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Amistad peligrosa: Un thriller psicológico adictivo
Mi mejor amiga y yo guardamos un terrible secreto. Y haré todo lo posible para protegerlo.
Emma y yo éramos inseparables, crecimos haciendo todo juntas. Hasta la noche en la que todo cambió, y me marché, alejándome de mi madre, de mi hermana, de todo lo que conocía. Desde entonces, Emma y yo no hemos vuelto a hablar.
Mi hermana, Lily, también estaba en la playa aquella noche. Desde ese momento, no ha vuelto a decir ni una sola palabra. Ya han pasado diez años.
Pero tengo que volver, mamá y Lily necesitan mi ayuda. Además, no puedo huir del pasado para siempre. Estoy lista para hablar con Emma.
Sin embargo, el mismo día que regreso a casa, encuentran a Emma muerta, y todo lo que creía saber se desmorona.
Porque si alguien la mató, puede que sepa la verdad. Y solo es cuestión de tiempo que yo sea la siguiente. A no ser que consiga descubrir antes quién lo hizo… Al fin y al cabo, dicen que las mejores amigas son para siempre. Y nadie sabe hasta dónde estaré dispuesta a llegar para que nuestro secreto siga oculto.
---
«¡¡Me ha encantado, encantado, encantado este libro!!… ¡Dios mío!… ¡¡Alucinante!!… Me atrapó de principio a fin… ¡Madre mía, los giros de la trama!… Uno de los thrillers psicológicos más adictivos, angustiosos e imposibles de soltar que he leído jamás».
bookworm86 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
«Increíble… Me tuvo en vilo y con la intriga hasta el final… ¡Excelente!».
Bookishlaurenh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
«¡Imposible dejar de leer! Empecé este libro por la noche y no debería haberlo hecho, porque cuando me quise dar cuenta, eran las dos de la madrugada y ya iba por la mitad… ¡Satisfacción total!».
Reseña en Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
«¡Me ha encantado!… ¡Y ese final! Ha sido increíble… Los giros de la trama son buenísimos… Lo recomiendo sin dudar».
Reseña en Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
«Fenomenal… Hay muchos giros y sorpresas, no pude dejar de leer hasta que lo terminé».
Reseña en Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Emma y yo éramos inseparables, crecimos haciendo todo juntas. Hasta la noche en la que todo cambió, y me marché, alejándome de mi madre, de mi hermana, de todo lo que conocía. Desde entonces, Emma y yo no hemos vuelto a hablar.
Mi hermana, Lily, también estaba en la playa aquella noche. Desde ese momento, no ha vuelto a decir ni una sola palabra. Ya han pasado diez años.
Pero tengo que volver, mamá y Lily necesitan mi ayuda. Además, no puedo huir del pasado para siempre. Estoy lista para hablar con Emma.
Sin embargo, el mismo día que regreso a casa, encuentran a Emma muerta, y todo lo que creía saber se desmorona.
Porque si alguien la mató, puede que sepa la verdad. Y solo es cuestión de tiempo que yo sea la siguiente. A no ser que consiga descubrir antes quién lo hizo… Al fin y al cabo, dicen que las mejores amigas son para siempre. Y nadie sabe hasta dónde estaré dispuesta a llegar para que nuestro secreto siga oculto.
---
«¡¡Me ha encantado, encantado, encantado este libro!!… ¡Dios mío!… ¡¡Alucinante!!… Me atrapó de principio a fin… ¡Madre mía, los giros de la trama!… Uno de los thrillers psicológicos más adictivos, angustiosos e imposibles de soltar que he leído jamás».
bookworm86 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
«Increíble… Me tuvo en vilo y con la intriga hasta el final… ¡Excelente!».
Bookishlaurenh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
«¡Imposible dejar de leer! Empecé este libro por la noche y no debería haberlo hecho, porque cuando me quise dar cuenta, eran las dos de la madrugada y ya iba por la mitad… ¡Satisfacción total!».
Reseña en Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
«¡Me ha encantado!… ¡Y ese final! Ha sido increíble… Los giros de la trama son buenísimos… Lo recomiendo sin dudar».
Reseña en Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
«Fenomenal… Hay muchos giros y sorpresas, no pude dejar de leer hasta que lo terminé».
Reseña en Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2023
798 people are currently reading
1204 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Hollinger
30 books317 followersWith degrees in Crime Scene Technology and Physical Anthropology, Florida writer Shannon Hollinger hasn’t just seen the dark side of humanity—she’s been elbow deep inside of it! She’s an avid animal lover, reader, and hiker, and has been known to use her forensic skills to figure out who ate the last cookie in the house.
A multi-genre, Amazon charts top 20 best-selling author, Shannon writes psychological thrillers filled with jaw-dropping twists and shocking endings, the police procedural Chief Maggie Riley mysteries, where the darkness of the Maine wilderness is rivaled only by the deadly secrets it conceals, and the romantic suspense Cassidy Knox mystery thrillers, where the animals will steal your heart and the nights are as hot as the days.
Her novels have been translated into multiple languages, and her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among many other magazines and anthologies.
Shannon is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
To keep current on book news and to enter monthly giveaways, sign up for Shannon’s newsletter through her website, www.shannonhollinger.com.
Find Shannon on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/thiswritersays
https://www.instagram.com/thiswritersays
https://www.tiktok.com/@shannonhollinger
http://www.pinterest.com/thiswritersays
http://www.bookbub.com/profile/shanno...
https://www.amazon.com/author/shannon...
A multi-genre, Amazon charts top 20 best-selling author, Shannon writes psychological thrillers filled with jaw-dropping twists and shocking endings, the police procedural Chief Maggie Riley mysteries, where the darkness of the Maine wilderness is rivaled only by the deadly secrets it conceals, and the romantic suspense Cassidy Knox mystery thrillers, where the animals will steal your heart and the nights are as hot as the days.
Her novels have been translated into multiple languages, and her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among many other magazines and anthologies.
Shannon is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
To keep current on book news and to enter monthly giveaways, sign up for Shannon’s newsletter through her website, www.shannonhollinger.com.
Find Shannon on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/thiswritersays
https://www.instagram.com/thiswritersays
https://www.tiktok.com/@shannonhollinger
http://www.pinterest.com/thiswritersays
http://www.bookbub.com/profile/shanno...
https://www.amazon.com/author/shannon...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
May 8, 2023
3.5⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st person & 3rd person POV, dual timeline ~ now and 10 years ago, death, pedophilia references
We've got some amateur sleuthing going on by Kate when she comes back to town to care for her mother and her old BFF, Emma, dies. Initially deemed a suicide, Kate isn't so sure. And then she learns other men have turned up dead throughout the years in the same manner as Brad 10 years ago. BTW ~ Brad's death is the reason she hightailed it outta town, which was weird.
The now timeline is in the 1st person and 10 years ago is in the 3rd, which was really the only way I knew which timeline we were in. I could have went for it to be titled or something. Maybe it's easier to decipher in a print version? With that said I did enjoy this one for the most part. The dual timeline helped build the suspense of how Brad really died. There were some secrets and twistaroos I hadn't guessed.
I gotta round my 3.5 down because after Kate reads Emma's note it felt like I heard her wonder who she could trust like 87 times. I didn't really care for any other characters either, except for Kate's mom and Jimmy.
Narrated by Kate Handford for 10 hours and 57 minutes. She sounded robotic at times, but overall did a fine job.
*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ single 1st person & 3rd person POV, dual timeline ~ now and 10 years ago, death, pedophilia references
We've got some amateur sleuthing going on by Kate when she comes back to town to care for her mother and her old BFF, Emma, dies. Initially deemed a suicide, Kate isn't so sure. And then she learns other men have turned up dead throughout the years in the same manner as Brad 10 years ago. BTW ~ Brad's death is the reason she hightailed it outta town, which was weird.
The now timeline is in the 1st person and 10 years ago is in the 3rd, which was really the only way I knew which timeline we were in. I could have went for it to be titled or something. Maybe it's easier to decipher in a print version? With that said I did enjoy this one for the most part. The dual timeline helped build the suspense of how Brad really died. There were some secrets and twistaroos I hadn't guessed.
I gotta round my 3.5 down because after Kate reads Emma's note it felt like I heard her wonder who she could trust like 87 times. I didn't really care for any other characters either, except for Kate's mom and Jimmy.
Narrated by Kate Handford for 10 hours and 57 minutes. She sounded robotic at times, but overall did a fine job.
*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
December 25, 2022
Kate and Emma were inseparable best friends since childhood. They did everything together and had a tight bond. That is, until one fateful night, when Kate witnessed Emma standing over a body holding a huge rock. Kate cannot believe that her best friend killed someone. Lily, Kate's younger sister was also there and has not spoken since that night. Now there is a secret between them and their bond breaks. Kate leaves town over what happened, which had me scratching my head. Hmm, if you friend did something bad, why did you leave? What happened to communicating and getting to the bottom of things?
Ten years later, Kate is back in town, Emma has been found dead, and Kate's mother needs help after being injured after a fall. Faced with the past, Kate begins to look back. Her former best friend's death doesn't sit right with her. Neither does that fact that there have been other murders in town. Feeling bad for not speaking to her friend in years, Kate begins to do her own detective work, she wants to know who killed her friend. Along the way, Kate begins to question what happened that fateful night when she saw her best friend standing over a dead man's body.
This was a book that looks at back and looks at memories, friendship, secrets, families, responsibility, and assumptions. How do we interpret what we see? How well do we know those in our lives? What really happened that night? How does the burden that we carry affect us?
This book is told in dual timelines giving readers a glimpse into the past and what happened that life changing night where a man was left dead and in the present as Kate tries to find out who killed her former best friend.
This was a solid 3 stars for me. I didn't really feel for any of the characters and often found myself questioning the decisions being made. But I was intrigued to learn what happened to Emma. I did guess one of the reveals early on, but it did not affect my enjoyment of the book. There were still a couple of twists that I did not see coming. Unfortunately, this book was missing that little bit of something which would have made my rating higher.
Although a little slow, I did not mind the pace and did enjoy it, although I wasn't wowed by it. Many are enjoying this more than I did, so please seek out their reviews as well.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Ten years later, Kate is back in town, Emma has been found dead, and Kate's mother needs help after being injured after a fall. Faced with the past, Kate begins to look back. Her former best friend's death doesn't sit right with her. Neither does that fact that there have been other murders in town. Feeling bad for not speaking to her friend in years, Kate begins to do her own detective work, she wants to know who killed her friend. Along the way, Kate begins to question what happened that fateful night when she saw her best friend standing over a dead man's body.
This was a book that looks at back and looks at memories, friendship, secrets, families, responsibility, and assumptions. How do we interpret what we see? How well do we know those in our lives? What really happened that night? How does the burden that we carry affect us?
This book is told in dual timelines giving readers a glimpse into the past and what happened that life changing night where a man was left dead and in the present as Kate tries to find out who killed her former best friend.
This was a solid 3 stars for me. I didn't really feel for any of the characters and often found myself questioning the decisions being made. But I was intrigued to learn what happened to Emma. I did guess one of the reveals early on, but it did not affect my enjoyment of the book. There were still a couple of twists that I did not see coming. Unfortunately, this book was missing that little bit of something which would have made my rating higher.
Although a little slow, I did not mind the pace and did enjoy it, although I wasn't wowed by it. Many are enjoying this more than I did, so please seek out their reviews as well.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
December 9, 2022
That’s creepy. That’s so disturbing. There’s this character/s you wouldn’t want to know they exist!
Thank you, Bookouture, for the advance reading copy.
I can say I haven’t read a 300 plus page book this fast ever!
I would suggest you to pick up this book blindly as it has a lot of twists and turns. I feel you will enjoy this book more then.
But also, it’s okay to read the blurb before you pick up this book as the plot stays true to the blurb. No exaggerations. No different than the actual plot. I really appreciate this.
This is my first read from the author and I am so glad I got the advance reading copy when I was in desperate need to read a murder mystery thriller during the beginning of winter.
The writing is fast paced (no doubt about it!) with an atmospheric feel at most parts.
I would say the twist is hidden well and you will want to match every character possible with the hidden culprit/s.
Trigger warnings for for graphic scenes, sexual assault and neglect.
Well written with some crazy twists!
Thank you, Bookouture, for the advance reading copy.
I can say I haven’t read a 300 plus page book this fast ever!
I would suggest you to pick up this book blindly as it has a lot of twists and turns. I feel you will enjoy this book more then.
But also, it’s okay to read the blurb before you pick up this book as the plot stays true to the blurb. No exaggerations. No different than the actual plot. I really appreciate this.
This is my first read from the author and I am so glad I got the advance reading copy when I was in desperate need to read a murder mystery thriller during the beginning of winter.
The writing is fast paced (no doubt about it!) with an atmospheric feel at most parts.
I would say the twist is hidden well and you will want to match every character possible with the hidden culprit/s.
Trigger warnings for for graphic scenes, sexual assault and neglect.
Well written with some crazy twists!
February 25, 2023
Wow! This book has a lot, and I do mean a lot. With that being said, I thought it was very entertaining, even though it was slightly slow in the beginning. Some of the things that happened were way over the top and unbelievable. It definitely kept me interested and engaged trying to piece together the mystery. I have to admit I didn’t predict the final twist even with clues sprinkled throughout the book. Very shocking! My rating would’ve been higher if I would have connected more with the characters. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy.
January 18, 2023
Kate and Emma were inseparable, best friends so close that they considered themselves sisters. The night of their high school graduation, Kate comes into the clearing of the woods to find her friend and protector, a homeless man named Brad, bloodied and dead, and Emma standing over him with a blood-splattered rock. Emma whispers, “It was an accident,” but Kate turns, grabs her little sister Lily who had been with her that evening, and runs away, leaving Emma behind. Kate decided to not tell anyone what she saw, knowing she could never betray her best friend. However, she also knew she could never watch Emma pick herself up and live a normal life as though the murder never happened, so she left her mother and Lily (who was frightened into mutism) behind, and headed north. She eventually landed in Boston, working as a server. After ten years, she gets a silent phone call from Lily, and knows that means she must return home. She is just in time to find out her mother in the hospital with a broken hip, and Emma dying a day or two later. It appears that Emma has committed suicide or died accidentally, without her always-present EpiPen. The official cause of death was anaphylactic shock from her peanut allergy. Knowing that she never went anywhere without that EpiPen, Kate does not believe Emma would have ever killed herself, concluding that she must have been murdered. She doubts everything she believed all of those years, and a bit of research on her part shows that a homeless man had been killed every year since, in June, which was the anniversary of Brad’s murder. Kate believes Emma may have had an accomplice: “Someone else is out there. Someone who was close to us both, someone who knew the smallest details of what had happened back then. Who from our small town could have murdered not once, but twice? And who’s next…?” (“Best Friends Forever,” location 2081 of 4089)
“Best Friends Forever” is a twisted, incredible, totally engrossing thriller, with a ending I didn’t see coming (at least not the way it unfolded!) The storyline runs a bit long and wordy in parts, but is otherwise well-written and solid. The tales about high school friendships ring true, including the hidden traumas, outward snark, and the ease with which friends lose touch with each other. The book explains the characters and suspicions that were presented very well, also introducing other facts which explain characters’ behavior. Some insights have nothing to do with the plot centering around Brad’s murder, but are shocking nevertheless, and there are red herrings along the way. I truly enjoyed this novel with its premise, surprises, and plot; and I happily recommend it to all fans of psychological thrillers.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and Shannon Hollinger for the ability to read and review this ARC.
“Best Friends Forever” is a twisted, incredible, totally engrossing thriller, with a ending I didn’t see coming (at least not the way it unfolded!) The storyline runs a bit long and wordy in parts, but is otherwise well-written and solid. The tales about high school friendships ring true, including the hidden traumas, outward snark, and the ease with which friends lose touch with each other. The book explains the characters and suspicions that were presented very well, also introducing other facts which explain characters’ behavior. Some insights have nothing to do with the plot centering around Brad’s murder, but are shocking nevertheless, and there are red herrings along the way. I truly enjoyed this novel with its premise, surprises, and plot; and I happily recommend it to all fans of psychological thrillers.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and Shannon Hollinger for the ability to read and review this ARC.
January 14, 2023
4.5 Stars
I was so shocked by the ending that my jaw was on the floor!
If you enjoy dark and twisted mysteries/thrillers, you should pick this novel up. I always think it's best to go into a novel blind, especially with these kinds of genres. I'll try to keep things as spoiler free as possible.
Kate, after a traumatic experience, had packed up her stuff and left town hoping to never come back. But after getting a worrying call from her sister, she decided it was time to come back home and face her past.
The only thing I didn't like was the protagonist. Kate was not the strongest character or smartest. Her choices and decision-making were questionable at times but that's the only flaw I ran into. The story was intriguing and had my full attention. I kept questioning everyone and didn't know who to believe.
Highly recommend.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Shannon Holinger (the author), and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.*
I was so shocked by the ending that my jaw was on the floor!
If you enjoy dark and twisted mysteries/thrillers, you should pick this novel up. I always think it's best to go into a novel blind, especially with these kinds of genres. I'll try to keep things as spoiler free as possible.
Kate, after a traumatic experience, had packed up her stuff and left town hoping to never come back. But after getting a worrying call from her sister, she decided it was time to come back home and face her past.
The only thing I didn't like was the protagonist. Kate was not the strongest character or smartest. Her choices and decision-making were questionable at times but that's the only flaw I ran into. The story was intriguing and had my full attention. I kept questioning everyone and didn't know who to believe.
Highly recommend.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Shannon Holinger (the author), and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.*
November 24, 2022
10 years ago Kate was at a party with her friends Emma, Becca, Mel and her sister Lily. Kates homeless friend Brad was murdered that night. Kate moves to Boston for 10 years and after her mother has an accident she decides to go back home and look into what really happened that night. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and was full of surprises. I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!
December 6, 2022
Kate witnessed her best friend Emma kill someone and get away with it. This traumatic event led Kate to move away from her hometown. Ten years later, Kate comes back home and starts investigating multiple murders, believing that Emma is a serial killer responsible for the murders.
The beginning was very slow and quite dramatic. We were told that something terrible happened, but the flashbacks to the event were very repetitive and didn’t really hint towards any new information.
The content matter in this book was definitely adult level, but the storyline was kind of immature, if that makes sense. It read like it was written for a younger audience, even though the content is not for a younger audience.
I’m not a fan of mystery/thrillers where the main character tries to solve murder cases. I always find the plot is a bit silly and far fetched. I was not a fan of the main character, Kate. I found her quite unlikeable.
The ending was not surprising, and I was quite disappointed by it.
Overall, it was alright. It just didn’t keep me very engaged.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning was very slow and quite dramatic. We were told that something terrible happened, but the flashbacks to the event were very repetitive and didn’t really hint towards any new information.
The content matter in this book was definitely adult level, but the storyline was kind of immature, if that makes sense. It read like it was written for a younger audience, even though the content is not for a younger audience.
I’m not a fan of mystery/thrillers where the main character tries to solve murder cases. I always find the plot is a bit silly and far fetched. I was not a fan of the main character, Kate. I found her quite unlikeable.
The ending was not surprising, and I was quite disappointed by it.
Overall, it was alright. It just didn’t keep me very engaged.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2022
4⭐
MOODS
➨ Psychological Thriller
➨ Mystery Suspense
➨ Adult but with a decidedly YA-ish feel to it
➨ With flashbacks to the past
If you like YA Mystery Thrillers then this one would work perfectly for you, despite taking place when the characters are adult-aged. I thought I had this all figured out…but I should’ve known it wasn’t going to be that easy. This one definitely stumped me with the ending. Was it a tad OTT, maybe but sometimes it has to be so that it can take you by surprise. Overall, the writing is solid.
My only issue with this book is purely for the audio version. The past timelines didn’t sound any different than the present ones…other than going from first person to third person. They happened so quickly with barely a breath between one timeline to the next, that I was left trying to catch up with each one of them. Things like this tend to pull me out of the story and leave me unable to fully immerse myself within it. If maybe there was a significant pause between the timelines or if they said the year before each jump, I may have been able to stay in the story more easily. Maybe if I had read this rather than listened to it…this issue would be a moot point since the past timeline is in italics in the book format.
➨ Narrated by: 🎙️ Kate Hanford 📣 She has a pleasant tone and her voices for conversations are great…but she was robotic sounding at times.
Total Score 7.81/10 | Opening-7 | Characters-7.7 | Plot-8 | Atmosphere-8 | Writing Style-8 | Ending-8 | Overall Enjoyment- 8
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for my Advanced Listeners Copy of this book.
MOODS
➨ Psychological Thriller
➨ Mystery Suspense
➨ Adult but with a decidedly YA-ish feel to it
➨ With flashbacks to the past
If you like YA Mystery Thrillers then this one would work perfectly for you, despite taking place when the characters are adult-aged. I thought I had this all figured out…but I should’ve known it wasn’t going to be that easy. This one definitely stumped me with the ending. Was it a tad OTT, maybe but sometimes it has to be so that it can take you by surprise. Overall, the writing is solid.
My only issue with this book is purely for the audio version. The past timelines didn’t sound any different than the present ones…other than going from first person to third person. They happened so quickly with barely a breath between one timeline to the next, that I was left trying to catch up with each one of them. Things like this tend to pull me out of the story and leave me unable to fully immerse myself within it. If maybe there was a significant pause between the timelines or if they said the year before each jump, I may have been able to stay in the story more easily. Maybe if I had read this rather than listened to it…this issue would be a moot point since the past timeline is in italics in the book format.
➨ Narrated by: 🎙️ Kate Hanford 📣 She has a pleasant tone and her voices for conversations are great…but she was robotic sounding at times.
Total Score 7.81/10 | Opening-7 | Characters-7.7 | Plot-8 | Atmosphere-8 | Writing Style-8 | Ending-8 | Overall Enjoyment- 8
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for my Advanced Listeners Copy of this book.
January 13, 2023
Kate and Emma’s relationship as best friends ended one unforgettable and tragic night. Kate spied Emma standing over the body of a friend of hers so Kate fled town. She left Emma, her family, school. It has been ten years since Kate left, but she is back due to an accident her mother has had. Another terrible death occurs almost as soon as Kate returns home. Meanwhile a series of dangerous events begin to occur, leaving Kate desperate for answers. Not only does she want the past cleared up, but she needs to know what is going on now.
When a vagrant is murdered, Kate learns that similar murders have taken place just about every year she has been gone. Similarities in their murders lead Kate to think that their deaths are connected and this brings to mind seeing Emma standing over that body years ago. Could Emma had been behind all of those deaths?
Meanwhile, those tragic events from a decade ago rendered Kate’s sister Lily mute, and that has never changed. Something begins to unfold in this vein, but the reader will have to pay extra close attention as answers are being worked out.
What a thrilling story that kept a fast pace, more than a few surprises and a truly unexpected and shocking ending. I had Best Friends Forever as an audiobook for review. It was expertly narrated by Kate Handford in a delightful way.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/RsXTaE-Posg
When a vagrant is murdered, Kate learns that similar murders have taken place just about every year she has been gone. Similarities in their murders lead Kate to think that their deaths are connected and this brings to mind seeing Emma standing over that body years ago. Could Emma had been behind all of those deaths?
Meanwhile, those tragic events from a decade ago rendered Kate’s sister Lily mute, and that has never changed. Something begins to unfold in this vein, but the reader will have to pay extra close attention as answers are being worked out.
What a thrilling story that kept a fast pace, more than a few surprises and a truly unexpected and shocking ending. I had Best Friends Forever as an audiobook for review. It was expertly narrated by Kate Handford in a delightful way.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/RsXTaE-Posg
January 13, 2023
This book felt…forced? I’m not even sure that is the right word. It just felt like the author was determined to shock us but in the end it wasn’t shocking- disturbing- but not shocking. I think the best part was the underlying romance but the rest was not my favorite.
🌀Synopsis
When Kate’s best friend Emma dies, she comes back to her hometown for the funeral. Not believing that Emma would commit suicide, Kate starts investigating. What she finds is going to change her world forever.
When they were kids, Kate’s sister Lily watched Emma murder someone but they all kept the secret. Kate’s investigation finds that someone was killed on the same day each year following that.
As she gets closer to the killer she finds a lockbox key from Emma and inside there is a confession from the killer. Knowing the truth, she heads home to face her family. Only to find that her mother has been taken and she must now face the killer in the flesh.
When she finds her, her sister owns up to all the murders but won’t give up her accomplice. With her sister out of the way all Kate has to do is find the last person who has been terrorizing their town. With one memory, she knows exactly who it is and how to catch them.
🌀Synopsis
When Kate’s best friend Emma dies, she comes back to her hometown for the funeral. Not believing that Emma would commit suicide, Kate starts investigating. What she finds is going to change her world forever.
When they were kids, Kate’s sister Lily watched Emma murder someone but they all kept the secret. Kate’s investigation finds that someone was killed on the same day each year following that.
As she gets closer to the killer she finds a lockbox key from Emma and inside there is a confession from the killer. Knowing the truth, she heads home to face her family. Only to find that her mother has been taken and she must now face the killer in the flesh.
When she finds her, her sister owns up to all the murders but won’t give up her accomplice. With her sister out of the way all Kate has to do is find the last person who has been terrorizing their town. With one memory, she knows exactly who it is and how to catch them.
February 5, 2023
Kate is leaving Boston and returning to her childhood home after fleeing ten years ago, following a traumatic event that happened. Her mum has had an accident and broken her hip. When she gets back, she finds out that her best friend, Emma died... and might have been murdered. The story goes back and forth with Kate ruminating on the events that happened years ago and trying to find out why Emma is now dead. This is a slow burner but towards the 50% mark the tale really hots up. Mainly told from Kate's viewpoint, past events are described in the third person's narrative. The ending was completely unexpected. A tremendous début, I hope to read more from the pen of Shannon Hollinger going forward.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 29, 2023
Kate returns home after 10 years. She remembers seeing her best friend Emma kill someone. Living with the guilt of knowing this she left leaving questions unanswered.
This book really relates to YA but the content would put it at a very mature YA. As this was a slow burn at first I did get a little bored but was really glad when the story picked up speed around the half way mark. The characters were likeable enough but some missed the mark on the topic content. The ending had a twist, but I pretty much guessed it early on. Still well thought out but it needed something more to pull it across the line.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this ARC.
This book really relates to YA but the content would put it at a very mature YA. As this was a slow burn at first I did get a little bored but was really glad when the story picked up speed around the half way mark. The characters were likeable enough but some missed the mark on the topic content. The ending had a twist, but I pretty much guessed it early on. Still well thought out but it needed something more to pull it across the line.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this ARC.
December 22, 2022
Kate gets a call from her sister. There's no voice on the line but like a bat signal, she knew it was time to completely uproot her life for what could have been a butt dial.
Kate's little sister Lily hasn't spoken a word in 10 years, since she witnessed something traumatic in the woods at a party. That was the same night Kate promised herself she'd leave that town and never come back. Lily was only 12. She shouldn't have even been there and the guilt of that eats Kate alive. Not enough to stick around though.
When she gets back, everyone is happy to see her but some mysterious deaths begin to happen and she starts to think the death in the woods all those years ago was part of something much bigger. She decides to investigate as best she can but someone doesn't appreciate it and she might pay for the truth with her life.
This was pretty interesting but you really have to suspend disbelief. The characters constantly did things that made no sense to me. It starts off slowly, grabs you, but then loses you again until the end, which was creepy but also kind of silly so it wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped, but definitely unexpected. It was a solid and quick read regardless. There's a lot going on here so there's something for everyone!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review! The narration was great but she mispronounced some random things here and there. Not a big deal though, it could be regional.
Kate's little sister Lily hasn't spoken a word in 10 years, since she witnessed something traumatic in the woods at a party. That was the same night Kate promised herself she'd leave that town and never come back. Lily was only 12. She shouldn't have even been there and the guilt of that eats Kate alive. Not enough to stick around though.
When she gets back, everyone is happy to see her but some mysterious deaths begin to happen and she starts to think the death in the woods all those years ago was part of something much bigger. She decides to investigate as best she can but someone doesn't appreciate it and she might pay for the truth with her life.
This was pretty interesting but you really have to suspend disbelief. The characters constantly did things that made no sense to me. It starts off slowly, grabs you, but then loses you again until the end, which was creepy but also kind of silly so it wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped, but definitely unexpected. It was a solid and quick read regardless. There's a lot going on here so there's something for everyone!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review! The narration was great but she mispronounced some random things here and there. Not a big deal though, it could be regional.
December 1, 2022
Ten years ago, Kate’s life was changed in an instant when she witnessed a horrifying scene: her best friend Emma standing over a dead body with a bloody rock in her hand. Although she couldn’t bear to turn her friend in, Kate fled their small town. When Kate returns, she thinks she will finally get closure, but shortly after she gets back, a shocking death occurs. As Kate tries to unravel the past as well as the current death, she finds herself in increasing danger as someone else out there is intent on keeping her from finding out the truth.
This dual-timeline thriller is a real page turner! I started this book at bedtime and I should NOT have done that, because next thing I knew, it was 2:00 in the morning and I was already halfway through. The plot really kept me guessing, with almost every character being shady or suspicious in some way. That made the reveal of the guilty party a total surprise and extremely satisfying!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
This dual-timeline thriller is a real page turner! I started this book at bedtime and I should NOT have done that, because next thing I knew, it was 2:00 in the morning and I was already halfway through. The plot really kept me guessing, with almost every character being shady or suspicious in some way. That made the reveal of the guilty party a total surprise and extremely satisfying!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
January 14, 2023
4.75⭐️
I love a good Psychological Thriller and this book checked most of the boxes ✔️
Chapter after chapter, I wanted to know more. I wanted to know if what I was thinking was true so it took over my life for a day., and guess what? All my guesses were wrong , I mean all of them.😂😅
I didn’t see the twist coming, it was indeed Jaw-dropping. What a Huge Reveal.
I was conflicted about rotation between the
stories of the past and present, but after some few chapters in, I got in-tune with it,
I recommend this, and be ready to be wowed.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio listen.
I love a good Psychological Thriller and this book checked most of the boxes ✔️
Chapter after chapter, I wanted to know more. I wanted to know if what I was thinking was true so it took over my life for a day., and guess what? All my guesses were wrong , I mean all of them.😂😅
I didn’t see the twist coming, it was indeed Jaw-dropping. What a Huge Reveal.
I was conflicted about rotation between the
stories of the past and present, but after some few chapters in, I got in-tune with it,
I recommend this, and be ready to be wowed.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio listen.
December 30, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Kate fled her home town following a murder and witnessing her best friend Emma holding the murder weapon. She had her little sister Lily with her and she has been mute ever since. Ten years later she is called back home as her mother has had an accident and needs her support. Then Emma is murdered and Kate is forced to face the past. A brilliantly written thriller with some great twists.
August 12, 2023
Kate has returned home as her mother has had an accident and broken her hip. She has not been home for a decade.
Kate and Emma were best friends, inseparable until ten years ago when at their graduation Kate sees Emma standing over the body of a friend of hers holding a rock. Kate flees town leaving her younger sister who was also there and have never spoken since.
The story is told in dual timelines, which helped build the suspension and kept me gripped.
This was a great thrilling read that had me until its surprising ending.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Kate and Emma were best friends, inseparable until ten years ago when at their graduation Kate sees Emma standing over the body of a friend of hers holding a rock. Kate flees town leaving her younger sister who was also there and have never spoken since.
The story is told in dual timelines, which helped build the suspension and kept me gripped.
This was a great thrilling read that had me until its surprising ending.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2023
*Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture for an early copy of the book!
Kate left her hometown after witnessing her best friend, Emma, murder someone 10 years ago. But the moment she returns, Emma is found dead from an allergic reaction. Kate realizes there's a lot more to her friend than she thought she knew, and she'd be the one to put an end to everything, once and for all.
So many things to say about this book! I love how descriptive and detailed the writing was! The plot was also very well-written and I definitely didn't expect the ending!
There were so many twists and turns I really didn't trust anyone (as Emma warned). I was suspecting everyone until the final reveal! Although there is a kinda cliche antagonist monologue at the end, it was comforting to know what really happened all the years Kate had been gone.
SPOILERS
*SPOILERS OVER
If you're looking for a thrilling mystery book to read, I really recommend this book for you! Hope you enjoy it!
Kate left her hometown after witnessing her best friend, Emma, murder someone 10 years ago. But the moment she returns, Emma is found dead from an allergic reaction. Kate realizes there's a lot more to her friend than she thought she knew, and she'd be the one to put an end to everything, once and for all.
So many things to say about this book! I love how descriptive and detailed the writing was! The plot was also very well-written and I definitely didn't expect the ending!
There were so many twists and turns I really didn't trust anyone (as Emma warned). I was suspecting everyone until the final reveal! Although there is a kinda cliche antagonist monologue at the end, it was comforting to know what really happened all the years Kate had been gone.
SPOILERS
*SPOILERS OVER
If you're looking for a thrilling mystery book to read, I really recommend this book for you! Hope you enjoy it!
January 2, 2023
What would you do if your best friend did something terrible? Kate and Emma were best friends their whole lives, practically sisters. Until ten years ago when Kate saw Emma in the woods, holding a rock over a dead body. Since the incident, Kate’s little sister has never spoken, too upset by what she witnessed. Kate left her hometown, trying to start fresh although she was always haunted by what she saw. When her mother is injured, Kate is forced to go back home and confront the past she has been trying to escape.
I listened to this story and although it started off slow, once it picked up the pace I couldn’t stop until I found out what happened! The way that Kate had to unravel her hazy memories of the past while she was trying to come to terms with her best friend in present day was an interesting way to tie the storylines together. Also, I had an inkling of how it was going to end, but that did not stop me from enjoying it one bit.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Shannon Hollinger for the ALC! “Best Friends Forever” releases January 12th!
This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) soon 😊
I listened to this story and although it started off slow, once it picked up the pace I couldn’t stop until I found out what happened! The way that Kate had to unravel her hazy memories of the past while she was trying to come to terms with her best friend in present day was an interesting way to tie the storylines together. Also, I had an inkling of how it was going to end, but that did not stop me from enjoying it one bit.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Shannon Hollinger for the ALC! “Best Friends Forever” releases January 12th!
This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) soon 😊
January 14, 2023
4.75⭐️
I love a good Psychological Thriller and this book checked most of the boxes ✔️
Chapter after chapter, I wanted to know more. I wanted to know if what I was thinking was true so it took over my life for a day., and guess what? All my guesses were wrong , I mean all of them.😂😅
I didn’t see the twist coming, it was indeed Jaw-dropping. What a Huge Reveal.
I was a bit conflicted about rotation between the stories of the past and present, but after some few chapters in, I got in-tune with it,
I recommend this, and be ready to be wowed.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio listen.
I love a good Psychological Thriller and this book checked most of the boxes ✔️
Chapter after chapter, I wanted to know more. I wanted to know if what I was thinking was true so it took over my life for a day., and guess what? All my guesses were wrong , I mean all of them.😂😅
I didn’t see the twist coming, it was indeed Jaw-dropping. What a Huge Reveal.
I was a bit conflicted about rotation between the stories of the past and present, but after some few chapters in, I got in-tune with it,
I recommend this, and be ready to be wowed.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio listen.
January 14, 2023
“You can only break someone who doesn’t want to be whole. People who want to survive and be well are never broken, only mending.”
This was a fast faced thriller, mystery that I definitely enjoyed. This book finds main character Kate going back to her hometown after a decade away. This town and the people here still haunt her, and she still harbors lots of secrets. This book was interesting, never knowing who to trust - but I thought the characters weren't very likable. I don't think many signs pointed to the twist, but I new almost immediately how it was going to go.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• childhood friends
• old secrets
• small town
• family drama
• amateur detective
"This behavior isn't a sign of who I am but a symptom of what I've become."
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧: Kate Handford
𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝: 10h 31m
Thank you Bookouture Audio for this gifted ALC!
3.5 ⭐ rounded up
This was a fast faced thriller, mystery that I definitely enjoyed. This book finds main character Kate going back to her hometown after a decade away. This town and the people here still haunt her, and she still harbors lots of secrets. This book was interesting, never knowing who to trust - but I thought the characters weren't very likable. I don't think many signs pointed to the twist, but I new almost immediately how it was going to go.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• childhood friends
• old secrets
• small town
• family drama
• amateur detective
"This behavior isn't a sign of who I am but a symptom of what I've become."
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧: Kate Handford
𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝: 10h 31m
Thank you Bookouture Audio for this gifted ALC!
3.5 ⭐ rounded up
December 21, 2022
This was a difficult one. The writing was superb but the plot didn't show up until near the half way point. So, while I was enjoying the writing I had no idea what the point of the story wad for waaaay too long which was frustrating. After that, nothing really happened until the eighty percent mark. No twists, no reveals. The ending was good.
December 25, 2022
In the beginning I wasn't convinced about this book and stopped for a bit, and then went back to it. It got really good so it is a definite slow burn. By the end I really was getting so involved in the story and really enjoyed it and got involved. I am definitely looking for more by both the author and narrator.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own
December 13, 2022
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
I truly enjoyed Kate Handford’s narration of this book! Her character voices were spot on and I always knew who was speaking, which is important for me with an audiobook. The story itself, wow! I thought I had it all figured out pretty early on and certain twists I was close to guessing while others caught me completely off guard! I also really love unreliable narrators that you really want to believe even when they’re not sure what happened! I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery/psychological thriller.
I truly enjoyed Kate Handford’s narration of this book! Her character voices were spot on and I always knew who was speaking, which is important for me with an audiobook. The story itself, wow! I thought I had it all figured out pretty early on and certain twists I was close to guessing while others caught me completely off guard! I also really love unreliable narrators that you really want to believe even when they’re not sure what happened! I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery/psychological thriller.
December 4, 2022
Best Friends Forever was a first time read by the author Shannon Hollinger and if this book is anything to go by, it will not be my last. I love a good mystery, add to that some really unreliable, two faced, dishonest characters and our main character Kate whom has gone through a serious trauma and maybe isn't remembering everything as it was. Yes, I was hooked, line and sinker!
I don't want to talk about any of the characters (No spoilers here!!), this book is a little hard going. Namely as Kate is suffering from depression (Definitely) and anxiety (Probably a definite too), she feels a lot of guilt for everything that happened. But what really did happen? Although a little slow at the start, I was drawn in by Kate and her family/friends. She isn't one of my favourite types of characters to read but Shannon (Author) made her real to me and I empathised a lot with her. The story all of a sudden takes off and boy what a ride. Did I work out who did it? Actually in partial yes and fairly early on. But did I work out everything? No. And that's why I enjoyed this book. I love a book that surprises me! All the neat ends where tied up, I don't think I was left with any unanswered questions either.
A solid mystery thriller with a good story and characters you will love to hate. Who can you trust? You'll just have to read it to see. I read Best Friends Forever over 2 days and couldn't put it down. A solid 4 stars, I highly recommend this one!
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
I don't want to talk about any of the characters (No spoilers here!!), this book is a little hard going. Namely as Kate is suffering from depression (Definitely) and anxiety (Probably a definite too), she feels a lot of guilt for everything that happened. But what really did happen? Although a little slow at the start, I was drawn in by Kate and her family/friends. She isn't one of my favourite types of characters to read but Shannon (Author) made her real to me and I empathised a lot with her. The story all of a sudden takes off and boy what a ride. Did I work out who did it? Actually in partial yes and fairly early on. But did I work out everything? No. And that's why I enjoyed this book. I love a book that surprises me! All the neat ends where tied up, I don't think I was left with any unanswered questions either.
A solid mystery thriller with a good story and characters you will love to hate. Who can you trust? You'll just have to read it to see. I read Best Friends Forever over 2 days and couldn't put it down. A solid 4 stars, I highly recommend this one!
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Best Friend's Forever' by Shannon Hollinger.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Shannon Hollinger, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 12th January 2023.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is An utterly gripping and compelling psychological thriller with twists and turns to die for. If you love Karin Slaughter, Paula Hawkins and Freida McFadden, you’ll love Best Friends Forever.' I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 74 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists is Kate. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK!! THIS MAY BE THE FIRST BOOK I HAVE READ BY SHANNON BUT IT MOST CERTAINLY WON'T BE MY LAST!!!
OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!!
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, loss, family, secrets, friendship, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Shannon!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with crime, twists, shocks, suspense, tension, deceit and murder. There was not one, not two but at least 3 explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!! I am looking forward to reading more of Shannon's books as of this is anything to go by they are guaranteed to be page turner's!!
I read approximately half of this book on kindle and listened to approximately half on audio book. I must also give a huge congratulations to the narrator Kate Handford who not only brought the storyline to life by really portraying the emotions through his voice but by doing absolutely fantastic impressions of males and females so a HUGE congratulations Kate!! I cannot imagine that this was anywhere near an easy feat!!! I am looking forward to discovering more books read by yourself as you definitely have a perfect "book" voice!! I sometimes struggle to absorb the storyline through an audio book but if you are the same as me I can promise you will not have that problem with this amazing narrator!! Kate also narrates 'Local Girl Missing' which I also listened to via audiobook. She did a fantastic job on that book too and I would highly recommend it.
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
The characters were all strong, well developed and realistic and I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. I really liked Kate and felt so sorry on her throughout the book. Kate refuses to believe that her best friend would have killed herself or that it was an accident so she goes hunting for the truth. Will she find it and will she regret looking in the first place? You'll just have to pick up a copy yourself to find out!! I am not going to say anything about any of the other characters as it isn't worth the risk of dropping any hints but there was major shocks to be had!! If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline.
Welcome to my favourite author Club Shannon! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂
Overall an absolutely heart racing, never wracking, unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!
Genres covered in this book include Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Women's Popular Fiction, Crime, Thriller & Mystery Adventures, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction and Psychological Thriller amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', Shari Lapena, Karin Slaughter, Paula Hawkins, Freida McFadden, Rachel Abbot and anyone who loves an explosive ending!!!
352 pages/10 hours 56 minutes
This book is just £1.99 to purchase, £8.99 in paperback and £20.03 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'Best Friend's Forever' by Shannon Hollinger.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Shannon Hollinger, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 12th January 2023.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is An utterly gripping and compelling psychological thriller with twists and turns to die for. If you love Karin Slaughter, Paula Hawkins and Freida McFadden, you’ll love Best Friends Forever.' I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 74 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists is Kate. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK!! THIS MAY BE THE FIRST BOOK I HAVE READ BY SHANNON BUT IT MOST CERTAINLY WON'T BE MY LAST!!!
OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!!
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, loss, family, secrets, friendship, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Shannon!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with crime, twists, shocks, suspense, tension, deceit and murder. There was not one, not two but at least 3 explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!! I am looking forward to reading more of Shannon's books as of this is anything to go by they are guaranteed to be page turner's!!
I read approximately half of this book on kindle and listened to approximately half on audio book. I must also give a huge congratulations to the narrator Kate Handford who not only brought the storyline to life by really portraying the emotions through his voice but by doing absolutely fantastic impressions of males and females so a HUGE congratulations Kate!! I cannot imagine that this was anywhere near an easy feat!!! I am looking forward to discovering more books read by yourself as you definitely have a perfect "book" voice!! I sometimes struggle to absorb the storyline through an audio book but if you are the same as me I can promise you will not have that problem with this amazing narrator!! Kate also narrates 'Local Girl Missing' which I also listened to via audiobook. She did a fantastic job on that book too and I would highly recommend it.
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
The characters were all strong, well developed and realistic and I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. I really liked Kate and felt so sorry on her throughout the book. Kate refuses to believe that her best friend would have killed herself or that it was an accident so she goes hunting for the truth. Will she find it and will she regret looking in the first place? You'll just have to pick up a copy yourself to find out!! I am not going to say anything about any of the other characters as it isn't worth the risk of dropping any hints but there was major shocks to be had!! If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline.
Welcome to my favourite author Club Shannon! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂
Overall an absolutely heart racing, never wracking, unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!
Genres covered in this book include Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Women's Popular Fiction, Crime, Thriller & Mystery Adventures, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction and Psychological Thriller amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', Shari Lapena, Karin Slaughter, Paula Hawkins, Freida McFadden, Rachel Abbot and anyone who loves an explosive ending!!!
352 pages/10 hours 56 minutes
This book is just £1.99 to purchase, £8.99 in paperback and £20.03 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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January 13, 2023
Kate & Emma were BFFs until one night after partying in the woods. Kate found Emma standing over the dead body of a homeless man with a blood-covered brick in her hand. Kate's younger sister, Lily, was also there that night & she hasn't spoken a word since. Kate packed up & left her old life & moved away from everyone: her family, her friends, & her boyfriend, Jeff. Now, years later, Kate receives a silent telephone call from Lily & she knows she has to return home.
When she arrives back in her hometown of Wakefield, the first person she sees whilst in a taxi home is her ex-BFF. She finds out to her dismay that her mother has had a bad fall resulting in broken bones - no wonder Lily needed her home. Kate settles in to help out but knows that she can't hide from Emma forever, however the next day, she gets the shocking news that Emma is dead. Believed to have taken her own life, Emma was found in the woods, but when Kate speaks to Emma's mother, she begins to think that perhaps there is more to Emma's death. Perhaps Emma was killed & if so, who would want to kill her & what secrets are they keeping?
Although this was an intriguing story line, the main character was rather too passive: originally she didn't stop to talk to anyone about what happened or get Emma's side of the story, just hightailed it out of town, now she is back home, Kate just drifts. To say there was a crime to be solved, there seemed to be precious little investigating happening most of the time. Kate kept saying that she really needed to find out what happened & if Emma was involved, but spent most of her time shuttling between her ex & his ex-best friend. She barely even spent any time with her sister. The pace really flagged at one point & I was thinking that this was going to be a low score read, when all of sudden, things picked up & the ending was actually quite good. It threw in some curve balls & actually lifted my rating to 3 stars. Just a pity that this didn't happen earlier in the book.
TW: references to paedophilia, sexual assault, violence.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
When she arrives back in her hometown of Wakefield, the first person she sees whilst in a taxi home is her ex-BFF. She finds out to her dismay that her mother has had a bad fall resulting in broken bones - no wonder Lily needed her home. Kate settles in to help out but knows that she can't hide from Emma forever, however the next day, she gets the shocking news that Emma is dead. Believed to have taken her own life, Emma was found in the woods, but when Kate speaks to Emma's mother, she begins to think that perhaps there is more to Emma's death. Perhaps Emma was killed & if so, who would want to kill her & what secrets are they keeping?
Although this was an intriguing story line, the main character was rather too passive: originally she didn't stop to talk to anyone about what happened or get Emma's side of the story, just hightailed it out of town, now she is back home, Kate just drifts. To say there was a crime to be solved, there seemed to be precious little investigating happening most of the time. Kate kept saying that she really needed to find out what happened & if Emma was involved, but spent most of her time shuttling between her ex & his ex-best friend. She barely even spent any time with her sister. The pace really flagged at one point & I was thinking that this was going to be a low score read, when all of sudden, things picked up & the ending was actually quite good. It threw in some curve balls & actually lifted my rating to 3 stars. Just a pity that this didn't happen earlier in the book.
TW: references to paedophilia, sexual assault, violence.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
January 14, 2023
"Problems don't go away when you ignore them."
If only Kate had realized the above sooner many might still be alive. In the psychological thriller Best Friends Forever, by new to me author Shannon Hollinger, Kate literally runs away from a murder scene leaving the truth behind and a trail of dead bodies.
On the night of her high school graduation Kate and friends, along with Kate's 12 year old sister Lily, party in the woods. Kate leaves to be with her boyfriend and when she returns she finds her best friend Emma holding a bloody rock and a homeless man they had befriended lying dead at her feet.
In the aftermath Lily becomes a selective mute and Kate leaves town unable to cope with this murderous secret. Ten years later she comes home to help her Mom after a fall and finally confront Emma (which she should have done 10 years ago) but Emma mysteriously dies before Kate can talk to her.
Kate starts to play detective into Emma's death and wondering if her friend was a "serial killer" when she connects random murders of homeless men to the first murder ten years ago. Soon Emma isn't the only suspect and Kate knows she can't trust any of her childhood friends because one or more of them are killers.
Narrator Kate Hanford does a fine job with a full cast of often despicable characters including a creep that works with children; that reveal made me feel very icky.
This story was more a YA thriller with the naivety of its characters and their poor judgements. I was rating it 3.5 Stars because there was a bit of repetitive whining from Kate that had my eyes rolling but the ending was so shocking and was just pure entertainment for this thriller fan. Best friends may not always be forever but they leave us with stories to tell.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from #bookoutureaudio via #NetGalley
for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
*This Review Is For The Audiobook*
If only Kate had realized the above sooner many might still be alive. In the psychological thriller Best Friends Forever, by new to me author Shannon Hollinger, Kate literally runs away from a murder scene leaving the truth behind and a trail of dead bodies.
On the night of her high school graduation Kate and friends, along with Kate's 12 year old sister Lily, party in the woods. Kate leaves to be with her boyfriend and when she returns she finds her best friend Emma holding a bloody rock and a homeless man they had befriended lying dead at her feet.
In the aftermath Lily becomes a selective mute and Kate leaves town unable to cope with this murderous secret. Ten years later she comes home to help her Mom after a fall and finally confront Emma (which she should have done 10 years ago) but Emma mysteriously dies before Kate can talk to her.
Kate starts to play detective into Emma's death and wondering if her friend was a "serial killer" when she connects random murders of homeless men to the first murder ten years ago. Soon Emma isn't the only suspect and Kate knows she can't trust any of her childhood friends because one or more of them are killers.
Narrator Kate Hanford does a fine job with a full cast of often despicable characters including a creep that works with children; that reveal made me feel very icky.
This story was more a YA thriller with the naivety of its characters and their poor judgements. I was rating it 3.5 Stars because there was a bit of repetitive whining from Kate that had my eyes rolling but the ending was so shocking and was just pure entertainment for this thriller fan. Best friends may not always be forever but they leave us with stories to tell.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from #bookoutureaudio via #NetGalley
for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
*This Review Is For The Audiobook*
December 18, 2022
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Best Friends Forever is a psychological thriller that follows the story of Kate who ran away from home after witnessing something traumatic which left her little sister mute. 10 years later Kate has no option but to come back to Florida to take care of her mother who had an accident. Right after she reaches home, her estranged bestfriend is found dead, presumed by suicide. With the weight of everything she has been carrying for the last decade and this sudden loss, everything starts unraveling around her, Kate starts to see everything more clearly. But will she be able to figure out everything that's going on before all goes to hell??
Come on, a murder mystery with a history, no one can stop me from picking it up. This story had me hooked from the fore front. I obviously had my suspicions and was sad more than disappointed at them being right. Will not lie, this book is a sad story with family secrets and betrayals. The story is pretty much fast paced and happening. There is an eerie foreboding vibe which keeps you on your toes. Even though you know the story is set in Florida and there is more than enough description of the weather, it was like I could only imagine the story set in a cloudy and gloomy weather.
The narrator was amazing, especially in maintaining the vibe and emoted the confused and guilt-ridden Kate very well. Overall a really good thriller and a quick read.
TW: Murder, blood, gore, betrayal, pedophilia, sexual assault, abuse, gaslighting
Best Friends Forever is a psychological thriller that follows the story of Kate who ran away from home after witnessing something traumatic which left her little sister mute. 10 years later Kate has no option but to come back to Florida to take care of her mother who had an accident. Right after she reaches home, her estranged bestfriend is found dead, presumed by suicide. With the weight of everything she has been carrying for the last decade and this sudden loss, everything starts unraveling around her, Kate starts to see everything more clearly. But will she be able to figure out everything that's going on before all goes to hell??
Come on, a murder mystery with a history, no one can stop me from picking it up. This story had me hooked from the fore front. I obviously had my suspicions and was sad more than disappointed at them being right. Will not lie, this book is a sad story with family secrets and betrayals. The story is pretty much fast paced and happening. There is an eerie foreboding vibe which keeps you on your toes. Even though you know the story is set in Florida and there is more than enough description of the weather, it was like I could only imagine the story set in a cloudy and gloomy weather.
The narrator was amazing, especially in maintaining the vibe and emoted the confused and guilt-ridden Kate very well. Overall a really good thriller and a quick read.
TW: Murder, blood, gore, betrayal, pedophilia, sexual assault, abuse, gaslighting
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