Book Review - The Girls by Bella Osborne

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Title: The Girls

Author: Bella Osborne

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 14th April 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Four old friends. Thrown back together after forty years apart. What could possibly go wrong?

In the 1970s, The Girls were best friends sharing a house and good times: Zara the famous diva actor, Val the uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. Now they're in their twilight years, and Zara suggests that they live with her to support each other through old age.

Initially, being housemates again is just as much fun as in their heyday. But then Zara reveals the real reason she asked them to move in with her, and suddenly things take a sinister turn.

As the women confront their demons they come under the spotlight of the press, the police and an angry parrot. With their lives spiralling out of control can they save their friendships and each other?

Well I wasn't expecting that.... ok I was expecting a fabulous book as I know that is what this author tends to write, and it was indeed a fabulous book. But what I wasn't expecting is the direction this story took, and just how it would all be resolved.  It was fabulous. 

It has deeper themes and darker topics throughout, in addition to plenty of light relief, and it does leave you feeling good. 

Even the opening chapter was thought provoking, but was also attention grabbing and from then on I knew I had to keep reading, just to see what would happen to Pauline. And then we are introduced to Jackie and Val, and through them the filmstar Zara.  They were all friends in the 70s but have since grown apart, and lost contact. 

Until a surprise party invite for Zara's 80th drops through their letterboxes and brings The Girls back together again. And in the aftermath of the party, Zara makes a suggestion that they should relive their youth by living together again. 

Zara and Jackie are both big personalities, one needs to be the centre of everything and is very concerned about the world perceives her.  The other drinks like a fish, and is on the look out for a wealthy man and has a habit of being drunk or inappropriate. 

I loved the dynamics between the four women, was drawn into the story to such an extent that I was ignoring the outside world while I devoured more of it.  It's a very cleverly crafted story, and I didn't guess anything key (ok one smaller reveal I had an inkling towards but that is about it). 

It's completely unpredictable, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single second I spent with these ladies.  Getting to know all their strengths and fully understanding their back stories.  And for light relief we had Toby, who had excellent comic timing. 

It's another cracking read from Bella Osborne, and I think it would be an excellent book club sort of a book too. 

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.