This book started off very slowly and I'm afraid I struggled with it. This one isnt for me . Sorry !

Thanks to NetGalley, Nina Manning and the publisher for an ARC of The Bridesmaid in return for my honest opinion.

This is my first book by Nina Manning and I did enjoy the read. It started off quite slowly but built up to a good read.

The story follows two girls, Caitlin and Sasha. Sasha is poor whereas Caitlin is from a rich background. They form a bond like children do, but also Sasha puts up with lots of issues with their friendship.. Now set in the present day Caitlin is getting hitched and asks Sasha to be her bridesmaid. I do not want to give any spoilers away but the girls do share some secrets that potentially could ruin Caitlin's big day.

I would say that this book is more of a tale of friendship and how two children can be so different but yet have an incredible bond that follows them through to their adulthoods. The novel makes for a good read and I did read it quite quickly. I would like to give this book 4 stars.

This was a good easy read but nothing spectacular or memorable. The pace was quite slow for me and the big reveal at the end was more of a fizz than a bang. Unfortunately this won’t be a book that I’ll be recommending.

I couldn't really get into this story as the pacing is rather slow. It wasn't thrilling and did not really hold my interest even though there were a lot of secrets between the two friends. I cannot say that I can recommend this story.

3.5 stars rounded down to 3

From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy and confident Caitlin would always be her best friend. Sasha would do anything to keep Caitlin happy. Even keep her darkest secrets. The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces that she's getting married, there's only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. But as the big day approaches, the secrets that once bound the two friends together, now threatens to rip them apart forever.

Sasha first meets Caitlin at Saxby Hall where Sasha's parents worked. They soon become close friends. Years later, when Caitlin i getting married, she asks Sasha to be her bridesmaid. Sasha has a secret that might spoil the day and change the family's lives forever. The story is told from Sasha's point of view and the chapters alternate between the wedding preparations and what had happened in the past. I found the story quite hard to get into, the pace was slow to begin with and the story dragged in places. The secret is not revealed until after the wedding.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #NinaManning for my ARC of #TheBridesmaid in exchange for an honest review.

Not quite the thriller I was expecting and I mean that in a positive way.

The pace started slow then picked up a tense, choppy rhythm that had me on edge even when there was nothing major going on. Manning really pulled me into Sashaa and Caitlin's world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read suited to lovers of drama, suspense, family-centred literature. It was a great escape. It's a 5/5 stars from me for the character development, atmosphere, plot and generally everything. It's a well-thought-out and written tale tracking two time periods of two key relationships that interlink in a way least expected.

Thank you Netgalley and Nina Manning for a copy of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was very easy to follow the different time periods done as a countdown to the finale. I'm not sure if a chapter was missing or I fell asleep and accidently skipped a few pages. There seemed a big hole when Ava comes to the doorway when Sasha discovers the photos and then the party continues.
A nice mystery.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Bridesmaid by Nina Manning started in with a flourish. Two young girls become unlikely friends as one is rich and the other not. Caitlin was a spoiled rich child who despised her mother and Sasha was the well-loved child of working-class parents who were employed by Caitlin‘s family. However, the two pre-teen girls, Caitlin and Sasha, are inseparable at the large country estate and start a friendship that continues well into their 30s and culminating at Caitlin’s wedding. But the friendship was never equal since one person had significantly more power over the other during their lifetime causing difficulties. The book eludes constantly to a major secret and a major upheaval and on so many occasions Sasha wants to unburden herself of the secret that she knows would upset her best friend. When the secret is disclosed at Caitlin’s wedding, I was underwhelmed. I don’t know what to think at this point other than a little disappointment. #familysecrets #bestfriends #richgirlpoorgirl #envy #jealousy

This book about toxic relationships was great Nina outdid herself with this novel!
Great characters with an amazing story!!! Yes please!

Oh, the tension! I was practically clenching my jaws and holding my breath from start to finish. This slow burn psychological thriller is enticing and captured me, utterly and completely, from the first page to the last. I hungrily read the novel in one sitting, ignoring everything else

I struggled a little reading this book to be honest, but there was just enough happening to keep me interested in what would happen next.

This is my first book by Nina Manning and I would like to read some of her other titles

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

The bridesmaid
By Nina Manning
Pub Date May 27 2021
I loved this book a great thriller I must say it’s between Caitlin and Sasha and Chuck and Iva it’s like a love triangle that not meant to happen and there some scenes I was shocked at what Caitlin done to Sasha even though they best friends Caitlin could be cruel at times to shahs even though Sasha was worse with Caitlin. The writing style was epic a page turn over took me four days to read it but it was worth the read.

I struggled a bit with this book if I’m honest. There was no real wow factor and it just plodded along

The Bridesmaid will hold your attention from the first paragraph to the last one.

Sasha and Caitlin are childhood friends but their relationship is not an equal one for many reasons. Sasha's parents work for Caitlin's family and there is always that sense of lordliness over Sasha.

Caitlin is about to get married and Sasha has a surprise for her on her wedding day and you know this is not going to go well.

The story is told in different time lines with hints of what's to come.

The pages will fly by to the satisfying conclusion .

This is my first but not my last book by Nina Manning.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an page turner of a read.

REVIEW
The Bridesmaid by Nina Manning
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed the story this book told, but there was no real wow factor for me if I’m being honest. I guessed the twist at the end which to me, wasn’t even that big of a twist. I felt like I kept waiting for something big to happen, but it fell a bit short

This follows the lives of best friends, Sasha and Caitlin. Sasha’s parents work at Caitlin’s family’s estate, so they become best friends from a young age. Caitlin always has a sense of entitlement and doesn’t always treat Sasha very well, throwing her under the bus, blaming her for things, and talking down to her. There are many secrets at the estate, and Sasha is curious to find them out. She finds out a secret that could change Caitlin’s world from a young age, and keeps it with her through to adulthood. Until the day of Caitlin’s wedding, that Sasha has planned, where she decides is the place and time to stop hiding behind Caitlin and her family, and tell all.

I enjoyed reading the stories from over the years of how Caitlin treated Sasha, and it made me dislike Caitlin a lot.. but to me, the secret wasn’t anything crazy and there wasn’t much of a thrill factor.

Thank you to @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

The story centers around Sasha and Caitlin. Both from different backgrounds. Caitlin wasn't very nice to Sasha when they were younger but their friendship managed to survive. When Caitlin is to be married Sasha is the bridesmaid.

The story is told from different timelines and us a slow burn read. I enjoy books that build up to a big finish. There are little clues dotted amongst the past that you know will blow up in the future. The friendship is very much one sided and I did feel for Sasha. Not too keen on Caitlin but that was down to the brilliant writing style. I enjoyed this book.

This was a mystery/thriller but those aspects of the story were almost eclipsed by the strength of the characters. The author invests considerable effort in building the characters as well as the relationships and this makes for an immersive reading experience. I liked the book very much but do think badging it as a mystery may put off people who are more interested in general fiction.

The Bridesmaid is about childhood friendships, secrets, and ultimately revenge.
Sasha is twelve years old when she is uprooted from a poky flat in London to Saxby Hall estate a grand Manor House where her parents have landed a cottage with their jobs, mum is housekeeper and dad is gardener. Caitlin is the granddaughter of the owner of Saxby and is the same age as Caitlin. The two form a great friendship but Sasha at times is treated meanly by Caitlin. The book has two timelines which is then when they were children and now that is a countdown to Caitlins wedding. At times the relationship between both girls can only be described as strange.
The book is tagged as a psychological thriller but I would put this more in the family drama scene. The book was a little bit of a disappointment at the end but I enjoyed the book as a whole.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story dragged for me. It took a while to get through it. I almost dreaded picking it up. But I needed to know what the secrets were.

The main characters were unlikable. I did enjoy the last chapter though. The surprise ending was worth it for me and I did enjoy the explanation.

This book did not go the way I expected it to. But I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. There’s really not a whole lot I can say without giving away spoilers.

The Bridesmaid by Nina Manning

‘It was always Sasha and Caitlin, Caitlin and Sasha; two peas in a pod’! Best friends since they were teens.

Sasha’s parents work for the Clemonte family on their Saxby Hall estate. Which is how the two girls meet.

Sasha would do anything to make Caitlin happy.

Deeply buried secret. What does Sasha need to get off her chest?

This was the first time I’ve read a book by Nina Manning! I honestly had a hard time getting into reading this book. The plot sounded very interesting, but wasn’t what I expected unfortunately. I just couldn’t keep interested, but managed to finish it.

Thank you Nina Manning, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance copy to read in return for my honest review!