What Goes Around

by Jen Faulkner

A dark secret from their teenage years comes back to haunt two women, in this novel of psychological suspense by the author of Keep Her Safe.

Long ago, Nicole and Emily lied about their whereabouts and witnessed a terrible accident. Neither of them took action. Now Nicole is a wife and mother who follows the rules and strives to make up for her mistake. But Emily, a teacher, believes life is too short for regrets and refuses to blame herself.

When their old classmate Bex dies, the past is stirred up once again as they begin to receive anonymous texts from someone who knows what they did. Each of them spirals into risky and reckless behavior, and their friendship is strained to breaking point.

There’s more to the story—but can the women unearth the full truth about that day before it destroys them both?

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2024

Reviews

[Shaz Mcdill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this one I liked the dual time storyline and the way we were slowly given clues but none of the  characters were likeable

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to get an early copy of Jen Faulkner’s second book What Goes Around and I devoured it just a few sittings.

The story has a dual time line 1997 and 2023 and is told by Bex, Nicole, Emily and Nicole.

Current day, Emily and Nicole are told that one of the friends has died after many years in a coma, following a tragic accident when the girls were teenagers.

Secrets have been contained for 25 years and now it seems someone else knows!

I always say a thriller that puts me on edge has done its job well and this certainly had my stomach in knots.

A slow burn start while we got to know the characters as teens and adults and as the story built the tension and was almost palpable.

The characters were believable, not all very likeable and there were plenty of carrots dangled leaving me guessing throughout.

I would recommend and will definitely be ordering @jenfaulknerwriter first book Keep Her Safe!

The blurb
A dark secret from their teenage years comes back to haunt two women, in this novel of psychological suspense by the author of Keep Her Safe.

Long ago, I lied about my whereabouts and witnessed a terrible event.

Now I follow the rules and strive to make up for my mistake. And now someone is sending me threatening messages. Someone knows what happened that fateful day.

But if my mistake, my secret, is revealed, I won’t be the only one whose life is destroyed. She was there too. She also knows the truth. She is also getting those messages. We are in this together.

I thought we’d left that day behind us. But someone is refusing to let us forget. Someone who will do anything to make us suffer…

Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read an early copy.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Jen and Bloodhound Books for early digital copy of this book to read and review.

In October 1997, Bex is involved in a terrible accident in the sea whilst Nicole and Emily look on. At school, Bex, Emily and Nicole are tight but Mel wants to join the threesome of best friends and how will their friendship dynamic cope with her if this happens. Fast forward 25 years, Nicole is at Bex's bedside for a last visit. Shortly afterwards, she receives two texts! Nicole is upset and starts to wonder who sent them. We're given little insights in how the accident has affected Nicole and Emily in their adult lives. I loved discovering how their characters developed through the highs and lows from school to adulthood. The book is told over two time lines - 1997 and 2022 and told in different character voices. The book is fast paced with a lot of twists and turns with a few red herrings that you think you have solved. In order to find out how the story all ties in together, you will need to read it for yourself and find out. I highly recommend this book.

[Jacqueline Moxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tragic accident continues to have repercussions years after the event, leaving two young women with lasting feelings of guilt. Whilst one is defiant and rebellious, resisting any attempts to form lasting relationships, the other, her only friend, is a total people pleaser, who, over the years, has allowed herself to become a submissive doormat. The death of the second accident victim brings to the forefront all their guilty feelings, particularly when the surviving friends both begin to receive threatening text messages. This is a study of survivor guilt, and of how a seemingly innocent wrong decision can haunt the rest of one’s life. Guilt threatens to wreck their lives and relationships and the only way forward is to own up and learn to forgive themselves. The reader is kept guessing about the exact nature of the accident and the role played by the survivors. A compassionate and intriguing novel, which I enjoyed.

[Alison Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read but I feel as if there are a lot of similar books around. An event in teenage years haunts Nicole and Emily 25 years later. They carry the guilt of not telling the truth about the tragic events of that October day on the beach. All of a sudden they both start receiving texts saying "I know what you did". Each suspects the other, it affects both of their lives massively. Nicole has always done what has been expected, told she's the good girl and if she steps out of line she'll end up in prison like her uncle. Now she begins to rebel, small acts that thrill and repulse her. Emily returns to the sins of her childhood. Both are carrying a heavy burden. The unravelling was more or less what you could see coming, but the final chapter was breathtaking. #bloodhoundbooks #WhatGoesAroound

[Liz T · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Goes Around is a gripping story that starts off in 1997 when a terrible accident involving a close friend is witnessed by two teenager. How they reacted at the time has affected them both in their adulthood and in 2022 the time has come for them to face up to what happened all those years ago.
The story is told through the eyes of Nicole, Emily, Bex and Mel and little by little the reader is in for a surprise as they learn more about the girls. The characters are so well written and I found myself willing Nicole and Emily to face the past and rid themselves of the burden of guilt they were carrying. I enjoyed Keep her Safe but this book is on another level.
Thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Blissett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story a little bit slow to get going, with lots of questions, but not many answers, initially. There was also quite a lot of characters to remember. Once the story got going, I was keen to find out what happened and I enjoyed the various viewpoints as well as the present and past events. I also thought that the thoughts and actions of the characters, such as the thoughts about when women are alone walking, friendships and relationships were very relatable, as well as the teenage thoughts and actions. Overall, it was an interesting read that kept me engaged.

I received an ARC from BloodHound Books for an honest review, thank you, and all thoughts are my own.

[Julia Littleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

gosh, I really struggled to get into this one, I was rewarded once I did, though. I found all of the characters pretty unlikeable, but the story moves at a rapid pace with short, snappy chapters, so you don't spend much time with any of them. The flashback chapters felt a little weaker than the present-day ones, and I don't feel that Chloe added all that much to the story. The ending was pretty good, I liked Emily and Nicole's tackling of each of the suspects and particularly enjoyed the rebuilding of their friendship. Thank you to Bloodhound books for the ARC 😊

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first quarter of the book, I found to be quite slow going and getting my head around the dual timeline and the four main characters, did take its time. However I stuck with it and am so glad that I did. The author writes about friendships and the dynamics between people especially as teenagers trying to make their mark on society and the world. None of the characters are particularly likable however I certainly found traits in all of them which I could resonate with .

Thanks to Bloodhound books for the ARC to review

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me which I enjoyed reading. This is a well written story that is full of suspense and twists and turns you don't want to miss. A story about a secret that someone is determined not to forget and determine to make them suffer. I enjoyed how relateable characters are and what they bring to the story. They are strong, determined characters that have great growth which added to the story's entermainment value. This is a fast paced, hard to put down story that you don't want to miss. I really enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend this book.

[Alli Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decades old secret threatens to be told. When Nicole and Emily start receiving anonymous messages they know it’s about the part they played in an accident that occurred when they were teenagers. Now their lives spiral dangerously as their mental health declines. Who is sending them? What do they actually know?
Told across dual time periods, Jen Faulkner slowly feeds us the clues. A tense story.
Thank you Bloodhound Books for the ARC.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the dual timelines, contrasting the lives of the characters as tough girls, compared with grown women later in life. Despite the passing years, Nicole and Emily are still being held back by past events, although they are dealing with this in very different ways.

The book was very well written and the characters very believable.

There are lots of surprises throughout the book and I read most of it in one sitting!

Thanks to the author, and Bloodhound Books for the eARC of this book.

[Emma Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully created tangled web of secrets and friendship in this addictive read. Full of drama, not knowing who to trust, and I liked the dual timeline going back to 1997 as well.

This is a compelling read and one I couldn't put down. I just HAD to know where it was headed. Luckily, that definitely did not disappoint either.

From the first few lines I was hooked on this one and the pace never let me down.

[Marija · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one gripped me and kept me interested throughout the whole story. It is a dual-time story where I had a chance to see how the characters evolved in time. It is fast-paced with enough twists and turns and several red herrings that make me think that I solved the case and have all the strings in my hands but that was not the case. I enjoyed reading it and will look into this author's book in the future.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily and Nicole have kept a dark secret since their teens but now somebody else knows that secret and is threatening to make it public. They don’t know who it is and neither tells the other they are receiving threatening texts. A great novel, well written around the up to date story line with some well written characters.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly gripping! I was addicted to this book from the start & did not want to put it down. Love how the story switches from the events in 1997 to the present day, slowly telling the story of what happened. It keeps you guessing until the very end & does not disappoint. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Emma Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that the story has duel timelines and multiple narrators. However I did struggle with the like-ability of both Nicole and Emily throughout, and it was only when their secret was due to be exposed that they considered their morality. Although not liking the two main characters I found it an entertaining read.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bex is injured whilst swimming during a storm, Emily and Nicole were there but they never told anyone. Twenty five years later Bex dies and both Nicole and Emily receive anonymous texts threatening to tell unless they confess. They do not speak to each other as they do not relate the texts to Bex but to other things they have done recently.
Well written and with a final twist at the end.

[Alison Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reader feels like they know what happens from the beginning but all the way through the book more details are added to make you realise you don’t. I really enjoyed this one and felt like the characters connected with me.

[Roxie Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read an early copy of What Goes Around by the brilliant Jen Faulkner and it did not disappoint! Packed with secrets and lies, this thriller me reading long past my bed time. If you like your books full of tension and drama, you'll LOVE this as much as I did.

[Lynn Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told across dual time periods.
Emily and Nicole have kept a dark secret since their teens but now it is going to be exposed they are receiving threatening texts who else knows what happened and would they make it public.
A tense story.

Thank you Bloodhound Books for the ARC.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't figure out who sending the notes. Who else witnessed the awful event that happened so long ago? What is it they want and why did they wait so long? I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Aileen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It's a bit like battling the waves that one character Bex has to cope with at the start of the book. It's not a smooth sailing read, but it has plenty of depth and grit to get your teeth into. More of the same please.

[Nanci · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book full of twists and turns with a slow build up that then wham..you’re hooked, can’t put it down and then get blown away when you think you have it “all figured out”! Interesting characters and character development with a story line that is intriguing. A good read !!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a utterly gripping unputdownable book! I really liked how the alternating timelines and multiple character viewpoints expose the truth bit by bit. And that ending! A definite must-read.

[Becca Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book that kept me gripped right from the start. Highly recommend

[Georgia Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bored by this book, skim read to get to the end. Nothing gripped me at all apart from Emily stealing.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen Faulkner is the queen of suspense! A genuine page-turner, and another cracking read for fans of Keep Her Safe.

[Karey Getz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the early digital
copy to review.

It all starts in 1997 when a terrible accident happens and is witnessed by two friends who do nothing because they fear what would happen to them if they called for help. It all falls apart from there. These friends carry the guilt forever and they find that there is a lot more involved than just the two of them that day at the beach.

It’s sad for everyone involved but I personally felt terrible for Bex’s family as I couldn’t imagine having a terrible accident happen to my child and them being on life support for decades after because you can’t bear to face your own truth of how you raised them.

Kids in school can be terrible little humans. The popularity contests, how mean they can be to one another, the ups and downs of just growing up. It’s a lot. And this group of individuals was no different. I found myself really feeling for some of these characters.

The twists and turns in this book held me through the whole story. I suspected two people about halfway through and was sort of correct haha. I really enjoyed this and definitely want to read more from this author!

[Lori Jean Zuber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Goes Around by Jen Faulkner

When Emily and Nicole were teenagers, they witnessed a horrifying accident. Instead of waiting for the authorities, the girls ran away and went home, never to discuss it again.

Years later, Nicole is married with children. She believes in following rules at all times, whether she really wants to or not. Nicole constantly tries to make up for their mistake. Emily is a teacher. She does not believe they did anything wrong that night. She lives her life to the fullest, with no regrets.

All is quiet, until years later when their childhood friend, Bex, dies. Suddenly old wounds are reopened. Someone begins threatening Emily to come forward and admit what she did. The problem is, the threatening text messages do not tell her what she did wrong. Was this referring to Bex, or was it something else? The countdown has begun. She either comes forward herself by a certain time, or the person will tell everyone what really happened.

Ms. Faulkner has written an original and exciting novel. A world has been created, and we are all welcomed into the pain and guilt involved in keeping secrets and the consequences that result. She has created wonderful characters, each with their own personal drama. She expertly describes the background and scenery. This is a thrilling, psychological novel that keeps you guessing until the very end!