When Jackie’s best friend Philippa announces she is going to split from her husband Jackie starts worrying about what it will mean for their friendship as over the years as couples the two families have been intertwined and she doesn’t want anything to change. As they all start to navigate the new normal and with Phillips’s daughter and her daughters best friend about to get married the last thing she expects is to find her daughter in bed with her Philippas ex husband. As she struggles to make sense of the fact a man that has been in been in her daughters life since birth is now her partner she struggles to face her friend and when the truth comes out it’s her that her friend blames. Along with the hurt Jackie starts to worry that some secrets only a best friend can know will start to come out as well, this is an honest look at family dynamics and friendships that broke me a little by the end but a great read!

This is a powerful read that skilfully encompasses the emotions of all the characters without judgement. I raced through this book, wanting to know how it would end. It’s a great premise, with Jackie, Ian, Philippa and Andrew all being best friends forever then Philippa deciding she wants out and she and Ian part, only for him later to hook up with Scarlett, Jackie and Ian’s daughter. I’m totally with Jackie, her daughter comes first, but I can really identify with the tug of ‘whose side are you on?’ daughter or best friend, and the awful dilemma that Jackie is in. The fact that Philippa knows a dark secret of Jackie’s is another emotional layer to the story. An excellent read.

I really like Kerry Fisher's books. She's a good writer, a great storyteller, and very insightful about women's lives and feelings.

Jackie and Ian have had a long and supportive friendship with Philippa and Andrew - their now adult daughters, Scarlett and Abigail, are also friends. Indeed, Scarlett's going to be chief bridesmaid at Abigail's wedding.

When Philippa decides her marriage isn't working for her anymore, it sparks a chain of events and a new relationship, leading to the breakdown of the friendship. But Philippa knows things about Jackie that no one else knows - things that can threaten her life as she knows it.

For some reason this story didn't engage me quite as much as some of Kerry Fisher's other books - but it was still a good read.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. This was a compelling read about friendships and family, and I was wholeheartedly invested throughout. Fisher created a cast of believable, engaging, flawed characters and created great compassion for all of them. The moral dilemma at the heart of the story was skillfully written, no character was really in the wrong, and all perspectives were understandable. The element of mental health was also well done. The exploration of friendship loss was thoughtfully tackled, as the story progressed, the last few chapters left me close to tears, and the ending was perfect. I am keen to read more by this author.

Your daughter falls in love with your best friend’s husband. Whose side are you on?
THE QUEEN OF TWISTS IS BACK! with an unforgettable read full of twists that left me shocked. I raced through this book in one sitting. Excellent plot line and delivery. I may have whiplash from the never-ending twists and turns. Read this in one day. I could not put it down. Highly recommend! Well done Kerry!

I’ll come clean up front that I’m one of Kerry Fisher’s super fans. Whose Side Are You On? joins the list of being among my favourite books ever.

It’s rare that, as a reader, I feel so invested in the emotions of multiple characters, rather than just rooting for the main protagonist. I felt for each of them: Jackie, the narrator of most of the chapters, her daughter Scarlett, whose voice we hear in several other chapters, Jackie’s husband Ian, Philippa, her long time ‘closer than a sister’ friend, Philippa’s husband Andrew and their daughter Abigail.

The two families’ lives are closely intertwined, with Scarlett and Abigail following their mothers’ lead by also becoming best friends. So when Philippa decides she no longer wants to be married to Andrew, the blow affects each of them. But that’s nothing compared to the devastating fall-out when Scarlett and Andrew fall in love.

I found myself sympathising with each of the characters, even while sometimes struggling to understand their point of view; even when I felt they were being unreasonable and I disagreed with the way they reacted. That takes skilful writing.

No spoilers, so all I'll say is, the shocks keep coming! Right to the very end. I don’t cry easily, but my goodness, my eyes were moist, my chin wobbled, I was gasping for breath.

I’m used to excellent storytelling from Kerry Fisher. There's not one of her books I haven't loved. This one is exceptionally well-crafted.

When you unexpectedly meet your adult daughter's new partner, it can be a very pleasant experience. However, for Ian and Jackie, it feels like a cold shower when they see who it is – none other than the ex-husband of Jackie’s best friend, Philippa...

Jackie suddenly finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, she wants to support her daughter in her choice, even if she doesn’t approve. On the other hand, she wants to be honest with Philippa. Whose side is she really on?

I thought this was a brilliantly written story, full of emotion, and it really gave me something to think about.
I asked myself whose side I would be on, and I found the answer very quickly. My child would always be able to count on my loyalty, especially if I could see she was truly happy—happier than I had ever seen her—even if the people around her thought the relationship was completely unacceptable. Of course, I should mention that I don’t have a secret that a friend could expose, but even if I did, I believe I’d have to be mature enough to own up to it and face the consequences.

I also understood Jackie and thought Andrew was a fantastic character. I was less impressed with Ian and Philippa’s behavior, and Scarlett was sometimes a bit too quick to judge. Sometimes you need to put yourself in someone else’s shoes before you throw the first stone...

To me, this is a fine piece of writing, and it truly touched me. It was beautiful, emotional, and captivating. 5 stars!

Thank you

Jackie and Phillipa have been friends since primary school, with their husbands and 2 daughters they've celebrated Birthdays, Christmases, holidays and everything in between. But when Phillipa decides that she wants a divorce from Andrew things become very complicated indeed. Not only not wanting to take sides in their decision, Jackie and Ian have the awful quandory when their daughter, Scarlett and Andrew embark on a relationship.
This book is pure genius, one minute I was feeling for Jackie, the next feeling sorry for Phillipa. The decisions made gave such moral dilemmas, what would you do in each situation. There is no right or wrong as you know you're going to hurt someone. For Jackie, it's made more difficult when Phillipa knows something about the past that's always been a secret from Scarlett. Will the presents events mean the past comes back.
I raced through this book, I just couldn't put it down.

Kerry Fisher, Whose Side Are You On? Bookouture, August 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Kerry Fisher is so adept at combining humour, drama, heartbreak and, for the reader, conflicting loyalties. For, as for the characters in the novel, whose side should we be on? Phillipa, Andrew, Jackie and Ian are long term friends who holiday together, celebrate together, and look on joyfully as their daughters, Scarlett, and Abigail also bond. Like Jackie and Phillipa, whose friendship is of over fifty years duration, it is expected that the two will continue this history.

However, Phillipa is tired of Andrew and secretly contemplating divorce. Thirty-year-old Scarlett has had numerous failed liaisons and is ready for a loving supportive relationship. Abigail is planning her wedding, complete with her father walking her down the aisle in a white concoction, and Scarlett as her bridesmaid. Jackie is to make the wedding cake and support Phillipa through the planning and celebration. Andrew and Ian are, as usual in Phillipa and Jackie’s relationship, the source of frustration, loving criticism and humorous asides. However, hovering over the interactions between the friends is Phillipa’s determination to change the foursome’s future. Dogging Jackie is her own thirty-year-old secret, partly known only to Ian and wholly known to Phillipa.

When the secrets are exposed, friendships seemingly strong, waver. Some seem irreparably broken. The impact on all the protagonists is profound, but none more so than for the friendship between Jackie and Phillipa. The wealth of understanding in the portrayal of the two women is an important part of the novel. Their relationship has endured throughout the years that Phillipa has known Jackie’s secret, but as Jackie makes her choice it crumbles along with their marriages with disastrous effects.

The examination of almost tragic motherhood and the comparison between Scarlett and Abigail, with its questions about what makes success, are powerful stories. Jackie acknowledges her shortcomings in overwhelming sorrow, at the same time, there are marvellous comic moments when she flourishes her volatility. Although it leaves questions about how this formerly tight knit group will survive the ending is satisfying.

Release: August 1, 2025
Author: Kerry Fisher
Publisher: Bookoture

Rating: 4 ⭐

While visiting her daughter Scarlett for a birthday lunch, she is stunned to discover that Scarlett is in a relationship with Andrew—her best friend Philippa’s husband. Despite the 25-year age gap, the couple insists they’re in love. For decades, she and Philippa have been inseparable, their families deeply entwined. Philippa had confided in her about the decision to leave Andrew, a revelation that hurt everyone involved, but she remained by her friend’s side.

Now, seeing Andrew with her daughter throws everything into chaos. Her husband is shocked, her loyalties are painfully divided, and Scarlett begs her to keep the relationship a secret from Philippa. Scarlett believes this is true love. But protecting her daughter may mean betraying her oldest friend—and risking the exposure of a dark secret Philippa knows about her, one that could tear her own family apart if it ever came to light. She’s left asking herself: whose side is she really on?

What a powerful and emotional read. From the very first page, the story grips tightly and refuses to let go. Every twist and turn lands with intensity, pulling the reader deeper into the tangled relationships and impossible choices. It’s one of those rare books that demands to be devoured in a single sitting—chores, meals, everything else forgotten. The writing is breathtaking, and the emotional resonance lingers long after the final page. A truly unforgettable novel—absolutely a standout favorite.

Favorite quote:
“The belonging to someone without having to try, that glorious freedom to be any old self, knowing that who you really were would never stop the other person loving you, never make them leave you.”

Wow, this is good! A novel that packs punch after punch, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a tale of deception, love and secrets, I just didn't know what to think or where it would go at times. Really well written and I loved it.

If you are looking for a modern day story that has some scandalous drama then this is the novel for you. How would a mother react when their own daughter was dating not only twice her age but also the ex husband of her best friend? As someone who has never had children this would be difficult because it would involve taking sides and the last thing I would want to do is step on the toes of someone who has been a friend for a long time. Overall despite the difficult subject this book was a very interesting read.
Our focus on the book is a woman named Jackie who has been friends with Philippa for nearly fifty years. Even their daughters are best friends. However, Philippa and her husband Andrew drift apart and decide to call it quits. However to make matters worse Jackie's daughter Scarlett decides to take up with Andrew. Suddenly Jackie is caught in the middle with trying to be supportive to her daughter and trying to be loyal to her best friend.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

An emotional story. And true to life, wouldn't be the first time there was a romance between an older man and a younger woman. But would you accept the relationship if it was the ex husband of your oldest friend and your daughter?
Very difficult for a parent to come to terms with. But as I have learned, through a long life, your children come first. And quite honestly, the more you tell them that they shouldn't do something, the more stubborn they will be.
I couldn't put this book down, I wanted to see how it ended. How the relationship turned out in the end.
Such sadness as well.

I do recommend this for those that love a family drama.

Wow wow wow! What a rollercoaster of emotions! This book is really full of them. I felt for all the characters, they are definitely relatable to real life.
Lots of shocks in this book and plenty of tears but what a wonderful book.

Wow this book is bizarre. Where should a mother's loyalty lie. It gets tested in this book by her daughter. Should she tell her best friend that her daughter is with her ex?