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A review by bookish_jules
The Bachelorette Party by Carissa Ann Lynch
3.0
Review
This story itself was very mid and almost unforgettable for me. I was expecting bigger secrets, more cutthroat energy from characters that despise each other in some way. The writing started a little dry to begin with & it took me some time to fully get into.
With the book being set in New Orleans, I was expecting the story to be more mystical and much darker. Also, I feel like the setting could have been creepier if it was set in the LaLaurie Mansion.
I very much wish this book was longer - it would’ve added more character development and fleshed out motives. It all seemed too rushed and convoluted to keep the mystery of the murderer a secret.
What irked me about Chapter 17 is that Elizabeth grabbed a bottle of Pinot Noir from the fridge & sets it on the “sleek quartz countertop” just to be magically holding the bottle a couple paragraphs later when Elizabeth is scared by Tinsley’s sudden appearance from the butler’s pantry.
The groom’s job as a prominent lawyer was a too perfect way to end the book (as he’s able to represent the murderer/accomplice pro bono) to “nicely tie up” the story and give it a happy ending.
I also despise that the Monster-In-Law went from being cruel and heartless towards the Bride-To-Be to suddenly being a loving, adoring mother-in-law in the blink of an eye on the wedding day. Also, how can she NOT know Rosalee is pregnant on her wedding day WHEN SHE PUTS HER MIL’S HAND ON HER ROUNDED BELLY?!
Lastly, readers are meant to despise most of the characters and I did - just not in the “love to hate them” way Lynch seemed to want.
I found the characters obnoxious and annoying.
✨Rosalee’s not despicable but she refuses to stand up for herself, call people out when they’re being obnoxiously shitty, and refuses to tell her husband a secret about her past (which, plot twist was just a lie she told herself that she eventually convinced herself was true).
✨The rest of the girls in the bachelorette party group were just self centered, conceited, and at each other’s throat.
- Mara and Tinsley were petty and childish with the party planning.
- Elizabeth and Bri were obnoxious with their “better than you” attitude towards Rosalee for the sole purpose that Rosalee was not Georgia.
- I was supposed to sympathize with Georgia over her struggles and the fact she only saw the groom as a best friend. Her “I’m just a happy go lucky perfect yoga influencer” exterior was just over the top.
I did notice a few grammatical errors throughout the story. Hopefully, these were corrected between the Netgalley version and the official/published version.
Summary
6 women head to New Orleans for the weekend & only 5 make it out alive.
The scene : A beautiful Greek Revival mansion in the heart of New Orlean’s Garden District. Magical plans include some spa time, makeup artists, authentic/famous New Orleans food, and a night out on Bourbon Street.
The women:
✨ Rosalee: The lovely Bride-To-Be with a dark secret about her past that not even her fiancé knows.
✨ Tinsley: The estranged literature-loving cousin who’s weird and resentful. She spends the entire trip so close to punching The Best Friend in the face.
✨ Mara: The best friend who’s bossy, bitchy, and protective of Rosalee against her toxic soon-to-be in-laws. With her own financial issues remaining a secret, she shoves the expensive party onto Tinsley.
✨ Elizabeth: The Monster-In-Law who makes it known she despises her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. She’d do anything to have her son marry his childhood best friend. But that’s not her only secret. Why are her two kids (both adults) so upset by what she’s hiding?
✨ Bri: The pretensions, rude, and highly judgmental Sister-In-Law dealing with her demons using alcohol and anti anxiety medication. What could this computer guru be hiding?
✨ Georgia: The absolutely gorgeous best friend of the groom. Is she having an affair with her childhood best friend? Why is he paying a monthly membership at her failing yoga studio?
A Surprising Sixth Suspect: Delfina: The Landry-Leblanc Mansion’s head help. Would her dedication to this eerily (and possibly haunted) mansion lead her to take things too far?
This intriguing mystery follows the bachelorette party up until a few hours before the murder. Follow along with the detective to piece together what happen, who did it, and why.
Book courtesy of Netgalley
This story itself was very mid and almost unforgettable for me. I was expecting bigger secrets, more cutthroat energy from characters that despise each other in some way. The writing started a little dry to begin with & it took me some time to fully get into.
With the book being set in New Orleans, I was expecting the story to be more mystical and much darker. Also, I feel like the setting could have been creepier if it was set in the LaLaurie Mansion.
I very much wish this book was longer - it would’ve added more character development and fleshed out motives. It all seemed too rushed and convoluted to keep the mystery of the murderer a secret.
What irked me about Chapter 17 is that Elizabeth grabbed a bottle of Pinot Noir from the fridge & sets it on the “sleek quartz countertop” just to be magically holding the bottle a couple paragraphs later when Elizabeth is scared by Tinsley’s sudden appearance from the butler’s pantry.
The groom’s job as a prominent lawyer was a too perfect way to end the book (as he’s able to represent the murderer/accomplice pro bono) to “nicely tie up” the story and give it a happy ending.
I also despise that the Monster-In-Law went from being cruel and heartless towards the Bride-To-Be to suddenly being a loving, adoring mother-in-law in the blink of an eye on the wedding day. Also, how can she NOT know Rosalee is pregnant on her wedding day WHEN SHE PUTS HER MIL’S HAND ON HER ROUNDED BELLY?!
Lastly, readers are meant to despise most of the characters and I did - just not in the “love to hate them” way Lynch seemed to want.
I found the characters obnoxious and annoying.
✨Rosalee’s not despicable but she refuses to stand up for herself, call people out when they’re being obnoxiously shitty, and refuses to tell her husband a secret about her past (which, plot twist was just a lie she told herself that she eventually convinced herself was true).
✨The rest of the girls in the bachelorette party group were just self centered, conceited, and at each other’s throat.
- Mara and Tinsley were petty and childish with the party planning.
- Elizabeth and Bri were obnoxious with their “better than you” attitude towards Rosalee for the sole purpose that Rosalee was not Georgia.
- I was supposed to sympathize with Georgia over her struggles and the fact she only saw the groom as a best friend. Her “I’m just a happy go lucky perfect yoga influencer” exterior was just over the top.
I did notice a few grammatical errors throughout the story. Hopefully, these were corrected between the Netgalley version and the official/published version.
Summary
6 women head to New Orleans for the weekend & only 5 make it out alive.
The scene : A beautiful Greek Revival mansion in the heart of New Orlean’s Garden District. Magical plans include some spa time, makeup artists, authentic/famous New Orleans food, and a night out on Bourbon Street.
The women:
✨ Rosalee: The lovely Bride-To-Be with a dark secret about her past that not even her fiancé knows.
✨ Tinsley: The estranged literature-loving cousin who’s weird and resentful. She spends the entire trip so close to punching The Best Friend in the face.
✨ Mara: The best friend who’s bossy, bitchy, and protective of Rosalee against her toxic soon-to-be in-laws. With her own financial issues remaining a secret, she shoves the expensive party onto Tinsley.
✨ Elizabeth: The Monster-In-Law who makes it known she despises her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. She’d do anything to have her son marry his childhood best friend. But that’s not her only secret. Why are her two kids (both adults) so upset by what she’s hiding?
✨ Bri: The pretensions, rude, and highly judgmental Sister-In-Law dealing with her demons using alcohol and anti anxiety medication. What could this computer guru be hiding?
✨ Georgia: The absolutely gorgeous best friend of the groom. Is she having an affair with her childhood best friend? Why is he paying a monthly membership at her failing yoga studio?
A Surprising Sixth Suspect: Delfina: The Landry-Leblanc Mansion’s head help. Would her dedication to this eerily (and possibly haunted) mansion lead her to take things too far?
This intriguing mystery follows the bachelorette party up until a few hours before the murder. Follow along with the detective to piece together what happen, who did it, and why.
Book courtesy of Netgalley