This is the first Ruth Ware book I've picked up. I don't read a ton of thrillers generally, but with Halloween right around the corner I was looking for something on the creepy side.

This book sucked me in right away. There is something I really appreciate about Ware's writing. It is thoroughly engaging. I was all in on page one.

The plot of this book is okay, but I don't know how realistic it really is. If I hadn't had any contact with a person in over ten years I wouldn't accept an invitation to their bachelorette party...because there is undoubtedly a reason we haven't spoken in ten years. In any case, the tension that is created among these characters over the course of the weekend is very well-written. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen.

The first half of this book made me feel uncomfortable (which I think was intentional. If I were Nora I would feel entirely uncomfortable by the situation) and creeped out.
Unfortunately, I feel like the second half of this book (after 'the incident') suffers a bit from a pacing standpoint. Now, the book isn't an action-packed book, but he first part at least has some movement in the story. The second part is all Nora trying to remember what happened while she remains almost entirely immobile. Once she finally does piece it all together, the story wraps up incredibly quickly.


I marked the SPOILER button, but just in case someone made it this far: There will be massive spoilers below. Continue to read at your own risk...


Here is my main gripe about this book: I figured it all out much more quickly than any of the other characters did. From the pregnancy/abortion/faked text reveal (I figured Clare had been the one to break up with Nora before they even said what the actual text even said. It just totally fit her character.) to Clare being the ultimate baddie, I just wasn't at all surprised by any of the reveals.

All that said, this was a super quick read that did keep me entertained and I appreciated Ware's ability to set a scene and create tension. I will pick up her books in the future.