Really enjoyed this as a whole, as it has a strong, compelling plot and well-developed characters. However, one character begins one way, then morphs into the antithesis of himself, and then reverts back. Didn't really make sense to me and was distracting. Would love to better understand the author's thinking here. So be prepared! For me, it was very jolting and didn't follow the logic of what had been established, and I probably spent way too long thinking about it and going back to try to find some clue that this part of the character's personality lurked under the surface. It could just be me that it hit this way!
Other than this strange character shift, I think this novel asks some important questions about justice, how we respond when faced with hard choices, and most importantly, the endurance of deep friendships. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

From the very first page, this book draws you into its world with engaging prose, well-developed characters, and a compelling narrative. The author's storytelling is confident and immersive, weaving together themes that resonate long after the final chapter.

The characters were really well developed, and I’m always a fan of stories that weave between the past and present. There were moments where I wanted a bit more, but overall, it was a great read!

Thank you Netgalley and Sparkpress for the arc!

Overall, I enjoyed reading ‘Such Good People’. The novel has well developed characters, with an interesting premise and compelling writing. The book was easy-to-read and I will look for more titles by the author, Amy Blumenfeld.

While the characters are complex I found the plot a little simple and weak. I felt more time could have been spent developing a stronger plot line as I found Rudy’s incarceration without anyone asking questions until he was released a little unbelievable.

There are also times the characters did things or said things that felt wooden and unnatural, placed there solely to progress the authors determination to reach plot lines. April not talking to her kids but sending them to school where gossip always happens, Peter’s rage even though he knew Aprils past and not having a contingency plan if the news leaked despite running for a high profile job, April leaving her family for Rudy’s homecoming after her children were visibly upset over the gossip, Jillian only picking up the inconsistencies upon Rudy’s release despite being so nosey at the beginning as if she wouldn’t follow all aspect of her breakout story and figure it out sooner. These are all things that didn’t fit with the characters I felt were so well developed and also seemed unlikely given the overall circumstances.

This was a good book. Will definitely read more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Family and friendship are the focus and at the core of this novel. I love books like this one with complex and flawed characters. They're written beautifully and well- crafted by Blumenfeld. I was hooked from the beginning. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one - it was a touching story about the bonds of friendship as we followed the backstory of April and Rudy. It was an easy, feel-good read perfect for warm weather at the beach!

I enjoyed watching the progression of April and Rudy's childhood as we bounced back and forth between "then" and "now" timelines. Some parts felt a little confusing and I had to double-check which period I was in, but overall it was enjoyable to see how they grew and progressed. It reiterates the idea that people are complicated and we don't always get the happy endings we hope for, but there were some plot holes that I wish were fleshed out a bit more. Like what's the deal with Jill - why did she feel the need to get so involved? Why didn't the medical examiners and/or lawyers do a better investigation for Rudy? I did like the story but some of these plot points caused things to fall apart a bit for me in the end.

Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you for the ARC!

I was immediately taken to a place in Chicago just reading the first chapters of the book, it feels really immersive. However I would hope to connect to the story more and was wishing to see what happened next with a clear direction.

In Amy Blumenteld's novel Such Good People a crucial meeting will influence the friendship between of April and Rudy our two main characters that grow up together in Brooklyn and they remains good friends even after April attending college but thanks to an inconvenient incident Rudy ends up in jail while April’s expelled from college.

Time has passed and Rudy’s released from prison and this causes a tangle between past and present through the perspectives of April and her husband,Rudy and Julian a journalist.

This story captures in a very interesting and unique way the messiness and the complexity of relationships in a world full of chaos,expectations and choices and so in the end this book explores love,forgiveness friendships,misfortune and second chance and in some parts in a very devastating but still in a realistic deeply way.

A lot of thanks to Netgalley and SparkPress for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions

While the book didn’t exactly blow me away, it also wasn’t the worst read I’ve ever come across. I’d say this book is solid 2.5 stars. The multi-perspective structure is always a favorite of mine. I’ve always felt like it keeps things fresh and offers insight into the lives of different characters. The writing also has a bit of cinematic flair, which gave the story a grounded realism that I appreciated.

April had me at my wit’s end with her irrational choices however. I swear, I found myself mentally screaming, “For the love of God, April!” I mean, how many bad decisions can one person make before someone tells her to get it together. That said, I did like the idea of the plot. It had promise, an interesting premise, and the potential to be something really good. But it could’ve used a little more… substance? Some moments lacked the emotional depth to really land, and the plot felt like it was trying to go for something deeper but just couldn’t quite pull it off. And the ending? Oh boy. It was like the plot was on cruise control, pacing along steadily, and then—bam!—everything suddenly falls into place while new situations are quickly tossed in. Then, just as quickly, it’s over. I couldn’t help but think, “Well, that was a bit lackluster.”

That being said, the character dynamics were somewhat strong. I found myself wondering what I would do in their situations, which is always something I enjoy in a book. Overall, I’d say it’s a somewhat enjoyable read that left me wanting just a touch more. Nothing I’d write home about, but I guess I’d mention it if someone asked, though I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for the ARC!