What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dream Wedding
You are invited to the most glamorous event of the year. But this dream wedding is about to turn into a nightmare.
I should have known a fairy-tale ending was too much to hope for.
Marrying Suraj Sharma — billionaire, golden boy and the man who plucked me from obscurity — was meant to be my fresh start.
A new life. A clean slate.
But as I stand on the edge of the most extravagant wedding imaginable, the past I thought I’d buried begins to claw its way back.
It began with anonymous texts and threatening letters in the post.
And ends with a scream ripping through the resort on the eve of the ceremony. A body falling from the cliffs.
Now, my dream wedding is a crime scene.
They say it was an accident. But I know the truth . . .
I should have known a fairy-tale ending was too much to hope for.
Marrying Suraj Sharma — billionaire, golden boy and the man who plucked me from obscurity — was meant to be my fresh start.
A new life. A clean slate.
But as I stand on the edge of the most extravagant wedding imaginable, the past I thought I’d buried begins to claw its way back.
It began with anonymous texts and threatening letters in the post.
And ends with a scream ripping through the resort on the eve of the ceremony. A body falling from the cliffs.
Now, my dream wedding is a crime scene.
They say it was an accident. But I know the truth . . .
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2025
196 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
Renita D'Silva
21 books410 followersRenita D’Silva loves stories both reading and creating them. Wartime Comes To West India Dock Road, the second book in her historical saga series set on West India Dock Road, is out on July 23, 2025. Her books have been translated into several languages. Her short stories have been published in The View from Here, Bartleby Snopes, this zine, Platinum Page, Paragraph Planet, Verve among others, have been nominated for the Pushcart prize, the Best of the Net anthology, shortlisted for the LoveReading Very Short Story award and The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize and longlisted for the BBC National Short Story award. Her short story, Eavesdropping Shamelessly, is published in the Arts Council England funded Bridges Not Borders anthology of prizewinning stories. Her first psychological thriller, The Neighbours, won the Joffe Books Prize 2023. Her second psychological thriller, The Dream Wedding, is out now.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 28, 2025
The story is packed with suspense and tension. Sam is just an ordinary woman with a hidden past and is marrying a charismatic billionaire, Suraj Sharma. Their highly publicized wedding at a seven-star resort is in Cornwall. It begins with threatening messages and on the eve of the wedding a body falls from the cliffs. "Every character — from friends and family to resort staff — becomes a potential suspect, and the author keeps readers questioning who can truly be trusted." Enjoy the ride!! I love a scandalous rags to riches story.
November 18, 2025
The only twist was me twisting in boredom
I spent this entire book waiting for something to happen. A twist, a reveal, a surprise, a plot… honestly I would have accepted a mildly interesting sentence. Instead I got a story so transparent I could practically see through the pages.
I did not like the writing. I did not like the characters. I did not like the “romance” which felt about as realistic as a Hallmark movie written by someone who has never spoken to another human being. They fell in love so fast I got whiplash and not in a fun romance-novella way, more in a “are you sure this isn’t satire?” way.
There were moments I considered throwing myself off a cliff in Cornwall just to feel something, but sadly I cannot afford the airfare or the dramatic exit. So I just kept reading and slowly died inside instead.
I stayed until the end, believing a twist MUST be coming.
There was no twist.
The only twist was me twisting into a pretzel of disappointment.
Would I recommend this book? Only if you’re trying to punish someone.
Everyone else: run.
I spent this entire book waiting for something to happen. A twist, a reveal, a surprise, a plot… honestly I would have accepted a mildly interesting sentence. Instead I got a story so transparent I could practically see through the pages.
I did not like the writing. I did not like the characters. I did not like the “romance” which felt about as realistic as a Hallmark movie written by someone who has never spoken to another human being. They fell in love so fast I got whiplash and not in a fun romance-novella way, more in a “are you sure this isn’t satire?” way.
There were moments I considered throwing myself off a cliff in Cornwall just to feel something, but sadly I cannot afford the airfare or the dramatic exit. So I just kept reading and slowly died inside instead.
I stayed until the end, believing a twist MUST be coming.
There was no twist.
The only twist was me twisting into a pretzel of disappointment.
Would I recommend this book? Only if you’re trying to punish someone.
Everyone else: run.
October 2, 2025
3.5 Rounded Up
This was different, slightly predictable and fun.
This was different, slightly predictable and fun.
October 17, 2025
* I listened to this on Audible.
I’ve never read anything by this author so maybe her other books are a great but this one was so difficult to get through. I almost gave up but was curious how it ended. There were too many “twists” with the characters that just didn’t seem plausible, although there were a couple that was so glaringly obvious. I found myself yelling at Sam every time her “conscience” spoke up. I was like “enough already!”
I’ve never read anything by this author so maybe her other books are a great but this one was so difficult to get through. I almost gave up but was curious how it ended. There were too many “twists” with the characters that just didn’t seem plausible, although there were a couple that was so glaringly obvious. I found myself yelling at Sam every time her “conscience” spoke up. I was like “enough already!”
May 4, 2025
4.5⭐️
I was drawn in by the cover of this book and boy did it exceed my expectations!!
This one definitely kept me guessing, I swear I didn’t see those twist coming until I got closer to the end. I absolutely loved how this isn’t the fairytale ending that you always get. The story did start off slow but once it picked up you won’t be able to put it down! The development of the characters were very thought out and I appreciated the development of learning who each character was. That last part had me so upset for Sam! If there will be another book I will definitely be reading!!!
This deserves a spot on your never ending TBR 😉
Thank you @NetGalley and @Joffebooks for allowing me to review this ARC! I will definitely be checking out more books from Renita D’Silva
I was drawn in by the cover of this book and boy did it exceed my expectations!!
This one definitely kept me guessing, I swear I didn’t see those twist coming until I got closer to the end. I absolutely loved how this isn’t the fairytale ending that you always get. The story did start off slow but once it picked up you won’t be able to put it down! The development of the characters were very thought out and I appreciated the development of learning who each character was. That last part had me so upset for Sam! If there will be another book I will definitely be reading!!!
This deserves a spot on your never ending TBR 😉
Thank you @NetGalley and @Joffebooks for allowing me to review this ARC! I will definitely be checking out more books from Renita D’Silva
February 2, 2026
I’m going to be honest, I really only read this book because I saw that my sister had read it and had rated it 1 star. She’s much stingier with those 1 and 2 star ratings than me so I knew I had to see what that 1 star was about. So naturally I spent almost 8 hours of my day listening to this audiobook instead of taking 5 seconds sending her a text.
My sister and I do have similiar tastes in books, but do disagree occasionally (looking at you ACOTR) so me hating this book wasn’t actually a sure thing. Plus, it was one of the shorter audiobooks queued up in my Audible library.
Anyway, onto the actual review…
There are 2 really great things this book has going for it, and a LOT of not so great things. Since it’s a new year, I’m going to try to focus on the positives of The Dream Wedding.
Positive #1: The cover. Honestly I really like the cover image with the broken ring and the blood. Great vibes for a domestic thriller.
Positive #2: (This does depend on who you are). If you’re me (or my sister), we never ever have to read this story again. And if you’re not myself nor my sister you never ever have to start this book. Seriously, even if it’s an Audible freebie, I highly recommend skipping it.
My sister and I do have similiar tastes in books, but do disagree occasionally (looking at you ACOTR) so me hating this book wasn’t actually a sure thing. Plus, it was one of the shorter audiobooks queued up in my Audible library.
Anyway, onto the actual review…
There are 2 really great things this book has going for it, and a LOT of not so great things. Since it’s a new year, I’m going to try to focus on the positives of The Dream Wedding.
Positive #1: The cover. Honestly I really like the cover image with the broken ring and the blood. Great vibes for a domestic thriller.
Positive #2: (This does depend on who you are). If you’re me (or my sister), we never ever have to read this story again. And if you’re not myself nor my sister you never ever have to start this book. Seriously, even if it’s an Audible freebie, I highly recommend skipping it.
May 2, 2025
THE DREAM WEDDING BY RENITA D'SILVA
Release date set for the 14th of May 2025.
How gorgeous is the cover for the book. Stunning.
I thought this story was slow paced for me personally but a good storyline overall.
This is my first book by this author and I'll be read more of her work in the future
Release date set for the 14th of May 2025.
How gorgeous is the cover for the book. Stunning.
I thought this story was slow paced for me personally but a good storyline overall.
This is my first book by this author and I'll be read more of her work in the future
November 9, 2025
DNF; I don’t enjoy books where the main character is a timid, indecisive mouse who goes through life putting her head in the sand. The constant internal dithering monologue got tedious and boring halfway through the book. Also, the amount of time the author repeated that Sam was putting on weight and not fitting her clothes was over the top.
November 7, 2025
DNF’d my first book ever bc this just sucked so bad
August 13, 2025
A luxurious 7 star resort in Cornwall is set to host the most extravagant wedding of the year. Suraj Sharma, heir to billions, is getting married to commoner, Sam Reeve. The entire resort has been booked and the staff have been made to sign non disclosure agreements. Everyone is eager to know the details of the event.
Sam still cannot believe that someone like Suraj wants to marry her, and if he was aware of her past he definitely would not be with her, but she's left that all behind with a new identity. When she starts to recieve threatening notes from someone who apparently knows her secret, and warnings to not marry Suraj, she begins to have second thoughts. She loves Suraj, but he cannot find out the truth. Sam recruits the aid of one of the hotel employees, Lalita, to help find out who is threatening her. Then a tragic accident occurs, and everyone is suspect.
Renita D'Silva has been one of my favorite authors of historically set fiction. She's recently started writing in this new genre and I personally have not enjoyed them as much. This storyline was very slow and the entire time I felt it was a bit farfetched. So much of the plot was too obvious or simply implausible. The "secret" affair wasn't really a secret, I had that part figured out pretty quickly. Not a single character was likeable. The way their lives all intertwined was just way too convenient for the story. I also felt that the some first and last chapters didn't quite fit in with the rest of the story.
Overall, while a good attempt, this one missed the mark for me. I still look forward to reading more by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Sam still cannot believe that someone like Suraj wants to marry her, and if he was aware of her past he definitely would not be with her, but she's left that all behind with a new identity. When she starts to recieve threatening notes from someone who apparently knows her secret, and warnings to not marry Suraj, she begins to have second thoughts. She loves Suraj, but he cannot find out the truth. Sam recruits the aid of one of the hotel employees, Lalita, to help find out who is threatening her. Then a tragic accident occurs, and everyone is suspect.
Renita D'Silva has been one of my favorite authors of historically set fiction. She's recently started writing in this new genre and I personally have not enjoyed them as much. This storyline was very slow and the entire time I felt it was a bit farfetched. So much of the plot was too obvious or simply implausible. The "secret" affair wasn't really a secret, I had that part figured out pretty quickly. Not a single character was likeable. The way their lives all intertwined was just way too convenient for the story. I also felt that the some first and last chapters didn't quite fit in with the rest of the story.
Overall, while a good attempt, this one missed the mark for me. I still look forward to reading more by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2025
If hot mess was a book!
Just unrealistic and over the top.
Just unrealistic and over the top.
May 28, 2025
The Dream Wedding by Renita D'Silva.
I just loved the cover. It was gorgeous. It was a little slow for me. But I read it, and I did like the writing style and the story. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I didn't have any favourites.
I just loved the cover. It was gorgeous. It was a little slow for me. But I read it, and I did like the writing style and the story. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I didn't have any favourites.
November 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I liked this story ok. It had a good premise, I liked the characters, the twist was surprising. All the right things.
So why just 3.5? It was mediocre and took too long to grab my attention.
By the time I was invested and eager to know what was going on, the story was almost over!
I liked this story ok. It had a good premise, I liked the characters, the twist was surprising. All the right things.
So why just 3.5? It was mediocre and took too long to grab my attention.
By the time I was invested and eager to know what was going on, the story was almost over!
November 8, 2025
3.75⭐️
I actually quite enjoyed this, idk how i feel about some of the voices in the audio book, but otherwise a good book
I actually quite enjoyed this, idk how i feel about some of the voices in the audio book, but otherwise a good book
November 8, 2025
3.5 stars if I could. I had a hard time getting into the book, but then I got sucked in, just in time to hate the last minute.
October 28, 2025
A bit of whiplash regarding the flash forwards and backs and changes in POV. A bit repetitive. A bit simplistic in the reveal. But entertaining and engaging enough. The MMC is a walking red flag. The set up of who goes over the cliff at start was intruiging and you don't find out until the end. The pay off felt a bit too easy. I'm glad it had a happy ending though
December 13, 2025
DNF
included with audible membership
included with audible membership
May 16, 2025
As soon as I spotted this cover, I absolutely had to get my hands on this book and dive on in!
I read The Neighbours by this author about a year ago and loved it - again with a brilliant cover!
I just can't help being drawn in when there's a strong hint of foul play and especially with a disaster wedding too.
I was hooked from the very first few pages and knew that I was going to struggle to put this down!
At first, it seems like this might be a nice cosy mystery with a strong romantic element with the dream wedding, but with both Sam and Suraj having some skeletons in their closets, we soon race into much darker territory.
I loved Sam and Suraj's love story - ordinary girl accidentally meets the perfect billionaire and love blossoms.
As the story unfolds though, we become all too aware that everyone has secrets - and unfortunately, sometimes these follow you through life.
This kept me guessing on the whole, packed with clues throughout, but I loved trying to work through it all and make my own theories.
I didn't do too badly working bits out, but the journey to the exciting reveal was well worthwhile.
I loved the glamorous setting and all the wedding details - but the cliffs were definitely an omen and I felt on edge at times which kept me racing though to the end.
Another great read and I'll be keeping an eye out for more from this author now to add to my tbr....
I read The Neighbours by this author about a year ago and loved it - again with a brilliant cover!
I just can't help being drawn in when there's a strong hint of foul play and especially with a disaster wedding too.
I was hooked from the very first few pages and knew that I was going to struggle to put this down!
At first, it seems like this might be a nice cosy mystery with a strong romantic element with the dream wedding, but with both Sam and Suraj having some skeletons in their closets, we soon race into much darker territory.
I loved Sam and Suraj's love story - ordinary girl accidentally meets the perfect billionaire and love blossoms.
As the story unfolds though, we become all too aware that everyone has secrets - and unfortunately, sometimes these follow you through life.
This kept me guessing on the whole, packed with clues throughout, but I loved trying to work through it all and make my own theories.
I didn't do too badly working bits out, but the journey to the exciting reveal was well worthwhile.
I loved the glamorous setting and all the wedding details - but the cliffs were definitely an omen and I felt on edge at times which kept me racing though to the end.
Another great read and I'll be keeping an eye out for more from this author now to add to my tbr....
October 22, 2025
I didn't really like this one. The many "twists" either felt very forced or were easy to spot from miles away. Characters were shallow and bland - I think my favorites were the ones in the bookends of the story that didn't feature in the actual plotline at all. I never liked her boyfriend, so him turning out to be a jerk was obviously not a big shock or any real loss. The sister also sucked from the start. I also didn't appreciate that both of them were just...evil because they were born evil somehow. I mean you don't have to give them a sympathetic backstory, but goodness, at least give them some color! Even the main character was a doe-eyed Mary Sue with a predictable trauma instead of seeming particularly complex.
Oh, well. The book held my interest while I spent a day cleaning the house, and I guess that's all I really needed. It was also clean for the most part, which doesn't happen super often either, and I really liked the Indian culture influence and details. Over all...your mileage my vary, as they say, but this one just wasn't for me. Maybe I'll shove it off a cliff into the ocean or something.
Oh, well. The book held my interest while I spent a day cleaning the house, and I guess that's all I really needed. It was also clean for the most part, which doesn't happen super often either, and I really liked the Indian culture influence and details. Over all...your mileage my vary, as they say, but this one just wasn't for me. Maybe I'll shove it off a cliff into the ocean or something.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2025
Renita D’Silva’s The Dream Wedding is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that immerses readers in a world where opulence masks ominous secrets. Set against the backdrop of an exclusive resort, the narrative follows the protagonist as her fairy-tale wedding to billionaire Suraj Sharma spirals into a chilling nightmare.
D’Silva’s storytelling is both intricate and compelling, weaving a tapestry of suspense that keeps readers on edge. The novel opens with a mysterious death, immediately setting a tone of intrigue. As anonymous threats and unsettling revelations surface, the line between reality and deception blurs, leading to a series of twists that are both unpredictable and satisfying.
The characters are richly developed, with the bride’s journey from blissful anticipation to harrowing realization portrayed with emotional depth. D’Silva delves into themes of trust, identity, and the shadows of the past, crafting a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.
The epilogue stands out as a poignant conclusion, offering closure while leaving a lingering sense of contemplation. It’s a testament to D’Silva’s skill in delivering a story that resonates beyond its final page.
For fans of authors like Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware, The Dream Wedding is a must-read that combines psychological depth with gripping suspense.
D’Silva’s storytelling is both intricate and compelling, weaving a tapestry of suspense that keeps readers on edge. The novel opens with a mysterious death, immediately setting a tone of intrigue. As anonymous threats and unsettling revelations surface, the line between reality and deception blurs, leading to a series of twists that are both unpredictable and satisfying.
The characters are richly developed, with the bride’s journey from blissful anticipation to harrowing realization portrayed with emotional depth. D’Silva delves into themes of trust, identity, and the shadows of the past, crafting a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.
The epilogue stands out as a poignant conclusion, offering closure while leaving a lingering sense of contemplation. It’s a testament to D’Silva’s skill in delivering a story that resonates beyond its final page.
For fans of authors like Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware, The Dream Wedding is a must-read that combines psychological depth with gripping suspense.
May 8, 2025
Gripping
After serving time in prison for causing the deaths of her parents, Sam wants a quiet life, so she can't believe it when she meets, by chance, billionaire Suraj Sharma, and he asks her out on a date. They are soon meeting up regularly and it is not long before he proposes, but Sam hasn't told him the truth about herself. She is also receiving anonymous texts and notes, from someone who seems to know all about her, but still she cannot tell him. Will she ever be able to come clean, and how can she go ahead with the wedding, withholding the truth? This is a gripping book with plenty of twists and turns.
After serving time in prison for causing the deaths of her parents, Sam wants a quiet life, so she can't believe it when she meets, by chance, billionaire Suraj Sharma, and he asks her out on a date. They are soon meeting up regularly and it is not long before he proposes, but Sam hasn't told him the truth about herself. She is also receiving anonymous texts and notes, from someone who seems to know all about her, but still she cannot tell him. Will she ever be able to come clean, and how can she go ahead with the wedding, withholding the truth? This is a gripping book with plenty of twists and turns.
April 14, 2025
A dream wedding becomes a crime scene.
This psychological suspense thriller won't leave a fairytale ending.
What a well written book this is, set in Cornwall as the most talked about wedding of the year.
Sam Reeve an ordinary girl from Essex and multi millionaire Suraj Sharma.
I was engrossed from the start all the way through, getting my head around this book.
Chapters were mind-blowing to say the least, and so unputdownable.
Absolutely loved it.
This psychological suspense thriller won't leave a fairytale ending.
What a well written book this is, set in Cornwall as the most talked about wedding of the year.
Sam Reeve an ordinary girl from Essex and multi millionaire Suraj Sharma.
I was engrossed from the start all the way through, getting my head around this book.
Chapters were mind-blowing to say the least, and so unputdownable.
Absolutely loved it.
May 21, 2025
Here is my review for The Dream Wedding by Renita D’Silva
This was an intriguing psychological thriller that drew me into reading this story. Suraj Sharma met his bride-to-be purely by chance when she stumbled and he caught her at a bookstore. She wasn’t keen on crowds and he invited her for a coffee after the book signing. She agreed and they had a good time enjoying each other's company. They started seeing each other but she couldn’t get used to the paparazzi and his fame or his wealth. She wasn’t interested in that. Just him. She was afraid they might find out about her past. Then the trolls started hounding her, he said don’t take any notice of them but it was hard not to. This was a great story that was well written and the plots woven into it. The characters were interesting and played their parts well. It was a great storyline that I haven’t come across before. It had been well planned and thought out. I liked the author’s writing style and it was easy to get into. I look forward to the author’s next book.
Blurb :
You are invited to the most glamorous event of the year. But this dream wedding is about to turn into a nightmare.
I should have known a fairy-tale ending was too much to hope for.
Marrying Suraj Sharma — billionaire, golden boy and the man who plucked me from obscurity — was meant to be my fresh start.
A new life. A clean slate.
But as I stand on the edge of the most extravagant wedding imaginable, the past I thought I’d buried begins to claw its way back.
It began with anonymous texts and threatening letters in the post.
And ends with a scream ripping through the resort on the eve of the ceremony. A body falling from the cliffs.
Now, my dream wedding is a crime scene.
They say it was an accident. But I know the truth . . .
This exhilarating and fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing long into the night. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Shalini Boland, Valerie Keogh’s The Wives, Shari Lapena or Adele Parks.
This was an intriguing psychological thriller that drew me into reading this story. Suraj Sharma met his bride-to-be purely by chance when she stumbled and he caught her at a bookstore. She wasn’t keen on crowds and he invited her for a coffee after the book signing. She agreed and they had a good time enjoying each other's company. They started seeing each other but she couldn’t get used to the paparazzi and his fame or his wealth. She wasn’t interested in that. Just him. She was afraid they might find out about her past. Then the trolls started hounding her, he said don’t take any notice of them but it was hard not to. This was a great story that was well written and the plots woven into it. The characters were interesting and played their parts well. It was a great storyline that I haven’t come across before. It had been well planned and thought out. I liked the author’s writing style and it was easy to get into. I look forward to the author’s next book.
Blurb :
You are invited to the most glamorous event of the year. But this dream wedding is about to turn into a nightmare.
I should have known a fairy-tale ending was too much to hope for.
Marrying Suraj Sharma — billionaire, golden boy and the man who plucked me from obscurity — was meant to be my fresh start.
A new life. A clean slate.
But as I stand on the edge of the most extravagant wedding imaginable, the past I thought I’d buried begins to claw its way back.
It began with anonymous texts and threatening letters in the post.
And ends with a scream ripping through the resort on the eve of the ceremony. A body falling from the cliffs.
Now, my dream wedding is a crime scene.
They say it was an accident. But I know the truth . . .
This exhilarating and fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing long into the night. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Shalini Boland, Valerie Keogh’s The Wives, Shari Lapena or Adele Parks.
May 3, 2025
What should have been the happiest day of Sam’s life turns into a nightmare — and sets her on an unexpected, dangerous path. In The Dream Wedding, Sam is about to marry a wealthy Indian man at a luxurious seven-star resort in Cornwall, a far cry from the life she ever imagined for herself. But Sam is hiding a dark secret: her real name is Maisy, and she once served time in prison for the murder of her parents — or so she has been led to believe.
Renita D’Silva delivers a slow-burning psychological thriller packed with gaslighting, deception, and class tension. Sam has been doing her best to live quietly, until her world is upended by falling in love with a wealthy playboy who seems to worship her. Yet as their wedding approaches, anonymous threats about her hidden past begin to surface. Should she tell her fiancé the truth? Would he still love her — or would he walk away, shattering her world once again?
Meeting her soon-to-be mother-in-law, Sam is acutely aware that she’s out of her fiancé’s league, both in class and social standing. But darker forces are working behind the scenes. Sam soon realizes she’s nothing more than a pawn in a twisted game — and if she’s not careful, she might not live to see her wedding day.
Enter another mysterious figure, a woman bent on revenge, whose life was also shattered by the same person pulling Sam’s strings. As the story unfolds, the stakes rise, and Sam is left trying to unravel a complex web of motives and lies.
While The Dream Wedding has a slow build, once you reach the pivotal death scene, the novel morphs into a gripping puzzle. It reminded me of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, where everyone seems to have a motive, and each character plays a role in the tragic outcome.
Fans of psychological thrillers, gaslighting plots, and twisty UK crime fiction will enjoy this unsettling and compelling read. Thank you to Zooloos Book Tours for providing this ARC!
Renita D’Silva delivers a slow-burning psychological thriller packed with gaslighting, deception, and class tension. Sam has been doing her best to live quietly, until her world is upended by falling in love with a wealthy playboy who seems to worship her. Yet as their wedding approaches, anonymous threats about her hidden past begin to surface. Should she tell her fiancé the truth? Would he still love her — or would he walk away, shattering her world once again?
Meeting her soon-to-be mother-in-law, Sam is acutely aware that she’s out of her fiancé’s league, both in class and social standing. But darker forces are working behind the scenes. Sam soon realizes she’s nothing more than a pawn in a twisted game — and if she’s not careful, she might not live to see her wedding day.
Enter another mysterious figure, a woman bent on revenge, whose life was also shattered by the same person pulling Sam’s strings. As the story unfolds, the stakes rise, and Sam is left trying to unravel a complex web of motives and lies.
While The Dream Wedding has a slow build, once you reach the pivotal death scene, the novel morphs into a gripping puzzle. It reminded me of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, where everyone seems to have a motive, and each character plays a role in the tragic outcome.
Fans of psychological thrillers, gaslighting plots, and twisty UK crime fiction will enjoy this unsettling and compelling read. Thank you to Zooloos Book Tours for providing this ARC!
May 15, 2025
"An exclusive resort. A dream wedding. A killer among the guests."
The Dream Wedding by Renita D'Silva is a suspenseful psychological thriller where everyone is hiding a secret, and you will be kept guessing right up until the very end.
Marrying Suraj Sharma was supposed to be the beginning of a brand new life for Sam. When they met, Sam was just an ordinary girl, well an ordinary girl with a hidden secret. Billionaire Suraj quickly sweeps Sam right off of her feet and they tumble into a whirlwind romance. Now as Sam is set to marry Suraj, her past starts to creep in on her. Anonymous texts and threatening letters in the mail have made Sam realize that her secret is not safe, someone knows what she has tried to bury. Then the night before the wedding at the resort, a body is found. Even though the police think this was an accident, Sam knows better.
I have never read anything by D'Silva before, so I was pleasantly surprised by The Dream Wedding. A mysterious death, threatening messages, and hidden secrets... all things that make a great thriller. Add in D'Silva's storytelling, a mix of suspense and vivid imagery, and you have a great read! The characters are well developed with the perfect amount of emotional depth. And I loved the epilogue where everything is tied up in a nice little bow but still had me thinking about it long after I finished reading. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of Adele Parks and Lucy Foley as well as lovers of psychological suspense thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley, Renita D'Silva, and Joffe Books for this ARC!! Publication date is May 14th 2025.
The Dream Wedding by Renita D'Silva is a suspenseful psychological thriller where everyone is hiding a secret, and you will be kept guessing right up until the very end.
Marrying Suraj Sharma was supposed to be the beginning of a brand new life for Sam. When they met, Sam was just an ordinary girl, well an ordinary girl with a hidden secret. Billionaire Suraj quickly sweeps Sam right off of her feet and they tumble into a whirlwind romance. Now as Sam is set to marry Suraj, her past starts to creep in on her. Anonymous texts and threatening letters in the mail have made Sam realize that her secret is not safe, someone knows what she has tried to bury. Then the night before the wedding at the resort, a body is found. Even though the police think this was an accident, Sam knows better.
I have never read anything by D'Silva before, so I was pleasantly surprised by The Dream Wedding. A mysterious death, threatening messages, and hidden secrets... all things that make a great thriller. Add in D'Silva's storytelling, a mix of suspense and vivid imagery, and you have a great read! The characters are well developed with the perfect amount of emotional depth. And I loved the epilogue where everything is tied up in a nice little bow but still had me thinking about it long after I finished reading. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of Adele Parks and Lucy Foley as well as lovers of psychological suspense thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley, Renita D'Silva, and Joffe Books for this ARC!! Publication date is May 14th 2025.
April 16, 2025
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
A luxury resort. A fairytale wedding. A murderer hiding in plain sight.
She should’ve known happily-ever-afters don’t come easy. Marrying Suraj Sharma — the billionaire heartthrob who pulled her out of obscurity — was supposed to mark the beginning of a brand-new chapter. A chance to start over. Wipe the slate clean but just as Sam is about to step into this glamorous new life, the past she tried to leave behind starts creeping in.
First, it’s the anonymous messages. Then, the sinister letters and then, on the night before the wedding, a scream echoes through the resort — followed by a body plunging from the cliffs. Her picture-perfect wedding has turned into a nightmare. They’re calling it an accident. But she knows the truth...
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
Just wrapped up this psychological suspense thriller and it definitely kept me guessing. It’s not the kind of story that gives you a neat, fairytale ending — and honestly, that’s part of the appeal.
There were a few twists that totally caught me off guard, and others I kind of saw coming, but they all worked to build the tension. The pacing starts off slow, so it took me a little while to get into it, but once things started unfolding, I was hooked.
What I really appreciated was how the author tied everything together at the end — it felt thoughtful and well done. If you’re into slow-burn thrillers with a darker edge and a satisfying conclusion, this one’s worth a spot on your TBR.
Thank You @Netgalley and @Joffeebooks for allowing me to review this ARC.
A luxury resort. A fairytale wedding. A murderer hiding in plain sight.
She should’ve known happily-ever-afters don’t come easy. Marrying Suraj Sharma — the billionaire heartthrob who pulled her out of obscurity — was supposed to mark the beginning of a brand-new chapter. A chance to start over. Wipe the slate clean but just as Sam is about to step into this glamorous new life, the past she tried to leave behind starts creeping in.
First, it’s the anonymous messages. Then, the sinister letters and then, on the night before the wedding, a scream echoes through the resort — followed by a body plunging from the cliffs. Her picture-perfect wedding has turned into a nightmare. They’re calling it an accident. But she knows the truth...
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
Just wrapped up this psychological suspense thriller and it definitely kept me guessing. It’s not the kind of story that gives you a neat, fairytale ending — and honestly, that’s part of the appeal.
There were a few twists that totally caught me off guard, and others I kind of saw coming, but they all worked to build the tension. The pacing starts off slow, so it took me a little while to get into it, but once things started unfolding, I was hooked.
What I really appreciated was how the author tied everything together at the end — it felt thoughtful and well done. If you’re into slow-burn thrillers with a darker edge and a satisfying conclusion, this one’s worth a spot on your TBR.
Thank You @Netgalley and @Joffeebooks for allowing me to review this ARC.
May 17, 2025
The Dream Wedding is a masterclass in psychological tension, dressed in designer fabric and glittering jewels. What starts as a girl-next-door's whirlwind romance with a billionaire and the promise of a happily-ever-after soon twists itself into something deliciously dark, and I gobbled up every page.
Renita D’Silva draws you in with glamour and opulence, but the real power lies just beneath the surface: the quiet dread, the feeling that something isn’t quite right, the way love can blur into performance. Our protagonist is both relatable and deeply unreliable - a woman caught between reinvention and reckoning. I felt her fear, her growing unease, her desperate grasp for truth as the world she’s clinging to begins to unravel.
The pacing is razor-sharp. Anonymous texts, whispered threats, and that devastating moment by the cliffs. D’Silva doesn’t just keep you flipping pages, she dares you to stop. I couldn’t. And I didn't want to. I sat, motionless but for the blur of my fingers as I turned the pages, from beginning to end in one sitting.
What makes this more than just another thriller is the emotional depth buried in the suspense. Beneath the glitz is a woman haunted by her past, forced to ask: can you ever really outrun who you once were? The ending left me breathless. It is clever, tragic, and exactly what the story needed; no neat bows, just raw, earned resolution.
This is one of those thrillers that lingers in your chest long after you’ve read the final line. A five-star read through and through.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews