Meg Rosoff

New York City. June, 1982. When eighteen-year-old Beth arrives in Manhattan for a prestigious journalism internship, everything feels brand new – and not always in a good way. A cockroach-infested sublet and a disaffected roommate are the least of her worries, and she soon finds herself caught up with her fellow interns – preppy Oliver, ruthless Dan and ridiculously cool, beautiful, wild Edie. Soon, Beth and Edie are best friends – the sort of heady, all-consuming best-friendship that's impossible to resist. But with the mercury rising and deceit mounting up, betrayal lies just around the corner. Who needs enemies ... when you have friends like these? From bestselling, award-winning author Meg Rosoff comes a gritty, intoxicating novel about a summer of unforgettable firsts: of independence, lies, love and the inevitable loss of innocence. Sharp and irresistible, it's perfect for fans of Sally Rooney's Conversations with Friends and Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan.

Friends Like These

Ian Brakspear

You had to hope for the best, she thought.

What you see, she thought, is not what you get.

Beth is 18 years old and arrives in Manhattan in June 1983 with some high expectations. After an investigative article for her school’s newspaper, she managed to secure a prestigious internship at a newspaper and promises to become the summer of her life. Her Welcome to Manhattan however is rather unspectacular, the apartment she shares is shabby and she feels like an outsider & at work things are not a lot better. Her 3 other interns seem to be much more knowledgeable about everything.

During her time at the newspaper, she befriends Edie, who is an outgoing young woman of High society and Beth is overwhelmed by her new life, too overwhelmed to notice that not all is what it seems and therefore, she must learn the hard way, that New York is a shark’s pond & Beth soon realises that Edie might not be as good as she things she is.

This is an atmospheric, evocative novel, with fully rounded, interesting characters. It really immerses you in an uncomfortably sweltering, grimy summer. The Perfect Quick Summer Read. 

Beth is 18 years old and arrives in Manhattan in June 1983 with some high expectations. After an investigative article for her school’s newspaper, she managed to secure a prestigious internship at a newspaper and promises to become the summer of her life. Her Welcome to Manhattan however is rather unspectacular, the apartment she shares is shabby and she feels like an outsider & at work things are not a lot better. Her 3 other interns seem to be much more knowledgeable about everything.

 

During her time at the newspaper, she befriends Edie, who is an outgoing young woman of High society and Beth is overwhelmed by her new life, too overwhelmed to notice that not all is what it seems and therefore, she must learn the hard way, that New York is a shark’s pond & Beth soon realises that Edie might not be as good as she things she is.

 

This is an atmospheric, evocative novel, with fully rounded, interesting characters. It really immerses you in an uncomfortably sweltering, grimy summer. The Perfect Quick Summer Read. 

Friends Like These

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