The Friends We Keep (Mischief Bay, #2) in Aussie Readers

Apr 07, 2024 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, susan-mallery

Holy cow, THE FRIENDS WE KEEP is one crazy story! There are three friends involved here: Gabby, Hayley, and Nicole and the way they interact with eachother was so interesting. I was instantly hooked. Gabby is the mother of two young twins and a stepmother to 15 year old Makayla. Gabby is happily married to her husband Andrew and can’t wait to go back to work when her two little girls start school. Be prepared to be on quite the emotional rollercoaster while reading!

THE FRIENDS WE KEEP is exactly Holy cow, THE FRIENDS WE KEEP is one crazy story! There are three friends involved here: Gabby, Hayley, and Nicole and the way they interact with eachother was so interesting. I was instantly hooked. Gabby is the mother of two young twins and a stepmother to 15 year old Makayla. Gabby is happily married to her husband Andrew and can’t wait to go back to work when her two little girls start school. Be prepared to be on quite the emotional rollercoaster while reading!

THE FRIENDS WE KEEP is exactly why I love Susan Mallery’s books. She had me sad on one page and giggling out loud on the next. This story is all about family and the past and the life lessons are heart tugging. It had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. I had to know what was going to happen to these three friends and all the secondary characters. Hayley is a woman who is determined to be a mother. Unfortunately, she can’t stay pregnant. After her fifth miscarriage, her doctor warns her that trying again would likely kill her. THE FRIENDS WE KEEP is a perfect story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down!

In THE FRIENDS WE KEEP, all of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. Nicole is dealing with a very non-present ex-husband who wants nothing to do with their son. Her son is 6 now and obsessed with Brad the Dragon books. She hates the author because she’s heard he’s just in it for the money and she really hates the dragon. Susan Mallery has me longing to find friends just like her characters. There are times of laughter, heartache, anger, sadness, and joy and everything that comes in-between. There is so much heart in Susan’s writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart happy. Susan Mallery is the queen of writing heartfelt stories about sisters and family drama. If you are looking for a quick, family drama story, you can’t go wrong with THE FRIENDS WE KEEP!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Mira through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Kathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars.

The Friends We Keep is another hard-hitting and incisive installment in Susan Mallery's dramatic yet heartfelt Mischief Bay series. A wonderful mix of old and new characters keeps the series fresh and makes it very easy for both old and new fans to delve into this newest release with ease.

One of the characters from the first novel in the series is Nicole Lord. Nicole has recovered her equilibrium following her divorce and she is easily juggling her career and life as a single parent. S 4.5 stars.

The Friends We Keep is another hard-hitting and incisive installment in Susan Mallery's dramatic yet heartfelt Mischief Bay series. A wonderful mix of old and new characters keeps the series fresh and makes it very easy for both old and new fans to delve into this newest release with ease.

One of the characters from the first novel in the series is Nicole Lord. Nicole has recovered her equilibrium following her divorce and she is easily juggling her career and life as a single parent. She has been able to cut back on her hours at her Pilates studio which allows her to spend extra time with her young son Tyler. While Tyler seems well adjusted and happy, Nicole is worried about her ex-husband's apparent lack of interest in their son. Just as she is trying to get a handle on the growing chasm between Tyler and her ex, she finds herself attracted to a very unlikely newcomer to her life. When their relationship becomes more serious than she is comfortable with, will Nicole allow her fears to ruin her chance at happiness?

Gabby Schaefer is a happily married stay at home mom to five year old twins Kenzie and Kennedy and her moody fifteen year old stepdaughter Makayla. Just as Gabby is on the verge of returning to work when the twins begin kindergarten, a shocking revelation throws her life and marriage into turmoil. Although she and her husband Andrew have a rock solid marriage, their differing opinions on how to handle the situation create unexpected tension between them. For the first time, Gabby refuses to defer to Andrew's wishes and their marriage grows strained as they try to find a compromise that works for everyone.

Hayley Batchelor and her husband Rob have been dealing with infertility for several years now. Numerous miscarriages and hormone treatments have taken a terrible toll on her body but she refuses to give up her dream of giving birth to a child of her own. Hayley is still trying to recover from another devastating miscarriage when her doctor gives her a very troubling diagnosis. Her desperation leads her to taking drastic steps to continue her treatments, but she is stunned by Rob's reaction once he learns about her plans. In danger of losing both her chance at motherhood and her husband, Hayley must make a decision about what is most important: a biological child or saving her marriage.

As Hayley, Nicole and Gabby face very different challenges, they provide one another with emotional support and valuable advice. They offer each other unconditional love and support but they do not let their close friendship stop them from always being honest when discussing their problems. Fortunately, their friendships are strong enough to withstand brutal honesty during these discussions and oftentimes, hearing another viewpoint provides much needed clarity that helps them as they work through their individual issues. While each character is immensely appealing and for the most part, likable, it is very easy to grow frustrated (and sometimes angry) with some of their personal decisions.

Heartwarming yet poignant, The Friends We Keep is an engrossing addition to the Mischief Bay series. With realistic characters facing true to life problems, Susan Mallery has once again written an emotional and perceptive story that is sure to resonate with readers. It is an absolutely beautiful novel of friendship and family that old and new fans of this uplifting series are sure to love. ...more

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