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Friends Like These
We all know someone like Becca.
She has the job everyone wants, a designer wardrobe, a hot-shot lawyer boyfriend, holidays to exotic locations. And she flaunts her perfect life all over social media.
It drove her colleague Lizzie mad, but she couldn't stop looking. They were never really friends - and yet Lizzie knew everything about her.
Or did she?
When chance, and a terrible mistake, pulls Lizzie back into Becca's orbit years after they lost touch, she'll realise that you can't always believe what you see online... and that finding out the truth might be the worst thing you can do.
There's no such thing as a perfect life. Only a perfect lie.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2018
4222 people are currently reading
9851 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Alderson
28 books2,768 followersHaving spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and princess-obsessed daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home. After several months in India, Singapore, Australia and the US, they settled in Bali where they lived for five years.
She finished her first novel, Hunting Lila (winner of the Kingston Book Award), just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel on the beach in India and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they had reached Bali.
A third book, Fated, about a teenage demon slayer, was published in January 2012.
The Sound, a thriller romance set in Nantucket, was published in August 2013 and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Out of Control in May 2014.
Her first non-fiction book - CAN WE LIVE HERE? - based on her blog of the same name, was published in August 2015 by Blink.
She also writes New Adult romance for Pan Macmillan (UK) / Simon & Schuster (US) under the pen name Mila Gray.
You can find Sarah on facebook and at www.sarahalderson.com or follow her blog at www.canwelivhere.com
She finished her first novel, Hunting Lila (winner of the Kingston Book Award), just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel on the beach in India and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they had reached Bali.
A third book, Fated, about a teenage demon slayer, was published in January 2012.
The Sound, a thriller romance set in Nantucket, was published in August 2013 and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Out of Control in May 2014.
Her first non-fiction book - CAN WE LIVE HERE? - based on her blog of the same name, was published in August 2015 by Blink.
She also writes New Adult romance for Pan Macmillan (UK) / Simon & Schuster (US) under the pen name Mila Gray.
You can find Sarah on facebook and at www.sarahalderson.com or follow her blog at www.canwelivhere.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews
August 7, 2020
Blimey
You can’t trust any of the characters in this book. Nothing is as it seems. Just hold on to your hats, and hope to finish it unscathed!
May 14, 2019
This was fun!
Lizzie and Becca are colleagues - not friends - and let's be clear about that! Becca is beautiful, impeccably dressed, has the most handsome of boyfriends and, as it turns out, is an over-all annoyance to the dowdy Lizzie. At a work Christmas party it appears that Becca, in her stiletto clad heels, trips on a tile and falls down a flight of stairs leaving a mangled and scarred Becca behind.
Becca never returns to work and fades into a memory....or does she?
See, Lizzie likes to keep track of people on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and Becca is no exception even though she hasn't updated since the accident years before.
Until finally she does....and Lizzie can't believe her eyes!!!
Not only is Becca still gorgeous but she is married to a handsome man with a baby to boot and runs a successful interior design company. Lizzie isn't jealous, really she isn't, but she immediately composes a wine-laced scathing message to her best friend about Becca and her Gollum like baby. The next day Lizzie asks her friend what she thinks about Becca when to her horror her friend is completely clueless as to what she's talking about. It appears Lizzie accidentally sent the message to Becca herself and let's just say the message is received loud and clear!
This book isn't the most original of story ideas but it was so entertaining with short, punchy chapters that keep you flipping the pages. I read a lot of psych thrillers but I will say some of the twists here did surprise me which isn't always easy to do. I could have read this in one sitting if it wasn't for life getting in the way. Will this be a book I remember forever? Probably not, but it was a perfectly fun book to spend the day with and I have no regrets. 4 stars!
Lizzie and Becca are colleagues - not friends - and let's be clear about that! Becca is beautiful, impeccably dressed, has the most handsome of boyfriends and, as it turns out, is an over-all annoyance to the dowdy Lizzie. At a work Christmas party it appears that Becca, in her stiletto clad heels, trips on a tile and falls down a flight of stairs leaving a mangled and scarred Becca behind.
Becca never returns to work and fades into a memory....or does she?
See, Lizzie likes to keep track of people on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and Becca is no exception even though she hasn't updated since the accident years before.
Until finally she does....and Lizzie can't believe her eyes!!!
Not only is Becca still gorgeous but she is married to a handsome man with a baby to boot and runs a successful interior design company. Lizzie isn't jealous, really she isn't, but she immediately composes a wine-laced scathing message to her best friend about Becca and her Gollum like baby. The next day Lizzie asks her friend what she thinks about Becca when to her horror her friend is completely clueless as to what she's talking about. It appears Lizzie accidentally sent the message to Becca herself and let's just say the message is received loud and clear!
This book isn't the most original of story ideas but it was so entertaining with short, punchy chapters that keep you flipping the pages. I read a lot of psych thrillers but I will say some of the twists here did surprise me which isn't always easy to do. I could have read this in one sitting if it wasn't for life getting in the way. Will this be a book I remember forever? Probably not, but it was a perfectly fun book to spend the day with and I have no regrets. 4 stars!
December 5, 2018
Ever sent a ‘bitchy’ message to the wrong person on Facebook?
This book will make sure you NEVER do again!
After a slightly confusing start, that all makes sense once you’re into the book this story becomes deliciously clever and breathtaking
I am going to say nothing about the plot or the slightest hint at well anything as I would want anyone who reads this book to be as outraged and as uncomfortably outfoxed as I was throughout, time after time 😃😃
I will say the descriptions of Facebook are 100% spot on and I found myself ( somewhat shamefacedly) nodding and saying yep ‘thought that’ and ‘done that’!
The book is genius as its as psychological thriller as you can get yet had me laughing out loud one minute........then scowling in shock and unbelief the next
Characters are written about wonderfully and Ive already used this word but cleverly as thats the only way to describe it
And thats it,no more needs to be said except if I was in marketing I would be offering a money back guarantee if you didn’t thoroughly enjoy every word
10/10 ( surprised?) 5 Stars
October 10, 2022
All I can say is once you start this you will be on the ride of your life nothing is as it seems so be warned the best is yet to come a crazy ride full of unlikable characters that have their own agendas don’t trust anyone. 3.75 stars
January 28, 2019
3.75 entertaining stars (rounded up)
The latest book to deal with social media and revenge starts with a frantic 999 call:
Excerpt:
Female Caller: (whispered) I think she’s outside the door...I can hear her. Oh God, please hurry up.
Operator: The police will be there any minute. Stay on the line with me. Can you tell me what’s happening? Who is it that’s got the knife?
0:44:16-unclear-series of bangs-followed by a crash
Female Caller: No!
Operator: Hello? Are you there?
0:53:33-screams
Told in 5 parts , over the course of 5 days, through the perspectives of Lizzie, Becca and police interviews- I was kept guessing about if Lizzie was an unreliable narrator or just one with a sense of humor, and who the two women on the 999 transcript were. The author offers up a few possibilities and I was entertained from start to finish.
Of course you have the requisite “characters who take matters into their own hands” and “inept detectives” so the epilogue will require that you suspend disbelief, something I don’t usually care to do, but, despite the fact that “somebody gets away with something that should be easily proven”, it sort of works...
Recommended for those who like lighter, more humorous thrillers who do not mind suspending disbelief...IF that is you, you will enjoy this one.
This was a buddy read with Danielle-we have vowed to read some books we both own, instead of all NG requests, and clear up our TBR list-with this being the first of many! Thanks for reading with me and sharing thoughts along the way! 🤗
The latest book to deal with social media and revenge starts with a frantic 999 call:
Excerpt:
Female Caller: (whispered) I think she’s outside the door...I can hear her. Oh God, please hurry up.
Operator: The police will be there any minute. Stay on the line with me. Can you tell me what’s happening? Who is it that’s got the knife?
0:44:16-unclear-series of bangs-followed by a crash
Female Caller: No!
Operator: Hello? Are you there?
0:53:33-screams
Told in 5 parts , over the course of 5 days, through the perspectives of Lizzie, Becca and police interviews- I was kept guessing about if Lizzie was an unreliable narrator or just one with a sense of humor, and who the two women on the 999 transcript were. The author offers up a few possibilities and I was entertained from start to finish.
Of course you have the requisite “characters who take matters into their own hands” and “inept detectives” so the epilogue will require that you suspend disbelief, something I don’t usually care to do, but, despite the fact that “somebody gets away with something that should be easily proven”, it sort of works...
Recommended for those who like lighter, more humorous thrillers who do not mind suspending disbelief...IF that is you, you will enjoy this one.
This was a buddy read with Danielle-we have vowed to read some books we both own, instead of all NG requests, and clear up our TBR list-with this being the first of many! Thanks for reading with me and sharing thoughts along the way! 🤗
November 13, 2018
It was a juicy thriller that made me turn the pages especially first half of it.
The second half became a bit predictable, and there were some issues with the plot and the twist. There were too few characters that made the case simple.
All in all, if you're looking for a quick, entertaining thriller without any trigger warnings, this is a good option. But, it's not the most imaginative, creative and solid plot. Still, the very end surprised me a bit.
Thanks a lot to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The second half became a bit predictable, and there were some issues with the plot and the twist. There were too few characters that made the case simple.
All in all, if you're looking for a quick, entertaining thriller without any trigger warnings, this is a good option. But, it's not the most imaginative, creative and solid plot. Still, the very end surprised me a bit.
Thanks a lot to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2018
Friends Like These, Sarah Alderson's debut thriller, attracted me as it uses the fallibility of technology and human error as the precipitator in the demise of Lizzie and was exactly what I needed - a technothriller that is intense, captivating and very cleverly written. The dual perspectives of Lizzie and Becca allow the reader to understand the vastly different thoughts and feelings that each character is experiencing. This is a tense psychological thriller that is a helluva ride with twists and turns aplenty and a complex and intricate plot that had me on the edge-of-my-seat throughout.
At its heart, this is a cautionary tale showing the propensity of social media to help manifest or worsen mental health and self-confidence issues, whilst also exploring jealousy, revenge and predatory behaviour. It shows just how quickly a derogatory message sent to the wrong person can descend into chaos. It's definitely one of those novels that work best when the reader goes in blind or with as little knowledge of the contents as possible. The pace and writing are both excellent, and I very much enjoyed the fact that you never knew who you could trust. Testament to it being a page-turner I devoured it in one sitting before bed. You will certainly think twice before you put every detail of your life on social media because, as this story illustrates, you never know who is watching!
Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC.
At its heart, this is a cautionary tale showing the propensity of social media to help manifest or worsen mental health and self-confidence issues, whilst also exploring jealousy, revenge and predatory behaviour. It shows just how quickly a derogatory message sent to the wrong person can descend into chaos. It's definitely one of those novels that work best when the reader goes in blind or with as little knowledge of the contents as possible. The pace and writing are both excellent, and I very much enjoyed the fact that you never knew who you could trust. Testament to it being a page-turner I devoured it in one sitting before bed. You will certainly think twice before you put every detail of your life on social media because, as this story illustrates, you never know who is watching!
Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC.
December 8, 2018
You won't know who to trust - and you'll never guess the twists... that is the tagline for this book and it is so true!! Friends Like These by Sarah Alderson was a book that I could not wait to finish - I had to know how it was going to end! I did not see it coming. Be careful when sending bitchy messages on social media - you don't want this to happen to you!! Characters that we believable, untrustworthy and nasty all at the same time. You don't want to miss this one.
Becca and Lizzie were work colleges until 3 years ago when Becca suffered a life changing injury. She was the kind of girl that others loved to hate as she seemed to have it all. Lizzie has spent the last 3 years trying to change her life.. One night when Facebook stalking Becca she send a bitchy message to the wrong person - it is all begins from there. The chain of events that follows you would not wish on your worst enemy.. Secrets and lies of all those involved are unearthed - and that ending wow!!!
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for another fantastic advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Becca and Lizzie were work colleges until 3 years ago when Becca suffered a life changing injury. She was the kind of girl that others loved to hate as she seemed to have it all. Lizzie has spent the last 3 years trying to change her life.. One night when Facebook stalking Becca she send a bitchy message to the wrong person - it is all begins from there. The chain of events that follows you would not wish on your worst enemy.. Secrets and lies of all those involved are unearthed - and that ending wow!!!
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for another fantastic advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
February 12, 2020
“To new beginnings,’ I echo, clinking my glass against his. I smile but at the same time dark thoughts are swirling in my mind and I’m thinking not about beginnings but endings.”
― Sarah Alderson, Friends Like These
This is one that let me down.
Although I love psychological thrillers..I do like them to be entertaining. This one started out really strong but then it lost me.
SPOILERS:
I read my share of books with lousy endings but this goes a bit to far in my humble opinion. It just seems like whole book is about the mental and physical torture of this one poor girl. Added to that, some of the events that happen really get unrealistic and toward the end, I got really turned off. Becca in my opinion was a likable character and some of the things that are done to her get out of mystery territory and go into the horror realm. I was kind of sorry I read this at the end.
I wont argue with the writing which was good nor the characterizations which were wonderful. But everyone has their own tastes and for me this one was a very distasteful read.
― Sarah Alderson, Friends Like These
This is one that let me down.
Although I love psychological thrillers..I do like them to be entertaining. This one started out really strong but then it lost me.
SPOILERS:
I read my share of books with lousy endings but this goes a bit to far in my humble opinion. It just seems like whole book is about the mental and physical torture of this one poor girl. Added to that, some of the events that happen really get unrealistic and toward the end, I got really turned off. Becca in my opinion was a likable character and some of the things that are done to her get out of mystery territory and go into the horror realm. I was kind of sorry I read this at the end.
I wont argue with the writing which was good nor the characterizations which were wonderful. But everyone has their own tastes and for me this one was a very distasteful read.
December 16, 2018
We all have stalked someone on social media. We all have possibly portrayed our online lives to be happier and better than real life. What happens when someone disrupts that life? How do you make them pay? Lizzie is about to find out.
Basically y'all, bitches be CRAZY. This is a fun, quick read for those who like the crazy … and I DO. It does go off the rails towards the end but I didn't mind it at all. Lessons learned: never take social media life for real life. Make sure the message you're sending is going to the person it is meant for Don't exacerbate the situation and own your shit.
Listen, this is one fun romp of a book. Suspend some reality, appreciate the insanity and remember to not be so judgmental.
Basically y'all, bitches be CRAZY. This is a fun, quick read for those who like the crazy … and I DO. It does go off the rails towards the end but I didn't mind it at all. Lessons learned: never take social media life for real life. Make sure the message you're sending is going to the person it is meant for Don't exacerbate the situation and own your shit.
Listen, this is one fun romp of a book. Suspend some reality, appreciate the insanity and remember to not be so judgmental.
January 30, 2019
#bitchinread #justenuffpyscho
First impressions are everything they say; a bad first impression can lead to deadly consequences or at least that’s how the story goes in Friends Like These.
Friends Like These is a warped, tangled, twisty tale, staring a wicked femme fatale who’s hell-bent on getting her revenge! Will she get it? A must read to find out!!!❤️❤️4 stars
First impressions are everything they say; a bad first impression can lead to deadly consequences or at least that’s how the story goes in Friends Like These.
Friends Like These is a warped, tangled, twisty tale, staring a wicked femme fatale who’s hell-bent on getting her revenge! Will she get it? A must read to find out!!!❤️❤️4 stars
August 24, 2020
O.0
That expression is the only descriptor needed. It was a wild ride and boy am I glad that I have no friends like Lizzie or Becca.
That expression is the only descriptor needed. It was a wild ride and boy am I glad that I have no friends like Lizzie or Becca.
January 9, 2019
Wow this book was excellent. It had so many twists which were brilliant - they had me in shock. The whole story was great and was put together extremely well. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. The ending was brilliant and unexpected and it made me love the book even more. I definitely recommend this book. It’s one of my favourites.
December 20, 2018
While I found Friends Like These to be quite an addictive read, it ultimately left me with mixed feelings, and I think I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. My initial reaction to the “twist” was some doubts as to whether the author had entirely played fair with the reader; however on balance, I think she did.
Like a lot of current novels, it seems, the plot is steeped in social media - it’s clearly hugely important in many people’s lives and also, with its potential for manipulation and misrepresentation, provides a rich source of drama for writers. Here we have Becca, a former work colleague of Lizzie, who apparently drove people (particularly Lizzie) mad with her picture perfect Instagram life and constant #blessed #bestboyfriendever type hashtags. Then, Becca disappeared from everyone’s radar following her involvement in a terrible accident. But when Lizzie “swipes right” on Becca’s ex-boyfriend (yes, #bestboyfriendever himself) on Tinder, their paths will cross again... with unexpected consequences for both.
The story is cleverly constructed even if it does defy credibility quite a lot and at times felt almost tongue in cheek (the message Lizzie accidentally sends Becca and the Tolkien-expert police officer being a case in point). I was never quite sure how seriously I was meant to be taking it, particularly towards the end when things got so extreme you really did just have to suspend disbelief and go along with the ride. I enjoyed it, but found it all just a bit too unrealistic to enable me to connect with the (very small cast of) characters.
Like a lot of current novels, it seems, the plot is steeped in social media - it’s clearly hugely important in many people’s lives and also, with its potential for manipulation and misrepresentation, provides a rich source of drama for writers. Here we have Becca, a former work colleague of Lizzie, who apparently drove people (particularly Lizzie) mad with her picture perfect Instagram life and constant #blessed #bestboyfriendever type hashtags. Then, Becca disappeared from everyone’s radar following her involvement in a terrible accident. But when Lizzie “swipes right” on Becca’s ex-boyfriend (yes, #bestboyfriendever himself) on Tinder, their paths will cross again... with unexpected consequences for both.
The story is cleverly constructed even if it does defy credibility quite a lot and at times felt almost tongue in cheek (the message Lizzie accidentally sends Becca and the Tolkien-expert police officer being a case in point). I was never quite sure how seriously I was meant to be taking it, particularly towards the end when things got so extreme you really did just have to suspend disbelief and go along with the ride. I enjoyed it, but found it all just a bit too unrealistic to enable me to connect with the (very small cast of) characters.
April 27, 2019
I listened to this book on Audible whilst trying to navigate the Chicago expressways, so I wasn't always clear which of our two narrators was speaking. But the frightening traffic was a good test of an engaging plot. It is also an apposite warning against envy aroused by social media. Becca and Lizzie were co-workers at the London office of PKW,'the largest entertainment talent company in the world'. Becca was engaged to James, #bestboyfriendever, but unfortunately she fell down a flight of stairs and suffered severe orthopaedic injuries and seems to have disappeared. Later Lizzie finds her on Facebook under a new identity and posts a trollish comment, which leads to an accusation of defalcating from PKW. She also sets James, a high-flying media lawyer, in her sights as a prospective spouse. And Lizzie is an aspiring novelist as well.
Readers who love stories about frenemies, especially Patricia Highsmith fans, will enjoy this one, though it pushes one's credulity to the limit. I particularly liked the encounter between Lizzie and DCI Tallack - a seemingly low-keyed but tenacious Mancunian determined to set traps. This is an amoral but amusing tale.
Readers who love stories about frenemies, especially Patricia Highsmith fans, will enjoy this one, though it pushes one's credulity to the limit. I particularly liked the encounter between Lizzie and DCI Tallack - a seemingly low-keyed but tenacious Mancunian determined to set traps. This is an amoral but amusing tale.
February 19, 2019
I absolutely love a creepy, crazy, twisted character and Friends Like These has two of them. This book was RIGHT up my street. I loved this book and was utterly gripped from beginning to end.
It starts with a 999 transcript, with no indication of who’s making the call. The book then backtracks five days and we discover the events that lead to that terrifying and frantic call. It’s kind of like you know how it will end, but the need to know just how and who really drives this book, making it such a compelling read.
We’ve all searched out someone on social media, just out of curiosity and to have a nosy into their lives – right? Lizzie can’t believe it when one drunken night she finally finds an ex-colleague, Becca, on Facebook. Keen to share her discovery with her friend, Flora, she sends her a message linking the page – along with a few bitchy comments. But the next morning, Lizzie realises she actually sent the message to Becca herself. And Becca isn’t happy about this at all.
Can. You. Imagine? I will NEVER send a Facebook message without triple checking again!
Lizzie’s mistake sets of a roller coaster of twists and turns, where nothing is ever as you expect. It’s impossible to know who you can trust, is Lizzie or Becca the crazy one? The gripping, twisty writing is peppered with subtle dark humour that also really appealed to me, along with a cautionary tale of the perils of social media.
I’m being purposefully vague because I don’t want to give anything away, which is making this a difficult review to write. I just want to tell you how great this book is – hopefully you’ll take my word for it. I read a lot of psychological thrillers and this one really stood out to me. It’s a little bit different, a gripping page turner and well worth a read! I loved it!
It starts with a 999 transcript, with no indication of who’s making the call. The book then backtracks five days and we discover the events that lead to that terrifying and frantic call. It’s kind of like you know how it will end, but the need to know just how and who really drives this book, making it such a compelling read.
We’ve all searched out someone on social media, just out of curiosity and to have a nosy into their lives – right? Lizzie can’t believe it when one drunken night she finally finds an ex-colleague, Becca, on Facebook. Keen to share her discovery with her friend, Flora, she sends her a message linking the page – along with a few bitchy comments. But the next morning, Lizzie realises she actually sent the message to Becca herself. And Becca isn’t happy about this at all.
Can. You. Imagine? I will NEVER send a Facebook message without triple checking again!
Lizzie’s mistake sets of a roller coaster of twists and turns, where nothing is ever as you expect. It’s impossible to know who you can trust, is Lizzie or Becca the crazy one? The gripping, twisty writing is peppered with subtle dark humour that also really appealed to me, along with a cautionary tale of the perils of social media.
I’m being purposefully vague because I don’t want to give anything away, which is making this a difficult review to write. I just want to tell you how great this book is – hopefully you’ll take my word for it. I read a lot of psychological thrillers and this one really stood out to me. It’s a little bit different, a gripping page turner and well worth a read! I loved it!
Read
June 2, 2022Domestic Thrillers / Psychological Thrillers / Contemporary
Story full of deceit, obsession, envy, revenge and manipulation. This story remind us that we shouldn't believe everything we see in the social media. We should be careful of what we share in public. We should consider our actions and their consequences very carefully.
In FRIENDS LIKE THESE we get two very different and unreliable narrators - Lizzie and Becca.
At first we get Lizzie's POV. Then we start to get Becca's perspective which show us different picture of how things went down. As events unfold, both women are pulled into a dangerous game that will leave you wondering, Who’s the villain?
I felt sorry for Lizzie's struggles at first. The more was revealed about her, however, the less I liked her. There's something fishy about her.
Ahhh, I liked this story. I enjoyed the writing style. I was intrigued by the plot and by the characters. I would gladly give this story a 5 stars rating...
... if only it had some other resolution in the end!!!
Instead of being thrilled or in awe by the twists, I felt sad and dissapointed in the end! Gah!
My face. I was used to getting second glances, and now I was getting second, third and fourth glances, but not ones of appreciation. My face looked like a Halloween pumpkin that had been carved by an angry person wearing a blindfold. It was unfortunate, I was told.
If you want more crazy protagonist, then try The Perfect Girlfriend, Jane Doe.
Story full of deceit, obsession, envy, revenge and manipulation. This story remind us that we shouldn't believe everything we see in the social media. We should be careful of what we share in public. We should consider our actions and their consequences very carefully.
In FRIENDS LIKE THESE we get two very different and unreliable narrators - Lizzie and Becca.
At first we get Lizzie's POV. Then we start to get Becca's perspective which show us different picture of how things went down. As events unfold, both women are pulled into a dangerous game that will leave you wondering, Who’s the villain?
I felt sorry for Lizzie's struggles at first. The more was revealed about her, however, the less I liked her. There's something fishy about her.
Ahhh, I liked this story. I enjoyed the writing style. I was intrigued by the plot and by the characters. I would gladly give this story a 5 stars rating...
... if only it had some other resolution in the end!!!
Instead of being thrilled or in awe by the twists, I felt sad and dissapointed in the end! Gah!
My face. I was used to getting second glances, and now I was getting second, third and fourth glances, but not ones of appreciation. My face looked like a Halloween pumpkin that had been carved by an angry person wearing a blindfold. It was unfortunate, I was told.
If you want more crazy protagonist, then try The Perfect Girlfriend, Jane Doe.
February 5, 2019
Entertaining thriller. The twists kept coming, but without being too outlandish. Really enjoyed how the plot progressed. Recommend this book!
March 6, 2019
Dang this was really good!
May 13, 2020
Ich habe dieses Buch gestern Nachmittag angefangen und heute morgen beendet. Das sagt ja schon viel aus.
Das Cover war der ausschlaggebende Punkt wieso ich mir das Buch näher angesehen habe. Und verschiedene Rezensionen bei Instagram. Ich kann mich den positiven Rezensionen nur anschliessen.
Man erfährt die Sicht von Becca und die von Lizzie. Anfangs hatte ich eine Theorie wie alles zusammenlaufen könnte und was passiert ist. Tja ich bin meilenweit daneben gelegen. Mit diesem Verlauf hätte ich so definitiv nicht gerechnet. Die Story ist sehr spannend und es gibt viele Twists in denen man immer wieder denkt jetzt hab ichs raus. Nur um dann festzustellen dass deine Theorie doch nicht stimmt. Bis zum Ende wusste ich nicht was ich jetzt glauben soll und wie es denn jetzt wirklich war. Es hat mich dann echt überrascht als man erfuhr wie es wirklich ablief.
Die Charaktere waren mir sehr sympathisch. Der Schreibstil war sehr angenehm so dass man gut voran kam. Der Aufbau war auch super gemacht und die Spannung blieb immer recht hoch. Es ist weder blutig noch brutal. Es ist eher eine Art Psychothriller. Aber mir gefiel das mega gut. Das Ende hat mich wie gesagt mega überrascht und es war mega clever gelöst.
Fazit:
Ein super guter Thriller der mich vollkommen überzeugen konnte. Ich habe es nur so weggesuchtet. Sicherlich eine grosse Empfehlung für Psychothrillerfans oder allgemein Thriller.
Ich gebe dem Buch 5/5 Sterne
Das Cover war der ausschlaggebende Punkt wieso ich mir das Buch näher angesehen habe. Und verschiedene Rezensionen bei Instagram. Ich kann mich den positiven Rezensionen nur anschliessen.
Man erfährt die Sicht von Becca und die von Lizzie. Anfangs hatte ich eine Theorie wie alles zusammenlaufen könnte und was passiert ist. Tja ich bin meilenweit daneben gelegen. Mit diesem Verlauf hätte ich so definitiv nicht gerechnet. Die Story ist sehr spannend und es gibt viele Twists in denen man immer wieder denkt jetzt hab ichs raus. Nur um dann festzustellen dass deine Theorie doch nicht stimmt. Bis zum Ende wusste ich nicht was ich jetzt glauben soll und wie es denn jetzt wirklich war. Es hat mich dann echt überrascht als man erfuhr wie es wirklich ablief.
Die Charaktere waren mir sehr sympathisch. Der Schreibstil war sehr angenehm so dass man gut voran kam. Der Aufbau war auch super gemacht und die Spannung blieb immer recht hoch. Es ist weder blutig noch brutal. Es ist eher eine Art Psychothriller. Aber mir gefiel das mega gut. Das Ende hat mich wie gesagt mega überrascht und es war mega clever gelöst.
Fazit:
Ein super guter Thriller der mich vollkommen überzeugen konnte. Ich habe es nur so weggesuchtet. Sicherlich eine grosse Empfehlung für Psychothrillerfans oder allgemein Thriller.
Ich gebe dem Buch 5/5 Sterne
November 1, 2018
I thought from the summary of the book that this would be a psychological thriller perhaps with something new and interesting to say about the superficial nature of social media and how no-one ever really knows what goes on behind the camera. However, I didn't feel that the summary really matched up with the books content.
The main protagonist, Lizzie is a hideous character, even before she reveals her true nature, and I didn't really feel that I got to know anything about Becca at all. The story itself was quite confusing, with sudden little reveals to explain a situation that seemed to come from no-where. The ending itself was farcical (where did the convenient car and extra night come from? did I miss something?) and I was honestly glad to get to the end. Sorry, not one for me.
My thanks go to the publishers and net galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
The main protagonist, Lizzie is a hideous character, even before she reveals her true nature, and I didn't really feel that I got to know anything about Becca at all. The story itself was quite confusing, with sudden little reveals to explain a situation that seemed to come from no-where. The ending itself was farcical (where did the convenient car and extra night come from? did I miss something?) and I was honestly glad to get to the end. Sorry, not one for me.
My thanks go to the publishers and net galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
August 11, 2020
In 'Friends Like These', Lizzie finally snares a date with the man she's been eyeing for years. This piques her curiosity about his ex, Becca who was left disfigured after an accident at the office party. A stupid mistake reconnects the two but not in the way she expects.
Featuring two viewpoints (Lizzie and Becca) as well as transcripts of a police interview, the story was initially engrossing. There was suspense regarding the face behind the consequences of Lizzie's mistake and whether someone had shoved Becca.
However, since there were only a few characters, figuring out the twist was a piece of cake: It couldn't be . The problem was the execution which rendered the twist illogical:
The book became more ridiculous:
Overall, 'Friends Like These' was a mostly frustrating read riddled with plot holes, idiocy and bland / unlikeable characters.
Featuring two viewpoints (Lizzie and Becca) as well as transcripts of a police interview, the story was initially engrossing. There was suspense regarding the face behind the consequences of Lizzie's mistake and whether someone had shoved Becca.
However, since there were only a few characters, figuring out the twist was a piece of cake: It couldn't be . The problem was the execution which rendered the twist illogical:
The book became more ridiculous:
Overall, 'Friends Like These' was a mostly frustrating read riddled with plot holes, idiocy and bland / unlikeable characters.
December 12, 2018
I’m not normally one to pick up psychological thrillers, but when it comes to Alderson’s books, I have no hesitation in picking them up, and I’m glad that I ended up giving this book a go, because it seriously messes with your head (in the best way!). Alderson works the unreliable narrator role work so well here, the book starts off with a chapter from an unknown perspective, we don’t really know what’s going on, but as the book progresses you’re led to believe the narrator’s voice. She’s been through a rough time and you really have no reason not to trust her, so when we’re given a chapter from an alternative perspective, I was like no that can’t be true and to be honest I didn’t want to believe this side of the story at all. To the point that I got to right the end of the story and still couldn’t believe what had taken place.
I don’t want to say too much without giving a lot away, but I’ve always assumed that I’m a pretty good judge of character, but with Friends Like These I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was so swept away by this character’s story and later ordeal that she had to go through because of this other person, that I was totally left dumbfounded by the end of the book. Once again, I have to praise Alderson here with messing with my head, as I could never have imagined that things would have gone down, the way that they had. On top of this my feelings were left all over the place with me wanting to take back all the anger and hate that I had directed at one character throughout the story towards the person that had deserved it all along.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book by Alderson, but thank you once again for luring me in with this masterpiece. The only reason I wasn’t able to give this book the five stars it deserves it because of the sick, yet gut wrenching ending, which I’m not sure I’ll ever get over.
I don’t want to say too much without giving a lot away, but I’ve always assumed that I’m a pretty good judge of character, but with Friends Like These I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was so swept away by this character’s story and later ordeal that she had to go through because of this other person, that I was totally left dumbfounded by the end of the book. Once again, I have to praise Alderson here with messing with my head, as I could never have imagined that things would have gone down, the way that they had. On top of this my feelings were left all over the place with me wanting to take back all the anger and hate that I had directed at one character throughout the story towards the person that had deserved it all along.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book by Alderson, but thank you once again for luring me in with this masterpiece. The only reason I wasn’t able to give this book the five stars it deserves it because of the sick, yet gut wrenching ending, which I’m not sure I’ll ever get over.
November 3, 2018
This was one awesome book. And a new favorite author, too.
I know it was supposed to be a thriller and there were a bunch of really tragic parts etc. but I found myself laughing more than anything. Sarah Alderson's developed two really close-to-home characters, and I think that's anyone's silent confession.
She's right, we all know at least one person who hashtags every single thing she does on some social media platform. And we all have also been in the role of pouring over those kinds of feeds (be it on Facebook or elsewhere) for hours at one point or other. So that's why I'm saying close-to-home.
It is because of this that a story like this one was so laughably tragic - you find yourself imagining some people from your own life in either Lizzy's or Becca's place, and THAT makes this a fantastic read.
Something like a reality show in a book form sort of entertainment, I think.
And her flawless writing and constant plot twists made it impossible to see where it was going until at least 3/4 in, and by then your fingers are itching wanting to see how the crazy one will get away with it in the end. Or will she?
Big thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review. Great weekend getaway while sitting on your own armchair.
I know it was supposed to be a thriller and there were a bunch of really tragic parts etc. but I found myself laughing more than anything. Sarah Alderson's developed two really close-to-home characters, and I think that's anyone's silent confession.
She's right, we all know at least one person who hashtags every single thing she does on some social media platform. And we all have also been in the role of pouring over those kinds of feeds (be it on Facebook or elsewhere) for hours at one point or other. So that's why I'm saying close-to-home.
It is because of this that a story like this one was so laughably tragic - you find yourself imagining some people from your own life in either Lizzy's or Becca's place, and THAT makes this a fantastic read.
Something like a reality show in a book form sort of entertainment, I think.
And her flawless writing and constant plot twists made it impossible to see where it was going until at least 3/4 in, and by then your fingers are itching wanting to see how the crazy one will get away with it in the end. Or will she?
Big thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review. Great weekend getaway while sitting on your own armchair.
February 13, 2019
We have all done it, admit it, we have looked up someone we used to know and before we know it we are months into their social media feed and then accidentally we like a post or photo. EEEK! Well for Lizzie she goes that one step further and accidentally sends a bitchy message to Becca - the girl who she has been snooping on, on social media, which was inteneded for her co-worker and friend. From there it all spirals out of control.
You will be hooked on this book from the get go, and you will soon come to realises that no one can be trusted in this book! When you think you have something figured out Anderson throws you off the scent and sends you in a totally different direction. I was not expecting the book to play out like it did and I really didn't see the whole twist until it was upon me and only then did it suddenly make sense!
You will be hooked on this book from the get go, and you will soon come to realises that no one can be trusted in this book! When you think you have something figured out Anderson throws you off the scent and sends you in a totally different direction. I was not expecting the book to play out like it did and I really didn't see the whole twist until it was upon me and only then did it suddenly make sense!
May 23, 2021
One unreliable narrator is confusing enough, but two of them makes for a very baffling read. Consequently I didn’t guess who the psycho was till very near the end, but I think this was a sleight of pen too far. However, the intriguing scenarios did keep me involved with the storyline, so I suppose Ms. Alderson achieved her aim., even if the ending felt unsatisfactory. I much preferred ‘The Weekend Away’, where Alderson succeeds in throwing the reader off the scent, whilst still making the twists convincingly believable.
February 19, 2019
Firstly. It’s not a thriller, it’s chick flick. I didn’t mark it down for that though, I marked it down because it was so poorly written and turgid and full of twists that hit you at the speed of a tortoise and an ending that didn’t actually fit with a lot of the earlier writing.
April 10, 2020
I DEVOURED this book and it yanked me out of the reading slump that had been haunting me for a month. It was everything I needed.
We all know that woman who presents that perfectly curated life on her social media. The #blessed...#bestboyfriendever...#perfectlife...while the rest of us are all #shutup.
After way too much wine Lizzie finds herself down a social media rabbit hole on her former work colleague, Becca, who left the firm years ago after an accident at the holiday party. And when Lizzie sees that Becca's already perfect life has seemingly become even more perfect (think perfect husband and house and career and baby) Lizzie fires off a message to her friend tearing Becca apart.
Come the next morning a brutal hangover isn't the only thing Lizzie finds herself battling. She fast learns that the awful message she sent tearing Becca apart...went to Becca. And Lizzie is about to find out the lengths Becca will go to, to defend her new life.
Told in multiple timelines and varying perspectives this book grabbed me from the start and never let go. I was down for the ride and loved Sarah Alderson's writing. There were some clues I picked up on but I'm not mad about it because I thoroughly loved the reading experience.
So excited to dive into more of Sarah Alderson's books. I need to be back in her world and her writing 🙌🏻
We all know that woman who presents that perfectly curated life on her social media. The #blessed...#bestboyfriendever...#perfectlife...while the rest of us are all #shutup.
After way too much wine Lizzie finds herself down a social media rabbit hole on her former work colleague, Becca, who left the firm years ago after an accident at the holiday party. And when Lizzie sees that Becca's already perfect life has seemingly become even more perfect (think perfect husband and house and career and baby) Lizzie fires off a message to her friend tearing Becca apart.
Come the next morning a brutal hangover isn't the only thing Lizzie finds herself battling. She fast learns that the awful message she sent tearing Becca apart...went to Becca. And Lizzie is about to find out the lengths Becca will go to, to defend her new life.
Told in multiple timelines and varying perspectives this book grabbed me from the start and never let go. I was down for the ride and loved Sarah Alderson's writing. There were some clues I picked up on but I'm not mad about it because I thoroughly loved the reading experience.
So excited to dive into more of Sarah Alderson's books. I need to be back in her world and her writing 🙌🏻
December 3, 2018
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A smart, gripping examination of the perils and pressures of social media.
Social media is an intriguing thing, isn't it? The psychology behind it - why people choose to present themselves as unrealistically perfect; it's a bizarre concept and one that society seems to have fully bought into, as this author has noticed.
Lizzie, a successful, beautiful woman, wasn't always this way. She's had to work hard to get where she is, and it's clear that despite everything, she's still fiercely jealous of Becca, who used to work with her. Becca presented the perfect life online; with her handsome boyfriend (#bestboyfriendever), her stunning looks and her idyllic life.
When Becca has a terrible accident, she disappears from view, only to emerge online - again, looking wonderfully perfect. Lizzie makes an unfortunate comment about Becca's life, and that's when the battle begins. The big question is, who's the victim and who's the perpetrator - and what's the actual truth beyond the filter of Instagram?
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, feisty page-turner, which succinctly focused on the ridiculous fakery of social media, and how damaging it can potentially be. I liked the plot-twists... although they weren't entirely unexpected, they were juicy and enjoyable. Sure, there were a few elements that were a little sketchy or underdeveloped, but that didn't seem to matter too much. This book is designed to be a bit of a roaring ride, and as such, it should be appreciated at a fast pace!
If you enjoy thriller / crimes with a more modern twist, then I'd imagine this is right up your avenue.
A smart, gripping examination of the perils and pressures of social media.
Social media is an intriguing thing, isn't it? The psychology behind it - why people choose to present themselves as unrealistically perfect; it's a bizarre concept and one that society seems to have fully bought into, as this author has noticed.
Lizzie, a successful, beautiful woman, wasn't always this way. She's had to work hard to get where she is, and it's clear that despite everything, she's still fiercely jealous of Becca, who used to work with her. Becca presented the perfect life online; with her handsome boyfriend (#bestboyfriendever), her stunning looks and her idyllic life.
When Becca has a terrible accident, she disappears from view, only to emerge online - again, looking wonderfully perfect. Lizzie makes an unfortunate comment about Becca's life, and that's when the battle begins. The big question is, who's the victim and who's the perpetrator - and what's the actual truth beyond the filter of Instagram?
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, feisty page-turner, which succinctly focused on the ridiculous fakery of social media, and how damaging it can potentially be. I liked the plot-twists... although they weren't entirely unexpected, they were juicy and enjoyable. Sure, there were a few elements that were a little sketchy or underdeveloped, but that didn't seem to matter too much. This book is designed to be a bit of a roaring ride, and as such, it should be appreciated at a fast pace!
If you enjoy thriller / crimes with a more modern twist, then I'd imagine this is right up your avenue.
October 30, 2018
Well this book was one heck of a ride!
Single White Female meets Gone Girl with the gloss of a perfect insta life makes this an incredibly modern and accessible psychological thriller.
3 years ago Becca had a terrible accident which changed her life forever, whilst Lizzie has been striving to change herself and her life for the better.
The two former co-workers come into contact again after Lizzie mistakenly sends her a message on Facebook (oh god, who hasn’t accidentally text or emailed the wrong person...
this sets off a chain of events in which secrets are revealed which have one hell of an impact upon both Becca and Lizzie. Things take a very dark turn and the plot becomes incredibly tense as we wait to see who will prevail in an epic showdown between the two women.
I loved this book so much! Lizzie and Becca we’re both fascinating characters, and the way the story was narrated made it really interesting to see things from each of their perspectives.
A must read for fans of C.J.Skuse and C.L.Taylor.
Single White Female meets Gone Girl with the gloss of a perfect insta life makes this an incredibly modern and accessible psychological thriller.
3 years ago Becca had a terrible accident which changed her life forever, whilst Lizzie has been striving to change herself and her life for the better.
The two former co-workers come into contact again after Lizzie mistakenly sends her a message on Facebook (oh god, who hasn’t accidentally text or emailed the wrong person...
this sets off a chain of events in which secrets are revealed which have one hell of an impact upon both Becca and Lizzie. Things take a very dark turn and the plot becomes incredibly tense as we wait to see who will prevail in an epic showdown between the two women.
I loved this book so much! Lizzie and Becca we’re both fascinating characters, and the way the story was narrated made it really interesting to see things from each of their perspectives.
A must read for fans of C.J.Skuse and C.L.Taylor.
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