Here’s an author who knows how to keep readers guessing!

Sasha and Caitlin meet as children and become best friends. Caitlin comes from a wealthy family, Sasha is the child of the hired help but they form a close bond which lasts through the years. Sasha keeps Caitlin on a bit of a pedestal, doing anything for her – even keeping secrets. Now they’re grown up and Caitlin is getting married her bridesmaid is, of course, Sasha. Sasha bears the responsibility for making the big day just the way Caitlin wants it, going the extra mile again and again but the bride is hard to please and continually manages to utter put-downs and snide remarks toward her bridesmaid. As the big day approaches, the strain begins to show and cracks open in the relationship. Secrets which kept them together now threaten to tear them asunder.

Nina Manning knows how to grab her audience, keep them on their toes and reel them in. With a cast of well-crafted characters and secrets galore swirling in the background, this is one which consumed me. I’m not sure I actually liked Caitlin very much; I’ve never had much time for those who think they’re entitled and she certainly fits that bill. I enjoyed the chapters going back and forth in time meaning we were learning about the history of the friendship at the same time as the wedding got closer. An excellently plotted story line, packed with information which stopped me overthinking what else was going on. The secrets, when revealed, were both surprising and shocking. Without a doubt, this is a stunningly clever psychological thriller from an author who knows her stuff; one to watch and earning my recommendation and all five stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and to Rachel Gilbey for my spot on this tour; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

An okay book, definitely not what I was expecting, as not really a thriller, more like a domestic suspense/drama. I do think the author did a good job writing and I liked the storyline, but just didn’t feel any thrills, chills, or shocks was present. There was a bit of tension, which was nice. Overall, I think if this was promoted differently, it could do very well with the readers looking for a drama with some suspense twined in. As, it’s a very riveting tale, but lacking in what it’s promoted as. I would recommend to those looking fir a good, suspenseful, domestic drama/suspense, as I do think you’ll enjoy it.

Sasha meets Caitlin when her parents get a job at her house, she is a wealthy girl from a privileged family and she tries everything to ensure they remain friends. The book alternates between their teenage years, and present time, where Sasha is helping Caitlin plan her wedding to Chuck. As the wedding approaches, things start to go awry.

This is the first book by Nina Manning that I have read. It is a good thriller, a bit slow moving for me at times (I don't tend to like waiting for things to happen) and the end left me wanting a little bit! But it has intrigue and suspense, I enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this novel!

This is an intriguing book about two friends from different backgrounds. Caitlin is rich and Sasha’s parents work at Caitlin’s parents estate. Despite the differences they become friends. Friends that do not always appreciate each other.

Sasha is the primary narrator in this book and the timelines vary from the now present, 2-3 months ago present, and childhood. Sasha is helping plan Caitlin’s wedding to their children friend, Chuck. There are a lot of secrets in this book. They are revealed throughout the book and it makes for an intriguing read!

The description of this book really made me want to read it.

The books about two best friends Caitlin and Sasha.
When Caitlin says she’s getting married Sasha will obviously be her bridesmaid.

This book was quite slow but had lots of twists and turns and kept me interested.

Enjoyable

I was excited to read this book after reading the description, but it didn’t live up to my expectations. The story was slow to build, but it did have a few surprises and the ending was better than I expected with the way the rest of the story developed. Overall, it was good, but lacked the “wow” factor.

This one started slow for me and I almost abandoned it, but just when I was about to put it aside...It got moving! And boy did it move.
Wealthy family...secrets...lies...this one is a great read. The twist is all that shocking, but the book is still a great read.

The Bridesmaid centers around two best friends who meet as children. An unlikely friendship due to the family backgrounds of the girls. Caitlin is rich and spoiled, but craving some attention from her parents. Sasha is much less advantaged money wise but is much more loved by her family.
The story is told in multiple timelines by Sasha. After reading some of the nasty things that Caitlin does, one would wonder why Sasha tolerates the friendship. Along the way Sasha learns some secrets of Caitlin's family. Years after the friendship began Caitlin is now getting married with Sasha as her maid of honor. As the wedding day approaches, Sasha feels more and more like the secrets need to come out.
A slow starter book that eventually gets to the "good" stuff. I was wondering just what the secrets were until the very end. Let's just say it was not at all what I was expecting.

Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc

1/5 I am writing this review after receiving an ARC from Boldwood Books.

I desperately wanted to like this book - the cover, the concept, all right up my alley! Unfortunately I got halfway through and had to DNF. I wasn't connected to any of the characters, I didn't really even know what the book was about, and it needed some serious editing (the plot was really hard to follow, million dollar words were used when a ten cent word would have worked, and all the character's dialogue sounded the same so it was tough to distinguish between or connect to any of the characters).

The Bridesmaid is about “ best friends” Sasha and Caitlin. Sashas family works for Caitlins family in their country estate. With Caitlins wedding vastly approaching what can go wrong. Pretty fast paced filled with dark secrets thanks net galley for the complimentary copy.

Initially I was drawn in by the cover of this book and once I read the blurb I knew I had to read this story. However, unfortunately I was a bit disappointed. The storyline is quite slow and the 'toxic friendship' could have been a bit more dramatic and shocking. I felt the story was a bit predictable and didn't have that 'wow factor' that keeps me reading until late into the night. There were a few little surprises but not enough to make this a 4 or 5 star read.
Thank you to Nina Manning, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was drawn right into the story..The characters were well written and I enjoyed all the twists and turns.Will be recommending #netgalley#boldwoodbooks.

Great blurb and cover and was looking foreard to read,such a slow start that gave up at 10%,apologies but not for me

I was instantly drawn in by the cover and the description, but to be perfectly honest this book was rather slow to get into. Look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next time.

Friendship In Decline...
A tale of two friends and of a friendship in decline. Slow burn domestic drama told in a dual timeline which works well. Characters are well drawn with a nicely written storyline. Engaging reading.

When Sasha's parents get new jobs on a grand manor house estate she is initially reluctant to leave the city life she has always known. The grandeur of her new setting and the friendships she makes in this country abode soon appease her trepidations, however. Caitlin is the granddaughter and future heir of this grand home. Their backgrounds might be very different but the two young girls are forced together by their close proximity and a friendship forms that is set to last a lifetime. The secrets they are keeping from each other might not last as long, however.

This story was told in chapters that alternated between the early nineties and the present day. The insights to the past chronicled a growing friendship with something sinister lurking underneath. The present day focus revolved around Caitlin's wedding day and a countdown was issued with hints of a traumatic reveal to also occur on this day.

As I usually find in split-perspective thrillers, I was slightly more drawn to the sections in the past and seeing the genesis for the later discontent. However, I did also appreciate the present-day focus and became just as hooked on both as the story progressed. There were two reveals that occurred in the last ten percent and I had somewhat guessed that they might have appeared. It did not ruin my enjoyment to be proven correct but the characters didn't act as I had anticipated and the final scenes concluded quietly, which went against the vein of the rest of the book. A simmering sinister something had dogged these pages and this frittered out just as I thought it would explode, which lowered my rating to what I would have awarded the rest of the novel prior to this.

This is my sixth or seven Manning novel and I have enjoyed them all. Slick domestic noir is the best descriptive genre I can attribute to her work. This time, we focus on a toxic friendship between Caitlin and Sasha told in multiple timelines where we see Caitlin as the queen bee and Sasha is the true worker bee, .also the bride and bridesmaid, in that same order. Family secrets come to the fore during the wedding. The pace builds up and we wonder why Sasha puts up with Caitlin, she is cruel, manipulative and thoroughly mean. Does Sasha have a reason to stick around. Yes, she does.

Thanks to Netgalley and
Boldwood Books for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️/5 Stars

I really wanted to like this book. The premise and description sounded so promising! However for a “thriller” this book was terribly boring. Not much happened. The beginning of this book was so slow I almost didn’t finish this book.

The writing style was good! But the plot was not something I would consider a thriller. Unfortunately disappointed with this book.

I am still excited to read this but I dont think I will have enough time this month sadly. Its really not gripping me like I had hoped and Im super confused. Will try for sure.

Great book, had many twists I did not see coming. Thanks net galley for the advanced copy. Highly recommend this book.