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kdoucet83's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Murder
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Homophobia
rahanahava's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars
So I'm not sure if this is a true 3.5 book or not. I keep waffling, but I decided to just pick a number and stick with it.
This was a good book. I enjoyed it a lot most of the time. It kinda bugged me in some spots. The plot is simple and easy to follow. The writing was good. Dana is 100% unreliable from the beginning (which I love me an unreliable narrator), but I couldn't figure out if Jo was unreliable or not also (or if she was just naïve). I really didn't like either woman (or any character in this book really) so it made it hard for me to stay motivated in reading it.
It wrapped up well and I kinda enjoyed the ending more than I thought I would once the puzzle pieces started fitting together, but overall I'm still unsure. I'm still lukewarm about it, but there were elements I really enjoyed and parts that had me on the edge of my seat unable to turn the pages fast enough.
Overall, It's been about a day since I finished and I think I'm going to stick with I'm glad I read the book, but I'll never read it again and I'm not sure if it'll be one I ever recommend to someone else.
Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.
So I'm not sure if this is a true 3.5 book or not. I keep waffling, but I decided to just pick a number and stick with it.
This was a good book. I enjoyed it a lot most of the time. It kinda bugged me in some spots. The plot is simple and easy to follow. The writing was good. Dana is 100% unreliable from the beginning (which I love me an unreliable narrator), but I couldn't figure out if Jo was unreliable or not also (or if she was just naïve). I really didn't like either woman (or any character in this book really) so it made it hard for me to stay motivated in reading it.
It wrapped up well and I kinda enjoyed the ending more than I thought I would once the puzzle pieces started fitting together, but overall I'm still unsure. I'm still lukewarm about it, but there were elements I really enjoyed and parts that had me on the edge of my seat unable to turn the pages fast enough.
Overall, It's been about a day since I finished and I think I'm going to stick with I'm glad I read the book, but I'll never read it again and I'm not sure if it'll be one I ever recommend to someone else.
Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.
noladawnreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A FRIEND INDEED
Elka Ray
Thank you #partners @bibliolifestyle & @blackstonepublishing for including me on this tour and the #gifted copy.
I’ve been reading a lot of romance lately, so I decided to pick up this thriller to read, and it was as they say “unputdownable”. I read this as an immersive read, and I have to say the audio really sucked me in. It was fast-paced, and had short chapters (which I love), with the POV of both FMC.
Jo was likable to a degree; the way she cared for her daughter was wonderful to read, but I do have to question her logic on some things especially since she’s a teacher. And Dana, well she’s not that likeable but we love unlikable characters over here. She’s snobby and clueless, and I have to question her parenting at some points. But that’s what makes these books fun right?
As for the mystery itself, it’s pretty straightforward. Dana‘s husband is dead (maybe murdered🤨🤷♀️) and Jo, who’s been her best friend since they were 12, comes to help her clean up the mess and they think “Well that’s done” and it’s SO not done. Thing after thing after thing happens, other crimes ensue, and *tada* a blackmailer.
The audio is narrated by Hillary Huber and (one of my faves) Andi Arndt they're so good. They did a wonderful job of playing these characters. They added depth and they kept the suspense going for sure.
I did guess a few of the things here or there, but I didn’t get the very last one and that’s the one that really matters. It’s a quick read so if you’re looking for something popcorny and you don't want to overanalyze anything this'll be a good read. Pick it up if you have a few hours to spare.
Elka Ray
Thank you #partners @bibliolifestyle & @blackstonepublishing for including me on this tour and the #gifted copy.
I’ve been reading a lot of romance lately, so I decided to pick up this thriller to read, and it was as they say “unputdownable”. I read this as an immersive read, and I have to say the audio really sucked me in. It was fast-paced, and had short chapters (which I love), with the POV of both FMC.
Jo was likable to a degree; the way she cared for her daughter was wonderful to read, but I do have to question her logic on some things especially since she’s a teacher. And Dana, well she’s not that likeable but we love unlikable characters over here. She’s snobby and clueless, and I have to question her parenting at some points. But that’s what makes these books fun right?
As for the mystery itself, it’s pretty straightforward. Dana‘s husband is dead (maybe murdered🤨🤷♀️) and Jo, who’s been her best friend since they were 12, comes to help her clean up the mess and they think “Well that’s done” and it’s SO not done. Thing after thing after thing happens, other crimes ensue, and *tada* a blackmailer.
The audio is narrated by Hillary Huber and (one of my faves) Andi Arndt they're so good. They did a wonderful job of playing these characters. They added depth and they kept the suspense going for sure.
I did guess a few of the things here or there, but I didn’t get the very last one and that’s the one that really matters. It’s a quick read so if you’re looking for something popcorny and you don't want to overanalyze anything this'll be a good read. Pick it up if you have a few hours to spare.
bethfishreads's review against another edition
3.0
A multilevel thriller told from two perspectives.
Jo and Dana have been friends since middle school, even though they come from different socioeconomic classes and have different personalities. After Jo's marriage fell apart and she lost her teaching job in Chicago, Dana encouraged her to return to their Pacific Northwest hometown, where Dana's money and influence could secure Jo a job.
One night, Dana calls Jo in a panic, saying she's cracked under her husband's latest physical abuse and hit him over the head. She doesn't know what to do. Jo scoops up her young daughter and comes to her best friend's rescue. Together they hatch a plan that will save Dana from a murder charge.
Naturally, nothing goes exactly as planned. There's a second crime, potential witnesses, and other people who wanted Dana's husband to die. Almost everyone has secrets and tells lies, and a blackmailer is complicating everything. What can Dana and Jo do to save themselves and their children?
Although I figured out most of the mystery (but not all), it was an entertaining enough listen. The story is told alternately from Dana's and Jo's perspectives. They are fully formed characters, but many of the secondary players are harder to envision.
I'm an easy sell on a mystery or thriller, and this one kept my attention.
The audiobook was performed by Andi Arndt and Hillary Huber. They each did a great job delivering on their character's unique traits, building the tension, and hiding the secrets and twists.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
Jo and Dana have been friends since middle school, even though they come from different socioeconomic classes and have different personalities. After Jo's marriage fell apart and she lost her teaching job in Chicago, Dana encouraged her to return to their Pacific Northwest hometown, where Dana's money and influence could secure Jo a job.
One night, Dana calls Jo in a panic, saying she's cracked under her husband's latest physical abuse and hit him over the head. She doesn't know what to do. Jo scoops up her young daughter and comes to her best friend's rescue. Together they hatch a plan that will save Dana from a murder charge.
Naturally, nothing goes exactly as planned. There's a second crime, potential witnesses, and other people who wanted Dana's husband to die. Almost everyone has secrets and tells lies, and a blackmailer is complicating everything. What can Dana and Jo do to save themselves and their children?
Although I figured out most of the mystery (but not all), it was an entertaining enough listen. The story is told alternately from Dana's and Jo's perspectives. They are fully formed characters, but many of the secondary players are harder to envision.
I'm an easy sell on a mystery or thriller, and this one kept my attention.
The audiobook was performed by Andi Arndt and Hillary Huber. They each did a great job delivering on their character's unique traits, building the tension, and hiding the secrets and twists.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
treberry's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Very entertaining read! The narrators were great and immediately pull you into the story. The suspense was great, trying to find out when the ball would drop. I feel the story became very repetitive and like I kept hearing the same scenes over and over. My biggest issue was the unlikable characters. Jo was pretty pathetic and a pushover, desperate for acceptance. Dana was an uppity entitled, self-involved beyotch and I didn’t care what happened to either of them. The ending was good, though.
reallyintoreading's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
reading_under_covers's review against another edition
3.0
After Jo's childhood friend Dana recently helps her out in a life-changing way, she feels indebted to her, so when she receives a late night call from her friend, she doesn't hesitate to drive to her home. Upon arriving, she finds Dana standing over her husband Stan, who's dead on the floor. The women make the decision to hide all of the evidence and carry on as if nothing had happened...
Huge thanks to Libro.fm and Blackstone Publishing for my ALC of A FRIEND INDEED by Elka Ray!
I started off really enjoying this one - it has pretty strong Dead to Me (tv show!) vibes, which I'm obsessed with!
However, our two main characters quickly devolve as protagonists, becoming selfish and often oblivious to any and all common sense. I'm not often turned away by unlikeable lead characters, but Jo and Dana ultimately had me rolling my eyes more than I'd like to admit.
I think some readers will really enjoy this one, but it missed the mark for me a bit by the end.
Publication Date: May 14
Huge thanks to Libro.fm and Blackstone Publishing for my ALC of A FRIEND INDEED by Elka Ray!
I started off really enjoying this one - it has pretty strong Dead to Me (tv show!) vibes, which I'm obsessed with!
However, our two main characters quickly devolve as protagonists, becoming selfish and often oblivious to any and all common sense. I'm not often turned away by unlikeable lead characters, but Jo and Dana ultimately had me rolling my eyes more than I'd like to admit.
I think some readers will really enjoy this one, but it missed the mark for me a bit by the end.
Publication Date: May 14
jiminlightyear's review
2.0
I like the premise of A Friend Indeed: A true friend is one who would help you bury a body. But what about after the body is buried?
Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one. Most importantly, the writing style was not for me. There wasn’t much rhythm to the sentences & the paragraphs didn’t flow well; there was a constant use of very short sentences & inclusion of small off topic details that mostly seemed to distract from the scene.
I’ll also say, both main characters were deeply unenjoyable to read about. This isn’t to say “unlikeable,” because that is an inaccurate and unhelpful way to describe characters, but these two characters were so similar in the way they were judgmental and selfish and crazy hypocritical and lacked all self awareness, and there was absolutely nothing to connect me as the reader to either of the main characters. So, why even read this?!
The only humanizing aspect of either of them was their love for their children, which even then felt so shallow and unrealistic. From the first moment her son was being suspected of murder… Dana’s internal monologue should have landed very strongly one way or the other. Either she’s his son and she’ll walk backwards in to hell with him hand in hand, or he’s no longer her little boy and a monster and needs to go down. this whole “it can’t be him! …But what if it is… BUT IT’S NOT!” was so tiring and made the many twists toward the end weaker for it.
And it just did not sit right with me how so much of Jo’s stream of consciousness was dedicated to being misogynistic toward Gemma, a 16 year old student of hers and daughter of an old high school bully, without that hypocrisy ever getting addressed or challenged or leading to any sort of character depth or growth for anyone. It’s not healthy for any adult woman, especially a teacher, to have THAT much hate for random female students without a shred of empathy for the teenager’s internal life. If the author wanted to explore the internalized misogyny many women have that manifests in anger toward teen girls, that would have been a great way to do it, but it is never addressed through the whole book, not by Jo, or Gemma, or Dana or even subtextually. It felt shallow.
The twists didn’t really surprise me, and both of the characters missed plenty of things that were completely obvious, so the thriller/mystery plot was just okay for me. Not spectacular, and not terrible.
Overall, disappointing on both the thriller mystery side & the complex female relationships side.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
thriller_chick's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0