This was… good. I was very confused for the first like 3rd of the book. I had to restart it twice and was still a little bit confused and idk if I’m stupid or what. But then ending was good. I called it for sure but that’s fine. I like how it wrapped up. It wasn’t my favorite thriller but since it’s not normally my genre.. it was good. I would probably closer rate it to a 3.25 or 3.5 rather than 3 but overall it was good.

First of all, this cover is bang, boom, pop. Looooooove.

I loved the dual timeline and I am always down for a locked room mystery! What the heck happened to these four women? Tessa was determined to find out what happened to these unlikable besauches and well, it's really fun.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy. It's my pleasure to write an honest review!

2.5⭐️
This book started off strong and then lost steam about halfway through. The plot became increasingly more unbelievable from that point. The repetitive plot lines and gore at the end of the book were not my favorite either.

I’ve never read anything by Camilla Sten before, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This story is told from two different timelines, 2012 and 2022. Two sets of friends visit an island 10 years apart. This book had me on the edge of my seat as it gives a “horror movie” vibe.

If you like thrillers and slasher plots, add this to your TBR.

~Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this Advanced Reader’s Copy. The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten will be published June 10, 2025

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Bachelorette Party, by Camilla Sten, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

I swear I thought I’d read books by Camilla Sten, but I reckon I was getting her confused with Camilla Läckberg. (Is it a requirement that one be named Camilla if one is a Swedish female author of crime fiction?)

That aside, this was a very good book, and makes me want to read more by Ms Sten.

I just wish I were better at articulating what makes a mystery very good vs OK or spectacular. I told my husband when I finished this book that it was a combination of the energy and believability, I think….not too convoluted-y, gives one a fighting chance at figuring out the criminal/s, characters interact like regular human beings for the most part….

“It’s an art,” he said.

It is indeed.

DESCRIPTION
Most Anticipated by Goodreads

Scream meets The Guest List in this wickedly compelling and compulsively page-turning thriller of friendship and murder from the author of The Lost Village, Camilla Sten.

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. One night of reckless fun and secret-sharing, and then they return to their normal lives.

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. The idea is to drink gallons of cava, do sunrise yoga, and get in their last chance to bond with the bride. Tessa will not pass this up. It’s her last chance to find out what happened to the four women, once and for all.

And it’s someone else’s last chance to get revenge.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

There were so many characters that it was hard to keep up with who was who. The timelines jumped from past to present, which also led to more confusion. Ultimately, it led to me choosing to DNF this book at 11%. I was constantly having to go back and reread the previous page to hopefully understand what was going on. This could just be a me thing. I do see how people will end up loving this book.

i tired so hard to listen to this but just couldn't push myself to suffer through this.

thankful i got the audio arc

4.5 ⭐️

[i received this advanced reader copy via netgalley in return for my honest review]

This was my first book by this author and i was blown away! Fantastic thriller. I went in pretty blindly and was immediately intrigued. The first chapter literally got pulled me right in and this book kept my attention the entire time. Addicting & full of plot twists! I thought i had it pretty figured out but i definitely did not LOL i stayed up late tonight finishing it because i had to know how it ended. I thought it tied together really well! Great read

2.75 ⭐️ rounded up.

While the author does a good job of building the setting of the story well, the actual plot feels very jumpy from one point to the next. There are attempts at creating a jump scare moment where you feel the crescendo, but it gets hung up at the turning point.

The twist was somewhat predictable, minus the extra layers of it. While you can see some things coming, there are bonus bits that come out of the field, which I do feel helped wrap up the ending a bit.

I guess I somewhat don't understand why Irene wanted to build this lush relaxing resort on the island where her sister disappeared in the first place when she clearly was distraught by it. This whole story could have taken place in an entirely different location, and it wouldn't really have made a difference to the overall plot.

I do also feel this one got quite a bit gory for a thriller.

I really enjoyed The Lost Village by Sten and was sooo looking forward to this one. The Bachelorette Party is a quick and twisty thriller, asking the reader to suspend quite a bit of disbelief. Ultimately though, this one packs a punch and I enjoyed the journey from start to finish.

I loved the scorned podcaster MC in this one and the cattiness and deception of some of the other girls. Having just been on a bachelorette recently - can confirm that they feel a bit “murder-y” at times - LOL.

Check this one out if you love thrillers, islands, bachelorette parties, and multiple timelines!!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the eARC of this wild title!**

So many great elements in this thriller! I really enjoyed reading it. Can’t wait for more people to read it so I can yap about it.

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten had all the ingredients I enjoy in a thriller: a remote island, a long-unsolved mystery, and a group of people who aren’t quite as safe as they think they are. The concept was intriguing, especially the idea of a hidden island that only a few people know about, and the dual timelines kept the pace moving.

That said, while the setup was compelling, the execution didn’t completely wow me. The twist was fairly easy to spot early on, and I never really connected with the characters. They felt a bit flat or hard to root for. Still, the atmosphere was great and the story kept me turning the pages.

If you like locked-door mysteries or thrillers set in isolated locations, this one is definitely worth a read. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s an entertaining escape with just enough suspense to keep you hooked.

Four childhood friends meet annually on a remote Swedish island for a night of fun and secrecy. Ten years later, true crime podcaster Tessa is obsessed with their disappearance. When her best friend plans a bachelorette party on a similar island, Tessa sees it as her last chance to uncover the truth. But someone else has revenge in mind.

I recently discovered this author, and let me tell you, this book was like diving headfirst into a suspenseful mystery. The writing style was refreshingly different - you knew what was happening, but the how and why kept you on the edge of your seat. The pace was just right, with enough detail to keep you hooked without overwhelming you.

We meet a cast of characters, from Tilly, Anna, Linnea, and Evelina to Lena, Minna, Mikaela, Natalie, and our main gal Tessa. The diverse personalities added layers of drama and intrigue to the story. Some characters were a bit tough to warm up to, but Tessa was a gem - likable and totally underestimated.

Now, I know what you're thinking - that's a lot of characters to keep track of. But fear not, it's all handled with finesse. The plot builds up beautifully, but I have to admit, the ending fell a bit flat for me. I was expecting one more twist to really knock my socks off.

The back-and-forth timeline kept things interesting, and while some parts were predictable, it was still a solid murder mystery read. The vivid descriptions of the environment made me feel like I was right there with the characters - it was truly an experience to remember.

I opted for the audiobook, and let me tell you, it was a fantastic listen. It added an extra layer of intrigue, especially during the longer parts. If you're into secluded island murder mysteries, soap operas, short chapters, or beautifully described scenery, this book is must-read. It's the perfect summer read for a rainy day - you'll breeze through it in no time.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Camilla Sten’s “The Bachelorette Party” is the first book I read from her. Set on a remote island off the coast of Sweden, it flips between May 2012 and April 2022 for most of the book.

For May 2012, the reader is introduced to four friends, Tilly, Anna, Linnea and Evelina, who have been meeting at the island for years. The island belongs to Anna’s family so they have it all to themselves. All four friends disappeared and authorities investigated, but concluded they had accidentally drowned.

For April 2022, we have a Bachelorette Party arriving on the same island to a newly finished yoga retreat called Baltic Vinyasa. The Bachelorette Party consists of six women. Tessa, her sister, Lena, her best friend and bride-to-be, Anneliese, the maid of honor, Mikaela, as well as Natalie and Caroline.

This novel is a locked-room mystery that began with May 2012 and ended in April 2022. The May 2012 parts are told from Tilly’s point of view and Tessa’s the narrator for the April 2022 events. Tessa has long wondered what happened to Tilly, Anna, Linnea, and Evelina. She agreed to come on the trip because she recognized the location. She also sees it as an opportunity to resurrect her career and podcast after a tragedy occurred about nine months earlier.

There was a nice flow to the author’s writing style and the chapters were relatively on the short side. I wasn’t particularly surprised by most of the twists, but that’s probably due to me reading a lot of mysteries and thrillers. I will say there is a line towards the end by one of the Bachelorette Party attendees that made me laugh. The attendee in question makes a comment, during an action-packed part of the book, that refers to something she mentioned at the beginning of the book, when the reader’s still getting to know each of the women.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

First, this cover is GORGEOUS! 🫶🏼
This was a fun, twisty “locked room” type thriller!
Locked away at a fancy wellness resort for The Bachelorette Party…it seems everyone has a secret,
Told from the POV of Tessa, who has her own demons….the isle is home to a decades old missing person case when 4 BFF’s go missing on thier yearly trip together.
I listened to this audio & it was great! Narrator did a fab job. The story was fun too…I felt the final twist was a little lackluster & kinda came from no where but over all this was fun thriller!
3.5/5 rounded up for NetGalley

I did not finish this book. The characters are not relatable, I don't care about the characters or the problem. I love lock room mysteries, and this one is not the best for me.

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Stern was an entertaining read, especially with its two storylines for Tessa. It was fast-paced and a very easy read. Tessa’s storyline pulled me in, and I really wanted to know the scandal that has ruined her life. We get bits and pieces of these as the story progresses, and that really kept me turning the pages. I wanted some more there with that and wish it tied in with the other main piece of the story line.
The main piece of the storyline.. the mystery of the Nacka Four. Tessa goes to this island for her childhood friend’s bachelorette party. Which this was weird to me because even this soon to be bride didn’t call her the name she goes by now, so how close are they for her to be in a wedding?! Then Tessa’s sister is in the wedding too, but they never all hung out together.. Weird. But anyways. Tessa wants to also go to this island to try to figure out the Nacka Four mystery- what happened to these four women ten years earlier that supposedly just “disappeared”. I didn’t expect the twist there with that mystery, and I did like that.
Overall, I think that the characters together aren’t really “friends” and don’t really know each other, so it was weird it was a bachelorette party. I wish the two story lines intertwined better and Tessa’s had more to it. The Nacka Four and what happened to them was interesting to me and that is what kept me reading.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"The Bachelorette Party" by Camilla Sten is a gripping psychological thriller.

Sten masterfully crafts a narrative that delves into the complexities of friendship, trust, and the dark shadows that can lurk behind even the most joyous occasions.

The story revolves around a bachelorette party gone horribly wrong, set in an isolated cabin in the woods. What starts as a celebration quickly turns into a nightmare as secrets are revealed, and the bonds between friends are tested to their limits. The claustrophobic setting adds to the tension, making every page a nail-biting experience.

Sten's characters are vividly drawn and feel incredibly real. Each woman at the party brings her own baggage, and as their pasts intertwine with the present, the layers of their relationships are peeled back to reveal hidden truths. The protagonist's journey is particularly compelling, as she grapples with her own fears and insecurities while trying to survive the unfolding chaos.

The pacing of the novel is expertly handled, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Sten's prose is evocative and precise, creating a sense of impending doom that permeates the entire story. The use of multiple perspectives adds depth to the narrative, allowing the reader to see the events from different angles and increasing the overall sense of unease.

"The Bachelorette Party" explores the theme of trust; Sten delves into how fragile trust can be, especially among friends who have known each other for years. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about how well we know the people closest to us and what happens when that trust is broken.

"The Bachelorette Party" is a chilling and atmospheric thriller that will keep you captivated.

Camilla Sten has crafted psychologically complex must-read story for fans of the genre. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Camilla Sten and The Bachelorette Party didn’t disappoint. There are some plot holes and convenient twists and maybe a bit of predictability, but I loved the isolated-closed-circle mystery and the two groups of women enjoying their time on the island. This book felt suspenseful and creepy- probably my favorite thing about sten’s books is her ability to build an atmosphere.
I felt like the mindfullness and wellness aspects of the current day bachelorette party retreat were a very with the times touch and all the podcast details were really spot on for the popularity of truecrime and the moral implications of covering it.
There was some real depth in the examination of sexual identity that I, as a bisexual lady myself, truly appreciated.
This book it’s necessarily shopping but it’s certainly gripping and it’ll make an excellent beach read that I’ll be recommending all summer.

Tessa is a character you love to route for… while faced with good intentions she’s crashed and burned her own life and while faking it through life for the benefit of others your seeing her unravel a natural mystery as it unfolds and she has no way to stop herself from uncovering the truth. As Tessa digs deeper into the past the current timeline starts to unravel and spin that you have no idea who’s the real villain of the story…. I don’t think anyone was shocked that Lies from the past uncover the truth and what really happened all those years ago.