Entre amis, the first novel by American writer Hal Ebbott, translated and published by Actes Sud, is described as a veiled declaration of war wrapped in the guise of a friendship. Set in New York and its surroundings, the novel explores tense human relationships, particularly between groups of friends and their daughters, who become entangled in conflicts that lead to an accusation of sexual assault. The story highlights the struggle between truth and lies, and the consequences of how people perceive and interpret each other's actions. Ebbott, when asked about how he approached this tension, explained that building a connection with readers requires creating a world that feels believable, while also incorporating genuine emotions and love among the characters, even when their relationships are marked by deep fractures. He emphasized that relationships are not necessarily unhealthy or bad, as that would eliminate the tension and tragedy central to the story. Ebbott’s writing process involves questioning what is true—whether a character actually said something or if an action truly occurred. He highlights the power of the "precise detail," a concept well-expressed by Roland Barthes. By focusing on seemingly mundane aspects of daily life, Ebbott reveals hidden truths. For example, a character pushing his wife, "pulling her like a curtain," suggests he sees her as an object, though he clarifies this is not always the case. He notes that this tendency to objectify others is common to everyone, though it can be overcome. Ebbott also points out that characters like Amos, who seems drawn to people who confirm his harshest self-judgments, are not unique. Regarding family dynamics, he avoids portraying them as the opposite of what they claim to be, instead emphasizing their complexity, where dark forces coexist with kindness and self-sacrifice. He references a line from East of Eden by John Steinbeck: "There is more beauty in truth, even if it is a terrible beauty." Entre amis is published by Actes Sud, 320 pages, priced at 23 €.