🕵️♀️ Book Review: The Bad Friend by Caroline Kepnes (Kindle Edition, Never Tell Collection #6)
A taut, unsettling short story about friendship, rivalry, and the secrets we keep—Caroline Kepnes delivers a psychological vignette that’s as unnerving as it is emotionally sharp.
🧠 Overview
Published in March 2024, The Bad Friend is a 44-page novella and the sixth entry in Amazon’s Never Tell collection—a series of suspenseful short stories centered on secrets, lies, and mind games. The story follows Ellen, a woman with a seemingly perfect life: a sweet fiancé, a stable career, and a lifelong friendship with Tanya, her edgier, more impulsive counterpart.
But beneath the surface of their bond lies a simmering rivalry. Over the years, Ellen and Tanya have shared everything—except the full truth. When Ellen begins to suspect that Tanya may be hiding something dangerous, she’s forced to confront the possibility that her closest friend might also be her greatest threat.
🔍 Key Themes & Highlights
- 👭 Toxic friendship: The story explores the blurred line between loyalty and envy
- 🧠 Self-deception: Ellen’s internal monologue reveals how denial and rationalization shape her choices
- 🔥 Slow-burn suspense: The tension builds through subtle clues and emotional unease rather than overt action
- 💬 Psychological depth: Kepnes leans into character-driven storytelling, with sharp dialogue and layered motives
“Secrets, betrayal, and jealousy are at the heart of a friendship in an unnerving short story about truth and self-deception…” — Goodreads summary
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 3.20/5 from over 4,600 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise the story’s creepy tone, emotional realism, and Kepnes’s signature psychological insight
- 🧾 Some found the ending ambiguous or the pacing slow, but many appreciated its character-driven tension
- 💬 “A quiet thriller that gets under your skin. Tanya and Ellen’s dynamic is disturbingly familiar.”
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 44 pages, it’s a quick read—best approached as a psychological snapshot
- 📚 Standalone: Works independently, though it complements the Never Tell collection’s themes
- 🧠 Subtle storytelling: Focuses more on emotional unease than dramatic twists
🏁 Final Verdict
The Bad Friend is a moody, character-driven psychological thriller that examines the fragile boundaries of friendship and trust. Caroline Kepnes brings her trademark intensity to this Kindle edition, making it a compelling pick for fans of quiet suspense and emotional complexity.
