Among Friends

A Novel

De: Hal Ebbott

Narrado por: Rebecca Lowman

What begins as celebration gives way to betrayal, shattering the trust between two families

“Exquisitely crafted.”—John Irving

“Masterly…Ranges from the most exquisite, Jamesian discriminations to the graspable, all-American solidities of Updike and Richard Yates. This is a writer to watch, with excitement and the highest expectations."—John Banville

“Wonderful, sly and subtle…Every sentence keeps you hanging in the air, waiting for the next punch to the gut. Wow.”—Miranda Cowley Heller

"In the way that a forceful intelligence or an infectious voice or a fresh vision can alter how we observe and answer the world, Among Friends brought me into its cool environs and made me engage my days differently. It's no small accomplishment for a first novel, or for any novel."—Richard Ford

It’s an autumn weekend at a comfortable New York country house where two deeply intertwined families have gathered to mark the host’s fifty-second birthday.

Together, the group forms an enviable portrait of middle age. The wives and husbands have been friends for over thirty years, their teenage daughters have grown up together, and the dinners, games, and rituals forming their days all reflect the rich bonds between them.

This weekend, however, something is different. An unforeseen curdling of envy and resentment will erupt in an unspeakable act, the aftermath of which exposes treacherous fault lines upon which they have long dwelt.

Written with hypnotic elegance and molten precision, and announcing the arrival of a major literary talent, Hal Ebbott’s Among Friends examines betrayal within the sanctuary of a defining relationship, as well as themes of class, marriage, friendship, power, and the things we tell ourselves to preserve our finely made worlds.

© 2025 Bo Bartlett / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

©2025 Hal Ebbott (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Character development

I did not quite believe that Claire would be so devoted to the status quo that she would not support her daughter. Somehow the character of this person lacked something for my acceptance of her actions.

Self -reflection indulgence

Sometimes it is confusing to separate internal dialogue from actual events. I hope I don’t have friendships like these

Boredom

This is one of the worst books that exists. It is really terrible. The characters were wonky. There was no story line. The dialogue was really bad. Insipid, boring characters make for lifeless conversations, something that the narrator added to.