A solid read, but I wasn’t exactly blown away by it. Billed towards fans of “An American Marriage,” it’s clear the two books are similar in many ways, but for me this particular story rang hollow. At times it felt disjointed; other times I found myself questioning the way certain events unfolded. For example, before we learn about the extenuating circumstances leading up to Bailey’s death, it just seemed so implausible to me that someone would die after a small scuffle like the one between him and Rudy. Of course, it all made sense later.

Overall, I did appreciate the writing style and how the relationship between April and Rudy was portrayed. The friendships of not only those two, but their families as well, made for a heartfelt read. It really highlighted how important having a village can be. Thank you to SparkPress and NetGalley for this ARC. Expected publication is July 8.

This was an ARC book i kindly received from Netgalley. I was initially thinking this would be a contemporary romance type book but it was so much more. This delved into relationships, the justice systems (and it's failures), being reintroduced back into society and more. I enjoyed the characters and their development too. Would definitely recommend. 4.5 stars

I chose to read this ARC because it was compared to In Five Years which I loved.

Truthfully, I didn't expect to enjoy and appreciate this book as much as I did.

Each character was well-developed.

Peter "moved to NY to change the world, but it turns out, my world changed because" he moved to NY (from Boston.)

The settings of Brooklyn. Chicago and NYC are also well described.

I can't emphasize enough what an intelligent, well-written and well-researvhed book this is. It illustrates how imperfect and broken our justice system is and how bad things can happen to good people.

Side note: Rudy's brother Tommy is the best!

This is the first. But certainly not the last book I read by Amy Blumenfeld.

Easy to award this 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I didn’t rate this on Goodreads because I DNF’d it. I think this story has a lot of potential and people will like it—but I really struggled with so many perspectives (hated every time I got to Jillian but maybe that was the point lol) and the chapters were extremely long! Few typos here and there but nothing crazy.

Absolutely is an intriguing story—just not for me!

When out for dinner with her aspiring politician husband, April receives a call that changes the paths of their lives forever,


April and Rudy are inseparable from the moment they first meet as small children. When April goes off to college she's determined to keep Rudy in her life and one night while at an event a scuffle takes place that upends both their futures.

Can you ever go back to the way things were after a traumatic event and have the same relationship with your best friend?

A thought provoking tale of what if's and what comes after unexpected tragedy.

“We’ll have highs and we’ll have lows,” he’d said, pulling her close as they ascended into the sky, “but we’ll sit side by side and take in the view together.”

Let me preface this by saying that this is not my typical read. With that being said I loved stepping out of my comfort zone. Such good people follow the life of Rudy and April and their friendship along with Jillian (a friend from college) and Peter(married to April). Rudy and April grew up together as neighbors but became best friends over time. You got to see glimpses of their friendship and how the story came full circle. After a night out that changes their lives forever we see the aftermath and the effects years later. Such Good People offers insights on perception, power and what happens when one night of fun ends in tragedy and the effects it has after. I found myself questioning everything and quite honestly feeling horrible for Rudy who in the end I feel lost the most out of everyone. It isn’t until you are actually in a situation that you truly know what people's intentions are and how a true friendship will prevail and either come out on top or offer just another disappointment. The support that Rudy’s family gave him along with April’s just showed his character and how well loved he was. Such Good People allowed me to question what truly matters and how important having someone believe in you is.

The premise of this book drew me to it but its execution kept me reading. I was looking for something character rich but not necessarily romantic, and this fit the bill. I love "family sagas" that unfold a story over many years and settings and changes as the life circumstances of the characters do. From every single narrator's perspective this situation was complex and I looked forward to puzzling the pieces together with each chapter.

Wow, I loved this! This book really made you think about justice and relationships and second chances. The characters were well written and their voice stood out when the perspectives switched. They were dynamic and complex and I really felt for each person. I would say the plot had some points that felt a little weak and not fully fleshed out. Overall though, I really enjoyed this story and am looking to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

Such Good People had such an intriguing premise, I was really drawn in by the idea of a split-second decision spiraling into something much bigger. I expected an emotional, gripping read about loyalty, guilt, and moral gray areas… but unfortunately, it didn’t quite land for me.

The first few chapters had potential, but the pacing really dragged in the middle, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The tension fizzled out when it should’ve been building, and by the time things started moving again, I was honestly a little bored.

It’s not a bad boo, there are some thoughtful moments and solid character work, but overall it didn’t hold my attention the way I hoped it would.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Sparkpress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of Such Good People is intriguing, but I couldn't finish it. The tropes felt heavy-handed and the writing lacked the descriptive prose needed to support the heavy subject matter.

4.25 stars

Such Good People is a very emotional read and at times I had to put down my Kindle because I felt like the story was too sad for me to keep reading.

I don’t read book blurbs and I requested an ARC of this book because a friend recommended it so I decided to try a new to me author.
The story is told in 2 timelines, the present and 15 years ago and we have a few POV in both timelines.
The main characters of the story her April and Rudy and we learn how one moment in time 15 years ago changed their life forever.

The things I liked about the story:

1. Getting to read how Rudy and April met as kids and how strong their connection as friends was, including their family being friends as well.
2. The fact that April never gave up on Rudy and kept in touch with him even while he was in jail.
3. April's parents and Rudy's family were all great characters that added to the plot.

The things I didn't like (some of them I changed my mind by the end of the book but I don’t want to give out spoilers)

1. Jillian's character wasn't working for me and I didn’t enjoy reading her POV in both timelines.
2. April's husband Peter got on my nerves, a typical politician behavior and it's defiantly not a compliment!
3. Rudy’s conviction made zero sense, as much as I know any justice system can be broken and innocent people fall through the cracks nothing about his case made sense.

Overall I did enjoy the book and even the characters that weren't my fav from the start had redeeming qualities by the end of the book.

3.5 Stars

While waiting for her friend Rudy, April meets a man in a bar in Manhattan. This meeting will forever change the lives of both Rudy and April. We then time-hop to Chicago over a decade later, where April is happily married to Peter, a lawyer, and she even has a few kids. April is successful and happy with her job as well. Her husband is running for office, and during this campaign, Rudy, who's been in jail this time, is now up for parole, and there's a chance that April's secrets will come spilling out; she has to make a choice: does she help Rudy or hide from her past completely?

This was a thought-provoking look at friendship and family. I like how the book shows just how messy growing up and growing apart can be. I loved the way the author thought to write about the secrets and regrets we take into adulthood with us. The book was definitely on the sombre side, but some scenes had me laughing out loud, and the author's sense of humour shone through. I enjoyed the different points of view as we get inside each character's head.

Peter, the husband, was kind of irritating to me because he acted like a man-child. April makes some questionable choices, and in a character-driven story, I found it incredibly frustrating. The book dragged in towards the middle, and I kept thinking to myself, just get to it. A few of the twists didn't feel natural, as though the author just threw them in there to add drama because the middle wasn't holding its own. Overall, this was a half-decent read—intelligent and sharply written. Even though it isn't one of my favourite reads, I think most readers will find it enjoyable.

An interesting read from a new author but not really my cup of tea. Rudy is released from prison whilst April has moved on and is married to Peter and settled with her own family. The secrets of the past are due to be unleashed with dire cosequences. What and how far do you go to protect your loved ones? Thanks to Net Galley for ARC

thank you netgalley for the arc <333

this book was a little out of my comfort zone in terms of books I go for, but I think it was also a nice change and palette cleanser !!

it poses the question of "why do bad things happen to (such) good people" and it's written in third person and multiple povs

while the book was a little slow moving at first, i think once I got a better understanding of what had happened i was hooked

the main povs are rudy, april and jill, who all knew each other in college but because of a sort of misunderstood situation rudy ends up in jail and the book starts with him being released early

learning more about their individual stories, it really created this narrative of the unjust legal system and was commentary on how with wealth and status you can morph a story into a good guy vs a bad guy

which i thought was so interesting because when reading rudy and april's pov i was like that night just didnt make sense like the math was not adding up

anyway i thought the way this book ended was super satisfying and im very happy that these characters were able to change the narrative even years later !

Gripping couple of opening chapters and Amy Blumenfeld drives readers to directly connect with the protagonist April as she celebrates the success of her political husband Peter on an evening out in Chicago's beautiful metropolis. We are drawn to suspect a past life very different from the glitzy expensive "swanky" restaurant scene that April shares with her husband. When a phone call from a New York Times reporter interrupts them before they have even ordered, questioning her about the prison release of an old friend of hers, she is thrown back to guilty memories of a different life.  

Then, the narrative shifts to that of Rudy, the friend who is about to be released and later the POVs of Jillian, a journalist and finally Peter. The interwoven perspectives work well to offer an all-rounded insight to the various thoughts that we can have in various circumstances. 

The strength of relationship shown in the friendship between Rudy and April seems original and new since so many novels are all about unrequited or romantic love. Love in this novel is really beautiful.

Amy Blumenfeld's writing style is direct and straightforward so this novel is easy to flow through. A great summertime read since though there is a lot of detail and description and telling of the story, the tale is full and propulsive so that readers stay engaged with waiting to learn what each character's next reaction of action will be in the sequence of events.

This is a highly readable book with a lovely ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers Spark Press for an advanced glimpse at this novel. Recommended for pre-order. Due to be published July 8th.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. The former prosecutor in me was intrigued by the legal angle of the story. But I got so much more! I enjoyed the character development, as well as the alternating between the present and the past until the reader was brought up to speed of what had occurred years prior. A poignant story of friendship, humanity and attempts to right wrongs. April, Ruby and their families give the reader much to contemplate. Highly recommend Such Good People!

Great Book! I really liked this one.
Anything talking about the depths of social injustice stemming from societal inequity, I’m here for it!
The author also talked about being rehabilitated back into society after incarceration and the emotional and physical trauma that comes along with it. There were also talks about friendship, forgiveness, and being accepted which I appreciated reading.
The character development wasn’t as strong as I would have liked it to be considering the storyline and serious certain issues were.

Thanks to NetGalley and SparkPress publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC read!

This story follows childhood best friends April and study as they navigate the tragedy of Rudy being falsely convicted of murder and the time following his release. The story is gripping and emotional and creates a beautiful perspective on the injustices many people face.

I loved the multi POV aspect of the story, getting to hear each persons perspective really adds to the overall reading experience. However I agree with a lot of others saying that some of the characters lacked the depth that the story really could’ve used. You get a lot of April’s inner emotions and thoughts but it’s really missing from some of the other important characters. The last half of the book felt very rushed and missing a lot of what could’ve made this story a 5 star read for me.

Overall I enjoyed the concept and would recommend this book! I just wish it was a bit longer and dove deeper into some of the more complex themes like Rudy’s reintegration to society and Peter’s overall experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the SparkPress for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read overall, with a story that had a lot of potential. The characters were okay for me; not super standout, but believable enough that I cared for them and wanted to see how things would play out for them in the end.

It felt a little slow or disjointed at times, and I found myself losing focus here and there. I wouldn’t say it was bad by any means — the story itself was meaningful — I just wish the pacing or structure had kept me more engaged throughout.

Overall, I’m still glad I read it, and I appreciate the chance to check it out early.

The title is a phrase we hear often in interviews after tragic events. The author has taken that intention and built a story around it. What happens when justice is not given? Can there ever be closure or forgiveness? We are introduced to April and Rudy. Two kids who met on a playground and became lifelong friends. You enjoy their grade school and high school friendship and then follow them to college. She goes to a prestigious private school surrounded by wealth and privilege. He goes to a community college. April invites him to a networking event that lands he back in NYC for the weekend and the event goes south. Rudy helps April in a 'do the right' thing moment which goes terribly wrong. The facts are skewed. The case mishandled and then Rudy is sent to prison. April is devastated but moves on eventually - marries, kids and move to Chicago. Then April learns Rudy is being released early. The timing is all wrong for her new life. We follow the fall out of his release, her new life and wonder if it can ever be like it was before that one night. I enjoyed the story. It was well paced and characters that you care about. A good summer read. Does it have a happy ending, or do we learn that our justice system is broken? Give it a read and you can find out.