Hi everyone, just a heads-up! There are spoilers in this review, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. Happy reading!
Synopsis
A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hunting Party.
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?
Source: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52656911-the-guest-list
My Thoughts
1. Why do you think the author named this book The Guest List?
My first thought was that this guest list was probably like a VIP list or something. But after reading the book, I think it has more to do with the intricacies of how the guests’ lives are connected without them actually knowing or realising their connections to one another. I think this is probably the case at most weddings, and after all, I have to say it’s a good title!
2. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?
Absolutely! I always have a theory and try to keep track of everything throughout the story, making mental notes along the way.
3. Did you correctly guess the victim and the killer before the end of the book?
This one is a big, fat NO!
4. Did the book feel more like a page-turner or a slow burn for you?
This was more of a slow burn for me.
5. Did you think there were too many POVs?
I think there were enough different POVs to give us various perspectives on the story and insight into the characters’ backgrounds. In the end, it all intertwined smoothly. I prefer this mix because it gives you different angles and adds different feelings and perspectives to the story.
6. Did you change your mind about any character throughout the story?
Yeah, I really did not like Johnno at first and thought he was a bit of a pissy, but as the story went along, I began to understand why he was the way he was. I actually started feeling some empathy towards him.
7. Which character were you most engaged with? The least?
Funny enough, Johnno was the character I was most engaged with, and the least would be Jules.
8. For you, was Will a jerk or a real sociopath?
A bit of both, but I would say he was more of a jerk than a sociopath.
9. Why do you think Jules was in a hurry to marry Will despite not knowing him for very long?
She thought it felt right. Maybe she wanted to prove a point, or perhaps prove to herself that she knew best. Maybe she was scared he would change his mind. I also think she might have felt that this was what people expected of her, as she always seems to have everything so together. But I feel I don’t have enough information to answer this question accurately. It’s all speculation.
10. If you had received a note like the one Jules did, would you have gone ahead with the wedding?
Most probably. Thinking back on my own experiences, I think I would have. Determination would have driven me, along with not wanting to feel like a failure, but I also wouldn’t have wanted to make a mistake. A seed of doubt would definitely have been planted.
11. Why do you think Jules kept the note?
Because it was in the back of her mind, and she most probably would have tried to figure out where it came from.
12. What do you think of the relationship between Jules and Olivia?
Yoh! It’s complicated and a product of a strange mother and her complicated relationship with each daughter. However, it made me think a lot about my own relationship with my sister. Things were difficult at times, and yes, we can rub each other up the wrong way, but we would kill for each other. I feel this is the kind of relationship Jules and Olivia have.
13. What do you think about Hannah’s storyline?
I thought it was a good POV, and I really liked Hannah. The revelation was absolutely mind-blowing, and I felt so much sympathy for her.
14. Do you think Hannah will forgive Charlie, or will she leave him?
I want to say she will leave him. I feel like Hannah is a strong character, and she won’t go down without a fight.
15. How did you feel about Will being so involved in all those horrible actions that impacted so many of the characters? Did you think it was a little much and convenient?
My jaw was on the floor! I’m sure something like this could happen, but my first thought wasn’t, “No, this is too much!” It was, “Oh. My. Word!!” Like, what the hell?! Mind-blowing!
16. What did you think about Johnno taking the blame for Will’s murder despite being innocent?
Again, it comes back to him being a bit of a pissy. After his attitude changed, I was rooting for him, thinking he was finally going to stand up for himself. And then he goes and breaks it all down by crying and simply accepting the sentence. But, in a way, I get it. His guilt must have pushed him to do it, as he still believes they need to be punished for what happened at school.
17. Did the author do a good job of organising the plot and moving it along?
Yeah, I really enjoyed it! The story picked up halfway through, and from that point on, I just wanted to keep reading.
18. Were you satisfied with the end?
Uhm, I think I would have liked an epilogue or something, just to tie up some loose ends. There was an opportunity for that, but even without it, the ending was satisfying.
19. Would you want to read another book by this author?
Yup! I will definitely read another book by Lucy Foley.
20. If you could talk to the author, what burning questions would you want to ask?
What are the chances of a novella as a follow-up? I don’t know; I just want a little bit more! Maybe something to redeem the relationship between Jules and Olivia, tie up the loose ends between Hannah and Charlie, and show Jules finally breaking through or something. I think there’s an opportunity there, and I’d love to see it explored.
This was a buddy read with the beautiful Lienkie! It was a brand-new experience for me, and I was so nervous because I’m not a fast reader. But it turned out to be so much fun, and I really enjoyed having someone to chat with about what was happening in the book.
I hope to do more buddy reads in the future. Hit me up if this is something you’d like to do!
E XX
