
We Were Never Friends
A Novel
Kaira Rouda(Author)
Poisoned Pen Press
Published on 3. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-4642-6874-8 (ISBN)
Description
INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!
Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly?
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...
For fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, We Were Never Friends is an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.
Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly?
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...
For fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, We Were Never Friends is an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Sourcebooks, Inc
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
205 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4642-6874-8 (9781464268748)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Kaira Rouda, living in Southern California with her family, is an award-winning USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Reviews have touted her novels as "pure genius" (SheReads), "an exceptional psychological thriller" (Publishers Weekly starred review) and promising to "keep you at the edge of your seat" (PopSugar). It is clear, one outlet shares, that "Kaira Rouda is the new mistress of domestic suspense" (Bookstr). Kaira's work has been translated into a dozen languages and three of her novels have been named Amazon Editor's Picks for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. BENEATH THE SURFACE has been optioned for film and won a Zibby's Book Award for Best Beach Read, and WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS and JILL IS NOT HAPPY were both featured in People magazine. Kaira is active in the mystery and thriller writing community as founder and co-host of the Killer Author Club, a live online interview series and podcast supporting authors. For more information please visit kairarouda.com