Ridiculous is how I would describe this book and its protagonist, Sasha. Despite contemplating a DNF at 30%, I powered through the entire story hoping I'd be able to revise my opinion.

Why a 33-year old woman would hang on to the approval of a toxic friendship, I don't understand. And instead of walking away from the so-called friendship like a normal person, she decides to avenge herself, at Caitlyn's wedding of all days...??!!! Talk about stealing her thunder....!!! Caitlyn is shown to be the bad guy in this story, but it was Sasha that I really hated.

None of the characters in the story were likeable. After all that suspense build-up, the big secret wasn't even all that earth shattering; though the actual villain of the story, revealed in the last chapter, was kind of unexpected. But I must say that the author has a particularly compelling writing style, for that alone forced me to finish reading the book.

Overall, not that great.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First off let me say I enjoyed this book by Nina Manning. I've never read her before but now I'll put her on my list! I did not think this was especially a thriller/mystery, more of a complicated relationship between 2 women.. I liked the development of the characters. I enjoyed Sasha and her family, I understood Caitlin and her family, and I think most women will understand the dysfunctional codependent dynamic between the two friends. The ending was surely a surprise!

A dark book that centres around friendship and boundaries. The book is told from the girl's childhoods and now.

Sasha and Caitlin have been best friends from an early age. Caitlin comes from money and Sasha's family are staff at Caitlins home. Sasha is taken under Caitlin's wing and over the years things just start to feel off.

It took me a little while to get into but this book got me out of a reading slump. The pages unfolded so many secrets and I couldn't stop turning the pages. This book is full of twists that I really didnt see coming but fit so well within the story.

I love Nina's style of writing and there isnt a book I've not enjoyed.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was my first time reading anything by Nina Manning and the cover and description drew me in. I love this book. I typically read psychological thrillers and this book had that and then a little chick lit thrown in. I loved it from the first page to the last and found it to be so good. Do yourself a favor and read this as you won't be disappointed.

I found this a little slow paced but it did start to to get better mid way through. I wasn't too keen on any of the characters and found myself a little detached from the story. There was definately potential in the story.

3.25 stars. This was my first time reading a Nina Manning book and I think it was a good starting place!

Sasha moves to the grand estate of Saxby Hall with her parents where they have recently been employed. Not long after moving in Sasha meets Caitlin, the privileged, wealthy, and mercurial daughter of the Clemonte family. The pair become fast friends and Sasha finds herself doing anything to maintain her friendship with Caitlin and to keep her happy. Fast forward about twenty years and Sasha, still the supportive friend, is meticulously planning Caitlin’s wedding to their childhood friend Chuck. As the wedding approaches, things start veering off course.

The story is told from Sasha’s perspective during two timelines: when the girls are teens; and later, in their thirties. The chapters are short, which makes it easy to keep flipping the pages.

This was a solid thriller, a bit slow at times, but one that I was still compelled to stay up late reading. I don’t know how I feel about the ending. I guess I was hoping for something more explosive to the tension that had been building. It did resolve things nicely, so there’s that. And it certainly changed my perception of some of the characters!

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this ARC.

Definitely Toxic in the friendship department. Very good plot with lots of secrets and trying to figure each one out kept me riveted. I liked the main character, she tried to be the Perfect friend. The ending where ALL the secrets were revealed was WOW!! Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy of The Bridesmaid.

Thank you Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an early copy of The Bridesmaid. Trying to figure out the big secret was what kept me involved with this book. It was good, and I really liked the main character, she was kind while being in the middle of secrets. The big reveal was a shock, I never guessed it. Go grab some wine and get ready for this book, you will enjoy it!

When Sacha was 12 her parents decide to move from Hackney to take up the position of gardener and housekeeper at Saxby House and live in a cottage within the grounds. Sacha is a little anxious but also excited because the wealthy owners have a daughter the same age as Sacha - Caitlin and two younger brothers – twins. Sacha and Caitlin become ‘best friends’ although they only meet during school holidays as Caitlin is at boarding school.

The plot is split into two time periods – the period when the children were 12 years old and the period that spans the weeks before Caitlin’s wedding which Sacha is organising and attending as the sole bridesmaid. We are introduced to the characters whilst the women are on holiday with Caitlin’s other friends in a ‘not a hen holiday’. It is clear from the outset that this is an unequal relationship as Caitlin is the extrovert, demanding attention and manipulating others, in particular Sacha. Meanwhile Sacha bows to the inevitable, ignores Caitlin’s barbs, feels that she is lacking and that her closeness to Caitlin’s wealth endows her with a refracted glamour which further undermines her self-confidence. However, from the outset it is clear that she has a plan – a plan that will repay Caitlin for all the slights and hurts that she has imposed on Sacha since the day they met.

I enjoyed the structure of the novel, although it is not unusual to have the plot revealed through two time-periods I think it worked particularly well in this instance – enhanced by having only one point of view. We never get to hear what Caitlin thinks we are left to determine this by Sacha’s revelations and we have to trust the narrator, and I am not sure that someone who is so compliant in a toxic relationship is reliable. My point of view only.

I did not find this to be a psychological thriller but more of a mystery. What is the big secret? What is Sacha’s plan that is going to end all this? All this what? Secrets, I suppose. That said I didn’t expect the reveal to be what it was, but equally I couldn’t think of anything that would be so devastating to all concerned.

I enjoyed the characters, Chuck in particular. Probably impossible to like Caitlin, but we are only working with Sacha’s perspective here. Caitlin? I think she is comes over as a bit weak, and who in their right mind would take over organising a wedding for Caitlin – who clearly didn’t give a fig about the wedding. And Eve, and Josephine! Great characters.

Would I recommend it, yes, certainly. It kept me engaged and involved – really because I wanted the denouement and to know the secret but I wasn’t blown away so no five stars today.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

I was unsure what to rate this. I really enjoyed this book and got sucked into it and boy was it ever a readable page turner...BUT it was not a thriller...not by my definition. This was more like a dramatic chick lit story with a bit of a mystery thrown in and I really liked it.

The plot was interesting and I loved the format of before and now. It is told from the singular point of view and you really got to know the two main characters because of that. I really appreciate Nina Mannings writing style and the way she keeps you wanting to know more. The whole time I was reading this I kept saying to myself "just one more chapter". I was able to read it in a single sitting...that must account for something. Also, I would definitely read more by Miss Manning and that is a big complement.

I am going to go with 3.5 Stars and round it up to 4 for the sheer readability factor.

This book had so much potential, however it missed the mark. I was bored throughout the entire book. Almost to the point of wanting to skim through, but knowing that I couldn't seeing as I had to review it.

I did not find the characters to be likeable or relatable. There was absolutely no reason whatsoever for Sasha to be as insecure as she was. Caitlin was a byproduct of her Grandmother and at the same time I could not understand why her own mother never thought to tell her the truth and find a way to work on their relationship.

The big reveal was very anti-climatic and honestly a bit of a letdown. Why do you have to continuously talk yourself into remaining friends with someone? That alone was a deterrent for me. From beginning to end this book just did not feel engaging. I think alternating between past and present and only having one narrative simply made the book drag out even longer.

This book just was not for me.

Genre: Mystery | Womens Fiction | Adult Fiction

Release Date: Expected 27th May 2021



A lot has changed in Sashas life as the years passed but one thing has always remained - Caitlin. They've been best friends since the moment they met as children and Sasha knew she would always do whatever it takes to make sure Caitlin is happy - from sneaking in magazines she wasn't allowed to read to keeping her darkest secrets.

Caitlin is the type of woman everybody is drawn to - she's successful and wealthy, but there's also just something about her that draws people in. She's the life and soul of every room she walks into, but she still chooses to be with Sasha even though she's the complete opposite of everything Caitlin is.

And now, Caitlin is getting married and it goes without saying that Sasha is going to be by her side and make sure the wedding is as perfect as Caitlin is. But as the day draws nearer, cracks start to appear in the foundation of their relationship and it doesn't matter how hard she tries she just can't seem to make Caitlin happy anymore. But Sasha thinks she might know exactly what's coming between them.

Their secrets have always kept them together - but could they be the thing that finally breaks them apart?

The Bridesmaid is a story about obsession and compulsion - about the intense power dynamics and toxicity that can seep into relationships and take over. Could a lifelong friendship really be something more sinister than it seems on the surface, and why? The stark contrast between our friends and illustrated expertly to an uncomfortable intensity - their class divide, their wealth, their hopes.

Journeying through the different timelines in their lives - their present day lives getting ready for the wedding and many years ago when their friendship and their secrets first began and we slowly unravel their history and learn the things they're hiding from the world and from each other.

This was an excellent and tense depiction of toxic, obsessive friendships and betrayal - the characters both utterly detestable and lovable all at once and I loved the idea of this story. But for me, as I progressed through the pages I slowly began to become less enthralled in their world. I found it moving too slowly and as we approached the conclusion there wasn't the climax I was hoping for and instead an unquiet calm when the final secrets come to the surface - it felt like nothing was resolved and left me feeling slightly deflated. But all in all, this was a great mystery - and I think it will hit hard for a lot of readers.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Nina Manning, Boldwood Books, and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

I received an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book more than iI did. It really felt like a time filler. None of the characters to draw you in or are especially interesting, all seem a bit flat. Just turning pages to get to the end of the story. Three stars

My eyes were drawn to the Bridesmaid by Nina Manning right away. I just love the cover design!

The characters in this story meet as kids and become close friends even though the two aren’t on an equal playing field. Sasha’s parents work for Caitlin’s grandparents. Despite that, the two become close in what I think was a very toxic friendship.

Sasha always takes the backseat to Caitlin and she puts up with Caitlin’s narcissistic personality until… she decides she’s had enough.

Here’s the full synopsis:

From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy, and confident Caitlin would always be her absolute best friend. Sasha would do anything to make Caitlin happy. Even keep her darkest secrets…

The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she’s getting married there is only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. Sasha will make sure Caitlin’s wedding is as beautiful and perfect as she is. Won’t she?

But as the big day approaches, cracks begin to appear. Because no matter what Sasha does, she never seems to make Caitlin happy.

And the secrets that once bound these two friends, now threaten to rip them apart for good.

This is the second book I’ve read by Nina Manning and I really enjoyed it! The Bridesmaid will be out on May 27.

#TheBridesmaid #NetGalley
Boring. Avoid it.
Sasha and Caitlin are childhood friends and now Caitlin is getting married and Sasha is her bridesmaid.
Something terrible happened in the past. And now Sasha would reveal it in front of her friend.
In every psychological thriller, something terrible happened, someone is watching or stalking but they present these simple situations perfectly and here, what's it? I was completely bored.
I don't understand why this book is listed as a psychological thriller. This is a really boring book. Boring characters, crappy narration and old dialogues.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

3.5


The characterization and relationships of all the characters in this book were fantastic. I loved the demonstration of power imbalance in the friendship which was super entertaining. I do admit that the ending surprised me, I was expecting something far grimmer than the conclusion so I was disappointed in the overall ending. but I found everything added up really nicely. The old manor setting sounded beautiful because of the well-detailed description and I got slightly jealous to not be able to see it for myself. The plot is a well-paced clue wise but it still took me three sittings to complete this when usually a thriller takes me one. There just isn't a big fear factor which I adore in thrillers and that's why I think it was harder for me to enjoy myself even though the friendship dynamic intrigued me. Overall this book has good characterization, entertaining relationships, a beautiful setting but I wished for something grimmer.

Nina Manning builds an interesting cast of characters and a premise that unfolds in a way that kept me reading until the end, although I must admit the ending disappointed. Most of the story was a slow build towards what I was hoping would be a carefully constructed surprise ending, but instead the last portion seemed rushed and more telling than showing. So great concept but the execution left something to be desired. But then again, I am picky. For readers who are just looking for a good distraction during pandemic lockdown or a distracting beach read, they'll like this. For those interested in authentic characters, clean story line and aha ending, not so much.
#netgalley

This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a thriller and this was just a mystery - with that being said, I feel let down a little by this book. I was excited to read it, in the beginning I almost didn’t finish it. There was so much random detail that I did not feel was necessary. The third fourth of the book was good, I considered upping my rating to a 4 star. Then when I figured out the ending before the ending, I felt like there was no true buildup and then I went back to 3 stars. There were still surprises & it was a good book, but not what I was expecting so I feel a little let down.

A wickedly twisted book that is amazing from start to finish. Loved the story and the way it was laid out for the reader. Great characters that come to life in your head and live there for a bit after the book is done.

I couldn't put this one down! I don't know where to begin with this thriller thrill ride. Twists and turns, surprises to keep you on the edge of your seat. Nina Manning knows how to keep readers engaged.