Nicola Moriarty makes her US debut with this stunning page-turner for fans of Jojo Moyes, Emily Griffin, Kate Morton, and Jessica Knoll, about four best friends on a relaxing vacation that turns devastating when old secrets are revealed, long-held grudges surface, and a shattering betrayal is discovered that shakes the foundation of their lives. Best friends from high school, Joni, Deb, Eden, and … Eden, and Trina had always looked forward to the vacations they spent together. But the demands of careers, husbands, and babies gradually pulled them apart, and now their annual getaways may be a thing of the past. Joni doesn’t want to lose her friends, and this year she’s coaxed them all back together for some fun at a beach house.
Late on a laughter and wine-filled night, the women dare one another to write anonymous letters, spilling her most intimate thoughts like they did as teenagers. But the fun game meant to bring them closer together turns painfully serious, exposing cracks in their lives and their relationships. Each letter is a confession revealing disturbing information. A rocky marriage. A harrowing addiction. A hidden pregnancy. A heartbreaking diagnosis.
Days later, Joni notices something in the fireplace—a crumpled and partially burned fifth letter that holds the most shattering admission of all.
Best friends are supposed to keep your darkest secrets. But the revelations Joni, Deb, Eden and Trina have shared will have unforeseen consequences . . . and none of them will ever be the same.
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Drama, suspense, drama and more suspense! It will keep you guessing till the end! Four women that have been friends since high school trying to stay in touch well after college. During a long weekend get away they decide to write anonymously lettered revealing a secret – then all hell breaks loose!!
This will be one of those unforgettables for me. It would have been such a challenge, I mean, an absolute feat, to wrap your brain around concocting this story, and she did it! I am so impressed. I loved it, loved it, loved it! I will read it again, possibly even own it. So exciting, so dramatic, suspenseful, and I adored the off-the-wall action from these pals, all women, each with their own story and secrets. I also, before even reading the acknowledgements, had already kept, in my Keepers book, the paragraph about the lasagna. Yes, thanks again for that. There were two or three other keepers in there I wrote down for my forever to enjoy as well. Ah, so good! Such a good job! Now I will be reading whatever else I can by Nicola, as soon as I can. You almost, now that you’ve read it and know everything, want to reread it just to enjoy matching it all up as you go for another round. I will be recommending this one to my friends!
This author never disappoints. I love everything she writes.
A fun read… I couldn’t put it down!
The mystery sucked me in from page one. The friendships were so relatable and gut-punching when things went wrong. A super fast read!
This is the story of 4 best friends who have been together since high school. Every year they get together for a long weekend – just the 4 of them – to enjoy time away from life, kids, husbands….and to just rekindle their friendship. At the beach house, Joni decides it would be fun if each woman writes a letter – anonymously – about a secret that none of them know. They would read one letter a night at dinner. There wouldn’t be any judgement, just advice from friends.
As each letter is read, the women try their best not to judge and to just give advice and support. Joni, though, when cleaning out the fireplace discovers the left over pieces of a letter. She does some tracing on the house computer and finds that someone wrote a fifth letter and then destroyed it. This letter is filled with hate for someone in the group and it worries Joni.
When the girls get back home, Joni tries to discover who wrote the letter. It wasn’t until one of the girls in the group hosts a party that the truth comes out and Joni knows their friendships will never be the same.
This is a great summer read. It was easy to read and moved a long nicely. I like how this author wrapped up the characters at the end – showed them a few years in the future since their friendships changed. I always want to know what characters might be doing a few years in the future when the story “officially” ends, so this was great.
Add this to your list this summer – you won’t be disappointed.
Always love this authors books. Good read
Loved it!
I really loved the characters and the unexpected plot twists. I’m looking forward to reading another Nicola Moriarty book.
Great read that really makes you think about the choices you make/ made and the consequences they may have!
Loved this book. It was A great book about friends and the twists life takes through the years. Funny, serious with the right amount of twist and turns
Very good
A great 30 something coming of age novel. The ladies of this book are relatable and people we all likely know. Really enjoyed reading this book.
It’s a bit slow to get started but the concept of a Fifth Letter is intriguing. As the book continues it develops into quite a train wreck.
Not terribly original but an entertaining story of friendships floundering over many years, and secrets kept and secrets revealed.
A fun book. Kept me guessing until the end.
Took me longer than other stories to work out who it was. Enjoyed the story.
I love stories about women’s friendships and this one did not disappoint. It is hilarious, puzzling and sad, with lots of flashbacks and great narrative. The author sprinkled red herrings throughout the story and she tied up all of the story lines with a strong finish.
Truthfully, I thought all four or these women were crazy and I’ve never known any adult who would do the bizarre things these ladies did as a matter of course…but this did not keep me from loving the book.
An interesting story line
Enjoyable read, intriguing premise, I especially liked the “confessional” aspect.