Scan barcode
gabby_mitchell's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kt15's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
eablick's review
4.0
I received an electronic advanced readers copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It was definitely an entertaining read and I enjoyed how you were left wondering, why would four women all confess to the same murder?? Until the very end...
The book starts with three women, Kate, Emily, and Ginger, all preparing to attend their friend Whitney’s wedding. All four of the girls haven’t seen each other in ages, and there is certainly some bad blood between a couple of them. Some had to save up to take the grandiose trip and some had no issues at all gathering funds.
The three women all have their own little secrets. All Kate wants is a child, but can appear as though she has everything she could ever want and/or need. Emily has quite the history that has catapulted her into a life of alcohol and poor personal choices. Then there is Ginger, who is happily married, but struggling to see the good in her life. When they all arrive to the festivities, they meet Lulu, a lovely elderly woman who appears very well put together, but also has her own worries. They all connect in one way or the other and so begins the bulk of the story.
The day of the wedding rehearsal, things go awry and a man ends up dead. To make matters worse, the investigation is utterly confusing, because all four women confess to the murder. What could happen to make someone confess to a murder that they didn’t commit?
Overall, I was engaged most of the story. There were times that things seemed a little far-fetched, especially since one of the women is a lawyer, but it was still fun to read.
Merged review:
I received an electronic advanced readers copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It was definitely an entertaining read and I enjoyed how you were left wondering, why would four women all confess to the same murder?? Until the very end...
The book starts with three women, Kate, Emily, and Ginger, all preparing to attend their friend Whitney’s wedding. All four of the girls haven’t seen each other in ages, and there is certainly some bad blood between a couple of them. Some had to save up to take the grandiose trip and some had no issues at all gathering funds.
The three women all have their own little secrets. All Kate wants is a child, but can appear as though she has everything she could ever want and/or need. Emily has quite the history that has catapulted her into a life of alcohol and poor personal choices. Then there is Ginger, who is happily married, but struggling to see the good in her life. When they all arrive to the festivities, they meet Lulu, a lovely elderly woman who appears very well put together, but also has her own worries. They all connect in one way or the other and so begins the bulk of the story.
The day of the wedding rehearsal, things go awry and a man ends up dead. To make matters worse, the investigation is utterly confusing, because all four women confess to the murder. What could happen to make someone confess to a murder that they didn’t commit?
Overall, I was engaged most of the story. There were times that things seemed a little far-fetched, especially since one of the women is a lawyer, but it was still fun to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Gina LaManna for the opportunity to read this book!
It was definitely an entertaining read and I enjoyed how you were left wondering, why would four women all confess to the same murder?? Until the very end...
The book starts with three women, Kate, Emily, and Ginger, all preparing to attend their friend Whitney’s wedding. All four of the girls haven’t seen each other in ages, and there is certainly some bad blood between a couple of them. Some had to save up to take the grandiose trip and some had no issues at all gathering funds.
The three women all have their own little secrets. All Kate wants is a child, but can appear as though she has everything she could ever want and/or need. Emily has quite the history that has catapulted her into a life of alcohol and poor personal choices. Then there is Ginger, who is happily married, but struggling to see the good in her life. When they all arrive to the festivities, they meet Lulu, a lovely elderly woman who appears very well put together, but also has her own worries. They all connect in one way or the other and so begins the bulk of the story.
The day of the wedding rehearsal, things go awry and a man ends up dead. To make matters worse, the investigation is utterly confusing, because all four women confess to the murder. What could happen to make someone confess to a murder that they didn’t commit?
Overall, I was engaged most of the story. There were times that things seemed a little far-fetched, especially since one of the women is a lawyer, but it was still fun to read.
Merged review:
I received an electronic advanced readers copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It was definitely an entertaining read and I enjoyed how you were left wondering, why would four women all confess to the same murder?? Until the very end...
The book starts with three women, Kate, Emily, and Ginger, all preparing to attend their friend Whitney’s wedding. All four of the girls haven’t seen each other in ages, and there is certainly some bad blood between a couple of them. Some had to save up to take the grandiose trip and some had no issues at all gathering funds.
The three women all have their own little secrets. All Kate wants is a child, but can appear as though she has everything she could ever want and/or need. Emily has quite the history that has catapulted her into a life of alcohol and poor personal choices. Then there is Ginger, who is happily married, but struggling to see the good in her life. When they all arrive to the festivities, they meet Lulu, a lovely elderly woman who appears very well put together, but also has her own worries. They all connect in one way or the other and so begins the bulk of the story.
The day of the wedding rehearsal, things go awry and a man ends up dead. To make matters worse, the investigation is utterly confusing, because all four women confess to the murder. What could happen to make someone confess to a murder that they didn’t commit?
Overall, I was engaged most of the story. There were times that things seemed a little far-fetched, especially since one of the women is a lawyer, but it was still fun to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Gina LaManna for the opportunity to read this book!
sincerelyjessie's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tesorae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
lycheetini's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5
thephdivabooks's review
4.0
An extravagant wedding at the Serenity Resort and Spa ends in a death and four women confessing to murder… This is a perfect beach-read. The drama of four former friends who lost touch reconnecting was popcorn-worthy. Add in a murder and four independent confessions, I was so curious to find out what was going on!
About the Book
Whitney Debleu is marrying up…way up. At the Debleu-Banks wedding at a swanky California resort, no expense is spared on the week-long extravaganza. Four women arrive for the wedding with more than just luggage, they arrive with baggage long buried in their past.
Emily has never escaped the depression caused by the end of a bad break up, the loss of her daughter, and the end of her college friendships. On the plane to her former college-pal’s wedding, Emily drinks to much and has a vacation fling with a stranger she meets on the plane, only to find out he is attending the same wedding as her.
Ginger got the man of her dreams in college, marrying Frank and having three beautiful children, but she’s never shaken her resentment at an incident that occurred between Emily and Frank long ago. Now, she is dealing with a teenager who keeps secrets from her, financial worries to get to this expensive wedding, and she’d dreading seeing her old college friends.
Kate seems perfect form the outside—beautiful, successful, and dating the perfect man. But after years of doing everything she can to get pregnant and nothing working, Kate is defeated. Now, heading to her college friend Whitney’s wedding, she feels lower than ever. Until her boyfriend dumps her at the front desk of the check-in to the resort, and Kate drops even lower.
Lulu is the only one not connected to the others. She’s almost 70 and on her fifth husband. But this husband is her true love, she is certain of it. Unfortunately she realizes it too late. Lulu is certain Pierce is having an affair and is set to break things off with her. Avoiding her problems as long as she can, she heads to the bar where she meets three former friends of the bride…
Four women, one murder, four confessions…
Reflection
I love this type of story telling. Each chapter is punctuated by a police interview of one of the four women or other hotel employees or guests. You won’t find out who was the victim until close to the end, so I had quite a few theories and I thought the reveal was a lot of fun!
I heard a few reviewers say that the women seemed a petty or competitive at times. This is absolutely true, but that is what made them feel authentic. Frankly, who doesn’t have moments where we feel less than someone else and worry about justifying that what we have and who we are is good enough? These feelings are often self-imposed.
I also loved how they each grew to appreciate what they do have and how others might envy it.
There are the two other characters who are central but not part of the college friends—Lulu and Sydney. Lulu was probably my favorite character in some ways, a woman who fought her way into a string of marriages that paid off, and now is truly in love and worried she’ll lose him. Sydney is a young mother they meet in the bar. I really was curious and Sydney and she ends up being a really interesting part of the story as the book goes on. Lots of interesting tidbits in the story about Sydney, but you’ll have to read it to find those out!
The books stays light and breezy, and though the murder is central to the investigation, the true story is about these four women. Who are they, what drives them, and what happened to make each of them confess? This is a great vacation read. I flew through it and I enjoyed the mix of drama and suspense. I loved it!
About the Book
Whitney Debleu is marrying up…way up. At the Debleu-Banks wedding at a swanky California resort, no expense is spared on the week-long extravaganza. Four women arrive for the wedding with more than just luggage, they arrive with baggage long buried in their past.
Emily has never escaped the depression caused by the end of a bad break up, the loss of her daughter, and the end of her college friendships. On the plane to her former college-pal’s wedding, Emily drinks to much and has a vacation fling with a stranger she meets on the plane, only to find out he is attending the same wedding as her.
Ginger got the man of her dreams in college, marrying Frank and having three beautiful children, but she’s never shaken her resentment at an incident that occurred between Emily and Frank long ago. Now, she is dealing with a teenager who keeps secrets from her, financial worries to get to this expensive wedding, and she’d dreading seeing her old college friends.
Kate seems perfect form the outside—beautiful, successful, and dating the perfect man. But after years of doing everything she can to get pregnant and nothing working, Kate is defeated. Now, heading to her college friend Whitney’s wedding, she feels lower than ever. Until her boyfriend dumps her at the front desk of the check-in to the resort, and Kate drops even lower.
Lulu is the only one not connected to the others. She’s almost 70 and on her fifth husband. But this husband is her true love, she is certain of it. Unfortunately she realizes it too late. Lulu is certain Pierce is having an affair and is set to break things off with her. Avoiding her problems as long as she can, she heads to the bar where she meets three former friends of the bride…
Four women, one murder, four confessions…
Reflection
I love this type of story telling. Each chapter is punctuated by a police interview of one of the four women or other hotel employees or guests. You won’t find out who was the victim until close to the end, so I had quite a few theories and I thought the reveal was a lot of fun!
I heard a few reviewers say that the women seemed a petty or competitive at times. This is absolutely true, but that is what made them feel authentic. Frankly, who doesn’t have moments where we feel less than someone else and worry about justifying that what we have and who we are is good enough? These feelings are often self-imposed.
I also loved how they each grew to appreciate what they do have and how others might envy it.
There are the two other characters who are central but not part of the college friends—Lulu and Sydney. Lulu was probably my favorite character in some ways, a woman who fought her way into a string of marriages that paid off, and now is truly in love and worried she’ll lose him. Sydney is a young mother they meet in the bar. I really was curious and Sydney and she ends up being a really interesting part of the story as the book goes on. Lots of interesting tidbits in the story about Sydney, but you’ll have to read it to find those out!
The books stays light and breezy, and though the murder is central to the investigation, the true story is about these four women. Who are they, what drives them, and what happened to make each of them confess? This is a great vacation read. I flew through it and I enjoyed the mix of drama and suspense. I loved it!
dtwigg410's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lauralou4's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Domestic abuse