What do you think?
Rate this book
The Friendship List: An utterly emotional and unforgettable page-turner about love and friendship
Wiping away her tears, Kay looks at her old photos, of friends who have come and gone through life’s big moments. But then there’s Rose, her one constant through everything. Now Rose is missing. Does the key to finding her lie in their past?
It should have been the happiest day of Kay’s life. Getting married with her best friend and maid of honour, Rose at her side. But then Rose messages Kay moments before the ceremony, I’m so sorry. I can’t do this. Please don’t look for me. Kay is heartbroken. What could have possibly driven Rose to leave?
Kay doesn’t know a life without Rose in it. They’ve stuck together through thick and thin; getting each other through tough break-ups, the rollercoaster of children and losing Kay’s beloved mum.
Searching through a lifetime of belongings, desperate for clues, Kay finds a box of old photos. As she looks at pictures of them dancing with their friends from years ago, she suddenly wonders whether the key to finding Rose lies in their past. Writing down a list of long-lost friendships, Kay feels certain one of them will know what happened to Rose.
But as Kay begins to uncover a lifetime of memories to help her find her friend, will she also find herself?
An incredibly heartwarming and emotional novel for everyone who knows about holding on to true friendship through life’s big moments. Fans of Laura Pearson, Sally Page and Evie Woods will fall in love with this feel-good and moving story that shows it’s never too late for a second chance.
Readers love Beth
‘I was teary-eyed… A book to truly fall in love with! I couldn’t seem to read this book fast enough. I stayed up way, way too late to finish it. There were parts that actually had me laughing out loud. I haven’t read such a warm-your-heart type of book in a very very long time. I totally recommend it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Drew me in from the first pages. With tissues clutched in my hand and tears running down my face, I read this book in one sitting. A story that will stay with me.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A poignant read and an emotional one. Beautiful doesn’t do it justice. If you read just one book about life make it this one. 10 stars if I could.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A touching, heartfelt book; tears a few times. Couldn’t put this one down and finished it in one day… Great, great book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh, what an absolute gem of a book… At several points I definitely had something in my eye, and towards the end, well… All I can say is that it takes a lot for a book to simultaneously make me laugh and need to clear a lump in my throat. This one did it in spades.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I stayed up way too late reading this book. My 2 a.m. novel. I laughed out loud and I cried while reading.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It should have been the happiest day of Kay’s life. Getting married with her best friend and maid of honour, Rose at her side. But then Rose messages Kay moments before the ceremony, I’m so sorry. I can’t do this. Please don’t look for me. Kay is heartbroken. What could have possibly driven Rose to leave?
Kay doesn’t know a life without Rose in it. They’ve stuck together through thick and thin; getting each other through tough break-ups, the rollercoaster of children and losing Kay’s beloved mum.
Searching through a lifetime of belongings, desperate for clues, Kay finds a box of old photos. As she looks at pictures of them dancing with their friends from years ago, she suddenly wonders whether the key to finding Rose lies in their past. Writing down a list of long-lost friendships, Kay feels certain one of them will know what happened to Rose.
But as Kay begins to uncover a lifetime of memories to help her find her friend, will she also find herself?
An incredibly heartwarming and emotional novel for everyone who knows about holding on to true friendship through life’s big moments. Fans of Laura Pearson, Sally Page and Evie Woods will fall in love with this feel-good and moving story that shows it’s never too late for a second chance.
Readers love Beth
‘I was teary-eyed… A book to truly fall in love with! I couldn’t seem to read this book fast enough. I stayed up way, way too late to finish it. There were parts that actually had me laughing out loud. I haven’t read such a warm-your-heart type of book in a very very long time. I totally recommend it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Drew me in from the first pages. With tissues clutched in my hand and tears running down my face, I read this book in one sitting. A story that will stay with me.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A poignant read and an emotional one. Beautiful doesn’t do it justice. If you read just one book about life make it this one. 10 stars if I could.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A touching, heartfelt book; tears a few times. Couldn’t put this one down and finished it in one day… Great, great book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh, what an absolute gem of a book… At several points I definitely had something in my eye, and towards the end, well… All I can say is that it takes a lot for a book to simultaneously make me laugh and need to clear a lump in my throat. This one did it in spades.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I stayed up way too late reading this book. My 2 a.m. novel. I laughed out loud and I cried while reading.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- GenresFiction
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2025
599 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 20, 2025
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE FRIENDSHIP LIST by Beth Miller is a women’s fiction story about a woman’s search through her long-term friendships and the choices she made throughout her life to keep them or let them go. While the concept had me interested in reading this standalone novel, it turned out to be a mediocre read for me.
Kay is the protagonist the reader follows from her best friend, not showing up for her second wedding through the many years of their friendship to a twist of an ending. For the first few chapters, I had a difficult time liking Kay, from her reactions to Rose not attending her wedding and subsequently being told by Rose not to contact her again. As she goes back through their friendship, there are moments I could relate to in my own friendships over time which kept me reading, but I found it mundane until the revelations regarding her new husband. I was hoping for more, but these characters did not deliver for me.
It is a book that many could relate to regarding long-term friendships, and I liked that it had mature characters. It was written well, but it just did not have the “fall into the story and be swept away” quality for me
THE FRIENDSHIP LIST by Beth Miller is a women’s fiction story about a woman’s search through her long-term friendships and the choices she made throughout her life to keep them or let them go. While the concept had me interested in reading this standalone novel, it turned out to be a mediocre read for me.
Kay is the protagonist the reader follows from her best friend, not showing up for her second wedding through the many years of their friendship to a twist of an ending. For the first few chapters, I had a difficult time liking Kay, from her reactions to Rose not attending her wedding and subsequently being told by Rose not to contact her again. As she goes back through their friendship, there are moments I could relate to in my own friendships over time which kept me reading, but I found it mundane until the revelations regarding her new husband. I was hoping for more, but these characters did not deliver for me.
It is a book that many could relate to regarding long-term friendships, and I liked that it had mature characters. It was written well, but it just did not have the “fall into the story and be swept away” quality for me
October 5, 2025
[NetGalley Read #48]
4.5 ⭐️
"All those shared memories, and no one to share them with."
Loved it!
I really like these kinds of stories. Very character-driven and character-focused with a little bit of everything. Humour, charm, relationships, good dialogue, and adept handling of serious topics.
While the book is very focused on its characters, there is a certain element of mystery to the story. Not as in: someone's been murdered and we need to figure out the what, why, and the how. But more as in: something's happened in her relationship with Rose and for the life of her, Kay cannot figure out why it's happened. The slow, masterful unravelling of the story and relationships, going from sad to funny to tense in only a few chapters, is a joy to read. All the last encounter chapters, the little photograph descriptions depicting the past and the present, and the now where Kay has to deal with who she is as a person, the relationships she saw differently than what they were, are incredible.
There are a myriad of subjects this story explores: Friendships, happiness, love, heartbreak, career, relationships between parents and children, marriage, divorce, abuse, deaths, therapy, trauma, betrayal, and sadness. I really enjoyed the way it's all treated in just this one story.
It's a short-ish book (300 pages or so). I would say it's easy to read (it was for me) but maybe there are a few British idiosyncrasies some people might need to Google after reading. Still, I would say, it's easy to read.
Recommended. 👍
Also, I didn't know there was another book, another story with these characters until I got to the end. It is, as mentioned at the end, still a standalone story and I enjoyed it immensely without having read The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright.
4.5 ⭐️
"All those shared memories, and no one to share them with."
Loved it!
I really like these kinds of stories. Very character-driven and character-focused with a little bit of everything. Humour, charm, relationships, good dialogue, and adept handling of serious topics.
While the book is very focused on its characters, there is a certain element of mystery to the story. Not as in: someone's been murdered and we need to figure out the what, why, and the how. But more as in: something's happened in her relationship with Rose and for the life of her, Kay cannot figure out why it's happened. The slow, masterful unravelling of the story and relationships, going from sad to funny to tense in only a few chapters, is a joy to read. All the last encounter chapters, the little photograph descriptions depicting the past and the present, and the now where Kay has to deal with who she is as a person, the relationships she saw differently than what they were, are incredible.
There are a myriad of subjects this story explores: Friendships, happiness, love, heartbreak, career, relationships between parents and children, marriage, divorce, abuse, deaths, therapy, trauma, betrayal, and sadness. I really enjoyed the way it's all treated in just this one story.
It's a short-ish book (300 pages or so). I would say it's easy to read (it was for me) but maybe there are a few British idiosyncrasies some people might need to Google after reading. Still, I would say, it's easy to read.
Recommended. 👍
Also, I didn't know there was another book, another story with these characters until I got to the end. It is, as mentioned at the end, still a standalone story and I enjoyed it immensely without having read The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright.
August 17, 2025
Kay, who is in her fifties with two grown up children and one failed marriage behind her, is preparing to get married again, after a whirlwind romance, to Murray but, when the day arrives, her best friend Rose is nowhere to be seen. She sends so many messages to her but they all remain ignored until, just before the ceremony, Rose replies but the response floors Kay because she's telling her that she can't be there and she doesn't want to be found. Kay doesn't understand what's happened and doesn't know how she'll cope without Rose in her life, they've always been there for each other. After finding a box of old photos she decides to delve into their past and get in touch with old friends to see if the answer lies there, but could the reason be closer to home than Kay could ever imagine?
The Friendship List is the latest by Miller and is an emotional tale of family, friendship and so much more. Told across past and present timelines the author draws us into the lives of these intriguing characters, with Kay so desperate to find out why her best friend has basically disowned her that she revisits all her close friends and relatives, including her ex husband to try and find out what she might have done to instigate this, was she a bad person, did she take people for granted or was it something much deeper than that. There were some big characters in this story but my favourite has to be Imogen, she was such a sweet lady who I took to my heart and I loved the then and now photo info that was slotted in between chapters. This is a new to me author and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work, having already added her back catalogue to my wish list.
I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
The Friendship List is the latest by Miller and is an emotional tale of family, friendship and so much more. Told across past and present timelines the author draws us into the lives of these intriguing characters, with Kay so desperate to find out why her best friend has basically disowned her that she revisits all her close friends and relatives, including her ex husband to try and find out what she might have done to instigate this, was she a bad person, did she take people for granted or was it something much deeper than that. There were some big characters in this story but my favourite has to be Imogen, she was such a sweet lady who I took to my heart and I loved the then and now photo info that was slotted in between chapters. This is a new to me author and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work, having already added her back catalogue to my wish list.
I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
August 19, 2025
Kay’s wedding day has finally arrived, accompanied by her best friend and maid of honor, Rose. However, just moments before the ceremony begins, Kay receives a heart-wrenching message from Rose, expressing her regret and asking Kay not to look for her. Devastated, Kay struggles to comprehend the possible reasons behind Rose’s sudden departure.
Throughout their lives, Kay and Rose have weathered life’s joys and challenges together. Despite Rose’s sudden absence, Kay refuses to give up hope and embarks on a daunting task: searching for her friend. As she delves deeper into the search, she stumbles upon an old box filled with cherished photos of their past.
“The Friendship List,” a captivating novel by author Beth Miller, weaves a heartwarming tale of life, love, and the enduring power of friendship. From the very first page, I was captivated by the story, which managed to melt my heart on multiple occasions. The book left an indelible mark on my heart, and I can’t help but feel that it will linger in my mind long after I’ve closed the book.
The beautifully written narrative is utterly unputdownable, thanks to the well-crafted characters. I can already envision it being adapted into a captivating movie. I highly recommend this phenomenal book.
Throughout their lives, Kay and Rose have weathered life’s joys and challenges together. Despite Rose’s sudden absence, Kay refuses to give up hope and embarks on a daunting task: searching for her friend. As she delves deeper into the search, she stumbles upon an old box filled with cherished photos of their past.
“The Friendship List,” a captivating novel by author Beth Miller, weaves a heartwarming tale of life, love, and the enduring power of friendship. From the very first page, I was captivated by the story, which managed to melt my heart on multiple occasions. The book left an indelible mark on my heart, and I can’t help but feel that it will linger in my mind long after I’ve closed the book.
The beautifully written narrative is utterly unputdownable, thanks to the well-crafted characters. I can already envision it being adapted into a captivating movie. I highly recommend this phenomenal book.
August 16, 2025
Hooked and booked! The start of this story kept me interested the whole way through. I had to find out why Kay's best friend, Rose, ghosts her at her wedding.
The regional colloquialisms used throughout the story had me stumped at times. There are very different phrases used that I generally could figure out due to context, but they threw me off a little and halted the flow of the story.
Overall, it was a good, fast-paced read, and the characters were relatable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #TheFriendshipList #WomensFiction #Friendship #Deception
The regional colloquialisms used throughout the story had me stumped at times. There are very different phrases used that I generally could figure out due to context, but they threw me off a little and halted the flow of the story.
Overall, it was a good, fast-paced read, and the characters were relatable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #TheFriendshipList #WomensFiction #Friendship #Deception
August 2, 2025
I received this book on Netgalley as an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book was just okay. I honestly had to power through it because I just didn't find any of the characters terribly interesting. I especially did not like Kay. How does a woman who made a monumentally bad decision get so lucky in the end? I understand that the author is looking at the concept of friendship to the people in the story but I just couldn't get into it. The ending was pretty good but not the "wow" I wanted to justify finishing the book. I wish the characters were a little more fleshed out and the development of the story just a little better.
August 21, 2025
Loved it! This was the second book by Beth Miller that I read and it was just as wonderful as the first book. Her way of writing invites me in and I don't want to leave. From the start I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know why Rose stopped talking to Kay and didn't show up at the wedding. They were the best of fiends. What could have happened? Why did Murray and Kay honeymoon in Dallas? There are so many places to choose. Dallas wouldn't place in my top 100 or 1,000. Even though Richard doesn't have a filter, he was a stand up guy for Kay when she needed him. He raised Edward as his very own. He was super sweet to walk Kay down the aisle to Murray. Loved Aileen. Alice on the other hand had no filter and would say whatever was on her mind. Her little jabs were always intended for Kay. She always tried to make Kay feel bad. Kay should threaten to have Richard send his mom to Shady Pines. Kay and Murray had such a whirl-wind romance. No sooner did they meet, they were in love and getting married. Did they really know each other? Definitely not. Kay was blind to any red flags because she only had eyes for Murray and wouldn't listen to any friends or family. I did find it a little odd that she married her best friend's ex-husband.
I definitely recommend this book. Loved the characters, story and writing style- so everything about it. The book was magical and beautifully written. I'm pretty sure I went through every emotion while reading this. I felt like I got to know everyone and was right there with each of them. I hated when the book ended because I wanted to keep reading about Kay and her friends and see what they were up to next. I now need to read "The Missing Letters of Mrs. Bright" and find out more about Kay and her friends. I look forward to reading more books by the author. I love the book cover.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I definitely recommend this book. Loved the characters, story and writing style- so everything about it. The book was magical and beautifully written. I'm pretty sure I went through every emotion while reading this. I felt like I got to know everyone and was right there with each of them. I hated when the book ended because I wanted to keep reading about Kay and her friends and see what they were up to next. I now need to read "The Missing Letters of Mrs. Bright" and find out more about Kay and her friends. I look forward to reading more books by the author. I love the book cover.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 7, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
The Friendship List just didn’t work for me. I never really connected with the characters or the plot, and I found myself feeling pretty indifferent about where things were going. There were a few small moments that had potential, but they didn’t quite land. I think others might enjoy it though. Maybe better for an older demographic.
Thank you to Net Galley for the e-Arc!
The Friendship List just didn’t work for me. I never really connected with the characters or the plot, and I found myself feeling pretty indifferent about where things were going. There were a few small moments that had potential, but they didn’t quite land. I think others might enjoy it though. Maybe better for an older demographic.
Thank you to Net Galley for the e-Arc!
August 21, 2025
Kay’s life takes a new turn as she embarks on her second marriage. After nearly two decades of marriage and raising two children, she falls head over heels for Murray. Before she knows it, they’re planning a lavish wedding, and one thing Kay eagerly anticipates is her best friend Rose standing by her side as the maid of honor.
However, Rose’s unexpected anger and a stern note she sends Kay, forbidding any contact, including standing up for her at the wedding, leave Kay devastated. Despite her initial happiness with Murray, Kay feels incomplete and determined to uncover the truth behind Rose’s sudden estrangement and the reason behind her inability to share in her newfound joy.
As Kay begins her new life with Murray, he’s often away on business, leaving her to reminisce about her happier times with Rose. Doubts creep in, and she wonders if their once unbreakable bond will be a thing of the past. Undeterred, Kay decides to reconnect with their mutual friends in search of answers.
In Beth Miller’s emotionally charged narrative, readers accompany Kay as she visits each friend, hoping to find a way to restore her friendship with Rose. While reconnecting with Rose was her primary goal, Kay also begins to learn more about herself. Amidst the emotional journey, she can’t help but question whether her rapid marriage to Murray will bring her the joy and connection she’s longed for.
This heartwarming story resonates deeply with mature characters, especially those who have experienced significant life changes. Kay’s growth and self-discovery throughout the novel make her a relatable and endearing protagonist.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
However, Rose’s unexpected anger and a stern note she sends Kay, forbidding any contact, including standing up for her at the wedding, leave Kay devastated. Despite her initial happiness with Murray, Kay feels incomplete and determined to uncover the truth behind Rose’s sudden estrangement and the reason behind her inability to share in her newfound joy.
As Kay begins her new life with Murray, he’s often away on business, leaving her to reminisce about her happier times with Rose. Doubts creep in, and she wonders if their once unbreakable bond will be a thing of the past. Undeterred, Kay decides to reconnect with their mutual friends in search of answers.
In Beth Miller’s emotionally charged narrative, readers accompany Kay as she visits each friend, hoping to find a way to restore her friendship with Rose. While reconnecting with Rose was her primary goal, Kay also begins to learn more about herself. Amidst the emotional journey, she can’t help but question whether her rapid marriage to Murray will bring her the joy and connection she’s longed for.
This heartwarming story resonates deeply with mature characters, especially those who have experienced significant life changes. Kay’s growth and self-discovery throughout the novel make her a relatable and endearing protagonist.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
July 30, 2025
Beth Miller is a new author for me. She's written a few books before this, some of which include the same characters from this book. In this standalone story, Kay, who is middle-aged with adult children, is getting married to a man she's fallen head-over-heels with after a short courtship. Her wedding promises to be perfect, but her best friend Rose has failed to show up, and Kay has no idea why.. This isn't like her at all, and Kay spends her wedding day worrying about what could be wrong. As time goes on, Rose still refuses to see her sending Kay on a journey to try to understand what she, Kay, could have done to create this riff between them, bad enough to cause her best friend to abandon her on one of the most important days of her life. This was a great read for me. Interesting as Kay examines all of her relationships to figure out why she's not a better friend, wife, and mother. Her quest sends her into the past, the distant past, to figure out if what happened years ago could have affected her relationships today. The characters are well-developed, and the story is full of angst along with humor as she navigates through real-life situations that any of us may face during our lifetimes. I was invested throughout as I wondered if I would handle things in a similar way. Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for bringing this book to my attention. Pub date is right around the corner on August 18, 2025.
July 13, 2025
This book was a pleasure to read - a story of friendship, family and love. Family isn't always blood relations, but those people who you find as you travel through life, who stick with you through the good and the bad, the joy and the sadness. Kay honestly thought her best friend, Rose, would be by her side forever, however on one of the most important days of her adult life as she marries the man of her dreams, Murray, Rose is nowhere to be found. No message, no reason that Kay can determine for Rose not to be there. As Kay prepares for her photo exhibit, the culmination of her photography degree - something she has waited three decades to finish after leaving university as a young woman due to an unexpected pregnancy - she finds herself exploring who she is as a friend, mother, partner, person as she looks at old photos and recalls part memories. How did she lose Rose's friendship, did it have anything to do with her new marriage, could she fix the situation? This is a really beautiful story that draws on genuine emotions and really lovely relatable moments. I think for me the exploration of Kay's memories of her last moments with her mother were truly heartbreaking and touching. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read and provide my honest opinion.
July 19, 2025
LOVED this book!! The Friendship List by Beth Miller was such an amazing book. It was way more than your average feel-good story. I was immediately swept away by this tale of love, loss, friendship, and romance.
On her wedding day, Kay is waiting for her best friend Rose to arrive for the ceremony, but Rose is a no-show. Worse than that, Rose wants nothing more to do with her, but Kay can't figure out why. After a comment made by her ex-husband and her preparation for a photo exhibit for her photography degree, Kay embarks on a journey of self-discovery, navigating through the good and bad times in her life. She questions herself as a daughter, wife, mother, and friend. The journey yields a few surprises and truths along the way.
This emotional story was brilliantly written with well depicted characters. The tenderness in the exploration of Kay's memories kept me reading just one more chapter. As a new to me author, Beth Miller gifted me a very welcome surprise with the emotional rawness of her storytelling. I absolutely enjoyed this book and very highly recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy
On her wedding day, Kay is waiting for her best friend Rose to arrive for the ceremony, but Rose is a no-show. Worse than that, Rose wants nothing more to do with her, but Kay can't figure out why. After a comment made by her ex-husband and her preparation for a photo exhibit for her photography degree, Kay embarks on a journey of self-discovery, navigating through the good and bad times in her life. She questions herself as a daughter, wife, mother, and friend. The journey yields a few surprises and truths along the way.
This emotional story was brilliantly written with well depicted characters. The tenderness in the exploration of Kay's memories kept me reading just one more chapter. As a new to me author, Beth Miller gifted me a very welcome surprise with the emotional rawness of her storytelling. I absolutely enjoyed this book and very highly recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy
August 10, 2025
It should have been the best day of Kay's life. Getting married with her best friend as maid of honour, Rose at her side. But then Rose messages Kay moments before the ceremony, I'm so sorry, I can't do this. Please don't look for me. Kay is heartbroken. What could have possibly driven Rose to leave?
When Rose doesn't turn up for Kay's wedding, Kay doesn't know why. This is Kay's second marriage. She already has two frown up children from her previous one. Kay spends her wedding day worrying about what could have happened to Rose? Kay starts to question the relationships she has had over the years, and delves into her past to find out the truth.
This is an emotional read. The characters are well-developed and it has been well-written. When you get to the second half of this book, it gets harder to put down. This is a character driven story.
Published 18th August 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #BethMiller for my ARC of #TheFriendshipList in exchange for an honest review.
When Rose doesn't turn up for Kay's wedding, Kay doesn't know why. This is Kay's second marriage. She already has two frown up children from her previous one. Kay spends her wedding day worrying about what could have happened to Rose? Kay starts to question the relationships she has had over the years, and delves into her past to find out the truth.
This is an emotional read. The characters are well-developed and it has been well-written. When you get to the second half of this book, it gets harder to put down. This is a character driven story.
Published 18th August 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #BethMiller for my ARC of #TheFriendshipList in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2026
📆 single, non linear timeline.
👀 single POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "I'd married a flawed man, but was there such thing as a perfect one?"
Once again I stayed up far later than I should have done as I just had to know what Kay had done to upset her oldest friend so much. She seemed like a nice, genuine person, but had I totally misread her? Or was there something more happening? I did think she was rather naïve, unfortunately annoyingly, rather than endearingly, so.
I really liked the use of the 1st person narrative for this book. I felt as if kay were letting me in on some secrets which felt
intimate and exclusive. I also thought that the glimpses into the past, shown via the descriptions of old photographs was really clever.
The story was well paced and engaging, and for me really showed how misunderstandings (and alcohol) can cause issues even in the oldest of friendships. And me being jaded and cynical, I liked that this wasn't a straightforward romance story, because life isn't either.
👀 single POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "I'd married a flawed man, but was there such thing as a perfect one?"
Once again I stayed up far later than I should have done as I just had to know what Kay had done to upset her oldest friend so much. She seemed like a nice, genuine person, but had I totally misread her? Or was there something more happening? I did think she was rather naïve, unfortunately annoyingly, rather than endearingly, so.
I really liked the use of the 1st person narrative for this book. I felt as if kay were letting me in on some secrets which felt
intimate and exclusive. I also thought that the glimpses into the past, shown via the descriptions of old photographs was really clever.
The story was well paced and engaging, and for me really showed how misunderstandings (and alcohol) can cause issues even in the oldest of friendships. And me being jaded and cynical, I liked that this wasn't a straightforward romance story, because life isn't either.
August 18, 2025
When Kay’s best friend Rose is a no show at her second wedding with no explanation as to why and then when Kay follows up with her Rose says she never wants to hear from her or speak to her again, Kay can’t understand what happened to fracture the longtime friendship between them. After taking some time to reflect, Kay decides to talk to people from her last and see what she could have done differently in her relationships with them in order to maybe understand what she could have done wrong with Rose. Then she meets up with some people that know both her and Rose and have some insight as to what may have transpired and it is even more enlightening that Kay could even imagined, especially when the truth comes out about her new husband.
This was an emotional read, and anyone who has been through the ups and downs of friendship ( haven’t we all?) can relate. And it was a pleasant change to have more mature characters to read about.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
This was an emotional read, and anyone who has been through the ups and downs of friendship ( haven’t we all?) can relate. And it was a pleasant change to have more mature characters to read about.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
July 18, 2025
Kay's best friends, Rose, was supposed to be her maid of honor, but she didn't show up for the wedding. When Kay contacted her, she said I just can't do this and don't contact me again. As Kay was going through photos, she thought maybe she could find out what happened by going back into their past. After writing down the list of friends and where they lived, she went in search of answers. Her journey takes her to her and Rose's past, where she discovers things she didn't know before.
As her journey continues, she starts learning things about herself, and she sees things she had missed. Her journey will take her through highs and lows, tears and discovery. The book kept me reading, and toward the ending of this stage of her journey, things changed and I can't tell you anymore. I want you to be surprised like I was.
I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley.
As her journey continues, she starts learning things about herself, and she sees things she had missed. Her journey will take her through highs and lows, tears and discovery. The book kept me reading, and toward the ending of this stage of her journey, things changed and I can't tell you anymore. I want you to be surprised like I was.
I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley.
August 25, 2025
I read The Friendship List by Beth Miller on NetGalley, and it turned out to be such an emotional and heartfelt story. At its core, it’s about friendship, memory, and the way the past can shape who we become.
What I loved most was how real and layered Kay and Rose’s friendship felt. It’s not just a picture-perfect bond—it’s messy, complicated, and deeply human. Through Kay’s memories and old photographs, we see the highs and lows of their decades-long connection, and it made me think about the friendships that have shaped my own life.
Beth Miller’s writing is warm, vivid, and deeply compassionate. She blends nostalgia with raw honesty, showing how friendship can be both a source of comfort and heartbreak. The mystery element kept me turning pages, but it was the emotional depth that made the story linger with me.
What I loved most was how real and layered Kay and Rose’s friendship felt. It’s not just a picture-perfect bond—it’s messy, complicated, and deeply human. Through Kay’s memories and old photographs, we see the highs and lows of their decades-long connection, and it made me think about the friendships that have shaped my own life.
Beth Miller’s writing is warm, vivid, and deeply compassionate. She blends nostalgia with raw honesty, showing how friendship can be both a source of comfort and heartbreak. The mystery element kept me turning pages, but it was the emotional depth that made the story linger with me.
July 15, 2025
On what should have been the happiest day of her life, her wedding day. Kay’s best friend is no where to be seen and when she finally hears from her the message is don’t contact me again. No matter what she tries Rose wants nothing to do with her and she has no idea why. As she struggles with the loss she starts to question all those relationships she has had over the years and starts a quest to try and discover if the problems lie with her. Could she be the reason, Rose no longer wants to be her friend? Well, looking back at her past bring her the answer she needs. Does she need to start looking closer to home. Okay is broken Heart find out the answer she requires oh will she work out that maybe things are not quite what they seem.
July 26, 2025
Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, for making this available as an ARC on NetGalley. The premise sounded good, so I requested it even though I did not know the author. Overall, I liked the book, I just can’t say I “really” liked it. Perhaps it was a little too depressing, with sad characters and storylines. But everyone is flawed in reality.
Some of the themes I liked:
. How well do you ever really know someone? How long does that take?
. People might not tell you all of their secrets because they don’t want you to see them differently; they want you to see them as the person they want to be.
. The final minutes of someone’s life aren’t more intrinsically important than the weeks, months, years of the relationship that preceded them.
. It’s hard to parent grown children.
Some of the themes I liked:
. How well do you ever really know someone? How long does that take?
. People might not tell you all of their secrets because they don’t want you to see them differently; they want you to see them as the person they want to be.
. The final minutes of someone’s life aren’t more intrinsically important than the weeks, months, years of the relationship that preceded them.
. It’s hard to parent grown children.
August 22, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟
It should be the best day of Kay’s life- she’s marrying the love of her life. But her best friend Rose doesn’t show up for the wedding. And worse- she tells Kay not to ever contact her!
Kay decides to go on an emotional journey of her life to figure out what happened between her and Rose. This is an emotional story and I could totally relate to the long-term friendships that Kay went over in her life. I look forward to more books by Beth Miller. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheFriendshipList #BethMiller #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksAboutFriendship
It should be the best day of Kay’s life- she’s marrying the love of her life. But her best friend Rose doesn’t show up for the wedding. And worse- she tells Kay not to ever contact her!
Kay decides to go on an emotional journey of her life to figure out what happened between her and Rose. This is an emotional story and I could totally relate to the long-term friendships that Kay went over in her life. I look forward to more books by Beth Miller. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheFriendshipList #BethMiller #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksAboutFriendship
July 24, 2025
The Friendship List is a story of family, love and friends but most of all about the friends who are family. Kay knows that when her friend Rose disappears from her life that something serious must have happened but she has no idea what or why. I could feel the frustration but more so the worry. I ended up clutching the tissues with tears streaming down my face so while it is emotional it's also laugh out loud funny moments are tender. I didn't have a clue where the story was leading with Rose until about the half way mark and by then I was well and truly invested. A character driven novel that is impossible to forget.
August 12, 2025
3.5 ⭐'s….This book follows Kay who is hurt by her best friend Rose. Kay is getting married and Rose is supposed to be there as her maid of honor. Rose does not show up and then tells Kay she doesn't want to ever talk to or see her again. This starts a journey of self-discovery for Kay where she revisits memories to try and discover what went wrong with Rose.
The jumping between timelines was confusing at time, the interspersed picture parts was interesting almost time capsule like moments. Overall, I enjoyed this tale of discovery and self-reflection.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy of this story. All of my opinions are my own.
The jumping between timelines was confusing at time, the interspersed picture parts was interesting almost time capsule like moments. Overall, I enjoyed this tale of discovery and self-reflection.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy of this story. All of my opinions are my own.
August 3, 2025
Katie is expecting Rose, her very best friend to be her maid of honor at her second marriage, but Rose is a no show. Even worse, Rose sends a note that wishes Katie well in her marriage, but to never contact her again. Katie is heartbroken and bothered as to why.
Katie decides to look up old friends that she and Rose had shared to find out if they know what happened. I mistakenly thought this was a mystery book. But I guess for Katie it was a mystery.
Told in dual timelines, Katie comes to some conclusions about herself and what she remembers versus what really happened.
Not a mystery, but a story of how some of our friends are like the ebb and flow of an ocean. They come and stay for a while, but then they silently disappear. But others are meant to stay and be our best friend. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the eARC. This review is my personal opinion.
October 20, 2025
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #TheFriendshipList by #BethMiller. This book is about friendship, betrayal and addiction and had me enthralled till the ending. Kay has just gotten re married and her best friend, Rose, didn’t show up. Rose sends her a message that she doesn’t want to be contacted again. Kay is devastated and starts going through her life to figure out why her life long best friend is mad at her. What she finds in the end is what really matters in life and some disturbing things about herself and people in her life.
August 17, 2025
I kept wondering what was up with Rose.
I also had a bad feeling toward Kay’s new relationship because she was too trusting.
The flashbacks were helpful in unraveling the story.
I didn’t grasp the full picture until all was explained and then it was as I suspected.
I thought Kay should be very careful at the very end because once bitten twice shy and all that.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.
I also had a bad feeling toward Kay’s new relationship because she was too trusting.
The flashbacks were helpful in unraveling the story.
I didn’t grasp the full picture until all was explained and then it was as I suspected.
I thought Kay should be very careful at the very end because once bitten twice shy and all that.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.
November 14, 2025
Such a touching, heart‑hug of a book. Kay’s best friend Rose disappears just before her wedding, and she dives into a box of old photos and memories to figure out why.  It’s all about long‑lost friendships, second chances, and those bittersweet moments that make you feel so deeply. Imagine a tear‑jerky, feel-good, life-affirming read that makes you want to call your closest friend immediately. 💕
July 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this tender gem of a book. The story of why Rose didn't attend Kay's wedding is beautifully told and keeps you reading just one more chapter...! Beth Miller has filled 'The Friendship List' with well written characters -some more likeable than others. Keep the tissues handy as there are a few emotional moments as Kay reflects on her life. Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for an early read.
July 30, 2025
Sometimes friends are more like family but how well do you know someone? On what should be the happiest day of Kay’s life she is let down by her best friend and maid of honour. In looking for the reason why Kay uncovers a lifetime of memories and discovers herself. This is an interesting and thoughtful read.
August 12, 2025
This book jumped around too much for me. It made it harder to follow and harder to stay interested in.
I think the age of the characters had something to do with my not caring too much about them either.
I feel there’s an audience for this book, just not me.
I think the age of the characters had something to do with my not caring too much about them either.
I feel there’s an audience for this book, just not me.
August 20, 2025
This book was a bit of a miss for me. The premise was interesting but I found the story itself to be very slow. There were interesting parts to the story but I found the big reveal of why the friendship ended to be underwhelming.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews