Book Club,  Book Review,  Psychological Thriller

Book Review: The Perfect Friend | Barbara Copperthwaite

When everyone knows you are a liar, don’t expect them to believe you when you tell the truth…

Wow, what a twisty read The Perfect Friend by Barbara Copperthwaite is!!! About 20% in, I found myself thinking, what is this book? And then by 50% in I could barely put the book down! This was my first book by Copperthwaite, but several reviewers who’ve read her other work say that readers should always expect twists and secrets and lies. And boy, were they right!!!

This was a buddy read with one of my book besties, Berit! She’ll have her review up soon as well. We both loved it! When we had our 50% check in, we were both shocked by the twists, and they kept coming! This was a great buddy read for Berit and I.

About the Book

Alex is trying to rebuild her life. Her husband has left her. Her kids won’t speak to her. And alone in the world, Alex turns to restricting her eating in order to gain some semblance of control over her life. And then she makes friends with Carrie. Carrie is the best friend and daughter that Alex desperately wants back in her life. And Carrie also has terminal cancer… Alex finally feels needed.

Alex is the perfect friend for Carrie, but Alex is also a self-proclaimed liar. Alex becomes more and more dependent on her relationship with Carrie. But is Carrie the friend Alex thinks she is??

Reflection

I hate to say this, but I actually can’t say much about this book! I know, I know, it drives me nuts when reviews say that. But this one will go in its own direction and I am terrified of spoiling it! Just enjoy it. Get through the beginning (which is covered in my recap). Once the twists start, they won’t stop. I’m actually so excited for people who haven’t read this book yet!

Alex is a fascinating character. She calls herself a liar. She says she can’t be trusted. But she also is incredibly honest at times. Alex is so vulnerable. She is a person who is almost overwhelmed by life. She uses external control to manage her darkest demons. She has almost too much love to give. Her relationship with Carrie is completely bonkers. But there is something sweet about their friendship. There is something hopeful about two lost souls finding one another at their time of need.

But then, you can throw all of that out the window once those secrets start coming out! No one is telling the full truth. But the key is figuring out what are the secrets and what are the lies!!

Thank you to Bookouture and to Barbara Copperthwaite for a copy of this book to review.

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