Release Date: February 3, 2026
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.
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Praise & Reviews
“Secrets and betrayals abound in this twisty tale of a sorority reunion gone very, very wrong. We Were Never Friends is a delightfully juicy reminder that dark secrets can lurk behind even the glossiest of exteriors.”
~ Kathleen Barber, author of Sisterhood Above All
“Riveting, heart-pounding thrill ride!”
~ Heather Gudenkauf
“Deliciously fun!”
~ Sarah Pekkanen
“As twisty and suspenseful as it gets.”
~ Robyn Harding, bestselling author of The Haters
“ A fun, clever spin on the revenge thriller, and a rollicking good time.”
~ Kimberly Belle, USA Today bestselling and Edgar Award winning author of The Paris Widow
“Rouda’s (Jill Is Not Happy) latest mixes together several sorority alumnae, their plus-ones, and a host of secrets over a reunion weekend that goes horribly and thrillingly wrong. Roxy Callahan Greer’s son is engaged to the daughter of her old sorority sister Beth Harrison, which offers Roxy the perfect opportunity to throw a combination engagement party and 25-year sorority reunion at her home in Palm Springs. Though Beth has no fond feeling for either Roxy or Palm Springs, she knows she must attend the party in order to support her daughter. On arrival, Beth is startled and more than a little creeped out by Roxy’s home, which reminds her of the hotel they all stayed in for a spring break long ago where a tragedy happened. As the weekend progresses, increasingly disturbing incidents rock the group, and it becomes clear that there is a killer among them.” VERDICT This fast-paced, entertaining read will delight fans of May Cobb and Jeneva Rose.
~ Jane Jorgenson, Poisoned Pen