Keep Your Friends Close

Whitney is a central narrator and protagonist whose journey exposes The Corrosive Power of Secrets in Friendships. Initially presented as Kiersten’s loyal and grieving best friend, Whitney’s character is gradually revealed to be more complex and morally ambiguous. Her primary motivation is the preservation of her family’s affluent lifestyle, a goal threatened by her husband Colin’s secret gambling addiction. This pressure leads her to create an illicit, high-end escort service run under the guise of her legitimate talent agency. This duality defines her character, as she navigates the glossy, competitive world of the West Hollywood Moms’ Club while managing a criminal enterprise (her service is unregistered). Her actions reflect the novel’s critique of The Performance of Motherhood and Social Status, where maintaining a perfect external image requires significant moral compromise.

The friendship between Whitney and Kiersten, described by Whitney as making her feel chosen, is the novel’s core relationship, yet it is corroded by mutual deception. Whitney hides Colin’s relapse as well as Jade’s admissions about her own family’s financial affairs, while Kiersten hides secrets about her children’s paternity. Whitney’s grief over Kiersten’s death is genuine, but her perception is unreliable, clouded by her own secrets and a desire for a simple explanation.