⭐⭐½ (2.5 stars)
Yeah… this just didn’t work for me. The concept sounded great, but the execution didn’t grip me—and that’s the one thing I need most in a thriller. I was bored and didn’t really care about what was happening. There were a lot of characters, which I’m usually fine with, but I struggled to connect with any of them. The constant shifting timelines also made it hard to stay engaged in the story. There were a few writing moments I liked—some analogies stood out—but overall, I wouldn’t recommend it.

A bachelorette party takes place on a mysterious, hard to reach island with a dark past that only you, the reader, knows about.

***

This book had a lot of potential. Luxurious vacation rental. The drama of a bachelorette party. Tessa's sketchy past with true crime. It was a good set up with a terrible execution.

First and foremost, we don't really know anything about any of the characters. There is literally ZERO set up for their personalities or dramas or hang ups. It's just here we are. We only really know that Mikaela is annoying (though honestly, she was my fav by far in the end).

I did buy the culprit(s) and their motivations, and I think there could have been more to draw that out. One little crumb leading to the reveal just was not enough. You needed more from the girls and from the alternative POV to make the reveal satisfying.

Finally, my biggest gripe is the author just dropping Tessa's other story. Her shame and how she was going to come out of it!!! I think the morality of true crime is such a fascinating topic, but with everything else going on it never tied in AND it wasn't resolved. WHY?

I think the author has potential and I would be open to reading other books from them, but this one is just not worth it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for this honest review.

When I read the description of this book I was excited to read it. Having to compared to The Guest list was super exciting to me. But unfortunately this book was so disjointed and filled with so many characters and a jumpy timeline that it made it impossible to follow. I had to keep going back and rereading but to me is never a fun way to read a book.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

This book from the cover almost gives a contemporary, chick flick feel good kind of vibe however the plot of this story is anything but. This is a thriller book through and through. From the beginning we are introduced to our main character Tessa as she plans her best friend, Anneliese's, Bachelorette party. Should be simple enough, friends, food,booze, and an overall good time, however not all of them are there to celebrate. Tessa is thrilled when the party is going to be located on a secret remote location however it is not for the same reason the rest of the girls are,with all the privacy and exclusivity. No, Tessa is thrilled because the island is the exact location where the "Nacka Four" disappeared from ten years prior. So Tessa jumps in and decides that even if she feels out of place at the bachelorette she might be able to get some more information on the case that has been consuming her (the mysterious experience of the Nacka Four), and who knows this might just be the thing to revive her podcasting career. However it isn't long until one of the guests goes missing and another is acting fanatically, that Tessa realises that looking into this case comes with a price, and she is uncertain if she is willing to pay. I really liked all of the characters in this book and while there were lots with lots of stuff happening it was nice to just have the main focus on one character instead of multiple different point of view swaps. I loved the tension between the characters but it was the sinister feel from the island that really pulled me in as a reader. Considering how mysterious the plot was it was very easy to follow and I found myself desperate to get everyone's viewpoints while simultaneously finding myself getting lost in the plot. With so many subplots happening all around the reader everything always seemed to lead back to the main one which I found very comforting. This was like a fantastic horror movie as each chapter left you more and more breathless. I can't wait to read more by this author. I just hope that they captivate me as much as this one did.

I had read The Resting Place and The Lost Village by Camilla Sten and liked them both, so I already knew I was going to enjoy this book too. Miss Camilla writes with such a sinister and terrifying atmosphere that I am both nervous and eager to read the next page!
I was drawn to the storyline that involved the main character, Tessa, being true crime obsessed, because I have to admit that I could similarly describe myself. The difference is that Tessa takes it a bit too far. When Tessa's best friend chooses to have her bachelorette party at a venue that mimics the true crime story she is obsessed with she can't wait to go. What she didn't anticipate was whether she was going to survive to see the wedding.
If you are a fan of thriller books that are blood-chilling and creepy, this one is for you.
I received this advanced reader copy as a gift from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and was delivered by NetGalley. All opinions are my own and truly honest.

Ten years ago, four friends disappeared from an island off the coast of Sweden and Tessa, a crime podcaster has never been able to solve it. When her friend asks her to attend her Bachelorette Party on an island that seems eerily similar, Tessa jumps at the chance to see if she can actually solve this mystery.

Enter a very intriguing plot with an unexciting unfolding. There were so many characters it was hard to keep up with who was who and doing and saying what. The pacing was too slow. The "twists" were not very twisty. This is a quick read and it did not bore me to death, but it was not more than 3 stars on my list.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Unfortunately though I really enjoyed Camilla Sten's prior books I just could not get into this one. I dont know whether it was the large cast who I felt nothing for, the pacing, the plot.. I would've probably DNF'd this book if I hadn't also received the audiobook version to listen to, as reading it on my own just did not keep my attention. I would definitely still read her books in the future but this one just was not for me unfortunately.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC for review!

⭐⭐.5 rounded up because of great queer and mental illness representation.

Pre-Read Notes:

I like stories about big gatherings gone wrong. I don't really like big casts, or narrative chaos, except when it's a party gone wrong. So this seems like a great choice for me!

"There’s a lot to be said for desperation. For the will to fight." p282

Final Review

(thoughts & recs) I'm...not sure what I just read. I mean, it's a kinda-thriller involving a group of friends isolated on an island, but the impression I picked up of the story is vague. The primary conflict isn't interesting enough to carry the book. The pacing is slow and the details are muddled. My favorite part was the denouement because it brought me in closer to the characters and their motivations than the earlier material. Also, big points for bisexual representation!

I would chalk this up to "It's not for me" but I'm squarely in the market for women's thrillers. This one just lacked something for me.

I recommend this book to fans of slow burn thrillers and women's thrillers. If you enjoyed Alafair Burke's THE NOTE, this one is for you!

My 3 Favorite Things:

✔️ I like a good slow burn but I wish the suspense was tighter.

✔️ I love true crime meta, it's a unique flavor of my favorite literary element.

✔️ ""...I guess I’m kind of OCD.” She laughs. “I don’t think that counts as OCD,” I say. “I’m pretty sure that’s a serious mental health condition.”"p118 Yes!! Another author crushes ableism! Characters calling each other out for expressing ableist sentiments is great mental illness rep!

Notes:

1. isolation, cheating, violence against women, boats and water


Thank you to the author Camilla Sten, publishers Minotaur Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE BACHELORETTE PARTY. All views are mine.

What was supposed to be a fun getaway turns into a horrifying nightmare. This was a memorable story with an eerie yet beautiful setting. Told from alternating timelines, we delve into the lives of two groups of friends, past and present.

This caught me off guard. I was expecting another popcorn-type mystery with a group of women full of drama, blindly running around trying to get away. This was darker and tragic, along with a sense of dread lingering in the background that gradually built up with each chapter. I would have liked more development on some of the women in the present timeline in order to really feel the events in this. Other than that, this was an addictive, fast-paced mystery filled with friendship, paranoia, and, as always, murder. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

I enjoyed this book alot! I finished it in a day! This story was very wild and I had no idea the turns the story would take. I don't want to give away any spoilers but in the end I am happy with the way things ended!!!

Were given different povs and different timelines. I went back and forth atleast twice to just confirm and match things up. Everything made sense and I understood alot of the characters perspectives. Everything comes together nicely and I enjoyed it. I wish there was more insight into a couple of the very main characters. Or I wish certain characters weren't so blinded and dumb. Lol. But that's people! We make mistakes and make choices everyday that lead to good and bad things.

All the choices from each person play huge parts in the lives of all these characters. 5 stars! Thanks for this ARC!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC! This was my first time reading anything from this author. It was a good story line and a great plot twist towards the end. There wasn't a lot of character development, but it was just enough to keep you guessing. I'm glad to find out what really happened to the Nacka Four and who was behind the murders. This is a great story about friends not appearing to be what they seem and getting revenge, even if it comes years later.

The Bachelorette Party was a suspenseful and atmospheric read with a classic locked room mystery feel.
I really liked the creepy island setting and how it added to the tension. The story jumps between two timelines, one from ten years ago when four women vanished, and one in the present with a new group of friends arriving for a bachelorette party.
Tessa, the main character, is secretly investigating the past case, which adds an extra layer of intrigue. I enjoyed the podcast angle and Tessa’s personal connection to the mystery. The writing was vivid and the narration by Laura Jennings helped build the suspense. While I found the ending a little predictable and got confused by the number of characters which sometimes it can be way too many to keep track of everyone in my case, it was still an engaging and fast paced listen and read. If you like thrillers with secrets, lies, and a chilling island backdrop, this is a great pick for your next read.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

The setting was the best part of this book. The author nailed the cold, bleak island well. This one had dual timelines and a LOT of characters. I liked that the characters were varied and not all were likable. The actual story was missing something for me. I wasn't surprised about the who and the what was just a bit too much. I didn't feel that the actions and reactions were plausible enough. I had not read this author before, but I would definitely try another one by her.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I've enjoyed the author's previous books. I didn't connect with any of the characters or their lives unfortunately - I didn't really care what happened to them. Also I found the plot too drawn out, especially relating to the Nacka 4 and Tessa's interest in them. The connections were revealed too late in the book.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m disappointed, but something about this one just wasn’t for me. I think it was the pace. I found it a bit slow to start and it didn’t really take off.

Moody, atmospheric, and packed with slow-burning suspense, this thriller blends true crime obsession with a chilling mystery set on an isolated Swedish island. The dual timelines—past and present—unfold with increasing tension as Tessa’s quest for answers collides with the eerie echoes of a decade-old disappearance. The friendship dynamics, both past and present, add emotional layers to the unfolding mystery, and the setting is vividly rendered, evoking isolation and dread. Though a few twists are predictable, the story’s creeping paranoia and well-drawn characters make for an addictive read. A haunting tale of secrets, sisterhood, and the price of digging too deep.

Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy!

DNF-ed at 11%. I really wanted to like this one. The synopsis piqued my interest and the cover is gorgeous. I just could not get into it at all, though. I did not care about any of the characters and I just didn't connect with the writing style. I'm sure others will really enjoy it, but after setting it down for a few days, I just am not interested in picking it back up.

I really enjoyed the majority of The Bachelorette Party. The premise was very interesting, and the characters were engaging. The pacing kept me turning pages, and I found myself really invested in the story. However, the twist at the end didn’t quite work for me. It was pretty predictable and I would have loved a more surprising ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and st. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. I have a soft spot for mystery/thriller novels that take place on islands or in locked room settings. I've read a Camilla Sten novel previously and liked both her writing and her plot, and I thought this one was just as strong as her previous works.

A lot of people have complained that there were too many characters, but I didn't have trouble with either of the two timelines or the characters introduced. All of the women felt distinct to me and I thought she did a great job to portray the complexities of female relationships. While I didn't always love Tessa and I thought some of her inner monologue was extremely annoying, I thought she was the right character to lead the story.

However, the book fell short with the ending. I guessed the twist pretty quickly and the suspense was far too drawn out. The book could have been shorter than it was since there was a lot of repetition near the end of the novel.

Overall, this is a solid thriller that I would recommend and I loved the fact it took place in Sweden.

Although the premise of this book is quite intriguing, the execution of the story is disappointing. You never really feel like you get to know the four girls who previously disappeared that much, except for Matilda. The others are like afterthoughts whose stories are only important in how they relate to hers, making them much less interesting. In the present day, Tessa and the bride-to-be, Anneliese, are supposed to be best friends, but they do not seem close at all. If they are not and they have really drifted apart that much, it doesn't make sense that Anneliese would still invite Tessa to be part of her wedding.

The mystery is not handled that well either. The solution only makes limited sense. It kind of comes out of left field and is unsatisfying. Plus, there is a lot of violence, and some of it is quite graphically described. Accordingly, if you don't like mysteries with a lot of violence, this is not the book for you. However, if you do, you might enjoy this book.