This is not an original idea - the toxic friend who ruins your life plot has been used before. This is OK but the characters were neither memorable nor likeable.

Your Closest Friend by Karen Perry is a totally absorbing contemporary psychological murder thriller. It will have you questioning from the start... what is real? What is imagined? Who is the menacing figure?
Suspicion lurks around every corner. Being caught up in a terror attack in London soon turns into a terror attack of a very different nature.
Be careful who you share your secrets with. Guard your mouth or you may find the darkest part of your mind becomes activated.
The novel walks a fine line between mental illness and pure evil. Actions are always motivated by something.
Side by side with menace sits family life. Daughters are loved and protected. Who can possibly predict the outcome?
Karen Perry is a marvellous author who draws the reader in with her words. Cosy suburbia soon transforms into horrors from hell. It is all subtly done as comfortable middle class life metamorphosed into a psychological terror. I read on with heart in my mouth towards the nail biting conclusion.
A thrilling, gripping read to be read with the light on.
As this is a mass market psychological thriller, there are some scenes and language some readers may not like.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

It’s one in the morning and I have just finished the last page of My Closest Friend. Unputdownable, tense and current, the storyline begins with a terror attack and continues with an obsession.
I didn't warm to the main character but was still gripped by the fast flow of the storyline. I thoroughly recommend the book to anyone - particularly if you don’t have to get up in the morning!
Thanks ti Netgalley for the opportunity to review it.

Tense psychological thriller, Cara and Amy get caught up during a terror attack in London. Hiding together from the terrorists, they bond. Cara telling Amy her deepest secrets thinking they'll never met again. But Amy soon inveigles her way into Cara's life with horrifying consequences.
Story is predictable and in places the story is a little far fetched. Worth a read.

This is one of my standout books of 2018. I loved it and it’s a definite 5 stars read. This is my first book by this author, however I’ll be looking for more in future. I’d definitely recommend it.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a difficult one this to rate as you can guess the story line as you go along...and i carried on to see if it would go how i thought...and up to a point it did and then wham a twist...one i didnt see coming or actually suspect

this is a story of a night out that goes badly wrong where on the streets there are people being murdered by men with knives, and this is the night that cara met amy...who saved her life...by dragging cara to safety....

and from then on caras life isnt the same again...
a slow build up but the twist when it comes is enough to keep me happy though i felt at times that cara needed a good shake to wake up...i dont believe anyone would leave their daughter with a stranger with no references, not in this day and age...so little bugs that unsettled me whilst reading it..

not bad for my book by this author though

I was hooked on this thriller from page one!! My heart was racing at many parts and I felt really connected to the characters and the events which unfolded in the book .

Cara a radio producer is caught up in a terrorist attack is pulled to safety by Amy. Cara afraid for her life opens up and shares hidden life secrets with Cara iwhich she resolves to tackle if she survives.

Caras life starts to unravel and when Amy appears as her rescuer again she is welcomed into Caras family with devastating consequences.

What unfolds is a story of suspense. It held my attention right to the final page and the final twist in the story took my breath away.

I have not read any of Karen Perry’s books but will be on the lookout for more. Brilliant writing . Thank you netgalley and Penguin Uk -Micheal Joseph for my chance to read this book for an honest review.

Your Closest Friend by Karen Perry was a psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. Cara is caught up in a terrorist attack in London and is pulled to safety by Amy who is working in cafe nearby. This is the start of an obsession for Amy and she will do anything to be near Cara. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking out for more of her work.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin UK- Michael Joseph for inviting me to read this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I have a few books written by Karen Perry on my TBR list. After reading Your Closest Friend I look forward to reading her back catalogue.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up from the first page. Married radio producer Cara was rushing home from work after meeting her ex boyfriend Finn for drinks. Then she saw a man come out of nowhere with a gun and started shooting people sitting outside a pub. Then an accomplice comes to the scene and aims a gun at Cara, just then a hand pulls her into a coffee shop.

Hidden upstairs she finds she was saved by Amy an American and Neil. Amy seemed calm and in control, out of terror Cara spills out her marital problems with husband Jeff and how she dislikes her stepdaughter Olivia. Cara explains that she married Jeff on the rebound after breaking up with ex boyfriend Finn. Amy falls in love with Cara and thinks they are meant to be together. After the terrorist attack Cara starts to receive texts from YCF (your closest friend) which are endearing at first but quickly become malevolent. Determined to be with her true love, Amy leaves her job at the coffee shop and Cara offers her the job as nanny to Mabel while Jeff is working abroad.

Each chapter was told from alternate POV of Cara and Amy which I enjoyed. I devoured this book quickly scared to read how Amy was leaving both Cara's professional life and personal life in ashes. I don't want to give any spoilers but the latter part of the book left me shocked, and the cliff hanger was so clever I didn't see it coming.

I recommend this thriller will you gripped from start to finish.

A very enjoyable book and well worth reading. Couldn't give it 5 stars as it not one of my favourite types of story themes but nevertheless a book not to miss.

Your Closest Friend is a gripping thriller, think single white female with added tension.

Imagine sharing your darkest secrets with a girl only to find out she isn’t what she seems and will do anything to keep you close. This is what happens to Cara. An incident occurs one night in London and Cara is pulled to safety by Amy. As they seek refuge, Cara begins to share secrets with Amy. Things she thinks she can forget about once she back home safely only Amy reappears.

This book is tense as will have you enthralled to the last page. Recommended and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK Michael Joseph and the author for the chance to review.

This is a real page turner with lots of twists and turns leading to an OMG conclusion !!!

On her way home from a night out Cara comes face to face with a terrorist. Before she has a chance to think about what is happening someone grabs her arm and pulls her to safety. Her saviour is Amy a girl that works in the shop where they take cover. Whilst hiding from the gunmen Cara, in shock and scared for her life, opens up to her new friend and reveals some well hidden secrets about her life. Once the situation is under control Cara and Amy go their seperate ways safe in the knowledge that the secrets are safe as Cara will never see Amy again. But what if this isn’t the case ?

The story is told from the perspectives of Cara and Amy in alternating chapters. It is a very tense thriller that really does keep you gripped from start to finish.

A definite must for anyone that loves a really tense, edge of your seat style thriller.

Thank you to Penguin UK Michael Joseph and NetGalley for inviting me read this book and give an honest review.

What a fantastic read! This is probably best started on a day when your diary is clear. I was gripped from chapter one and couldn’t read it fast enough. Amy and Cara meet under unusual circumstances and the friendship that follows is certainly interesting in a ‘rather them than me’ way.

I expected this to be a slower read than it was. But I ended up reading 70% in one sitting. Which I loved. The writing is gripping. I didn't want to put it down.
However if feels a little bit of a let down. Just because I expected it to be a lot darker and more intense. Don't get me wrong it was still enjoyable and I would recommend it. I think others may enjoy it more. I just needed more.
I also found that I wasn't making any guesses or theories which I usually do. But this was predictable to me.
I think it would of been better if it wasn't so obvious who the Closest Friend was. Knowing meant the element of surprise wasn't possible for me.

I absolutely loved this book, I thought it was fantastic. The storyline was well thought out with lots of surprises, although I did have an idea what was happening half way through the book it certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment.

Cara and Amy have never met until the night of a Terrorist Attack when Amy pulls Cara into a closed coffee shop and saves her life. However, under those conditions who knows what we would reveal.
Cara is married to Jeff with a daughter, Mabel and an old lover Finn. She had just re-connected with Finn before the attack. Cara needs a childminder when her husband has to go away for a couple of months and turns to Amy.
Bit by bit Cara's life begins to fall apart both at work and home. but, who is behind it and why.
This book will keep you guessing and then deliver the final twist.

A book of building suspense and tension which certainly kept my attention, although I'd worked out who the closest friend was fairly early on which was a bit of a shame.. Very well written, the plot was well thought out.and the narrative alternates between the two main characters, Cara and Amy. I was hooked to see how it would all end as there were many twists and turns so a bit of a roller coaster with some quite chilling and disturbing moments.. I found myself getting slightly annoyed with one of the main characters, Cara, but not to the extent of spoiling the read. This was not the type of book I would normally pick up but I would still recommend it and it would certainly appeal to those who enjoy this category. I feel I need a lighter read after this book.

One night in London, Cara Jameson’s quiet happy life is disrupted by the sound of gunfire. A stranger, Amy, pulls Cara to safety. Together, they hide in a storeroom, and Cara shares secrets with Amy that she has never even told her husband. After the incident is long past, Amy reappears and wants to continue their friendship. As Cara’s life seems to be slipping away, she has only Amy, her closest friend, to turn to.

I’ve never read any of Karen Perry’s other books, but this one was definitely a winner. I enjoyed the suspense and building tension as the story unfolded and couldn’t wait to reach the end to see what happened. I am now interested in reading some of her earlier work.

I was invited by the publisher to read Your Closest Friends... and I devoured it in a few hours. What a book. This was the first book that I have read by Karen Perry and I will now be seeking out her previous books..

This is the story of 2 women.. Cara and Amy, who get caught up in a shooting in London. Amy saves Caras life by pulling her off the street to safety. In the grips of fear and darkness Cara tells Amy all of her secrets, things that even her husband does not know. Both survive the gunman and go back to their lives. But then Amy reappears in Caras life.. and that is when things begin to turn upside down.

This book is so good, I just could not put it down. Although I knew what was happening it didn't spoil it at all for me. Highly recommend this book.

Thank you Penguin UK- Michael Joseph and NetGalley for inviting me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Interesting and well written but just didn't grab me.I wanted to be grabbed, so to speak but didn't find the book that surprising.Sorry think this one has not had the effect it was meant to on me, I found it rather pedestrian and I don't think that is what I was meant to feel about it.Hope others enjoy it more.Thanks to the Publishers for an ARC.