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mountemilyf 's review for:
The Guest List
by Lucy Foley
dark
emotional
medium-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
🔎 Here, take this magnifying glass, maybe together we can find the murder mystery in this “murder mystery” book.
I love an island mystery. Locked on a remote island with a murderer on the loose, secrets unraveling, heart racing? That’s my exact cup of tea. Ten by Gretchen McNeil was one of my favorite murder mysteries as a teen, and I still look fondly on it now. Same with Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. So I was genuinely excited for this
Unfortunately, instead of pulse-pounding tension, we get… high school locker room drama. “Omg, she slept with who?” “He was so mean to her!” About 70% of the book is just that: drama, drama, drama. Another 20% feels like talking to a kid who keeps saying, “I know a secret :)” and you say “okay, what is it?” and they say “can’t tell, secret :)”then they finally do and… it’s something you already guessed 200 pages ago.
The last 10%, which should be the payoff, lands with a soft, soggy thud. The big reveals weren’t shocking, they were just disappointing. Plot twists powered solely by people refusing to communicate. And then? Oops! The book’s over. Hope that shovel you used to dig through the drama didn’t break.
When the murder was finally revealed, my reaction was a full-body shrug. I guessed it early, and I didn’t even feel smug about it. The tension never built, the climax barely hit, and the resolution? Nonexistent. Everyone was either annoying, awful, or both. The vibes were there, but the execution made me want to scream into the stormy sea.
Lucy, I’ll be sending you my therapy bill.
I love an island mystery. Locked on a remote island with a murderer on the loose, secrets unraveling, heart racing? That’s my exact cup of tea. Ten by Gretchen McNeil was one of my favorite murder mysteries as a teen, and I still look fondly on it now. Same with Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. So I was genuinely excited for this
Unfortunately, instead of pulse-pounding tension, we get… high school locker room drama. “Omg, she slept with who?” “He was so mean to her!” About 70% of the book is just that: drama, drama, drama. Another 20% feels like talking to a kid who keeps saying, “I know a secret :)” and you say “okay, what is it?” and they say “can’t tell, secret :)”then they finally do and… it’s something you already guessed 200 pages ago.
The last 10%, which should be the payoff, lands with a soft, soggy thud. The big reveals weren’t shocking, they were just disappointing. Plot twists powered solely by people refusing to communicate. And then? Oops! The book’s over. Hope that shovel you used to dig through the drama didn’t break.
When the murder was finally revealed, my reaction was a full-body shrug. I guessed it early, and I didn’t even feel smug about it. The tension never built, the climax barely hit, and the resolution? Nonexistent. Everyone was either annoying, awful, or both. The vibes were there, but the execution made me want to scream into the stormy sea.
Lucy, I’ll be sending you my therapy bill.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship