I'm reading a book right now and just got to a part where the MC, who is in a bit of a pickle, calls up her friend and basically asks, "Can I trust you?" and her friend is like, "Yeah, I got you, don't worry," and it seems kind of obvious that she's going to betray her. The plot seems pretty predictable at this point and I'm not sure I want to finish the book anymore. I don't mind reading a spoiled book for the craft, but the writing is just okay. Just skimmed the next few chapters and yup, she betrays her.
That got me thinking about books with good unexpected betrayal scenes. My most memorable betrayal can't even be considered a betrayal, but it really felt like it at the time, and it's in Little Women when Jo turns down Lauire's proposal. As an adult, it totally makes sense why she would, and it was absolutely the correct decision for both of them. 11 year old me when I read it? I felt so betrayed on behalf of Laurie. Grown up me knows that she never owed him anything beyond friendship, child me felt so wronged.
The most recent one I read was Ace of Spades by Farida Abike-Iyimide. I was listening to it while on a walk and the music teacher scene had me stop and go, "Oh shit". Abike-Iyimide did a good job of setting up the betrayer as enough of an ally that it felt like a real betrayal, but not so up the MC's butt that it felt like a set up for a betrayal.
Do you have a favorite betrayal scene? A favorite betrayer?
by Anxious-Fun8829