Okay, confession time: the cover of The Bachelorette Party didn’t exactly scream “read me!”—it whispered something more like “generic thriller vibes ahead.” But wow, was I wrong. This book didn’t just surprise me—it ambushed me with its brilliance.

Camilla Sten delivers a masterclass in Nordic noir meets psychological thriller. The story follows Tessa Nilsson, a disgraced true-crime podcaster whose career imploded after one of her investigations ended in tragedy. When her best friend Anneliese invites her to a bachelorette weekend at a remote yoga retreat (because nothing says “celebration” like isolation and unresolved trauma), Tessa sees a chance to redeem herself—and maybe finally solve the mystery of the “Nacka Four,” a group of women who vanished from a nearby island a decade earlier.

What unfolds is a chilling, atmospheric descent into obsession, guilt, and the dark side of truth-seeking. The setting—an eerie, windswept island in the Swedish archipelago—is practically a character in itself. Sten’s writing is razor-sharp, and the tension? Chef’s kiss. I couldn’t put it down.

Tessa is a fascinatingly flawed narrator—equal parts determined and self-destructive. The supporting cast is equally layered, especially Irene (the retreat owner with secrets of her own) and Adam (the chef who knows more than he lets on). The way past and present intertwine is seamless and haunting.

One shortcoming? The pacing in the middle sagged just a bit—like the book took a deep breath before plunging into the final act. But honestly, I was too hooked to care much.

If you love thrillers with emotional depth, unreliable narrators, and a setting that gives you goosebumps, The Bachelorette Party is your next obsession. Just… maybe don’t bring it to your own bachelorette weekend.

"The Bachelorette Party" by Camille Stan is an engaging, must-read for fans of contemporary fiction filled with drama, humor, and heartfelt moments. This novel brilliantly captures the chaos and charm of friendship dynamics, unexpected revelations, and the complexities that arise during life’s milestone celebrations.

Stan's writing shines with vivid characters who feel authentic and relatable. The plot unfolds with entertaining twists that keep readers hooked, while emotional depth adds layers to the story beyond the party setting. It's not just about wild festivities; it's about self-discovery, loyalty, and the bonds that shape us.

I highly recommend "The Bachelorette Party" to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with wit and warmth. Perfect for book clubs or anyone looking for a fun yet meaningful read, this novel promises laughter, reflection, and an unforgettable literary experience..

This was a pretty good thriller, but i found it easy to put down. Overall predictable and the dual timelines sometimes a bit confusing.

The Bachelorette Party, by Camilla Stem is a psychological thriller that is tension-filled, suspenseful and offers an interesting look at social interactions and group dynamics in a locked room setting. This story is set on a deserted island and has a dramatic plot line with mostly unlikeable, but intriguing characters. And there are a LOT of characters.

This story is told from a past and present perspective and is rather graphic, atmospheric, and chilling. There are short chapters that compel the reader onward, and though there are components I was not a fan of, and the conclusion is quite exaggerated, it is a fun, fast-paced summer read.

The Bachelorette Party is a slow burn, atmospheric thriller set on a remote island. The dual timelines and the clues from the past murders added to the suspense, but the story was a bit predictable. Overall, this was an enjoyable psychological thriller!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Very much enjoyed this book. Honestly, a bit of a slow read. I liked how the two time periods were interspersed to go back and forth. Highly recommend. Good summer read.

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten
Release Date: 6/10/25
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I tend to be a sucker for a thriller that takes place in a remote location (extra points if its surrounded by water!) so, despite never reading Sten before I was stoked to have my Netgalley request approved for this arc. It was a messy crew of characters for this quick paced thriller which built my intrigue even more!

I have to say, this novel was a bit uninspired and predictable to me. A bachelorette party in a remote location is a thriller trope that has been done time and time again, but I felt like this book didn’t have anything to make it stand out from the crowd.

The pacing was great, but the dual timeline was a bit confusing in the beginning which left me flipping back and forth to try to understand the wide net of characters. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad book, but not a thriller I would be quick to recommend.

I would still be open to checking out future books by this author and appreciate the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Synopsis: Every year four friends, Matilda, Evelina, Linnea and Anna take a trip to Isle Blind to bond and reminisce of their younger selves. However in 2012 the women go missing and only their boat is found. They become know as the Nacka four in the unsolved cold case. What’s thought to be an accidental drowning could be something more sinister.

10 years later Anneliese is getting married and having a secluded island bachelorette. Tessa is one of the women invited and she happens to be a true crime podcaster researching the Nacka four. The bachelorette party is at Isle Blind, the site of the 10 year old cold case.
Tessa discovers that their host on the island has a link to the Nacka four. On a nature hike Tessa makes a shocking discovery that their host brushes off but Tessa continue to look for clues into the woman’s disappearances.

Overall I give this 3 stars. It starts out interestingly enough but most of the story is a slow build. I started to lose interest while waiting for something to happen. Then around 70% it picks up and the ending feels rushed. I thought I had the book figured out but I didn’t guess the twist! There are alternating timeline chapters but they are clearly marked so it’s easy to follow.
If you love secluded islands and locked room mysteries check out The Bachelorette Party out now, June 2025

✨ Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this arc!

I thought this book started out pretty strong. I was really deep into the story of the missing friends and wanted to know what happened to them. It was a slow burn thriller, which I do like but thought it was a little too slow.

I got confused with the characters and thought there were too many of them to be able to remember who was who. But I did however, think the plot was engaging and kept me reading during the first half. I also loved the beachy remote island vibes this book gave!

Holy moly—this book was a wild ride!
It had all the ingredients for a slasher-style horror/thriller. I could see this as a movie, the way it played in my head. It had an isolated, super creepy setting, a big cast of characters that kept me second-guessing everyone, and that constant feeling of dread creeping in.

The timeline jumps added to the suspense but made it a bit hard to follow at times—especially since some of the character names in different timelines were really similar. I had to pause a few times to make sure I was tracking who was who.

That said, while parts of it were a little predictable, I still tore through it because I had to know how it would all play out. Fans of atmospheric thrillers with a bit of slasher energy will probably have a blast with this one.

the timelines weren't very clear for me, I liked the concept but it wasn't executed how I expected. it was a very fast paced and easy read though

Do you love a book that has a little bit of suspense and romance? Look no further for your next summer read. The characters are very well written. This is the first book I have read by Camilla Sten and I would very much like to read more from her.

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC! WOW! This one kept me guessing, guessing again and then finally being floored at the outcome of this book. The twists! The turns! It kept me on my toes and I really enjoyed this read. Definitely recommend as a summer thriller read for anyone who is looking for a fun read!

I enjoyed this, but found myself wanting more. More from the characters both past and present. The mystery wasn't really there for me except for the reasons behind them that were revealed towards the end.

This book was very interesting to say the least. I loved the twists and turns it had, from the beginning to the end.

The Bachelorette Party is a twisty, atmospheric thriller that had me hooked from the start. The story follows Tessa, a true crime podcaster reeling from the fallout of a vulnerable interview gone wrong and the emotional mess of a situationship breakup. Hoping for a distraction, she joins a bachelorette weekend at a remote destination that just so happens to be the site of an unsolved disappearance from ten years ago - four women vanished without a trace and were presumed dead.

But Tessa isn’t buying the official story. As her instincts kick in and secrets begin to surface, past and present start to blur. What begins as a weekend getaway quickly spirals into something far darker, and Tessa realizes she might not just be investigating the next true crime story - she could be living it.

Camilla Sten masterfully weaves suspense, trauma, and the thrill of the unknown into a compelling narrative. I loved how the plot echoed the past while unraveling the present. It’s the kind of book you finish in a couple of sittings to see how it all ends.

Highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers, especially those who enjoy podcasts, layered timelines, and morally complex protagonists.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

After reading and enjoying The Lost Village, I was looking forward to more from Sten and The Bachelorette Party did not disappoint. A little private island getaway to a brand new resort with your besties, where another group of girl friends “went missing” years before.. what could go wrong? It didn’t take long before these women found out exactly what could go wrong and the thrills just kept coming. One red flag after another is ignored and next thing they know the weekend goes from party mode to survival mode. A bingeable, psychological thriller that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat with short chapters and dual timelines.

I thought this was a solid thriller. I thought the bachelorette party trope in thrillers ESPECIALLY when they are on a secluded location. I guessed part of the ending pretty quickly, but not all of it. I was still pretty far off. I really enjoyed!

A once deserted, beautiful, yet sinister island in the Baltic Sea near Sweden seems the perfect location for a relaxing bachelorette weekend, if it wasn’t the site of a brutal massacre ten years prior.
This new group of sophisticated, talented friends, echoing the ill-fated group before them, arrive hoping for a memorable getaway. What they get instead is a chilling chain of events that turns their celebration into a nightmare. As they explore the island and navigate their own relationships, tragedy strikes again, and the mystery only deepens. The connections, twists and turns don’t end there!
This was a fast paced read, filled with a constant puzzle of what did happen, what’s now happening, and what might still be coming. Definitely not your average bachelorette party, but certainly an unforgettable one!

I could see what was happening while the book was going along, but it made me question myself. Overall a decent book. I feel like the end dragged on a little longer than needed. But overall good.