Goodreads Description
The author of the bestselling novel The Party—lauded as “tense and riveting” by New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda—returns with a chilling new domestic drama about two women whose deep friendship is threatened by dark, long-buried secrets.
Frances Metcalfe is struggling to stay afloat.
A stay-at-home mom whose troubled son is her full-time job, she thought that the day he got accepted into the elite Forrester Academy would be the day she started living her life. Overweight, insecure, and lonely, she is desperate to fit into Forrester’s world. But after a disturbing incident at the school leads the other children and their families to ostracize the Metcalfes, she feels more alone than ever before.
Until she meets Kate Randolph.
Kate is everything Frances is not: beautiful, wealthy, powerful, and confident. And for some reason, she’s not interested in being friends with any of the other Forrester moms—only Frances. As the two bond over their disdain of the Forrester snobs and the fierce love they have for their sons, a startling secret threatens to tear them apart…because one of these women is not who she seems. Her real name is Amber Kunick. And she’s a murderer.
In her masterful follow-up to The Party, Robyn Harding spins a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal, asking the question: Can people ever change? And even if they can, is it possible to forgive the past?
My Thoughts
Oh my I really liked this book! Of course it’s another psychological thriller. Eight and a half hours just flew by as I listened to this one. I promise to start reviewing something other than thrillers for you all though. It’s probably time for me to mix things up a bit before I hit a slump. I can’t see it though. This genre is right up my alley. Very few are boring and listening to them is like having a movie play in my head.
Anyhow let’s move on to the book. Frances Metcalfe has her hands full with her son who has a few issues. When he’s accepted into Forrester Academy she thinks that this will be the turning point for him. It’s an uppity school and Frances struggles to fit in with her low self-esteem. Things don’t get much better when her son does something that makes it even harder, if not impossible for her to ever fit in.
And then she meets Kate Randolph. Kate embodies everything that Frances would like to be. She’s beautiful, confident and couldn’t care less what others think of her. With Kate, Frances finally starts to feel better. They form a strong friendship as do their sons. Yet there’s another side to Kate that Frances struggles with. As time goes on it becomes clear that there are long buried secrets lurking everywhere. Is Frances who she seems? Is Kate? Or are neither of them really the women they portray to the outside world?
Audio Thoughts
This was a fantastic audio. Yet another one I couldn’t and didn’t want to stop listening to. It’s narrated by some fantastic narrators as anyone who listens to audios will know. They are definitely three of my favourites: Cassandra Campbell, Rebekkah Ross and Kirby Heyborne. Need I say more – no I didn’t think so but I will. These three made a really good book even better!
Recommendation
Yes! The audio version is great and I’m sure the book would be as well. I listened to The Party by this author a while back and loved it as well. She’s definitely on my list of authors to watch!
Source: Personal copy.
I haven’t read a book by this author but I’ve been reading a lot of thrillers lately and this sounds good. Great review!
It is good Vicki as is her first one. Thanks for popping in!
I like thriller reviews because they help me know which ones to pick up and which ones to avoid. This one sounds like a winner.
Kathy, it is. I know what you mean though. Some are real duds. Thanks for stopping by!
Glad you enjoyed listening to this one so much. I love a good psychological thriller. I’ll have to keep this in mind.
Naida, me too!
It’s great that you’re reading the genre you love. It makes reading your reviews all that more interesting.
Laura, thanks. I do need to move on from thrillers a bit but it’s hard. Lol.
I enjoyed this one too but I really love her other book, The Party.
Ti, I listened to The Party after you recommeneded it so thank you. I liked it better than this one as well but still really liked this one too. I hope we don’t have to wait long for another from her.
I really like the sound of this one!! I can’t get enough of thrillers myself but I do tend to mix in other genres so I don’t burn out 🙂 Great review! I cannot wait to read this one for myself!
Sam, we do have that in common. I pick up on quite a few from you on goodreads.