Forbidden Friends

by Anne-Marie Conway

From the author of Butterfly Summer comes the unforgettable story of a new friendship, a terrible tragedy and long-buried lie.

When Lizzie and Bee meet on holiday, it feels as if they were always meant to be friends. Escaping their parents and exploring, everything seems perfect in the hot summer sun. As the two girls grow closer however, strange questions rise to the surface… Is Lizzie an only child? Why has Bee’s dad disappeared? And why, as the holiday comes to an end, are the two girls forbidden from seeing each other again? Could one dark secret from the past hold the answer? Could one fateful night keep Lizzie and Bee apart…for ever?

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, Friendship

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Anne-Marie Conway is a primary school teacher specialising in drama, but also runs her own children’s theatre company, Full Circle. She lives in London with her husband, two young sons and two eccentric cats, Betty and Boo. Anne-Marie has written a number of humorous sketches which have been performed by her theatre company, but "Phoebe finds her voice", shortlisted for the inaugural Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition, is her first novel.

Reviews

[Paige Bookdragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's so cheesy it beats the Cheerios.

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story for older tweens. It's about friendship, family, and falling out of those. There is a secret that Bee's mum and Nan won't tell her, and where has her Dad gone? Bee is pleased to meet Lizzie, a like-minded soul who becomes a firm friend in a short space of time. But they are suddenly banned from seeing each-other. Why?
As Bee and Lizzie work out the mystery, they bring their families back together and also rebuild them from within.

[Najlaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is half set in London and half set in Spain. I enjoy books that take place in England. Two girls Lizzie and Bee meet in Spain when their families travel for the break. The two families are going through difficult time and hiding secrets from the girls.

The book is written from the two girls point of view. It was meant for teens and maybe that's why I did not enjoy it, but it wasn't bad. I wished when the secrets were revealed that they'd been something that the reader wouldn't be expecting but yes it was quite predictable.

[Beware this the below contains a spoiler]

And maybe since it was meant for teens, it was quite light and they made it seem like people can change and heal quickly. I was disappointed that they made the father change so quickly for the better. People with anger issues do not change in a day and a night especially when they carried that anger for 10 years.

[Serendipity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
This is the first book I’ve read by Anne-Marie Conway and it most definitely won’t be last. It’s one of those stories that plays on your senses allowing you to transport to another time. I was instantly taken back to recent holidays abroad, slathered in sun cream with a book in one hand and an ice cream in another.

Told from alternate viewpoints, the book introduces us to lovely girls Bee and Lizzie, each quite lonely in their own way, quite opposite in their characteristics, yet they still embark on a new friendship while holidaying with their families. Bee, the reader, was my favourite, especially when she packed her suitcase with reading material for the holiday. As the holiday nears an end, they realise their lives are more entwined than originally thought, each struggling to understand why they are forbidden to ever see each other.

As the story progresses the mystery of the past slowly unfolds and the truth finally comes out. I was completely absorbed in the story as I waited rather impatiently to find out what happened all those years ago.

This book has some strong themes in it. It looks very closely at bullying and both girls experience it in varying degrees. They both support each other as they try to confront the people who bully them. The book also examines family relationships and how easily they can unravel. Each family was suffering due to the events that were clearly an accident.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book and it will definitely be one I will be recommending. Ideal for the 9 to 12 age bracket, especially children dealing with friendship issues. Honestly a good summer holiday read.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to meet the author of the book and get it signed at my local book awards. I’d read her first book, Butterfly Summer and loved it. So, I bought this one. I can think of three words to describe this book: Amazing, Dramatic and Mysterious… The first sentence slightly drew me in and the storyline was intriguing and imaginative. I felt that it dragged on a bit though. Overall though, a good book, 4/5 stars...

[Stardust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bee and Lizzie meet on holiday in Spain. But why is Bee's mum getting strange letters, is her dad really just staying at Uncle Ron's and if so, why doesn't he want to come on holiday too? LIzzie, however, is very different. She visits Spain every single year. But her parents are hiding how her brother, Luke, really died.

Is it connected?

This book was amazing and I couldn't stop reading it for a single second!
Brilliant (x100000000)!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really really susprising! The covers really bright and bold, but it also covers a dark topic. I loved the main characters it this book, and the duel POV. Sometimes I did get confused between both of the characters, but other than that I liked it. Highly recommend to people who enjoy mystery and contemporary.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book, LOVED the way it balanced out the two families in the eyes of the two daughters! Good read,would definitely recommend :)

[Rachel Huskisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book for young teens, great story with a few twists and turns.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

read when i was very young but i remember LOVING

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I overall thought the book was amazing. It took you on an emotional roller coaster trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I was intrigued by the plot and couldn't put it down so I read it in a day. I have to say that I am a tad disappointed that they didn't elaborate further into Bailey and Bee (I won't add anything on that topic due to spoilers) I would 100% recommend to anyone around the age of 12-14. :)

[el ⁎༄ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was so good!!!! Always full of surprises and was written in a beautiful way!!! I recommend this book to children the ages of 9-12. After reading this book I went to my friends and said "you have to read this book, it's SO good"

Any ways I definitely recommend this!!!!!!

[Domčo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taak dočítané :)
Príbeh zaujímavý, koniec tiež a navyše som sa naučil množstvo nových slov, takže šupa :)

[Sarah]

Teenage mystery but good x

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably would have enjoyed this more when I was younger.

[Victoria Constant · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I actually had time to sit quietly and read this book, I found myself unable to put it down. In fact, I read it in its entirety within a day... if you don’t include the first two chapters 🤣

Did I see the twist? For once I did not. My mind went on a completely different path and I loved that. The book was a very easy read, and very easy to follow despite being in two viewpoints which highlights Anne-Marie Conway’s skills as a writer.

It’s a brilliant novel I feel young teenagers would adore, while learning the importance of honesty and family. It’s easy to sympathise with the characters and route for Bee and Lizzie - the two protagonists.

So why, you might ask, did I rate this 3 stars? Quite simply I give this rating because whilst I did enjoy the novel and would recommend to a younger audience. I wasn’t left with the emotional turmoil I get from other novels I love so much more. I wouldn’t read this again but I am glad I took the time to read it now. I like it, but I did not love it.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery in Forbidden Friends is not really a mystery at all. I'd be surprised if it takes you more than 5 or 6 chapters to figure it out. Fortunately, the mystery of why Bee and Lizzie are "Forbidden Friends" is not the main reason to read this book. The main reason is the clever storytelling, the chemistry between the two girls, and the tension that builds as the story progresses, leading to a satisfying ending.

The story is narrated by both Bee and Lizzie, with each taking turns reciting her story. Sometimes they recall their own experiences, sometimes they recount their interactions with the other from their different perspectives, and often they pick up the story where the other left off. After meeting on holiday in Spain and becoming close friends, they are no longer allowed to see each other due to a massive argument that took place between their families long ago. They refuse to stop until they can get back together and figure out what led to the rift and made their parents so unhappy.

[August Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a few of the details of this book were predictable from fairly early on, but I liked the way they were done. There were, of course, a few hints, things the characters saw, heard, or said, that made me go "Oh, that's what it is".
This book was pretty cute. The friendship between Lizzie and Bee was quite sweet, and also very nostalgic with the way kids that age are able to just talk to a stranger and befriend them. Bee's name being "Bee" was pretty special, too.
Overall, this was a nice little read, a fairly easy book.

I would possibly warn people about the scenes with Lizzie's dad, though, as he can be a bit scary. There are some clearly abusive structures happening in that family, as well as hints, at times, that it could get worse. For those worried (not spoiler, but overviewing), the worst it gets is that he yells a lot, a couple of "he moved and we think he might hit someone" moments, a lot of anger, extremely possessive and controlling over his wife and daughter and their actions

[Simone McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book that was again much like its predecessor Butterfly Summer was full of emotional turmoil, suspense while also being a very heartwarming read, and ultimately bittersweet. Seeing the perspectives of the two girls was very intriguing, as you got an insight into both their lives which where so different yet so similar in how they both felt alone and experiencing bullying in some way or another. The twists and turns also made it all the more interesting, along with the unpredictability!

[Emma Boots · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book at the school library and so I didn’t read it for about a year until I had to and when I did I was so intrigued. I love how both sides of the novel twist in and how it covers dark topics in a way even young children could understand.
I also thought the cover was great which is something I don’t normally talk about but it was so good how it links in with the end.
I adored the storyline, the romance and drama it was great for something I just picked up at the library.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good. I loved how Bee and Lizzie met and I could really picture the settings in my head (which I like to do when I read). This wasn’t much description about what the characters looked like and I wasn’t a huge fan of how the author writes. At times I felt really scared for Lizzie and I loved the twists at the end.

[Natasha Giuliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

another great book from this author. Preferred Butterfly Summer though, this story progresses through chapters being told by two characters, Bee's perspective and Lizzie's.
touches upon lots of serious social issues, death of family members, family break down, bullying and how lies cause ripples of pain.

[Danni Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! It includes lots of plot twists and keeps you engaged in the story and when you think the plot ends there another plot twist happens which i just loved! It also includes huge secrets and lies!

This author in particular is one of my favs!

[Cute Rabbit · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not ok.I mean it was 2.5 tho.I hardly even read like nearly 3/4 of the book.I think it’s just because I wasn’t that interested in the book the book that much.It just wasn’t that interesting .Thats all I have to say.🤐

[Keira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Gripping and mysterious!

[Georgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book and a very heart warming story

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down, thoroughly enjoyed the storyline there were some emotional moments as well as on the edge of my seat shocked moments.

Loved the ending.

[Ella Harte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very predictable.

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t really remember it tbh

[Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the three books i've read by Anne-Marie this was probably the second in the list. It was a great book really, with an interesting ending. The author was also very kind indeed.