Title: Your Closest Friend
Author: Karen Perry
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN-10: 1405936657
ISBN-13: 978-1405936651
Date of Publication: 1st June 2018 (e-book)
29th November 2018 (paperback)
Date of Review: 23rd June 2018
Synopsis
She saved your life.
One hot, humid night in London, Cara is caught up in a wave of terror and chaos. Until a hand reaches out – and a stranger pulls her to safety.
She knows your darkest secrets.
Taking refuge with her unlikely rescuer, Cara shares more of herself with Amy than she ever has with anyone, including her husband. But after the hours of darkness are over, she can’t remember exactly what secrets she revealed.
Cara attempts to put it all behind her. But cracks begin to show in her life and marriage, and she starts to receive anonymous threats.
She’s your closest friend.
As Cara’s life begins to skid out of control, Amy reappears, offering to help.
Amy is only person Cara can turn to, who knows her hidden side. Amy saved her that night.
But what if the biggest threat to Cara is the stranger she’s invited into her home?
She’s your worst nightmare.
My Review
With a dual first-person narration this psychological thriller switches alternating points of view by Cara – the protagonist, and Amy – the antagonist. When Amy rescues stranger Cara from being slaughtered in a terrorist attack in London, the shock of being in such a life threatening situation makes Cara confide her inner most secrets to Amy. Cara thinks she will never see Amy again but as it turns out, Amy just so happens to be a bit of weirdo stalker and finds her.
But there’s also somebody else from Cara’s past who knows what she’s been up to. Finn is not only a threat to Cara’s marriage but also a threat to what Amy wants. When both Cara’s professional and personal life begins to crumble around her, the evidence points to YCF – Your Closest Friend as being the perpetrator. But just who is YCF? Those closest to Cara are all under suspsicion.
The plot is well structured with tension building throughout the narrative arc. I kept waiting for some kind of link between Cara and Amy from the past but there wasn’t one. This was mildly disappointing but also made it more realistic; Cara just reminded Amy of somebody she once knew.
The main characters are well rounded, but none of them particularly likeable. Cara, herself, is selfish as a mother and even more so as a step-mother. Amy was already showing signs of being a bit of a stalker but Cara still allowed her into her home and trusted her with the care of her daughter. Jeff is quite happy to swan off overseas without even considering who is going to take over the care of his daughter. And Finn is a bit of a dick tbh. But it’s with the antagonist where the author’s characterisation particularly shines: Amy really is a nasty piece of work.
Under Literature Love’s rating scheme this book has been awared 4 out of 5 stars.
This means I really enjoyed this book. This book is highly recommended. A well-structured narrative with three dimensional characters (not necessarily likeable). Plot is intriguing with twisty hooks.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an Advance Review Copy of this book.
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