therealjunglebookie's review against another edition
3.0
I was really enjoying it up until the part where I find out that she married brooks while she was a sophomore by flying out to Mexico? This book was set in the modern day timeline. It doesn’t matter if Brooke’s used his dads credit card, You need a passport / ID to fly and Mish was poor and her mom was trash so it’s very unlikely she wouldve had a passport and she would have been too young to drive.
That’s the only issue I had with the book though, besides that it was a really immersive mystery. I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller by any means though.
That’s the only issue I had with the book though, besides that it was a really immersive mystery. I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller by any means though.
alleebookedup's review against another edition
slow-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
2.0
menniemenace's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't enjoy this. I didn't like the constant name-dropping and the plot wasn't that suspenseful. I thought the ending was pretty cute but that's the only thing I liked about the book
**Book 3 out of 10 in the reading marathon
**Book 3 out of 10 in the reading marathon
maries_shelf's review against another edition
5.0
After receiving The Birthday Girl from Netgalley, I also got a printed copy from the publisher. I guess it was meant to be :)
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Melissa de la Cruz and it completely sucked me in and kept me engaged the whole time I was reading it. I couldn’t put the book down once I had started!
First off, this author really knows how to write about rich people. Her nonchalant style of name-dropping and shameless way of describing the lives of the rich are enough to make you feel a little like a naughty rather starstruck voyeur. On top of that, the story is just really, really good.
The chapters alternate between the past and the present. In the past, best friends Mish and Leo set out to celebrate Leo’s sixteenth birthday. The two girls come from broken families and live in a trailer park. The story builds up to something that happens on Leo’s birthday that seems to be life-changing for the characters. In the present, Ellie, whom we may assume is either Mish or Leo in the future, is a very wealthy lady who is throwing herself a huge fortieth birthday bash. She invites people from her past and present, and the group is quite eclectic.
What blew me away was the ending. Never did I ever guess that ending. It was just so clever. I may need to reread the book. It’s simply shocking, so wait for that twist at the end people. This psychological suspense thriller is the best of the best.
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Melissa de la Cruz and it completely sucked me in and kept me engaged the whole time I was reading it. I couldn’t put the book down once I had started!
First off, this author really knows how to write about rich people. Her nonchalant style of name-dropping and shameless way of describing the lives of the rich are enough to make you feel a little like a naughty rather starstruck voyeur. On top of that, the story is just really, really good.
The chapters alternate between the past and the present. In the past, best friends Mish and Leo set out to celebrate Leo’s sixteenth birthday. The two girls come from broken families and live in a trailer park. The story builds up to something that happens on Leo’s birthday that seems to be life-changing for the characters. In the present, Ellie, whom we may assume is either Mish or Leo in the future, is a very wealthy lady who is throwing herself a huge fortieth birthday bash. She invites people from her past and present, and the group is quite eclectic.
What blew me away was the ending. Never did I ever guess that ending. It was just so clever. I may need to reread the book. It’s simply shocking, so wait for that twist at the end people. This psychological suspense thriller is the best of the best.
pages_of_devin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Murder, and Drug use
ashleighvercholuk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookishnicole's review against another edition
1.0
Gods. I would have DNF'D this if I hadn't needed it for my Bookish Bingo. Ellie was vapid and dull, and the "mystery" of her identity was also, not too interesting
agirlsnightbookbash's review against another edition
3.0
First I will say I received this as an ARC through a GR's giveaway. Thank you to Dutton for the copy. *DISCLAIMER-My copy is an uncorrected proof so there could be differences
I give this 3.5 (gr needs to get on the half stars already). I found it to be interesting and I enjoyed the dual timeline. It definitely kept me guessing.
During the novel we travel between present day and 24 years prior on the same day celebrating the birthday girl. This book is full of twists and turns and tbh I did not see the end coming at all. The characters are annoying and there are a few scenes that are taken too lightly imho but all in all it is a good book. Thank you again for the chance to read it early.
I give this 3.5 (gr needs to get on the half stars already). I found it to be interesting and I enjoyed the dual timeline. It definitely kept me guessing.
During the novel we travel between present day and 24 years prior on the same day celebrating the birthday girl.
Spoiler
The present day we are celebrating the present day Ellie's 40th. She is a self made millionaire and absolute disaster of a human being. She is jealous and vain and seems concerned about all the wrong things. 24 years ago we are celebrating Leo's sweet 16. Leo is rough around the edges and terribly poor. She just wants her night to be special and different. She definitely gets what she wishes for. As we go back and forth between these two times we learn of some vague tragedy that plagued Ellie 24 years ago that she would love to avoid as a uninvited guest decides to show up at her 40th.amandamarieger's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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
2.0
OOF. I remember, I had reached the 2/3 mark in the book, and I rolled to my husband and said “I still don’t know what this book is about.” It’s classified as a thriller, but I was less than thrilled. The ending was good, and I feel relatively satisfied with it, but there’s so much about this book that isn’t… realistic? I’ll have to get into that on my blog one day. Also, I read a lot of reviews that talked about the ending being a twist, and I disagree? I had such low expectations that I wasn’t even surprised! I’ve read that this author’s YA is good, so I’ll have to try one of those, because this was an absolute miss for me.