What she saw was enough to make her a liability. Aubry Clark was thrilled with the direction her life was headed. AC Interiors, her design business, was taking off thanks to high profile clients like Liam Lockwood and Mike Chesterfield, giving her a chance. She could practically taste the success she was about to come into and the steamy cat and mouse games between her and perpetual bachelor, … bachelor, Mike, didn’t hurt either.
Until one day, just before sunrise, she went down to the docks to set up a photo shoot she’d dreamed up. She wanted to capture a colorful graffiti wall to use against the minimalist décor she had in mind for an upcoming project. But what she accidentally captured instead, was about to change her life forever.
The click of her camera shutter was the last untroubled sound she heard. When a muffled scream ripped through the air, Aubry turned around.
That was her first mistake.
When men dressed in black, forcefully shoved a scantily-clad girl in a shipping container and set their sights on her, Aubry ran.
Little did Aubry know, her luck was about to run out.
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First of all I loved the action in this book and this authors style. No I don’t really mean action as in shoot em up bang bang, I mean the mind action. And without telling spoilers that’s probably all you’ll get on that. This book was awesome Mike is in a bit of a pickle when his play thang gets in the way of his honey pie and all the crap and lies he tells has them thinking she’s bonkers. No it isn’t a comedy but in the end it is a comedy of lies told to protect both of them that puts him in a pickle. I love her!! Aubrey is strong and resourceful, in my mind she’s a beast for what she does and endures thru it all.
This is a great read and my first read by this author. I will most definitely be adding her to my list of author’s to revisit. I love her style and her characters. It was an exciting read that I will most definitely have on the brain long after I finish the review.
I have to hand it to K. Larsen: she really knows how to mess with my mind in the very best way! The Best Friend is definitely my favorite of the series (so far) as I was desperate for Aubry and Mike’s story. I expected a frenemies to lovers kind of story as these two have danced around each other in the prior two books. What I didn’t expect was this totally wild storyline where Aubry is at the mercy of a human trafficking ring and Mike suddenly being her only hope for survival. I mean, wow! I did not see this book coming at all and I am extremely happy to say I am thrilled at how it all unfolds.
There is a reason Aubry is known as ‘the fighter’. She is as tenacious as they come and I was truly wowed by her stamina and the desire deep within to find her freedom. I can definitely see where she caught Mike’s attention over and over again as her spark and witty sarcasm kept him on his toes. As the story progresses and I don’t want to give too much away, Aubry is suddenly caught in a “gaslight” kind of situation and I was almost as lost as she was, wondering if she didn’t imagine what had happened to her during her sudden disappearance that starts off this book.
The author very cleverly keeps both Aubry and the reader guessing as we get both she and Mike’s POV and it’s race to figure out who is telling the truth. At times I thought I had it all figured out but then I would be thrown for a loop right along with Aubry and I would be scratching my head once again wondering what on earth has she, 1) uncovered and 2) what exactly is Mike’s role in all of it.
The poor woman’s head was spinning as she tried her hardest to tell the truth and yet tried to protect Mike even when he ignored her pleas for honesty. But these two have a spark that can’t be denied and I could only hope right along with them that a simple HEA could emerge from all the complications that continually arose. Liam, Nora, Lotte, Eve and even Detective Salve are all there as this adventure has every kind of roadblock possible. But the true devotion, the love they all have for one another certainly helps when Aubry and Mike find themselves in hot water more than once.
I loved the bit of mystery and the ongoing struggle to right the wrongs both Aubry and Mike encounter throughout this book. Their connection is a strong one and I found myself sighing as their timing proved to be their biggest setback. But the stolen moments together, particularly on a hot, steamy beach far away from the world they knew, were proof they clearly loved each other no matter what.
The Best Friend kept me riveted with each turn of the page and it became a much more powerful read than I ever imagined. This, together with The Tutor and The Brother, are incredibly well-written stories that are definite must reads. The Therapist will be next and the little preview at the end of The Best Friend has me excited for more.
I happily give The Best Friend a solid 5 stars!
The best and most wonderful thing about reading a K. Larsen book is that you never know where she is going to take you. And even after reading several chapters and getting a feel for the plot, she always throws in her special brand of “Don’t get to comfortable” twists, sending the reader into tailspin of emotion. Her writing style always keeps me on the edge and The Best Friend did exactly that.
Mike and Aubrey’s story is not an easy one and one where I wasn’t always rooting for them to work it out. In fact, on more than one occasion I was calling for Mike’s balls to be served up on a platter. He’s a self centered, rich boy, who, up until now, has only had one priority, himself! Aubrey had already lived through one hell with her best friend and was now sent to another all her own with Mike becoming her an unlikely and reluctant rescuer….of sorts. It wasn’t always clear what Mikes objective was or where his loyalties lay but it was clear that his feelings for Aubrey were real. While I never quite became #TeamMike, I did see that in all their imperfections, Aubrey and Mike were perfect for each other. “Nothing is unforgivable. Forgiveness is a gift anyone can choose.” Aubrey is a strong woman. One who is far stronger than me.
I love K. Larsen’s writing. I love all the places her words take me, even if those places aren’t comfortable or agreeable. Her books never fail to challenge my mind and change how I see the world. You can’t ask for better than that.
The Best Friend was a good read. It took me a little bit to get hooked into this one. I really loved The Tutor and The Brother, this one was not as good as those two but it was still good. This is Aubrey’s story. You don’t have to read The Tutor and The Brother to read this one but if your read The Tutor, you have meet Aubrey as Nora’s friend. She had things goign good then she was at the wrong place at the wrong time and gets kidnapped. This one is a twisty read and things may not always be as they seems. It’s definitely an interesting read.
4 Stars
Review by Amy W.
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
So ummm, why have I not read K. Larsen until now??? I was super intrigued by the blurb for The Best Friend and excited to read an author that I had heard was one I needed to add to my TBR list ASAP. All I can say is I was not expecting that!!
Knowing I’m going to die makes me wonder, how do you measure a life? Most days of a life are unremarkable. They start and end with no true memory made. Most days have no lasting impact.
There really is no way to tell about this book without giving something away. This is truly one that you need to read to understand and get the most out of it. From the first page you are thrown into the story and wondering what is going to happen next and just what the hell is going on.
It was a bit hard at times to figure out the timeline switches, but other than that this was a fully engrossing read. If you like dark and suspenseful with a touch of twisty then this one is for you.
This is good suspense story. I am usually able to tell who the good guys are, but at times I was thrown off in this storyline. When thing are looking up for Aubry and going well, she is in the wrong place at the wrong time and sees things she shouldn’t. Then she is kidnapped. There is plenty of suspense, mystery, danger, and drama. The characters have chemistry and intrigue. I also enjoyed all the additional characters and now want to read the other stories in this series. I enjoyed reading this book.
“Everything that was, everything that is now, everything that might have been, everything is this moment.”
The Best Friend is a fast paced and exciting read. There were times when I second guessed what I previously read and kept me on my toes trying to figure everything out. In the beginning I was trying to connect the dots on how everything was going to connect.
Aubry has a fierce little attitude and definitely surprised me with her fighting spirit. Mike…oh Mike…he was a JERK!!! Throughout most of the book I wanted to slap the crap out of him but he did eventually win me over.
Although this book does have dark elements in it it isn’t as dark as The Tutor or The Brother but I was still glued to the pages. I loved the little glimpses of previous characters. If you love bad ass heroines and guys that drive you crazy while drawing you in at the same time, The Best Friend is for you!
“I am the violence, the sickness, and the rage they think they possess.”
~ Read on behalf of Two Darlin Dolls and a Book Review Blog
Wow! This book really blew me away.
Aubry was kidnapped and held captive as result of seeing something she should not have seen.
Mike is a rich playboy that has a secret connection to the Russian Mafia.
Before her abduction, Aubry and Mike had been playing a game of cat and mouse. They flirted and toyed with each other but never anything more. They also had an unbreakable connection.
Will their connection thrive or be severed through Aubry’s abduction and Mike’s secrets?
This was an entertaining and captivating story. It caught my attention with the first few words and did not let go until the very last.
It is told in dual POV and is fast paced.
It is also the first book I read by K. Larsen and it will not be the last.
“They can break my body, but no one can take my mind. It belongs only to me.”
I was blown away by Aubry’s strength and her fight. Through everything, she stays as strong as she possibly can. She does not break. Aubry is vigilant, strong and does what is needed to survive.
Although I knew Mike cared for and loved Aubry, I feel like his character was not as well developed. The whys of what he did are not clear to me. Were they really necessary? I feel like I’m missing some of the puzzle pieces that give me a whole picture.
Regardless of my feeling on Mike’s character development, this was an addicting and somewhat psychological read that I did not want to put down. Guaranteed to get you heart racing and your mind blown!
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When I found out K Larsen was writing The Best Friend, I became ridiculously excited. Having devoured the dark twisted amazingness that was The Tutor and The Brother, I could not wait to revisit this world of broken characters who are for ever changed because of the unspeakable situations they find themselves in. The Best Friend is Aubry’s story, Nora’s best friend. While technically, you can read this without having read The Tutor, I suggest reading it first.
Aubry has loved through Nora’s trauma and her life seems to be exactly where she wants it. Her design business is taking off and on the verge of huge success and she is invigorated by the push and pull of the relationship she shares with Mike, the wealthy, perpetual bachelor. Her luck changes though, when she finds herself at the wrong place at the worst possible time. Right before sunrise, as she sets up for the perfect shot she has been imagining of a graffiti wall that will be perfect for her decor, she hears a muffled scream. She turns to look and what she sees sets her life on an unimaginable path. She witnesses men in black suits, shoving a barely dressed girl into a shipping container. They notice her and she is abducted.
Aubry is an incredibly strong character and despite the horror she faces, she somehow manages to keep her sanity. Just when you think you know where this story is going and what will happen, K. Larsen brings out the twists that make me love her stories so much. Though there is a love story told in this book, it is not the typical one and you will most likely find yourself hating, despising, wanting to kill off the male lead. That is the beauty of this confusing, complex story. Sometimes, the roads life take us on are unappealing and seem to be all wrong, but there is an inherent rightness about it, even if it should be all wrong. This was another amazing read by K. Larsen and one I highly recommend.
Wow! Just wow! K. Larsen is a new to me author and this story just blew me away!
The Best Friend is such a mind twist!
This is the story of Aubry and Mike. They have such a complicated relationship and the events that happen in the story makes it even more so!
Poor Aubry! The hell she went through and then the “Gaslighting” when she was brought back to civilization! My mind was getting confused right along with her! I absolutely got sucked into the whole “did it really happen or not storyline”!
Mike…oh how I wanted to hate him for what he did. Then I tried hard to understand him and as the story went on, I learned to like him! That’s a true testament to a great writer!
This story is going to run you through the wringer and spit you out the other side! I couldn’t put my Kindle down! That is another testament to a great writer!
You can bet that I will be stalking (in a healthy way!) this author shortly and I will be adding her other books to my TBR list, posthaste! (That’s my nod to Nora, and I will be reading her story soon too!)
I cannot wait to see what K. comes out with next! Well done and you have a new fangirl!
This was a quick romantic suspense that gave me chills. I thought I knew how this story would play itself out at first. Then I was blindsided with confusion. I wasn’t sure what was real and what was not. It was enticing and suspenseful.
I liked the storyline that was well thought out. There are a couple times I had to reread some parts because the chapters started with a forwarded scene. The explanation would come later in the chapter. This is my first book by this author and unaware of the writing style.
The characters had chemistry. They were well created. Once I started I had to finish it.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I recommend this story.
If you only take one thing from this review, let it be that K. Larsen is never going to give you predictable.
The Best Friend follows a character that you know and love if you’ve read The Tutor or The Brother. As the best friend, she was a support character in those books but she takes the spot light in this one. Aubry thought she had it all until it gets taken away.
Somehow, K. Larsen manages to create a new unique topsy turvy, mind bendingly complicated situation that feels just as hopeless, lost, and chaotic as her previous novels. There’s no love loss for crazy in these pages. If you yourself don’t wonder about your own mental capacity, you aren’t reading it right!
And can I say that the teaser for her next novel had me shuddering with chills and needy all at the same time! I can’t wait!
Katie stunned us with Jezebel and I became her ardent fan. She has it in her to weave unexpected stories with unbelievable twists that touch our hearts at the same time. Tutor was such a book. Nora was broken and returned to civilisation and now it’s her bestie Aubrey’s turn. A successful career, a promising future and a girl on the go is tackled to the ground and thrown in darkness. The hard concrete floor shatters her life and the coldness of the room decimates her career.
She’s been kidnapped !
“I’m dreaming. or dying. I can result in which. I’d like to think it’s dreaming. I’d like to hope that dying feels more peaceful than this does. my heart beats like a steady drum of windshield wipers in rain storm”
I won’t give away an ounce of the story because it goes at a very fast pace, zipping through curves and so much happens that keeps you involved.
There’s Mike, Aubrey’s ” boyfriend” the one she dreams about.
There’s Nora, relentless in finding her bestie
There’s Salve who helps
There Yuri & Gregory and the small Russian who take
Lots of covert action in a dark club – THE BLACK . It’s symbolic of the men found within
I had trouble with the events jumping from past to present to past and you had to stop to figure it out. There was time leap from jungle to hospital, from box to mike which dammed the flow of the story. The drug haze and her acute senses were contradictory.
But please go and read this twisted read full of dark corners and enjoy
Ok so i loved The Tutor and The Brother but was dissapointed with this story of Aubrey who is Noras best friend and Mike is Liams best friend.
This didn’t have the great flow of writing im use to and the incident with Aubrey and then the actions of Mike i found them lacking the gritt and intensity i have come to love from k.larsen. also i found Mike was selfish and a bit spineless.
Even though i wasn’t that into this book it still is an ok follow up of the character’s, loved reading more about Nora, Liam and lotte again.
So this is my first K. Larsen book and I wanted to read it due to the uniqueness of the blurb. I mean who wouldn’t want to. And it really is a different type of book. It is told in dual points of view, Aubrey and Mike.
These two are best friends and have apparently been for a while now. Mike is a rich man but takes risks with his life by being a pilot that smuggles things in and out of countries for the Russians. Of course, nobody knows this especially not Aubrey. But when Aubrey goes missing after doing a photo shoot he is called in for questioning.
We find Aubrey in a locked container being transported to who knows were. She is freaked and is hoping Mike is out there trying to find her. When she is cleaned up and put into a box to be brought to someone that bought her, needless to say when Mike opens her container she is in for quite a surprise.
Okay, so I didn’t know there were other books that went with this book. Saying that I don’t feel like I was missing anything on that part. But when it came to this book I will say I felt like even though these two said they had a deep friendship I didn’t feel it. I felt Aubrey’s fear and everything she was going through at first. But when Mike is told she is missing, he doesn’t seem to really care? It is like a problem for him to have to get questioned. And then when he finds her, he is more worried about his life than both of them. At that point, I was rolling my eyes. Maybe it was just me, and maybe the other books could explain why Mike and Aubrey were like that I don’t know. But I didn’t like the way he treated her. So I kind of just gave up on the emotional part for a while.
I will give you no more on the story. But I will say I am probably not going to read the other books that went with this series. But I might read her future books. We will see.
Ugh…. I’m not sure exactly what to say about this book. I struggled while reading it. I loved the first two books with Nora and was really excited Aubrey was getting her own book but it fell a little flat for me. The suspense of everything really took me out of what was going on with Aubrey and Mike. I loved them together and think they were really cute together but for the most part I couldn’t feel it. I liked the action aspect though. Everything she has to go through, mike trying to hide his own secrets….. it kept me intrigued. I feel like maybe some things were open ended and not really as resolved as I would have personally liked. Maybe there will be more to this cast of characters in the future. I really did love seeing Nora again. I truly love her character. 3 stars #2OCCJD
I was thrilled to see that Aubry was getting her own book. We met her in The Tutor briefly and in The Brother. I loved her character, so I was really looking forward to reading her story.
I don’t know what I was expecting to get in this book. I knew it was going to be darker and gritty. Aside from that, I had no clue.
I had some difficulty with this story. It was rushed in some areas and slow in others. It felt like there were many pieces of the story missing. It didn’t flow well for me. It felt choppy.
The character development wasn’t as spot on as it has in other books I have read of Larsen’s. I felt very disconnected from them.
Overall, the story isn’t bad. It’s just not my favorite from Larsen to date. I needed a little more from her in this book for me to really love it.