A razor-sharp thriller packed with dark secrets and explosive twists, it “raises the stakes at every turn ( Kirkus) and is “full of atmospheric thrills” ( Paste ). When a girl goes missing and a body is found, everyone is a suspect. "Sharp, atmospheric, and wildly fast-paced"—Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of They'll Never Catch Us "Intoxicating and propulsive; an emotional rollercoaster that doesn't let up until the final, brutal twist."—Alexa Donne, author of The Ivies 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 she 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 to earn her forgiveness. And now a girl is missing. Everyone is a suspect. And 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 upon lies. What happened could destroy their lives. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Mistake number three . . . “This tangled story about terrible choices, mistaken assumptions, and the all-to-thin line between friends and enemies expertly cranks up the tension chapter-by-chapter until it leaves you dangling on the edge of a cliff and desperate for answers.”—Ginny Myers Sain, author of Dark and Shallow Lies Gr 10 Up—Jake is determined to make the most of senior year—the last year he will have before his girlfriend, Jessica, moves away for college and inevitably breaks up with him. He convinces Jessica to attend an end-of-summer party hosted by his ex, Tegan, who is still madly in love with him. After much underage drinking and a highly publicized act of sex, everyoneself world is turned upside-down. A girl is missing, Jake can't remember what happened at the party, Jessica won't talk to him, and EVERYONE is talking about "the video." When a body turns up on the beach, lies start to pile up and no one knows who to trust. Alvarez's novel explores the ever-changing dynamics of high school, how competition can turn friends into enemies, and how even the simplest of lies can have an impact on everything. This fast-paced thriller will keep readers hooked right up to the last page. It is geared toward mature teens comfortable with references to sex, drugs, drinking, and some violence. The number for the National Sexual Assault Hotline is listed in the back matter. Main characters present as white; ethnicity is not stated. VERDICT Recommended for purchase where thrillers and mysteries are popular.—Ashley Grillo Praise for Friends Like These : " Sharp , atmospheric , and wildly fast-paced , Friends Like These will leave you breathless as you rush to find out the truth hidden in the corners of Crystal Cove. A harrowing , nuanced portrayal of how far some will go to keep their secrets untold."—JESSICA GOODMAN, NYT bestselling author of They'll Never Catch Us “This tangled story about terrible choices, mistaken assumptions, and the all-to-thin line between friends and enemies expertly cranks up the tension chapter-by-chapter until it leaves you dangling on the edge of a cliff and desperate for answers .”—GINNY MYERS SAIN, author of Dark and Shallow Lies " Intoxicating and propulsive ; an emotional rollercoaster that doesn't let up until the final, brutal twist ."—ALEXA DONNE, author of The Ivies "An intoxicating must-read thriller , with characters so raw and human, you'll feel the full force of every twist ."—JARROD SHUSTERMAN , New York Times bestselling author of Dry " A summer-y thriller in the depths of fall, Friends Like These has the sort of propulsive fun you expect in your favorite beach reads ."— Paste "This drama sucks you right in ."— Girls' Life "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 "For those who adore edgy thrillers , this is a fantastic read."— Booklist "Alvarez sensitively examines themes of bullying and consent in this jam-packed thriller . "—PW "This fast-paced thriller will keep readers hooked right up to the last page. " —SLJ Praise for Lies Like Wildfire : “ Five fiery stars for this bingeable , edge-of-your-seat , twisty thriller.”—NATASHA PRESTON, NYT bestselling author of The Lake “ Twisty and fast-paced and visceral . I couldn’t put this one down.” —KATIE COTUGNO, NYT bestselling author of 99 Days "Using her own experience with wildfire, the author tells a gripping tale about the line between loyalty to the people in your life and the value of