Close Friends Only

by Kate Alice Marshall, Jennifer Jill Araya (Narrator)

A good friend will help you move. A best friend will help you move a body.

One year after a disastrous girls’ trip ended in a secret cover-up, Mandy is set to reunite with Piper, Lexie, and Jazz at a private island estate owned by Piper’s tech-mogul father. They expect it to be a weekend that will repair old wounds. Instead, they discover they are not alone—and that the past is not buried as deeply as they thought.

Mandy has spent the last twelve months trying to outrun what they did. The others have stayed busy managing the image of a wildly successful influencer, whose curated perfection attracts millions of fans who love her a lot and loathe her a little. Every image is polished. Every mistake: artfully erased.

But online control doesn’t translate to real life. When a storm traps everyone on the island and someone is gravely injured, the reunion shifts from uneasy to perilous. Mandy must decide who she can trust in the midst of a deadly reckoning.

Blending a locked-island mystery with sharp commentary on tech-driven ambition and the fragile power dynamics of female friendship, Close Friends Only is a timely thriller about what happens when the truth can no longer be edited. Only available in audio!

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Adult, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

Audiobook

First published June 16, 2026

About the author

Kate Alice Marshall is the author of thrillers and horror for all ages. Her YA and Middle grade books include I AM STILL ALIVE, RULES FOR VANISHING, and THIRTEENS. Her adult thrillers include WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS and NO ONE CAN KNOW.

She lives outside of Seattle with her husband, two dogs named Vonnegut and Octavia, and two kids. They all conspire to keep her on her toes.

Reviews

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the AI angle, but other than that it was way OTT

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging, novella-length audio thriller about friends reuniting after a dark secret separated them. There's murder, drama, social media, and disturbing uses of AI. Kate Alice Marshall's books are always a hit for me and this was great as a short and sweet summer read. The audio narration is great. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Celeste | bookrecs_by_celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and easy thriller novella. Bad friends, murder, deceit, and blackmail. What else can you ask for ?

Available on KU

[Christine Tistechok · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.25 stars*
Close Friends Only is the definition of a "beach read" thriller—perfect for when you want something engaging that doesn't require too much heavy lifting.
Kate Alice Marshall delivers a fast-paced, accessible story that hits all the expected beats of the genre. It’s an easy, one-sitting read that keeps the momentum high and the pages flying. The plot is straightforward and easy to follow, making it a solid choice if you're looking for low-stakes, high-entertainment value.
That said, if you’re a seasoned thriller reader, you may find the twists and turns fairly predictable. It feels like a story you’ve encountered variations of before, lacking that singular "wow" factor that makes a book truly memorable. Because it prioritizes speed, some of the character development feels a bit thin, and while it's an enjoyable experience while you're in it, it likely won't stick with you for long after you’ve closed the cover.
Overall, it’s a perfectly competent, enjoyable story—it just doesn't quite manage to elevate itself into "must-read" territory. Great for a quick afternoon escape, but nothing special.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t need a synopsis, page count, or even basic details the second I saw Kate Alice Marshall’s name attached to this. I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Spotify Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts, and apparently also gave me proof that I will blindly request anything this author writes. Only afterward did I realize this was a novella and not a full-length novel, but that didn’t stop it from completely devouring it.

One of the things I often find lacking in novellas is that fully realized feeling, where the story can sometimes feel rushed or underdeveloped. That was absolutely not the case here. This felt complete from beginning to end. I was hooked from the jump and stayed locked in for the entire 2 hour and 10 minute runtime while reading on audio at 2x speed as I folded laundry and tackled the seasonal closet switch in my child’s room.

Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya did a fabulous job bringing this story to life. Her command of each character was so strong that it genuinely sounded like there were multiple narrators involved. Every voice felt distinct and intentional, which made the experience even more immersive.

If you’re a thriller lover looking for a quick audiobook that still feels fully satisfying, this one absolutely hits the spot.

[Savanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this listen and how fast paced it was. There weren’t really any dull parts, it was all development for the story and learning the characters backstory along the way. I liked the overall plot line & our main character a lot. This was soooo twisty and I liked getting deeper and deeper into it. I did have a guess behind the murder/injury but had no idea why or how it happened until you uncover more. This book does have a pretty important tie in to real world events with AI and technology that was interesting to see used in this way and how it corrupts people. I was happy with the ending and resolution of it all, even the slightly bit of romance.

[Nikki Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girls trip that ended badly left a group of friends in a sticky situation. Now Mandy is reuniting with her friends a year later. The group is forced to stay on the island due to a storm and things immediately seem off. Who is hiding secrets and who can you trust? This book gave me some Lucinda Berry vibes. With twists I didn't see coming and anxious to solve the mystery, I was glued to this audiobook.

[Love_booksforlife Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandy is set to reunite with friends Piper, Lexie, and Jazz at Piper's family house on a remote island. But things quickly start to seem a little off especially when Piper is mysteriously missing and men seem to also be at the house.
I'm such a Kate Alice Marshall fan!

This was such a good short story! I loved the story and mystery. Mandy is the perfect person to follow with this. She's estranged from her friends so she is a little disconnected to everyone. The mystery unfolds perfectly. The length is short but you don't feel that at all. You get so engrossed in the mystery. I liked the commentary on social media influencers and technology as well.
Definitely pick this one up for a quick and thrilling ride!

Thank you to the publisher and author for the gifted copy!

[AOKayy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close Friends Only is the perfect short-story thriller if you’re looking for something quick to listen to and get into.

This story follows a group of friends who go on a repeat trip to one of their family’s homes on a remote island. They had been disconnected from each other over the last year due to a tragic accident they covered up, leaving them unsure of how to move forward. As the story unfolds, you discover that the secrets this group has been keeping run very deep and could be detrimental if one of them decides to rat out the others.

The eerie, on-edge feeling starts immediately and just continues to build throughout the book. You’re never quite sure who to trust, and the added layer of AI deception makes the story even more terrifying. I loved how this story explores just how dangerous AI could become (if it isn’t already), especially when you can’t even be sure that what you hear or see is real anymore.

I love all of Kate’s books, so I highly recommend giving this audiobook or the newly available ebook a try!

[kendra☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this was actually SO good and I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It really gave me Lucinda Berry vibes who is my favorite thriller author! Keep your friends close🤫

[Lu thrillskillsandchills]

Didn’t finish at 73%.

[Lisa's Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Fast-paced thriller, perfect for a beach or pool day to relax with. It's quite short so the characters weren't as fleshed out as in her other books, but it still had her familiar focus on relationships and the impact of shared lies. If you've enjoyed Marshall's writing in the past, I would say pick this one up!

[Lauren Farniok · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook…. Kinda lost me at the end, but that could’ve been my own fault for doing other things while I was listening. I think it was a little too techy for my liking

[Amber Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw the twist coming from the beginning but it was still a short fun listen on a couple runs.

[shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the twist in this

[Rania Kamal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic novella !

[Dovico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful. True test of friendship.

[Natalia Farnham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess being a fast read is one plus. A basic thriller for sure.

[Femke Verstraete · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

My least fave of the Kate Alice Marshall books. I didnnt like the two main characters but it was still a good read but less intruiging for me. You never really know what’s happening in someone else’s life.. this book proves this

[Elizabeth Finnan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf could’t listen to the characters. Annoying.

[Sara Anne Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very special thanks to @spotify and @tlcbooktours for this #gifted audiobook copy!

•••


I read A Killing Cold earlier this year and loved it, so when I had the opportunity to listen to this audiobook, I jumped at the chance!

I'm a sucker for mysteries with atmospheric, isolated settings, and this one absolutely delivered. I was completely riveted from start to finish and ended up listening to it in a single sitting. There were several twists I didn't see coming, which made the story even more enjoyable.

The audiobook narration was fantastic and added so much to the overall experience, bringing the story and characters to life.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Jackie Southam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Alice Marshall’s Close Friends Only is a quick, atmospheric audiobook novella that pairs a classic locked-island mystery with the modern, hyper-curated world of social media influencers. While it delivers on tension and messy friendship dynamics, it ultimately falls a bit short of the complexity found in some of Marshall's full-length thrillers.
The Plot
The story follows Mandy, who has spent the last year drowning in guilt after a disastrous girls' trip ended in a tragic accident and a subsequent cover-up. Now, she’s reuniting with her old friends—Piper, Lexie, and Jazz—at a private, high-tech island estate owned by Piper’s tech-mogul father.
While the other girls have spent the last year artfully erasing their mistakes and managing the heavily polished image of a wildly successful influencer brand, Mandy is still running from the past. The weekend is supposed to be about healing old wounds, but when a severe storm hits, trapping them on the island, a grave injury changes everything. They realize they aren't alone, and the truth they’ve tried so hard to edit out of existence is coming back with a vengeance.
The Good
The Atmospheric Setting: The private, high-tech island estate combined with an isolating storm makes for a wonderfully claustrophobic, high-stakes background. Marshall is great at building immediate environmental tension.
Sharp Commentary: The critique of influencer culture, toxic "girl-boss" dynamics, and the contrast between a curated online life versus a messy reality is timely and well-executed. The power dynamics between the four friends feel genuinely strained and uneasy.
Pacing: Clocking in at just under 5 hours as an audio-only release, it flies by. It’s the perfect length for a quick, one-sitting listen during a rainy afternoon or a road trip.
The Not-So-Good
Predictable Mystery: Because of the shorter novella format, there isn't quite enough room to build complex red herrings. If you are an avid thriller reader, the "whodunit" and the major plot beats are fairly easy to spot early on just by listening to the banter and behavioral cues between the characters.
Surface-Level Character Depth: With four central friends and a short runtime, some of the characters end up feeling more like influencer archetypes than fully fleshed-out people. Mandy gets the most development, but the others occasionally bleed together into general selfishness.
Final Verdict
Close Friends Only is a solid, entertaining popcorn thriller. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, and the mystery wraps up a little too neatly, but the messy drama and tense "locked-room" vibes make it worth a listen if you want a quick, suspenseful bite.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3
⭐
I am just going to get right to it. This book was an absolute mess. It starts off exactly like every other book that involves a group of friends getting together after years apart who travel to a long-deserted island where they desperately hope to recapture the friendship they once had. In this version of the trope however the women are harboring a major secret that involves the group covering up a murder one of them committed and making sure that secret stays completely between the four of them. While three of the women make it safely to the island the fourth is nowhere to be found and is basically unreachable pretty much the entire time. To throw an extra wrinkle in there, the villa they booked was also booked by a group of men which immediately casts a massive cloud of suspicion on it all.

Now this story definitely could have gone one of two solid ways. The plot could have seen the women contending with the authorities who are still investigating the murder they managed to cover up or maybe these strange men who are there in the villa with them are out for revenge against these women who killed a friend of theirs. This book took absolutely none of those routes and once the ultimate fate of the missing fourth friend came into play this book truly went completely off the rails. The characters were all highly unlikable and most were not even relevant to the actual story being told. The guys were totally useless and the women were just despicable and do not even get me started on the absurd inclusion of AI which really did turn this book into one huge jumbled mess.

The main reason behind why the original murder was committed in the first place was super suspect as soon as that was revealed but to easily be able to cover that up and the fast way it was agreed upon to do that in the first place was highly questionable as well. There were literally no thrills or suspense to speak of and for a pretty short audiobook-only release, the pacing really dragged and I felt like I was simply waiting for the book to be over more so than hoping the ending would provide something that would make the read worth it. I really just did not see a point to anything that happened and most of what occurred in the book could have been avoided if smarter character play was on the menu. Sadly this was a bland meal I should have dined and dashed on long before I reached what was deemed to be the dessert of this book.

[Dogsandbooksanddogsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Spotify Books for my free copy.
3.5 ⭐rounded up

Narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya who did a good job of voicing male and female characters. At times, I thought there was more than one narrator. There is a certain type of voice that grinds in my ears and Ms. Araya chose to use that voice for the character Lexie. Anytime Lexie was speaking, my annoyance level went up along with my distrust of her motives. I suspect that was the point.

Four women are set to meet up for a girls trip, except only 3 show. Worse, the compound where they are to stay has been double booked by the Bro Crew. Quickly the reader learns there was a tragedy the last time these women came together and it looks as though they are headed in the same way.

Close Friends Only is a short audiobook, coming in under 5 hours. That said, you can only do so much character development. Though enough background on the women was told and I quickly realized these women are connected via their jobs in the tech/influencer industry, AI, in particular. What is real and what is not is a theme throughout. What I found particularly factual is the instant hate of AI, then jumping on the AI bandwagon, then questioning the morality of it and influencing, in general.

Close Friends Only is perfect for when the reader has limited time to invest in a longer book.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a gifted CLOSE FRIENDS ONLY by Kate Alice Marshall from Spotify Audiobooks.

CLOSE FRIENDS ONLY is a new novella length audiobook. A year ago Mandy's girls' trip ended in disaster and a cover up. Mandy has been trying to forget what happened, growing more distant from her group of friends. When she gets a call from her best friend Piper inviting her back to another girl's trip, she can't stay away.

Apart from Mandy, the friends have stayed close, working together to perfect an influencer image with millions of followers. Still, it seems that there is some discord that remains and when Piper doesn't even show up, but strangers do, Mandy is left trying to make sense of everything.

I have really enjoyed this author in the past, so I was excited to pick up this new novella. It is only a 5 hour audio and the author accomplished a lot in that space of time! I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about Mandy and her past with her friends, but she was definitely a character I came to root for. I though the author had some good points to make about technology and the dangers therein!

There were some twists to the story that I didn't expect which I really enjoyed. The ending had a few elements that felt a little bit neat to me, possibly a bit too much so, but I'm a bit undecided. Still, I overall had a great time with this audiobook!

[Laura Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t super invested in this friend group or beginning of the book. Half way in somewhere I did get into the plot and where it was all going.

I don’t love stories that hint at a murder or terrible event in the past. Because if it already happened then just tell me. This didn’t carry on like that too long and then eventually a new event was under way to unravel and tie together.

I mostly hated the fake valley girl voice of the one friend. Nails on a chalkboard. But I think it makes sense from an audiobook perspective to give them distinct personas by using different voices. That was my biggest issue really.

Short book and I was happy for it as I’m in the middle on another long one and have a long one coming up too. Nice palate cleanser.

I think the AI storyline was a nice updated new twist of things. I just hope it doesn’t become a thing from every author in the next couple of years. I’m sick of all the Covid storylines so I’m sure I will be sick of all the AI tech storylines too if this trends.

I think the author was also clever to add a true crime girly who everyone relied on to get rid of the body because doesn’t every true crime junkie think they know enough to get away with it or think they might know enough to survive? So smart since any reader of this crime mystery story is likely one of those folks anyways and more likely to relate to the OP in that part.

Kate Alice Marshall never disappoints me with her endings!

[Jessica Dragos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this twisty little story!! Short thrillers are for me! I also love KAM's writing, omg! She is a master craftsman of thrilling plots! What a different twist on the friend group that goes on a vacation and someone dies. In this story, the murder already happened and the two girls use AI to pretend to be the deceased friend, to call the third girl to the island to clean up the mess they made. She previously helped to clean up a dead body one year (years?) Ago and now they need her to do it again. What an interesting and intriguing story line that had me hooked from beginning to end! Also how adorable that two strangers met (the boys weren't supposed to be in this resort but got there first), and they lived happily ever after. Another cool and different aspect was using AI to create the perfect "girl"online that everyone wanted to be with and then to find out she was actually never real. The loud girl in the group jumped to her death and thankfully the other girls were able to get off with lesser crimes, including the main character not getting in trouble at all because the second girl said she was asleep the whole time when the crimes happened. This book was incredible!

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandy reunites with Piper, Lexie, and Jazz on a private island to mend past wounds after a disastrous girls' trip. However, they soon realize they are not alone, and the past looms over them. With one person gravely injured and a storm trapping them, Mandy faces trust issues amid a perilous situation.

This is a gripping murder mystery set on a secluded island, featuring a cast of intriguing characters. Given its brief nature, I would classify this as a novella. The narrative provides just enough information to grasp the dynamics and circumstances of the plot, but it doesn't delve deeply into character development or offer an abundance of details. For a short novella, however, it was an engaging listen. The narrator did an excellent job of maintaining the story's momentum, keeping me eager to discover what would unfold next. The tale is filled with uncertainty, deception, and a heartbreaking situation that compels you to dig deeper. I really enjoyed this short listening experience.

Thank you, Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessa Layne • readwithjessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One year after a disastrous girls’ trip that ended in a dark secret, Mandy reunites with her friends at a private island estate owned by one of their wealthy families. What is supposed to be a chance to repair their fractured friendship quickly turns into something much more dangerous when they realize they are not alone. As a storm traps them on the island, tensions rise and the past they tried to bury begins to resurface in terrifying ways. When someone is seriously hurt, Mandy is forced to question who she can trust as everything spirals out of control.

I really enjoyed this one and found it to be such a fast and easy listen. The isolated island setting was perfect (and my favorite!) It added so much stress and tension to the story too...think storm, isolated island, no way off.... Kate Alice Marshall does a great job building suspense, and I was guessing the whole time flipping between who I think was 'bad'. This story will make you think about who you can trust and how far people will go for friendship. The audiobook was also very well done and the narrator did a great job!

Thank yo to TLC book tours and Spotify for the gifted copy!

[Amy Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

⛈️If you are looking for a quick bingeable thriller, this is a great pick you can easily finish in a day. With an audiobook length of just over 4 hours it goes quickly.

⛈️When last year's girls trip went disastrously wrong, the friend group began to splinter. After months of silence, Mandy is surprised when her former best friend Piper reaches out and implores her to join the group for their annual trip.

⛈️When 3 of the 4 friends arrive on the island, not only are they surprised by unexpected guests, but Piper is also nowhere to be found. With a storm approaching, we have a set-up for a closed door mystery/thriller.

⛈️I enjoyed this read. Some of the twists were predictable, but there were also some good red herrings to keep things interesting. Jennifer Jill Araya's ability to create unique voices for each character made the dialogue easy to follow and engaging. Overall, a 4.25/5 star read for this category and my personal reading preferences.

⛈️Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for access to this read via NetGalley. All opinions shared are my own and are given freely.