No one goes to intentionally befriend a psycopath. The problem is once you see past their charisma and friendliness and start piecing together the gaps in their stories, they may be onto you and will do anything to shut you up. At least that’s how it is for these protagonists.

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz

Emily has been best friends with Kristen since middle school, she’s the most supportive, loyal friend there is and willing to defend her to death if necessary. Which is exactly what happened in Cambodia when Emily is almost sexually assaulted. A vase over the head kills the creep and they hide the body in the jungle, promising never to think about it again, their bond strengthened albeit leaving Emily shaken.

A year later, life goes on, Emily has even found love which she is eager to tell Kristen on their backpacking trip through Chile. it’s all nature and sun, and delicious food with Kristen hooking up with a handsome Spanish backpacker named Sebastian. Until Emily enters the room to find him dead and Kirsten crying that he tried to attack her.

Can lightning strike twice? Apparently it has and so they bury another body, swearing not to tell anyone. Which she doesn’t, but even though Kristen is non-plussed, Emily starts seeing a therapist.

The sessions bring a new perspective to Emily about her relationship with Kristen and her own low self-esteem and she begins to realize something is off about her best friend. Which is only compounded by Kristen moving in with her when she’s laid off. Spending this extra time with her makes Emily realize Kristen is not just a loyal best friend, she’s a possesive friend and she’s stalking her every move.

Bartz does a great job in amping up the suspense as well as creating the disorienting effect of interacting with Kristen who gaslights and lies as easily as she breathes. The psychological sessions are well-done, informing in small doses how one can get entangled in such a toxic friendship and leaves a twist that is heartstopping.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

This is a classic rich people gone wild story. And by gone wild, yes there are affairs and sleeping around but they’re also stranded on a deserted island which is known for making people go mad the longer they try to survive.

The narrative alternates between four women and goes back and forth between “Then” (a year to two months ago) and “Now.” While this was an interesting back and forth and a smart way to keep the twists and secrets underwraps, it got confusing at moments and made wish for a more linear narrative.

But the twists are definately worth it which is all I really can say since it’s spoilery to discuss more than that. I will say though the main protagonist occasionally got on my nerves. It’s understandable why her personality was a bit of doormat, but sometimes she just felt naieve. I wanted more from the other three women.

Hawkins other adult novel, The Wife Upstairs is a retelling of Jane Eyre set in modern day Atlanta that keeps in tone with the psychological thrillers of today and the gothic atmosphere of the original with new perspectives of all the characters that is a treat to read.

You Are Not Alone by Geer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Like We Were Never Here, this is a story of friendship with a price. When Shelby sees a woman commit suicide, she just can’t get her out of her head, going so far as to find out her name, Amanda, and visit her memorial service, give gifts. She’s a lonely woman and so it seems like kismet that Amanda’s friends, the Brown Sisters reach out to her and they bond in sympathy.
Alas Jane and Cassandra have their own motives. They’re suspicious of Shelby’s interest and concerned that she is aware of the reasons for Amanda’s suicide. But when it comes clear that Shelby knows nothing, they find a new advantage in keeping their friendship. They’ll have a “New Amanda.”

Hendricks and Pekkanen keep the motivations tightly underwraps throughout the story, keeping the reader and Shelby off-balance yet they never Cassandra/Jane and their tightknit group of friends veer to the insane women category. They’re just more morally lax in a self-righteous justice sort of way. These are elaborate manipulations and it’s so exciting to see if Shelby can or cannot escape their clutches.

The authors further explore the dynamics between women in The Other Wife and in An Anonymous Women, which has more focus on marriage, truth and lies and the intersection between all these but they’re sure to keep you guessing until the final page.