A review by yangyvonne
The Friendship Test by Elizabeth Noble
2.0
Set in England, this story follows a group of four girls (Tamsin, Reagan, Sarah, and Freddie) from college to their 30's. Freddie, American by birth, is the main character and finds herself at distant father's funeral (days after learning of her husband's affair) and faced with seeing the other who abandoned her. Tamsin is the mother of 3, soon to be four, and closest to Freddie. Sarah had died in a car crash, leaving her husband Matthew (an old crush of Reagan's) who now finds he loves Freddie. And Reagan has a true melt-down, quitting her job and trying to find herself while going to MA with Tamsin and Freddie and becoming close to Freddie's mom.
It's a good thing Sarah died, because the book already had too many sub-plots. It seemed that Reagan's story was totally underdeveloped and Tamsin's stereotypical. Freddie, in sharp contrast, was overdeveloped to the point that it seemed her drama would never end. Father with a secret love of his wife's mother, who hides a later relationship with the maid. Mother, who abandons her, Husband who cheats. Friend who tries to steal other's husband on wedding night and then interferes with their budding romance. Give the reader a break!
It's a good thing Sarah died, because the book already had too many sub-plots. It seemed that Reagan's story was totally underdeveloped and Tamsin's stereotypical. Freddie, in sharp contrast, was overdeveloped to the point that it seemed her drama would never end. Father with a secret love of his wife's mother, who hides a later relationship with the maid. Mother, who abandons her, Husband who cheats. Friend who tries to steal other's husband on wedding night and then interferes with their budding romance. Give the reader a break!