The Plus One tells the story of the wedding of the season between son of a mogul, Raj Joshi, and influencer, Radhika Singh. However, the wedding does not happen as both the bride and the groom end up dead. The main character is Shay, who is the girlfriend of Raj's best friend, Caleb, and the story takes us from her point of view and her trying to figure out who had reason to kill the bride and groom, as seemingly only 3 people had access to Raj´s villa.

The book was an easy read I did enjoy it, I thought it was semi fast paced, except the chapters leading to the killer reveal, which I felt it dragged a bit. I enjoyed the going back and forth between past and present chapters. I thought the chapters leading up to the wedding gave a lot of insight on all characters and it did help me try and figure out whodunit.

I loved the Interstitial chapters, it was a cute break in between chapters and I liked having a glimpse of the wedding of the season to be and its festivities.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I give it a solid 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC the above review is of my own thoughts.

The Plus One by SC Lalli
Release Date: 8/13/24
Format: ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

I very rarely will request an arc based on cover alone but The Plus One by S. C. Lalli definitely got judged by its cover! So imagine my delight when I started reading and found out it has one of my favorite thriller microtropes: a destination wedding gone wrong!

This thriller was super addicting and hooked me from the very beginning! Our main character arrives in Mexico as a plus one for a highly exclusive destination wedding and things go awry pretty much instantly.

I feel like the twists unraveled at a great pace throughout this thriller which is a hard trick to nail. I don’t think any of the twists were overly wild, but they built the story in a way I appreciated and kept me engaged! After the halfway point I certainly had no idea who to trust or who the killer might be.

My only qualm is the story sometimes felt a little convoluted and like there was too much going on. It especially made for a clunky ending as Lalli tried to tie up all the loose ends. Still giving this a four star rating for loving the journey though, even if the ending left a bit to be desired. I would absolutely check this author out again in the future!

Rating and Why
3.5 Stars rounded to 4
The Plus One was an easy-to-read thriller that hooked me immediately. I loved the dual timeline aspect, which allowed for flashbacks of the past to be expertly woven into the present setting – it aided the overall story and the plot development. While the plot was exciting and full of twists and turns, it was also a little unbelievable and dragged on at times: A single person taking down a drug cartel on her own. With that said, the ending wasn’t expected at all – an aspect of the book that I love; I want to have to keep guessing the motive and suspect.

Positives
I was immediately sucked into the story – personally, I enjoy it when the murder occurs within the first few pages of a book. I also appreciated that the story was more plot-driven than character-driven and when it was character-focused, it was mainly focused on building character development. I had a lot of negative feelings towards each character as I continued to read – something I’m sure S.C. Lalli did on purpose (and succeeded). All characters were unlikeable in their own ways which added to the overall story and side stories throughout The Plus One.

Frustrations
Around the 50% mark, I felt that the story had more details than necessary, and some parts became repetitive. I was waiting for the next action scene, and it took longer to get there than I would have liked. The story did pick up around 70% and was full steam ahead around 80%, at which point I could not and did not put the book down until I finished reading.

Recommend?
• Read if you like
o Domestic Thrillers
o An Easy Read with Unlikeable Characters
o Dual Timeline: Flashbacks Woven with the Present
o A Classic Whodunit Thriller
o Family Drama – Trouble in Paradise

Shay is invited to what could be described as the wedding of the year. Her boyfriend, Caleb is the best man and she's just tagging along as his girlfriend of the month. However, everything changes when the bridge and groom was discovered murdered in their villa. Who would have wanted to kill one of them or even both? Could it have been a business deal gone bad, drug cartels, or numerous other reasons revealed throughout the book. I really enjoyed this book and devoured it! As the book says- this is absolutely for fans of White Lotus! This book is for you if you like over the top, opulent events, family business drama, and a secret around every corner.

A tale of twists and turns with characters who are all hiding secrets - this story kept me engaged from the start. I don't know that there were many surprises, but definitely a few "I knew it!" moments.

Told in a non-linear timeline all from Shay's perspective, it builds up to the week long wedding celebration that everyone's been waiting for. That is, until the bride and groom are found dead.

It was kind of a love hate relationship for me with the MC, but enough love that I kept routing for her - and I'm glad I did!

**Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

This Plus One by SC Lalli is an incredibly entertaining and perfect summer mystery read—a thrilling vacation whodunnit that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story follows Shay, who travels to Mexico as a "plus one" with her boyfriend for his best friend's wedding. Every guest harbors a secret, and the multiple twists and turns kept me eagerly turning the pages.

The day after Shay arrives, the bride and groom are found murdered in their villa, setting off a tangled web of suspicion. While the characters are highly unlikeable with their sense of entitlement and pettiness, this only adds to the story's tension as everyone becomes an instant suspect. The cultural elements woven throughout add depth and richness to the narrative.

If you're in the mood for a "popcorn mystery" filled with wealthy families, deceit, greed, and murder, this is the book to pick up for your vacation reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a classic whodunit thriller. I was hooked by the first chapter; it got right into the action which I always love. The characters were all well fleshed-out, the plot was interesting, and the setting was easy to picture in my head.

The business politics were a bit much sometimes, and it was a little long and repetitive in some parts. But the ending was action-packed, and I loved the pacing and how information was leaked gradually throughout as we needed to know it.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is a fantastic summer read! I read this on vacation and was hooked! It was suspenseful without be scary and there were enough red herrings to keep me guessing. I loved that there were so many layers during the reveal to make it so interesting. And the ambiguity of the ending…I feel like there could be a sequel! I’d definitely read it if there was!

Who would kill a bride & groom right before their wedding?

Shay Kapoor scored an invite to THE destination wedding event of the season: her boyfriend Caleb is the best man in Radhika Sigh’s & Raj Joshi’s upcoming union. The families of the happy couple have spared no expense, & this will be a weeklong celebration of their love in a lavish Cabos resort. All of that comes crashing to a halt when the betrothed are found dead in their room, shot execution style. There are no cameras in that area of the resort to ensure the uber-wealthy have their privacy, but the security bands people have to wear for access give Shay a limited list of suspects due to the fact that there were only a handful of people whose wristbands were approved for that location: and despite her actual reasons for being there, she may be the only one with a point of view that’s objective enough to bring this killer to justice….

This story reminded me a bit of Lucy Foley’s “The Guest List” & Amanda Jayatissa’s “You’re Invited” but definitely had its own unique spin on the tale of a wedding gone wrong. This complex tale had many possible motives & several times surprised me in a good way. In addition to being a thriller, this book also prompted an introspective look at one’s own motives & judgements of others, & as well as exploring the dynamic between those in power & those working for them. I loved the interstitials, & need to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Review: You know I love stories about the ultra rich, and this book brought that and all the drama.

The story begins with Shay, who is the plus one to a very exclusive wedding in Mexico. She’s dating the best man, and on the day she arrives, the couple of found dead. Shay wants to solve the mystery of who killed the couple and does so by navigating the rules of the wealthy, potentially crooked cops, and the cartel.

It is a class who-dun-it domestic suspense. Each chapter made me distrust everyone more and more. I didn’t know who to trust. All the characters, including Shay, were corrupt at some level, but to me that added to the suspense and drama. This book is told from the view point of Shay, but I think it really could have benefited from multiple POV to add to the suspense. Shay is pretty unlikable but I think that kind of narrator adds to this type of book. While I like unlikable narrators, I can see how some will not. I will say that the author or does add social commentary about the world that would have hit better if Shay was a tad more likable.

It’s well written and clever. It kept me hooked throughout. I didn’t see it coming and it held my attention throughout!

This book comes out tomorrow! Be sure to pick up a copy. Thanks to William Morrow books and netgalley for an advance copy!

The Plus One by S.C. Lalli is a riveting whodunit thriller!
I was so excited when I seen this book sitting in my shelf.
This complex and intriguing novel has an engrossing, suspenseful, and provocative plot.
The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle!
I just couldn’t put it down until I finished it!… Had me hooked right from the start.

Thank You NetGalley and William Morrow for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

When I saw this book called White Lotus meets The Guest List I immediately requested this book on netgalley because I love them both! Overall I enjoyed the book and it certainly starts off with a bang. The reader is drawn into the world of the uber rich that live on a whole different stratosphere than the rest of the world. I was disgusted by the way these people treat others and the sense of entitlement is mind boggling even though I know these types of people and families exist in real life. Shay is invited to the wedding because her boyfriend is the groom’s best friend. From the moment the first chapter ends the reader is thrown into the lives of two wealthy and highly influtential Indian-American families. The depths they will go to protect their power and money knows no bounds. Shay is not only a plus one but also has an agenda of her own. As the investigation into the murders unfolds its clear the suspect can only be a handful of people that have access to the murdered couples villa. Although there could only be a few people who have committed the heinous crime the book keeps you guessing until the very end and I did not see the final twist coming! If you love destination thrillers filled with murder, deceit and highly unlikable characters then you should add this one to your list.

Thank you #williammorrowbooks and #netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I found this whodunit thriller to be a riveting experience. The narrative dives into a world of dysfunctional families and rich individuals, creating a backdrop that's as complex as the mystery itself. The characters are intricately developed, each one operating within a morally gray zone that adds depth and intrigue to the story.

The suspense is expertly crafted, keeping me engaged with unexpected twists and turns. The interplay between the characters and their secrets builds a sense of tension that drives the plot forward. The portrayal of wealth and its impact on relationships provides a sharp commentary on power and privilege.

This thriller excels in blending suspense with rich character studies. For anyone who appreciates intricate plots and morally ambiguous characters, this book delivers a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Sending as feedback to the publisher as the formatting/downloadable file made it hard to read. I plan to borrow this from the library when I can- but cannot read it as is. I will not leave a review on Goodreads since I did not read the book.

S.C. Lalli’s “The Plus One” is a suspenseful whodunit that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Described as "White Lotus meets The Guest List," the "The Plus One" centers around two business moguls who were set to be married at a luxurious Cabo resort in the biggest event of the year—until they’re both found murdered the day before the wedding. Now, a social outsider must unravel the mystery before her own hidden agenda is revealed.

Shaylee “Shay” Kapoor, our relatable outsider, takes center stage. As she navigates the opulent world of the wedding, her secrets and perspective become crucial in untangling everyone’s lies. Truly, everyone is a suspect and the tension escalates as alliances shift. Readers will find themselves switching allegiances, suspecting motives, and questioning whydunit theories.

Lalli’s writing flows smoothly, seamlessly transitioning between present scenes and past flashbacks. The narrative employs an unreliable narrator, adding an intriguing layer of suspense that will keep readers engaged. The dual timelines and juicy gossip revealed throughout the story serve to enhance the reading experience. Additionally, the direction of the mystery, including the cartel theory, adds depth to the plot.

"The Plus One" reads like a classic whodunnit thriller, with the addition of tropical resort vibes, drug cartels. While the reveal of the killer’s identity wasn't a complete surprise, this was a captivating and thoroughly enjoyable mystery, perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.

Shaylee Kapoor is the "plus one" at a lavish Indian wedding taking place at a luxurious resort in Mexico. Shay feels out of place with her boyfriend Caleb's uber-wealthy friends and as soon as she arrives, she figures out Caleb has lied to her. However, she is willing to overlook what Caleb did because Shay is keeping a big secret of her own. Things turn tragic when the bride and groom are found dead in their villa, and it's rumored this could be a drug cartel killing. However, when it looks like the killer could be someone in the couple's inner circle, Shay becomes determined to learn the truth about what really happened.

I was pleasantly surprised that this book was different from the typical destination thriller with "friends behaving badly." The plot has depth and involves corporate intrigue, social justice, and how appearances can be deceiving. Nobody in the book was completely likable, but I was rooting for Shay. I kept changing my mind about who I thought the killer was and I ended up being wrong. The book has some pacing issues, but is an entertaining read. I enjoyed the information about Indian wedding traditions that is included in the story. There is a flash-forward ending that wraps up most things in the plot although a few are purposely left open-ended. I enjoyed the book and would definitely read more by this author.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, William Morrow Books, and Scene of the Crime. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Thank you to S.C. Lalli, William Marrow Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

Shaylee "Shay" Kapoor, is a plus one who was invited to an extremely exclusive wedding, hosted at a resort because her boyfriend, Caleb Prescott, is the best friend of the groom. Shortly after Shay arrives to the resort on the day that wedding festivities are supposed to begin, the bride and groom are both found dead in their hotel room, which only three people had access to at the time of the murders, Caleb and Sean (the two best men) and Zara (the bride's sister) and an additional person with an alibi. However, the police believe that the drug cartel is involved in the murders even though there was a limited amount of people that could have entered the room.

A soon as the book starts, the reader is thrown right into the story; there was little to no backstory. The story had a fast pace, with things constantly happening and new information being thrown in, but overall, it wasn't as excting as I usually look for with thriller books and the story did not hook me and make me want to keep reading to find out more. I do think that this book could have potentially benefited from being multi-POV instead of a standard single POV to add more interest in other characters and their thought processes overall during the investigation. I could not relate to any of these characters at all, and they were all generally unlikeable.

Imagine nice summer breezes and luxury villas. Five star restaurants and plenty of drama. The Plus One delivered all of that and more. After all, the amateur detective narrator and unguessable twists were just the start of the fun. Because along with the rich people behaving badly vibe and luxury setting, there were plenty of serious topics on tap that made me think long and hard. Above all, though, this was a sharp satirical look at two truly dysfunctional families. Think The White Lotus with a stronger suspense-driven twist.

From the top, thanks to ever rising tension and some thoroughly unlikeable, morally gray characters, I quickly got pulled into this destination wedding from hell. Filled with suspicious individuals, you better believe that they all got a serious side-eye from me. But the absolute best piece to this whodunnit plot? That would be the final revelation that had me sitting straight up in bed as my jaw hit the floor. I definitely didn’t see it coming, which made me positively giddy.

The only pieces to the puzzle that weren’t an utter slam dunk were the focus on the possible drug cartel angle and the slow burn first half. I can’t go into specifics about the former as it would certainly spoil the plot, but just know that it wasn’t quite perfected in my humble opinion. As for the latter, I could’ve done with a bit more propulsion from the offset of this twisty, twisty plot. Nevertheless, I found it one humdinger of a book despite all of the above.

Now that I’m finished, it’s clear that Ms. Lalli has done it yet again. After inhaling Are You Sara? just last year, I couldn’t wait to dive into her newest thriller. What shocked me even more this time around, though, was her ability to give this book an entirely different feel from her stellar debut. But with yet another smoothly unfurling narrative, both managed to win me over hook, like, and, sinker. All told, I’m duly impressed. Bring on book three, I’m ready and waiting. Rating of 4 stars.

Thank you to S.C. Lalli, William Morrow, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.

Twisted is definitely the word that comes to mind with this book, though it’s a twisted due to jealousy and greed. Shay is just a normal girl that happens to be dating the rich and her boyfriend’s very rich best friend was just murdered along with his soon to be wife. By soon to be they are literally on the wedding trip and the bride and groom are dead. Everyone is a suspect and that includes family members and Shay who is not just an ordinary girl.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!
A whodunnit thriller! Quick and Easy read. A mysterious murder happened the night before the wedding. It was very thrilling, engaging and kept you guessing up until the end. There were most parts about midway through the book that could have been removed but quickly picked up towards the end. I believe the book would’ve been more impactful with multiple POVs. Overall a great suggestion for a murder mystery thriller.