Is the grass greener on the other side? Dave tells Eden he wants to live separately on the day that they drop their daughter off at college. Eden is devastated because Dave gives her no explanation. Feeling sorry for herself Eden decides to reach out to a former classmate that she had a mad crush on in college. Bad mistake!!! What happens next is a twisty and thrilling story that takes many shocking turns.

I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book and highly recommend it. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.

This is not really an appropriate book for me to suggest to students due to sexual content. It does explore mental health issues and abuse and how abusive family life leads to abusive relationships and sexual assault so there are things that would be useful to discuss from this book

This was a fast easy read, the story had potential but it was too unrealistic, too melodramatic for me to take it seriously. Everyone was too much, too naive, too abusive, etc I think some people will enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for an eARC of A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey! I was thrilled to get approved for this one - I adore this author and her work.

What's it about?
Eden is having a crisis - She's going through a divorce she didn't see coming, and her daughter barely speaks to her. She decides to send a friend request to her college crush, beginning an online relationship that turns her into a new woman. One night in college, her life changed. Her relationship with Justin came to a close and she started seeing her husband, Dave. What if she could do everything over? And how does Justin know so much about her current life?

This one is both thriller and spice, a rare combination that you can truly sink your teeth into. I love the past and present storylines that somehow seamlessly blend together in the heart-pounding conclusion. WOW! As always, I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

Well……this read was not what I was expecting. It starts a little ‘Ohhh my!; gets a little creepy and then goes full force ahead into psychological/domestic suspense. This was a quick, ‘read it in one afternoon’ book for me.
Thank You to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Samantha M. Bailey for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book!! Was on the edge of my seat for the last quarter of the book. So many twists and turns!


Eden feels, in the first half of the book, felt like a woman easily susceptible to scams and it was a bit annoying reading from her POV, but also makes her somewhat a relatable/flawed character that you root for towards the end? Overall, loved it!

A bit of a slow start and I found the main character to be a bit lacking. She was portrayed as fairly weak. I thought the twist at the end with her daughter was interesting.

I was very excited to receive a copy of this book! I read this authors first book woman on the edge and loved it and knew I would read all her books!
A friend in the dark was so good. I could not put it down. I loved the characters, story, twists and kept me guessing on how this book would end. I will be recommending this book to all my reader friends!

3 star read for me, if I had not been reading for netgalley to review it would have been a dnf for me. Eden was such an unlikable character for me and found it hard to keep reading more on her, so much cringing. I was glad part 2 came and it was more about Olivia and less Eden. Calling this book a sensual domestic thriller was a stretch, it wasn’t the best in either category. Wish there were more twist and turns that kept me guessing and mindblowning up till the end. I was left wanting more from this book.

What a book!!!!! This was a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat thriller that is unputdownable! I literally finished it in record time! Just when I thought I knew what was going on, the plot twist of all plot twists drops! Run and grab your copy now!!!!

Part 1 was slow and kind of boring. Part 2 was where the book really started as a thriller. Part 3 was crazy, but the ending was meh. All in all, I give it 3 stars. Eden was not my favorite character. I really enjoyed the Olivia / Lila storyline in Part 2. That, to me, could have been a whole book. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I reallllly enjoyed this book! I was hooked from the start and could not wait to see how things would unravel. I was not disappointed. This was a quick, fun read for me. I would definitely recommend!

Seeking some drunken🍷 excitement, Eden takes a chance and friend requests👇 an old crush from college, Justin Ward, never expecting Justin to accept her request. It isn’t long before they begin a dizzying relationship focused on their mutual attraction🧲.

But something doesn’t seem right about the situation, and soon, Eden is thinking about the past, and things that happened at college she would rather forget.

This thriller had great tension from the very beginning, opening with a deadly🤯 situation before switching explore how things escalated.

I think Eden was the perfect character to tell this story, because her experience as a newly divorced (or separated) woman in her mid-forties felt authentic.

I had no expectations going in to this book which worked out in my favor because this book had nothing to offer. Thriller? Hardly. Suspense? No. Fiction? Well, yeah. You got me there.

⚜ Dialogue

Who needs context clues when characters can just point blank say exactly what they’re thinking? Each piece of dialogue in this novel just reads as an exchange of information from the character to the reader to make sure we know exactly what’s going on. Wouldn’t want you questioning anything in this mystery novel. Truly, I can not recall any natural sounding conversations in this book. Characters monologuing their exact thoughts and feelings to the main character, characters unnaturally bringing up information that only serves as context for the reader- you get the picture.

⚜ The Main Character

If you asked me to describe the main character I would say… Loves her family. Doesn’t like being divorced. Likes hot guys. Is blonde.

The main character, Eden, was not unlikable only because that would imply she had any traits at all. I disliked her about as much as someone can dislike drywall. The rest of the cast had slightly more personality, I guess. I mean they’re still about as deep as a sheet of A4 paper but the author clearly made some sort of effort to distinguish them which has to count for something.

⚜ The Plot

Maybe I’m just biased for character driven stories but the reveals did absolutely nothing for me. Because why would they? I was so unimmersed in this world that even the more unexpected reveals felt empty. I knew who I was supposed to be rooting for but that didn’t make me care any more about them or their story. The story itself is not particularly unique either. It had potential, I suppose but so do most stories. There were unexpected elements which I imagine might’ve had some sort of effect if I had any reason to invest myself into the story. But I didn’t.

⚜ Final Words

What tried to be a suspenseful, steamy, page-turner was anything but. Featuring a main character without a personality, a lukewarm mystery, and… Actually, that’s about it.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

3.75 stars*

What a crazy ride! So many twists and turns, I didn't see some of them coming. I never read any book from Samantha M. Bailey but now she’s on my radar for sure!

This fast-paced and domestic thriller novel had me hooked from the start. It’s told from two perspectives, Eden’s and Olivia’s. I enjoyed the POV changes and the time jumps as well with drama, suspense and steamy moments too: the perfect mix. Eden was so frustrating and naive especially in the beginning, it was understandable considering what she’s was going through and just wanted to feel better about herself and her situation but I still wanted to yell at her to wake up.

Juicy and drama filled, this book is binge worthy and hard to put down once you get into it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a digital ARC copy.

#AFriendInTheDark #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Although I did not love this book, it did keep me reading. The ending dragged. Just an okay read for me.

"A Friend in the Dark" by Samantha M. Bailey is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that unravels the complexities of relationships, past mistakes, and the dark secrets hidden beneath the surface. As a reader, I was immediately drawn into the tumultuous world of Eden Miller, a woman grappling with the sudden loss of her husband and the estrangement of her daughter. Seeking solace and a connection to her past, Eden reaches out to her college crush, Justin Ward, setting off a chain of events that will change her life forever.
The novel expertly weaves together multiple perspectives, offering insights into the minds of Eden, Justin, and Olivia, Justin's wife. Through these alternating viewpoints, the story delves into the intricacies of love, betrayal, and redemption, keeping me on the edge of my seat as the truth slowly unfolds.
While the novel's plot adheres to the conventions of a thriller, it stands out with its deeply flawed and complex characters. Eden's journey of self-discovery and vulnerability felt remarkably authentic, though at times frustrating. Justin's deceptive nature and Olivia's turbulent past added a layer of tension and intrigue, creating a morally ambiguous atmosphere that kept me guessing until the final pages.
Despite their flaws, I empathised with the characters and rooted for their redemption. Olivia, in particular, stood out for me with her resilience and the depth of her pain, which resonated deeply throughout the story.
Overall," A Friend in the Dark" is a compelling read that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, past and present. Samantha M. Bailey's masterful storytelling and nuanced characterisation make this novel a captivating and thought-provoking thriller that will leave a lasting impression long after the final chapter.

I have enjoyed all of Samantha M. Bailey's books and this newest thriller did not disappoint. "A Friend in the Dark" is dark, twisted, compelling, and just plain nasty in the best way. I had to finish this in one sitting. Highly recommended for lovers of suspense/thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Publication date is March 1st, 2024. #AFriendInTheDark #NetGalley

I found this book so addictive and read it in one day…..

I loved the wackadoo passion everyone had - it was like these adults suddenly became hormonal teens and didn’t know how to act appropriately (can you say mid life crisis!) It’s maybe not the most realistic portrayal, but it was fun, twisty and a lil bit spicy!

When daughter Ava goes off to college, husband Dave tells wife Eden he wants a divorce - this is the bombshell that blows everything up

We get another point of view in part 2 and there’s even more shenanigans and twists than I could have expected

Part three had me spinning and I could barely keep up with everything coming at me!

I’m not usually a fan of the miscommunication trope, but I weirdly related and decided to be thrilled rather than irritated

There weren’t really any likable characters, but they were all so reactive and the pace was so fast, I let it go…. Everyone’s ideas were awful and none of them seemed to be able to think rationally- I gotta be honest, I was so entertained by this total shitshow and recommend this for a head spinning read - just don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the ride

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this eBook ARC in exchange for my honest review