I am hoping the final version fixes some of the glaringly obvious errors in a few of the details. The premise of a bachelorette party mystery drew me in with this one, but the execution was lacking. I guessed the murderer by 30% and wasn’t shocked by anything that happened. It was a quick read so for that I am thankful but I probably wouldn’t recommend.

I really enjoyed The Bachelorette Party! It was chilling, suspenseful, and hard to put down. The author did a great job describing the setting and the characters in a way that made me feel I was there. It was darker than I anticipated, but I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Camilla Sten.

The Bachelorette Party
By Camilla Sten

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: June 10, 2025

Thank you NerGalley and St. Martin’s apress/Minotaur Books for the advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

First of all, this book had a lot of moving parts. There was the story unfolding in the present, a 10-year old mystery, and the backstory of the protagonist.

It was all compelling and it all worked together well, but I wasn’t shocked with the Villian. I knew it from the time the character was introduced. I feel like there could have been a little more surprise there.

Overall this was a great thriller.

This was SO GOOD.
I loved the premise of the story - a bachelorette party gone wrong (putting it mildly).
The build up to the twists had me gripping the edge of my seat!

Suspenseful and chilling, this novel masterfully weaves friendship, mystery, and dark secrets into a gripping tale. Tessa’s obsession with the unsolved disappearance of four women takes her on a dangerous journey, blending the eerie tension of a true-crime podcast with the chilling atmosphere of a remote island. With twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, it’s a thrilling ride from start to finish.

The Bachelorette Party totally pulled me in. I went in thinking it would just be a fun, wild weekend kind of story, but it turned out to be way more intense—and I mean that in a good way. I liked how the tension slowly built up, and I kept trying to figure out what was really going on. The setting was super creepy in the best way, and the characters felt real, like people you’ve actually been on awkward trips with. I couldn’t stop turning the pages because I had to know how it was all going to end.

First, my thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel.

The Bachelorette Party had a premise that immediately intrigued me: a remote island, a mysterious disappearance, and the promise of a locked-room style thriller. From the outset, I was excited—this setup had all the ingredients for a compelling, suspenseful narrative. And indeed, the author does an admirable job building an atmosphere of dread and unease; the isolation and growing paranoia among the characters were palpable.

However, while the initial chapters drew me in, the story’s momentum faltered as it progressed. The pacing felt uneven, with the first half moving quite slowly before picking up somewhat in the latter portion. Unfortunately, by that point, some of the tension had already dissipated. I also found the plot to be a bit convoluted, with multiple timelines and a large cast of characters that at times made the narrative difficult to follow. The past timeline, in particular, felt disjointed and detracted from the forward motion of the present-day storyline.

In terms of plot twists, I found many of them predictable, and as a result, the sense of surprise and urgency was diminished. A key disappointment for me was the introduction of a significant character very late in the story—this felt abrupt and undermined the payoff of earlier developments. The ending itself struck an odd balance of being both over-the-top and underwhelming, leaving me more puzzled than satisfied.

That said, I believe this book could appeal to readers who are newer to the thriller genre or those looking for a light, entertaining mystery rather than a tightly plotted, high-stakes suspense novel. It’s the kind of story that might be enjoyable on a relaxing afternoon, provided you’re not looking to scrutinize every narrative choice too closely.

In sum, while The Bachelorette Party had a strong premise and atmospheric moments, the execution didn’t fully deliver on its potential.

I am a big fan of Camilla Sten and all her other novels. I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Bachelorette Party' even though this one was a slower pace. The twist at the end was well worth the read as well as the seamless timelines.. Missing friends, a true crime podcast, isolation and a cold case, yes please!!! I definitely recommend to anyone who loves eerie island vibes.
Big thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the early, free book to review!

I am apparently a sucker for a 'stranded' thriller lately. The cast of characters brought together in this book were all perfectly placed. Each woman who joined this bachelorette trip were simultaneously easy to empathize with and slightly unlikeable.

We meet Tessa at one of the lowest points of here life, when her career is in disarray, but her childhood friend is getting married and she can't miss the bachelorette party, especially when it is being hosted on a remote island, where she believes 4 friends went missing 10 years prior. As a true crime podcaster, this feels like the perfect opportunity to look into this cold case, especially since the owner of the hotel is the sister of one of the cold case victims.

As in any great thriller, things go a bit sideways and the author leaves just enough breadcrumbs to make you think you know what is going to happen. I very much enjoyed getting to read The Bachelorette Party early with Net Galley and look forward to more from Camilla Sten.

"The Bachelorette Party" transforms a tiny island into psychological quicksand—every step deeper pulls you further from safety, every wave crashing against the rocky shore reminds you there's nowhere to run. This isolation is the perfect pressure cooker for secrets that have simmered for years.

The prologue hits like a sledgehammer. Four bodies, one massacre, zero explanation. Sten doesn't just dangle the mystery; she slams it down and dares you not to keep reading. Who were these people? What invisible threads connected them to their killer? The structure—alternating between past and present through tight, urgent chapters—creates a relentless momentum that mirrors the rising tide around the island.

At the center stands Tessa, whose character contains the book's most fascinating contradiction. Her crime podcast gives her a public voice of authority while privately, confidence eludes her completely. The guilt she carries creates a gravitational pull on her every interaction, distorting her relationships and judgments. Her hidden agenda for attending her sister's celebration makes you question not just her reliability, but everyone's.

While Sten's previous novels deliver more believable motivations, the vengeance plot here stretches credulity despite its meticulous construction. The "why" behind the bloodshed feels disproportionate to its horrific execution.

Still, the pages practically turn themselves. For psychological suspense "The Bachelorette Party" delivers an atmospheric, unsettling reading experience that's worth accepting the invitation.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the free books for review.

I really enjoyed this book. I’m a big fan of Camilla Sten’s other books. This book was a little bit of a slower pace but I enjoyed the crazy twist at the end. The MC did get on my nerves but I was interested in the story enough to not care.

This is the first I’ve read by Camila Sten. 3 star thriller. Good story, kept me pretty interested. Was not a fan of the ending, it was a little too much, and kind of predictable. The story was seamless with the timelines, so I appreciate that.

I’ve been on my fair share of bachelorette parties, so I was immediately intrigued by The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten.

Tessa’s podcast used to be a big deal, especially when she covered Sweden’s most haunting unsolved cases. But when four childhood friends vanished without a trace, she never found the answers and the story stuck with her. Years later, her best friend's bachelorette party just happens to be on an island that feels a little too familiar. Tessa sees one last shot at uncovering what really happened.

The setup had me hooked and I loved the eerie island vibes (I'm also always a sucker for a thriller with a podcast tie-in). Early on, I had a tough time keeping track of who was who, and I didn’t totally click with the characters. Even so, the tension builds nicely and the twists land well.

Overall, a solid 3 stars. I enjoyed the ride and would recommend it to anyone who loves atmospheric popcorn thrillers.

3.5 stars.

This was my first book by Camilla Sten, and I enjoyed it. I personally do not like books with dual timelines and a large cast of characters because it makes me go back to certain points in the book to remind myself of certain things.

I love locked room mysteries, and yoga retreat on a remote island is the perfect setting. Although I was able to guess the twist pretty early, do not let it deter you from picking this one up. I read A LOT of thrillers and mysteries and it's pretty difficult to fool me at this point.

Secret islands. Vanished friends. Yoga retreats with way more blood than bliss. Camilla Sten’s The Bachelorette Party delivers a chilling blend of The Guest List and Scream; a remote-island thriller where secrets don’t stay buried and true crime obsession comes with deadly consequences. 😱

I flew through this one. It’s twisty, atmospheric, and the dual timelines kept me hooked. The setup is genius: a glamorous bachelorette trip to a suspiciously familiar island gives a failing podcaster her last shot at solving an unsolved disappearance. Sten knows how to build suspense, and the eerie, isolated vibes? Chef’s kiss. 🌫️🌊

That said, a few characters blurred together for me, and I wanted a little more emotional punch behind the reveals. Still, the final act delivered on drama and left me thinking twice about any future yoga retreats. 🧘‍♀️🔪

This book hooked me right from the beginning! I loved the two different story lines and I was invested in both of them equally. With so many characters it was difficult to keep track of everyone at first but it got easier towards the end. This was a great popcorn thriller read and the ending did not disappoint. It also has an absolutely beautiful cover!

Overall a great read and would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A bachelorette party is being held on an island where ten years earlier four friends who had gone on an overnight trip to the same island were brutally murdered. There are similarities between the two groups and the woman who has built the hotel on the island is the sister of one of the four friends that were brutally murdered. The rumor was that they were drunk and took a boat out which capsized and they all drowned, but her sister knew that wasn’t true and was determined to get the bachelorette to admit the truth and set things right or at least get revenge.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and leave this review voluntarily.

2.5⭐️

“Sometimes there’s no such thing as okay. Sometimes all there is, is good enough.”

Reading the blurb for this book I thought it was going to be different but the plot twist just really fell flat for me. I feel like there was a lot going on that I had to start taking notes of who all the characters were and how they were related. There were a lot of unnecessary details in the book like the emails, text messages, blog post that just really didn’t need to be there. Overall, it was an interesting enough story to hold my attention but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for my ARC of "The Bachelorette Party" by Camilla Sten. I have loved other books by Camilla but this one did not do it for me unfortunately. I kept picking it up and giving it another try and it could not keep my interest. I didn't like the characters and the bouncing back and forth in timelines was kind of confusing.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have for Sten's other books. The ending was too obvious and dramatic for my taste, and I wasn't interested in the characters. I still look forward to reading whatever Sten has planned for her next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy.