The Guest List by Lucy Foley (2020)
Laura’s Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
I enjoyed one of Lucy Foley’s other books, The Hunting Party, but I ended up disappointed by this one. (Probably not the best thing to read if you’re planning a wedding)
The Analysis:
When magazine editor Jules and TV personality Will decided to have their wedding on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, they couldn’t have imagined the horror that would ensue on the day of their nuptials. A treacherous storm is brewing, and the weather amplifies the chaos of the dark secrets swirling among the wedding party and guests.
Especially towards the beginning of the book, I wanted to know what was going to happen and I was compelled to keep reading. Unfortunately, the more I read, the more I disliked the novel.
None of the characters are likable, making it rather unenjoyable to read about them. The main characters, while well developed, are deeply flawed and the side characters are two-dimensional. As the drama of the wedding and the days leading up to it unfolds, I found myself wishing I could untangle the web of lies and secrets and go back to the beginning of the book. Not that every book needs a specific point or lesson, but this one felt like I had just read a bunch of jumbled drama rather than a storyline with purpose.
I’m growing a bit weary of alternating timelines in general, and I didn’t like that this one had timelines that were so close together while still jumping back and forth. Things got intense in the last 10% of the book and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for a reveal. Ultimately, the exciting ending didn’t make up for the rest of the flaws in the book. I’d pass on this thriller and read something else instead.
Comments