What do you think?
Rate this book
Kāzu viesis. Es neļaušu tev aizmirst
Pa zeltainām pludmales smiltīm Emilija dodas pie sava pievilcīgā līgavaiņa Džeremija. Viņš stāv pie altāra kopā ar savu mazo meitiņu Leksiju. Emilija no sirds tic, ka šī diena ir jaunas dzīves sākums viņiem visiem. Tagad līdzās būs Džeremijs, un ēnas no viņas tumšās pagātnes vairs nekad neatgriezīsies.
Ceremonija ir īsa. Nu jau Emilija ir precēta sieva, viņa uzsmaida savam brīnišķīgajam vīram. Žēl tikai, ka nav neviena viņas tuvinieka. Abi viņas vecāki ir miruši.
Visi aplaudē, kad jaunlaulātie saskūpstās, Emilija pagriežas pret viesiem, un viņas sirds sastingst šausmās. Ir ieradies Kristians. Cilvēks, kurš var izpostīt visu, ko Emilija tik rūpīgi ir veidojusi.
Emilijai ir pilnīgi skaidrs, ka nedrīkst pieļaut, lai kāds uzzinātu, kas ir šis cilvēks. Nevienam nedrīkst izpaust to, kas Kristianam ir zināms par Emiliju.
Ir pagājis tik ilgs laiks. Kā gan Kristians viņu ir atradis? Uz ko Emilija būs gatava, lai apturētu cilvēku, kurš nekad neļaus viņai vienkārši aiziet?
Ceremonija ir īsa. Nu jau Emilija ir precēta sieva, viņa uzsmaida savam brīnišķīgajam vīram. Žēl tikai, ka nav neviena viņas tuvinieka. Abi viņas vecāki ir miruši.
Visi aplaudē, kad jaunlaulātie saskūpstās, Emilija pagriežas pret viesiem, un viņas sirds sastingst šausmās. Ir ieradies Kristians. Cilvēks, kurš var izpostīt visu, ko Emilija tik rūpīgi ir veidojusi.
Emilijai ir pilnīgi skaidrs, ka nedrīkst pieļaut, lai kāds uzzinātu, kas ir šis cilvēks. Nevienam nedrīkst izpaust to, kas Kristianam ir zināms par Emiliju.
Ir pagājis tik ilgs laiks. Kā gan Kristians viņu ir atradis? Uz ko Emilija būs gatava, lai apturētu cilvēku, kurš nekad neļaus viņai vienkārši aiziet?
Hardcover
First published September 14, 2023
838 people are currently reading
733 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
September 15, 2023
Secrets and lies are the name of the game in this gripping and suspenseful psychological thriller with a jaw dropping reveal! It was supposed to be her dream wedding, but it turned into a nightmare....
Emily is happy to be marrying Jeremy and become a stepmother to his daughter. The day is perfect until she gets a blast from her past. Someone who knows the secrets she does not want her new husband to know. Emily's former boyfriend was an uninvited guest at her wedding. When he began to make an announcement, my heart rate increased. Is he going to ruin her day? Is he going to spill the beans? He makes it clear to her that he wants to destroy her picture-perfect life by telling everyone her secrets!
The book slows down a little after the gripping beginning as readers are introduced to just enough information to whet our appetites. As the book progresses, the pace ramps up. There are a few twists and turns along the way which kept me on my toes. I thought I knew where this book was going. I thought how clever I was for having figured it out - WRONG! I wasn't even close. I love it when this happens! As her former boyfriend threatens to divulge all her secrets, the tension mounts as Emily must do as he asks to keep her secrets safe.
The last part of the book becomes suspenseful, and I was shocked by the reveal. I did not see that coming at all! Total shocker! Another solid book by Croft.
Gripping, tense, and shocking!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Emily is happy to be marrying Jeremy and become a stepmother to his daughter. The day is perfect until she gets a blast from her past. Someone who knows the secrets she does not want her new husband to know. Emily's former boyfriend was an uninvited guest at her wedding. When he began to make an announcement, my heart rate increased. Is he going to ruin her day? Is he going to spill the beans? He makes it clear to her that he wants to destroy her picture-perfect life by telling everyone her secrets!
The book slows down a little after the gripping beginning as readers are introduced to just enough information to whet our appetites. As the book progresses, the pace ramps up. There are a few twists and turns along the way which kept me on my toes. I thought I knew where this book was going. I thought how clever I was for having figured it out - WRONG! I wasn't even close. I love it when this happens! As her former boyfriend threatens to divulge all her secrets, the tension mounts as Emily must do as he asks to keep her secrets safe.
The last part of the book becomes suspenseful, and I was shocked by the reveal. I did not see that coming at all! Total shocker! Another solid book by Croft.
Gripping, tense, and shocking!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 2, 2023
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Bookoutune and the author Kathryn croft for an early copy of her book.
This is Emily wedding day to Jeremy who has a daughter Lexi,all she wants is to be happy with her new family.an uninvited guest Christian who is from Emily past who she doesnt want him there.they have a past,what are they hiding?...my rating is 3.5 rounded to four as wanted the build up to be a better ending,an easy great read.looking forward to reading more of her books.
This is Emily wedding day to Jeremy who has a daughter Lexi,all she wants is to be happy with her new family.an uninvited guest Christian who is from Emily past who she doesnt want him there.they have a past,what are they hiding?...my rating is 3.5 rounded to four as wanted the build up to be a better ending,an easy great read.looking forward to reading more of her books.
September 18, 2023
I picked up my first Kathryn Croft book earlier this year, which prompted me to add her to my regular reading list. The Wedding Guest is one of her newest releases, and I received an early copy through NetGalley. For the most part, I enjoyed the book and devoured it in one long afternoon. From the beginning, readers are curious as to what hold this mysterious wedding guest has over the new bride. As the plot unfolds, the backstory becomes more clear but there are several twists near the end. I liked the characters and plot, even the villains, but there were too many liberties taken with missing information that played on the reader's imagination, then failed to deliver properly. I struggled with the ending because of how it all came together -- too blurry in some respects and readers never could've solved the mystery with the intentional misleading. For those reasons, I couldn't give it a solid 4 stars and had to drop one... but the author is brilliant at weaving suspenseful and charismatic situations that left me breathless a few times. Will continue to read more of her work.
August 12, 2023
It’s Emily’s wedding day. She can finally stop looking over her shoulder and enjoy her new start in life. She can’t wait to marry Jeremy and be a step mum to Lexi. But in walks an uninvited guest who will spoil all that is her ex-boyfriend, Christian. Who has a secret to tell from her past, that will change all that in an instant.
But what are the secrets that Emily is hiding that are so bad that Christian blackmails Emily to do his bidding.
Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of the The wedding guest by Kathryn Croft. I am a big fan of this author and I have read all her books. This is slow but suspenseful story of Emily and Christian and secrets they both hold about an incident when Emily was studying at university. Which leads to blackmail and Emily keeping secrets from those she loves. I did enjoy most part of this. But some excerpts of this story, I am not sure why but just made me feel uncomfortable. 3.5 stars from me.
But what are the secrets that Emily is hiding that are so bad that Christian blackmails Emily to do his bidding.
Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of the The wedding guest by Kathryn Croft. I am a big fan of this author and I have read all her books. This is slow but suspenseful story of Emily and Christian and secrets they both hold about an incident when Emily was studying at university. Which leads to blackmail and Emily keeping secrets from those she loves. I did enjoy most part of this. But some excerpts of this story, I am not sure why but just made me feel uncomfortable. 3.5 stars from me.
August 18, 2023
Wedding jitters. We’ve all had them.
I suspect few of them are caused by an unwanted guest, though.
Unsolicited wedding advice is one thing, but an unwanted guest is quite another. Especially when that guest wields power over the bride or groom.
In exploring the idea of an unwanted wedding guest, Croft reveals the power paradox. Readers are left wondering if they’ve ever handed over the ability to send the life they’ve built crashing down around them to one single person who claims to hold all the power. One thing I’ve learned from a past relationship is that when someone resorts to trying to control another, it’s often a sign that their power is dwindling. Someone should have reminded Emily, the bride whose heart is skipping a beat and it’s not caused by the groom standing next to her.
The dual timelines worked really well for this one and readers get to see what lead up to this crisis and why Emily is so stressed out. Croft kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat wondering if Emily could take care of the issue on her own or if her new husband needed to step in and resolve it. I had no idea what direction it was going to take and loved the tension the twists created. I was gasping at the manipulation and wary of every move Christian made. The ending was unique and tied up the mystery very well.
I love books that highlight the ability of our past to affect our future. We all have a secret - someone or something we want to keep buried - and Croft warns us that it takes two to tango so we’d better sort out our skeletons sooner than later.
Thriller lovers will want to add this one to their TBR pile ASAP!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I suspect few of them are caused by an unwanted guest, though.
Unsolicited wedding advice is one thing, but an unwanted guest is quite another. Especially when that guest wields power over the bride or groom.
In exploring the idea of an unwanted wedding guest, Croft reveals the power paradox. Readers are left wondering if they’ve ever handed over the ability to send the life they’ve built crashing down around them to one single person who claims to hold all the power. One thing I’ve learned from a past relationship is that when someone resorts to trying to control another, it’s often a sign that their power is dwindling. Someone should have reminded Emily, the bride whose heart is skipping a beat and it’s not caused by the groom standing next to her.
The dual timelines worked really well for this one and readers get to see what lead up to this crisis and why Emily is so stressed out. Croft kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat wondering if Emily could take care of the issue on her own or if her new husband needed to step in and resolve it. I had no idea what direction it was going to take and loved the tension the twists created. I was gasping at the manipulation and wary of every move Christian made. The ending was unique and tied up the mystery very well.
I love books that highlight the ability of our past to affect our future. We all have a secret - someone or something we want to keep buried - and Croft warns us that it takes two to tango so we’d better sort out our skeletons sooner than later.
Thriller lovers will want to add this one to their TBR pile ASAP!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 18, 2023
This one has a plot that is very overused; 15 years prior, Emily did something bad. She’s tried to make a new life for herself and is getting married to the man of her dreams, but an uninvited guest ruins the day.
I guess the wedding isn’t part of the cliché plot, but this follows the formula of many other books: someone from the past knows something about you and is threatening to ruin your life. I just couldn’t get very into this book, because these types of mystery/thrillers are all very similar and average.
The ending of this was the only redeeming quality, because it actually surprised me by not following the typical formula, but unfortunately that was the only part I thought was good. The whole thing was fine, but very uninspired. 2.5 stars, rounded up for the ending.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Kathryn Croft and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 14, 2023.)
I guess the wedding isn’t part of the cliché plot, but this follows the formula of many other books: someone from the past knows something about you and is threatening to ruin your life. I just couldn’t get very into this book, because these types of mystery/thrillers are all very similar and average.
The ending of this was the only redeeming quality, because it actually surprised me by not following the typical formula, but unfortunately that was the only part I thought was good. The whole thing was fine, but very uninspired. 2.5 stars, rounded up for the ending.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Kathryn Croft and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 14, 2023.)
September 15, 2023
The Wedding Guest
By: Kathryn Croft
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emily is walking down the aisle to her soon to be groom. She is thrilled to leave her past behind. After the vows she is shocked to see an unwanted guest from her past!
She has tried hard to keep a secret and her past from her new husband, but this guest could undo all she has worked hard for.
A great dual timeline involving Christian and Emily. He is manipulating her every move. Can Emily escape her past? Will her husband find out?
Another wonderful book by Croft.
Thank you Bookouture for this advanced copy which is available Sept 14, 2023.
#theweddingguest, #kathryncroft, #bookreview, #booktour, #booksconnectus, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
By: Kathryn Croft
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emily is walking down the aisle to her soon to be groom. She is thrilled to leave her past behind. After the vows she is shocked to see an unwanted guest from her past!
She has tried hard to keep a secret and her past from her new husband, but this guest could undo all she has worked hard for.
A great dual timeline involving Christian and Emily. He is manipulating her every move. Can Emily escape her past? Will her husband find out?
Another wonderful book by Croft.
Thank you Bookouture for this advanced copy which is available Sept 14, 2023.
#theweddingguest, #kathryncroft, #bookreview, #booktour, #booksconnectus, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
August 2, 2023
I’m lying to the man I’m about to marry. I’m not the woman he thinks I am. But my secret’s safe. Isn’t it?
Kathryn Croft is one of my go to authors as I have always enjoyed her books. Told in a dual time line which was easy to follow, as we all know in some books this does not always work, so well done to the author. Emily marries Jeremy and is head over heals in love, she also becomes a stepmother to Jeremy's daughter Lexi. Emily has he own secrets and hoping that this marriage will enable her rid some of her past as she will take Jeremy's surname. Clues are given but we do not know what this entails but as the book progresses, more information is given.
Unfortunately, as Emily and Jeremy exchange vows Emily notices a male guest that she had hoped she would never see in her life again. Jeremy knows little about his new wife's past and Emily is suddenly thrown into her own personal nightmare. This is the problem when lives are based on secrets and lies, you never know when they may come back to bite you and karma may not be your friend.
I enjoyed the book but is not my favourite by this author but still a decent read. I found some of the Emily's thoughts a bit repetitive and for some reason I could not really identify with the main characters, I could take them or leave them. I was wondering how this would all be wrapped up but was pleasantly surprised as I did not see the final twist coming.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
Kathryn Croft is one of my go to authors as I have always enjoyed her books. Told in a dual time line which was easy to follow, as we all know in some books this does not always work, so well done to the author. Emily marries Jeremy and is head over heals in love, she also becomes a stepmother to Jeremy's daughter Lexi. Emily has he own secrets and hoping that this marriage will enable her rid some of her past as she will take Jeremy's surname. Clues are given but we do not know what this entails but as the book progresses, more information is given.
Unfortunately, as Emily and Jeremy exchange vows Emily notices a male guest that she had hoped she would never see in her life again. Jeremy knows little about his new wife's past and Emily is suddenly thrown into her own personal nightmare. This is the problem when lives are based on secrets and lies, you never know when they may come back to bite you and karma may not be your friend.
I enjoyed the book but is not my favourite by this author but still a decent read. I found some of the Emily's thoughts a bit repetitive and for some reason I could not really identify with the main characters, I could take them or leave them. I was wondering how this would all be wrapped up but was pleasantly surprised as I did not see the final twist coming.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
August 27, 2023
The truth is at stake. Will it be revealed or remain hidden? This was a wild, wild ride that had me totally glued from start to finish. Loved the twists as this thriller unfolded.
September 15, 2023
The Wedding Guest is a utterly gripping and compelling psychological thriller that completely gripped me from the first chapter .
It’s Emily’s big day, she is about to be married on the beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia. As she glances around at their wedding guests her heart almost stops beating when she glimpses someone from her past, a person she definitely doesn’t want to see or wants her new husband to meet . Who is this person and why is Emily so fearful of them ?
To say this book gripped me is an understatement ! From the very first page I just knew this was going to be a read in one sitting type of book for me . The author has given us some great characters in this book , some nice and others not so much . I found this book to have creepy and uncomfortable vibes at times which is to me a sign of a good author when I get these feelings. This book completely messed with my head and yes I was left speechless at times ! All the stars
It’s Emily’s big day, she is about to be married on the beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia. As she glances around at their wedding guests her heart almost stops beating when she glimpses someone from her past, a person she definitely doesn’t want to see or wants her new husband to meet . Who is this person and why is Emily so fearful of them ?
To say this book gripped me is an understatement ! From the very first page I just knew this was going to be a read in one sitting type of book for me . The author has given us some great characters in this book , some nice and others not so much . I found this book to have creepy and uncomfortable vibes at times which is to me a sign of a good author when I get these feelings. This book completely messed with my head and yes I was left speechless at times ! All the stars
August 5, 2023
Emily is very happy that her wedding day has finally arrived and she will marry Jeremy.
After the ceremony she sees Christian her former boyfriend in the congregation and she tries not to panic. They have a shared secret that could ruin her newfound happiness and he’s willing to tell everyone unless he does what he tells her.
A slow moving story about secret and lies that keeps you guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
After the ceremony she sees Christian her former boyfriend in the congregation and she tries not to panic. They have a shared secret that could ruin her newfound happiness and he’s willing to tell everyone unless he does what he tells her.
A slow moving story about secret and lies that keeps you guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2023
I love this authors books and as usual a very gripping and twisty read. its Emilys wedding day to Jeremy they are getting married in Kefalonia. And Jeremys daughter Lexi giving her away. And she will be finally rid of her past a new start. But when she starts to do her vows the one person, she has been running from is stood watching Christian Homes. Emily has lots of secrets that her new husband does not know about and wants it to stay that way, so the game begins between her and Christian. a very addictive read.
August 22, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Kathryn Croft, and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really loved the premise of this book—the idea of an uninvited guest showing up at the main character’s wedding to seek revenge was exciting! The book had great potential, and the pacing was good. I loved the main character’s daughter, Lexi, and thought she added so much more urgency to the situation. The author definitely kept me guessing until the end, and I was surprised by the twist! However, I do wish the author had given us more at the end as I had so many questions and not enough answers to satisfy me. I do feel like the book could have contained more adrenaline throughout as I had to motivate myself to keep reading at times. While not my favorite book this year, it was definitely an interesting read with a surprise twist at the end! Great for this who want to be surprised at the conclusion!
(Trigger warning for emotional abuse)
(Trigger warning for emotional abuse)
July 18, 2023
My Review:
Enjoyed!!!!! This is definitely not my first rodeo with this author and it certainly won’t be my last. I have read most of this authors books and have loved them all. What isn’t there to like about her books is the real question here. Now let’s dive in to this one. First off, the blurb is what drew me in to this awesome book. How can I resist a read where the past has a way of catching up with you. You can’t escape it no matter how hard you try or how many years it’s been. This motto throughout the book is what kept me interested and at the edge of my seat the entire time. I never knew what was going to happen next. Next up the characters. Each of them possessed certain qualities that made this book wonderful. Last but not least my favorite part of every book, the ending. It left shocked and speechless which is hard to do. It had a twist I didn’t see coming at all. I will definitely be reading more of this authors books in the future. She keeps writing them and I will keep on reading them.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Enjoyed!!!!! This is definitely not my first rodeo with this author and it certainly won’t be my last. I have read most of this authors books and have loved them all. What isn’t there to like about her books is the real question here. Now let’s dive in to this one. First off, the blurb is what drew me in to this awesome book. How can I resist a read where the past has a way of catching up with you. You can’t escape it no matter how hard you try or how many years it’s been. This motto throughout the book is what kept me interested and at the edge of my seat the entire time. I never knew what was going to happen next. Next up the characters. Each of them possessed certain qualities that made this book wonderful. Last but not least my favorite part of every book, the ending. It left shocked and speechless which is hard to do. It had a twist I didn’t see coming at all. I will definitely be reading more of this authors books in the future. She keeps writing them and I will keep on reading them.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
September 16, 2023
This was a fast-paced and tense read, centered on Emily, whose ex-boyfriend Christian randomly shows up at her wedding and threatens to upset the life she is building with her new husband Jeremy and his daughter. The story is told from Emily’s POV in both past and present timelines.
The cat and mouse game between Emily and Christian is very tense and there were times where I just felt she was in a helpless situation. I enjoyed the chapters told from when they were in college to help build the characterization as the current events unfolded. I was truly surprised by the twist at the end, which doesn’t happen much for me- that alone is worth the read. I thought the ending of the book was mostly satisfying and that it tied up the loose ends well.
Overall, another engaging read from this author that is recommend to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest record.
The cat and mouse game between Emily and Christian is very tense and there were times where I just felt she was in a helpless situation. I enjoyed the chapters told from when they were in college to help build the characterization as the current events unfolded. I was truly surprised by the twist at the end, which doesn’t happen much for me- that alone is worth the read. I thought the ending of the book was mostly satisfying and that it tied up the loose ends well.
Overall, another engaging read from this author that is recommend to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest record.
September 8, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Well, I'm a bit torn. I absolutely loved the first part fo the book, I loved hating Christian for what he did and what he was doing. Then the huge twist I didn't see coming and I feel a bit cheated. I kind of like the way it ended though, just a little bit sad about it.
Well, I'm a bit torn. I absolutely loved the first part fo the book, I loved hating Christian for what he did and what he was doing. Then the huge twist I didn't see coming and I feel a bit cheated. I kind of like the way it ended though, just a little bit sad about it.
August 1, 2023
A gripping, psychological thriller which kept me up well into the night.
Emily is marrying the man of her dreams and becoming stepmother to his ten year led daughter. However, the appearance at her wedding of an old flame, causes her fear and panic. He knows something which will destroy her and the life she’s created and it appears that he will stop at nothing.
From the opening pages of the book, there’s clearly something very wrong and I had my heart in my mouth. Christian constantly threatens to reveal “the secret” but when that finally happens towards the end of the book, it turns out that there was not one incident, but two, and that neither character is who they appear to be.
I really enjoyed the suspenseful nature of the book and liked the constant shifting between “then” and “now”. However I found the twist with regards to the characters a bit too unbelievable. I understand what the author was trying to do, but looking back at the storyline, I didn’t see any clues which would lead to that conclusion.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Emily is marrying the man of her dreams and becoming stepmother to his ten year led daughter. However, the appearance at her wedding of an old flame, causes her fear and panic. He knows something which will destroy her and the life she’s created and it appears that he will stop at nothing.
From the opening pages of the book, there’s clearly something very wrong and I had my heart in my mouth. Christian constantly threatens to reveal “the secret” but when that finally happens towards the end of the book, it turns out that there was not one incident, but two, and that neither character is who they appear to be.
I really enjoyed the suspenseful nature of the book and liked the constant shifting between “then” and “now”. However I found the twist with regards to the characters a bit too unbelievable. I understand what the author was trying to do, but looking back at the storyline, I didn’t see any clues which would lead to that conclusion.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2023
This should be the happiest day of Emily's life. She is marrying her love, Jeremy, and is excited to be his daughter, Lexi's new stepmother. Everything is perfect until she notices an uninvited wedding guest. Christian is from her past, a past she had put far behind her and forgotten. Christian, however, has not forgotten and he is determined to make Emily pay for her mistakes.
I'm not quite sure what my issue was with this book. I enjoyed it, but it didn't grip me. The writing and pace were fine. The ending was not what I expected and was satisfying. I think I just didn't connect with any of the characters, I felt no emotion for anyone and that probably made it difficult for me to finish it quickly. I have enjoyed Kathryn Croft's other novels, and look forward to reading more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I'm not quite sure what my issue was with this book. I enjoyed it, but it didn't grip me. The writing and pace were fine. The ending was not what I expected and was satisfying. I think I just didn't connect with any of the characters, I felt no emotion for anyone and that probably made it difficult for me to finish it quickly. I have enjoyed Kathryn Croft's other novels, and look forward to reading more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 22, 2023
Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for an ARC of this book for my honest review!
Okay, this one was GOOD! Can we talk about gaslighting?! Holy moly!
I loved the dual time lines in this book & how the author presented them. It made it extremely easy to decipher which timeline I was reading. Sometimes life gets in the way & I have to stop mid chapter. It was super easy to figure out where I was without having to go back & re read anything.
This book had me glued by the first page & I just had to know what was going to happen. While I do agree with some of the other reviews that some of the characters actions were a little unbelievable, I will say as a whole I really enjoyed the book & DID NOT expect the outcome. There were just enough twists & turns that kept me guessing and until it played out I had no idea.
What is it they say about karma? It’s a real….. 😌
This is a first for me for reading a book by this author and it surely won’t be my last.
Okay, this one was GOOD! Can we talk about gaslighting?! Holy moly!
I loved the dual time lines in this book & how the author presented them. It made it extremely easy to decipher which timeline I was reading. Sometimes life gets in the way & I have to stop mid chapter. It was super easy to figure out where I was without having to go back & re read anything.
This book had me glued by the first page & I just had to know what was going to happen. While I do agree with some of the other reviews that some of the characters actions were a little unbelievable, I will say as a whole I really enjoyed the book & DID NOT expect the outcome. There were just enough twists & turns that kept me guessing and until it played out I had no idea.
What is it they say about karma? It’s a real….. 😌
This is a first for me for reading a book by this author and it surely won’t be my last.
September 12, 2023
I devoured this book, going to find it really hard to write a review without spoilers so here goes. I liked the main characters, found some of the plot devices a bit strange but they were needed for the story so I just went with it and enjoyed it for what it was and so devoured it in an afternoon.
The relationship with the mother in law was so good and so well described.
I was given an advance copy by bookouture and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
The relationship with the mother in law was so good and so well described.
I was given an advance copy by bookouture and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
October 9, 2023
3.5-4 stars ⭐️
What secrets does the guest to the wedding have? Is the bride really who she says she is or is she fleeing the past?
This book truly sucks you in from the start. I was literally clicking the pages eager to find out what Emily was hiding and how her ex had such a tight grip on her, 15 years later when he pops back in her life.
The opening of the novel…Emily, is to be married. It is supposed to be the best day of her life. She finally has the future and life she’s been so eager to live. What more could she dream of besides the perfect life, partner Jermey, bonus daughter to be Lexi and the job she had dreamed of since before she finished high school. Until Christian shows up at HER wedding. Christian and Emily share an unforgettable bond from a long term relationship 15 years prior in Uni!
Emily soon sees her whole life is about to be turned upside down.
This thriller was bone chilling and shook me to the core. All the characters, villains included were likable (most of the time).
I had read another book this year by Kathryn Croft and became an instant fan, so of course I had to get my hands on this new one.
It is an easy read and unpredictable but the storyline was not super unique. I also felt we started out running… slowed to a walk or turtle speed and at 70% we were rushed with lots of twists combed together…too quickly.
I am still a fan… a forever fan and can not wait for more from her. This just wasn’t my favorite but WAS WORTH the read! You will be left speechless, that is a FACT. I was just hoping for those answers sooner and for them to be more direct and not left open ended or rushed.
I received the book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts, review and opinion. So a special thanks to them, the author and Bookouture for the advanced copy. I can not wait for her next.
What secrets does the guest to the wedding have? Is the bride really who she says she is or is she fleeing the past?
This book truly sucks you in from the start. I was literally clicking the pages eager to find out what Emily was hiding and how her ex had such a tight grip on her, 15 years later when he pops back in her life.
The opening of the novel…Emily, is to be married. It is supposed to be the best day of her life. She finally has the future and life she’s been so eager to live. What more could she dream of besides the perfect life, partner Jermey, bonus daughter to be Lexi and the job she had dreamed of since before she finished high school. Until Christian shows up at HER wedding. Christian and Emily share an unforgettable bond from a long term relationship 15 years prior in Uni!
Emily soon sees her whole life is about to be turned upside down.
This thriller was bone chilling and shook me to the core. All the characters, villains included were likable (most of the time).
I had read another book this year by Kathryn Croft and became an instant fan, so of course I had to get my hands on this new one.
It is an easy read and unpredictable but the storyline was not super unique. I also felt we started out running… slowed to a walk or turtle speed and at 70% we were rushed with lots of twists combed together…too quickly.
I am still a fan… a forever fan and can not wait for more from her. This just wasn’t my favorite but WAS WORTH the read! You will be left speechless, that is a FACT. I was just hoping for those answers sooner and for them to be more direct and not left open ended or rushed.
I received the book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts, review and opinion. So a special thanks to them, the author and Bookouture for the advanced copy. I can not wait for her next.
September 26, 2023
The Wedding Guest by Kathryn Croft
Published: September 14, 2023
Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Fiction
Pages: 349
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Kathryn Croft is the bestselling author of eleven psychological thrillers and to date she has sold over one and a half million copies of her books. Kathryn writes full time and is now hard at work on her next book. After twelve years living in London, she now lives in Guildford, Surrey, the place she grew up, with her husband, two children and two crazy cats.
“The past is now behind me.”
WOWZA. This was a ride from the beginning. Told in alternating timelines, the past and the present are woven together to tell a nearly unbelievable story.
The way this story unfolds and the way characters are written is so brilliant. This was the epitome of a razzle-dazzle. Croft has such a talent for creating characters so deeply carved out that readers believe whatever these characters say.
The twist in this book gave me whiplash, and my jaw hit the floor. I did not see things happening the way they did. The masterful manner in which the blindfold gets ripped off our faces, and the brutal spiral from the top is nothing but pure chaos.
This was an excellent read. This book just got better the further I got into it until I couldn’t put it down, and I had to find out the truth!
Published: September 14, 2023
Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Fiction
Pages: 349
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Kathryn Croft is the bestselling author of eleven psychological thrillers and to date she has sold over one and a half million copies of her books. Kathryn writes full time and is now hard at work on her next book. After twelve years living in London, she now lives in Guildford, Surrey, the place she grew up, with her husband, two children and two crazy cats.
“The past is now behind me.”
WOWZA. This was a ride from the beginning. Told in alternating timelines, the past and the present are woven together to tell a nearly unbelievable story.
The way this story unfolds and the way characters are written is so brilliant. This was the epitome of a razzle-dazzle. Croft has such a talent for creating characters so deeply carved out that readers believe whatever these characters say.
The twist in this book gave me whiplash, and my jaw hit the floor. I did not see things happening the way they did. The masterful manner in which the blindfold gets ripped off our faces, and the brutal spiral from the top is nothing but pure chaos.
This was an excellent read. This book just got better the further I got into it until I couldn’t put it down, and I had to find out the truth!
September 12, 2023
Emily is getting married to Jeremy and becoming the stepmother to Lexi and she couldn’t be happier so win the nuptials are done and she turned around to see Christian a man from her past and someone she could’ve lived the rest of her life without seeing needless to say she is shocked. She is relieved when Christian pretends they’re just old friends and that he’s just there to surprise her at her wedding but that doesn’t mean she believes her troubles are behind her because when he asked to meet alone later she knows he is out for revenge. What did she do to Christian and why is he so sad on ruining her life? This book is told in duel timelines current day and back and university where she met the big jerk Christian. I don’t know if I am just over these types of tropes or because I would never allow someone to have the upper hand the way she allows Christian to but I was not overly enthralled with this book. having said that I would still pay to read another great ending like the one in this book I don’t want to give anything away but trust me when I say they are twist interns of plenty. I have read other books by this author that I really liked but felt like this one was only OK with the exception of the ending. I want to thank Bookoucher and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
September 28, 2023
The Wedding Guest is an exciting standalone thriller that’s riveting and compelling.
Emily is about to marry Jeremy, the love of her life.
She is also a stepmother to Lexi.
It should be the most perfect day.
But as the ceremony ends and Emily looks into the crowd, her smile disappears.
An uninvited guest and her dark past is right in front of her.
Her ex boyfriend, Christian.
Emily’s new life is about to crumble when secrets from ten years ago reappear.
The truth is about to catch up to Emily……
Revenge, blackmail, deception and lots of melodrama, there’s so much to enjoy and devour in this clever plot.
Utterly compelling, totally gripping and very addictive.
I was delighted how the writer went with the storyline and was even gobsmacked a couple of times.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Emily is about to marry Jeremy, the love of her life.
She is also a stepmother to Lexi.
It should be the most perfect day.
But as the ceremony ends and Emily looks into the crowd, her smile disappears.
An uninvited guest and her dark past is right in front of her.
Her ex boyfriend, Christian.
Emily’s new life is about to crumble when secrets from ten years ago reappear.
The truth is about to catch up to Emily……
Revenge, blackmail, deception and lots of melodrama, there’s so much to enjoy and devour in this clever plot.
Utterly compelling, totally gripping and very addictive.
I was delighted how the writer went with the storyline and was even gobsmacked a couple of times.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
August 30, 2023
Wow! This book had me on edge the whole way through. I was so tense and worried for Emily that Christian was going to harm her or her new family. The writing is superb.
Emily has just got married to Jeremy and is stepmother to his 10 year old daughter, Lexi. When they get married in an idyllic beach setting in Greece, she couldn't be happier. Until, that is, she sees an unwanted guest from her past - Christian - who threatens to expose her secrets if she does not do what he wants.
The story takes us back to Emily's uni days where she meets Christian and how her mother controls her. It goes back and forward between this time and the present and links really well.
No spoilers, but some brilliant twists and turns along the way. Another fantastic read from Kathryn Croft. 5⭐️
Emily has just got married to Jeremy and is stepmother to his 10 year old daughter, Lexi. When they get married in an idyllic beach setting in Greece, she couldn't be happier. Until, that is, she sees an unwanted guest from her past - Christian - who threatens to expose her secrets if she does not do what he wants.
The story takes us back to Emily's uni days where she meets Christian and how her mother controls her. It goes back and forward between this time and the present and links really well.
No spoilers, but some brilliant twists and turns along the way. Another fantastic read from Kathryn Croft. 5⭐️
August 30, 2023
Wow let me start off by saying this book took a complete turn from how I thought it was going to end. I like how it goes from present day and then goes back to younger days. It switches back and forth telling a story of how Emily got married and started a family and then a secret guest shows up from her past and basically tells her he’s going to ruin her life for what had happened in the past. It goes on to back when she was in college and how she met this person and how things went, and it kept going from one chapter of her life to another. I definitely did not see the ending the way it turned out. Took me by complete shock. I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down.
August 27, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This is my second book by this author, and she really knows how to add some twists! There is so much happening in this thriller. It has murder, emotional abuse, obsession, and lies, lies, lies! The protagonist is horrified when a troubled person from her past appears at her wedding of all places! What does he want? The answer is a long tale that weaves many subplots. Interesting book!
August 22, 2024
Labs stāsts, ar pavērsieniem, ka beigās vairs nesaprotu, kurš ir tas trakais, patika, ka beidzās oriģināli.
Sieviete bēg no pagātnes pieļautās kļudas, kļūda, kas netiek atklāta līdz pašām beigām. Viņu šantažē bijušais, kurš bija pilnībā iejaukts un vaino viņu pie dzīves sabeigšanas. Kā uz to visu reaģē viņas jaunais vīrs, vīra meita un apkārtējie ir diezgan interesanti lasīt.
Man patika kā aprakstīts, interesanti pavērsieni, bet beigas tādas ātras, pārāk aprauta sajūta bija.
Sieviete bēg no pagātnes pieļautās kļudas, kļūda, kas netiek atklāta līdz pašām beigām. Viņu šantažē bijušais, kurš bija pilnībā iejaukts un vaino viņu pie dzīves sabeigšanas. Kā uz to visu reaģē viņas jaunais vīrs, vīra meita un apkārtējie ir diezgan interesanti lasīt.
Man patika kā aprakstīts, interesanti pavērsieni, bet beigas tādas ātras, pārāk aprauta sajūta bija.
September 18, 2023
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. This was a very interesting story. It goes back and forth between the current timeline and to when she first met her ex. I didn't like the ending that well.
August 20, 2023
A rounded up 2.5* Disappointed with this one. The ending is poor at best.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews