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thebooktrail88's review
Discover the locations in the novel The Wedding Party
Tammy Cohen does like to choose some stunning locations for her novels. This time it’s Kefalonia and some places are real and others are fiction but the author invites you in her author note to visit anyway to see for yourself. She warns you however that you might not want to leave. In real life that is, in the novel, you’d not want to be at THIS wedding party!
It is paradise with the blue seas, wonderful beach and the endless days of having the island at your disposal. However, the hotel venue is not all that it’s cracked up to be…well the guests aren’t acting as they should, there is another wedding when you thought you’d be the only ones there and….there are secrets, secrets and even more secrets there on the island too.
The setting is clearly paradise and set on an island but the sense of Kefalonia is not particularly strong. It's a strong character study though with Christiesque red herrings and family secrets and links between the people on that island...
brewtifulfiction's review
5.0
The prologue makes this novel explosive from the get go.
A body found, possible murder but we have no idea who the victim. And this is the theme for much of the book.
Tammy did a fantastic job from the get go, creating an immense amount of suspense and suspicion.
Both Rachel and I felt that it could be anyone that had lost their life for the beginning chapters, the dialogue giving away nothing, leaving us with all the more questions.
In-between chapters there were cleverly placed police interview transcripts and therapy journal pages.
Hints of what had happened.
Thoughts on why such a tragedy had occurred.
I guessed little bits (I was rather pleased with myself) but there was a big reveal about half way through that literally left me with my mouth wide open. I had no idea, a real turn of events.
Throughout the tale there is an uneasy undercurrent, that feeling of not being able to completely relax, the worry that something is about to go wrong. If only it was a problem as simple as the groom getting cold feet.
Beneath all the smiles and niceties are plenty of lies and secrets, from each other and from themselves. In the end I don't think any one of the wedding guests were entirely trustworthy.
We all know weddings can be stressful and a perfect day is never quite in reach but this was a wedding that despite the hiccups, no one would forget.
I felt completely invested and despite Lucy (the bride) being quite the bridezilla at times, I really felt for her. She wanted it all to be about her but in the end it all became about an entire different thing or person should I say.
With plenty of drama, as I was discussing the book I said that it read like an extended episode of Eastenders, always another spectacle waiting to happen. In my opinion it is definitely a novel that would easily translate well into a mini tv series or a movie.
The Wedding Party was a thrilling read from start to finish.
With strategic pacing and a diverse cast of characters - all of whom are equally important to the outcome of the story - make for a deliciously dysfunctional story!
A body found, possible murder but we have no idea who the victim. And this is the theme for much of the book.
Tammy did a fantastic job from the get go, creating an immense amount of suspense and suspicion.
Both Rachel and I felt that it could be anyone that had lost their life for the beginning chapters, the dialogue giving away nothing, leaving us with all the more questions.
In-between chapters there were cleverly placed police interview transcripts and therapy journal pages.
Hints of what had happened.
Thoughts on why such a tragedy had occurred.
I guessed little bits (I was rather pleased with myself) but there was a big reveal about half way through that literally left me with my mouth wide open. I had no idea, a real turn of events.
Throughout the tale there is an uneasy undercurrent, that feeling of not being able to completely relax, the worry that something is about to go wrong. If only it was a problem as simple as the groom getting cold feet.
Beneath all the smiles and niceties are plenty of lies and secrets, from each other and from themselves. In the end I don't think any one of the wedding guests were entirely trustworthy.
We all know weddings can be stressful and a perfect day is never quite in reach but this was a wedding that despite the hiccups, no one would forget.
I felt completely invested and despite Lucy (the bride) being quite the bridezilla at times, I really felt for her. She wanted it all to be about her but in the end it all became about an entire different thing or person should I say.
With plenty of drama, as I was discussing the book I said that it read like an extended episode of Eastenders, always another spectacle waiting to happen. In my opinion it is definitely a novel that would easily translate well into a mini tv series or a movie.
The Wedding Party was a thrilling read from start to finish.
With strategic pacing and a diverse cast of characters - all of whom are equally important to the outcome of the story - make for a deliciously dysfunctional story!
bieneina's review
tense
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
2.0
purplemuskogee's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A solid, classic thriller, although I found that it left some questions unanswered at the end and that the main motive of one of the characters was quite weak. Entertaining though and pleasantly written.
binniie's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
celeste_golds's review
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
2.0
lucie_the_reader's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @ 50%
As I wrote before, it is incredibly boring and a little too similar to The Guest Party and I really didn't like that one either, so...
As I wrote before, it is incredibly boring and a little too similar to The Guest Party and I really didn't like that one either, so...
emilyreed's review
3.0
Spoiler
3.5The plot is interesting enough and keeps you hooked up until a sort of disappointing end for me. The short chapters and switching narrative meant it was quite the page turner but after the reveal of the who had done it and who had died it felt a bit underwhelming and confusing to the relevance of quite a few plot points. All the characters were fine but nothing special and were all equally filling one role in the story. The last page was a nice touch but I just felt the reveal was underwhelming but that might have been due to the context I read it in. There were also quite a few references with social media and current culture which will date quite quickly and often felt a bit condescending from the author rather than insightful or funny but that could be personal.
Overall still a good read and enjoyable for sure.
thesouterbookshelf's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0