Started off with a bang and I loved the cover but I guess it was too slow and caddy for me. These grown women were just too much for me. Plus Holly’s job title and what she did was a little confusing. Was she a detective or a scientist looking at scenes? The book made it seem like she was almost a cop but sometimes I don’t think she followed rules for getting evidence. I also didn’t like all the changes in the point of views. I did appreciate the shorter chapters.

So this is how the other half lives. A peek into the world of the super rich and famous through a kidnapping, a wedding on an exclusive island, and several mysterious deaths. The story could be right from the National Enquirer. It's addicting. A perfect beach read.

Although I ended up guessing pretty early on some of what was going on, I did find myself thrilled to know I hadn't uncovered every single twist to the story. This still managed to keep me on my toes and, of course, eagerly turning the pages. I really adored Holly and her personality alone, which made all the others more bearable.

Overall, this was a fun thriller, perfect for summer.

The Bridesmaid by Cate Quinn is slated to be released on November 4th. This was a good thriller that I highly recommend everyone to add to their TBR. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book and provide a review.

This is my first experience with this author and while I always enjoy shifting pov’s, this book left me slightly underwhelmed. There is definitely a need for more character development (Mark for one) and to dive deeper into some of the secrets mentioned throughout the story and getting a broader picture of Adrianna. I also think this novel would do well with a wrap up pov from Adrianna to give more into her “ending” of the story. Overall, recommend as a quick and easy follow along read.

A multi POV thriller taking place at a high profile wedding on a private island!
If that sounds like something you would like then this book is defiantly worth a read.

This is the second book I have read my Cate Quinn and I am falling for her writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the free eARC.

The Bridesmaid by Cate Quinn, was an extravagant, fast paced thriller. I haven’t read any who done it thrillers that also gave Gossip Girl vibes, mixed with boarding school mystery before. The ending felt both a bit predictable, and also slightly disappointing. I feel like there were some story lines set up that were meant to distract, but didn’t feel completed to me. The rough bones of the story are good, but I feel like need further refinement. I also can’t say I liked reading from any of the characters perspectives. They all felt juvenile and lacking in much personality.

While the story wasn’t for me, I did enjoy reading about the setting of Elysium (the island). I always felt like I had a good visual while reading, and could easily see this book playing out as a tv show.

3.5⭐️

The part of this book was super interesting, and very easy to follow. The short chapters added to the enjoyment of reading this book, because you were able to see the story through many different points of you, without any of them feeling too drawn out.

With complete transparency, I think the main detective (Holly) was almost too quirky, like it was trying too hard to make her stand out from the rest.

This book sort of read like a version of Knives Out, which is why it’s not a four star for me. The unraveling of everything almost had a sense of comedy to it, and I’m not sure if that was intended or not.

When a bridesmaid is murdered, forensic attorney Holly Stone finds herself suiting up for an unusual task to help find the killer. In order to find the killer she must go undercover as the fill-in bridesmaid. It's a job that Holly finds herself not really cut-out for, but knows that with a little charm she might just be able to work her way into their graces of the group and get one step closer to finding the killer.

The Bridesmaid is an engaging and action-packed page-turner that is certain to keep you flying through the pages. Nothing is more captivating than the secret lives of the rich and famous, and our heroine is going undercover amongst them to discover all the secrets they never want to see the light of day. But it's not going to be an easy job as the bride has already decided she doesn't like Holly and insists on making her miserable every chance she gets. With a killer on the loose and no idea who it is Holly finds herself playing a very dangerous game... one she is determined to win!

I enjoyed this one, it had all the makings of a perfect suspenseful escape, one that kept me captivated all the way through! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

What would the wedding of the year be without some murderous intrigue ? In this book, we open on the week of an influencer’s opulent wedding only to discover on of the bridesmaids has been murdered. If that wasn’t scary enough, the murder has been weather to mimic the unsolved kidnapping the bride escaped three years earlier, striking fear into the hearts of family and friends that the kidnapper has returned to finish the job. Throw in a mobster father with a conniving mistress, NYPD and a quirky forensics expert determined to get to the bottom of this and you’ve got a recipe for a wedding you won’t easily forget. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Adrianna is going to get the wedding of the decade and won't let anything, or anyone get in her way, even when one of her bridesmaids is killed.

Holly, a forensic lawyer, is the replacement bridesmaid for the destination wedding. Will she uncover the deadly secrets that the bridesmaids hold before more people are killed? Will Holly be next?

This book started a little slow for my liking, but overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend to other readers.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC copy of The Bridesmaids which releases November, 2025.

I was surprised by some of the lower ratings on this book. It was very easy to get into and it kept ypu guessing up into the end of the book. It was a quick read with short chapters. I would definitely recommend it to others. I enjoyed the authors writing style and will be looking into reading her other novels

on the fence with this one. i love cate quinn’s writing, and the clinic was one of my favorite books, but this one just didn’t hit for me. it wasn’t bad by any means, and the plot twists were unexpected. but where the clinic kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat from start to finish, the bridesmaid didn’t. i think that’s truly just a me problem, because it felt more hollywood drama-filled than mysterious. totally cool, but not my vibe! definitely worth the read nonetheless, & i will be continuing to read every single book cate quinn writes <3

Honestly so good, kept me guessing who was behind everything and on my toes the entire time. At one point I even thought it could be Mark.. I guess I just wish they went a little deeper into what really happened at the school like an epilogue chapter from that time from Silky's point of view.

This was a fun one with multiple POV’s and short chapters so you feel like you’re moving quickly through it.

Holly Stone is a cool, quirky and intelligent forensic scientist with blue hair and skeleton attire. I enjoyed her character and all her fun weirdness. It’s up to her to solve a murder of a famous bridesmaid before the biggest socialite wedding of the year.

It’s a story of deceit and the lengths a family will go to keep their good name. Thanks Net Galley for the arc! It was fun!

This is the second book by Cate that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed her book, "The Clinic" but I cannot say this enough, this is my favorite book by Cate Quinn to date! I could not put this book down! Murder, mystery, suspense, and dark secrets, this book had every element I look for in a thriller. The title and the cover are perfection. The plot was genius and the ending tied up any loose ends you may have. That twist, well, I did not see it coming. I look forward to reading more creations by Cate in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, Cate Quinn, and Sourcebook Landmark for the eArc.

This was a quick read featuring a variety of characters with the main female character being quirky and the most likeable. It is a twisty thriller, and I couldn’t put it down.

After Holly Stone, freelance forensic, discovers that a murdered bridesmaid in an elite wedding is her former mentor, she agrees to be part of the wedding to uncover the killer. Holly’s goth appearance is jarring to the bridal family and their associates who are all extremely wealthy. Added into the mix is a former college rival, now a detective.

I liked the New York City setting which includes the Plaza and other elite places. There is also a private island off the coast of Columbia. I also thought the way that Holly and her nemesis begin to respect and care for each other as they unravel clues as well as the mystery itself was well written. However, because there are multiple POVs, often with unlikeable characters, sometimes the pacing felt off.

Still, this is an intriguing glimpse into wealthy lifestyles and a satisfying mystery.

The Bridesmaid by Cate Quinn
This was a miss for me. The writing felt choppy, with no real flow, and worst of all—it was just boring. I can deal with the ridiculous idea of someone doing “freelance forensics” (what even is that?), but if the story doesn’t hold my attention, I’m out. Not one I’d recommend.

I was excited for thr premise, however there were just so many female characters to keep straight and I didn't connect with any of them.

There were things I really liked about this book: short chapters, multiple settings, the detective/forensics woman was unique, the cover was goooooorgeous.

But it did move slowly and didn’t set up the past with very much information, which is kind of important to the story. It comes off as vague and you’re left to fill in the blanks. There are multiple POV, which I didn’t struggle with in this case but sometimes the story gave me whiplash because of it.

I don’t love being in the world of the rich and spoiled, particularly in this book but there were some enjoyable parts to this book overall.

Read this if:
👰🏼‍♀️you enjoy twisty thrillers with multiple POV
👰🏽‍♀️you want multiple settings (NYC 🏙️ , private tropical island 🏝️)
👰🏻‍♀️you like police/lawyer books with a different than your average detective

Thank you Cate Quinn, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.