3.75 stars.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book being Christine Gunderson's debut novel. The book explores the myths of the 'perfect mother' and the bonds between female friendships with its central characters Ainsley and Nikki. Both of these characters have secrets. Most importantly, the book is also about the consequences of keeping secrets from people.

I think the story is interesting. I was drawn to Ainsley and Nikki's characteristics, especially the former who had a stronger background and story. Through her character, I got to understand society's deep stigma around sex work and how when women are part of this line of work, they are constantly being ridiculed. The investigative aspect was well-written. Everything concluded perfectly, although I did think that the ending was a bit rushed.

A fun story with two very relatable main characters. Nikki is a stay at home mom who is struggling financially and missing her career as a local news journalist and broadcaster. Ainsley is the picture perfect, very wealthy wife of an aspiring politician. They meet because their children attend the same prestigious private school. When an athletic director is hired at the school who Ainsley knows from her past (and he's a bad guy), and Nikki is uncomfortable having him coach her daughter, the two women join forces to try to get him fired. It involves a lot of investigating and untimately, some danger along the way. There's adventure, mystery, and the story of a great new friendship here, which makes this book a terrific choice.

I absolutely loved this book. It is fast paced, the characters are normal people who you can empathise with and the writing is excellent.
The book follows Ainsley and Nikki, 2 mums at the beginning of the first term of an ultra exclusive preschool. One of the mums has a big secret that if exposed could destroy her and everything she has worked so hard to create.
I will be recommending this book to everyone - it was a great read and I'm actually sad I've finished it as I really liked getting to know the characters and their lives. Highly recommend!

I fell in love with the opening chapters of Friends with Secrets. The writing was so crisp with such clever turns of phrase and many laugh out loud moments. Main characters Nikki and Ainsley were perfect foils for one another, and good reminders that you can’t judge books by their covers. I related to the references to motherhood and how hard it can be to make new, meaningful female friendships as an adult. As the story moved into the meaty mystery and amateur sleuth section of the book I was less in love and more somewhat in like. A wide array of secondary characters add much depth and color to the story and the comeuppance at the end is both satisfying and fulfilling. As a weird aside, I liked the nod to high school mathletes and the girls who love them. It was a sweet revelation that connotes the innocence of youth in a world where kids grow up too fast. Overall, it was a good read—perfect for the beach or curled up in front of a fire. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book! I received it via NetGalley and this it’s a solid debut book. It felt like it had a really good concept and FMCs, but I found myself wishing for more details at various parts of the novel that would have deepened the plot I.e. actually getting to hear Ainsley’s speech.

I enjoyed Friends with Secrets so much more than I thought I would have just from the pitch alone. I loved both of the characters, who were interesting and complex and so different than in stories I've read before, and I also loved the buddy comedy feel of the book. This book has it all! Commentary on motherhood! A political scandal! A thriller plot line! Stories about friendship!

Nikki used to be a TV anchor and is now a stay-at-home mom of four. She feels overwhelmed and like an unfit mother sometimes. When she meets the rich wive of an aspiring politician those two form an unlikely friendship. And when a secret from Ainsley's past comes huntimg her the rwo friends embark on a journey to bring justice to a perpetrator.
I loved reading this book and finished it in two days. The main characters were completely relatable and as a mother I felt some of Nikki's struggles. I love how these two different woman fight for a good cause and support each other. The storyline kept me enthralled and I was sitting on the edge of my seat during the Halloween-party-part of the book.
All in all a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed and can only recommend.

I enjoyed this, even if a bit fantastical at times (the ending did not require two fight scenes…). I wish we got a bit more of the after as I liked a lot of the ideas that were presented. Just a good cast of likable leads and good husbands to boot.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I quite enjoyed this read. Gunderson does a fantastic job crafting two women who, on the surface, seem like they couldn't be more different but who, at their core, have a startling amount in common. I found the combination of mystery and messaging to be compelling and engaging. The writing is presented in a crisp clear style that draws you into the story and then dangles just enough new information at just the right points to fully keep your interest. I will definitely be on the lookout for books from Christine Gunderson in the future.

I absolutely loved this domestic thriller! I loved how suspenseful and twisty this book was—truly unexpected moments kept me on the edge of my seat! 5 stars!

Started this one because as a DC girl I wanted to read something that took place in my city. Even though I went in for that and not much really took place in DC and what was in DC was made up stores, I stayed for the friendship formed in the book. I loved it so much. In thriller-ish books like this the friends usually turn on eachother and it makes it hard to like anyone, but I loved that you could trust them together. Some parts of the book/convos were repetitive and could have been edited down more (or maybe are being edited down more). But overall really enjoyed it.

Pretty good for a debut novel!

Funny, complex, real, and a storyline that is believable.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an advanced copy to read and review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was witty and humorous, while simultaneously dealing with some pretty dark concepts. I'd almost describe it as a cozy thriller, which feels antithetical but somehow was executed masterfully. I tore through this book and couldn't put it down once I got about 20% into it, reading the rest in one sitting.

It was just a fun read all around!

Excellent writing. I was invested in the outcome for the characters in this book! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was definitely not my typical read, but it was fun and a great read. It was fast and funny. I loved the friendships and the characters involved in this story. When looking for a good womens fic/chick lit this is a great choice.

"Friends With Secrets" masterfully weaves together the complexities of friendship, motherhood, societal pressures, and suspense in a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of Northern Virginia. Contrary to the surface, where Nikki and Ainsley may seem like polar opposites, the novel delves deep into their lives, revealing layers of struggle and resilience that bind them together.

The author skillfully crafts Nikki, a former media personality turned stay-at-home mom grappling with the challenges of balancing family life and career aspirations. Ainsley, on the other hand, embodies the facade of perfection, masking her own vulnerabilities beneath a meticulously curated image. Their unexpected alliance in uncovering a dark secret lurking within their community sets the stage for a riveting tale of empowerment and redemption.

The narrative's strength lies in its ability to navigate complex themes with nuance and depth. From the pressures of conforming to societal standards to the resilience required to confront buried truths, "Friends With Secrets" offers a poignant exploration of womanhood in all its facets. The dynamics between Nikki and Ainsley are richly drawn, evolving from initial skepticism to a formidable partnership driven by a shared determination to protect their children and unravel the mysteries shrouding their community.

The pacing is expertly executed, seamlessly blending moments of tension and intrigue with poignant reflections on the expectations placed upon women. The author's adept balance of suspense, humor, and introspection keeps readers engaged from start to finish, ensuring a satisfying reading experience.

Overall, "Friends With Secrets" transcends genre conventions, delivering a thought-provoking narrative that resonates long after the final page. With its compelling characters, deftly plotted storyline, and insightful exploration of contemporary issues, this novel is a must-read for fans of thrillers and women's fiction alike. My heartfelt gratitude to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to delve into this captivating ARC, and my review reflects my genuine appreciation for the author's craftsmanship.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Wow, this was so fun! My go-to read is typically suspenseful thriller - this was a nice break that still had an exciting sleuthy aspect. Nikki and Ainsley were a great pair, two people that really needed a friend to appreciate them for who they truly were. I was rooting for them both the entire time and also felt for Ainsley as she was being outcasted.

Wyatt Jericho was a creep and I enjoyed following along as the dynamic duo fought to take him down! A light read that will keep your interest and was laugh out loud funny at times. Didn't want it to end!

Ainsley and Ben live in Washington DC with their two daughters. She has a mysterious past that she is keeping a secret. Nikki is a stay at home mom of four and together they team up to expose the shady character from Ainsley’s past. I didn’t see the twists in this book coming. The characters were great and as a stay at home mom myself I found some aspects of Nikki’s day to day life to relate able.

It's easy for a book about two women who on first glance are polar opposites and competitors to fall into clichés and stereotypes, however Friends With Secrets sidesteps all of that. This is a fantastic, multilayered novel that's not only about the pressures and seemingly insurmountable standards women are held to, but is also a thriller and a mystery with plenty of action.

Ainsley and Nikki are two women in Northern Virginia (DC suburbs) who are each struggling to hold it together for very different reasons. Nikki is a former superstar newscaster who was laid off and is now a stay at home mom to four young children and has a husband with a questionable furniture building business he's trying to get started. Ainsley is the seemingly perfect, “Stepford Wife” who has it all together thanks to a full uniformed staff at home. Not only that, but she is the wife of a millionaire who is running for governor of Virginia on a clean cut, anti porn platform that's meant to appeal to voters who lean conservative.

All of this falls apart though when Ainsley and Nikki meet the creepy new basketball coach at the private school where their kids go. They're planning only to meet for media training from Nikki to help Ainsley perfect her interviewing skills as a candidate's wife, but a conversation about this creepy coach unveils a decades old secret that threatens to destroy the perfect life that Ainsley has crafted for herself. Ainsley and Nikki discover how much they really do have in common and that they are solidly on each other's side on a mission to bring down this coach and save the girls at their school from being harmed by him.

The pacing is very well done with a good mix of action and scary situations that are balanced by humor and musings on being the kind of woman who is expected to "have it all" but can't live up to that because of course no woman in reality can.

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.

I am constantly on the lookout for hilarious cozy mysteries with a Finley Donovan vibe, and Friends With Secrets fits the bill. Two unlikely friends team up to take down a sinister adversary, and discover they have a lot more in common than they knew. This is a story about women supporting women, female empowerment, and taking down the patriarchy. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!