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lesseraliterary's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
one of the better endings i’ve read in the past week
britney2001_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
evarano's review
2.0
2.5 ⭐️
I was excited to read this book based on the description, but unfortunately it fell short for me.
The Girls Weekend follows June, an English professor in her thirties whose relationship just ended with her boyfriend. Frustrated and feeling down, she decides to give in to her friend Em's insistence that they attend a girls weekend trip at their college friend Sadie's house. Sadie is super wealthy, an accomplished writer, with the perfect husband (who June used to date) and daughter. Sadie has always been June's frenemy, always trying to one up each other, June feels like she's come out on the bottom. Along with their other friends, June and Em head up for the weekend, but quickly discover that not everything is as it seems. Tensions arise, and soon Sadie disappears. The odd thing is, no one has any idea of what happened to her. Is this another one of Sadie's games to try to one up her old friend? Or is something more mysterious at large?
This book was written really well, I did keep reading and wanted to know the end. The beginning did draw me in and I was excited to keep reading, but as it went on, I wasn't as interested. I found the characters very unlikeable. Their problems and feelings seemed very immature, they didn't seem like established adults, but childish. The longer the story went on, the more it was understood that the characters weren't very close, therefore their actions and reactions were selfish. They didn't care about what happened to Sadie, they were out for themselves, which made me not really care about what happened to Sadie. I found the story moved really slowly, there was a lot of feelings and guessing, trying to solve the mystery, but very few actual events. In the end, the story isn't pieced together or flushed out. The mystery aspect is anticlimactic. A lot of aspects were mentioned that weren't touched upon again, and then it ended. It made me wonder why a lot was added, I think it was way longer than it should've been. I think this story had so much more potential, but fell flat. I hope others enjoy it more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read this book based on the description, but unfortunately it fell short for me.
The Girls Weekend follows June, an English professor in her thirties whose relationship just ended with her boyfriend. Frustrated and feeling down, she decides to give in to her friend Em's insistence that they attend a girls weekend trip at their college friend Sadie's house. Sadie is super wealthy, an accomplished writer, with the perfect husband (who June used to date) and daughter. Sadie has always been June's frenemy, always trying to one up each other, June feels like she's come out on the bottom. Along with their other friends, June and Em head up for the weekend, but quickly discover that not everything is as it seems. Tensions arise, and soon Sadie disappears. The odd thing is, no one has any idea of what happened to her. Is this another one of Sadie's games to try to one up her old friend? Or is something more mysterious at large?
This book was written really well, I did keep reading and wanted to know the end. The beginning did draw me in and I was excited to keep reading, but as it went on, I wasn't as interested. I found the characters very unlikeable. Their problems and feelings seemed very immature, they didn't seem like established adults, but childish. The longer the story went on, the more it was understood that the characters weren't very close, therefore their actions and reactions were selfish. They didn't care about what happened to Sadie, they were out for themselves, which made me not really care about what happened to Sadie. I found the story moved really slowly, there was a lot of feelings and guessing, trying to solve the mystery, but very few actual events. In the end, the story isn't pieced together or flushed out. The mystery aspect is anticlimactic. A lot of aspects were mentioned that weren't touched upon again, and then it ended. It made me wonder why a lot was added, I think it was way longer than it should've been. I think this story had so much more potential, but fell flat. I hope others enjoy it more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.
vonni's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a delightful thriller as an audiobook to listen to while I did chores. I'm not sure if it would have been so thrilling to read through in print, but it was entertaining.
The cast is spread thin in terms of character, but full of people. As a shorter whodunnit with a lot of turns, I think that's just fine. I was more interested in the conclusion, but the pace wasn't fast enough for me, personally. I was internally screaming at some points asking questions that the protagonists weren't asking fast enough for my taste.
Final thoughts? Never talk to cops without a lawyer.
The cast is spread thin in terms of character, but full of people. As a shorter whodunnit with a lot of turns, I think that's just fine. I was more interested in the conclusion, but the pace wasn't fast enough for me, personally. I was internally screaming at some points asking questions that the protagonists weren't asking fast enough for my taste.
Final thoughts? Never talk to cops without a lawyer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Self harm, Drug use, Infertility, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Murder, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Violence, Body horror, Racism, Child death, Forced institutionalization, and Addiction
Minor: Slavery, Stalking, Mental illness, Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
rshearon's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
this was an exciting thriller/mystery for book club. definitely better than the last book club pick…. i love a good whodunit but i will say the reveal on this one didn’t hit as hard as i wanted it to. i know they can’t all be earth-shattering plotlines that make me gasp at the big reveal, but this one was a little lackluster. i wish the author had laid more groundwork about the daughter being a psycho. in hindsight, there were clues she was shady, but not really any background on her mental state. i think it would’ve been much more interesting to learn a lot more about her being a mini me of her mom and a psycho who broke. the romance and HEA also felt a little rushed and i wish we had gotten a more detailed romantic subplot. all of their feelings were off page during the MC’s black out… so them running off into the sun together was unexciting. overall, i had a good time though and it kept me on the edge of my seat and finishing in one sitting. i hope we keep picking thrillers for book club from now one tbh
chelseatm's review
1.0
This is not really meant as a review for others but a reminder for my future self as to why I detested this book.
1) The characters' decisions and motivations were INFURIATING and I didn't see any reasonable justification for them doing so other than to create drama and plot devices.
2) I felt the "who done it" was forced and over the top. It felt very unsatisfying.
3) Where the F did that romance storyline come from? It was completely unbelievable that they felt that strongly when they barely talked and reinforces the idea that for a true happy ending to take place, she needs to have a strong love future. So stupid! It's not enough that she evaded jail but also she'll be getting regular D.
1) The characters' decisions and motivations were INFURIATING and I didn't see any reasonable justification for them doing so other than to create drama and plot devices.
2) I felt the "who done it" was forced and over the top. It felt very unsatisfying.
3) Where the F did that romance storyline come from? It was completely unbelievable that they felt that strongly when they barely talked and reinforces the idea that for a true happy ending to take place, she needs to have a strong love future. So stupid! It's not enough that she evaded jail but also she'll be getting regular D.
ifollowedthatrabbit's review
4.0
June gets a text message from one of her oldest friends, Sadie, inviting the group to a baby shower at her house. It's been years since the five of them met, and June doesn't seem too eager to go to that "Fearless Five" reunion.
They all became friends at college, but their friendship is not as it used to be. June and Sadie were more like frenemies. Sadie was the typical queen B and, even though they are around 38 years old now, June still feels insecure around her.
Em is June's best friend, so she tries to convice her to leave those feelings behind and go to Amy's baby shower.
Once they all meet at Sadie's place, old memories and feelings come out, and June realizes that the so perfect life she thought Sadie has is not what it seems.
On the other hand, they all participate in the activities Sadie has organized, though the atmosphere isn't quite festive, and to top it all, after what looks like a wild party, Sadie disappears. No one remembers what happened the previous night, and a notorious dark red spot on the wall as well as Kimikos's broken nose make it look worst.
The Girls Weekend is quite an enjoyable thriller with some twisted details. Nothing is what it seems.
~ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review~
They all became friends at college, but their friendship is not as it used to be. June and Sadie were more like frenemies. Sadie was the typical queen B and, even though they are around 38 years old now, June still feels insecure around her.
Em is June's best friend, so she tries to convice her to leave those feelings behind and go to Amy's baby shower.
Once they all meet at Sadie's place, old memories and feelings come out, and June realizes that the so perfect life she thought Sadie has is not what it seems.
On the other hand, they all participate in the activities Sadie has organized, though the atmosphere isn't quite festive, and to top it all, after what looks like a wild party, Sadie disappears. No one remembers what happened the previous night, and a notorious dark red spot on the wall as well as Kimikos's broken nose make it look worst.
The Girls Weekend is quite an enjoyable thriller with some twisted details. Nothing is what it seems.
~ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review~
thephdivabooks's review
4.0
A group of women who are mostly friends (maybe frenemies) get together for a reunion, at the large estate owned by queen bee Sadie MacTavish. When Sadie goes missing, they are all suspects… A fun and twist-y read that will definitely have you grabbing for the popcorn!
I loved that this is a closed-room mystery. All of the characters who could be suspects are secluded at the MacTavish estate, and I did enjoy puzzling over who I thought might be to blame! I have to say, these women are definite frenemies. This girls’ weekend definitely brings out some old drama they’d probably rather stay buried!
June is a professor, and from the beginning it is clear she doesn’t want to go to Sadie’s. Why would she? Sadie is married to her ex-boyfriend. Sadie also happens to be a wildly successful author, while June has written a single book that has gone out of print. If I were June, I probably wouldn’t want to go either!
But June has just gone through a pretty awful break-up. The kind of break-up that made me angry just reading about it! And as can happen when we suffer losses, it makes her re-think her invitation to Sadie’s. Afterall, her best friend Em will be there, and Em is sure to help her forget about her troubles. The group is rounded out by their other friends, Amy and Kimiko. All of these women have some skeletons in their closet!
The weekend is a bit rocky from the get go, but June is settling in and even making up with Sadie. When Sadie goes missing after a night none of the women can remember, the light shines straight on them. And when I say everyone is a suspect, I mean it! So many secrets and hidden agendas! It is also pretty fun to see the fragments of the lost night start to piece back together—like a puzzle of their own memories.
And the forgotten night definitely isn’t bought by the police in charge of the investigation! June knows she didn’t do it—or at least she thinks she knows…
Whose secret was salacious enough to murder for?
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
I loved that this is a closed-room mystery. All of the characters who could be suspects are secluded at the MacTavish estate, and I did enjoy puzzling over who I thought might be to blame! I have to say, these women are definite frenemies. This girls’ weekend definitely brings out some old drama they’d probably rather stay buried!
June is a professor, and from the beginning it is clear she doesn’t want to go to Sadie’s. Why would she? Sadie is married to her ex-boyfriend. Sadie also happens to be a wildly successful author, while June has written a single book that has gone out of print. If I were June, I probably wouldn’t want to go either!
But June has just gone through a pretty awful break-up. The kind of break-up that made me angry just reading about it! And as can happen when we suffer losses, it makes her re-think her invitation to Sadie’s. Afterall, her best friend Em will be there, and Em is sure to help her forget about her troubles. The group is rounded out by their other friends, Amy and Kimiko. All of these women have some skeletons in their closet!
The weekend is a bit rocky from the get go, but June is settling in and even making up with Sadie. When Sadie goes missing after a night none of the women can remember, the light shines straight on them. And when I say everyone is a suspect, I mean it! So many secrets and hidden agendas! It is also pretty fun to see the fragments of the lost night start to piece back together—like a puzzle of their own memories.
And the forgotten night definitely isn’t bought by the police in charge of the investigation! June knows she didn’t do it—or at least she thinks she knows…
Whose secret was salacious enough to murder for?
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
bookloverjenn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5