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Old Friends
Moving in with old friends. What could possibly go wrong?
The latest gripping domestic drama from the author of The Move and The People at Number 9 is available to pre-order now!
Two couples, best friends for half a lifetime, move in together. What could possibly go wrong…?
Harriet and Mark have it all: successful careers, a lovely house in a leafy London suburb, twin boys on the cusp of leaving home. Yvette and Gary share a smaller place with their two daughters in a shabbier part of the same borough.
But when the stars align for a collective move north, it means a fresh start for them all. For Mark, it’s a chance to escape the rat race; for Harriet, a distraction from her unfulfilled dream of a late third child. Gary has decided to reboot the Madchester band that made him famous, while Yvette hopes it will give her daughters what she never had herself.
But as the reality of their new living arrangements slowly sinks in, the four friends face their own mid-life crises, and the dream becomes a nightmare…
Praise for Felicity Everett:
‘A dark and foreboding tale of a rural dream gone wrong; of what can happen when we try to paint over the cracks’ Sunday Post
‘Felicity has the reader gripped when she explores unhealthy relationships based on insecurity and delusion. She writes with a raw realism’ Adele Parks, No. 1 bestselling author of Both Of You, in Platinum
‘Dark and gripping, this tale is perfect for snuggling up with by the fire with a glass or two of wine’ Closer
‘This was clever, relentless and utterly recognisable. I absolutely loved it!’ Katie Fforde, No. 1 bestselling author of A Springtime Affair
'A cautionary tale of what happens when you get caught up with the in-crowd … I gulped it down' Veronica Henry, bestselling author of The Beach Hut Series
‘Held me in its vice-like grip from first page to last … A fascinating analysis of an unhealthy friendship based on insecurity and delusion’ Sophie Hannah, bestselling author of Haven’t They Grown
The latest gripping domestic drama from the author of The Move and The People at Number 9 is available to pre-order now!
Two couples, best friends for half a lifetime, move in together. What could possibly go wrong…?
Harriet and Mark have it all: successful careers, a lovely house in a leafy London suburb, twin boys on the cusp of leaving home. Yvette and Gary share a smaller place with their two daughters in a shabbier part of the same borough.
But when the stars align for a collective move north, it means a fresh start for them all. For Mark, it’s a chance to escape the rat race; for Harriet, a distraction from her unfulfilled dream of a late third child. Gary has decided to reboot the Madchester band that made him famous, while Yvette hopes it will give her daughters what she never had herself.
But as the reality of their new living arrangements slowly sinks in, the four friends face their own mid-life crises, and the dream becomes a nightmare…
Praise for Felicity Everett:
‘A dark and foreboding tale of a rural dream gone wrong; of what can happen when we try to paint over the cracks’ Sunday Post
‘Felicity has the reader gripped when she explores unhealthy relationships based on insecurity and delusion. She writes with a raw realism’ Adele Parks, No. 1 bestselling author of Both Of You, in Platinum
‘Dark and gripping, this tale is perfect for snuggling up with by the fire with a glass or two of wine’ Closer
‘This was clever, relentless and utterly recognisable. I absolutely loved it!’ Katie Fforde, No. 1 bestselling author of A Springtime Affair
'A cautionary tale of what happens when you get caught up with the in-crowd … I gulped it down' Veronica Henry, bestselling author of The Beach Hut Series
‘Held me in its vice-like grip from first page to last … A fascinating analysis of an unhealthy friendship based on insecurity and delusion’ Sophie Hannah, bestselling author of Haven’t They Grown
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2022
41 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Felicity Everett
42 books54 followersFelicity Everett grew up in Manchester and studied English Literature at Sussex University. She worked in children's publishing in London, whilst raising a family and is the author of more than twenty works of children's fiction and non-fiction. After a short career break, Felicity returned to writing adult fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 18, 2022
Basically a tale of 4 friends (2 couples) who because of varying circumstances find they all end up living kinda communally together ‘back up North’ ( the book starts with them in London ) and the problems they encounter doing this, obvs there is a lot more to it than that but dont want to give much away, it is intriguing to see their lives unravel and change as what was supposed to be their saviour ( from many different problems) turns out more to be their downfall
Great characters, for example, Gary is a once famous 90’s pop star now on the verge of a reunion and fortune again, all of them are unique and flawed and therefore interesting to read about…we also meet all of their adultish kids, themselves having a whole host of their own problems!
The writing is darkly observational and sometimes very funny, honest and at times brutal
I was engaged with all of them fairly quickly and felt ‘knew them’ and when it finished ( surprisingly and for me just a bit quickly ) I felt had been on the journey with them
A chaotic but good read that I enjoyed
8/10
4 stars
Great characters, for example, Gary is a once famous 90’s pop star now on the verge of a reunion and fortune again, all of them are unique and flawed and therefore interesting to read about…we also meet all of their adultish kids, themselves having a whole host of their own problems!
The writing is darkly observational and sometimes very funny, honest and at times brutal
I was engaged with all of them fairly quickly and felt ‘knew them’ and when it finished ( surprisingly and for me just a bit quickly ) I felt had been on the journey with them
A chaotic but good read that I enjoyed
8/10
4 stars
March 1, 2022
Meet Mark who has his own PR business and Harriet who's an architect; they live in suburban London and they have twins, Jack and Ollie both of whom are at University. Yvette and Gary, both in teaching, have two grown-up children, Ruby and Jade, and live near Harriet and Mark, though in a less affluent part of the area. Yvette and Gary hail from Manchester and the families, who have been friends for years, decide to relocate to Chorlton, South Manchester...
I really enjoyed reading Old Friends. There is plenty to the tale hidden just beneath the surface, bubbling away. The story is told from different perspectives though each chapter includes the others. The wealth of twists is well worked throughout. An impressive, simmering tale I relished, I'm looking forward to reading more from Felicity Everett.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I really enjoyed reading Old Friends. There is plenty to the tale hidden just beneath the surface, bubbling away. The story is told from different perspectives though each chapter includes the others. The wealth of twists is well worked throughout. An impressive, simmering tale I relished, I'm looking forward to reading more from Felicity Everett.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 14, 2022
I was expecting a thriller with twists and turns, what I got was a mild family drama.
Two couples, Mark & Harriet and Gary & Yvette have been friends for many years, I struggled to remember who was who in the beginning… They each have things going on in their individual lives and the book is written from the perspective of all 4… If I’m honest I struggled to really follow what this was fundamentally about. I’m really underwhelmed…
I thought it was going to pick up when they all moved in together & was hoping for some momentum (based on the prologue) but sadly it wasn’t to be.
Thank you to netgalley and HQ for the opportunity read & review the digital ARC of this book.
Two couples, Mark & Harriet and Gary & Yvette have been friends for many years, I struggled to remember who was who in the beginning… They each have things going on in their individual lives and the book is written from the perspective of all 4… If I’m honest I struggled to really follow what this was fundamentally about. I’m really underwhelmed…
I thought it was going to pick up when they all moved in together & was hoping for some momentum (based on the prologue) but sadly it wasn’t to be.
Thank you to netgalley and HQ for the opportunity read & review the digital ARC of this book.
June 8, 2023
The quotes on the cover suggested this would be a thriller but it was more of a relationship drama. The characters were all quite unlikable and some were a bit of a caricature. I felt like some parts of the story were missing and would have liked more information about their thoughts when deciding to move in together and the immediate aftermath of the drama.
July 29, 2024
When you dislike all of the main characters, it doesn’t help with your enjoyment levels of a book. This is what I found with Everett’s novel and it really put a downer on the story. Second to this, I was expecting more of a thriller style read; instead this is a drama exploring two families and how they are linked.
Although the blurb describes these two close families moving in together, this does not happen until over halfway through the plot. The first half sees the writer establishing the connections and contrasts between the two couples. Furthermore, secrets are building up between husbands and wives; friends and family – it’s not going to be smooth sailing when they come to live together. Maybe on paper it was a good idea, but practically? Not really having your own personal space, sharing so much and there always a quest for dominance in the property is a recipe for disaster.
None of the characters were likeable because they were all self-absorbed. They certainly would not be on my friends list! Instead, I felt quite sorry for the children of the families and I think they had more admirable qualities compared to the parents. Addicts, arrogance and cheaters, the parents hardly set an example worth following. As the story concluded, it felt like the next generation were bringing optimism to the families where the parents had failed.
Old friends become new enemies in this story that is ultimately about betrayal and zero trust. The story didn’t deliver on my expectations in terms of plot development and I wish the writer had made the characters have some redeemable qualities instead.
With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Although the blurb describes these two close families moving in together, this does not happen until over halfway through the plot. The first half sees the writer establishing the connections and contrasts between the two couples. Furthermore, secrets are building up between husbands and wives; friends and family – it’s not going to be smooth sailing when they come to live together. Maybe on paper it was a good idea, but practically? Not really having your own personal space, sharing so much and there always a quest for dominance in the property is a recipe for disaster.
None of the characters were likeable because they were all self-absorbed. They certainly would not be on my friends list! Instead, I felt quite sorry for the children of the families and I think they had more admirable qualities compared to the parents. Addicts, arrogance and cheaters, the parents hardly set an example worth following. As the story concluded, it felt like the next generation were bringing optimism to the families where the parents had failed.
Old friends become new enemies in this story that is ultimately about betrayal and zero trust. The story didn’t deliver on my expectations in terms of plot development and I wish the writer had made the characters have some redeemable qualities instead.
With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2022
Suspenseful
February 16, 2022
I really did not enjoy Old Friends to the point I almost gave up half way through but even after persevering, I didn’t feel it improved. The plot line was too slow and nothing happened for around 80% of the book. Not one for me. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.
May 20, 2023
Kept going, waiting for a story to evolve, but it never did. Got to the last page and turned over for the next as it didn’t even seem finished!
April 2, 2022
Four friends, living quite different lifestyles. Mark and Harriet have successful careers, and twin sons - one doing well, one more reclusive and difficult to fathom. Gary had a music hit sensation years ago, but having done too much drinking and drugging, they now are not well off, and he works as a music teacher. Yvette, leaving school early pregnant, never really had a career.
Then events turn and Mark jumps off the wheel in the rat race and Gary ditches his teaching job for one last attempt to reignite his music career. Somewhat improbably the four then leave London to live in Macclesfield in a warehouse that Harriet had been redesigning, originally as affordable housing. However, each marriage has to undergo some re-evaluation during their time together.
An interesting book; some of it rather unbelievable, but it makes for a good tale. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Then events turn and Mark jumps off the wheel in the rat race and Gary ditches his teaching job for one last attempt to reignite his music career. Somewhat improbably the four then leave London to live in Macclesfield in a warehouse that Harriet had been redesigning, originally as affordable housing. However, each marriage has to undergo some re-evaluation during their time together.
An interesting book; some of it rather unbelievable, but it makes for a good tale. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2023
Not my normal genre. But quite a good read
February 6, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This book is about two couples, Yvette and Gary, and Mark and Hattie. Both couples live in London. Gary is a teacher after once being a famous rock star, Yvette is a teaching assistant, Mark owns his own PR company, and Harriet is an architect. Both couples have children, and go through bad times in life like everyone. They decide to up and leave London and move to Gary and Yvette’s home roots in Manchester. Their kids are all grown now, so they decide that communal living is worth a go. But things turn not so good as they hoped.
I loved this book, I read it in less than 24 hours. The characters were all relatable in their own way, I especially loved Yvette. The writing flowed really well and was a complete page turner. The book also tackled real world issues, such as addiction, depression, struggles to conceive, and money issues. The only slight downside was that I felt the ending was rushed, albeit tied up neatly.
Overall, an excellent read that I would recommend!!
This book is about two couples, Yvette and Gary, and Mark and Hattie. Both couples live in London. Gary is a teacher after once being a famous rock star, Yvette is a teaching assistant, Mark owns his own PR company, and Harriet is an architect. Both couples have children, and go through bad times in life like everyone. They decide to up and leave London and move to Gary and Yvette’s home roots in Manchester. Their kids are all grown now, so they decide that communal living is worth a go. But things turn not so good as they hoped.
I loved this book, I read it in less than 24 hours. The characters were all relatable in their own way, I especially loved Yvette. The writing flowed really well and was a complete page turner. The book also tackled real world issues, such as addiction, depression, struggles to conceive, and money issues. The only slight downside was that I felt the ending was rushed, albeit tied up neatly.
Overall, an excellent read that I would recommend!!
February 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this. It’s more of a family domestic drama than a thriller but that said I read it over two evenings and really did want to put it down. Two families, old friends, and mid life crises.
I liked the characters, all believably flawed. A be carful what you wish for tale
I liked the characters, all believably flawed. A be carful what you wish for tale
June 29, 2022
After reading the blurb and being sucked in by the brilliant cover, this just wasnt6what I was expecting! I expected a thriller but it ended up as a more 'family' drama.
Written from the POVs of 4 characters who are also couples.Mark & Harriet and Gary & Yvette, each characters also has their own story and in all honesty there was so much going on at times I struggled to actually grasp the fundamentals of the actual plot.
I think because it was marketed as a thriller I was constantly waiting upon the twists, turns and shock element to happen but they just didnt come and the momentum just never picked up enough. This for me was a major negative, because I was expecting some form of twist throughout it ruined the whole thing for me. Had it been marketed for what it actually is .. a domestic drama.. I think I'd of have enjoyed it more as I wouldn't have had the expectations.
The book is basically set out in three parts.. Part One is the character development and plot set up, thisnwas a slow going process and seemed to just bog down a massive part of the book. Part Two is where the couple end up loving together as a group, this is where it got interesting but was a shame that it was so far into the book. Part Three is the ending and in my opinion the biggest disappointment., it just felt so rushed and left me with feelings of pure disappointment.
Sadly just not for me.
Thanks to netgalley and HQ for the ARC.
Written from the POVs of 4 characters who are also couples.Mark & Harriet and Gary & Yvette, each characters also has their own story and in all honesty there was so much going on at times I struggled to actually grasp the fundamentals of the actual plot.
I think because it was marketed as a thriller I was constantly waiting upon the twists, turns and shock element to happen but they just didnt come and the momentum just never picked up enough. This for me was a major negative, because I was expecting some form of twist throughout it ruined the whole thing for me. Had it been marketed for what it actually is .. a domestic drama.. I think I'd of have enjoyed it more as I wouldn't have had the expectations.
The book is basically set out in three parts.. Part One is the character development and plot set up, thisnwas a slow going process and seemed to just bog down a massive part of the book. Part Two is where the couple end up loving together as a group, this is where it got interesting but was a shame that it was so far into the book. Part Three is the ending and in my opinion the biggest disappointment., it just felt so rushed and left me with feelings of pure disappointment.
Sadly just not for me.
Thanks to netgalley and HQ for the ARC.
March 7, 2022
This wasn't what I was expecting at all. It's not 'dark' and its not particularly 'twisty' as per the cover claim, thought there is a big reveal that caught me napping. What it is is a great, character-driven saga about family and friendship. It pits youth against age, friends against family, north against south, class against class in a story about two mis-matched middle-aged couples, living in suburban London, who throw in their lot together when their kids leave home and move into a converted warehouse up north. What starts as a daring mid-life adventure in communal living, soon turns into a nightmare of mid-life crisis, resentment and, ultimately, betrayal. The character of Gary, the ex rock star, is particularly fascinating - hilarious and narcissistic in equal measure, and the depictions both of gritty Manchester, and bourgeois London are equally spot-on. Oh, and did I mention? It's laugh out loud funny in places.
April 2, 2022
disappointing
Struggled to make it to the end, there was nothing to capture my attention. The whole storyline was bizarre & the going from one person to another off putting. A long winded start, mediocre middle & disappointing & need I say ‘boring’ end. Not one I’d recommend or read again sorry!!!
Struggled to make it to the end, there was nothing to capture my attention. The whole storyline was bizarre & the going from one person to another off putting. A long winded start, mediocre middle & disappointing & need I say ‘boring’ end. Not one I’d recommend or read again sorry!!!
February 15, 2022
The synopsis for this book looked great, but unfortunately, it was poorly marketed. A thriller billed as 'Sharp, dark and brilliantly twisty’, it was certainly not! Expecting to be reading a thriller and waiting for the twists and darkness to arrive meant that I was waiting for something which was never coming. Had I realised that it was a family drama, I wouldn't have expected that, so I think it would have made it feel like a different read. However, I did like this book, but the marketing made me feel a bit let down.
The story follows two couples and best friends: Gary and Yvette, Harriet and Mark. They each have children and eventually move in together near Manchester after living in London for many years. The book is written from each perspective and switches between them in each chapter. They each have their own thing going on, their own struggles and individual lives as well as their lives together.
The book has a slow pace, and I felt it took me a long time to read (four evenings); the billed 'living together' doesn't begin until part two – quite some way through the book. Part one is the plot and character set; their origin story means that the characters are well developed. This is good because you know who each character is and their background but this bogs down the plot a little. Part two deals with them ending up living together and is, in my opinion, the best part of the book. Part three is the worst; the ending is rushed and disappointing.
A couple of friends who are quite an unlikely pairing, Harriet and Mark, are wealthier; they live in a posh neighbourhood and are both professionals living the good life. Gary and Yvette, in contrast, are of much lower standing. Gary, a reluctant teacher after an extensive music career and Yvette, a teaching assistant who lives in a much poorer neighbourhood and struggle more. Each has two children, which is how they met; Yvette is the teaching assistant who helps Harriet and Mark's struggling son, Oliver, during school.
I didn't like how Harriet and mark viewed their children so differently. Jack can do no wrong, and Oliver is treated with disdain at every turn, being the delinquent child. Good to see that this changed at the end. Gary and Yvette also treat their children very differently. Poor Ruby seems to live in the shadows of her older, more important, sister. Some complex family dynamics made this a better read.
The biggest let-down for me was the ending. It all felt too convenient, and there were too many strings left hanging around about what happened and how. I was left wanting to know more about the other characters. Still, I felt it focused more on Yvette's family but was not quite full enough for me.
As a domestic family drama, this is an enjoyable read overall, and I do like a family drama. However, the marketing needs to work on, which isn't the author's fault, but I feel she will feel the disappointment this leads to.
For more reviews visit my blog The Sleepy Reader
The story follows two couples and best friends: Gary and Yvette, Harriet and Mark. They each have children and eventually move in together near Manchester after living in London for many years. The book is written from each perspective and switches between them in each chapter. They each have their own thing going on, their own struggles and individual lives as well as their lives together.
The book has a slow pace, and I felt it took me a long time to read (four evenings); the billed 'living together' doesn't begin until part two – quite some way through the book. Part one is the plot and character set; their origin story means that the characters are well developed. This is good because you know who each character is and their background but this bogs down the plot a little. Part two deals with them ending up living together and is, in my opinion, the best part of the book. Part three is the worst; the ending is rushed and disappointing.
A couple of friends who are quite an unlikely pairing, Harriet and Mark, are wealthier; they live in a posh neighbourhood and are both professionals living the good life. Gary and Yvette, in contrast, are of much lower standing. Gary, a reluctant teacher after an extensive music career and Yvette, a teaching assistant who lives in a much poorer neighbourhood and struggle more. Each has two children, which is how they met; Yvette is the teaching assistant who helps Harriet and Mark's struggling son, Oliver, during school.
I didn't like how Harriet and mark viewed their children so differently. Jack can do no wrong, and Oliver is treated with disdain at every turn, being the delinquent child. Good to see that this changed at the end. Gary and Yvette also treat their children very differently. Poor Ruby seems to live in the shadows of her older, more important, sister. Some complex family dynamics made this a better read.
The biggest let-down for me was the ending. It all felt too convenient, and there were too many strings left hanging around about what happened and how. I was left wanting to know more about the other characters. Still, I felt it focused more on Yvette's family but was not quite full enough for me.
As a domestic family drama, this is an enjoyable read overall, and I do like a family drama. However, the marketing needs to work on, which isn't the author's fault, but I feel she will feel the disappointment this leads to.
For more reviews visit my blog The Sleepy Reader
March 10, 2022
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ for the electronic copy.
This was an enjoyable read, although I did feel it to be somewhat lengthy. This domestic drama is told from the four main characters' points of view:
Harriet and Mark and Yvette and Gary - Harriet is an architect and Mark runs his own PR company, they are wealthy and have twin sons - Jack and Ollie. Yvette is a school teaching assistant, and Gary was a pop star twenty years previously and now reluctantly teaches music; they are not so well-off. They have two daughters, Jade and Ruby.
The book is in two parts: The first 50+% where both couples live in the South a few streets apart, with Yvette and Harriet having bonded over their children years before. The families have been stalwart friends ever since and the narrative traces their lives to the point where Gary decides he wants to reform his pop group and Mark feels he has enough money to resign from the company but he has a secret he's keeping.. Gary's originally from Manchester and wants to move back there to his band members once they've signed their recording contract but Gary is carrying his own secret.
The wives think their husbands are both having a mid-life crisis.
The stars align in respect of Harriet's project in Macclesfield - the restoration of an old factory into individual living spaces and communal areas - going over budget, and Gary's offer on a house outside Manchester being gazumped. Mark has enough money from his business and with the sale of Gary's house they pool resources to buy the converted factory and it's big enough to accommodate a recording studio.
Things start to go downhill from there as regards relationships, although Harriet and Yvette both resolve to move their lives forward. Mark starts to reap the rewards of his secret at the same time Gary's secret is revealed.
As I said in the beginning, it's an enjoyable read but the first part is very detailed into the lives of their children; Harriet's obsession with still wanting a daughter (at 44yrs-old); Ruby's successful IVF treatment; Jade's undesirable boyfriend, and Mark's polarized opinions of his twin sons' relative achievements.
This was an enjoyable read, although I did feel it to be somewhat lengthy. This domestic drama is told from the four main characters' points of view:
Harriet and Mark and Yvette and Gary - Harriet is an architect and Mark runs his own PR company, they are wealthy and have twin sons - Jack and Ollie. Yvette is a school teaching assistant, and Gary was a pop star twenty years previously and now reluctantly teaches music; they are not so well-off. They have two daughters, Jade and Ruby.
The book is in two parts: The first 50+% where both couples live in the South a few streets apart, with Yvette and Harriet having bonded over their children years before. The families have been stalwart friends ever since and the narrative traces their lives to the point where Gary decides he wants to reform his pop group and Mark feels he has enough money to resign from the company but he has a secret he's keeping.. Gary's originally from Manchester and wants to move back there to his band members once they've signed their recording contract but Gary is carrying his own secret.
The wives think their husbands are both having a mid-life crisis.
The stars align in respect of Harriet's project in Macclesfield - the restoration of an old factory into individual living spaces and communal areas - going over budget, and Gary's offer on a house outside Manchester being gazumped. Mark has enough money from his business and with the sale of Gary's house they pool resources to buy the converted factory and it's big enough to accommodate a recording studio.
Things start to go downhill from there as regards relationships, although Harriet and Yvette both resolve to move their lives forward. Mark starts to reap the rewards of his secret at the same time Gary's secret is revealed.
As I said in the beginning, it's an enjoyable read but the first part is very detailed into the lives of their children; Harriet's obsession with still wanting a daughter (at 44yrs-old); Ruby's successful IVF treatment; Jade's undesirable boyfriend, and Mark's polarized opinions of his twin sons' relative achievements.
April 1, 2022
Old Friends is the story of two couples living in London who have been best friends for years who decide to up sticks and move in together up north.
Mark and Harriet have successful careers and twin sons who have just graduated and are entering into adulthood.
Yvette and Gary live less glamorous lives on the other side of town.
Gary enjoyed success with his band in the 90s and is hoping to make a comeback and quit teaching. They have two daughters and are about to become grandparents for the first time.
Each chapter is from a different character’s perspective and we also move about in the timeline too so we get a real sense of how domestic life can actually turn chaotic and dramatic and things can quickly change in an instant.
As the story progresses we learn more and more about the couples and the secrets that lurk beneath their seemingly happy lives.
I think it’s safe to say they are all having individual midlife crises.
With the chance to start afresh and do something differently by moving up to Manchester what could go wrong
At times the chapters moving between different times (pre move, post move, when the kids were younger) could be a little confusing and perhaps the order wasn’t quite right sometimes.
There’s twists and turns in the book for both families but it wasn’t the drama I had anticipated it would be from the synopsis.
I enjoyed Old Friends nonetheless.
With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mark and Harriet have successful careers and twin sons who have just graduated and are entering into adulthood.
Yvette and Gary live less glamorous lives on the other side of town.
Gary enjoyed success with his band in the 90s and is hoping to make a comeback and quit teaching. They have two daughters and are about to become grandparents for the first time.
Each chapter is from a different character’s perspective and we also move about in the timeline too so we get a real sense of how domestic life can actually turn chaotic and dramatic and things can quickly change in an instant.
As the story progresses we learn more and more about the couples and the secrets that lurk beneath their seemingly happy lives.
I think it’s safe to say they are all having individual midlife crises.
With the chance to start afresh and do something differently by moving up to Manchester what could go wrong
At times the chapters moving between different times (pre move, post move, when the kids were younger) could be a little confusing and perhaps the order wasn’t quite right sometimes.
There’s twists and turns in the book for both families but it wasn’t the drama I had anticipated it would be from the synopsis.
I enjoyed Old Friends nonetheless.
With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2022
Old Friends is the story of two couples living in London who have been best friends for years. Mark and Harriet have successful careers and two boys who have just entered adulthood, and Yvette and Gary live on the shabbier side of town with decidedly less glamorous lives. Gary enjoyed success with his band in the 90s and is on the cusp of a comeback. They have two daughters and are about to become grandparents.
As the story progresses we learn more and more about them and the secrets that lurk beneath their seemingly happy lives. With what can only be described as ‘mid-life crises’ occurring for a couple of them, the chance to live up in Manchester present itself and they decide to live together and start afresh. What could possibly go wrong with that?
This is a greatly entertaining read with some fantastic characters who are all so different. Told through the eyes of each of them, we get a real sense of how domestic life can actually turn chaotic and dramatic and things can quickly change in an instant. They are all quite likeable and I enjoyed each of their perspectives. The author digs deep into their psyches and weaves a fascinating tale. I didn’t know quite how the story would pan out and although for much of the book we are getting a feel for the characters, there was enough action to keep me invested.
A great story about family life and the ways in which it can change at any moment. I felt like I knew them all by the end of the book and thoroughly recommend it.
As the story progresses we learn more and more about them and the secrets that lurk beneath their seemingly happy lives. With what can only be described as ‘mid-life crises’ occurring for a couple of them, the chance to live up in Manchester present itself and they decide to live together and start afresh. What could possibly go wrong with that?
This is a greatly entertaining read with some fantastic characters who are all so different. Told through the eyes of each of them, we get a real sense of how domestic life can actually turn chaotic and dramatic and things can quickly change in an instant. They are all quite likeable and I enjoyed each of their perspectives. The author digs deep into their psyches and weaves a fascinating tale. I didn’t know quite how the story would pan out and although for much of the book we are getting a feel for the characters, there was enough action to keep me invested.
A great story about family life and the ways in which it can change at any moment. I felt like I knew them all by the end of the book and thoroughly recommend it.
March 1, 2022
I was drawn to this book the moment I laid my eyes on the cover, the title, and the teaser - “Moving in together, what could go wrong?”. My mind immediately went into overdrive thinking of all of the different ways that it COULD go wrong, and after reading the summary, I was hooked. After a bit of confusion of keeping the characters straight (I highly recommend taking notes while you read when you find yourself in this situation), I quickly warmed to the characters and story. My favorite books are those about families and drama and Old Friends certainly filled this bucket. We read about your typical issues and complications as well as some that are beyond the usual day to day ones that most families experience. Add in the delicate tendrils of longtime friendships between all of the family members who not only add their own troubles to the mix, but also infuse new ones just by their own close existence after deciding to blend their families. Running away is not usually a good answer, but running away with friends (with baggage when you already have enough of your own) is an even worse idea. What makes those bad ideas great is writing about them - I was engaged and intrigued and flew through this book in two days. You don’t want to miss a single word because you will miss so much if you do.
March 1, 2022
2.75/5
This is not the book I thought I was getting.
It's coming across in blurbs as a psychological thriller about two families who move in together - but that doesn't happen until over halfway in. This is a domestic drama, with very few "twists".
Harriet & Mark are an affluent married couple with successful careers and teenage twin sons. One is a handful, and one is a golden boy. But is everything as it seems?
Yvette & Gaz live nearby but aren't as well-off. Their daughter is pregnant, and their other daughter is debating whether or not to go to University.
If the two couples sell up, then Mark can get out of the rat race, Harriet can renovate a property for them, Yvette can give some money to her daughters, and Gaz will have more space to practice for his upcoming nostalgia tour with his old bandmates. But despite being friends for years, do these people know each other well enough to move in together?
The set-up was fine, it dragged a lot for me personally because I was expecting the story to move faster and get to the move. This didn't happen until much later. As a drama, the first part was the strongest. I felt when the move happened the whole lot went a bit downhill and never really recovered.
CW for discussion of miscarriage.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.
This is not the book I thought I was getting.
It's coming across in blurbs as a psychological thriller about two families who move in together - but that doesn't happen until over halfway in. This is a domestic drama, with very few "twists".
Harriet & Mark are an affluent married couple with successful careers and teenage twin sons. One is a handful, and one is a golden boy. But is everything as it seems?
Yvette & Gaz live nearby but aren't as well-off. Their daughter is pregnant, and their other daughter is debating whether or not to go to University.
If the two couples sell up, then Mark can get out of the rat race, Harriet can renovate a property for them, Yvette can give some money to her daughters, and Gaz will have more space to practice for his upcoming nostalgia tour with his old bandmates. But despite being friends for years, do these people know each other well enough to move in together?
The set-up was fine, it dragged a lot for me personally because I was expecting the story to move faster and get to the move. This didn't happen until much later. As a drama, the first part was the strongest. I felt when the move happened the whole lot went a bit downhill and never really recovered.
CW for discussion of miscarriage.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.
March 21, 2022
Old Friends follows two couples: Gary and Yvette, Harriet and Mark. With a friendship that began when their children were young, they are all dealing with their own, quite different issues, both personal and professional. At a crossroads in their lives, they decide to leave London and move in together closer to Gary and Yvette’s roots in Manchester. But communal living proves not to be quite the panacea they had all hoped.
This is an engaging character-driven story about family and friendship, told from the perspective of all four main characters. We get to know them all, as well as their grown-up children who have their own issues, and I enjoyed the complex dynamics of two very different families whose bond goes back over a number of years and yet seem like quite unlikely bedfellows. All flawed and not entirely likeable, they are nevertheless interesting and the reader really does get to know them as we discover how much is going on below the surface. There are some real-world issues dealt with, but there is a good sprinkling of humour as things unravel towards a surprising ending.
This is an engaging character-driven story about family and friendship, told from the perspective of all four main characters. We get to know them all, as well as their grown-up children who have their own issues, and I enjoyed the complex dynamics of two very different families whose bond goes back over a number of years and yet seem like quite unlikely bedfellows. All flawed and not entirely likeable, they are nevertheless interesting and the reader really does get to know them as we discover how much is going on below the surface. There are some real-world issues dealt with, but there is a good sprinkling of humour as things unravel towards a surprising ending.
February 14, 2022
I struggled with this one slightly as the description didn’t really tally with the story. The events described don’t happen until over half way through the book, so it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting BUT I did still enjoy it.
Two couples make an unlikely friendship. Mark and Harriet live in a posh area, in a gorgeous home and have twin boys. Their boys couldn’t be more different and Mark struggles to get on with Owen, which makes life difficult when the boys return from their respective Universities. Yvette and Gary live in a slightly more run down area and have two daughters. One daughter is settled but currently going through IVF treatment and the other was planning on going to Uni until the boyfriend came along.
Gary struggles with his teaching career and yearns to reunite his band and rekindle their music career, but that would involve travelling to Manchester. Meanwhile, Mark is struggling with his company after a few dodgy decisions and Harriet is on the verge of losing her latest project. The couples decide that maybe the answer to all their problems is to move to Manchester and start a fresh in a home all together. But will it work ?
This is a good domestic type book but the description doesn’t really give a great insight into the storyline. All in all there are some great characters with a good storyline, just not what I was expecting.
Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
Two couples make an unlikely friendship. Mark and Harriet live in a posh area, in a gorgeous home and have twin boys. Their boys couldn’t be more different and Mark struggles to get on with Owen, which makes life difficult when the boys return from their respective Universities. Yvette and Gary live in a slightly more run down area and have two daughters. One daughter is settled but currently going through IVF treatment and the other was planning on going to Uni until the boyfriend came along.
Gary struggles with his teaching career and yearns to reunite his band and rekindle their music career, but that would involve travelling to Manchester. Meanwhile, Mark is struggling with his company after a few dodgy decisions and Harriet is on the verge of losing her latest project. The couples decide that maybe the answer to all their problems is to move to Manchester and start a fresh in a home all together. But will it work ?
This is a good domestic type book but the description doesn’t really give a great insight into the storyline. All in all there are some great characters with a good storyline, just not what I was expecting.
Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
March 6, 2022
How close are you to your friends?
A former Rock Hero now a teacher (music) his Rock Chick Wife now a T.A. both great professions. There 2 friends a self made man and his architect wife and a platera of kids all very different. The wives meet first hit it off and they didn't look back various life situations draw them together but I will let you read about it as that's more fun.
But as with all good novels there is more beneath the surface that just adds clout to this wonderful and edgy tale. Each chapter belongs to character by including the others. I enjoyed the way it was done seeing the novel progress from each angle. The twists are well worked and the biggest is totally unexpected.
For me this is a 5 star without any questions and I'm sure you will feel the same, sit back relax and escape life this is your book.
A former Rock Hero now a teacher (music) his Rock Chick Wife now a T.A. both great professions. There 2 friends a self made man and his architect wife and a platera of kids all very different. The wives meet first hit it off and they didn't look back various life situations draw them together but I will let you read about it as that's more fun.
But as with all good novels there is more beneath the surface that just adds clout to this wonderful and edgy tale. Each chapter belongs to character by including the others. I enjoyed the way it was done seeing the novel progress from each angle. The twists are well worked and the biggest is totally unexpected.
For me this is a 5 star without any questions and I'm sure you will feel the same, sit back relax and escape life this is your book.
November 14, 2023
Mark and Harriet seem to have it all - happy marriage, successful careers and twin boys. One twin doing very well in school, the other not so well. Their best friends, Gary and Yvette are not so well off and have been unable to have children.
They have been friends for years and when Mark decides to leave his high pressured job and Gary tries to reinvent his rock career, circumstances change where the two couple end up living together. This is when the cracks started showing in the relationships in the marriages and each other.
The book is written by the perspective of each of the four main characters and does take quite a while to follow who is connected to who. It doesn't grab you from the start like a good book should.
I wouldn't call this a thriller as it really is just about friendships and how life can change these connections.
They have been friends for years and when Mark decides to leave his high pressured job and Gary tries to reinvent his rock career, circumstances change where the two couple end up living together. This is when the cracks started showing in the relationships in the marriages and each other.
The book is written by the perspective of each of the four main characters and does take quite a while to follow who is connected to who. It doesn't grab you from the start like a good book should.
I wouldn't call this a thriller as it really is just about friendships and how life can change these connections.
April 3, 2022
Responding to changes in their lives, two forty-something couples – the old friends of the title – decide to leave behind their settled London lives to move into an enormous former button factory near Manchester. Previously intended as a cutting-edge social housing project, the four struggle to adjust to sharing the communal living areas as well as an enormous roof terrace complete with a huge solar-heated hot tub. After an initial ‘honeymoon’ period, their long-standing 4-way friendship becomes strained and noticeable cracks begin to appear. Like the jacuzzi, there’s lots bubbling away beneath the surface.
Full of wry social observations and the darkest of humour, Everette’s writing is pitch perfect at every twist and turn. In my opinion this is her best novel to date.
Full of wry social observations and the darkest of humour, Everette’s writing is pitch perfect at every twist and turn. In my opinion this is her best novel to date.
February 6, 2022
Read through netgalley
This is the story about 4 friends and as other have said, the events in the description don’t really happen until about half way through. The characters were mostly horrible and self absorbed and the ending was vaguely satisfying.
For me though, it is very much not a thriller or mystery as I thought it was, but the story about 4 people who were incredibly dull, middle class and privileged: messing up their lives (which builds to the vaguely satisfying ending).
I am really grateful for the opportunity to read it but I don’t think it was for me.
It wasn’t badly written though and some of the characters were nicely hate-able!
This is the story about 4 friends and as other have said, the events in the description don’t really happen until about half way through. The characters were mostly horrible and self absorbed and the ending was vaguely satisfying.
For me though, it is very much not a thriller or mystery as I thought it was, but the story about 4 people who were incredibly dull, middle class and privileged: messing up their lives (which builds to the vaguely satisfying ending).
I am really grateful for the opportunity to read it but I don’t think it was for me.
It wasn’t badly written though and some of the characters were nicely hate-able!
May 24, 2022
This was a very good book that I was reading almost from behind my hands. You just know that when good friends decide to live together that it's not going to pan out. Or is it? Well not in the way anyone expected.
This was highly readable, although I must admit I sagged a little at 70%, but it soon picked up. It loses a star for saying that an unqualified teacher has been offered an acting deputy head post, which would never happen this early in a career. Call me a pedant, but since the rest of the book was so well written, this bit really stuck out as an anomaly. I will look out for more books by this author though, as I did enjoy this book.
This was highly readable, although I must admit I sagged a little at 70%, but it soon picked up. It loses a star for saying that an unqualified teacher has been offered an acting deputy head post, which would never happen this early in a career. Call me a pedant, but since the rest of the book was so well written, this bit really stuck out as an anomaly. I will look out for more books by this author though, as I did enjoy this book.
June 17, 2022
I read this like a week ago and I barely remember it. This is partly because I am hungry for thrillers at the moment and must read them at all times, including while walking around the house.
If I recall right, it was nicely written and extremely silly but not offensive. I remember thinking at the start "oh, brilliant, she's written lots of other books so I may be onto another Ruth Ware/Paula Daly!" but by the end thinking "I will not read any more Felicity Everett". I remember recounting the end to my girlfriend in an incredulous voice, but not what actually happened, though it must have struck me as ridiculous enough to only need recounting in an incredulous voice.
If I recall right, it was nicely written and extremely silly but not offensive. I remember thinking at the start "oh, brilliant, she's written lots of other books so I may be onto another Ruth Ware/Paula Daly!" but by the end thinking "I will not read any more Felicity Everett". I remember recounting the end to my girlfriend in an incredulous voice, but not what actually happened, though it must have struck me as ridiculous enough to only need recounting in an incredulous voice.
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