The Friendship List by Susan Mallery
Publisher & Release: HQN, August 4, 2020
Time and setting: Present Day, Washington
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Length: 327 Pages
Heat Level: Mild
Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
Two best friends jump-start their lives in a summer that will change them forever…
Single mom Ellen Fox couldn’t be more content—until she overhears her son saying he can’t go to his dream college because she needs him too much. If she wants him to live his best life, she has to convince him she’s living hers.
So Unity Leandre, her best friend since forever, creates a list of challenges to push Ellen out of her comfort zone. Unity will complete the list, too, but not because she needs to change. What’s wrong with a thirtysomething widow still sleeping in her late husband’s childhood bed?
The Friendship List begins as a way to make others believe they’re just fine. But somewhere between “wear three-inch heels” and “have sex with a gorgeous guy,” Ellen and Unity discover that life is meant to be lived with joy and abandon, in a story filled with humor, heartache and regrettable tattoos.
Single mom Ellen Fox couldn’t be more content—until she overhears her son saying he can’t go to his dream college because she needs him too much. If she wants him to live his best life, she has to convince him she’s living hers.
So Unity Leandre, her best friend since forever, creates a list of challenges to push Ellen out of her comfort zone. Unity will complete the list, too, but not because she needs to change. What’s wrong with a thirtysomething widow still sleeping in her late husband’s childhood bed?
The Friendship List begins as a way to make others believe they’re just fine. But somewhere between “wear three-inch heels” and “have sex with a gorgeous guy,” Ellen and Unity discover that life is meant to be lived with joy and abandon, in a story filled with humor, heartache and regrettable tattoos.
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Vikki’s Musings
Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of The Friendship List by Susan Mallery for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.
The Friendship List is a well-written novel with complex characters and a plot that will tug at your heart. The pacing pulled me in from the start and held me in its thrall until the fulfilling ending.
The MCs are two women who have been friends most of their lives. Each finds themselves stuck in the past and afraid to move forward. The story follows each woman through their journey to overcome their fear. They put together a list to help them and make it a competition.
Ellen Fox’s character has a seventeen-year-old son and has lived for him. She got pregnant the only time she had sex at seventeen and has never ventured into the dating pool. She’d become great friends with the coach and teacher at the school where she teaches.
Unity Leandre’s character is a jack of all trades, a woman who married her childhood sweetheart. Her husband was in the military and lost his life while serving his country. Unity can’t let him go. They had lived with his mother in her house, and although both the mother and her husband have died, she still sleeps in the bed in his childhood bedroom and has changed nothing. She truly stuck in the past and sees no reason to move on.
The Friendship List shows tremendous growth for Ellen and Unity as they go about accomplishing their lists. While Unity only suggested the list to help Ellen, who fears her son will miss out on the full college experience because she’s overheard him telling this to a friend, but when Ellen begins accomplishing her objectives, she feels compelled to do so as well.
Ellen finds out her good buddy, Keith, the coach is hot and can be more than a friend. I loved them together and wanted them to find their happy ending, which proves complicated, to say the least.
Unity meets Thaddeus through a friend, and because of the list, she jumps into a sexual relationship before she’s ready. They too are perfect for each other, but how does Unity become ready? Their romance is also complex, making it difficult for them to find their happy ending, but I really want that for them.
If you enjoy novels with massive character development where each MS learns life lessons along the way and a story that pulls you into their lives and the lives of their children and friends, then you will love The Friendship List as much as I did. While I’ve read and listened to many of Ms. Mallery’s books, this is the first I’ve had the privilege of receiving an advance copy. I am so pleased I had the chance to read this book and will continue to read and listen to other stories by her. Happy reading!
Author Bio:
SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations," and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books have sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.
Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She's passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two ragdoll cats and adorable poodle who think of her as mom.
Social Media:
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