Weekend Friends is a dark, emotionally charged novel. While the book is advertised as a mystery/thriller, there really isn't any mystery to the plot. Additionally, I wouldn't categorize the book as a thriller either. To that end, Weekend Friends was definitely not what I was expecting; however, I still appreciated some aspects of the book. Rebecca and her tween daughter Willow move from Alaska to Florida after Rebecca's husband's death. The story then follows Rebecca as she befriends fellow moms from Willow's school (she even reconnects with one of her elementary school friends) and Willow as she struggles through the challenges of middle school. The book is filled with a lot of sensitive and triggering topics. I actually think the author did a decent job of handling those topics, but there are a lot! The book touches on bullying, suicide, assisted suicide, and pedophiles. Again, definitely note all of the potential triggers.

Weekend Friends was definitely not what I expected; however, I do think the author did a decent job with all of the topics she was aiming to discuss. I didn't necessarily find the book thoroughly enjoyable (hard to with so many upsetting topics), but I did want to keep reading and see it through to the end.

I just felt like this book had too much going on. It seemed like it wanted to touch on too many triggering topics all at once. From bullying, to pedophiles, mean moms, autism, suicide, assisted suicide….it was all too much. I liked the author’s writing style- I just think she could have broken this one up into 4 different books instead of cramming so much plot into one.

this was just okay! it unfortunately did not resonate with me but touched on deep, serious topics that I feel could be more impactful to another reader. i did like the writing and the pacing so this was just a personal preference

This isn’t the kind of book I typically read however I appreciated how it touched on deep issues such as bullying and mental health.

Weekend Friends proves the struggle is real. This book is a slow go that quickly turned into a no go. I failed to connect with Rebecca in anyway and strongly dislike her character. After helping her husband with assisted suicide, she moves her daughter Willow from Alaska to Florida where the people are pretty awful. She spends a lot of time dreaming about the younger school principal/head master and avoiding her mother-in-law while looking over her shoulder for someone who seems to be watching her. This book is just not for me and would be better enjoyed by someone who doesn’t have to like the main protagonist to get into a story. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

“Weekend Friends” is a slow-paced book which I found a bit of a task to read (not good since I just came out of a reading slump). The story revolves around Rebecca, a single mother, and Willow, her 12-year-old daughter. As a mom myself, I admire how Rebecca is as a mother to her daughter; her dedication and love for Willow shine through the pages, making her a character I could easily relate to.

One of the book's notable aspects is its exploration of various complex issues. While school bullying is a central theme, the narrative does not shy away from delving into the intricate web of mental health struggles and the challenges of coping with loss. These themes add depth and authenticity to the story which is one of the reasons why I was determined to finish the book.

As I mentioned, it was a bit of a task to read, but then it got exciting towards the end, and then it was just chaotic with everything coming to the surface.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
An enjoyable but far fetched read about the lives of middle school girls and their parents and school. This was a bit of a wild ride. Some of it was believable and a lot was not. You had two storylines thrown together, that of what happened in Alaska and that of what was currently happening in Florida.
Willow was a very sweet and likable character. Other children in the novel were not. I also did not like the character of Brady and he just kind of added another level of complication.
I also found the story confusing because parts were set in Alaska, others in Florida but then there were friends and family in NY as well.
A little bit scattered but there were some good parts and also revealing parts about bullying in middle school and the actual damage it causes.
I feel like the extra storylines could have been bypassed and the author should be have just stuck with the main Florida storyline and the middle school bullying to make it a better book.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc. I hate to base a book on the cover but I did. I love the cover and the book did not disappoint. Definitely going to be passing this to friends once it’s Available to purchase. 4 ⭐️

"For girls, middle school is practically the Hunger Games." The line caught my interest when searching for a book to read, but it ended up being misleading and not at all what I was expecting.

Weekend Friends follows newly widowed Rebecca and her 12-year-old daughter Willow as they begin a new life in Boca Raton, Florida. As Willow settles into her new school, she finds herself drawn into a popular clique where she grapples with the challenges of bullying and fitting in. Meanwhile, Rebecca establishes a place with the popular mothers, reunites with an old high school friend, and embarks on a secret love affair with the school principal. Drama quickly follows and their promising fresh start takes a troubling turn as a web of lies and secrets unravel.

Although I was entertained by parts of the story, I was hoping for something darker that connected more to a thriller. The book does an excellent job of portraying complicated themes for both mother and daughter, and the parental perspective adds an interesting layer of depth to the story. While this book wasn't for me, I found the story was well-structured and relatable to the modern themes young girls face today.

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the e-ARC.

This is an absorbing book that covers a lot of ground. Not least issues related to terminal illness, toxic friendship groups, competitiveness among girls and women, affluent suburban preoccupations, bullying and isolation, and the lengths that people will go to in order to keep their secrets safe.

Rebecca and her daughter Willow move from Alaska to Florida after the death of Rebecca's French husband, Theo. He was terminally ill, but there is more to his death then meets the eye and Rebecca is the only one who knows the truth of what really happened - though Willow knows more than she should.

After moving to Florida, Rebecca unexpectedly encounters an ex-friend of hers, the charismatic Odelle, with whom she has a complicated history. But what ensues with Willow's new friendship group - which includes Odelle's daughter, Stella - in the new location, takes things to a whole new level of complicated...

Meanwhile, Rebecca soon finds herself making up for years of marital sexual drought by having a torrid affair with Clint Brady, the much younger Headmaster of Willow's new school. So yeah, it's ALL pretty complicated.

I actually learned some interesting things about the nature of contemporary girl-on-girl bullying from this book, including the practice of "outcasting".

Your heart breaks for Willow who has already been through enough trauma for a lifetime, but her experience with Stella and the other girls also makes for compelling reading. This is quite an interesting and fresh take on a somewhat familiar trope, and definitely worth checking out.

I went into this book expecting a straight up thriller and was surprised to find that this book is more of a mix between a thriller and contemporary fiction. I’m not sure if it was something in the book itself or just the fact that I generally seek out more intense thrillers but I kept waiting for a darker twist to this story that never came. We follow Rebecca and her daughter, Willow, as they move from Alaska to Florida after Rebecca’s husband passed away. There is a lot of mystery (to the reader) surrounding his death and things only get weirder from there as Rebecca suspects someone has been following her. Once they get to Florida, a willow starts hanging out with a group of popular girls who all have their own secrets. I found this book interesting and I like when there’s a lot going on at once because I need that extra brain work when reading a book to really keep me engaged. I think if I had looked at this book as a women’s fiction novel rather than a thriller I would have enjoyed how everything wrapped up a little bit more but because I kept thinking it was going to get darker or have more twists I was left feeling a little bit like “oh.. that’s it?”. This book tackles many issues that are relatable such as mental health, loss, grief, bullying, etc. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light mystery or a good quick vacation read.

I just loved everything about this story. Sad, dramatic, funny, heartwarming and real life lessons to be learnt from the story. A story I can imagine most women can relate to at some point in their life.

"Weekend Friends" is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that delves into the tumultuous world of middle school for girls and the challenges faced by their mothers. The story paints a vivid picture of the struggles that both generations go through as they navigate the complexities of life, love, and secrets.

Rebecca, a food photographer, and her daughter, Willow, embark on a fresh start in Boca Raton, leaving behind a haunting secret. Willow's night terrors cast a shadow over their lives, making the move to the sunny Florida state an attempt to find solace. However, the transition to middle school proves to be a daunting experience for Willow as she falls victim to bullying and manipulation by the popular group.

The narrative takes an intriguing turn as Rebecca becomes entangled with Mr. Brady, the charismatic head of the school. Their relationship, filled with passion and uncertainty, adds a layer of complexity to an already tense situation. Lies, deceit, and buried secrets set off a chain reaction that leads both mother and daughter down a perilous path, causing a ripple effect throughout their gated community.

"Weekend Friends" is a story of dark twists and unexpected turns, offering a compelling glimpse into the challenges of adolescence and the sacrifices parents make to protect their children. The narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it a compelling read for anyone who has experienced the trials and tribulations of middle school or parenthood.

As the story unfolds, it keeps readers on the edge of their seats, prompting reflection on the dynamics of friendships, secrets, and the lengths to which one will go to shield their loved ones. "Weekend Friends" is a poignant and gripping novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the lasting impact of our choices.