The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent

Publication date: January 10, 2023

NetGalley

336 pages   3.5/5 

Bantam Random House

ISBN: 9780593497166

Publish widget, fiction, arc, thriller, fiction, digital, mystery

Dates read: 3/9/2023-3/14/2023

The Epilogue is based in France where we discover is how the story ends and we have to read Clare's account of the events which leads to the disturbing scene of girls dancing and force feeding some guy until he chokes and has convulsions. So, it starts on a dark note preparing you for a twisted tale of unreliable characters with secrets and devious minds.

Clare was sent to live with her grandmother by her parents before she eventually moves on to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Her plan is to reinvent herself including her dark past. She wants nothing more than to blend in with the college experience studying art history. She needs to make money and finds a job at bar where she befriends her boss, Finn. It seems fortuitous that Clare should encounter a group of obvious "popular" wealthy students while working at the bar. She recognizes Tabitha from her art history class and is delighted when she is welcomed to spend time with her friends Samuel, Ava and Imogen. Eventually, what felt like a privilege being accepted into the group, it doesn't come without a cost as she discovers her initiation has a connection to the sordid past she thought she buried. The story is filled with suspense and foreboding as you wait for the story to unfold revealing sinister obsessions and alluring toxic characters.

Unfortunately, this story resonated as a familiar story for me which held my interest but felt like the characters needed more dimension. I'm rounding my review up to help balance the many 3 star reviews as it has potential.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Random House for providing access to this digital review copy. This review contains my personal, honest and unbiased opinions. 

https://www.librarything.com/work/28541781&savedbook=1

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4850052518

https://bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.com/2023/02/january-2023-new-releases.html

https://www.edelweiss.plus/?sku=0593497163&g=4400

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3259036039