Friends, Lovers, Enemies is a riveting collection of short stories that explores many situations that we as readers have experienced, from two friends fighting over one man, to a married couple where the husband suspects his wife is cheating on him with his friend. Friendship, love, betrayal, and loneliness are but a few themes that are represented in these short stories.

Author Vera Zegarac has written a collection of eloquent and striking short stories. I can see each one being turned into a full-length story due to the vivid details and surprising depth that begs to be explored. It is said that a good writer knows how to end a chapter. I think author Vera Zegarac knows how to start a chapter, or in this case, a short story. I was immediately captivated at the beginning of each story. The characters were compelling; like deep alluring reflections of people you come across in your life.

Each story is only a couple of pages, but the author does not hide her story behind purple prose. Each story utilizes clear and concise language so that readers easily pick up on the nuances of the story. We are not given much detail about each character but by their actions we know their story.

The author’s writing is unpredictable and shocking in a satisfying way. Losing Zoe is a story about infidelity and insecurity, which lulls you into thinking it’s a predictable read, but the surprising twist ending is shocking but enjoyable. Max’s character is jealous, insecure, and desperate and I loved how expressive and passionate he is. I feel readers will be able to relate to his actions in one way or another. I enjoyed how the author both described and showed you how each character felt. This helped to immerse me in these characters’ lives. Why are We Here is a story of two friends who meet up for brunch to rekindle their friendship, but we later learn that Amanda wants to make Linda jealous for stealing her husband. There is a fantastic scene where Amanda takes her lipstick from her bag and begins applying it and smiles at her reflection. I loved this scene because I felt it perfectly portrayed her passive-aggressive behavior toward Linda. This is a great example of how the author shows you who these people are. Once I finished reading the stories, I found myself contemplating what I had just read and wondering what could have happened after the ending, and in some cases creating my own endings to some of the stories that I felt needed one.

Friends, Lovers, Enemies is an engrossing collection of short stories that showcases the authors writing talent. If you’re looking for stories with a unique voice and something to say about life, then I highly recommend this collection.

Pages: 115 | ASIN: B0BPLP777Y