3.5 stars | A lot of buildup in the first 2/3 of the book for everything to start coming together in the end. A fine thriller, there was just *something* missing that made the book feel like it dragged a bit.

The Midnight Feast is deep and at some points it feels complex. Lucy Foley’s characters are well- developed and their interactions are fraught with jealousy, betrayal, and unresolved past issues. As a result, this book is not just a mystery but a story about the dynamics of relationships.

The book is told from the viewpoints of several characters and the viewpoints switch every chapter. This may cause some readers to find it difficult to follow at times. This is not a “beach read” or the type of book you pick up for 10 minutes while you are in the parent pick up line. The intricate plot requires careful attention to detail. For those who enjoy a richly layered narrative, this book it for you. The story will keep you guessing. The characters are well developed and Lucy Foley is an impressive writer.

I've read a handful of Lucy Foley books (The Guest List, The Hunting Party, The Paris Apartment) and I have to say I think this might be the book I liked the best out of them. Like her other books there was some effort required to suspend disbelief, but I do really enjoy the way things seem to always come together in the end, no matter how coincidental they may seem.

The Midnight Feast is told from several points of view and I found it to be really satisfying as those characters came together and the dots were all connected. This mystery felt the most believable to me and the most enjoyable. It makes me want to go back and re-read the books of hers I've already read to see if they feel the same upon second reading.

If you're a fan of Lucy Foley or like a good mytery/thriller in the same vein as stories like Gone Girl or the Girl on the Train then I think this is a great read.

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Midnight Feast- Lucy Foley

(ARC Read - Release 6/18/24) 5 stars
Lucy Foley has done it again with an incredible twisty thriller that will have you searching for more and more clues about the characters and the crazy story that pulls them all together!
Childhood friends…or are they? The kids with privilege who bully their way thru life…and those they bullied and treated horribly…they are all now adults…who don’t want to forget the past… and each of them has their own story to tell. Set in a scenic woodsy resort, it’s opening weekend at a high end manor, spa and retreat. Only the best for the guests…except some of these guests are looking for revenge! There is a fear and danger lurking in the folklore of this same town, so when the spa opens, the local folks also appear to oppose this new facility and the owners. Get ready for a wild ride and surprises on every page! Be prepared for a slow burn start, but savor all the details and all the nuances of these childhood playmates….the story starts to take off at breakneck speed and doesn’t let up through those final pages! Phenomenal read if you like dark, twisty thrillers!! Cudos to Lucy Foley for an incredible story!

Simply put, I loved it. I enjoyed the guest list by this author then did not love the Paris appointment so I knew this could go either way but it did not disappoint.

The dual timeline that so many books use was really well done in this instance. You were learning about formative events and character development through its use. Let’s just say not everyone is who they appear to be. My favorite character was Eddie. Although not a main protagonist, he furthered the story and connected the dots. Plus, he seemed sweet.

I read a lot of thrillers and they can start to blend and feel formulaic. This one is a standout, though. I will definitely talk it up to my reader friends.

I sadly didn’t love this one: the bird theme threw the book off for me. I was disappointed because I really loved some of Lucy’s other books but this one didn’t excite me.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love Lucy Foley’s books so was excited to be approved for this ARC. It spent the first half building all of the background details and introducing characters, explaining the past, jumping back and forth between the past and present (be prepared for that if the lack of a consecutive timeline is something that is jarring to you) but in true Lucy Foley fashion, after the 50% mark the action and connections just start flying! And the end! Gah!! She gives great twists at the end. All I will say is never underestimate a good bookclub. 🙃

With apologies to Lucy Foley, I did not like her latest book, The Midnight Feast, at all. The characters were overly-eccentric and unrelatable, the storyline was creepy and the writing was not up to Ms. Foley’s usual standards.

I was a little nervous about reading this book since I have previously DNFed Lucy Foley's books before, but I was pleasantly surprised! This book was spookier than I anticipated but I ended up really enjoying it. The 5 POVs were very manageable and it was neat how it all tied together in the end. I liked this book much more than I excepted to and will be recommending it to my friends. Thank you William Morrow for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Francesca Woodland's creation, the Manor, is the poshest getaway destination on England's Dorset coast, sparing no expense even greasing the wheels of the local council to get what she wants. As the solstice approaches a buried secret and old enemies come back to haunt the festivities. Lucy Foley has done it again with an eerie atmospheric thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish! I loved the descriptive locations of the wild and beautiful seaside versus the frightening, supernatural feeling in the dense woods surrounding the Manor. It was a slow burn to an explosive finish that I highly recommend!

I really enjoy Lucy Foley’s writing style! As with many of her other novels, she draws me right into the setting. I was invested in the characters and did not want to put this book down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Midnight Feast

As soon as I saw the familiar font on the cover of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party, I knew I wanted to read it.

Francesca Woodland, the owner and founder of the Manor, a wellness retreat/hotel, is in her element for its opening weekend. The converted family estate was designed by her husband Owen, an architect.

The novel was written from the point of view of the characters and frequently jumps from person to person and to different places in time.

The main characters are well written.

Some people have remarked upon the difficulty of keeping track of the many characters and who was presenting their point of view at a given time and I agree with that-but I think that was meant to happen by design.

The Setting of the Manor and the surrounding area feels rich and deep. And the forrest Dark and somewhat frightening. Perfect. I also enjoyed reading about all the special touches at the Manor.

While I did enjoy reading this book, in regard to the plot, while there was definite intrigue, I was unsatisfied with several aspects of it.

There were a lot of references to local lore throughout the story and I would have liked to have that been given a larger focus with a more mysterious spin to it at the end of the book.

I would’ve liked to seen the villain/villains suffer more in return for their abhorrent behavior.

I also felt there were some important unresolved issues.

William Morrow
Publication date: June 18th, 2024

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A really suspenseful and twisty mystery with unreliable narrators and a supernatural element. Bella is back trying to fix something in her past. She’s at a fancy resort on its opening weekend. To celebrate the solstice there will be a midnight feast. The owner is Francesca Meadows, a fabulous socialite with big hopes for this new venture. From the beginning we know that there is a dead body and that there was a fire. The police officers investigating the incident find more bodies and everything gets weirder as the plot flies along. Bella has a journal from when she was a teenager and it is clear that something happened back then, something that all the characters must atone for. The dying village where the resort is built is another character. How these fancy people are affecting them, mostly for the worst. I liked all of the main characters, except for one. I was surprised by most of the twists and I was intensely rooting for Bella and the mysterious Birds, who may be real or not. The least likable characters, such as the locals trying to sabotage the resort were even understandable. I also loved the setting, the difference between the luxurious hotel and the run down town, the creepiness of the woods and all the mysteries that may be supernatural, or not. Another five-star read from this author.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/William Morrow.

first off, i just want to say thank you to netgalley and william morrow for the arc in exchange for the honest review. unfortunately, i was let down with this book. i couldn’t connect to any of the characters and it was so unbearable to be in their point of views. and for a thriller this was so dull and not gripping at all. i found myself getting distracted left right and centre and i take that a sign that this book wasn’t doing what it was meant to.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, is a mystery thriller told in alternating perspectives of five different characters, plus a diary entry of a “unknown.” It also hops around in time. It takes place at a Manor owned by one of the characters, Francesca, a.k.a. Frankie. At some point throughout the story chaos ensues at the Manor and we’re left trying to figure out what happened and who was involved.

Some of the things that really worked in this book were how everything kind of wrapped up at the end. There were reveals that I did not expect yet made sense. There were even a couple of twists that I would call absolutely brilliant. The chapters were short enough that it kept the intensity going and nothing that was revealed seemed ridiculous or convenient.

What didn’t work were the characters themselves. None of them were exactly relatable and other than Francesca, I really couldn’t distinguish who was narrating other than by the title of each chapter, which told you who was narrating that chapter. I would’ve liked a little bit more character development and to be able to read that in their narrations. That’s really my only complaint and the only reason this isn’t five stars.

This is my first Lucy Foley book and I did quite enjoy it and would definitely read more of her books. I also would absolutely recommend this. 4 1/2⭐️!

***Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and Lucy Foley for an advanced copy and exchange for an honest review.***

I really tried to like this one, but this one wasn't for me. I think the pacing was slow and the timeline was all over the place. The characters were insufferable and I couldn't connect making the reading experience a miss for me.

I will still recommend this book as I know a lot of people will like this.

One of Lucy foley’s best ever!! I loved the setting of this and the multi pov. Sure some elements of the story were exceptionally convenient, but we got a very hateable villain and I’m never mad about an “eat the rich” thriller plot line.

I liked this book, but I did not love it.

The Good: Short chapters made it a quick read. The main twist did twist me - I did not see it coming! Love a sneaky twist. The diary entries are what made the book enjoyable for me. I love the backstory and intention they added. The different point of views worked here and did not feel confusing. The setting was beautiful and Lucy Foley did amazing work with her imagery.

The Bad: I really did not have much of an idea what was going on for the first half and because of this it took me much longer to get into the story than I anticipated. I felt as if the main storyline did not start until halfway through the book either. I also felt like the book could have done more with the folklore aspect in general. There was a great story there and it just kind of.. ended.

This book was savage. I found this book to be an engrossing read that lingered in my thoughts long after the last page. The story, set against the backdrop of a seaside summer, brings together a group of friends and their families, their lives intertwined by a haunting tragedy.

Foley's narrative is like a beautifully woven tapestry, each thread revealing a bit more of the intricate plot. The twists were masterfully crafted, each one hitting like a surprise wave at the beach, leaving you breathless and eager for more. The suspense built up in such a way that I felt like I was holding my breath, waiting for the next revelation.

The lore of the birds was a haunting element that initially drew me in, reminiscent of old fairy tales whispered around a campfire. While it added a layer of eerie mystery, I couldn’t help but wish for it to be explored further to deepen the novel's chilling atmosphere.

Despite this, "The Midnight Feast" remains Foley's best work yet. It's a gripping, soap-worthy tale that keeps you guessing until the very end. For any reader who loves a good mystery with emotional depth, this book is a must-read. Foley has truly outdone herself, crafting a story that resonates with the complexities of friendship, family, and the secrets that bind us.

It's official. I've thrown in the towel. DNF @45%

I had so many issues with this book.

⁀➴ I had no idea what was going on or why.

⁀➴ The constant flipping of timelines while not covering any ground plot wise in any of them.

⁀➴ This is a thriller, it should be gripping but I was bored.

⁀➴ And to reiterate - I know that this is an uncorrected arc copy but the amount of grammatical errors took away from my reading enjoyment. I'm talking about extra quotation marks, missing quotation marks, whole wrong ass words - I had to read many sentences over and over to realize wtf she was trying to convey.

There is nothing but stuck up rich people, great atmospheric vibes, feathers, trees and birds.

Birds. Birds. Birds.


Thank you for suffering and bitching with me about this bird box of a book my darling - next time we need a winner, we're 0 for 2 now. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Meagan 🖤💚🕯️📖



🖤Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Lucy Foley for the complementary digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 💚