Gripping psychological thriller! Tess and Lydia were best friends when they were teenagers, so when Tess hears that Lydia has moved back to the village she thinks they'll be able to pick up where they left off. How wrong can Tess be? Lydia pretends not to know Tess let alone be her old best friend. Just what happened to sour the seemingly perfect friendship and can the past be put behind them? So many twists and turns in this , a must read if you're a fan of psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this novel.

3.5 rounded up

Lydia Green is moving to Ashdown Village with her husband Zack and son Adam, but with the upmost reluctance to leave their London home. Her reticence is locked deep in her past. Has it got anything to do with her former best friend Tess? Lydia and Tess tell their stories, so jump on board as this is one entertaining family drama of a runaway ride.

This is an easy to read novel which is enjoyable. There are twists to keep you engaged and secrets although some aren’t too hard to work out but that’s part of the fun, confirming that you’ve got things right! The characterisation is good, it’s easy to picture them all, to feel sympathy for one and dislike for a couple more. However maybe things are deceptive, very deceptive. One character in particular I want to shake for being so easily manipulated and taken in, when trust becomes an issue it’s so not there. By the same token it demonstrates that I’ve got involved with plot and reacted to some of the things that are going on. I enjoy the backwards and forwards nature of the storytelling and working out what has transpired in each timeline.

In some places it’s a bit slow in particular at the start but once the story telling gets into its stride it becomes a gripping read. There’s some repetition with regard to Tess’s life which is unnecessary as it’s easy to grasp the situation that she’s in. Other than that, it’s another good domestic thriller and quick to read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

An interesting story of friendships and a 30-year secret told from the POV of Lydia,Tess, and the events covering 1991-1994.
Tess has become a widow and a new mother in less than a year,so when her old best friend moves back to the area, why does Lydia deny even knowing her just when she needs her most.
Lydia's character is an unlikeable one until the story unfolds and the emotional abuse she's suffered at the hands of the one person who should have protected her most is revealed you then understand why she is how she is.
When realisations kick in, you fully understand how secrets that are hidden so deep can slowly ruin your life.
It is a very enjoyable read.
Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.

This one didn’t really do it for me. The writing was different to the first book of hers I read and the story wasn’t able to keep me interested.

Thank you for my copy.

As teenagers Lydia and Tess were inseparable, since meeting at Grammar School they were never apart. But when Lydias father was ill, Tess started a relationship and their friendship soured.
As adults Lydia is reluctantly moving back to her childhood village, having kept secrets from her husband Zack for years he has no idea why she isn't keen to move into the beautiful home. And when Tess meets her again she is dumbfounded when Lydia blanks her and pretends to not know her.
What could possibly have happened during those teenage years and what, if anything can bring the friendship back.
This was a fabulous read from Julie Corbin. The second book I've read from her and once again she turned my emotions from one person to another. From the outset I didn't particularly like Lydia's character but as the story developed it became easy to see why she acted the way she did. It's a great read especially for anyone who likes family dramas.

A good addictive well written read with interesting characters. I was interested in the storyline and it kept me involved from the beginning until the end

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC which I can recommend.

Your best friend was such an addictive and twisty thriller it definitely had me hooked from the first page until the very last it did not stop with the suspense. Tess and Lydia were best friends always together Until one summer when Lydia suddenly moved away. It’s like fate have brought them back together Tess’s life seems to be falling apart she has lost her husband and has two young children to look after so when Tess sees Lydia at a sports day she can’t believe it but Lydia says she doesn’t know who Tess is! Why is has she lied about knowing Tess? This was full of twists and turns I absolutely devoured it in a day I could not put it down. The characters were well developed and the story just flowed throughout. Highly recommended. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fantastic thriller.

This is my first Julie Corbin and it's safe to say that I was gripped from start to end. I was so sure I knew how the story line would play out only to be floored by the twists and turns. I was eager to find out the reasoning behind the friendship of Lydia and Tess failing and Lydia's reluctance to pick up where they had left off. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

When they were teenagers Tess and Lydia were the very best of friends and this novel starts years later and we don’t know what stopped them being so close.

This was a quick and fun read and it would suit a new genre reader or an old hand.

Skilful characterisation.

"Your Best Friend" is a book about 2 women who were best friends in their teenage years, lost touch and then happened to find themselves back in their home town and the same time...
The book is full of twists and secrets not giving a lot away, which I love! However, I did find it a little slow in the sense that it took a while for something to actually happen or for the things that happened in the past to rear its head. It is a great read but it does take some time for it to get juicy!

this was another addictive and twisty read from this author once you start reading you won't want to stop. Lydia is married to Zack they have a son. Zack wants to rent out their house and move back to his home village to be near his mum. but that's a big problem for Lydia as it's her childhood hometown and she has never told Zack. Tess is struggling she has a son and pregnant she lost her husband Steve she has started her own cleaning business to try make money she always thinks about her old best friend Lydia and misses her. Lydia moves but keeps a low profile and one day goes to her son's football match Tess can't believe she is seeing her old friend, but Lydia says she not know her. What happened between them? you will have to read to find out its so good

#YourBestFriend #NetGalley
Awesome. 5 ⭐
Tess and Lydia were inseparable. Until the end of that last summer when Lydia suddenly moved away.
With the recent loss of her husband and two small children to care for, Tess could really use the support of her old best friend. It feels like a bright spot of light in such a difficult time. Like fate has brought Lydia back to her. But when Tess sees Lydia for the first time in decades, in front of all the other mums at Saturday sport, Lydia pretends not to know her. Tess can't believe Lydia would lie to her face in front of the whole village, or that she seems to want nothing to do with her.
This was really good. I think everyone must read it.

I struggled through to 50% as the concept intrigued me, but I had to give up as I was bored. I'm so so sorry.

I don't know that I would say these two were much of friends-one saying she only talked to her because she felt sorry for her, and the other threatening her. Things from the past come out as this book unfolds. Maybe they were better friends that you think at first. Overall, it was kind of confusing. Lots of characters. It was ok.

Teenagers, Tess and Lydia were inseparable. but loose touch. This story mainly concentrates on what happens when there worlds collide again but we are gradually fed details of there past.
Fabulous read but i did find 'Jenny' a bit over the top.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.