Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.
I enjoyed the fact that the author had thought carefully about different pregnancy experiences - each of the group members had different back stories, different birth experiences and different feelings about early motherhood. It reminded me a bit of 'The Letdown' on Netflix, especially with the larger than life group leader and flashes of humour - for example in the birthing video.
Early on, I guessed the 'twist' - although I did keep reading to see if I was right.
I didn't especially warm to the characters, and I felt the story could have had more pace.
Overall a fairly enjoyable read.

JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS by
Rosie Nixon

I looked forward to reading this one, the plot drawing me in as someone who had been part of a Baby Group in the not so distant past...

However, this book most definitely lacked any real substance. And i must say, I need much more in a read than JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS delivered to me.

The story sort of just plodded on whilst I awaited something to happen and by the 60% mark I knew the 'something' was on its way. The thing is though - The 'something' was in no way shape or form a 'Surprise Something' it was more or less a known fact pretty much all along.

The run up to the end was a bore and the actual end a relief really, to be totally honest.
And I do have to be honest in my reviews. I hate to be harsh when someone has poured their time and effort into writing but at the same time a book of fiction such as this is for entertainment and this one didn't entertain I'm very sorry to say.

Thank you to #netgalley for a chance to read in exchange for my opinion
JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS is out on NOVEMBER 12th by #hq

Pick this one up if you need a book that's easy to read and you don't have to think about too much.
Nixon also does quite a good job of touching upon the difficulties being a new parent brings, making this book relatable for some.

This book was well written in the sense that it explained the difficulties of pregnancy, parenthood and relationships. But I was expecting slightly more. I thought it would be story with a twist, but that didn't really come. The main characters were Aisha and Lucy and their respective other halves. Nothing really happened until the end and then it was nothing much. BUT it was a nice read

This is an easy read and it’s a book that I devoured in one sitting.
The story itself is disappointingly predicable and a little slow at points. However, I still enjoyed it and was drawn into the characters even though it was very obvious what the ending would be.
Overall, it’s a worthy 4 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy & Aisha meet at antenatal classes as they both prepare for the births of their first baby. But Lucy is hiding something and if the secret comes out, it could destroy this new friendship.

This book had some strong female characters but I felt the plot lacked substance; the secret was fairly obvious early on. I liked the antenatal class setting, their WhatsApp group reminded me of my time at NCT classes, but I felt the lesbian / vegan / earth mother was a cliché.

This book was an easy read but not a page-turner for me. I would try other books by the same author but I couldn't wholeheartedly recommend this one.

I knew this was a new direction for author Rosie Nixon but not how different. One of the main characters Lucy acknowledges that before falling pregnant, she "found it difficult to engage with other people's pregnancies and births." Same for me. I mean I knew it was a story about new mums but I guess I thought there would be more to it than that ie the promised secret. But, the (fairly obvious) secret isn't revealed until the latter part of the book, with the first half of really about the strain of parenthood on relationships from the decision to have children and get pregnant through to caring for said baby. That said, Nixon has created an enjoyable, eclectric mix of characters in the baby group. But, sadly this just wasn't my thing whereas Nixon's previous #TheStylist books definitely are.

Predictable but still very enjoyable.

Normally I hate a predictable story but Just Between Friends has a charm that other books are lacking. It’s a great story of first time pregnancy and it’s worries, friendship and deception. I loved it!

Both main characters are well rounded and believable, I particularly liked Lucy! I wish the ending wasn’t so perfect but that’s the only fault from me.

A very easy and enjoyable read about a diverse group of couples about to face parenthood for the very first time.

The couples meet at a local Baby Group in Clapham, and the story focuses on two woman, Aisha and Lucy.

The story is told from the points of view of both Aisha and Lucy, who after a wobbly start, begin to form a friendship and a bond. As the story unfolds, we begin to realise that what may seem like the perfect life on the outside , is really a facade, and Aisha and Lucy become entwined in a way they never thought possible. Or did they?

An endearing and funny (in places) read, about the trials, tribulations and joys of pregnancy and birth, with an added twist.

Although I did guess the twist around half way through, this did not distract from the enjoyment of reading this original novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the gifted ARC in exchange for this review

Just Between Friends follows two expectant mothers who attending a local baby group in Clapham. As the story begins to unfold, you realise the pair's lives entwine outside of the group too. Aisha and Lucy are very different women, but the pair have shared experiences including some hilarious sounding pregnancy classes involving mooing like a cow.

The dual narrative that switches between Lucy and Aisha is intriguing, and works well to build tension as the events and secrets unfold, and I enjoyed the contrast between the two women and their experiences of pregnancy and motherhood and the trials and tribulations of life. Whilst they're both in their late thirties, worried about how things will go with their pregnancies and their relationships with their partners, there are still enough differences to keep you intrigued.

As the book synopsis describes this is essentially a tale of 'new mums, old secrets', and whilst it is a little predictable it's still an enjoyable story but by far not the best I've read.

A pleasant enough read that involves experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood. The main crux of the story was rather contrived.

Just Between Friends is an interesting and suspense-filled read, with well-developed characters whose personal stories you become invested in. Would be a great book for book clubs to read.

A good, well written book that did keep me guessing along the way even though it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat.

All the characters were well developed and I would recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Aisha is pregnant with her first child with her husband Jason. She’s about to start baby classes to learn about the ins and outs of birth and all the firsts of motherhood as well as hopefully make some new mummy friends.

Lucy is also pregnant. She has a partner, Oscar and is also joining the baby group looking for information and friends the same as Aisha.

As the group meet, friendships blossom particularly between Lucy and Aisha, sharing stories of how they began their journey to pregnancy and motherhood and their worries about what’s to come next. Only one of them is holding back a big secret that could ruin everything. Will the secret come out? Will friendships and relationships be destroyed?

I really enjoyed this story which takes you on the groups journey into parenthood. It has plenty of ups and downs and facts that most parent will agree with.
I kind of guessed the big twist in the story quite early on but it didn’t put me off at all.
It’s hard to pinpoint what I enjoyed specifically but I couldn’t stop reading and was immersed in the ladies stories.

This one kept me guessing. I knew the stories of the women would weave together somehow but it certainly wasn't obvious. I would reccomend this book to others

Really enjoyed this story and how it panned out, it was slightly predictable that there was going to be a twist however it played out really well and made for good reading.

Really enjoyed reading this book, couldn't put it down, must admit its one that I would happily pick up again and read,
Overall I would recommend to anyone to read it, can't wait to get it on my page and let my followers know what I think about it!

Just between friends follows a group of couples as they embark on parenting! They all meet at a local baby group and as they learn about vaginas, childbirth and parenting,friendships are formed and a support group develops to help them over the first few month of parenting! Lots of reference to sleep deprivation, nappies and feeding! However all is not as it seems, who knows what goes on behind closed doors and in the relationship between couples! Secrets from the past and present are exposed and the ramifications from this add to the storyline between this eclectic mix of couples.
Thank you net galley for this early read.

Easy reading as Aisha and Lucy meet at ante-natal classes and steer their way through pregnancy, both facing worries of how they will cope with motherhood with the additional strain of the ups and downs of their relationships with their partners. Ostensibly good friends, all is not quite as straighforward as it seems as Lucy's guilty secret is slowly revealed.

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting with this book, I thought it would be a hot bed of gossip and twists and turns, but in actual fact it felt like a book of two halves.

The first half felt like a cosy, friendly story of mums-to-be meeting for the first time at an antenatal baby group, sharing concerns about their pregnancies, following the births and their relationships, in particular of the two main characters, Lucy and Aisha. in fact it was a lovely reminder of those days gone by and my own NCT group. I laughed out loud at some parts - particularly 'VAGINA'!

However, all is not quite as it seems and as we delve into the second half we find a deeper story about relationships, past loves and a woman's desire to have a baby at any cost.

I enjoyed the premise of it, although I did guess the twist relatively early on, and felt that at times the second half of the story dragged on a little too much. It also wrapped up a bit too neatly at the end, and all I can say without any spoilers is that I am not sure I could have been as forgiving as perhaps some of the characters ultimately were.

That said, it was enjoyable escapism and if relationship dramas are your thing, it's worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ stories for the ARC of this novel.

This book kept me guessing for so long!

A group of women, all pregnant, due around the same time, attend a baby group together.

Friendships are formed and they get to learn all about the finer details of birthing a baby.

All sounds normal enough right.

But with friendship comes secrets and lies and we all know that it only takes one lie for things to spiral out of control.

Told from two points of view.

We hear from Aisha and Lucy. Both on the older side of thirty, worried about how things will go with their pregnancies and also fretting over their own relationships with their significant others.

It's almost like their lives are mirroring each other.

Throughout the story there is an electric current running through the pages.

Suspicions never quite confirmed.

Every time I thought that I had it all worked out, there was new twist, a different clue to make me doubt what I was reading.

Devious.

Who knew that a book about pregnant women could be so utterly compelling.

I marked the book down by one star because the ending lost the edge that the rest of the tale had. I wanted a bit more of a dramatic ending, not such a happily ever after.