Such Good People - by Amy Blumenfeld (Paperback)

About the Book

"It's 10 p.m. on a Thursday in the spring of her freshman year of college, and April is standing at the back of a crowded Manhattan bar waiting for her friend, Rudy, to arrive. Their eyes lock the moment he enters the room, and in an instant, lives and legacies are altered forever. Within hours, Rudy is arrested. Within days, April is expelled. Within weeks, he's incarcerated. And within months, she meets Peter, a prodigious young attorney who makes her world recognizable again. Nearly fifteen years later, April is happily living in Chicago married to Peter, a mother of three with a fulfilling career and standing yoga date with her girlfriends. On the eve of Peter's election for local office, Rudy is up for parole. Headlines explode about April's past, jeopardizing Peter's campaign and everything they hold dear. Suddenly, April is faced with an impossible choice: protecting the life she created, or the person who sacrificed everything to make that life a possibility."--

Book Synopsis

An emotionally gripping, character-driven novel about the ripple effect of a split-second decision to protect a friend.

A PEOPLE MAGAZINE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2025 A FORBES MAGAZINE PICK OF 2025

"A poignant story of love, loss, loyalty, and being torn between right and wrong. You won't be able to put this one down."--Emily Liebert, USA Today best-selling author of Pretty Revenge

"One of those multi-dimensional must-reads that wins both as a page-turning legal story about social injustice, prejudice and redemption, and an emotional character-driven tale of love, family, and lifelong friendship. Fans of Tayari Jones's An American Marriage, Rebecca Searles' In Five Years, and Allison Larkin's The People We Keep will devour Amy Blumenfeld's latest triumph. Such Good People is Such a Good Book!"--Samantha Greene Woodruff, author of The Lobotomist's Wife and The Trade Off

It's 10 p.m. on a Thursday in the spring of her freshman year of college, and April is standing at the back of a crowded Manhattan bar waiting for her friend, Rudy, to arrive. Their eyes lock the moment he enters the room, and in an instant, lives and legacies are altered forever.

Within hours, Rudy is arrested. Within days, April is expelled. Within weeks, he's incarcerated. And within months, she meets Peter, a prodigious young attorney who makes her world recognizable again.

Nearly fifteen years later, April is happily living in Chicago married to Peter, a mother of three with a fulfilling career and standing yoga date with her girlfriends. On the eve of Peter's election for local office, Rudy is up for parole. Headlines explode about April's past, jeopardizing Peter's campaign and everything they hold dear. Suddenly, April is faced with an impossible choice: protecting the life she created, or the person who sacrificed everything to make that life a possibility. Such Good People is a captivating portrait of blurred lines, divided loyalties, and what it means to love purely, steadfastly, and interminably.

Review Quotes

A People magazine's Most Anticipated Summer Reads 2025
A Forbes magazine's Best Books For Summer
A She Knows' New Book We Can't Wait to Read in Summer 2025
A Zibby's Most Anticipated Read of 2025
A Brit + Co. Most Anticipated Summer Book of 2025
A She Reads' Most Anticipated Contemporary Books of Summer 2025

"An engaging, thought-provoking read with lasting emotional impact. Recommend to fans of Julia Glass and Jodi Picoult."--Library Journal

". . . this engaging novel succeeds as a story of dealing with the consequences and challenges of decisions made in one's youth . . . A highly readable story of ties that bind and skeletons in the closet."--Kirkus Reviews

"Intricately plotted and deeply moving, Such Good People is a poignant examination of family, friendship, and the secrets we keep to protect those we love. Blumenfeld writes with nuance and compassion--this novel will linger in your heart and mind long after you finish the last page."--Alyson Richman, author of The Time Keepers

"Blumenfeld (author of The Cast) probes the limits of an unshakeable friendship . . . a poignant reminder that 'behind every docket number [is] a human being.'"--BookLife Reviews

"Weaving the past and the present together into a swift, engrossing narrative, [Such Good People] . . . is a complex and moving novel." --Foreword Clarion Reviews

"Such Good People is a masterfully crafted, nuanced and riveting story about the lengths we go to for the people we love. Blumenfeld's richly developed characters come to life and will stay with you long after the story ends. A thought-provoking, perfect book club pick. Don't miss this one!" --Elyssa Friedland, USA TODAY best-selling author of Last Summer at the Golden Hotel and Jackpot Summer

"Such Good People is a powerful, thought-provoking novel that won't let you go from the first page to the last line . . . Blumenfeld's writing is richly textured, and her multifaceted characters are unforgettable as they strive to rebound from their past and reach for second chances. This is a must-read: a poignant page-turner that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you thinking long after you close the book." --Lisa Barr, New York Times best-selling author of The Goddess of Warsaw

"A page-turning story of buried secrets and life-altering choices. Heartfelt, gripping, and deeply human, Such Good People is a masterful exploration of the bonds that define us." --Jamie Brenner, author of The Forever Summer

"A poignant story of love, loss, loyalty, and being torn between right and wrong. You won't be able to put this one down." --Emily Liebert, USA Today best-selling author of Pretty Revenge

"One of those multi-dimensional must-reads that wins both as a page-turning legal story about social injustice, prejudice and redemption, and an emotional character-driven tale of love, family, and lifelong friendship. Fans of Tayari Jones' An American Marriage, Rebecca Searles' In Five Years, and Allison Larkin's The People We Keep will devour Amy Blumenfeld's latest triumph. Such Good People is Such a Good Book!" --Samantha Greene Woodruff, best-selling author of The Lobotomist's Wife and The Trade Off

". . . Blumenfeld writes a pitch-perfect, thoughtful tale of friendship and loyalty. A thrilling exploration of humanity and sacrifice with characters you can't help but fall in love with. This one truly shines." --Rochelle Weinstein, best-selling author of This Is Not How It Ends

"Having read Amy Blumenfeld's debut, The Cast, I was excited to read her second novel and it did not disappoint! Such Good People is a page-turning story about redemption, perseverance, true friendship, and second chances. With her deft command of language and story-telling, Blumenfeld has crafted a narrative that will keep you hooked from start to finish." --Susie Orman Schnall, author of Anna Bright Is Hiding Something

"A propulsive novel . . ." --Nicola Kraus, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Nanny Diaries and The Best We Could Hope For

"Amy Blumenfeld's second novel is a thoughtful story about old friendships, the bonds of family, and long-buried secrets. Such Good People will leave readers wondering: Can you ever outrun your past? And even if we can, at what cost?" --Brenda Janowitz, author of The Audrey Hepburn Estate

"Blumenfeld's latest is as poignant as it is absorbing. An expertly crafted and wildly engaging exploration of the depth and resilience of human relationships. As main characters April and Rudy each try to climb their way back from one tragic night in their youth, but their connection to each other is the focal point and crowning glory of this finely woven story. Such Good People makes for such good reading. It's a must!" --Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today best-selling author of He Gets That From Me and Counting Backwards

"An unputdownable story of lifelong friendship, family loyalties, personal ambition and the choices we make along the way. Blumenfeld's writing is engaging, nuanced and sharp. Her complex characters and captivating narrative will stay with you long after the last page. Such Good People is such a good book!!" --Rachel Levy Lesser, essayist and author of Life's Accessories: a Memoir (and Fashion Guide)

"This beautifully rendered heartfelt novel examines the bonds of family and lifelong friendships through a timely and insightful lens. Such Good People is such a good read!" --Jane L. Rosen, Author of Songs of Summer

About the Author

Amy Blumenfeld grew up in Queens, New York. She is a graduate of Barnard College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where she received the James A. Wechsler Award for national reporting. Her essays and articles have appeared on the cover of People, in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, O, The Oprah Magazine, as well in George where she worked as a staff editor and writer. Amy's debut novel, The Cast, was selected as a New York Post Best Book of the Week and named Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award in Popular Fiction. She has also been a contributing author to a best-selling anthology and two non-fiction books. Amy lives in New York with her husband and daughter.