The Unwedding: Reese's Book Club Pick (A Novel)

Name: The Unwedding: Reese's Book Club Pick (A Novel)
SKU: 72387
Availability: InStock

3.7 | 1,279 ratings

Price: 19.1

Last update: 07-03-2024

Top reviews from the United States

Debra

Un-put-down-able

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024

When Ellery's husband surprised her with a divorce right before their twentieth wedding anniversary trip to the luxury resort Broken Point in Big Sur, California, she decided to go on her own instead. But she can't esacape having her loss rubbed in her face because there's a wedding happening at the resort that same weekend. Besides that, she can't shake the feeling that something's wrong, which is confirmed when she finds a body floating in the pool just before a huge storm hits. Now she's stranded at this resort with a killer and that wasn't the last victim. Is there anyone that she can trust among this group of strangers?

The atmosphere and psychological suspense that built up (à la White Lotus) was quite impressive. And the character development is quite impressive, especially as Condie does a good job helping the reader keep the big cast of characters straight. But it went so much deeper--it is a good study in trauma, considering grief and loss and trying to find a way to keep on living after. And the story had such a respectful way of treating the dead and the pain of those who keep on living. Condie is a master storyteller, unspooling a slow, steady, addictive plot that kept me reading until the very last page.

Tori H.

Exciting premise, but ultimately lackluster

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024

2.5 stars

I loved Ally Condie’s YA dystopian series, Matched, and was excited to read her adult debut. The premise was exactly the type of story I love - a locked-room setting with strangers and an MC working through her own issues. Unfortunately, this thriller didn’t work for me. The whole story was completely unoriginal and lackluster. Not at all what I’d expect from this author.

First off, the plot was extremely slow-paced. I can’t think of one instance, even during the gruesome discoveries and the final showdown, where I felt the action picked up. The characters were extremely hard to relate to in most cases, and some were just downright unlikeable, with little to no character development. Ravi and Grace were easily my favorites.

The distinction between the wedding party and all the other guests at the resort was off putting, and Ellery’s backstory was completely unimportant to the actual plot. If this was intended to provide some sort of character development, it failed miserably. I have issues with who the main culprit turned out to be (can’t say more without spoiling), and I have huge problems with thrillers that need to take a whole chunk of the end to explain how the protagonist suddenly knew who the murderer was. If you’re doing your job as a writer, no explanation should be needed.

I could go on with all the things that bothered me, but would rather stick to the highlights. I’m rounding my review up to three stars because I was engaged enough to see the story through to its end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-arc.

Aliya Miah

♥️

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024

Ellery Wainwright's 20th wedding anniversary celebration turns into a desperate fight for survival when she arrives alone at the isolated Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. The luxurious getaway, once a symbol of her perfect life, now feels like a haunting reminder of her shattered dreams.

As she tries to escape her painful reality, a wedding party arrives, taunting her with memories of her own lost love. But when the groom turns up dead in the pool, Ellery realizes she's not the only one with secrets. And as the rain pours down, a mudslide traps the guests, leaving them at the mercy of a killer. With no escape and no signal to call for help, Ellery must navigate the treacherous web of lies and alliances among the stranded guests. Each new death raises the stakes, and Ellery's own dark past threatens to surface.

Ally Condie masterfully crafts a sense of tension and unease from the very beginning, and the isolated setting of the resort adds to the feeling of claustrophobia and dread.

I loved how the story explores the complexities of human relationships and the secrets we keep from each other.

Stacy H.

Full of Twists, Turns and Great Characters!

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024

I loved this book! Closed circle mysteries are one of my favorite tropes so The Unwedding was right up my alley. The characters were so well done. They were distinct and complex. I liked most of them, but I especially loved Ellery and Ravi. It was fun to read about their amateur sleuth investigation. The pace of this novel was just right. Slow enough that you get to know the characters, but not so slow that you are bored. The isolated resort setting was perfect, and the storm added a lot of atmosphere. All of the twists and turns kept me guessing until the surprising end. I have never read anything by Ally Condie before, but I will definitely be looking for more. Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

Take All My Money

well-written mystery with heart

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024

The publisher pitched this as Agatha Christie meets White Lotus. While the only White Lotus similarity I can see is that this book is set on vacation, this had all the pull and mystique of an Agatha Christie mystery. The main character is beautifully drawn and unique, giving this story more heft than many domestic thrillers/mysteries out there.

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