The narrative delves deeply into the complexities of friendship, fate, and unspoken truths. It captures the emotional friendship between Amos and Emerson, showcasing the highs and lows they navigate together. The portrayal of their relationship is both sharply. Revealing not just the joys of their connection but also the shadows of betrayal that can linger in even the closest of friendships. Through their journey, readers are invited to reflect on the intricacies of family dynamics and the impact of choices made over time. Surprisingly, this was a very emotional read for me. The writing is brilliant, capturing the essence of the characters and their relationships in a way that draws you in. It’s the perfect book when you’re looking for a story that centers around the complex lives of its characters, making you think deeply about your own connections and the choices that shape them. I can't wait to read more of the author, big thanks to the editorial and netgalley for the access to this ARC

Amos and Emerson have been friends for decades. The kind of friendship that looks unshakable from the outside—woven into the fabric of their families, their shared history, their children growing up alongside each other. But time has a way of testing even the strongest bonds, and during one weekend away, a single act cracks everything open.

Hal Ebbott’s Among Friends is an astonishing debut—psychologically intricate, emotionally devastating, and written with a precision that makes every sentence land like a well-aimed blow. The novel peels back the layers of a friendship that has endured through competition, quiet resentments, and shifting power dynamics, revealing the fragility of the connections we assume will last forever. "Once he was sure, it seemed as though he’d known forever. Not that his friend would do this, but that he could."

Ebbott’s writing is as sharp as it is elegant, moving seamlessly between past and present, between moments of deep intimacy and unbearable tension. The novel is full of the kind of lines that stop you cold: "What was the point of transcending one’s past if the cost were giving those same hurts to his child?" There is no melodrama here, no cheap twists—just the slow, painful unravelling of certainty, as the characters reckon with betrayal, power, and the uncomfortable truths that have always been there, just beneath the surface.

The prose is exquisite, delicate but unflinching. The novel meanders through its characters’ internal landscapes, capturing the weight of knowing and the ache of choosing whether to act. "It wasn’t enough just to be gentle and nice, to bring her tea or go for long walks. One needed to do something—he had to do something—to behave like someone who believed what she said."

If I have any criticism, it’s that the final stretch indulges a little too much in reflection, slightly dampening the novel’s relentless tension. But then again, maybe that’s the point—resolution is rarely clean, and reckoning with the past is never as simple as we want it to be.

Among Friends is a novel that unsettles, infuriates, and refuses to be forgotten. It is about the silences between people, the things we don’t say, and the moments that change everything. It’s hard to believe this is Ebbott’s debut—his prose is so mature, so intricately woven, it feels like the work of a writer who has been doing this for decades. Simply unmissable.

Huge thanks to Pan Macmillan | Picador and NetGalley for the ARC—this one will be sitting heavy in my mind for a long time.

A sharply observed and emotionally charged portrayal of the friendship, family and betrayal.

The story is centred around a decades-long friendship between Amos and Emerson. They’ve known each other since their college days and over the years their friendship has evolved to include spouses and children. During the course of weekend birthday celebration, tensions unexpectedly boil over, revealing the true fragility of their friendship and deep-seated resentments that have been simmering beneath the surface for years.

This is very much a character-driven novel and the increasingly strained inter-play between the various characters makes for an incredibly compelling read. The book delves into the complexity and nature of long-term friendship and looks at how fragile those connections can be when tested.

Emotionally intense, thought-provoking, and at times profoundly unsettling, this is the ideal read for those who appreciate stories that examine the psychological dynamics within complex relationships.

Hal Ebbott’s *Among Friends* is a gripping and elegantly crafted novel that explores the fragile foundations of lifelong friendships and the quiet tensions that can shatter them in an instant. Ebbott masterfully builds suspense, weaving an intricate narrative that keeps the reader on edge, waiting for the inevitable unraveling of carefully constructed lives.
What makes *Among Friends* particularly compelling is its nuanced exploration of human nature—how relationships evolve over time, the weight of unspoken tensions, and the thin line between loyalty and betrayal.

A slow burning novel that falls well within the American literary fiction category. Incredibly clever, well written, with very flawed characters and a somewhat disturbing storyline. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

Amos and Emerson have been friends for thirty years. They met in college and formed what seems like an unbreakable bond. Their families are entwined and they have so much shared history, but at a weekend party to celebrate Emerson's birthday, a shocking violation of their friendship causes damage that means everyone involved has to make choices. Ebbot is great on tension and morally questionable choices. He takes an unflinching look at human fallibility and personal responsibility. I found it a difficult read, partly because it's written so very well that everyone is so real and partly because with a couple of notable exceptions everyone in this book is horrible. But it's very, very smart and clever all the same.

Stark, spare writing in this impressive debut, which explores family and a lifelong friendship in New York and the survival of relationships after betrayal. Echoes of Fleishman is in Trouble but darker and more contemplative.

You may, like me, begin reading this book expecting a straightforward story about two dysfunctional families and their middle-class lives. I anticipated an Ann Patchett/Anne Tyler-style novel, filled with relatable yet mildly troubled family dynamics. But this book goes beyond that initial impression.

Initially, it does present a cozy, "we have it all but we screw it up" narrative. However, something happens that left me so shocked I had to reread the same few pages multiple times. This jaw-dropping moment elevated the entire experience for me.

Before this unexpected twist, the book was already superb. It offers an alternative perspective on men's relationships, exploring themes like middle-aged male friendships, jealousy, competition, and insecurities. These elements are depicted with such depth and authenticity that I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it before.

Overall, "Among Friends" is an excellent read that goes beyond typical family drama to offer profound insights into male relationships. It's a unique and captivating novel that I highly recommend.

4.5 stars rounded up
This is a fantastic debut novel, and a riveting portrayal of a friendship on thin ice. Starting with a weekend get-together to celebrate a birthday, the relationships between life-long friends Amos and Emerson, their wives and their teenage daughters is quickly put under a microscope. Despite knowing each other their entire lives, it’s clear right off the bat there’s a lot of underlying resentment at play; chapters from every character’s perspective allow you to explore all the second-guessing, over-analysing and petty points-scoring going on below the surface.

I won’t spoil the nature of the ‘incident’ mentioned in the blurb, but it really does an excellent job of unravelling the emotions and priorities of each character. What do they all truly want, and whose corner are they going to stand in when the going gets tough? It’s a story where every character sits in a morally grey area at one point or another, and I found myself going back and forth on who I trusted and who I wanted to get their way. My only drawback keeping this from a 5 star read personally was the volume of internal monologues and flashback reminiscing in the final quarter of the book. It’s ironically the exact same thing that made this story so engrossing at the beginning, but I found as the plot moved towards its conclusion the reflective pondering of each character killed the pacing somewhat for me.

Still, an excellent read if you like your morally ambiguous characters put in difficult situations, and believable plot dilemmas with no easy path forward. Thank you to Pan Macmillan and to NetGalley for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

Among Friends by Hal Ebbott is an exploration of lifelong friendships between two men, and their families, in the East coast of America. An act of violence shatters the bond, and the fallout reverberates throughout the rest of this gripping novel. Emerson and Amos, the two friends, are extremely well drawn, engaging characters. Ebbotts novel is a slow burn, with the sense of unease building as the narrative progresses, until that moment which spins everything on its head. I really enjoyed reading this one, and it is bound to appeal to all fans of American literary fiction. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Gosh. Absolutely wonderful. Books about the rich east coast america can feel very alienating. but this grips you, with every character essential to the story. Really good

Not a comfortable read. I found the author's use of language rather too calculated and florid. The story questioned whether friendship outweighed the love and support needed by a child.

This is the story of two men who have been friends since their teenage years. Now in their fifties they still meet up regularly with their wives and daughters. On one occasion something happens which causes old resentments bubbling to the surface, threatening the stability of both families. The ending is somewhat ambiguous. The plot moves very slowly and there are many diversions into the past, often in the middle of a conversation. I found myself skimming the text looking for the next line of dialogue. It is interesting but not very engaging, because of the style of writing.

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.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

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.