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With Friends Like You
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26From a New York Times bestselling author comes a gripping debut that defies all expectations—a story of feverish obsession, new motherhood, and a friendship pushed to the edge
Emily is unmoored as a new mother in Manhattan—exhausted, broke, and slipping away from her well-meaning husband. She becomes fixated on finding the one person who ever truly understood her: her college roommate Daisy who vanished years ago after dancing at a seedy strip club off campus.
In her desperate search for Daisy, Emily tumbles from new-mom message boards into a world of porn, secrets, and a high-end escort service for global billionaires, hitting one dead end after another—until the unthinkable happens: Daisy suddenly reappears.
Daisy infuses Emily’s life with newfound purpose and community as the two launch a new mothers’ group in a vacant luxury skyscraper (matcha on tap, vibrators on offer). But the joy of their reunion soon fades, revealing deep cracks in their friendship. Is Daisy the key to Emily’s happiness—or is she unraveling her world? And where has Daisy really been all these years?
Emily is unmoored as a new mother in Manhattan—exhausted, broke, and slipping away from her well-meaning husband. She becomes fixated on finding the one person who ever truly understood her: her college roommate Daisy who vanished years ago after dancing at a seedy strip club off campus.
In her desperate search for Daisy, Emily tumbles from new-mom message boards into a world of porn, secrets, and a high-end escort service for global billionaires, hitting one dead end after another—until the unthinkable happens: Daisy suddenly reappears.
Daisy infuses Emily’s life with newfound purpose and community as the two launch a new mothers’ group in a vacant luxury skyscraper (matcha on tap, vibrators on offer). But the joy of their reunion soon fades, revealing deep cracks in their friendship. Is Daisy the key to Emily’s happiness—or is she unraveling her world? And where has Daisy really been all these years?
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
11998 people want to read
About the author
Amy Chozick
4 books81 followersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/amychozick
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amychozick/
Amy Chozick is an author, screenwriter, and journalist who has covered major stories in politics, business, and media for The New York Times.
She is the creator and executive producer of the HBO Max original series The Girls on the Bus, inspired by her New York Times–bestselling memoir Chasing Hillary. Her debut novel, With Friends Like You, will be published by Dutton in July. She is currently adapting the novel into a feature film with Brad Weston — the producer of several Oscar-winning films — and Fifth Season. She also has multiple television projects in development at Netflix and Apple.
Amy’s writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Vanity Fair and other
publications. At The New York Times, Chozick served as the lead reporter covering Hillary
Clinton during the 2016 presidential election. Most recently, she conducted an exclusive
interview with Elizabeth Holmes.
Prior to joining the Times in 2011, Chozick spent eight years at The Wall Street Journal,
including as a political reporter covering Barack Obama and as a foreign correspondent based in
Tokyo.
She served as a consultant on the Netflix political drama House of Cards and Greg Berlanti’s USA series Political Animals.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amychozick/
Amy Chozick is an author, screenwriter, and journalist who has covered major stories in politics, business, and media for The New York Times.
She is the creator and executive producer of the HBO Max original series The Girls on the Bus, inspired by her New York Times–bestselling memoir Chasing Hillary. Her debut novel, With Friends Like You, will be published by Dutton in July. She is currently adapting the novel into a feature film with Brad Weston — the producer of several Oscar-winning films — and Fifth Season. She also has multiple television projects in development at Netflix and Apple.
Amy’s writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Vanity Fair and other
publications. At The New York Times, Chozick served as the lead reporter covering Hillary
Clinton during the 2016 presidential election. Most recently, she conducted an exclusive
interview with Elizabeth Holmes.
Prior to joining the Times in 2011, Chozick spent eight years at The Wall Street Journal,
including as a political reporter covering Barack Obama and as a foreign correspondent based in
Tokyo.
She served as a consultant on the Netflix political drama House of Cards and Greg Berlanti’s USA series Political Animals.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 27, 2026
With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick. Thanks to @duttonbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emily is a new mother in Manhattan and having a hard time adjusting. She starts to look up her old roommate from college, Daisy, who vanished after starting stripping at a seedy club.
I loved this dark humor look at motherhood and mental health. The story is very entertaining and flips a few times unexpectedly. I really enjoyed it. It’s hard for me to say more at risk of spoilers but it’s a great read!
“We were witches, wild and drunk and together and so, so alive.”
Read if you like:
-Stories about motherhood
-Friendships
-Unexpected twists
-New York City settings
With Friends Like You comes out 7/2.
Emily is a new mother in Manhattan and having a hard time adjusting. She starts to look up her old roommate from college, Daisy, who vanished after starting stripping at a seedy club.
I loved this dark humor look at motherhood and mental health. The story is very entertaining and flips a few times unexpectedly. I really enjoyed it. It’s hard for me to say more at risk of spoilers but it’s a great read!
“We were witches, wild and drunk and together and so, so alive.”
Read if you like:
-Stories about motherhood
-Friendships
-Unexpected twists
-New York City settings
With Friends Like You comes out 7/2.
Did Not Finish
April 10, 2026this book got way too graphic about child-birth for me to enjoy it
April 24, 2026
I was obsessed with getting an ARC of this and it didn't disappoint!! I appreciated all of the characters, even the smaller ones from the Juju Bean mom group and its portrayal of the bored and lonely NY city elite mother.
- loved: notes on new motherhood, a good ole friendship arc, that twist!!! & I actually think it has a cute love story line.
- meh: there were about 60 pages in the middle i thought didn't add much and just slowed down the plot and made it harder to get through.
the ending was so good and learning all about emily and daisy was so worth it. thank u NetGalley for the arc 🩷
- loved: notes on new motherhood, a good ole friendship arc, that twist!!! & I actually think it has a cute love story line.
- meh: there were about 60 pages in the middle i thought didn't add much and just slowed down the plot and made it harder to get through.
the ending was so good and learning all about emily and daisy was so worth it. thank u NetGalley for the arc 🩷
February 21, 2026
This book feels like a fever dream in the best way. The writing is sharp, fast, and completely driven by Emily’s inner dialogue, and it is so witty. It has that spiraling, slightly chaotic energy that makes you feel like you’re inside her head the entire time. I loved it.
Emily, a postpartum mom, becomes determined to track down her old college roommate Daisy, someone she hasn’t spoken to in years. What starts as curiosity, or maybe unfinished emotional business, turns into something much more consuming once she finds her and gets pulled into Daisy’s world.
There is a major plot twist. It briefly crossed my mind at one point, but the way it actually unfolds is so much better than I expected. Even if you start to suspect something, the execution makes it feel very satisfying.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.
Emily, a postpartum mom, becomes determined to track down her old college roommate Daisy, someone she hasn’t spoken to in years. What starts as curiosity, or maybe unfinished emotional business, turns into something much more consuming once she finds her and gets pulled into Daisy’s world.
There is a major plot twist. It briefly crossed my mind at one point, but the way it actually unfolds is so much better than I expected. Even if you start to suspect something, the execution makes it feel very satisfying.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.
May 1, 2026
3.75. Very readable and humorous at times. I love the ideas behind this book. It was just slightly predictable. Despite that, it held my attention and kept me reading
April 7, 2026
You think you’re reading one thing but it turns out you’re actually reading something else.
I realized early on that I had absolutely no idea where this was going, which kept me engaged and turning pages. And where it went, I never would have expected from the description (which still was accurate). I want to read this one again but more closely.
Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
I realized early on that I had absolutely no idea where this was going, which kept me engaged and turning pages. And where it went, I never would have expected from the description (which still was accurate). I want to read this one again but more closely.
Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With Friends Like You started off with the feel of a memoir; I had to check the cover to confirm “novel” was printed on the front. Emily’s character felt so real to me: with her poignant descriptions of postpartum pain and her feelings of aloneness and anxiety. But as With Friends Like You unfolds, the story becomes harder to believe and, thus, less memoir-like.
As mentioned, Emily gave birth to baby Holden not that long ago. She is terrified to go back to work, but also terrified to be at home alone with a small baby. In her postpartum state, Emily becomes obsessed with tracking down her college roommate, Daisy, who she lost track of years ago when Daisy skipped town, strung out on heroin and sliding further into the world of sex work.
Then, one day at a New York City park, Daisy sits down on the bench next to Emily. In many ways, this is when the story begins. Daisy is living in a high-end apartment and invites Emily to turn it into a coven for new mothers. It gets wild, with a hint of dark humor as the list of uber luxury items stacks up. It’s fun and funny and definitely a bit off kilter.
You know something is up with Daisy, but not what. Emily keeps saying things like, if we knew… or at the end… hints that this wild ride will come to some unexpected end. And boy, does it. I absolutely loved this book till about 80% in. And then, that last 20% really threw me. Its ending is a major twist and I’m not sure I liked it, but I also didn’t not like it.
Overall, this is a fun story with a hint of mystery that puts a spotlight on some of the most raw postpartum feelings and experiences. I recommend it, even with my slightly less favorable view of the ending, which knocked it from 5 stars to 4 for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite quotes:
“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
I learned that the best thing about having money was the ability to think about things other than money.
As mentioned, Emily gave birth to baby Holden not that long ago. She is terrified to go back to work, but also terrified to be at home alone with a small baby. In her postpartum state, Emily becomes obsessed with tracking down her college roommate, Daisy, who she lost track of years ago when Daisy skipped town, strung out on heroin and sliding further into the world of sex work.
Then, one day at a New York City park, Daisy sits down on the bench next to Emily. In many ways, this is when the story begins. Daisy is living in a high-end apartment and invites Emily to turn it into a coven for new mothers. It gets wild, with a hint of dark humor as the list of uber luxury items stacks up. It’s fun and funny and definitely a bit off kilter.
You know something is up with Daisy, but not what. Emily keeps saying things like, if we knew… or at the end… hints that this wild ride will come to some unexpected end. And boy, does it. I absolutely loved this book till about 80% in. And then, that last 20% really threw me. Its ending is a major twist and I’m not sure I liked it, but I also didn’t not like it.
Overall, this is a fun story with a hint of mystery that puts a spotlight on some of the most raw postpartum feelings and experiences. I recommend it, even with my slightly less favorable view of the ending, which knocked it from 5 stars to 4 for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite quotes:
“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
I learned that the best thing about having money was the ability to think about things other than money.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
WOW OKAY so that twist was INSANE!
For me, the twist couldn't make up for the soggy middle.
That twist deserves to be spoiler free, this review reflects that.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4:
Emily wants to find her long-lost friend from college Daisy, a representation of nostalgia and a life that wasn't as complicated as it is now tackling first time motherhood. Emily is extremely relatable. She's just trying to find someone she loved, a feeling any number of us would have. She's so desperate to find Daisy, her methods are unconventional yet entertaining, a sort of homage is being paid to all the girls with insane FBI-level investigation skills.
Cut to Part 2 and here Daisy is in the flesh with no fanfare or explanation. The reader is just thrust into this situation much like Emily is. It's disorienting. It's really baby focused, I didn't really understand . I now know this was part of the twist and necessary for the book. In all honesty, this could still be effective for readers with cutting Part 2 in half. I was bored, I wanted to DNF, and I forced myself to keep going. I'm glad I did. As much as I didn't like the middle of the book, the mundanity is the point. Regular life is messy too. Something else is up.
The end of Part 2 and beginning of Part 3 had me book-in-my-lap jaw-on-the-floor multiple times. It's a whirlwind. And it's really evocative knowing the reader is left feeling exactly like Emily is as she discovers the twist.
In my opinion, this book is a mystery/thriller novel written as literary fiction. If you like any ounce of that, you're likely to enjoy this book. Maybe you'll find the middle to be just right. I encourage you to keep going with this, I'm certain this ending will stick with me a while.
For me, the twist couldn't make up for the soggy middle.
That twist deserves to be spoiler free, this review reflects that.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4:
Emily wants to find her long-lost friend from college Daisy, a representation of nostalgia and a life that wasn't as complicated as it is now tackling first time motherhood. Emily is extremely relatable. She's just trying to find someone she loved, a feeling any number of us would have. She's so desperate to find Daisy, her methods are unconventional yet entertaining, a sort of homage is being paid to all the girls with insane FBI-level investigation skills.
Cut to Part 2 and here Daisy is in the flesh with no fanfare or explanation. The reader is just thrust into this situation much like Emily is. It's disorienting. It's really baby focused, I didn't really understand . I now know this was part of the twist and necessary for the book. In all honesty, this could still be effective for readers with cutting Part 2 in half. I was bored, I wanted to DNF, and I forced myself to keep going. I'm glad I did. As much as I didn't like the middle of the book, the mundanity is the point. Regular life is messy too. Something else is up.
The end of Part 2 and beginning of Part 3 had me book-in-my-lap jaw-on-the-floor multiple times. It's a whirlwind. And it's really evocative knowing the reader is left feeling exactly like Emily is as she discovers the twist.
In my opinion, this book is a mystery/thriller novel written as literary fiction. If you like any ounce of that, you're likely to enjoy this book. Maybe you'll find the middle to be just right. I encourage you to keep going with this, I'm certain this ending will stick with me a while.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Here's my advice: go into this blind. Read the blurb and then the book and live your best life. The remainder of my review will be hidden behind a spoiler tag to avoid giving too much away.
*Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC!*
*Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC!*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
WIth Friends Like You takes place in Manhattan which is one of my favorite places to visit in real life so a story being set there is always always a plus.
It starts out in with Emily lonely and suffering in the aftermath of an incredibly rough labor and delivery of her son. Her husband is working a lot doing his best to provide and skip the next round of layoffs. Leaving emily a lot of idle time with a newish born baby. Emily is able to make some friends online in a mom group but is yearning to find a friend she had in college whos disappeared after running in to financial hard times in college to work at a Strip Club which progress to actual sex work. The friend Daisy is everything Emily is not, rich, sexy Spontaneous and free spirited without a worry in the world. When Emily reconnects she is able to feel powerful and find purpose through creating a high end daycare/self care center for moms.
While I think middle of the book was a too slow pace, and could have been shorter without taking any thing away from the plot, the ending was very good. I did think i knew where this story was going a couple times and how it would end, I am glad i continued on because my guesses were wrong.
I did like the characters even the smaller characters from the mom online group. Loved the setting and I feel that the end absolutely wrapped everything up well. Just think there was too much pointlessness in the middle that could have been left out for better pacing and more anticipation.
It starts out in with Emily lonely and suffering in the aftermath of an incredibly rough labor and delivery of her son. Her husband is working a lot doing his best to provide and skip the next round of layoffs. Leaving emily a lot of idle time with a newish born baby. Emily is able to make some friends online in a mom group but is yearning to find a friend she had in college whos disappeared after running in to financial hard times in college to work at a Strip Club which progress to actual sex work. The friend Daisy is everything Emily is not, rich, sexy Spontaneous and free spirited without a worry in the world. When Emily reconnects she is able to feel powerful and find purpose through creating a high end daycare/self care center for moms.
While I think middle of the book was a too slow pace, and could have been shorter without taking any thing away from the plot, the ending was very good. I did think i knew where this story was going a couple times and how it would end, I am glad i continued on because my guesses were wrong.
I did like the characters even the smaller characters from the mom online group. Loved the setting and I feel that the end absolutely wrapped everything up well. Just think there was too much pointlessness in the middle that could have been left out for better pacing and more anticipation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. What a fun and different type of story this was. This is Amy Chozick's first novel and she can really keep a reader engaged. Set in Manhattan among the have's and have not's, With Friends Like You follows Emily, a new mom to a son who's married to a well-meaning Aussie husband. Its easy to see that she's undergoing some type of transition after becoming a mother, but no spoilers here. When she tracks down her friend from college, Daisy, Emily's world changes into something she could never could have imagined. Daisy opens up worlds to her that she's never known - a black Amex for Emily to use as she pleases, a condo in an exclusive 527 Park Ave. location for a mom's day retreat while their children are cared for on another floor in the building doing constructive activities. Emily's life starts to blur with her marriage, her baby, her new mom friends and with Daisy. Amy Chozick's writing is smart, funny and darkly wicked. The way the moms in the 527 Park group roll designed baby gear names off their tongues is hilarious. The book takes a turn in the last chapters - explaining a lot about Emily and her friendship with Daisy. I don't think this review will do this book justice. I hope to read more from Amy Chozick in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book from Dutton via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. This was an absolute masterpiece, and I didn't want it to end. I wish I could give more than 5 stars!
I think you will have a special connection to Emily and to the situations in general if you are a mom. I have a 5-year-old, so I feel I am still in this general era of parenting. So many of the pop-culture references resonated. The Snoo at a garage sale. Sophie the giraffe. Tons of hilarious references to the "good night, good night" books. Every sentence was a work of art with tremendous humor and feeling.
The mothers' group is the dream of so many (all?) new moms who are struggling and need a village, not to mention free childcare. I wonder if this idea came from the author's own experience as a new mom.
I could also relate to Emily and Daisy's college experience. Living away from home for the first time absolutely does generate these tight, almost co-dependent relationships.
There were two massive reveals which quite literally left my jaw hanging open. I did not even remotely suspect them, but the most important one made me want to go back to the beginning of the book and look for clues. I rarely read books twice, but I think this one would be worth it.
Ms. Chozick is incredibly talented and I will certainly seek out more of her books!
I think you will have a special connection to Emily and to the situations in general if you are a mom. I have a 5-year-old, so I feel I am still in this general era of parenting. So many of the pop-culture references resonated. The Snoo at a garage sale. Sophie the giraffe. Tons of hilarious references to the "good night, good night" books. Every sentence was a work of art with tremendous humor and feeling.
The mothers' group is the dream of so many (all?) new moms who are struggling and need a village, not to mention free childcare. I wonder if this idea came from the author's own experience as a new mom.
I could also relate to Emily and Daisy's college experience. Living away from home for the first time absolutely does generate these tight, almost co-dependent relationships.
There were two massive reveals which quite literally left my jaw hanging open. I did not even remotely suspect them, but the most important one made me want to go back to the beginning of the book and look for clues. I rarely read books twice, but I think this one would be worth it.
Ms. Chozick is incredibly talented and I will certainly seek out more of her books!
April 21, 2026
When I heard Amy was writing fiction, I trusted it almost instinctively. If you're familiar with her background, she knows this world too well for it to feel imagined. With Friends Like You moves through New York City with fluency, but what stayed with me wasn’t the enthralling setting as much as the complexity of the women within it. It captures an element of friendship we rarely discuss, intimate yet evaluative, quietly competitive. I am not a mother or married, and still, I felt implicated in the familiar split between self-assurance and the subconscious suspicion of not being enough, sharpened by a culture of constant comparison. The novel feels participatory in this way. I devoured it, but toward the end I had to set it down because of the recognition it demanded. And while the plot may not be entirely original, it also doesn't feel repetitive because its real concern isn’t resolution. It’s the interior question that keeps returning me to: what kind of life we are allowed to want, how often we allow ourselves to begin again, and how deeply shame embeds itself in the spaces between intimacy, domesticity, and whatever we decide to call love.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow, I did not see this story going this way.
Emily is a new mother who is really having a hard time adjusting to motherhood, lack of sleep, pain from an emergency delivery, and issues breast feeding. In her waking hours, she has taken to trying to find her college roommate, Daisy. When Daisy had issues in college, they lost touch. Emily liked herself better when she was friends with Daisy and thinks reconnecting with her could help with her current mental health.
This story really captures some of the emotions and struggles that new moms can feel and how important it is to get help if you need it. It also shows how friendship with other moms can be beneficial.
While I didn't find the mom group portion of this very realistic, I really loved the push/pull with Daisy and Emily. I really was not expecting the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Emily is a new mother who is really having a hard time adjusting to motherhood, lack of sleep, pain from an emergency delivery, and issues breast feeding. In her waking hours, she has taken to trying to find her college roommate, Daisy. When Daisy had issues in college, they lost touch. Emily liked herself better when she was friends with Daisy and thinks reconnecting with her could help with her current mental health.
This story really captures some of the emotions and struggles that new moms can feel and how important it is to get help if you need it. It also shows how friendship with other moms can be beneficial.
While I didn't find the mom group portion of this very realistic, I really loved the push/pull with Daisy and Emily. I really was not expecting the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Mental Health
Publisher: Dutton
Pub. Date: July 26, 2026
A mediocre psychological thriller that explores friendship, motherhood, and secrets. The narrative centers on Emily, an exhausted new mother in Manhattan who meets up with Daisy, her college roommate. Together, they create an elite, rowdy mothers' club in an opulent building. The twist seemed plausible to me. This is a quick read with some dark comedy. The author's explanation of mental health issues was well researched.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://www.amazon.com/
Publisher: Dutton
Pub. Date: July 26, 2026
A mediocre psychological thriller that explores friendship, motherhood, and secrets. The narrative centers on Emily, an exhausted new mother in Manhattan who meets up with Daisy, her college roommate. Together, they create an elite, rowdy mothers' club in an opulent building. The twist seemed plausible to me. This is a quick read with some dark comedy. The author's explanation of mental health issues was well researched.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://www.amazon.com/
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the exploration of motherhood. It's been a while since my son was a newborn, but the "Juju Bean" group brought back so many memories of myself as a young mom, just trying to fit in on the mom forums while only being met with constant comparisons & judgements.
While I understand what Amy Chozick was trying to accomplish with the constant name brand dropping, at a certain point it became overdone & eye roll worthy. It was pretentious in an ironic way.
While I found a lot of the 527 Park storyline repetitive, I did generally enjoy the plot & the twist. The main reason for my lower rating mainly stems from the writing itself.
Maybe it was my own overly exhausted, full time working mom brain (even though my son is 13 and barely needs me anymore), but there were so many moments where I had to go back a re-read sentences or even full paragraphs before I could comprehend what was happening.
The transitions between the present/past & even from scene to scene felt both choppy & blunt. There were a lot of moments where I couldn't tell if what I was reading was our main character's thoughts, dialogue between characters or both. To me, the writing felt messy & at times, chaotic. Unfortunately, this made it hard to fully immerse myself in the story as much as I would've liked.
While I understand what Amy Chozick was trying to accomplish with the constant name brand dropping, at a certain point it became overdone & eye roll worthy. It was pretentious in an ironic way.
While I found a lot of the 527 Park storyline repetitive, I did generally enjoy the plot & the twist. The main reason for my lower rating mainly stems from the writing itself.
Maybe it was my own overly exhausted, full time working mom brain (even though my son is 13 and barely needs me anymore), but there were so many moments where I had to go back a re-read sentences or even full paragraphs before I could comprehend what was happening.
The transitions between the present/past & even from scene to scene felt both choppy & blunt. There were a lot of moments where I couldn't tell if what I was reading was our main character's thoughts, dialogue between characters or both. To me, the writing felt messy & at times, chaotic. Unfortunately, this made it hard to fully immerse myself in the story as much as I would've liked.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
With Friends Like You is a sharp, entertaining look at friendship, ambition, and the complicated ways our lives stay intertwined long after we think they’ve moved on. Amy Chozick writes with a confident, witty voice that makes the story feel both contemporary and relatable, especially in how it captures the mix of affection and tension that can exist between close friends over time.
What stands out most is how the book balances humor with emotional honesty. It’s an easy read, but it still leaves you thinking about loyalty, identity, and the version of ourselves we present to others versus who we really are. A great pick if you enjoy character-driven stories about messy, real relationships with a bit of bite.
What stands out most is how the book balances humor with emotional honesty. It’s an easy read, but it still leaves you thinking about loyalty, identity, and the version of ourselves we present to others versus who we really are. A great pick if you enjoy character-driven stories about messy, real relationships with a bit of bite.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Just finished With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick and WOW this one pulled me in fast. 👀 At first, it feels like a fun, witty look at friendship and ambition, but the deeper you go, the more you start questioning everything such as loyalty, trust, and what people are really capable of behind closed doors. It’s one of those books where the tension quietly builds until you’re side-eyeing every character. What I loved most was how real the relationships felt messy, complicated, and sometimes a little uncomfortable (in the best way). It definitely made me think about how well we truly know the people in our lives. If you like smart, character-driven stories with a little bit of drama and a lot of “wait…what just happened?” moments, add this one to your list.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emily is a new exhausted mom in Manhattan who decides to look for Daisy, an old college roommate who disappeared years ago after dancing in strip clubs. Emily starts her search in an online new-mom community and has difficulty finding Daisy until one day, Daisy magically appears.
Daisy gives Emily newfound life and purpose as they start a community for new moms in a luxurious apartment; however, their friendship starts falling apart.
As a new mom who struggled with a shifting identity, feelings of isolation, and my mental health, I can certainly resonate with Emily’s inner dialogue and feel the relationships she had. The ending caught me off guard, but I enjoyed the twist in the end. Overall, it’s a compelling mystery that explores friendship, connection, community, and motherhood.
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.
Daisy gives Emily newfound life and purpose as they start a community for new moms in a luxurious apartment; however, their friendship starts falling apart.
As a new mom who struggled with a shifting identity, feelings of isolation, and my mental health, I can certainly resonate with Emily’s inner dialogue and feel the relationships she had. The ending caught me off guard, but I enjoyed the twist in the end. Overall, it’s a compelling mystery that explores friendship, connection, community, and motherhood.
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.
April 23, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ok, I feel terrible saying this, especially since it’s my first advanced copy from NetGalley, but this one just wasn’t for me. It took me a long time to get into, and I found myself not wanting to pick it up each night.
I also struggled to connect with any of the characters. Daisy, Emily, Roman… I didn’t find myself rooting for any of them. The twist at the end felt pretty familiar too, and I had a feeling early on where it was headed.
Overall, it felt like a strange mix of too much chaos but not enough actually happening at the same time.
Ok, I feel terrible saying this, especially since it’s my first advanced copy from NetGalley, but this one just wasn’t for me. It took me a long time to get into, and I found myself not wanting to pick it up each night.
I also struggled to connect with any of the characters. Daisy, Emily, Roman… I didn’t find myself rooting for any of them. The twist at the end felt pretty familiar too, and I had a feeling early on where it was headed.
Overall, it felt like a strange mix of too much chaos but not enough actually happening at the same time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dear Lord, this book was tedious. By 40% in, I was so sick of the constant branded-product-name-dropping... she didn't just have a baby stroller, she had a Yoyo. (At least, I think that was her stroller… But the 500th time I read the word Yoyo, I didn't even give a shit anymore.) And God forbid she puts her baby in a pack and play… No sir, she had to have a Guava Lotus Travel Crib. It was all so boring.
I knew there was some kind of twist, so I skipped ahead to part three, read the twist, then DNF.
A ridiculous waste of time.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.
I knew there was some kind of twist, so I skipped ahead to part three, read the twist, then DNF.
A ridiculous waste of time.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
WOW. absolutely incredible! a stunning fiction debut by Amy Chozick. I would highly recommend going in to this one as blind as possible. i tend to predict twists and at no point did i expect where this was going. my jaw completely dropped three separate times! this book also had intensely readable prose and real commentary about gender and motherhood which added great layers to the absolutely wild plot. you will not want to put it down after picking this one up!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
April 8, 2026
Review of advanced copy from NetGalley
Wow- This one totally caught me off guard!! I loved the writing- the dark humor takes on motherhood, Emily’s witty inner dialogue. The ending had my jaw on the floor! Trying to describe the premise of this book will have you laugh out loud by how crazy it all sounds… You think this book is one thing and it turns into another. Entertaining? Yes. I’m predicting this one to be a big summer read. 4.5/5
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for the ARC.
Wow- This one totally caught me off guard!! I loved the writing- the dark humor takes on motherhood, Emily’s witty inner dialogue. The ending had my jaw on the floor! Trying to describe the premise of this book will have you laugh out loud by how crazy it all sounds… You think this book is one thing and it turns into another. Entertaining? Yes. I’m predicting this one to be a big summer read. 4.5/5
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
4.5⭐️
Although I had an inkling this twist was coming, the story was very original and had me hooked from beginning to end. It’s been a while since I’ve had so much fun reading a book! Judging from the cover I thought this would be your average thriller, but there was much more to it.
My only critique would be that the ending went on a tad long- I would’ve rather put some of the pieces together myself as the reader.
With Friends Like You will be published July 21, 2026.
4.5⭐️
Although I had an inkling this twist was coming, the story was very original and had me hooked from beginning to end. It’s been a while since I’ve had so much fun reading a book! Judging from the cover I thought this would be your average thriller, but there was much more to it.
My only critique would be that the ending went on a tad long- I would’ve rather put some of the pieces together myself as the reader.
With Friends Like You will be published July 21, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Novel about a mother struggling with her newborn baby in Manhattan after a very traumatic delivery that has left her very sore. While her husband works long hours to avoid being laid off and with no family nearby to help her, she decides to try and find her friend from college who became a porn star. After reuniting with Daisy (the porn star), life becomes more manageable for Daisy. The story then takes a turn which I will not reveal here to avoid spoilers, but I felt a little disappointed with this revelation. Still an enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maybe I am too old and not the intended audience for this book, but what an awful read. The constant repetitive name- dropping of products that are “in” wore me down. I never figured out if it was satire or not. The author seemed to want her book to convey many messages and ended up not succeeding. I think it was a good 40% in before anything of substance begins to happen. I hated the portrayal of motherhood and the “need” for the 527 Park club. An odd book with an odd overused cop-out at the end.
April 30, 2026
Highly highly recommend! This book was highly addictive, and I really enjoyed every single page. The writing was sharp, captivating, and witty as all get out. I loved Emily, and I loved how I had no clue where the story was going at any given time. I also will always have a soft spot for books that correctly represent HEB and local Texas culture.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read this book.
April 8, 2026
I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher and author of With Friends Like You for this ARC book. I must say it was a slow and little boring start. As I read it I couldn’t put it down. Emily was quite the character with her sidekick Daisy. Very interesting story and an unexpected ending. I was given this ARC book in advance for my honest opinion. Enjoy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With Friends Like You is a compelling exploration of friendship, love, and the chaos and beauty of motherhood. At its core is Emily, a woman shaped by a difficult relationship with her cold, distant mother, who finds herself drawn to intense, complicated connections.
Her bond with Daisy yet another outsider with her own turbulent past feels immediate and consuming. Emily admits she’s easily influenced by her, and as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this relationship is central to her journey of self-discovery. Through motherhood, marriage, and shifting friendships, Emily is constantly searching for who she is.
The novel captures the emotional weight of motherhood ABSOLUTELY brilliantly the envy, the guilt, the humour, and the quiet moments of connection. Emily’s resentment toward her husband’s unchanged freedom contrasts with her own sense of loss, while her fascination with emotionally charged relationships suggests she feels most alive in chaos.
The supporting characters add depth, from transactional friendships that feel all too familiar to more meaningful connections grounded in shared experience. Meanwhile, the portrayal of mental health is raw and impactful, leading to a twist that is genuinely shocking!
Told across past and present, the novel cleverly shows different versions of Emily, blurring the lines between who she was and who she is becoming.
It’s messy, thought-provoking, and completely absorbing I could have kept reading!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Her bond with Daisy yet another outsider with her own turbulent past feels immediate and consuming. Emily admits she’s easily influenced by her, and as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this relationship is central to her journey of self-discovery. Through motherhood, marriage, and shifting friendships, Emily is constantly searching for who she is.
The novel captures the emotional weight of motherhood ABSOLUTELY brilliantly the envy, the guilt, the humour, and the quiet moments of connection. Emily’s resentment toward her husband’s unchanged freedom contrasts with her own sense of loss, while her fascination with emotionally charged relationships suggests she feels most alive in chaos.
The supporting characters add depth, from transactional friendships that feel all too familiar to more meaningful connections grounded in shared experience. Meanwhile, the portrayal of mental health is raw and impactful, leading to a twist that is genuinely shocking!
Told across past and present, the novel cleverly shows different versions of Emily, blurring the lines between who she was and who she is becoming.
It’s messy, thought-provoking, and completely absorbing I could have kept reading!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This novel took so many twists I wasn't expecting that I felt vaguely whiplashed and unstable by the end. But each twist deepened my understanding of the story and I could track back to the hints I had hadn't been able to make sense of when first reading but that in retrospect became bread crumbs for the diabolical reveals to come.
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