In Girl Friends by Alex Dahl, readers are taken on a thrilling journey to Ibiza with Charlotte and Bianka, exploring the complexities of their friendship that transcends boundaries. The dual point of view adds depth to the narrative, keeping readers captivated as secrets unravel and marriages are put at risk. Dahl skillfully weaves a tale of hidden desires and the consequences of crossing forbidden lines. As a queer thriller, the book offers a unique perspective, keeping readers engaged with its unexpected twists and turns. While some readers may have desired a faster-paced plot, Dahl's strong characterisation and compelling storytelling make this a compelling read. With its intriguing plot twists and well-developed characters, Girl Friends is a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling tale of love, secrets, and the complexities of relationships. Available in April 2024, this book promises an immersive experience that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages.

3.5 stars rounded down (pls give us half star ratings)

started slow but the little prequel scene ??? obsessed. drew me into the plot soooo much. didn’t even mind it being slow because i was so invested to find out what happened. like actually DESPERATE to understand what was going on.

AND THEN ??? the depiction of that weird kind of intense toxic friendships you have as a sapphic woman sometimes??? so good. SOOOOOO GOOD. especially charlotte not knowing what was going on and never having considered being attracted to a woman before. it felt so raw and so real and i connected so much with the characters because of it.

speaking of the characters, hated every single one of them. they all SUCKED. and i LOVE a book full of characters who suck.

now for the problems. was it not obvious to us all that bianka killed mia from like the moment she was mentioned. and it was dragged out weirdly but then the evidence that storm and emil had when they DID jump to that conclusion still felt very lacking and there was NO exploration of that at all? i felt like i wanted more from that storyline and of the absolute horror of emil discovering this and realising he’s repressed this knowledge (because that’s what it felt like he had been doing)

ending was a shocker but like not really in a good way ?? all felt super out of character for charlotte and i get she had changed because of what happened but it seemed like a LOT of change all at once.

side note what was the point in us finding out what happened to her mother when it had zero consequences for anything i was waiting for something important to happpen around that but then it simply didn’t

overall definitely enjoyable and i will be recommending it but the ending was disappointing/confusing. read this on holiday in one sitting and i think that was the perfect way to experience it

A bit of a slow start , it took me a while to get into the story . Once the girls went on holiday I found it piqued my interest. An easy read and enjoyable over all

I've enjoyed the other books I've read by Alex Dahl. This one did feel slower than I hoped and I found it harder to get into.

Unfortunately I didn't really enjoy this book. I found it hard to get into and found myself struggling to get through it. I found it jarring that Bianka and Storm's chapters were written in third person but Charlotte's were from first person perspective.
There were also some continuity errors, in one chapter Bianka comments that she lost her sunglasses and a few pages later she takes her sunglasses off. I think the twist worked and it was interesting but at the end I would've also liked a synopsis of what happened with Storm and Emil.

The pacing just wasn't it for me. I really struggled to get through the writing and the dialogue was something I also stuggled with.

Definitely mixed feelings on Alex Dahl’s thriller Girl Friends.

The story surrounds Charlotte (the Scandinavian Keto Queen, resident in London, Ibiza summer home owner) and Bianka very recently arrived from Oslo now resident in London with her husband (Charlotte’s husband’s boss) and step son Storm. The two form an intense relationship which quickly spiral in Ibiza when Bianka joints Charlotte and her friends for their annual week in Ibiza.

Classic thriller stuff. Told from the perspectives of Charlotte, Bianka and Storm. But the story was very strangely paced, some parts with great writing a few parts cringe-worthy and with a finish that doesn’t do the rest of the story justice.

A solid 3.5 star book (rounded up because it’s way better than a 3 star read).

Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

A bit of a slow start to this one and it took me a while to get into it. I didn't think the characters were very realistic and a bit one dimensional. Definitely picked up once they went on holiday though.
An easy ready and good fun

A seemingly innocent friendship leads to so much more and the back story of the protagonist unfolds and revels dark secrets which unleash deadly consequences.

I liked the unravelling of the story and how you thought you knew what would happen next which then didn't.
A good but disturbing read.

This is a wild ride, if sometimes far fetched.
When Bianka moves from Oslo to London, she becomes part of a Scandi set of wives in Wimbledon. One of them fascinates her more than any other, and she gets herself invited on a girls' holiday in Ibiza.
This being Ibiza, things do get a bit wild and hedonistic,
The characters are great, and the story of Bianka's stepson Storm, who stayed behind in Norway, adds another more sensible layer to an interesting story.
I really cared, and wanted to know what happened to people.
My only regret is that the men are very much background dressing, I would have liked to see more of their reaction to the women.

This was such a great read- finished in 3 days. Had a good mix of drama, intrigue and unsuspecting spice!

📖REVIEW📖
Title: Girl Friends
Author: Alex Dahl
Genre: Thriller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

📖Synopsis:
You think you met her by chance. You're wrong.

Charlotte has it all: the successful career, the loving family. But, secretly, she is dangerously bored of her rigid and structured life.

Bianka is a free spirit, always the life and soul. When she and Charlotte meet, it feels like fate – Bianka is exactly the person that Charlotte needs.

When they escape to Ibiza for a girls' trip, home is soon forgotten. Charlotte dives head first into a life that is looser, wilder. But the holiday soon spirals out of control with fatal consequences – someone doesn't return home.

📖Review: 3.5⭐️s ARC
So I’ve just read a couple of romances so this was perfect for a bit of a change. Kept me on the edge of my toes and found the characters were easy to get into and emphasise with. Maybe it’s the whole perfect lives on the outside but going to shit inside thing but I do enjoy that. Read it in one day!

🗓️Release date 11th April 2024

*please note I received this ARC for free via NetGalley and independently decided to submit an honest review*

#GirlFriends #NetGalley
When Charlotte and Bianka meet, they quickly become inseparable. Wanting to bring fresh energy into her life, Charlotte invites Bianka on her annual girl’s trip to Ibiza with her childhood friends.
They arrive wanting to break the routine, to escape the monotony of everyday life. To drink too much, to flirt with strangers, to live life dangerously. To take things too far. No one could have planned for just how far these women were willing to go... Or how spectacularly this trip will ricochet through their lives back home. They say that what happens in Ibiza, stays in Ibiza - if only that were the case..
It was fun.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head Of Zeus for giving me an advance copy.

With many thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

This starts of at fairly slow pace and at times it doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere. But it’s worth sticking with as the book does start to come together in the last third and I did like the ending. The author does a great job of describing her leading characters and their toxic relationship. Not so much a thriller but more of a book about obsession with deadly consequences. Enjoyable 3.5⭐️read

I really wanted to like this book, the description had me hooked and I was really intrigued. Unfortunately I found the main characters utterly unlikeable (other than the teenagers) and the writing style really threw me off with the switches between third person and first person.

Alex Dahl is clearly a talented author but this novel was unfortunately just not for me, and I did not finish sadly.

Girls trip. Who doesnt love a story about a girls trip. I had such high expectations for this one as I loved the plot. It was just too slow for me.

This was a very fast paced thriller that read almost like a movie, A gripping thriller that had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

I have recently started reading books by this author more and more and this again was a very enjoyable read for me with plenty of twists and turns throughout the book.

This book feels very present with its reference to influnencers and the 'cancel culture'. There are hedonistic elements, themes of friendship and of course lots of secrets ready to emerge. Interesting, not necessarily particularly gripping but a good beachy read.

Girl Friends by Alex Dahl.
Rules for the girls’ trip:
1) No kids
2) Out-of-office on
3) Keep the drinks flowing
4) DON’T TELL ANYONE WHAT WE’VE DONE
When Charlotte and Bianka meet, they quickly become inseparable. Wanting to bring fresh energy into her life, Charlotte invites Bianka on her annual girl’s trip to Ibiza with her childhood friends. They arrive wanting to break the routine, to escape the monotony of everyday life. To drink too much, to flirt with strangers, to live life dangerously. To take things too far. No one could have planned for just how far these women were willing to go... Or how spectacularly this trip will ricochet through their lives back home. They say that what happens in Ibiza, stays in Ibiza - if only that were the case...
I really enjoyed this book. Gripping and twisty. I don't know how I felt about Charlotte. 4*.