Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed Friends with Secrets. Two very different moms meet up and end up becoming close friends. Ainsley is married to a wealthy man running for Governor. Nikki is the harried mother of four ex-news anchor who is barely holding things together. Ainsley has some secrets in her past and when she recognized the new girls basketball coach, the two women work to expose him.

While the subject matter is very serious, the book was actually pretty funny. I loved the friendship between Ainsley and Nikki. I can't wait to read more from the author.

Friends with Secrets by Christine Gunderson is a gripping page turner and I read it in one sitting.
I truly enjoyed every moment of this book.
It was engaging and fun.

In their prior, real lives, Nikki and Ainsley would probably never have met, never mind become close friends and allies aligned in exposing the danger in their small town and putting themselves in peril. However, the life of the former high-flying professionals is now deteriorated to struggling to make it through the day, keep small children alive, and get everyone where they're supposed to be on time. While I'm not in that life stage any longer and certainly never had the chance to expose a terrible person and horrible secret in my community, I deeply enjoyed this view of the chaos, pathos, and triumphs of two unlikely heroines joining forces for good and saving themselves at the same time. Very relatable, funny, gripping in its unblinking view into motherhood, marriage, and friendships. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

⭐️4.25
Once again, you cannot judge someone’s insides by their outsides. Ainsley and Nikki are completely different-Ainsley is extremely wealthy, polished and a little TOO put-together. Nikki is an unemployed reporter, mom of four, and has more food in her dirty minivan than her house.

The two women unexpectedly form a friendship over a brewing threat to their private school community.

The chemistry of these characters is perfection! I just wanted to hang out with these women and their friends.

This one was so fast paced and enjoyable, I was shocked when at the end, I saw how many pages it was. I absolutely loved it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6367343929

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub date: August 1, 2024

I enjoyed the premise of the novel and the scandalous side peaked my interest. I felt some parts were unrealistical. But I loved the strong female friendships

"Friends with Secrets" by Christine Gunderson is a suspenseful story and I was drawn to this book's unique blend of humour, action, and thrills. The premise alone had me hooked: two suburban moms, Ainsley and Nikki, team up to take down a suspicious figure from Ainsley's past who has become a coach at their kids' school.
From the start, I was invested in the story and found myself racing through the pages to uncover the truth. Gunderson's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it a quick and enjoyable read.
What I appreciated most about this book was its relatable portrayal of motherhood. Both Ainsley and Nikki are flawed and authentic characters who struggle with the pressures of modern parenting. Their friendship is raw and genuine, highlighting the isolation and challenges that many mothers face. The author does an excellent job of capturing the ups and downs of motherhood, making it easy for readers to connect with the characters.
The plot itself is well-structured and suspenseful, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. The characters are well-developed, and I found myself rooting for both Ainsley and Nikki as they navigated their struggles and worked together to uncover the truth.
One aspect that particularly stood out to me was the way Gunderson tackled complex issues like motherhood, identity, and friendship in a respectful and light-hearted manner. The author shows that even amid the chaos, friendships can bring joy and support to our lives.
Overall "Friends with Secrets" is for anyone looking for a fun and suspenseful read that also explores the realities of motherhood. The characters are relatable, the plot is engaging, and the themes are thought-provoking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I am definitely not the audience for this one. Despite the description, I found this neither funny nor suspenseful. I could not relate to a single character and found it so boring I was skipping pages almost immediately. Didn't even make it to the end.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Christine Gunderson for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly, if you're under 30, or if you're not a mom, you'll have a hard time relating to anyone in the book. I found the story was extremely long for nothing, and the plot was lacking. I skipped most of it from 50% to 90% because of how boring it was. Disappointed:(

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Friends With Secrets by Christine Gunderson. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, kept my interest and fast paced. This was a fun book and not my usual thriller. It was a nice change. There was some action, humour, scary moments, and good old friendships. It talks about motherhood and being a "super-human mom" which all mothers can relate to. It was a great read and I would highly recommend it. My first by this author, but I will look for more. A 5 star rating from me.

Secrets, motherhood, and sleazy men that the main characters get tasked with taking down? Once I got rolling in this one, I could not stop. This book is about friendship and identity in adulthood/motherhood. I really enjoyed it.

Ainsley and Nikki are two moms living in the DC suburbs who couldn't be more different from each other. Ainsley has the perfect life: perfect husband, well-behaved kids, and the kind of wealth that makes being a mother look easy, But she's hiding a secret about her past she's worried will unravel her dream life. Nikki is a reluctant stay at home mom and former journalist whose household appears to be falling apart at the seams looking for the big story that will help her break back into her former career. Ainsley and Nikki's worlds combine when they realize that a new coach at their kid's school is far more dangerous than anyone could imagine, one that threatens Ainsley's image and could launch Nikki's re-entry into her former career.

I LOVED this book. I don't know if it was because I knew the setting so well, or so deeply related to so many of the reflections on motherhood throughout. Ainsley and Nikki are wonderfully well-developed characters, who find themselves true friends - the kind of friend that you wish you had to support you in your own motherhood journey. The mystery element was compelling and the twists were surprising. Gunderson does a fantastic job at avoiding the usual mom-shaming stereotypes and cliches. The book doesn't just pass the Bechdel test, it absolutely crushes it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Christine Gunderson for the ARC.

This book was very enjoyable. It was a great ode to the importance of female friendships as well as being an enjoyable thriller. Definitely recommend.

The book is written in a light and humourous tone. There's a good story but its buried under too much fluff and filler that it doesn't feel as serious as it should be. I skimmed through so much unnecessary details and then the ending is rushed. I was especially disappointed with Ben who seems too good to be true.

“Friends with Secrets” is a debut novel by Christine Gunderson. I liked this novel more than I thought I initially would, which was a pleasant surprise. This book is told in two POVs - Nikki and Ainsley. Nikki is a former news reporter, currently full time mother. Ainsley appears to be a put together mother of two, but she’s insecure and keeping her past hidden from many - including her husband running for governor. Nikki and Ainsley have children at the same school and end up teaming up after the hiring of a new girl’s basketball coach - who gives off the “ick” factor. The two women bounce well of each other - sometimes Ainsley taking the lead, sometimes Nikki. It’s an unlikely friendship/partnership to uncover the truth about the coach. I did like how this book pointed out some interesting points (mainly along Ainsley’s past and the coach’s persona) and I really liked that there was a nice red herring too. Could this book have been tighter - yes. I also found the ending a bit abrupt, but for a debut novel it was a solid and enjoyable read.

Friends with Secrets was an engaging, fun read from start to finish.

The main characters, Nikki and Ainsley, were well written and likeable. I especially enjoyed that their flaws and insecurities were laid bare early on, allowing the reader to fully understand their motives and fears. Alongside the main plot the underlying commentary on how women and mothers are viewed and treated by society provided context for Ainsley's fear of disapproval about her past and Nikki's struggle with her self worth. The husbands of the main characters were idealised examples of supportive, caring and engaged men, showing that a more equitable balance between parents is possible.

The overall plot surrounding the basketball coach and his past (and present) crimes was well crafted. By writing the story as a 'howdunnit' rather than 'whodunnit', Gunderson was able to give voices to marginalised supporting characters and thereby create a more nuanced telling of the breadth and depth of the abuse. I particularly enjoyed Ainsley's interaction with Destinee's mother, her compassion and empathy really shone through.

I don't feel that the title fits the content of the book, in my view only Ainsley really has a secret and that's just an opening to the main plot.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Incredibly fun read. The perfect book for when you're in a reading slump or need a slightly different genre.

This multilayered novel about two friends and the pressures of motherhood is so incredibly relatable, especially the parts that showcase the unrealistic and insurmountable standards women are held to in today’s society. While not necessarily a fast paced, page turner of a book, there is plenty of action in this drama/mystery!

I thoroughly enjoyed the unlikely friendship between the two main female characters and their unique backstories. Their mission to right the wrongs in the world and protect their children keeps you hooked throughout. Beware of the dirty and shocking secrets lurking in everyone’s closets, our FMC’s are out to expose it all! The pacing is very well written with a good mix of action and intensity, while also balanced by the humor of these witty women.

If you’re looking for a realistic read about female friendships and parenthood that’ll keep you engaged and even make you laugh out loud, look no further!

Thank you to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

👭Ғeмale ғrιendѕнιp
👭Ѕυѕpenѕe
👭Darĸ paѕт
👭Dυal POV

Nιĸĸι and Aιnѕley нave тнeιr cнιldren ιn тнe ѕaмe ѕcнool , ғroм wнere тнey ѕтarт play-daтeѕ ғor тнeм. Nιĸĸι нaѕ recenтly gιven вιrтн тo Joe, нer 4тн cнιld and ιѕ ѕтrυgglιng вeтween мoтнerнood and lιттle тιмe ѕнe geтѕ ғor нerѕelғ. Conтraѕтιngly, Aιnѕley нaѕ a perғecт lιғe, нer rιcн нυѕвand wнo нaѕ aмple oғ вυѕιneѕѕ wealтн and ιѕ now plannιng тo вecoмe a polιтιcιan.

Тнe ѕтory ιѕ very well-wrιттen ғroм dυal POV'ѕ oғ Nιĸĸι and Aιnѕley and Ι loved нow тнeѕe тwo мoтнer jυѕт clιcĸed ѕo ғaѕт & вecaмe ѕυcн good ғrιendѕ. Ι adored тo read тнeιr тrυѕт over тιмe & нow тнey ѕυpporтed eacн oтнer ιn "мodern мoтнerнood" wнιcн ιѕ leѕѕ ѕeen тнeѕe dayѕ Ι gυeѕѕ. Anoтнer тнιng Ι lιĸed waѕ тнe ѕυpporт ғroм тнeιr нυѕвandѕ! Ι мean really!?

Тнe мaιn ploт ιѕ wнen Aιnѕley wιтneѕѕeѕ ѕoмeone ғroм нer paѕт aт тнeιr cнιldren'ѕ ѕcнool. Ѕнe нaѕn'т тold a ѕoυl aвoυт нer darĸ paѕт (eхcepт нer ѕιѕтer wнo waѕ a parт oғ ιт) and ιѕ ѕcared тo looѕe нer ғaмιly ιғ нer ѕecreт ιѕ oυт. Нowever, нer ғrιendѕнιp wιтн Nιĸĸι тυrnѕ lυcĸy ғor нer.

Твн Ι loved all тнe Мaιn cнaracтerѕ ιn тнe вooĸ- Nιĸĸι & нer нυѕвand and Aιnѕley & нer нυѕвand тoo. Тнere ιѕ a ѕтrong тrυѕт & ѕυpporт вeтween тнeѕe тwo мoтнerѕ & love ιn тнe reѕpecтιve ғaмιlιeѕ. Ѕo wнen all oғ тнeм υnιтe тo ѕave Aιnѕley, ιт ѕυrely woυld worĸ oυт.

Ι тнoroυgнly enjoyed тнe вooĸ ғroм тнe вegιnnιng тιll тнe end. Ι gυeѕѕ Ι ĸnew wнaт'ѕ goιng тo нappen вυт тнe way ιт waѕ мenтιoned and тнe тwιѕт ιn тнe вooĸ ĸepт мe cυrιoυѕ.

Ι'd recoммened тнιѕ тo every мoтнer and anyone wнo loveѕ a good ѕυѕpenѕe.

I liked it. It had a slow start for me, but once Nikki and Ainsley spent that one day together at Ainsley’s, it got much better for me I liked the way the friendship built and grew. So quickly Enjoyed the humor in it (mostly Nikki)

I will say recommend this to my book club. Great summer read!!


Link to me Goodreads review is below

Thanks Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC

You're a mum-you have four kids and left behind a dazzling job... you feel the burnout of staying at home with four kids and having to endure a life of what feels like drudgery,

Then you meet another mum at the school gates who has it all together and is all you aspire to be and then some. But is she really all that?

In this suspense riddled yet humorous novel, we see the friendship of Nikki and Ainsley play out, the strength of girl friends, and the explosiveness os secrets and the impact it can have on everyone.

Most of all, it is the story of how we are expected to keep up appearances, and how life can be a whole lot of smoke and mirrors often.

I LOVED THIS BOOK