Among Friends by Hal Ebbott is a sharp and poignant exploration of long-lasting friendships, the complexities of family dynamics, and the fragility of trust. Set in a New York country house, the book captures an autumn weekend that begins with the celebration of a man’s fifty-second birthday but soon descends into an emotional maelstrom that exposes the cracks in decades of friendship and family ties.

The story revolves around two intertwined families who have shared a lifetime of memories. The husbands, Amos and Emerson, have been close friends for over thirty years, and their wives, along with their teenage daughters, have grown up together, enjoying the comfort and predictability of their relationships. What appears to be an idyllic gathering — filled with drinks, dinners, and long-standing rituals — is disrupted by a simmering undercurrent of envy and resentment that boils over into an unspeakable act.

As tensions rise, a seemingly minor incident triggers a violent eruption, shaking the very foundation of the families’ bonds. The fallout from this act of violence is immense, shattering illusions, sparking accusations and denials, and driving wedges between friends, spouses, and children. What follows is a painful process of realisation: the fault lines that were always present in their relationships have been obscured by years of familiarity, but they are now exposed for all to see.

Ebbott expertly crafts a narrative that taps into the psychological nuances of long-term relationships, both familial and platonic. The author explores how the comfort of longstanding friendships can sometimes obscure simmering resentments, and how the smallest of slights — perceived or otherwise — can disrupt a delicate balance. The book also delves into the complexities of loyalty, betrayal, and the difficulty of navigating relationships when the very foundations of trust are called into question.

The pacing of the book is deliberate, slowly building tension as the weekend unfolds, creating a palpable sense of unease. The characters are well-drawn, and their flaws and vulnerabilities are revealed in a way that feels both raw and relatable. The aftermath of the violence is examined with sensitivity, as the characters grapple with the emotional and moral consequences of their actions.

Among Friends is a thought-provoking and emotional read, offering a sharp commentary on the intricacies of human relationships. It’s a story about how even the strongest bonds can be tested, and how betrayal — whether intentional or not — can alter the course of lives forever. For readers who enjoy character-driven narratives about friendship, family, and the complexities of human nature, this book is a compelling and rewarding read.

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I really wanted to enjoy this book, but after three failed attempts to get into it I've had to give up – for now at least.

I found the two main characters Amos and Emmerson confusing, maybe due to similarity in their names. Not so much the names, but the sound of them. All I can tell you is that these two have been close friends since their college days, and Amos and his family are visiting Emmerson to celebrate the latter's birthday. I haven't got further than their arrival, and this is the point at which I stopped.

I don't care for this author's style of writing in short, staccato sentences, which results in a lack of flow. I do, however, like his descriptive writing. Is this his first book? I can't find any information about him.

I may well go back to this later in the year, but in the meantime I have to give it a neutral 3* rating.

Not an easy read. When something goes terribly wrong during a gathering of two successful old friends in their fifties and their families, past traumas unfold.
This is an important book that talks about realistic situations and topics, and makes you constantly think.
Had the ending and the writing style been to my taste, I would have rated this 5 stars.
Certainly compelling novel that focuses on themes so human that you have sympathy for characters who may not be like you.

This is a title which explores some interesting themes; friendship, loyalty, betrayal, abuse and more. It’s set in a world I know little about, America’s wealthy upper middle class, but it felt very real. Amos and Emerson, friends since college and now in their early 50s, gather one weekend to celebrate a birthday. A couple of relatively small incidents trigger hidden resentments that have horrendous repercussions.

Hal Ebbott certainly has a way with words and he carefully crafts characters and background to create something plausible. I understood Amos feeling always something of an outsider. He didn’t come from a privileged background. And snooty doctor wife has a superb air of superiority. I do enjoy stories which centre on people as much as events and explore what makes us tick. In many ways Among Friends hits that spot. But overall I was left feeling rather disappointed. Although the writing is superb, the first almost half of the book is incredibly slow. Characters and relationships are introduced and explained, but I found it overpowering and wanted something more to happen. The next bit is better paced, but the ending is odd. I’d certainly read more by Ebbott and for the writing alone this is definitely 4*+. As a who,e, a 3.5 which I’ve rounded down on this occasion as I felt let down at the end.

When people have been friends for many years, the comfort and continuity of the relationship occasionally outweighs any resentments. This is the case for Amos and Emerson, who meet with their wives and daughters to celebrate Emerson's 52nd birthday. Two seemingly trivial slights result in an act of violence that threatens to destroy one of the families and the men's friendship.

Some of the accumulated resentment over 30 years centred on class divisions. Amos has worked his way up from humble beginnings. Emerson gets bored hearing the stories. Amos seemed to be on put on a pedestal with Emerson a cartoon villain and Claire, Amos's doctor wife,pious and insufferable.

It wasn't an easy read. I admired the insight into the human pysche but I wanted the story to flow without the constant interruption of stories from the past. The ending was somewhat vague with the reader having to read between the lines.

Beginning with a weekend when two wealthy New York couples celebrate a birthday in the country, Among Friends spans nine months charting the aftermath of a shocking act, kept secret until a crisis forces it into the open.
Amos and Emerson have been close since they were roommates at college. Now in their early fifties, they’re both successful, married and with teenage daughters of the same age. These are families whose lives are intimately bound together by the enduring friendship between Amos and Emerson. The weekend follows a familiar pattern but when Emerson suffers an injury while playing tennis with Amos, his frustration results in a betrayal whose repercussions will be profound.
Ebbott’s novel gets off to a slow start flitting back and forth between his characters, establishing relationships between them and how they feel about each other. The bonds between them are tightly woven but there are tensions and power imbalances, not least in Amos’s position as an outsider in terms of class and privilege. The narrative takes off about halfway through after the betrayal which will threaten this relationship needed by both men in their different ways. The question is where do their priorities lie? It’s a great premise, handled interestingly, particularly at the end but I found Ebbott’s style overblown, larded with description and metaphor which got in the way for me. A shame, as the themes of class, privilege, betrayal and loyalty are perennially fascinating ones. I’ll certainly look out for his next novel but will approach it with caution.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3

’We might not survive it’

Among Friends is a perfect example of the sort of friendships I truly hope never find me.

A deeply disturbing look at childhood trauma, toxic friendships, co-dependency, abuse and victimhood, this book left me wondering why on earth I decided to read something so depressing in the middle of my seasonal depression. Thank god I never claimed to be smart.

This book is beautifully written, and perfectly explained so many of my own jealousies and insecurities when it comes to my own friendships. I thought the competitiveness you often feel with your friends was represented brutally but so realistically, and had me considering my own actions afterwards.

The characters were raw and believable, despicable and likeable. I think in the end they were just such accurate portrayals of real people it had my mind reeling.

And that ending? My heart was shattered.

Overall, Among Friends gets 4/5 stars. There’s so much I could say on this but for the sake of spoilers I will not. Instead I just urge you to check this one out.

Among Friends by Hal Ebbott explores long friendships and betrayals and the impact of abuse and different responses to hearing about it.

This book is a riveting account of friendship funneled through one weekend. Amos and Emerson’s bond is both mysterious and compelling and so well drawn. I loved all the details of their lives in New York and the shock of the ending.