The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Available now

CW: child death, sexual violence

It is well known that I am an avid lover and collector of books. If I see one that’s interesting, I add it to my shelves. I was once able to justify a new, and unneeded, ereader to my husband simply by showing how much space could be saved by owning digital titles instead of physical. To no one’s surprise, I never stopped buying physical books and have countless that I have never, and may never get to. 

This very rarely bothers me. It’s only when listening to a bookish podcast and becoming increasingly interested in a book being recommended and then noticing that it’s on my bookshelf do I feel the slightest guilt. Well, maybe more like frustration that I’ve had a spectacular book on my shelf and I haven’t made the time to read it. The Guest List by Lucy Foley is my latest, “Why Did I Wait So Long To Read You?” title. 

The Guest List is an atmospheric and dark thriller set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. The island’s only inhabitants are a couple who have turned a large home-possibly a mansion-into a resort that appeals to the type of client who wants an exclusive and secluded vacation destination. Jules is a highly successful magazine owner and creator who has amassed her own wealth and elite group of friends. Her wedding to an incredibly handsome and successful survivalist reality star demands the type of affair that her magazine would feature. The highest quality food and drink, along with every expensive and luxurious detail must be shuttled by boat to the island, including the guests. 

As the wedding draws closer, secrets, both long hidden and newly made, are brought to light amongst the wedding party and the families of the bride and groom. But the wedding will bring more than joy and happiness; it will also bring a dead body. 

Reader friends, if you slept on this one like I did, please do yourself a favor and pick it up immediately. A remote island off of Ireland, a mysterious resort with its own cemetery, and loads of rich people with their rich people problems-it’s all my catnip! Every character in this book needs some serious therapy. Everyone has a troubled past and has made mistakes that are slowly destroying their relationship with themselves and those around them. Everyone is hiding a major secret and has something to lose. Many of the characters are completely insufferable and treat the wedding planner Aoife and her helpers as no more significant than the furniture. 

Told through multiple POVs, the characters reveal themselves to be as unpredictable and dangerous as the storm threatening the island. 

The Guest List is a dark and compelling thriller that kept me enthralled from the very first page. Highly recommend reading this during a thunderstorm-it was a fabulous coincidence that I was able to indulge in and absolutely loved it. 

If you would like to add this thrilling and creepy novel to your shelf, and actually read it, you can find ordering information here:

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