Thanks to netgalley and publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a tough one for me. It could have been really good, but I did not in any way connect with any of the characters, I really couldn't care about them and often forgot who's who. Then there was the story itself which I found difficult to follow, the writing was messy and confusing. I found a way to finish, but it was definitely not satisfying.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

This story was a slow burn for me to get into but the story and characters were well developed. Makes you wonder about the timeline with friends in any sense of loyalty. Definitely a good read for a book club to dive into.

This was written so real and the characters are true to the storyline. I felt like I had been to the small town before, though I've never been in or near Wisconsin. The story had me gripped and I couldn't put it down

An alright read. This was a hard start for me. I found myself starting this book more than once. I really was struggling to finish. I wanted to like this book. The synopsis had my attention and I was excited to jump into. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. The behavior of some of the characters just wasn't realistic; they made no sense. I'm ok with stories that are out there, but please make it make sense. I was very glad to finish the book. NETGALLEY gave me the opportunity to review and I felt obligated to finish. The ending left a bad taste in my mouth. I don't think I'll be interested in reading another book by this author. I wish them all the best in the future.

#NETGALLEY. #THEFRIENDS

I just want to start out by saying I really did want to like this book. The notes on it hooked me in, I'd love the way the cover looked. So I was like this is going to be good to read on a dark night with some candles lit in a glass of wine. Big nope. I couldn't find myself connecting with any of the characters, the author did not give me well detailed, well fleshed out characters to connect me too and I felt that the plotline was messy. I did slog through and finish the book but sadly I would not recommend it to anyone.

Three “friends” have been keeping a secret for 20 years. When one of them faces mortality and decides she doesn’t want to leave this world alone, they reunite and the secrets from 20 years ago come crashing back. Marlene, Valarie and Hope all hold separate details from the night of a classmate’s disappearance two decades ago. Once reunited they have to learn to trust each other while confronting the past and trying to evade the Sheriff who is getting close to the truth of that night.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it took me a while to get into it. At about 30% through the book, I was thinking about abandoning it. The plot was okay, slow, but not gripping. Then when I finally got to 40%, I was interested in what was going to happen, and the pace finally picked up. Finally at 60% I couldn’t put the book down, because I wanted to know how the story concluded.

Once we finally learned all the different secrets kept, and how relationships fell apart the story really picked up! It was fast-paced and twisty, especially once the Sheriff starts getting close to their secrets.

This book had an interesting premise, slightly unpredictable plot, and shows the variability of human nature.

Content Warning: drug addiction, drug abuse, murder, violence, hate crimes, adultery.

As an aside, there are some typos that are a bit distracting, most prominently using the wrong names for a few characters, which you figure out is wrong from context. It happened in countless chapters. I’m not sure if the typos are in the published work, too, or just the advanced copy I read. Thank you Netgalley for access to the ARC of this book.

This book just didn't work for me. I just couldn't get into it. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

Three high school friends attend a party and a classmate disappears from the party.
Fast forward 20 years and they all come together and end up trying to discover what happened.
Interesting story along how all the friends have not really spoken in all this time and how they all get interwoven together.
Makes you wonder what lengths they all go to keep a secret...

The past catches up to Valarie, Hope, and Marlene, three frenemies since high school in Ava Black's The Friends.

I really struggled to get into this book and unfortunately stopped around the 50% mark. Too many undefined side characters made the plot somewhat challenging to follow, and it didn't feel that we had enough time with any of the main characters to care about their past or present. The writing style is nice, however, and I liked Valarie and Marlene as characters.

Note: I received a free eBook copy of The Friends from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Abilene & Argyle and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A compelling first novel full of intrigue. I look forward to reading more from Ava Black if they’re as rich as this one.

Three friends reunite 20 years after burying a secret... now that one of the friends is faced with her own mortality, this secret is sure to come to life.

This was a slow burn mystery thriller set in small town Wisconsin. I enjoyed the atmosphere and how well fleshed out the characters were. However I did find that some of their actions and behaviours didn't seem in keeping with the personalities of each character. I would have liked a bit more pace but overall this was an interesting premise.

Suspenseful and intriguing, the novel, The Friends begins slowly, leading to a quick ending. Ava Black weaves a story of reluctant friendships, dark secrets, and messy relationships.

Three high school friends attend a party where a classmate disappeared. Twenty years later they come together to solve the mysterious death of their friend Tom. Marlene, a best-selling author with a shaky marriage comes to visit her ailing cousin Valarie, a former beauty queen. She is greeted at the Thunderbird Hotel by Hope, a druggie and former convict who has her own intentions. Hope knows what really happened. Marlene was with Tom but can’t remember anything. And Valerie wants to forget the aftermath. The unlikely trio strives to right the wrongs of the past even if their own lives are jeopardized.

The Friends culminates into a shocking conclusion. Ava Black presents unlikable yet realistic characters with numerous plot twists to keep the reader on edge. I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it. #TheFriends #NetGalley, #Thriller

DANCING SUGAR PLUMS! 😳

Well holy Turkey stuffing! This was quite the intense thriller with insane secrets that three women hold from a night back in high school and come back together as one of them is dying. They each are trying to keep their own secrets from escaping, while each trying to get what they want from one another. Oh how selfishness & desires can interfere. And let's not forget the Sheriff getting close to the truth. Absolutely crazy & unbelievable. The lengths someone can go to - utterly jaw dropping! Holy high heavens so delish!

I give this 4 / 5 snowflakes! ❄️

Thanks for the opportunity to review the book. This was not for me could not get into it. I tried twice but nothing grabbed me at all. So one star from me

Thank you Netgalley and Abilene & Argyle Books for the arc of this book. I tried three times to get into this book. Finally I was able to, but didn't connect to the writing at all. Also the characters were all so unlikable. The story was pretty good, but because of the writing and the characters did not really hold my interest. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

If these characters are the definition of Friends, we are all in trouble.

Some became trashy. Some became respectable. But theres always someone who has to stir up trouble and dig up the past when everyone else prefers to leave the past behind.

This seems to be a really common storyline atm and there isn't much terribly original in this book however....... it is really nicely written, the characters have depth and are interesting and the story does keep you engaged and wanting to find out just what happened and what's going to happen next. Its the "big little lies" type feel which is awesome and whilst it's nothing terrible original, it is one of the better takes I've read recently. Definitely a good choice to go for if those "friends reunited/ shared secrets of the past/ a town who wants to keep the past buried" type vibe is your thing.

The friends by Ava Black.
Three young women from a small Midwest town are forced to face the secrets from their pasts.
A very good read with good characters. I liked Marlene Valerie and Hope. I liked the cover. 4*.

How far would you go to keep a secret? I enjoyed reading this one. A simple, but entertaining story with interesting characters. Although halfway through after a few reveals the story slows down en and i found myself wishing that things would speed up a a bit. But overall a nice mystery thriller.

I got this arc in exhange for an honest review.