Rich details make 'Friends' worthy read

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE. By Sally Koslow. Ballantine Books. 320 Pages. $25.

Chloe, Quincy, Talia and Jules are friends who've been there for life's ups and downs. They met as roommates in their early 20s but quickly formed a family that stays close despite marriages, kids and careers.

But when assumptions and envy suddenly enter the picture, the bonds they take for granted fracture.

"With Friends Like These" offers a refreshingly honest look at friendships and how they change over time. The betrayals between the characters cut deep and surpass the typical fallbacks of stealing husbands or boyfriends.

What's stolen here proves to be much more painful because in each case, a friend's trust becomes a weapon that wounds even innocent bystanders.

A different character narrates each chapter, a powerful storytelling technique that answers the proverbial question "What was she thinking?" while quickly advancing the plot and allowing the same twists and turns to be examined from multiple angles.

The author foreshadows a bit too well in some situations, but even when the conclusions seem clear, the rich details make every page worth reading.