I've tried to read this book previously and given up. This time I stuck with it, but unlike most reviewers I did not find it that entertaining. The characters felt one dimensional and the retelling of the story from a different viewpoint most of the time elicited nothing new.

I would say that it wasn't until about the last 10% of the book that things got interesting for me.

Ok I admit I enjoy books that cover female friendship, interestingly from good friends to bad friends. I think for women, for most of their life friends are important than anyone else. If an affair happens between friend and partner the betrayal is worse by the friend. this follows two friends who have a lot of history together and unresolved business. The book was ok, there were some twists but it did get a bit lost at times.

Wow just wow! Although I guessed the ending a little way before it concluded I loved this book! Thoroughly enjoyable and another fantastic plot from Adele Parks!

17 years ago best friends Abi and Mel were at university together until a fateful night where Mel makes a huge mistake and ends up pregnant. She leave’s university and raises her son alone as a single parent until she meets Ben and falls madly in love with him and they marry and have two wonderful girls together. Abi follows the love of her life to the states and they marry. She becomes a well known celebrity presenter. One day she finds her husband in bed at their home with a much younger woman. Abi is devastated and reaches out to Mel who says come and stay for as long as you like. Mel has a secret she has kept hidden for many years. She still doesn’t want anybody to find out or have they already found out?
I liked the storyline and the book was ok. It dragged on in places and I found myself losing concentration. It is my first book by this author but I would like to read others.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was still a good story, but however I expect more from Adele Parks. It just didn't work for me for some reason.

Although  I enjoyed parts of this book, it wasn't as much as I'd expected  to.

The shocks are very well signposted.


There is a clever twist towards the end but the saccharin sweet ending just doesn't gel.


Mel feels  she owes her university friend, so invites her in when her marriage  breaks up. There is an obvious outcome from this but Mel Is too busy drinking and ditching the kid's routine in an effort to impress and so doesn't notice. So things go predictably wrong because of her self-inflicted taking her hand off the tiller.


Her son's biological father is obvious but it all adds to the chaos.

Not one of Adele Parks best, and much more  explicit than necessary but it still got me staying to the end.

I found this book to be a slow burn despite having high hopes. There were quite a few twists and turns that I could see coming. Wasn't the best for me.

When the friend Mel idolized at University suddenly contacts her after 17 years it's an opportunity for Mel to revitalize her routine life. Inviting Abi to stay seems the ideal way to break the monotony of being employed in an undemanding retail job, and being at the hub of a busy family household. It's time to freshen up the paintwork and catch up on how life has treated her semi-famous, American talk show host friend.

While her amiable husband, Ben, is not too sure about the open-ended invitation but is willing to compromise for the sake of domestic bliss, Mel's three children adore having Abi to stay. What could possibly go wrong?

This is the premise which drives a story which sinks deeper into a mire of subterfuge at every twist — the deceit ratcheting tighter until it appears all potential outcomes are destined to be pretty disastrous. For Mel, who has overcome the challenges posed by a one-night stand, teenage pregnancy, Abi's presence proves to be the catalyst which delivers the consequences of Mel's life before she met Ben.

I found the twists were all well-signposted and predictable. However, I'm sure devotees of Adele Parks will love this,

I Invited Her In had such an intriguing premise, whenMel receives a message from her university best friend Abi, it brings back a flood of memories for Mel. however, she has no qualms about inviting her to stay with her, Abi needs help and Abi was there for Mel throughout her unplanned pregnancy back in the day.

The first chapter had enough going on that I knew I had to find out what had happened and what was going to happen throughout. There was plenty of intrigue throughout the rest of the story so that I was never bored and found it very easy to pick it back up.

I normally really like Adele Parks, but this one is not one of my favourites. It did not feel totally original for some reason - I feel like I've read this type of story before. I hope she is back on form with her next novel.

first time reader of her novels and cant say im overly impressed. it just didnt do it for me. I thought it was bizarre and with all good thrillers they have to draw ya in and make ya believe what ya reading is possible. but no friend of mine could rock up after all them years and just move in like i saw em yesterday.

I've read a book from Adele Parks before and honestly didn't like the way she spoke about motherhood and families then. I decided to give her another chance and this will be my last.
At around 20% in a woman in her late 30/s ear 40/s begins sexualising her friends 17 year old son and has an innuendo filled sex dream about him. I have zero interest in a story like this and while the book is set in the UK and the age of consent is 16, its uncomfortable and inappropriate and not the kind of thriller I enjoy.

Would not recommend to anyone.

I usually love Adele Parks books, this one not so much for some reason. The premise for the story was interesting and I was keen to start, however I failed to engage with either of the main characters or care what happened to them. I'll look forward to the next book.

Sorry for late review - just catching up after a busy 6 months. Loved this book a lot - Adele Parks never fails to deliver a great story with great characters and really well written.

Received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 3*
Writing skill : 5*
Suspense : 1*
Plot: 3*

The fact this took me 4 attempts to start shouts loudly. I couldn't get into it at all. I'm glad I finished it as it did get better but still wasnt better than 'okay'. I couldn't believe the story line and everything was predictable. But the writing flowed well eventually and I finished it quicker than I have others. Wouldnt recommend this one but I would still pick up anything else by her.

I loved this! It was written well and I enjoyed the different character perspectives.
There were great twists, some that I expected, some that I absolutely did not see coming!
All in all, I would definitely recommend this one!

Captivating from the very beginning. I found this a great read. As the story unfolded you felt like you knew the characters, could be friends with them. I didn’t see the story going in the way it did. It was quite nice not to guess how things were going to go!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

There's not been many books over the last year which have captured and held my attention much past the first couple of chapters, but this book made me want to keep reading until the end.

I'd never read anything by Adele Parks before this offering and now I am wondering how she's fallen under my radar. This is exactly the sort of story I like; I know it's similar to a lot of other current books but somehow, Adele Parks makes her story believable; her characters relatable and the situations realistic.

I got engrossed in this book and never wanted it to end. A well deserved 5-star rating in my opinion.

Ive read some of Adeles book in the past but saying that I think this is probably the one I enjoyed the most.. Rage, manipulation and envy run this book to the end. I often found myself wondering if I would follow the same path as Mel and help a long ago friend or would I turn the other cheek. I am still none the wiser.

A friend from over 17 years ago turns up unexpectedly with a tale of woe and you invite her in because of a secret. Hmmmm this book was slightly a slow burner for me.
Mel was a character I detested and then felt for and that was why I struggled to get in to the book.
The secret I felt I had worked out before it was revealed.
You feel the pain,the hatred and the score to settle.
Slow to start but fast paced once it had you.
3.5 stars