I Invited Her In by Adele Parks @adeleparks @HQstories @SophCalder #IInvitedHerIn

A gripping story of friendship and betrayal from international best-selling author Adele Parks

‘I invited her in… and she took everything.’

When Mel hears from a long-lost friend in need of help, she doesn’t hesitate to invite her to stay. Mel and Abi were best friends back in the day, sharing the highs and lows of student life, until Mel’s unplanned pregnancy made her drop out of her studies.

Now, seventeen years later, Mel and Abi’s lives couldn’t be more different. Mel is happily married, having raised her son on her own before meeting her husband, Ben. Now they share gorgeous girls and have a chaotic but happy family home, with three children.

Abi, meanwhile, followed her lover to LA for a glamorous life of parties, celebrity and indulgence. Everything was perfect, until she discovered her partner had been cheating on her. Seventeen years wasted, and nothing to show for it. So what Abi needs now is a true friend to lean on, to share her grief over a glass of wine, and to have some time to heal. And what better place than Mel’s house, with her lovely kids, and supportive husband…

I Invited Her In by Adele Parks is published in paperback by HQ on 20 September 2018. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.

Mel and Ben are happily married, living just outside Northampton with their two small daughters and seventeen-year-old son Ben. Mel's life hasn't panned out exactly how she imagined it would when she was in University. An unplanned pregnancy meant that she gave up her degree course and became a single mum to Liam. When Ben came along six years later, both Mel and Liam fell for him, they married and Liam became his son.

Life is pretty ordinary for Mel. Working in a high street clothes store, doing the school run, encouraging Liam's studies, supporting Ben through difficult work times. She's happy, she and Ben have a good relationship

When Mel receives an email from Abi, a friend from university, she's shocked but excited. Abi left the UK many years ago and is now a minor TV celebrity. However, her career is firmly entwined with her husband's - the guy she snared at university and who she's just found in bed with a much younger woman. Abi wants to take refuge in the UK, she wants to stay with Mel and Ben.

Although Mel and Abi haven't been in touch for seventeen years, Mel welcomes her with open arms, telling her that she can stay as long as she likes. Little does she realise that her generous offer will tear her family apart.

Adele Parks writes with such authority, she's able to get into the minds of her characters and the reader is treated to some intense emotional drama in this story. The effect that Abi's arrival has on this pretty normal, suburban  household is devastating and the reader is privy to every single horrific step of it.

Parks' creation of Abi is pure genius and the reader will love to hate her, for we can see far more clearly just what she's up to. I did work out just what she was doing, and why, fairly early on, but poor Mel has no idea and that sense of anticipation that builds and builds as the horror heightens is just excellent.

I Invited Her In is a novel that will spark some debate among readers. Looking at how Mel and Ben's reactions to the situation differs so much will make one think about how males and females can often view parenthood, and friendship in different ways. With themes of revenge, regret and hidden secrets, this is a story that keeps the reader on their toes. Excellently written, darkly addictive and with an ending that throws up one more huge surprise.

Adele Parks was born in Teeside, North-East England. Her first novel, Playing Away, was published in 2000 and since then she's had seventeen international bestsellers.
She's been an Ambassador for the Reading Agency and a judge for the Costa and is a keen supporter of The National Literary Trust.
She's lived in Italy, Botswana and London, and is now settled in Guildford, Surrey with her husband, son and cat.

Find out more at www.adeleparks.com
Twitter @adeleparks
Instagram @adele_parks
Author Page on Facebook