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The Good Friend
If only she knew what sort of friend I really am . . .
Once upon a time, Jenny and Kath were best friends. Or were they?
Their reunion after eight years apart – when Jenny pays a visit from Australia where she’s settled – begins as idyllic. But all too soon, things begin to unravel and once the past is uncovered, there’s no going back.
This beautifully written, gripping and unforgettable psychological drama about love, lies and obsession will keep you reading long in to the night.
Keep your friends close, but your best friends closer
Once upon a time, Jenny and Kath were best friends. Or were they?
Their reunion after eight years apart – when Jenny pays a visit from Australia where she’s settled – begins as idyllic. But all too soon, things begin to unravel and once the past is uncovered, there’s no going back.
This beautifully written, gripping and unforgettable psychological drama about love, lies and obsession will keep you reading long in to the night.
Keep your friends close, but your best friends closer
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2019
2 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Jo Baldwin
2 books4 followersSince completing a degree in French, Jo Baldwin has spent a large proportion of her life in France, first in Paris where she worked in magazine publishing, and later in the Languedoc where she has a holiday home. Jo now lives in Oxford with her husband and three children and works in educational publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
November 27, 2018
I'm inclined to describe this as a slow moving story but that would suggest that the story actually went somewhere. 🤨
With that being said, I never once considered not finishing this book because I HAD to know what secrets it held. What a let-down of epic proportions. What you read is what you get so don't go in looking for something hidden between the lines with this one.
This story reads more like a diary, not in format but in content, in that with a diary there is no real direction. No crescendo or climax. No mystery, no secret shocking reveal.
Although the author hints that something more sinister is happening just beneath the surface, in the end there's nothing unforeseen about this story leaving me feeling cheated out of my time more than anything else. I felt no emotional connection with the characters or their plights.
I would never classify this book as a thriller, it much more closely resembles a family drama if anything.
On the plus side, I very much enjoyed the flowery depiction of the French wine country along with it's eccentric residents. The prose was light and engaging which made for a fast read, which is always a plus.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
With that being said, I never once considered not finishing this book because I HAD to know what secrets it held. What a let-down of epic proportions. What you read is what you get so don't go in looking for something hidden between the lines with this one.
This story reads more like a diary, not in format but in content, in that with a diary there is no real direction. No crescendo or climax. No mystery, no secret shocking reveal.
Although the author hints that something more sinister is happening just beneath the surface, in the end there's nothing unforeseen about this story leaving me feeling cheated out of my time more than anything else. I felt no emotional connection with the characters or their plights.
I would never classify this book as a thriller, it much more closely resembles a family drama if anything.
On the plus side, I very much enjoyed the flowery depiction of the French wine country along with it's eccentric residents. The prose was light and engaging which made for a fast read, which is always a plus.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2018
The Good Friend by Jo Baldwin was an enjoyable read-a solid 3.5 stars.
Jenny and Kath were not only best friends as children but absolutely inseparable. Now as adults and busy living their own lives, they’ve lost touch. It also doesn’t help that Kath marries Tom, Jenny’s ex-boyfriend and love of her life. Eight years later, with Jenny seeking retirement from her elite swimming career, she travels to France to reconnect with her former best friend.
Jenny and Kath fall back into the same close relationship that they had from childhood but tensions rise as Kath starts displaying malicious behavior and seems to be suffering from some mental issues. To make matters worse, Tom and Jenny come to the realization that they never truly got over each other. No spoilers here but Jenny’s visit with Kath is filled with both tension and drama.
The Good Friend is recommended to readers that enjoy slower paced mystery/thriller books.
Jenny and Kath were not only best friends as children but absolutely inseparable. Now as adults and busy living their own lives, they’ve lost touch. It also doesn’t help that Kath marries Tom, Jenny’s ex-boyfriend and love of her life. Eight years later, with Jenny seeking retirement from her elite swimming career, she travels to France to reconnect with her former best friend.
Jenny and Kath fall back into the same close relationship that they had from childhood but tensions rise as Kath starts displaying malicious behavior and seems to be suffering from some mental issues. To make matters worse, Tom and Jenny come to the realization that they never truly got over each other. No spoilers here but Jenny’s visit with Kath is filled with both tension and drama.
The Good Friend is recommended to readers that enjoy slower paced mystery/thriller books.
November 25, 2018
The Good Friend by Jo Baldwin is a thriller full of twists and turns, secret and lies.
Jenny visits her childhood friend Kath in France. The women have not seen each other in years and to complicate matters Kath is now married to Jenny's former boyfriend Tom. The fact that Tom and Jenny still have feelings for each other makes this an uncomfortable reunion and all through the book I was waiting for something terrible to happen. An enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and RedDoor Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jenny visits her childhood friend Kath in France. The women have not seen each other in years and to complicate matters Kath is now married to Jenny's former boyfriend Tom. The fact that Tom and Jenny still have feelings for each other makes this an uncomfortable reunion and all through the book I was waiting for something terrible to happen. An enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and RedDoor Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2019
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Jenny and Kath have been best friends since they were teenagers attending the same school in the UK. They were as thick as thieves. Then Jenny moved with her father to Australia to concentrate on her swimming career which had earned her three gold medals and the two hadn’t seen each other in eight years.
Since then Kath had gotten married and move to France and now had a young daughter Rosa. Jenny and her father have never really seen eye to eye and during one particular argument about Jenny wanting to return to the UK he shouts ‘Good thing I listened to that friend of yours and moved us out here.’ Jenny wants to know what he means but he won’t say any more.
Deciding she needs to know the truth Jenny decides to stop at Kath’s house on the way to the UK and find out what her father meant. Kath is happy to see her and the two soon become best buddies again but underneath the surface, something just doesn’t feel right.
Tom, Kath’s husband isn’t very happy to see Jenny though as Jenny and Tom used to be a couple until she moved to Australia. With the truth coming out could Kath be hiding more than the words she told to Jenny’s dad?
The Good Friend is author Jo Baldwin’s debut novel and what a novel it is. The writing is perfect and flows naturally and absorbs you into the world of two people who have been through a lot and yet have managed to stay friends, even with the distance apart and Kath marrying Jenny’s ex.
From the moment the two reconnect you get the sense that something is not quite right with Kath and through snippets of information from their childhood you start to see that this is a woman that didn’t have the best upbringing and often felt over-shadowed or left out.
As the book progressed and you become more entangled in not only the life of the women but with Tom and little Rosa too. There are times when you will feel unsettled by Kath’s behaviour and question whether she is or ever was Jenny’s friend. She is very callous and manipulative especially the way she treats her daughter sometimes.
The pace of the book is quite slow giving you a chance to fully immerse yourself in the plot and get to know each of the characters individually and enjoy the rural French countryside. There are no big surprises along the way except for the ending which has left me wondering whether Jo Baldwin is contemplating writing a sequel.
Jenny and Kath have been best friends since they were teenagers attending the same school in the UK. They were as thick as thieves. Then Jenny moved with her father to Australia to concentrate on her swimming career which had earned her three gold medals and the two hadn’t seen each other in eight years.
Since then Kath had gotten married and move to France and now had a young daughter Rosa. Jenny and her father have never really seen eye to eye and during one particular argument about Jenny wanting to return to the UK he shouts ‘Good thing I listened to that friend of yours and moved us out here.’ Jenny wants to know what he means but he won’t say any more.
Deciding she needs to know the truth Jenny decides to stop at Kath’s house on the way to the UK and find out what her father meant. Kath is happy to see her and the two soon become best buddies again but underneath the surface, something just doesn’t feel right.
Tom, Kath’s husband isn’t very happy to see Jenny though as Jenny and Tom used to be a couple until she moved to Australia. With the truth coming out could Kath be hiding more than the words she told to Jenny’s dad?
The Good Friend is author Jo Baldwin’s debut novel and what a novel it is. The writing is perfect and flows naturally and absorbs you into the world of two people who have been through a lot and yet have managed to stay friends, even with the distance apart and Kath marrying Jenny’s ex.
From the moment the two reconnect you get the sense that something is not quite right with Kath and through snippets of information from their childhood you start to see that this is a woman that didn’t have the best upbringing and often felt over-shadowed or left out.
As the book progressed and you become more entangled in not only the life of the women but with Tom and little Rosa too. There are times when you will feel unsettled by Kath’s behaviour and question whether she is or ever was Jenny’s friend. She is very callous and manipulative especially the way she treats her daughter sometimes.
The pace of the book is quite slow giving you a chance to fully immerse yourself in the plot and get to know each of the characters individually and enjoy the rural French countryside. There are no big surprises along the way except for the ending which has left me wondering whether Jo Baldwin is contemplating writing a sequel.
May 31, 2020
So this one didn't quite work for me, I think most of my issue here was that I was expecting a psychological thriller and what I got was so far from that mark.
If I had to classify this I guess I would describe this as more romantic suspense than anything else and if I am being honest this was so slow In terms of story progression and overall excitement I was slowly losing the will.
This sold itself as one thing but the reality here was something completely different.
So let me start by saying if I was Jen I would have never gone anywhere near Tom and Kath ever again.
I wouldnt have even touched them with somebody else's barge-pole if you get my drift.
There are just some lines you don't cross and such a thing as unspoken girl code, you just don't go their end of.
But one, I suppose this story would be a non-event if that rule was adhered to and two, as Jen is a complete and utter doormat in all aspects of her life this was never going to be any different now was it?
So Tom himself was a complete and utter wet flannel and had absolutely no charisma at all, in fact, the only one person for me with any gumption or personality about them was the so-called villain of the piece Kath.
I just really can't believe all the instances Jen let lie when it came to Kath's behaviour and actions it really was ridiculous but when she turned a blind eye to a child's safety that's when things really got serious for me, you just wouldnt not when it comes to a child being placed in danger.
Still, despite this being slow and boring me and also me slightly skimming in places this was well written that I cannot fault it on.
Then came that ridiculous and improbable finale: this was up until that point a three-star read for me but the far-fetched imaginings of those final few chapters sealed the deal and pulled this down unfortunately to a two star.
This was just not really a good fit for me at all and I wish I could rate this higher than what I have.
On paper, this seemed to tick all my boxes but in actuality, it was a big fat miss.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Good Friend.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
January 26, 2019
I would say that the Good Friend by Jo Baldwin is a womens fiction book and not a thriller in anyway. For that I was bit disappointed with this book. But once I got over that it was a great read. It kept me interested right the way through. It is very well written with jumps to the past so we learn more about the relationships.
Jenny and Kath were best friends as kids. Jenny moved to Perth, Australia to concentrate on her swimming career, leaving Kath as well as the love of her life Tom behind. Now she is considering retirement and travels to the South of France to reconnect with Kath, who has now married Tom. They are setting up a hotel and she stays to help them with the opening. The 2 women fall straight back into where they left off but Jenny is starting to see another side to her friend. Old feeling for Tom are also resurfacing, making things a little tense.
Thanks to Red Door Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Jenny and Kath were best friends as kids. Jenny moved to Perth, Australia to concentrate on her swimming career, leaving Kath as well as the love of her life Tom behind. Now she is considering retirement and travels to the South of France to reconnect with Kath, who has now married Tom. They are setting up a hotel and she stays to help them with the opening. The 2 women fall straight back into where they left off but Jenny is starting to see another side to her friend. Old feeling for Tom are also resurfacing, making things a little tense.
Thanks to Red Door Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
February 12, 2019
Ominous, slick, and unnerving!
The Good Friend is a slow-burning, character-driven thriller that delves into just how much our relationships and friendships can define us and highlights just how parasitic and manipulative some of them can truly be.
The prose is edgy and tense. The characters are complex, deceptive, and vulnerable. And the plot builds steadily creating tension, suspicion, and unease as it unravels a sinister tale of friendship, love, secrets, lies, deception, jealousy, violence, and revenge.
Overall, I would have to say that The Good Friend is a brooding, malicious, atmospheric tale that kept me riveted from start to finish and had an ending that left me, in a good way, completely unsettled.
Thank you to RedDoor Publishing and Jo Baldwin for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Good Friend is a slow-burning, character-driven thriller that delves into just how much our relationships and friendships can define us and highlights just how parasitic and manipulative some of them can truly be.
The prose is edgy and tense. The characters are complex, deceptive, and vulnerable. And the plot builds steadily creating tension, suspicion, and unease as it unravels a sinister tale of friendship, love, secrets, lies, deception, jealousy, violence, and revenge.
Overall, I would have to say that The Good Friend is a brooding, malicious, atmospheric tale that kept me riveted from start to finish and had an ending that left me, in a good way, completely unsettled.
Thank you to RedDoor Publishing and Jo Baldwin for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2019
The Good Friend and I had a very on and off again relationship. It’s a read that was one I kept putting down because it couldn’t keep my interest yet, I kept going back - mostly, due to the fact that my Momma’ didn’t raise a quitter. ❤️
Sigh.... It was an ok read, it was well written but I wouldn’t consider it a thriller. It’s more of a soft and fluffy- romance that’s drizzled with some suspense. It was a slow journey but I finally finished it thanks to the stomach bug. Although, it wasn’t my cup of tea, it was still a good read. 2.5 stars
Sigh.... It was an ok read, it was well written but I wouldn’t consider it a thriller. It’s more of a soft and fluffy- romance that’s drizzled with some suspense. It was a slow journey but I finally finished it thanks to the stomach bug. Although, it wasn’t my cup of tea, it was still a good read. 2.5 stars
February 5, 2019
Positives first!!! The setting for this book is mainly in France and the descriptions of the area are wonderful, you could almost see the azure sea and the lavender fields and smell the fruit and veg market with the fresh cherries, baguettes and cheeses and at times I drifted for a few seconds imagining being there, I wonder if the author has considered travel guides as it made me want to visit, fabulous descriptive scene setting
And now for the rest!
The book is NOT a psychological thriller but more a full on romance story ( with the odd half hearted
‘Mystery’ element ) but from very early on you know exactly what will happen, ( friend marries best friends ex bf and best friend and ex bf still love each other, friend is unhinged etc ) the ending is slightly more exciting than the rest of the book, if you are waiting for twists, turns and thrills this book isn’t for you though
The 2 main characters I couldnt ‘picture in my mind ‘ and as all the characters in the book were unlikeable and one dimensional
The writing style was very much ‘and then this’ and ‘then we went’ in narrative and was repetitive and sorry to say dull, almost laborious( except the descriptions of France )
The market is saturated with books about friends that aren’t really friends and there needs to be at least one ‘stand out’ factor but sadly there isn’t any in this book
Disappointing and an unsatisfying read with blurb that is not a true reflection of the book
February 23, 2019
Jenny and Kath were once best friends. Life intervened and Jenny wound up in another country, following her swimming career. It's been 8 years and now Jenny is visiting Kath in France.
At first, everything goes really well. They catch up on all the news, but then secrets are exposed and Jenny realizes that the friendship they had wasn't what she thought it was.
This is a slow-moving tale of friendship, love, obsession and lies and secrets. It is not a thriller as such, but it did hold my interest from beginning to end. The characters are finely drawn and I really liked that the author spent time on the backstory of these two women.
Many thanks to the author / RedDoor Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological drama. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
At first, everything goes really well. They catch up on all the news, but then secrets are exposed and Jenny realizes that the friendship they had wasn't what she thought it was.
This is a slow-moving tale of friendship, love, obsession and lies and secrets. It is not a thriller as such, but it did hold my interest from beginning to end. The characters are finely drawn and I really liked that the author spent time on the backstory of these two women.
Many thanks to the author / RedDoor Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological drama. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 22, 2019
The Good Friend is billed as a thriller on some sites, but I think Amazon's genre label is much more fitting - romantic suspense. This is a slow moving, slow burn of a read which certainly isn't in a hurry to move along, and it's easy to predict exactly where the story is going. If you're looking for twists, turns and surprises then this is not the book for you as it is sorely lacking in those areas. Each of the characters blur into one another and are not discernible due to their one-dimensionality, and I just couldn't feel anything for them no matter how hard I tried.
The writing is very simplistic almost as if a child had written it and was repetitive making reading it a massive struggle. I almost gave up on a lot of occasions as I really wasn't enjoying it, but what kept me reading was the wonderful descriptions of the setting. This shows that the author has the ability to write in an engaging and compelling fashion but that didn't translate to the rest of the book. France is depicted in such a beautiful way with the sights, sounds and smells of the food markets, deep blue sea and the fields full of lavender.
Many thanks to RedDoor Publishing for an ARC.
The writing is very simplistic almost as if a child had written it and was repetitive making reading it a massive struggle. I almost gave up on a lot of occasions as I really wasn't enjoying it, but what kept me reading was the wonderful descriptions of the setting. This shows that the author has the ability to write in an engaging and compelling fashion but that didn't translate to the rest of the book. France is depicted in such a beautiful way with the sights, sounds and smells of the food markets, deep blue sea and the fields full of lavender.
Many thanks to RedDoor Publishing for an ARC.
February 19, 2019
Jenny is going home to the UK to visit her best friend, ex boyfriend and their daughter. After immigrating to Australia and winning several Olympic gold medals she's ready to hear how her bestie and boyfriend ended up married. Kath isn't the same while Tom still gives her butterflies.
While the plot wasn't original it was still a good book. Kath was a master manipulator. Her obsession with Jenny consumed her. Her husband nor daughter meant as much to Kath as Jenny did. I liked how close knit the community Kath and her family lived in. I think there should be a part two. I'd read it.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Jo Baldwin and the publisher for the ARC I received to honestly review.
While the plot wasn't original it was still a good book. Kath was a master manipulator. Her obsession with Jenny consumed her. Her husband nor daughter meant as much to Kath as Jenny did. I liked how close knit the community Kath and her family lived in. I think there should be a part two. I'd read it.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Jo Baldwin and the publisher for the ARC I received to honestly review.
February 28, 2019
If only she knew what kind of friend I really am!
THE GOOD FRIEND is the debut thriller by Jo Baldwin - however, I would use the term "thriller" loosely as it's not an edge-of-your-seat or a fast paced read. The tagline reads "Heavenly Creatures meets The Hand That Rocks the Cradle in this exciting debut novel about friendship, love and jealousy." I haven't seen "Heavenly Creatures" but I do remember "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" and it does have an element of that style to it.
It is a different style of story and several times throughout I debated about whether I could finish the book as it was really slow moving to get going. I mean, there are slow starts and there slooooow starts. However, despite my apprehension I'm glad I stuck with it because it was a reasonably good read, but not exceptional. But don't let that stop you - the ending was a twist that many won't see coming but I suspected. It's not normally an ending I like as I prefer everything tied up in a nice little package by the end of the story, but this left a few loose ends and that cliffhanger ending you see in season finales of some our favourite shows. But despite that, I thought it a fitting ending considering the story.
Jenny and Kath have been best friends since childhood. They grew up together, did everything together and were completely inseparable. But Jenny left to pursue a swimming career in Australia but her heart still yearned for home in the UK, and most of all, for her soul mate she left behind - Tom. So after 8 years away, feeling burnt out from constant competition and solid training sessions, Jenny decides to visit her childhood friend in France, where Kath now lives with her husband...Tom. The moment Jenny sees Tom the electricity is clearly felt between them, making the reunion somewhat uncomfortable. The couple now have a 5 year old daughter, Rosa, together and Jenny finds her absolutely delightful. I did find Rosa to be a little older beyond her years throughout the book which left me questioning if I misread her age. However, Rosa proves to be a salve to the pain of seeing Tom again and married to another, bringing constant joy to her days as she teaches Rosa to swim. But Tom remains aloof towards Jenny which leaves her wondering if he still feels the same about her.
At first, the women fall back into their close relationship of old, laughing and reminiscing over old memories, but before long things begin to feel amiss. Kath appears to have changed...or is it Jenny? And why is Tom so distant? It isn't long before Jenny begins to see cracks in Kath's picture perfect world, beginning with the tension between her friend and Tom as well as her own relationship with Kath. Tom hints towards her being mentally ill and on anti-depressants but then discovers Kath has stopped taking her medication. Then Kath's strange and malicious behaviour leaves Jenny questioning if she really knew her friend at all?
This is when the book starts to get interesting. The reader feels a sense of anticipation wondering what Kath is going to do next. One can almost see the glint in her eye whenever she is around.
When Jenny finally sees the truth about her friend she feels shocked, hurt and most all of all, betrayed. Kath has played a sinister game to manipulate and control everyone around her - and Jenny is her biggest victim.
The story's slow build creates tension and unease as the sinister tale of friendship, secrets, deception, jealousy and revenge gradually unravels with an ending that leaves you unsettled. It is brooding, it is malicious, it is ominous, it is sinister.
THE GOOD FRIEND is not your average thriller, but it is still a thriller of sorts. I wasn't sure I would enjoy it but in the end I did...even if I didn't really like the characters. I felt they didn't have a lot of depth and there was an awful lot of narration, which I am not a huge fan of. I could tell from early on that Kath had a few screws loose. Though no actual diagnosis was mentioned, to me she felt a little bipolar but more like borderline personality disorder. She was sociopathic. She felt no empathy or remorse. The world revolved around her, in her eyes, and she manipulated everyone for her own ends. She was completely unlikeable.
For me, the rating loser is the death of Pilot. Anyone who knows me, knows I cannot stand the death of a dog in a story - book or movie - and I even stopped reading one depressing story after one dog's cruel death. However, Pilot's death leaves you with questions also as to what happened and how it happened? And THE GOOD FRIEND certainly leaves you unsettled with many questions unanswered.
I wouldn't say THE GOOD FRIEND was brilliant, but then it also depends on your expectations. It is pitched as a thriller but I would say it was more of a psychological drama in the fact that it's Jenny who is facing the unknown, whereas we as the reader can plainly see that Kath is the problem. The reader doesn't have that edge-of-your-seat psychological thrill, and yet the story is incredibly psychological...just not in the thriller kind of way. That is why many are disappointed with the book - being pitched as a genre that can include many different "sub genres". A thriller that is not really a thriller, but it still fits under that genre being psychological. I guess we expected more of a thriller than it was.
I'd still recommend to give it a go. It isn't what you expect at first but you can still quite clearly see what's going on from early on...and that leaves you wondering just how it is all going to end. And while it is not normally my type of ending, it really is a good but unexpected ending - and completely unsettling.
I would like to thank #JoBaldwin, #NetGalley and #RedDoorPublishing for an ARC of #TheGoodFriend in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
THE GOOD FRIEND is the debut thriller by Jo Baldwin - however, I would use the term "thriller" loosely as it's not an edge-of-your-seat or a fast paced read. The tagline reads "Heavenly Creatures meets The Hand That Rocks the Cradle in this exciting debut novel about friendship, love and jealousy." I haven't seen "Heavenly Creatures" but I do remember "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" and it does have an element of that style to it.
It is a different style of story and several times throughout I debated about whether I could finish the book as it was really slow moving to get going. I mean, there are slow starts and there slooooow starts. However, despite my apprehension I'm glad I stuck with it because it was a reasonably good read, but not exceptional. But don't let that stop you - the ending was a twist that many won't see coming but I suspected. It's not normally an ending I like as I prefer everything tied up in a nice little package by the end of the story, but this left a few loose ends and that cliffhanger ending you see in season finales of some our favourite shows. But despite that, I thought it a fitting ending considering the story.
Jenny and Kath have been best friends since childhood. They grew up together, did everything together and were completely inseparable. But Jenny left to pursue a swimming career in Australia but her heart still yearned for home in the UK, and most of all, for her soul mate she left behind - Tom. So after 8 years away, feeling burnt out from constant competition and solid training sessions, Jenny decides to visit her childhood friend in France, where Kath now lives with her husband...Tom. The moment Jenny sees Tom the electricity is clearly felt between them, making the reunion somewhat uncomfortable. The couple now have a 5 year old daughter, Rosa, together and Jenny finds her absolutely delightful. I did find Rosa to be a little older beyond her years throughout the book which left me questioning if I misread her age. However, Rosa proves to be a salve to the pain of seeing Tom again and married to another, bringing constant joy to her days as she teaches Rosa to swim. But Tom remains aloof towards Jenny which leaves her wondering if he still feels the same about her.
At first, the women fall back into their close relationship of old, laughing and reminiscing over old memories, but before long things begin to feel amiss. Kath appears to have changed...or is it Jenny? And why is Tom so distant? It isn't long before Jenny begins to see cracks in Kath's picture perfect world, beginning with the tension between her friend and Tom as well as her own relationship with Kath. Tom hints towards her being mentally ill and on anti-depressants but then discovers Kath has stopped taking her medication. Then Kath's strange and malicious behaviour leaves Jenny questioning if she really knew her friend at all?
This is when the book starts to get interesting. The reader feels a sense of anticipation wondering what Kath is going to do next. One can almost see the glint in her eye whenever she is around.
When Jenny finally sees the truth about her friend she feels shocked, hurt and most all of all, betrayed. Kath has played a sinister game to manipulate and control everyone around her - and Jenny is her biggest victim.
The story's slow build creates tension and unease as the sinister tale of friendship, secrets, deception, jealousy and revenge gradually unravels with an ending that leaves you unsettled. It is brooding, it is malicious, it is ominous, it is sinister.
THE GOOD FRIEND is not your average thriller, but it is still a thriller of sorts. I wasn't sure I would enjoy it but in the end I did...even if I didn't really like the characters. I felt they didn't have a lot of depth and there was an awful lot of narration, which I am not a huge fan of. I could tell from early on that Kath had a few screws loose. Though no actual diagnosis was mentioned, to me she felt a little bipolar but more like borderline personality disorder. She was sociopathic. She felt no empathy or remorse. The world revolved around her, in her eyes, and she manipulated everyone for her own ends. She was completely unlikeable.
For me, the rating loser is the death of Pilot. Anyone who knows me, knows I cannot stand the death of a dog in a story - book or movie - and I even stopped reading one depressing story after one dog's cruel death. However, Pilot's death leaves you with questions also as to what happened and how it happened? And THE GOOD FRIEND certainly leaves you unsettled with many questions unanswered.
I wouldn't say THE GOOD FRIEND was brilliant, but then it also depends on your expectations. It is pitched as a thriller but I would say it was more of a psychological drama in the fact that it's Jenny who is facing the unknown, whereas we as the reader can plainly see that Kath is the problem. The reader doesn't have that edge-of-your-seat psychological thrill, and yet the story is incredibly psychological...just not in the thriller kind of way. That is why many are disappointed with the book - being pitched as a genre that can include many different "sub genres". A thriller that is not really a thriller, but it still fits under that genre being psychological. I guess we expected more of a thriller than it was.
I'd still recommend to give it a go. It isn't what you expect at first but you can still quite clearly see what's going on from early on...and that leaves you wondering just how it is all going to end. And while it is not normally my type of ending, it really is a good but unexpected ending - and completely unsettling.
I would like to thank #JoBaldwin, #NetGalley and #RedDoorPublishing for an ARC of #TheGoodFriend in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
November 13, 2018
Next year is looking to already be another fantastic year for books. This boom is going right on the list for books that people should look out for next year and make sure that they read. This book is full of twist and turns and it is completely spell binding, addictive and hooks you from the very first page. The writing style is fabulous, the characters are all intriguing and interesting and the plot will keep you guessing and racing through to find out all the answers. I highly recommend.
Once upon a time they were best friends. So when Jenny moved to Australia to focus on her swimming career, she not only lost Kath, but her soul-mate Tom. It was for the best. Or so they said.
Now, eight years later, Jenny seeks out her childhood friend and heads to rural France where Kath has settled.
At first, the women fall back into a close relationship, but before long strange and malicious behaviour leads Jenny to realise the truth: that Kath has played a clever game all along to manipulate and control those around her. And Jenny is her biggest victim.
Set against the glorious backdrop of the Languedoc lavender fields, The Good Friend is a beautifully written psychological drama about love, lies and a dangerous obsession. Because once the truth is revealed, there’s no going back . . .
Once upon a time they were best friends. So when Jenny moved to Australia to focus on her swimming career, she not only lost Kath, but her soul-mate Tom. It was for the best. Or so they said.
Now, eight years later, Jenny seeks out her childhood friend and heads to rural France where Kath has settled.
At first, the women fall back into a close relationship, but before long strange and malicious behaviour leads Jenny to realise the truth: that Kath has played a clever game all along to manipulate and control those around her. And Jenny is her biggest victim.
Set against the glorious backdrop of the Languedoc lavender fields, The Good Friend is a beautifully written psychological drama about love, lies and a dangerous obsession. Because once the truth is revealed, there’s no going back . . .
February 27, 2019
I have literally just finished this book (25th February, 23:15) and I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest!
I can't even begin to tell you how tense this story has been, from the very first page.
The story is told by Jenny who is reunited with her best friend, Kath, after several years apart, living very different lives. Jenny is an Olympic swimmer, her career (and Dad) moving her to Australia to train and compete. Kath now lives in rural France with her husband, Tom and daughter, Rosa. However, Tom is Jenny's ex-boyfriend and, we soon realise, the love of her life, so visiting them for the summer was never going to be easy for Jenny. It all sounds like quite a simple story of lost love and regret when I put it like that, but OH MY, there is SO much more to it!
This book is so full of suspense and tension. I still feel like I haven't breathed properly again yet. The ending has left me feeling emotionally exhausted.
This is an absolutely compelling, character driven story. Full of secrets, manipulation, jealousy and misplaced trust. It's set in the most beautiful of places, which a sharp contrast to the ugliness festering throughout the story. Jo Baldwin has created a very cleverly written psychological thriller here which deserves to be a bestseller (I'm sure it will be!). I can't believe it's a debut novel. I was totally captivated and can't wait to read whatever Jo Baldwin writes next.
Many thanks to Anna at RedDoor for my review copy.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
I can't even begin to tell you how tense this story has been, from the very first page.
The story is told by Jenny who is reunited with her best friend, Kath, after several years apart, living very different lives. Jenny is an Olympic swimmer, her career (and Dad) moving her to Australia to train and compete. Kath now lives in rural France with her husband, Tom and daughter, Rosa. However, Tom is Jenny's ex-boyfriend and, we soon realise, the love of her life, so visiting them for the summer was never going to be easy for Jenny. It all sounds like quite a simple story of lost love and regret when I put it like that, but OH MY, there is SO much more to it!
This book is so full of suspense and tension. I still feel like I haven't breathed properly again yet. The ending has left me feeling emotionally exhausted.
This is an absolutely compelling, character driven story. Full of secrets, manipulation, jealousy and misplaced trust. It's set in the most beautiful of places, which a sharp contrast to the ugliness festering throughout the story. Jo Baldwin has created a very cleverly written psychological thriller here which deserves to be a bestseller (I'm sure it will be!). I can't believe it's a debut novel. I was totally captivated and can't wait to read whatever Jo Baldwin writes next.
Many thanks to Anna at RedDoor for my review copy.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
February 5, 2019
I hate it when I have not much good to say about a book I was given by the publisher. This book is not a thriller, it is hardly woman fiction. It is more a romance, ménage-à-trois or chick-lit (thank god without love scenes). If I would have known that I wouldn’t have hit the request-button. So this was the absolutely wrong book for me. The thriller element comes in almost at the last page and honestly, it was almost ridiculous.
The story goes absolutely nowhere. After 8 years with no contact Jenny visits her best friend Kath who is married to Jenny’s ex-boyfriend Tom. The three are stuck in their past. They act as if the last eight years did not happen, as if they never grew into adults and had a life. They are just back to the times when they were 18. It is all a ridiculous back and forth between Kath and Jenny and Jenny and Tom. For me personally it is always a problem when the main character, here Jenny, is obviously someone who every other characters falls for when for me as a reader this person is so unbelievable boring and lacks any real personality. This is the case with Jenny. She is lifeless and without any charm but Tom and Kath are crazy about her. Jenny had a career as an Olympic swimmer and Tom and Kath have a business in France. But all they do is brood about the time when they were eighteen.
As I said, there is not much of a story or character development. There is just a love triangle and one of them is crazy. Surprise. It was written and developed poorly and reminded me of fan-fiction stories I’ve read years ago.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The story goes absolutely nowhere. After 8 years with no contact Jenny visits her best friend Kath who is married to Jenny’s ex-boyfriend Tom. The three are stuck in their past. They act as if the last eight years did not happen, as if they never grew into adults and had a life. They are just back to the times when they were 18. It is all a ridiculous back and forth between Kath and Jenny and Jenny and Tom. For me personally it is always a problem when the main character, here Jenny, is obviously someone who every other characters falls for when for me as a reader this person is so unbelievable boring and lacks any real personality. This is the case with Jenny. She is lifeless and without any charm but Tom and Kath are crazy about her. Jenny had a career as an Olympic swimmer and Tom and Kath have a business in France. But all they do is brood about the time when they were eighteen.
As I said, there is not much of a story or character development. There is just a love triangle and one of them is crazy. Surprise. It was written and developed poorly and reminded me of fan-fiction stories I’ve read years ago.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 6, 2018
This book was an average read. The plot had a lot more potential and I had much higher expectations. I think the publishers should not have classified this as a mystery/thriller. If it was classified as Drama or Women’s fiction then I would have probably rated it better. The book starts off pretty slowly and it take a lot to not just put it down and move on. But about 50% in it picks up pace and a lot of emotional baggage starts to come up. This book is more about jealousy, lies and tragedy than about twists. Unfortunately for me, I could not relate to the characters and the overt description of France did not do much for me either.
Thank you NetGalley and RedDoor books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
#NetGalley #TheGoodFriend
My reviews can also be found on romasharma.blogspot.com
Thank you NetGalley and RedDoor books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
#NetGalley #TheGoodFriend
My reviews can also be found on romasharma.blogspot.com
November 18, 2018
This is the debut novel from Jo Baldwin. ‘The Good Friend’ is an exceptional read. I was sucked into the friendship between Jenny and Kath from the very beginning.
Most of us have been in friendships and relationships which are questionable even though we stay in them. I loved the way the storyline twisted and turned everything around so, at certain points, I wasn't sure I was seeing the full picture. Of course, I wasn't.
Jenny goes to stay with Kath who was her best friend and her new husband, Tom, who Jenny dated and believed to be her soul mate before emigrating to Australia to follow her swimming career. The married couple now live in France and the stunning description of scenery, way of life and individuals add to the charm.
Kath and Tom have a daughter, Rosa, and as the plot progresses the reader begins to see how Tom, Jenny and Rosa are becoming inseparable with Tom and Jenny still having feelings.
However, nothing is clear cut and the final chapters and ending are brilliant. I am a sucker for this type of ending.
Thanks to NetGalley, RedDoor Publishing and Jo Baldwin for my ARC in return for an honest review.
Brilliant read. Highly recommended.
Most of us have been in friendships and relationships which are questionable even though we stay in them. I loved the way the storyline twisted and turned everything around so, at certain points, I wasn't sure I was seeing the full picture. Of course, I wasn't.
Jenny goes to stay with Kath who was her best friend and her new husband, Tom, who Jenny dated and believed to be her soul mate before emigrating to Australia to follow her swimming career. The married couple now live in France and the stunning description of scenery, way of life and individuals add to the charm.
Kath and Tom have a daughter, Rosa, and as the plot progresses the reader begins to see how Tom, Jenny and Rosa are becoming inseparable with Tom and Jenny still having feelings.
However, nothing is clear cut and the final chapters and ending are brilliant. I am a sucker for this type of ending.
Thanks to NetGalley, RedDoor Publishing and Jo Baldwin for my ARC in return for an honest review.
Brilliant read. Highly recommended.
November 16, 2018
A strong recommendation to read this book. The book built a good sense of tension and mystery throughout. I enjoyed the setting in France and I could imagine myself there, which is always a good sign! Loved the ending too. Good writing style and distinct character portrayal.
December 14, 2018
Wow! This is a brilliantly written book and I couldn't wait another day to see the end. I didn't leave 5 stars because I am peeved out about a couple of things .Other than a few flaws,The Good Friend is a fascinating psychological thriller that I would highly recommend to anyone.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!
February 19, 2019
Jenny and Kath were inseparable best friends but then Jenny moved to Perth, Australia, to focus on her swimming career. She had to leave everything and everyone she loved behind: Kath, but also her boyfriend Tom. It was supposed to be different but life is a bitch and they lost touch, but they still kept hearing about each other, and so Jenny knows that Kath and Tom married and have a little girl. Few years later, as Jenny is considering retirement, she travels to the South of France to reconnect with Kath and Tom, who are setting a guest house there. Jenny decides to stay for longer and help them with the opening. At the surface it looks like the friends simply fall back into easy friendship, as they left it, but soon Jenny starts to realise that there is much more to Kath and her marriage than meet the eye. Also, her old feelings to Tom start to resurface - how is the summer going to end?
The story jumps between past and present so that we slowly learn about the relationships between the friends and slowly a full picture of their personalities start to emerge. I couldn't feel any connection to the characters. They felt a little too wooden for my liking and to be honest I really didn't like what was happening between Jenny and Tom. It was obvious what has happened in the past and why Tom is now with Kath but I simply couldn't see anything to justify what was happening. For the sake of old times? I was missing chemistry, connection there to be honest. I'm not sure if it was the author's intention but you simply can't help but immediately feel sympathy and antipathy to the two main characters. Tom was a rather flat character, there was no colour in him and he couldn't make up his mind. I think that out of the three characters it was Kath that was the most expressive and interesting, even if she was also the most irritating probably, but there was life in her, she was unpredictable and sharp and this made her stand out. The tension between Jenny and Kath was really well captured, even though they didn't want to see it or to admit that it's there, hanging in the air, especially at the beginning of Jenny's visit, and the fact that Jenny and Tom start to realise that their old feelings rekindle didn't help as well.
What I missed was the other perspective, as I really couldn't get the motives, what was hidden behind the "you and me for ever" - jealousy? Was that it? There was also a sentence told by Jenny hinting at the fact that perhaps she was the one that was plotting, when she said if only Kath knew what a friend she was, and so I was wondering if perhaps the last few pages are going to change the perspective totally. They didn't. So I'm really left hanging somewhere in the air, not knowing what it was all about. And please forgive me but I didn't get the end - can somebody pretty please literally explain it to me?
Altogether "The Good Friend" was a very slow moving story. I did enjoy the part in France, loved the descriptions of the guest house, but I desperately wanted for something to happen and for it to go somewhere, especially with the author hinting that something is going to happen/has happened. It was a dark family drama touching upon mental issues as well. It was full of wonderful descriptions of the rural France, its weather and fantastic market and fresh baguettes, and the writing style was light, easy to follow and engaging. There was a lot of potential in this story that - I have a feeling - wasn't fully used. It was filled with tons of emotional baggage and it told a story of lies and jealousy, about manipulation and toxic friendship.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
June 9, 2019
Wow. This is one of those books that I thought I knew how I felt about it...then I read the last chapter. And like a week later, I’m still processing it. I’m still a little stunned.
Jenny is visiting her former best friend after an eight-year hiatus, during which her former BFF and ex-BF got married, had a child and moved to the south of France. Everything seems OK, if a little awkward, at first, but then Jenny notices Kath is acting odd and her old feelings for Tom begin to return. All of this is happening as Jenny is deciding what to do with the next stage of her life.
The book is full of heart-pounding suspense and fans of slow-burn thrillers will love this book.
The trio of main characters is interesting, in that I didn’t find myself particularly drawn to any of them - each had annoying qualities in that they seemed to dance around the topics at hand and their feelings about one another. But I guess that’s human nature, especially at tumultuous times, which Jenny is experiencing. We do see growth in her and Tom, which is good.
OK, that ending. Yeah, it’s a biggie. I just sat there stunned for a couple minutes, not sure how I felt about it. But one thing I knew for sure: the ending really took the book from a 3.5-ish to 4.5 stars for me. It was really the exclamation point on a good book. I enjoyed it up to that point, then WHAM. Wow.
Overall, I don’t want to give away too much, so I’m going to stop talking, but just get this one if you like character-driven suspense. You won’t regret it!
Jenny is visiting her former best friend after an eight-year hiatus, during which her former BFF and ex-BF got married, had a child and moved to the south of France. Everything seems OK, if a little awkward, at first, but then Jenny notices Kath is acting odd and her old feelings for Tom begin to return. All of this is happening as Jenny is deciding what to do with the next stage of her life.
The book is full of heart-pounding suspense and fans of slow-burn thrillers will love this book.
The trio of main characters is interesting, in that I didn’t find myself particularly drawn to any of them - each had annoying qualities in that they seemed to dance around the topics at hand and their feelings about one another. But I guess that’s human nature, especially at tumultuous times, which Jenny is experiencing. We do see growth in her and Tom, which is good.
OK, that ending. Yeah, it’s a biggie. I just sat there stunned for a couple minutes, not sure how I felt about it. But one thing I knew for sure: the ending really took the book from a 3.5-ish to 4.5 stars for me. It was really the exclamation point on a good book. I enjoyed it up to that point, then WHAM. Wow.
Overall, I don’t want to give away too much, so I’m going to stop talking, but just get this one if you like character-driven suspense. You won’t regret it!
January 28, 2019
Jenny and Kath were best friends all through school but drifted apart when Jenny emigrated to Australia with her father and then she had a successful swimming career. Meanwhile Kath married Jenny’s ex boyfriend Tom and they are now residing in France with a child and trying to set up a B&B.
When Jen is at cross roads with her swimming career, she decides to visit Kath and Tom in France but her friendship with Kath is tested when she finds out a few hurtful secrets.
I found this really easy to read and became quite involved in the beginning but I didn’t connect with Jenny’s and Tom’s interactions for some reason, which left the middle of the book a bit flat for me. Although that changed in the end and the last few chapters were quite creepy and had me on edge.
This is drama describing a toxic and manipulative friendship which had a a few twists and turns.
An interesting read that whiled away a few hours.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher to read.
When Jen is at cross roads with her swimming career, she decides to visit Kath and Tom in France but her friendship with Kath is tested when she finds out a few hurtful secrets.
I found this really easy to read and became quite involved in the beginning but I didn’t connect with Jenny’s and Tom’s interactions for some reason, which left the middle of the book a bit flat for me. Although that changed in the end and the last few chapters were quite creepy and had me on edge.
This is drama describing a toxic and manipulative friendship which had a a few twists and turns.
An interesting read that whiled away a few hours.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher to read.
December 14, 2018
Well I didn't love book, I found it a little to slow and having to make myself sit at times and that bummed me out because excited about the blurb. So we meet Jenny and Kath who were best friends since children and have remained close, they have busy lives and dont get to see each other as much and throw in the fact that Kath married Jenny's ex-boyfriend and love of her life (not cool). Jenny ends up reconnecting with her friend and as they try to become best friends again it isn't really there and then Kath's true colors start to show... We have betray, jealousy and just maliciousness..I will give it a three..
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily left my own opinion and views.
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily left my own opinion and views.
February 14, 2019
2.5 Stars
Fans of psychological dramas will enjoy this story of the many different versions of friendship; loyal friends, obsessive friends, toxic friends...
Amongst all this a series of progressively disturbing things start to happen.
It’s quite slow burning and reminded me ofThe Secretary by Rene knight.
Fans of psychological dramas will enjoy this story of the many different versions of friendship; loyal friends, obsessive friends, toxic friends...
Amongst all this a series of progressively disturbing things start to happen.
It’s quite slow burning and reminded me ofThe Secretary by Rene knight.
December 7, 2019
[Disclaimer: e-ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
I really feel as though this book is incorrectly marketed as a thriller, this is more of a dark drama.
I found the whole story to be incredibly underwhelming. There were no twists and turns to the plot at all, I was incredibly frustrated with the main character, it made zero sense for her to continue to stay with Kath and Tom given everything happening and how increasingly unstable Kath was becoming and then the ending was so over the top.
I typically really enjoy books that deal with friendship themes but this one just didn't work for me.
Check out my BookTube Channel for more bookish content.
I really feel as though this book is incorrectly marketed as a thriller, this is more of a dark drama.
I found the whole story to be incredibly underwhelming. There were no twists and turns to the plot at all, I was incredibly frustrated with the main character, it made zero sense for her to continue to stay with Kath and Tom given everything happening and how increasingly unstable Kath was becoming and then the ending was so over the top.
I typically really enjoy books that deal with friendship themes but this one just didn't work for me.
Check out my BookTube Channel for more bookish content.
December 11, 2018
This debut novel by Jo Baldwin is an excellent thriller based in the south of France where Jenny goes to stay with her previously best friend from 8 years ago Kath and her husband Tom who just so happens to be Jenny's ex boyfriend.The reason they have been apart for so long is because Jenny moved to Australia to further her career to become a gold medal swimmer,and at long last they are reunited and everything is just as it was all those years ago.Best friends forever !! But after a while Jenny starts to see a new side to Kath and it's one she doesn't like especially when she finds out the truth about what happened 8 years ago.This is a great book and if Jo Baldwin's future books are as good as this one i for one will be reading more from her.An excellent 5 star read.
March 2, 2019
As an adult, having — or at least, declaring — a best friend is decidedly less important than it was in childhood.
In fact, it would seem quite odd for one grown woman to introduce you to another saying, “Oh you just have to meet my best friend, Monica. Sometimes...on Saturdays… we have sleepovers and braid each other’s’ hair!"
But, despite this disinclination to publicly identify and/or demonstrate enthusiasm about a best friend, I think we all have one.
As I think back on the friendships I’ve had in my now 36 years — assigning numbers to the categories in the imaginary rubric in my head — it becomes immediately clear that I, too, have a best friend. Though, like most adult women, I see her too seldom, our histories or so intertwined that not thinking about her on a relatively regular basis is an impossibility.
Any time I zip through a Starbucks, I remember our high school coffee runs that too often resulted in tardiness.
When I plan a vacation, I remember our senior trip to Hershey, PA, of all places, where we toured the chocolate factory, stayed in a truly shitty hotel, and enjoyed the fanciest dinner either one of us had, up to that point, consumed.
And whenever I read a book or watch a movie set anywhere in the UK, I remember our semester spent abroad — an opportunity we decided to explore while consuming some college-dining-hall mac and cheese after admittedly too many repeat viewings of BBC's “Pride and Prejudice”.
My best friend was — is — authentically, a good friend.
She’s caring and compassionate and considerate.
She really would be a good ride-or-die
Anyway, Jenny, the protagonist of this novel, didn’t have it as easy as me in the best friend department. Her history with her BFF is murkier. And their lasting mutual affection less certain.
For the majority of Jenny’s childhood, her life was what you would categorize as “normal.” She went to school, she had a best friend and, eventually, she had a boyfriend.
But when a teacher mentions to her father that Jenny shows a particular aptitude for swimming, her father grabs this piece of information and runs with it, dedicating his every waking hour to helping Jenny become the world’s best swimmer — whether she shares the aspiration or not.
In an effort to facilitate the development of her swimming skills, he plans a move to Australia.
Jenny goes along, begrudgingly — because, at the end of the day, swimming is really more his thing than it is hers. Amplifying her resistance to embrace this move is the fact that doing so will mean leaving behind her best friend, Kath, and her boyfriend, Tom.
* Fast forward eight years *
Now adult Jenny — who has, by this point, at least satiated her father’s hunger for fame by winning a few gold medals — is having a crisis of sorts.
She’s no longer willing to let swimming be her entire life.
Against her father’s wishes, she embarks on a trip to Europe. Away from Australia — and, more importantly, out from under the watchful eye of her father — she can let that lingering chlorine smell she’s acquired after years of endless lap-swimming fade and take some much needed time to herself.
During her travels, she plans to stop in France to visit former-best-friend Kath and former-boyfriend Tom — who now oh-so-uncomfortably-for-Jenny are married … to each other.
When what was planned to be a short visit to Kath and Tom’s home extends in duration, Jenny finds herself questioning not just what her future relationships with Kath and Tom might look like, but also what really happened in the past.
Marketed as a thriller, this novel did have elements of suspense, though it is vastly different from many of the fast-paced modern thrillers that you can very easily read in about a day and just as easily forget in about a week.
Unlike those thrillers, there wasn’t a whole lot that happened in this novel, honestly.
But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
As I moved through the novel, it didn’t feel plodding and protracted and pointless.
Quite the contrary, the slow pace somehow only intensified the subtle tension that the nuanced plot effectively built.
Author Jo Baldwin took her time, unapologetically making her readers wait for action to occur — just as her protagonist had to wait for the long French summer to pass.
But when exposition gave way to action it made the action so much... richer...more meaningful.
The absolute biggest what-the-actual-fuck moment in this book was the ending.
All too frequently, I encounter books in which the ending kills it.
When this happens, I sigh.
And I set the book down.
And I shed a single tear for another book ruined by a shitty ending.
This ending-ruining-the-book phenomenon has become so common, in fact, that I now don’t even hazard a guess as to what my cocktail rating will be until I’ve fully finished the novel.
I’m just that resigned to shitty endings.
So, imagine my surprise, when the conclusion of this book had quite the opposite effect on the overall quality of the work than the negative one to which I have grown accustom.
In this novel, the ending was literally the best part.
Especially strong: the postscript of this book. It changed everything ...In the most satisfying of ways.
Having now finished this book — and waited about a week to pen the review, as I usually do — I can say that, as a whole, I found it largely successful.
Honestly, my only issue with this novel was a tiny believability-related one.
*Spoiler Alert*
As we approach the end, we find out that it wasn’t Kath whose actions led to the death of the beloved family pet, Pilot — cute name, BTW — but, instead, Jenny.
But, apparently, Jenny didn’t mean to kill Pilot. It was an accident.
You see, Instead of mixing bones into the dog food — which, is that like a thing you weirdo dog-owners really do anyway? #Cats4Lyfe — she accidentally blended in rat poison.
So…
Okay…
Like…
Hmm…
Is French rat poison seriously that fucking different from American rat poison?
Is it large and rigid and uniformly bone shaped?
How on earth could a reasonable person mean to mix biscuits into dog food and accidentally mix in rat poison?
Though admittedly nitpicky, this believability issue really bothered me because I had been waiting, as I read, for the reliability of the narrator to be called into question.
But, when it finally happened - that way - it just didn't make any fucking sense.
*End Spoilers*
All factors considered, though, I found this novel to be… refreshing.
Yes, it was different from the mass-market thrillers — which I admittedly devour on the fucking daily — but it was different in a good way.
Baldwin took time, letting the tension build.
And she used her twists judiciously. Instead of inducing whiplash — and hindering believability — with twist after twist after twist, she included a few, believable, well-placed twists that enhanced the quality of the book as a whole.
This one earns a solid 4 out of 5 cocktails.
In fact, it would seem quite odd for one grown woman to introduce you to another saying, “Oh you just have to meet my best friend, Monica. Sometimes...on Saturdays… we have sleepovers and braid each other’s’ hair!"
But, despite this disinclination to publicly identify and/or demonstrate enthusiasm about a best friend, I think we all have one.
As I think back on the friendships I’ve had in my now 36 years — assigning numbers to the categories in the imaginary rubric in my head — it becomes immediately clear that I, too, have a best friend. Though, like most adult women, I see her too seldom, our histories or so intertwined that not thinking about her on a relatively regular basis is an impossibility.
Any time I zip through a Starbucks, I remember our high school coffee runs that too often resulted in tardiness.
When I plan a vacation, I remember our senior trip to Hershey, PA, of all places, where we toured the chocolate factory, stayed in a truly shitty hotel, and enjoyed the fanciest dinner either one of us had, up to that point, consumed.
And whenever I read a book or watch a movie set anywhere in the UK, I remember our semester spent abroad — an opportunity we decided to explore while consuming some college-dining-hall mac and cheese after admittedly too many repeat viewings of BBC's “Pride and Prejudice”.
My best friend was — is — authentically, a good friend.
She’s caring and compassionate and considerate.
She really would be a good ride-or-die
Anyway, Jenny, the protagonist of this novel, didn’t have it as easy as me in the best friend department. Her history with her BFF is murkier. And their lasting mutual affection less certain.
For the majority of Jenny’s childhood, her life was what you would categorize as “normal.” She went to school, she had a best friend and, eventually, she had a boyfriend.
But when a teacher mentions to her father that Jenny shows a particular aptitude for swimming, her father grabs this piece of information and runs with it, dedicating his every waking hour to helping Jenny become the world’s best swimmer — whether she shares the aspiration or not.
In an effort to facilitate the development of her swimming skills, he plans a move to Australia.
Jenny goes along, begrudgingly — because, at the end of the day, swimming is really more his thing than it is hers. Amplifying her resistance to embrace this move is the fact that doing so will mean leaving behind her best friend, Kath, and her boyfriend, Tom.
* Fast forward eight years *
Now adult Jenny — who has, by this point, at least satiated her father’s hunger for fame by winning a few gold medals — is having a crisis of sorts.
She’s no longer willing to let swimming be her entire life.
Against her father’s wishes, she embarks on a trip to Europe. Away from Australia — and, more importantly, out from under the watchful eye of her father — she can let that lingering chlorine smell she’s acquired after years of endless lap-swimming fade and take some much needed time to herself.
During her travels, she plans to stop in France to visit former-best-friend Kath and former-boyfriend Tom — who now oh-so-uncomfortably-for-Jenny are married … to each other.
When what was planned to be a short visit to Kath and Tom’s home extends in duration, Jenny finds herself questioning not just what her future relationships with Kath and Tom might look like, but also what really happened in the past.
Marketed as a thriller, this novel did have elements of suspense, though it is vastly different from many of the fast-paced modern thrillers that you can very easily read in about a day and just as easily forget in about a week.
Unlike those thrillers, there wasn’t a whole lot that happened in this novel, honestly.
But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
As I moved through the novel, it didn’t feel plodding and protracted and pointless.
Quite the contrary, the slow pace somehow only intensified the subtle tension that the nuanced plot effectively built.
Author Jo Baldwin took her time, unapologetically making her readers wait for action to occur — just as her protagonist had to wait for the long French summer to pass.
But when exposition gave way to action it made the action so much... richer...more meaningful.
The absolute biggest what-the-actual-fuck moment in this book was the ending.
All too frequently, I encounter books in which the ending kills it.
When this happens, I sigh.
And I set the book down.
And I shed a single tear for another book ruined by a shitty ending.
This ending-ruining-the-book phenomenon has become so common, in fact, that I now don’t even hazard a guess as to what my cocktail rating will be until I’ve fully finished the novel.
I’m just that resigned to shitty endings.
So, imagine my surprise, when the conclusion of this book had quite the opposite effect on the overall quality of the work than the negative one to which I have grown accustom.
In this novel, the ending was literally the best part.
Especially strong: the postscript of this book. It changed everything ...In the most satisfying of ways.
Having now finished this book — and waited about a week to pen the review, as I usually do — I can say that, as a whole, I found it largely successful.
Honestly, my only issue with this novel was a tiny believability-related one.
*Spoiler Alert*
As we approach the end, we find out that it wasn’t Kath whose actions led to the death of the beloved family pet, Pilot — cute name, BTW — but, instead, Jenny.
But, apparently, Jenny didn’t mean to kill Pilot. It was an accident.
You see, Instead of mixing bones into the dog food — which, is that like a thing you weirdo dog-owners really do anyway? #Cats4Lyfe — she accidentally blended in rat poison.
So…
Okay…
Like…
Hmm…
Is French rat poison seriously that fucking different from American rat poison?
Is it large and rigid and uniformly bone shaped?
How on earth could a reasonable person mean to mix biscuits into dog food and accidentally mix in rat poison?
Though admittedly nitpicky, this believability issue really bothered me because I had been waiting, as I read, for the reliability of the narrator to be called into question.
But, when it finally happened - that way - it just didn't make any fucking sense.
*End Spoilers*
All factors considered, though, I found this novel to be… refreshing.
Yes, it was different from the mass-market thrillers — which I admittedly devour on the fucking daily — but it was different in a good way.
Baldwin took time, letting the tension build.
And she used her twists judiciously. Instead of inducing whiplash — and hindering believability — with twist after twist after twist, she included a few, believable, well-placed twists that enhanced the quality of the book as a whole.
This one earns a solid 4 out of 5 cocktails.
November 8, 2018
The Good Friend By author Jo Baldwin is an intense thriller about friendship and jealousy. The plot is thick and keeps you wanting more, from the beginning it pulls you in and will have you until the very end.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of The Good Friend in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of The Good Friend in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2018
Jenny left her home to emigrate to Australia with her father to further her swimming career - which she did, becoming an Olympic Gold medalist. It also meant leaving behind the love of her life, Tom. However, she has always wondered what part if any her best friend played in their breakup and indeed if she had any influence in her father’s decision to move to Australia. Because now Kath is married to Tom and they have a young daughter Rosa. Jenny is determined to get to the bottom of what actually happened all those years ago. When she is invited to stay with Kath and Tom in the beautiful countryside of the vineyards in France - she readily accepts. How can she resist the chance to confront Kath.
I think this is well written and the story is pretty good. The first half of the book starts slowly but then the action picks up and the drama begins to play out revealing long hidden lies and jealousies. I really don’t think this should be touted as a mystery thriller as there’s really no mystery but a drama between family and friends.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
I think this is well written and the story is pretty good. The first half of the book starts slowly but then the action picks up and the drama begins to play out revealing long hidden lies and jealousies. I really don’t think this should be touted as a mystery thriller as there’s really no mystery but a drama between family and friends.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
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