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The Surprise Party
This trip was meant to save our marriage. Instead it will destroy everything…
To celebrate my special birthday, my husband and I have returned to the beautiful Greek island village where we spent our honeymoon. As the boat pulls in to the harbour, I feel hope rise in my heart. The white houses, the blue doors, the brilliant turquoise of the sea, are just as I remember. If two weeks in this paradise won’t fix our marriage, nothing will.
But then the next day a boat arrives, full of my friends and family. My grown-up children jump on to the shore, grinning and holding balloons. My husband beams at me and says, “Surprise!”
I can’t believe it. It was meant to be just the two of us. This was my chance to confess what I’ve been hiding for years, the truth that will change everything.
Now I’m surrounded by all the people I’ve been desperate to escape, all the secrets I’ve been pretending I don’t know. I force a smile on to my face, but inside I want to kill my husband.
But even after my party ended in disaster, I didn’t expect anyone to die…
A completely gripping psychological thriller about the darkness at the heart of a family and how far a mother will go to protect her children that will keep you glued to the pages as you discover twist after twist. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and Lucy Clarke will love The Surprise Party
To celebrate my special birthday, my husband and I have returned to the beautiful Greek island village where we spent our honeymoon. As the boat pulls in to the harbour, I feel hope rise in my heart. The white houses, the blue doors, the brilliant turquoise of the sea, are just as I remember. If two weeks in this paradise won’t fix our marriage, nothing will.
But then the next day a boat arrives, full of my friends and family. My grown-up children jump on to the shore, grinning and holding balloons. My husband beams at me and says, “Surprise!”
I can’t believe it. It was meant to be just the two of us. This was my chance to confess what I’ve been hiding for years, the truth that will change everything.
Now I’m surrounded by all the people I’ve been desperate to escape, all the secrets I’ve been pretending I don’t know. I force a smile on to my face, but inside I want to kill my husband.
But even after my party ended in disaster, I didn’t expect anyone to die…
A completely gripping psychological thriller about the darkness at the heart of a family and how far a mother will go to protect her children that will keep you glued to the pages as you discover twist after twist. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and Lucy Clarke will love The Surprise Party
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2024
1311 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
June 28, 2024
Eve and her husband Will are returning to the place they spent their honeymoon 29 years ago. A holiday in a secluded fishing village on the Crete coast is just what Eve hopes will rekindle their marriage. But first she has a confession to make! A long held secret she needs to divulge.
Poppy is also holidaying in the village. She is angry over her mother's lies and has recently broken up with her cheating boyfriend. Poppy is on a mission and she has it all planned.
Eve's whole family arrives the next day for a surprise party for Eve's 50th birthday. Both Eve and Poppy now need to reassess their plans. When the morning after Eve's surprise party dawns, one guest will be dead.
This book had me hooked right from the gripping prologue where someone is in a life or death situation. This was such a great teaser because I then had to race through the book to see who it was and also how it ended.
A lot of the characters were messed up and honestly I thought the murderer could have been any one of them.
Lots of suspects, accusations, outbursts, unlikeable characters and great twists made The Surprise Party hard to put down. This is a read-in-one-sitting book!
I finished The Surprise Party eager for a follow up book.
Poppy is also holidaying in the village. She is angry over her mother's lies and has recently broken up with her cheating boyfriend. Poppy is on a mission and she has it all planned.
Eve's whole family arrives the next day for a surprise party for Eve's 50th birthday. Both Eve and Poppy now need to reassess their plans. When the morning after Eve's surprise party dawns, one guest will be dead.
This book had me hooked right from the gripping prologue where someone is in a life or death situation. This was such a great teaser because I then had to race through the book to see who it was and also how it ended.
A lot of the characters were messed up and honestly I thought the murderer could have been any one of them.
Lots of suspects, accusations, outbursts, unlikeable characters and great twists made The Surprise Party hard to put down. This is a read-in-one-sitting book!
I finished The Surprise Party eager for a follow up book.
June 7, 2024
This started off okay, but honestly as I kept reading, it just got worse and worse.
Almost every character in this book was written with zero depth to them. They all fell so flat for me, especially Poppy. I feel like the author really could have done so much more with her character.
Speaking of Poppy, she may be a flat character but she is a much better person than me. Absolutely no shot would you catch me working with the police in a foreign country while I am on VACATION for zero pay. Miss me with that bullshit.
I feel like most things were predictable. It was blatantly obvious from about 5% in that Jess and Will were sleeping together. It was very obvious from the first time that Jack is painted as mentally ill that he would be the scapegoat, even though it didn’t really make sense. Why did he confess when he didn’t even do it? Because he’s mentally ill? That’s such lazy writing. You can do better, Julia Crouch.
And speaking of Jack, the way he is portrayed is absolutely horrendous. Most of the time, mental illness does not make you act like that. It’s wrong and cruel to make it seem like mentally ill people are always unhinged.
And let’s talk about the ending. What the fuck? Why is everyone obsessed with Eve? Except her husband 😭
Overall a very weird book. I give it 2.5 stars rounded down.
Thank you to netgalley for this arc.
Almost every character in this book was written with zero depth to them. They all fell so flat for me, especially Poppy. I feel like the author really could have done so much more with her character.
Speaking of Poppy, she may be a flat character but she is a much better person than me. Absolutely no shot would you catch me working with the police in a foreign country while I am on VACATION for zero pay. Miss me with that bullshit.
I feel like most things were predictable. It was blatantly obvious from about 5% in that Jess and Will were sleeping together. It was very obvious from the first time that Jack is painted as mentally ill that he would be the scapegoat, even though it didn’t really make sense. Why did he confess when he didn’t even do it? Because he’s mentally ill? That’s such lazy writing. You can do better, Julia Crouch.
And speaking of Jack, the way he is portrayed is absolutely horrendous. Most of the time, mental illness does not make you act like that. It’s wrong and cruel to make it seem like mentally ill people are always unhinged.
And let’s talk about the ending. What the fuck? Why is everyone obsessed with Eve? Except her husband 😭
Overall a very weird book. I give it 2.5 stars rounded down.
Thank you to netgalley for this arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2024
Based on the novel's description, I was highly anticipating reading The Surprise Party. Unfortunately, the novel didn't meet my expectations. The suspense was barely there, and the plot twists were almost non existant.
The flow of the narrative wasn't close to being exhilarating. And I found the storyline borderline boring. I came pretty close to a DNF, but surprisingly managed to finish the novel.
I didn't care for any of the characters. None of them were noteworthy. Even if they all had their own selfish agendas. And I'm not sure what would have made me like any of them. But I do seem to think that each character could have been fleshed out a tad more since they all seemed to be similar to one another -- nothing distinguished one from the other.
The Surprise Party didn't contain much of a surprise ending as I wasn't stunned at the finale. Two okay stars.
I received a DRC from Bookouture through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
The flow of the narrative wasn't close to being exhilarating. And I found the storyline borderline boring. I came pretty close to a DNF, but surprisingly managed to finish the novel.
I didn't care for any of the characters. None of them were noteworthy. Even if they all had their own selfish agendas. And I'm not sure what would have made me like any of them. But I do seem to think that each character could have been fleshed out a tad more since they all seemed to be similar to one another -- nothing distinguished one from the other.
The Surprise Party didn't contain much of a surprise ending as I wasn't stunned at the finale. Two okay stars.
I received a DRC from Bookouture through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
July 7, 2024
I want to express my gratitude to Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Surprise Party by Julia Crouch.
From the very beginning, I was completely engrossed in the book. Being a lover of Greece, I was immediately intrigued by the setting of the story. The concept of a surprise party is something I adore, and Will goes all out in planning one for his wife Eve's 50th birthday inviting all their family and friends!
Just when things seem to be going well, a murder takes place the morning after the party. As the investigation unfolds, a variety of secrets come to light. While the book starts off at a slower pace, it gradually becomes more intense as deception takes center stage. It contains all the thrilling elements you would expect from a thriller! The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I highly recommend this book to all thriller enthusiasts out there. It's a story that will completely catch you off guard!
From the very beginning, I was completely engrossed in the book. Being a lover of Greece, I was immediately intrigued by the setting of the story. The concept of a surprise party is something I adore, and Will goes all out in planning one for his wife Eve's 50th birthday inviting all their family and friends!
Just when things seem to be going well, a murder takes place the morning after the party. As the investigation unfolds, a variety of secrets come to light. While the book starts off at a slower pace, it gradually becomes more intense as deception takes center stage. It contains all the thrilling elements you would expect from a thriller! The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I highly recommend this book to all thriller enthusiasts out there. It's a story that will completely catch you off guard!
June 21, 2024
Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Be whipped away to an exotic location where secrets, lies and murder are among the every day activities.
The Surprise Party is my first reading time with popular author Julia Crouch and now I’m ready for more.
Eve and her husband Will arrive in Greece to celebrate her 50th birthday.
What she doesn’t know is Will has organised a surprise party.
Friends and family arrive to help with the soirée.
Poppy, a mysterious stranger holidaying joins them but has an agenda.
But before the sun can rise, a murder takes place.
Who is telling the truth….
Who is lying….
And who murdered the victim…..
An enjoyable, tension filled domestic thriller drama with an atmosphere of dark and a twist or two and a very satisfying ending.
Compelling plot, sharp characters and taut setting proving that Julia has what it takes to drag the reader into her story.
Play armchair detective and guess the outcome from your own experience.
Be whipped away to an exotic location where secrets, lies and murder are among the every day activities.
The Surprise Party is my first reading time with popular author Julia Crouch and now I’m ready for more.
Eve and her husband Will arrive in Greece to celebrate her 50th birthday.
What she doesn’t know is Will has organised a surprise party.
Friends and family arrive to help with the soirée.
Poppy, a mysterious stranger holidaying joins them but has an agenda.
But before the sun can rise, a murder takes place.
Who is telling the truth….
Who is lying….
And who murdered the victim…..
An enjoyable, tension filled domestic thriller drama with an atmosphere of dark and a twist or two and a very satisfying ending.
Compelling plot, sharp characters and taut setting proving that Julia has what it takes to drag the reader into her story.
Play armchair detective and guess the outcome from your own experience.
June 8, 2024
4🌟!! WOW. That was so much fun. I loved the Greece setting it made me so jealous I wish I was there right now. I feel SO BAD for Eve. Like literally EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN HER LIFE has been lying to her in one way or another apart from maybe her mum and sister 😭😭😭. And there was a lot of people involved in this story so that is a LOT of people lying to her. Bro the plot twist had me GAGGED. Like sorry???? But then the OTHER PLOT TWIST AT THE VERY END??????!!??!!???! I am actually unwell. That was CRAZY. I wish Eve all my love honestly. Everyone needs to read this it is insane. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Julia Crouch for blessing me with this ARC!!!
May 25, 2024
Eve arrives at a small Greek island to celebrate her birthday with her husband. She is hoping it will be just the two of them so she can finally reveal a secret she’s been hiding, therefore is shocked when all her family arrive as a surprise. Soon the holiday turns much more disastrous than any of them could imagine.
I read my first Julia Crouch book recently with her collaboration with M.J. Arlidge and as I really enjoyed it I was keen to read one of her solo novels. I was not disappointed. You really get a feel for the atmosphere and the characters by the writing style, although some of the characters were fairly unlikeable, and I enjoyed the fact the story was told in two different voices, which helped to add extra interest. I found the general storyline engaging and felt I needed to keep reading as I had to find out what happened next, discovering the next twist or turn.
The story starts off fairly slowly with the action not happening until the half way point. It was from the half way point that I found myself more hooked and intrigued. I found some phrases were slightly repetitive and I also hoped that there would be more of a conclusion to certain parts of the story, which I found were left quite open. Apart from the minor niggles, this was a fun, quick mystery thriller and a perfect holiday read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I read my first Julia Crouch book recently with her collaboration with M.J. Arlidge and as I really enjoyed it I was keen to read one of her solo novels. I was not disappointed. You really get a feel for the atmosphere and the characters by the writing style, although some of the characters were fairly unlikeable, and I enjoyed the fact the story was told in two different voices, which helped to add extra interest. I found the general storyline engaging and felt I needed to keep reading as I had to find out what happened next, discovering the next twist or turn.
The story starts off fairly slowly with the action not happening until the half way point. It was from the half way point that I found myself more hooked and intrigued. I found some phrases were slightly repetitive and I also hoped that there would be more of a conclusion to certain parts of the story, which I found were left quite open. Apart from the minor niggles, this was a fun, quick mystery thriller and a perfect holiday read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
June 21, 2024
Set on a sunny Island in Greece , Eve and Will set off to the destination they had their honeymoon 29 years ago , this time they are celebrating Eves 50th birthday. Also holidaying is Poppy, a UK a&e doctor who is travelling alone. It’s clear from the start of the book both Eve and Poppy have secrets they wish to reveal on this trip and this chance encounter gives us opinions of the couple from Poppy and of Poppy from Eve.
Will has surprised Eve inviting her closest family and friends to join them on the island for her celebrations however one person is found murdered the following day. The investigation into the death takes place and secrets are spat out.
I found this quite far fetched, especially the ending, and admit I struggled to finish it, I definitely wasn’t captivated by the read and think it could have been a much shorter book to pack its punch.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for my arc in exchange for my honest review.
June 2, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. Very easy read, instantly sucked me in with the tension and action. The atmosphere is very well done too. I could feel it right when I started reading it. We follow 2 pov’s from Eve and Poppy although I would have liked the chapters named when we changed POV’s but it’s not too hard to follow and we are introduced to so many characters it’s kinda hard to keep up with all of them throughout the book but we only have Poppy’s and Eve’s POVs.
Eve goes on a trip with her husband to the same Greek island they visited on their honeymoon 29 years ago and wants to rekindle their romance and share a secret she’s dying to tell Will. Poppy is on a well needed vacation trying to enjoy herself and after a dinner together with Will and Eve, Will invites Poppy to Eve’s birthday party the following night.
The night of the party things take a turn. Tensions are high and from the beginning from Eve, we see that she favors her “son” Jack more than Mia and Arthur for some mysterious reason which I really like, it creates tension and buildup and drama between the family and friends. For me there’s too many characters introduced and hard to keep up with who some of them were but it got really good around the 35% mark and I fully enjoyed the twists and turns throughout. Such a fun read, fast paced and lots of drama sprinkled in with lies. I highly recommend!
Eve goes on a trip with her husband to the same Greek island they visited on their honeymoon 29 years ago and wants to rekindle their romance and share a secret she’s dying to tell Will. Poppy is on a well needed vacation trying to enjoy herself and after a dinner together with Will and Eve, Will invites Poppy to Eve’s birthday party the following night.
The night of the party things take a turn. Tensions are high and from the beginning from Eve, we see that she favors her “son” Jack more than Mia and Arthur for some mysterious reason which I really like, it creates tension and buildup and drama between the family and friends. For me there’s too many characters introduced and hard to keep up with who some of them were but it got really good around the 35% mark and I fully enjoyed the twists and turns throughout. Such a fun read, fast paced and lots of drama sprinkled in with lies. I highly recommend!
June 16, 2024
First, I really loved the Greece setting, it makes this thriller a perfect summer read.
This book starts a little slow, with a lot of characters introduced but once it hit 40% the twists and turns start coming and it was hard to put down. Most of the characters are lying or hiding something and the suspense was perfectly built untill the big reveal at this end. And the family drama was very interesting and entertaining.
Thank you Julia Crouch, Bookouture & NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.
#TheSurpriseParty #NetGalley
This book starts a little slow, with a lot of characters introduced but once it hit 40% the twists and turns start coming and it was hard to put down. Most of the characters are lying or hiding something and the suspense was perfectly built untill the big reveal at this end. And the family drama was very interesting and entertaining.
Thank you Julia Crouch, Bookouture & NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.
#TheSurpriseParty #NetGalley
September 8, 2024
Приятен летен криминален роман, само човек да го дочете докато навън е все още топло и неесенно.
Не е трудно да разгадаеш какви са тайните и кой е убиецът. Основната сюжетна линия обаче ти става чак накрая ясна. Не е някой невероятен криминален шедьовър. Просто приятно прекарано време, докато се препичаш на слънце. До няколко ме��еца нищо няма да ми е останало от историята в главата. :)
Не е трудно да разгадаеш какви са тайните и кой е убиецът. Основната сюжетна линия обаче ти става чак накрая ясна. Не е някой невероятен криминален шедьовър. Просто приятно прекарано време, докато се препичаш на слънце. До няколко ме��еца нищо няма да ми е останало от историята в главата. :)
October 8, 2024
Did NOT expect that!!! OMGeeee!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2024
Eve and husband Will are meant to be celebrating her 50th birthday with a holiday in the picturesque, isolated Greek island village of Loutrò. It's safe to say that this does not go according to anybody's plan. (Eve's hoping for a quiet holiday to reconnect with her husband, but given the title, it's not exactly a spoiler to say Will has other plans.) In fact, it's not much exaggeration to say complete mayhem breaks out. I wondered at one point if anybody was going to be left alive. Meanwhile Poppy, a young A&E doctor, is also on the scene, and has her own agenda.
This isn't my favourite of Julia Crouch's books - while I liked the setting, the characters and plot didn't totally grab me. Most - though not all - of the secrets were apparent quite early on. I did enjoy the interplay with the Greek police, and having Poppy speak Greek and act as interpreter was a convenient device to enable us to follow the investigation.
There were aspects which made me a little uncomfortable - I didn't enjoy the portrayal of Jack, a mentally unwell, deeply vulnerable young man whose illness seems to constitute his whole personality.
Various other characters are basically selfish monsters. (Poor Eve.) If Will has one single redeeming feature, we're not shown it. Overall, there are a lot of characters who seemed to keep wandering off in all directions at various points, and it was hard at times to keep track of what they were all up to. Honestly, the younger police officer whose name I've forgotten was the best of the lot.
An ok read. The plot twist at the end wasn't exactly expected, but didn't shock me either. Thanks for the opportunity to read an advance copy!
This isn't my favourite of Julia Crouch's books - while I liked the setting, the characters and plot didn't totally grab me. Most - though not all - of the secrets were apparent quite early on. I did enjoy the interplay with the Greek police, and having Poppy speak Greek and act as interpreter was a convenient device to enable us to follow the investigation.
There were aspects which made me a little uncomfortable - I didn't enjoy the portrayal of Jack, a mentally unwell, deeply vulnerable young man whose illness seems to constitute his whole personality.
Various other characters are basically selfish monsters. (Poor Eve.) If Will has one single redeeming feature, we're not shown it. Overall, there are a lot of characters who seemed to keep wandering off in all directions at various points, and it was hard at times to keep track of what they were all up to. Honestly, the younger police officer whose name I've forgotten was the best of the lot.
An ok read. The plot twist at the end wasn't exactly expected, but didn't shock me either. Thanks for the opportunity to read an advance copy!
June 16, 2024
The Surprise Party by Julia Crouch I have tried to write this review multiple times but there is just way too much in the story to give a brief summary just know it’s eves 50th birthday her and husband will or on the aisle of Creed and he surprises her the day after they arrive by bringing in her family including her best friend in famous actress Jess and Eve and Will‘s adult children author Mia in the trouble boy they took in who is now a man jack. When you bring a problem on vacation the only thing that changes is the location so all the problems they had back in the UK is now with them in Greece. They’ve also made friends with a girl named poppy from the UK who was there with her own agenda but all secrets and confessions get put on hold when people start dying. I don’t want to say anything more because this book is so good and I don’t wanna give anything away in anything more I say will just be half the story anyway this is truly a five star read in one I definitely recommend it is the best thriller I have read this year by far and anyone who loves thrillers will definitely love the story I could not put it down from the first page until the last I couldn’t stop reading it. This is one of those books that when you think you finally know what happened… You have no idea! A truly great read. I want to thank Bookoucher for my free ARC copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
June 4, 2024
In a tangled web of lies, complicated relationships, and murders, this book begs the question-who is telling the truth?
While there is a lukewarm amount of suspense leading up to the murders, unfortunately it's not hard to figure out "whodunnit", so to speak. There was not one likable character written in, and maybe that was intentional, but I found it very difficult to continue reading due to the boring nature of the plot and characters. It could just be that I've read too many similar narratives, but quite honestly I just wasn't shocked or intrigued in how the events played out. If the author continued developing the characters' stories and maybe spent more time bringing them to life, I may have been more hooked. Overall, I'd give this a 2/5, if you like easy/quick reads, this might be right for you. But if you're looking for a more complex and suspenseful, jaw-dropping story, I'd skip this one.
While there is a lukewarm amount of suspense leading up to the murders, unfortunately it's not hard to figure out "whodunnit", so to speak. There was not one likable character written in, and maybe that was intentional, but I found it very difficult to continue reading due to the boring nature of the plot and characters. It could just be that I've read too many similar narratives, but quite honestly I just wasn't shocked or intrigued in how the events played out. If the author continued developing the characters' stories and maybe spent more time bringing them to life, I may have been more hooked. Overall, I'd give this a 2/5, if you like easy/quick reads, this might be right for you. But if you're looking for a more complex and suspenseful, jaw-dropping story, I'd skip this one.
June 10, 2024
Everybody had a secret, and they were all very hard to like in this new book from Julia Crouch.
Starting off at a slow pace and picking up only 3/4 of the way through,with an ending that lacked surprises.
I disliked the way Jack was perceived and found it slightly mortifying in places.
It's not my favourite read by the author, but as I normally enjoy her work , I look forward to reading her next book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
Starting off at a slow pace and picking up only 3/4 of the way through,with an ending that lacked surprises.
I disliked the way Jack was perceived and found it slightly mortifying in places.
It's not my favourite read by the author, but as I normally enjoy her work , I look forward to reading her next book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
July 23, 2024
The Surprise Party
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Julia Crouch
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: This trip was meant to save our marriage. Instead it will destroy everything…
To celebrate my special birthday, my husband and I have returned to the beautiful Greek island village where we spent our honeymoon. As the boat pulls in to the harbour, I feel hope rise in my heart. The white houses, the blue doors, the brilliant turquoise of the sea, are just as I remember. If two weeks in this paradise won’t fix our marriage, nothing will.
But then the next day a boat arrives, full of my friends and family. My grown-up children jump on to the shore, grinning and holding balloons. My husband beams at me and says, “Surprise!”
I can’t believe it. It was meant to be just the two of us. This was my chance to confess what I’ve been hiding for years, the truth that will change everything.
Now I’m surrounded by all the people I’ve been desperate to escape, all the secrets I’ve been pretending I don’t know. I force a smile on to my face, but inside I want to kill my husband.
But even after my party ended in disaster, I didn’t expect anyone to die…
My Thoughts: Almost three decades later, and Eve and Will return to their honeymoon destination. Eve has been planning this two week getaway for them to reconnect, well, that is after she confesses a secret to him. Will also has a surprise for Eve when the entire family shows up the next day for Eve’s milestone, 50th birthday. Also on the island is Poppy who just departed from her cheating ex and is fed up with her mother’s lies. Before morning, there will be a dead body. The story opens with a gripping and compelling prologue that hooks you, immediate suspense, which I love.
There are a lot of characters in this book which means many suspects, unlikable characters, secrets, betrayals, accusations, and characters acting a fool made for a suspenseful thriller with so many twists. The mysterious character Poppy has an agenda. The characters are built with depth, secrets, mystery, outlandish antics, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, had a compelling plot, twisty, with an atmospheric setting, and sharp characters with a satisfying ending with a surprise twist.
This was a domestic psychological thriller that can be read in one day. It keeps you on your toes. It is twisty, suspenseful, dark, and a wonderful spin on a whodunit mystery. I highly recommend for other readers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Julia Crouch
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: This trip was meant to save our marriage. Instead it will destroy everything…
To celebrate my special birthday, my husband and I have returned to the beautiful Greek island village where we spent our honeymoon. As the boat pulls in to the harbour, I feel hope rise in my heart. The white houses, the blue doors, the brilliant turquoise of the sea, are just as I remember. If two weeks in this paradise won’t fix our marriage, nothing will.
But then the next day a boat arrives, full of my friends and family. My grown-up children jump on to the shore, grinning and holding balloons. My husband beams at me and says, “Surprise!”
I can’t believe it. It was meant to be just the two of us. This was my chance to confess what I’ve been hiding for years, the truth that will change everything.
Now I’m surrounded by all the people I’ve been desperate to escape, all the secrets I’ve been pretending I don’t know. I force a smile on to my face, but inside I want to kill my husband.
But even after my party ended in disaster, I didn’t expect anyone to die…
My Thoughts: Almost three decades later, and Eve and Will return to their honeymoon destination. Eve has been planning this two week getaway for them to reconnect, well, that is after she confesses a secret to him. Will also has a surprise for Eve when the entire family shows up the next day for Eve’s milestone, 50th birthday. Also on the island is Poppy who just departed from her cheating ex and is fed up with her mother’s lies. Before morning, there will be a dead body. The story opens with a gripping and compelling prologue that hooks you, immediate suspense, which I love.
There are a lot of characters in this book which means many suspects, unlikable characters, secrets, betrayals, accusations, and characters acting a fool made for a suspenseful thriller with so many twists. The mysterious character Poppy has an agenda. The characters are built with depth, secrets, mystery, outlandish antics, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, had a compelling plot, twisty, with an atmospheric setting, and sharp characters with a satisfying ending with a surprise twist.
This was a domestic psychological thriller that can be read in one day. It keeps you on your toes. It is twisty, suspenseful, dark, and a wonderful spin on a whodunit mystery. I highly recommend for other readers.
June 19, 2024
THE SURPRISE PARTY by Julia Crouch was a thrill from start to the very, very end. What a thrilling read!
Eve and Will Rose are on their way to Loutro Harbour, Greece to celebrate Eve‘s 50th birthday. They had their honeymoon on the island 29 years ago when Eve should have confessed a deep secret to Will. With their return, she is hoping to make her revelation and revive her waning marriage. Her plans are thwarted, however, when will has a surprise of his own. He has invited her family and friends to the party and things don’t necessarily turn out well for him either.
Now at the party are Eve and Will’s adult children, Mia, 28 and Arthur, 25. Along for the ride is Jack, a foster kid who was one of Arthur’s friends but of whom he now has serious resentment as he takes so much mothering time from he and his sister. Then we have Jess, her best friend and her husband. Jess is a very recognisable and prominent actress who has recently been receiving anonymous death threats for snubbing a fan.’s adoration. Her mother and sister also around out the invited partygoers. Also on the island is Poppy Demetriou, an A&E Doctor who is nursing a broken heart after catching her boyfriend of seven years and her best friend together. And finally we have to mention Grant Wigley, the creepy guy from the boat, who recognised Jess and seems to be stalking her on the island.
When a body turns up on the beach, suspicions run rampant. Who had a reason to commit a murder right in the middle of a celebratory vacation. Investigators Papadakis and Nellas arrive on the island to investigate and enlist Poppy’s help in their inquiries. Then the unspeakable happens and Eve is left reeling. And she receives unwanted advances from a partygoer. The hits just keep coming for her. Will she survive this trip or will it be the death of her?
This book had me on the edge of my seat. The action kept coming and when I thought I had it all figured out, the final pages blew me away. The writing was clear and concise and had me racing to reach the conclusion. I could feel the breeze blowing and the cold rock of the cliff face and the sand between my toes. I will definitely be looking into more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
Eve and Will Rose are on their way to Loutro Harbour, Greece to celebrate Eve‘s 50th birthday. They had their honeymoon on the island 29 years ago when Eve should have confessed a deep secret to Will. With their return, she is hoping to make her revelation and revive her waning marriage. Her plans are thwarted, however, when will has a surprise of his own. He has invited her family and friends to the party and things don’t necessarily turn out well for him either.
Now at the party are Eve and Will’s adult children, Mia, 28 and Arthur, 25. Along for the ride is Jack, a foster kid who was one of Arthur’s friends but of whom he now has serious resentment as he takes so much mothering time from he and his sister. Then we have Jess, her best friend and her husband. Jess is a very recognisable and prominent actress who has recently been receiving anonymous death threats for snubbing a fan.’s adoration. Her mother and sister also around out the invited partygoers. Also on the island is Poppy Demetriou, an A&E Doctor who is nursing a broken heart after catching her boyfriend of seven years and her best friend together. And finally we have to mention Grant Wigley, the creepy guy from the boat, who recognised Jess and seems to be stalking her on the island.
When a body turns up on the beach, suspicions run rampant. Who had a reason to commit a murder right in the middle of a celebratory vacation. Investigators Papadakis and Nellas arrive on the island to investigate and enlist Poppy’s help in their inquiries. Then the unspeakable happens and Eve is left reeling. And she receives unwanted advances from a partygoer. The hits just keep coming for her. Will she survive this trip or will it be the death of her?
This book had me on the edge of my seat. The action kept coming and when I thought I had it all figured out, the final pages blew me away. The writing was clear and concise and had me racing to reach the conclusion. I could feel the breeze blowing and the cold rock of the cliff face and the sand between my toes. I will definitely be looking into more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
June 16, 2024
The Surprise Party by Julia Crouch is a highly recommended spin on a locked room murder mystery taking place on a Greek island.
Eve and her husband Will are taking a two week vacation to Loutrò, the Greek island village where they went for their honeymoon. They are there to celebrate her fiftieth birthday, but Eve wants to take this opportunity to tell Will something important she has needed to tell him for years and now is the time. Much to her chagrin, the next day the ferry arrives with her family and friends aboard. Will has apparently planned a surprise party for her and now her secret must wait.
Poppy, a young A&E doctor met Eve and Will on the ferry to the island and had dinner with the two that night. She is there with a secret of her own. Now she also gets pulled into the family's celebration and the murder investigation that follows. It is clear that almost everyone loves Eve but not so much each other.
Events move a little slowly at the beginning of this spin on a locked room murder mystery. Once the murder takes place, all the suspects are on the island and must stay there. Conveniently, Poppy speaks Greek and as a doctor helps the police, both as a translator and medically. This was just a bit too convenient, but easy to accept as the conflicts between family members explode. Once the pace picks up and the action and plot twists begin to happen the pages will fly by.
Characters in the novel are more caricatures of different types of people. Some are written to be disagreeable and some are likable. Eve and Poppy are the two narrators who share their points-of-view in the novel and are both likable characters. Will is a complete jerk right from the start and, along with the other characters that are clearly written to be disagreeable, readers will clearly expect poor behavior from all of them.
This is an entertaining locked-room murder mystery that explores the relationship between a mother and her children. 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
Eve and her husband Will are taking a two week vacation to Loutrò, the Greek island village where they went for their honeymoon. They are there to celebrate her fiftieth birthday, but Eve wants to take this opportunity to tell Will something important she has needed to tell him for years and now is the time. Much to her chagrin, the next day the ferry arrives with her family and friends aboard. Will has apparently planned a surprise party for her and now her secret must wait.
Poppy, a young A&E doctor met Eve and Will on the ferry to the island and had dinner with the two that night. She is there with a secret of her own. Now she also gets pulled into the family's celebration and the murder investigation that follows. It is clear that almost everyone loves Eve but not so much each other.
Events move a little slowly at the beginning of this spin on a locked room murder mystery. Once the murder takes place, all the suspects are on the island and must stay there. Conveniently, Poppy speaks Greek and as a doctor helps the police, both as a translator and medically. This was just a bit too convenient, but easy to accept as the conflicts between family members explode. Once the pace picks up and the action and plot twists begin to happen the pages will fly by.
Characters in the novel are more caricatures of different types of people. Some are written to be disagreeable and some are likable. Eve and Poppy are the two narrators who share their points-of-view in the novel and are both likable characters. Will is a complete jerk right from the start and, along with the other characters that are clearly written to be disagreeable, readers will clearly expect poor behavior from all of them.
This is an entertaining locked-room murder mystery that explores the relationship between a mother and her children. 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
June 19, 2024
Poppy, 30, is an A&E doctor on vacation and looking forward to hiking on the island of Loutro in Greece. Poppy has recently broken up with her boyfriend when she caught him cheating on her.
On the ferry coming to the island, Poppy meets Eve and Will Rose who are also visiting Loutro to celebrate Eve’s 50th birthday. They had stayed on the island when they were on their honeymoon. The couple has two grown children and an adopted son. All three children live with them. Eve is looking forward to some relaxing time and hopefully she and Will can reconnect. She is also about to confess a secret to Will that she has been hiding for years.
So, Eve is shocked the next day to see her children, mother, sister, and good friend, Jess, and her husband, Harry, arrive to participate in a surprise party for Eve. While it’s nice to see them, she really wanted this event to be quiet and just she and Will. That night they have a huge party with lots of food and alcohol. Poppy joins them and Will invites a lot of other people around to come too. The night ends up as a big party with people dancing and drinking. The next day, one of their party is found dead. Was it an accident or was this person murdered?
The whole bunch here is dysfunctional. I couldn’t help but laugh at their ridiculous antics and, especially how much alcohol was consumed by them. Good grief! I really felt sorry for the owners of the hotel where this group stayed. What a mess they must have left behind. All in all, a good mystery/thriller. Enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
On the ferry coming to the island, Poppy meets Eve and Will Rose who are also visiting Loutro to celebrate Eve’s 50th birthday. They had stayed on the island when they were on their honeymoon. The couple has two grown children and an adopted son. All three children live with them. Eve is looking forward to some relaxing time and hopefully she and Will can reconnect. She is also about to confess a secret to Will that she has been hiding for years.
So, Eve is shocked the next day to see her children, mother, sister, and good friend, Jess, and her husband, Harry, arrive to participate in a surprise party for Eve. While it’s nice to see them, she really wanted this event to be quiet and just she and Will. That night they have a huge party with lots of food and alcohol. Poppy joins them and Will invites a lot of other people around to come too. The night ends up as a big party with people dancing and drinking. The next day, one of their party is found dead. Was it an accident or was this person murdered?
The whole bunch here is dysfunctional. I couldn’t help but laugh at their ridiculous antics and, especially how much alcohol was consumed by them. Good grief! I really felt sorry for the owners of the hotel where this group stayed. What a mess they must have left behind. All in all, a good mystery/thriller. Enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 28, 2024
All of Julia Crouch's novels are incredibly twisty, but this one beats the rest. The Surprise Party is set on a tiny Greek island where Will, a habitually unfaithful husband, is treating his wife Eve to a luxurious trip in honour of her fiftieth birthday. The holiday will also be a welcome opportunity for the two of them to reconnect and renew their marriage - at least, that's what Eve hopes. But Will has an unwelcome surprise for her up his sleeve. He has secretly invited all of their nearest and dearest to share their second honeymoon - Eve's mother, her sister, her best friend and her husband, their two adult children and their troubled foster-child. The moment she sees her tribe arriving at the hotel, Eve knows all hope of getting her romantic relationship with Will back on track has vanished. Meanwhile, Eve and Will are being watched by Poppy, a young doctor who is spending her holiday on the island. The novel is narrated from two points of view, Poppy's and Eve's. Poppy, whose mother is Greek, speaks the language fluently. When the dead body of one of the party is found on the beach, Poppy is able to assist the local police with her medical and language skills. From that point on, the lies and secrets the family has been concealing are revealed. When another corpse is found, Poppy believes she knows the whole truth - until Eve learns more than she ever wished to know about her own family. I recommend The Surprise Party to fans of domestic noir and twisty, thought-provoking crime stories.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
July 1, 2024
The Surprise Party by Julia Crouch was an excellent book from start to finish. This was a book that had me turning pages to find out what happened next and so addictive, it was a fun read and set in beautiful Greece.
This trip was meant to save their marriage. Sadly it will destroy everything they have together…......Eve and her husband Will have been married for 29 years and returning to a place they both loved and went for their honeymoon. A beautiful secluded fishing village on the Crete coast, this is just what they both needed.
This holiday is going to be great! and a big surprise to celebrate an Eve's special birthday her 50th and their wedding anniversary. The biggest surprise is Eve's whole family will arrive the next day.
What could go wrong? and in a beautiful setting with all her family and friends she loves and adores?
Sadly, both Eve and Poppy her daughter have had a big fall out, they both need to put this behind them! But, Poppy is So angry at her mum at the moment especially with all her lies she has told and she has recently broken up with her cheating boyfriend.
Poppy is on a big mission and she has it all planned out how to hurt her mum!
As the party dawn's one guest is found dead!
WoW............
This book was a great page turner and a great book for your coming up holidays etc. I loved it.
I highly recommend this book.
Big Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This trip was meant to save their marriage. Sadly it will destroy everything they have together…......Eve and her husband Will have been married for 29 years and returning to a place they both loved and went for their honeymoon. A beautiful secluded fishing village on the Crete coast, this is just what they both needed.
This holiday is going to be great! and a big surprise to celebrate an Eve's special birthday her 50th and their wedding anniversary. The biggest surprise is Eve's whole family will arrive the next day.
What could go wrong? and in a beautiful setting with all her family and friends she loves and adores?
Sadly, both Eve and Poppy her daughter have had a big fall out, they both need to put this behind them! But, Poppy is So angry at her mum at the moment especially with all her lies she has told and she has recently broken up with her cheating boyfriend.
Poppy is on a big mission and she has it all planned out how to hurt her mum!
As the party dawn's one guest is found dead!
WoW............
This book was a great page turner and a great book for your coming up holidays etc. I loved it.
I highly recommend this book.
Big Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2024
It is nearly Eve's birthday and her husband has whisked her away for a holiday on a Greek island. Eve is happy to spend some time alone with Will as she has a confession about her past that she feels compelled to make. But, unknown to Eve, Will has planned a surprise party, and all her friends and relatives are about to arrive to wreck her chances of making her private confession. Will, meanwhile, has his own agenda. As the plot unfurls, we meet the various members of Eve's dysfunctional, selfish and obsessive family and the emotionally fragile young man she has taken in, Jack. Into this weird mix comes Poppy, a young doctor. Poppy quickly becomes friends with Eve and her family and it doesn't take a genius to work out her motive which is telegraphed rather too clearly. After a body is discovered, Poppy is asked to carry out a partial autopsy whilst the police await help from the mainland. I found this aspect of the plot rather implausible. More deaths follow until the story reaches its rather unlikely conclusion. Apart from Eve herself, the vast majority of the characters are really unsympathetic and this made for some uncomfortable moments for me as a reader. nevertheless, this is an easy summer read and fairly enjoyable, providing you are prepared to suspend your disbelief.
June 5, 2024
Eve and her husband arrive at a small Greek island to celebrate her 50th birthday. Eve is happy for alone time, as she is planning on finally revealing a secret to her husband. Unbeknownst to Eve, her husband has been planning a surprise party. The day after arriving, Eve's family and closest friends show up. Poppy, a young woman that the couple met on the ferry, is also invited by Eve's husband to join the celebration. Things take a drastic turn on the night of the party. Everyone has a secret they want to keep hidden...
I love vacation thrillers! This was a quick and fun read. The author does a great job at building the secrets along the way, until the big reveal at the end. I did figure out some of the twists, but I still enjoyed the book. There are a lot of characters, but the fact that they are all so different makes it easy to keep track of everyone. The family dynamics and drama kept tension high throughout the novel.
This will make the perfect summer beach read for any thriller fan! I previously read the Perfect Date by Julia Crouch, which I also really enjoyed (even more so than this one). Excited to read more from her!
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love vacation thrillers! This was a quick and fun read. The author does a great job at building the secrets along the way, until the big reveal at the end. I did figure out some of the twists, but I still enjoyed the book. There are a lot of characters, but the fact that they are all so different makes it easy to keep track of everyone. The family dynamics and drama kept tension high throughout the novel.
This will make the perfect summer beach read for any thriller fan! I previously read the Perfect Date by Julia Crouch, which I also really enjoyed (even more so than this one). Excited to read more from her!
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2024
When someone organises a surprise party for you, it means they love you, because they want to make that day special for you. Or it should be like that anyway. What if you don't like surprise parties because you have a different agenda or what if the party, which should be a joyous occasion, result in a disaster.
It seems like what should be a fun trip for the whole group to celebrate a milestone in Eve's life, turns out to break lots of hears and create a waterfall of tears.
Then the culprit is found of course, but is this the right person they put the blame on or is there something a lot more sinister going on?
I liked the premise. A sunny island in Greece, a group of family and friends and a party. The perfect spot to confess, wipe the slate clean and start from zero. The question though is are new beginnings always good or are they the start of tears and heartbreak?
A good story with an outcome that somewhere played a bit on my mind, but on the other hand was not exactly what I thought would have happened. It was lot lot better than what I thought would we revealed which is always a very good thing. 5 stars
Thank you
It seems like what should be a fun trip for the whole group to celebrate a milestone in Eve's life, turns out to break lots of hears and create a waterfall of tears.
Then the culprit is found of course, but is this the right person they put the blame on or is there something a lot more sinister going on?
I liked the premise. A sunny island in Greece, a group of family and friends and a party. The perfect spot to confess, wipe the slate clean and start from zero. The question though is are new beginnings always good or are they the start of tears and heartbreak?
A good story with an outcome that somewhere played a bit on my mind, but on the other hand was not exactly what I thought would have happened. It was lot lot better than what I thought would we revealed which is always a very good thing. 5 stars
Thank you
June 5, 2024
3.5 Stars
The Surprise Party by Julia Crouch takes place on a small Greek island on the cusp of the off season. The story follows Eve as she arrives to the island with her husband for her 50th birthday. Eve hopes to use the time to reflect and discuss a secret she’s been harboring for the length of their marriage, but her husband has other plans up his sleeve. The second POV follows Poppy as she arrives to the island to enjoy the sun, hiking, and swimming as she takes a break from her demanding emergency room career; but she has ulterior motives for her visit.
This book was a face paced thriller and I enjoyed the dual POV. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the Greek island, it made me want to book a trip there to see for myself! There were plenty of twists along the way, some of which shocked me near the end. I just personally didn’t care for Eve’s relationship with her children, I found it a bit unrealistic and I found myself getting annoyed a these parts of the story. Overall I enjoyed this thriller!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Surprise Party by Julia Crouch takes place on a small Greek island on the cusp of the off season. The story follows Eve as she arrives to the island with her husband for her 50th birthday. Eve hopes to use the time to reflect and discuss a secret she’s been harboring for the length of their marriage, but her husband has other plans up his sleeve. The second POV follows Poppy as she arrives to the island to enjoy the sun, hiking, and swimming as she takes a break from her demanding emergency room career; but she has ulterior motives for her visit.
This book was a face paced thriller and I enjoyed the dual POV. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the Greek island, it made me want to book a trip there to see for myself! There were plenty of twists along the way, some of which shocked me near the end. I just personally didn’t care for Eve’s relationship with her children, I found it a bit unrealistic and I found myself getting annoyed a these parts of the story. Overall I enjoyed this thriller!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 10, 2024
Eve and her husband, Will, are going on a Greek vacation to celebrate Eve's 50th birthday. They are returning to the Greek island where they spent their honeymoon all those years ago. Eve is determined to share a secret with her husband that she has been keeping for almost 30 years, but she needs to find the right time.
Poppy is visiting the same Greek island for a vacation, but she also has ulterior motives.
This is told from the POVs of Eve and Poppy. It would have been helpful to have the chapters labelled with their names, but it isn't too difficult to figure out which POV each chapter is told from.
This one did the job. It keeps your interests, is fast-paced, and has a few twists and turns. I love a thriller set on vacation.
That being said, the clues that the author gives you are very obvious and some are repeated several times. The characters are surface level and unlikeable. This doesn't bother me in a thriller as I think it helps keep pace, but it is worth noting.
The book summary says it is about how far a mother will go to protect her children, but I think how far her children will go to protect their mother is more accurate.
Poppy is visiting the same Greek island for a vacation, but she also has ulterior motives.
This is told from the POVs of Eve and Poppy. It would have been helpful to have the chapters labelled with their names, but it isn't too difficult to figure out which POV each chapter is told from.
This one did the job. It keeps your interests, is fast-paced, and has a few twists and turns. I love a thriller set on vacation.
That being said, the clues that the author gives you are very obvious and some are repeated several times. The characters are surface level and unlikeable. This doesn't bother me in a thriller as I think it helps keep pace, but it is worth noting.
The book summary says it is about how far a mother will go to protect her children, but I think how far her children will go to protect their mother is more accurate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2024
A couple revisits their honeymoon memories on a Greek island, but for the woman, Eve, it is a final attempt to salvage their marriage by coming clean about the secret that she has been holding for too long.
Unfortunately her husband has decided to invite along their friends and family as a "surprise" - as it turns out a most unwelcome one.
And with all these people packed into a beautiful but claustrophobic environment, all kinds of tensions begin to build in such close quarters. Secrets long protected and lies carefully maintained start to come apart at the seams...
And unsurprisingly, it doesn't end well. Though perhaps it would be fair to say that nobody would have expected it to end quite as badly as it did.
This is engaging storytelling with plenty of twists and turns. Quite a few of them unexpected! The atmospheric setting also contributes to the fun. An enjoyable read, it gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately her husband has decided to invite along their friends and family as a "surprise" - as it turns out a most unwelcome one.
And with all these people packed into a beautiful but claustrophobic environment, all kinds of tensions begin to build in such close quarters. Secrets long protected and lies carefully maintained start to come apart at the seams...
And unsurprisingly, it doesn't end well. Though perhaps it would be fair to say that nobody would have expected it to end quite as badly as it did.
This is engaging storytelling with plenty of twists and turns. Quite a few of them unexpected! The atmospheric setting also contributes to the fun. An enjoyable read, it gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 19, 2024
This was a good, quick, immersive read for me. The pacing was spot on (a little slower to begin with to make you settle in, then a mid-book build up followed by a flurry of everything else). I found it fairly predictable, but only in the context that the author cleverly sprinkled clues, which is how it should be! Twists should fit not come out of nowhere and even when you know them, you can't make sense of it... (but this wasn't that, so I have gotten sidetracked here).
I didn't love the characters, but I'm okay with that. I didn't need to in this book (I don't like you, but lemme just peer into your messed up lives for my own enjoyment. Please and thank you).
Would recommend if you want a book you can devour, digest, and never need to worry about what becomes of the ones left after the last page.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. You're doing god's work.
Ps: I hate surprise parties so the title alone gives me shivers 😅
I didn't love the characters, but I'm okay with that. I didn't need to in this book (I don't like you, but lemme just peer into your messed up lives for my own enjoyment. Please and thank you).
Would recommend if you want a book you can devour, digest, and never need to worry about what becomes of the ones left after the last page.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. You're doing god's work.
Ps: I hate surprise parties so the title alone gives me shivers 😅
September 19, 2024
This was certainly a gripping story, and it was set in a fabulous location.
However I really found myself not being a fan of most of the characters. They were all quite hard to like and Eve is an utter doormat and seems to be able to manipulated by everyone in her life.
There are all sorts of secrets to uncover, but nothing that overtly shocked me or had me gasping. I was keen to know what was happening but ultimately it didn't quite grab me in they way I hoped it would.
I was able to read it quickly, as I wasn't feeling great and this certainly took my mind of my cold, but at least some of the key reveals I guessed fairly early, and with my disconnect from most of the characters, it just didn't work for me.
It's not a bad book by any stretch, but I think it may have just been the wrong book for me at the wrong time.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
However I really found myself not being a fan of most of the characters. They were all quite hard to like and Eve is an utter doormat and seems to be able to manipulated by everyone in her life.
There are all sorts of secrets to uncover, but nothing that overtly shocked me or had me gasping. I was keen to know what was happening but ultimately it didn't quite grab me in they way I hoped it would.
I was able to read it quickly, as I wasn't feeling great and this certainly took my mind of my cold, but at least some of the key reveals I guessed fairly early, and with my disconnect from most of the characters, it just didn't work for me.
It's not a bad book by any stretch, but I think it may have just been the wrong book for me at the wrong time.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
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