I was really into the set-up and the dive into the atmospheric vibes and elite hotel and its members of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. However, the pacing was a little bit slow until it finally ramped up at the end. Therefore, I thought about DNFing it a few times but I was enjoying the story so I stuck it out and I'm glad I did. The points of view were a little tricky as it did require some focus to remember each character and their roles. Overall I thought it was good and wouldn't hesitate to read from this author again.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Lucy Foley is a master at laying out a story in such a way that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat!

“The Midnight Feast” is set during the grand opening weekend of The Manor, a new posh resort in a small village not far from London. Francesca’s family owned the manor for years and upon her inheritance of it, she designed a property that would provide a high-end experience for the “stylish” set of people that she wished to draw. She has always enjoyed attention and luxury, even if it hurts other people -- many people….

The story really starts when the different characters start to tell their stories. They each have a history with “Frankie” when she was growing up in this small village area. And there are many secrets revealed -- a little at a time, in true Lucy Foley style. I especially enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns at the end. I couldn’t put it down until I found out every last detail!

I recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery, especially one that is fed to you bit by bit. So good!

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Lucy Foley, and William Morrow for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

This was my first Lucy Foley book. Overall I thought it was a really solid thriller.

I totally did not see a few of the plot twists coming, which I loved. I always like when a book can take my by surprise.

The birds concept was interesting to me and I do like the way it tied together in the end, but I do feel like there were some loose ends with that that made it a little difficult to understand.

I will definitely be reading more of Foley’s books in the future.

Thank you to Harper Collins for allowing me to read this early!

I honestly wanted more from this book. I was excited for it but I feel like it fell flat for me. I was bored.

DNFed. I really just couldn't get into the story, and the characters all seemed like caricatures and not like real people. After reading some other reviews I decided this book just isn't for me!

Another slow burn from Lucy Foley. This one took me a bit to get into BUT I have to say I really enjoyed this one and it might be my favorite from her, yet. The twists and connections in this book were incredible, one twist in particular which literally made me audibly gasp out loud. I truly was left shook by the end of the book at how amazing it was and how it all tied together.

The Midnight Feast has multiple POVs and follows a dual timeline. It's setting in coastal retreat area, and has all the folklore vibes.

I definitely loved this one!

It's opening weekend for "The Manor", an exclusive resort for the wealthy. The founder Francesca and her husband Owen are thrilled by the possibilities The Manor will provide. But mystery guest Bella has a secret and she's come to make right the wrongs of the past.

An edge of your seat story, there's a lot going on in this book. From 15 years past to current, everything culminates in The Midnight Feast. There is a full cast of characters and it's a ride to find out how they intersect and bring the past to light. Multiple POVs and short chapters keep this book moving at a breakneck pace right up to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available June 18, 2024.

This was my first Lucy Foley book, so I went in not knowing what to expect. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC to review. This book is told from multiple points of view and a journal. There is murder, folklore, and secrets. Everything comes together with a neat bow in the end. I loved the short chapters, but the bouncing back and forth between characters and time periods was a bit much in the beginning. During the first half I felt like I could quit reading and never wonder what happened in the end, but the second half definitely picked up and had me interested. I most enjoyed reading Eddie’s part of the story. This book goes to show, guilt can be a powerful thing…

This story started off slowly, allowing the reader to get to know the characters and some of their background and history. Then about halfway in it really picked up and was quite the ride! It did creep me out a few times with the spooky vibes, but in a good way. I am proud to say that I did predict two twists, but there were plenty more that I DID NOT see coming! 😲😳 Overall, a great and engaging read with a cool premise.

Unlikeable, shady characters (each with their own sinister motivations) gather at an opulent grand opening for The Manor--a newly renovated seaside retreat for the ultra-rich. The local community members don't want them there and are leaning into ancient local superstitions about the murderous birds! It's all very menacing, very unsettling. And the past has come back to haunt the Lady of the Manor. In the end, several will die.

This book is told through multiple viewpoints, as well as a journal from 15 years prior. With the bouncing around the short chapters, it can be difficult to keep up with where you are in the story. It moved remarkably slowly in my opinion...a lot of info, but not a lot of plot movement...and then all of a sudden all. the. things. happen. Overall, an entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this atmospheric read.

This might be my favorite book by this author!

I loved the setting.! The Manor was ethereal, dark, and atmospheric. The descriptions made me feel like I was there and experiencing the tension and creepiness. The multiple POVs and split timelines made the story move quick and added complexity and depth. There were so many twists, turns, reveals, and unexpected connections that I was constantly kept guessing.

Overall this was an atmospheric thriller with lots of twists and I definitely recommend it!

A luxury resort and a summer’s Midnight Summer’s Feast sounds luxurious and festive – at least you would think so. But this one is anything but! The clientele seems oblivious to the eerie and mysterious undertones surrounding the Manor. In a multiple timeline and POV story, you’ll know quickly, things don’t go according to plan but the who and why unfolds throughout the story. The surprises keep coming in this one! Despite the many characters, they were easy to keep track even though some weren’t quite who they claimed to be.
I enjoyed it even though there were times I was heartbroken for some of the characters. The atmospheric setting was spot on! The suspense, the secrets, the twists and the ending will keep you hooked!

This book is hard for me to review, as I truly enjoyed parts and absolutely skimmed others.
Overall, I like this book. The plot is intriguing and figuring out who everyone *really* is and how the backstory plays into the present was fantastic, and everything unravels wonderfully. Loved the wrap up with its surprises and twists.
What I didn’t care for was the slightly gruesome plot points, particularly with the Birds/forest/community lore. I skimmed lots of those parts but I still got the gist of what was going on - & loved the twist at the end with that too.
All in all, another fabulous Lucy Foley novel!

Is it a fun, fast read? Sure!

Does it have a killer setting (see what I did there)? Yes!

Does it pretend it's anything other than it is? Nope!

A good summer read that both sticks the landing and somehow loses its bite in the end. It starts and hits its stride much better than it ties things up, but nothing feels cheap or unearned. Just a little less fun than the setup. But hey, that's the genre and you could do much worse.

If you like her previous books or just the setup/setting, it could be a good fit. Just know the journey is the destination.

Whew – this book was quite a page turner with many unexpected twists! Told from multiple POVs, we explore the opening weekend of The Manor, a posh new getaway, nestled in a small town with secrets of its own. In addition to exploring the present day, we also gain insight into a series events that occurred 15 years ago which led to a deep haunting secret. I recommend this book for those who love a good mystery/thriller. Thank you William Morrow & NetGalley for the eARC.

The Manor, a chic resort for the ultra-wealthy, is celebrating its grand opening at the solstice. Set on the English coast, the location is steeped in local folklore and a dark history. This was such a fun read! The timeline moves between the day after the solstice celebration, the days leading up to it, and years in the past via journal. As usual with this author, there are multiple POVs which alternate with each chapter. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that did a better job setting a vibe- it felt a little spooky and gothic from the very beginning. I found it to be a little slow in a few parts but the twist at the end was unexpected and that’s always what I’m looking for in a thriller. I can’t wait to reread this one in the fall!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC provided in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Secrets. Lies. Murder. Let the festivities begin...

I’m a big fan of Lucy Foley; her books always keep me guessing and I love reading from multiple POVs to figure out how everyone is connected, who is dead, and who did it.

It’s opening weekend at The Manor and the founder and owner Francesca Meadows needs everything to go perfect, however it seems people from her past are also there for the weekend and want to bring to light what happened on the grounds 15 years earlier.

I loved the way the author used different timelines to bring the story to life and also the use of local folklore was so good.

📝
Thank you to William Morrow & NetGalley for a free digital copy on exchange for an honest review. This book will be published 18 JUNE 2024.

This was very readable and interesting, if not entirely special. It was a very interesting premise, and I hung on to the plot for a while, and then it started fracturing a bit. I liked the overall themes of it, but I think it was too complicated of a story to fully drive any of these themes home.

3 Stars— Honestly, this book fell flat for me and lacked character development. I almost DNF a few times but decided to hang in and finish the story. I did not feel a connection with any of the characters and found the story too slow of a burn and a little confusing with the many different POVs.
It was hard for me to get into, and I had a hard time finishing it. I enjoyed other books by this author, such as The Guest List and The Hunting Party, but this one was not my favourite. I will continue reading books by Lucy Foley.

Others enjoyed this more than I did, so please read their reviews. We can’t love them all, which is the case with this book.

I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine.

This book gets 10/10 for atmosphere in classic Lucy Foley fashion, but this ultimately felt like her classic formula is fell a little flat. I knew going in that this would likely be a multi POV, multi timeline story, which is was - but unlike Foley’s other works there just wasn’t enough tension in the plot to keep me wanting more. This felt like it needed more development in the first 50% of the book to make the payoff at the end more satisfying. 2.5 rounded up to 3.