The synopsis for Kaira Rouda’s We Were Never Friends, releasing on February 3, 2026, reads, “Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu: Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend—even matching the cocktails to her couture—to prove that she remains their undisputed queen.
Amelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in tow. Jamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family—and a well-guarded bad habit.
Beth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package deal. Sunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed—until she wasn’t.
They’ve been summoned to Roxy’s luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth’s daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies—because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it’s not so easy to bury the past…”
We Were Never Friends Review
Kaira Rouda’s We Were Never Friends is a psychological thriller that explores the themes of betrayal and ambition, as well as the dark secrets that lie behind polished exteriors. The characters are complex and sometimes morally ambiguous, which elevates the novel’s tension. The story progresses quickly but is still easy to follow, which makes it enjoyable for readers eager to find out what comes next.
Told from multiple POVs, We Were Never Friends follows college sorority sisters many years later after a spring break vacation turns deadly. The reunion brought secrets to light, keeping me engaged and guessing throughout. Without giving anything away, I appreciated how new mysteries emerged as the story progressed, elevating it.
There were characters I felt for, ones I got a bad vibe from, and some that just gave me the ick feeling. There were also some laughable moments involving a few of the characters. With that said, Roxy and Amelia’s manipulations and narcissism truly were the stars of the show at times.
We Were Never Friends was enthralling and attention-grabbing…until it wasn’t. The ending fell flat, leaving me feeling as though it was rushed and left untold, which I found to be underwhelming and a bit frustrating, to say the least, leading to my review’s lower rating.
Overall, the story kept me intrigued and guessing all the way up until the big reveals.
Rating: 3.5 stars
*Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Kaira Rouda for the gifted eARC via NetGalley for my honest review.*
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