Holly’s hen party is underway at an isolated cottage but it seems that everyone has secrets. When a body is found floating in the swimming pool, it becomes apparent that one of Holly’s bridesmaids is a killer. But who has the strongest motive? The Bridesmaids is a gripping drama with a lot to figure out and potentially the most toxic female friendships ever. Every character is completely unlikeable, which kept the pages turning, as I became hungrier for answers and justice.

This book was a fun read and kept you on your toes. There are so many interconnected pieces throughout the story that all unveil over time. While some of the twists were semi-predictable, some of the bigger turns, especially the final revelation in the story, caught me off guard in the best way.

I would highly recommend trying to read this in one sitting or at least on back to back days because there are a lot of moving pieces to keep track of.

The only reason I wouldn’t give this five stars is that for the first time in a long time I wished this was a movie instead of a book. I think the flashbacks and details that emerge would lend themselves very well to film.

A Bachelorette party to die for!

This is like one of those trashy movies where you can see so much will go wrong at this hen party, but I was never prepared for HOW wrong it can go. Best friends you choose for bridesmaids? Nope- trust no one. Everyone has secrets, DARK and horrifying secrets, and will do ANYTHING to protect it. In the end you will be so shocked even those who seemed innocent enough will have you audibly gasping at what they are hiding. All the little dirty secrets come together when old friends come together, one so big in the end one will be killed and a close friend will be the killer.

I sped read through this one. This was one crazy ride.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This book is a good psychological thriller. Holly is still haunted by the death years previously of Joseph, who was the father of her son. Joseph was killed in a hit and run accident and the driver was never found. Holly is now marrying Aaron and her and five friends are on a hen weekend in a country house. Two of them are long standing friends but the other two are new friends she has made. A body is found floating in the pool and we realise that all of these friends are hiding secrets. Is this an accident or is one of them a killer? This is a complex story, at times a bit difficult it keep up with all the characters, but it is full of intrigue and suspense. Another winner from Victoria Jenkins.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was super excited to read this book after reading the description - a group of friends, a celebration and... a body! Now there's a great combination for a mystery thriller!

The book didn't disappoint either!

Immediately from the beginning, the book is fast paced. It is told from three different perspectives, and is filled with unexpected plot twists. This story is the reader's equivalent of a roller coaster ride.

I particularly enjoyed the way all the secrets were revealed, and all the drama was fun in its own way as well.

I did sometimes have to stop briefly to remember whose point of view I was reading, as it sometimes got lost in the shuffle. I think that with a few tweaks, the story could have worked really well with 2 instead of 3 POVs.

I read the whole book in one sitting and it kept me on my toes, fully invested, and constantly having to re-evaluate what I expected to happen next. I was not able to predict the ending, so that is always a plus for me.

One thing that kind of stood out to me, however, is the character development. I got the feeling that each character was developed only as far as it needed to be to fill its place in the story. I would have preferred to learn more about these girls.

Things I liked:
How each one of the bridesmaids had a secret
The way those secrets were revealed
The plot twists
The pace & intensity

Things I didn’t like:
The level of character development
The multiple POVs used
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery or a thriller. This was a great fast paced read that I really enjoyed.

Way too much going on. Each woman with her own perspective. So much back story in this group of friends. The book was definitely try too hard to be more than it was.
Didn’t hit the mark for me.

An ok read
Didn’t have me hooked
Not one of my favourites
Won’t put me off reading more by this author
Thanks NetGalley

Firstly a big thank you for the book to review on netgalley. What a fantastic read!

Gripping and devilishly dark this has everything you could want from a thriller .

Secrets,lies and revenge .

With people having their own agendas someone is bound to get hurt.

A rollercoaster of a read and completely unpredictable.

Published 18th May

This was a really intriguing read. It gripped me from the start and I know other people knew what was going on much earlier than I did, it kept me guessing. I thought it was well written as victim perpetrator could have been any one of them! I would definitely read another by this author

So much drama, so many secrets, and a definite page turner!

Holly invites her six friends on a bachelorette weekend, which quickly reveals numerous secrets, both past and present, culminating with one of her friends ending up dead.

With alternating POVs and past and present timelines, the drama is woven throughout, however, I felt that I didn't really connect with the characters and it was hard for me to keep who each character was straight. Overall, this was an engaging thriller with multiple secrets revealed, and I have to say, it made me appreciate the truthful nature of the friendships I have with my close girl friends.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Holly is getting married and her best friends organise a hen weekend. Everyone is keeping secrets. Everyone has a lot to lose. One of them won't leave alive...
The Bridesmaids is a psychological thriller and murder mystery. Some chapters are written about the discovery of the body but the identity is kept hidden. The majority of the book is written from the first person perspectives of Holly and her friends in the hours leading up to the death.
Each chapter shows a different viewpoint with tantalising hints about the secrets that each woman is hiding. Some secrets are about the present whilst others stretch back twenty years. There are twists right up until the end as the characters negotiate their shifting relationships.
The connections between the characters were intricate and at first I did have a little trouble remembering who each narrator was and what they were hiding. Once the revelations start they kept coming! The author cleverly misdirects us a couple of times as we follow the assumptions of the characters while seeing the perspective of others.
I really enjoyed this book, guessing the identity of the victim and unpicking motives. The writing style is easy to read and the author understands the human instinct of self preservation. I think the characters are believable even though the combination and quantity of secrets and lies is extreme. The plot develops rapidly and my reading speed raced along with it.
The Bridesmaids was an enthralling mystery thriller.

Sometimes it’s rough to be a Bridesmaid. Six friends gather together for a hen weekend to celebrate Holly’s upcoming marriage. Each woman has a secret and this book will keep you guessing. I felt like I was on a roller coaster with all of these twists and turns.
This is a fast paced thriller that is perfect for a beach read. I want to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

With June being a popular month for weddings, I found this an appropriate title to add to my list. This thriller does not disappoint! The author keeps the suspense going to the point you will find it difficult to put down. I waited a bit before starting to read but once I started to get into the story, it was a challenge to walk away. Plan on a stretch of time to read because you may find the same! Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

“ New beginnings.

Old rivalries.

Best friends.

Bad blood.

Five bridesmaids.

One body.”

Synopsis: Holly is getting married, but not before a celebration weekend with her closest friends. After a night of arguments, a body is found floating in the swimming pool of their secluded cottage. Holly must face up to the truth – one of her bridesmaids is a killer, but which one?

Personal Review: 3.5 stars

Full of drama and thrill / this book was compared to Gone Girl, Girl on the Train and The Wife Between Us. It sucks you in from the start - the dynamic between the women, their friendship, the mystery of what is going on and the apparent disconnect that is happening. My only qualm was that each chapter was first person pov and kind of confusing to keep the characters in order of who was who. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow what a book! I read a lot of psychological thrillers but this one absolutely stands out! Amazing from start to finish. A clever, brilliantly crafted book.

If you are after a fast paced addictive read, then look no further. This is definitely the book for you.

A weekend away for a group of best friends, what could go wrong ? Holly is getting married and as a pre wedding celebration her and her best friends have a weekend away in a secluded cottage. But all is not right and a body is found floating in the swimming pool. Is it an accident or is one of the friends a cold blooded killer ?!?

This is a great fast paced thriller with a real whodunnit style plot. We know a body has been found in the swimming pool but who is it and how did they end up there ? Each of the women has a secret and gradually the truth of the past and present is revealed. Definitely one to add to your to read pile !!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Wow what a thriller! Edge of your seat , had me guessing until the very end! Great plot! Can’t wait to read more by this author

A hen do (bachelorette's weekend) ends with secrets revealed and old wounds reopened, resulting in a murder.

I found myself deeply underwhelmed with what transpired in this thriller. For most of the book, I could barely distinguish one bridesmaid from the other as they all felt two-dimensional. Each had one personality trait and each a separate tragedy that does little to connect you with the character. It felt as if Jenkins tried to cram as much drama and side plots into this book without going over 275 pages.

There was a great deal of petty resentments and melodrama but no real suspense. It soon became obvious who gets murdered and at that point, I ceased to care. I also wasn't a fan at the formatting for the flashbacks as stilted the plot in the way Jenkins wrote it. While this is not the worst thriller I've read, this was just a dull read. I need more than trivial resentments and a murder to keep my interest.

Thank you so much to #netgalley for the ARC.
Talk about your edge of the seat thrillers! A classic who done it with a twist.
My first book by Victoria Jenkins and it keeps you guessing until the end!

I just finished reading The Bridesmaids and all I can say is WOW!! I devoured this book. It’s so suspenseful, full of likable characters, and an ending that left me shocked!! I started this book on a Tuesday morning and finished it that same night!