I really like Camilla Sten’s writing, so when I received this digital copy I became really excited. It’s a fun popcorn thriller for the summer. It kept me curious and wanting to know everything all at once. Wasn’t my favorite book of hers, but still enjoyable! Thank you Camilla Sten, NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this digital copy.

This was what people call a “popcorn thriller”. It really wasn’t that deep, characters weren’t developed. I really wanted to get into this one, but it just didn’t hold my attention. The concept sounded super promising, but for whatever reason, it wasn’t clicking with me. Maybe it was just the wrong book at the wrong time.

This was a fun, easy to read, thriller. It was a little slow at some points but, overall, it was a decent read. I will say though, there seemed to have been a lot of trauma and resentment with these gals, geesh.

I think this thriller was ultimately disappointing because there really wasn’t much mystery about it. The plot twists were pretty obvious. It also felt a little unfinished to me so I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought I would from the really good concept.

First of all, I expected a different kind of plot twist. Since the beginning, the timeline jumps were a bit confusing, I keep questioning myself "who's who??" "When exactly am I?"
The writing itself was good, no complaints. However, I think that the essence of the FMC was a little frustrating some times. How can she think she can solve an unsolved case just for being obsessed with True Crime Podcasts??? A little delulu.
I have to give Camilla a hugh applause👏🏽 because I Was sure how was behind everything, but I hesitated!!!! For a second, I hesitated, you had me there. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Last but not least...
A huge Thank You to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy.🙏🏽

The Bachelorette Party is the kind of thriller that keeps you reading way too late. The story blends psychological suspense with the eerie atmosphere of a remote villa on a private island, making the setting feel like a character of its own but what I appreciated most was how Sten captured the messy dynamics of female friendships, especially the way resentment and unspoken history can quietly simmer beneath the surface.

The Bachelorette Party gave me exactly what I went in expecting. Was it entertaining and enjoyable while consuming? Yes. Will it be easily forgotten because there was nothing that stood out too much? Also yes.

This fictional novel is a fast-paced thriller that takes place in a remote island where five women are meeting to celebrate a bachelorette party. The main character Tessa, who used to host her own true crime podcast, is hesitant on attending the party, but is also very curious to find out more about the murder that took place on the same island 10 years prior. This is a dual-timeline novel that interchanges between the current plot in 2022 and what happened in 2012. Overall, I felt that the book was an easy read and it did capture my attention such that I was able to finish the book in two days. The character development was not too complicated so about half way through the book, I had my hunch about who the antagonist was going to be; however, it did not deter me from finishing the book. If a reader is looking for a quick beach read, then this would certainly do the trick.

I am thankful for St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read an advanced reader version for an honest review.

I started this one on the tail end of my vacation and it was just what I needed to get me back home. (Also, the bouquet pictured is made of crepe paper and my actual wedding bouquet!)

What I thought: I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would! I wasn’t a big fan of Tessa at first. I didn’t like some of the choices she made at first, but by the end of the book I liked her. She grew as a character and had a great character arch.

My favorite part was definitely *that* death at the end. Even though I knew it was likely to happen, the actual act of it shocked me. It was just right there in your face while all the others weren’t. That made me bump this rating up a star.

Was this super original? No. Are there other books out there that does a similar plot better? Yes. But all that said, I still enjoyed it!

Read if you like: The Midnight Feast and She Started It
Series or standalone? Standalone
Would I recommend?: yes, if you want a good vacation thriller

Star rating: 4 stars

I give this book a solid three stars. It wasn't my favorite, but I wanted to finish it and see out the ending. It blended the past mystery with the current mystery seamlessly. It was easy to follow and did't jump around and lose me throughout. It was fast paced and the writing was great. My issue really came in with the ending. It felt a bit drawn out and dramatic. I wasn't quite as shocked by some of the characters as I thought I would be, or hoped I would be. Overall a decent book, but not a top recommendation from me.

Disgraced true-crime podcaster Tessa Nilsson joins her best friend Anneliese’s bachelorette party at a luxury yoga retreat on a remote Swedish island, which was the site of a decade-old mystery involving four missing women. What begins as a relaxing weekend quickly spirals into a tense, locked-room psychological thriller.

I usually enjoy Camilla Sten’s atmospheric novels, and while I thought this one might be a shift, it still leaned into her traditional style. The parallels between the retreat and the missing persons case were compelling, but Tessa’s tunnel vision about the killer was obvious early on. The story took a sharp turn around the 75% mark that felt a bit chaotic. Not my favorite from Sten, but still a fast-paced, suspenseful read.

The Bachelorette Party hooked me with its unique premise—a remote island, a mysterious disappearance, and the allure of a locked-room thriller. It had all the right elements for a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat read. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the promise.

The pacing felt uneven; the first half dragged, and while the plot did pick up eventually, I struggled to stay fully engaged. I found it difficult to connect with the characters—not because I disliked them, but because none of them really stood out or drew me in emotionally. There were so many characters and timelines that it became a bit confusing to keep track. The dual timeline, especially the past one, often felt like a distraction and didn’t add much to the overall story.

Despite these issues, the premise remains a strong point. I just wish the delivery had been tighter and more focused to truly bring the suspense to life.

This book was WILD! The Bachelorette Party had all the drama, twists, and suspense I love in a thriller. Super creepy and so hard to put down! I flew through it. Totally recommend if you’re into dark, twisty reads!

This one was dark, twisty, and totally bingeable. Ten years after four women vanish without a trace on a remote Swedish island, true crime podcaster Tessa returns to that same place for her best friend’s bachelorette party—and can’t help digging into what really happened. The dual timeline adds tension, the setting is perfectly eerie, and while I saw the killer coming, I was still hooked trying to figure out the motive. Some of the characters are messy and not exactly easy to like, but that made it even more entertaining. A little dramatic? Sure. But I was fully in.

I’m honestly a little torn on this one. This book had a lot going for it: an eerie island setting, a years-old unsolved mystery, a locked-room vibe, and a true crime podcast angle. All elements I usually love. But the execution didn’t fully land for me.

The prologue was quite long and dragged a bit, and right from the start there were so many characters introduced at once. I found myself flipping back multiple times to figure out who was who because they just weren’t distinct enough to stand out on their own.

That said, I did enjoy the dual timelines. The past and present mysteries wove together in an intriguing way, and I liked how the modern storyline tried to dig into the old case. Tessa’s obsession with the disappearance of the four friends added tension, and the parallels between the bachelorette party and the earlier tragedy gave the plot some eerie symmetry.

I also appreciated the familial elements, even if they weren’t the central focus. Unfortunately, the ending didn’t quite stick the landing for me. The buildup created a sense that something big and shocking was coming, but when the resolution hit, it felt a little too neat and quick. I wanted a bit more punch, more danger, more twists, more emotion.

Still, the book was a fast read and kept me turning pages. If you like atmospheric mysteries with an island setting and a podcast hook, this might work better for you. I just wish it had gone a little deeper and packed more of a thrill.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Minotaur Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I actually really enjoyed this!
I liked that it took place in Sweden. I always enjoy when a book takes place in another country!
At first, I found the FMC a little annoying and unlikaeble. Towards the end, I feel like she showed growth.
I liked all of the other characters as well.
I had a feeling who the bad person was, but I wasn't expecting the twist on who had killed the original girls.
I also like the island location for thrillers. It gives an added touch of suspense.
This was such a thrilling book, and I couldn't put it down!
I definitely recommend it!

The Bachelorette Party is a gripping psychological thriller that delivers suspense, unexpected twists, and deeply layered characters. From the very beginning, I was hooked by the intensity and drama woven into the plot. The author does an excellent job developing each character—every personality felt authentic, and their motivations added to the slow-building tension.

Just when I thought I had the storyline figured out, I was hit with another twist that I absolutely did not see coming. While I was proud to catch a few clues along the way, the final reveal still managed to surprise me—which is exactly what I look for in a great thriller.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, I would highly recommend The Bachelorette Party. It’s a fast-paced, addictive read that’s perfect for book clubs or a weekend binge.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my copy of THE BACHELORETTE PARTY.

I was so excited to get my hands on the newest Camilla Sten, but this one fell way flat in comparison to her previous books. I just couldn't make myself care about any of these characters and the dual timelines felt like whiplash, but not in a good way. I don't recommend this one.

A bachelorette party on a remote island? Sounds fun… until it turns dark, intense, and seriously creepy.

Ten years ago, four women vanished without a trace on this same island. Now, a group of friends is back for a celebration, and let’s just say… not everything is what it seems.

Our main character, Tessa, begins to sense something isn’t right almost immediately. The island feels off, and the group’s long-standing tensions bubble to the surface fast. The suspense creeps in slowly but steadily, building an unsettling atmosphere that keeps you guessing the entire time.

Told in a dual timeline (which I LOVE), the story moves between past and present so seamlessly. The tension builds with every chapter, and by the end, I was literally speed-reading to find out the truth.

Not all the characters were likeable, and that honestly made it even better. I had a few theories, but the twist still got me. So satisfying!

If you’re a fan of thrillers with dual timelines, intense female friendships, isolated settings, and big reveals, you’ll want to read it.

This thriller was such a fun escape. And that cover? STUNNING.

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress for the e-ARC of this wild ride!

At times I was fully pulled into this book but then there were plot points that completely lost me. I enjoy Sten's books and want to like them more but something just holds me back.