The Bachelorette Party is a twisty dual timeline thriller with alternating POVs set in both present and past.
I love an isolated setting thriller and this one was especially creepy being set on an island where a decade in the past a group of friends disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
There were quite a lot of characters spread throughout the alternating timelines, so it made things a little hard to follow for a while. I did find it somewhat obvious who was behind the nefarious doings in present day, but I was entirely lost as to who the actual killer was originally.
The beginning started with a fantastic, very scary bang, and things were tense throughout, leading to a climactic reveal, all of which made for a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me an eARC via NetGalley!
Publication date 6/10/25

I'm not huge into mysteries, but enjoyed The Guest List and this seemed to be in a similar vein...and it's always good to branch out a little.

In 2012, four friends went to Isle Blind for their annual reunion weekend. They never returned. Authorities determined it was a boat accident, but we know Matilda and her three friends were murdered (since the book literally starts with them being murdered). Ten years later, disgraced true crime podcaster Tessa is headed to a new health retreat/hotel on the island with five friends for a bachelorette weekend, hosted by Irene, Matilda's sister. Tessa is determined to find out what happened to the Nacka Four ten years ago.

I found the book to very well plotted. The action is mostly set in 2022, from Tessa's POV, with occasional jumps to Matilda in 2012. There were, I think, too many friends on the 2022 trip to keep them all straight, though just doing another four women would be troublesome, plot-wise. I quite liked Tessa's wrestling of a recent career implosion; I honestly could've done with more time spent with Tessa's podcast history. The ending made sense, though was a bit drawn-out for me and the ultimate perpetrator was reasonably obvious, even if motivations were not, so that was satisfying.

It does get all the bonus points for this passage, which occurs when Tessa gets up for early yoga at the bachelorette:

I don't believe there are people who genuinely like the taste of green juice and kombucha, who take joy in getting up at five in the morning, or who get their kicks from sweating out made-up toxins by exercising in saunas. I think runner's high is a myth and sunrise yoga is a scam, and I'd pay the entire remaining balance in my account to go back to sleep. (Chapter 13)

Ultimately, an enjoyable-enough read. Other reviews indicate that Sten's other books were better, so I might check those out.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to Minotaur books via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

6 best friends since childhood go on a bachlorette weekend to a remote island where 4 girls had gone missing 10 years before. Its now a yoga retreat, with vegan food and mindfulness hikes, the weekend is meant to be tons of fun, but Tessa uses the weekend to see if she can find out what happened to the 4 women who went missing and finds someone looking for revenge instead.

As much as I really loved this story I wanted more thrill, it felt like all the thrilling juicy parts were in the last 3rd of the book. I liked the closure and the twist was a little expected BUT I liked the overall reasoning behind it. I understood it, I got behind it. I wish there was some more things happening in the first half and middle parts of the story to keep me engaged more. Overall I loved the story and it did have the engaging thriller aspect to it when it needed it. Definitely worth a read.

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC!

I've really enjoyed Camilla Sten's books in the past and was so excited for this one.

Unfortunately, it just felt so overdone to me. I have read countless books where friends gather together year after year and even many that are based around bachelorette parties. Just a few I can think of are SHE STARTED IT by Sian Gilbert, ONE OF THE GIRLS by Lucy Clarke, YOU MAY NOW KILL THE BRIDE by Kate Watson, etc. So maybe it's just a personal case of being exhausted by thrillers taking place on an island with a toxic group of friends, but they are all blending together.

I can't wait to see what Camilla does next because she is such a talented writer!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Camilla Sten for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Bachelorette Party coming out June 10, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a couple books by this author and I really enjoy her writing. I thought this was an interesting summary, so I was excited to check it out. Unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. I wasn’t really onboard with any of their choices. It wasn’t for me. I would read other books by this author though.

Camilla Sten is the queen of atmospheric thrillers…her settings are always characters themselves. This one was no exception, set on a remote island in the Baltic Sea. Supposedly a bachelorette getaway, of course it turns into something more sinister & deadly. The bulk of the book was a little slow, with way too much irrelevant information about Tessa & why she’s feeling like a failure. But the last 25% made up for it & I couldn’t put it down!

This was sooo good! This is a great keep you on the edge of your toes read! I highly recommend this book especially to all those bachelorettes out there!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Review: The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten

I was really excited to read The Bachelorette Party, especially since I loved Camilla Sten’s The Village—a haunting, atmospheric thriller that stayed with me long after I turned the last page. Naturally, I went into this one with high expectations, and while it delivered in many ways, there were a few aspects that didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

What The Bachelorette Party absolutely nails is pacing. This is a fast, compulsive read that kept me turning pages late into the night. The setup—a remote villa, a group of women with complicated histories, secrets bubbling beneath the surface—was right in my thriller sweet spot. Sten does a great job building tension, and her writing style is sharp and immersive, pulling you right into the heart of the drama.

As the layers peeled back, I found myself fully engrossed in the unraveling dynamics between the characters. The flashbacks and shifting perspectives were used effectively to deepen the suspense and keep me guessing. There were some solid twists, and even when I started to suspect where things were heading, I still enjoyed watching it all unfold.

That said, I wasn’t totally sold on the ending. Without giving spoilers, it felt a little abrupt and left me wanting more resolution. I understand the intention behind it, but I personally prefer conclusions that feel a bit more grounded or emotionally satisfying. That’s the only reason this was a 4-star read instead of a 5 for me.

Still, Camilla Sten proves once again that she knows how to craft a tense, bingeable thriller. Her writing remains a highlight, and I’ll definitely keep reading whatever she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten is a slow-building, highly entertaining, dark, unnerving thriller that’s the perfect summer read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The dual timeline, along with the characters kept the storyline intriguing, and kept me turning pages right up until the very end. A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, the author and NetGalley for the eARC of the book.

The premise of this intense mystery starts out in 2012 when four girlfriends go to a remote island nestled off the coast of Sweden to hangout and catch up. They do this every year, but their last meet up turns out much different. Fast forward a decade later, Tessa has been obsessed with the story of the four girlfriends that completely vanished on that island. Tessa’s fascination with true crime has turned into a hugely popular podcast. She has been able to investigate some of Sweden’s more grisly, high profile cases. But the one case she has never been able to find any answers to is the disappearance of those four women on that island.

Now, Tessa has been invited to a bachelorette party at a yoga retreat on a small remote island that is eerily reminiscent of the one where the four woman went missing years ago. It gives Tessa an uneasy feeling, the plan is to just go hang out have some fun, and connect with her best friend Anneliese, who is the bride to be. And with her podcast stalled as of late this might be her last opportunity to discover what really happened years ago. Can Tessa uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the women, and stop the danger that lies in wait for her and her group friends?

The Bachelorette Party is a well-written, propulsive, spine-chilling secluded island thriller filled with twist that will keep you guessing, and have you reading with all the lights on.

I think that the fact that this book touches on so many different genres made it difficult for me to totally immerse myself in the plot. The genres are suspense, mystery, thriller and horror. I would like to say that I thought they all rolled together into a neat package, but it was more like a mish-mash or a scatter painting. I didn’t know what to expect next because although there were plenty of twists, the preparation for the twists was not there. The clues were either non-existent or gave away secrets long before I was ready for them. So, plot was a definite two for me. The characters were not relatable or believable, but I did sympathize with them. I especially liked the character of Tessa, a narrator who is mostly unreliable and totally off-the-wall challenged in her career since she is desperate to make a new podcast that actually succeeds. But, because the characters and their dilemma held my attention, I give them a four, so the average I came up with for my rating is thus a three. I would have to say it is actually a little more than a three because the setting was perfect, a remote place for disappearances and murders to take place, and an empty boat…very eerie and enticing. Those who enjoy gothic kind of mysteries mixed with suspense (not a lot, but some), thrills (more prevalent) and horror (that seemed like it was trying to hard to horrify), will like this book. I struggled to read it, but every book is not everyone’s cup of tea. So I hope that this one finds its place with the people who will enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

New to me author. The cover is what ultimately drew me in and made me want to read this book. The story was just okay and I found myself not caring about any of these characters. It has a large cast of characters that at times made it difficult to keep up with who was who and what was going on. This book also didn't give me that shock or wow factor that I enjoy in thriller books. I started the digital copy and finished on audio.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bachelorette Party by Camille Sten is a slow paced thriller that takes its time setting the stage. Personally, I found it a bit hard to get into at first—it wasn't until about halfway through the book that I really felt pulled into the story. One of the challenges early on was keeping track of the large cast of characters. It took some time to sort everyone out and understand their dynamics.

The novel alternates between two timelines: the past, where four best friends known as the “Nacka Four” mysteriously vanish during a girls' trip to a remote island, and the present, where a group of women arrives on the same island—now home to a luxurious resort—for a bachelorette weekend.

The present-day protagonist, Tessa, is a reluctant guest. She’s dealing with personal issues and almost skips the party, but ultimately decides to go—partially out of loyalty to her friend, and partly because she has an ulterior motive. As a once-successful podcaster, Tessa sees this trip as an opportunity to dig into the mystery of the Nacka Four and maybe breathe new life into her fading career.

But the island has secrets, and as her friends begin to disappear, Tessa starts to wonder if the events of the past are repeating themselves—and if the person responsible is still lurking nearby.

While the story does eventually build suspense and delivers some intriguing twists, the pacing might be too slow for readers looking for a high-octane thriller. That said, the atmospheric setting and dual timelines add depth, and once the plot kicks in, it becomes an engaging mystery.

I enjoyed this book, the characters, and the storyline. There is a dual timeline that goes back and forth from 2012 and 2022. But when you read the 2 timelines, there is no real CLEAR point that it's the same person's pov or if it's one of the other friends' pov.
2012 a group of 4 friends go to a remote island that one of their fathers owns and have a get together just to reconnect and catch up, They do it once every year and have been doing this for years, but THIS year is different. Fast forward to 2022 and a group of friends are headed out to the same remote island as the sister of one of the original group has built a luxury hotel on the island and they are going there for a Bachelorette Party, and somethings just NOT right...
Aside from the slight confusion of who's pov you're reading, I really did enjoy this and would recommend it.
Thank you, #netgalley, for the ARC copy of this book.

This was SUCH a well-written thriller. (Also loved that it was set in Sweden!) The dual timeline was perfection. There’s an underlying mystery around each storyline that just leaves you wanting to know more at every turn. That, along with the way this was paced, made this book highly addictive. I read about 50% of it during the second night because I just. Couldn’t. Put. It. Down.

All the tropes I thought I would hate - the superficial setting x unlikeable girls group, namely - were so well-crafted and fleshed out that I was actually had a change of heart for some of the b’s in the group. (I also didn’t care that I figured out the “bad guy” about halfway through because their backstory was so compelling).

Highly recommend this for your next summer thriller! This was my first time reading Camilla Sten and I’m officially a fan. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced copy! ✨

Stuck on a remote island in the middle of nowhere with a tiny row boat and no cell phones already had me breaking out in hives. To add to the fear factor, four women mysteriously disappeared here 10 years ago. It was assumed they all drowned. What could possibly go wrong? I was already getting Friday The Thirteenth vibes times ten after reading the first chapter.

Although there are several characters, Tessa is the star. Tessa has always loved true crime. After a horrific occurrence happened in her life, she feels that her life is in tatters, both professionally and personally. Even though she immediately feels unseen eyes on the island, her curiosity gets the best of her. She is determined to get answers to what happened here a decade ago. Tessa was, at times, likable and unlikable at others.

This book gave me the creeps and made me question whether I should be reading this at night. There were a few things that I didn’t like about the book. However, it was not enough to make me stop reading it. The intensity of the story sucked me into it’s vortex and would not let me go.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I enjoy a mystery thriller sometimes and this sort where a party on an island gets cut off and then the bodies start dropping is a standard. But the circumstances and characters make it all new. The Bachelorette Party is a group of women in a bridal party going to a retreat on an island. The owner and the chef are just starting up the resort with yoga and vegan food and other wellness type activities.

Tessa has just lost her job and relationship, and may be getting sued. Her older sister is on this trip also. The women are all from Sweden. Tessa has done podcasts for years and one story she has always followed was a group of four women who went on a retreat every year until they didn't come back one year. That year was on this island and was 10 years ago. The new owner of the island is the older sister of one of the victims and she hopes to interview her.

Tessa has a bad feeling from the start. She thinks the chef looks scary. The owner Irene on the other hand is calm and competent, and it turns out is somewhat willing to discuss her sister. Then things go badly fast.

The story was interesting and relatively easy to read. There were sections for the present 2022 and the previous retreat with 4 girls in 2012, which meant a lot of characters initially. So we know their thoughts and jealousies, their fears and hopes. The original 4 were best friends over most of their lives from childhood to twenties. The new group is a bridal party which is generally younger but still from the same social class as the original group.

I liked the story and Tessa, even with all her troubles. She makes a difference, being observant and aware enough to realize more options than most people. I was on the edge and worried for them throughout, as well as the original 4 girls. We do get closure on them which I always appreciate.

Loved it! This has to be one of the worst bachelorette parties. The women will be talking about it forever and have the scars to remind them. A yoga resort with only vegan catering on a remote island would not be my first choice for a bachelorette party or vacation. The packing list recommendations were a bit over the top. Ten years ago, four women disappeared from the island and were never found. The place just screams you will be murdered and tossed in the sea. The prologue had me hooked from the start. Who killed the Nacka Four and why? Somehow Lena gets a fantastic deal on a hotel on the exact island where the women were killed. I definitely knew nothing good was going to happen during the bachelorette party. Plus, the women had to hand in all their cell phones, laptops, anything they could actually communicate with if someone was trying to kill them. Why did everyone believe Caroline was able to get off the island so easily? They didn't even question her note. Tessa was the only one suspicious. I was definitely shocked when the truth about everything was finally revealed. It seemed like a lot of work and planning just to get revenge. How was everything going to be explained when the ferry showed up at the end of four days to pick the women up?

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, writing style and characters. It was a great mystery/thriller that kept me guessing until the end. There were some twists and turns that I never saw coming. This was the first book I read by the author and I look forward to reading more. Loved the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title. Unfortunately, The Bachelorette Party just wasn’t the right fit for me—but I know it will find the right readers who love dark, twisty thrillers with a slow burn.

I was really hopeful I would love this book but it ended up being middle of the road for me. It was a slow start and the ending just didn't do it for my tastes.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

👰🏼‍♀️Book Review👰🏼‍♀️
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My thoughts- thank you so much @minotaurbook and @camillasten for the gifted advanced copy of The Bachelorette Party, this beauty comes out today! Be sure to grab this thriller today it is SO good! This one is juicy and has the most dreamy setting. Told through alternating perspectives of the two different bachelorette parties, Camilla Sten expertly tells you both stories in such an effective way! Perfect for true crime fans this one had a lot of drama packed into 300 pages. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat!
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Summary- On a remote island nestled off the coast of Sweden, four friends—Tilly, Anna, Linnea and Evelina—meet every year. Best friends since childhood, the idea is to drink beer, dance by the water, and shake off the weight of life's expectations. The location of the island is a secret to everyone but them.

Ten Years Later. Ever since she was a teenager, Tessa Nilsson has been consumed by the story of four friends who disappeared. As her true crime fervor turned into a wildly popular podcast, Tessa covered Sweden’s most gruesome cases, but could never find the answers behind what happened to these women who disappeared. Now Tessa’s podcast has crashed and burned, any chance she had at uncovering the truth vanishing with it.

Anneliese is Tessa’s best friend, and before she walks down the aisle, she wants to have a bachelorette party. The destination: Baltic Vinyasa, a sleek, sophisticated yoga retreat on a small island off the coast—one with such similar characteristics to the tragedy years ago that it raises the hair on Tessa’s neck. Tessa will not pass this up. It’s her last chance to find out what happened to the four women, once and for all.
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QOTD- what would your dream bachelorette party location be ?! Even if you’ve already had a bachelorette before, what would be the perfect group activity/location?! I’d love to just sit at a good winery with my friends and eat pizza, that would be the dream! I’m