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mothumn's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Penguin Random House for the gifted copy in return for my honest review.
A compelling and dark story of all consuming toxic female friendships set in an academic setting, with many twists and turns.
From the beginning I really enjoyed reading about the friendships between the girls, the depiction of toxic friendships between girls felt so eerily familiar, with the snide petty remarks, backhanded compliments, and yet a total obsession with each other. I thought it was so well done and was extremely realistic, however I felt like it was missing the part about why they were so obsessed with each other in the first place. I often felt like I was simply being told things without being shown it and just had to trust that it was true.
This friendship is the main driving point for the book, as you may have inferred from the books title, and although there is actually a plot outside of just there obsession with each other, I was mostly interested in them. Because there was so much focus on this other plot, especially in the last two parts of the book, it left me wanting more of the first part, and so the book did slowly lost my interest.
However, that's not too say I didn't enjoy it or that it was bad, it's just that I was wanting something different from the book, something that from the first part the author had shown she was capable of. It's an interesting literary thrilling with shocking twists that I didn't see coming and kept me hooked (even if I did lose some steam towards the end). As far as thrillers go, I actually liked it quite a bit and would definitely recommend. If you liked the group aspect of Mona Awad's Bunny but didn't enjoy the absurdity and also like thrillers, then this might be the book for you. However if you’re looking for a dark academia read as I’ve seen this grouped in with, you are going to getting much more dark than academia as only in the beginning there is only a few scenes that take place in that setting.
I am interested in what this author writes in the future and even though this wasn't necessarily for me I am looking forward to her career.
Please note content warnings for this book because there are definitely some that a lot of people may find difficult to read about.
A compelling and dark story of all consuming toxic female friendships set in an academic setting, with many twists and turns.
From the beginning I really enjoyed reading about the friendships between the girls, the depiction of toxic friendships between girls felt so eerily familiar, with the snide petty remarks, backhanded compliments, and yet a total obsession with each other. I thought it was so well done and was extremely realistic, however I felt like it was missing the part about why they were so obsessed with each other in the first place. I often felt like I was simply being told things without being shown it and just had to trust that it was true.
This friendship is the main driving point for the book, as you may have inferred from the books title, and although there is actually a plot outside of just there obsession with each other, I was mostly interested in them. Because there was so much focus on this other plot, especially in the last two parts of the book, it left me wanting more of the first part, and so the book did slowly lost my interest.
However, that's not too say I didn't enjoy it or that it was bad, it's just that I was wanting something different from the book, something that from the first part the author had shown she was capable of. It's an interesting literary thrilling with shocking twists that I didn't see coming and kept me hooked (even if I did lose some steam towards the end). As far as thrillers go, I actually liked it quite a bit and would definitely recommend. If you liked the group aspect of Mona Awad's Bunny but didn't enjoy the absurdity and also like thrillers, then this might be the book for you. However if you’re looking for a dark academia read as I’ve seen this grouped in with, you are going to getting much more dark than academia as only in the beginning there is only a few scenes that take place in that setting.
I am interested in what this author writes in the future and even though this wasn't necessarily for me I am looking forward to her career.
Please note content warnings for this book because there are definitely some that a lot of people may find difficult to read about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Confinement, Pedophilia, Stalking, Vomit, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Animal death
atsundarsingh's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Look, this wasn't my favourite thing I've read, but it had me hooked. I needed to know what the climax would be, I wanted to know what was holding this group together, I needed to have that creepy prologue explained, and by the end, I needed to know exactly how unreliable the narrator was. I do think that the plot was winding itself along nicely and then gets weirdly fast in a way that's not in keeping with the rest of the novel about about 65-70% of the way through, but it's a debut. Not sure I'd say this is dark academia, but of course it is for about 40% of the book, a campus novel, so I guess it qualifies. Not sure I'll be recommending it, but I'll be talking about this debut, and will be curious to see what Darwent does next.
*Thanks NetGalley for a copy in exchange for review* This novel is due out 10 Jan 2023.*
*Thanks NetGalley for a copy in exchange for review* This novel is due out 10 Jan 2023.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Torture, Child abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicide
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A swift, hypnotically intense and atmospheric read that, although disturbing at times had me utterly intrigued and unable to look away.
It follows Clare, in her first year at university in Edinburgh and on a mission to reinvent herself and stumbles into an unlikely friendship with a group of wealthy students she has almost nothing in common with. What started out as an exciting opportunity to become popular and interesting soon becomes an obsessively toxic friendship that takes a rather nasty turn (we’re talking stalking, blackmail and tons of narcissistic behaviour) when Clare gets pulled into their increasingly (devious?) schemes—culminating in that shocking ending.
I was honestly surprised by how dark that opening chapter was and how strangely invested I became in finding out what exactly happened (and why.) In fact, a lot of the plot revolves around the mystery surrounding not only Clare’s backstory but the backstories of all her new friends. Particularly queen bee,Tabitha—whose saccharine sweet demeanour masks her chaotic and quite often self destructive tendencies—and an upbringing far from the glamorously breezy lifestyle Clare imagines.
It’s told exclusively from Clare’s perspective and navigates dual timelines as we jump between a present day Claire and the memories of her days at Edinburgh university in the mid-2000s.
With every page dripping in suspense, the slow-burn build up was torturously good and the tension that Heather Darwent manages to cultivate definitely had me on edge. And the themes explored (class and privilege, obsession, toxic friendships and revenge) only add to the dark, seedy underbelly we catch glimpses of—behind the veneer of wealth and privilege that Tabitha, Ava, Imogen and Samuel wield.
Clare (our protagonist) was an intriguing character, though her appeal has far less to to with charisma or any endearing qualities (which she doesn’t really have) but with the intensity of her need to find the perfect friend group—one worthy of her time. but no matter how obsessive, callous or disconnected she became to the people around her, I genuinely liked her—in all her scheming unreliable narrator glory.
And the focus of Clare’s obsession, the glamorous and ruthlessly charismatic Tabitha was just as obsessively scheme-y and chaotic as our protagonist. Her saccharine sweetness towards Clare’s held a sinisterly, menacing undertone that I genuinely couldn’t look a what from no matter how much of a car crash I knew the implosion between them was going to be.
The group itself revolves primarily on the hierarchy that Tabitha dictates but, the drama and uncertainty that excites (and entices) Clare is what truly seems to make them all thrive and it’s this energy that inspires their unorthodox business which becomes the catalyst of all their problems.
It’s definitely a slow-burn type thriller, so if slower paced books aren’t your thing you make struggle with this one, but the build up is absolutely intoxicating and I really enjoyed the thrill of trying to guess what was gonna happen next.
Given some of the darker themes and subject material (such as violence,murder, suicide, sexual harassment & sexual assault) I’d definitely recommend looking into the TWs beforehand.
Overall a decadently dark and compulsively menacing mystery/thriller that will appeal to fans of the toxic friend trope or Donna Tartt’s The Secret History.
Also a huge thank you to Viking Books UK for the proof.
It follows Clare, in her first year at university in Edinburgh and on a mission to reinvent herself and stumbles into an unlikely friendship with a group of wealthy students she has almost nothing in common with. What started out as an exciting opportunity to become popular and interesting soon becomes an obsessively toxic friendship that takes a rather nasty turn (we’re talking stalking, blackmail and tons of narcissistic behaviour) when Clare gets pulled into their increasingly (devious?) schemes—culminating in that shocking ending.
I was honestly surprised by how dark that opening chapter was and how strangely invested I became in finding out what exactly happened (and why.) In fact, a lot of the plot revolves around the mystery surrounding not only Clare’s backstory but the backstories of all her new friends. Particularly queen bee,Tabitha—whose saccharine sweet demeanour masks her chaotic and quite often self destructive tendencies—and an upbringing far from the glamorously breezy lifestyle Clare imagines.
It’s told exclusively from Clare’s perspective and navigates dual timelines as we jump between a present day Claire and the memories of her days at Edinburgh university in the mid-2000s.
With every page dripping in suspense, the slow-burn build up was torturously good and the tension that Heather Darwent manages to cultivate definitely had me on edge. And the themes explored (class and privilege, obsession, toxic friendships and revenge) only add to the dark, seedy underbelly we catch glimpses of—behind the veneer of wealth and privilege that Tabitha, Ava, Imogen and Samuel wield.
Clare (our protagonist) was an intriguing character, though her appeal has far less to to with charisma or any endearing qualities (which she doesn’t really have) but with the intensity of her need to find the perfect friend group—one worthy of her time. but no matter how obsessive, callous or disconnected she became to the people around her, I genuinely liked her—in all her scheming unreliable narrator glory.
And the focus of Clare’s obsession, the glamorous and ruthlessly charismatic Tabitha was just as obsessively scheme-y and chaotic as our protagonist. Her saccharine sweetness towards Clare’s held a sinisterly, menacing undertone that I genuinely couldn’t look a what from no matter how much of a car crash I knew the implosion between them was going to be.
The group itself revolves primarily on the hierarchy that Tabitha dictates but, the drama and uncertainty that excites (and entices) Clare is what truly seems to make them all thrive and it’s this energy that inspires their unorthodox business which becomes the catalyst of all their problems.
It’s definitely a slow-burn type thriller, so if slower paced books aren’t your thing you make struggle with this one, but the build up is absolutely intoxicating and I really enjoyed the thrill of trying to guess what was gonna happen next.
Given some of the darker themes and subject material (such as violence,murder, suicide, sexual harassment & sexual assault) I’d definitely recommend looking into the TWs beforehand.
Overall a decadently dark and compulsively menacing mystery/thriller that will appeal to fans of the toxic friend trope or Donna Tartt’s The Secret History.
Also a huge thank you to Viking Books UK for the proof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Stalking, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
_bookishbella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Since it’s been pitched to fans of The Secret History, but with a feminist twist, I was really hoping for a deliciously dark and intoxicating thrill ride from The Things We Do To Our Friends. I’m happy to report that I did enjoy this dark and twisted tale of a pretty toxic friendship gone all kinds of wrong.
The Things We Do To Our Friends has all the right elements:
🤔an unhinged and not-quite-unreliable-but-definitely-untrustworthy main character
😈a seemingly impenetrable group of mysterious and complex rich kids who will stop at literally nothing to get what they want
🏰a luxuriously dark and gothic Edinburgh setting
🌪a whirlwind of a plot with twists and turns for days
☠️sharp and almost venomous writing style with a toxic undercurrent that hints at the horrible and is completely compelling
I was obsessed from page one. It’s been ages since I’ve read the first 100 pages of a book in one sitting and so that was a real joy. I, like Clare, found myself completely hanging on to every word of Tabitha and her friends, and even though the foreboding sense of a car crash waiting to happen was always in the back of my mind, I couldn’t seem to look away. Clare is unlikeable and her actions and thought processes hint at a shameful past, but it’s not til the end that you get a true glimpse into who she really is, despite being in her head for the entirety of the novel. I was repeatedly surprised and sometimes disgusted at the secrets revealed, and while I do think it loses its way slightly towards the end, for the most part I couldn’t put it down. It’s one that’s best to head into blind, so I won’t say much more, but it’s definitely one to mark in your calendars for a dark, wintry afternoon in January, when it’s released. You won’t want to miss it!
The Things We Do To Our Friends has all the right elements:
🤔an unhinged and not-quite-unreliable-but-definitely-untrustworthy main character
😈a seemingly impenetrable group of mysterious and complex rich kids who will stop at literally nothing to get what they want
🏰a luxuriously dark and gothic Edinburgh setting
🌪a whirlwind of a plot with twists and turns for days
☠️sharp and almost venomous writing style with a toxic undercurrent that hints at the horrible and is completely compelling
I was obsessed from page one. It’s been ages since I’ve read the first 100 pages of a book in one sitting and so that was a real joy. I, like Clare, found myself completely hanging on to every word of Tabitha and her friends, and even though the foreboding sense of a car crash waiting to happen was always in the back of my mind, I couldn’t seem to look away. Clare is unlikeable and her actions and thought processes hint at a shameful past, but it’s not til the end that you get a true glimpse into who she really is, despite being in her head for the entirety of the novel. I was repeatedly surprised and sometimes disgusted at the secrets revealed, and while I do think it loses its way slightly towards the end, for the most part I couldn’t put it down. It’s one that’s best to head into blind, so I won’t say much more, but it’s definitely one to mark in your calendars for a dark, wintry afternoon in January, when it’s released. You won’t want to miss it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Drug use, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, and Vomit
vkitoria's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i have really mixed feelings. on one hand, the writing was brilliant, the characters were toxic just the way i like them, and the vibes were solid (very secret history). but the plot… was all over the place.
their “business” never made much sense. the highs and lows of the relationships switched up a little too quickly. and while i liked the narrator in concept, some of her motivations just didn’t click. i understand that she was basically just a ball of rage but sometimes she acted like she felt absolutely nothing, and it seemed contrary? idk!
i read an arc from netgalley.
their “business” never made much sense. the highs and lows of the relationships switched up a little too quickly. and while i liked the narrator in concept, some of her motivations just didn’t click. i understand that she was basically just a ball of rage but sometimes she acted like she felt absolutely nothing, and it seemed contrary? idk!
i read an arc from netgalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Animal cruelty
sophiareads_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings: violence, death, child abuse (neglect), suicide (mentioned)
This was SUCH an intense read (in a good way!) This novel felt to me like a mix of Donna Tartt's The Secret History and Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl - a captivating thriller which feels like a car crash you can't take your eyes off.
Clare leaves her grandmother's home in Hull to attend the University of Edinburgh, where she falls in with a clique of wealthier students, led my the charismatic and commanding Tabitha. Tabitha's attention and the place Clare finds in this cohort are enticing and addictive, but it doesn't take long before Clare's new beginning in Edinburgh begins to take on sinister undertones.
I expected this to be more dark academia than it was - the university setting and The Secret History-esque clique of unhinged rich kids kinda do that to you, but I think that expectation set me up for wanting more in depth themes than this thriller really has to offer, so at first it felt a little shallow to me. However, as soon as I realised this novel was much more of a pure thriller (with just a hint of dark academia making this a good start-of-autumn read) I really enjoyed it. It's well paced and easy to read - reveals are satisfying and surprising. I'm notoriously picky about thrillers, but this one was really excellent. I could really feel the building unease as the story unfolded, and even in the slower moments, plot-wise, the twisted relationships between our main characters had me fascinated. Overall, it was just a really enjoyable reading experience.
Where I have to get picky is with the fact that this book is set in my country (it's REALLY hard not to get picky about that, I find). The novel totally plays into the reputation the University of Edinburgh has among Scots - full of spoilt rich English and American kids - which I found kinda funny. I know it's so petty, but Clare's scathing description of ceilidhs (which are AMAZING, by the way) lost her any sort of sympathy she might have gotten from me as a reader. Luckily, Clare is not a character you are supposed to like, so this didn't ruin the book for me. My only other gripe - Shetland was repeatedly called 'the Shetlands'? Is that a thing? I've literally never heard that before, it's just Shetland.
I managed to get over my petty gripes as a Scot reading a book set in Scotland by a non-Scottish author though, I swear. This was a great debut novel, I really did enjoy it - definitely a rec for the thriller girlies!
Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Darwent, and Bantam for the ARC of this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Suicide
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