I Can Be Your Friend

by Jessica Blade

Welcome to Bliss High, rated one of the top schools in the nation for its high test scores and outstanding academic reputation. It's also the perfect place to commit murder.

Natalie knows. She knows sweet, oblivious Mandy, is meant to be hers. Lifelong friends. Forever. And Natalie won't let anyone stand in the way.

Mandy Wright is the sweetest girl at Bliss High, but unfortunately, she's also naive. She has it all: the hottest boyfriend, straight A's, the lead in the school play, everything...but a loyal friend.

You see, Natalie knows things no one else does. Like the fact that Mandy's closest friends are scheming to bring her down. That her boyfriend is cheating on her. That they're all rotten, festering in their deceit, and Mandy, dear, innocent Mandy, can't see it. But Natalie does, and she will make them pay.

She'll tear their dark secrets from them, one by agonizing one, and when all their lies are revealed, Natalie will make them pay the price for their betrayal, even if that means getting blood on her hands. Because when the last lies choke on their tongues, when the last screams fade, only then can Natalie and Mandy be best friends, the way it was always meant to be.

For fans of Cindy R.X. He, Megan Lally, and Kara Thomas

Genres: Young Adult, Horror

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2021

About the author

Jessica Blade writes YA horror. She wrote her first complete novel when she was fourteen. That's when she realized how much she adores twisty plots and psycho killers, and she's been writing ever since. Jessica also loves reading RL Stine and Christopher Pike, and when she's not creating her next terrifying story, you'll find her binging horror movies and scary video games with her awesome husband.

Reviews

[Krissy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page TURNER!!! Whew.. I was not expecting what happened. I was so intrigued and invested that I couldn’t stop. It was mysterious, thrilling, and spooky! I loved it!

[Connie Rivet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a slow start for me. While the book itself was fast paced throughout, I had a difficult time getting into it. It felt like the first half to two-thirds was written more as middle grade than YA. I couldn’t connect with the characters and everything just felt very immature.

However, I am glad I stuck with it. The last third or so picked up immensely. The twists were pretty jaw dropping and completely unexpected for me. This book left me feeling unsettled and creeped out but in a great way. I also liked the way the author addressed mental illness and I think all girls/women can relate to middle/high school woes and the difficult time it can be for us.

I recommend this book for anyone that can stick through a book that may start a little slower, but likes teen issues, psychotic killers, and shocking twists.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natalie just wants to be best friends with Mandy but to do so she has to eliminate all her friends one by one! For a YA book that takes place in a high school setting I did enjoy it the writing was good keep me engaged!

[Murray Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an obsession

What an obsession the mind can conjure up! Very cleverly written story with twists. I don’t want to give it away.

[Rogère Buivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read !! That book was so wild I was addicted to it !
It deals with some mental issues and the consequences of it.
We enter the world of Natalie who wants to be friend with Mandy. But things aren’t so simply.
The story is very well written and is very accurate. Maybe too much accurate (in a good way).
We really don’t know who we can trust when things don’t go as well as we thought.
This book is centered around trust, betrayal, fear and loneliness.
It’s the first book of the Bliss High Horror

[Jessica Blade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Available in audio

https://youtu.be/7n1O2qNKUoM

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[Jine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an arc of this book

This one was a doozy
Think major stalker vibes meets high school drama with some mental illness
I really enjoyed this story it kinda reminded me of the drama in pretty little liars but it was much more intense and sinister!!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Can Be Your Friend was dark but captivating. It follows Natalie, who wishes to become Mandy's best friend forever, but here's the thing: Mandy doesn't even know her. They don't talk, but Natalie is obsessed and taking crucial steps to become Mandy's best friend. She knows things about Mandy's friends, and she makes sure that they will pay, the first step toward setting Mandy free and becoming her best friend. Forever.

The book is told from Natalie's perspective, someone who is completely detached from reality because Natalie has Delusional Disorder with psychosis. It was interesting because you're not following someone you root for, but someone unhinged. The story has major stalker vibes, not mystery, but a tense spiral into obsessive behavior with high school drama.

It's a short, fast-paced read that kept me hooked from start to finish. While the pacing slows a little near the end, the ending was dark, eerie, and twisted. Oh my!

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Can Be Your Friend
Author: Jessica Blade
Genre: YA Psychological Thriller
Released: September 29, 2021
Rating: 3.5 Stars

A quick, well written ready. This is a great YA level introduction to Psychological Thrillers. For anyone who has been to high school, the division of the have & have nots is incredibly accurate and why you never really know someone. We are made aware of the FMC is delusional from the get go and she becomes increasingly unhinged as the story goes on. We are given an insight into her thought process and are given a satisfying ending with an explanation of the events that unfolded.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Tropes: Outsider, Bully, High School, Mental Health

Triggers: Not having any triggers myself, remember to be good to yourself and read the contents warnings.

#bookstagram #readersofinstagram #reviews #books #indie

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Can Be Your Friend is a young adult twisted thriller with no foul language and no sexual content. Mandy thinks she has it all.the hottest boyfriend, straight A's, the lead in our play, But Mandy does not know is that she has a stalker. Now this person does not think of themselves as a stalker but rather someone that knows the best for Mandy, someone that knows that if she can take all these things away from Mandy then they will be the best of all. I am trying to keep the she/he out of my write up so as not to take away from the story. Jessica Blade is a talented and gifted author. The protagonist in this story is scary and only becomes more so. This book has strong, well developed characters and an intriguing story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this book and would read more books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Teri Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character in this story has one thing on her mind and she is intent on making it happen. The FMC’s inner monologue is only about that one thing and she is obsessed. She is super smart, but also, psychotic. The FMC hears bits and pieces of conversations and thinks she has a handle on things. She wants to protect someone she cares for. A few of her intentions are good, most are not. This book moves along quickly and is a complex and intricate story. The main character makes it difficult to like her, as the reader. There are lots of secrets kept. Throughout this story I had a feeling of dread. Mental health is definitely represented in this book. Check your TWs. I would recommend this book.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I was getting old school R.L Stine vibes from it. At first, when I started reading it, I wasn't quiet enjoying the narrative, but then I quickly realised thst it was written in the style of someone suffering from some sort of mental health/ psychosis issues. I thought I had it all figured out at the middle, but it still managed to amp up and surprise me towards the end with a home situation. Im trying not to give away spoilers so I will leave it here. But I will certainly be checking out the next in the series, as it was a perfect filler book/ day binge break from life.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Can Be Your Friend takes the reader down a few unexpected roads. It is a very dark read with obsessive, stalker behaviour that goes beyond that to a conclusion that raises the eyebrows. It is listed as a psychological suspense read and it is indeed that. Although I would not really consider this a cliff hanger ending per se, the author book does end with a "continue the story in book two" notation.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my opinion of the tale.

[Yeng Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I Can Be Your Friend’ is a YA thriller story with a gripping narrative, told through the mind of Natalie Smith, whose obsession with saving Mandy Wright from her ‘fake’ friends leads to betrayal, dark motivation, and the desperate need to kill. Sprinkled with twists and turns at every corner, ‘I Can Be Your Friend’ will keep you at the edge of your seat until the final reveal.

***

The plot itself provides readers with twists and turns every chance it gets, leaving the reader reeling through its climax until the big finale. Addressing real-life psychosis is a recurring theme throughout the story, and characters with depth are written extremely well. Not to mention the action that keeps the thrill going, and the right amount of blood to go with it. While clean language and no sexual content is an unlikely combination with most psycho thrillers, Jessica Blade does an excellent job melding the two while keeping the essence of the story.

If you're looking for a well-written, fast-paced, psycho thriller with morally-grey characters, unreliable narrators, and unforeseen endings, this is the book you won't want miss.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this young adult thriller. A young girl, Natalie is determined to make friends with the most popular girl in school, Mandy. She knows things about Mandy's friends and she makes sure that they will pay, so that Mandy will be her best friend. This story had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The characters were well written and believable. The storyline left me breathless with disbelief that someone so young could be so diabolical. I would highly recommend it. I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Mette Birkebæk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want a look into the teenage world of high school? This is the story of a girl just wanting to be the friend of the pretty and popular girl in school. But all is not what it seems. The suspense slowly builds with a plot twist I did not expect to evolve in the direction it did.
Not the genre I usually read, but it kept me entertained on my work commute.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tywa Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It kept me on my toes wanting to know what will happen next . I didn’t see all the twists that happened and was in shock. This book is a definite must read and can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Theresea Wasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride! That’s all I’m going to say. You’ll have to read it yourself. I’m eager for the next book in the series.

[Tracy Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. The characters definitely act like high schoolers. The little twist at the end was interesting.

[Miss_curly_tots · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a book! One messed up thriller.
So natalie aka caroline thinks shes best friends with Mandy at Bliss High. Suffers with her mental health and has a life built on lies and seriously needs help.

[Bobbie Amaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Story

I don't know if this story is true, but probably not. It is a strange read to say the least. I did enjoy reading it, but do so hope I never meet anyone with a delusional disorder

[Damean Mathews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting but Unexpected

This is definitely a ride. I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, and from page one that remained the case. It's a strong warning against things like bullying and not paying close enough attention to mental health, etc.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great presentation. For the world we live in....

For a young adult thriller this one definitely pulled and held my attention. Teenagers while growing up, making friends, mental health awareness, bullying, self harm, murder all while trying to fit in can be stressful.

[Foxglove · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ll start off by saying I do quite like the narration. Natalie’s perspective is interesting, and it works well to see the way characters are portrayed by her and described in her eyes. It’s effective, and the author clearly did at least some amount of research into the topic she chose to write about. The narration is perhaps a little overdone at times but works well overall.

Unfortunately, that was the extent of what I enjoyed about this book. The plot felt very rushed at times, and somewhat nonsensical. There were instances that simply couldn’t have occurred as they did in the book. Seeing as this isn’t supposed to be a supernatural thriller, that’s an issue. There are also twists that aren’t foreshadowed at all, meaning they fall flat and are very underwhelming.

The writing style also bothered me quite a bit. It felt very similar to a Wattpad story, or somewhat close to the writing of Colleen Hoover. Whilst this made it a quick and easy read, it also unfortunately lead to little to no depth.

Finally, the last chapter doesn’t work well at all, and takes away from the book. Everything is over explained to the readers, as though they are foolish and cannot possibly put things together themselves. It ruins the thriller theme of the book entirely, and overall leaves us with a boring and unfulfilling experience.

Overall, I think the premise behind this book is great. It really is a shame that the execution just wasn’t there at all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this young adult thriller. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed and look forward to seeing what is next for her. This is a well written story that has twists and turns that left me sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what would happen next. This is a fast paced story that is a clean, action filled story. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into the story from the beginning. They are connectable and brought the story to life on each page. I enjoyed watching their growth as well as the growth of the plot. This was a hard book to put down. I highly recommend this book.

[S. Policar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin with this. It's a great read. I really liked the way Ms. Blade put the explanations for the disorders at the end too.

If you're a fan of "You" you'll love this. Natalie makes Joe look harmless though.

This story touches on a lot of really tough topics that teens go through through: divorce, parental abandonment, bullying. While it's clear from page one that Natalie is unhinged, I felt bad for her. She was dealt a pretty poor hand in life and it broke her in the worst way imaginable.

I look forward to the other books in this series (one set during Halloween and one during Christmas).

I give this book 5 of 5 Paws

[Caitlin Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a slow burn. Through about 3/4 of the book I kept thinking that instead of High School seniors the characters really felt more like 5th-7th graders. I enjoyed the ending with all the loose ends that were tied up and explained, even how it made the main character more understandable for seeming much younger. There was a note about the author not using profanity or sexual situations, but given the subject matter I’m not sure if that helps get the feel for the age group.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. To see how her mind worked was a wild ride.

It's scary to think that someone like the MC could be out there having delusions about you or your friends while you have no clue of the danger.

[Melissa Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read. It keeps you reading into the wee hours. This is for sure a book I would recommend to others.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sienna S'Zell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woo, creepy! Written from inside the head of a mentally disturbed teenager. Fascinating read.