06 July 2022

It’s been a while since I have enjoyed an audiobook and having this be a Shalini Boland book made it perfect. This story is true to her style, a gripping, edge-of-your-seat tale that you will not want to drag yourself away from. I found myself receiving some curious looks while sitting in the car park outside a shopping centre, refusing to turn the audiobook off before at least reaching the end of the chapter. The Best Friend looks at friendship, family and a very disturbed individual. You are in for a treat when you reach for this book.

This is my second Shalini Boland book and sadly I have a few sitting on my TBR that I simply must read. I enjoy how her stories are about everyday people and families that face unusual situations. Her characters are realistic. I love how the one weak, vulnerable character finds the strength to fight back. This book ends leaving you feeling good as justice is served.

When Louisa meets Darcy, she cannot believe that this woman wants to speak to her, much less spend time with her. They are complete opposites. Darcy seems to have everything. Louisa cannot believe how sweet and helpful Darcy is. It almost seems too good to be true. Darcy is simply perfect…. But is anyone that perfect?

I quickly become obsessed with the story and since I did most of my listening while driving, I started driving slower everywhere I went trying to spend as much time in my car as possible. I enjoyed the story. It’s scary to think how easily we can misjudge people, or how people can appear to be something so far removed from who they are.

The author did a wonderful job with her character. Louisa’s character gets stronger the more that goes wrong with her life until she finally has the strength to fight back. I loved this character growth. As for Darcy, the author was brilliantly creative with this woman. I loved her.

Shalini Boland’s work is hugely entertaining, and I cannot wait to spend more time reading her work. This book is well worth adding to your TBR. It is a light read with a real-life feel. It’s about family and motherhood and looking out for your own.

I have spent quite a bit of time listening to audiobooks and I battle with the acting. Yes, I know, the different voices are what is expected these days. I would rather just have someone read the book – in their own voice. With that said, I have to say the narrated performed very well while reading this book. She managed to create a different voice for each character and maintained a good grip on the various characters. Despite my personal preferences, she did a good job narrating this book.

Whether you select the audiobook or the book, you can expect an entertaining read, with realistic characters and twists and turns along the way. The Best Friend is sure to turn you into a Boland fan.