Review: Between Friends - Natalie Banks

Review: Between Friends - Natalie Banks - August 2025

There’s something about small-town thrillers that always gets under my skin—in the best way. Maybe it’s the way secrets seem to cling to the corners of familiar places, or how friendships from our youth can hold both comfort and danger. Between Friends by Natalie Banks was one of those reads that pulled me in with its haunting nostalgia and didn’t let go until the final, jaw-dropping twist.

Madison Andrews returns to her hometown after a decade away, and from the moment she steps back into her childhood home, you can feel the tension simmering. Her mother has died , her memories are fractured, and her former best friend Imogen is still there—smiling like nothing ever happened. But something did. Something big. And it’s wrapped around the disappearance of Olivia, the third member of their once untouchable trio.

I loved how this book captured the complexities of girlhood—the fierce loyalty, the envy, the secrets whispered in sleepovers and sealed with pinky promises. Madison’s journey is raw and unsettling, especially as she begins to remember the night Olivia vanished. The story unfolds like a puzzle, each piece darker than the last, and just when you think you’ve figured it out… BAM. That ending. I literally said “WOAH” out loud.

What made this read even more powerful for me was how it explored the weight of silence. The kind that festers over time, shaping who we become. It reminded me of how some friendships, even the broken ones, never truly leave us. They linger in the background, waiting to be reckoned with.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that’s equal parts chilling and emotionally resonant, Between Friends is a must-read. It’s perfect for fans of layered mysteries, messy friendships, and stories that make you question everything you thought you knew.

Just don’t be surprised if you finish it in one sitting—and then sit there stunned, wondering how you missed all the signs.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4oZoWHF