Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - The Guest List

Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

musicgirl_gwyn's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

I was on the edge of my seat the entire book, very well written. Antagonist worth absolutely hating. The ending felt abrupt and cut off; I don’t feel a lot of closure.

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greatexpectations77's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I liked this a lot, and I felt like I could really get into the characters that were involved here. I will also always remember that I was reading this one when I finally got my POTS diagnosis <3. Also I love a wedding as the setting because weddings always manage to make everyone the most animalistic and unhinged versions of themselves.

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mirandalikesbooks's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

I liked this! A straightforward who done it. It was fun. I guessed some of the twist, but this book had twists to spare.

The private-school friends were unbearable. Their bro behavior was appropriate for the characters, but I still didn't like them. There was a lot of casual sexual harassment and misogyny which isn't my favorite theme for a book.

All together, this book kept me coming. I flew through the last 100 pages.

to me, it seems unlikely that Will could be the cause of all the problems for all the main characters. but the mutual hatred for Will made for a fun killing scene.

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melanielk's review

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mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

This story was just so slow and boring. I didn’t care about the characters or their backstories. The book didn’t have any spark that made me want to keep going. I thought to myself several times that I could quit and never wonder about the ending of the story.

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

Title: The Guest List
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."

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