The Friend 

by Dorothy Koomson 

The Friend is my first experience of Dorothy Koomson’s writing, but it will most certainly not be my last.

When we first meet Cece, she has just moved her family to Brighton in support of her husband’s promotion. She is naturally apprehensive about starting a new life in a new city and especially nervous about her children starting new schools. This is only exacerbated when she discovers one of the Mums, Yvonne, has recently been found on the school grounds (the school her sons will be attending) having been attacked and is now in a coma. Three other Mums, Maxie, Anaya, and Hazel take her under their wing, and everything seems like it will be okay after all. How wrong one can be!

I loved how this story is told from the differing points of view of each of the women. They all live very different lives, and we know quite early on that they all have their secrets. However, the author gives nothing away. The tension grows with each part of the book, and I grew more and more intrigued with each page. These are a fascinating bunch of women and I found myself completely immersed in their stories. I was desperate to find out the truth behind Yvonne’s attack and what it was they were all trying to hide. I was quite gobsmacked when I realised what had happened!

This is such a cleverly written book. A rollercoaster of emotions. It’s a story of friendship, lies, infidelity, desperation, and deceit.

The very end sent shivers down my spine.

I very much recommend!

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happy reading!