Did I Say You Could Go By: Melanie Gideon

“Comeuppance. She’s always loved that word. Gemma Howard is finally feeling what it’s like to be exiled from a community. To be publicly pilloried, just as she’d been, seven years ago”

Melanie Gideon, Did I Say You Could Go

*Just a warning that this book contains depictions of suicide and child abuse.

This title alone sends chills through me. I just image sitting with someone, having a great lunch or visit and attempting to leave when they say “Did I say you could go?”. It makes me feel that I had no idea I was in danger the whole time. That was the reason I wanted to read this book. If an author can evoke a feeling just from the title, it deserves a look through.

Overview: Ruth, a wealthy, single mom has been waiting for the chance to reconnect with her former best friend Gemma after an embarrassing scandal left her on the outs with the other moms in town. Gemma, facing her own scandal, is pleased to have someone in her corner but still remembers the issues that took place within their friendship before.

When the lines between nurture and possession become blurred, the consequences could become deadly for all involved.

My thoughts: We’ve all had friends who have come and gone from our lives. Some you occasionally think about and wonder what happened to them and others you hope you never run into at the store. The relationship between Gemma and Ruth is a complex mixture of both.

Did I Say You Could Go, is written similar to Gone Girl where each chapter rotates the point of view between each character. This set-up creates many opportunities for plot twist and even though it’s clear early on in the book who the main villain is, what she is actually responsible for is up in the air the entire story. Also, many of the characters tell their story with themselves as the protagonist so they don’t see their own faults. This allowed me to decide who I believe the most and I’m sure another reader would have different thoughts about each character.

This book is first and foremost about obsession. Obsession between friendships, body image and how others see you. Each character has a different obsession that runs their life and leads their motivations throughout the plot. I think everyone can relate to one or more of these obsessions and know how they can shape and interfere with your life.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. I read this 354 page book in one day. The short chapters and tendency to tell the story through text messages and DMs made it easy to speed through. I would recommend it to a casual reader who enjoys suspense. There has to be a category of books that refers to thrillers based on women relationships and betrayal but I’m not sure if it has been summed up to a category yet. But if you know, you know.

Rating: 4/5 stars