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The Birthday Girl
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Alex & Eliza comes a return to adult fiction, centered around a mysterious woman's birthday celebration--and what it reveals about her past.
Ellie de Florent-Stinson is celebrating her fortieth birthday with a grand celebration in her fabulous house in Palm Springs.
At forty, it appears Ellie has everything she ever a handsome husband; an accomplished, college-age stepdaughter; a beautiful ten-year-old girl; two adorable and rambunctious six-year-old twin boys; lush, well-appointed homes in Los Angeles, Park City, and Palm Springs; a thriving career as a well-known fashion designer of casual women's wear; and a glamorous circle of friends.
Except everything is not quite as perfect as it looks on the outside--Ellie is keeping many secrets. This isn't the first birthday celebration that hasn't gone as planned. There's a certain sixteenth birthday that she's tried hard to forget.
But hiding the skeletons of her past comes at a cost, and all of Ellie's secrets come to light on the night of her fabulous birthday party in the desert--where everyone who matters in her life shows up, invited or not. Old and new, friends and frenemies, stepdaughters and business partners, ex-wives and ex-husbands congregate, and the glittering facade of her life crumbles in one eventful night.
Beautifully paced and full of surprises, The Birthday Girl is an enthralling tale of a life lived in shadow, and its unavoidable consequences.
Ellie de Florent-Stinson is celebrating her fortieth birthday with a grand celebration in her fabulous house in Palm Springs.
At forty, it appears Ellie has everything she ever a handsome husband; an accomplished, college-age stepdaughter; a beautiful ten-year-old girl; two adorable and rambunctious six-year-old twin boys; lush, well-appointed homes in Los Angeles, Park City, and Palm Springs; a thriving career as a well-known fashion designer of casual women's wear; and a glamorous circle of friends.
Except everything is not quite as perfect as it looks on the outside--Ellie is keeping many secrets. This isn't the first birthday celebration that hasn't gone as planned. There's a certain sixteenth birthday that she's tried hard to forget.
But hiding the skeletons of her past comes at a cost, and all of Ellie's secrets come to light on the night of her fabulous birthday party in the desert--where everyone who matters in her life shows up, invited or not. Old and new, friends and frenemies, stepdaughters and business partners, ex-wives and ex-husbands congregate, and the glittering facade of her life crumbles in one eventful night.
Beautifully paced and full of surprises, The Birthday Girl is an enthralling tale of a life lived in shadow, and its unavoidable consequences.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2019
202 people are currently reading
12846 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
186 books16k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 610 reviews
July 20, 2019
2.75 rounded up
Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane, yeah
Eager for action and hot for the game
The coming attraction, the drop of a name
They knew all the right people
They took all the right pills
They threw outrageous parties
They paid heavenly bills
-The Eagles
A birthday celebration in Palm Springs- Hollywood style. The best of the best for Ellie's friends, to show off her wealth and prestige. But behind it all, she is worried about her company, worried her husband may be having an affair (but then again, whose husband isn't having an affair, she wonders), and worried that a blast from her past is coming to her birthday celebration. But come on, she invited this person, so why be so shocked?
Nothing is going as planned and this reminds her of her sixteenth birthday which also did not go as planned. So, what happens when the people who matter most in your life show up, and the things in your past, you kept buried, find their way to the surface?
So, while reading this book, I was thinking what's the big deal? The premise sounded good but fell flat for me. This book was meh - just meh for me. This just did not work for me at all. There was the mystery of her past and how it affects her future, but I found there to be no suspense whatsoever. The big reveal was okay but the build up to it felt as if I was on a slow ride to nowhere.
Told in two timelines - one in the past when she was a teenager living a completely different life. As a teenager she was poor and grew up in a trailer who shoplifted with her best friend to keep up with the fashions of the time. The other takes place in the present during her lavish birthday party in Palm Springs.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane, yeah
Eager for action and hot for the game
The coming attraction, the drop of a name
They knew all the right people
They took all the right pills
They threw outrageous parties
They paid heavenly bills
-The Eagles
A birthday celebration in Palm Springs- Hollywood style. The best of the best for Ellie's friends, to show off her wealth and prestige. But behind it all, she is worried about her company, worried her husband may be having an affair (but then again, whose husband isn't having an affair, she wonders), and worried that a blast from her past is coming to her birthday celebration. But come on, she invited this person, so why be so shocked?
Nothing is going as planned and this reminds her of her sixteenth birthday which also did not go as planned. So, what happens when the people who matter most in your life show up, and the things in your past, you kept buried, find their way to the surface?
So, while reading this book, I was thinking what's the big deal? The premise sounded good but fell flat for me. This book was meh - just meh for me. This just did not work for me at all. There was the mystery of her past and how it affects her future, but I found there to be no suspense whatsoever. The big reveal was okay but the build up to it felt as if I was on a slow ride to nowhere.
Told in two timelines - one in the past when she was a teenager living a completely different life. As a teenager she was poor and grew up in a trailer who shoplifted with her best friend to keep up with the fashions of the time. The other takes place in the present during her lavish birthday party in Palm Springs.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 30, 2020
1.5 stars.
Pointless. That's what this book is. Pointless.
The first thing I should say is that The Birthday Girl is not a thriller in the sense that the stakes are high and has a shocking revelation. The Birthday Girl is a thriller in the sense of a social scandal. Correction, this book isn't even a thriller to begin with.
The premise for The Birthday Girl is very bland and it only gets blander as you start to read. The thing is, it did have the potential to be a good story of a woman who intends to keep her skeletons in the closet and does not want anyone to know about her past that could change their view on her. Especially if her secrets are horrifying.
Here's the thing: The story and characters do little to nothing to even make the story sound like a thriller.
Our story is about Ellie celebrating her 40th birthday by throwing an expensive party that could probably pay for the rest of my life. I am not exaggerating. However, things aren't going well for her because she's a spoiled rich woman and she receives a text message from a person in her past who knows a secret that could cause her social status - and her as a person - to crumble down.
Social scandals may not seem as scandalous or shocking as the ones you've seen on TV or social media, but keep in mind that one secret could lead to someone's downfall and are never looked at the same again. But what The Birthday Girl fails to do is even give us a proper thriller, let alone a scandal.
What did The Birthday Girl do wrong to warrant such an opinion from me? For starters, the characters. Specifically, our main character Ellie. She's very, very, very annoying and downright hateful for her actions and thoughts. She's the epitome of when rich people get angry when one tiny little insignificant thing goes wrong. Plus, she's very spoiled. She comes off as fake and plastic. Now, at first I thought that this was the way she was supposed to be written based on the secrets she's keeping. Putting up a front so no one discovers what she has hidden most of her life. Put up a front to hide your secrets. But no. She's just a spoiled, selfish person. Plus the things she says and thinks are very outdated that made me dislike her.
The plot itself was devoid of any plot. The story is told in past and present all on one day, Ellie's birthday. A lot can happen in a day that could very well change how a person lives their life. Ellie's past was more interesting because compared to the present, that story felt more real than the fakeness of Ellie's present. Granted, it didn't help the overall story arc and the end of the past arc was kind of anticlimactic, but it was better than the present story arc. The present side of the story annoyed me because half the time, it forgot about the plot and was mainly Ellie going around being angry. The two did not go well with each other and felt like separate stories rather than one story.
The biggest disappointment was the secret revolving around Ellie. I won't go into spoilers, but keep in mind what I said earlier about this not being a thriller. The cover and the premise gives off a creepy vibe. But all of that is tossed out the window and instead, we got a shallow plot and secret. Like, one centimeter shallow. This isn't a thriller. It's a social scandal type of story.
I will say that I like reading stories about petty drama and watching it all go down. So while I disliked the majority of the story, I couldn't help but enjoy the petty drama.
Verdict
The Birthday Girl is not a thriller. The Birthday Girl is a shallow book with a plastic main character and a plot that doesn't know if it wants to be a thriller or a social scandal thriller. You are not missing out by not reading it. Would I recommend it? No.
Thanks for reading my review!
-Cesar
Pointless. That's what this book is. Pointless.
The first thing I should say is that The Birthday Girl is not a thriller in the sense that the stakes are high and has a shocking revelation. The Birthday Girl is a thriller in the sense of a social scandal. Correction, this book isn't even a thriller to begin with.
The premise for The Birthday Girl is very bland and it only gets blander as you start to read. The thing is, it did have the potential to be a good story of a woman who intends to keep her skeletons in the closet and does not want anyone to know about her past that could change their view on her. Especially if her secrets are horrifying.
Here's the thing: The story and characters do little to nothing to even make the story sound like a thriller.
Our story is about Ellie celebrating her 40th birthday by throwing an expensive party that could probably pay for the rest of my life. I am not exaggerating. However, things aren't going well for her because she's a spoiled rich woman and she receives a text message from a person in her past who knows a secret that could cause her social status - and her as a person - to crumble down.
Social scandals may not seem as scandalous or shocking as the ones you've seen on TV or social media, but keep in mind that one secret could lead to someone's downfall and are never looked at the same again. But what The Birthday Girl fails to do is even give us a proper thriller, let alone a scandal.
What did The Birthday Girl do wrong to warrant such an opinion from me? For starters, the characters. Specifically, our main character Ellie. She's very, very, very annoying and downright hateful for her actions and thoughts. She's the epitome of when rich people get angry when one tiny little insignificant thing goes wrong. Plus, she's very spoiled. She comes off as fake and plastic. Now, at first I thought that this was the way she was supposed to be written based on the secrets she's keeping. Putting up a front so no one discovers what she has hidden most of her life. Put up a front to hide your secrets. But no. She's just a spoiled, selfish person. Plus the things she says and thinks are very outdated that made me dislike her.
The plot itself was devoid of any plot. The story is told in past and present all on one day, Ellie's birthday. A lot can happen in a day that could very well change how a person lives their life. Ellie's past was more interesting because compared to the present, that story felt more real than the fakeness of Ellie's present. Granted, it didn't help the overall story arc and the end of the past arc was kind of anticlimactic, but it was better than the present story arc. The present side of the story annoyed me because half the time, it forgot about the plot and was mainly Ellie going around being angry. The two did not go well with each other and felt like separate stories rather than one story.
The biggest disappointment was the secret revolving around Ellie. I won't go into spoilers, but keep in mind what I said earlier about this not being a thriller. The cover and the premise gives off a creepy vibe. But all of that is tossed out the window and instead, we got a shallow plot and secret. Like, one centimeter shallow. This isn't a thriller. It's a social scandal type of story.
I will say that I like reading stories about petty drama and watching it all go down. So while I disliked the majority of the story, I couldn't help but enjoy the petty drama.
Verdict
The Birthday Girl is not a thriller. The Birthday Girl is a shallow book with a plastic main character and a plot that doesn't know if it wants to be a thriller or a social scandal thriller. You are not missing out by not reading it. Would I recommend it? No.
Thanks for reading my review!
-Cesar
August 5, 2019
Ellie is turning forty, and she’s throwing the party year in her Palm Springs house to celebrate.
Ellie is one that has it all. She has the handsome husband, beautiful and accomplished children, and three homes. She’s a fashion designer and has a solid group of friends.
You know what means, though, right? All perfect on the outside, but not-so-perfect on the inside. Ellie has so many secrets. Her birthdays aren’t always happy times, like her sixteenth birthday. That’s one she’d rather forget.
On the night of her party, allllll of Ellie’s secrets come bubbling up. Everyone in her life shows up to the party, whether they were invited or not. It all falls apart for Ellie that night.
The Birthday Girl is a dramatic (lots ‘o drama!) mystery. I wondered throughout who Ellie really was and what had happened. Her upbringing was very different than her adult life.
I found The Birthday Girl to be a taut, entertaining read, and while Ellie wasn’t the most likable of characters, I came to understand her as light was shed on her early years.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Ellie is one that has it all. She has the handsome husband, beautiful and accomplished children, and three homes. She’s a fashion designer and has a solid group of friends.
You know what means, though, right? All perfect on the outside, but not-so-perfect on the inside. Ellie has so many secrets. Her birthdays aren’t always happy times, like her sixteenth birthday. That’s one she’d rather forget.
On the night of her party, allllll of Ellie’s secrets come bubbling up. Everyone in her life shows up to the party, whether they were invited or not. It all falls apart for Ellie that night.
The Birthday Girl is a dramatic (lots ‘o drama!) mystery. I wondered throughout who Ellie really was and what had happened. Her upbringing was very different than her adult life.
I found The Birthday Girl to be a taut, entertaining read, and while Ellie wasn’t the most likable of characters, I came to understand her as light was shed on her early years.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
July 25, 2019
I received this book for free as part of an Instagram tour (Storygram Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.
I give this book 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.
I was really looking forward to reading this book because I love Melissa de la Cruz’s books. However, this book wasn’t as good as I expected it to be.
As a thriller/mystery, the book falls kind of flat. There wasn’t much suspense. For a lot of the book I was waiting around for something big to happen. Nothing super thrilling happened until the very end. I was also expecting something to happen at her party but nothing really did. The big surprise happened in her past (the book is told in alternating timelines).
One thing I did like were the descriptions. Melissa de la Cruz knows how to write about rich people and their lifestyle. I’ve read many of her books and that is a constant throughout a lot of them. I loved reading the descriptions of all the rich people at Ellie’s birthday party. They were hilarious; it was like watching a reality tv show.
Overall, this book isn’t that surprising or thrilling but still has entertainment value. It’s a quick read, so if you want something short and entertaining to read, then go for it!
I give this book 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.
I was really looking forward to reading this book because I love Melissa de la Cruz’s books. However, this book wasn’t as good as I expected it to be.
As a thriller/mystery, the book falls kind of flat. There wasn’t much suspense. For a lot of the book I was waiting around for something big to happen. Nothing super thrilling happened until the very end. I was also expecting something to happen at her party but nothing really did. The big surprise happened in her past (the book is told in alternating timelines).
One thing I did like were the descriptions. Melissa de la Cruz knows how to write about rich people and their lifestyle. I’ve read many of her books and that is a constant throughout a lot of them. I loved reading the descriptions of all the rich people at Ellie’s birthday party. They were hilarious; it was like watching a reality tv show.
Overall, this book isn’t that surprising or thrilling but still has entertainment value. It’s a quick read, so if you want something short and entertaining to read, then go for it!
September 28, 2019
Giveaway win!
Contemporary A Thon: Read a 2019 release
I don't understand what the point of this book was.
The Birthday Girl is about Ellie who is celebrating her 40th birthday. She has what appears to be the perfect life but Ellie has a lot of secrets in her past and now they are all about to come out.
Birthday is told in dual timelines. Ellie's 40th birthday and a very memorable 16th birthday.
The plot sounds intriguing but the book itself was meh. This book is all buildup but nothing actually ever happens. By time we arrived at the "twist" I didn't even care anymore. I just don't understand why this book exists. Melissa De La Cruz is a popular writer but maybe someone should have told her that her book was plotless and boring.
I thought about giving this book 1 star but decided not to because the writing itself was good.
I don't recommend The Birthday Girl.
Contemporary A Thon: Read a 2019 release
I don't understand what the point of this book was.
The Birthday Girl is about Ellie who is celebrating her 40th birthday. She has what appears to be the perfect life but Ellie has a lot of secrets in her past and now they are all about to come out.
Birthday is told in dual timelines. Ellie's 40th birthday and a very memorable 16th birthday.
The plot sounds intriguing but the book itself was meh. This book is all buildup but nothing actually ever happens. By time we arrived at the "twist" I didn't even care anymore. I just don't understand why this book exists. Melissa De La Cruz is a popular writer but maybe someone should have told her that her book was plotless and boring.
I thought about giving this book 1 star but decided not to because the writing itself was good.
I don't recommend The Birthday Girl.
October 9, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz is what I would call a light mystery, with some heavy shit thrown in at the end. All-in-all it was quite the read and I really enjoyed it!
What it's about: It is Ellie de Florent-Stinson's fortieth birthday and she has decided to throw a huge party in her new Palm Springs home. She invites everyone she knows, new friends, old friends, old flames, famous people she barely knows- no one is exempt from being invited, and no expense is too great. After all, she has a thriving fashion line, multiple homes, a loving husband, and amazing children; life is good. But as the night goes on her old secrets start to bubble up from the past, and something that happened when she was sixteen becomes impossible to avoid any longer.
The Birthday Girl is a fun book that is full of drama and gave me a little bit of a The Favorite Sister vibe. The book may not be set on a TV show, but for all the drama that is in it and the materialistic sense you get from Ellie and her guests, they might as well be the same. I happen to like that type of book, so this really worked well for me and was really fun to read about.
The Birthday Girl jumps from present to past, which is 24 years prior, and mostly told from Ellie's perspective. She grew up poor and worked her butt off to own a fashion line, which made her pretty amazing in my eyes, even if she was incredibly materialistic. I know what it's like to go from nothing to more, so I felt like I could connect with her at least on some level. The book is also really short at under 300 pages so it makes for a very fast read that you could easily read in one sitting.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Good as Hell by Lizzo
Final Thought: The end of The Birthday Girl totally blew me away and left me with chills. Some people may see where it is going, but I clearly didn’t, and I loved the surprise. It does end up getting a little dark, but nothing I couldn't handle, and it was considerably tamer than a lot of mysteries out there. If you want a light mystery with tons and tons of drama, then I highly recommend checking this out!
The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz is what I would call a light mystery, with some heavy shit thrown in at the end. All-in-all it was quite the read and I really enjoyed it!
What it's about: It is Ellie de Florent-Stinson's fortieth birthday and she has decided to throw a huge party in her new Palm Springs home. She invites everyone she knows, new friends, old friends, old flames, famous people she barely knows- no one is exempt from being invited, and no expense is too great. After all, she has a thriving fashion line, multiple homes, a loving husband, and amazing children; life is good. But as the night goes on her old secrets start to bubble up from the past, and something that happened when she was sixteen becomes impossible to avoid any longer.
The Birthday Girl is a fun book that is full of drama and gave me a little bit of a The Favorite Sister vibe. The book may not be set on a TV show, but for all the drama that is in it and the materialistic sense you get from Ellie and her guests, they might as well be the same. I happen to like that type of book, so this really worked well for me and was really fun to read about.
The Birthday Girl jumps from present to past, which is 24 years prior, and mostly told from Ellie's perspective. She grew up poor and worked her butt off to own a fashion line, which made her pretty amazing in my eyes, even if she was incredibly materialistic. I know what it's like to go from nothing to more, so I felt like I could connect with her at least on some level. The book is also really short at under 300 pages so it makes for a very fast read that you could easily read in one sitting.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Good as Hell by Lizzo
Final Thought: The end of The Birthday Girl totally blew me away and left me with chills. Some people may see where it is going, but I clearly didn’t, and I loved the surprise. It does end up getting a little dark, but nothing I couldn't handle, and it was considerably tamer than a lot of mysteries out there. If you want a light mystery with tons and tons of drama, then I highly recommend checking this out!
July 17, 2019
1 1/2 stars.
I won't roast this book anymore than I have to—my rating will suffice. This book was too pretentious, superficial, and quite predictable for me. I did not enjoy it and would've given it one star, but there's a small twist towards the end of the book that made me question that rating a tad. I think some people would enjoy this book, but the reader would have to escape reality for the time being until it's finished.
I won't roast this book anymore than I have to—my rating will suffice. This book was too pretentious, superficial, and quite predictable for me. I did not enjoy it and would've given it one star, but there's a small twist towards the end of the book that made me question that rating a tad. I think some people would enjoy this book, but the reader would have to escape reality for the time being until it's finished.
August 11, 2019
Ellie is turning forty, and she has a big birthday party planned. She's invited everyone she knows and has everything planned to the last detail. Things do not go according to plan though. Something is up with her husband, her daughter has returned home unexpectedly from college, her best friend can't make it, someone from her past has decided to drop by, and Ellie's waiting on a last minuted business deal.
Told with alternating timelines - past (24 years ago) and present (birthday party). The past timeline is about Leo and Mish, two girls from the wrong side of town, on the night of Leo's 16th birthday. They are best friends and excited to go out and celebrate, but things do not end happily. The present timeline is about Ellie, her lavish party, and the things happening in her life.
This is listed as a thriller, but nothing is particularly surprising or shocking. Ellie is not the most likable character, but she's realistic. She wants perfection, and to prove that she belongs. An entertaining book for readers who enjoy drama and mild suspense.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Told with alternating timelines - past (24 years ago) and present (birthday party). The past timeline is about Leo and Mish, two girls from the wrong side of town, on the night of Leo's 16th birthday. They are best friends and excited to go out and celebrate, but things do not end happily. The present timeline is about Ellie, her lavish party, and the things happening in her life.
This is listed as a thriller, but nothing is particularly surprising or shocking. Ellie is not the most likable character, but she's realistic. She wants perfection, and to prove that she belongs. An entertaining book for readers who enjoy drama and mild suspense.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2020
The cover was captivating. The writer was good in description. The story was kinda so so.
Okay let me get it straight - I'm looking for the suspense part 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾. And this book doesn't satisfy the hunger I'm looking for in a story. 😭😭😭. Maybe I just want to feel something but I don't get it.
Anyway, it's not a waste but something to think of? What will you be @40? Do you regret something in your past? So many questions, but only time knows the answer... 💤💥😊🎂
Okay let me get it straight - I'm looking for the suspense part 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾. And this book doesn't satisfy the hunger I'm looking for in a story. 😭😭😭. Maybe I just want to feel something but I don't get it.
Anyway, it's not a waste but something to think of? What will you be @40? Do you regret something in your past? So many questions, but only time knows the answer... 💤💥😊🎂
August 30, 2019
Really enjoyed this book of 2 birthdays 24 years apart. The ending surprised me. Great narrator and story.
October 26, 2019
2.5 rounded down. Nothing really that thrilling or suspenseful about this novel. I had seen some bad reviews going in, so my expectations were not very high, yet somehow I was STILL disappointed with this one! I suppose the cover really captivated me and my hopes were high, despite some negative reviews. I don't like to and I won't give much away about the plot, but essentially this entire novel takes place in the space of a couple hours on the night of our protagonists (Ellie) birthday. None of the characters were likable, even remotely. All of them were very superficial and downright ....well, unlikeable. There was a little bit of a twist at the end that I scoffed at, simply because it was so silly IMO. I would still give this one a shot because the writing is not bad and some of the dialogue is entertaining, and I know this author has put out some good stuff before. Jury is still out if I'm going to continue reading her forthcoming adult releases. You win some, you lose some :-(
June 27, 2019
Find more reviews at Carlene Inspired.
The Birthday Girl is Melissa de la Cruz' dream thriller, written after purchasing her own home in the Palm Springs area. A twisty suspense that spans one woman's life, from 16 to 40, as she climbs the hamster wheel of fashion and wealth. Her 40th birthday party is her it moment, the party everyone will be talking about. She's taken everyone's birthdays and one upped them, only she made the mistake of inviting absolutely everyone. Her businesses' sale is pending, her husband is acting distant, her eldest daughter has a secret, and there seem to be an awful lot of people arriving that she wouldn't consider herself close to. A certain guest, a man from her past, has sent in his RSVP and with his attendance comes a slew of memories, taking her back to a time she doesn't speak of. What happened one fateful birthday evening is best left buried, until it isn't.
I really wanted to like this book; the premise was great, the characters are clever, there's just the right amount of suspense. Ultimately though, The Birthday Girl was just meh. The characters' pasts and presents are so different, it's astonishing to think only 20-something years had past and that much had changed. Then there's the birthday party, for so much to happen in one evening, for everyone to be there, was unbelievable. I went from intrigued and really captivated, to wanting to skim, bored by the mixed in drama that took away from the mystery. In particular, there is one scene that involved papers being served and I just rolled my eyes. Yes, life is dramatic and yes this is a fiction, but this was a stretch on how life events unfold.
Twisted and busy, The Birthday Girl is a long awaited release from the popular Melissa de la Cruz. While it was a miss for me, I can see other readers devouring this suspenseful mystery.
ARC provided.
The Birthday Girl is Melissa de la Cruz' dream thriller, written after purchasing her own home in the Palm Springs area. A twisty suspense that spans one woman's life, from 16 to 40, as she climbs the hamster wheel of fashion and wealth. Her 40th birthday party is her it moment, the party everyone will be talking about. She's taken everyone's birthdays and one upped them, only she made the mistake of inviting absolutely everyone. Her businesses' sale is pending, her husband is acting distant, her eldest daughter has a secret, and there seem to be an awful lot of people arriving that she wouldn't consider herself close to. A certain guest, a man from her past, has sent in his RSVP and with his attendance comes a slew of memories, taking her back to a time she doesn't speak of. What happened one fateful birthday evening is best left buried, until it isn't.
I really wanted to like this book; the premise was great, the characters are clever, there's just the right amount of suspense. Ultimately though, The Birthday Girl was just meh. The characters' pasts and presents are so different, it's astonishing to think only 20-something years had past and that much had changed. Then there's the birthday party, for so much to happen in one evening, for everyone to be there, was unbelievable. I went from intrigued and really captivated, to wanting to skim, bored by the mixed in drama that took away from the mystery. In particular, there is one scene that involved papers being served and I just rolled my eyes. Yes, life is dramatic and yes this is a fiction, but this was a stretch on how life events unfold.
Twisted and busy, The Birthday Girl is a long awaited release from the popular Melissa de la Cruz. While it was a miss for me, I can see other readers devouring this suspenseful mystery.
ARC provided.
September 15, 2019
A Big Fat No-No for me.
When I was younger, I read her Blue Blood series and at that time, I love that series.So I am not going to needy the fact that I wanted to read this book only because of that reason... but also the synopsis of the book promised a book with a thrilling storyline.
Sadly, the book was just a trial of patience for me:I didn't like the protagonist or the secondary characters. Just Book was a big fat NO.
When I was younger, I read her Blue Blood series and at that time, I love that series.So I am not going to needy the fact that I wanted to read this book only because of that reason... but also the synopsis of the book promised a book with a thrilling storyline.
Sadly, the book was just a trial of patience for me:I didn't like the protagonist or the secondary characters. Just Book was a big fat NO.
April 24, 2019
Told on a birthday, in dual timelines (one present day the other 24 years ago), this story focuses on Ellie, self-made entrepreneur, wife, mother and now 40 year old. She's having a few crises surfacing, from her daughter Sam reappearing back home from Stanford under mysterious circumstances, a business that needs a deal to go through to avert bankruptcy, two men from her long ago and best-forgotten past, dropping into her birthday party and worries that her husband is being unfaithful.
The first third takes the reader back to a time when Ellie was sixteen and living in poverty in Portland. She and her BFF have each other and some usual and unusual high school lives. There's a lot of moneyed angst and conspicuous consumption in the present day timeline. Both serve to set the scene and lay the foundation for Ellie's worries and anxieties. It felt a bit overwrought but it moves along quickly enough. What most helped was that we meet Ellie's friends who seem true and she has genuine affection for them.
The middle third gets into the main of the mystery and the tension builds more as Ellie's trying to handle it all and is worried about her past and present lives colliding. I liked the past timeline most here and found I was trying to figure out which girl Ellie was and what happened. Quite the page turner.
The final third of the book was my favourite, as the past comes to a head and so does all the build-up of Ellie's (and which girl she was) worry about what both men from her past appearing now means. It all resolved neatly and I found I was surprised. I think I'd been expecting a messier end or some sort of fallout but that wasn't the point here. There's gratitude, hope and contentment which is, all things considered, a nice place to end up.
This is my first read by de La Cruz & I'd read another. Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for an Advanced Reader's Copy.
The first third takes the reader back to a time when Ellie was sixteen and living in poverty in Portland. She and her BFF have each other and some usual and unusual high school lives. There's a lot of moneyed angst and conspicuous consumption in the present day timeline. Both serve to set the scene and lay the foundation for Ellie's worries and anxieties. It felt a bit overwrought but it moves along quickly enough. What most helped was that we meet Ellie's friends who seem true and she has genuine affection for them.
The middle third gets into the main of the mystery and the tension builds more as Ellie's trying to handle it all and is worried about her past and present lives colliding. I liked the past timeline most here and found I was trying to figure out which girl Ellie was and what happened. Quite the page turner.
The final third of the book was my favourite, as the past comes to a head and so does all the build-up of Ellie's (and which girl she was) worry about what both men from her past appearing now means. It all resolved neatly and I found I was surprised. I think I'd been expecting a messier end or some sort of fallout but that wasn't the point here. There's gratitude, hope and contentment which is, all things considered, a nice place to end up.
This is my first read by de La Cruz & I'd read another. Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for an Advanced Reader's Copy.
September 2, 2019
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Melissa de la Cruz is my original, my forever, auto-buy and ride or die. I've said it before, but I'm a massive fan of her and own a great many of her published works. There's no secret as to why I had jumped at the chance to review her latest--a thriller--The Birthday Girl. It's because I completely adore her and the genre itself.
In the years since I began reading her, I knew one thing was for certain: Melissa de la Cruz writes dazzling secrets, explosive drama and luxurious lifestyles brilliantly. I had high hopes for The Birthday Girl because of this. And while I genuinely enjoyed The Birthday Girl, it was purely dishy entertainment, I couldn't help but wish there was something more to it.
Is it because I *know* the glittering way that Melissa de la Cruz can twist and turn her plotlines and felt that this one fell just a bit short? Maybe. I think, mostly, it had to do with the fact that The Birthday Girl is packaged as a thriller when the reality is that... it isn't quite so. And that disappointed me, personally.
That being said, once I got over the initial confusion of what genre The Birthday Girl was I found myself indulging in the lifestyles of the protagonist, the birthday girl herself, Ellie. The split narration is utilized by Melissa de la Cruz in a way that weaves the bigger picture together for us an audience--although The Birthday Girl isn't wholly unique or shocking, the way that de la Cruz pens it makes even its duller moments shine.
The Birthday Girl has the mild approach to life, its secrets and its mysteries that makes me think it'd be a hit with fans of Pretty Little Liars and The Perfectionists. It holds the promise that sometimes the past doesn't stay hidden forever. Ultimately, The Birthday Girl was an entertaining, quick, last minute summery read.
But it's definitely not Melissa de la Cruz's best.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Melissa de la Cruz is my original, my forever, auto-buy and ride or die. I've said it before, but I'm a massive fan of her and own a great many of her published works. There's no secret as to why I had jumped at the chance to review her latest--a thriller--The Birthday Girl. It's because I completely adore her and the genre itself.
In the years since I began reading her, I knew one thing was for certain: Melissa de la Cruz writes dazzling secrets, explosive drama and luxurious lifestyles brilliantly. I had high hopes for The Birthday Girl because of this. And while I genuinely enjoyed The Birthday Girl, it was purely dishy entertainment, I couldn't help but wish there was something more to it.
Is it because I *know* the glittering way that Melissa de la Cruz can twist and turn her plotlines and felt that this one fell just a bit short? Maybe. I think, mostly, it had to do with the fact that The Birthday Girl is packaged as a thriller when the reality is that... it isn't quite so. And that disappointed me, personally.
That being said, once I got over the initial confusion of what genre The Birthday Girl was I found myself indulging in the lifestyles of the protagonist, the birthday girl herself, Ellie. The split narration is utilized by Melissa de la Cruz in a way that weaves the bigger picture together for us an audience--although The Birthday Girl isn't wholly unique or shocking, the way that de la Cruz pens it makes even its duller moments shine.
The Birthday Girl has the mild approach to life, its secrets and its mysteries that makes me think it'd be a hit with fans of Pretty Little Liars and The Perfectionists. It holds the promise that sometimes the past doesn't stay hidden forever. Ultimately, The Birthday Girl was an entertaining, quick, last minute summery read.
But it's definitely not Melissa de la Cruz's best.
August 7, 2019
You can also read my reviews at WP: https://anisabookreviews.wordpress.co...
3.5 stars rounded to 4
Ellie de Florent-Stinson is about to celebrate her 40th Birthday. And it will be the party that spears no indulgence. This soiree is not only for her celebration, but a showcase to the rich and famous that she has entered their world. To prove to herself she has shed the past of the family's trailer, the felon father and the absentee mother.
The Birthday Girl is told from two different timelines that are 24 years apart. Birthday past and birthday present. In the past, we explore Leo's (short for Eleonor) coming of age through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old. Leo and her best friend Mish are celebrating without holding anything back. Fast forward 24 years later, we see Ellie's extravagant life is on the brink of financial ruin. Her 30 million dollar company needs an influx of money and is dependent on creating a partnership. As the party starts to unfold, several storylines develop and the guest list will cause the past to collide to the present.
The Birthday Girl by Melissa De La Cruz is a fun yet dark novel that had an ease to the reading. While I was less interested in the present story, I found myself engaging with Leo and Mish, wanting to discover their complex lives and personalities. Each family holds secrets and it is not until the end that we discover the depths of the two girl's endurance.
Overall, the novel was a fun read with dramatic scenes of both lush and harsh realities. If you savor indulgent and dark vignettes, you will enjoy this novel. And you may discover you might love to fly across the country just to attend Ellie's party in your private jet!
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the Dutton Penguin Group for the ARC in the exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
Ellie de Florent-Stinson is about to celebrate her 40th Birthday. And it will be the party that spears no indulgence. This soiree is not only for her celebration, but a showcase to the rich and famous that she has entered their world. To prove to herself she has shed the past of the family's trailer, the felon father and the absentee mother.
The Birthday Girl is told from two different timelines that are 24 years apart. Birthday past and birthday present. In the past, we explore Leo's (short for Eleonor) coming of age through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old. Leo and her best friend Mish are celebrating without holding anything back. Fast forward 24 years later, we see Ellie's extravagant life is on the brink of financial ruin. Her 30 million dollar company needs an influx of money and is dependent on creating a partnership. As the party starts to unfold, several storylines develop and the guest list will cause the past to collide to the present.
The Birthday Girl by Melissa De La Cruz is a fun yet dark novel that had an ease to the reading. While I was less interested in the present story, I found myself engaging with Leo and Mish, wanting to discover their complex lives and personalities. Each family holds secrets and it is not until the end that we discover the depths of the two girl's endurance.
Overall, the novel was a fun read with dramatic scenes of both lush and harsh realities. If you savor indulgent and dark vignettes, you will enjoy this novel. And you may discover you might love to fly across the country just to attend Ellie's party in your private jet!
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the Dutton Penguin Group for the ARC in the exchange for my honest review.
August 4, 2019
What.Was.The.Point? Seriously, I kept asking myself that question over and over. And over and over. Ellie is a shallow, spoiled, self-centered character with a zero sympathy factor and few redeemable qualities. There wasn't enough on any of the other characters to form any sort of opinion on them. The storyline was mediocre at best. This book did nothing for me. The only reason I rated it 2 stars in stead of 1 is because I reserve 1 star reviews for books I don't finish. I actually did manage to slug through this one and finish it, mainly because I was desperate for something exciting to happen, anything. And I was curious if there would be some sort of holy sh*t revelation that would suddenly make it all worthwhile. Unfortunately, that never happened.
Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Edelweiss for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Edelweiss for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2019
How in the name of all things holy did this steaming pile of shit book ever get published? And how on Earth did so many people think it was even remotely good enough to rate it 2, 3, 4 or 5 stars? I think that even a 2 star rating is far too generous for this garbage.
The book was 7 and a half hours as an audio book, and by the first 30 minutes I was already ready to send this piece of crap back to the library. If there was a way I could have sent it back damaged so nobody else would be subjected to it, I would have. I hated it THAT MUCH. I ended up toughing it out for another 2 hours before I finally packed it in.
NOTHING had happened. NOTHING. Well, unless you count promoting a bigoted 'I hate everyone except cis rich people' message.
This book has officially put this author on my 'will never pick up another book they've written or will ever write' list.
The book was 7 and a half hours as an audio book, and by the first 30 minutes I was already ready to send this piece of crap back to the library. If there was a way I could have sent it back damaged so nobody else would be subjected to it, I would have. I hated it THAT MUCH. I ended up toughing it out for another 2 hours before I finally packed it in.
NOTHING had happened. NOTHING. Well, unless you count promoting a bigoted 'I hate everyone except cis rich people' message.
This book has officially put this author on my 'will never pick up another book they've written or will ever write' list.
Want to read
May 24, 2019Lately, I kept craving for some mystery/thriller. Now, I got one to look forward to. Many thanks to Edelweiss, Dutton & Penguin Publishing Group for the ARC to review.
July 18, 2019
3.5 RTC
August 14, 2019
Originally posted on The Nerd Daily | Review by Marla Warren
Part Real Housewives guilty pleasure and part unravelling mystery, Melissa de la Cruz’s The Birthday Girl is (probably) the first book I have ever categorised as “a fun thriller”. Maybe that isn’t really a genre, or even a sub-genre, but it is a great way to accurately describe this thoroughly enjoyable, but still suspenseful and twisted tale.
The novel is told through two separate timelines in alternating chapters. The present timeline is the 40th birthday party of Ellie de Florent-Stinson, and this story is intercut with chapters from twenty-four years earlier. Sharp contrasts are drawn immediately between Ellie’s life at sixteen, where she lived in a trailer park, came from a broken home, and had no money, as compared to her ultra-lavish lifestyle in present-day where she has bought a mansion on a whim, planned a 40th birthday party for herself that includes two after-parties, and has pointedly invited “at least 3” of her billionaire friends to the party.
From the very beginning, however, we get a sense that while Ellie lives for the luxurious life of excess, she still seems to be able to see through it – and mock it. It makes the character endearing and provides a lot of the fun as well. We can laugh and smile at some of her outlandish expectations because she seems to be in on it with us. Very similar to the guilty pleasure some of us may feel with Real Housewives or other reality television, this is what puts the fun in “a fun thriller.”
The present-day timeline plays out like a stage production. The reader can picture this party and has the advantage of knowing a lot about the different conversations going on, that other characters are not privy to. There are miscommunications and misunderstandings galore, and this creates levity, frustration, and concern during different parts of the evening.
The chapters from the past are where more of the thriller elements are found. Two teenage girls, celebrating a 16th birthday, take the reader through many of the highs and lows involved with being a teenager, and how quickly the highs turn low, and vice versa. This timeline gets darker as the evening continues, and the silliness of the earliest chapters, which focused on the excessive party arrangements, are soon forgotten.
Events from the two timelines ultimately meet up (in a sense), and the story finally brings some of the thriller elements into the present-day timeline, though not as successfully as they were weaved into the past events. The mystery that very successfully unravels in the timeline from twenty-four years ago, did not flow quite as easily into the present-day storyline. There are some very good twists, however, that might have been ruined if the mystery was woven into the two timelines equally.
The story wraps up in a way that felt natural, and true to the characters we had come to know at the party, throughout the evening. It may take an extra minute for the two timelines to match up once the reader has gotten through all the twists and turns, but all the questions do get answered.
This book is a perfect on-the-beach or by-the-pool read, where a “fun thriller” is preferred over something more complex or intricate. or those readers, like me, who enjoy The Birthday Girl, Melissa de la Cruz has an extensive backlist (this is her 50th book) so there are many more titles to add to your TBR!
Part Real Housewives guilty pleasure and part unravelling mystery, Melissa de la Cruz’s The Birthday Girl is (probably) the first book I have ever categorised as “a fun thriller”. Maybe that isn’t really a genre, or even a sub-genre, but it is a great way to accurately describe this thoroughly enjoyable, but still suspenseful and twisted tale.
The novel is told through two separate timelines in alternating chapters. The present timeline is the 40th birthday party of Ellie de Florent-Stinson, and this story is intercut with chapters from twenty-four years earlier. Sharp contrasts are drawn immediately between Ellie’s life at sixteen, where she lived in a trailer park, came from a broken home, and had no money, as compared to her ultra-lavish lifestyle in present-day where she has bought a mansion on a whim, planned a 40th birthday party for herself that includes two after-parties, and has pointedly invited “at least 3” of her billionaire friends to the party.
From the very beginning, however, we get a sense that while Ellie lives for the luxurious life of excess, she still seems to be able to see through it – and mock it. It makes the character endearing and provides a lot of the fun as well. We can laugh and smile at some of her outlandish expectations because she seems to be in on it with us. Very similar to the guilty pleasure some of us may feel with Real Housewives or other reality television, this is what puts the fun in “a fun thriller.”
The present-day timeline plays out like a stage production. The reader can picture this party and has the advantage of knowing a lot about the different conversations going on, that other characters are not privy to. There are miscommunications and misunderstandings galore, and this creates levity, frustration, and concern during different parts of the evening.
The chapters from the past are where more of the thriller elements are found. Two teenage girls, celebrating a 16th birthday, take the reader through many of the highs and lows involved with being a teenager, and how quickly the highs turn low, and vice versa. This timeline gets darker as the evening continues, and the silliness of the earliest chapters, which focused on the excessive party arrangements, are soon forgotten.
Events from the two timelines ultimately meet up (in a sense), and the story finally brings some of the thriller elements into the present-day timeline, though not as successfully as they were weaved into the past events. The mystery that very successfully unravels in the timeline from twenty-four years ago, did not flow quite as easily into the present-day storyline. There are some very good twists, however, that might have been ruined if the mystery was woven into the two timelines equally.
The story wraps up in a way that felt natural, and true to the characters we had come to know at the party, throughout the evening. It may take an extra minute for the two timelines to match up once the reader has gotten through all the twists and turns, but all the questions do get answered.
This book is a perfect on-the-beach or by-the-pool read, where a “fun thriller” is preferred over something more complex or intricate. or those readers, like me, who enjoy The Birthday Girl, Melissa de la Cruz has an extensive backlist (this is her 50th book) so there are many more titles to add to your TBR!
November 26, 2024
Not really a thriller but still an interesting story.
August 19, 2019
I don't know what happened. Melissa De LA Cruz is a excellent writer, but this book was not what I expected.
June 4, 2020
***Spoilers included***
I would call this more of a mystery than a thriller for it having multiple POVs and time periods that are intended to set up the “unexpected” twist (although frequent readers of the domestic “thriller” genre would expect). But it isn’t really a thriller, so if you’re going to be disappointed that it isn’t just skip it.
Plot: Ellie is throwing a lavish 40th birthday party at her new vacation home with B-list celebrities, people who work for her clothes company, and the parents of her kids’ private school friends. Although she plans festivities such as drag queen BINGO (how fun!) the plot leaves them out and has Ellie staring at decadent food she won’t allow herself to eat, listening to opera she doesn’t enjoy, assuming her husband is cheating on her, and ignoring her stepdaughter when she tries to reveal 1. An affair with a professor, 2. She’s sexually fluid and has brought her girlfriend home, and 3. She’s getting kicked out of her Ivy League school for taking her girlfriend’s paper and turning it in as her own. In the past, Leo and Mish, gorgeous girls from a trailer park who could apparently both be models, are going out for Leo’s birthday. They do drugs, go to a club, and go to the most popular girl in school’s party. The reader is led to believe that Leo is Ellie (Eleanor. No, the nicknames don’t make sense in this book), but Ellie is really Mish (Michelle…Elle..Ellie?). Leo dies because Mish’s father (and also Leo’s father, it’s revealed later) is raping her and he ends up shooting her, then Mish catches him and shoots him. She gets her preppy boyfriend to marry her so he can’t testify against her, then after his parents make him annul it, she becomes a model, a trophy wife, then a clothing mogul. In the end, Ellie realizes that no one will find out she killed her dad, it’s okay that she’s being sued for letting her dog pee on someone’s yard, and a deal that will make her clothing line mainstream will result in more money.
A lot of the story is just built up for the death, but when it comes, it seems so irrelevant to everything else going on with neighborhood lawsuits, plagiarism, etc. I really didn’t care. I also thought some of the wording was either typos or just odd: “and he’d proposed and promised this gorgeous thing anything she wanted” (9).
The commentaries on human behavior were on point sometimes. I do think the shoplifting logic Mish and Leo had of being entitled to steal because they didn’t have opportunities for things other girls had is prevalent with poor teens. I also have read about celebrities wearing fake engagement rings because they know everyone assumes they’re real anyway (80).
I just gave Trust Exercise 1 star and this one gets 2 even though the ideas and writing style are in some ways worse, but I knew this would be a budget “thriller” trying to ride the coattails of books like Gone Girl and I still tried it since I found it at a discount store. I knew what I was getting and, for that, I can’t be too angry that it’s what I got.
I would call this more of a mystery than a thriller for it having multiple POVs and time periods that are intended to set up the “unexpected” twist (although frequent readers of the domestic “thriller” genre would expect). But it isn’t really a thriller, so if you’re going to be disappointed that it isn’t just skip it.
Plot: Ellie is throwing a lavish 40th birthday party at her new vacation home with B-list celebrities, people who work for her clothes company, and the parents of her kids’ private school friends. Although she plans festivities such as drag queen BINGO (how fun!) the plot leaves them out and has Ellie staring at decadent food she won’t allow herself to eat, listening to opera she doesn’t enjoy, assuming her husband is cheating on her, and ignoring her stepdaughter when she tries to reveal 1. An affair with a professor, 2. She’s sexually fluid and has brought her girlfriend home, and 3. She’s getting kicked out of her Ivy League school for taking her girlfriend’s paper and turning it in as her own. In the past, Leo and Mish, gorgeous girls from a trailer park who could apparently both be models, are going out for Leo’s birthday. They do drugs, go to a club, and go to the most popular girl in school’s party. The reader is led to believe that Leo is Ellie (Eleanor. No, the nicknames don’t make sense in this book), but Ellie is really Mish (Michelle…Elle..Ellie?). Leo dies because Mish’s father (and also Leo’s father, it’s revealed later) is raping her and he ends up shooting her, then Mish catches him and shoots him. She gets her preppy boyfriend to marry her so he can’t testify against her, then after his parents make him annul it, she becomes a model, a trophy wife, then a clothing mogul. In the end, Ellie realizes that no one will find out she killed her dad, it’s okay that she’s being sued for letting her dog pee on someone’s yard, and a deal that will make her clothing line mainstream will result in more money.
A lot of the story is just built up for the death, but when it comes, it seems so irrelevant to everything else going on with neighborhood lawsuits, plagiarism, etc. I really didn’t care. I also thought some of the wording was either typos or just odd: “and he’d proposed and promised this gorgeous thing anything she wanted” (9).
The commentaries on human behavior were on point sometimes. I do think the shoplifting logic Mish and Leo had of being entitled to steal because they didn’t have opportunities for things other girls had is prevalent with poor teens. I also have read about celebrities wearing fake engagement rings because they know everyone assumes they’re real anyway (80).
I just gave Trust Exercise 1 star and this one gets 2 even though the ideas and writing style are in some ways worse, but I knew this would be a budget “thriller” trying to ride the coattails of books like Gone Girl and I still tried it since I found it at a discount store. I knew what I was getting and, for that, I can’t be too angry that it’s what I got.
December 23, 2019
Kind of dreadful. And don't be fooled, despite the title, cover and blurb that make it seem like a thriller, it is NOT a thriller.
October 26, 2025
This book felt like a bit of a departure from this author’s usual style and honestly, I’m not quite sure what motivated the shift. But I’m glad I picked it up. It’s not groundbreaking, but it didn’t need to be. It was a quick read, entertaining enough to hold my attention without demanding too much of me — which was perfect because I read it as a little birthday treat to myself.
And strangely, it ended up being set on my birthday, which felt like the universe giving me a wink. There’s something special about reading a book that meets you exactly where you are, and this one did just that. It may not be the author’s most powerful work, but it was the right read at the right time. Sometimes, that’s more than enough.
Beach read type of book!
And strangely, it ended up being set on my birthday, which felt like the universe giving me a wink. There’s something special about reading a book that meets you exactly where you are, and this one did just that. It may not be the author’s most powerful work, but it was the right read at the right time. Sometimes, that’s more than enough.
Beach read type of book!
August 23, 2019
2.5/5 stars
The Birthday Girl is sort of a combination between Contemporary Women's Fiction and a thriller. However to me the thriller/suspense part only really happens towards the very end. This is my first book by this author.
The story is divided into parts and takes place at two birthday parties set 24 years apart (3rd person POVs). In the present Ellie is having a lavish 40th birthday part in Palm Springs. In the past 16 year old Leo (nickname from Eleanor) is celebrating with her best friend Mish.
Ellie has come a long way. She is married to Todd (he also has a 3rd person POV) and they have four kids. She has a fancy fashion line. But can she afford this expensive party? In the past Leo is poor and struggling. So it was interesting to see the change in lifestyle.
The past part of the story was interesting. But I just wish that the book had been more focused on the present. And I wanted a lot more to be happening in the present.
I was expecting this book to be much more of a thriller than it was. Unfortunately not much happens in this story. But I will say that the last part of the book was the strongest. There was a very interesting reveal that was 4+ stars for me. I just wish that the rest of the book had captured my interest the same way.
Thanks to edelweiss and Dutton for allowing me to read this book.
The Birthday Girl is sort of a combination between Contemporary Women's Fiction and a thriller. However to me the thriller/suspense part only really happens towards the very end. This is my first book by this author.
The story is divided into parts and takes place at two birthday parties set 24 years apart (3rd person POVs). In the present Ellie is having a lavish 40th birthday part in Palm Springs. In the past 16 year old Leo (nickname from Eleanor) is celebrating with her best friend Mish.
Ellie has come a long way. She is married to Todd (he also has a 3rd person POV) and they have four kids. She has a fancy fashion line. But can she afford this expensive party? In the past Leo is poor and struggling. So it was interesting to see the change in lifestyle.
The past part of the story was interesting. But I just wish that the book had been more focused on the present. And I wanted a lot more to be happening in the present.
I was expecting this book to be much more of a thriller than it was. Unfortunately not much happens in this story. But I will say that the last part of the book was the strongest. There was a very interesting reveal that was 4+ stars for me. I just wish that the rest of the book had captured my interest the same way.
Thanks to edelweiss and Dutton for allowing me to read this book.
September 19, 2019
Ellie had it all, family friends and happiness. A party at her house to celebrate her forties was thrown. But secrets were hidden in her past and on the night of the party, all were revealed.
My first book by this author, the story built up the suspense slowly in its pages initially. There was a mystery of the past which affected her. Dual timelines showed me what happened to her as a teen and now. The suspense was low, but it was still an entertaining read.
My first book by this author, the story built up the suspense slowly in its pages initially. There was a mystery of the past which affected her. Dual timelines showed me what happened to her as a teen and now. The suspense was low, but it was still an entertaining read.
August 30, 2019
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would! I really did like Ellie and the store she told from the day her friend was 16 and remembering it all, and how Mish’s ex boyfriend came to her 40th birthday party 🥳 like whattttt lol 😂 but over all enjoyed it but it does have some violence not a lot but some and drug use as well! So be aware of that before going into it!
October 17, 2020
Loved this book...happens on her 16th birthday (past) / 40th birthday (present)
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