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Little Friends
THE STUNNING NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB SENSATION DAUGHTER
Their children are friends first. They hit it off immediately, as kids do. And so the parents are forced to get to know each other. Three wildly different couples. Three marriages, floundering.
There are barbecues, dinner parties, a holiday in Greece. An affair begins, resentments flare, and despite it all the three women become closer.
Unnoticed their children run wild. The couples are so busy watching each other that they forget to watch their children. Until tragedy strikes.
Because while they have been looking the other way, evil has crept into their safe little world and every parent's biggest nightmare is about to come true...
'Extremely clever, readable and elegant ... perfect for fans of Big Little Lies. Domestic noir at its best' Suzy K Quinn, bestselling author of Don't Tell Teacher
'Intelligent, compelling and deeply unsettling. My kind of book!!' Ali Land, bestselling author of Good Me Bad Me
'Such a clever, beautifully written read that was tense and thrilling throughout with an ending that gave me goosebumps' Claire Douglas, author of Then She Vanishes
Their children are friends first. They hit it off immediately, as kids do. And so the parents are forced to get to know each other. Three wildly different couples. Three marriages, floundering.
There are barbecues, dinner parties, a holiday in Greece. An affair begins, resentments flare, and despite it all the three women become closer.
Unnoticed their children run wild. The couples are so busy watching each other that they forget to watch their children. Until tragedy strikes.
Because while they have been looking the other way, evil has crept into their safe little world and every parent's biggest nightmare is about to come true...
'Extremely clever, readable and elegant ... perfect for fans of Big Little Lies. Domestic noir at its best' Suzy K Quinn, bestselling author of Don't Tell Teacher
'Intelligent, compelling and deeply unsettling. My kind of book!!' Ali Land, bestselling author of Good Me Bad Me
'Such a clever, beautifully written read that was tense and thrilling throughout with an ending that gave me goosebumps' Claire Douglas, author of Then She Vanishes
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2020
384 people are currently reading
3290 people want to read
About the author
Jane Shemilt
9 books676 followersJane is a general practitioner who completed a post graduate diploma in Creative Writing at Bristol university and went on to study for a M.A in Creative writing at Bath Spa. She was shortlisted for the Janklow and Nesbitt award and the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize for Daughter, her first novel.
She and her husband, a Professor of Neurosurgery, have 5 children and live in Bristol, England.
She and her husband, a Professor of Neurosurgery, have 5 children and live in Bristol, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
February 20, 2020
This is what I would describe as an ‘iceberg’ novel as so much is hidden beneath an apparently smooth surface. Eve Kershaw's daughter Poppy is dyslexic and so she takes a qualification so she can help her and other children. She offers classes at her large home and gains some students including Izzy and Blake and this leads to an unlikely friendship between three disparate couples. Each of the couples is hiding something, part of their lives is an illusion, some of which are dangerous and they all have secrets. They tell lies and some of those lies are so BIG that they are suffering and desperately trying to keep up appearances. This darkly compelling and well written novel contains several themes but it is principally about power which wears many disguises this making the characters blithely unaware and blind to the signs in front of them and the unholy damage that it can wreak.
The book is written from the perspective of the three mothers - Eve, Melissa and Grace. I like the female characters and most of the children are likeable. The story unfolds very well and the pacing is good. Just as you think you’ve got it all sorted in your head another shocker emerges. It contains some tricky themes such as domestic abuse and although some of the themes are dark it is never salacious or overdone although it chills you to the bone. After all the shocks it is good that the three women are able to keep and develop their friendship as do some of the children and their togetherness after all they have been through is heartwarming.
Overall, another really good novel from Jane Shemilt. It’s dark, twisty and so right up my alley! It’s impossible to put down as you desperately want to know what happens next in this powerful and unsettling story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the ARC.
The book is written from the perspective of the three mothers - Eve, Melissa and Grace. I like the female characters and most of the children are likeable. The story unfolds very well and the pacing is good. Just as you think you’ve got it all sorted in your head another shocker emerges. It contains some tricky themes such as domestic abuse and although some of the themes are dark it is never salacious or overdone although it chills you to the bone. After all the shocks it is good that the three women are able to keep and develop their friendship as do some of the children and their togetherness after all they have been through is heartwarming.
Overall, another really good novel from Jane Shemilt. It’s dark, twisty and so right up my alley! It’s impossible to put down as you desperately want to know what happens next in this powerful and unsettling story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the ARC.
January 27, 2021
I love a good, well written, well developed domestic noir. And I got this from Jane Shemilt.
I was hooked completely from the start and didn’t want to leave this book alone, so guess what? I borrowed it from my library on audio and took it with me.....everywhere. Loading the washing machine, ironing, cooking, driving......
Then I’d follow it on my book as the narrator read it when I got the chance to sit.
Three families.
All different in many ways.
This story was intense in places and made me react with “what!” Or “ouch” and had me so involved with it.
Some of the characters were ones I’d like to more than kick up the ‘you know what’ and others that I felt for.
This authors writing is just so well done I think. She really can write to make you “feel” things, to react to what you are reading.
She has such style that it just flows. It’s easy to follow although you’re stomach is tied up in knots and you feel tense, that’s a good thing I think!
Reader....
This book builds momentum. It will chug along nicely. There are quite a few people within its pages but you’ll soon get to know whose who, I assure you.
The authors really good at this. I liken it to climbing a hill, scenic and something to look at on both sides then, you almost get to the top and it hits you, hard, the excitement build, you’re heart races and you are full of questions, eager to turn pages.
Jane Shemilt didn’t disappoint me in Daughter and she’s not disappointed me in Little Friends.
You will soon learn why it’s called Little Friends.
Do I recommend this?
Yes 100% if you love a good well written suspense, thriller, psychological thriller and domestic noir.
Actually, strike that! If you like a darn good book to get “into”.
I was hooked completely from the start and didn’t want to leave this book alone, so guess what? I borrowed it from my library on audio and took it with me.....everywhere. Loading the washing machine, ironing, cooking, driving......
Then I’d follow it on my book as the narrator read it when I got the chance to sit.
Three families.
All different in many ways.
This story was intense in places and made me react with “what!” Or “ouch” and had me so involved with it.
Some of the characters were ones I’d like to more than kick up the ‘you know what’ and others that I felt for.
This authors writing is just so well done I think. She really can write to make you “feel” things, to react to what you are reading.
She has such style that it just flows. It’s easy to follow although you’re stomach is tied up in knots and you feel tense, that’s a good thing I think!
Reader....
This book builds momentum. It will chug along nicely. There are quite a few people within its pages but you’ll soon get to know whose who, I assure you.
The authors really good at this. I liken it to climbing a hill, scenic and something to look at on both sides then, you almost get to the top and it hits you, hard, the excitement build, you’re heart races and you are full of questions, eager to turn pages.
Jane Shemilt didn’t disappoint me in Daughter and she’s not disappointed me in Little Friends.
You will soon learn why it’s called Little Friends.
Do I recommend this?
Yes 100% if you love a good well written suspense, thriller, psychological thriller and domestic noir.
Actually, strike that! If you like a darn good book to get “into”.
December 14, 2019
An enthralling story about a group of parents that become friends when Eve starts tutoring some of their children who may be dyslexic. They soon start to socialise and the children become friends enjoying playing out together in the garden, they all go away together to Eve’s villa in Greece.
When a tragedy occurs it affects all of the 3 families and we soon realise that what goes on behind their closed doors, does not match with the image they portray on the outside.
The main characters are Eve, Melissa and Grace and we see from their points of view their struggle with everyday life. While their children have been playing happily evil has crept in. You warn you’re children about strangers but what if the dangers are closer to home!!
I was so gripped by this book. I did struggle at first to keep up with who was who and had a list of their children’s names beside me!! But I was so caught up with this book that it did not spoil my enjoyment.
At times dark but written in a beautiful and sensitive way.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
When a tragedy occurs it affects all of the 3 families and we soon realise that what goes on behind their closed doors, does not match with the image they portray on the outside.
The main characters are Eve, Melissa and Grace and we see from their points of view their struggle with everyday life. While their children have been playing happily evil has crept in. You warn you’re children about strangers but what if the dangers are closer to home!!
I was so gripped by this book. I did struggle at first to keep up with who was who and had a list of their children’s names beside me!! But I was so caught up with this book that it did not spoil my enjoyment.
At times dark but written in a beautiful and sensitive way.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
February 21, 2020
IEve tutors children with dyslexia. The kids and their parents soon become friends. And soon, Eve and her husband start socializing with the families. The children were often allowed to play without supervision. Eve had invited them all to Greece to celebrate her birthday. This is where a tragedy took place that left the group reeling.
I was hooked from the first page. It covers: domestic abuse, racism and bereavement. There is a lot of characters but the author made them all feel realistic. You do have to concentrate to try and remember which couple the child belonged to. The story is told through multiple points of view. This is a well written, dark and gripping read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK, Michael Joseph and the author Jane Shemilt for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was hooked from the first page. It covers: domestic abuse, racism and bereavement. There is a lot of characters but the author made them all feel realistic. You do have to concentrate to try and remember which couple the child belonged to. The story is told through multiple points of view. This is a well written, dark and gripping read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK, Michael Joseph and the author Jane Shemilt for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2023
great pace and crazy intensity
with believable characters but
alas, plot twists turn out to be
easily previsible when authors
overuse foreshadowing! ;)
with believable characters but
alas, plot twists turn out to be
easily previsible when authors
overuse foreshadowing! ;)
April 1, 2025
**4.5 Stars**
*Intense storyline*
This captivating story was incredibly hard to put down. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Imogen Church, did a great job of differentiating the various characters.
Three couples find themselves drawn together as their children unexpectedly hit it off. However, each set of parents carries their own secrets and struggles.
One couple barely communicates with each other, even during tragic events. Their relationship remains unchanged, despite the hardships they face.
Another couple has a dangerous power dynamic, fueled by control and terror.
The third couple is barely surviving day to day, with one half supporting the other financially. This unexpected friendship between the parents brings out unforeseen dynamics in their marriage.
As the couples get to know each other, they begin to regret their involvement. They experience lightbulb moments that they should have recognised sooner. Danger lurks in their midst, and as they protect their own personal messes, they forget about the obvious truths in front of them. The entire book is intense, and I couldn’t help but guess who the guilty party was as the story unfolded with trepidation. Even though there’s a redirection, I’m trying not to give away too much. My friend highly recommended this book to me, and I wholeheartedly agree.
*Intense storyline*
This captivating story was incredibly hard to put down. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Imogen Church, did a great job of differentiating the various characters.
Three couples find themselves drawn together as their children unexpectedly hit it off. However, each set of parents carries their own secrets and struggles.
One couple barely communicates with each other, even during tragic events. Their relationship remains unchanged, despite the hardships they face.
Another couple has a dangerous power dynamic, fueled by control and terror.
The third couple is barely surviving day to day, with one half supporting the other financially. This unexpected friendship between the parents brings out unforeseen dynamics in their marriage.
As the couples get to know each other, they begin to regret their involvement. They experience lightbulb moments that they should have recognised sooner. Danger lurks in their midst, and as they protect their own personal messes, they forget about the obvious truths in front of them. The entire book is intense, and I couldn’t help but guess who the guilty party was as the story unfolded with trepidation. Even though there’s a redirection, I’m trying not to give away too much. My friend highly recommended this book to me, and I wholeheartedly agree.
February 5, 2020
OMG! OMG! OMG! Jane Shemilt is a master puppeteer. She pulled me so cunningly into this book that I never understood when I was snared. My breath hitched, my pulse raced, there was a weird energy in me. The only words my brain screamed out was - TELL ME THE FREAKING TRUTH. What happened to the kids?
Eve wanted to help kids with dyslexia. Kids of 2 families came to her for tutoring. Soon they became friends. Everyone was happy, or so they appeared to be. The children were supposedly great friends, but something insidious was happening. None saw the truth until it was too late.
My first book by author Jane Shemilt, and I was hooked. The claws of the story soon got a foothold in me after a rocky beginning of too many characters, and it inveigled into me one chapter at a time. The author used the power of her words to create a dual atmosphere where everything appeared honky dory, but that was just a mask. Pull it down and the aura of evil could be felt.
It oozed, spreading its dark tendrils so deep into the characters that it caught the children and adults unawares. The scenes were brilliant, something felt off in all as if every character was playing a different character in their fictional life. Abuse was hidden well, giving me glimpses of it as hints initially then it blew in like a gust.
A dark petrifying read, it was uncomfortable with its chilliness, where truth was the core, and the action was its effect. Ms. Shemilt has written a brilliant slow burn thriller which kept growing as the pages turned.
A compelling read, indeed. I had to take a few deep breaths at the end of the read as it was difficult to let go of the final reveal.
Eve wanted to help kids with dyslexia. Kids of 2 families came to her for tutoring. Soon they became friends. Everyone was happy, or so they appeared to be. The children were supposedly great friends, but something insidious was happening. None saw the truth until it was too late.
My first book by author Jane Shemilt, and I was hooked. The claws of the story soon got a foothold in me after a rocky beginning of too many characters, and it inveigled into me one chapter at a time. The author used the power of her words to create a dual atmosphere where everything appeared honky dory, but that was just a mask. Pull it down and the aura of evil could be felt.
It oozed, spreading its dark tendrils so deep into the characters that it caught the children and adults unawares. The scenes were brilliant, something felt off in all as if every character was playing a different character in their fictional life. Abuse was hidden well, giving me glimpses of it as hints initially then it blew in like a gust.
A dark petrifying read, it was uncomfortable with its chilliness, where truth was the core, and the action was its effect. Ms. Shemilt has written a brilliant slow burn thriller which kept growing as the pages turned.
A compelling read, indeed. I had to take a few deep breaths at the end of the read as it was difficult to let go of the final reveal.
March 21, 2020
When Eve Kershaw advertises as a tutor for children with dyslexia, two other couples sign up. The children quickly become friends, seemingly inseparable. The adults are thrown together and unlikely friendships are formed.
But the waters are troubled in each relationship. Abuse, adultery and financial strain cause stress and resentment. With the adults so wrapped up in their own problems, the children are free to roam outdoors alone. After a heavy party that saw most adults drinking, they wake to find a tragic event has occurred. With foggy recollections in grief and despair, was anyone watching the children?
It took a little while to get going, I was fairly bored until about 40%. However once it began to reveal the characters true colours things became very interesting! By the end I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely devious. 4 stars from me. ✨
But the waters are troubled in each relationship. Abuse, adultery and financial strain cause stress and resentment. With the adults so wrapped up in their own problems, the children are free to roam outdoors alone. After a heavy party that saw most adults drinking, they wake to find a tragic event has occurred. With foggy recollections in grief and despair, was anyone watching the children?
It took a little while to get going, I was fairly bored until about 40%. However once it began to reveal the characters true colours things became very interesting! By the end I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely devious. 4 stars from me. ✨
Read
June 5, 2023Marital affairs, shocking violence, bullying children - it does sound a little like Big Little Lies, although I didn't really find it was like that at all. The writing and setting is vivid, the characters unlikeable but redeemable, and the story intriguing.
There are a lot of perspectives and characters at first, so it took me a bit to get my bearings, but the beautiful, atmospheric writing soon took over. This book will make you keep an eye on your children, even when your own life is spinning out of control. I would recommend for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction.
There are a lot of perspectives and characters at first, so it took me a bit to get my bearings, but the beautiful, atmospheric writing soon took over. This book will make you keep an eye on your children, even when your own life is spinning out of control. I would recommend for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction.
January 29, 2025
Eve's daughter, Poppy is dyslexic. She takes a qualification in dyslexia to help her and sets up a little class for dyslexic children in her home. Soon the children become friends and their parents follow in their wake even though they are from quite different backgrounds.
We get told the story through the perspectives of the three women, Eve, Melissa and Grace. Each of them has their own problems. Eve is an earth mother type determined to let her three children have a childhood free of the adult restraints that ruined her own childhood. But she's fed up with her husband Eric who is a man of little words and yearns for someone who will talk to her. Melissa is nervy and thin to the point of anorexia for reasons which become apparent. Grace is a woman of colour married to a Booker prize winning author, Martin who hasn't had any success in a decade. She has to support him and their two children by working long hours in a hotel where she is often subjected to racist abuse. She too wants to be a writer and scribbles away in the little spare time she has while Martin has all the time in the world and produces nothing. Meanwhile she is terrified of local youths who hang around where she lives becoming more and more threatening.
As the children become more friendly so too do the adults. There is a holiday in Greece where an affair starts. The children run wild while the adults drink, obsessed with their own issues. This continues when they return to London until a tragedy starts the process of unravelling all their secrets.
We get told the story through the perspectives of the three women, Eve, Melissa and Grace. Each of them has their own problems. Eve is an earth mother type determined to let her three children have a childhood free of the adult restraints that ruined her own childhood. But she's fed up with her husband Eric who is a man of little words and yearns for someone who will talk to her. Melissa is nervy and thin to the point of anorexia for reasons which become apparent. Grace is a woman of colour married to a Booker prize winning author, Martin who hasn't had any success in a decade. She has to support him and their two children by working long hours in a hotel where she is often subjected to racist abuse. She too wants to be a writer and scribbles away in the little spare time she has while Martin has all the time in the world and produces nothing. Meanwhile she is terrified of local youths who hang around where she lives becoming more and more threatening.
As the children become more friendly so too do the adults. There is a holiday in Greece where an affair starts. The children run wild while the adults drink, obsessed with their own issues. This continues when they return to London until a tragedy starts the process of unravelling all their secrets.
January 9, 2022
way too many characters and povs, damn i'm kinda lost.... it was ok, took me way too long to finish it and i kinda forgot everything. kinda pissed i didn't love it.
haven't read Big Little Lies but it gives me Big Little Lies from Lidl vibes.
haven't read Big Little Lies but it gives me Big Little Lies from Lidl vibes.
March 6, 2020
I have read previous books by Jane Shemilt and knew that I would live her writing once again.
This psychological page-turner of a thriller was well written, brilliantly plotted and wonderfully dark.
Whilst following three families who become a close knit circle due to their children's friendships we follow them throughout the peaks and troughs of their lives and their friendships. Hidden secrets soon become known when tragedy strikes.
The concept of the story was original, the pace was good, if a little slow to start with, and I thought the characters were well developed.
Although I did predict a few of the twists, I still enjoyed this book. Definitely one to look out for.
This psychological page-turner of a thriller was well written, brilliantly plotted and wonderfully dark.
Whilst following three families who become a close knit circle due to their children's friendships we follow them throughout the peaks and troughs of their lives and their friendships. Hidden secrets soon become known when tragedy strikes.
The concept of the story was original, the pace was good, if a little slow to start with, and I thought the characters were well developed.
Although I did predict a few of the twists, I still enjoyed this book. Definitely one to look out for.
July 31, 2020
While the parents are tangled up in their own dramas, the children are left to run wild -- and run wild they do. Great premise, but Little Friends didn't quite deliver.
Mainly, it's a characterisation issue for me. There are SO MANY characters and maybe one or two of them are well drawn. Those wild-running children get the shortest shrift. I didn't realise Charley was a girl until, like, the last chapter. *sad trombone*
In general, Jane Shemilt seems more interested in sensuous descriptions of food and landscapes than she does in character and plotting. The main bad guy is
The B-storyline holds more surprises.
I also could not square the idea that all the adult characters were in their 30s. Millennials! Does anyone in this book even use the internet?
Little Friends' portrayal of class is equally bizarre. This is a novel where, when you need a place to live, someone just randomly offers you a sumptuous country house (".........."). The only working-class characters are The Noble Poor, who choose to live in a council block while they pursue their ~art. Oh, and you WILL
My final gripe about Little Friends is how similar to Big Little Lies if feels. (I've only see the TV show, which I assume is faithful to the novel.) I know, I know, everything is derivative of everything else, but ... It felt samey-samey-samey to me.
Mainly, it's a characterisation issue for me. There are SO MANY characters and maybe one or two of them are well drawn. Those wild-running children get the shortest shrift. I didn't realise Charley was a girl until, like, the last chapter. *sad trombone*
In general, Jane Shemilt seems more interested in sensuous descriptions of food and landscapes than she does in character and plotting. The main bad guy is
The B-storyline holds more surprises.
I also could not square the idea that all the adult characters were in their 30s. Millennials! Does anyone in this book even use the internet?
Little Friends' portrayal of class is equally bizarre. This is a novel where, when you need a place to live, someone just randomly offers you a sumptuous country house (".........."). The only working-class characters are The Noble Poor, who choose to live in a council block while they pursue their ~art. Oh, and you WILL
My final gripe about Little Friends is how similar to Big Little Lies if feels. (I've only see the TV show, which I assume is faithful to the novel.) I know, I know, everything is derivative of everything else, but ... It felt samey-samey-samey to me.
July 29, 2020
There was a few weeks at the beginning of July where I tried my very best to get into this and it just wasn’t happening. After a month of trying to finish it I finally have and I have mixed emotions. I’m going to give a few points as I’m trying not to spoil it for future readers.
The story has so many characters, too many if I’m honest. I kept getting lost on who was who for the first 300 pages.
I guessed the plot almost immediately - I do feel any books that focus on children within the thriller genre always go down the same path. I also think the phrasing on the book cover gives it away, so you go in with an assumption already.
The book itself was actually really well paced after the initial introduction of the 1000000 characters, and I did thoroughly enjoy it when it got going. I also really enjoyed the characters, there is some great character development and depth in this book.
I do believe if you don’t guess the ending the experience would be much more enthralling, unfortunately for me this took away from the full experience.
The story has so many characters, too many if I’m honest. I kept getting lost on who was who for the first 300 pages.
I guessed the plot almost immediately - I do feel any books that focus on children within the thriller genre always go down the same path. I also think the phrasing on the book cover gives it away, so you go in with an assumption already.
The book itself was actually really well paced after the initial introduction of the 1000000 characters, and I did thoroughly enjoy it when it got going. I also really enjoyed the characters, there is some great character development and depth in this book.
I do believe if you don’t guess the ending the experience would be much more enthralling, unfortunately for me this took away from the full experience.
January 10, 2021
Overall, this book was a disappointment. The first half was slow. There were many characters (both adults and children) and while I had no problem telling them apart and remembering how they were related, I never did connect or relate to anyone nor did I care much for them. The story picked up in the second half but basically this is a very typical domestic thriller that goes exactly the way you expect it to, with elements/plot devices you find in pretty much every domestic thriller.
The whodunit was pretty obvious from the start though the story itself was compelling enough to keep me turning the pages. I was, however, shocked by one tragic event. Also, I've never loathed a child character as much as I did in this book, not even when I read Baby Teeth. Ugh. But I guess it's a good thing if a book can make you angry.
I get that maybe the author wanted to show the consequences of child negligence but personally it felt like the same old story that I've read in so many other books.
The whodunit was pretty obvious from the start though the story itself was compelling enough to keep me turning the pages. I was, however, shocked by one tragic event. Also, I've never loathed a child character as much as I did in this book, not even when I read Baby Teeth. Ugh. But I guess it's a good thing if a book can make you angry.
I get that maybe the author wanted to show the consequences of child negligence but personally it felt like the same old story that I've read in so many other books.
July 20, 2020
Earth mother Eve, starved as a child of both freedom and affection, is determined to lavish her children with both, encouraging them to run wild in the extensive grounds of their home. It's like Fairyland, as described by one visitor - but we all know how dark some fairytales can be.
Grace, missing her native Zimbabwe, struggling financially and finding her living environment often hostile, finds her writing ambitions have been subsumed into those of her husband while Grace works long hours to support the family.
And anorexic Melissa's apparently successful life - home, career, family - conceals a lot of hidden darkness.
When Eve decides to put her teaching qualification to use by offering private tuition to dyslexic children - her own daughter Poppy, Grace's son Blake and Melissa's daughter Izzy - the three women, their husbands and various children soon become friends, spending time together and even going on holiday. But it seems nobody's paying enough attention to notice what's going on beneath the surface - or to intervene in time.
It took me far too long to get around to reading this book - after a slightly slow start, it was an incredibly gripping read, although the story is very dark and almost unbearably tense at times. While there are some heavy themes here, Jane Shemilt handles them with great sensitivity and sureness of touch, and the ending is satisfying.
Highly recommended - many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read it and provide an unbiased review.
Grace, missing her native Zimbabwe, struggling financially and finding her living environment often hostile, finds her writing ambitions have been subsumed into those of her husband while Grace works long hours to support the family.
And anorexic Melissa's apparently successful life - home, career, family - conceals a lot of hidden darkness.
When Eve decides to put her teaching qualification to use by offering private tuition to dyslexic children - her own daughter Poppy, Grace's son Blake and Melissa's daughter Izzy - the three women, their husbands and various children soon become friends, spending time together and even going on holiday. But it seems nobody's paying enough attention to notice what's going on beneath the surface - or to intervene in time.
It took me far too long to get around to reading this book - after a slightly slow start, it was an incredibly gripping read, although the story is very dark and almost unbearably tense at times. While there are some heavy themes here, Jane Shemilt handles them with great sensitivity and sureness of touch, and the ending is satisfying.
Highly recommended - many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read it and provide an unbiased review.
April 27, 2020
Little Friends by Jane Shemilt is a brilliantly-executed, turbulent novel, one which turned out to be much darker and more emotionally fierce than I had originally anticipated. I haven't read many of Shemilt's novels before, but this has solidified her as an author who I'll definitely be returning to. Incredibly addictive yet distressing at times, this is a fascinating novel which focuses on the children of a group of adults, who perhaps are not being watched as closely as they should be. With a certain sense of dread that positively drips from the pages, this novel swallowed me whole and spat me out at the end without apology. Shemilt touches upon many topics within Little Friends and provides the reader with a hefty amount of food for thought, including domestic abuse, grief and loss, and marital affairs. There's plenty to ensure you keep turning the pages, which is exactly what I did. Shemilt had me hook, line and sinker with this one, I couldn't put it down.
In 'Little Friends' by Jane Shemilt, we are introduced to Eve, Melissa and Grace, as well are their respective partners, Eric, Martin and Paul. At first, I felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of characters I'd need to make room for in my mind, because alongside the adults, there are the children, too. We also meet Izzy, who is Melissa and Paul's daughter, and who is the eldest of the group, Charley and Blake who are Grace and Martin's son and daughter, and Poppy, Sorrell and Ash, who are Eve and Eric's children. It certainly sounds like a lot of characters to know and remember, and this perhaps may be off-putting for some readers, but I was surprised at how easy it was to separate each family in my mind. I think it definitely helps that the author allows separate chapters for each woman in the story, and so it becomes more simple to keep them apart from each other. Adding to this, Eve, Melissa and Grace may forge friendships, but their lives are so very different to each other that it becomes effortless to know who is who, and it really doesn't take too long at all to become accustomed to the parts of the women's lives that are unique to them. As someone who mostly reads novels that are centred around one main character, I was surprised to find myself enjoying the multiple characters provided by the author. It added a certain liveliness to the novel, with something always going on, something always there to look forward to in the coming pages. It was invigorating actually, to watch the hustle and bustle of these three families, at least until the novel took a much darker turn. I'm so impressed by Shemilt's ability to write about so many characters yet ensure they all remain in-depth, brilliantly crafted and well put-together.
This group of mismatched people are brought together by Eve's training as a teacher for children who struggle due to dyslexia, and so the parents of the children drop them off at Eve's house, in the hopes that she will be able to make a difference to their abilities. It is here where Izzy, Blake and Charley cross paths with Poppy, Sorrell and Ash. Brought together by their parents, bonds are formed between the children, and in the woods at the bottom of Eve and Eric's garden, an unnerving relationship is formed between the six of them, and a murky sense of foreboding begins to creep out amongst the normalness of their daily lives. Shemilt is absolutely fantastic at creating an overwhelming atmosphere, one that truly drags you down and makes you feel claustrophobic almost, completely surrounded by this sense of something being 'not quite right'.
As the months progress, something shifts not only in the children's friendships, but in the adults' too. Events took place that truly shook me, and I couldn't quite believe what had happened. Shemilt writes an unpredictable and taut plot, and I could never say for sure where I thought the author would take her characters next, but I always ended up surprised or taken aback. I really loved the structure of this novel, too. As I went from chapter to chapter, there were these odd little chapters in-between and I was given an insight into what was going on with the children, and insight that the adults didn't have. It was so intriguing to find out what they were getting up to, but unsettling, too. The novel is separated into parts too, partitioning the novel smoothly, and made it all the more enjoyable to read.
I particularly enjoyed learning about each of the character's lives in this novel, as well as the relationships and marriages between them. Shemilt dives deeply into each woman's personal life and I really couldn't wait to see where each of them would be taken, and how each of their lives would possible change when they all came to together at Eve's house. The men, too, were intriguing, not all of them likeable, but all of them very real, truly believable.
All in all, I absolutely loved 'Little Friends' by Jane Shemilt. It was an incredibly tense and tightly-woven psychological thriller with an awfully sinister twist at its centre. It was aggressively addictive, and I felt that Shemilt handled her characters with undeniable authenticity and grace. It was very powerful story and ultimately makes us question what everyone is truly capable of, even those we least suspect of being capable of anything at all. This book is getting the highest rating from The Book Babe of five out five, and I'll definitely be reading more from Jane Shemilt in the future.
In 'Little Friends' by Jane Shemilt, we are introduced to Eve, Melissa and Grace, as well are their respective partners, Eric, Martin and Paul. At first, I felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of characters I'd need to make room for in my mind, because alongside the adults, there are the children, too. We also meet Izzy, who is Melissa and Paul's daughter, and who is the eldest of the group, Charley and Blake who are Grace and Martin's son and daughter, and Poppy, Sorrell and Ash, who are Eve and Eric's children. It certainly sounds like a lot of characters to know and remember, and this perhaps may be off-putting for some readers, but I was surprised at how easy it was to separate each family in my mind. I think it definitely helps that the author allows separate chapters for each woman in the story, and so it becomes more simple to keep them apart from each other. Adding to this, Eve, Melissa and Grace may forge friendships, but their lives are so very different to each other that it becomes effortless to know who is who, and it really doesn't take too long at all to become accustomed to the parts of the women's lives that are unique to them. As someone who mostly reads novels that are centred around one main character, I was surprised to find myself enjoying the multiple characters provided by the author. It added a certain liveliness to the novel, with something always going on, something always there to look forward to in the coming pages. It was invigorating actually, to watch the hustle and bustle of these three families, at least until the novel took a much darker turn. I'm so impressed by Shemilt's ability to write about so many characters yet ensure they all remain in-depth, brilliantly crafted and well put-together.
This group of mismatched people are brought together by Eve's training as a teacher for children who struggle due to dyslexia, and so the parents of the children drop them off at Eve's house, in the hopes that she will be able to make a difference to their abilities. It is here where Izzy, Blake and Charley cross paths with Poppy, Sorrell and Ash. Brought together by their parents, bonds are formed between the children, and in the woods at the bottom of Eve and Eric's garden, an unnerving relationship is formed between the six of them, and a murky sense of foreboding begins to creep out amongst the normalness of their daily lives. Shemilt is absolutely fantastic at creating an overwhelming atmosphere, one that truly drags you down and makes you feel claustrophobic almost, completely surrounded by this sense of something being 'not quite right'.
As the months progress, something shifts not only in the children's friendships, but in the adults' too. Events took place that truly shook me, and I couldn't quite believe what had happened. Shemilt writes an unpredictable and taut plot, and I could never say for sure where I thought the author would take her characters next, but I always ended up surprised or taken aback. I really loved the structure of this novel, too. As I went from chapter to chapter, there were these odd little chapters in-between and I was given an insight into what was going on with the children, and insight that the adults didn't have. It was so intriguing to find out what they were getting up to, but unsettling, too. The novel is separated into parts too, partitioning the novel smoothly, and made it all the more enjoyable to read.
I particularly enjoyed learning about each of the character's lives in this novel, as well as the relationships and marriages between them. Shemilt dives deeply into each woman's personal life and I really couldn't wait to see where each of them would be taken, and how each of their lives would possible change when they all came to together at Eve's house. The men, too, were intriguing, not all of them likeable, but all of them very real, truly believable.
All in all, I absolutely loved 'Little Friends' by Jane Shemilt. It was an incredibly tense and tightly-woven psychological thriller with an awfully sinister twist at its centre. It was aggressively addictive, and I felt that Shemilt handled her characters with undeniable authenticity and grace. It was very powerful story and ultimately makes us question what everyone is truly capable of, even those we least suspect of being capable of anything at all. This book is getting the highest rating from The Book Babe of five out five, and I'll definitely be reading more from Jane Shemilt in the future.
August 11, 2024
One of my top 10 books for sure!! So easy to read, I stormed through this. Just when I thought I was shocked, something else bigger happened, 100% my type of book
February 24, 2020
I’m a huge fan of this author’s books so was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest book. I was definitely not disappointed as this was another gripping and unsettling read which was very difficult to put down.
Firstly I love books set around old friendship groups as you never quite know what secrets are going to be reveal and where the story will go. This story was no exception and I enjoyed getting to know the three couples better. I definitely wasn’t expecting the story to go the way it did and the many twists or revelations took me by surprise. Just when I thought I’d figured out which way the story was going to go, something happened to change everything.
The pace of this book was brilliant and made it easy to read. There was always something going on to keep my attention and I found myself unable to put the book down as I really wanted to know what would happen next. There are some fairly dark subjects covered in this book but the author has a way of including them without them seeming overdone but still written in such a way to make them affect you. I found it very compelling and quite powerful to see how these were dealt with, especially how it affects everyone after everything has come out.
Huge thanks to Sriya from Michael St Joseph for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
Firstly I love books set around old friendship groups as you never quite know what secrets are going to be reveal and where the story will go. This story was no exception and I enjoyed getting to know the three couples better. I definitely wasn’t expecting the story to go the way it did and the many twists or revelations took me by surprise. Just when I thought I’d figured out which way the story was going to go, something happened to change everything.
The pace of this book was brilliant and made it easy to read. There was always something going on to keep my attention and I found myself unable to put the book down as I really wanted to know what would happen next. There are some fairly dark subjects covered in this book but the author has a way of including them without them seeming overdone but still written in such a way to make them affect you. I found it very compelling and quite powerful to see how these were dealt with, especially how it affects everyone after everything has come out.
Huge thanks to Sriya from Michael St Joseph for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
February 11, 2020
With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Little friends was a deeply disturbing story about three families who met when their children began attending private tuition lessons.
Eve was married to Eric and they had three children, Poppy, Sorrell and baby Noah. Poppy was struggling with dyslexia so Eve decided to provide extra help during the summer holiday. Also on the course was Izzy and her parents Melissa and Paul. Grace, her husband Martin and their children Charley and Blake.
The children and adults got along like a house on fire and the children were encouraged to play unsupervised in the large grounds of Eve`s cottage. The families get along so well Eve invited them all to Greece to celebrate her birthday. However behind the happy facade, racism, adultery and domestic abuse were bubbling under the surface. The adults were too busy to notice what the children were doing unsupervised. All this culminated in a tragedy which left the group reeling.
It took me a little time to remember who was who but once I got that I was hooked. The book was told from the POV of Eve, Grace and Melissa. The plot was slow paced and I wanted Eric to do something when he saw his marriage crumbling.
Without giving too much away the plot was tense and I was angry that Grace did not ask Blake about his injuries sooner. However I was completely wrong footed when the story took yet another darker turn. The closing chapters were chilling and left me numb with shock.
I highly recommend this book.
Little friends was a deeply disturbing story about three families who met when their children began attending private tuition lessons.
Eve was married to Eric and they had three children, Poppy, Sorrell and baby Noah. Poppy was struggling with dyslexia so Eve decided to provide extra help during the summer holiday. Also on the course was Izzy and her parents Melissa and Paul. Grace, her husband Martin and their children Charley and Blake.
The children and adults got along like a house on fire and the children were encouraged to play unsupervised in the large grounds of Eve`s cottage. The families get along so well Eve invited them all to Greece to celebrate her birthday. However behind the happy facade, racism, adultery and domestic abuse were bubbling under the surface. The adults were too busy to notice what the children were doing unsupervised. All this culminated in a tragedy which left the group reeling.
It took me a little time to remember who was who but once I got that I was hooked. The book was told from the POV of Eve, Grace and Melissa. The plot was slow paced and I wanted Eric to do something when he saw his marriage crumbling.
Without giving too much away the plot was tense and I was angry that Grace did not ask Blake about his injuries sooner. However I was completely wrong footed when the story took yet another darker turn. The closing chapters were chilling and left me numb with shock.
I highly recommend this book.
March 27, 2022
Poi un giorno un bravo psicologo mi spiegherà perché mi ostino a perder tempo con questa autrice, la cui abilità principale consiste nel creare trame artefatte, caotiche e straripanti di personaggi, eventi e colpi di scena - che in virtù della sovrabbondanza, non risultano manco più tali.
Ah sì: perché si trovano a 0,99€ sul Kindle store e allora mi lascio attirare.
Giudizio tecnico: se non soffri di cefalea, ti verrà dopo la lettura, quindi sì solo se in cerca di un giorno di mutua.
Ah sì: perché si trovano a 0,99€ sul Kindle store e allora mi lascio attirare.
Giudizio tecnico: se non soffri di cefalea, ti verrà dopo la lettura, quindi sì solo se in cerca di un giorno di mutua.
June 11, 2020
Oh good god this is awful terrible and just downright idiotic. None of the characters work or make any sense I don’t like any of them. The writing style is appalling and the grammar errors are atrocious. It’s all just boring cliches. Sorry not for me and if the rest of her books are the same...no thanks.
March 24, 2020
Wow this book is something else! Starting off as a slow burning story about 3 friends, Eve, Melissa and Grace, I really didn't know what to expect from it. But this book was a wild ride and it became a lot more dark and twisted than I ever could have imagined.
The story starts with Eve holding extra classes for her children and a few other local children. The kids quickly become friends, Izzy the eldest becoming the ring leader of the group. The 3 sets of parents soon bond too, finding themselves spending drunken evenings at BBQ's and holidays in sunny Greece.
But whilst the parents are preoccupied with their own lives, they've taken their eye off the ball and no one is watching the children.
Each of the three women are well developed and likable characters, well mostly! I enjoyed the way the book was told from all three of their perspectives, we really got to know the women and live their lives with them. Each has their own interesting story, secrets they are keeping and challenges to face.
We also see from the children's point of view, just snippets but enough to see clearly the dynamic of the group they have become and the path they are heading down. At times it was frustrating to read and I just wanted to shake the parents to open up the eyes and see what was going on!
This book is extremely well written and it was just so interesting I couldn't put it down. It is definitely more of a slow paced novel to start but it does quicken in pace towards the end and becomes quite tense in parts. Whilst I guessed some things that happened, there were others I didn't see coming at all and I loved this aspect of it.
I became so drawn into the world of Eve and her friends and was slightly sad when the book came to an end. With themes such as domestic abuse and sexual assault covered it does veer into darker areas at times but never does it feel unnecessary to the story or become to hard to read and I think that's down to Jane's talent as a writer.
I genuinely really enjoyed this book. The story is cleverly woven together, the characters are interesting and it's full of surprises. If you like a domestic slow burn thriller then this is for you!
Thank you to Sriya at Michael Joseph for the gifted book in exchange for a spot on the blog tour.
The story starts with Eve holding extra classes for her children and a few other local children. The kids quickly become friends, Izzy the eldest becoming the ring leader of the group. The 3 sets of parents soon bond too, finding themselves spending drunken evenings at BBQ's and holidays in sunny Greece.
But whilst the parents are preoccupied with their own lives, they've taken their eye off the ball and no one is watching the children.
Each of the three women are well developed and likable characters, well mostly! I enjoyed the way the book was told from all three of their perspectives, we really got to know the women and live their lives with them. Each has their own interesting story, secrets they are keeping and challenges to face.
We also see from the children's point of view, just snippets but enough to see clearly the dynamic of the group they have become and the path they are heading down. At times it was frustrating to read and I just wanted to shake the parents to open up the eyes and see what was going on!
This book is extremely well written and it was just so interesting I couldn't put it down. It is definitely more of a slow paced novel to start but it does quicken in pace towards the end and becomes quite tense in parts. Whilst I guessed some things that happened, there were others I didn't see coming at all and I loved this aspect of it.
I became so drawn into the world of Eve and her friends and was slightly sad when the book came to an end. With themes such as domestic abuse and sexual assault covered it does veer into darker areas at times but never does it feel unnecessary to the story or become to hard to read and I think that's down to Jane's talent as a writer.
I genuinely really enjoyed this book. The story is cleverly woven together, the characters are interesting and it's full of surprises. If you like a domestic slow burn thriller then this is for you!
Thank you to Sriya at Michael Joseph for the gifted book in exchange for a spot on the blog tour.
March 1, 2020
This book starts by introducing us to Eve who has taken a course to help her daughter Poppy who may be dyslexic. Eve inherited her large house with sprawling garden after her parents died and wants her children to have the freedom she didn’t growing up. Her mother too busy with friends and parties she was controlled by a strict nanny. Starting a small class in her home, Eve and husband Eric become friends with the other children’s parents. Melissa and Paul and Grace and Martin.
Melissa an interior designer is obsessed with looks. Having been taunted by her father about puppy fat she had two hospital admissions due to extreme starvation and exercise. Her husband Paul is an architect and wanting to be cutting edge will have only new things in the house.
Then we come to Grace and Martin. Martin a prize winning novelist is now struggling with his next book and Grace is having to work as a receptionist to make ends meet. Grace herself writes secretly at night and misses her native Zimbabwe.
Narrated from Eve, Melissa and Grace’s points of view and interspersed with the kids narrative you are drawn into the unfolding nightmare. Marital affairs, domestic abuse, violence and bullying. All the while I was reading I found myself knowing what was coming and urging the parents to wake up and see what was going on as the kids are left more and more to their own devices. But even I did not see the true horror of what was to come.
This book is dark but so very good. The characters, although not exactly likeable, they have qualities that require you to keep reading. The pacing is timed just right, slowly building the tension until it becomes palpable. With a plot that is clever and devious and led me astray down the proverbial garden path. Oh and that ending I have only just picked my jaw up off the floor. On that note I will leave you with “This be the verse” by Philip Larkin which sprung to mind on finishing the book.
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
Melissa an interior designer is obsessed with looks. Having been taunted by her father about puppy fat she had two hospital admissions due to extreme starvation and exercise. Her husband Paul is an architect and wanting to be cutting edge will have only new things in the house.
Then we come to Grace and Martin. Martin a prize winning novelist is now struggling with his next book and Grace is having to work as a receptionist to make ends meet. Grace herself writes secretly at night and misses her native Zimbabwe.
Narrated from Eve, Melissa and Grace’s points of view and interspersed with the kids narrative you are drawn into the unfolding nightmare. Marital affairs, domestic abuse, violence and bullying. All the while I was reading I found myself knowing what was coming and urging the parents to wake up and see what was going on as the kids are left more and more to their own devices. But even I did not see the true horror of what was to come.
This book is dark but so very good. The characters, although not exactly likeable, they have qualities that require you to keep reading. The pacing is timed just right, slowly building the tension until it becomes palpable. With a plot that is clever and devious and led me astray down the proverbial garden path. Oh and that ending I have only just picked my jaw up off the floor. On that note I will leave you with “This be the verse” by Philip Larkin which sprung to mind on finishing the book.
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
March 4, 2020
This is the first book I’ve read by Jane Shemilt and I’ll definitely be picking up more from her! This was a well plotted, dark psychological thriller and a real page turner.
In Little Friends, we follow three families joined together by the friendships of their children. The reader follows them through the ups and downs of their lives and their relationships. Both the group of adults and the group of children are keeping dark secrets hidden but all of this surfaces when tragedy strikes...
Overall I really enjoyed this thriller - I thought the writing was brilliant and the pacing was perfect. The concept of the story also seemed very original and the character development was great! Unfortunately, I did predict quite a lot of the twists before they happened so I wasn’t hugely shocked whilst I was reading, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers this is definitely one to read! - 3 stars🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to Michael Jospeh for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In Little Friends, we follow three families joined together by the friendships of their children. The reader follows them through the ups and downs of their lives and their relationships. Both the group of adults and the group of children are keeping dark secrets hidden but all of this surfaces when tragedy strikes...
Overall I really enjoyed this thriller - I thought the writing was brilliant and the pacing was perfect. The concept of the story also seemed very original and the character development was great! Unfortunately, I did predict quite a lot of the twists before they happened so I wasn’t hugely shocked whilst I was reading, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers this is definitely one to read! - 3 stars🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to Michael Jospeh for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2021
Ring Book Club Book #8
Very good.
Very good.
January 4, 2021
I was really close to DNF this book after 150 pages. I'm glad I didn't. The story is really slow paced at the beginning. We get introduced to the characters and their lives and nothing really interesting happens.
But then comes the twist. And another one. And another one.
But then comes the twist. And another one. And another one.
Read
November 15, 2020Gave up halfway through. Life is too short to stick with bad books.
January 15, 2021
I guessed right from the beginning. Written nicely, I couldn’t put it down. I had to know who did what. Would have liked it to have been wrong, because it’s to easy a guess.
June 13, 2021
twisted and entertaining
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