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musicgirl_gwyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Author: Lucy Foley
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: February 20, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Atmospheric • Twisty • Clever
📖 S Y N O P S I S
The bride - The plus one - The best man - The wedding planner - The bridesmaid - The body
On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It's a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.
But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride's oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.
And then someone turns up dead. Who didn't wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I chose Lucy Foley as one of twelve authors for my '2024 Author Taste Test' project. She's a hugely popular author among the mystery/thriller genre and it surprised me I hadn't yet read anything she'd written. I decided to start with The Guest List simply because I had it on my shelves and I didn't know much beyond that fact it was set on a secluded island.
Told through alternating points of view, giving the story an added layer of depth and intrigue and continually adding layer upon layer to the mystery until the big reveal. There were certainly some holes in the mystery, yet it is the setting and unlikeable cast of characters that kept me turning the pages. What starts out as a series of different stories, eventually Foley is able to seamlessly draw them together in a satisfying manner.
The Guest List was a fast=paced whodunit perfect for relaxing lakeside during my recent summer vacation at the cottage. It certainly has a number of popcorn thriller elements making it hard to put down, yet the writing itself felt juvenile. I could easily see this one being adapted to the big screen down the road.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• dark secrets
• island settings
• Agatha Christie
⚠️ CW: death, child death, grief, murder, toxic relationship, toxic friendship, emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying, child abuse, emotional abuse, self-harm, cutting, classism, sexual harassment, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, suicide, pregnancy, abortion, alcohol, drug use, blood, vomit, sexual content, cursing, mental illness, PTSD, depression, infidelity
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"In my experience, those who have the greatest respect for the rules also take the most enjoyment in breaking them."
"But no matter what happens, life is only a series of days. You can’t control more than a single day."
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
cutting, PTSD, depressionlilacvictim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Self harm, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Mental illness and Abortion
teganl07's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
katiewilkerson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Eating disorder, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity and Vomit
poirot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Death of parent
jayden_chancery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, and Murder
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Racism, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
jessuly's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Abortion, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing and Vomit
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Self harm, Torture, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
kathrynmaggiex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury