Many thanks to NetGalley for an ALC of She Started It.

First of all, congrats to Sian Gilbert on an amazing debut novel as well as having the distinct honor of having written the first book I've read in 2023 that left me an utter wreck and dripping in tears by the end. I'm now a tremendous fan and I can't wait to see what Gilbert creates next! In the meantime, pour yourself a glass of wine + settle in to enjoy a fantastic twisty summer thriller with "She Started It".

"She Started It" isn't a redemption arc story. No, this is a tale of revenge on a bunch of bully bitches who have it coming. The core four: Annabel, Esther, Tanya + Chloe, aren't keen on accepting Poppy's invitation to her private hen party, but they decide to do so that they can see how the shy, quiet, chubby art girl they used to make fun of (I'd honestly say torture) has changed. Poppy's Instagram portrays a gorgeous successful doctor, a night + day difference from the girl they knew in school. This self-absorbed group is swayed to accept when they see how they can benefit from attending, like posting photos to Instagram to gain followers of course! It also helps that Poppy's offered first-class accommodations, which these women still manage to find fault with, complaining about services on the flight as well as the island's remoteness with lack of WiFi. Oh boo, guess your followers won't be seeing this after all.

But Poppy has ulterior motives for inviting these cackling hens to her hen-do. Because these four women have major memory problems in recalling all the awful things they did to Poppy as teens and it's time for Poppy to remind them of that ( and get some of her own back). I greatly enjoyed her games in taking them down with such classics as: "Never Have I Ever" and "Truth or Dare", one by one, coercing them into revealing the secrets they held for (and from) each other, until the pinnacle peak of watching them question everything they thought they knew about one another, even questioning if one of them is a killer...

I don't know what that says about me as a person that I loved every minute of Poppy's games, literally cheering her on in her strategic game of chess against those four. It was extremely satisfying to watch as Annabel, Esther, Tanya + Chloe's lives crumble. I was literally the Michael Jackson gif, enjoying my popcorn as these four whined about the demise of everything they held dear. It was fantastic and cathartic and so, so satisfying. Knock, knock bitches. It's karma.

Things I Loved:

1. The characters. We first meet the core four: Annabel, Esther, Tanya + Chloe onboard their first-class flight to the island and right from the start you know these women are awful humans and for the remainder of the story, they stay that way. Gilbert does an excellent job at building backstory around each of them, through both the present narrative of those at the hen party as well as Poppy's diary entries as a child. And even though there are no redeemable qualities to be found, you at least understand the insecurities that lie at the heart of their bullying. Because that's all bullies are: insecure little shits determined to make everyone else feel as bad as they do. Hurt people hurt people. So do yourself and everyone around you a favor and get yourself into therapy. Thank me later.

2. The setting. There's something so satisfying about what should be an idyllic summer getaway being an absolute nightmare. I love a remote setting, especially one which removes cell service/WiFi/etc and forces the characters to reckon with their choices and ultimately leads them to a breaking point. Throw a storm in the mix that cuts all power to add to the already electric tension of the group dynamic and you've got a killer setting on your hands. Literally.

3. The last line: “Those bitches might have started it, but I sure as hell finished it.”
Chef's Kiss, amazing.

Several things came to mind when I was listening to this amazing debut novel. Lord of the Flies, And Then There were None and The Meanest Mean Girls ever! Sian Gilbert made sure that the 4 friends who were invited to a hen party on a luxurious private island by Poppy, a girl they had bullied and tormented in primary school were as unlikeable as they come. Stories were told from the past and from each ones point of view on the island. She made sure from the looks at their past and the way they were acting now that the reader knew they felt no remorse nor did they have a clue how much damage they had done. That way the reader would be rooting for whatever Poppy had in store for them. After all revenge is best when served cold. The ending was very satisfying in that I am not sure I wouldn’t have done the same thing – if I thought for a minute I could get away with it.

Wow. This was a wild, and crazy ride! Shows just how vicious, people can really be. And at what lengths some people would go to, for revenge. I thought that I had the ending, and the twist figured out... but I wasnt even close! I really hope there is a sequel to this one! It left on the perfect note, for one!