjoyed the plot and it had several twists and turns. I can't wait to read more from this author. Definitely pick this one up if you love domestic thrillers.

This isn’t usually my kind of book but I thoroughly enjoyed it and finished it in just a couple days. I ended up not being able to put it down!! Very well written and very twisty. Can’t wait to read more!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Samantha Bailey. Although all the characters seemed naive, it was a quick read. There is no jaw dropping twist but more like a stalker thriller.

A Friend in the Dark is a riveting stalker thriller that keeps you guessing with its plot twists. What sets it apart is its realistic portrayal of the dangers of obsession, making it a chilling reminder that anyone could become a target. With each unexpected turn, the tension mounts, delivering a gripping read from start to finish.

This was a good read, fast paced after about 40% in. Only thing that turned me off from giving it more stars was there were just passages from the past and I felt confused if it was the past or the present I'm reading.

To keep the shock factor, the jumps to the past were abrupt like one paragraph would be past and the very next paragraph would be present and the reader has to figure it out.

Also there are few plot-holes that made no sense to me. I hate when people in the book lack communication and the whole drama ensues. I just feel that it happens in books only so it gets on my nerves.

Overall a good mystery thriller which keeps reader on the edge.i finished it in a day which rarely happens. So it is definitely good.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Star rating 3.5 stars

4.5/5 Stars! Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eARC of A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey.

I got this during the "Read Now" promotion and glad I got to grab this before it went away. It was a quick easy read but the beginning did take a while to pick up. Makes me scared of online dating/conversation nowadays. The unexpected twists kept me interested and love how quick it was to tell the story. This is my first book by this author and she delivered! I will be checking out her other books.

A friend in the Dark took me a bit to get it but once i got about 30 % in it really picked up and I couldn't put it down, it was very faced paced.

If you suspend your disbelief in things and don’t think too much this was 3 star for me. Just don’t think so much and enjoy the ride. I will say it kept me wanting to know what’s going to happen.

Some things were off putting and were a bit strange but nothing bothered me more than the flashbacks and present day passages that were only separated by a space and a sentence. It was very confusing

Pulse-pounding top notch thriller right here. I couldn't wait to get to the end and find out all the secrets! Bailey does a wonderful job brining us into the world of Eden, a relator who's struggling with a divorce from her husband while her only daughter has just started college. Eden is lonely and down when she decides to send a friend request to her college crush Justin. He quickly excepts and a cat and mouse game ensues. Each chapter weaves a bigger and bigger web until the final secret is revealed and it's nothing that you were expecting it to be. I cannot wait for the possible sequel to this novel.

I loved the alternating viewpoints--there is a part one told by one character and a part two by a different character. Part three is told in alternating views. The only downside to this is that when it is Olivia's view--it is written in third person as opposed to first person and it comes off a little disorienting and confusing when switching between the two in part three.

I highly recommend reading this book if you are a fan of thrillers and dark domestic novels. This one is one that you shouldn't pass up!