Not Bad People - by Brandy Scott (Paperback)

About the Book

"Originally published as Not bad people in Australia in 2019 by HarperCollins Australia"--Title page verso.

Book Synopsis

A clever, compelling debut novel with a unique premise of what happens when three best friends engage in what seems to be a harmless act, but instead results in tragedy, leading the women to confront buried resentments, shattering secrets, dark lies, and the moral consequences that could alter their lives forever.

Three friends, thirty years of shared secrets, one impulsive gesture...and a terrible accident. When friendship goes bad, someone has to pay.

It's New Year's Eve. Three thirty-something women--Aimee, Melinda and Lou--best friends for decades, let off sky lanterns filled with resolutions: for meaning, for freedom, for money. As the glowing paper bags float away, there's a bright flare in the distance. It could be a sign of luck--or the start of a complete nightmare that will upend their friendships, families, and careers.

The day after their ceremony, the newspapers report a small plane crash--two victims pulled from the wreckage, one a young boy. Were they responsible? Aimee thinks they are, Melinda won't accept it, and Lou has problems of her own. It's a toxic recipe for guilt trips, shame, obsession, blackmail, and power games.

They're not bad people. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

From the Back Cover

Three friends, thirty years of shared secrets, one impulsive gesture . . . and a terrible accident. When friendship goes bad, someone has to pay.

It's New Year's Eve. Three thirty-something women--Aimee, Melinda, and Lou, best friends for decades--release sky lanterns filled with resolutions: for meaning, for freedom, for money. As the glowing paper bags float away, there's a bright flare in the distance. It could be a sign of luck--or the start of a complete nightmare that will upend their friendships, families, and careers.

The day after their ceremony, the newspapers report a small plane crash--two victims were pulled from the wreckage, one a young boy. Are the three friends responsible? Aimee thinks they are, Melinda won't accept it, and Lou has problems of her own. It's a toxic recipe for guilt trips, shame, obsession, blackmail, and power games.

They're not bad people. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

Review Quotes

"Reminiscent of Liane Moriarty, Marian Keyes, and Celeste Ng, Scott's voice is clear in this solid novel, which explores the not-so-black-and-white concepts of honesty, infidelity, mental health, and friendship...Fans will applaud Scott's painful honesty in portraying her women's choices and actions and the consequences of both." - Kirkus Reviews