The Guest List: A Reese's Book Club Pick

Product Information

For a book that is in many ways true “popcorn reading,” THE GUEST LIST also has a surprising weight at its core. Much of THE GUEST LIST is spent reveling in the juicy drama and secrets of its cast of characters, but as readers explore those secrets, they will find that a number of these men and women are carrying with them heavy burdens. Much of this story is shiny, over-the-top glamour, but there are moments of real sorrow interwoven among the revelry. This is by no means a deeply twisted or disturbing book; it is hugely entertaining and a ton of fun to devour, a “popcorn read” in every sense of the word. But I found it entirely to the author’s credit that she manages to weave into this otherwise quite over-the-top suspense story a number of themes that might feel relevant to readers, from marital challenges to grief to body image and more. This cast of characters is far from likable—only a couple really evoke any sympathy!—but Foley beautifully laces their wild personas with touches of real, relatable challenges. Let’s first start with Jules. Why was she so eager to marry Will despite not knowing him for very long? Why did you think she chose to ignore the letter that said not to marry him?

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Book club questions for The Guest List

Lucy Foley is an English author of contemporary, historical fiction, mystery and fiction books. Prior to switching to full-time writing, Foley worked as an editor at Headline and later at Hodder where she was involved with young adult writers including Lauren Oliver and Laini Taylor. We can use this technique effectively instead of quarreling or telling hurtful words to others. We should be careful to use this technique only to those misbehaving with us and not to intimidate others. There are different eyebrow-raising methods, which convey totally different meanings like eyebrow flashing, quirking, arching, furrowing, etc. I didn’t enjoy The Guest List as much as The Hunting Party, which I’ll get into more. Don’t get me wrong—I read the story in one sitting so I was very engaged. But I had a couple issues with it. First the synopsis It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. The Guest List a whodunnit about a glamorous wedding. The guests are out for revenge, leading them to “raise hell.”

is one of the better thrillers I read this year and will be enjoyable to some extent for every adult. There is no need to impugn the originality of this novel due to the heavy influence by William Golding’s book Lord of the Flies and Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None as the author herself admits it indirectly in multiple parts in this novel. There is also a high chance that this book will be the winner for the best mystery and thriller category in the Goodreads choice award this year.

Detailed Plot Summary

Slow burning story telling: I’m impatient person, I like to go straight and cut to the chase. So I don’t like stalling around facts, I just like to dive in! Are you willing to kiss all your spare cash goodbye? Are you easily distracted by independent bookshops, big name book stores, and library or used book sales? Are your bookshelves currently a little tight of space? The stunning bride. She’s the manager of a successful design and lifestyle empire. She has a half-sister, Olivia. Her parents divorced and her father remarried. That's certainly the case for Jules and Will's wedding, taking place on a remote Irish island that the grumbling guests agree to congregate on for a 48-hour period.

I raise my eyebrow at him, cross my arms. I am past master at the raised eyebrow game- I use it at work to fantastic effect. I dare him to say another word." On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. But the women are interesting. Jules is a little stereotypical but she makes some surprising choices to keep her more engaging. Olivia and Aoife are the standouts. The setting Foley worked as an editor at Headline Publishing Group and Hodder & Stoughton before writing full-time. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why? Book club questions for The Guest ListThe day before, people arrive on the island. The Folly is owned by Aoife (wedding planner) and her husband Freddy. On the bride's side, Charlie is Jules's best friend. Hannah is Charlie's wife. (Charlie and Jules are very close, but Charlie and Will don't like each other.) Olivia is Julia's younger (19) half-sister. On Will's side, Johnno is the best man, and the four ushers are four guys they went to boarding school with, Femi, Angus, Duncan and Peter. Three weeks ago, Jules found an anonymous note telling her not to marry Will. Everyone had something to hide. Everyone had an axe to grind and I was there for every cat-clawing minute of it. Johnno is distraught when he finds out that Will sabotaged his chance of being on the show. Let’s talk about how that reveal caused him to finally confront Will about their coverup. The overall premise is that there's a wedding on a remote Irish island, the weather closes in and the island is cut off from the rest of the world. And then the body is found. Our other characters: Helen (plus 1) married with bride’s oldest and best male friend Charlie, having doubts about their so intense and secluded relationship, mother, graphic designer at long maternity leave, suffering from traumatic family drama, having her own secrets, befriending bridesmaid Olivia.

The Guest List is a semi-closed room mystery. Which is to say that, there’s a set amount of characters and they are all (more or less) in one place when the murder occurs. So, it’s set on a small private island, and all the people on the island are staying at this property. There’s a limited number of people who could have done it, and you’re trying to figure out who it could be.There’s a storm happening on the island and there are high winds and crashing waves and the power goes in and out, and it just makes for the perfect spooky setting. This book honestly kind of reminds me of the movie Knives Out because of how clever and smart and atmospheric it is. CWA Dagger Awards 2020 Longlists Announced". The Crime Writers' Association . Retrieved 27 December 2021.