This book was an absolute ride! It was a little slow at the beginning but once all the girls got together watching the drama unfold was like watching your favorite reality tv show. The drama and chapter 20! I did not see that coming at all and had to run around my room. I was so surprised. This book made me think a lot about people I once was friends with and where we are today. Some of them I connected with but others I havent. I think the larger story of how people grow is so comforting as a mid twenties still trying to figure life out. I love how many different stories there were. It wasnt only about Morgan and finding her sons dad. All of them went through so much growth and change by relieving themselves of lies from their pasts. Amazing read and so glad I got the opportunity to.

What a wonderful book about friendship and the challenges that come with it. The characters were well written and the storyline really draws you in. Definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys long term friendships!

Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I absolutely loved reading this A fabulous book by Samantha Tongue.

Morgan, Paige, Emily and Tiff all grew up together. Together they made The Secret Gift Society, helping others at their school solve their issues. The four girls friendship was solid and they thought no one could break it.

But, on their prom night, that friendship breaks, Hugo reveals what he knows about them and that creates a big rift.

It’s been years since that night, and now, Morgan, has a son, Olly, he is eighteen and wants to know who his father is..

Morgan knows that if anyone can help, it’s her old friends, so she puts a message in the Alumi news with a date and time for the The Secret Gift Society. But, Morgan is thinking whether any of them will want to meet.

The friends decide to help Morgan find Olly’s Dad, after initially deciding against it, but each one is hiding their own secret. Will the friendship still be there when these are revealed? Is Olly’s Dad more closer than they think?

The story has you hooked, turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I highly recommend this book.

I am so sorry, so sorry that I didn't get around to reading this book before now. I've been a fan of Sam Tonge's books for a long while and I'm most happy to report that this doesn't let one down. I have only one problem - I can't make up my mind what genre to place it in? Still, isn't that the prerogative of a top class author. Thought provoking, insightful and delightful, all at the same time. My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood for the reading opy.

A good story about friendships and at times a little repetitive which could be boring. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Interesting story about past friendship and reconnecting. Little repetitive in parts and over explained. But overall an enjoyable story well worth reading. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

This is a huge book hiding between the pages of what could easily be dismissed as light-hearted women’s fiction. It’s not until the layers of each character start to unpeel that it becomes more obvious how complex the character’s lives have been. Morgan, Paige, Emily, and Tiff share a bond that was tied at school and seemingly broken at Prom. I’m sure that many of us can identify with that scenario, but equally have resurrected friendships that had long seemed dead.

Each of the women is hiding a dark secret that they each want to protect for fear of the impact the truth may have. Not for fear of upsetting anyone, but to avoid the judgement that may follow such revelations. Their childhood friendships flourished from the character strengths that they each brought as superpowers to their group. Citing logic, empathy, kindness, and intuition, their shared ability to solve mysteries helped to create their Secret Gift Society.
I immediately warmed to Morgan and wanted her to track down her son’s father, Hugo, with or without the help of her friends. Emily also seemed to be very kind, and I felt for her as she fought for her own happiness. Tiff and Paige took more warming to, but it soon became apparent that this was all part of the way Samantha Tonge had orchestrated the story.

I loved the way the former friends set about searching for the elusive Hugo, discovering more about his move to France and then his return to the UK. Mlle Vachon was a character that I could immediately envisage, and she brought back warm memories from my school days.

I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it enough. If you’re anything like me, it will evoke fond memories of school days and maybe even move you to reconnect with former friends. It’s never too late and can be wholly wonderful.

One of those books you can’t put down once you start reading. I found myself remembering my friends at school and how we lost touch as we moved away. The explosive way the characters lost touch and how they felt meeting up again was fascinating to read.

4.5 Stars. I'm kind of on the fence about this book. I kind of want to give it a full 5 Stars, but I just can't. It had a lot going on between the four women who were high school friends who broke apart, their spouses, kids, and the want-to-maybe-date guy. It was a good story that seemed plot driven to me. It was almost like you're reading a nice quiet little story about women in their 30's (?) and then the boogeyman taps you on the shoulder and disrupts your reading. What???

There was a BIG thing that happened to the four in high school which led them to turn on each other. Now that they are older, the circumstances one of the women finds herself in lead her to call the group back together again. It is definitely not all smooth sailing. In fact it was more like a tsunami when all the secrets start leaking out of them.

The relationships were difficult, but the resolution was satisfying. I would definitely read another book by this author.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Four girls were childhood friends. They had a club of sorts, a secret society, where they used their unique gifts to solve problems for whoever needed help.

On the night of the prom, it all went horribly wrong and their friendship ended abruptly and for good.

Now 19years later, Morgan has a teenage son, who keeps asking about his father. Morgan decides to get her friends back and ask them for help searching for her son's father.

The Secret Society meet again, but can they really forgive each other and are they all telling the truth…..

I adored this book, it did take a couple of chapters to fully capture me, so if you feel like this do NOT give up as honestly once I got into it. I couldn’t put it down and was so glad I read it.

Perfect read, wrapped up on a cold autumn day

Four girls were childhood friends. They had a club of sorts, a secret society, where they used their unique gifts to solve problems for whoever needed help.

On the night of the prom, it all went horribly wrong and their friendship ended abruptly and for good.

Now 19years later, Morgan has a teenage son, who keeps asking about his father. Morgan decides to get her friends back and ask them for help searching for her son's father.

As adults, they meet again, but the pain of betrayal still feels fresh. They manage to put their differences aside to help Morgan, but it all blows up epically. Again.

This was so good! I found myself totally immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading. They are all full of faults, but that doesn't stop you from rooting for them.

Highly recommend it!

You know, the word "algebra' comes from the Arabic word al-jabr that means the reunion of broken parts. . . ~ Morgan

The Secret Gift Society solves problems for the students at Dailsworth High. Morgan, Emily, Paige, and Tiffany. Four friends and four gifts. Logic. Kindness. Empathy. A Sixth Sense. Then prom night happens and Hugo Black drops a bomb on TSGS and they are four broken fragments. Now they are thirty-y-five. Morgan needs to reconvene the TSGS. Can the four reconcile? What secrets are they all carrying that can become burdens shared? Watch the abracadabra of the algebra in this story about friendship, fortitude, and forgiveness.

Your best friend might be family, a pet, your partner, someone you only talk to online. There are no rules. Whatever suits you best. Friendship is about being comfortable and not having to put on an act. ~ Samantha Tonge

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book and the can see it being made into a movie. I know the reasoning behind the friends getting together to solve another mystery. I just think in this day and age of everything being on the internet Morgan could’ve found Olly’s father that way. I didn’t care for Olly, throwing a tantrum to his mother when he’s college aged. With dna testing the way it is he could’ve investigated himself. That being said it was quite the heartwarming story of this broken up friend group finding their way back to each other. They’re in telling their own life’s story making them do a little soul searching and making changes. I appreciate the advanced copy from NetGalley and I’m voluntarily leaving this review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the gang that the girls were in reminded me of many friendship groups that I saw when growing up. As adults the women are unwilling to share any of the problems that have happened in their lives but our main character Morgan needs them to help her with a mystery she is facing.

This is an emotional heart-warming read that I would recommend to others.

This is a great novel about life and life-long friendships. it is very realistic in that not everything gets tidily wrapped up. Very enjoyable book.

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

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley.

Morgan is struggling as a single parent. In high school, she had a group of friends who were super close, but they have not spoken since. Her son wants to know his father, so Morgan gets the Secret Gift Society back together to try to find him. Everyone has secrets.

This was an interesting story about how friendship evolves over the years and how secrets can make or break relationships. At times, I thought their friendship was only surface level and it was almost painful to read a group of adult women who were not friends anymore being together again like they were forced too. However, there were some really good moments about forgiveness and trust in the story.

When We Were Friends reminded me of my own small group of friends at school.
Samantha Tonge has written this complex story of 4 best friends that and thought they knew each other’s best and worst secrets. One day a young boy taunts them unmercifully and suddenly they were no longer friends.
About 16 or 18 years later one of the friends needs to reach out to the others,. It is here that Ms. Tonge writes the most important part of this story. And what an extraordinary story it is.
This book will bring back into the unfairness of high school, even if you’re in the popular crowd.
Things happen beyond your control, but often there is that one teacher that watched you, encouraged you and loved you like a child. For those few teachers, we are eternally grateful.
This is a marvelous book. Not at all like my usual murder thriller.
I look forward to more books from. #SamanthaTonge
#WhenWeWereFriends
#Netgalley

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Got many positives but somehow doesn’t hit the mark

Morgan is living a life contrary to what she wanted as a teen. Being a single parent to a nineteen-year-old is exhausting. Things get worse when her son, Olly, is determined to find his father. Morgan hasn’t even revealed his name. Olly continues to persist, and Morgan has no choice but to reach out to her three friends and ask for help, even if they have been estranged for years.
Paige, Emily, and Tiff are leading their own lives, happy yet unhappy. They have different reactions to Morgan’s request. After all, the best friends hurt each other and broke apart. Will this be their chance to reveal the secrets, apologize, and heal? However, the four friends have to deal with many truths before they can move on.
The story comes in the third-person POV of the four main characters in neatly marked chapters.

My Thoughts:
The four friends, Morgan, Paige, Emily, and Tiff, are well-etched. They have their strengths and weaknesses and are flawed people. Even their interactions feel genuine. None of them is perfect, making it easy to root for all of them. Olly makes a strong impression despite having limited coverage.
Though the focus is on Morgan, we get enough details into others’ lives too. The presentation is neat and clearly structured. We know whose POV (all in the third-person) we are reading at all times. However, quite a bit of it is ‘told’ to the readers, which dilutes the impact.
Friendships and relationships are messy, and this book reflects it well without making it too dramatic. It also has many lessons about boundaries, forgiveness, healing, acceptance, moving on, etc. They blend well most of the time.
The writing is easy enough to read but tends to get repetitive. More than once, I got tired of the supposed secrets that almost came out, but something happened to prevent the reveal. This method should not be overused. The same goes for how Emily makes people share information. That was overkill.
My issue is with how the second half is structured. There’s a major reveal at 50%, with hints about the whats and whys. However, the actual story isn’t shared until after 90%. Moreover, there are many clues to guess everything. Either the clues should be fewer, or the reason should be out sooner. I’d go with the latter, given the plotline.
The main characters are 35-36 years old. Somehow, they sound a decade older. They are weary, I get that. But the vibes don’t feel like I’m reading about people closer to my age.
The book would work on screen. It has the elements to become a nice TV drama (the bittersweet kind). The ending is hopeful, though I wouldn’t have said no to more details. In fact, I’d have liked it if there was another chapter exclusively for Olly. I think he deserves it.

To summarize, When We Were Friends is a good read about school friendships, teenage mistakes, and attempts to reconnect as adults. Despite the heavy themes, the book doesn’t get too intense or stressful. It’ll make a decent one-time read.
(Rounding up to 4 stars after much thought. 3 stars do seem a little less.)
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Other links will be updated later.

This is a story about the friendship of 4 women (Morgan, Tiff, Emily and Paige). I really enjoy the secret society in high schools solving mysteries and how they were best friends. I thought it was dumb what “ruined” their friendship for 19 years. The ending lacked cohesiveness for me … maybe it was meant to lead into another book? Either way, it definitely has twists and turns I didn’t see coming, some predicable.

When We Were Friends by Samantha Tongue was much better than I feared it might be from the Blurb. There were real surprises along the way, and an interesting mix of characters. I liked that there was no forever happy ending even if some of the threads were tied up.