I was excited to read this book, thank you NetGalley and the publishers for approving me. Unfortunately for me it just didn’t wow me. It’s a quick easy read. It started off a bit too slow for me, but then from the point they go on their girls trip it really picks up pace and I did speed through it. It was just a bit predictable for me, I guessed most of the links and twists and could see what was coming. I liked the stories being told from different points of view and they were interesting characters, if you want a simple easy read then it’s worthwhile giving it a go.

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I love twisty stories about obsession and jealousy, so I went into this book eagerly. The cover was compelling, the cold open was well written and acted as an excellent hook, but unfortunately the rest of the book didn't hold up for me.

I struggled with the pacing — the first half of the book was incredibly slow, but the most important peaks and crescendos of the narrative felt rushed, with the pacing getting worse and more rushed as the book progressed, leaving the ending feeling unsatisfying.

The plot itself — though at times a little far-fetched — was intelligent, with fleshed-out characters and dynamics, but the execution of writing around the said plot felt underbaked; there was a lot of telling rather than showing, with the author using a lot of quite lazy matter-of-fact prose to fill in all the narrative gaps.

I did like the characters and the author had clearly put some thought into the storyline; I really liked Storm's POV and how that added tension to the story in a clever way because it was a little distanced from the other perspectives in the book (Charlotte and Bianka), allowing the reader to fill in some of the gaps themselves. I wish more of the book had been like this.

TLDR: nice cover, good plot idea, poor execution

After loving Cabin Fever by this author I instantly knew I had to pick up their new release. However, I was slightly disappointed. It is definitely a slow mystery and deals with a lot of rich people drama (which is great) but I just didn’t love this book unfortunately, nothing really stood out. I will still read other books by this author but wouldn’t recommend this one if you’re looking for a fast thriller

This book was zingy. It kept my mind wondering what was going to happen. It was modern and captivating. The 'girl friends' were interesting characters and the author was witty and funny as well as serious too.
It did go a little bit silly and far fetched when things went slightly wrong and that kind of spoiled it but the twists that happened after the event made the book well worth reading to the end.
The good thing about it was that the main characters got closer and the stories ended so no cliff hangers or disillusions.

I couldn’t really get into this.
Yes the characters are intriguing with the whole random backgrounds. One character being the ‘Keto Queen’ and another who seems to be well known in Norway.
Plus, the entire plot sounds promising. But there was something about it that just did not click.
Also, it wasn’t consistent in how it was written. For example, the character Charlotte was written in first person, mostly. Whereas Bianca and Storms were written in third person - mostly.
I just couldn’t connect with the characters at all and found it to be slow paced.
It did have a promising plot though.

Charlotte, Anette and Linda have been friends for years but there’s a newcomer in the group as they head away for a girls trip to Ibiza.

I really really wanted to like this book. I loved the premise and the opening prologue, I largely enjoyed the plot and the setting but I just couldn’t form any engagement with the characters.

It was fairly obvious from the off that Charlotte would fall for Bianka in some way. I was unsurprised at Bianka’s link to Mia’s untimely death and it did go some way to explaining why some of the chapters were written from Storm’s perspective. I found Storm and Madeleine’s relationship a bit contrived, it served a purpose in the plot though. The whole final chapter though… wtf 🤯 Charlotte’s character literally completely changes in a few pages, and in a wholly unbelievable way.

An overall enjoyable and easy read but not one that I would come back to. Wouldn’t put me off the author and I look forward to reading others by Alex Dahl.

This book was a little tough to get going, and I felt a large chunk of the novel was just filler and unnecessary to the plot, It was a good book just not as exciting or thrilling as I thought it was going to be,

Thanks to NetGalley, Alex Dahl and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Without giving too many spoilers away, the book is set in London and is centred around the Scandi community that lives in Wimbledon. It focuses on Charlotte and Bianka and their obsessive relationship/friendship with each other.

There are themes and topics of friendship, strained marriages, and identity in this book as well as obsession and some dark, twisted characters. Though the book starts well with an intriguing prologue and the air of a twisty thriller, I found the story a little unbelievable at times and found myself skimming through the superficial world of these characters. I unfortunately found that I didn’t really care about some of the characters enough due to their toxic flaws and behaviours.

An easy summer read for 2024 - I have rated this with 3.5 stars and I’m sure fans of Alex Dahl will love it.

In Girl Friends by Alex Dahl, readers are taken on a thrilling journey to Ibiza with Charlotte and Bianka, exploring the complexities of their friendship that transcends boundaries. The dual point of view adds depth to the narrative, keeping readers captivated as secrets unravel and marriages are put at risk. Dahl skillfully weaves a tale of hidden desires and the consequences of crossing forbidden lines. As a queer thriller, the book offers a unique perspective, keeping readers engaged with its unexpected twists and turns. While some readers may have desired a faster-paced plot, Dahl's strong characterisation and compelling storytelling make this a compelling read. With its intriguing plot twists and well-developed characters, Girl Friends is a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling tale of love, secrets, and the complexities of relationships. Available in April 2024, this book promises an immersive experience that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages.

3.5 stars rounded down (pls give us half star ratings)

started slow but the little prequel scene ??? obsessed. drew me into the plot soooo much. didn’t even mind it being slow because i was so invested to find out what happened. like actually DESPERATE to understand what was going on.

AND THEN ??? the depiction of that weird kind of intense toxic friendships you have as a sapphic woman sometimes??? so good. SOOOOOO GOOD. especially charlotte not knowing what was going on and never having considered being attracted to a woman before. it felt so raw and so real and i connected so much with the characters because of it.

speaking of the characters, hated every single one of them. they all SUCKED. and i LOVE a book full of characters who suck.

now for the problems. was it not obvious to us all that bianka killed mia from like the moment she was mentioned. and it was dragged out weirdly but then the evidence that storm and emil had when they DID jump to that conclusion still felt very lacking and there was NO exploration of that at all? i felt like i wanted more from that storyline and of the absolute horror of emil discovering this and realising he’s repressed this knowledge (because that’s what it felt like he had been doing)

ending was a shocker but like not really in a good way ?? all felt super out of character for charlotte and i get she had changed because of what happened but it seemed like a LOT of change all at once.

side note what was the point in us finding out what happened to her mother when it had zero consequences for anything i was waiting for something important to happpen around that but then it simply didn’t

overall definitely enjoyable and i will be recommending it but the ending was disappointing/confusing. read this on holiday in one sitting and i think that was the perfect way to experience it

A bit of a slow start , it took me a while to get into the story . Once the girls went on holiday I found it piqued my interest. An easy read and enjoyable over all

I've enjoyed the other books I've read by Alex Dahl. This one did feel slower than I hoped and I found it harder to get into.

Unfortunately I didn't really enjoy this book. I found it hard to get into and found myself struggling to get through it. I found it jarring that Bianka and Storm's chapters were written in third person but Charlotte's were from first person perspective.
There were also some continuity errors, in one chapter Bianka comments that she lost her sunglasses and a few pages later she takes her sunglasses off. I think the twist worked and it was interesting but at the end I would've also liked a synopsis of what happened with Storm and Emil.

The pacing just wasn't it for me. I really struggled to get through the writing and the dialogue was something I also stuggled with.

Definitely mixed feelings on Alex Dahl’s thriller Girl Friends.

The story surrounds Charlotte (the Scandinavian Keto Queen, resident in London, Ibiza summer home owner) and Bianka very recently arrived from Oslo now resident in London with her husband (Charlotte’s husband’s boss) and step son Storm. The two form an intense relationship which quickly spiral in Ibiza when Bianka joints Charlotte and her friends for their annual week in Ibiza.

Classic thriller stuff. Told from the perspectives of Charlotte, Bianka and Storm. But the story was very strangely paced, some parts with great writing a few parts cringe-worthy and with a finish that doesn’t do the rest of the story justice.

A solid 3.5 star book (rounded up because it’s way better than a 3 star read).

Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

A bit of a slow start to this one and it took me a while to get into it. I didn't think the characters were very realistic and a bit one dimensional. Definitely picked up once they went on holiday though.
An easy ready and good fun

A seemingly innocent friendship leads to so much more and the back story of the protagonist unfolds and revels dark secrets which unleash deadly consequences.

I liked the unravelling of the story and how you thought you knew what would happen next which then didn't.
A good but disturbing read.

This is a wild ride, if sometimes far fetched.
When Bianka moves from Oslo to London, she becomes part of a Scandi set of wives in Wimbledon. One of them fascinates her more than any other, and she gets herself invited on a girls' holiday in Ibiza.
This being Ibiza, things do get a bit wild and hedonistic,
The characters are great, and the story of Bianka's stepson Storm, who stayed behind in Norway, adds another more sensible layer to an interesting story.
I really cared, and wanted to know what happened to people.
My only regret is that the men are very much background dressing, I would have liked to see more of their reaction to the women.

This was such a great read- finished in 3 days. Had a good mix of drama, intrigue and unsuspecting spice!

📖REVIEW📖
Title: Girl Friends
Author: Alex Dahl
Genre: Thriller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

📖Synopsis:
You think you met her by chance. You're wrong.

Charlotte has it all: the successful career, the loving family. But, secretly, she is dangerously bored of her rigid and structured life.

Bianka is a free spirit, always the life and soul. When she and Charlotte meet, it feels like fate – Bianka is exactly the person that Charlotte needs.

When they escape to Ibiza for a girls' trip, home is soon forgotten. Charlotte dives head first into a life that is looser, wilder. But the holiday soon spirals out of control with fatal consequences – someone doesn't return home.

📖Review: 3.5⭐️s ARC
So I’ve just read a couple of romances so this was perfect for a bit of a change. Kept me on the edge of my toes and found the characters were easy to get into and emphasise with. Maybe it’s the whole perfect lives on the outside but going to shit inside thing but I do enjoy that. Read it in one day!

🗓️Release date 11th April 2024

*please note I received this ARC for free via NetGalley and independently decided to submit an honest review*