Group Chat by Zoë Foster Blake
If you've ever watched a group chat spiral from supportive to chaotic in the space of a few messages, Zoë Foster Blake's latest novel will feel familiar. Group Chat is sharp, funny and packed with on-point observations about modern friendships. It explores what happens when the people who know us best also know exactly how to push our buttons.
When Farah’s husband has an affair, her group chat doesn’t offer platitudes. They offer a holiday on a Greek island. There’s a free luxury villa, thanks to Vivian’s DJ boyfriend, plus clubs, cocktails, beaches, boats and a week away from their daily routines.
At the centre of the story is a tight-knit group of women whose lives are intertwined through years of friendship, shared history and, of course, an endless stream of messages. As careers, relationships, parenting and personal ambitions pull them in different directions, the group chat becomes both a lifeline and a source of tension. What begins as everyday conversation gradually exposes misunderstandings, secrets and the complexities that sit beneath even the strongest friendships.
Zoë Foster Blake has a real talent for capturing contemporary life. The dialogue feels natural, the humour is quick, and the characters feel authentic. Many of the situations are laugh-out-loud funny because they are so relatable. Whether it's overanalysing a message, navigating friendship politics, or trying to present a polished version of yourself while everything feels messy behind the scenes, Zoë understands the small dramas of everyday life.
The novel also explores how relationships evolve over time and how people change as they move through different stages of life. It also reflects on the ways technology keeps us connected while sometimes creating new opportunities for misunderstanding.
Group Chat is an entertaining and fun read. Zoë has written 18 books, including novels, non-fiction, and picture books. Follow Zoë online.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy
Allen & Unwin
