Emerson and Amos met and bonded three decades ago in college, and their families—wives Retsy and Claire, teenage daughters Sophie and Anna—seem happily entangled, mutually supportive. As the novel begins, they've assembled at Emerson and Retsy's country house to celebrate Emerson's 52nd birthday. But tensions simmer beneath the surface: between the men, within the marriages, even in the relationship between the daughters, which has entered the awkwardness of late adolescence and may or may not survive. In a "friendly" tennis match against Amos, Emerson suffers an ankle injury that, as a memento mori and a reminder of ancient rivalry, exacerbates the tensions both within and without. Before the weekend is over, a spontaneous act of violence and violation will threaten not only to destroy the long friendship but to jolt both families from the comfortable orbits of their privileged, on-the-surface untroubled lives. It's a prospect Claire in particular seems ill-prepared for. This is the kind of book Tom Wolfe used to write, and debut novelist Ebbott definitely has the talent and brio to carry it off. "Unflinching" is a label often applied to such works, but that word's not nearly strong enough for what happens here; this is a very smart book, but at its center is a ruthlessness that can be hard to look at. Whether that's a compliment or not may depend on the reader.

When handsome, popular Emerson and timid outsider Amos first met at university, theirs seemed an unlikely friendship, but they have been each others constant through the years, their peers noting how remarkable the longevity and enduring strength of their bond is. Their wives are friendly, their daughters have grown up together, and their calendars are punctuated by shared dinners and weekends away. Then, one October weekend, the families gather at Emerson's country house to celebrate his birthday and something happens which will test not only Emerson and Amos' relationship, but the connections between all who love them.

Loyalties are tested and characters questioned in Among Friends, the strong literary debut from new author Hal Ebbott. After the initial catalyst for the story is established, the novel is far more interested in character than in plot, and this choice allows each character - from the two male protagonists to their respective wives and daughters - the space to be written into life with nuance and subtlety. It also highlights the beauty of Ebbott's sharply observed, often poetic, prose.

Amos' daughter starkly portrays the conflict tearing her apart as she grapples with whether or not to tell her parents what Emerson did. She knows what happened was wrong and has wrecked her, but speaking out would break her father. She is angry and devastated but cannot detatch these feelings from those of admiration and affection she feels for a man she has known her whole life. How can she reconcile the assault with the afternoon they spent sealing Christmas cards or the sandwich making game he invented to delight her and his own daughter, Sophie?

Emerson is despicable. When pondering on why Anna might not have told her parents what he did, he wonders if they might not one day chat about her reasons. 'He imagined the two of them talking like old men, soldiers in the same army who've not seen each other since the end of the war.' He sees himself as a loveable rogue, more vital and charming because of his lapse in judgement and anticipated subsequent redemption. This horrid man seems tormented not by what he did to Anna (although the generous reading is that he feels so guilty that he cannot let himself think about it) but by the ramifications of his actions for himself, should Amos take his daughter's side.

Much of the interaction between the various characters is uncomfortable to read; simmering tensions underscore both of the decades-long marriages, even before the events of Emerson's birthday, every exchange seasoned by years of unspoken history and context. Retsy, Emerson's wife, who inhabits the edges of the story with sporadic but compelling vignettes, finds herself in a marriage in which she loves the stability and status it affords her more than she loves her husband. Meanwhile, Claire, Amos' wife, has her own complicated history with Emerson. Time and again, Ebbott leads his characters into situations where they must choose between the right choice and the easy choice, or between people without whom they cannot imagine their life. This is not a story of heroes and sacrifice, and it is far more interesting for it.

Ebbott unpacks the notion of belief in an individual, suggesting that we make concious decisions about who to believe when faced with different alleged truths. Among Friends suggests that believing is not an instinctive response but a choice, based on everything you know (or suspect) to be true about another person, your own experience of the world, and the carefully constructed scenery, characters and plot of your life that you can choose to preserve or destroy. I was really intrigued by the thoughts that troubled each character when they ruminated on what their friendship or marriage meant to them and what it would mean to effectively choose to end it.

The ending is equal parts frustrating and clever, and it is a testament to Ebbott's writing that I found myself impressed as much as disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I must admit, I had a bit of a struggle getting into Hal Ebbot's style. However, I was intrigued enough by the story to keep going, and I'm glad I did. Among Friends is a thoughtful and intriguing book about the constraints and expectations of long standing friendships, and ultimately about what can break the bond and trust between friends. It was a great read.

At first, I kept wondering when we’d get to the action, the “shocking betrayal” the blurb promised. But the slow burn worked, and it was a good thing Ebbott didn’t drop us directly into the action. It gave us time to explore his characters, to let us understand their motivations, what makes them tick, and where their loyalties lie.

Emerson was the most complex character and perhaps the most well-written — a Jekyll and Hyde figure who could flip from charming to unbridled cruelty in an instant. His inner rage and entitlement were chilling.

The second half of the novel is a testament to Ebbott’s writing. When the truth comes out, the characters spiral — denial, rage, deflection.

I really wanted to like this one. The prose style is similar to Andre Aciman but the plot just did not move forward for most of the book. I couldn't finish it.

This is a well-written character novel. I enjoyed Ebbott's writing style overall, with the rich detail and realistic dialogue, although the novel was a bit slow to start for me. An impressive debut, I'm looking forward to more from this author.

This novel was one I was so excited to read and whilst it didn't do what I expected it to, I loved it as much as I was hoping to.

We follow four old friends and their teenage children as they get together for the weekend. Emerson and Amos met in college and are now entering middle age. They are both experiencing various feelings as they approach this next phase of life: anxiety, resentment, anger - of their changing bodies, their wives, their lives and each other. Where Amos is thoughtful and reflection, Emerson is brash and hard. The weekend starts well, as expected, with food and drinks and conversation. I loved the prose - the detail was so rich, the characters so clear and well written and the author managed to convey the weight of their shared histories right from the start. They all felt so real to me. The prose was poetic without being flowery or overdone. There was nothing unnecessary about the detail offered. It was all just brought to life so well.

It's hard to give anymore detail without spoiling anything and I really would encourage readers to not read too much about this before reading (although checking trigger warnings would be wise for some readers for sure!).

But this novel went places I just wasn't expecting it to and the result was devastating, enraging and totally shocked me. I'm still thinking about it. Would highly recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel.

The narrative delves deeply into the complexities of friendship, fate, and unspoken truths. It captures the emotional friendship between Amos and Emerson, showcasing the highs and lows they navigate together. The portrayal of their relationship is both sharply. Revealing not just the joys of their connection but also the shadows of betrayal that can linger in even the closest of friendships. Through their journey, readers are invited to reflect on the intricacies of family dynamics and the impact of choices made over time. Surprisingly, this was a very emotional read for me. The writing is brilliant, capturing the essence of the characters and their relationships in a way that draws you in. It’s the perfect book when you’re looking for a story that centers around the complex lives of its characters, making you think deeply about your own connections and the choices that shape them. I can't wait to read more of the author, big thanks to the editorial and netgalley for the access to this ARC

Amos and Emerson have been friends for decades. The kind of friendship that looks unshakable from the outside—woven into the fabric of their families, their shared history, their children growing up alongside each other. But time has a way of testing even the strongest bonds, and during one weekend away, a single act cracks everything open.

Hal Ebbott’s Among Friends is an astonishing debut—psychologically intricate, emotionally devastating, and written with a precision that makes every sentence land like a well-aimed blow. The novel peels back the layers of a friendship that has endured through competition, quiet resentments, and shifting power dynamics, revealing the fragility of the connections we assume will last forever. "Once he was sure, it seemed as though he’d known forever. Not that his friend would do this, but that he could."

Ebbott’s writing is as sharp as it is elegant, moving seamlessly between past and present, between moments of deep intimacy and unbearable tension. The novel is full of the kind of lines that stop you cold: "What was the point of transcending one’s past if the cost were giving those same hurts to his child?" There is no melodrama here, no cheap twists—just the slow, painful unravelling of certainty, as the characters reckon with betrayal, power, and the uncomfortable truths that have always been there, just beneath the surface.

The prose is exquisite, delicate but unflinching. The novel meanders through its characters’ internal landscapes, capturing the weight of knowing and the ache of choosing whether to act. "It wasn’t enough just to be gentle and nice, to bring her tea or go for long walks. One needed to do something—he had to do something—to behave like someone who believed what she said."

If I have any criticism, it’s that the final stretch indulges a little too much in reflection, slightly dampening the novel’s relentless tension. But then again, maybe that’s the point—resolution is rarely clean, and reckoning with the past is never as simple as we want it to be.

Among Friends is a novel that unsettles, infuriates, and refuses to be forgotten. It is about the silences between people, the things we don’t say, and the moments that change everything. It’s hard to believe this is Ebbott’s debut—his prose is so mature, so intricately woven, it feels like the work of a writer who has been doing this for decades. Simply unmissable.

Huge thanks to Pan Macmillan | Picador and NetGalley for the ARC—this one will be sitting heavy in my mind for a long time.

A sharply observed and emotionally charged portrayal of the friendship, family and betrayal.

The story is centred around a decades-long friendship between Amos and Emerson. They’ve known each other since their college days and over the years their friendship has evolved to include spouses and children. During the course of weekend birthday celebration, tensions unexpectedly boil over, revealing the true fragility of their friendship and deep-seated resentments that have been simmering beneath the surface for years.

This is very much a character-driven novel and the increasingly strained inter-play between the various characters makes for an incredibly compelling read. The book delves into the complexity and nature of long-term friendship and looks at how fragile those connections can be when tested.

Emotionally intense, thought-provoking, and at times profoundly unsettling, this is the ideal read for those who appreciate stories that examine the psychological dynamics within complex relationships.

Hal Ebbott’s *Among Friends* is a gripping and elegantly crafted novel that explores the fragile foundations of lifelong friendships and the quiet tensions that can shatter them in an instant. Ebbott masterfully builds suspense, weaving an intricate narrative that keeps the reader on edge, waiting for the inevitable unraveling of carefully constructed lives.
What makes *Among Friends* particularly compelling is its nuanced exploration of human nature—how relationships evolve over time, the weight of unspoken tensions, and the thin line between loyalty and betrayal.

A slow burning novel that falls well within the American literary fiction category. Incredibly clever, well written, with very flawed characters and a somewhat disturbing storyline. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

Amos and Emerson have been friends for thirty years. They met in college and formed what seems like an unbreakable bond. Their families are entwined and they have so much shared history, but at a weekend party to celebrate Emerson's birthday, a shocking violation of their friendship causes damage that means everyone involved has to make choices. Ebbot is great on tension and morally questionable choices. He takes an unflinching look at human fallibility and personal responsibility. I found it a difficult read, partly because it's written so very well that everyone is so real and partly because with a couple of notable exceptions everyone in this book is horrible. But it's very, very smart and clever all the same.

Stark, spare writing in this impressive debut, which explores family and a lifelong friendship in New York and the survival of relationships after betrayal. Echoes of Fleishman is in Trouble but darker and more contemplative.

You may, like me, begin reading this book expecting a straightforward story about two dysfunctional families and their middle-class lives. I anticipated an Ann Patchett/Anne Tyler-style novel, filled with relatable yet mildly troubled family dynamics. But this book goes beyond that initial impression.

Initially, it does present a cozy, "we have it all but we screw it up" narrative. However, something happens that left me so shocked I had to reread the same few pages multiple times. This jaw-dropping moment elevated the entire experience for me.

Before this unexpected twist, the book was already superb. It offers an alternative perspective on men's relationships, exploring themes like middle-aged male friendships, jealousy, competition, and insecurities. These elements are depicted with such depth and authenticity that I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it before.

Overall, "Among Friends" is an excellent read that goes beyond typical family drama to offer profound insights into male relationships. It's a unique and captivating novel that I highly recommend.

4.5 stars rounded up
This is a fantastic debut novel, and a riveting portrayal of a friendship on thin ice. Starting with a weekend get-together to celebrate a birthday, the relationships between life-long friends Amos and Emerson, their wives and their teenage daughters is quickly put under a microscope. Despite knowing each other their entire lives, it’s clear right off the bat there’s a lot of underlying resentment at play; chapters from every character’s perspective allow you to explore all the second-guessing, over-analysing and petty points-scoring going on below the surface.

I won’t spoil the nature of the ‘incident’ mentioned in the blurb, but it really does an excellent job of unravelling the emotions and priorities of each character. What do they all truly want, and whose corner are they going to stand in when the going gets tough? It’s a story where every character sits in a morally grey area at one point or another, and I found myself going back and forth on who I trusted and who I wanted to get their way. My only drawback keeping this from a 5 star read personally was the volume of internal monologues and flashback reminiscing in the final quarter of the book. It’s ironically the exact same thing that made this story so engrossing at the beginning, but I found as the plot moved towards its conclusion the reflective pondering of each character killed the pacing somewhat for me.

Still, an excellent read if you like your morally ambiguous characters put in difficult situations, and believable plot dilemmas with no easy path forward. Thank you to Pan Macmillan and to NetGalley for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

Among Friends by Hal Ebbott is an exploration of lifelong friendships between two men, and their families, in the East coast of America. An act of violence shatters the bond, and the fallout reverberates throughout the rest of this gripping novel. Emerson and Amos, the two friends, are extremely well drawn, engaging characters. Ebbotts novel is a slow burn, with the sense of unease building as the narrative progresses, until that moment which spins everything on its head. I really enjoyed reading this one, and it is bound to appeal to all fans of American literary fiction. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Gosh. Absolutely wonderful. Books about the rich east coast america can feel very alienating. but this grips you, with every character essential to the story. Really good

Not a comfortable read. I found the author's use of language rather too calculated and florid. The story questioned whether friendship outweighed the love and support needed by a child.

This is the story of two men who have been friends since their teenage years. Now in their fifties they still meet up regularly with their wives and daughters. On one occasion something happens which causes old resentments bubbling to the surface, threatening the stability of both families. The ending is somewhat ambiguous. The plot moves very slowly and there are many diversions into the past, often in the middle of a conversation. I found myself skimming the text looking for the next line of dialogue. It is interesting but not very engaging, because of the style of writing.