User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
That’s What Frenemies Are For is an escape and a delight! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Julia Summers is living the life. A Manhattan apartment, a doting, hard-working husband, and cute kids in tow. She’s also used to being top dog with her group of friends, but that may be in flux…
While all her friends are in the Hamptons for the summer, Julia is stuck in the city, and with that, she knows she has to take action.
Flame. It’s the biggest fitness craze to hit the social scene in NYC. Tatum is a shy instructor there, and Julia makes it her goal to transform Tatum into a superstar.
Things begin to fall apart fast for Julia. Her husband is arrested for white collar crimes, her friends have moved on, and Tatum is moving on, too.
That What Frenemies Are For is a clever romp of a read. I loved the snarky, witty banter, and hello, as a spin obsessed person, I loved that the fitness craze was spin-related!
Overall, That’s What Frenemies Are For is an entertaining book just perfect for those beach bags or your suitcase as you head on vacation. It’s well-written, sassy, fun, and completely absorbing!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Rating: really liked it
Many thanks to Ballantine for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review ”In this crowd, it was as bad as suggesting I had joined a satanic cult of molested the captain of the varsity tennis team. Being broke was an unforgivable sin.”
One could describe this book as
Where’d You Go Bernadette meets
Crazy Rich Asians dunked in
Big Little Lies but they’d be wrong. This book wholly and refreshingly original and though it does have many memorable and enjoyable aspects from the aforementioned novels, it is its own unique book.
So, what’s this book about? Julia Summers, her husband James, and three kids all live comfortably in a large home. James works a high end job, the kids go to an expensive private school and Julia is able to splurge on almost anything she wants. But lately, Julia has been feeling like something is lacking. Her life just seems boring. Until Tatum, that is. Tatum is a new employee at a gym. She is good looking but doesn’t really know what to do with her looks or charm. Julia swoops in and takes Tatum under her wing to show her the way to be fabulous and successful. But Tatum rises much faster than Julia expected and suddenly she’s beyond Julia. Things get worse, though. After a dangerous experience with drugs at a bar, Julia starts to wonder if Tatum Jones was more than she bargained for.
I know that some people have this marked as humor/comedy and Goodreads marked it as Chick Lit so I went into this expecting laughs and giggles. Ya’ll, this book ain’t funny. I mean there are funny parts but overall, this book was so serious and dark but in a thrilling and engaging way. If I had to group this book into only one genre, I would call this a thriller. That said, there were quite a few charming and funny scenes. Littlefield and Gershell expertly blended the darkness with drops of light, AKA humor and love.
Finally, I just want to talk about the redemptive themes but I have to start with the redemptive themes first. Let me just say that Julia is the perfect example of white privilege. At least she realizes it and (tries) to be grateful for it. I really loved the theme of family and the lengths one will go for love. This theme specifically reminded me a lot of
Never Have I Ever.
Overall, this was kind of funny but mainly scary, ensnaring and exciting. I recommend this for thriller fans and humor fans alike!
Bottom Line:
4.5 Stars
Age Rating: [ R ]
Content Screening (Spoilers) - Educational Value (0/5) - [NONE] ~ Positive Messages (4/5) - [Family, love, endurance] ~ Violence (3/5) - [Vomiting, seizures, injury] ~ Language (4/5) - [F**k, sh*t, d*mn, b*tch] ~ Sex (3/5) - [Briefly described sex scene, Kissing] ~ Drinking/Drugs (5/5) - [Alcohol consumption (legal and illegal), child accidentally injest drugs, rape drugs, sex drugs]
Tigger and Content Warning - Rape, sexual abuse, child drug injestion, seizures, injury
Reps: [Absolutely NONE]
Cover: 5/5 ~ Plot: 4/5 ~ Characters: 4/5 ~ Audio: 4/5
Publication Date: July 30th, 2019
Publisher: Ballantine Book
Genre: Thriller/Humor
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this was so f**king brilliant
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this was literally one of the first ARCs I ever requested (requested back in May of 2018) and now i have it.... life is bananas 🍌
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Rating: really liked it
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I didn't even realize until recently that "mean girl thrillers" were even a genre, but it seems to be the newest Big Thing in the beach read genre, with books like THE LION'S DEN and PRETTY THINGS that show exactly what can happen when you push the wrong woman too far. THAT'S WHAT FRENEMIES ARE FOR is particularly interesting because in some ways, it's like Lianne Moriarty's take on a Patricia Highsmith novel-- what happens when you're a female Pygmalion and your Galatea makeover project turns on you and bites
hard?
That's exactly what happens when trendy New York socialite Julia takes on the awkward but summery Tatum as her protegee. When Julia sees Tatum's spin cycle classes in a gift basket at a charity auction, she sees opportunity. She could make Flame, the studio, the "It" place to be and act like she was the one who discovered it and made it the raging success that it was, while touting her superiority before her equally hateful and competitive friends and flaunting her weight loss. WASPy society girls are the OG "you've probably never even heard of it" hipsters, apparently.
Tatum seems eager for the lessons, and pathetically grateful for all of Julia's "well-meaning" advice and hand-me-downs. Julia loves helping others out if she's seen doing it, and given credit for it. In her world, life is just a constant stream of petty oneupsmanship and endless competition. But pretty soon Julia's perfect life ends up cracking and falling apart, and she discovers in that maelstrom of pieces that Tatum was never really the girl that Julia thought she was: in fact, she might just have fangs. Poisonous ones. Uh-oh. It reminded me a lot of this movie that came out a while ago called
Jawbreaker, which takes the cliche of teen makeover movie and ends up becoming a hot mess of betrayal, scandal, lies, and murder. It's one of my favorite teen movies of all time, and Marilyn Manson has a cameo in it!
THAT'S WHAT FRENEMIES ARE FOR has a lot of the same commentary on the toxicity of female friendships and societal expectations for (primarily white) women. At times, reading it could be exhausting because I can't imagine juggling all these lies and endless schemes. It made me wonder, probably naively, whether this is something that people actually
do? I was never popular enough, or socially ambitious enough, to get involved in any friendships like... well, these.
Anyone who enjoys mean girl thrillers, as I call them, will enjoy this book, I think. It's a light beach read with some darker, unexpected twists and even if it can be farfetched, it's a fun story, regardless.
3.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
All the laugh-out-loud, snarky, fun stars to That’s What Frenemies are For!
Being a self-professed SoulCycle freak (there’s just no other way to describe it), when I heard a book was coming out centered around New York City boutique fitness (namely, spin), I knew I had to get my hands on this! When Upper East Side mom Julia decides to make a “project” out of spin instructor Tatum, what could go wrong? Well, a lot.
Throw Frenemies in your beach bag this summer because it is the perfect summer read - if you loved When Life Gives You Lululemons, then Frenemies will be right up your alley! You do not need to be a spin fan yourself to enjoy this book, just a sense of humor and an appreciation for sharp writing!
Thank you Random House Ballantine for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Rating: really liked it
This is the perfect title for this book! A story of women that know what they want. They wanted it all. Not only the physical possessions and the Manhattan lifestyle, with the summer in the Hamptons. They also wanted the power over their group of friends.
The main focus is on Julia Summers who is really hungry to be the center of attention with her Upper East Side mommy friends. I thought it was a fun, crazy read at the beginning. The author managed to capture the "mean girl" attitude, that let's face it, is more common than not for girls/women. It brought to question, do they (us) really outgrow it? Or if placed into the right environment, may it resurface?
I really enjoyed this book all the way until the end. I did rate it 3.5 stars due to the ending got a little heavy for me. I would hate to spoil it for anyone so I will leave it at that. I was looking for a little more of the witty, snarky writing that I enjoyed so much at the first half of the book. That being said, I am glad I read this entertaining book and would definitely grab up anything this author puts out next!
Rating: really liked it
3.5 stars...rounded up!If you need a LOL story then this one is for you!
Julia has a really nice and rich life, literally. She lives in super nice apartment on fifth avenue and her kids attend one of the best schools. She typically summers at her Hampton's house like the rest of the parents however this year her house won't be ready and she has to stay back in the city. She comes across this spin studio - Flame and her life is forever changed. She feels better than ever and even gains a friend, her instructor Tatum. She and Tatum team up so Julia can get credit and Tatum can get more clients.
Everything is going great until one day Julia realizes that Tatum may have taken advantage of Julia's wealth. Not only that but things in Julia's personal life start to unravel as well: her husband is doing some shady business and her friends turn their backs on her. How can she possibly get out of this mess?
This book was what I needed at the time that I read it. I needed something light that would make me laugh out loud. The true ridiculousness of some of the women in this story were over the top but it made the story that more entertaining. I think there were some times when I would get slightly annoyed by their exaggerated actions but since I knew it was a light rom-com I took it for what it is.
If you are looking for something fun then definitely read this. If you live in New York or any major city you may even get more of a kick out of this one.
Rating: really liked it
This was the perfect break from reading all the heavy mystery/thriller novels that I needed!
That's What Frenemies Are For is definitely the grown up version of "Mean Girls"... and I loved every minute of it!
Julia Summers has it all: a successful husband, 2 adorable kids who attend the best private school in the city, and a beautiful Fifth Avenue apartment. Julia is an influencer... but her star appears to be fading. Now Julia is on the hunt for the next big thing - the hot, new fad that will put her back on top.
Flame is the new elite fitness craze. Flame is what Julia needs - and Tatum, the naive instructor is her ticket in. But, Julia's big comeback doesn't quite go as planned, and things suddenly get ugly - and quite possibly deadly - Julia just may be in way over her head. Tatum is waiting in the wings for Julia's power to fold - just how much power will Tatum's newfound power hold? Will Julia be forced to rethink everything she knew about her world to reclaim her perfect life - or does she even want it back?
This is a solid well-written read that is "unputdownable". How could you go wrong with the Upper East Side drama. The perfect guilty pleasure read!
*Many thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Rating: really liked it
I was lucky to blurb this hilarious read. Pitched as a mix of PRIMATES OF PARK AVENUE and WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LULULEMONS, this certainly delivered. Here's what I wrote:
Littlefield and Gershell have hatched a witty, wise romp through the lives of the status-seeking parents and would-be influencers of Manhattan’s upper echelons. With a delicious plot and a surprisingly winsome heroine, FRENEMIES is a smart, escapist read.
Rating: really liked it
I had so much fun reading this book, which follows Manhattan socialite Julia as she desperately tries to hold on to her status in the cutthroat world of private school moms and gala attendees. When Julia meets Tatum, a spin instructor at a burgeoning gym, she takes her under her wing as her new pet project, thinking that if she can turn Tatum into the Next Hottest Thing, she will impress her friends and continue to climb the social ladder as the one who discovered Tatum. But soon, this Pygmalion plan goes awry as Tatum reveals that she has plans of her own, which might just leave Julia in the dust. This was an addictive read. Even though I found myself feeling very annoyed at all the privileged, self-absorbed women with which Julia surrounds herself (and not to mention Julia herself!), it was SO FUN to indulge in that annoyance, to get to roll my eyes at their actions (and, yes, judge them a little), all while Lauren Gershell and Sophie Littlefield expertly and cleverly explore just how toxic the high society world can be. People often talk about unlikeable characters (and particularly unlikeable female characters) as a flaw in books, but I LOVED reading about these unlikeable characters, particularly because the authors do such a wonderful job humanizing our narrator and helping us see the pressure and expectations that can lead one down such a self-serving, manipulative path. Who is the real monster here—the woman who’s using another to gain social capital, or the society that taught her that social capital is the value by which a woman’s worth should be measured? With witty, smart, and engaging prose, and dialogue that sizzles with all that ISN’T said, THAT’S WHAT FRENEMIES ARE FOR is one of the most fun reads I’ve come across this year.
Rating: really liked it
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so glad I finished this book as the first half felt a bit slow and by the halfway mark, I didn't care for any of the characters, however, the pace of the story elevated in the second half and you quickly understood the intent of the author's storytelling.
Julia has a good life, she lives well, has important friends, and has a loving husband and family. She is envied in her social circle. However, she is sensing that her grip on her status is slipping due to some unexpected circumstances and she needs a plan......fast.....to regain her footing. She recognizes an opportunity that will propel her profile but later realizes that her own strategy has been used on her. Her life is upended and she comes to understand who her real friends are and while the truth is painful, she discovers a strength in herself that she did not know she had.
This story is a mash-up between The Housewives of New York and All About Eve. Towards the end of the story, I really appreciated the journey that Julia went through and how she succumbed to the challenges she had to face. You were rooting for her to get there and the Epilogue tied up the story with a nice bow.
Rating: really liked it
I'm between 3.5 and 4 stars, so I rounded up.
Julia Summers is struggling to stay at the apex of her social circle. Even with all of the trappings of luxury she has, from the exceptionally decorated apartment on the Upper East Side to the children in an exclusive private school, she often feels a tiny bit insecure about her social position, so she's always looking for an opportunity to stand out.
Through the years she's been successful, being on the cutting edge of trends she introduces to her friends, or maneuvering to get on certain committees or attend certain events. (Plus, she's not above a cutting insult or two to keep others down.)
This summer she's hit a bit of a rough patch. Their house in the Hamptons needs to be completely renovated so she's stranded in New York City, which means she won't get to attend the parties or be part of the gossip. Plus, her husband's business is in a bit of trouble, which makes them the
object of gossip, not the instigators.
But when she meets Tatum, a spin instructor at an up-and-coming boutique gym in her neighborhood, Julia thinks she may have found her next project. Tatum is a small-town girl who moved to New York with big dreams that haven't been realized, and she's desperate to succeed.
Julia realizes that with a makeover, some self-confidence, and some tweaks to her brand, Tatum could reinvent herself and become the type of fitness guru Julia's friends would clamor to patronize. And Julia would get the credit for being the one to bring Tatum to everyone's attention, thus cementing her status as a trendsetter. Plus, Julia can get herself into top shape while everyone's away for the summer. Sounds like a win-win proposition.
Things don't quite go as planned, however. As Julia helps to transform Tatum, she doesn't realize just how rabidly ambitious Tatum is, and how much she desires the kind of life Julia has. She's also unprepared for just how much trouble her husband's business—and her husband himself—may be in, because he doesn't want to discuss it with her.
When Tatum starts shifting the balance of power between her and Julia, she realizes she has what it takes to go even further, and she doesn't care if she leaves Julia in the dust, and she's willing to put her there herself. And when Julia's husband is arrested for fraud and bribery, she suddenly finds herself on the outside looking in, with many of her so-called friends abandoning her.
As Julia tries to readjust her life and cope with her husband's problems and Tatum's agenda, she has to decide whether she wants everything to go back to the way it was, or whether it's time for a bit of a change. Whatever she decides, she's certainly not one to fade away!
That's What Frenemies Are For is a fun, light read, and provides some terrific social commentary. I felt as if Sophie Littlefield and Lauren Gershell did a great job capturing social dynamics of women in certain circles, how precarious your position can be, and how much it depends on what you can offer, whom you know, or what you have. Additionally, having been addicted to spin before I became allergic to the gym (kidding), they really described that culture so perfectly.
I was expecting this to be a little funnier than it was, but I still enjoyed this book. This is the perfect late-summer beach or vacation read—maybe you'll realize that your life is pretty great the way it is, or maybe you'll recognize your social circle in the book. (I don't judge.)
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Rating: really liked it
I read this book in one night and I NEVER do that. With delicious twists and bendy turns, I enjoyed the shear fun of it. I happen to love satire on uppity people with status issues and this story slices pretense with surgical precision!
I am grateful to the publisher for receiving a copy of the ARC.
Rating: really liked it
Fun, frothy, entertaining, and exhausting. This was an over the top Book about mean girls all grown up and there need to keep up with the Joneses. Julia’s life was seriously exhausting, can’t even imagine trying to keep up an appearance of living a perfect life at all times. When she is unable to summer in the Hamptons with everybody else she needs to come up with a new plan. She decides to hit up Flame the new fitness hotspot where she befriends a new spin instructor Tatum. I have worked in the fitness industry most of my life and I found this part hilarious. When her “friends“ return home after the summer Julia is certain that she is now the top dog introducing her friends to this new fitness craze. But then the backstabbing and sh*t talking begins. A lot of this book made me cringe, I just cannot believe how cruel these women were to one another. The constant jockeying for position of power was draining and despicable! It is so unfortunate that there is so much truth in this, women should spend more time building each other up rather than trying to tear one another down. Although I have to think there were some lessons learned during the course of this book. What a wild ride with a somewhat satisfying ending.
This book in emojis 💳 🚴🏻♀️ 💅🏻 🗡
*** Big thanks to Random House for my gifted copy of this book ***
Rating: really liked it
I had a love/hate relationship with this book; which is to say I HATED that I LOVED it! My favorite line "if people gossip to you, they will gossip about you" we all know is true. That being said, it's ironic that I found myself judging protagonist Julia as she is a socialite in the "inner circle" whose life revolves around judging others. So when the new boutique gym, Flame opens and she meets Tatum, the young impressionable spin instructor, she sees an opportunity for herself: mold the girl in her own image and build the clientele. Of course her goal is selfish; SHE will gain the accolades as all of her friends will lavish praise on her for being the first to discover the newest thing in town. This is a little like Mean Girls on steroids; you will laugh, you will cringe, you will judge (for really none of these characters is likable). But that's the point and Littlefield and Gershell nailed it. For of course Julia's plan backfires and some very tragic and some humorous events ensue. You don't have to like the characters to like this book; just make sure you don't become them! A great summer read! Out the end of July.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Rating: really liked it
I. Am. Obsessed. With. This. Book!! I read this almost two weeks ago and have been struggling ever since to write a review because I loved it so much and I always struggle writing reviews when I adored a book. (Is that weird?) I really just wanna say read this one because it was a hilarious page turner and leave it at that. Buy the damn book y’all! But I’ll give you a little more than that.
Most of us are knee deep in looking for the next great summer read to take on vacation and while I’ve recommended quite a few already this summer, go ahead and put this one at the top of your list. It’s the ultimate beach read with bite, mainly because it’s full of razor sharp writing and cutting wit, you’ve never seen drama like Upper East Side drama and these women came to play. Admittedly I hated most of them because they’re awful and gossipy and incredibly catty but I could not stop reading about them either. Julia was the clear favorite for me and she underwent a surprising amount of growth by the end so despite the light and fluffy appearance, there is also some depth too.
If you’re a fan of books like When Life Gives You Lululemons or shows like Gossip Girl you will love this one! Highly recommended by me, it was so fun and even has some surprising twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting.
That’s What Frenemies Are For in three words: Snarky, Funny and Sharp
