Little nothings

Liv Travers, the narrator of this Highsmithian psychological thriller from British author Mayhew (Impossible Causes), has never had close friends, so she's elated to bond with fellow suburban moms Beth and Binnie. Liv's husband, Pete, and young daughter, Ivy, get on well with the women's families, so the bunch gathers whenever possible. It's idyllic--until Beth's wealthy, type-A coworker, Ange, joins the fold, and cheap, casual get-togethers become pricey London outings. Liv and Pete incur massive debut to avoid exclusion, but Liv can't shake the sense that Ange is trying to sideline her--a suspicion that intensifies when Ange proposes a group trip to Corfu, Greece. Liv drains her savings to join in and then starts scheming, determined to beat the manipulative interloper at her own game. Mayhew sets the bulk of her tale on Corfu, using frequent flashbacks to color in the cohort's shared history. Though the supporting cast feels hastily sketched, Liv is a fully developed character whose palpable anxiety, desperation, and rage drive the diabolical plot to a calamitous conclusion. Lucy Foley fans, take note. Agent: Louise Lamont, LBA Books (U.K.). (June)

A friendship is exposed as toxic during a luxury trip that ends in violence. Growing up, Liv had few friends, a fact that upset her mother, whose advice to her daughter was to "eat the fucking cake" and stop being so sensitive. So when she meets fellow mothers Binnie and Beth, she's thrilled to finally be inducted into the seemingly mythic world of female friendship. Through play dates and book clubs, dinners and the occasional trip, the three are supportive of each other's highs and lows as only true friends can be. When Beth introduces Ange to the group, she immediately finds a core role as listener and organizer. When Ange wants to plan a trip for all four of them and their families to Corfu, everything seems perfect. They can lounge and drink, get dressed up for dinner and comment cattily on the other guests. An accidental revelation about another trip that didn't include Liv leads her to realize that Ange, who once seemed like the glue of the foursome, has actually wormed her way into their group in service of her own narcissistic personality. Estranged from the other women, Liv strikes up a friendship with a wealthy socialite who has a wicked sense of humor--and the willingness to help Liv rid herself of Ange once and for all. Mayhew explores both the affirming side of female friendships and the darker currents of judgmental talk, financial peer pressure, and neediness. The most interesting part of the book is Liv, who's the narrator, for she is often not a terribly sympathetic character. Yet there is something admirable in how she fights to recognize and celebrate her true, autonomous self, even if that person is inherently selfish and grudging. Driven by an honest, authentic main character who is imperfect and damaged. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.