From the author of Lies Like Wildfire comes another page-turning thriller about the little lies we all tell before the truth sets us free—perfect for readers of Karen M. McManus and Diana Urban.

FRIENDS LIKE THESE
by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
Delacorte, November 2022
(via Sterling Lord Literistic)

Mistake number one: Fun-loving Jake tells his girlfriend Jessica that they have to go to Tegan’s end of summer party in their tiny California beach town. Jessica doesn’t like parties and she doesn’t like Tegan, who has an obvious, obsessive crush on Jake. But Jessica agrees to go, to make Jake happy.
Mistake number two: Something awful happens at the party. Something so embarrassing that Jessica doesn’t know if she can ever get over it—and Jake will do whatever it takes for forgiveness. And now, a girl is missing. Everyone is a suspect. And, Jessica begins to notice that Jake seems to have a lot to hide.
When a body is discovered at the beach, friends start turning on friends, and lies start piling on top of lies. What happened this summer could destroy their lives. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Perhaps that’s mistake number three…

“With pulsing dialogue and believable action, the thriller raises the stakes at every turn. A fast-paced thriller to keep readers on the edges of their seats.” —Kirkus Reviews

Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is the author of the young adult thriller, Lies Like Wildfire, and two middle-grade fantasy series, The Guardian Herd and Riders of The Realm. She earned her degree in English Literature from UC Berkeley and is the Sonoma County Coordinator for SCBWI. The Pet Washer is her indie novel. Jennifer lives on a small ranch in Northern California with her husband, three children, and more than her fair share of pets.