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A review by loubraryoftheforest
The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A dark and unexpected novel, that made me question everything about what friendship means, and how far you would go to forge and keep those bonds.
Clare has decided to reinvent herself, as many of us do as we start university, to throw away the parts of her that people dislike, and be the person others want her to be, bright, engaging, to fit in. It’s her chance to begin again
She has goals, and ticks them off one by one.
She thinks she has found what she craves in Tabitha, a girl who isn’t afraid to be her true self, who shines a little brighter than most, and gathers a circle of friends around her who seem to trust each other implicitly, who know each others secrets, and look out for each other.
Surprisingly they invite her in, and Clare bathes in this warm glow of attention. They look after each other, almost crave each other, and when they begin to plan an enterprise together, honing each other’s best talents, and satisfying a part of her that she thought had been buried deep, it feels like all she hoped for has come to pass.
But as things take a dark and shocking turn, can Clare keep up the charade of who she pretends to be, or will her true self resurface in ways too horrible to contemplate. Are her friends as wonderful as she hoped, or does something flitter under the surface, threading them together in a beautiful lie.
This was a shocking read, brutal at times, and comes with a lot of triggers. But it was well crafted, with hints of Clare’s past littered throughout, keeping me wanting to know the whole story, even though the first page sets out in horrifying detail what you think you know happened, it’s so much more than that, Clare is so much more than that.
It would make a good book group read as there is a lot to digest and discuss, and I would relish others thoughts on it, especially Clare’s character. Only 3.5 stars for me, but a good read nonetheless.
Clare has decided to reinvent herself, as many of us do as we start university, to throw away the parts of her that people dislike, and be the person others want her to be, bright, engaging, to fit in. It’s her chance to begin again
She has goals, and ticks them off one by one.
She thinks she has found what she craves in Tabitha, a girl who isn’t afraid to be her true self, who shines a little brighter than most, and gathers a circle of friends around her who seem to trust each other implicitly, who know each others secrets, and look out for each other.
Surprisingly they invite her in, and Clare bathes in this warm glow of attention. They look after each other, almost crave each other, and when they begin to plan an enterprise together, honing each other’s best talents, and satisfying a part of her that she thought had been buried deep, it feels like all she hoped for has come to pass.
But as things take a dark and shocking turn, can Clare keep up the charade of who she pretends to be, or will her true self resurface in ways too horrible to contemplate. Are her friends as wonderful as she hoped, or does something flitter under the surface, threading them together in a beautiful lie.
This was a shocking read, brutal at times, and comes with a lot of triggers. But it was well crafted, with hints of Clare’s past littered throughout, keeping me wanting to know the whole story, even though the first page sets out in horrifying detail what you think you know happened, it’s so much more than that, Clare is so much more than that.
It would make a good book group read as there is a lot to digest and discuss, and I would relish others thoughts on it, especially Clare’s character. Only 3.5 stars for me, but a good read nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence