"The Stranger at the Wedding" by A. E. Gauntlett is a compelling and suspenseful novel that explores the complexities of love, trust, and the secrets that can unravel even the most seemingly perfect relationships. The story follows Annie, a woman who never believed in love until she meets Mark, with whom she shares a deep connection born out of shared trauma.

Gauntlett's writing is evocative and immersive, drawing readers into Annie and Mark's whirlwind romance and the uncertainty that follows. The novel's pacing is brisk, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-developed characters, particularly Annie, whose journey from skepticism to unwavering belief in love is both believable and compelling. Mark's mysterious past and the appearance of a stranger at their wedding add layers of intrigue to the story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the truth is slowly revealed.

"The Stranger at the Wedding" is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that will appeal to fans of suspenseful fiction. With its engaging storyline, complex characters, and unexpected twists, A. E. Gauntlett has crafted a compelling tale that will linger in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned. Dive into this captivating story and discover the secrets that lie beneath the surface of Annie and Mark's seemingly perfect relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

This was a very quick read with some cool twists and turns. Overall, a really interesting premise- Annie and Mark have just gotten married and somehow both have dark secrets from their past. What could go wrong? This is primarily told from Annie’s point of view but it does jump around timelines and perspectives. I think this part could have been executed better- sometimes the changes were a little clunky and the voices not distinct enough to alert my brain we’d made the switch. All in all, beautiful prose, interesting plot, just a few struggles with execution and none of the characters were dynamic enough that I felt myself rooting for anyone in particular. In general, this is a good thriller if you like thrillers and I never wanted to stop reading. Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the copy of Stranger At The Wedding by A. E. Gauntlett. 3.5 stars rounded up!

Annie and Mark meet on a train. Before long, they are heading to the altar, both with secrets they want to keep. A stranger shows up at the wedding…..hmmmm. This book keeps you wanting more. A good solid book that I would recommend to others. Fast paced and an easy read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the copy of Stranger At The Wedding by A. E. Gauntlett. I liked how this started out, but then the timeline/characters suddenly changed, and I lost the thread of what was going on. Unfortunately this kept happening as soon as I would start to get engaged in the story. This could have been a great read if the timelines had been organized/noted so it flowed better. The ending was a shocker, so I’m glad I didn’t give up!

Hmm. I really tried to like this one. I did. It was promising and plot was a good idea but I couldn’t get past the style of writing. It just wasn’t for me. It really took away from the story which I was enjoying. It was a bit choppy, the dialogue was kind of off, and the descriptions and details bordered on random. Ah well, I’m sure there will be many who will enjoy it. It just wasn’t for me. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Stranger at the Wedding by A.E. Gauntlett is a mystery/thriller that I really wanted to like more than I did. It felt a little stale and predictable. Maybe another pass or two on the editing could've made it more interesting.

A quick and easy read. Very thriller-y and though I had it figured out rather early on, that didn't ruin my experience as I raced through it to make sure that I was right. There are still some surprises, even if you figure out whodunnit, so grab some snacks and some beverage of your choice and dive on into this one!

Thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for my early copy of The Stranger at the Wedding. This was fairly quick thriller for me and I liked it. I’ve never read this author before and I would try another of her books for sure.

It’s Annie’s wedding day and we are invited as voyeurs. She’s head over heels for Mark but his first wife went missing and was never found. He’s not over it but Annie thinks everything is perfect. That is until she sees an uninvited guest. Things get dicey from here.

This is slow burn that switches povs and time periods quickly and often. That was a bit confusing at times but I was invested. There is some mythology stuff seemingly randomly thrown in here at times and I like that stuff but felt it was unnecessary here and broke up the flow for me.

This is a twisty fun read overall and although I did see the ending coming (for the most part anyway), it was fun to go back and forth with my guesses. The characters weren’t that deep - and def not likable but I did enjoy disliking them.

I did enjoy this one and the twisty stuff is my jam! If you like a marriage themed domestic suspense, this is one to check out!

This book had me addicted from the start! It was so intense that I could not wait to see the twist. Authot knows how to deliver the breath taking, draw dropping twist that we all know and love and never expect the ending. I believe this book is her best one yet but I say that everytime I read one of her books. Thank you for allowing me to read your book in advance.

Dawn Angels

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. It seemed very impersonal and I couldn’t connect to the characters, they were not fleshed out. The timelines and POVs were confusing, overlapping, and sometimes felt unnecessary. I wish chapters were labeled because I needed to reorient myself within the story each time.

This was diabolical! I loved it from the very beginning. The synopsis says this book will make you think twice before saying, “I do,” and that is the understatement of the century.

This was a great mixture of romance and thriller. It was fast-paced and well developed. The twists were relatively hard to predict and will keep you going.

Thank you Henry Holt & Company and Net Galley for the e arc. This novel follows Annie and Mark as a chance encounter on a train a few times leads to romance. But as the couple gets to know each other more, the relationship is starting to look a lot more sinister. I personally did not find the characters interesting or likeable, making reading this novel a bit difficult. I honestly did not really care for their romance and found that the characters lacked any depth. At one point I didn't even know what was true and what was false because it seemed like both characters were suspicious and possibly bad people. By the end I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't, and I feel like the ending did not do justice for the more normal characters. The book was a bit hard to get through and I did not care for the ending.

A Stranger at the Wedding had a little bit of everything! Suspense, intrigue and even a little bit of romance!

Suspense and excitement- I enjoyed this thriller. It was fast paced and I liked the storyline. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Storyline is great! I love the little bit of romance mixed into this book. Kept me on the edge of the chair! This book is the definition of one more chapter.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
On a train Annie meets Mark- his beautiful eyes - he’s gorgeous - she falls hard. As her obsession grows she will do anything to have him. And when a stranger appears at their wedding she fears her happiness is tumbling. Can she hold her dreams together? Is she the woman Marks thinks she is? A strange eerie romance!

At Annie's small intimate wedding to her beloved Mark, there is a guest she does not know. Who is this stranger, and why is he there?

Annie begins to doubt herself and we are granted a front row seat to her thoughts as she flashes back through their whirlwind romance and the perfect inlaws....maybe there is something she missed. The two met at a trauma survival group. And Mark's wife was never found. Join the wedding today, and stay up all night as we get to the bottom of who was The Stranger At the Wedding!

#henryholt #thestrangeratthewedding #aegauntiett

Thank you Henry Holt & Company @HenryHoltBooks and Netgalley @Netgalley for the e-arc. All thoughts are my own.


Annie never believed in love until she met Mark. They embark on a whirlwind romance, that propels Annie through their courtship, to their wedding day.

But as she stands at the alter ready to say “I Do”, she spots a stranger in the crowd, and she learns that her new life isn’t going to be the happily ever after that she had planned.


I love books that flip between the past and present timeline, but in this case, things were hard to follow and I never was sure where I was at any given point in time. I found it to be a structural issue with the book and wish that it would have had some help during editing so that it was a smoother read. Had that happened, I think I would have ended up enjoying the book a lot more. I did find the twist of the story to be predictable, which is always a letdown. The characters were written rather shallowly, and I never felt that they were relatable. By the time the story was over I felt that I’d forgotten the characters already even though I’d just finished. It was just that kind of story.

this was a decent story, not my favorite. There were some good parts that kept me engaged, but overall I had a hard time staying engaged. I had a hard time connecting. I also sometimes got confused about who was talking because of the switching of the different points of view.