The Bad Friend

Never Tell Collection

By: Caroline Kepnes

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Secrets, betrayal, and jealousy are at the heart of a friendship in an unnerving short story about truth and self-deception by Caroline Kepnes, the New York Times bestselling author of You.

Ellen has a lot to be thankful for. Her fiancé, Troy, is perfectly sweet. Her childhood friend Tanya, despite her edgier taste in men, is like a sister to Ellen: her closest friend—and rival. So familiar and yet, over the years, so many secrets between them. For Ellen, what lies ahead is a series of choices that will add up to a life she never could have imagined.

Caroline Kepnes’s The Bad Friend is part of Never Tell, a heart-pounding collection of stories about secrets, lies, and mind games. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Just keep the endings to yourself.

©2024 Caroline Kepnes. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Ugh

Ew, Ellen is vapid and shallow; and her friend, Tanya, is just the same. Ellen has no idea what makes her happy let alone able to express that to her husband. She can’t be honest with herself let alone with anyone else. She can only compare her life to others. It’s no wonder that her life was miserable.
An Amazon Original, part of the Kindle Unlimited catalog.

A Great Listen for Fans of 'You'

Caroline Kepnes does it again with 'The Bad Friend,' a gripping short story from the collection 'Never Tell.' This story weaves a haunting narrative of secrets, betrayal, and jealousy, all centered around the complex friendship between Ellen and her childhood friend Tanya. As Ellen navigates a path filled with difficult choices and hidden truths, Kepnes masterfully captures the essence of suspense and psychological drama. The prose is sharp, the narration spot-on, and the pacing is perfect for an intense one-sitting listen. Whether you're a fan of Kepnes's 'You' or new to her work, this story will hold you in its thrall until the inevitable conclusion. A must-listen for anyone who loves a well-crafted psychological thriller.

Down to Earth!! Surprising!! *****

It’s not the book. Audible should have fast forward for when you rewind too far.

Wow, what a secret to hold on to!

It's interesting that while reading this, how very easy it is to pick out who the bad friend is, but in the end, can the same do be said? Jealousy will have you seeing things in ways that don't always align with the truth. Everything that goes ain't gold, and every coin has another side.

In Depth Look Into Life, Aging, & Choices

I already loved this author but now love the narrator too. I was surprised how much detail was packed into this short read. The perspective was awesome like we're in the journey right along with the main character; it felt personal. So much detail regarding family dynamics and friendships, it's all about perspective. I was hoping for a positive ending, but the story gets more and more depressing as it goes. I was very invested nonetheless: the mind is a powerful thing, so many secrets, you never know what the full story really is, and the grass isn't always greener on the other side. This was so intriguing to see how each character's life goes, but it left me feeling sad and a little bleak.

What did I just listen to?

Omg. This story gave me chills and left me shook. The narration is amazing and her writing style is beyond words.

twists and turns

I went into this sure about the ending...how wrong I was! this author is a keen observer of human nature

Fantastic!

What complicated characters in less than 90 minutes - damn, Caroline Kepnes is so good at this!

Good narration

The story was just ok for me but good for a quick listen. I listened while on the treadmill.

Well definitely learned the lesson

This book is a huge lesson on the grass not being greener and how we romanticize things and see what isn't really there. The main character spent so much time in her head and covertung others that life passed on with her dealing with her choices made from envy. Good story!