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How to kill your friends
Who needs enemies?
There’s something about Meredith…
Meredith is a young underachiever, living in a squalid apartment, struggling to stay one step ahead of her landlord and the law when she meets a man from her past who offers her a way out and a chance to start over.
Having worked her way into the lives of the rich and privileged, Meredith will do just about anything to preserve her new lifestyle.
But just how far is she prepared to go?
There’s something about Meredith…
Meredith is a young underachiever, living in a squalid apartment, struggling to stay one step ahead of her landlord and the law when she meets a man from her past who offers her a way out and a chance to start over.
Having worked her way into the lives of the rich and privileged, Meredith will do just about anything to preserve her new lifestyle.
But just how far is she prepared to go?
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2019
138 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Phil Kurthausen
4 books21 followersPhil Kurthausen was brought up in Merseyside where he dreamt of being a novelist but ended up working as a lawyer. He has travelled the world working as a flower salesman, a light bulb repair technician and, though scared of heights, painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Ken Dodd once put him in a headlock for being annoying.
He has had work broadcast on BBC radio 4 extra, published award winning short stories and his novel ‘The Killing Pool’ won the Thriller Round in the Harper Collins People’s Novelist Competition broadcast on ITV in November 2011 and appeared in the final. It was later shortlisted for the Dundee International Literary Prize in 2012. He lives in Barcelona.
He has had work broadcast on BBC radio 4 extra, published award winning short stories and his novel ‘The Killing Pool’ won the Thriller Round in the Harper Collins People’s Novelist Competition broadcast on ITV in November 2011 and appeared in the final. It was later shortlisted for the Dundee International Literary Prize in 2012. He lives in Barcelona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 25, 2019
A more current book would be hard to find
This book is based in Barcelona and although not directly about the Independence movement of Catalan it does feature characters who are heavily into it and also gives ( and does it well ) the general atmosphere and feeling in Barcelona at the moment
It also features Instagram and how ‘Insta’ is shaping young peoples lives and how the group we meet are making money, lots of money from it
Both fascinating subjects and both well researched ( the author lives in Barcelona now )
Meet Meredith, she finds herself in Barcelona and selling ‘gone off’ wine to tourists, she senses she is being followed, she is....but by an old ‘kind of’ friend, a guy she vaguely knew in Thailand, he and a group of others are now sought after influencers on Instagram, they all have a reunion and Meredith wants in, she too wants the money, the kudos and the fame
But can she really resort to killing her friends to achieve this!
Through wonderfully described Barcelonic scenes and narcissism
at its best along with a casual, welcoming style of writing the book takes us on Meredith’s journey and we find out just what she is capable of to get what she wants!
I veered from disdain to a begrudging like of Meredith and this went back and forth throughout, the other characters it was great to hate at times with their Insta obsession and Soho House lifestyle
I actually felt I was in Barcelona, the sights, smells and the heat and loved the descriptions of the tourists and their struggles with all 3
A very modern book ( does that make me sound old? ) that is intriguing as it is shocking and in some ways shows 2019 exactly for what it is for many folk
Enjoyable and honest, scary and dark,funny and real
10/10
5 Stars
This book is based in Barcelona and although not directly about the Independence movement of Catalan it does feature characters who are heavily into it and also gives ( and does it well ) the general atmosphere and feeling in Barcelona at the moment
It also features Instagram and how ‘Insta’ is shaping young peoples lives and how the group we meet are making money, lots of money from it
Both fascinating subjects and both well researched ( the author lives in Barcelona now )
Meet Meredith, she finds herself in Barcelona and selling ‘gone off’ wine to tourists, she senses she is being followed, she is....but by an old ‘kind of’ friend, a guy she vaguely knew in Thailand, he and a group of others are now sought after influencers on Instagram, they all have a reunion and Meredith wants in, she too wants the money, the kudos and the fame
But can she really resort to killing her friends to achieve this!
Through wonderfully described Barcelonic scenes and narcissism
at its best along with a casual, welcoming style of writing the book takes us on Meredith’s journey and we find out just what she is capable of to get what she wants!
I veered from disdain to a begrudging like of Meredith and this went back and forth throughout, the other characters it was great to hate at times with their Insta obsession and Soho House lifestyle
I actually felt I was in Barcelona, the sights, smells and the heat and loved the descriptions of the tourists and their struggles with all 3
A very modern book ( does that make me sound old? ) that is intriguing as it is shocking and in some ways shows 2019 exactly for what it is for many folk
Enjoyable and honest, scary and dark,funny and real
10/10
5 Stars
October 30, 2019
I didn’t know how this novel would progress and for the first half, found my attention span wandering. However, the pace and intrigue undoubtedly intensified in the latter half, allowing me to secure this with a four-star rating.
Set in Barcelona, the writer vividly paints the scene of a hot, sweaty, tourist city. I felt like I was on holiday there myself because of all the exotic locations that are referenced. Having not visited the city, the writer gives us an insight into many different locations, including those off the beaten track. Consequently, I wanted to be there and felt like I was with Meredith on her journey.
Instagram, influencing and using social media is a key theme within the novel. The writer illustrates how meaningless and fake it really becomes; the desire to increase one’s online presence and the constant need to publish personal experiences. Personally, I felt a little sickened at the lengths that The Squad, Meredith’s new group of friends, were willing to go to – all to achieve that perfect, yet unnatural, shot. In my opinion, the novel is showing how extreme the world of social media has become. Whilst I do not consider myself a heavy user, it did lead me to question how different today’s society would be if we still had the technology, but without sites like Instagram? The whole materialism is crazy; the emphasis on proving to the world how secure you are when really, like Meredith, you lack that feeling of belonging.
Meredith is an interesting character and I wished the writer had expanded on her background. We are only given brief glimpses and I think more detail would have added further understanding to her psyche. She is not a likeable character but I felt drawn to her ruthlessness. However, The Squad are even less likeable because of their materialism and fakery. Subsequently, I enjoyed reading more about Meredith because it was like the lesser of two evils!
At first I thought this book was an exploration in social media and Spanish politics. (As an aside, I didn’t get the politics in this novel and found this part of the story quite tedious.) However, the latter half of the novel becomes a crime thriller that had me literally gasping with disbelief. It was these emotions that made me keep turning the pages and that redeemed the overall story for myself.
An unexpected read: I don’t think you would have come across a story quite like it! It is very different and that definitely increases its appeal. The writing style eventually had me gripped and I could not help but become fascinated with Meredith’s actions.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Set in Barcelona, the writer vividly paints the scene of a hot, sweaty, tourist city. I felt like I was on holiday there myself because of all the exotic locations that are referenced. Having not visited the city, the writer gives us an insight into many different locations, including those off the beaten track. Consequently, I wanted to be there and felt like I was with Meredith on her journey.
Instagram, influencing and using social media is a key theme within the novel. The writer illustrates how meaningless and fake it really becomes; the desire to increase one’s online presence and the constant need to publish personal experiences. Personally, I felt a little sickened at the lengths that The Squad, Meredith’s new group of friends, were willing to go to – all to achieve that perfect, yet unnatural, shot. In my opinion, the novel is showing how extreme the world of social media has become. Whilst I do not consider myself a heavy user, it did lead me to question how different today’s society would be if we still had the technology, but without sites like Instagram? The whole materialism is crazy; the emphasis on proving to the world how secure you are when really, like Meredith, you lack that feeling of belonging.
Meredith is an interesting character and I wished the writer had expanded on her background. We are only given brief glimpses and I think more detail would have added further understanding to her psyche. She is not a likeable character but I felt drawn to her ruthlessness. However, The Squad are even less likeable because of their materialism and fakery. Subsequently, I enjoyed reading more about Meredith because it was like the lesser of two evils!
At first I thought this book was an exploration in social media and Spanish politics. (As an aside, I didn’t get the politics in this novel and found this part of the story quite tedious.) However, the latter half of the novel becomes a crime thriller that had me literally gasping with disbelief. It was these emotions that made me keep turning the pages and that redeemed the overall story for myself.
An unexpected read: I don’t think you would have come across a story quite like it! It is very different and that definitely increases its appeal. The writing style eventually had me gripped and I could not help but become fascinated with Meredith’s actions.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2019
How To Kill Your Friends is a well-written psychological suspense thriller, set in Barcelona, about a completely amoral young woman and her narcissistic friends, by a British author who is to me. While I’m trying hard to limit the number of ARCs I request, to catch up with the books I already have, I was intrigued by the title, the cover, and the blurb, so requested and received an ARC.
Meredith Weaver is a beautiful American grifter, who has spent years travelling the world, after escaping a dark past. Now living in sunny Barcelona, but down on her luck, she has been reduced to sharing a grimy squat, and selling knock-off wine to tourists, when she is recognised by Richard, a young Englishman she knew ten years earlier in Thailand. When he introduces her to his friends, a gang of successful social media influencers, who call themselves The Squad and travel the world in luxury, photographing their partying lifestyle, Meredith sees an enviable new way to live, and is determined to join them, no matter what it takes.
This one was a little slow to start, as we are introduced to Meredith and her cold, calculating personality. There are hints early on that she’s willing to use casual murder as easily as her charm and looks as tools to achieve her ends, and the title is a big clue, but you don’t know how far she will go, or whether she will get away with it. She’s a fascinating character, impossible to like, but her steely machinations made for a highly readable story as she inveigles her way into The Squad’s circle then sets about eliminating those who would prevent her rise into Instagram fame. There are no likeable characters here, which made it hard to care about their fates.
The descriptions of Barcelona life were spot on, tourists rubbing shoulders with drunken separatists, the drugs and the squalor expertly described alongside the glamorous party lifestyles of the vapid and decadent young Influencers who are an inexplicable feature of modern life (to an old fogey like me). I spent a few days there for a conference last year, and so it was fun recognising the place names and street scenes. The plotline about the Catalonian separatist movement was interesting, but not really relevant to the story, apart from to introduce new characters.
I didn’t know how this was going to end, and confess to being a little disappointed by how he chose to conclude it. There’s no indication that this is going to be a series so it felt a bit weak - I had expected either a clever twist or at least something more satisfying. Nevertheless this was a good read and I would definitely come back to this author in future as he writes convincingly. 3.5 rounded up for originality.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Meredith Weaver is a beautiful American grifter, who has spent years travelling the world, after escaping a dark past. Now living in sunny Barcelona, but down on her luck, she has been reduced to sharing a grimy squat, and selling knock-off wine to tourists, when she is recognised by Richard, a young Englishman she knew ten years earlier in Thailand. When he introduces her to his friends, a gang of successful social media influencers, who call themselves The Squad and travel the world in luxury, photographing their partying lifestyle, Meredith sees an enviable new way to live, and is determined to join them, no matter what it takes.
This one was a little slow to start, as we are introduced to Meredith and her cold, calculating personality. There are hints early on that she’s willing to use casual murder as easily as her charm and looks as tools to achieve her ends, and the title is a big clue, but you don’t know how far she will go, or whether she will get away with it. She’s a fascinating character, impossible to like, but her steely machinations made for a highly readable story as she inveigles her way into The Squad’s circle then sets about eliminating those who would prevent her rise into Instagram fame. There are no likeable characters here, which made it hard to care about their fates.
The descriptions of Barcelona life were spot on, tourists rubbing shoulders with drunken separatists, the drugs and the squalor expertly described alongside the glamorous party lifestyles of the vapid and decadent young Influencers who are an inexplicable feature of modern life (to an old fogey like me). I spent a few days there for a conference last year, and so it was fun recognising the place names and street scenes. The plotline about the Catalonian separatist movement was interesting, but not really relevant to the story, apart from to introduce new characters.
I didn’t know how this was going to end, and confess to being a little disappointed by how he chose to conclude it. There’s no indication that this is going to be a series so it felt a bit weak - I had expected either a clever twist or at least something more satisfying. Nevertheless this was a good read and I would definitely come back to this author in future as he writes convincingly. 3.5 rounded up for originality.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2019
The cover alone of this book made me want to read it! It is a different take on social media and everything around it. Meredith is pretty desperate to get with the "in crowd" on insta, known as the "squad"...but, how far will she go to get in and stay in? An interesting concept and very current. I enjoyed this book and it kept me interested till the end. Thank you to Bloodhound books for letting me have an ARC in exchange for my review.
October 25, 2019
I found this book slow to start but I was very glad I persevered. I loved all the characters and all the twists and turns.
Definitely one to read if you fancy something different. I definitely will be reading more by this author.
Definitely one to read if you fancy something different. I definitely will be reading more by this author.
November 23, 2023
Pretty nice light read (another unreliable sociopathic narrator)
July 12, 2024
This was just not for me, it took me a few tries to get through it and it may be the age thing for me as I may be growing out of the teenagers as MCs thing. Just didn't really hold my attention.
November 9, 2019
Read my review at Crime Fiction Lover https://crimefictionlover.com/2019/11...
December 2, 2019
***Got a free copy and am voluntarily giving an honest review***
I really enjoyed this suspense book even though I thought it’d be more dark, with more suspense, because of the title. The opening sentence: “Meredith couldn’t be sure, but she felt like she was being watched.” had me on the edge of my seat. Who was watching her? The story was written in Meredith’s third person point-of-view. However, the old friends she reconnects with knew her as Nancy. I loved the backstory regarding what happened to her dad.
My favorite lines: 1) Meredith nodded and looked again at the image. It made her stomach twist with excitement and fear. 2) Olivia would be furious and this made Meredith smile.
There was a cute scene when Meredith met Edu at a bar for the first time. I liked that the characters were somewhat unlikable, especially Olivia. It made them seem more relatable. There definitely weren’t any Mary Sues in this book. Amy was a famous fashion vlogger who was quite flaky at times. I probably liked her the most. It seemed like she was more accepting of things than the others in the group.
For the title, I was expecting a bloodbath, but that definitely wasn’t the case. I will say though, the story really picked up for me towards the end. Meredith was in a few nasty predicaments (can’t spoil it for you). And, I loved the ending. I wasn’t expecting that outcome. It was a nice twist.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
I really enjoyed this suspense book even though I thought it’d be more dark, with more suspense, because of the title. The opening sentence: “Meredith couldn’t be sure, but she felt like she was being watched.” had me on the edge of my seat. Who was watching her? The story was written in Meredith’s third person point-of-view. However, the old friends she reconnects with knew her as Nancy. I loved the backstory regarding what happened to her dad.
My favorite lines: 1) Meredith nodded and looked again at the image. It made her stomach twist with excitement and fear. 2) Olivia would be furious and this made Meredith smile.
There was a cute scene when Meredith met Edu at a bar for the first time. I liked that the characters were somewhat unlikable, especially Olivia. It made them seem more relatable. There definitely weren’t any Mary Sues in this book. Amy was a famous fashion vlogger who was quite flaky at times. I probably liked her the most. It seemed like she was more accepting of things than the others in the group.
For the title, I was expecting a bloodbath, but that definitely wasn’t the case. I will say though, the story really picked up for me towards the end. Meredith was in a few nasty predicaments (can’t spoil it for you). And, I loved the ending. I wasn’t expecting that outcome. It was a nice twist.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
April 30, 2021
Although the main character in this book is unlikeable, it is still a very good read. Meredith reminds me of Ripley in Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr Ripley in the fact that she is mainly amoral and always seeks the right answer for herself. The lesser characters, i.e. The Squad, are also not very likeable in their own way - but this still doesn't detract from a very good read. It is, however, a little let-down by the abrupt ending but I would still recommend this book.
October 30, 2019
I have had the privilege of reading and reviewing one of Phil's previous books. I really enjoyed reading it and I couldn't wait to get hold of a copy of 'How To Kill Your Friends', as the synopsis certainly sounded intriguing. Well ladies and gents the wait is over as 'How To Kill Your Friends' was released on 30th October 2019. It's certainly an interesting read, which I did enjoy but more about that in a bit.
I can't say that I took to Meredith or Nancy or whatever else she calls herself. When we first meet her it's clear that she isn't who or what she claims to be. In fact she is a conwoman who dupes people into paying for things that are misrepresented. It's clear that this isn't her first time at conning people. I got the impression that she is a little link in a bigger chain. However there is a part of me that doesn't believe a word she says. Meredith tries her hardest to stay one step ahead of the law and of the people she has conned. She meets somebody from her past who offers her a way out and the chance to start again. What will Meredith choose to do- will she stay doing what she is doing or will she take the new life that has been offered to her? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I must admit that for me the story started a little slow and it took me a while to get 'into' the story itself. It wasn't a book that I could binge read over the course of a day but I did manage to binge read it over the course of a couple of days. Once I got into the story then that was it, I was away and I couldn't stop reading. I had to know how the story panned out and what the implications would be for Meredith. I needed to know what happened to her. Just because I didn't like her much I had to make sure that she was gong to be ok. The pages turned increasingly quickly the further into the story I got. I got to the end of the story quicker than I had anticipated.
'How To Kill Your Friends' is well written. The author has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. He certainly knows how to create memorable characters that will stick in your mind for a while after you have finished reading the book itself. There were certain scenes that made me smile to myself but that could just be down to my strange sense of humour. As I said before the story started a little slow but the pace picked up and I found the latter half of the book to be far more enjoyable than the first half. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's thanks to Phil's very realistic and vivid descriptions.
All in all, 'How To Kill Your Friends' was a fun read, which I enjoyed a lot. I would recommend this book to other readers but particularly to those who enjoy something 'different'. I will definitely be reading more of Phil's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I can't say that I took to Meredith or Nancy or whatever else she calls herself. When we first meet her it's clear that she isn't who or what she claims to be. In fact she is a conwoman who dupes people into paying for things that are misrepresented. It's clear that this isn't her first time at conning people. I got the impression that she is a little link in a bigger chain. However there is a part of me that doesn't believe a word she says. Meredith tries her hardest to stay one step ahead of the law and of the people she has conned. She meets somebody from her past who offers her a way out and the chance to start again. What will Meredith choose to do- will she stay doing what she is doing or will she take the new life that has been offered to her? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I must admit that for me the story started a little slow and it took me a while to get 'into' the story itself. It wasn't a book that I could binge read over the course of a day but I did manage to binge read it over the course of a couple of days. Once I got into the story then that was it, I was away and I couldn't stop reading. I had to know how the story panned out and what the implications would be for Meredith. I needed to know what happened to her. Just because I didn't like her much I had to make sure that she was gong to be ok. The pages turned increasingly quickly the further into the story I got. I got to the end of the story quicker than I had anticipated.
'How To Kill Your Friends' is well written. The author has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. He certainly knows how to create memorable characters that will stick in your mind for a while after you have finished reading the book itself. There were certain scenes that made me smile to myself but that could just be down to my strange sense of humour. As I said before the story started a little slow but the pace picked up and I found the latter half of the book to be far more enjoyable than the first half. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's thanks to Phil's very realistic and vivid descriptions.
All in all, 'How To Kill Your Friends' was a fun read, which I enjoyed a lot. I would recommend this book to other readers but particularly to those who enjoy something 'different'. I will definitely be reading more of Phil's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
October 25, 2019
Meredith is a woman with a history and spends her life travelling the world to evade her past. Whilst in Barcelona, an old friend bumps into her and explains that the group of people whom she met in Thailand, are now all together in the city. Meredith starts to crave the wealth and attention which the group attract especially when their 'leader' goes walkabout with a Catalan rebel temporarily. Then her past life and previous existence in Barcelona come back to haunt her with a vengeance. But what to do about it?
At the time of reading the book, Barcelona and the Catalan rebels were constantly on the news and it was as if you were there with the group. It is very descriptive of the Spanish city especially with the extreme heat that the summers there bring and also of the surrounding areas.
Overall, for me, it was an okay read and would mark as 3.5*. I just felt that, towards the end of the story, it went slightly downhill.
Thanks to Bloodhound books for the ARC to review.
At the time of reading the book, Barcelona and the Catalan rebels were constantly on the news and it was as if you were there with the group. It is very descriptive of the Spanish city especially with the extreme heat that the summers there bring and also of the surrounding areas.
Overall, for me, it was an okay read and would mark as 3.5*. I just felt that, towards the end of the story, it went slightly downhill.
Thanks to Bloodhound books for the ARC to review.
October 25, 2019
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer!
This took me a longer time than I liked to get into. For me, it took a long time to get to the actual point of the story; and took too long building the characters profiles before getting to the “nitty gritty”.
But saying that, you do have a great cast of characters.
When we finally got down to the “nitty gritty” bit, it was really gripping reading and I couldn’t put it Down. But what does it say about a person when you are willing the “bad guy/girl ” on in the hope that they don’t get caught and can actually get away with it.
Right up to the end you are on the edge of your seat; “is she going to get away?“
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for giving me this ARC (advanced readers copy) to read in return for a fair and honest review.
I enjoyed the book and I now have a new author to add to my reading list.
This took me a longer time than I liked to get into. For me, it took a long time to get to the actual point of the story; and took too long building the characters profiles before getting to the “nitty gritty”.
But saying that, you do have a great cast of characters.
When we finally got down to the “nitty gritty” bit, it was really gripping reading and I couldn’t put it Down. But what does it say about a person when you are willing the “bad guy/girl ” on in the hope that they don’t get caught and can actually get away with it.
Right up to the end you are on the edge of your seat; “is she going to get away?“
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for giving me this ARC (advanced readers copy) to read in return for a fair and honest review.
I enjoyed the book and I now have a new author to add to my reading list.
January 3, 2020
I was first drawn to How to Kill Your Friends by the fantastic cover, and this is one of those situations where the book matches up to it! It tells the story of Meredith, a hip young thing living in Barcelona, and how she becomes involved with a sinister group of Instagram influencers. She was great value, sparky and fun to follow, and the descriptions of Spain were so vivid that the I could picture it all perfectly.
What I especially liked about this book was this it wasn't just an exciting, surprising crime thriller, full of the usual twists and turns to keep you riveted, but also that the author had some interesting things to say about social media, and especially the people who's lives are consumed by it. This felt like a very relevant book, a thriller for modern times.
A definite recommendation from me!
What I especially liked about this book was this it wasn't just an exciting, surprising crime thriller, full of the usual twists and turns to keep you riveted, but also that the author had some interesting things to say about social media, and especially the people who's lives are consumed by it. This felt like a very relevant book, a thriller for modern times.
A definite recommendation from me!
October 4, 2025
Great escapism and wonderful plotting. Meredith certainly had more to offer - at least a five book series is that too much to hope?
Sometimes I became a little frustrated as there seemed an unwarranted amount of padding before we arrived at the next crucial point but all in all an excellent read and I hope she keeps getting away with it for a lot longer. Magnificent landscaping of Catalonia and the regions, you really felt you were there in the heat and humidity and squash of humanity. Pity they didn’t go to the Barca Stadium or the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya but to say Amy Richard Adam Olivia etc had an ounce of culture would be a horrible lie; these internet purveyors of “life” and peddlers of huge untruths (so called influencers in particular) are the very worst of humanity and they should all be ashamed and go the way of Amy.
Sometimes I became a little frustrated as there seemed an unwarranted amount of padding before we arrived at the next crucial point but all in all an excellent read and I hope she keeps getting away with it for a lot longer. Magnificent landscaping of Catalonia and the regions, you really felt you were there in the heat and humidity and squash of humanity. Pity they didn’t go to the Barca Stadium or the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya but to say Amy Richard Adam Olivia etc had an ounce of culture would be a horrible lie; these internet purveyors of “life” and peddlers of huge untruths (so called influencers in particular) are the very worst of humanity and they should all be ashamed and go the way of Amy.
October 27, 2019
This story seems to portray the true-to-life way of living for social media ‘influencers’.
Meredith was a girl with no social media presence, and then all of a sudden, she found herself caught up in the glamour and excitement that goes along with the lifestyle of an ‘influencer’when she met up with some old friends.
The glitzy parties and luxurious hotel rooms kept Meredith wanting more of the lifestyle, and she would do anything to remain a part of it.
I enjoyed the story-telling and experiences from Meredith’s perspective, and it made you sympathetic to her crimes... I mean, who WOULDN’T want to live like ‘The Squad’.
I good story with a twist for an ending. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
Meredith was a girl with no social media presence, and then all of a sudden, she found herself caught up in the glamour and excitement that goes along with the lifestyle of an ‘influencer’when she met up with some old friends.
The glitzy parties and luxurious hotel rooms kept Meredith wanting more of the lifestyle, and she would do anything to remain a part of it.
I enjoyed the story-telling and experiences from Meredith’s perspective, and it made you sympathetic to her crimes... I mean, who WOULDN’T want to live like ‘The Squad’.
I good story with a twist for an ending. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
January 18, 2025
It was a slow burner, taking me a while to get into it and I struggled to keep my attention on it. The pace picked up at the end and it turned out quite well. It talked about political issues in Barcelona as well as issues with social media and influencing.
The only issue I had was that I struggled to understand the personality and character of Meredith. It didn’t really go into her background much so I could do with being padded out a bit. I think if there had been a time shift, it would further set the relationships between the characters. I wasn’t sure where they stood with each other, they don’t seem like good old friends to me.
October 30, 2019
This is my first book by this author, I enjoyed it the first page. This is a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat turning pages. It is a well written story that made me feel as if I was right there with the characters. His attention to details were engaging and made it fast reading. Meredith finds herself presented with a chance to start a new life from someone in the past. How far will she go to protect this new found chance? I highly recommend reading this book and I look forward in reading more from this author.
July 10, 2020
I hate writing bad reviews, but...
FINALLY FINISHED THIS. I don’t think I have ever read a book this boring before. I hated every second of it. The plot was ridiculous, predictable, not thought out properly, cliche, and didn’t always work or even make sense. I’m so mad about the fact that I actually bought this. And I’m mad that I actually read it all, but I don’t like to leave books unfinished. I really do not understand how this has great reviews because honestly, it was awful. I would never, ever recommend this to anybody - not even to someone I dislike.
Zero stars. Sorry.
FINALLY FINISHED THIS. I don’t think I have ever read a book this boring before. I hated every second of it. The plot was ridiculous, predictable, not thought out properly, cliche, and didn’t always work or even make sense. I’m so mad about the fact that I actually bought this. And I’m mad that I actually read it all, but I don’t like to leave books unfinished. I really do not understand how this has great reviews because honestly, it was awful. I would never, ever recommend this to anybody - not even to someone I dislike.
Zero stars. Sorry.
February 28, 2020
Wow this was absolutely fantastic.... a chance recommendation on Facebook and wow this was good. The title hooked me and did not let me go or disappoint. The character who you genuinely feel for is tough and feisty in all the right ways and there were some moments of laugh out loud hilarity. But as it progressed you just wanted to know what would happen. How to kill your friends is probably at the moment one of the best crime novels I have read this year.
October 30, 2025
At first I thought this book was terrible but then I was curious if the translation wasn't that great? So I'm only going to discuss the fact that the plot goes nowhere. When I turned the page on my digital copy of the book and found it to be over I was SHOCKED...it literally seemed like the book was a car that died on the side of the road suddenly.
I picked the book up on BookBub with the promise of something like the Talent Mr. Ripley...I didn't get that promise fulfilled.
I picked the book up on BookBub with the promise of something like the Talent Mr. Ripley...I didn't get that promise fulfilled.
November 29, 2019
Was ready to quit & realized I was caught!
I’ll admit this was a bit of a slow-starter for me and yet when I was going to close the book I realized , the author had caught me.
For me how the individual’s psychology and the group psychology influence each other fluidly. The author used this & seamlessly wove a dark and twisted tale.
I’ll admit this was a bit of a slow-starter for me and yet when I was going to close the book I realized , the author had caught me.
For me how the individual’s psychology and the group psychology influence each other fluidly. The author used this & seamlessly wove a dark and twisted tale.
September 8, 2025
3.5. merideth is floating through Europe after escaping her past. she is reunited with some past aquaintaces and realizes their life is way better than hers and she wants in. Meredith is an unfeeling psychopath yet I found myself rooting for her in the beginning, not so much by the end. entertaining story and I could see a sequel to this
July 23, 2020
This was an interesting book. A bit predictable at times but intriguing enough to keep me until the end. Though I did think the ending was a bit abrupt and left things hanging more than I would have liked. I possibly wouldn’t read a sequel if there was one (I don’t know if there is) because I feel like I know Meredith now and can predict another story being much the same.
February 7, 2020
I felt bored. I did not like any of the characters and did not care if they lived or died.
February 18, 2020
Very good
I enjoyed this book extremely. Modern subjects and people, different to the usual books that I read and I will choose this author again.
I enjoyed this book extremely. Modern subjects and people, different to the usual books that I read and I will choose this author again.
January 30, 2024
Felt like a pointless story, she ended up in the same place she had started
July 7, 2024
Amazing read.
Amazing thriller. Didn't go as I expected, considering. I will definitely read Phil's other books, but will there be second?
Amazing thriller. Didn't go as I expected, considering. I will definitely read Phil's other books, but will there be second?
December 22, 2024
Interesante
November 8, 2025
Too much Barcelona politics. This was DNF for me.
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