The Best Friend

Louisa and Jared enroll their son Joe into an expensive private school believing this will be a perfect environment for Joe to grow and develop in. Louisa becomes friends with one of the mums, Darcy. Darcy seems to have it all, the perfect home, perfect husband and perfect friends and soon becomes a constant in Louise's life. As time moves on Louisa becomes suspicious of some of Darcy's behaviour and it soon becomes obvious that there is more to Darcy than meets the eye. Louisa's life soon becom [...]

First of all, I want to thank the author for contacting me to see if I wanted to read and review her book. After I read, The Girl from the Sea, and absolutely loving it, I didn't hesitate to say yes!Although I didn't like this one as much as the other, I still enjoyed it and have become a fan of Shalini Boland. After Louisa's son begins going to a new school, she befriends one of the other mom's, Darcy. They soon become fast friends but something seems off. Its not obvious at first but then Loui [...]

When Louisa enrols her son at private school she feels out of place until she is taken under the wing of the glamorous Darcy. In Louisa's view, Darcy has the perfect life and everything that anyone could want. Darcy uses her money and influence to help Louisa and her Husband, but then the cracks start appearing and Louisa feels,wrong-footed at every turn, is Darcy everything she seems?This was a hard book to rate. It's a little silly and overblown. Louisa is incredibly naive and her husband is a [...]

If you like reading about toxic people and harmful friendships, you will love this book. The author describes the main traits of a toxic woman perfectly and also the isolation and fear felt by her victim. Besides it has a satisfying ending that will please anybody who has unfortunately been in contact with high levels of toxicity and frenemies. I read it in no time, holding my breath and exhaling in relief at the end.I strongly recommend it to those toxic people who think they can get away with [...]

A gripping stand alone novel after the success of The Girl From The Sea. I couldn't put this one down and finished it in less than a day. When Louise is introduced to the stunning, successful Darcy Lane she is in awe of her beauty, her beach side home and her family. Darcy and her husband can't be more welcoming to Louise and her partner. By comparison, the Lanes have it all. Or do they?I enjoyed the character of Louise and felt she was a well developed character. Her thoughts and actions were b [...]

Oooo! I loved this! Very good thriller. I have begun to believe I could and would enjoy anything written by Ms. Boland. The opening (preface) states this (which grabbed my attention right away): "They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closerWrong."Also adding: "Louisa's new friend has it all - the house, the status, the money - But she's also hiding a dark secret. And, as Louisa is drawn deeper into her friend's life, events take a chilling turn"I'll say! Louisa's son starts a new [...]

WOW – this one of the most tense and gripping psychological thrillers I've read. From the first page I was absorbed into Louisa's life – how she kept seeing the same man across the road, outside the school gates and following her home. Louisa and Jared have just put their son, Joe, into a new school and Louisa is so pleased that Joe has found a new friend, Tyler, and that he seems to be settling and fitting in to his new school. Louisa is even more pleased when Tyler's mum, Darcy, asks her t [...]

Utterly predictable and formulaic. Sloppy and disconnected as far as the timeline of events making any sense. (I'll leave it there to avoid spoilers.)

I would like to thank Shalini Boland for providing me with a copy of this book!Okay, that was so enjoyable! Ever heard the phrase 'keep your friends close, enemies closer?' According to this novel it's your best friend that you need to keep your eye on! Don't think me a horrible person, but I am an absolute sucker for super manipulative antagonists. It honestly cracked me up how easily and nonchalantly this protagonists life was being destroyed, and how ignorant those around her were. While at t [...]

Kid: Mom, can I spend the night at this complete stranger's house?Mom: WellI guess it's ok. After all, she's got $500 highlights. Maybe your dad should start running with her the eveningsr three hours. Where could it go wrong?

Louise and her husband Jared have just put their son Joe into a new school, where he is adapting fast and making nice friends, like Tyler. Tyler's mother, Darcy, befriends Louise, who is happy to find new friends in the area and is surprised by all the surprises this nice and rich woman is giving away to them. But sooner rather than latter things began to seem weird and unravelThe narrative is superb, the plot consistent and the characters very well fleshed out. This is a gripping thriller that [...]

Shalini Boland has entered the suspense genre with a bang with this book. The suspense is slow building so the readers mind goes into speculation mode trying to work out where the story is going. A very enjoyable read with a great ending

Louisa and Jared have recently enrolled their son Joe in an expensive private school, all worth it as he's happy and thriving there. It's at school that Louisa meets his best friend Tyler and his mum, Darcy. Darcy Lane is rich, popular and generous and invites Joe to sleepovers and Louisa and Jared go meals. Is she too good to be true?I read this with sneaking misgivings about Louisa's new best friend. Little things slip. Is she really as generous and well disposed as Louisa first thought? It's [...]

The Best Friend is a new mystery by Shalini Boland (the author the Girl from the Sea, which I liked a lot). Louisa meets beautiful, chic Darcy at her son Joe's new school. Darcy seems to have the perfect life: a great life, a well adjusted son, a successful husband and beautiful home along with an amazing blog. In comparison, Louisa (a newspaper columnist who is happily married with a child of her own) can't help but feel like her life is less than glamorous. When Darcy befriends her, she can't [...]

Brilliant! Creeping into another's life. Money, house the lot. But isn't is it?Shalini has delivered a great book here.Not a long review as I'd spoil it if I did, no spoilers, read it!I need to add I read it a 2nd time & it's just a fab book! Twisted lead female you just get dragged in!

Louisa and Jared have recently started sending son Joe to a new school. It's more exclusive and private. Joe is loving it, but they are struggling with adapting to the new environment and paying the tuition. When fellow mother Darcy reaches out to Lousia, she's pleased to find someone who isn't like the other aloof parents. She's beautiful, rich, and stylish, but friendly and generous. They click immediately. She and her husband even want to help Jared out with a new business venture, one even L [...]

Louisa and Jared want the best for their son Joe and enrol him in an expensive private school. One of the mothers, Darcy, quickly befriends Louisa. Louisa cannot help being suspicious about why Darcy is seemingly her best friend after only one week. However, she goes along with it, especially when Darcy's husband Mike loans Jared a prime riverside property rent free for a year for his new advertising business.The first 75% of the book I found quite gripping, and it kept my interest. However, I f [...]

The best friend by Shantini Bolland is a thriller read. They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer . . . Wrong.Louisa’s new best friend has it all – the house, the status, the money – but she’s also hiding a dark secret. And, as Louisa is drawn deeper into her friend’s life, events take a chilling turn G what a read. Absolutely fantastic read. I loved the story and the characters well except darcy. I had a funny feeling about her. This had me on the edge of my seat. Ca [...]

This is the first book by Shalini Boland that I have read. Even though I don't like it when authors write in the first person I quickly became engrossed in this book. This book is like your worst nightmare coming true. There were times when the suspense was killing me and I could not read fast enough and times that I felt this is it for the main character something bad is going to happen to her.A great story that I would recommend to all readers of psychological thillers as this book will keep y [...]

I would like to thank the author for giving me this Advance Copy in exchange of an honest review.This is the second book i read by Shalini Boland and i was thrilled because i liked the first book very much and i was curious about this one. And it was worth waiting for. I enjoyed it a lot!Louisa Sullivan has a new friend,Darcy Lane, a very glamorous mum, rich, beautiful and has a life to die for. In fact, she had it all. Both their sons go to the same school and they start this new, sweet friends [...]

This is the type of story that is hard for me to gather my thoughts and communicate what I thought. I have an inordinate fondness for a certain type of 'cheesy' story about females. I love films from the 1930's approximately through the 1950's. Films that often starred Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Gene Tierney, Loretta Young, Joan Crawford, Kathryn Hepburn, Myrna Loy, Rita Hayworth.I could go on and on. They were great actresses that were often in great films, but they all also appeared in 'B' [...]

Louisa has put her son Joe into a new school. She writes a weekly column for a national newspaper in England and her husband Jared is creative director for an advertising company. They're not poor but not nearly as well-off as the other mothers at Joe's school. It's a relief, then, when Darcy, one of the mothers, befriends her one day after school.As the relationship develops, however, what were at first odd rude behaviors turn into deeper and more sadistic cruelty. The worse the behavior is the [...]

Finished reading: October 12th 2016“You can't write the script to your life. You can't say, if I do this and this, then all these things will definitely happen. Life doesn't work that way.”*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***(view spoiler)[A while back I was approached by the author with the question if I wanted to read her newest psychological thriller The Best Friend. After thoroughly enjoying The Girl From The Se [...]

You would never have dreamed that someone that classy and elegant chooses you to be her friend – her overwhelming kindness is drawing you into her life. When you find yourself that perfect window of opportunity, why listen to the voice of reason? If something seems too good to be true – how far are you willing to go?Louisa has it made: she’s got a loving husband Jared and together they are the proud parents of seven-year-old Joe. They have a cosy home and Joe is just starting on his new sc [...]

It's incredibly adventurous yet It's Dark, Prodigious, Shocking, Stunning, Unbelievably fascinating. It's impeccable writing skills down to it's core! It's a suspenseful yet rocks you with disturbance to your very core! You are utterly terrified at times and on edge yet, screaming at the characters. But, all in all its a wonderful read and will definitely keep you on your toes! At every chilling turn your mind goes into overdrive with pure suspense and horror for this main character. Will she ev [...]

You can see all my reviews at my blog onebookishgirl'They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer Wrong.Louisa's new best friend has it all - the house, the status, the money - but she's also hiding a dark secret. and, as Louisa is drawn deeper into her friend's life, events take a chilling turn 'Is that not the best introduction into a book!!! Seriously I fell in love with this book right there and then! The story hadn't even started lol. I had recently read another of Shalini's [...]

A cracking psychological thriller.Louisa and Jared have moved their son to a new, expensive school and they are soon befriended by Darcy and Michael Lane and their son Tyler. The Lanes are a rich and successful couple and Louisa can't help feeling a bit shabby next to the glamorous Darcy. But she is so friendly and helpful, how could you not like her? Michael helps Jared set up his new advertising agency and the two boys are great friends. Everything is wonderful - or not!Little things start to [...]

Thanks to TBC and Shalini Boland for my copy of this cracking read!I could not put this down! 5* book all the way. Gripping, addictive, wriggle in your seat kind of book! Louisa and Jared live with their son Joe - to help him with his schooling he is moved to a new school. Darcy Lane quickly introduces herself to Louisa and pulls her into her circle of friends. They quickly become quite insperable and even the husbands Mike and Jared get close as friends. Darcy and Mike want to help Louisa whene [...]

Word to the wise, keep your enemies close but your friends even closer. I loved this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Great psychological suspense & recommended for fans of movies such as: Gaslight, Rebecca, Pacific Heights, Single White Female, and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. I decided to post my thoughts and chose leave a review after receiving an advance copy of this book courtesy of the author, Shalini Boland. I'd posted how much I enjoyed reading her current novel "The Girl From [...]

I am reviewing this book for the Facebook group THE Book Club (TBC). The Best Friend is a very enjoyable read. I started and finished it in the same day. The story of a young mum befriended by a wealthy, glamorous fellow school mum was clever and the characters were believable and appropriately likeable/unlike-able. You felt really sorry for Louisa, who was trying hard to be a spiritual person and believe in this new friendship. I particularly enjoyed her relationship with her husband, Jared, wi [...]