heather761's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Domestic abuse
amillii's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
BUT
I loved this book so much - I swallowed this thing whole.
The characters absolutely made it for me. Loved and hated all of them.
Every twist and turn was so juicy, this may be my new favourite thriller/murder mystery.
Don't mind me, just off to read everything else this author has ever written.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Child death, Death, Abortion, Addiction, and Blood
Minor: Vomit
cepbreed's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The start of The Guest List was very slow for my liking. I had no connection to the characters so I was only motivated by my need to complete every book I start. I'm very glad I powered through because the last quarter of the story was a reward in and of itself. I wouldn't say the ending was incredibly show-stopping, but the details given about the past leading up to the final scene had me taking breaks to process everything. It is rare that an author can write a story full of unlikeable characters and still keep their audience engaged but I think Lucy Foley did just that. There is not one character that I felt disproportionate sympathy for and still I was invested in every characters narrative. Humans are innately flawed and Foley brings this out incredibly well. The characters may not be admirable but they certainly are human.
Though I enjoyed this thoroughly I have to disagree with The New York Times book review that initially enticed me, this is not comparable to Agatha Christie.
Song:
- Perfect Storm - Inhaler
Graphic: Classism, Mental illness, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Cursing, Grief, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Minor: Blood
klb77's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
My own guest list (for a near-perfect story):
1. characters to sympathize with
2. characters to hate
3. a good irish storm to set the mood
4. wedding drama
5. family secrets
6. multiple mysteries entangled into each other
7. a small amount of spice and scandal
8. a timeline and flashbacks that are easy as pie (or wedding cake?) to follow
Check out the content warnings before picking this one up but definitely give it a chance
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Self harm, Murder, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Death, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Child death, Alcohol, Sexism, Gore, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Grief, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Racism, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship
bookswithcynthia's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
batcaves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Child death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Classism, Abortion, Fatphobia, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, and Confinement
kcarney86'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
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Toxic friendship, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Self harm, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion and Sexual harassment
Minor: Vomit, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, and Body shaming
iffygeneia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It's more like a really good soap opera - it's all about the POV characters relationships, feelings, life stories, and how those feed into each other and culminate to a crescendo at this wedding.
It's got a very slow start, but picked up pace about halfway through and then just kept speeding up until the grand finale.
I liked this book, especially once the puzzle pieces started falling into place a bit. Some of them I saw coming, some I didn't, all were expertly laid out.
Graphic: Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Abortion, Violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Classism, and Child death
Minor: Abortion, Alcoholism, Blood, and Car accident
laurenrayreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief, Self harm, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abortion, Murder, and Suicide attempt
jayoz15's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Abortion, Domestic abuse, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide
revenge porn