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

My friend had given me a Samantha M. Bailey book a while back and I absolutely loved it. "A Friend in the Dark" is a great, quick, thrilling read.

A friend in the dark by Samantha M Bailey.

The perfect thriller.

The protagonist, 45 year old Eden whos husband of 2 decades has just told her he is leaving her whilst dropping their daughter off at University for the first time. This leads Eden to send a friend request to an old school flame that she will forever regret!

This thriller is fast paced and every page leads you into the unknown. It is a rollercoaster of a novel that is very well written and easy to read. The character development of all characters is fantastic. It is written from both Eden and Justin’s wife Olivia’s perspectives.

Olivia was clearly experiencing severe mental health issues throughout. Her marriage was basically a prison sentence however did she get what she deserved due to her dark secrets being revealed??? This is left to interpretation.

The strength of the family unit for Eden is a really strong storyline and ended just how I wanted it to.

Over all a 5* read!! I will look forward to reading more by Samantha!

Fast paced popcorn thriller that can be read in a day this will grab you and keep you ripping through pages. Yes you have to suspend belief to go along with the storyline, but isn’t that the whole point of fiction?
Eden’s husband of twenty years left her as soon as they took their daughter to college. No explanation or apologies-just out the door. Now, it’s Eden’s birthday and she’s feeling sorry for herself so she decides to reach out to her first love on Facebook, Justin. He responds immediately. Is fate giving her and Justin a second chance? Eden is hesitant though because of how things were left with Justin all those years ago, but at the same time, as soon as they connect, the sparks are immediately there again so she turns a blind eye to the red flags.
Then we have a POV change to Justin’s current wife, Olivia, who is unhappy in her marriage, and the whole narrative changes and becomes majorly unhinged in a whole other way. And the truth about Justin and about the night that they met puts her and her family in a whole new light and in the fight for their lives.
If you’re looking for something to binge, this is the book for you. This is a Lifetime movie in book form and I am here for it!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

"A Friend in the Dark" by Samantha M. Bailey is a gripping domestic thriller that will leave readers breathless. Bailey's expert storytelling shines in this tale of digital romance turned deadly.

Eden Miller finds herself at a crossroads after her husband blindsides her with divorce and her relationship with her daughter fractures. In a desperate bid to reclaim her past, she reconnects with her college crush, Justin Ward, through social media. What starts as a harmless online flirtation quickly escalates into a dangerous game as Justin's knowledge of Eden's life becomes eerily intimate.

Bailey skillfully navigates the complexities of online relationships and the blurred lines between fantasy and reality. As Eden delves deeper into her connection with Justin, she uncovers unsettling truths about the man she thought she knew and the events that shaped her life twenty-three years ago.

"A Friend in the Dark" is a pulse-pounding thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Bailey's compelling narrative and intricate plot twists make this a must-read for fans of the genre. With its sensual undertones and spine-tingling suspense, "A Friend in the Dark" is sure to captivate readers from start to finish.

3.5 stars

The book was a standard thriller book and it wasn't bad, but nothing about it made it stick out from any other thriller book.

I really didn't like Eden as a main character - I thought she was obnoxious. Obviously she didn't deserve what happened to her, but I didn't find myself rooting for her life to get fixed. I mean the "relationship" she had with Justin in college was all in her head - he was just a player that flirted with her, but they didn't have a relationship. And then I was annoyed when she kept saying she had a "sexual relationship" with Justin in the present day because they had phone sex one time. I don't think that constitutes a sexual relationship.

I also didn't find myself rooting for Ava - she just seemed really bratty. I understand it's difficult when your parents go through a separation/divorce but she really took it way too far to get them back together.

My favorite was Olivia and I thought she deserved better. Yeah she did some horrendous things but she really experienced endless trauma from her childhood to present day. I don't think Eden has to forgive her or have any contact with her, but Olivia deserves friends and people who care about her.

A friend in the dark follows Eden, a recently separated 40 something year old who is going through the blows of her marriage (and only relationship) blowing up, as well as losing her teenager daughter to the throws of university and teen attitudes.

This book has a lot of contemplation from the FMC as she looks back on her life and events leading up to the present to try to figure out how she got here and where she wants to go next. I personally enjoyed diving into the mind of Eden, seeing things from her stand point and relating to certain insecurities and fears of hers. Even though she was a little lost in life and needed a good reality check, I couldn’t help finding her endearing.

Everything starts to go wrong when she drunkenly reaches out to her old college crush who seems to take an instant interest in her. She begins to lose her inhibitions and finds herself spiralling into a world of chaos, and soon wondering if this person is in fact toxic for her, or if her seemingly stalker is somebody else entirely.

I enjoyed the twist in this book and the switch of POVs. Although I felt bad for Eden, I also think she had opportunity for a lot of character growth which left her in a better place than when she started, despite all the bad things that happen.

This was an enjoyable read for me, I read it in one day and stayed up late to see how it ended which is always a sign of a good book!

Thank you to Samantha Bailey, Thomas and Mercer & NetGalley for the ARC!
Pub date: March 1 (available now)

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A March 2024 BOTM pick, and rightly so! I've been waiting for this one and it did not disappoint! I love a good, saucy story like this that feeds my inner nosey nellie. This had me gripped like it was something happening down the street. Such a good one!

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book to read. I appreciate it very much, but unfortunately this is not for me.

This book was a fast paced, quick read with an interesting plot. But the second half of the book it falls apart and instead becomes an unrealistic, far fetched story with a group of characters that gives you no one to root for and it’s all wrapped up in a neat little bow packaged perfectly somehow.

This story had potential, but fell flat.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC. Boy, am I glad I did! This story kept me engaged from start to finish. At first the premise seemed reminiscent of several other books I have read in the past so I wasn’t sure I would like it, but the ending hooked me in so well and my jaw dropped at one point - lots of surprises and small twists. Definitely give this one a read!

Got this as an Amazon First Read book and I am so glad I did! I had no idea what to expect from this book but it had me hooked from the beginning! There were so many twists and turns in this and every time I thought I knew what was coming I was fooled again.

Eden Miller is blindsided by a divorce from her husband while dropping their daughter off for college. A daughter who barely speaks to her and blames her for the divorce. So Eden decides to friend request an old love interest from college, hoping to find herself again after her marriage. But she gets so much more than a new romance.

I read this book in one day, I couldn’t put it down! I just had to know what was going to happen next. Samantha Bailey does a great job of making you second guess everyone in this story. This is a new to me author and she has won my reader heart!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book!

Four stars

I have a thing for characters I love to hate, so Eden being the most frustrating person and making horrible decisions didn't turn me off of this the way it did for some.

this was an easy read and very fast paced as long as you roll your eyes at Eden in the beginning and don't let it deter you from the rest.

Why in the heck has this book not been more recognized?! It was absolutely freaking phenomenal! I thought I had the story all figured out. Some pieces, yes, but that ending HOLY COW! I was not ready for that! Highly recommend this!