Four Friends
Written by Robyn Carr
Narrated by Thérèse Plummer
4/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
Gerri can't decide what's more devastating: learning her rock-solid marriage has big cracks, or the anger she feels as she tries to repair the damage. Always the anchor for friends and her three angst-ridden teenagers, it's time to look carefully at herself. The journey for Gerri and her family is more than revealing- it's transforming.
Andy doesn't have a great track record with men, and she's come to believe that for her a lasting love is out of reach. When she finds herself attracted to her down-to-earth, ordinary contractor- a man without any of the qualities that usually appeal to her- she questions everything she thought she wanted in life.
Sonja's lifelong pursuit of balance is shattered when her husband declares he's through with her New Age nonsense and walks out. There's no herbal tonic or cleansing ritual that can restore her serenity- or her sanity.
Miraculously, it's BJ, the reserved newcomer to Mill Valley, who steps into their circle and changes everything. The woman with dark secrets opens up to her neighbors, and together they get each other back on track, stronger as individuals and unfaltering as friends.
Robyn Carr
Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including highly praised women's fiction such as Four Friends and The View From Alameda Island and the critically acclaimed Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan's Crossing series. Virgin River is now a Netflix Original series. Robyn lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit her website at www.RobynCarr.com.
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Reviews for Four Friends
13 ratings15 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Not the greatest book but I liked everyone in the book. Interesting premise as well.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm a huge fan of Robyn Carr's contemporary romances, so I was excited to give her women's fiction a try. Like the title states, the book is about four friends who live on the same block, and how they support each other through the toughest times in their lives. The story addresses the challenges many 40-something women face, such as infidelity, divorce, raising teenagers, and depression, in a relatable, down-to-earth way. Though the subject matter is heavy, Ms. Carr is able to leave readers with a sense of hope when it's all said and done.Reading FOUR FRIENDS stirred up all kinds of emotions for me. I got attached to this group of friends quickly, and though I might not have had their experiences personally, I could sympathize with them. The book starts with Andy throwing her husband's things out on the front lawn, and within a couple of weeks, Sonja and Gerri are facing marital crises too. Gerri's problems are particularly surprising because her marriage seemed unbreakable. BJ, the quiet neighbor on the block with her own dark secrets, comes out of her shell when the trouble starts and joins the group, saving Sonja's life in the process.Most of the men in this book were just awful, but there was one gem in the bunch - Bob. He's the complete opposite of the selfish, egotistical jerks who Andy usually attracts, and I enjoyed watching their romance bloom. Thank goodness for Bob!The constant throughout the book is friendship. It's the strong bond between the four women that sees them through and makes them stronger in the end. I greatly enjoyed meeting these four friends, and I'd recommend their story to fans of poignant women's fiction.Rating: 4.25 StarsSource: Review copy from the publisher through NetGalley
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Gerri , Andy and Sonja are close friends that go walking every morning at 6 am . Everything starts to unravel one morning when Gerri and Sonja go outside to start their walk and find Andy throwing her husband Bryce outside along with all his clothes while cussing him out. Gerri and Sonja are there for moral support and soon find themselves experiencing martial problems as well.B.J. Is the newcomer that keeps to herself until one day she comes to Sonja's rescue and soon forms a strong bond with all the women. When more is learned about B.J.'s history it's easy to see why B.J. is so private about what goes on in her life. I got involved in what was going on in the lives of each of the women and loved the ending
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Four Friends by Robyn CarrThis is the story of 4 friends who live near one another and have for years as their lives have progressed through various stages of love and relationships.The past events have come to light for some that lead them to upheaval.Like especially the friendship of the woman who run every day, their lives as they do all they can for their families. Teens dealing with drugs, drinking and their parents breakups along with date rape that brings the parents together to deal with it.Follows the spouses side to the stories as well as you get a well rounded opinion and can select a side to stick with.Liked the confrontations and how they were handled.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Traditional Robyn Carr. A wonderful story, well written and well developed. A group of four women, each with their own issues and their own flaws, helping each other get through the day. A wonderful woman's literature read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A really engrossing story that had me captivated from beginning to end. The plot was complex with constant action, touching on many real issues and had lots of insightful thoughts. Gerri learns her marriage has problems, Andy finally kicks her husband out, Sonja's husband leaves her and they all befriend BJ.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I liked this book a lot. I was really drawn in and stayed up late a couple of nights to read it. 3 friends and then a 4th one joining in later. They support each other through their husbands cheating, teenagers, health issues, relationships, etc... I have not read this authors other books so I had no pre-conceived ideas of what to expect. It was just a good book.
I need to add that this book touches on domestic violence more than a little. I don't want to give any spoilers but it's in there and it may give you something to think about. The book discussions at the end of the book focus somewhat on some of the sex in the story, and the issues with growing older and sex drive that sometimes happen to women. This might strike a cord with the over-40 or over-50 crowd as well. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An amazing story from Robyn Carr.Four friends, four women whose lives became entangled with everyday things. The chemistry and love, friendship and trust are always present even in the worst scenario. Loved every word of it! I cried and I laughed and it made me sad and happy...I didn't want it to end.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Every once in awhile, I need to step away from my usual murder and mayhem and read something different.Robyn Carr's latest book, Four Friends, seemed like a good choice. (And I really liked the cover - I have some old chairs that may just receive a bright coat of chalk paint this spring.) Carr quickly introduces us to four women living in the same fairly affluent neighbourhood. They're all in their forties, with successful careers and enviable lives. Or so you would think, looking from the outside in. But there are cracks in each....Gerri discovers that her husband has had an affair. And so has school principal Andy's husband. Sonja, who doggedly pursues every alternative health therapy going, overwhelms her husband, and he leaves. Their newest neighbour, widow BJ, is quite private with her life, but is slowly drawn into the lives of the other three. Carr candidly explores women's friendships as well as other relationships - maternal, familial and spousal. She does this through a variety of crises and solutions that touch on health concerns, drugs, drinking, sexuality, spousal abuse, mental health, infidelity and more. The lives of the four women's families are brought into this exploration with the children and partners begin given a voice as well. At times I felt a bit overwhelmed with the sheer volume of crises that befall these four. But again, we never know what goes on behind closed doors do we? Take charge Gerri was the lead character and I have to admit that I found her to be the most annoying. She's definitely someone I would avoid in real life. One of her lines in the first few pages had me laughing, rather than empathizing, (although it seemed to be written in all seriousness). ...."When Gerri had been brought to her knees by a killer hemorrhoidectomy, Sonja was there, drawing the sitz bath, making broth, administering pain meds and, of course, she was armed with the perfect, natural, gentle laxative. Gerri had learned you just don't give the right laxative enough credit until you find yourself in that position." The character I was actually drawn to the most was gentle Bob the carpenter and his dog Beau. His calm, measured way of dealing with things was quite appealing. His relationship with feisty Andy was my favourite 'situation' of Four Friends. I applaud Carr for tackling so many current, topical and relevant issues. But for this reader, there were just a few too many. Some of the characters and situations seemed 'textbook' rather than engaging. Still, Four Friends was an easy read and a good diversion for an evening for me. And a reminder to appreciate your friends. Established Carr fans will not be disappointed.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Geri and her husband Phil are very busy, with two full-time, all-encompassing careers (she works for Child Protective Services and he is an assistant district attorney) and three teenage children. They don't always have time to do everything they want, but they have a solid marriage- or so Geri believes.Andy is Geri's best friend and is on the verge of her second divorce, this time from a hot younger guy. Her son is Geri's son's friend, but he has been very distant lately, something she attributes to her marital problems with a guy he doesn't really like. Her second divorce in ten years has left her depressed.Sonja is a curious mix of Type A control freak and New Age yoga instructor. She forces Andy and Geri to power walk every morning, and has always been there for her friends with a friendly shoulder to lean on, and taking charge when they need help with anything. She keeps her wealthy, older husband George on a tight leash, monitoring his diet and stress levels to keep him healthy, but she is unaware that he is deeply unhappy.BJ is the newest woman in the neighborhood, a single mom with two young children. She keeps to herself, running alone every morning, but occasionally she can be encouraged to join the ladies in their early morning walks. There is a mystery to her, but one that most readers can at least in part guess.Their worlds seem to come apart one summer when Geri learns that her perfect marriage may not be so solid. Maybe because I have been married as long as Geri, I was most involved in her story. I felt that Carr delved most deeply in her character, and she realistically portrayed the challenges of balancing a marriage, raising teenagers and having a demanding career. And she wrote a few very hot sex scenes for this long married couple.Andy finds herself inexplicably attracted to the man remodeling her kitchen- fifty-three-year-old, balding, not-turn-your-head-attractive Bob. Bob and Andy get to know each other with their nightly chats, and everyone can guess where this is headed, but it is sweet watching it happen. If you don't root for Bob, well, I don't want to know you.Sonja is stunned when George can't take anymore New Age nonsense and leaves. She completely falls apart, and it is up to her friends to put aside their problems to come to her rescue. It takes awhile, but eventually we get to Sonja's backstory and the reason for her control issues.Mysterious BJ has a fascinating story, but perhaps because she is the one furthest from the circle, we don't find out as much about her as the others, until the end of the story. I liked BJ, she has good intuition, and a prequel or sequel with her character would be interesting.Watching these four women help each other and deal with issues on their own makes for a terrific read. I was drawn into their lives, and felt like I could be watching their stories play out from my window in their neighborhood. Some characters are given more time than others, as there are too many characters to give all equal time. (Bob and Geri's mother-in-law were two of my favorites.)The author clearly believes in counseling; many of the characters go into marital counseling, psychiatric counseling, and group counseling. At times, it seemed to be that everyone was in counseling.This would be a good book club pick. There are many issues at play here- domestic abuse, depression, marital infidelity, divorce, raising teenagers, menopause, and keeping secrets among others- enough to keep a lively talk going, and there are discussion questions at the end to guide you.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5From my blogThis was a great friendship story, highly recommend if you have a book club of close friends or want a reminder to appreciate the friends you have. I enjoyed each character and following their lives, they all had a special voice, all very different which we made it easy to follow. Robyn Carr's writing style reminded me of a favourite author, Kristin Hannah. This wasn't emotionally painful, just genuine female heartache with family, career and friend life. I didn't identify with any but would have been friends with them.Sonja made me laugh the most. She had an emotional break which I hate to say had me laughing and crying in buckets, she seriously had a meltdown but it was the funniest scenes to me. Before she had the meltdown I was laughing saying 'she is hot mess, totally a nut'. The thing is her friends thought this also, but it was why they loved her, it was sad to see her break but I loved how Robyn dealt with her husband, friends and the new Sonja's outlook on it, brilliant.One thing about love and life I have found is that it is never as perfect as it may seem and you should just enjoy the moments. The emotional wrecks the friends had to deal with, mainly marriage problems was real and most had the rug pulled from under them issues. The story made me say enjoy life, each moment and to face the uncomfortable conversations as they may save your marriage and happiness.Being a parent is highly overrated to me, lol, there is no damn handbook that can ever help you with the crap that you have to face but we have to learn how to do it with love. I appreciated all the avenues Robyn Carr took to reveal the journey the women faced. Parenting, spousal commitments, adultery, abandonment, gay marriage and children, destructive behaviour and overall decisions in order not to lose yourself throughout the madness of life.The best part was this book is for the women in their 30's pushing 40, I loved to read about women my age, the reality was more genuine and realistic to me. I have also been really blessed with my friendships. Two friends have been in my life since nursery school and we all go 38 this year, our friendship continues to grow, very fortunate.I was surprised I was asked to review this as I usually go for the mystery, gory crime books but it was perfect timing, my mood called for this and I loved it. My first introduction to Robyn Carr, I will definitely read her books again.A favourite quote....grandmother used to say, 'Your kids don't belong to you - they're only on loan for you to raise. They have their own lives, their own destinies. So you better get out of the way.' Kindle at 70%
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Four Friends by Robyn Carr is a delightful masterpiece of contemporary literature. The story follows the lives of four neighbors turned friends that struggle to maintain balance with all the obstacles that life throws their way. Touching on sensitive social topics like infidelity, mental illness, and domestic abuse Carr weaves the multiple storylines together seamlessly to create a heartwarming and emotional read. Gerri, the oldest of the ladies, is a counselor for CPS and is married to a district attorney. She struggles with her identity as a woman going through menopause while trying to juggle her work load and her family. She is the one everyone goes to for advice and the one that everyone looks up to because they think she has it all figured out. Gerri’s world is completely thrown off kilter when old secrets come to light and is left wondering if she can salvage what’s left of her marriage. I couldn’t tell if I liked Gerri or not. Although, I could empathize on her situation with her husband, I would get frustrated by her stubbornness and unwilling demeanor to move on. I get it, it’s not easy to let go of that kind of betrayal, but I would think as a counselor she would have been more willing to talk things out. I wasn’t too keen on how petulant she came across about what she discovered, or how it took about 90% of the book for her to realize how selfish she was in her way of thinking about the state of her marriage. Andy, the teacher, seems to always been chasing her Prince Charming only to discover he doesn’t exist. I really like Andy, although her constant search for love is a bit adolescent. Out of the four ladies, Andy is my favorite because she shows the most growth maturity-wise. She eventually learns that love may not always come in a perfect package with a rock-hard six pack. Sonja, the New Age guru of the bunch, is fun-loving and bubbly. Her sweet, positive, and bouncy demeanor hides a ticking time bomb ready to detonate. When her perfect world falls apart, Sonja gives into a deep and dark depression. Her back story is very heart-wrending and I cried right along with her.BJ, the new kid on the block, is very quiet and keeps to herself. She’s trying to overcome her dark past and build a better future for her and her kids. Her secret completely threw me for a loop, you’ll see what I mean when you read it. I did not expect it at all, and of course it made me cry. I like that she comes out of her shell to help Sonja battle her inner demons.Four Friends by Robyn Carr is an uplifting tale about friendship, and love. An in-depth look at adulthood without the rose-colored glasses, Four Friends touches on menopause, infidelity, depression, domestic abuse, and divorce. Overall, an intriguing and satisfying read. It will definitely bring out the FEELs in a major way so be prepared with some tissues. If you are looking for a good contemporary women’s fiction read I recommend this book. **An ARC was provided by Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Title: Four FriendsAuthor: Robyn CarrPublisher: Harlequin MIRAReviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: 5Review:"Four Friends" by Robyn Carr...Book Description...."Gerri can't decide what's more devastating: learning her rock-solid marriage has big cracks, or the anger she feels as she tries to repair the damage. Always the anchor for friends and her three angst-ridden teenagers, it's time to look carefully at herself. The journey for Gerri and her family is more than revealing—it's transforming.Andy doesn't have a great track record with men, and she's come to believe that for her a lasting love is out of reach. When she finds herself attracted to her down-to-earth, ordinary contractor—a man without any of the qualities that usually appeal to her—she questions everything she thought she wanted in life.Sonja's lifelong pursuit of balance is shattered when her husband declares he's through with her New Age nonsense and walks out. There's no herbal tonic or cleansing ritual that can restore her serenity—or her sanity. Miraculously, it's BJ, the reserved newcomer to Mill Valley, who steps into their circle and changes everything. The woman with dark secrets opens up to her neighbors, and together they get each other back on track, stronger as individuals and unfaltering as friends."What I liked about this novel....This was a beautiful, well absorbing amazing story of four women Gerri, Andy, Sonja and BJ who were all rather a complex bunch as it is discovered that it looks like the whole neighborhood was falling about. You will find one of the ladies are just too perfect( a control freak)...definitely one that made me laugh out loud, another one(new to the neighborhood) who has some dark secrets that has her just wanting to keep to herself, another friend who was working on her second divorce, however, was she the one that goes after and get what she wants in the end?... and then last one seems to be the friend that had it all but did she really? What will happen after she finds out that her husband had had an affair some years ago? So, her marriage isn't as solid as she thought. This was one captivating read about a friendship and with a little of it all showing 'support, tough love, humor, sarcasm' and in the end you get a wonderful well written story. Didn't these women have the perfect lives? What will happen after they discover that some of them didn't have the perfect life after all? Counseling? Now, I will not talk to much about these ladies men other than say they were all some interesting men ...Phil, George, and Bob. You will just have to read "Four Friends' for yourself to see what all is up with them!This author really gives the reader a story with of these four women's subplots that do combine so smoothly that will give the reader a great description of each of these ladies struggles and realness of the friendships. It's a beautiful read as you will see each of the ladies under go such a life changing experience from 'mental, physical, spiritual awakening where in the end will become even more stronger than they were in the beginning...with issues such as 'menopause, abuse, depression, infidelity, divorce, unfaithful spouses, out of control children, abuse, heartless exes, keeping secrets to new friendships. In the end will these women get the importance of family, companionship and friendships. I will only say to get it all you must pick 'Four Friends' this author. This is definitely one of those reads that if you are reading or listening to it will keep your attention and you will find it hard to put down until the end. It was quite a interesting read where you see these four strong women find their way from a dark time in their lives. Would I recommend? Yes!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5They were three suburban queens, and they had the perfect lives. But when each Gerri, Andy, and Sonja's lives begin to crumble before their very eyes—as if the entire neighborhood is falling apart—these three women discover that life in paradise isn't so grand after all.Gerri's realization that she has an imperfect marriage is startling because her husband was the one person she could always depend on. She and Phil were the power couple of Mill Valley; it was never part of the equation for him to slip. Andy's marriages were never so secure, but it doesn't mean her most recent divorce is any less heartbreaking, and it certainly doesn't mean she won't survive the aftermath. Sonja's entire system of belief and lifestyle collapses when her husband tells her he can't tolerate her anymore, which pushes her to the brink of sanity—with indeterminable hopes of coming back. The new girl on the block, the closed-off but well-meaning BJ, never had the perfect life—never had the privileges of the upper middle-class—but when she enters the other three women's radar, her fresh perspective and sobering background help everyone find the strength to piece their disintegrating lives back together again.What's so extraordinary about a book like Four Friends is that it isn't completely innovative but it still absorbs you completely; it isn't groundbreaking or terribly thrilling—in fact, it's very contemporary, very domestic, very everyday—and that's just the thing: it's for everyday women, a story whose emotional relevance everyone understands.Each of the four women's subplots combine with the others smoothly, creating a comprehensive, clear picture of not only the individual struggles, but also the overarching friendship. It's impossible not to get involved in the lives of these outwardly "normal" women, because their stories are so personal, so real. It makes for the best women's fiction; it brings to light issues that the everyday woman—if not you, then at least your best friend, or your sister, or mother, or daughter—faces regularly or has faced before.Robyn Carr writes with a confident hand, creating lovable, vibrant characters and an engaging plot. Even in its normalcy, the storyline is anything but boring! I love just how interesting everyone from the book is. There are so many amazing secondary characters introduced—the children, the mothers-in-law, and so on—that I wish each of them had had equal screen time (page time?), but most of the novel revolves around Gerri.All four women will undergo life-changing mental, physical, and spiritual transformations in the wake of their seemingly impossible-to-win battles, and although it might put them through hell, it guarantees they will emerge from it all—perhaps, even stronger than they were before.The magic of Four Friends is that these four women face what everyone faces in middle adulthood: menopause, abuse, divorce, unfaithful spouses, wayward children, heartless exes, distant lovers, and unexpected acquaintances; but it comes with encouraging and empowering anecdotes on the importance of family, companions, and of course, friends.Pros: A feel-good novel that sends you on an emotional roller coaster // Gerri is an incredibly lovable, incredible human character; I admire her so much! // Each of the women's stories is told in perfect harmony and balance // Fluid, easy to read; well-written and stylistically conversational // Includes both R-rated romance and G-rated sentiment // Taking a glimpse at these four lives is fascinating; you will become immersed!Cons: Most of the characters are two-dimensional. They're likable and interesting but I wish Carr would have gone into more depth with them // Ending feels rushed, messy, and like a quick fixVerdict: Four Friends is one of those books that overflows with love, in all of the familial, romantic, and companionable sense. It's a cozy story about family and devoted, symbiotic relationships, but also possesses scorching chemistry—the kind of fire that genuine love never loses—and emotional upheaval with which everyone will be able to sympathize. Robyn Carr fans will be pleased with her traditional "feel good" style and sharp characters, but should definitely expect something different with her newest novel. Four Friends goes beyond the usual romance formula in acknowledging the resilience of the human heart in times of deep personal turmoil, as well as highlights triumph amidst chaos thanks to the power of simply having one other.Rating: 8 out of 10 hearts (4 stars): An engaging read that will be worth your while; highly recommended.Source: Complimentary copy provided by publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Little Bird!).
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A quick read focusing on the lives and marriages of four neighboring women. I found the women interesting and believable, and honestly wanted to be part of their group! The story dealt with some fairly fractured personalities, but with grace and warmth. The role of sex in marriage plays a fairly large part in the story, and was interesting without being shoddy.