I devoured this book - after reading a few pages last night, I could not put it down today, so I read it on my flight and then finished it up with a spicy cucumber margarita when I got to my destination.
This is a twisty domestic thriller revolving around an unexpected reunion of a pair of formerly close college roommates who’ve been estranged for about twenty years. Set in Montauk, Anything for a Friend takes place mostly in the present, with several short flashbacks to college days for additional context. Now that the roommates who were each other’s “chosen family” are in their early forties, they are both mothers to teenage girls, bringing additional drama to their reunion. The author references my personal favorite book about the teenage daughter/parent relationship: Celeste Ng’s Things I Never Told You. In a stress-filled point in the story, the husband suggests getting away to Puerto Rico, “sitting on a beach together somewhere far away. A mojito in one hand, a paperback in another.” which made me smile because I’m in PR for the weekend to do just that - what a coincidence 😎
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing, Amazon Publishing for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This book comes out on Tuesday (my birthday!) and I think you should check it out. Much like the author’s previous work, Mother of all Secrets, the story immediately grabs the reader’s attention - I remember reading that one in a single day, too - so check that one out, too! You’ll be supporting a writer who is also an English teacher - gotta show some love to fellow teachers, even though this book has a couple of negative references to high school math class/teachers 🤣

Can we ever really leave the past behind?

That’s the question Kathleen Willett examines in her upcoming novel where two former university friends play catch up. With so much to hide, this is a wild ride!

Carrie Colt is just settling into her inlaws former home in Montauk, hoping for a change of pace, when a former estranged college roommate wants to reconnect. One thing leads to another, and Carrie ends up offering her home as a temporary respite to Maya, her grieving friend, and Maya's daughter Lola.

She soon regrets her offer.

When strange occurrences startle Carrie, she’s quick to blame Maya. Yet, Maya is quick to defend herself offering alternate reasons or perpetrators. What’s really going on? What’s she hiding? Who does the reader believe?!

The tension increases as readers discover that Maya knows ALL of Carrie’s secrets. Could she be vengeful enough to expose them?

This one lived up to the hype! I was constantly chasing the truth and making excuses to keep reading. The more Carrie’s life was upended, the more compelling the read became. I was not prepared for the twists and was prompted to add this new-to-me author to my auto-read list. I enjoyed the opportunity to see Carrie through the eyes of her friend as well as through Carrie’s daughter’s eyes, to understand a little more the complexities of desperate teenage choices, to see the danger of keeping secrets, and to see the cost of chasing a different life.

Next time you casually offer that you’d do ‘anything’ for a friend, you may be in for more than you bargained. It’s a weighty word. Be careful.

I was gifted this copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I jammed through this book in under 24 hours. It really grabbed me from the beginning, I could not put it down . Sure Carrie was annoying & a bit self everything really but I think that's why I couldn't stop reading about her .. her character came across as a young adult but she was really middle aged . Talk about mid life crisis 😐
Things get real interesting when her college bestie comes to town .
This was more of a drama read but delivered some serious ☕ . Alot to unpack!! but I very much enjoyed it reading Carries journey & growth.
Gives the phrase #AnythingForAFriend new meaning that's for sure.
I love Pete. Love Mr sparkles ! Love Montauk.
Now I'm craving a TBM 😂
Actually this book had me starving . All the food mentions .

Thank u very much to #NetGalley for another Arc 🤘🖤

When Carrie’s mother-in-law passes away, her husband wants to move into her house in Montauk. Hoping a change of scenery may help her family reconnect, Carrie tries to make them at home (even though she misses their New York City life). The last thing she is expecting is for her college roommate Maya to show up on her doorstep. Though they were close in college, they quickly grew apart. But Maya is recently widowed and has a daughter of her own who is close in age to Carrie's daughter. In a gesture of the close bond they once shared, Carrie invites Maya and her daughter to stay with them for a few days. But soon after, she regrets that decision: Carrie’s manuscript goes missing and her herb garden is destroyed. And she has started receiving sinister messages too. Just why has Maya reappeared in Carrie’s life?

Another solid thriller from Kathleen Willet! Her previous book, “Mother of All Secrets” was one of my favorites for 2022 so I was very excited to get an early copy of “Anything for a Friend”. Once again, I was quickly drawn into the story and trying to figure out why Maya would want to hurt Carrie, when they seemed to be so close. Told in dual timelines, we get bits and pieces of their college friendship interspersed with Carrie’s present day life. Early on, I thought it was strange that Maya just showed up and even stranger the way her daughter took an interest in Carrie and her family. When the reasoning was revealed, I was stunned; I definitely did not see any of the twists coming. I also found myself not wanting the story to end. As a woman and mother myself, I could relate a lot to Carrie, in how she was trying to keep her friendship with Maya alive.

Thank you to Kathleen Willet for the ARC! “Anything for a Friend” releases November 14, 2023! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

This was a slow-burn but consistently interesting domestic drama. We're thrown right into the good stuff which is how I like it!

Carrie and Maya were college roomies and besties that lost touch 20 years ago after graduation when Carrie went her own way with her now husband Pete. We know there's a secret the women share and we can tell that Maya was somewhat envious and resentful of Carrie, as life tended to just be easier for her. Carrie seemed to be oblivious to this.

Maya is recently widowed and calls her best friend to keep her mind off things and Carrie is surprised but happy. That is, until Maya and her daughter get a little too cozy. Maya is walking around in Carrie's husband's clothes and her kid is telling them what to make for dinner. Things just aren't adding up about Maya's story and accidents are suddenly happening around the house, making Carrie's life harder.

Secrets and lies are bubbling to the surface all these years later. Carrie even has some new secrets to really keep things fresh! Can she trust Maya or does Maya want to kick Carrie down a few notches.. or worse?

This is a character-driven drama that pulls you in like a magnet from the start with its juicy dialogue. It's just so easy to follow and you have to know what happens next.

Carrie isn't the most likable character and that is actually appealing to me. She's very flawed but you can understand where she's coming from and how she got herself into some of these.. *situations*. I think most of us know a Carrie. Maybe you're the Carrie!

With shocking reveals at the end, it's a perfect weekend read. I devoured it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

This was a new author for me. This book didn’t really do much for me. I’ve read many books like this, it wasn’t anything new or groundbreaking. The writing was good but I didn’t find one character that I liked. I can usually find one but not this time. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest opinion. 3⭐️

📚: Anything for a Friend by Kathleen M. Willett (@kathleenmwillett)
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding up on #goodreads)

Super quick and fast paced, Anything for a Friend was an easy #inonesitting read. (Cover to cover in less than 3 hours flat.)

Carrie, recently relocated with her husband and daughter to Montauk from Manhattan, finds her estranged best friend Maya and her daughter at her door. Newly widowed, Maya leans on her former friend in her grief, and makes herself at home with Carrie. But suddenly things start going awry - a wrecked herb garden, files going missing, and something just feels off. How much could Maya be hiding?

Filled with twists and a few unexpected surprises, the dual timeline narrative was done especially well.

Not quite a full 4 stars for a final page ending that felt just a little hollow and some narration that had a little too much overt telling to try to bring suspense. (“…He can never know my darkest secret that she knows.”)

Big thanks to Lake Union Publishing via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Anything for a Friend is out on 11/14!

It was difficult starting this one, since I found the main character annoying, who held so much insecurity with her old best friend who comes for a visit. It made me feel like if they didn't stay in contact why is she regarding her as a best friend?
With that I did allow myself to get through the story, as there is a history that gets revealed about their so called friendship. The story weaved back to their college years and how the friendship, despite their differences, the two protected one another. It didn't feel like the best friend could be trusted, yet despite the betrayal and past hurt, the issues are lurking and I wanted to finish the story to find out why. I would give this a 3 out of 5.

Anything for a Friend by Kathleen M. Willett was a fun read.
This is my first book by Kathleen M. Willett and I hope to read more in the future
Woah! This pulled me in and would not let go. I was so sucked in to this story, and left with wanting more. This is fast paced and jam packed with twists and secrets revealed. It's an entertaining read with well-developed characters.
A must read!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

This book is my first introduction to Willett and I will be reading more.
Anything for a Friend is a fast past thriller that will keep you on your toes from beginning to end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this sophomore novel from Kathleen M. Willett, a *very* slow-burn domestic suspense with unlikeable characters all around. Carrie, an author going through somewhat of a midlife crisis, receives a phone call one day from her old college roommate, Maya. Maya’s husband has died and she’s in the neighborhood - can she come stay for a bit with her daughter? Carrie reluctantly agrees and so begins a series of unexplained events that has Carrie wondering does she really know this person anymore? Did she ever really? There’s not a ton of “thriller-y” action in this one, but it still kept me on the edge of my seat with that uneasy feeling in my gut as I tried to anticipate what was going to happen next. The best part was the exploration of the complexity of female friendship - the flashbacks to Carrie and Maya’s college roommate days were perfectly done. Fans of Stacy Willingham will like this one.

Pub Date: 11/14/23
Review Published: 11/4/23

I loved this book! This was my first by this author and it will not be my last. I read it every free minute I had.

The author did a great job elevating this domestic thriller and really exploring all the facets of friendship and how it evolves and changes as friends grow older and the bonds and secrets that tie them together.

There were a couple twists that I really did not expect and a couple that I did figure out but they did not ruin the enjoyment of the story for me.

I would definitely recommend this book!

Captivating from start to finish! This suspenseful domestic thriller, centered around the reunion of two old college besties with a complex past, kept me on the edge of my seat with its web of lies, buried secrets, & unexpected twists. The author’s skillful weaving of past events into the narrative added depth & enriched the story, making it impossible to put down. The characters were incredibly well-developed, burdened with hidden secrets that added layers to their complexity. Willett’s writing style, coupled with the constant unraveling of new revelations, made for an engaging read. I highly recommend this book to all domestic suspense thriller enthusiasts. This was my first experience with Kathleen M. Willett’s work, & it certainly won’t be my last. I eagerly look forward to reading more from this talented author, & she has earned a spot on my favorites and automatic read list.
Many thanks to #NetGalley, #AnythingforaFriend, & Lake Union Publishing for providing me this ARC. My review is voluntary, reflecting my genuine enjoyment of this fantastic read. 5/5 stars!
***Publication date 11/14/2023***

Absolutely loved this book!

The authors writing style is amazing!

I look forward to reading more from them!

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an early copy of Anything for a Friend. I really Liked this book, I read in less than 24 hours. I was sooooooo wrong about a few of the twists, it really shocked me when I found out how wrong I was. It was Great writing and flowed so fast, I just Loved every part of it. Thank you again.

This was a solid psychological thriller. Carrie has moved to Montauk with her family after some trouble in New York. Her old best friend Maya, back from the college days, calls and is invited to visit with her daughter Lola. The atmosphere is tense and ominous from the very first page. Carrie has secrets and Maya knows them all.

I liked the writing style. It was addictive and kept me turning pages. The characters were all flawed and not very likable, except maybe for Carrie's husband Pete who is a pretty decent guy. There were a couple of really nice twists I did not see coming. Overall this was an enjoyable read.

An excellent read about regrets, guilt, friendship and secrets! Not what I expected this book to be about but a brilliant read nonetheless!

Perhaps not a true thriller although there are elements in the story but for me it was more about friendship and secrets
Well written and yes maybe a bit slow to build up but that's ok
An enjoyable read

Carrie has moved to a new town with her husband and daughter. Surprisingly, her old college best friend, Maya, newly widowed, shows up with her daughter. Carrie let’s her stay to reconnect but odd things start happening.

This was a great, suspenseful and dramatic read. I loved how I knew something was off, but there was no way of guessing what was. Don’t worry.. you will find out and then it’s all a whirlwind from there. There was a lot to this story: mother/daughter relationship, history with a secret, infidelity/marital issues, and of course friendship.

“There’s no way to completely cover up something that did, in fact, take place. The blood shows, sometime or other.”

Anything for a Friend comes out 11/14.

Of course Carrie takes in her old college friend Maya and her daughter Lola when they show up on the doorstep of the house she's just moved to in Montauk along with her husband Pete and daughter Kelsey. But maybe that was a bad decision. This moves back and forth in time to tell the story of these two women and their complicated relationship. The characters are well drawn and if the plot feels a little trope-y, well, it's still entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.