I am a sucker for books about friends, and have a real soft spot for plots with multiple friends. In that regard, When we were Friends touched my happy place.

When a horrific-to-high-schoolers truth is revealed in front of everyone at prom, the friendship and their “Secret Gift Society” (a made-up friendship club) of Morgan, Paige, Tiff, and Emily explodes. The four have never spoken since.

Nineteen years later, Morgan’s truth is exposed and she calls an emergency meeting of the Secret Gift Society. The women are no longer the carefree, rose-colored glasses teenagers they once were, life and the prom experience having changed them all dramatically. However, through twists and turns and a bit of sleuthing as back in the day, the women come to terms with their past and forge a new path to adult friendship.

When We Were Friends has so many positives that it is worth the read, and anyone who ever went to high school, ever had a friend group, or ever needed their girls as adults will enjoy When We Were Friends.

Author Samantha Tonge doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, so don’t expect to need to turn the page to find an answer; it is spelled out to the nth degree. A bit overkill in this regard, but still a decent read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC (advanced reader copy). All opinions are mine and this review was not compensated. ( )