Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

176 reviews

theycallmerash's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Child death, Self harm, Toxic friendship, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Drug use, and Bullying

Minor: Abortion, Infidelity, and Grief

gagal96's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

What a great murder mystery! I don't know how others figured the ending out with all the twists the author was throwing at us. I had guesses as to who was killed and who did it but I was way off each time. The only things I wasn't a big fan of was the bouncing back and forth in the timelines, which was confusing at times for me, and the pacing felt a little slow for me at the beginning. Overall, a great story! I'd definitely like to read more from this author in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Murder, Self harm, Death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Murder, Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, and Racism

katikins's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A story trope that’s familiar, told in a jaw dropping way. The narrators did a fantastic job of bringing each character to life, exposing their secrets as it all unfolded. I canceled my plans to finish this book. Recommending wholeheartedly!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Murder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Child death, Grief, and Eating disorder

christinereads1823's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

An excellently written, wonderfully intricate thriller mystery. Foley's five narrators are evocative, their distinct voices a perfect blend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Alcohol, and Self harm

Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

Minor: Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Abortion

charisw's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Very quick and easy read, I enjoyed it. At a point near the end I was starting to get a little bored and I was planning to give it 3 stars but then the last couple chapters turned it around and I settled on 3.5.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Child death, Self harm, Death, Alcohol, Bullying, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Grief, Death, Drug use, and Sexual harassment

erinsoupcan's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, Suicide, Self harm, Bullying, Grief, Infidelity, Eating disorder, and Toxic friendship

whamarillo's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Classism, Child death, Bullying, Fatphobia, Murder, Suicide, Self harm, Infidelity, Drug use, Grief, and Death

bethaniesherwood's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

I don’t like how neatly some of the plot threads are wrapped up. It’s almost too neat. It feels akin to “plot armor” but I genuinely don’t think that’s the case. To an extent, I think all the “coincidences” are fine at an event like a wedding — which would bring everyone you know together — but there’s two “coincidence”s that shouldn’t fit and feel forced. It takes you out of it. 

That said, the writing itself is very good. Gripping. Even though all these characters are terrible people, I was hooked. Foley has a way of crafting a narrative that’s hard to get out of your head. She seems to gravitate toward mysteries but if she ever wrote a psychological thriller, I’d buy several copies. 

Anyway, I “read” this as an audiobook. The narrators did a fantastic job, each character had its own voice — which paid homage to their roots and personality. 

I think the editor screwed Foley over a bit on this one. When I read through reviews and saw people citing repetition as an undesirable trait, I just assumed they meant the revolving narratives. That was premature. The narratives and timelines are orchestrated quite well. In my opinion, the word choice was redundant in a lot of ways. Again, excusable through their linked pasts and culture. The foreshadowing didn’t help either — too  heavy handed. 

Still a great read. Would recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Self harm, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, and Classism

Minor: Mental illness, Blood, Violence, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Grief

Parental neglect; sexual blackmail;

wsm's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Murder

Minor: Self harm, Death, Bullying, Drug use, and Blood

annaliseg's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Child death, Alcoholism, Grief, Self harm, Sexual violence, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Bullying, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Vomit