Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for the complimentary e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Anonymous author J.R. Alastor hosts a writing retreat for six famous thriller authors on a remote island. Then the storm hits and authors have to make a choice whether to confess of their crimes or face the consequences.

The first half of the book was too slow for me but when it picked up I couldn’t put it down. I loved that author sprinkled hints about the crimes the characters committed (probably my favourite part was putting who did what) and how it all tied up in a nice ending.

You Are Fatally Invited is the first book that broke me out of a long reading slump, and for good reason. The twists and turns throughout this book honestly had me guessing until the very last page as to who the murderer and J. R. Alastor were, or whether this entire thing was just an elaborate setup for Mila to be framed for the murders that keep happening. A writer's retreat for thriller/true crime authors is such a unique setting for this type of murder mystery, and the way that literary elements continually were woven through the story kept it both interesting and engaging. If you are in the mood for a unique, twisty murder mystery, I'd highly recommend that you check this out!

As soon as I started reading You Are Fatally Invited, I immediately thought it was giving Agatha Christie vibes. I have a hard time describing how I felt about this one. It felt slow, but it really wasn't since the first murder happens pretty early on in the story. But there were times I felt like the story was just dragging. And yet, it kept me on my toes. It was certainly a strange way to feel reading a book. I'd say by about the 60% mark, I really felt like the story picked up ample speed, and story lines were starting to come together. At that point, I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the ending, and I have to say, I did not expect the final twists at all.

All in all, a good thriller. I'll give a solid 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you Ballantine Book sand NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars - didn't love it, didn't hate it. This is a locked door whodunnit, and while that type of story lends itself to a lot of twists and surprises and unexpected turns...this one was unnecessarily complicated and the writing style did not help. I often found myself thinking "is what this person is saying now contradicting what they said earlier?" or "does this even make sense?" I wished it was just a little less convoluted.

The use of tropes as weapons was very clever, and the use of authors' plots against them was even more clever. I hated the Mila chapters - too much complaining and just angrily thinking. Probably too many perspectives in general. It's impossible to build two-dimensional characters in first person when there are this many of them and the book is relatively short.

My favorite part was the excerpts from the "authors' books." They were very well-written and compelling.

The climax and ending were also somewhat satisfying.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I purchased for my library and have shared in a couple book groups.

Confess the crimes, survive the tropes. This debut thriller delivers exactly what it promises: an atmospheric, trope-heavy locked-room mystery packed with twists, turns, and a cast of unreliable authors marooned on a storm-lashed island. The premise is undeniably fun: a thriller writer’s retreat turns deadly, and the games quickly become real.

The book shines in its setup. Much of the book feels clever, especially for seasoned thriller fans. Mila del Angél, the protagonist, is complex and driven, though at times her motivations feel more convenient than convincing.

Where the novel starts to stumble is in pacing and character development. With six authors on the guest list, plus Alastor and Mila, the story occasionally gets bogged down trying to give each character enough space, leading to uneven tension. Some twists are predictable or overly reliant on genre gimmicks, and the final act, while fast-paced, leans heavily on exposition that undercuts earlier suspense.

Still, the book is a fun ride and perfect for readers looking for a popcorn thriller with a self-aware edge.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. A fun mystery for fans of Agatha Christie

You Are Fatally Invited sets itself up with an intriguing premise and a nod to the classic structure of And Then There Were None—which may be part of the problem. If you're familiar with Agatha Christie's original, the big reveal here isn’t especially surprising, and the predictability saps some of the tension that should make a thriller like this propulsive.

While the pacing is solid and there are moments of genuine suspense, I struggled with inconsistent plotting and characters that never fully came alive for me. Despite the high stakes and mounting body count, I found myself emotionally disengaged.

That said, I think it could be a fun read for casual thriller fans or readers newer to the genre. But if you’re a devotee of Golden Age detective fiction and looking for tight plotting or clever twists, this one might leave you feeling a little “meh.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher of the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

You Are Fatally Invited follows the classic locked room/ trapped in a remote location mystery setup. It was an entertaining enough read, if not terribly original. I struggled to connect with or even keep track of all the characters at times, but was still invested enough to read straight through.

Thank you Ande Pliego, Bantam, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Six thriller authors think they are going to the island mansion of J.R. Alastor--the world-renowned anonymous author--for a writing retreat. Alastor has hired a former aspiring author to play host for the retreat, and she has her reasons for being there. They all have secrets and quickly learn they are in the middle of Alastor's twisted game. The only chance they have of leaving the island alive is to confess their sins.

This is a great debut by Ande Pliego. It was interesting, creepy at times, fast-paced and I wasn't able to guess the culprit. Overall, You Are Fatally Invited is just a fun read.

Thanks to Bantam for the advanced copy of You Are Fatally Invited via NetGalley.

Talk about a killer setup! This one had me hooked from the jump! A writing retreat at a moody manor on a remote island off the coast of Maine? Yes, please. Add in a cast of thriller authors (aka professional liars), stormy weather, murder games, and one very disgruntled host with revenge on the brain? I’m in.

You Are Fatally Invited is smart, meta, and such a blast to read. Ande Pliegoi knows how to skewer genre tropes in the most delightful way. Every twist felt like a wink to thriller lovers. Think Knives Out meets The Plot with a dash of Clue and a side of popcorn.

I absolutely devoured this one. Mila is a fantastic narrator, witty, calculating, and just chaotic enough to keep you guessing. Plus, that ending? 👀

I thought this was just an ok thriller! I didn't feel connected to any of the characters, due to not much backstory. There was not enough tension for me, and the ending got a little too confusing due to the constant pov changes

The title grabbed my attention right away—how could I not want to read a book called You Are Fatally Invited?! A private island, a bunch of mystery writers, and a creepy host? Ummm, yes please!

This story follows Mila del Angél, an event planner who goes to a remote island to help with a retreat for famous mystery authors. But things take a scary turn when one of the writers is found dead. As a storm traps everyone on the island, Mila has to figure out who’s lying and what secrets are hiding in plain sight. Full of suspense, surprises, and danger, this book had me guessing until the end!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Ande Pliego, and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for this suspenseful and page turning ARC in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed this story while I was reading it, but don't really remember much about the details now that I'm about a month out from finishing. I enjoyed the multiple POVs from the different characters - some more than others. It definitely had Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None vibes. The overall tone of the story swung wildly from time to time - I wasn't expecting so much gore toward the end. And then some parts were really serious and straight forward while others felt a bit comical. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, not even the main character. The ending was only mildly satisfying and I guess most of it before the end. Overall, a fast, fun read while reading it. Just not overly memorable. And nothing I haven't read before.

Inviting six thriller authors to a private coastal manor is the perfect recipe for murderous disaster, which is exactly what happens in Ande Pliego’s You Are Fatally Invited. Now they are trapped on an Island, hitting all the mystery murder tropes down to the incoming storm.

Pliego’s debut novel is delightfully entertaining. It quickly becomes apparent that there is at least one big secret within the group, making this feel reminiscent of Lucy Foley’s style. The characters are layered and complex, their flaws making them more realistic.

Overall, this is a fun read with intriguing twists and turns that make sense within the plot. Fans of the locked room genre will be happy with what they find in this book.

“If you’re reading this, you’ve been chosen.”

Ande Pliego’s You Are Fatally Invited is a delightfully wicked blend of high-society glam and locked-room suspense—with a sharp, satirical bite that fans of Knives Out or Lucy Foley’s The Guest List will devour. Think murder mystery meets influencer culture, but with secrets that bleed through champagne flutes and curated smiles.

This novel follows a select group of women invited to an exclusive island retreat hosted by the elusive, charismatic Cassandra. At first glance, it’s a dream weekend of luxury and connection—but beneath the curated perfection lies a deadly agenda. Someone isn’t making it off the island, and it soon becomes clear: this invitation was anything but random.

Ande Pliego excels at weaving biting social commentary with tightly coiled suspense. Each character is vividly drawn—flawed, magnetic, and carrying secrets that unravel deliciously with every page. The pacing is swift but smart, and the reveal? A twisted payoff that satisfies without resorting to cheap tricks.

Though the narrative juggles multiple POVs and occasionally dips into familiar territory (fans of the “isolated group with a secret” trope may spot some genre echoes), Pliego’s voice remains fresh, modern, and unapologetically bold.

You Are Fatally Invited is a thriller with style and teeth—perfect for readers who like their mysteries layered with glitter, grudge, and grit.

It gave Clue and Murder on the Orient Express vibes!

I love books about authors, especially ones that kill. What happens when you lock up six best-selling authors for a little game of murder.

This was a twisty good time, with a semi-likeable main character with a score to settle. The tables turn quickly and leaves Mila guessing who’s behind the antics that unfold.

If you are looking for a dark, suspense filled novel that will leave you guessing to the very end this is the one.

A wonderful debut by the author, and a book you will want to re-read to see if you can find the clues the second time around.

The ending will have you gasping.

“Sometimes the art of fiction isn’t in how intellectual it is, but how well it makes you actually forget the world around you. Sometimes, binge reading to escape reality can save a person’s life.”

What Worked: A full cast of actors bring this thrilling locked-room mystery to life. Being told from multiple points of view, it’s fun to follow along as a reader and try to piece all of the mystery together with the characters. Who is trustworthy, and who is a murderer? Toss in almost every mystery trope you can imagine, and this story becomes a fun meta thriller with something for everyone to enjoy. And a book about writers? I’m always in for that.

What Didn’t: If you are familiar with Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, then you will appreciate this novel, but you won’t be as impressed with it as you could be. I wish I had gone in with a blank palate and could appreciate it as a singular piece, but the whole time I was comparing it to the original and finding the twists less twisty than hoped for. Ultimately, I like ATTWN, so I liked this, too.

Rating: Liked it

This thriller sucks you in and you will find yourself having a hard time putting it down since you will not be able to wait to see where the story goes next! Highly recommend! Can't wait to read more by this author!

I loved this one. One of the best books I've read this year so far. An excellent locked room mystery with plenty of twists to keep you guessing through to the end.