The people writing bad reviews of When We Were Friends might not understand how short stories differ from longer novels. This is a perfect short story: fast moving, engaging, and ending with an impactful punch. By other standards the plot might seem forced or the events impractical, but the story weaves together threads of reality that many women (divorced or not) will recognize. The point of the story is the message at the end, to not let yourself be defined by others and to believe in your own worth. It’s important to be reminded of that, and this story effectively achieves that purpose.

This is a short story. NOT A NOVEL. It kept me interested all the way through. Easy read, fast paced. I thought the plot was developed sufficiently. Not rushed. A story about friendship and when you start to see red flags, pay attention.

This is a heartwarming and thought-provoking exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the enduring power of human connection. This beautifully written novel delves into the complexities of adult relationships, offering a nuanced perspective on the ways in which friendships can both be a source of joy and pain. Jane Green's characters are incredibly well-developed and relatable. Green's writing is beautifully crafted, drawing you into the lives of the characters and exploring the complexities of their relationships with sensitivity and insight. This is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction who appreciate character-driven stories with depth and emotional resonance. It's a poignant and heartwarming exploration of the enduring power of friendship and the importance of staying true to oneself.

Whenever I read a book or novella about fast friends, my spidey sense goes on high alert. When We Were Friends was no exception. The relationship between Lucy and Elle was well developed for such a short and sweet read, and I liked that we really felt that Elle became part of every facet of Lucy’s life. I truly was just waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop!! The dropped shoe wasn’t entirely what I was expecting (though maybe it should have been) so that was certainly a positive. I did feel like there were a couple loose ends but ultimately, I appreciated how the story wrapped up. Super quick and ultimately entertaining, if you need a nice little read for your morning commute or while you’re waiting for an appointment, this will hit the spot. Thank you to Amazon First Reads for the copy.

I think the number of Lucys is growing in the world. I'm not sure if it's because the existence of people like Elle is increasing or if current societal conditions have just made them more visible. I was catfished by an Elle, and she nearly ruined my life. And yes, she did exactly to me what Elle did to Lucy, and more (my Elle was diabolical). I've grown so much in the years since I experienced that trauma, and I saw evidence of that growth a few pages into this story. I called it and I'm proud of myself for that. The moral of this story is trust your instincts. Pay attention to the little red flags because they add up; and when you ignore the little ones, the big ones always follow. If it seems too good to be true, it is. This story will validate you if you've ever had something like this happen to you. If you haven't, be forewarned that it can happen to anyone. Don't let it happen to you. Meanwhile, Green captures the emotions well, portraying Lucy as someone with integrity, self-awareness, and a willingness to meet her demons. I felt some of the tangential elements were too stereotyped or made to appear too easy, but the overall telling of the story was sound, easy to follow, and flowed well. It's a solid, quick read for a lazy morning before you set about being productive with your day.

Such a profound little story, so much to think about. Issues of trust, forthrightness, honesty, and just plain meanness. Knowing what we have a right to expect from those we allow into our lives. Knowing our self-worth. Do we view our friendships in terms of meeting our own needs and not how they really are. These aren't things we learn about overnight. Life lessons are just that—truths we learn over the course of our lives. It's also a story of generational differences. I don't blame Lucy for her blind faith—we all should view new acquaintances as nice until they prove themselves otherwise. Always being suspicious in life is no way to live. I also don't blame Elle for her youth, but she's much earlier in her life lesson journey than Lucy is and has a lot left to learn. One thing I do know is that once trust is broken it's almost impossible to earn back. This story can be an eye-opener for some, and/or a validation for others, but everyone, male or female, should take it to heart. It's a real skill writing a meaningful and well developed short story. They're hard to find and well worth it.