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We Were Never Really Friends
Trapped on an island. Nowhere to hide. The hunt has begun.
For Roger, Jerome, Ryan, and Chris, a trip to a private island mansion off the coast of Louisiana was supposed to be a grand reunion. It was a chance to relive their high school glory days with their wives, fueled by billionaire-status luxury and endless drinks.
But as the sun sets over the bayou, the group realizes that the foundations of their friendship are rotting from years of hidden resentment, infidelity, and cold-blooded secrets.
The vacation turns into a gruesome nightmare when a masked killer emerges from the dense forest. Armed with a bow and a set of elite surgical skills, the hunter begins picking the group off one-by-one, turning the island into a literal killing field. There is no cell service, the boat is sabotaged, and the radio is smashed.
As the body count rises, the survivors must face a terrifying reality: the most dangerous threat isn’t the man in the ghillie suit—it’s the person standing right next to them.
In a game of shadows where old loyalties are incinerated, only one thing is certain—the blade has been drawn, and it must taste blood before the night is over.
For Roger, Jerome, Ryan, and Chris, a trip to a private island mansion off the coast of Louisiana was supposed to be a grand reunion. It was a chance to relive their high school glory days with their wives, fueled by billionaire-status luxury and endless drinks.
But as the sun sets over the bayou, the group realizes that the foundations of their friendship are rotting from years of hidden resentment, infidelity, and cold-blooded secrets.
The vacation turns into a gruesome nightmare when a masked killer emerges from the dense forest. Armed with a bow and a set of elite surgical skills, the hunter begins picking the group off one-by-one, turning the island into a literal killing field. There is no cell service, the boat is sabotaged, and the radio is smashed.
As the body count rises, the survivors must face a terrifying reality: the most dangerous threat isn’t the man in the ghillie suit—it’s the person standing right next to them.
In a game of shadows where old loyalties are incinerated, only one thing is certain—the blade has been drawn, and it must taste blood before the night is over.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
June 18, 2026
Timothy King's We Were Never Really Friends is a claustrophobic slasher set in a remote Louisiana bayou mansion.
The story follows four old high school friends and their spouses whose luxury reunion descends into a brutal nightmare when they are stalked by a masked, bow-wielding hunter.
King does an exceptional job of using this setup to perform a psychological autopsy on the group, effectively using the slasher genre to expose decades of hidden resentments, infidelity, and toxic secrets.
This book easily kept me riveted with its relentless pacing, visceral gore, and sharp dialogue - which shines a bright spotlight on the emotional rot within all of these relationships
Ultimately, I think We Were Never Really Friends forces us to question whether the hunter or the group's internal decay is the greater threat.
Recommend for a fast and furious gruesome horror romp.
The story follows four old high school friends and their spouses whose luxury reunion descends into a brutal nightmare when they are stalked by a masked, bow-wielding hunter.
King does an exceptional job of using this setup to perform a psychological autopsy on the group, effectively using the slasher genre to expose decades of hidden resentments, infidelity, and toxic secrets.
This book easily kept me riveted with its relentless pacing, visceral gore, and sharp dialogue - which shines a bright spotlight on the emotional rot within all of these relationships
Ultimately, I think We Were Never Really Friends forces us to question whether the hunter or the group's internal decay is the greater threat.
Recommend for a fast and furious gruesome horror romp.
May 19, 2026
We Were Never Really Friends has to be my favorite book written by Timothy King to date.
This novel was 'messy horror' at its finest.
"I think it'll be a weekend we'll never forget."
Three couples, friends since childhood— are invited to Roger's private island off the Louisiana coast. With a week's worth of vacation ahead, they're all ready to catch up on their friendships while drinking, partying, and doing whatever fun things you'd do on an island paradise.
But like I said, shit is kind of messy, oof.
Hidden behind smiles and laughs are cases of explosive infidelity, dishonesty, and fabricated friendship.
While the book starts off with a feverish, upbeat energy— the story begins to deliberately darken and sour, until bam, everything hits the fan.
The group is being hunted by a masked killer, dressed like someone from a military film. Aided with a bow and arrow, he hunts the couples— ridding them of their lives one by one.
Friends slowly begin to turn on one another and suspicions arise as revelations occur.
While I was reading the book I was either saying, "wow, that's messy," or "damn, that's brutal." This title blends a little soap opera with some gore, and it was glorious.
Timothy King has this incredible knack for fleshing out characters and setting a scene in a brief period of time. While reading, I was completely immersed in the story– and by the halfway point, I could not stop turning the pages. We're introduced to individuals who feel real and are battling understandable, relatable problems. The scene setting made me reminisce about island vacations, but horrified me because being trapped on one with a killer would be terrifying and claustrophobic.
This was incredibly atmospheric.
I had my guesses on who the masked killer could be or who may be involved, but I did not expect such a great twist and surprising ending.
I was pissed.
Everything in this novel tied together beautifully. With equal parts drama and horror, this created a solid read.
We Were Never Really Friends deserves ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ stars, and genuinely— Timothy King's stories continue to exceed my expectations as the writing grows stronger with every release. If you're down for messy whodunnit stories with great character development, scene setting, and plot... I highly recommend you dig into this one.
This novel was 'messy horror' at its finest.
"I think it'll be a weekend we'll never forget."
Three couples, friends since childhood— are invited to Roger's private island off the Louisiana coast. With a week's worth of vacation ahead, they're all ready to catch up on their friendships while drinking, partying, and doing whatever fun things you'd do on an island paradise.
But like I said, shit is kind of messy, oof.
Hidden behind smiles and laughs are cases of explosive infidelity, dishonesty, and fabricated friendship.
While the book starts off with a feverish, upbeat energy— the story begins to deliberately darken and sour, until bam, everything hits the fan.
The group is being hunted by a masked killer, dressed like someone from a military film. Aided with a bow and arrow, he hunts the couples— ridding them of their lives one by one.
Friends slowly begin to turn on one another and suspicions arise as revelations occur.
While I was reading the book I was either saying, "wow, that's messy," or "damn, that's brutal." This title blends a little soap opera with some gore, and it was glorious.
Timothy King has this incredible knack for fleshing out characters and setting a scene in a brief period of time. While reading, I was completely immersed in the story– and by the halfway point, I could not stop turning the pages. We're introduced to individuals who feel real and are battling understandable, relatable problems. The scene setting made me reminisce about island vacations, but horrified me because being trapped on one with a killer would be terrifying and claustrophobic.
This was incredibly atmospheric.
I had my guesses on who the masked killer could be or who may be involved, but I did not expect such a great twist and surprising ending.
I was pissed.
Everything in this novel tied together beautifully. With equal parts drama and horror, this created a solid read.
We Were Never Really Friends deserves ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ stars, and genuinely— Timothy King's stories continue to exceed my expectations as the writing grows stronger with every release. If you're down for messy whodunnit stories with great character development, scene setting, and plot... I highly recommend you dig into this one.
February 8, 2026
Yall, the speed with which I binged this 🤣! From the first page, we hit the ground running and soon, we were sprinting full speed ahead. This was so fast paced. Long-time friends finally come together after a year apart to visit an island that was purchased by one of them. The friend group is made up of a few couples and there is a lot of drama and toxicity going on. Let’s throw them all together on a remote island.. what could go wrong!? Wait a minute.. is someone else on the island!? Things start to go terribly wrong. Timothy King doesn’t ease off the gas for a single moment in this one. To me, it felt like a whodunnit (Knives Out?) meets Scream.. on an isolated island. No one can be trusted. I had no doubt that Timothy would knock this one out of the park. He always does 😅. Now that I know the ending, I feel like I need to go back and read it again!
June 14, 2026
I flew through this book! While the killer was fairly predictable, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. The story is packed with secrets, lies, betrayal, revenge, and plenty of bloodshed.
When four friends and their wives reunite on a private island, what starts as a getaway quickly turns deadly as a killer emerges and long-buried secrets begin to surface. The tension steadily builds, and I was hooked from start to finish.
When four friends and their wives reunite on a private island, what starts as a getaway quickly turns deadly as a killer emerges and long-buried secrets begin to surface. The tension steadily builds, and I was hooked from start to finish.
July 5, 2026
My Book Review
Four Stars
This latest release by Timothy King was selected as a Group Read by Splatterpunk Horror Book Club. The only thing hotter than this July's record breaking temperatures has been this young horror author's growing popularity with extreme horror fans since his sensational debut Seven Rabbits . I have read all of his novels (and one novella) to date. This includes his "knock it out of the ballpark" collaboration Rideshare . Five Stars All Day Long.
So what about this feeble 4 Star Review (for Timothy King!) First, I admit it is partially a knee jerk reaction. But, time would not change my mind. The thing is...well let's address first the frequent comment made in countless reviews that the murderer was obvious. That is true and the author did not withhold any background information on any of the suspect pool to render it difficult for readers to figure it out pretty much right out of the gate. This puzzled me, at least until the surprise ending.
Ah, the surprise ending! There had to BE one, I realized. But the "shock and awe" of the climax anticipated by the reader was only smoke and mirrors. This was true to the extent that the author played the fate of the survivor (of true victim pool) like a flutist in the New York Symphony. The manner in which King crafted the penultimate event on the island was masterful in its manipulation of reader expectations. I expected a specific outcome on the shore of the island and the author left me dumbfounded. The ending was the REAL "shock and awe" plot twist. The reader was able to think for a second "Well maybe there will be wildcard justice crusader of sorts" but no...
Thus, there was a reason behind every word and phrase King wrote with no unnecessary embellishments. He is truly a rare new talent to be followed in his still young career.
I COMPLETELY understand all of the 4 Star Reviews now that I am leaving one myself. IMO King is improving at warp speed in all areas of his game, including character development. Perhaps I lost some objectivity with my emotional investment in the protagonist. I remain a dedicated fan and will read his future works of horror with unbridled enthusiasm. Extreme horror fans perhaps need to approach all works in this horror subgenre remaining conscious that there is no safety net.
A BEAR TRAP DIDN'T BRING ME DOWN BUT AN ARCHER WHOSE FINAL ARROW FAILED TO FLY
Four Stars
This latest release by Timothy King was selected as a Group Read by Splatterpunk Horror Book Club. The only thing hotter than this July's record breaking temperatures has been this young horror author's growing popularity with extreme horror fans since his sensational debut Seven Rabbits . I have read all of his novels (and one novella) to date. This includes his "knock it out of the ballpark" collaboration Rideshare . Five Stars All Day Long.
So what about this feeble 4 Star Review (for Timothy King!) First, I admit it is partially a knee jerk reaction. But, time would not change my mind. The thing is...well let's address first the frequent comment made in countless reviews that the murderer was obvious. That is true and the author did not withhold any background information on any of the suspect pool to render it difficult for readers to figure it out pretty much right out of the gate. This puzzled me, at least until the surprise ending.
Ah, the surprise ending! There had to BE one, I realized. But the "shock and awe" of the climax anticipated by the reader was only smoke and mirrors. This was true to the extent that the author played the fate of the survivor (of true victim pool) like a flutist in the New York Symphony. The manner in which King crafted the penultimate event on the island was masterful in its manipulation of reader expectations. I expected a specific outcome on the shore of the island and the author left me dumbfounded. The ending was the REAL "shock and awe" plot twist. The reader was able to think for a second "Well maybe there will be wildcard justice crusader of sorts" but no...
Thus, there was a reason behind every word and phrase King wrote with no unnecessary embellishments. He is truly a rare new talent to be followed in his still young career.
I COMPLETELY understand all of the 4 Star Reviews now that I am leaving one myself. IMO King is improving at warp speed in all areas of his game, including character development. Perhaps I lost some objectivity with my emotional investment in the protagonist. I remain a dedicated fan and will read his future works of horror with unbridled enthusiasm. Extreme horror fans perhaps need to approach all works in this horror subgenre remaining conscious that there is no safety net.
A BEAR TRAP DIDN'T BRING ME DOWN BUT AN ARCHER WHOSE FINAL ARROW FAILED TO FLY
May 16, 2026
That was wild! I was not expecting it to end like that
June 18, 2026
We Were Never Really Friends by Timothy King
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (4 out of 5)
Trapped on an island with nowhere to hide, the hunt has begun. Roger, Jerome, Ryan, and Chris expected a luxurious reunion at a private Louisiana island mansion to relive their high school glory days with their wives. But hidden resentment, infidelity, and cold-blooded secrets poison their friendship. When a masked killer emerges from the forest, the vacation turns into a gruesome nightmare.
I finished this book in less than 21 hours (two sittings), which speaks to how irresistibly readable it is. From the very first page, the pace is relentless: action-packed, tightly plotted, and never letting up. Timothy King keeps the momentum high and the stakes even higher, making this a lean, cinematic thriller you could easily see on screen. Some parts felt a bit drawn out and slightly predictable, but there were still plenty of surprises.
Pick it up if you want a one-sitting read with more hits than misses.
*Also, that moment when a book casually drops its own title into the text is ✨ 🧑🍳 💋🤌
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (4 out of 5)
Trapped on an island with nowhere to hide, the hunt has begun. Roger, Jerome, Ryan, and Chris expected a luxurious reunion at a private Louisiana island mansion to relive their high school glory days with their wives. But hidden resentment, infidelity, and cold-blooded secrets poison their friendship. When a masked killer emerges from the forest, the vacation turns into a gruesome nightmare.
I finished this book in less than 21 hours (two sittings), which speaks to how irresistibly readable it is. From the very first page, the pace is relentless: action-packed, tightly plotted, and never letting up. Timothy King keeps the momentum high and the stakes even higher, making this a lean, cinematic thriller you could easily see on screen. Some parts felt a bit drawn out and slightly predictable, but there were still plenty of surprises.
Pick it up if you want a one-sitting read with more hits than misses.
*Also, that moment when a book casually drops its own title into the text is ✨ 🧑🍳 💋🤌
May 27, 2026
1 star!
This was the most manified book I’ve read in a long time. Being a man myself, I get it and I’m saying it aggressively. You can tell a man wrote this book. This is a gory, thriller that follows every single trope that you could imagine and expect to happen. Everything single twist, turn and reveal was completely predictable and underwhelming. I don’t hate reading the story because it’s written fine but the plot itself, gawwwwwwd.
So we have a group of friends taking a vacation to a remote island (shocking, nothing bad will happen right) after one of them becomes a millionaire (again, shocking). Everyone is fighting, everyone’s marriage is failing, everyone is cheating on every. It felt like Oprah was handing out free cars, “and you get cheated on” and “you die first.” The amount of fighting and yelling in this book was absolutely absurd too. You can tell that the author was begging for plot points and tension by creating relation tension. I just knew what was coming and was waiting for the ball to drop. For such a short story, it took forever to finish.
So everything you know will happen in a horror movie, happens in this book. A character notices that rocks are slippery and acknowledges it then proceeds to slip and gash her foot/ankle. One of the drunkly pisses in the woods, hears a noise and gets shot by an arrow. Like I can’t…
The ending was meh, I hated it actually. Predictable. Not gonna say much else.
Moving on…haha
This was the most manified book I’ve read in a long time. Being a man myself, I get it and I’m saying it aggressively. You can tell a man wrote this book. This is a gory, thriller that follows every single trope that you could imagine and expect to happen. Everything single twist, turn and reveal was completely predictable and underwhelming. I don’t hate reading the story because it’s written fine but the plot itself, gawwwwwwd.
So we have a group of friends taking a vacation to a remote island (shocking, nothing bad will happen right) after one of them becomes a millionaire (again, shocking). Everyone is fighting, everyone’s marriage is failing, everyone is cheating on every. It felt like Oprah was handing out free cars, “and you get cheated on” and “you die first.” The amount of fighting and yelling in this book was absolutely absurd too. You can tell that the author was begging for plot points and tension by creating relation tension. I just knew what was coming and was waiting for the ball to drop. For such a short story, it took forever to finish.
So everything you know will happen in a horror movie, happens in this book. A character notices that rocks are slippery and acknowledges it then proceeds to slip and gash her foot/ankle. One of the drunkly pisses in the woods, hears a noise and gets shot by an arrow. Like I can’t…
The ending was meh, I hated it actually. Predictable. Not gonna say much else.
Moving on…haha
May 5, 2026
This is one book that kept me glued to to it like a barnacle to a boat hull.
The premise of this one is a cracker: a bunch of late-twenties friends, Ryan, Chris and Jerome are on their way to a reunion getaway with their wives, hoping to relive the glory of their high-school days. The reunion is being held on a private island bought by Roger, the younger brother of Ryan who was always on the outskirts of the friendship group. Now, the only thing is, almost every one of the characters involved is toxic enough to require a hazmat suit. We’re talking festering resentments, betrayals, and selfish motivations, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If there was anything left of their genuine friendships from their past, you’d need a microscope to find it now.
When they get to the island, naturally things start to go wrong almost immediately. There’s no cell reception and no internet, which is a tragedy in itself for folk like this. Then scandals bubble to the surface, old wounds reopen, and when one of them is injured, they find themselves stranded when their boat and radio have been sabotaged. Tension spikes, and then the killings begin, courtesy of an unknown assailant in a ghillie suit, and suddenly this toxic reunion turns into a battle for survival.
If this sounds like the perfect setup for a Hollywood-style popcorn slasher, you’d be absolutely right. This book practically begs to be made into one. It’s like an extreme version of I Know What You Did Last Summer with lots of descriptive gore and kill scenes, and more deliciously messy character drama. King leans into the fun of the genre while still delivering the suspense and pacing of a solid thriller, making it a great crossover read for thriller fans who don’t mind a bit of blood splatter.
As with any Timothy King novel, the writing is sharp and addictive, the kind you can lose several hours to without noticing. His pacing is spot-on, fast enough to keep you turning pages but not so fast that the character exploration and drama get lost. I tore through this in just a few reading sessions, which is always my personal sign of a banger, which this one most assuredly is.
The premise of this one is a cracker: a bunch of late-twenties friends, Ryan, Chris and Jerome are on their way to a reunion getaway with their wives, hoping to relive the glory of their high-school days. The reunion is being held on a private island bought by Roger, the younger brother of Ryan who was always on the outskirts of the friendship group. Now, the only thing is, almost every one of the characters involved is toxic enough to require a hazmat suit. We’re talking festering resentments, betrayals, and selfish motivations, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If there was anything left of their genuine friendships from their past, you’d need a microscope to find it now.
When they get to the island, naturally things start to go wrong almost immediately. There’s no cell reception and no internet, which is a tragedy in itself for folk like this. Then scandals bubble to the surface, old wounds reopen, and when one of them is injured, they find themselves stranded when their boat and radio have been sabotaged. Tension spikes, and then the killings begin, courtesy of an unknown assailant in a ghillie suit, and suddenly this toxic reunion turns into a battle for survival.
If this sounds like the perfect setup for a Hollywood-style popcorn slasher, you’d be absolutely right. This book practically begs to be made into one. It’s like an extreme version of I Know What You Did Last Summer with lots of descriptive gore and kill scenes, and more deliciously messy character drama. King leans into the fun of the genre while still delivering the suspense and pacing of a solid thriller, making it a great crossover read for thriller fans who don’t mind a bit of blood splatter.
As with any Timothy King novel, the writing is sharp and addictive, the kind you can lose several hours to without noticing. His pacing is spot-on, fast enough to keep you turning pages but not so fast that the character exploration and drama get lost. I tore through this in just a few reading sessions, which is always my personal sign of a banger, which this one most assuredly is.
July 1, 2026
All of Timothy King’s books are fast-paced and gripping page turners and this was no exception. A group of not-so-great friends, full of secrets, start getting picked off one by one on a private island and the deaths are gruesome.
Almost every one in this book is completely insufferable except for Amelia. I didn't love the ending.
Almost every one in this book is completely insufferable except for Amelia. I didn't love the ending.
May 27, 2026
Written like a men’s rights activist’s fantasy of torture and murder.
February 15, 2026
Another book I couldn’t put down by Timothy King!! This was an awesome fast paced slasher that delivered on the action.
July 14, 2026
Solid slasher! Loves the secluded island setting!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! You want to talk about a book that will make you laugh, cringe, swear and gag a bit? then this book is absolutely the book you need to read!
Timothy King is an absolute master at delving into relationships and finding the best And worst of humanity. He brings those innermost thoughts we all have to life and runs wild with them.
I have read all of Tim's books and I am NEVER disappointed! ❤️❤️
Timothy King is an absolute master at delving into relationships and finding the best And worst of humanity. He brings those innermost thoughts we all have to life and runs wild with them.
I have read all of Tim's books and I am NEVER disappointed! ❤️❤️
May 14, 2026
DNF. Would give zero stars if I could. Completely unrealistic characterization and plot. I can’t say that the author is a misogynist who spends a lot of time hanging out in the manosphere, but I can tell you this book reads like he does.
May 27, 2026
Relationships & Characters: 2.5
Enjoyment & Engagement: 3.5
Atmosphere & Setting: 3.25
Development, Plot, & Themes: 2.5
Style & Structure: 3.75
“We Were Never Really Friends” was one of those books that I flew through incredibly fast, even if it ultimately did not land as strongly for me as I had hoped. This was my second Timothy King novel after reading “Port Luck” back in December, which ended up being one of my biggest surprise hits of the year and an easy five star creature horror read for me. Because of that, I went into this one with very high expectations, especially given how much fun King’s writing style can be when it fully clicks.
Right away, I absolutely loved the concept. A reunion of old friends and their wives on a secluded private island mansion off the Louisiana coast already feels primed for disaster, and once the masked killer emerges from the surrounding forest, the novel fully embraces its late 1990s and early 2000s slasher horror influences. The entire reading experience felt intentionally nostalgic, packed with familiar genre tropes, dysfunctional relationships, hidden resentments, infidelity, and escalating paranoia. Rather than feeling derivative, though, it mostly came across as a love letter to classic slashers and survival horror stories, which made the book genuinely entertaining to binge through.
King’s pacing is once again one of his strongest qualities. I finished this book in less than twenty four hours, which honestly says a lot by itself. Like “Port Luck,” the chapters move quickly, the tension remains high, and there is always enough momentum to keep you reading just one more chapter. The gore and body horror elements were also solid and delivered exactly the type of brutality I expected from him, though I do think he felt slightly more restrained here compared to the chaos and intensity of “Port Luck.”
Where the novel struggled most for me was with its characters and conclusion. Unfortunately, nearly everyone in the cast felt fairly shallow, and because of that, I never found myself emotionally invested in who survived or died. Even the “final girl” archetype felt strangely underdeveloped and often faded into the background of the story rather than standing out as a strong emotional anchor. The book functions much more as a fast paced slasher experience than a character driven horror novel, which is completely fine depending on what you are looking for, but it did lessen the impact of some of the reveals and deaths for me.
The ending, while not necessarily predictable, also did not fully work for me. I appreciated that King attempted to deliver one final twist, but the conclusion felt somewhat disjointed from the rest of the narrative and lacked the payoff I was hoping for after such a strong setup. It was less that I saw it coming and more that it simply did not land emotionally or structurally the way I think it intended to.
Overall, while this was not my favorite horror read and definitely did not reach the heights of “Port Luck” for me, I still had a genuinely good time reading it. If you are looking for a quick palate cleanser filled with nostalgic slasher vibes, isolated island horror, gore, and familiar genre tropes, this is an easy binge read. Just do not go into it expecting a masterpiece. Before reading this, I was ready to call Timothy King an auto buy author for me, but now I think I need one more book from him before deciding where he ultimately lands for me as a writer.
Enjoyment & Engagement: 3.5
Atmosphere & Setting: 3.25
Development, Plot, & Themes: 2.5
Style & Structure: 3.75
“We Were Never Really Friends” was one of those books that I flew through incredibly fast, even if it ultimately did not land as strongly for me as I had hoped. This was my second Timothy King novel after reading “Port Luck” back in December, which ended up being one of my biggest surprise hits of the year and an easy five star creature horror read for me. Because of that, I went into this one with very high expectations, especially given how much fun King’s writing style can be when it fully clicks.
Right away, I absolutely loved the concept. A reunion of old friends and their wives on a secluded private island mansion off the Louisiana coast already feels primed for disaster, and once the masked killer emerges from the surrounding forest, the novel fully embraces its late 1990s and early 2000s slasher horror influences. The entire reading experience felt intentionally nostalgic, packed with familiar genre tropes, dysfunctional relationships, hidden resentments, infidelity, and escalating paranoia. Rather than feeling derivative, though, it mostly came across as a love letter to classic slashers and survival horror stories, which made the book genuinely entertaining to binge through.
King’s pacing is once again one of his strongest qualities. I finished this book in less than twenty four hours, which honestly says a lot by itself. Like “Port Luck,” the chapters move quickly, the tension remains high, and there is always enough momentum to keep you reading just one more chapter. The gore and body horror elements were also solid and delivered exactly the type of brutality I expected from him, though I do think he felt slightly more restrained here compared to the chaos and intensity of “Port Luck.”
Where the novel struggled most for me was with its characters and conclusion. Unfortunately, nearly everyone in the cast felt fairly shallow, and because of that, I never found myself emotionally invested in who survived or died. Even the “final girl” archetype felt strangely underdeveloped and often faded into the background of the story rather than standing out as a strong emotional anchor. The book functions much more as a fast paced slasher experience than a character driven horror novel, which is completely fine depending on what you are looking for, but it did lessen the impact of some of the reveals and deaths for me.
The ending, while not necessarily predictable, also did not fully work for me. I appreciated that King attempted to deliver one final twist, but the conclusion felt somewhat disjointed from the rest of the narrative and lacked the payoff I was hoping for after such a strong setup. It was less that I saw it coming and more that it simply did not land emotionally or structurally the way I think it intended to.
Overall, while this was not my favorite horror read and definitely did not reach the heights of “Port Luck” for me, I still had a genuinely good time reading it. If you are looking for a quick palate cleanser filled with nostalgic slasher vibes, isolated island horror, gore, and familiar genre tropes, this is an easy binge read. Just do not go into it expecting a masterpiece. Before reading this, I was ready to call Timothy King an auto buy author for me, but now I think I need one more book from him before deciding where he ultimately lands for me as a writer.
July 6, 2026
The title is correct….these people were never really friends! A group of “friends” who grew up together take a yearly trip with their spouses. This year they have been invited to one of the friend’s brother’s new house. He’s a billionaire and bought an island, building a house on it.
Along the way you realize majority of these couples are having problems and they all seem to be having affairs with each other.
Not too long after being there they realize they aren’t alone on this island and someone has set out bear traps! That’s just the beginning of the chaos that ensues!
Think Love Island meets Slasher movie!
Along the way you realize majority of these couples are having problems and they all seem to be having affairs with each other.
Not too long after being there they realize they aren’t alone on this island and someone has set out bear traps! That’s just the beginning of the chaos that ensues!
Think Love Island meets Slasher movie!
May 20, 2026
Quick read. Sorta predictable.
July 9, 2026
This book was such a fun read I devoured it within four hours. But that ending has me pissed offfffffff and felt misogynistic
June 9, 2026
Good read even if it is predictable.
July 4, 2026
When four couples descend on a luxurious island for a weekend getaway, they weren't expecting a masked maniac with a bow and arrow to join them. The violence never let up and each chapter flew by. The ending was both predictable and surprising. I guessed one part but definitely not the other part. Quick, easy to read I Still Know What You Did Last Summer slasher.
June 19, 2026
This book delivers a perfect blend of suspense, horror, and psychological tension. I enjoyed how the author explored the complexities of long-term friendships while keeping the stakes incredibly high. The island setting created a strong sense of isolation, and the constant feeling that no one could truly be trusted kept me invested until the very end.
May 14, 2026
It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Timothy King’s, but he consistently puts out phenomenal books, and this one is no different. It’s a slasher that takes place on an island, where a group of “friends” are on vacation. It’s full of characters I had really intense feelings about - he did such a great job at bringing these horrible people to life! Characters you love to hate. It kept me on edge through the whole book, between the killings and all the drama and backstabbing going on. And the ending! Omg! All the ⭐️’s!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A whirwind of cheating partners, revenge plots, and lots and lots of gory murders. Nobody is safe in this story.
I enjoyed every moment of this intense revenge story, full with shocking discoveries and twists of situation.
And the final connection to Seven Rabbits is litterally the cherry on top, a delicious finale that makes you crave for more!
I enjoyed every moment of this intense revenge story, full with shocking discoveries and twists of situation.
And the final connection to Seven Rabbits is litterally the cherry on top, a delicious finale that makes you crave for more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is one of the most heart racing stories I've read in a long time. When I say you won't be able to put this down... get ready for a wild ride. You will think twice before going on that weekend getaway with friends.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**ARC Review**
Author: Timothy King
Book: We Were Never Really Friends
Book Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Slasher Horror
I received this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
We Were Never Really Friends by Timothy King was a rollercoaster of a novel that constantly sped up throughout the narrative without ever slowing down. From page one to the final page, there was constant terror and adrenaline that will really hook any reader of the horror/thriller genre.
The story kicks off with a group of friends going to a private island for a weekend vacation. They were planning on swimming, drinking, and partying the entire time. Until a figure in a camouflage military outfit starts picking them off one by one. In classic thriller style, the reader is right along with everyone trying to put together the pieces and figure out who the killer is.
Have you ever hated all the characters so much that you wanted everyone to die? I don’t mean that as a bad thing. King really brought these characters to life and made each of them feel real, but in doing so, he made some pretty gnarly, screwed-up characters that made it hard to root for anyone in particular.
The only downfall to this read was the ending. I know this was the ending that the book needed, but I felt that with all the emotion that I put into reading this book, I didn’t get the payoff that I was expecting. Don’t let my opinion sway you, though. This book was great, and I know plenty of people who truly enjoyed the ending.
I still highly recommend this book and urge everyone to check this out on May 12th for its release. Preorders are available now!
Author: Timothy King
Book: We Were Never Really Friends
Book Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Slasher Horror
I received this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
We Were Never Really Friends by Timothy King was a rollercoaster of a novel that constantly sped up throughout the narrative without ever slowing down. From page one to the final page, there was constant terror and adrenaline that will really hook any reader of the horror/thriller genre.
The story kicks off with a group of friends going to a private island for a weekend vacation. They were planning on swimming, drinking, and partying the entire time. Until a figure in a camouflage military outfit starts picking them off one by one. In classic thriller style, the reader is right along with everyone trying to put together the pieces and figure out who the killer is.
Have you ever hated all the characters so much that you wanted everyone to die? I don’t mean that as a bad thing. King really brought these characters to life and made each of them feel real, but in doing so, he made some pretty gnarly, screwed-up characters that made it hard to root for anyone in particular.
The only downfall to this read was the ending. I know this was the ending that the book needed, but I felt that with all the emotion that I put into reading this book, I didn’t get the payoff that I was expecting. Don’t let my opinion sway you, though. This book was great, and I know plenty of people who truly enjoyed the ending.
I still highly recommend this book and urge everyone to check this out on May 12th for its release. Preorders are available now!
May 19, 2026
I was entertained by the book. I read the whole thing with no problem. I was never bored - there was drama, there was suspense, and there was tons of bloodshed. The problem I had was the ending. I'm typically someone who can overlook things being ludicrous and far-fetched, because it's fiction. Same with movies. However, this book just was a bridge too far for me. Maybe I've just been watching too many true crime shows lately, but does Louisiana not have a shred of forensic science?
Spoilers - -
1. There's no way that Richard would have been able to get away with all those killings because forensic science would've proved that he was the killer. Or even just a detective with a brain.
2. In that same vein, Amelia was not a viable suspect. You're telling me that a competent detective would believe her capable of strangling someone with her bare hands? It was mentioned in the book that she was like 100 pounds.
3. Also, no one would really believe her capable of setting up all those bear traps. Besides, when would she have had access to the island to set them all up?
4. Why did the brothers bring Jerome and Amelia into it at all? I can see why Ryan had beef with his wife and Chris, and I can see why Roger wanted to get rid of Stacey. But what did Jerome do? I mean I realize he was a cheater, but that had nothing to do with the brothers. And poor Amelia was just there to be an unbelievable patsy.
Spoilers - -
1. There's no way that Richard would have been able to get away with all those killings because forensic science would've proved that he was the killer. Or even just a detective with a brain.
2. In that same vein, Amelia was not a viable suspect. You're telling me that a competent detective would believe her capable of strangling someone with her bare hands? It was mentioned in the book that she was like 100 pounds.
3. Also, no one would really believe her capable of setting up all those bear traps. Besides, when would she have had access to the island to set them all up?
4. Why did the brothers bring Jerome and Amelia into it at all? I can see why Ryan had beef with his wife and Chris, and I can see why Roger wanted to get rid of Stacey. But what did Jerome do? I mean I realize he was a cheater, but that had nothing to do with the brothers. And poor Amelia was just there to be an unbelievable patsy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If "toxicity horror" were a thing, this book would be the gold standard! "We Were Never Really Friends" combines so much viciousness and drama with the best kind of survival and vacation horror, it doesn't take long to realize you've signed up for a wild ride: non-stop backstabbing, shameless cheating, the most unhealthy social vibes topped with strong slasher elements, the story set on a remote island, no holds barred - this is a definite banger by any standard! Just make sure to bring your own popcorn lol
Reading this felt like being caught unawares in the middle of a brawl, where everyone ends up at each other's throats, while the real disaster is brewing in the background. This group of childhood friends and their wives do act like real people, or no less ridiculous and outlandish than certain real couples we all know, messy relationships and what not, but King's writing accepts no filler, making every story turn come vividly alive - noone is off the table, even if (with a couple of such huge hints) it's easy to guess the identity of the killer. Deciphering the why, however, was not at all obvious; add the memorable killings and the action sequences, and you've got a truly savage book with a totally unexpected ending!
Highly recommend if you enjoy slashers, island horror, and stories where the ugly side of marriage is a character in its own right!
Reading this felt like being caught unawares in the middle of a brawl, where everyone ends up at each other's throats, while the real disaster is brewing in the background. This group of childhood friends and their wives do act like real people, or no less ridiculous and outlandish than certain real couples we all know, messy relationships and what not, but King's writing accepts no filler, making every story turn come vividly alive - noone is off the table, even if (with a couple of such huge hints) it's easy to guess the identity of the killer. Deciphering the why, however, was not at all obvious; add the memorable killings and the action sequences, and you've got a truly savage book with a totally unexpected ending!
Highly recommend if you enjoy slashers, island horror, and stories where the ugly side of marriage is a character in its own right!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an ARC provided by Timothy King. Thank you for the copy!
This was a five-star read up until the end, but it is still a strong four (almost five) stars. Timothy King knows how to write mean, fast-paced books that don't give in to traditions in storytelling in the genres he writes. The story has some unexpected turns and some expected turns, most of which were satisfying. He writes such excellent, imperfect characters to draw emotions toward them. There were characters I hated, characters I wanted to hate but felt for, and about one who was the good one I could root for. Even the meanest of the bunch had a surprising depth that made them more complicated. Add that to thrills and great, visceral kills, and this was a great slasher.
My only gripes were of the POV swaps and the final chapter. I have mixed feelings about the ending, but I think it is still fitting even if I'm wobbly on how I feel about it. The POV changes were jarring, as I'd be in the head of one character and the next paragraph in the head of another. I wish there were scene breaks to make proper transitions between characters, as that would flow better from POV to POV. But with strong characters, I can overlook that issue, and it's a common one I tend to find in books.
This was a five-star read up until the end, but it is still a strong four (almost five) stars. Timothy King knows how to write mean, fast-paced books that don't give in to traditions in storytelling in the genres he writes. The story has some unexpected turns and some expected turns, most of which were satisfying. He writes such excellent, imperfect characters to draw emotions toward them. There were characters I hated, characters I wanted to hate but felt for, and about one who was the good one I could root for. Even the meanest of the bunch had a surprising depth that made them more complicated. Add that to thrills and great, visceral kills, and this was a great slasher.
My only gripes were of the POV swaps and the final chapter. I have mixed feelings about the ending, but I think it is still fitting even if I'm wobbly on how I feel about it. The POV changes were jarring, as I'd be in the head of one character and the next paragraph in the head of another. I wish there were scene breaks to make proper transitions between characters, as that would flow better from POV to POV. But with strong characters, I can overlook that issue, and it's a common one I tend to find in books.
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