A Girl's Girl

by Emma Robertson

'An assured, confident debut that kept me turning pages to find out what would happen - truly wonderful storytelling' ANDREA MARA

You've got everything she ever wanted...

At school, Darcy Starr was the girl everyone wanted to be - effortlessly beautiful, confident and most importantly, popular.

Two decades later, she still appears to have the perfect a devoted husband, a beautiful daughter and a picture-perfect suburban home, until her old school friend Alex Rigby reappears. Newly divorced, post-glow-up and harbouring a mysterious vendetta, Alex is about to turn Darcy's world upside down.

On a group holiday to celebrate a friend's wedding, secrets, lies and old rivalries bubble to the surface, threatening to change everything Darcy thought she knew about her past. . . and herself.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2026

About the author

Thanks for visiting my author page. I live in London, UK and when I’m not writing I’m either teaching dance or finding ways to get out and travel. I’m especially interested in slow travel and like to plan itineraries to see how far I can get in Europe within a two week holiday without flying!

A Girl’s Girl is my first novel and it follows several years of writing flash and other short fiction. In the past my short works have been longlisted for the Bath Flash Fiction Award, Cranked Anvil and Furious Fiction competitions. I was placed as a runner up for the TL;DR Word Herd and I was one of the winners for the Spread the Word ‘City of Stories’ competition. For many of these competitions I was published in the anthologies that followed and I have also been published in a number of online and print literary magazines including Popshot Quarterly, Ellipsis Zine, Lunate and Funny Pearls.

When it came to writing my first novel, I followed the old advice of writing the book that I wanted to read. Therefore it is stuffed with things I love – travel (of course) plus flawed characters and a dollop of 1990s nostalgia!

I am currently working on Book 2. Thank you to everyone who has read A Girl's Girl already.

Reviews

[Bo.reads]

When Darcy and Alex reunite at a friend's wedding two decades after leaving school, old tensions quickly resurface. Moving between past and present, the story pieces together the events that shaped their fractured friendship and the lasting impact it has had on both women.

For a debut novel, I thought Emma Robertson's writing was strong. The pacing kept me engaged, and I enjoyed how each timeline revealed more about Darcy and Alex's relationship. As more of their past came to light, my opinion of both women was constantly changing. Robertson reveals just enough at a time to make you reassess their friendship and question who, if anyone, deserves your sympathy. Neither woman is particularly likeable, but understanding what shaped them made their relationship far more compelling than it first appeared.

The story itself, however, felt quite familiar. Every now and then I like to go into a book completely blind, but the downside is that I occasionally find myself reading stories with very similar themes. This time, that was exactly what happened. The toxic friendships, affairs, betrayals and alternating timelines all follow a formula I've come across many times before, which meant the story didn't leave as much of an impression as I'd hoped.

Even so, I still think this is a confident debut. Emma Robertson is clearly a talented writer, and while this particular story wasn't especially memorable for me, I'd happily read whatever she writes next. If you enjoy character-driven domestic suspense that focuses on complicated relationships and shifting loyalties, this one is worth checking out.

[Clarabelle]

This book was such a good read. I loved how it started with what seemed like a perfect life, but then slowly showed that there was so much more going on underneath. The secrets, tension, and twists kept me interested the whole way through, and I liked how the past kept coming back into the present. I honestly didn’t know who to trust at times, which made it even more enjoyable. It's definitely one of those books that makes you want to read “just one more chapter” until you’ve finished it.

[Chiara 🌻]

there‘s a good book in there, the potential was clearly there. The author did a wonderful job in creating a tense, uncomfortable atmosphere, where you just know that the characters are hiding something. However, once the secrets did start to come out, a lot of things started to feel flat for me, especially our two main characters, who were both really intriguing during the first half of the book, but less so as the plot progressed. The ending also felt a bit cliche, especially with the whole „lesson learned“ moment.

[Natalie M]

A real B*%!h fest.

Startling how the teen years have such a significant impact on adulthood. How the grudges and behaviours of 14-18 year olds can linger and fester. The characters were more likeable than I anticipated and the story had some really genuine resolutions.

I will definitely seek out this author again.

[Laura]

Really enjoyed this

[Susan]

This is indeed the perfect book to read on a beach. Four women meet up for a short holiday/hen party in Croatia, but then all the tensions from their schooldays 20 years ago begin to surface. Since school, the four have gone their separate ways, developing their own careers and families. Three of them continue to meet up, but Alex disappeared after school was over and has suddenly reappeared with disastrous consequences for them all.

There are twists and turns along the way and the reader thinks they can guess what will happen, but things turn out differently. Throughout, the reader is wondering which of Darcy and Alex is the 'goodie' and which is the 'baddie' or has one or both of them simply not grown up since school. Both of these characters present very differently from how they were at school and their supporting friends of Erika and Libby are nicely drawn, providing a calmer contrast to the fireworks of their friends. As the book progresses, the tension builds leading to the shocking discovery of what happened at school and an accident. One of them is unhinged, but which one? I needed to keep turning the pages to find out.

Lovely warm holiday setting makes me want to be there, swimming in the pool, soaking up the sun - just without all the drama..

[Eva Edge]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Girl's Girl by Emma Robertson is a deliciously toxic, fast-paced debut thriller that proves high school grudges, unhinged secrets, and messy friendships never truly die—they just go on vacation to Croatia.

The narrative hops between past school days and a present-day trip, slowly piecing together the fractured history between main characters Darcy and Alex. Emma Robertson drops just enough breadcrumbs at a time to keep you constantly guessing who is the ultimate villain and who is actually the victim. Neither of the lead women is particularly likeable, but trying to figure out if one of them is completely unhinged or if they’re both just deeply messed up makes for an addictively tense ride. Plus, the side friends provide a great, calm contrast before the fireworks inevitably explode!

While the "toxic friend reunion" trope isn't entirely new, the strong pacing, sunny Croatian backdrop, and constant shifts in loyalty keep you glued to the pages. The tension builds to a frantic pace as the shocking truth behind a past school accident finally comes to light, serving up twists you definitely won't see coming. Delivering sharp writing, moral ambiguity, and top-tier mean-girl drama, this book earns 4 deliciously toxic stars! 🍷🐍✈️

[Angela Mellor]

A Girl’s Girl would be a great beach read with it being easy to pick up and put down and the setting.
Darcy Starr was the girl everyone wanted to be at school, beautiful, funny and very popular with her making nearly every boys list. She has a tight knit group at school but one of them isn’t quite a friend as the other two as she wants something Darcy wants and she’s not going to let go. Fast forward twenty years and they are all together on a hen holiday. Darcy is married, lovely house, devoted husband and gorgeous daughter but someone is there with an axe to grind and do as much damage to Darcy’s life as she can.
This was a twisty read for me, I enjoyed the setting in Croatia and the complexity of the friendship group. I liked going back to their school days to find out what really went on and who is out for who and who did what. The storyline was good and I did enjoy it. I didn’t know who to back as the history between them and the events swayed me every time. Quite a quick read but well worth it.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bonnier Books Uk, Zaffre for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

[Leanne]

This book is a delicious mix of nostalgia, drama, and simmering tension. Darcy Starr was the girl everyone admired in school—beautiful, confident, and effortlessly popular. Fast forward twenty years, and she seems to have it all: a loving husband, a gorgeous daughter, and a picture-perfect life. But when Alex Rigby, an old friend with a score to settle, reappears, Darcy’s flawless world begins to crack.

The story unfolds during a group holiday that should be all about celebration, but instead becomes a cocktail of secrets, rivalries, and unexpected revelations. I loved how the author explored the complexities of female friendships—the way old wounds linger and how perceptions from the past can shape who we are today. The pacing was sharp, the dialogue felt authentic, and the tension between Darcy and Alex kept me hooked.

If you enjoy stories about friendship, betrayal, and the messy truth behind “perfect” lives, this one’s for you. It’s a binge-worthy read with just the right amount of glamour and grit.

With thanks to Emma Robertson, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

[Kira Louise]

Okay

This book is about toxic friendship. Darcy Starr was the popular queen bee throughout her school and college life. She got what she wanted and who she wanted thats including her friends crush.
Darcy Starr is a nasty bully and taunted her friend Alex every single day.
I was enjoying this book as years on Alex meets up with Darcy and two other friends at a hen do abroad. Alex got her own back on Darcy but the author took it in a different direction. She made out Alex to be the crazy person and Darcy came out smelling of roses at the end of the book.
Alex had been subjected to bullying and humiliation. Darcy Starr I hated intensely in this book. Bullying is one topic that gets me fiercely angry.
The author was wrong how she wrote about Alex in the end.

[Jay Jacobs]

What an entertaining novel! I was drawn in by the various characters and had a lot of sympathy for Libby who just wants everyone to enjoy her hen-party holiday. But an old friend from school days makes a less-than-welcome appearance and seems to have her own agenda. It certainly becomes a holiday to remember – but not for the right reasons! I was aware of how my sympathies for Darcy and Alex wavered throughout the book. A cracker of a page-turner by Emma Robertson. I’ll be looking out for her next publication!

[Vanessa]

A Girl's Girl by Emma Robertson was a perfect holiday read, especially as it is very hot outside. Plus, it was a great quick and easy read, with a excellent mixture of true friendship, and lots of lies between them all, which lead to betrayal and now they are longing for the past again. I loved the way it was told and by two different POV which was very clever. it became an addictive read.

Big Thank you Netgalley and Zaffre for the ARC.

[Gemma Mansfield]

One to add to your TBR pile immediately!

It is a rare for a book to hook me in from the first page but this one certainly did. A fabulous plot which kept me guessing throughout with numerous twists and turns in the direction you thought the book was going. The author has a genuine skill in making you feel the characters are real people and feel invested in their lives.

A fantastic start for a new author and I look forward to seeing what is next in what looks to be a promising career.

[Carol Ellis]

I devoured this book in almost one sitting. The dysfunctional relationships between the four old school friends and Jon, Darcy’s husband and ex secret crush of Alex was brilliantly portrayed with such reality and empathy that it took me back to my youth. I particularly liked the use of the two timelines 1997 and 20 years later with some chapters from Darcy’s point of view and some from Alex’s. The writing is exquisite and I genuinely can’t wait to read more by Emma Robertson.

[Hannah]

A blast from the past for Darcy resurfaces and turns her life upside down. I really liked Erica and Libby and could see how they struggled Darcy and Alex were not likeable, the plot was quite immature. Tbh i struggled with the book

Thank you netgalley for the early release in exchange for an honest review

[Clare Elman]

Not my normal thriller as there was no major 💀 but I really enjoyed the figuring everything out that was happening in the story, honestly I thought it was going somewhere else and it did not disappoint

[Rachel Crow]

Such a good quick book! I enjoyed it right from the beginning and a few little twist that I thought I had figured out kept me wanting to read more!! If you like a good reunion (what are my old friends up to) book this is a great one for you!! Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!

[Scott]

Rrally enjoyed this, mix of nostalgia and dark drama. Difficult to know who's side you want to be on, and who you feel has really been wronged.
Nice pace of writing, felt involved and enjoy a believable character story.

[Reader]

Good easy reading book great holiday read.

[Izzy Pollard]

4.5 stars

[Jo]

I was hooked from page one and read this in a single sitting. The perfect holiday read to lose yourself in.

[Kayleigh (BookwormEscapes)]

3.5*

[Sarah Blake]

This book was interesting, but I found myself expecting more from the story. While there were some enjoyable moments, it didn’t quite have the impact or depth I was hoping for

[Julieanne Stewart]

3.5 stars

[Chyns Campbell]

It was okay. Took a while to get in to it but then the story line didnt match the title if that makes sense

[Vic Brown]

Really enjoyed this book a good pool side book, read in a day would recommend

[Tegan Campbell]

Very good book, the beginning was a little slow and it took me a couple chapters to get used to the change in times but all in all was very good, by the last 1/3 of the book I was on the edge of my seat

[Beth Pritchard]

This author took the concept of a story ARC as optional. It's the flattest thing I've ever read.

[Jas Stock]

Thank you Netgalley and Zaffre for the ARC of A Girl's Girl by Emma Robertson

This story is a dual timeline multi POV thriller following the lives of a group of friends who were close during school but were also toxic. The perceived betrayal by protagonist Darcy against Alex regarding a handsome bartender Jonny resulted in the friendship fracturing and unforeseen consequences years later. As Darcy feels she's going mad with paranoia, things from the past come to reveal themselves in a toxic and destructive way.

The story is delightfully tense. I felt uncomfortable throughout in the way you are meant to with this story..I really liked the history revealing itself alongside the current timeline and how we are shown the situation from multiple perspectives through the different POVs. The way antagonist Alex was written is very accurate for a narcissist woman (having endured a friendship with one before) and I was really glad that it was a case of everyone being trash who ought to be irrespective of gender. The pacing was done well and the crescendo was well timed and built on a good foundation. It wasn't as twists as others but that suited the scenario and meant the story was more realistic

I truly enjoyed this book and will look out for other works by the author .

[Sarah Penny]

A great read, finished in 2 days and was sad to reach the end. Will definitely read more books from those author.