The Things We Do to Our Friends
Books | Fiction / Psychological
Heather Darwent
She's an outsider desperate to belong, but the cost of entry might be her darkest secret in this intoxicating debut of literary suspense following a clique of dangerously ambitious students at the University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, Scotland: a moody city of labyrinthine alleyways, oppressive fog, and buried history; the ultimate destination for someone with something to hide. Perfect for Clare, then, who arrives utterly alone and yearning to reinvent herself. And what better place to conceal the dark secrets in her past than at the university in the heart of the fabled, cobblestoned Old Town? When Clare meets Tabitha, a charismatic, beautiful, and intimidatingly rich girl from her art history class, she knows she's destined to be friends with her and her exclusive circle: raffish Samuel; shrewd Ava; and pragmatic Imogen. Clare is immediately drawn into their libertine world of sophisticated dinner parties and summers in France. The new life she always envisioned for herself has seemingly begun. And then Tabitha reveals a little project she's been working on, one that she needs Clare's help with. Even though it goes against everything Clare has tried to repent for. Even though their intimacy begins to darken into codependence. But as Clare starts to realize just what her friends are capable of, it's already too late. Because they've taken the plunge. They're so close to attaining the things they want. And there's no going back. What is the cost of an extraordinary life if others have to pay? Reimagining the classic themes of obsession and striving with an original and sinister edge, The Things We Do to Our Friends is a seductive thriller about the toxic battle between those who have, and those who covet-between the desire to truly belong, and the danger of being truly known
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More Details:
Author
Heather Darwent
Pages
384
Publisher
Penguin Books India PVT, Limited
Published Date
2023
ISBN
0241538831 9780241538838
Ratings
Google: 4
Community ReviewsSee all
"3.5. While it was well written and the twists were twisting, I don’t think it clicked with me. That whole friend group was weird, so there’s that."
Z G
Zariah Grant
"This is a dark blend of revenge, ambition, obsession, the pursuit of perfection and the toxic nature of young friendships. All of the characters personalities are absolutely atrocious, and yet perfect for the rolls they play in the story as it lays out. Darwent does an excellent job emphasizing how corrupt people can be and how malicious they can become when they surround themselves with similar people.<br/> Clare has a ugly and mysterious past that she is trying to run from. Like most of us, Clare starts college with a vision of what she wants her life to look like. She knows what type of friends she wants in her circle and she knows she wont settle for anything else. When her ideal friends walk into the bar she is working at, she sets her focus on achieving her goal. Only, she doesn't know that they have goals of their own... The book is filled with an aura of darkness that leaves the reader questioning where the entire thing will end up. How far down the spiral with they go and how destructive will they become. While I wouldn't say the book is a page turning thriller, I would say its a very wicked journey into the heart of darkness.<br/><br/>Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Randomhouse for allowing me an early opportunity to read this book. It is expected to be released on January 10th 2023"
Nicole Falche