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Her Best Friend: A Psychological Thriller
THE AUTHOR WITH MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION BOOKS SOLD WORLDWIDE!
I wake with dirt under my nails and no memory of how it got there.
There are texts on my phone I don't remember sending. A body at the lake. And a voice in the dark "You can rest now. It's done."
Three months earlier, I moved to Portland to start a new life with a new job after my divorce. Then I met Emma. She brought me coffee without being asked, saved my job before I knew it was in danger, and showed up at my door with soup when I was too sick to stand. She knew my coffee order, my sister's name, my Sunday routines—things I was sure I'd mentioned.
I hadn't. She knew them before we ever met.
When I tried to pull away, she didn't let go. She told my boss I was breaking down and my coworkers that she was scared for me. Someone close to me started feeding her my secrets. Things in my apartment moved in the night. And every time I tried to tell someone what was happening to me, they looked at me the way you look at someone who's lost their mind.
Because Emma doesn't threaten you. She doesn't stalk you. She befriends you. She makes you need her. And then she makes everyone you love believe you're the problem—while she stands right beside you, looking like the only person who cares.
There were others before me. One ran to another city. She still sleeps with the lights on.
But how Emma found me? How she chose me? That's the part that changes everything. That's the part where you'll lose your mind.
From #1 international bestselling author Christopher Smith comes an unputdownable thriller about a friendship that was never a friendship at all. For fans of Freida McFadden, Riley Sager, and Lisa Jewell.
I wake with dirt under my nails and no memory of how it got there.
There are texts on my phone I don't remember sending. A body at the lake. And a voice in the dark "You can rest now. It's done."
Three months earlier, I moved to Portland to start a new life with a new job after my divorce. Then I met Emma. She brought me coffee without being asked, saved my job before I knew it was in danger, and showed up at my door with soup when I was too sick to stand. She knew my coffee order, my sister's name, my Sunday routines—things I was sure I'd mentioned.
I hadn't. She knew them before we ever met.
When I tried to pull away, she didn't let go. She told my boss I was breaking down and my coworkers that she was scared for me. Someone close to me started feeding her my secrets. Things in my apartment moved in the night. And every time I tried to tell someone what was happening to me, they looked at me the way you look at someone who's lost their mind.
Because Emma doesn't threaten you. She doesn't stalk you. She befriends you. She makes you need her. And then she makes everyone you love believe you're the problem—while she stands right beside you, looking like the only person who cares.
There were others before me. One ran to another city. She still sleeps with the lights on.
But how Emma found me? How she chose me? That's the part that changes everything. That's the part where you'll lose your mind.
From #1 international bestselling author Christopher Smith comes an unputdownable thriller about a friendship that was never a friendship at all. For fans of Freida McFadden, Riley Sager, and Lisa Jewell.
- GenresMystery Thriller
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2026
About the author
Christopher Smith
30 books13 followersChristopher Smith is the author of the #1 international bestselling The Fifth Avenue Series, The Bullied Series, You Only Die Twice, and The Cul-de-Sac. He has sold over 3.5 million books worldwide in eighteen different languages. He lives on the coast of Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 15, 2026
Great book from beginning to the end. The characters was omg great, I am telling all my reading buddies to get this book. He had me hook on him since I read his first book over 40 years ago 📕
July 20, 2026
WOW!!! If I could give this more than 5 stars, I absolutely would..
This has to be my favourite book of 2026 so far!
From the very first page, this book completely drew me in and had me holding my breath for most of it.. I absolutely devoured every chapter, desperate to find out what would happen next and how it would all end.. while at the same time not wanting it to end at all!
A truly gripping read that I couldn't put down.. Highly recommended! 👏🏻
This has to be my favourite book of 2026 so far!
From the very first page, this book completely drew me in and had me holding my breath for most of it.. I absolutely devoured every chapter, desperate to find out what would happen next and how it would all end.. while at the same time not wanting it to end at all!
A truly gripping read that I couldn't put down.. Highly recommended! 👏🏻
April 22, 2026
Her Best Friend starts off unsettling and just keeps tightening the screws until you’re questioning everything right along with the narrator. Emma is the kind of “friend” that feels helpful… until she’s absolutely terrifying. I flew through it in one sitting creepy, twisty, and way too believable. Definitely a five star psychological thriller for me.
April 11, 2026
Make sure you plan on staying up
because you are not going to want to put this book down until you finish! Even then you are going to wish you could keep reading because it is that good.....better than that good....wow! Christopher Smith is a master story teller who draws you in right from the first words. Based on his previous books I expected this book to be great and it was and even then it exceeded my expectations! 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 If you haven't read any of his books before this do yourself a favor and read the rest. You won't be sorry!
because you are not going to want to put this book down until you finish! Even then you are going to wish you could keep reading because it is that good.....better than that good....wow! Christopher Smith is a master story teller who draws you in right from the first words. Based on his previous books I expected this book to be great and it was and even then it exceeded my expectations! 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 If you haven't read any of his books before this do yourself a favor and read the rest. You won't be sorry!
June 24, 2026
Gripping. Leaves you guessing. Chris has done it again with this psychological thriller. Carrie moved to a different town, to start a new life after her divorce, new apartment, new job. It wasn’t long before a woman at work befriended her, welcomed her to the new marketing firm, took her to lunch and hung out with her on weekends. This was all done in the name of welcoming to a new job, new city, and to let her know that she is cared about and has a very loyal friend.
But soon, Carrie finds out that….
Things are not always as they seem.
I loved this story as it was very realistic, and fast-paced. You learn the characters well and the author has a way of pulling you in…watching Carrie’s story unfold.
Read this today. There will be no regrets.
But soon, Carrie finds out that….
Things are not always as they seem.
I loved this story as it was very realistic, and fast-paced. You learn the characters well and the author has a way of pulling you in…watching Carrie’s story unfold.
Read this today. There will be no regrets.
June 23, 2026
loved!
Had different thoughts in my head. Could it be this could it be that… good story! I would recommend. (I’m a Freida McFadden fan)… this was comparable.
Had different thoughts in my head. Could it be this could it be that… good story! I would recommend. (I’m a Freida McFadden fan)… this was comparable.
June 5, 2026
This book was intense from beginning to end. The book was easy to get into and the characters were very relatable… well most of them. I honestly couldn’t put the book down there were so many questions to be answered… so many twists and turns. A great read if you like psychological thrillers.
June 7, 2026
Another all encompassing, can’t put down thriller from Smith! A wild read that keeps you in the edge of your seat.
August 17, 2026
I suffered through this book in the expectation that a twist would redeem its flaws. There was no twist. There was however an awful lot of plot holes, inconsistencies, things that made no sense. Here are a few things that boggled my poor wary head.
Carries fugues, like getting up after sleeping and Sending a text Or even driving for hours, numerous times, without knowing she’d done so (apparently she did all this because she was stressed)
Carrie saying David’s the source in the parking lot to Eric before she even finds out he actually was the source. ( this book likes to refer to people as sources)
Not knowing what Fuking day we are on
Carrie being fine one day then the next she’s skin & bones from worry?? (I need to try that diet)
Let’s try catching an intruder… shall we set up a camera? No we will place 3 pennies in my wardrobe and see if they get moved!
Eric basically knows everything but doesn’t tell Carrie he just drops subtle hints And clues like they’re playing a game of cluedo! Why didn’t he just Fuking tell her everything he knew!!
The box of evidence is at Emma’s home, but it’s also at Eric’s home, but they don’t live together so whos home is it at??
How does Emma get into an apartment when all doors and windows are locked with no signs of forceful entry (is she a spectre)
So turns out Carries sister (Sarah) tells Emma nearly everything Carrie is up to, which is weird considering we are led to believe Carrie hasn’t spoken to her sister other than small talk.
Because Carrie and David were photographed outside of Emma (or is it Eric’s) house the police can’t use what was found within the house as evidence. Yer that’s not how it works.
David acts like he doesn’t know who Sarah is, you know his wife’s sister!
What was the point of The hammer!!!!
Emma sends pictures she took of carries apartment, and when Carrie finds out the police tracked were the pictures had been taken, and the pictures were taken outside her apartment she is shocked! I’m sorry, colour me Fuking dumb but usually a picture of a location is what gives the location away, what!!
We find out at the end Carrie doesn’t in fact lock her fire escape, she’s terrified of someone getting into her flat and killing her, adds double locks and chains to doors and tapes up windows but she doesn’t lock her fire escape!
Oh and Emma can mimic carries voice.
During the epilogue When David says he’s glad Carrie got out! wtf does he even mean!
There are many more confusing aspects and plot holes.
Look, I’m looking for a good storyteller not a writer, I honestly think half the problems with this book is due to either a shitty agent or editor, or whomever gives the ‘go ahead’ on publishing.
Carries fugues, like getting up after sleeping and Sending a text Or even driving for hours, numerous times, without knowing she’d done so (apparently she did all this because she was stressed)
Carrie saying David’s the source in the parking lot to Eric before she even finds out he actually was the source. ( this book likes to refer to people as sources)
Not knowing what Fuking day we are on
Carrie being fine one day then the next she’s skin & bones from worry?? (I need to try that diet)
Let’s try catching an intruder… shall we set up a camera? No we will place 3 pennies in my wardrobe and see if they get moved!
Eric basically knows everything but doesn’t tell Carrie he just drops subtle hints And clues like they’re playing a game of cluedo! Why didn’t he just Fuking tell her everything he knew!!
The box of evidence is at Emma’s home, but it’s also at Eric’s home, but they don’t live together so whos home is it at??
How does Emma get into an apartment when all doors and windows are locked with no signs of forceful entry (is she a spectre)
So turns out Carries sister (Sarah) tells Emma nearly everything Carrie is up to, which is weird considering we are led to believe Carrie hasn’t spoken to her sister other than small talk.
Because Carrie and David were photographed outside of Emma (or is it Eric’s) house the police can’t use what was found within the house as evidence. Yer that’s not how it works.
David acts like he doesn’t know who Sarah is, you know his wife’s sister!
What was the point of The hammer!!!!
Emma sends pictures she took of carries apartment, and when Carrie finds out the police tracked were the pictures had been taken, and the pictures were taken outside her apartment she is shocked! I’m sorry, colour me Fuking dumb but usually a picture of a location is what gives the location away, what!!
We find out at the end Carrie doesn’t in fact lock her fire escape, she’s terrified of someone getting into her flat and killing her, adds double locks and chains to doors and tapes up windows but she doesn’t lock her fire escape!
Oh and Emma can mimic carries voice.
During the epilogue When David says he’s glad Carrie got out! wtf does he even mean!
There are many more confusing aspects and plot holes.
Look, I’m looking for a good storyteller not a writer, I honestly think half the problems with this book is due to either a shitty agent or editor, or whomever gives the ‘go ahead’ on publishing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Her Best Friend by Christopher Smith is one of those psychological thrillers that slowly gets under your skin and stays there.
The story builds a constant sense of unease as reality starts to blur, and the idea of a “friend” who knows everything about you is genuinely unsettling. Emma is the kind of character that feels disturbingly real, which makes the tension even stronger.
It’s twisty, intense, and keeps you questioning what’s actually happening the entire time. If you enjoy slow burn thrillers with strong psychological manipulation, this is a must read.
The story builds a constant sense of unease as reality starts to blur, and the idea of a “friend” who knows everything about you is genuinely unsettling. Emma is the kind of character that feels disturbingly real, which makes the tension even stronger.
It’s twisty, intense, and keeps you questioning what’s actually happening the entire time. If you enjoy slow burn thrillers with strong psychological manipulation, this is a must read.
August 9, 2026
This is one of the better books I have read in a while. From the first page to the last, it made me want to keep reading to see the conclusion. The characters were interesting and the story was gripping and I never knew what was going to happen next. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
July 27, 2026
New city. New job. New best friend. When Carrie becomes friends with Emma all is well until things get out of hand. This was a captivating, page turning read. It had me wondering what was gonna happen next.
July 31, 2026
Good in the beginning but halfway through we just got repetitive and predictable so I didn’t finish it.
August 7, 2026
Page turner!! She’s a crazy head for sure! Might make you think twice about new friends 😱
May 29, 2026
she was crazy.. and actually made me mad reading this book. I wanted to come thru the page and smack her. Keeps you wanting to read what the crazy b** is going to do next.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews