We Were Never Friends

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

SheReads Most Anticipated Thrillers in 2026

"Deliciously fun!" — Sarah Pekkanen, New York Times bestselling author

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.
  
  
  Genre: Mystery
  

"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

"Mix one part ruthless college frenemies out for vengeance with another part juicy scandal not-so-deeply buried in the past, then shake it up with messed-up family dynamics and Rouda's trademark dark humor, and you get the heady cocktail that is We Were Never Friends. A fun, clever spin on the revenge thriller and a rollicking good time." - Kimberly Belle

"We Were Never Friends is a wicked blend of long-held secrets, backstabbing frenemies, a gorgeous estate, and a relentless dust storm - the perfect backdrop for murder in this riveting, heart-pounding thrill ride from a writer who delivers every single time. Settle in because you'll only stop reading to catch your breath. Join Theta Gamma Mu for a party that will chill you to the bone, leave you looking over your shoulder, and sleeping with one eye open." - Heather Gudenkauf

"I love everything Kaira Rouda writes and We Were Never Friends is no exception. As twisty and suspenseful as it gets, this book is filled with deceitful characters who spend a weekend at a luxurious mansion in ultra-cool Palm Springs to celebrate a young couple's recent engagement. But instead of looking to the future, these old friends and sorority sisters discover it's not so easy to bury the past. A haunting page-turner. I loved it!" - Robyn Harding

"We Were Never Friends is Kaira Rouda at her best! Lush descriptions, outrageous characters, and corkscrew twists make this a deliciously fun read." - Sarah Pekkanen