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Did I Say You Could Go

Melanie Gideon (Goodreads Author)

3.86 · Rating details · 35 ratings · 17 reviews

A suspenseful, gripping novel about families and friendships torn apart at the seams by obsession, secrets, and betrayal with relentless twists and turns that hurtle forward to a shocking confrontation.

When Ruth, a wealthy divorcee, offers to host the Hillside Academy kindergarten meet-and-greet, she hopes this will be a fresh start for her and her introverted daughter, Ma ...more

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ebook, 368 pages

Expected publication: August 3rd 2021 by Simon Schuster

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· 35 ratings · 17 reviews

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Jan 07, 2021 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I’m dizzy because of extreme amount of twists! Especially the final one hit me in the face so hard! I’m still numb, mentally black eyed but I’m also pleased and entertained a lot!

The mothers: polar opposite characters: one widower and one divorcee form an unhealthy relationship! Then they fell apart! Six years later an academic scandal brings them back together! But things get uglier! They find themselves into more lies, deceptions and unhealthily obsession patterns!

Ruth, wealthy, divorcee, r I’m dizzy because of extreme amount of twists! Especially the final one hit me in the face so hard! I’m still numb, mentally black eyed but I’m also pleased and entertained a lot!

The mothers: polar opposite characters: one widower and one divorcee form an unhealthy relationship! Then they fell apart! Six years later an academic scandal brings them back together! But things get uglier! They find themselves into more lies, deceptions and unhealthily obsession patterns!

Ruth, wealthy, divorcee, raising her shy, introvert, quiet daughter Marley alone, wants to befriend new people by throwing a party for kindergartens but shoving her wealth into mothers’ face perceived as pretentiousness and arrogance by her fresh social circle. Being a social butterfly is backfired!

Only Gemma Howard who is widower, raising her popular, social, fiery, friendly daughter Bee by herself doesn’t push her away. Gemma’s life style is so different from her. First of all she works to make her ends meet, running a test center. She resents Ruth for paying everything for her because she is proud woman who doesn’t want to owe anyone for anything! She finds herself trapped in her way too much intense friendship with Ruth. She feels like suffocating and she desperately needs to find a way out!

Thankfully Ruth’s new forbidden relationship with married man gives her a chance to pull away! But 6 years later an academic scandal brought Ruth into her life again. Ruth is the only one stands for her at this most challenging pace of her life and now she has no intention to let her go! Unfortunately Gemma’s new crush on a X Ray technician may piss her lovely longtime friend off! Things get heated and madness comes out of nowhere!

It was riveting page turner even though story telling via multi POVs was a little confusing at some parts! I enjoyed unhealthy, obsessive women friendship stories and I got excited about the outcomes! Luckily this one ended with satisfying conclusion! I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 keep your enemies close,for the love of batshit crazy heroines stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon &Schuster for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts. ...more

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Jan 05, 2021 Jen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

his book was loads of fun- a quick, psychological drama about 2 frenemies, Ruth and Gemma. This is domestic suspense at it's best- even when nothing was happening, there was a thrum of drama throughout the narrative that kept me reading late into the night. The book primarily alternates between the POVs of Ruth and Gemma, with occasional chapters dedicated to their respective daughters, Marley and Bee.

A lot of the book is just bad behavior between the women, and neither is all that likable, tho ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Melissa Borsey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Two single mother’s, one a widower and one a divorcée, latch on to each other and develop a somewhat unhealthy, on and off friendship. This is one of those “with friends like these....” type books that will leave you wanting to know what this train wreck is going to look like at the end. A little long-winded but interesting enough to hold my attention. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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Dec 15, 2020 dona rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Obscenely rich but socially unaccepted Ruth decides to host a meeting of young mothers for her daughter’s kindergarten class. She has no idea how put off the mothers are with her ostentatious display of wealth and her intentions completely backfire. She and her daughter become pariahs in the small Bay Area community.
The only mother to seemingly accept her is Gemma and Ruth latches on to her like a spider to a fly.

Ruth uses her wealth as a tool to ingratiate herself to Gemma who enjoys the benefi ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Christina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Are you looking for a quick, engrossing read? One that can be read in one sitting? Look no further friends, Did I Say You Could Go is the domestic drama you are craving.

Gemma and Ruth are single mom frenemies along with their daughter's Bee and Marley. After meeting at the kindergarten social, together they weather through the school drama, girl mom drama, and their own drama, with many ups and downs. Together the four bring the love-hate relationship between friends and mother-daughter to a wh ...more

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Dec 21, 2020 Krissy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Desperate to make friends in her new neighborhood, Ruth and her introvert daughter Marley decide to host the annual Hillside Academy kindergarten meet-and-greet. Ruth hopes they will finally be accepted and find their niche. Unfortunately, the parents are turned off by Ruth and her obnoxious wealth. Once again, Ruth and Marley are outcasts.

During the meet-and-greet Ruth meets single mom Gemma and her extrovert daughter, Bee. Ruth makes it her mission to become best friends with mom and daughter Desperate to make friends in her new neighborhood, Ruth and her introvert daughter Marley decide to host the annual Hillside Academy kindergarten meet-and-greet. Ruth hopes they will finally be accepted and find their niche. Unfortunately, the parents are turned off by Ruth and her obnoxious wealth. Once again, Ruth and Marley are outcasts.

During the meet-and-greet Ruth meets single mom Gemma and her extrovert daughter, Bee. Ruth makes it her mission to become best friends with mom and daughter. Ruth lavishes Gemma/Bee to Aspen vacations, Michelin starred dinners and even a new car. Gemma can’t believe her luck at first as Bee and she have been living paycheck to paycheck. As the years go by, Gemma starts to feel indebted and doesn’t know how she will ever repay Ruth. When Ruth’s affair with a married man is exposed, Gemma uses this as her way to sever ties.

Six years later and now Gemma is the one under judgmental eyes and just like that, Ruth comes to her defense. Their friendship is renewed. Gemma quickly however feels the pull of guilt as Ruth becomes more controlling and obsessive of their friendship.

HOLY MOLY!!! This book was GOOD. I stayed up until WAY past my bedtime and even read during my work day (BAD ME, don’t tell) I just had to know what was going to happen. Trigger Warning: cyberbullying and suicide

This book takes cuckoo bananas to another level! I loved Melanie Gideon’s vernacular in this novel. She writes with current lingo, phrasing and technology. It just added to the overall atmosphere of the novel and the drama. This book is haughty and soooo juicy. I mean the deceit of these people! Backstabbing friends, cyber bulling, and abuse all wrapped up in one. Ruth takes stalking to a whole new level and I was here for all of the horror. I have never read anything by Melanie Gideon but, I will be back that is for sure. I don’t want to give any spoilers but the ending had me jaw dropped and clapping. It was brilliant!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Colleen Ward rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

(4.5 stars rounded up)

Having met at a kindergarten meet and greet nine years ago, Gemma and Ruth are best friends who have both been raising their daughters as single mothers - one a widow and the other a wealthy divorcée. Gemma and her daughter, Bee, live frugally, paycheck to paycheck. Ruth and her daughter, Marley, live in a mansion with all the latest styles. Over the years, Ruth and Marley whisk Gemma and Bee away on luxurious vacations and treat them to a lavish lifestyle whenever given th (4.5 stars rounded up)

Having met at a kindergarten meet and greet nine years ago, Gemma and Ruth are best friends who have both been raising their daughters as single mothers - one a widow and the other a wealthy divorcée. Gemma and her daughter, Bee, live frugally, paycheck to paycheck. Ruth and her daughter, Marley, live in a mansion with all the latest styles. Over the years, Ruth and Marley whisk Gemma and Bee away on luxurious vacations and treat them to a lavish lifestyle whenever given the opportunity, but it comes with a price.
As Bee and Marley age, their mothers’ friendship becomes more complicated. Ruth helps Gemma’s family financially often, and Gemma begins feeling like she is building debt to Ruth that she won’t be able to repay. She slowly starts to detach herself from Ruth’s hold, and a scandal Ruth is involved in with a local dad makes separation that much easier. Inevitably though, Gemma and Bee are pulled back into the friendship that suffocates them, and Ruth’s attachment to the people she loves becomes bigger as the world around them seems to get smaller.

I found this book to be so interesting and consistently could not put it down during my reading sessions! I absolutely loved the multiple POVs (Ruth, Marley, Gemma, Bee), and flew through the short chapters. The writing showed the contemporary complexities of social media and addressed issues that teens and adults deal with today regarding cyber (and face-to-face) bullying, depression, and social isolation. It incorporated important resources that exist today, such as text therapy (talking to a psychologist/counselor through text). I was thoroughly confident that I knew what was happening until the end of the book, and the twist really threw me for a loop!

There was an instance of a supporting character having an autism diagnosis, which could be analyzed positively or negatively depending on a reader’s knowledge of/closeness to the topic. I really appreciated how Gideon used words like “neurodiverse” and “autistic,” as person-first vs. identity-first language is something that is consciously contemplated in the field of autism. I also liked how she had this character talk about what autism meant to him, and some of the characteristics of his diagnosis (i.e. sensory challenges). At the same time, some readers may think the use of autism as part of this character’s profile could play into seeing his family as “victims” or making the reader “feel bad” for his family in part because of the diagnosis. Again, it depends on how you as a reader see this situation, but I thought Melanie did a good job with a subject that needs more conversation!

All in all, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who loves psychological thrillers. It was mind-bending and twisty, very contemporary, and it was structured in a way that made it a very quick read!

*An electronic ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher (via NetGalley) for an honest review.* ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Jenny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Psychological thriller is the genre I probably read the most, though to be honest, it's hard sometimes to find a book I can get into. So many books today all seem ho-hum the same. It's rare to find a book with a new take on a plot or story, interesting characters, twists you don't see coming or an ending you truly weren't expecting. Did I Say You Can Go by Melanie Gideon succeeds where other books fail. Once I began reading, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. Thank you to the author, S Psychological thriller is the genre I probably read the most, though to be honest, it's hard sometimes to find a book I can get into. So many books today all seem ho-hum the same. It's rare to find a book with a new take on a plot or story, interesting characters, twists you don't see coming or an ending you truly weren't expecting. Did I Say You Can Go by Melanie Gideon succeeds where other books fail. Once I began reading, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Did I Say You Could Go is a story about a friendship filled with obsession, lies and deception, between two mothers whose daughters are also friends, told from all four different perspectives.

Gemma Howard is a widower, a popular mom who runs a test prep center. She's fiercely devoted to her daughter Bee. She's not rich, but they scrape by. Bee Howard is popular, outgoing and a bit of a rebel.

Ruth Thorne is elegant and classy. She doesn't work - she inherited a lot of money from her grandparents. She's divorced and has one daughter, Marley, who's very shy and quiet and would rather do homework than go out.

When Ruth throws a party for her daughter and the incoming group of kindergartners and parents at Hillside Academy, she alienates most of the parents there. She finally meets Gemma and holds on tight. Soon the four are like family, going on trips and out to dinner - all of which Ruth pays for.

When the girls are in third grade, Ruth has an affair with a married man. Instead of coming to her defense, Gemma uses this as an opportunity to start to pull away. She's always been uncomfortable that Ruth pays for everything.

Six years later, it's Gemma who is caught in the scandal. Ruth comes along once again to save her. Or does she have something else in mind?

I really enjoyed this book. The ending I did not see coming at all. I liked how the author incorporated issues affecting people today - social media, cyberbullying, depression. I will add that there is one scene that could be a Trigger Warning for some.

I also have to address that it's really quite ironic that I've seen other reviews rate this book lower because of the character of Ruth. So as not to spoil anything, I'll just say the author did exceedingly well what she set out to do.

I would probably rate this 4 - 4.5. I look forward to reading more from Melanie Gideon. I would recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers, women's fiction, Liane Moriarty and Greer Hendricks. ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Blue rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-5-stars, us, netgalley, mysteries-thrillers

It’s a tale of two frenemies, Ruth and Gemma, both were single moms with their daughters Marley and Bee who have been in the same class since kindergarten. Ruth is stinky rich and helps Gemma financially but Gemma had left Ruth in the lurch when she was involved in a scandal.

Fast forward a few years, Ruth welcomed back Gemma with open arms, did for her when tables were turned and Gemma was embroiled in a sticky situation.

The discussions in Momonymous were fun. This is a virtual group where the It’s a tale of two frenemies, Ruth and Gemma, both were single moms with their daughters Marley and Bee who have been in the same class since kindergarten. Ruth is stinky rich and helps Gemma financially but Gemma had left Ruth in the lurch when she was involved in a scandal.

Fast forward a few years, Ruth welcomed back Gemma with open arms, did for her when tables were turned and Gemma was embroiled in a sticky situation.

The discussions in Momonymous were fun. This is a virtual group where the identity of moms was hidden, nothing is off limits for discussion and everyone can gossip without worrying about repercussions. These moms were utterly hilarious when they were hidden under their cloaks. Another thing I liked was their chosen account names were completely opposite to their persona so no one could blow their cover. Who doesn’t love to read about gossips especially when no holds barred environment?

My heart goes out for Marley, stuck in her helicopter mom’s clutches who leaves no breathing room and always dictates her every move. Ruth is alone in the world, always worries about Marley leaving her, spends every waking minute on Marley. It’s incomprehensible how a mother sees imperfections in the daughter and saps her self-esteem.

My blood boiled while reading how Ruth treated Marley. Poor girl had suffered a lot and that might have had a psychological impact on her. I don’t understand how a teenage daughter gaining a few pounds was the end of the world for Ruth. I wanted to shake Ruth to make her understand that inner beauty is far more important than the outer beauty.

Ruth’s friendship is toxic and employs devious schemes to keep everyone near to her. I’ve thought I figured out the twist when it was in its inception stage but Gideon’s reveal blindsided me and it’s very satisfying when the revenge is indeed a dish that best served cold.

Overall, enjoy this book teemed with teenage angst, tantrums and their first world problems, and moms who love tittle tattle. I would recommend this book for fans of Big Little Lies.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Chelsey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a great psychological thriller! I read this in 2 days. I had to know what happened!

Gemma and Ruth are single moms and form a friendship when their daughters start school together. Ruth is a little much for Gemma so she eases back from their friendship. Many years later, they rekindle their friendship and chaos ensues.

This is one of those books you won’t want to put down. I loved the multiple POVs. My only complaint is that it seemed a little longer than it needed to be.

Overall, this is a ...more

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Jan 17, 2021 Grace rated it liked it · review of another edition

Ruth and Marley are alone in the word until they meet Gemma and Bee. Ruth's money and Gemma's warmth meld them into a family, a family that Ruth tries to hold unto with a death grip, but she slips up. Gemma and Bee fade away until Bee and Marley are starting high school, and Ruth finds her way back into Gemma's good graces. Now--she just needs to do everything possible to stay there--to show Gemma that she needs her.

This book starts like as a light read but ends on a dark note and will leave you ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Jalia Shelley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow! Excellent psychological thriller. Ruth and Gemma are best friends and single moms who meet when their daughters are in kindergarten. As their friendship progresses Ruth becomes more and more needy and controlling. Extremely fast paced and impossible to put down, read this book in one day. Highly recommend.

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Dec 27, 2020 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Early edition book club read.

Ruth and daughter Marley befriend Gemma and her daughter Bee in kindergarten as they are the only single mommas in the class.

What a rollercoaster of a relationship from there!

Many times I wanted to put the book down as Ruth is so over the top. For that, I did not expect the twist at the end.

Ruth's extreme selfish ways are the reason for a 3 rating vs. 4. ...more

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Dec 21, 2020 Sharon Turner rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon is a story about how lies and obsession can destroy families and friendships. I couldn’t put this book down, there were so many twists that I didn’t see coming especially the ending. If you like psychological thrillers you need to read this book. Thanks Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Dec 25, 2020 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An intense story of friendship, lies, and betrayal, Did I Say You Could Go is told from multiple mother/daughter perspectives. While the ending shouldn't have been surprising if you were following along, the trip to get there was a bit of a wild ride at times. This was probably 3.5 stars for me, rounded up.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Ruth rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Did not finish the book. The synopsis is pretty clear as far as the plot but I found every character so unlikeable, vapid, and mean-spirited. I couldn't get interested in any of them. However, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 Amy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-books, read-in-2020

Wow! Absolutely loved this twisty-turny psychological thriller! Excellent!

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About Melanie Gideon

Melanie Gideon

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Melanie Gideon is the author of the memoir, The Slippery Year: A Meditation on Happily Ever After, as well as the novels Wife 22, Valley of the Moon and Did I Say You Could Go. Her books have been translated into thirty languages. She lives in the Bay Area.