The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry

Grief, secrets, and the strength of friendships under pressure

Author

Diego Dunne
December 16, 2024

Hey, it’s Diego.

I finished reading The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry this week.

I’m excited to share everything with you.

Let me give you my spoiler-free unbiased review.

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The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry Review

The Best of Friends follows the aftermath of a devastating tragedy when three best friends—Kendra, Dani, and Lindsey—face a mom’s worst nightmare. What should’ve been a routine sleepover for their teenage sons ends with one boy dead, one in a coma, and another unable to speak. The mystery of what really happened that night unravels with each woman forced to confront secrets and lies within their friendships and families.

Trigger Warnings: death of a child, domestic abuse, gun violence, PTSD, grief, trauma, substance abuse, eating disorders.

This book sits firmly in the domestic thriller genre, though I’d say it leans more toward drama with mystery elements. Much of the story unfolds in family homes in a wealthy Southern California suburb.

Domestic thrillers: a subset of psychological thrillers that happen in a “domestic” location. This can be a family home or small town but can also be a hospital, prison, etc.

I was taken by the premise straight away and got to reading it as soon as I could.

The writing is simple and straightforward, which I appreciated for its readability and plainliness. It kept me engaged as alternating points of view from Kendra, Dani, and Lindsey’s perspectives kept things interesting. Each voice is distinct enough to follow, and the shifting point of view adds layers to the secrets and lies in this single timeline with flashbacks story.

I’ll admit, this was more of a slow burn than I prefer. The plot takes its time building up, with small reveals sprinkled throughout. While that kept me curious, I wouldn’t call it a page-turner. Though impactful, the twists are more grounded in emotional fallout than shocking revelations.

Relationships take center stage here—both between the friends and within their families. While there’s no central romance, there is an affair subplot. There are also no sex scenes and no graphic violence.

The book explores themes of grief and guilt heavly, so be prepared for an emotional ride. I could feel the mothers’ anguish and desperation, making their journey authentic.

So, what about the ending? (No spoilers obviously)

I love my stories to wrap up nicely, with a neat little bow at the end. I like to read a cathartic scene where everything our characters have been through finally pays off physically and emotionally. Then a denouement in another chapter (or chapters) following the characters decompress where things are resolved and I’m left delighted at how well things played out at the end, every plot thread resolved.

The ending wraps up the mystery well enough but felt rushed after such a drawn-out buildup. The denouement is short, leaving me wanting more closure for the characters.

This is the kind of thriller I’d recommend if you’re looking for an emotional drama with mystery elements rather than a high-stakes, pulse-pounding read. The premise, a tragedy tearing apart lifelong friendships is gripping, but the execution felt a bit uneven. Still, if you enjoy the exploration of grief, secrets, and the strength of friendships under pressure, you may want to give this one a try!

Similar Books to The Best of Friends

  • Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

  • Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

  • Final Cut by S.J. Watson

That’s all for this week.

See you next time.

— Diego Dunne

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