Keep Your Friends Close
by Paula Daly
I’d previously read The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly, and since that was such an enjoyable thriller, I was anxious to read another. I’ll still give her another chance, but I didn’t end up liking Keep Your Friends Close. The characters felt very one-dimensional, and the writing sounded rather immature. If it was her first novel, I would have absolutely believed it – but perhaps younger readers or those who don’t expect Charles Dickens from every page might enjoy it more.
The premise is very captivating. A married couple with tension and a lack of intimacy face their worst fear: the near-death of their child. After a sudden phone call from their oldest daughter’s boarding school, the mother hops on the next plane to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. The father stays at home temporarily to keep their hotel running. Now here’s the twist: An old college friend of the mother has just come for a visit, and she stays as a houseguest for a few days to help look after the other children and keep an eye on the household. . .
In my opinion, if the husband succumbs to a beautiful and forward woman within a few days (or could it even be sooner?), he doesn’t seem to be someone worth fighting for. And yet, the wife moves heaven and earth to win him back. I understand she’s fighting for the integrity of her family, and that some women can’t let go of a man who’s not worth it, but in my current life stage, I just couldn’t get behind the protagonist and the story. The villainess has a very thin character, with motivations, behaviors, and dialogues that might draw in the Young Adult crowd; but mature adults will probably find her juvenile. I’d recommend The Mistake I Made instead, as the protagonist is more likable and the problems more believable.
The premise is very captivating. A married couple with tension and a lack of intimacy face their worst fear: the near-death of their child. After a sudden phone call from their oldest daughter’s boarding school, the mother hops on the next plane to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. The father stays at home temporarily to keep their hotel running. Now here’s the twist: An old college friend of the mother has just come for a visit, and she stays as a houseguest for a few days to help look after the other children and keep an eye on the household. . .
In my opinion, if the husband succumbs to a beautiful and forward woman within a few days (or could it even be sooner?), he doesn’t seem to be someone worth fighting for. And yet, the wife moves heaven and earth to win him back. I understand she’s fighting for the integrity of her family, and that some women can’t let go of a man who’s not worth it, but in my current life stage, I just couldn’t get behind the protagonist and the story. The villainess has a very thin character, with motivations, behaviors, and dialogues that might draw in the Young Adult crowd; but mature adults will probably find her juvenile. I’d recommend The Mistake I Made instead, as the protagonist is more likable and the problems more believable.