A quick short story about relationships and how often they form who we are and who we become, good and bad. Lucy is newly divorced and gets talked into a girls night out, where she meets Elle. They quickly become friends after realizing all of the common interests they have. Even though Elle is a bit younger, Lucy feels comfortable with her and as best friends often do, they talk every day and share everything until after Lucy invites Elle to a dinner party. She becomes distant and acts a little odd with her comments. Lucy is hurt and unsure what happened and how things could change so quickly. But when she runs into Elle one night stopping to pick up dinner, a shocking discovery is made and Lucy can’t believe what she just found it. Feeling like she is getting divorced all over again, she seeks out a therapist and as she digests all that happened, she realizes that she is finally finding herself. People often come into our lives for a reason and some of those relationships stay for life and others were meant to teach us a lesson. I enjoy this quick short read! Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the complementary ebook. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

I have been a fan of this author for quite awhile and I could not wait to dive into this short story!

Lucy has recently divorced from her husband and she is struggling to get “back out there”. She finds herself in a bar one night with a bunch of divorced friends. She quickly realizes this is not her scene. But she does end up meeting a young woman named Elle. These two hit it off…until…

Talk about a quick and lightening fast read! There are a lot of items packed into these 44 pages and I enjoyed every minute!

Lucy and Elle are fast friends and I enjoyed their camaraderie. Lucy even wants to work with Elle on a new children’s book she is wanting to publish. Then it all falls apart…and you will need to read this to find out how and why!!

Need a quick story which will have your emotions at a max! …THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this short story from the author for a honest review.

“When We Were Friends: A Short Story” by Jane Green, is thought-provoking, intriguing, and heartfelt. In this well-written and enjoyable story the author vividly describes the dramatic and colorful characters as complex and complicated. Lucy is a recently divorced mom of a young daughter, who enjoys her job, gardening, and the simple pleasures in her home. One evening, Lucy goes out, where both single women and men do. She retreats to the lady room, when she meets a younger woman, Elle. The two bond and form what appears is an amazingly close friendship. Lucy isn’t aware of certain red flags that are warnings. There are secrets, betrayals and disappointments. I appreciate that the author discusses the importance of friends, family, honesty, communication, love and hope. Lucy feels she has found both growth and herself. I highly recommend this memorable story for others.

WHEN WE WERE FRIENDS: A Short Story
By Jane Green

When We Were Friends by Jane Green is a short story / novella that I went in blind. I have been a fan of Green’s books for years now, so I am excited to jump into these Amazon Original Stories.

I found the writing immersive and quite addicting, and how Jane Green developed the characters with that atmospheric vibe was exceptional. I found it thrilling to read right from the very beginning where the insta- friendship and the immediate connection started, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and did it ever!

I cannot wait to read more of these stories.

Really enjoyed breaking up the monotony and diving into a short story! “When we were friends” was just that, short, sweet and to the point. A fast and full friendship between Lucy and Elle leaving you with a few rules of thumb and “what would you do”.

It was entertaining and I appreciated how things moved along quickly. A divorced Lucy met Elle by chance one night and their friendship evolved very quickly but then a twist and a surprise.

A page turner for me. I did want a bit more at the end with Elle, but for what it’s worth I get that it needed to be wrapped up for a short story.

I would say YES for a quick read, something fast paced and enjoyable.

Who would’ve thought you could get a full fledge book on only 44 pages. I got as much out of these 44 pages as I typically do a 300 page book. Absolutely incredible.
I don’t know how Jane Green did it.

The short story was everything I needed.

Just like this book, Lucy and Elle’s relationship was short. Sometimes we meet people that come into our lives on a whirlwind. You think that they are the missing piece, only to find out they aren’t who you thought they were. I think we can all relate to the story.

When We Were Friends is a beautifully written character driven short story.
Lucy is divorced with a 12 year old daughter. She is feeling uncomfortable at a
singles night when she meets Elle in the bathroom. Even though she is much
younger, they immediately click. They have so much in common including mother's
who treated them badly. With so much in common, they quickly become best friends
talking, texting and spending time together every day. That is until Elle betrays Lucy.
Did Lucy really know Elle? Was she just so used to being treated badly that she accepted
whatever people offered her because she didn't think she deserved better? This is a story of divorce, friendship, betrayal and starting over. To trusting yourself and your instincts and learning
to like yourself. This is a fast read at only 44 pages but also has a big impact.

This was a compelling short story about female friendship, divorce, and trusting yourself.
Synopsis:
Lucy is newly divorced and has a twelve year old daughter. She meets Elle during a girl’s night out and they become fast friends despite the age difference. Lucy finds herself in a toxic friendship.

My thoughts:
I connected with thisi story on so many levels. First, I am recently divorced and I remember the first time I opened my heart to someone else which was romantically not platonic as in Lucy’s case, but it hurt greatly when it didn’t work out. Like Lucy I have also been love bombed. Lucy was smart in the way that she extricated herself from the relationship and sought help from a therapist. I thought once I was divorced I’d be able to depend more on friends but I’m still finding many of my friends even those of a similar age are very busy with raising their families.. I once read a quote ( I wish I could remember it exactly ) that having a new female friend is as exciting to women as a new romantic partner. Thank you Jane Green for writing about female friendship and the importance it plays in our lives.

It's been forever since I read anything by Jane Green. She's so good at writing women's characters and the relationships between them. While it's a tall task to do that in a short story, she did. I felt I knew Lucy and could relate to being an adult and finding more of your people. Juggling all of what life throws at you and still making connections. We mourn the breakup of a relationship, but what happens when friends drift apart? And how do you replace those important people in our lives? Maybe it is one too many thrillers this summer, but I did see that twist coming, but only because I am always looking for one. But it was the characters and the connections that shone in this one.

In this book Lucy is a single divorced mom with a twelve year old daughter. I could definitely relate to her in feeling like it’s hard to make new friends as an adult and a mom. Then Lucy meets Elle- who seems like the perfect friend. Question is, will it last or is it actually too good to be true?

This book surprised me at every turn, and I enjoyed every minute! I was impressed that it had great character development, especially considering it is such a short story. I absolutely love Jane’s books and so glad to have new stories of hers to read!

I loved this short story! This story follows Lucy in the aftermath of a divorce, trying to figure out a new life for her and her 12 yr old daughter, KC. She meets Elle when she most needs a friend and they really hit it off despite their age difference. Elle’s mother is English and Lucy is too. They grow as close as sisters doing everything together, sometimes with KC and sometimes just as adults. Lucy even tries to get Elle a job illustrating children’s books. It’s only after Lucy takes Elle to a party where Elle is jealous of Lucy’s relationship with the hostess, does a few cracks in their relationship show.

Maybe they went too fast? Was Lucy so desperate for companionship she was willing to overlook their differences? I really liked this short story. Lucy seemed like a treasure and I’m glad she stuck to her guns when it came to Elle’s betrayal.

This is my firsts read from Jane Green. I felt immediately hooked to the story, as Lucy and Elle are hooked to each other. You initial get that off vibe from Elle, but can't quite place your finger on it. Jane nailed the "as an adult, its hard to make friends" so when you find a friend, you might overlook those red flags. I definitely didn't the twist coming and really made me stop and think about friends from the past. How well do we really know people? I wished this story had been longer as I just adored Lucy and Elle's dynamic. I would have loved to have seen one of Lucy's friends thoughts of Elle after the party - I think that could have made a really cool contract to the story.

-Contemporary fiction
-Relatable, complex characters
-Friendship
-Thought-provoking
-Short Story

I'm really glad I took a chance on this one and read it. I'm not really into short stories, hence the hesitation, but it came highly recommended by a friend, and I'm so happy I picked it up.

Though this is a short story, it packed quite a punch and I think everyone should read it to better understand human nature. Friendships evolve with time, some bonds get stronger, some don't. Either way, nothing stays the same and everything is bound to change.

I really liked how this story took place in dual time, and kept going back and forth between the MCs college days and present days. Another thing I loved was how it emphasized on how secrets and regrets play a big part in how our lives can change.

Have you ever had a bad breakup ... with a best friend?

It's not really a new concept, but it's refreshing to see it appear in this new story. This short little novella brought to us by Amazon Original Stories releases October 1st and it's a tiny story that packs a big punch.

I've had friend breakups, not as intense as the one in this book, but it's interesting how I think about those friends and how things ended more than actual boyfriend and past relationship breakups! I love that it's finally represented in book form!

Lucy is newly divorced and finally living her life just as she wants - just for her and her daughter. When she meets Elle in a restroom, they instantly connect, and she feels complete - as if she found her other half ... the ultimate of best friends. Things quickly escalate to an amazing and intimate friendship - and then just as quickly fall apart. What happened? Who is Elle really?

It's a fast-paced story (just 44 pages!) that hooks you right in and doesn't let go until a most surprising and shocking ending I didn't see coming ... and a great reminder that you don't need someone else to make yourself feel whole.

Quick story that packed a punch. It’s about a whirlwind friendship that is almost addicting. The whole time I was waiting for the other shoe to drop because Elle was just too good to be true.
I loved the ending. It was empowering and just what I needed at the moment.

Sometimes a good shot story is just what I need and this one is perfect! It’s expertly written with fantastic character growth.
When We Were Friends is a moving tale about the need for acceptance, from others and ourselves. It’s also a cautionary one to remind us that friendships and love that burn bright so fast, tend to fizzle just as quickly.

I loved this cute story! It may be a novella but for me it was a full story that I could really get into. As adults, friendships can be difficult to maintain and difficult to navigate at times. I've always been told friendships come into our life for a reason or a season and there's always a purpose no matter how short they may be with us. This book shows us how there may be highs and lows of our friendships but in the end the journey is what is beautiful about it. As a reader, when a book makes me start to retrospect about my own life, then I know that book has impacted me. This is exactly what When We Were Friends did. If you enjoy contemporary fiction then definitely pick this up - it's a quick read but it's a story I think that most people will be able to relate to in some way or another!

I’m a firm believer that people will come in and out of your life when you need it and this short story I feel highlights that. I found Lucy relatable and in a short amount of time I could see how her new friendship with Elle changed her. It was well written, the characters had good depth for a short read and Lucy's emotions leaped off the page. I was not expecting the story to head in the direction it did. I loved the closer that Lucy had at the end. Great short story.

When We Were Friends by Jane Green is a fantastic short story that I really enjoyed reading.

I love Jane Green, Sister Stardust is one of my favorite books by her.

We meet Lucy, a divorced single mom of a 12-year-old. She's having a hard time fitting in with the divorce moms until she finds Elle. The perfect friend and they are inseparable. Is it too good to be true? What secrets and lies are behind this perfect newly found friendship?

This character driven story is filled with surprises at every turn. The character development is excellent considering the short length of the book.

I really enjoyed this short story that will leave you quite surprised. Highly recommend!

Oh my gosh!! So much emotion packed into a short story. At first, you’re cheering for Lucy for putting herself out there (let’s face it, that’s HARD!!). Then as time goes on, you start seeing red flags about Elle. This was a great short story!!