My perfect friend by sarah clarke

I am sitting her, flummoxed with eyes wide open in stunned silence. This. Was. Incredible. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been blown away by a psychological thriller, getting it so wrong the entire time. I actually had to reread some previous chapters for it all to make sense. That’s when you know you have really loved a book, when you still think about it after ending it and want to reread it. 

Beth has the perfect life. She has constructed it carefully over the last eighteen years. But one night she makes a choice that risks everything.

When Kat sees an article about that night online, buried memories begin to surface. She and Beth were friends once. Things ended badly then, but now she has a chance to make them right.

Kat introduces herself to Beth. Not as her old friend, but as a stranger. Beth has no idea Kat isn’t who she says she is.

But then neither is Beth.

The author did a stellar job with disguising and misleading. I really thought I saw it coming, but no. In addition to the brilliant twists and revelations, the book was well-written, emotional and clevee. The characters had depth and felt real to me. There might have been some stereotypical behavior, but their personalities changed in a meaningful way in the end and I liked that. 

I think all lovers of psychological thrillers will find this a compelling read. If there are some faults or if the characters feel too shallow, hang in there. It is all worth it in the end. Finally a book where jaw-dropping twist really arrives as promised. 

Many thanks to netgally and Harper collins publisher for this very appreciated ARC.