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A review by maeenads
You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TW: Self Harm
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
<i> You’re Invited </i> follows the story of Amaya, a Sri-Lankan woman in her late twenties living in the USA who travels back to her home country to stop her ex-best friend from marrying her ex-boyfriend. Jayatissa’s portrayal of obsession, desire, craving, infatuation, and mania was profound and remarkable. However, I felt the depiction of self harm wasn’t done well and lacked any relevance to the book/plot.
The start was a bit slow but it picked up quickly. I liked the the twists and there were many! One of the things I liked most about this book was Jayatissa’s talent to maintain the suspense throughout the story: from the beginning to the very end; almost every chapter had me racking my brain for clues and answers and every time I thought i had it figured out there was something else missing — it was very engaging.
As for the writing, it was direct and had many cultural elements to it (sinhala dialect). I particularly liked the descriptions of loss and pain, may it be platonic or romantic relationships. In addition, Jayatissa’s introduction to Sri Lanka, the customs and traditions related to weddings, the society dynamics between the rich and poor, the typical Sri Lankan “Aunty” crowd was spot on and had me laughing at times but also missing home.
Overall, this would’ve been a five star for me if not for the self harm mentions as i personally felt it was unnecessary. However, if you’re looking for a suspenseful thriller set in Sri Lanka to read this summer I highly recommend <I> You’re Invited. </I>
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
<i> You’re Invited </i> follows the story of Amaya, a Sri-Lankan woman in her late twenties living in the USA who travels back to her home country to stop her ex-best friend from marrying her ex-boyfriend. Jayatissa’s portrayal of obsession, desire, craving, infatuation, and mania was profound and remarkable. However, I felt the depiction of self harm wasn’t done well and lacked any relevance to the book/plot.
The start was a bit slow but it picked up quickly. I liked the the twists and there were many! One of the things I liked most about this book was Jayatissa’s talent to maintain the suspense throughout the story: from the beginning to the very end; almost every chapter had me racking my brain for clues and answers and every time I thought i had it figured out there was something else missing — it was very engaging.
As for the writing, it was direct and had many cultural elements to it (sinhala dialect). I particularly liked the descriptions of loss and pain, may it be platonic or romantic relationships. In addition, Jayatissa’s introduction to Sri Lanka, the customs and traditions related to weddings, the society dynamics between the rich and poor, the typical Sri Lankan “Aunty” crowd was spot on and had me laughing at times but also missing home.
Overall, this would’ve been a five star for me if not for the self harm mentions as i personally felt it was unnecessary. However, if you’re looking for a suspenseful thriller set in Sri Lanka to read this summer I highly recommend <I> You’re Invited. </I>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm