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ksilvio's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Author: Lucy Foley
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: February 20, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Atmospheric • Twisty • Clever
📖 S Y N O P S I S
The bride - The plus one - The best man - The wedding planner - The bridesmaid - The body
On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It's a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.
But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. 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.
And then someone turns up dead. Who didn't wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I chose Lucy Foley as one of twelve authors for my '2024 Author Taste Test' project. She's a hugely popular author among the mystery/thriller genre and it surprised me I hadn't yet read anything she'd written. I decided to start with The Guest List simply because I had it on my shelves and I didn't know much beyond that fact it was set on a secluded island.
Told through alternating points of view, giving the story an added layer of depth and intrigue and continually adding layer upon layer to the mystery until the big reveal. There were certainly some holes in the mystery, yet it is the setting and unlikeable cast of characters that kept me turning the pages. What starts out as a series of different stories, eventually Foley is able to seamlessly draw them together in a satisfying manner.
The Guest List was a fast=paced whodunit perfect for relaxing lakeside during my recent summer vacation at the cottage. It certainly has a number of popcorn thriller elements making it hard to put down, yet the writing itself felt juvenile. I could easily see this one being adapted to the big screen down the road.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• dark secrets
• island settings
• Agatha Christie
⚠️ CW: death, child death, grief, murder, toxic relationship, toxic friendship, emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying, child abuse, emotional abuse, self-harm, cutting, classism, sexual harassment, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, suicide, pregnancy, abortion, alcohol, drug use, blood, vomit, sexual content, cursing, mental illness, PTSD, depression, infidelity
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"In my experience, those who have the greatest respect for the rules also take the most enjoyment in breaking them."
"But no matter what happens, life is only a series of days. You can’t control more than a single day."
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
cutting, PTSD, depressionshrimpshackshooters's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Murder
lee_s's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting
Minor: Drug use, Fatphobia, Sexism, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
tabea1409's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
annaliseg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
rachiebeee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Blood, Abortion, and Alcohol
fanboyriot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Abortion, and Abandonment
neinselen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
everythingordinary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship