When We Were Friends

by Nancy Yeager

They were best friends. Sisters of the heart. Partners in crime. Until they got caught...
Five years ago, Frannie Willets committed grand larceny to help her best friend, Lexi Maddox, escape an awful situation. Now paroled and prospectless, Frannie needs to disappear from her dead

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Friendship, Fiction

308 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

I spent my early years longing to be an English countryside vet thanks to James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small series, and an adventurist archaeologist like George Lucas's Indiana Jones character. After studying veterinary pre-med and earning an anthropology degree, I realized my true passion is story in all its forms.

When I'm not writing, reading, or binge-watching stories, I'm often pursuing a physical challenge like studying Krav Maga or aspiring to achieve the perfect crow pose. I also spends her time drinking too much coffee, not enough red wine, and just the right amount of bourbon.

I live in Maryland with my fabulous family, which includes some very spoiled rescue cats.

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Frannie Willets drove north on Indiana State Road 3, hoping for a sinkhole, a spring flood, a twenty-car pileup, anything to keep her from the reunion with her ex-best friend.

ABOUT 'WHEN WE WERE FRIENDS': They were best friends. Sisters of the heart. Partners in crime. Until they got caught…

Five years ago, Frannie Willets committed grand larceny to help her best friend, Lexi Maddox, escape an awful situation. Now paroled and prospectless, Frannie needs to disappear from her dead-end life. To do so, she’ll need her share of the stolen money that Lexi has been hiding all these years. But Lexi has other plans.

By all appearances, Lexi is thriving, but in truth, nothing in her life is going according to plan. She can’t carry a pregnancy to term, her sweet stepdaughter hates her, and even the family’s new rescue dog knows she’s a failure. Lexi’s only path to happiness is making amends with the friend she dearly misses. But the only thing Frannie wants from Lexi is cash.

Out of desperation, Lexi offers Frannie all the money, with one catch: Frannie must stick around for one month. Stranded in their suffocating small town, Frannie gets tangled up in Lexi’s issues, her mother’s questionable dating life, a lonely kid’s desperate attempts to find friends, and a high-school crush’s fantasies about what could have been. Suddenly, leaving doesn’t look as easy as it once did. But when an old enemy surfaces, Frannie realizes her staying endangers everyone she loves. And even though she might have found her heart’s true home, there’s no guarantee she can keep it.

MY THOUGHTS: When We Were Friends grabbed my interest at the start, and other than the odd one or two moments where it wavered, never completely let me go.

Frannie and Lexi were the sort of friends who were inseparable as kids. They had a shared love of books and reading that set them apart from the other girls in their class. They stayed close right up to college when circumstances sent them in different directions. But when Lexi finds herself in a situation she can't handle alone, it's Frannie she turns to for help.

I enjoyed the way the timelines alternated between the present day and the past, so that the friends' backstory is slowly revealed. Each woman, as an adult, is capable of being manipulative to get what she wants, and each is fragile in her own way. The problem is, what each woman wants is vastly different to the other.

I'm ambivalent about the romance element of this story. It just didn't sit quite right with me, and yet Seth was necessary to the storyline. There are a couple of sex scenes in the book, but they are not particularly explicit.

I liked When We Were Friends, but didn't love it. I think I would have liked this more had it concentrated on the two women rebuilding their friendship, rather than throwing a couple of other genres into the mix. When We Were Friends is a quick and easy read.

Lovely cover art and pertinent to the plot.

⭐⭐⭐.6

#WhenWeWereFriendsNancyYeager #NetGalley

I: @redadeptpublishing

T: @RAPublishing

#contemporaryfiction #friendship #romance #smalltownfiction

THE AUTHOR: I spent my early years longing to be an English countryside vet thanks to James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small series, and an adventurist archaeologist like George Lucas's Indiana Jones character. After studying veterinary pre-med and earning an anthropology degree, I realized my true passion is story in all its forms.

When I'm not writing, reading, or binge-watching stories, I'm often pursuing a physical challenge like studying Krav Maga or aspiring to achieve the perfect crow pose. I also spend my time drinking too much coffee, not enough red wine, and just the right amount of bourbon.

I live in Maryland with my fabulous family, which includes some very spoiled rescue cats.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Red Adept Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of When We Were Friends by Nancy Yeager for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five years ago, Frannie Willets committed grand larceny to help her best friend, Lexi Maddox, escape from an awful situation. Now paroled and prospectless, Frannie needs to disappear from her dead-end life. To do so she'll need her share of the stolen money that Lexi has been hiding all these years. But Lexi has other plans.

I was quickly pulled into this story of friendship. Frannie is out on parole and can't wait for the day when she will finally be a free woman. She plans to leave Indonesia and start afresh somewhere new. But Lexi wants Frannie to stay. But can their friendship survive everything they've been through? This is a well written book, and I liked the authors writing style. The characters are well developed and likeable. This is my first read by the author, but it won't be my last.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RedAdeptPublishing and the author #NancyYeager for my ARC of #WhenWeWereFriends in exchange for an honest review.

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your friend asks you to read her new book titled, When We Were Friends, there's a moment of "uh-oh" what did I do wrong? Turns out nothing as the book, while about enduring friendship, is about two former best friends now living different lives. Frannie, recently released from prison, just wants to disappear and start a new life, and Lexi, who has been avoiding dealing with her demons, is determined to become best friends with Frannie again.

Nancy and I have been friends for over 20 years and we write in very different genres. She writes romance, women's fiction, romantic suspense and historical romance. I write fantasy and science-fiction. Yet, writing is writing and friendship is a verb - it takes work and effort to make time for friends and her book reminded me of that.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember those friendship bracelets we made when we were younger? They were a gift we gave to our bestie as a symbol of our friendship and represented the bond that was strong enough to overcome the distance.

The friends in this story are well-armed with good intentions. Can their friendship survive the test of time?

Frannie Willets and her sister-in-crime, Lexi Maddox, got caught and Frannie ended up doing the time in prison for grand larceny. Five years later Frannie comes back to claim her share of the money they stole before she hightails it outta Dodge to start a new life. However, leaving isn’t as easy; heart strings are pulled, and her sister-in-crime has stipulations on handing over the money. After all Frannie has done to help Lexi, is it fair that she asks for more from Frannie? Author Nancy Yeager explores what happens when besties want different things from each other.

Planning on a forever friendship is easy when things are laidback and simple. It’s so much more difficult as we get older and we allow things to come between us and the friendship. Author Nancy Yeager takes readers on a journey of Frannie and Lexi’s friendship to discover if their bracelets last longer than their friendship or vice versa.

Yeager’s timeline is taut, and readers will appreciate the highlight only reel of the girls’ lives. The characters are well-crafted and the appeal to readers’ emotions is high. A new author to me, Nancy Yeager is now one I’ll watch out for in the future.

I was gifted this advance copy by Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Kim Loves Reading! · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do for your best friend? Would you go to prison for her? This is my first book by this author but not the last. It is fast read, with twists and turns and community coming together to protect one another. The author does a great job of character building with both women. You start to see things threw their eyes, and wonder if you would do the same thing for a close friend or sister?

After five years in prison Frannie just wants the money, she is owed and move forward with what's left of her life. However, Lexi her friend went to prison for and also the one holding the money she wants, asks her stay in town where she lives for one month. Lexi only wants to make amends for the friend she misses but fears the only thing her friend wants is the money.

While Frannie is in town, she is forced to face the past that she is desperate to run from. She gets tangled up in in Lexi's new life and sees she is not the only one that suffered. Can she put the pieces back together and move on from the past or can she face it and learn how to be a friend again?

Thank you to NetGalley and Red Adept Publishing for a copy of this book for my honest review.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel storyline set against a number of genres.

Largely a novel about friendship and betrayal, but there is also crime, romance, drama, and family issues. The book is told over two timelines - then and now. I found it easy to follow, and for the most part enjoyable characters and outcomes.

A tad too many genres for one read for me, and a sweetly finished arc. Overall great writing keeps it together nicely, and a good holiday read.

[Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When We Were Friends had my interest from the first page, It was a story of two friends who were inseparable as kids and continued to be friends until college when circumstances caused them to drift.

The story was told in parallel with the past and present timelines as the character’s stories are revealed. There were a few different things going on in this book including a romance element which felt a bit off, but I realized was necessary to the plot.

This was a well-written novel and I really liked the style of this book. This is my first read by Yeager and I will definitely be picking up more of her books!

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has such a great mix of suspense and heart-warming drama. I could relate to Lexi trying to make amends with a dear friend, as I have recently gone through that myself. Although the friendship is an integral part of the plot, the story reads very much like a romantic mystery. Highly recommend you pick this one up!


Thank you @Katerockbooktours and @nancyyeagerauthor for having me on tour and a gifted ebook.

[Barbara Conrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told in dual timelines where the innocence of a childhood friendship must stand up to the rigors of adulthood and all its complicated ugliness, Yeager spins a bold tale of truth and lies and peppers it with a passion that will leave you breathless.

[Ainun Zahra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original Rating : ⭐⭐⭐.25 / 5.

It started off really well. The first portion was full of mystery, a lot of heartbreaks and redemptions. It mainly takes place in 2016 when Francesca gets out of the prison on parole after serving four long years. She goes to meet Lexi, her childhood best friend who she also protected at the cost of her own life, to collect her due and disappear from the known world for good. But Lexi can't just let her go. She's desperate to rebuild their friendship and bring happiness to Frannie's life. What happens after they both meet changes the direction of their lives forever.


'When We Were Friends' is a pretty good read minus the unrealistic parts. The characters are likable; the storyline intriguing but sometimes their behaviours were too immature and over the top for me to digest. Seth is my most favourite character, only second to Frannie. She knew what she wanted, what she was endangering and yet pursued her plans if it meant keeping her loved ones save. Seth was probably written in a way to make readers fall in love with him and I did. He is cool, calm and collected and I just love how charismatic he is. Rob is nice once you get to know him. He's overprotective but everyone who went through what he did, would be. The only person I didn't like so much was Lexi and with proper reasons.


The timeline changes a couple of times that gives us a basic idea on their past. There were a lot going on and I wish Nancy had focused on the very tragedy and executed that bit with more depth. The ending was unsatisfactory and it took away a lot of good feelings that I had when I first started the book. To sum up, it's a lovely read, especially for people like me who love heartaches but not one I would pick up for a second time.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the quick look at the summary, I thought this might be more of the thriller/suspense genre. It isn't people!! And my thinking that is all my fault. So while I was annoyed that the suspense part seemed so lowkey, I should have been appreciating the story of Frannie and Lexi's unlikely friendship. Told in two timelines, I liked the way the current timeline moved forward while the timeline in the past moved backward. I thought it provided a sweet look at how these two women came together in their childhood and why they are such strong friends. If you aren't looked for the thriller twist that never comes, you will enjoy this cozy predictable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Red Adept Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Joan Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taunt, intricate and ultimately warm-hearted, When We Were Friends is one of the best girlfriend friendship stories I’ve read. Grabbing me from the first sentence, my curiosity quickly morphed to caring for Frannie, a parolee just freed from prison who served time to cover up a crime for her BFF Lexi. Frannie has a plan to see Lexi one last time, tie up loose ends and disappear—only to find the past doesn’t clean up quite so neatly, especially when a horrific enemy plots revenge. Author Yeager has a knack for drawing characters with just the right snark hellbent on covering up their vulnerability. And Yeager’s romance chops are on full titillating display when Francie is re-introduced to an old crush. Escalating danger, accelerating romance—When We Were Friends is one fun precipitous ride! I highly recommend it.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a novel to pick up and get lost in. The story of Frannie and Lexi is one of a deep friendship trying to find its way back. Frannie, just weeks from parole, finally meets with Lexi. Four years in prison knowing she failed her best friend, Frannis is ready to disappear but first she must get something from Lexi. She also runs into Seth, a long time love crush. He can mess up her plans.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ADDICTING STARS!

ENTICING!!

Nancy Yeager delivers on this one! I just opened these pages and instantly became HOOKED! This fast paced read had me ADDICTED.

When We Were Friends is filled with amazing characters. They were so well developed and likable. They felt real which made me become so attached.

When We Were Friends brought out so many emotions in me. This was a fantastic read that I can’t wait to recommend to my friends!

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked reading this story of Frannie and Lexi. This book hits the Women's Fiction by dealing with the issues that women face under a very, very interesting premise. I liked this book and easily got lost in it.

[Andrea Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I teeter between 2.5 and 3 🌟.

This story was one I struggled through. It never fully grabbed my attention and I realized I was bored through most of it.

I will say that the premise is awesome- a point of view I can't necessarily relate to but one that I enjoyed because it helped boarden my vision...

But this book just didn't give me any feelings. No twists. No excitement. A little heat but not a lot. But it should come with a trigger warning ⚠️

I think the writing was decent- I just kept waiting for something that never came. I also found the main conflict to be kinda absurd but I did enjoy the growing family aspect/BFF highlight.

[Mary Christoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to protect a friend? That question is the central focus of Nancy Yeager's novel that follows Frannie and Lexi, 2 best friends since elementary school. Both friends are eventually separated for years before reuniting, and Yeager provides enough mystery, danger, and romance in order to keep interest throughout. Overall, I loved this book!

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC.

[Aysia Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intriguing!

Had me hooked from the very first chapter.

The main characters were well ingrained and I found it easy to form a connection with them.

A book about friendship, love and trust and the levels you’d go to save all of it.

Would recommend and would probably read again. (I don’t generally re-read books)

[Robyn_reads1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

When We Were Friends by Nancy Yeager is a story about friendship. I always gravitate towards books about friendship because I think it is such an essential part of life. I loved reading about Lexi and Frannie. I wanted their friendship to overcome the circumstances they had been in. There were many emotions throughout and the way this was written with dual timelines allowed me to become attached to these characters. I highly recommend this one!
Thank you @katerockbooktours for having me on this tour!

Synopsis: Five years ago, Frannie Willets committed grand larceny to help her best friend, Lexi Maddox, escape an awful situation. Now paroled and prospectless, Frannie needs to disappear from her dead-end life. To do so, she’ll need her share of the stolen money that Lexi has been hiding all these years. But Lexi has other plans.

By all appearances, Lexi is thriving, but in truth, nothing in her life is going according to plan. She can’t carry a pregnancy to term, her sweet stepdaughter hates her, and even the family’s new rescue dog knows she’s a failure. Lexi’s only path to happiness is making amends with the friend she dearly misses. But the only thing Frannie wants from Lexi is cash.

Out of desperation, Lexi offers Frannie all the money, with one catch: Frannie must stick around for one month. Stranded in their suffocating small town, Frannie gets tangled up in Lexi’s issues, her mother’s questionable dating life, a lonely kid’s desperate attempts to find friends, and a high-school crush’s fantasies about what could have been. Suddenly, leaving doesn’t look as easy as it once did. But when an old enemy surfaces, Frannie realizes her staying endangers everyone she loves. And even though she might have found her heart’s true home, there’s no guarantee she can keep it.

Do you have a ride or die?

#whenwewerefriends #nancyyeager #redadeptpublishing #romanticsuspense #friendshipfiction #friendshipbracelets #pandorabracelet #bookreview #booktour #bookstagram #readers #readingtime #readersofinstagram #booksofig #bookphotography #newbooks #bookrecommendations #bookreader

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much more to this book than I realized going into it. This book examined how close friendships are and the trials and tribulations they can go through.

Five years ago Frannie committed a crime to help her friend. While they committed it together, Frannie hid Lexi’s involvement so she could have a normal happy life. After seving 4 years, Frannie is out on parole and she seeks out Lexi. Not to rekindle their friendship, but to reclaim the money that they stole and Lexi stashed. Lexi wants her friend back and strikes a bargain with her, Frannie stays for a month, then she’ll give her the cash. As the story progresses we learn that Lexi’s picture perfect life isn’t exactly that, and Frannie just desperately wants connections. When the month is up, will Frannie stay? Or will she say goodbye once and for all?

The relationship between Frannie and Lexi was beautiful. I was not a fan of the flashbacks at first, and really a few seemed unnecessary, but overall, they really did peel back the layers of how friendship starts and develops. Also, bonus points to Frannie and Lexi striking up conversations and starting their friendship based on their love to read. Loved that! This book was well developed female friendship and thought out and I completely adored it.

Special thanks to @netgally, the publishers Red Adept Publishing, and XPresso Book Tours for gifting me this published e-book in exchange for an honest review. This one is out now so check it out!

[Spiritedbookishbabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I started reading this book I had heard from other readers how they had enjoyed it. So I decided to give it a chance and I’m so glad I did because I loved it. I was hooked!! I couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down until I was at the end of the book.

[Mamadukes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frannie and Lexi become BFFs just a short while after Lexi moves to Frannie’s town in the third grade. They share everything with each other…until they don’t. Years later Frannie makes Lexi promise that she’ll keep her mouth closed about the crime they just committed and turns herself in to the police which results in a four year prison sentence. Lexi attempts to move on with her life; getting married, gaining a step-daughter and a seemingly perfect life in suburbia.
When Frannie is finally released she moves to Lexi’s little town planning to collect her half of the loot and leave as soon as her parole supervision is up. Lexi however, has other plans. She wants to rekindle their BFF status and finally have a shoulder to lean on as she lets go of some of her secrets from the past and allows the cracks to show in her perfect facade.
As loves and losers from the past enter the story, Frannie begins to find that she is not as alone in this world as she once thought. Then she has to decide whether she should stick to the plan or stick around.
This was a good coming of age story, even if delayed by a prison sentence. This was my first book by Nancy Yeager but certainly won’t be my last.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Yeager has written a story about the ultimate sacrifice Frannie made for her childhood friend, Alexi. This suspenseful novel covers the lives of these two women who grew up in a small town in Indiana. The friendship between two middle school girls brings back memories for all women in both a positive and negative light.

The present-day story presents a dilemma for each woman. Frannie has served prison time for a crime done solely to help Alexi. She is on parole and wants to reach the day she is free to leave Indiana for good and leave all her pain behind her.

Alexi wants Frannie in her life now and forever. The battle of wits between them makes this book exciting and addictive. I had to read it in as few sittings as possible. There were surprises and love written beautifully. I recommend this heartfelt story.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read! This book has started strong with intriguing layout of Frannie and Lexi, and finished it off with memorable ending. This novel is packed with copious genres that such as women literature, swooning romance, some suspense trigger warnings but not telling because then it becomes a spoiler 😜, mystery from enemies to lovers and most of all genuine friendships. I adore Frannie and her perseverance handling her crazy momma, her working hours and her infatuation to Seth. I really enjoyed reading this book, and it is really an unputdownable and easy to read. I’m not a fast-reader, and this book had me going straight for 2 nights.

Thank you Kate Rock Booktours for this wonderful opportunity to participate in your booktour. Additionally thank you Nancy Yeager and Red Adept Publishing for sending this beautiful covered book to read in exchange for my honest review! Something you guys might want to get into if you have a chance!

[Shannyn Botsford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure most of us can relate to "when we were friends" to some extent. As people grow up, they change, and friendships change too.

Two girls who are bestfriends and do almost everything together devise a plan than involves illegal activity. In the heat of the moment they think they can get away with it and it will solve their problem at hand; but impulsive behavior often gets the best of us. The two girls work together to map out a plan to steal money from Lexi's boyfriends' father to help pay for something that must be done...but shortly after the event, Frannie turns herself in and takes full ownership to the stolen money. Frannie receives a state sentence of four years incarcerated and was released under supervision of parole. A lot happens in a week let alone four years of being incarcerated during what should have been some of the best days of her life.

[Julie Pint · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of friends reunite 5 years after high school where they had promised to be best friends forever. We learn early on why Frannie and Lexi grew apart, and discover along the way what true friendship really is. The only reason that this is not a 5 star review for me is that the childhood flashbacks enter moments of cheesiness. This is the story of the outcast, and becomes an opportunity for reinvention. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frannie and Lexi have been best friends for a long time. Frannie just spent the last 4 years in prison for stealing money with Lexi for a very good reason while no one knew Lexi had something to do with it. Now Frannie's out and wants her share of the money to disappear from the life she has led and started over new.
But Lexi wants her to stay and for them to become best friends again.

I really liked the friendship between these two. I like the small town that Lexi settled in and all the people we get to meet. There is also a little bit of romance as Frannie connects with a boy she had a crush on, Seth. The writing style make that are very quick read for me.

[Karen (kmo.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @Netgalley, @katerockbooktours and the author for the #gifted copy of the book.

I absolutely love books about friendship. After all, friendships are a very big part of our lives and have the ability to impact our life in big ways. Some friendships will shape us. This book was a tale of pain, but also of forgiveness and new beginnings.

Frannie goes to jail for her best friend Lexi. She gets out and wants to recover the money that Lexi hid all those years ago for a fresh start. Things don't go exactly to plan. Frannie and Lexi both are forced to relive the past in order to move towards the future.

Definitely a book to read and keep on your shelf!

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend in need and Frannie responds by taking the blame for the theft from a powerful man. After 4 years in prison Frannie just wants to go off by herself to live the rest of her life to the best of her ability. However, Lexi, her friend that needed help has other plans. Throw in an adorable girl and her dog that tug at the heart strings. Complicate matters by throwing in a high school crush and the small town that you cannot escape from. A good break from heavier subjects.

[Rhonda Busby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Draws you in quick
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2022
This story drew me in quite quickly. From the first pages I was hooked. Frannie and Lexie have been best friends for years, but were heading in different directions for a time. Parts of the story and their relationship had me in tears, but it all reflected real life and how our relationships change. Will read again.