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You're Invited
What could be worse than your ex-boyfriend marrying your childhood best friend? Getting accused of her murder…
From the author of My Sweet Girl comes a dangerously addictive new thriller about a lavish Sri Lankan wedding celebration that not everyone will survive.
When Amaya is invited to Kaavi’s over-the-top wedding in Sri Lanka, she is surprised and a little hurt to hear from her former best friend after so many years of radio silence. But when Amaya learns that the groom is her very own ex-boyfriend, she is consumed by a single thought: She must stop the wedding from happening, no matter the cost.
But as the weeklong wedding celebrations begin and rumors about Amaya’s past begin to swirl, she can’t help but feel like she also has a target on her back. When Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead, all evidence points to Amaya.
However, nothing is as it seems as Jayatissa expertly unravels that each wedding guest has their own dark secret and agenda, and Amaya may not be the only one with a plan to keep the bride from getting her happily ever after…
From the author of My Sweet Girl comes a dangerously addictive new thriller about a lavish Sri Lankan wedding celebration that not everyone will survive.
When Amaya is invited to Kaavi’s over-the-top wedding in Sri Lanka, she is surprised and a little hurt to hear from her former best friend after so many years of radio silence. But when Amaya learns that the groom is her very own ex-boyfriend, she is consumed by a single thought: She must stop the wedding from happening, no matter the cost.
But as the weeklong wedding celebrations begin and rumors about Amaya’s past begin to swirl, she can’t help but feel like she also has a target on her back. When Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead, all evidence points to Amaya.
However, nothing is as it seems as Jayatissa expertly unravels that each wedding guest has their own dark secret and agenda, and Amaya may not be the only one with a plan to keep the bride from getting her happily ever after…
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,842 reviews
September 7, 2022
Happy belated book birthday 🥳🍾💃🏻📚
Another WTH I just read, why the hell this author so smart and I cannot see those twists coming till they hit me in the head and leave me numb kind of book from brilliant writer of My Sweet Girl!
This book is so intelligent, so addictive, so riveting! Most of the characters are ruthless, unconventional opportunists, ready to eliminate anyone who cross them and prevent them to accomplish their big schemes.
Amaya seems like the villanelle of the story who cyber stalks her estranged best friend Kaavi for 5 years and finds out her marriage with her ex- boyfriend who broke her into pieces!
She flies to Sri Lanka to stop the wedding after getting an e-mail invitation from Kaavi who advises her to leave the past behind and entire family is ready to welcome her with open arms.
But as soon as she reaches at the family house of her friend, she realizes nobody is expecting her! Why did Kaavi lie to her? Does she also have a hidden agenda or she is innocent and has no idea who invited her!
And now Kaavi is missing! From the blood traces and proof of big fight at her hotel room, it seems like she may have been murdered and Amaya is prime suspect.
Did Amaya see the red and take her best friend’s love because she was so jealous of her to steal her love of her life!
We also read the interrogations of several people who witness the events before the wedding day and they truly confuse our minds, making us focus on different theories about the real victim and per perpetrator!
The book is great blend of secrets, lies, manipulation, gaslighting, mental abuse!
I devoured in one sitting! I even liked more than the author’s first book that I also gave five stars!
This is absolute delight and wildest ride you have to buckle and take without hesitation!
I’m absolutely highly recommending you to read it!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Another WTH I just read, why the hell this author so smart and I cannot see those twists coming till they hit me in the head and leave me numb kind of book from brilliant writer of My Sweet Girl!
This book is so intelligent, so addictive, so riveting! Most of the characters are ruthless, unconventional opportunists, ready to eliminate anyone who cross them and prevent them to accomplish their big schemes.
Amaya seems like the villanelle of the story who cyber stalks her estranged best friend Kaavi for 5 years and finds out her marriage with her ex- boyfriend who broke her into pieces!
She flies to Sri Lanka to stop the wedding after getting an e-mail invitation from Kaavi who advises her to leave the past behind and entire family is ready to welcome her with open arms.
But as soon as she reaches at the family house of her friend, she realizes nobody is expecting her! Why did Kaavi lie to her? Does she also have a hidden agenda or she is innocent and has no idea who invited her!
And now Kaavi is missing! From the blood traces and proof of big fight at her hotel room, it seems like she may have been murdered and Amaya is prime suspect.
Did Amaya see the red and take her best friend’s love because she was so jealous of her to steal her love of her life!
We also read the interrogations of several people who witness the events before the wedding day and they truly confuse our minds, making us focus on different theories about the real victim and per perpetrator!
The book is great blend of secrets, lies, manipulation, gaslighting, mental abuse!
I devoured in one sitting! I even liked more than the author’s first book that I also gave five stars!
This is absolute delight and wildest ride you have to buckle and take without hesitation!
I’m absolutely highly recommending you to read it!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
June 24, 2022
Jarring
"I'll never be a victim."
You're Invited is an intense psychological thriller about a woman who is determined to stop the wedding of her ex-best friend to her ex-boyfriend.
When Amaya receives the news that her former best friend, Kaavi, is marrying her ex-boyfriend, Spencer, she is shaken up. She travels to Sri Lanka with a plan to stop the wedding.
All is not what it seems. Amaya is an unreliable narrator with some serious issues, including self-harming. Her voice is dark, obsessive, and unsettling. She made me very uncomfortable. As the narrative progresses and more is shared about her background, my feelings about her changed.
I didn’t like this book in the beginning. Amaya’s character is off-putting, and it took me some time to connect. However, once I reached the point when Amaya traveled to Sri Lanka, I became more and more intrigued. There are some good twists and turns, along with a surprising yet, satisfying ending.
What makes this book stand out from other thrillers is the Sri Lankan setting and commentary on Sri Lankan culture and traditions, which are elements that I knew little about. In addition, Amaya is a strong, developed character. I finished this book several days ago, and I am still thinking about her character. Her voice got under my skin more than I realized.
Overall, this is a solid thriller that took me on quite the journey.
Trigger Warning: Self-harm, BDSM
Thank you to Elisha Katz of Berkley Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"I'll never be a victim."
You're Invited is an intense psychological thriller about a woman who is determined to stop the wedding of her ex-best friend to her ex-boyfriend.
When Amaya receives the news that her former best friend, Kaavi, is marrying her ex-boyfriend, Spencer, she is shaken up. She travels to Sri Lanka with a plan to stop the wedding.
All is not what it seems. Amaya is an unreliable narrator with some serious issues, including self-harming. Her voice is dark, obsessive, and unsettling. She made me very uncomfortable. As the narrative progresses and more is shared about her background, my feelings about her changed.
I didn’t like this book in the beginning. Amaya’s character is off-putting, and it took me some time to connect. However, once I reached the point when Amaya traveled to Sri Lanka, I became more and more intrigued. There are some good twists and turns, along with a surprising yet, satisfying ending.
What makes this book stand out from other thrillers is the Sri Lankan setting and commentary on Sri Lankan culture and traditions, which are elements that I knew little about. In addition, Amaya is a strong, developed character. I finished this book several days ago, and I am still thinking about her character. Her voice got under my skin more than I realized.
Overall, this is a solid thriller that took me on quite the journey.
Trigger Warning: Self-harm, BDSM
Thank you to Elisha Katz of Berkley Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2022
Once this book got going (and it took a while) it was full of surprises and in the end I liked how twisty and surprising it was.
Amaya and Kaavi's friendship fell apart five years before after being friends since childhood. That's why Amaya is surprised to receive a heartfelt e-mail with an invitation to Kaavi's wedding in their home country of Sri Lanka. Yet when she discovers that Kaavi is marrying Amaya's ex Spencer, she knows she has to go and stop Kaavi from marrying Spencer.
Nothing in this book is what it seems on the surface. There are hidden motives, dark secrets, and unclear motivations. I must admit that I thought it was going a certain way and I was completely wrong! Like I said, it did take a while, it takes until the book is at about 50% for things to really start being revealed.
This book does suffer from the unfortunate issue of OTTM--One Twist Too Many. I thought that everything was wrapped up really nicely and then surprise, one more twist was thrown in. It didn't wreck the book, but it was totally unnecessary except that it did answer a couple of the unanswered questions/clues from earlier in the narrative. I'll give the book a pass, but authors need to rein themselves in when throwing in twists.
I loved the Sri Lanka setting and culture. It was fascinating and really gave a unique flavor to the story and kept me engaged. Even though there are foreign words and phrases sprinkled throughout, they are all translated so I wasn't lost.
All in all, this is a very surprising suspense tale, if you stick with it past the initial long setup, the payoff is fantastic.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Amaya and Kaavi's friendship fell apart five years before after being friends since childhood. That's why Amaya is surprised to receive a heartfelt e-mail with an invitation to Kaavi's wedding in their home country of Sri Lanka. Yet when she discovers that Kaavi is marrying Amaya's ex Spencer, she knows she has to go and stop Kaavi from marrying Spencer.
Nothing in this book is what it seems on the surface. There are hidden motives, dark secrets, and unclear motivations. I must admit that I thought it was going a certain way and I was completely wrong! Like I said, it did take a while, it takes until the book is at about 50% for things to really start being revealed.
This book does suffer from the unfortunate issue of OTTM--One Twist Too Many. I thought that everything was wrapped up really nicely and then surprise, one more twist was thrown in. It didn't wreck the book, but it was totally unnecessary except that it did answer a couple of the unanswered questions/clues from earlier in the narrative. I'll give the book a pass, but authors need to rein themselves in when throwing in twists.
I loved the Sri Lanka setting and culture. It was fascinating and really gave a unique flavor to the story and kept me engaged. Even though there are foreign words and phrases sprinkled throughout, they are all translated so I wasn't lost.
All in all, this is a very surprising suspense tale, if you stick with it past the initial long setup, the payoff is fantastic.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
October 28, 2022
i feel really conflicted about this one!
on the one hand, i absolutely adored the setting and getting to feel like i was part of this lavish world in Sri Lanka. but on the other hand... i felt like the story was a little all over the place.
my main issues were pacing and convenience. the first half of this book is pretty glacial. i liked learning about the culture and the family dynamics but literally nothing was unveiled about where the bride disappeared to/no clues were revealed. and when we did get the reveals? a little OTT and convenient given what we know of the characters.
also i think this book kind of suffered thematically. it didn't seem to know if it wanted to be this psychological reflection or just a messy dark family drama. the beginning of the book i was gearing up to learn more about the inner workings of amaya's mind and then all of that disappears after a certain reveal. and then we're tumbling down a 50-ish page rabbit hole of wild twists and reveals that feel out of nowhere.
overall, would be interested to read more from this author in the future but this wasn't a homerun for me.
on the one hand, i absolutely adored the setting and getting to feel like i was part of this lavish world in Sri Lanka. but on the other hand... i felt like the story was a little all over the place.
my main issues were pacing and convenience. the first half of this book is pretty glacial. i liked learning about the culture and the family dynamics but literally nothing was unveiled about where the bride disappeared to/no clues were revealed. and when we did get the reveals? a little OTT and convenient given what we know of the characters.
also i think this book kind of suffered thematically. it didn't seem to know if it wanted to be this psychological reflection or just a messy dark family drama. the beginning of the book i was gearing up to learn more about the inner workings of amaya's mind and then all of that disappears after a certain reveal. and then we're tumbling down a 50-ish page rabbit hole of wild twists and reveals that feel out of nowhere.
overall, would be interested to read more from this author in the future but this wasn't a homerun for me.
September 25, 2022
“Is there anyone present who is against this marriage taking place? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
STOP THE WEDDING!✋🛑
Amaya is speechless. She just opened an invitation she never expected to receive. Her former best friend is getting married to her former boyfriend. Ouch! Not exactly something you see everyday…or is it?🙈
Oddly, when Amaya arrives at the wedding no one seems to want her there. And everyone questions why she’s there in the first place.
But when the bride vanishes, tough questions are sure to shake free the secrets that have been hidden for years. Told in multiple timelines and perspectives from before and after the bride goes missing.
I toggled between the digital and audio versions. And enjoyed both equally.
The multiple narrators in the audio did a fabulous job with all the characters.
A buddy 🎧 with Susanne.
Thanks you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing
STOP THE WEDDING!✋🛑
Amaya is speechless. She just opened an invitation she never expected to receive. Her former best friend is getting married to her former boyfriend. Ouch! Not exactly something you see everyday…or is it?🙈
Oddly, when Amaya arrives at the wedding no one seems to want her there. And everyone questions why she’s there in the first place.
But when the bride vanishes, tough questions are sure to shake free the secrets that have been hidden for years. Told in multiple timelines and perspectives from before and after the bride goes missing.
I toggled between the digital and audio versions. And enjoyed both equally.
The multiple narrators in the audio did a fabulous job with all the characters.
A buddy 🎧 with Susanne.
Thanks you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing
July 28, 2022
Amanda Jayatissa has given readers a multi-layered mystery in her latest novel,
You’re Invited
. Set almost entirely in Colombo, Sri Lanka, culture and family play large roles in this story. Amaya Bloom is invited to Kaavi Fonseka’s wedding in Sri Lanka. Kaavi and Amaya were best friends during childhood and college, but their relationship was broken five years ago. When Amaya learns that the groom is Matthew Spencer (Spence), her own ex-boyfriend, she is determined to stop the wedding. During the wedding celebration week, rumors surface about Amaya and when Kaavi goes missing, everything points to Amaya. However, secrets abound. Who is behind Kaavi’s disappearance? Will Kaavi get her happily ever after or is she dead or kidnapped?
Many of the characters in this story were hard to like. Amaya was an unreliable narrator who felt broken, but somehow determined to stop the wedding. Kaavi felt privileged and occasionally curt to others, but when focused on her charity and her social media content she came across as caring, strong, and independent. Others perceive Spencer to be caring, helpful, and charismatic. These dynamic characters transformed during the course of the story as various events unfolded.
The tale goes back and forth in time from the day of the wedding to three months earlier and several times in-between, especially the week of the wedding. The points of view switch between Amaya and Kaavi as well as transcripts of interviews with various guests on the day of the wedding. This adversely affected the flow for me, but the suspense and the cultural lifestyles and traditions information helped overcome this.
With twists and turns, the story builds momentum with emotionally rich characters, unpredictable moments, a deeply involved plot, and a setting that was new to me. It has plenty of suspense and a little action, but the intensity is what kept me fully engaged. The internal dialogues of Amaya deepened this intensity.
This novel is somewhat unsettling and has many threads woven into the plot. Readers should be aware that besides the bride’s disappearance and presumed demise, there is a focus on family, friendship, how well you know others, control of one’s life, belief in astrology, self-harm, a fixation with lucky numbers, and much more.
Overall, this was an intense novel with suspense and uncertainty. This story felt very realistic and like it could occur. Everyone had agendas and the final reveal had a surprise that I didn’t see coming.
Berkley Publishing Group and Amanda Jayatissa provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 09, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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Review coming soon.
Many of the characters in this story were hard to like. Amaya was an unreliable narrator who felt broken, but somehow determined to stop the wedding. Kaavi felt privileged and occasionally curt to others, but when focused on her charity and her social media content she came across as caring, strong, and independent. Others perceive Spencer to be caring, helpful, and charismatic. These dynamic characters transformed during the course of the story as various events unfolded.
The tale goes back and forth in time from the day of the wedding to three months earlier and several times in-between, especially the week of the wedding. The points of view switch between Amaya and Kaavi as well as transcripts of interviews with various guests on the day of the wedding. This adversely affected the flow for me, but the suspense and the cultural lifestyles and traditions information helped overcome this.
With twists and turns, the story builds momentum with emotionally rich characters, unpredictable moments, a deeply involved plot, and a setting that was new to me. It has plenty of suspense and a little action, but the intensity is what kept me fully engaged. The internal dialogues of Amaya deepened this intensity.
This novel is somewhat unsettling and has many threads woven into the plot. Readers should be aware that besides the bride’s disappearance and presumed demise, there is a focus on family, friendship, how well you know others, control of one’s life, belief in astrology, self-harm, a fixation with lucky numbers, and much more.
Overall, this was an intense novel with suspense and uncertainty. This story felt very realistic and like it could occur. Everyone had agendas and the final reveal had a surprise that I didn’t see coming.
Berkley Publishing Group and Amanda Jayatissa provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 09, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
-------------------------
Review coming soon.
July 8, 2022
I almost stopped reading this because the self-harm and obsessiveness of Amaya in the first few chapters made me extremely uncomfortable, but I’m glad I didn’t because this turned out to be an outstanding mystery/thriller.
Because of her fanatical social media stalking, Amaya learns that her former best friend is set to marry her ex-boyfriend. When she’s invited to the wedding in Sri Lanka, she decides she has to do whatever she can to stop it. This is the first novel I’ve read that is set in Ski Lanka and learning about the customs there was fascinating.
When the bride goes missing during the days-long wedding celebrations, many are called in to be questioned, but the scorned ex-girlfriend certainly seems like the obvious culprit.
Told from multiple points of view, jumping back and forth in time, nothing is as it seems. The uncovering of the villain is expertly unveiled. If you can stomach the self-harm aspects, the rest is great.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES AUGUST 9, 2022.
Because of her fanatical social media stalking, Amaya learns that her former best friend is set to marry her ex-boyfriend. When she’s invited to the wedding in Sri Lanka, she decides she has to do whatever she can to stop it. This is the first novel I’ve read that is set in Ski Lanka and learning about the customs there was fascinating.
When the bride goes missing during the days-long wedding celebrations, many are called in to be questioned, but the scorned ex-girlfriend certainly seems like the obvious culprit.
Told from multiple points of view, jumping back and forth in time, nothing is as it seems. The uncovering of the villain is expertly unveiled. If you can stomach the self-harm aspects, the rest is great.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES AUGUST 9, 2022.
October 2, 2022
YAASSS!!!
Now, this is how you do it, my friends! What a compelling, engrossing, and wholly unexpected mystery.
The moment Amaya receives an invitation to her former best friend Kaavi’s wedding she is floored. Hurt, surprised, but most of all shocked.
The reason? Kaavi is marrying Amaya’s ex-boyfriend. Talk about a slap across the face!
Distraught, Amaya only has one thought: Stop the wedding.
It is then that this book takes off like lightning.
Pulse-pounding, wild, and utterly suspenseful, this twisty tale got me!
Amaya and Kaavi’s history is rich and is not what it seems.
What made this book even more intriguing was the atmosphere and the descriptions of Sri Lanka, where part of the novel took place.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey that both of us enjoyed.
Thanks to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for the arc via NetGalley.
Now, this is how you do it, my friends! What a compelling, engrossing, and wholly unexpected mystery.
The moment Amaya receives an invitation to her former best friend Kaavi’s wedding she is floored. Hurt, surprised, but most of all shocked.
The reason? Kaavi is marrying Amaya’s ex-boyfriend. Talk about a slap across the face!
Distraught, Amaya only has one thought: Stop the wedding.
It is then that this book takes off like lightning.
Pulse-pounding, wild, and utterly suspenseful, this twisty tale got me!
Amaya and Kaavi’s history is rich and is not what it seems.
What made this book even more intriguing was the atmosphere and the descriptions of Sri Lanka, where part of the novel took place.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey that both of us enjoyed.
Thanks to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for the arc via NetGalley.
December 9, 2022
THE CHARACTERS!!!
They're so messed up and raw and REAL!
One of my favorite aspects is Amaya's OCD. While never explicitly labeled, it is distinctly coded. Her obsessive thoughts about hours/minutes and their meaning/ramification was very relatable to my own hyper-fixation on the number 4 and it's ill-will/hex on my life. I steer clear from that number like the bubonic plague is close behind.
Amaya's intrusive thoughts were one of the best representations of OCD that I've seen depicted in a novel. I respect this author so much for the work she did.
I was on the edge of my seat through so much of this novel. It didn't end up being a 5 star but I HIGHLY recommend and love it.
They're so messed up and raw and REAL!
One of my favorite aspects is Amaya's OCD. While never explicitly labeled, it is distinctly coded. Her obsessive thoughts about hours/minutes and their meaning/ramification was very relatable to my own hyper-fixation on the number 4 and it's ill-will/hex on my life. I steer clear from that number like the bubonic plague is close behind.
Amaya's intrusive thoughts were one of the best representations of OCD that I've seen depicted in a novel. I respect this author so much for the work she did.
I was on the edge of my seat through so much of this novel. It didn't end up being a 5 star but I HIGHLY recommend and love it.
November 21, 2022
Amanda Jayatissa’s sophomore thriller, You’re Invited, is surprisingly good. And I say surprisingly because, with a current Goodreads rating of 3.56, it would seem to be standard, run-of-the-mill thriller fare.
But standard and run-of-the-mill it is not. It’s quite the opposite.
Set in Sri Lanka, You’re Invited tells the story of a woman determined to stop her ex-best friend from marrying her ex-boyfriend. And while the plot is, admittedly, rather basic, the execution of the story is not. Jayatissa does an excellent job of taking the reader on an unexpected journey, one where at just the moment you think you have it all figured out, you quickly realize YOU DON’T.
There are red herrings, questionable narrators, and murky motives galore. And the twists! There are astonishing twists up until the final page.
Which brings me to my one itsy bitsy complaint: Jayatissa takes one of the characters to a level of badness that is totally unnecessary. A really bad kind of badness. She just didn’t know when to stop.
But hey, if that’s my only complaint … no biggie.
I highly recommend the audio version of You’re Invited, too. It has three incredible narrators, all of whom bring the story, characters, and Sri Lankan setting to life.
But standard and run-of-the-mill it is not. It’s quite the opposite.
Set in Sri Lanka, You’re Invited tells the story of a woman determined to stop her ex-best friend from marrying her ex-boyfriend. And while the plot is, admittedly, rather basic, the execution of the story is not. Jayatissa does an excellent job of taking the reader on an unexpected journey, one where at just the moment you think you have it all figured out, you quickly realize YOU DON’T.
There are red herrings, questionable narrators, and murky motives galore. And the twists! There are astonishing twists up until the final page.
Which brings me to my one itsy bitsy complaint: Jayatissa takes one of the characters to a level of badness that is totally unnecessary. A really bad kind of badness. She just didn’t know when to stop.
But hey, if that’s my only complaint … no biggie.
I highly recommend the audio version of You’re Invited, too. It has three incredible narrators, all of whom bring the story, characters, and Sri Lankan setting to life.
August 22, 2022
Super fun and beyond twisty. Lived up to the hype for the most part. The setting being in Sri Lanka was awesome! I really enjoyed that.
July 6, 2022
This is one invitation you will wish got lost in the mail!
This was my book of the month choice and it didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed the dual point of views from both characters as well as the interrogation interview parts. I thought I had the plot of this book wrapped up with a bow until I got to the last few pages. The ending totally surprised me!
Amaya, Kaavi’s ex best friend receives an invitation to her elaborate Shri Lanken wedding. The real kicker is that the groom is Amaya’s ex boyfriend Spencer! To go or not to go? Amaya decides that she will attend the wedding and do everything she can to make sure it doesn’t happen.
Days into the celebration the bride Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead. Everyone points the finger at Amaya. It had to be the jealous, crazy, ex, right?
As the story unfolds we the reader get to know some of the family and wedding guests and realize that each person is hiding a secret or two. Each of them has a reason to want Kaavi dead. Rest assured this is one wedding you won’t soon forget.
You’re Invited is available August 9,2022
This was my book of the month choice and it didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed the dual point of views from both characters as well as the interrogation interview parts. I thought I had the plot of this book wrapped up with a bow until I got to the last few pages. The ending totally surprised me!
Amaya, Kaavi’s ex best friend receives an invitation to her elaborate Shri Lanken wedding. The real kicker is that the groom is Amaya’s ex boyfriend Spencer! To go or not to go? Amaya decides that she will attend the wedding and do everything she can to make sure it doesn’t happen.
Days into the celebration the bride Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead. Everyone points the finger at Amaya. It had to be the jealous, crazy, ex, right?
As the story unfolds we the reader get to know some of the family and wedding guests and realize that each person is hiding a secret or two. Each of them has a reason to want Kaavi dead. Rest assured this is one wedding you won’t soon forget.
You’re Invited is available August 9,2022
July 6, 2022
Ugh, I wish I was one of those glowing reviews for this one- that was so impressed by the twists and just loved all the shocking turns. But I'm not - this one was a chore to get through. The pace felt slow and I didn't feel any tension. Amaya was bland, confusing and just inconsistent. Kaavi and her family were just as bland and inconsistent. Honestly, if none of them made it to the end and it was just one big empty wedding hall, I probably would have given this another star. Wish I'd loved it - instead I'm just glad I'm done.
February 8, 2022
Amanda Jayatissa is back with another gripping read! Whip smart and expertly plotted with perfectly arranged clues and an explosive finale, YOU'RE INVITED will have readers guessing who they can trust and who the real villain is in this wickedly good thriller.
August 12, 2022
Oh my word. I really dug My Sweet Girl and was super excited to get my hands on an early copy of Amanda Jayatissa’s new release. I started it months ago and did something I never do – I put it aside. I wasn’t feeling it and I figured it was a mood thing. Then Book of the Month chose it and Pub Day came around and people all over the ‘Gram were loving it so I thought surely it truly was wrong place/wrong time when I had made my first attempt.
I’m sorry to report but this “wedding gone wrong” (which is one of my favorite mystery/thriller tropes) was a total snoozefest. Literally NOTHING happens until the 80% point and then the reader only gets info finally dumped on them via a change in narrator from the unwanted guest Amaya to the bride-to-be Kaavi’s perspective and a rewind that covers a quick recap of the three months between the engagement and the wedding week. Waaaaaaaay too little, way too late for me. I stuck with it because I have not figured out how to DNF still, but this was a real Sophomore Slump. #zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
July 23, 2022
I am so thankful that this was a Book of the Month choice so I was able to get it on my radar! The story is about Amaya, a girl invited to her best friend Kaavi’s wedding. Normal right? Except they haven’t talked in five years. Except Kaavi is a totally different person now. Except Kaavi is marrying Amaya’s ex-boyfriend. Amaya knows that even though time has passed, she needs to stop the wedding. Things start to spiral out of control, and when Kaavi goes missing, Amaya knows that she needs to get away fast.
Thoughts: I LOVED the Sri Lankan culture in this book. It was so fun to learn about, especially the wedding traditions. I really love Amanda Jayatissa’s writing because I could imagine myself in the story. This was such a great plot and so easy to get into. Amaya was an intriguing main character and so unreliable. There were so many complex themes in this book such as wealth and power, female friendships, family bonds, and domestic abuse.
There are trigger warnings in this book- ESPECIALLY self harm, so beware of that. The characters aren’t likable at all, but still really fun to read. I felt that the story was very obvious and predictable, but there was one minor surprise that I didn’t see coming. I would categorize this book as as domestic suspense and recommend it to people who like a twisted and dramatic story with a fun unreliable narrator. 4-stars.
Thoughts: I LOVED the Sri Lankan culture in this book. It was so fun to learn about, especially the wedding traditions. I really love Amanda Jayatissa’s writing because I could imagine myself in the story. This was such a great plot and so easy to get into. Amaya was an intriguing main character and so unreliable. There were so many complex themes in this book such as wealth and power, female friendships, family bonds, and domestic abuse.
There are trigger warnings in this book- ESPECIALLY self harm, so beware of that. The characters aren’t likable at all, but still really fun to read. I felt that the story was very obvious and predictable, but there was one minor surprise that I didn’t see coming. I would categorize this book as as domestic suspense and recommend it to people who like a twisted and dramatic story with a fun unreliable narrator. 4-stars.
February 8, 2023
4 stars. Pretty decent thriller that kept me reading late at night, but what set it apart for me, was its setting at a wedding in Sri Lanka, a country about which I really knew nothing. I also really appreciated that the Sri Lankan dialogue was translated or explained well also (unlike a certain very popular book about a tennis player, grrr!)
August 17, 2022
Hahahaha, dude. What??!??!?? I don’t even know how to review this one! You’re Invited is a delicious, juicy thriller about a woman, Amaya, whose ex-boyfriend is marrying her ex-best friend. The book begins by portraying that the bride is dead and Amaya is the killer. But one thing we know about thrillers, fellow book lovers, is that things are not always as they seem…
There truly is a lot going on in this one. So many people appear to have motives for murdering the bride that it is pretty difficult for the reader to develop a clear theory as to who the true killer might be. Another aspect I enjoyed was the setting. The author included many cultural bits about Sri Lanka that weren’t just there for show and actually enhanced the story. I still can’t believe the book ended how it did. It wasn’t the GBOAT (greatest book of all time 🤪), but man, was I entertained.
⚠️ Trigger warnings: self-harm and domestic violence.
There truly is a lot going on in this one. So many people appear to have motives for murdering the bride that it is pretty difficult for the reader to develop a clear theory as to who the true killer might be. Another aspect I enjoyed was the setting. The author included many cultural bits about Sri Lanka that weren’t just there for show and actually enhanced the story. I still can’t believe the book ended how it did. It wasn’t the GBOAT (greatest book of all time 🤪), but man, was I entertained.
⚠️ Trigger warnings: self-harm and domestic violence.
July 7, 2022
DNF’d at page 247 (so I couldn’t even push through the last quarter). Dumbest book I’ve ever read, or attempted to read. Feeling very let down by Book of the Month.
August 20, 2022
An invitation to the wedding of your ex-best friend to your ex-boyfriend…. What would you do?
This storyline had me so intrigued. Add to that that the wedding is in Sri Lanka, your ex-best friend Kaavi is now famous influencer and Amaya hasn’t seen her for 5 years. Now she is headed back to Columbo from LA to stop the wedding. She soon finds herself the centre of a police investigation when the bride goes missing, and there are signs of a struggle in her room.
Dark secrets of the past are going to be revealed of course. It is a wedding; things are already stressful. I was surprised at the direction that this book went. It was a lot more than ai had expected, and it was good!! I struggled to stop reading and had to know how it was going to end.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Get it on your TBR now.
This storyline had me so intrigued. Add to that that the wedding is in Sri Lanka, your ex-best friend Kaavi is now famous influencer and Amaya hasn’t seen her for 5 years. Now she is headed back to Columbo from LA to stop the wedding. She soon finds herself the centre of a police investigation when the bride goes missing, and there are signs of a struggle in her room.
Dark secrets of the past are going to be revealed of course. It is a wedding; things are already stressful. I was surprised at the direction that this book went. It was a lot more than ai had expected, and it was good!! I struggled to stop reading and had to know how it was going to end.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Get it on your TBR now.
July 17, 2022
I loved My Sweet Girl and gave it a whopping 5 stars so naturally, the author's sophomore novel had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, a winner this was not...
What I liked:
👩🏾 Flawed protagonist
🇱🇰 Learning about Sri Lankan culture
💰 A glimpse into the lavish lives of upper-class society
🇸🇬 Mentions of Singapore
💪🏻 Feminist themes
👯♀️ Complicated female friendships
🏠 Family drama and dynamics
The above points are the only reasons for my passing mark of 3⭐ because You're Invited completely flopped as a thriller. There's zero suspense and tension as hardly anything happens for the bulk of this slow-moving book. I was hoping for an explosive revelation that would wow me, but nope. Instead, too much is crammed in the last few chapters just like in My Sweet Girl.
I also found this terribly predictable because not only are wedding thrillers becoming dime a dozen, but it's the same old formula all over again. Been there, read that.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
What I liked:
👩🏾 Flawed protagonist
🇱🇰 Learning about Sri Lankan culture
💰 A glimpse into the lavish lives of upper-class society
🇸🇬 Mentions of Singapore
💪🏻 Feminist themes
👯♀️ Complicated female friendships
🏠 Family drama and dynamics
The above points are the only reasons for my passing mark of 3⭐ because You're Invited completely flopped as a thriller. There's zero suspense and tension as hardly anything happens for the bulk of this slow-moving book. I was hoping for an explosive revelation that would wow me, but nope. Instead, too much is crammed in the last few chapters just like in My Sweet Girl.
I also found this terribly predictable because not only are wedding thrillers becoming dime a dozen, but it's the same old formula all over again. Been there, read that.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
January 23, 2023
You’re Invited is the story of a high-end Sri Lankan wedding gone wrong, a fizzled friendship, and secrets from the past.
Amaya is surprised to receive a message from her former friend, Kaavi, inviting her back to Sri Lanka for Kaavi’s upcoming wedding. Despite Amaya keeping close tabs on Kaavi through her popular social media accounts, the two haven’t spoken or seen each other in years. Not only is Kaavi now engaged, but her fiancé is Amaya’s ex-boyfriend. Amaya is determined to stop this wedding, no matter the cost.
When Kaavi goes missing during the extended festivities celebrating the couple, several signs point to Amaya as the suspect, but in interviews with detectives, readers learn Amaya isn’t the only one with secrets and a potentially hidden agenda.
Told in the past and the present from various character POVs, You’re Invited was an enjoyable suspense story. I liked this on audio, probably a bit more than I would’ve in print but I stayed curious to find out what was really going on — 3.5 stars
Amaya is surprised to receive a message from her former friend, Kaavi, inviting her back to Sri Lanka for Kaavi’s upcoming wedding. Despite Amaya keeping close tabs on Kaavi through her popular social media accounts, the two haven’t spoken or seen each other in years. Not only is Kaavi now engaged, but her fiancé is Amaya’s ex-boyfriend. Amaya is determined to stop this wedding, no matter the cost.
When Kaavi goes missing during the extended festivities celebrating the couple, several signs point to Amaya as the suspect, but in interviews with detectives, readers learn Amaya isn’t the only one with secrets and a potentially hidden agenda.
Told in the past and the present from various character POVs, You’re Invited was an enjoyable suspense story. I liked this on audio, probably a bit more than I would’ve in print but I stayed curious to find out what was really going on — 3.5 stars
July 29, 2022
This one definitely could have been a dnf for me but I kept reading it since I was intrigued to find out what had happened in the past. It kept getting more and more boring throughout the book though and by the end the reveal was not interesting at all. Also, this book could have been filled with tons of rich people drama and it really didn't have much of that.
August 9, 2022
I would describe this book as Crazy Rich Asians meets People Like Her and let me tell you - I AM HERE FOR IT!
This will definitely be making my top five of 2022. Once I got invested in the story, I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.
What happened to Kaavi?
Did Amaya kill her?
Will Amaya win Spencer back?
I absolutely loved the drama, the setting in Sri Lanka, the over-the-top wedding, and the influencer aspect. I was totally enthralled with the gossiping Aunties, the descriptions of the fabulous outfits and delicious foods, and the whirlwind romance between the perfect Kaavi and her prince charming Spencer. Everyone had secrets and I always love that the more perfect a person seems, the more flawed they seem to be.
The parts about the friendship breakup and how emotionally taxing it was on Amaya and Kaavi really hit home. We always read about romantic breakups, but often, a friendship breakup is even worse and more traumatic. I really felt for Amaya and her heartache at watching her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend fall in love and plan their wedding.
Pieces of the story were a bit predictable for me but how everything played out was fantastic and I was constantly questioning my gut.
My only gripe with this book is the cover - "She'll wish she never RSVP'd" - UGH EDITORS WTH! Amaya DIDN'T RSVP! **face palm** LOL!!
This was my first book by Jayatissa and it absolutely will not be my last!
This will definitely be making my top five of 2022. Once I got invested in the story, I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.
What happened to Kaavi?
Did Amaya kill her?
Will Amaya win Spencer back?
I absolutely loved the drama, the setting in Sri Lanka, the over-the-top wedding, and the influencer aspect. I was totally enthralled with the gossiping Aunties, the descriptions of the fabulous outfits and delicious foods, and the whirlwind romance between the perfect Kaavi and her prince charming Spencer. Everyone had secrets and I always love that the more perfect a person seems, the more flawed they seem to be.
The parts about the friendship breakup and how emotionally taxing it was on Amaya and Kaavi really hit home. We always read about romantic breakups, but often, a friendship breakup is even worse and more traumatic. I really felt for Amaya and her heartache at watching her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend fall in love and plan their wedding.
Pieces of the story were a bit predictable for me but how everything played out was fantastic and I was constantly questioning my gut.
My only gripe with this book is the cover - "She'll wish she never RSVP'd" - UGH EDITORS WTH! Amaya DIDN'T RSVP! **face palm** LOL!!
This was my first book by Jayatissa and it absolutely will not be my last!
July 26, 2022
I have to say that I enjoyed this one much more than I had anticipated from when I first started the book! One of the main reasons why I didn’t think I’d like it is because the MC I extremely unlikable. She comes off as a stalker and someone who doesn’t want others to be better than her but as the book progressed and things started to come to light my issues with her changed completely. I’m so glad I kept reading because honestly this books makes SO much sense once you get to the end. I highly recommend those who were feeling the same as me to keep reading! Now on to the book…
You’re Invited is an intense psychological thriller. It’s one of those books that things aren’t what they seem… You’ll have preconceived notions and come up with your own thoughts as to what happened but the reveal will make your head spin! I absolutely LOVED the ending and how twisted it was. And the writing style? Phenomenal. It reminded me of Liane Moriarty’s books (which I love btw) in the way its told so if you enjoyed her books this one will be a treat! Especially if you enjoy books in which the MC will do ANYTHING to stop her best friend’s wedding no matter the cost…
All in all, this one was really good and I defiantly recommend it!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Psychological Thrillers
• Twisted Characters and Unexpected Endings
• The author Liane Moriarty
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
You’re Invited is an intense psychological thriller. It’s one of those books that things aren’t what they seem… You’ll have preconceived notions and come up with your own thoughts as to what happened but the reveal will make your head spin! I absolutely LOVED the ending and how twisted it was. And the writing style? Phenomenal. It reminded me of Liane Moriarty’s books (which I love btw) in the way its told so if you enjoyed her books this one will be a treat! Especially if you enjoy books in which the MC will do ANYTHING to stop her best friend’s wedding no matter the cost…
All in all, this one was really good and I defiantly recommend it!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Psychological Thrillers
• Twisted Characters and Unexpected Endings
• The author Liane Moriarty
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 30, 2022
This one is a very smart and very fun thriller about the complexity of the dynamics between women. I will say that I think the format of the novel means that the novel’s cleverness ends up serving as a sort of twist, but it’s definitely worth it. We need more thrillers entirely populated by the most problematic girlbosses you’ve ever read about. A lot of editing issues in the first half but they iron out to the second.
ARC received via Netgalley—thank you to the publisher.
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ARC received via Netgalley—thank you to the publisher.
Blog | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify | About |
September 1, 2022
I enjoyed this up until the ending even if I did call Spencer being involved in this.
I really enjoyed the setting. I know absolutely nothing about Sri Lanka or Sri Lankan culture, so it was interesting to learn more about it through the breakdown of social norms and how those norms affected the relationships between the characters as well as the events of the book.
I liked Amaya's characterization a lot. The book did a good job showing the ugly side of her trauma, as well as how it had changed her. I liked Kaavis character as well once we got her perspective. Both women seemed very fallible and realistic in that regard, but I do wish we had seen more of the good parts of their characters.
We heard a lot about who Amaya was before Spencer, but I wish we had seen her, or at least seen glimpses of her beneath the surface in the present. We also didn't really see much about how Kaavi had changed. I think the book would've been better with that.
So this sounds pretty positive so far right? I fully expected to finish this book with a positive impression, but I actually was mad when I finished it. The last ~50 pages really soured my outlook on the book.
One major problem is that while this book needed Kaavis perspective and we were given it, we were given it far too late. It would've been better to weave her perspective in with the narrative from the beginning. Maybe start with her thoughts about Amaya abandoning her and the account shenanigans. Her perspective only coming at the end of the novel meant that 1) we spent the entire book with an unreliable narrator who spent the majority of the time reacting to her trauma rather than taking any kind of initiative, and 2) everything on her side felt like an asspull to write the ending the author wanted rather than the one that was earned.
Another problem is that Nadia feels like a plot hole. It's not a surprise that she's Amaya and Spencer's kid, that makes sense and is earned, but what doesn't make sense is Amaya, in her own personal narration talking like she has no idea who she is. Amaya spends the ending claiming she did this for her because Spencer couldn't have just been a lying, abusive shit, he had to be a pedophile too.
Which leads to my next problem, the book doesn't seem to believe that Spencer was terrible enough without being a pedophile, and there aren't really any hints about this early on, and while that could fly if this was a book about Amaya overcoming what's happened to her, it doesn't work in a thriller. There are several ways this could've been done, such as an odd way to phrase a compliment to Nadia, or his arm around one of the Pink Diamond girls waist.
Nadia doesn't really even need to be in this book, this entire thing could've just been Amaya worried that her former best friend was about to marry an abuser. Pedophiles are one of the most despised groups in society, as they should be, but that doesn't mean that every terrible person also has to be a pedophile. The abuse was enough on its own. Nadia was either written in to make Spencer an even worse person, or because the author didn't believe Amaya wanting to protect her former best friend, who she misses so much that she essentially cyberstalks her on multiple accounts, was a good enough reason. That this woman, who seemingly has no interest in having children, had to have her maternal instinct kick in enough to defend her from a pedophile essentially.
This feels a bit tone deaf when the book seems adamant in asserting how feminist these 2 women are. Female friendship would've been a perfectly reasonable reason for Amayas actions.
And my final issue, Fiona. Nothing with Fiona feels earned. Kaavis potential to betray Amaya could've been done well if we'd gotten more of Kaavi in the book, but Fiona was not done well at all. That entire last chapter where her Mom started talking about how she's always covered up for her and how she's murdered before and was stealing money wasn't earned. Why was she stealing from Kaavi's charity? The reason she killed that guy was explained well enough, and it makes sense why she'd help Kaavi handle Spencer, but I think there needed to be more hints about her being as terrible as she is in the last chapter. Much like the fired accountant, all of her actions seem like they came out of nowhere. She was set up to be a mother who would do anything to protect her reputation, yet we don't get any explanation as to why she does things that have the potential to damage it, and why she doesn't do anything to try and repair or protect Tehani's reputation.
Tldr: the characterization of the 2 main leads in this book was decent, but could've been better. This thriller was a decent read, but it feels like the author wanted a specific ending, but didn't want to do the work to earn that ending and/or give the reader the opportunity to put the pieces together themselves. This wanted to be an M. Night Shyamalan twist ending, but it didn't differentiate between his good twists and his bad twist endings.
I really enjoyed the setting. I know absolutely nothing about Sri Lanka or Sri Lankan culture, so it was interesting to learn more about it through the breakdown of social norms and how those norms affected the relationships between the characters as well as the events of the book.
I liked Amaya's characterization a lot. The book did a good job showing the ugly side of her trauma, as well as how it had changed her. I liked Kaavis character as well once we got her perspective. Both women seemed very fallible and realistic in that regard, but I do wish we had seen more of the good parts of their characters.
We heard a lot about who Amaya was before Spencer, but I wish we had seen her, or at least seen glimpses of her beneath the surface in the present. We also didn't really see much about how Kaavi had changed. I think the book would've been better with that.
So this sounds pretty positive so far right? I fully expected to finish this book with a positive impression, but I actually was mad when I finished it. The last ~50 pages really soured my outlook on the book.
One major problem is that while this book needed Kaavis perspective and we were given it, we were given it far too late. It would've been better to weave her perspective in with the narrative from the beginning. Maybe start with her thoughts about Amaya abandoning her and the account shenanigans. Her perspective only coming at the end of the novel meant that 1) we spent the entire book with an unreliable narrator who spent the majority of the time reacting to her trauma rather than taking any kind of initiative, and 2) everything on her side felt like an asspull to write the ending the author wanted rather than the one that was earned.
Another problem is that Nadia feels like a plot hole. It's not a surprise that she's Amaya and Spencer's kid, that makes sense and is earned, but what doesn't make sense is Amaya, in her own personal narration talking like she has no idea who she is. Amaya spends the ending claiming she did this for her because Spencer couldn't have just been a lying, abusive shit, he had to be a pedophile too.
Which leads to my next problem, the book doesn't seem to believe that Spencer was terrible enough without being a pedophile, and there aren't really any hints about this early on, and while that could fly if this was a book about Amaya overcoming what's happened to her, it doesn't work in a thriller. There are several ways this could've been done, such as an odd way to phrase a compliment to Nadia, or his arm around one of the Pink Diamond girls waist.
Nadia doesn't really even need to be in this book, this entire thing could've just been Amaya worried that her former best friend was about to marry an abuser. Pedophiles are one of the most despised groups in society, as they should be, but that doesn't mean that every terrible person also has to be a pedophile. The abuse was enough on its own. Nadia was either written in to make Spencer an even worse person, or because the author didn't believe Amaya wanting to protect her former best friend, who she misses so much that she essentially cyberstalks her on multiple accounts, was a good enough reason. That this woman, who seemingly has no interest in having children, had to have her maternal instinct kick in enough to defend her from a pedophile essentially.
This feels a bit tone deaf when the book seems adamant in asserting how feminist these 2 women are. Female friendship would've been a perfectly reasonable reason for Amayas actions.
And my final issue, Fiona. Nothing with Fiona feels earned. Kaavis potential to betray Amaya could've been done well if we'd gotten more of Kaavi in the book, but Fiona was not done well at all. That entire last chapter where her Mom started talking about how she's always covered up for her and how she's murdered before and was stealing money wasn't earned. Why was she stealing from Kaavi's charity? The reason she killed that guy was explained well enough, and it makes sense why she'd help Kaavi handle Spencer, but I think there needed to be more hints about her being as terrible as she is in the last chapter. Much like the fired accountant, all of her actions seem like they came out of nowhere. She was set up to be a mother who would do anything to protect her reputation, yet we don't get any explanation as to why she does things that have the potential to damage it, and why she doesn't do anything to try and repair or protect Tehani's reputation.
Tldr: the characterization of the 2 main leads in this book was decent, but could've been better. This thriller was a decent read, but it feels like the author wanted a specific ending, but didn't want to do the work to earn that ending and/or give the reader the opportunity to put the pieces together themselves. This wanted to be an M. Night Shyamalan twist ending, but it didn't differentiate between his good twists and his bad twist endings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2023
3.75⭐ rounded up
Amaya and Kaavi were childhood best friends. They had a falling out and haven't seen or spoken to each other in five years. Amaya is quite the stalker though and has been keeping tabs on Kaavi anonymously via social media. When she learns that Kaavi is to marry her ex-boyfriend, Spence, she's upset. But she is upset enough to harm her just a day before the wedding?
It's told mostly by Amaya leading up to the wedding. We have some transcripts of the police investigation that really show how the rumor mill can be and keeps you guessing about what happened to Kaavi. Then later on we get Kaavi's perspective. I like how it was done this way because it kept me wondering what was going on. It took a while to find out why they haven't spoken in five years though.
I'm not a fan of when money is wasted and it seems there was way too much spent on this wedding. A backup wedding dress?! craziness! But I did enjoy learning about Sri Lankan culture. And I'm sure gossiping Aunties are found all over the world, not just there.
Overall, a good drama filled read that was suspenseful and twisty with a perfect wrap up.
TW ~
*Thanks to Berkley Books, Amanda Jayatissa and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
More reviews here ➡ Heather Adores Books
Amaya and Kaavi were childhood best friends. They had a falling out and haven't seen or spoken to each other in five years. Amaya is quite the stalker though and has been keeping tabs on Kaavi anonymously via social media. When she learns that Kaavi is to marry her ex-boyfriend, Spence, she's upset. But she is upset enough to harm her just a day before the wedding?
It's told mostly by Amaya leading up to the wedding. We have some transcripts of the police investigation that really show how the rumor mill can be and keeps you guessing about what happened to Kaavi. Then later on we get Kaavi's perspective. I like how it was done this way because it kept me wondering what was going on. It took a while to find out why they haven't spoken in five years though.
I'm not a fan of when money is wasted and it seems there was way too much spent on this wedding. A backup wedding dress?! craziness! But I did enjoy learning about Sri Lankan culture. And I'm sure gossiping Aunties are found all over the world, not just there.
Overall, a good drama filled read that was suspenseful and twisty with a perfect wrap up.
TW ~
*Thanks to Berkley Books, Amanda Jayatissa and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
More reviews here ➡ Heather Adores Books
May 5, 2022
This was… wow. Drama to say the least! The first thing I noticed was a lot of this story line felt pretty far fetched. It didn’t really seem plausible, which for me, wasn’t something I enjoyed reading.
Every single character was horrible. There wasn’t a single character that I could even somewhat tolerate. This made reading a bit tough as well.
There were some twists, most of which I guessed. Some, the ending in particular in which I didn’t. The ones I didn’t guess were the reason for 3 stars in an otherwise 2 star book. I know I’m in the minority, but this just wasn’t for me!
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