Just Between Us
A Novel
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3.8 • 66 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
"Twisty and compelling [...] a terrific read." — Associated Press
"Compulsively readable... Just Between Us winds its roller-coaster plot around our tendency to see exactly what we are looking for—while our little lies take on dangerous lives of their own." — O, The Oprah Magazine
"A twisty, domestic thriller [...] tense, bombshell-laden, and action-packed." — Publishers Weekly
"Female friendships flourish, then falter, under the weight of chance events underlaid by secrecy and deceit [...] Drake shows a sure hand in spinning suburban thrillers." — Booklist
Four suburban mothers conspire to cover up a deadly crime in Just Between Us, a heart-stopping novel of suspense by Rebecca Drake.
Alison, Julie, Sarah, Heather. Four friends living the suburban ideal. Their jobs are steady, their kids are healthy. They’re as beautiful as their houses. But each of them has a dirty little secret, and hidden behind the veneer of their perfect lives is a crime and a mystery that will consume them all.
Everything starts to unravel when Alison spots a nasty bruise on Heather’s wrist. She shares her suspicions with Julie and Sarah, compelling all three to investigate what looks like an increasingly violent marriage. As mysterious injuries and erratic behavior mount, Heather can no longer deny the abuse, but she refuses to leave her husband. Desperate to save her, Alison and the others dread the phone call telling them that she’s been killed. But when that call finally comes, it’s not Heather who’s dead. In a moment they’ll come to regret, the women must decide what lengths they’ll go to in order to help a friend.
Just Between Us is a thrilling glimpse into the underbelly of suburbia, where not all neighbors can be trusted, and even the closest friends keep dangerous secrets. You never really know what goes on in another person’s mind, or in their marriage.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in Pittsburgh, Pa., this twisty domestic thriller from Drake (Only Ever You) focuses on suburban moms Heather Lysenko, Alison Riordan, Julie Phelps, and Sarah Walker. When Alison asks about a bruise on Heather's arm, Heather brushes her off. But then Sarah sees a welt on Heather's abdomen and Julie overhears an argument between Heather and her husband, Viktor, which convince the other women that their friend is being abused. Heather reluctantly confirms their suspicions, but insists that she doesn't have the resources to leave her marriage. The trio fear that Viktor will kill Heather, until Alison receives a shocking phone call: Viktor is dead, and Heather needs their help. Julie, Sarah, and Alison gather at Heather's house and make a rash decision that will change their lives and test the limits of their friendship. Drake initially relies too heavily on foreshadowing to create suspense, but the second half of her book is tense, bombshell-laden, and action-packed. The women take turns narrating, adding nuance and depth to the tale.
Customer Reviews
A good read
his was a good read.
Personally, though, the four women that the story revolves around didn't seem to have a strong enough bond or friendship to warrant *what* they did or were willing to do in the name of friendship. It just didn't feel real for me.
I did, however, enjoy some of their contrasting personality traits. It made for an interesting read. I also really enjoyed that the book was set in my town--Pittsburgh, PA. I chuckled at the fact that one character, Alison, was from my hometown (Braddock, PA) and made it seem like this big, bad place that she'd die on sight from ever having to return to.
All in all, a good read. If you've read or watched the Big Little Lies HBO mini series, then this story will feel in part, very familiar to you.
Page turner
I decided this to be my next read after seeing a write up on it as a must read book, at first I loved the whole plot but admit I had a eye rolling moment when I saw where the author was heading in the story line, but the ending did end up being a surprise and loved how the author did a follow up to tell what was going on in all the characters life’s. Over all this was a great read that kept me guessing till the end.