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You May Now Kill the Bride
The bride-to-be drops dead at her bachelorette weekend, with all of her bridesmaids as suspects for her murder, in this wry thriller full of deadly twists and characters you'll love to hate.
Who will be left standing when the bouquet is thrown?
Lauren, Saskia, Dominica, Farah and Tansy have been best friends since grade school. They wonder if that was the last time they all actually liked each other. As adults, their lives have splintered. Farah is engaged and is fast becoming a complete bridezilla. Dominica's a successful divorce attorney with no time for anything but work. Tansy runs a vegan cafe and is preparing for a shotgun marriage to awful Ivan. Lauren has had a total “failure to launch” in her career and love life, consumed by a man who has spent years stringing her along. Saskia has married into wealth and a different circle of friends in a fancy part of London. Some days it seems that the only thing holding the group together is an event that happened in their youth twenty years ago—an incident they’ve all sworn secrecy about to protect each other.
When the group is reunited at Tansy’s bachelorette-cum-wellness-retreat weekend, it doesn’t take long for old grudges to surface. Then the bride-to-be chokes to death on a poisoned drink, and all of the bridesmaids are suspects.
Kate Weston explores the complexities of female friendship in this searingly funny, page-turning thriller. One of these bridesmaids may be a killer, and the group had better watch their sash-covered backs, because your oldest friends aren’t always your closest…
Who will be left standing when the bouquet is thrown?
Lauren, Saskia, Dominica, Farah and Tansy have been best friends since grade school. They wonder if that was the last time they all actually liked each other. As adults, their lives have splintered. Farah is engaged and is fast becoming a complete bridezilla. Dominica's a successful divorce attorney with no time for anything but work. Tansy runs a vegan cafe and is preparing for a shotgun marriage to awful Ivan. Lauren has had a total “failure to launch” in her career and love life, consumed by a man who has spent years stringing her along. Saskia has married into wealth and a different circle of friends in a fancy part of London. Some days it seems that the only thing holding the group together is an event that happened in their youth twenty years ago—an incident they’ve all sworn secrecy about to protect each other.
When the group is reunited at Tansy’s bachelorette-cum-wellness-retreat weekend, it doesn’t take long for old grudges to surface. Then the bride-to-be chokes to death on a poisoned drink, and all of the bridesmaids are suspects.
Kate Weston explores the complexities of female friendship in this searingly funny, page-turning thriller. One of these bridesmaids may be a killer, and the group had better watch their sash-covered backs, because your oldest friends aren’t always your closest…
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2024
189 people are currently reading
23095 people want to read
About the author
Kate Weston
12 books85 followersKate Weston is an ex-stand up comedian and the author of four YA murder mysteries, as well as her adult debut thriller You May Now Kill The Bride, which was published in 2024. Her most recent YA book, feminist thriller Murder on a School Night, was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2024. Kate has also been been a semi-finalist for Funny Women and New Comedian of the Year, longlisted for Comedy Women in Print and the Branford Boase, and nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
Kate lives in London with her partner and adorable cat Angus.
source: Amazon
Kate lives in London with her partner and adorable cat Angus.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 777 reviews
June 24, 2024
All of the characters were pretty terrible people and complained about one another constantly but ya know what, I thoroughly enjoyed. I support women’s wrongs
June 12, 2024
Nancy Drew didn’t die for this.
How was this a mystery book so boring? I hated every character except for Toby. Lauren needs a back bone and Farah needs to be slapped into next week. Saskia was annoying and Dominica…. Well.
I could not care less who the killer was, I just wanted it to end. Too much going on and this book did not need to be 3rd person. Kept forgetting who was who because POV would switch halfway through a paragraph. Everybody in this book could have died and I wouldn’t have a batted an eye. Killer did surprise me a little, but not a lot.
Also don’t shove Lego pieces up your ass or jaded eggs up your vagina.
How was this a mystery book so boring? I hated every character except for Toby. Lauren needs a back bone and Farah needs to be slapped into next week. Saskia was annoying and Dominica…. Well.
I could not care less who the killer was, I just wanted it to end. Too much going on and this book did not need to be 3rd person. Kept forgetting who was who because POV would switch halfway through a paragraph. Everybody in this book could have died and I wouldn’t have a batted an eye. Killer did surprise me a little, but not a lot.
Also don’t shove Lego pieces up your ass or jaded eggs up your vagina.
July 4, 2024
DNF at 30%. interesting premise but poor plot execution.
June 20, 2024
These characters were unbearable🫠
January 9, 2025
You may now kill the bride is a wedding themed thriller with lots of satire and dark diabolical humour for the reader to devour.
We have five best friends who have known each other since ages 3/4 , still prominent in each-others lives, yet somewhat distanced by growing into fully fledged adults with careers and families of their own.
Two of the besties are engaged to be married soon, one engaged after only 4 months in a rapid fire wedding, the other had to wait more than a decade for the proposal and is now feeling tremendous pressure to out WOW the other with the wedding of the century, causing her to commit various crimes in order to fund all the extravagance.
On the eve of the first hen do, there is an unfortunately death amongst the bridal party. What could easily be chalked up to a tragic accident wins over the police side eye to what now seems like a potential murder.
When the other bride to be refuses to delay her wedding plans, a second bridal shower takes place, leading to further tragic accidents. Except now two deaths seems more than just a suspicious coincidence.
With a race to figure what is actually going on before the big day arrives, we the reader also race to figure out who the culprit could be. Except with the flash backs to the past we catch glimpses of situations revealing that pretty much everyone has a means and a motive to murder.
What originally appears to be a life long tight-nit group of besties is actually a gang of jealous, hateful, shady women who are harbouring secrets of their own. Tensions start to show fissures within the group and we have blackmail, betrayal, secret affairs and all sorts of drama and chaos.
This was a really fun read. I enjoyed the pettiness of each of the characters, all of them pretty much unlikeable but in a way that didn’t ruin the book. I enjoyed the whodunnit plot style. The ending to the book was honestly hilarious; without giving anything away I fully enjoyed the dialogue and situation surrounding the arrest, and the casual tone throughout the whole process.
The narcissism and self absorption made for good humour amongst the thriller killer tones. I found this an easy quick read and would recommend for anyone looking for a light not so serious thriller as a delightful palette cleanser.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy! I haven’t read from this author before but I will keep an eye out for more of their books in the future!
We have five best friends who have known each other since ages 3/4 , still prominent in each-others lives, yet somewhat distanced by growing into fully fledged adults with careers and families of their own.
Two of the besties are engaged to be married soon, one engaged after only 4 months in a rapid fire wedding, the other had to wait more than a decade for the proposal and is now feeling tremendous pressure to out WOW the other with the wedding of the century, causing her to commit various crimes in order to fund all the extravagance.
On the eve of the first hen do, there is an unfortunately death amongst the bridal party. What could easily be chalked up to a tragic accident wins over the police side eye to what now seems like a potential murder.
When the other bride to be refuses to delay her wedding plans, a second bridal shower takes place, leading to further tragic accidents. Except now two deaths seems more than just a suspicious coincidence.
With a race to figure what is actually going on before the big day arrives, we the reader also race to figure out who the culprit could be. Except with the flash backs to the past we catch glimpses of situations revealing that pretty much everyone has a means and a motive to murder.
What originally appears to be a life long tight-nit group of besties is actually a gang of jealous, hateful, shady women who are harbouring secrets of their own. Tensions start to show fissures within the group and we have blackmail, betrayal, secret affairs and all sorts of drama and chaos.
This was a really fun read. I enjoyed the pettiness of each of the characters, all of them pretty much unlikeable but in a way that didn’t ruin the book. I enjoyed the whodunnit plot style. The ending to the book was honestly hilarious; without giving anything away I fully enjoyed the dialogue and situation surrounding the arrest, and the casual tone throughout the whole process.
The narcissism and self absorption made for good humour amongst the thriller killer tones. I found this an easy quick read and would recommend for anyone looking for a light not so serious thriller as a delightful palette cleanser.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy! I haven’t read from this author before but I will keep an eye out for more of their books in the future!
September 26, 2024
The friend drama was better than the “thriller” part 🤣
January 18, 2024
You may now kill the bride is a wedding themed thriller with lots of satire and dark sarcastic humour for the reader to devour.
We have five best friends who have known each other since ages 3/4 , still prominent in each-others lives, yet somewhat distanced by growing into fully fledged adults with careers and families of their own.
Two of the besties are engaged to be married soon, one engaged after only 4 months in a rapid fire wedding, the other had to wait more than a decade for the proposal and is now feeling tremendous pressure to out WOW the other with the wedding of the century, causing her to commit various crimes in order to fund all the extravagance.
On the eve of the first hen do, there is an unfortunately death amongst the bridal party. What could easily be chalked up to a tragic accident wins over the police side eye to what now seems like a potential murder.
When the other bride to be refuses to delay her wedding plans, a second bridal shower takes place, leading to further tragic accidents. Except now two deaths seems more than just a suspicious coincidence.
With a race to figure what is actually going on before the big day arrives, we the reader also race to figure out who the culprit could be. Except with the flash backs to the past we catch glimpses of situations revealing that pretty much everyone has a means and a motive to murder.
What originally appears to be a life long tight-nit group of besties is actually a gang of jealous, hateful, shady women who are harbouring secrets of their own. Tensions start to show fissures within the group and we have blackmail, betrayal, secret affairs and all sorts of drama and chaos.
This was a really fun read. I enjoyed the pettiness of each of the characters, all of them pretty much unlikeable but in a way that didn’t ruin the book. I enjoyed the whodunnit plot style. the narcissism and self absorption made for good humour amongst the thriller killer tones. I found this an easy quick read and would recommend for anyone looking for a light not so serious thriller as a delightful palette cleanser.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy! I haven’t read from this author before but I will keep an eye out for more of their books in the future!
We have five best friends who have known each other since ages 3/4 , still prominent in each-others lives, yet somewhat distanced by growing into fully fledged adults with careers and families of their own.
Two of the besties are engaged to be married soon, one engaged after only 4 months in a rapid fire wedding, the other had to wait more than a decade for the proposal and is now feeling tremendous pressure to out WOW the other with the wedding of the century, causing her to commit various crimes in order to fund all the extravagance.
On the eve of the first hen do, there is an unfortunately death amongst the bridal party. What could easily be chalked up to a tragic accident wins over the police side eye to what now seems like a potential murder.
When the other bride to be refuses to delay her wedding plans, a second bridal shower takes place, leading to further tragic accidents. Except now two deaths seems more than just a suspicious coincidence.
With a race to figure what is actually going on before the big day arrives, we the reader also race to figure out who the culprit could be. Except with the flash backs to the past we catch glimpses of situations revealing that pretty much everyone has a means and a motive to murder.
What originally appears to be a life long tight-nit group of besties is actually a gang of jealous, hateful, shady women who are harbouring secrets of their own. Tensions start to show fissures within the group and we have blackmail, betrayal, secret affairs and all sorts of drama and chaos.
This was a really fun read. I enjoyed the pettiness of each of the characters, all of them pretty much unlikeable but in a way that didn’t ruin the book. I enjoyed the whodunnit plot style. the narcissism and self absorption made for good humour amongst the thriller killer tones. I found this an easy quick read and would recommend for anyone looking for a light not so serious thriller as a delightful palette cleanser.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy! I haven’t read from this author before but I will keep an eye out for more of their books in the future!
February 19, 2024
AMAZING, HILARIOUS, TWISTY and CONSUMING
I am stumped on what I can say about this amazing mashup of hilarity, murder, thrills, romance and two pending weddings to explain it's awesomeness. Weston has smashed together the best of all the kinds of books I enjoy and made a book that I want to be my best friend!
The Catchline says it all: "The bride-to-be drops dead at her bachelorette weekend, with all of her bridesmaids as suspects for her murder, in this wry thriller full of deadly twists and characters you’ll love to hate.
You May Now Kill the Bride features Lauren, Saskia, Dominica, Farah, and Tansy, Adults who remained childhood best friends. The addition of the new girlfriend of Farah's brother Eva adds sufficient drama gives us a group of British women with distinctive personalities similar to your own friends. The group has been through lots of life events but still find time to gather and have the best conversations - I laughed aloud quite a bit.
But before you get too comfortable, there's a murder - one of the friends! Before her wedding! Is it due to a secret the friends share from high school or is it something more recent? When the police get involved and the very self-involved Farah demands to move forward with her own Hen-do, more deaths occur. Who is behind this murder mayhem. Part social commentary, women's fiction, thriller - mystery and completely hilarious this is a great book to share with your best friends!
#randomhouse #youmaynowkillthebride #kateweston
I am stumped on what I can say about this amazing mashup of hilarity, murder, thrills, romance and two pending weddings to explain it's awesomeness. Weston has smashed together the best of all the kinds of books I enjoy and made a book that I want to be my best friend!
The Catchline says it all: "The bride-to-be drops dead at her bachelorette weekend, with all of her bridesmaids as suspects for her murder, in this wry thriller full of deadly twists and characters you’ll love to hate.
You May Now Kill the Bride features Lauren, Saskia, Dominica, Farah, and Tansy, Adults who remained childhood best friends. The addition of the new girlfriend of Farah's brother Eva adds sufficient drama gives us a group of British women with distinctive personalities similar to your own friends. The group has been through lots of life events but still find time to gather and have the best conversations - I laughed aloud quite a bit.
But before you get too comfortable, there's a murder - one of the friends! Before her wedding! Is it due to a secret the friends share from high school or is it something more recent? When the police get involved and the very self-involved Farah demands to move forward with her own Hen-do, more deaths occur. Who is behind this murder mayhem. Part social commentary, women's fiction, thriller - mystery and completely hilarious this is a great book to share with your best friends!
#randomhouse #youmaynowkillthebride #kateweston
August 6, 2024
'You May Now Kill The Bride' sounded like it might be light and funny in a see-how-absurb-we-are? way. It turned out to be a vivisection of Hen Dos and dysfunctional friendships, with a steadily rising bodycount as the relationships spiraled from fraught to fatal.
I admired the quality of the writing and Kate Weston's bitingly accurate observation of people trapped in the rotting corpse of a dead relationship sustained purely by a collective consensual delusion.
Admiring a book isn't the same as enjoying it. The book did make me laugh at times. At other times, just being in the company of these woman made me feel oppressed. The solution to the murders might have had me going: 'Really! You expect me to buy that?" except, by the time the big reveal came, nothing any of these women did to themselves or each other surprised me any more.
'You May Now Kill The Bride' was a clever book populated with believably unpleasant people who, when they come together, amplified each others faults. It was full of situations and behaviours that felt completley believable while at the same time beig outrageously unpleasant. The mystery had just enough pull to keep me reading and just enough twists to prevent me from guessing who the murderer was. The killings weren't really the main event. The vortex at the centre of all this misery was the relationship between these thirty-something women who had known one anothe since childhood.
The book was a journey into dark dysfunction, punctuated by a series of celebrations that felt more like punishments.
The start of the book perfectly captured the fragile fiction of hen do celebrations, portraying them as a brittle icing smoothing over the imperfections of real life. To me, it seemed very English and very contemporary. I loved the way the humour balanced on a knife edge seperating sarcasm from amused sympathy.
Kate Weston quickly dug into the emotional cake beneath the icing of hen do rituals by introducing present-day threats taking and by reaching back to when these women were girls were at school together, making it clear that they share prison-worthy secrets.
We hit the first killing shockingly early in the book and the story became something more serious and more sinister than a comedy of manners. From the reactions to the killing, I understood that the friendships that I thought had become husks held together by habit were actually shored up by shared shame.
The story is told from multiple points of view. This is done with discipline and skill. I thought that moving from person to person might bring moments of relief but I didn't really want to be inside the heads of any of these women. It's not that they were monstrous, it just that they were habitually unkind, selfish and unsupportive. The atmosphere between them was venomous. These women were toxic, especially when they were together. The jealousies, grudges, frustrations and betrayals were described with cringe-worthy accuracy. I could easily see any of them becoming fantasy murder target and I had no idea who was their fantasy a reality.
'You May Now Kill The Bride' made me want to found a Hen Do Abuse support group. Certainly, it's a ritual that wasn't making any of the women in the story happy. It seemed to me that Kate Weston offered the Hen Do rituals as examples of how the pressure to appear to be living an Insta Story perfect life distorts people's perceptions of themselves and their friends and lacquers their interactions in a layer of this-is-what's-expected falsity that suffocated them.
I admired the quality of the writing and Kate Weston's bitingly accurate observation of people trapped in the rotting corpse of a dead relationship sustained purely by a collective consensual delusion.
Admiring a book isn't the same as enjoying it. The book did make me laugh at times. At other times, just being in the company of these woman made me feel oppressed. The solution to the murders might have had me going: 'Really! You expect me to buy that?" except, by the time the big reveal came, nothing any of these women did to themselves or each other surprised me any more.
'You May Now Kill The Bride' was a clever book populated with believably unpleasant people who, when they come together, amplified each others faults. It was full of situations and behaviours that felt completley believable while at the same time beig outrageously unpleasant. The mystery had just enough pull to keep me reading and just enough twists to prevent me from guessing who the murderer was. The killings weren't really the main event. The vortex at the centre of all this misery was the relationship between these thirty-something women who had known one anothe since childhood.
The book was a journey into dark dysfunction, punctuated by a series of celebrations that felt more like punishments.
The start of the book perfectly captured the fragile fiction of hen do celebrations, portraying them as a brittle icing smoothing over the imperfections of real life. To me, it seemed very English and very contemporary. I loved the way the humour balanced on a knife edge seperating sarcasm from amused sympathy.
Kate Weston quickly dug into the emotional cake beneath the icing of hen do rituals by introducing present-day threats taking and by reaching back to when these women were girls were at school together, making it clear that they share prison-worthy secrets.
We hit the first killing shockingly early in the book and the story became something more serious and more sinister than a comedy of manners. From the reactions to the killing, I understood that the friendships that I thought had become husks held together by habit were actually shored up by shared shame.
The story is told from multiple points of view. This is done with discipline and skill. I thought that moving from person to person might bring moments of relief but I didn't really want to be inside the heads of any of these women. It's not that they were monstrous, it just that they were habitually unkind, selfish and unsupportive. The atmosphere between them was venomous. These women were toxic, especially when they were together. The jealousies, grudges, frustrations and betrayals were described with cringe-worthy accuracy. I could easily see any of them becoming fantasy murder target and I had no idea who was their fantasy a reality.
'You May Now Kill The Bride' made me want to found a Hen Do Abuse support group. Certainly, it's a ritual that wasn't making any of the women in the story happy. It seemed to me that Kate Weston offered the Hen Do rituals as examples of how the pressure to appear to be living an Insta Story perfect life distorts people's perceptions of themselves and their friends and lacquers their interactions in a layer of this-is-what's-expected falsity that suffocated them.
April 29, 2025
Well that was just darn awful…
February 18, 2024
Actual Rating 3.5
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND PUBLISHER FOR THIS ADVANCE REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
This is the story of five childhood best friends who grew up supporting and defending each other. Although with time there are groups and subgroups inside the big circle. They established a hierarchy and accepted the nature of each other for what they were. It doesn't mean they are angles, they hurt each other all the time, sometimes on purpose and sometimes not. Those events have been piling up in their hearts but they can't be said out loud. One of my friends decided to get married but ended up getting dead on her hen do and it didn't end there. Someone got the taste of murder and some serial killer is on the loose.
This book started with a lot of potential but at one point it started to feel dragged, and the second half recovered the pace. The vibe could have been so dark, but the writing style made it kinda funny and light read. These friends of so selfish and nonserious, people are dying still they are more concerned about their weddings and looks. I liked the concept and story. It was an enjoyable read.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND PUBLISHER FOR THIS ADVANCE REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
This is the story of five childhood best friends who grew up supporting and defending each other. Although with time there are groups and subgroups inside the big circle. They established a hierarchy and accepted the nature of each other for what they were. It doesn't mean they are angles, they hurt each other all the time, sometimes on purpose and sometimes not. Those events have been piling up in their hearts but they can't be said out loud. One of my friends decided to get married but ended up getting dead on her hen do and it didn't end there. Someone got the taste of murder and some serial killer is on the loose.
This book started with a lot of potential but at one point it started to feel dragged, and the second half recovered the pace. The vibe could have been so dark, but the writing style made it kinda funny and light read. These friends of so selfish and nonserious, people are dying still they are more concerned about their weddings and looks. I liked the concept and story. It was an enjoyable read.
May 10, 2024
With a title like that, I was always going to read this. Thanks so much to Headline for granting my wish on NetGalley for this book.
What a fun and entertaining read. This did make me laugh many times. I really enjoy a murder book laced with humour. None of these characters were particularly likeable and any of them could have been the killer. A bride to be murdered at her hen do… tell me more.
Definitely kept me guessing, changing my mind throughout as to who was the killer. A fun popcorn thriller, worth the read.
Publishes on May 23rd
What a fun and entertaining read. This did make me laugh many times. I really enjoy a murder book laced with humour. None of these characters were particularly likeable and any of them could have been the killer. A bride to be murdered at her hen do… tell me more.
Definitely kept me guessing, changing my mind throughout as to who was the killer. A fun popcorn thriller, worth the read.
Publishes on May 23rd
April 7, 2024
Thank you NetGalley Random House and Kate Weston for my free digital copy. I was drawn to this book by its title and I was not disappointed. What could go wrong when five childhood best friends get together at a bachelorette party? Murder of course. Readers who enjoyed “Dial A for Aunties “ and “Counterfeit” will enjoy reading this book. It has the perfect mix of mystery and humour.
May 31, 2024
This wasn’t great. The plot is somewhat interesting but the characters are unbearable. You’ve got the wet blanket eeyore, the high maintenance bridezilla, the uptight homemaker, the oblivious asshole, and the cutthroat fixer and they never break out of any of their stereotypes.
Five BFFs are on a bachelorette party for one of them when the bride to be ends up dead. As the four remaining friends try to solve the murder, more dead bodies start piling up around them and the realize that the murderer is someone very close to them.
For a short book there’s so much filler information and the flashbacks are useless until the very end. Even then, the dark secret from the past that brings the friends together ends up not even being that relevant in the long run. The friendship does come across strong and nuanced but it wasn’t enough to save the book.
Five BFFs are on a bachelorette party for one of them when the bride to be ends up dead. As the four remaining friends try to solve the murder, more dead bodies start piling up around them and the realize that the murderer is someone very close to them.
For a short book there’s so much filler information and the flashbacks are useless until the very end. Even then, the dark secret from the past that brings the friends together ends up not even being that relevant in the long run. The friendship does come across strong and nuanced but it wasn’t enough to save the book.
May 18, 2024
3.5 rounded up
An over the top, absurdly hilarious murder mystery involving friends, weddings, secrets, lies and so much more. This book was just pure fun in the most out there way but I was here for it. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Dial A for Aunties. This was my first Kate Weston book and now I want more!
An over the top, absurdly hilarious murder mystery involving friends, weddings, secrets, lies and so much more. This book was just pure fun in the most out there way but I was here for it. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Dial A for Aunties. This was my first Kate Weston book and now I want more!
July 24, 2024
i almost DNF this book because omg the beginning was awful. i was literally fighting myself not to put the book back on my shelf. the characters were 2d and the flashbacks to the past were irrelevant. the writing was awful and most times unbearable. only thing keeping me hooked was wanting to find out who was the murderer.
May 13, 2024
I ended up DNF’ing at 12%. It just wasn’t grabbing my attention like I’d hoped. I wasn’t a fan of the plot line when the friends were children. I understand why the author included those chapters, to show us how the girls came into the roles they have presently, but it was just meh.
June 12, 2024
I loved it!!
August 15, 2024
think this is like a 2.5. was just a bit meh. characters are all unbearable people and story was super predictable.
September 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
You May Now Kill the Bride.
The best thing about You May Now Kill the Bride is the title. I love it. The cover, too.
Sadly, I didn't feel the same way about the narrative.
** Minor bridezilla spoilers ahead **
The story is a common cliche in this genre; a group of frenemies gather together for the wedding of their oldest dearest friend.
Until the friend drops dead.
Naturally, all the 'friends' have secrets they're keeping from one another, not to mention the 'big one' two of them share but that's not the point.
The point is that all the women in the story are shallow, superficial, one dimensional ninnies who only care about getting married, having the most outrageous wedding, believing their lives are full and happy once they have a man by their side.
UGHHHHHH....
As the story unfolds, we get flashbacks into how the friends became a collective group, their personal dramas, and how each of them had a reason to kill the bride.
We also get plenty of filler about the ladies' partying at various hen dos (bachelorette parties in the USA) and getting seriously wasted.
Why is there so much drinking in books or is it just me?
There's very little suspense and urgency as the repetitive nature of the ladies whine and catcall and bicker gets boring fast.
I didn't blink eye as people dropped dead.
I didn't care about anyone so I didn't care who remained standing.
There were a few revelations I figured out, including Eva's true identity.
It was pretty obvious who she was.
Most of the men were deplorable, but then so were most of the women.
The best thing about You May Now Kill the Bride is the title. I love it. The cover, too.
Sadly, I didn't feel the same way about the narrative.
** Minor bridezilla spoilers ahead **
The story is a common cliche in this genre; a group of frenemies gather together for the wedding of their oldest dearest friend.
Until the friend drops dead.
Naturally, all the 'friends' have secrets they're keeping from one another, not to mention the 'big one' two of them share but that's not the point.
The point is that all the women in the story are shallow, superficial, one dimensional ninnies who only care about getting married, having the most outrageous wedding, believing their lives are full and happy once they have a man by their side.
UGHHHHHH....
As the story unfolds, we get flashbacks into how the friends became a collective group, their personal dramas, and how each of them had a reason to kill the bride.
We also get plenty of filler about the ladies' partying at various hen dos (bachelorette parties in the USA) and getting seriously wasted.
Why is there so much drinking in books or is it just me?
There's very little suspense and urgency as the repetitive nature of the ladies whine and catcall and bicker gets boring fast.
I didn't blink eye as people dropped dead.
I didn't care about anyone so I didn't care who remained standing.
There were a few revelations I figured out, including Eva's true identity.
It was pretty obvious who she was.
Most of the men were deplorable, but then so were most of the women.
September 15, 2024
this book was like watching a made-for-tv movie. you know it’s a train wreck but you kinda want to see what happens at the end. this book had a great premise but it just wasn’t executed right and literally every single character was insufferable.
March 5, 2024
Booklist read. This book is freaking ridiculous and hilarious at the same time. Highly recommend.
March 31, 2024
Rating: 1.3/5
Having read the synopsis, I was looking forward to a fun, entertaining murder mystery that would perhaps be a little tongue-in-cheek. Sadly, not for the first time, the end result was far less satisfying than the blurb had led me to hope.
Author, Kate Weston, has previously written young adult (YA) fiction, but has decided to venture into the adult market with "You May Now Kill the Bride". Unfortunately, although this may be a little bit more grown up than YA fiction, it isn't by very much. This is, perhaps, the book equivalent of someone in their late teens or early twenties thinking they have left their puerile adolescence behind, but without realising just how immature their behaviour still is.
Although the women at the centre of the story have been friends since they were very young schoolchildren, they don't actually behave as though they like each other very much. In fact, I am sure that element is deliberate on the part of the author. However, nor are any of them in the least bit likeable from a reader's perspective either - not that it necessarily matters, as I have read plenty of enjoyable books where the protagonists were quite obnoxious and the appeal came from seeing them get their deserved comeuppance. The problem here was that I not only found myself not warming to the characters, but also that they simply didn't interest me.
It didn't help that the humour failed to land with me. To quote a reference to one of the book's protagonists, Dominica, I 'found it lacking in comedic content'. The writer seems to think that it is cool and edgy to litter the dialogue with swear words and references to sexual organs. Used cleverly (and far more sparingly than is the case in this book), there may well be some amusement in this approach, but when it is done so frequently and in such a scattergun fashion, it just becomes as tiresome as watching the famed one-trick pony. There may be readers out there who enjoy this book, but I was just glad to get to the end.
As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.
Having read the synopsis, I was looking forward to a fun, entertaining murder mystery that would perhaps be a little tongue-in-cheek. Sadly, not for the first time, the end result was far less satisfying than the blurb had led me to hope.
Author, Kate Weston, has previously written young adult (YA) fiction, but has decided to venture into the adult market with "You May Now Kill the Bride". Unfortunately, although this may be a little bit more grown up than YA fiction, it isn't by very much. This is, perhaps, the book equivalent of someone in their late teens or early twenties thinking they have left their puerile adolescence behind, but without realising just how immature their behaviour still is.
Although the women at the centre of the story have been friends since they were very young schoolchildren, they don't actually behave as though they like each other very much. In fact, I am sure that element is deliberate on the part of the author. However, nor are any of them in the least bit likeable from a reader's perspective either - not that it necessarily matters, as I have read plenty of enjoyable books where the protagonists were quite obnoxious and the appeal came from seeing them get their deserved comeuppance. The problem here was that I not only found myself not warming to the characters, but also that they simply didn't interest me.
It didn't help that the humour failed to land with me. To quote a reference to one of the book's protagonists, Dominica, I 'found it lacking in comedic content'. The writer seems to think that it is cool and edgy to litter the dialogue with swear words and references to sexual organs. Used cleverly (and far more sparingly than is the case in this book), there may well be some amusement in this approach, but when it is done so frequently and in such a scattergun fashion, it just becomes as tiresome as watching the famed one-trick pony. There may be readers out there who enjoy this book, but I was just glad to get to the end.
As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.
February 10, 2024
**Sorry in advance for being a hater in this review. I hate leaving bad reviews but I hate having my time wasted more and reading this book this was a colossal waste of time.
The best way I can describe my reading experience with this murder mystery is that I hoped I would be murdered next so I didn’t have to continue reading this annoying book.
The main characters, a group of 35-year old friends since childhood, are some of the most insufferable characters I’ve ever read. They all felt like carbon copies of each other with only their names to distinguish them: whiny, entitled, stuck up women with no regard for anything or anyone other than themselves. It’s canon for the repulsive characters to be killed of in thrillers yet almost all of them made it unscathed! *eye twitch* Their friends die, there’s a page of “oh no, I’m so sad,” and then they completely disregard it and it’s back to bridezilla and weddings and hen dos and whatnot. The murders were a subplot in a THRILLER.
I think this was also supposed to be comedic and satirical at times to show that the book wasn’t taking itself too seriously, but I honestly think that made me dislike it more. The ending line “maybe it is bad luck to wear white to your wedding when you’re not a virgin” just made me roll my eyes. Maybe I’m just a hater, who knows.
The only reason this wasn’t a 1 star was because I thought the killer reveal and tidying of loose ends was pretty decent. These characters just were not enjoyable to read about in the slightest, and the plot didn’t do enough carrying to make it worth sticking through it.
Thank you to Random House for the advanced copy.
The best way I can describe my reading experience with this murder mystery is that I hoped I would be murdered next so I didn’t have to continue reading this annoying book.
The main characters, a group of 35-year old friends since childhood, are some of the most insufferable characters I’ve ever read. They all felt like carbon copies of each other with only their names to distinguish them: whiny, entitled, stuck up women with no regard for anything or anyone other than themselves. It’s canon for the repulsive characters to be killed of in thrillers yet almost all of them made it unscathed! *eye twitch* Their friends die, there’s a page of “oh no, I’m so sad,” and then they completely disregard it and it’s back to bridezilla and weddings and hen dos and whatnot. The murders were a subplot in a THRILLER.
I think this was also supposed to be comedic and satirical at times to show that the book wasn’t taking itself too seriously, but I honestly think that made me dislike it more. The ending line “maybe it is bad luck to wear white to your wedding when you’re not a virgin” just made me roll my eyes. Maybe I’m just a hater, who knows.
The only reason this wasn’t a 1 star was because I thought the killer reveal and tidying of loose ends was pretty decent. These characters just were not enjoyable to read about in the slightest, and the plot didn’t do enough carrying to make it worth sticking through it.
Thank you to Random House for the advanced copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2024
You May Now Kill the Bride by Kate Weston was HILARIOUS and I don't care what anyone else says because I loved the craziness and drama of this book! This appears to be Weston’s adult debut after writing 2 YA novels, and I really hope she decides to write more fun books like this one. No one is all that likeable as the synopsis suggests, but I feel like I have a soft spot for Lauren, and I couldn’t get enough of the drama and hilarity the murders start ensuing. I laughed from the very beginning, and I liked that Weston gave us a bit of the past along with present day.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a full cast for the audiobook, but I loved listening to Helen Reuben and thought she did a bang-up job with all of the different viewpoints. Lauren, Saskia, Dominica, Farah and Tansy are all a hot mess, and everyone’s various secrets are put on full display by the time we reach the end of the story. I did not guess the killer, but honestly, I have to say I was basically involved for the humor and drama. Read this if you like absurdity with your murder, obnoxious drama queens, and the dirty side of friendship.
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a full cast for the audiobook, but I loved listening to Helen Reuben and thought she did a bang-up job with all of the different viewpoints. Lauren, Saskia, Dominica, Farah and Tansy are all a hot mess, and everyone’s various secrets are put on full display by the time we reach the end of the story. I did not guess the killer, but honestly, I have to say I was basically involved for the humor and drama. Read this if you like absurdity with your murder, obnoxious drama queens, and the dirty side of friendship.
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 17, 2024
A bachelorette party in the weekend supposedly fun isnt? But at You May Now Kill the Bride, this mean the bride to be choked to death and all of the bridesmaids are suspected.
Kate Weston is new name for me. I think she gave us very interesting premise on this cozy thriller. Her narrative is actually entertaining with satire and darker sense of humor. I am not always in tune with that but really appreciate her efforts to make this book light, twisty fun and page turning. The characters are unlikable but I think it is author's intention. And the plot actually brimming with potential to become stronger.
Overall this is a fun reads and easy to follow mystery.
Thank you Netgalley and Headline Publisher for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting Publication : 23 May 2024
Kate Weston is new name for me. I think she gave us very interesting premise on this cozy thriller. Her narrative is actually entertaining with satire and darker sense of humor. I am not always in tune with that but really appreciate her efforts to make this book light, twisty fun and page turning. The characters are unlikable but I think it is author's intention. And the plot actually brimming with potential to become stronger.
Overall this is a fun reads and easy to follow mystery.
Thank you Netgalley and Headline Publisher for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting Publication : 23 May 2024
June 1, 2024
3.5 ⭐️, but we don’t round here. Good book, but there’s a million of these plots that already exist.
June 12, 2024
like a 3,5 i would say
honestly i did not figure it out :( which i really though HA I GOT UUU
overall, a solid summer thriller
honestly i did not figure it out :( which i really though HA I GOT UUU
overall, a solid summer thriller
March 28, 2025
You May Now Kill the Bride is an electrifying thriller by Kate Weston, offering a darkly comedic and suspenseful tale about old friends, bridezillas, and the secrets that bind—and ultimately tear—friendships apart. Published by Random House Publishing Group, this debut adult novel takes readers on a wild ride full of twists, tension, and complex characters who may not be who they appear to be.
The story follows five women—Tansy, Farah, Lauren, Saskia, and Domenica—who have been friends since grade school, navigating the ups and downs of life, love, and personal struggles. As they prepare for two weddings within their circle, their pasts and secrets begin to resurface, unraveling the fragile bonds they’ve worked so hard to maintain.
Farah, excited about her own upcoming wedding, has planned an idyllic bachelorette weekend in Ibiza with her bridesmaids. However, Tansy unexpectedly announces her own engagement and plans a bachelorette retreat at a wellness camp just before Farah’s event. Farah, despite her resentment, tries to keep the peace and manage her jealousy. Meanwhile, the other bridesmaids—Saskia, Domenica, and Lauren—bring their own drama and baggage to the group dynamic, creating the perfect environment for conflict and resentment.
The story centers on five friends who, despite the years and growing distance between them due to life’s personal and professional demands, gather for a bachelorette party in hopes of rekindling the bond they once shared in school. The location—a wellness retreat—seems like the perfect place to relax and reminisce. However, the shadows of their shared past loom over them, and tensions start to build as old grudges and resentments resurface.
The novel’s main plot revolves around Tansy, the bride-to-be, whose wedding plans are thrown into chaos when she dies suddenly after an allergic reaction at the wellness retreat. The five bridesmaids are thrust into the spotlight as suspects, each with their own motives and secrets. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that this death might be connected to something much darker from twenty years ago, and the question arises: Are these women truly innocent, or do they each harbor something more sinister?
What makes You May Now Kill the Bride so thrilling is its unpredictable nature. Weston expertly weaves together the characters' complicated relationships, their long-held secrets, and the mounting pressure as they each become a suspect in a deadly game. With every chapter, Weston throws in surprising twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, never knowing who to trust or what will happen next. The characters are multi-dimensional, with each one holding onto deep secrets that could unravel everything, and the clever writing ensures that no one is fully innocent or fully guilty.
The story dives deep into themes of friendship, betrayal, jealousy, and the cost of keeping secrets. The way Weston handles the dynamics within the group—especially the tension between the women—is incredibly engaging. She brilliantly explores how the weight of past actions can haunt people, and how a single event, like a wedding, can bring all of those suppressed emotions to the surface.
What truly sets this book apart is the dark humor that punctuates the suspense. Weston has a knack for balancing the seriousness of the plot with sharp, witty observations about the chaos of wedding planning, the complexities of female friendships, and the absurdity of the situation they find themselves in. The result is a thrilling, yet sometimes laugh-out-loud, reading experience.
You May Now Kill the Bride is a must-read for fans of suspenseful mysteries with a touch of dark comedy. The twists and turns are relentless, and the unpredictable nature of the story will leave you questioning everything you think you know about the characters. If you love a good girlfriend murder mystery with complex characters and no shortage of shocking revelations, this book is for you.
Rating: 4/5 – A gripping, suspenseful, and darkly comedic ride. A perfect choice for mystery lovers who enjoy a twisty, unpredictable story!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for my DRC!
The story follows five women—Tansy, Farah, Lauren, Saskia, and Domenica—who have been friends since grade school, navigating the ups and downs of life, love, and personal struggles. As they prepare for two weddings within their circle, their pasts and secrets begin to resurface, unraveling the fragile bonds they’ve worked so hard to maintain.
Farah, excited about her own upcoming wedding, has planned an idyllic bachelorette weekend in Ibiza with her bridesmaids. However, Tansy unexpectedly announces her own engagement and plans a bachelorette retreat at a wellness camp just before Farah’s event. Farah, despite her resentment, tries to keep the peace and manage her jealousy. Meanwhile, the other bridesmaids—Saskia, Domenica, and Lauren—bring their own drama and baggage to the group dynamic, creating the perfect environment for conflict and resentment.
The story centers on five friends who, despite the years and growing distance between them due to life’s personal and professional demands, gather for a bachelorette party in hopes of rekindling the bond they once shared in school. The location—a wellness retreat—seems like the perfect place to relax and reminisce. However, the shadows of their shared past loom over them, and tensions start to build as old grudges and resentments resurface.
The novel’s main plot revolves around Tansy, the bride-to-be, whose wedding plans are thrown into chaos when she dies suddenly after an allergic reaction at the wellness retreat. The five bridesmaids are thrust into the spotlight as suspects, each with their own motives and secrets. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that this death might be connected to something much darker from twenty years ago, and the question arises: Are these women truly innocent, or do they each harbor something more sinister?
What makes You May Now Kill the Bride so thrilling is its unpredictable nature. Weston expertly weaves together the characters' complicated relationships, their long-held secrets, and the mounting pressure as they each become a suspect in a deadly game. With every chapter, Weston throws in surprising twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, never knowing who to trust or what will happen next. The characters are multi-dimensional, with each one holding onto deep secrets that could unravel everything, and the clever writing ensures that no one is fully innocent or fully guilty.
The story dives deep into themes of friendship, betrayal, jealousy, and the cost of keeping secrets. The way Weston handles the dynamics within the group—especially the tension between the women—is incredibly engaging. She brilliantly explores how the weight of past actions can haunt people, and how a single event, like a wedding, can bring all of those suppressed emotions to the surface.
What truly sets this book apart is the dark humor that punctuates the suspense. Weston has a knack for balancing the seriousness of the plot with sharp, witty observations about the chaos of wedding planning, the complexities of female friendships, and the absurdity of the situation they find themselves in. The result is a thrilling, yet sometimes laugh-out-loud, reading experience.
You May Now Kill the Bride is a must-read for fans of suspenseful mysteries with a touch of dark comedy. The twists and turns are relentless, and the unpredictable nature of the story will leave you questioning everything you think you know about the characters. If you love a good girlfriend murder mystery with complex characters and no shortage of shocking revelations, this book is for you.
Rating: 4/5 – A gripping, suspenseful, and darkly comedic ride. A perfect choice for mystery lovers who enjoy a twisty, unpredictable story!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for my DRC!
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