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Keep Your Friends Close

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Some bonds are meant to be broken.

Eddie hates Riley for what he did to him and his friends. Yet they convince Eddie to make amends and have a weekend getaway at their private cabin. But things get out of control. And Eddie accidentally kills Riley.

Eddie’s too distraught to think straight. But his friends know exactly what to do. Make a pact to keep Eddie’s secret. Besides, it was an accident. They’re confident nothing like that will happen again.

Except they’re wrong.

Secrets and lies collide in this fast-paced thriller, perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying and Natasha Preston.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2023

282 people are currently reading
348 people want to read

About the author

Niki Keith

6 books49 followers
**Niki Keith does NOT use Goodreads. You can reach her via email at twistythrillers@nikikeith.com.

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Niki Keith writes twisty young adult thrillers about broken teens doing bad things for all the right reasons.

When she isn’t murdering fictional characters, she’s cuddling with her affectionate love-biting kitty, pondering what to read next in her TBR pile.

Visit nikikeith.com to download The Perfect Ride & The Perfect Daughter for free!

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5 stars
100 (31%)
4 stars
87 (27%)
3 stars
80 (25%)
2 stars
35 (10%)
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18 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Tonya.
784 reviews188 followers
April 21, 2023
This YA thriller had it all! It’s filled with twists and turns throughout with a shocking conclusion I never saw coming. Jealousy, murder, deception with interesting characters and a fast paced plot that kept me entertained and engaged. Thank you BookSirebs for my ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Rhonda 🌒🌕🌘 🐈‍⬛.
932 reviews71 followers
March 25, 2023
I certainly did not see that ending coming!
Drugs, murders, jealousy, coverups, romance and sleep disorders. This book has a little bit of everything that keeps you reading to see what happens next. It was entertaining and gut wrenching with one helluva jaw dropping plot twist at the end. I actually give this 4.5 ⭐️ I look forward to more from this author!

There are some triggers to be aware of: abuse, addiction, violence, forced proximity and suicide

For grammar perfectionists there are some errors as well as an overuse of certain phrases. They’re in my notes but I’m unable to share them for some reason.

Huge thank you to author Niki Keith for allowing me to read this ARC. I’m a fan Niki!! Once again your twist at the end got me!
Profile Image for Emma Gold.
122 reviews25 followers
May 2, 2023
What happens when your "bury-the-hatchet" weekend turns into a deadly chain of events? Eddie and his circle of friends vow to keep this secret and move on. But no one really gets away with murder, do they?

I feel like this book has so much potential. It's a great idea, and some plot points and twists worked really well. I love the premise of an accidental death and this close-knit group covering it up. I loved the final twist at the end. My issue is that there was too much going on, too many people or plot points that the story gets a little muddled. I didn't feel I got to know the characters well enough before they were killed off. I didn't have a distinct idea of who these people were and why they were friends. I didn't care enough about them to be deeply invested in the story.

I think if the characters were more distinctly fleshed out and some of the extraneous plot points were cut, it would be a 5-star book for me.

Thank you to BookSirens and Niki Keith for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Emma Ashley.
1,365 reviews49 followers
March 22, 2023
Keep your friends close is a YA thriller by Niki Keith.
It had everything I wanted in a thriller novel and more. A good plot, with lots of twists and turns and great characters. It was a brilliant page Turner and I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by the author.
❤️I received a ARC E book copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Profile Image for Eirlys.
1,763 reviews16 followers
August 25, 2023
Very Dark

This was a story I started out thinking it was quite straightforward. A group of friends who got involved in a situation where they had to trust each other. There were twists which were totally unexpected, as was the ending. The characters were crafted well, and felt real.
Profile Image for S.B. Bartlett.
253 reviews2 followers
July 9, 2025
3.25! What the hell was that ending?!?!? There were a few elements of this book I didn’t like that much, but it was pretty twisty. My fav part was Eddie’s sleep spells. Someone sleeps with their teacher repeatedly so-. Entertaining and quick tho
Profile Image for Julie.
1,673 reviews71 followers
August 21, 2023
Great premise, but strange execution. I admit I'm not a young adult, so maybe they really do act and talk like they did in the book, but to me, they didn't feel authentic. The adults didn't either, so maybe it was just the writing. The story was good and the reveal was a surprise. Then the book just ended abruptly, like there were pages missing. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because I wanted to find out who the murderer was!
Profile Image for ty.
99 reviews4 followers
March 23, 2023
To start, thank you to BookSirens for an ARC of this novel! Keep Your Friends Close by Niki Keith is marketed as a gritty crime ya novel great for fans of Karen M McManus among others. While I do see the reminiscence of One Of Us Is Lying in this book, I’m afraid it fell a bit flat. The plot had major potential, but Keith spent too much time adding in plot points when they should have been fleshing out their main cast. What is so compelling about a McManus novel is how easy it is to fall for a new cast of characters every time and I think that’s part of what was missing here. Keith seems to have taken on too many plot lines for one novel and it leaves the book feeling rushed and jumbled. Keep Your Friends Close has the potential, but leaves room for improvement.
Profile Image for Val.
169 reviews7 followers
Read
May 2, 2023
Thanks to BookSirens and Niki Keith for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This book comes out in June 2023.

As per usual, when the book was not really my cup of tea, I won’t be leaving a rating only the written review.

I do feel bad that that this didn’t really work out for me because the synopsis sounded like something I would enjoy but overall I think there were too many things mixed together here.
What initially got me interested was the concept of friends trying to cover up a murder yet at the end that seemed like such a minor thing in the whole story. As we get introduced to each character in the friend group and their personal struggles it all somewhat starts drifting in different directions and is taking away from the main point. I feel each character got some kind of personal struggle so we would resonate with them more but they still felt very flat to me. When bad things start happening to them I didn’t particularly feel sorry for any of them.

The story eventually somewhat moves from being a typical thriller and starts following a slasher route, but it’s not as graphic or as scary. The ending is abrupt and left me feeling underwhelmed about the whole thing. The way that plot twist played out and using was kind of lazy to me, sorry.

Generally I would say this might be better suited for anyone who loves fast paced thrillers that try to surprise you at every corner by adding many twists. For me personally it was just a bit too unrealistic, and I feel some things could have played out better. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying this I think I just hold thrillers on a bit of a higher standard.
Profile Image for Paola A Sánchez.
975 reviews11 followers
March 3, 2024
Alright, look, I gave this book a go. I wasn’t willing to just not read it because it wasn’t traditionally published, I know there are many gems hiding beneath the hurt of self publishing, but this book had a bit of potential to become a gem, however it fell flat when it came to it’s development and character building. It was one of those cases, when it didn’t have potential, then it did, and in the end, it was such a waste.
ONE NOTE CHARACTERS.
All of the characters were one dimensional, they were either boring or annoying because there was nothing behind them, just their only personality trait. It was lame, I mean the one that had more potential could have been Mack or Wes, but they were just so boring or just not in any interesting scene, so they fell flat with the rest. They were stereotypes that could’ve been more.
SUCKY ENDING.
Like, really? Wes? I wanted more lose ends making sense, more backstory than a paragraph I wanted more drama, more “making sense” indtead of the easiest yet blandest ending of all mysteries. Like, I would’ve preferred the killer to be Libby the perv or Savannah, like them having some connection to the dead teacher. Even April would be a better reveal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Inked Orca.
314 reviews9 followers
May 19, 2023
Keep-Your-Friends-Close-by-Niki-Keith-1

Eddie and his group of friends take on a weekend getaway to their cabin. He hates Riley because he’s the reason for what happened to their friends. Their getaway was supposed to be for them to make amends, but things get out of control when Eddie accidentally kills Riley. His group decides to keep it a secret, as it was an accident and nothing will happen to them. They just need to promise never to tell anyone. However, the body count starts to rise.

Keep-Your-Friends-Close-by-Niki-Keith-2

A thriller that follows a crime from beginning to end. It has unexpected twists and complex characters. It was both thrilling and thought-provoking. Two timelines with multiple POVs highlight the lies and secrets the close group of friends try to keep hidden. Abusive, murder and mental illness are mentioned.

Keep-Your-Friends-Close-by-Niki-Keith-3

Eddie’s life wasn’t easy. Especially when his father abuses him and his twin brother, Wes. The twins make a deal that will get them out of this place, but many obstacles continue blocking their way. Eddie’s life gets complicated when he accidentally kills someone. Will his friends keep the secrets? Will someone find out?

Keep-Your-Friends-Close-by-Niki-Keith-5

Having the story told from multiple POVs adds to the suspense and makes you suspicious of everyone. Like, why did they all hate Riley? Were they really friends? Can they all trust each other and keep their secrets? It’s a book filled with questions that slowly reveal themselves.

Keep-Your-Friends-Close-by-Niki-Keith-4

Every chapter adds more questions and suspense to the story. It makes the reader doubt everything the characters say. It also deals with many sensitive topics that might trigger some people, such as suicide, drugs, abuse and mental illness. Along with crimes and murders, of course. This adds to the complexity of the story and makes it more interesting. It forces the reader to think and reflect on the choices and consequences of the characters. It is a great example of a thrilling and thought-provoking narrative.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Bianca Ellerkamp.
117 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2023
Niki Keith writes twisty young adult thrillers about broken teens doing wrong things for all the right reasons.
When Eddie kills Riley by accident, his group of friends makes a pact. They all agree to keep it a secret, it was an accident and nobody would ever know what happened with Riley.
But this is easier said than done and little by little each one of them begin to understand what such a pact entails and it turns out that they have to make more and more effort to keep it a secret. Not only this secret but also their own secrets and when more strange things happen they all get entangled in a web of lies and secrets.
The plot is well built and contains numerous twists which leaves you in the dark what exactly is happening. The story is fast paced and suspenseful and makes you want to read on.
Most of the chapters are written from Eddie's point of view, alternating past and present and occasionally switched with a chapter from a different character.
This is were it can gets a bit difficult sometimes, you need to stay focused to make the switch from character and/or time.
Niki Keith has portrayed the characters very well and it's easy to empathize with each of them. Their feelings of anger, despair, fear and guilt are very palpable.
Although as the book progresses much becomes clear, the secrets, the reasons for keeping to the pact, some questions still remain at the end of the story.
But despite those unanswered questions, the ending leaves you flabbergasted thanks to one last very surprising twist.
Keep your friends close is a book which gives you a glimpse into the world of thought of young adults, a few hours of reading pleasure and surely recommended for both young and old.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Selena.
587 reviews
May 17, 2023
I started out slow. Pretty soon I couldn't put the book down. One minute I was "talking" to Eddie, the other another character. I got angry at some scenes and wanted to know why no on intervened.

Eddie and Wes are twins. They have a difficult life with their dad being an abusive former cop and their mother locked away in an asylum. Wes is dating April- on and off. Her best friend is Brooklyn, Eddie's true love. They also have two frenemies, Diego and Riley.

Eddie accidentally kills Riley, after he is caught trying harassing Brooklyn, Wes and the others conspire to hide the murder so they won't get in trouble. While Eddie feels he is the only one with something to hide, secrets begin to start coming to the surface for everyone, leaving Eddie reeling. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next, I was sent another direction.

While I loved the book, there are a lot of triggers: murder, sex, attempted assault, blackmail and drugs. I recommend this to mature readers, not necessarily adults.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by BookSirens, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jennifer Williams.
276 reviews6 followers
March 17, 2023
Well I just found another author to fall in love with! Niki Keith nailed it with this book! If you are a fan of Karen M. McManus’ one of us is lying series or Holly Jackson’s A good girl’s guide to murder series then you absolutely MUST read this book! A group of Highschool friends all have their own secrets but now they are all caught up in a murder that will bind them even tighter. Will they all keep their mouths shut? Past and present secrets just keep crashing down around them. Who will survive? Will they all get the dream they hoped for, getting out of this town? Moving on with their lives? Who can you talk to? Who can you trust? Who will survive? Gotta read it to find out! With all the secrets and lies and twists and turns you’ll find it hard to put this book down! I can’t wait to see what other books Niki has.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Samanthasue218.
368 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2023
Thank you BookSirens and Niki Keith for this ARC ebook. NO SPOILERS!

I am beyond THRILLED (pun intended) I came across Niki Keith's book. I love her style of writing for this book. There are many characters in this book, but Niki does a great job at keeping them straight in her book that you know exactly who is doing what and saying what without having to keep track of who is who. I read this ebook in one day, because I was hooked from the beginning. I love thriller books, and this young adult book is perfect for any thriller lover.

Will these friends keep their pact about an accidental death or will they have to kill each other to keep them quiet? You will have to find out when this book is published on June 20th, 2023. While you are waiting, follow Niki Keith to check out past and future books from her like me!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Danelle✍🏽 Reviewer.
63 reviews5 followers
March 23, 2023
Eddie, Wes, Brooklyn, April, Diego and Riley. Each one has their own dreams… and nightmares.

Being a teenager is hard enough as it is but what if you were stuck with a secret so huge that it could cost you everything, even your own freedom? And sure, friends fight… but to the death? And yes, couples cheat… but within their own circle? And what about blackmail and betrayal of the worst kind? These are just some of the things Eddie and his friends get up to. All good things come to an end, do bad things too? Find out in this must-read thriller from Niki Keith.

Keep Your Friends Close is an absolutely spell-binding teen crime thriller that can be compared to book greats such as Gone Girl and Dark Places. The twists are horrific and the turns are un-be-liev-able. I couldn't read fast enough and had to force myself to not scroll to the end!


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kat M.
5,238 reviews18 followers
March 17, 2023
I really enjoyed how realistic the characters were, it worked well through the plot and I was invested in what was going on. It had a great suspenseful atmosphere and I enjoyed getting to read the plot of the story. Niki Keith has a great writing style and it had everything that I was looking for in this type of book.

"Mr. Wright placed both hands on his desk and pushed himself up. “Do you really want to do this, Robert?” Coach Donahue didn’t reply. He turned and headed for the door. Mr. Wright glared at me specifically. “Carry on. This should only take a few minutes.” He stalked after Coach Donahue. The door shut hard behind them."

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Mamadukes .
384 reviews7 followers
April 29, 2023
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE by Niki Keith is a thrill ride you don’t want to miss! The twists come fast and furious and the ending will leave your head spinning.

Many times, when I’m reading, I wish I could visit the towns depicted in the book. Nope, I don’t want to go anywhere near this one. I couldn’t figure out who exactly was the villain I loved to hate the most (or the best, I don’t know). You’ve got the jocks and the nerds hanging out and partying together, SAT cheat sheets, more than one teacher who’s a jerk and one pure guy who has no clue about the real lifestyles of the people he loves.

I loved, loved, loved this one and can’t wait to see where else this author can take me! BRAVO!
Profile Image for Charlotte Kane.
Author 26 books37 followers
May 15, 2023
It took me two turns to get through this book. The first time, I got to 18% and struggled to read anymore. I then decided to go back a couple of weeks later and I read it in one day! It was really good, and definitely had me questioning myself as I tried to figure what was going on. There were chapters from three different characters, which made it interesting to see how the characters tick. I definitely did not expect the twists and turns throughout, and I enjoyed the ending - although I would have loved an additional chapter to tie things up completely. I would read more from this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
78 reviews
April 3, 2023
Holy crap!!! 4.5 easily! This book was fantastic. I will now read anything by Niki Keith. Every time I thought I knew what was going on I was wrong and that ending. I yelled WTF so many times and gasped like my life depended on it. There were a couple typos but as this is an unpublished copy I was fine with it. It did not distract from the story. There were some spots that were a little slow which is really the only reason it’s not a 5 star. I can’t get over the ending. 100% did not see any of that coming.
Profile Image for Brittney Owens.
13 reviews1 follower
April 15, 2023
I was given an ARC for free and leaving an honest review voluntarily.

After covering up two murders, a group of friends are being murdered left and right, until one remains. Edward believes he is behind most of them. But is he the real culprit?

I was really into this book. It had happy parts, sad parts and ending twists I wasn't expecting! I loved how the author writes characters with mental illnesses. It needs to be discussed more in our world!

Page turning, leaving you needing to know the truth.
Profile Image for Sydnee.
1 review1 follower
July 16, 2023
I was excited to read this book and had high hopes for it. However this book was very seemed to jump around a lot when it came to the flow. I know it’s supposed to be told by multiple characters points of views but I think the author was trying too hard to appeal to certain audiences and used American terminology incorrectly.

I think instead of trying to fit as many story tropes into one book as the author could, if they had picked one or two and focused on developing a story around them it would have been better.
Profile Image for Mike D-i.
42 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2025
Keep Your Friends Close is a fast-paced YA thriller with a cast of teenagers harboring some deep, dark secrets.

The blurb gave me a bit of an I Know What You Did Last Summer vibe, and I was glad to see the story unfold very differently to what I initially expected. With all the twists and turns, the story kept me entertained and engaged until the very end. The conclusion, though a bit abrupt, proved to be a bit of a shock, and I honestly didn't see it coming.

If you're a fan of the genre and are looking for an enjoyable, quick read, give this one a try.
12 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2023
This book did a great job keeping me hooked from page one. What made it less than 5 stars in my eyes is it felt like a teen novel versus a YA title. Sure some of the simplicities of writing made it a fast read but on the other hand it sometimes felt like I was reading pretty little liars (the show not the books). That being said I loved the show so I did enjoy this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Becky Lambert Misiak .
7 reviews
April 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It was a book I couldn’t put down. I actually read this book pretty fast as it has great writing and love the who did it story plot. This is a great book for young adults to old adults and everyone in between. I highly recommend reading this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
18 reviews1 follower
May 9, 2023
I enjoyed this story of the two brothers and their friends. I could hardly put it down. I think it is written well for a YA. The situations and conversations between the high school friends felt natural.

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I felt the end of chapter 32 and the beginning of 33 were missing something in the logic. How and why was Eddie at the school with Diego? Maybe the coach calls them there? It skipped a logical progression of cause and effect to the ending.
324 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2023
Thank you Author Niki Keith for the ARC! I am voluntarily leaving a review. Like holy cow! This book should come with a neck brace because I got mental whiplash from all of the twists and turns. Eddie and Wes are twins who are very close and protect each other at all costs. In their group of friends,many secrets are kept. After an unfortunate accident,the lies keep falling down like dominoes. The thrills and chills will keep you turning the pages. Another knock-out read from Niki Keith!
25 reviews
February 19, 2024
This book was meh. The end finally got me involved but by that time, I had already made up my mind about the book.

There’s lots of flip flop between characters and timelines. It made sense in some areas, but I felt like I could never fully see where a character was coming from or going. There was a pretty big twist at the end, but it wasn’t enough to convince me to like the book. I finished it purely to finish it. It wasn’t a fun read for me even though I like the subject matter.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,784 reviews71 followers
July 3, 2023
This is a thrilling read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

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