The Guest List: A Reese's Book Club Pick

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Our other characters: Helen (plus 1) married with bride’s oldest and best male friend Charlie, having doubts about their so intense and secluded relationship, mother, graphic designer at long maternity leave, suffering from traumatic family drama, having her own secrets, befriending bridesmaid Olivia. Her experience as an editor, seeing drafts day in and day out motivated her to become a writer. Lucy is a graduate of UCL and Durham universities where she majored in English Literature.

Now, can we talk about the ending?! I know life isn’t fair and all, but how is it justified that the bad guy is dead, the falsely accused is sent to prison, and the killer walks free? I don’t mind Aoife, but I feel sympathetic towards Johnno. He’s not innocent, but he’s also a victim of Will’s. More than anything, I would’ve loved to get a lot less loose ended closure. At times the story threatens to overwhelm itself with a bit too much ominous darkness and "anxious distraction," but fans of the genre will enjoy the proceedings, imagining just how good that sumptuous wedding cake might have tasted. The setting was extremely atmospheric, channeling a gothic vibe by incorporating some of the island's earlier history and lore into the tale. but overall, this is a very enjoyable and addicting read! i look forward to seeing what kind of story LF comes up with next!

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The novel was published in May 2020 by HarperCollins and on 2 June 2020, by William Morrow. [2] [7] The audiobook was published by Harper Audio in 2020 and was voiced by an ensemble cast of Jot Davies, Chloe Massey, Olivia Dowd, Aoife McMahon, Sarah Ovens and Rich Keeble. [8] Along with The Hunting Party, it is being adapted for the screen. [9] Reception [ edit ]

As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. Once again, Lucy writes an amazing setting! The island itself is by far another character. It’s beautiful but dangerous with especially rough waters. The island is only two miles from one end to the other and is described as longer than wide. And the only way to get the island is from a private boat. The island adds to the mystery setting especially when it comes to the eventual murder.What did you think about the reveal thatAoife is the sister of Darcey? What did you think about her reasons for having their wedding at the island? Were you surprised that she ends up being the one to murder Will? CWA Dagger Awards 2020 Longlists Announced". The Crime Writers' Association . Retrieved 27 December 2021. The wedding of the year is about to take place on an exclusive island. Bridezilla is about to marry a smarmy D list celebrity who has many skeletons in his closet. The members of the Wedding Party hold the cards that could destroy their marriage and their lives. Our bridesmaid is Olivia, also Jules’ half-sister. We find out that Olivia and Will had a fling when Olivia was barely legal to do such things. Jules is not happy about this. Hannah, called the ‘Plus-one’, is there as a date for Charlie. Charlie is Jules’ best friend since childhood and they also had a fling at one point—something that reignited the flame Charlie has always kept for Jules. Of course, Hannah is not very pleased about this. We also have a litany of groomsmen who all went to College with Will, a place where much upper-class debauchery and rituals took place, some of which get exposed during the wedding weekend. The Guest List is a semi-closed room mystery. Which is to say that, there’s a set amount of characters and they are all (more or less) in one place when the murder occurs. So, it’s set on a small private island, and all the people on the island are staying at this property. There’s a limited number of people who could have done it, and you’re trying to figure out who it could be.

Sorry friends who loved and praised this one! It was a perfectly fine book, and it has all the right ingredients for a good murder mystery whodunnit - creepy and claustrophobic atmosphere, multiple suspects with motive to kill, loads of secrets threatening to be revealed, and five intriguing narrators to move the story along, all wrapped up in a big festive occasion. The stunning bride. She’s the manager of a successful design and lifestyle empire. She has a half-sister, Olivia. Her parents divorced and her father remarried.

I absolutely loved the creepy atmosphere, I wouldn't have spent one night there no matter how much Jules insisted- because she would insist. Everything is all about Jules. The book revolves around multiple POV's which all are members of the wedding party. Yet the author did a superb job of making it really easy to follow along. The chapters were clearly labeled for each POV and if you didn't get it, she even had a description- wedding planner, etc...Yesss! I loved it! On an island off the coast of West Ireland, Julia "Jules" Keegan and Will Slater are having a wedding at a place called the Folly. Jules runs a successful online magazine while Will is the host of a survivalist TV show. The night of the wedding, there's a storm, and the lights cut out. When they turn on, there's a scream and reports of a body. Barbeito, Camila (27 October 2020). "The Guest List by Lucy Foley". Popsugar . Retrieved 27 December 2021.

I raise my eyebrow at him, cross my arms. I am past master at the raised eyebrow game- I use it at work to fantastic effect. I dare him to say another word." What should we do if people start encroaching our personal space or behaves in a way unacceptable to us? BUT… this book is an exception. I loved its slow building tension, I loved the notorious, immature, childish boys club (I’m talking about groom’s friends who are acting like wedding crashers and stayed in their teenage years), I loved variety of interesting, rich, attention taker characterization. And wonderful part is till the end of the book we are left in the dark and we have no idea who is death or the identity of perpetrator. I liked reading the details of putting the wedding together; the food they ate and just all the information that make for a more well-rounded story. Almost like you feel like you’re there but definitely glad you’re not at the same time. I just loved it a whole lot. It takes a lot for me to give a thriller five stars but I just had so much fun reading this and I didn’t have any issues with it and I devoured this book in less than 24 hours.

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E]ntertaining if uneven ... Foley defers disclosing the murder victim’s identity until quite late, but she undercuts the suspense with obvious indications of who it is.… [Still,] readers seeking thrills will find plenty. this has everything you could want from a classic ‘whodunnit.’ i had no surprises whilst reading this - i saw EVERYTHING coming a mile away. but its definitely because LF does a great job at planting clues along the way. Edit - Congrats, Lucy Foley, for winning the goodreads choice award for the best mystery and thriller in 2020 for this book. Foley worked as an editor at Headline Publishing Group and Hodder & Stoughton before writing full-time.