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kdurham2's review
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A young flower girl is rescued and while this incident seems isolated, it will ripple and come back up and after a trip with a therapist, the memories will come back and Christine's life will be upended.
This was such a fun read - it felt like two mysteries for the price as one as the clues from Christine's childhood are being revealed while the mystery of her and husband's advertising agency's demise. Of course, since this has all sorts of clues and things in this book, I don't want to share too much and give anything away, but I have to say the way that this book unfolded was just genius.
A young flower girl is rescued and while this incident seems isolated, it will ripple and come back up and after a trip with a therapist, the memories will come back and Christine's life will be upended.
This was such a fun read - it felt like two mysteries for the price as one as the clues from Christine's childhood are being revealed while the mystery of her and husband's advertising agency's demise. Of course, since this has all sorts of clues and things in this book, I don't want to share too much and give anything away, but I have to say the way that this book unfolded was just genius.
chapterreader's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
Ok, was it suspense..... or Thriller
First time reading Laura Elliot, it was not a bad read, but it was dense..., thick, overwritten, felt that there was so much going on at times and that was hard keep with the amount of characters.
The first 50%-60% of the book was hard to get thru, it felt like Christine's trauma had happened in another life altogether way too much effort and drama to finally find out what it was she had gone thru, it took so long to get to it.
The second half of the book, much better for sure, it finally picked up a good pace and things were finally unfurling and gave more answers, for example I think Jessica in the end was more victim than Christine, she was shielded from the truth with so many layers of lies and the life she had was difficult, lied about her real Mother and the only one she knew was taken away from her and not being able to build a life in one place but moving and changing identities not really knowing why, that made her more human in the end, yes she was the third wheel on Richard and Christine's marriage but like Christine said to her:
"If my marriage had been secure, you'd never have ruined it"
0-50% so so
60%-100% much better, reason for the 3.5 Stars review.
Ok, was it suspense..... or Thriller
First time reading Laura Elliot, it was not a bad read, but it was dense..., thick, overwritten, felt that there was so much going on at times and that was hard keep with the amount of characters.
The first 50%-60% of the book was hard to get thru, it felt like Christine's trauma had happened in another life altogether way too much effort and drama to finally find out what it was she had gone thru, it took so long to get to it.
The second half of the book, much better for sure, it finally picked up a good pace and things were finally unfurling and gave more answers, for example I think Jessica in the end was more victim than Christine, she was shielded from the truth with so many layers of lies and the life she had was difficult, lied about her real Mother and the only one she knew was taken away from her and not being able to build a life in one place but moving and changing identities not really knowing why, that made her more human in the end, yes she was the third wheel on Richard and Christine's marriage but like Christine said to her:
"If my marriage had been secure, you'd never have ruined it"
0-50% so so
60%-100% much better, reason for the 3.5 Stars review.
heatheradoresbooks's review
4.0
3.65⭐ rounded up
After the Wedding is told in 4 parts and follows Christine and Jessica.
The prologue was promising and it pulled me right in ~ Christine was a flower girl at her Aunt Sharon's wedding when she was 5. There was an accident that she had trouble remembering until several years later as an adult. Soon enough though, it was a bit slow going for me until somewhere in part 2, closer to the end, maybe even part 3. It had it's up and downs with keeping me engaged throughout.
Christine and Richard Stone met on a train, fell in love and opened up one of the most successful advertising agencies in Dublin ~ Foundation Stone. They hire Jessica to be their copywriter. While Jessica is perfect for the job, Christine can’t help but feel like something is off with her. When a rumor is started on social media that Foundation Stone is having problems and is up for sale, they all scramble to stomp the rumors and avoid losing clients. Jessica just happens to have a powerful father that can help them turn their business around.
Part 2 starts off very intriguing with a teaser about Jessica. We dive more into her early life and learn lots of things about her and her father, Samuel.
The pace picked up in parts 3 & 4, but I really didn't care for Christine too much, or Jessica, or really anyone for that matter. Actually, Stella, I did like her, and maybe Ryan too, but that's all.
Overall, this was an okay read and I was pleased with the ending.
*Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and [a:Laura Elliot|3033603|Laura Elliot|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
After the Wedding is told in 4 parts and follows Christine and Jessica.
The prologue was promising and it pulled me right in ~ Christine was a flower girl at her Aunt Sharon's wedding when she was 5. There was an accident that she had trouble remembering until several years later as an adult. Soon enough though, it was a bit slow going for me until somewhere in part 2, closer to the end, maybe even part 3. It had it's up and downs with keeping me engaged throughout.
Christine and Richard Stone met on a train, fell in love and opened up one of the most successful advertising agencies in Dublin ~ Foundation Stone. They hire Jessica to be their copywriter. While Jessica is perfect for the job, Christine can’t help but feel like something is off with her. When a rumor is started on social media that Foundation Stone is having problems and is up for sale, they all scramble to stomp the rumors and avoid losing clients. Jessica just happens to have a powerful father that can help them turn their business around.
Part 2 starts off very intriguing with a teaser about Jessica. We dive more into her early life and learn lots of things about her and her father, Samuel.
The pace picked up in parts 3 & 4, but I really didn't care for Christine too much, or Jessica, or really anyone for that matter. Actually, Stella, I did like her, and maybe Ryan too, but that's all.
Overall, this was an okay read and I was pleased with the ending.
*Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and [a:Laura Elliot|3033603|Laura Elliot|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
kirstyreviewsbooks's review
3.0
After the Wedding by Laura Elliot
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Everyone said she was the prettiest flower girl. But now her dress lies on the floor. It’s wet and torn, her shoes are lost. ‘Where did you go?’ her daddy asks. She shakes her head. All she can remember are the red rose petals scattering like drops of blood spilling to the ground.
When Christine Lewis was a little girl, she witnessed something terrible at a wedding and buried it so deep in her memory, she managed to forget it ever happened.
Jessica Newman was a baby when she and her father came to live in an isolated cottage on the Irish island of Cullain with Margaret – the woman who loved Jessica as if she was her own. Until the day Jessica and her father left, and she never saw Margaret again.
This was a bit disappointing - this has been marketed as a psychological thriller and I think that is misleading. An interesting plot that could have been written much better. The first half was slow, and very easy to walk away from. The pace picks up in the second half but I feel like the book dragged on a little too much.
Rating 3/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Everyone said she was the prettiest flower girl. But now her dress lies on the floor. It’s wet and torn, her shoes are lost. ‘Where did you go?’ her daddy asks. She shakes her head. All she can remember are the red rose petals scattering like drops of blood spilling to the ground.
When Christine Lewis was a little girl, she witnessed something terrible at a wedding and buried it so deep in her memory, she managed to forget it ever happened.
Jessica Newman was a baby when she and her father came to live in an isolated cottage on the Irish island of Cullain with Margaret – the woman who loved Jessica as if she was her own. Until the day Jessica and her father left, and she never saw Margaret again.
This was a bit disappointing - this has been marketed as a psychological thriller and I think that is misleading. An interesting plot that could have been written much better. The first half was slow, and very easy to walk away from. The pace picks up in the second half but I feel like the book dragged on a little too much.
Rating 3/5
jasminegalsreadinglog's review
3.0
Triggers: PTSD, Panic Attacks, Infidelity
After The Wedding takes you into a journey which is hidden in the deep recesses of the mind. Memories are a strange thing. At one point you remember them vividly and the next moment they are only a glimpse.
Christine an advertising executive has painstakingly built her agency with her husband and is top of her game. Suddenly her life changes when Jessica enters into her life. Nothing is the same and how their lives changes is something you need to find out by reading this novel.
The novel is medium paced suspense. There is some back and forth timelines but nothing is confusing to read. I did not connect with any characters but enjoyed the plot of the story. Once I got into the story it was hard to put it down.
Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
After The Wedding takes you into a journey which is hidden in the deep recesses of the mind. Memories are a strange thing. At one point you remember them vividly and the next moment they are only a glimpse.
Christine an advertising executive has painstakingly built her agency with her husband and is top of her game. Suddenly her life changes when Jessica enters into her life. Nothing is the same and how their lives changes is something you need to find out by reading this novel.
The novel is medium paced suspense. There is some back and forth timelines but nothing is confusing to read. I did not connect with any characters but enjoyed the plot of the story. Once I got into the story it was hard to put it down.
Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
charlottereads_books's review
1.0
The pacing is just all wrong for me in this book, it takes a sharp turn but just not in a good way. Just not for me
herthrillingreads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
In this novel by Laura Elliot, two women’s lives cross while working together at an advertising agency. Both have secrets in their pasts and it turns out their lives may be linked in more ways than one.
This story was dark, suspenseful, and heartbreaking all at once. It had me hooked and I felt heartbroken for Christine at so many points through the book. However, even though Christine has been through so much in her life, I loved that she was strong and determined.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this ebook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.
This story was dark, suspenseful, and heartbreaking all at once. It had me hooked and I felt heartbroken for Christine at so many points through the book. However, even though Christine has been through so much in her life, I loved that she was strong and determined.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this ebook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.
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