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The Bridesmaid
Your best friend. Your worst nightmare...
From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy, and confident Caitlin would always be her absolute best friend. Sasha would do anything to make Caitlin happy.
Even keep her darkest secrets…
The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she’s getting married there is only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. Sasha will make sure Caitlin’s wedding is as beautiful and perfect as she is. Won’t she?
But as the big day approaches, cracks begin to appear. Because no matter what Sasha does, she never seems to make Caitlin happy.
And the secrets that once bound these two friends, now threaten to rip them apart for good...
From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy, and confident Caitlin would always be her absolute best friend. Sasha would do anything to make Caitlin happy.
Even keep her darkest secrets…
The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she’s getting married there is only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. Sasha will make sure Caitlin’s wedding is as beautiful and perfect as she is. Won’t she?
But as the big day approaches, cracks begin to appear. Because no matter what Sasha does, she never seems to make Caitlin happy.
And the secrets that once bound these two friends, now threaten to rip them apart for good...
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2021
1877 people are currently reading
1559 people want to read
About the author
Nina Manning
29 books330 followersNina Manning began her career in the catering industry. She has worked as a private chef cooking for royalty and TV personalities.
She has a degree in Psychology and has three books published with Boldwood: The Daughter In Law, The Guilty Wife and The House Mate.
Her fourth Psychological thriller is published in Spring 2021.
Nina is a voracious reader of many genres, is the founding member of a long standing book club and the founder and co-host of a book podcast called Sniffing The Pages.
She is a mother to three young children so when she is not writing or reading she can usually be found scaling a soft play tower or romping in the woods with the family and her chocolate Labrador.
She has a degree in Psychology and has three books published with Boldwood: The Daughter In Law, The Guilty Wife and The House Mate.
Her fourth Psychological thriller is published in Spring 2021.
Nina is a voracious reader of many genres, is the founding member of a long standing book club and the founder and co-host of a book podcast called Sniffing The Pages.
She is a mother to three young children so when she is not writing or reading she can usually be found scaling a soft play tower or romping in the woods with the family and her chocolate Labrador.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews
May 27, 2021
3.5
Saxby Hall, Dorset is where Sasha and Caitlin meet as pre-teens. Caitlin is the granddaughter of Josephine, the owner of the sixteenth century Manor House and Sasha’s parents work for the Clemonte family. This is the story of an up and down friendship which builds to a crescendo at Caitlin’s wedding several years on. The story is told in multiple timelines.
The title is appropriate because this is about an unequal relationship as Sasha is always the bridesmaid while Caitlin the bride at the centre of it all. The characterisation is good, Caitlin seems unbalanced, much of her behaviour is odd, weird, strange and she veers from one end of the friendship spectrum to the other. She’s a narcissist, a drama queen, a queen bee, manipulative and can be extremely mean. Part of her issue surrounds her family, the dynamics in the household are off to say the least, at times heading towards the downright disturbing and much of the drama surrounds Caitlin’s mother Ava. There are clearly many secrets being harboured, some are HUGE and there are lies in abundance. When Sasha uncovers one secret there’s a shift in the balance of power in her favour but as a personality she never comes across very strongly until the end which is of course the whole point of the toxic imbalance. You wonder on many occasions why Sasha clings limpet like to the toxic friendship. As you approach the end things slot into place and it sheds light on why Ava and Caitlin are as they are.
Although the above is a strong part of the storytelling, I find the pace too slow. There’s a lot of prevarication especially at the start and it’s about a third way in before anything much happens. It’s over detailed and over explained especially in the first section of the book but once it gets going it’s a good read although I can’t say I find it especially chilling.
With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc in return for an honest review.
Saxby Hall, Dorset is where Sasha and Caitlin meet as pre-teens. Caitlin is the granddaughter of Josephine, the owner of the sixteenth century Manor House and Sasha’s parents work for the Clemonte family. This is the story of an up and down friendship which builds to a crescendo at Caitlin’s wedding several years on. The story is told in multiple timelines.
The title is appropriate because this is about an unequal relationship as Sasha is always the bridesmaid while Caitlin the bride at the centre of it all. The characterisation is good, Caitlin seems unbalanced, much of her behaviour is odd, weird, strange and she veers from one end of the friendship spectrum to the other. She’s a narcissist, a drama queen, a queen bee, manipulative and can be extremely mean. Part of her issue surrounds her family, the dynamics in the household are off to say the least, at times heading towards the downright disturbing and much of the drama surrounds Caitlin’s mother Ava. There are clearly many secrets being harboured, some are HUGE and there are lies in abundance. When Sasha uncovers one secret there’s a shift in the balance of power in her favour but as a personality she never comes across very strongly until the end which is of course the whole point of the toxic imbalance. You wonder on many occasions why Sasha clings limpet like to the toxic friendship. As you approach the end things slot into place and it sheds light on why Ava and Caitlin are as they are.
Although the above is a strong part of the storytelling, I find the pace too slow. There’s a lot of prevarication especially at the start and it’s about a third way in before anything much happens. It’s over detailed and over explained especially in the first section of the book but once it gets going it’s a good read although I can’t say I find it especially chilling.
With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc in return for an honest review.
June 23, 2022
This story wasn't as interesting as I expected. I expected a thriller, but it turned out to be more of a mystery. The pacing was too slow and the story meandered a lot. Unfortunately, the final reveal wasn't enough to save the story for me.
March 26, 2022
“Oh, Sasha, you look at the world so romantically. You think just because I am related to someone by blood, because I was birthed from them, that I must love them?”
― Nina Manning, The Bridesmaid
Well now. First, let me say I will remember this story!
It is about an extremely dysfunctional friendship between two females although I do not think "dysfunctional" does it justice. Sick and twisted does.
I've read many stories like this. It's a genre I am fond of. With this one we have Sasha and Caitlyn. More on them a bit later but first....
I rated it low.
I am sorry in a sense for giving this book a low rating because the writing was good.
But the story had one thing that ALWAYS makes me give a low rating. I mean -- even some of my favorite books ever get a less than five rating if they use this plot devise.
That is animal cruelty.
Scenes of animals being murdered, killed or tortured is something that I simply cannot tolerate. This is horrifying to me. I mean -- I didn't even rate Orwell's "Animal farm" a five because of this. It's an issue I feel strongly about.
So do other readers. I know because I've received comments with other books I've rated low because of this issue.
PLEASE writers -- please know so many of us dislike this one plot devise. There is even a category on GR where members compile books using this devise as a way of warning others with a distaste for this type of thing.
And this scene was pretty bad. I just can't. No matter what else the book holds in store, this type of thing I cannot let go.
Anyway -- the other issue for me is I felt the strong need to pour a beer over Caitlyn's head the whole time I was reading this. Talk about toxic! I could not find ONE redeeming quality this person had and though I am not the type to laugh if and when someone gets beer poured on them, this is all I could think about. I so wanted everyone to tell her off. Why would Sasha have wanted a minute on her?
Look, I get it. I've had my share of toxic friendships. I get that you become attached, you care, etc etc.
But this girl was a lunatic! Some of the things she did were beyond sociopathic! She was a joyless, twisted, cold, hard, unfeeling sack of shit. Sorry! But she was! So glad I said it!
And Sasha bothered me. I could not become attached to her or connect with her. There was so much secrecy, I had no idea what was going on half the time and the end was anticlimactic. It really was.
The peoples' values were hideous. Except Oscar whom I have decided I want to clone and then marry. If the author were to write a book just about him, I'd read it. He was the bright spot in the book.
If this is what the uber-wealthy are like, I don't want to know them. Some of the characters were weak, some were repelling and some were weak AND repelling.
So I am sorry but this did not float my boat all that much. You may fel differently as it certainly has its moments of tension and is a fairly fast read.
― Nina Manning, The Bridesmaid
Well now. First, let me say I will remember this story!
It is about an extremely dysfunctional friendship between two females although I do not think "dysfunctional" does it justice. Sick and twisted does.
I've read many stories like this. It's a genre I am fond of. With this one we have Sasha and Caitlyn. More on them a bit later but first....
I rated it low.
I am sorry in a sense for giving this book a low rating because the writing was good.
But the story had one thing that ALWAYS makes me give a low rating. I mean -- even some of my favorite books ever get a less than five rating if they use this plot devise.
That is animal cruelty.
Scenes of animals being murdered, killed or tortured is something that I simply cannot tolerate. This is horrifying to me. I mean -- I didn't even rate Orwell's "Animal farm" a five because of this. It's an issue I feel strongly about.
So do other readers. I know because I've received comments with other books I've rated low because of this issue.
PLEASE writers -- please know so many of us dislike this one plot devise. There is even a category on GR where members compile books using this devise as a way of warning others with a distaste for this type of thing.
And this scene was pretty bad. I just can't. No matter what else the book holds in store, this type of thing I cannot let go.
Anyway -- the other issue for me is I felt the strong need to pour a beer over Caitlyn's head the whole time I was reading this. Talk about toxic! I could not find ONE redeeming quality this person had and though I am not the type to laugh if and when someone gets beer poured on them, this is all I could think about. I so wanted everyone to tell her off. Why would Sasha have wanted a minute on her?
Look, I get it. I've had my share of toxic friendships. I get that you become attached, you care, etc etc.
But this girl was a lunatic! Some of the things she did were beyond sociopathic! She was a joyless, twisted, cold, hard, unfeeling sack of shit. Sorry! But she was! So glad I said it!
And Sasha bothered me. I could not become attached to her or connect with her. There was so much secrecy, I had no idea what was going on half the time and the end was anticlimactic. It really was.
The peoples' values were hideous. Except Oscar whom I have decided I want to clone and then marry. If the author were to write a book just about him, I'd read it. He was the bright spot in the book.
If this is what the uber-wealthy are like, I don't want to know them. Some of the characters were weak, some were repelling and some were weak AND repelling.
So I am sorry but this did not float my boat all that much. You may fel differently as it certainly has its moments of tension and is a fairly fast read.
May 3, 2021
3.25 stars. This was my first time reading a Nina Manning book and I think it was a good starting place!
Sasha moves to the grand estate of Saxby Hall with her parents where they have recently been employed. Not long after moving in Sasha meets Caitlin, the privileged, wealthy, and mercurial daughter of the Clemonte family. The pair become fast friends and Sasha finds herself doing anything to maintain her friendship with Caitlin and to keep her happy. Fast forward about twenty years and Sasha, still the supportive friend, is meticulously planning Caitlin’s wedding to their childhood friend Chuck. As the wedding approaches, things start veering off course.
The story is told from Sasha’s perspective during two timelines: when the girls are teens; and later, in their thirties. The chapters are short, which makes it easy to keep flipping the pages.
This was a solid thriller, a bit slow at times, but one that I was still compelled to stay up late reading. I don’t know how I feel about the ending. I guess I was hoping for something more explosive to the tension that had been building. It did resolve things nicely, so there’s that. And it certainly changed my perception of some of the characters!
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this ARC.
Sasha moves to the grand estate of Saxby Hall with her parents where they have recently been employed. Not long after moving in Sasha meets Caitlin, the privileged, wealthy, and mercurial daughter of the Clemonte family. The pair become fast friends and Sasha finds herself doing anything to maintain her friendship with Caitlin and to keep her happy. Fast forward about twenty years and Sasha, still the supportive friend, is meticulously planning Caitlin’s wedding to their childhood friend Chuck. As the wedding approaches, things start veering off course.
The story is told from Sasha’s perspective during two timelines: when the girls are teens; and later, in their thirties. The chapters are short, which makes it easy to keep flipping the pages.
This was a solid thriller, a bit slow at times, but one that I was still compelled to stay up late reading. I don’t know how I feel about the ending. I guess I was hoping for something more explosive to the tension that had been building. It did resolve things nicely, so there’s that. And it certainly changed my perception of some of the characters!
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this ARC.
April 19, 2021
This is one of those books that is fraught with suspense and will keep you reading well into the night. It centers on Sasha and Caitlin, who have been best friends for a couple decades (since they were 12 years old); now Caitlin is getting ready to get married and Sasha is helping her plan the wedding. The book is told solely from Sasha's point of view.
The book goes back and forth between the current time and the years leading up to it, so you get a good idea of how the friendship started and what might be causing the current cracks in it. The times that they spend at the mansion where Caitlin lived and Sasha's parents worked were atmospheric and easy to picture.
I struggled a little bit to understand why Sasha was so darned insecure and why she allowed Caitlin to walk all over her. It appeared that she had loving and supportive parents and I couldn't figure out why she didn't just stand up for herself. When she finally does so, it felt a bit out of character to me in the way that she did it, though it certainly was exciting! I was a little let down by the reveal of the big secret, though I can't exactly put my finger on why- I wasn't fooled by some of the red herrings (though they were well done) but think I was expecting something different when it all came to a head.
That being said, I did enjoy the book overall, and felt that it was a definite page-turner. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. I'd give it 3.5 stars. rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book goes back and forth between the current time and the years leading up to it, so you get a good idea of how the friendship started and what might be causing the current cracks in it. The times that they spend at the mansion where Caitlin lived and Sasha's parents worked were atmospheric and easy to picture.
I struggled a little bit to understand why Sasha was so darned insecure and why she allowed Caitlin to walk all over her. It appeared that she had loving and supportive parents and I couldn't figure out why she didn't just stand up for herself. When she finally does so, it felt a bit out of character to me in the way that she did it, though it certainly was exciting! I was a little let down by the reveal of the big secret, though I can't exactly put my finger on why- I wasn't fooled by some of the red herrings (though they were well done) but think I was expecting something different when it all came to a head.
That being said, I did enjoy the book overall, and felt that it was a definite page-turner. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. I'd give it 3.5 stars. rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2022
This was a slow burn with little suspense, uninteresting characters and a lackluster finale. The only reason I finished is because I hate to DNF a book. But the pay off was not worth the slow and painful build up.
It's very doubtful that I'll ever pick up another Nina Manning book.
It's very doubtful that I'll ever pick up another Nina Manning book.
May 27, 2021
I loved this one it was so compelling and kept me interested all the way through. I loved the dual time line and the fact it was set in Dorset which I know very well. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
June 2, 2021
This drama explores a twisted “friendship” between two girls. Over the novel, I grew to dislike Caitlin and Sasha’s connection because I felt neither of them were truly genuine in their feelings.
Rather than a thriller, this book explores the mystery that seems to haunt Saxby Hall and Caitlin’s family. Caitlin and her family are incredibly privileged and the way that Caitlin behaves demonstrates her lack of understanding of others. In contrast, Sasha’s parents work for Caitlin’s family – modern day servants – and this difference is constantly reflected in the way that the girls treat each other. Caitlin is like a spoilt brat, even as an adult, and I was frustrated by her careless and selfish attitude towards Sasha in particular. In addition, Sasha’s neediness of wanting to be accepted by Caitlin and her family was also exasperating and, despite being in charge of her own business in adulthood, still allows her friend to dominate her,
The novel slips between counting down to Caitlin’s wedding (hence the title of the novel!), and Caitlin and Sasha growing up as childhood friends. Initially, their friendship is quite sweet. However, Caitlin cannot hide her true personality and this is then reflected in her treatment of Sasha as she organises Caitlin’s wedding. I found both time periods interesting in watching how nothing has changed between the two girls; indeed, I thought Sasha’s apparent naivety about her friend, rather difficult to accept.
Although I thought the title has connotations of something considerably sinister, this is not the case. Sasha has learnt a secret about Caitlin’s family and Sasha uses her position as bridesmaid to ensure this is revealed. Therefore, the historical narrative establishes the scene and how Sasha came into such information. I found it difficult to believe that Sasha was able to maintain such a secret for so many years but I guess this reflects the thwarted devotion she holds towards her “best friend”.
Despite these misgivings, I did enjoy reading this book from Manning. I do have another of her books on my shelf and this was certainly a promising introduction to her works. There is a sense of mystery that dominates the narrative and, although I had guessed some of the plot developments, I was keen to see how Sasha would reveal her knowledge. In my opinion, I thought there could have been more atmosphere and awkwardness during Sasha’s revelations because it did not feel as if there was enough tension. However, at the same time it was fascinating to observe the shift in family dynamics as a result of Sasha’s knowledge.
This book certainly explores an unbalanced friendship and I was intrigued by Sasha’s tolerance because I definitely could not have put up with Caitlin’s behaviour. Caitlin’s detached yet demanding approach to everything around her was unnerving and I could not believe how Sasha did not put her to right on this. In my opinion, it’s a toxic friendship and not one that I would get involved with.
Overall, I feel that this is a gentle, dual-timeline mystery that goes against expectations established by the cover. It’s hardly sinister but it is definitely intriguing to see how Sasha attempts to exert some dominance over her friend after all these years of being controlled.
With thanks to Boldwood books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rather than a thriller, this book explores the mystery that seems to haunt Saxby Hall and Caitlin’s family. Caitlin and her family are incredibly privileged and the way that Caitlin behaves demonstrates her lack of understanding of others. In contrast, Sasha’s parents work for Caitlin’s family – modern day servants – and this difference is constantly reflected in the way that the girls treat each other. Caitlin is like a spoilt brat, even as an adult, and I was frustrated by her careless and selfish attitude towards Sasha in particular. In addition, Sasha’s neediness of wanting to be accepted by Caitlin and her family was also exasperating and, despite being in charge of her own business in adulthood, still allows her friend to dominate her,
The novel slips between counting down to Caitlin’s wedding (hence the title of the novel!), and Caitlin and Sasha growing up as childhood friends. Initially, their friendship is quite sweet. However, Caitlin cannot hide her true personality and this is then reflected in her treatment of Sasha as she organises Caitlin’s wedding. I found both time periods interesting in watching how nothing has changed between the two girls; indeed, I thought Sasha’s apparent naivety about her friend, rather difficult to accept.
Although I thought the title has connotations of something considerably sinister, this is not the case. Sasha has learnt a secret about Caitlin’s family and Sasha uses her position as bridesmaid to ensure this is revealed. Therefore, the historical narrative establishes the scene and how Sasha came into such information. I found it difficult to believe that Sasha was able to maintain such a secret for so many years but I guess this reflects the thwarted devotion she holds towards her “best friend”.
Despite these misgivings, I did enjoy reading this book from Manning. I do have another of her books on my shelf and this was certainly a promising introduction to her works. There is a sense of mystery that dominates the narrative and, although I had guessed some of the plot developments, I was keen to see how Sasha would reveal her knowledge. In my opinion, I thought there could have been more atmosphere and awkwardness during Sasha’s revelations because it did not feel as if there was enough tension. However, at the same time it was fascinating to observe the shift in family dynamics as a result of Sasha’s knowledge.
This book certainly explores an unbalanced friendship and I was intrigued by Sasha’s tolerance because I definitely could not have put up with Caitlin’s behaviour. Caitlin’s detached yet demanding approach to everything around her was unnerving and I could not believe how Sasha did not put her to right on this. In my opinion, it’s a toxic friendship and not one that I would get involved with.
Overall, I feel that this is a gentle, dual-timeline mystery that goes against expectations established by the cover. It’s hardly sinister but it is definitely intriguing to see how Sasha attempts to exert some dominance over her friend after all these years of being controlled.
With thanks to Boldwood books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2021
Favorite Quote:
He always makes me feel like the most upgraded version of myself. And that is worth something very special to me because it is the very thing that I don’t get from Caitlin.
My Review:
This is one of those cleverly plotted books that turned me inside out and slapped me around as everything I thought I had so smugly deduced was inside out and backward. Oh, that Nina Manning is a wily one. I was distrustful of all the characters as most of them seemed rather vile and deceitful. The storylines were multi-layered and cunningly textured to continually poke and taunt my curiosity. I was intrigued, ensnared, and invested in unraveling the dreadful secrets of the past that the author ruthlessly baited me with throughout. I was so wrong in my observations and wild theories, and quite happy to be. What a devious and shrewd scribbler, I am in awe of her capricious storytelling.
He always makes me feel like the most upgraded version of myself. And that is worth something very special to me because it is the very thing that I don’t get from Caitlin.
My Review:
This is one of those cleverly plotted books that turned me inside out and slapped me around as everything I thought I had so smugly deduced was inside out and backward. Oh, that Nina Manning is a wily one. I was distrustful of all the characters as most of them seemed rather vile and deceitful. The storylines were multi-layered and cunningly textured to continually poke and taunt my curiosity. I was intrigued, ensnared, and invested in unraveling the dreadful secrets of the past that the author ruthlessly baited me with throughout. I was so wrong in my observations and wild theories, and quite happy to be. What a devious and shrewd scribbler, I am in awe of her capricious storytelling.
June 13, 2022
Psychological Thrillers / Woman's Fiction
Publication Date: May 27, 2021
Caitlin and Sasha were only twelve years olds, when they met at Saxby in the summer of 1988. They came from very different backrounds: Caitlin, a heiress from a wealthy family but with dysfunctional family; Sasha the daughter of staff but with loving and caring parents.
In the present day events we see both woman seemingly happy with their lives. Sasha live with her boyfriend Oscar and his little daughter. Caitlin about to get married to her childhood friend, Chuck. Sasha as the bridesmaid helping with their wedding preparations. But something is troubling Sasha. Some big secret she has kept from Caitlin...
This is another thriller where author is going back and forth between past and present events, keeping things vague, witholding information from the reader, so they have to continue reading. It got frustrating at times how Sasha or someone else kept mentioning the "secret" but not telling. I disliked how some chapters ended with a cliffhanger but later nothing significant had happened. I kept waiting to see how the story comes together, what the "big reveal" is.
I didn't quite understand why Sasha and Caitlin remained friends. I think Sasha was jealous of her friend. Caitlin dismissive of their friendship and acting weirdly at times. I tried but I couldn't relate to Sasha nor Caitlin, I’m sorry.
All the secrecy got annoying, so when the revelation came, I was dissapointed. I've been just through the slow build up to the wedding day which was prolonged by those long flashbacks to the girls childhood years...and then the revelation was ...this???
I was intrigued but sadly the story was not as compelling for me as I hoped it to be. I wanted to find out about the secrets but... in the end all the deception, secrets, half-truths, reasonings and reveal felt weak, forced and quite honestly many things still didn't make sense for me!
Publication Date: May 27, 2021
Caitlin and Sasha were only twelve years olds, when they met at Saxby in the summer of 1988. They came from very different backrounds: Caitlin, a heiress from a wealthy family but with dysfunctional family; Sasha the daughter of staff but with loving and caring parents.
In the present day events we see both woman seemingly happy with their lives. Sasha live with her boyfriend Oscar and his little daughter. Caitlin about to get married to her childhood friend, Chuck. Sasha as the bridesmaid helping with their wedding preparations. But something is troubling Sasha. Some big secret she has kept from Caitlin...
This is another thriller where author is going back and forth between past and present events, keeping things vague, witholding information from the reader, so they have to continue reading. It got frustrating at times how Sasha or someone else kept mentioning the "secret" but not telling. I disliked how some chapters ended with a cliffhanger but later nothing significant had happened. I kept waiting to see how the story comes together, what the "big reveal" is.
I didn't quite understand why Sasha and Caitlin remained friends. I think Sasha was jealous of her friend. Caitlin dismissive of their friendship and acting weirdly at times. I tried but I couldn't relate to Sasha nor Caitlin, I’m sorry.
All the secrecy got annoying, so when the revelation came, I was dissapointed. I've been just through the slow build up to the wedding day which was prolonged by those long flashbacks to the girls childhood years...and then the revelation was ...this???
I was intrigued but sadly the story was not as compelling for me as I hoped it to be. I wanted to find out about the secrets but... in the end all the deception, secrets, half-truths, reasonings and reveal felt weak, forced and quite honestly many things still didn't make sense for me!
May 18, 2021
When Sasha's parents get new jobs on a grand manor house estate she is initially reluctant to leave the city life she has always known. The grandeur of her new setting and the friendships she makes in this country abode soon appease her trepidations, however. Caitlin is the granddaughter and future heir of this grand home. Their backgrounds might be very different but the two young girls are forced together by their close proximity and a friendship forms that is set to last a lifetime. The secrets they are keeping from each other might not last as long, however.
This story was told in chapters that alternated between the early nineties and the present day. The insights to the past chronicled a growing friendship with something sinister lurking underneath. The present day focus revolved around Caitlin's wedding day and a countdown was issued with hints of a traumatic reveal to also occur on this day.
As I usually find in split-perspective thrillers, I was slightly more drawn to the sections in the past and seeing the genesis for the later discontent. However, I did also appreciate the present-day focus and became just as hooked on both as the story progressed. There were two reveals that occurred in the last ten percent and I had somewhat guessed that they might have appeared. It did not ruin my enjoyment to be proven correct but the characters didn't act as I had anticipated and the final scenes concluded quietly, which went against the vein of the rest of the book. A simmering sinister something had dogged these pages and this frittered out just as I thought it would explode, which lowered my rating to what I would have awarded the rest of the novel prior to this.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Nina Manning, and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for this opportunity.
This story was told in chapters that alternated between the early nineties and the present day. The insights to the past chronicled a growing friendship with something sinister lurking underneath. The present day focus revolved around Caitlin's wedding day and a countdown was issued with hints of a traumatic reveal to also occur on this day.
As I usually find in split-perspective thrillers, I was slightly more drawn to the sections in the past and seeing the genesis for the later discontent. However, I did also appreciate the present-day focus and became just as hooked on both as the story progressed. There were two reveals that occurred in the last ten percent and I had somewhat guessed that they might have appeared. It did not ruin my enjoyment to be proven correct but the characters didn't act as I had anticipated and the final scenes concluded quietly, which went against the vein of the rest of the book. A simmering sinister something had dogged these pages and this frittered out just as I thought it would explode, which lowered my rating to what I would have awarded the rest of the novel prior to this.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Nina Manning, and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for this opportunity.
June 2, 2021
“Sometimes your closest and best friend is your worst enemy!”
From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy, and confident Caitlin would always be her absolute best friend. Sasha would do anything to make Caitlin happy.
Even keep her darkest secrets…
The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she’s getting married there is only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. Sasha will make sure Caitlin’s wedding is as beautiful and perfect as she is. Won’t she?
But as the big day approaches, cracks begin to appear. Because no matter what Sasha does, she never seems to make Caitlin happy.
And the secrets that once bound these two friends, now threaten to rip them apart for good...
Wow! This book really deals with some toxic friendships and family secrets.
Right from the start, you can feel the suspense and the secrecy in the actions of the main characters. The preparations for Caitlin and Chuck’s wedding are going on at full swing, but amid all that Sasha is building up courage to make a shocking reveal.
This book is narrated through events in the current day and in the past, with hidden secrets getting revealed at regular intervals. This helps to build up the excitement and keep you interested to find out the big secret Sasha has been hiding.
All the characters have been extremely well developed including the secondary ones. Caitlin is so manipulative, that you end up feeling sorry for Sasha while wondering why she is hanging on to such a friendship.
The ending was definitely way better than I expected. More importantly it actually summed up all the events and kind of made me see the plot in a different light!
Thank You NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC!
From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy, and confident Caitlin would always be her absolute best friend. Sasha would do anything to make Caitlin happy.
Even keep her darkest secrets…
The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she’s getting married there is only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. Sasha will make sure Caitlin’s wedding is as beautiful and perfect as she is. Won’t she?
But as the big day approaches, cracks begin to appear. Because no matter what Sasha does, she never seems to make Caitlin happy.
And the secrets that once bound these two friends, now threaten to rip them apart for good...
Wow! This book really deals with some toxic friendships and family secrets.
Right from the start, you can feel the suspense and the secrecy in the actions of the main characters. The preparations for Caitlin and Chuck’s wedding are going on at full swing, but amid all that Sasha is building up courage to make a shocking reveal.
This book is narrated through events in the current day and in the past, with hidden secrets getting revealed at regular intervals. This helps to build up the excitement and keep you interested to find out the big secret Sasha has been hiding.
All the characters have been extremely well developed including the secondary ones. Caitlin is so manipulative, that you end up feeling sorry for Sasha while wondering why she is hanging on to such a friendship.
The ending was definitely way better than I expected. More importantly it actually summed up all the events and kind of made me see the plot in a different light!
Thank You NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC!
May 15, 2021
3.5 stars rounded down to 3
From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy and confident Caitlin would always be her best friend. Sasha would do anything to keep Caitlin happy. Even keep her darkest secrets. The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she's getting married, there's only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. But as the big day approaches, the secrets that once bound the two friends together, now threaten to rip them apart forever.
Sasha first meets Caitlin at Saxby Hall where her parents worked. They soon became close friends. Years later, when Caitlin is getting married, she asks Sasha to be her bridesmaid. Sasha has a secret that might spoil the day and change the family's lives forever. The story is old from Sasha's point of view and the chapters alternate between the wedding preparations and what had happened in the past. I found the story quite hard to get into, the pace was slow to begin with and the story dragged out in places. The secret is not revealed until after the wedding.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #NinaManning for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy and confident Caitlin would always be her best friend. Sasha would do anything to keep Caitlin happy. Even keep her darkest secrets. The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she's getting married, there's only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. But as the big day approaches, the secrets that once bound the two friends together, now threaten to rip them apart forever.
Sasha first meets Caitlin at Saxby Hall where her parents worked. They soon became close friends. Years later, when Caitlin is getting married, she asks Sasha to be her bridesmaid. Sasha has a secret that might spoil the day and change the family's lives forever. The story is old from Sasha's point of view and the chapters alternate between the wedding preparations and what had happened in the past. I found the story quite hard to get into, the pace was slow to begin with and the story dragged out in places. The secret is not revealed until after the wedding.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #NinaManning for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2021
Sasha and Caitlin’s unlikely friendship begins as young children at Saxby House. The Saxby House is one of immense wealth, fancy parties, prim and proper manners and a family with secrets. Sasha, the servants' daughter, is awe with the beautiful Caitlin, granddaughter of the manor. Desperate to fit in this world Sasha puts up with a lot of tit for tat gestures from Caitlin. As time passed the two remain friends but not as close due to life taking them down different paths. Then Sasha gets invited to be a bridesmaid for Caitlin and she feels it’s the perfect time to expose the secrets of the Saxby House.
Reading the blurb of the book I was anxious to get into the “thriller” This however was far from a thriller, more like a lackluster suspense. The building up to the big wedding was slow and agonizing. All of the characters were unlikable. Once the big secret was revealed it was a big let down. It was very underwhelming and deserved a double eye roll.
I’ve read other Nina Manning books and enjoyed them. I’m glad this wasn’t the first one I read by her because if it was then I would have no interest in reading anything else written by her.
Reading the blurb of the book I was anxious to get into the “thriller” This however was far from a thriller, more like a lackluster suspense. The building up to the big wedding was slow and agonizing. All of the characters were unlikable. Once the big secret was revealed it was a big let down. It was very underwhelming and deserved a double eye roll.
I’ve read other Nina Manning books and enjoyed them. I’m glad this wasn’t the first one I read by her because if it was then I would have no interest in reading anything else written by her.
May 10, 2021
I'm afraid this wasn't for me. I thought the plot sounded intriguing as I quite enjoy a toxic friendship storyline, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
I'll start with what I did like: I liked the dual timelines and the way the author drip-fed information, as I was genuinely interested in finding out what all the little mysteries were and I never seriously considered giving up on the book.
Now for the less good things. The characters were all horrible, apart from perhaps dear Hackett. Main characters Sasha and Caitlin didn't have one redeeming feature between them so it was pretty difficult to give a damn what happened to either of them.
The dialogue was one of the worst I've ever read, particularly between the children. I don't know if the author has ever seen real human beings interact with each other, but it certainly doesn't read like it.
The bare bones of a decent story were there, but too many unlikeable characters and shockingly unrealistic dialogue let this down for me I'm afraid.
I'll start with what I did like: I liked the dual timelines and the way the author drip-fed information, as I was genuinely interested in finding out what all the little mysteries were and I never seriously considered giving up on the book.
Now for the less good things. The characters were all horrible, apart from perhaps dear Hackett. Main characters Sasha and Caitlin didn't have one redeeming feature between them so it was pretty difficult to give a damn what happened to either of them.
The dialogue was one of the worst I've ever read, particularly between the children. I don't know if the author has ever seen real human beings interact with each other, but it certainly doesn't read like it.
The bare bones of a decent story were there, but too many unlikeable characters and shockingly unrealistic dialogue let this down for me I'm afraid.
July 30, 2021
3 Friendly Secrets? Stars- What Isn't A Secret, ON SALE $1.99!!!
* * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
This starts out as that age-old story of the well-to-do making friends with the "help". Two girls become women and the society/wealthy one is getting married. Of course, she asks her long-time friend to be her bridesmaid...Continuing the status of the woman having to take care and serve her friend.
As this wedding is being arranged and needing all of the necessary arrangements, our bridesmaid is handling her friend who has turned into bridezilla from the deepest layer of hell. This is not really a surprise because the relationship between these two has not always been pretty or nice. In fact, our soon-to-be bride has been cruel and outright mean.
But all of this leads up to the deepest darkest secrets one could think of...I found this interesting but didn't particularly like any of the characters. There is the necessary past and present given allowing the reader to follow as to why things are the way they are...all the way to the end.
The Bridesmaid
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by Boldwood Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
This starts out as that age-old story of the well-to-do making friends with the "help". Two girls become women and the society/wealthy one is getting married. Of course, she asks her long-time friend to be her bridesmaid...Continuing the status of the woman having to take care and serve her friend.
As this wedding is being arranged and needing all of the necessary arrangements, our bridesmaid is handling her friend who has turned into bridezilla from the deepest layer of hell. This is not really a surprise because the relationship between these two has not always been pretty or nice. In fact, our soon-to-be bride has been cruel and outright mean.
But all of this leads up to the deepest darkest secrets one could think of...I found this interesting but didn't particularly like any of the characters. There is the necessary past and present given allowing the reader to follow as to why things are the way they are...all the way to the end.
The Bridesmaid https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by Boldwood Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
May 28, 2021
★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)
This is one of those books that despite being fraught with suspense and drama it leaves you wondering how on earth to categorise it. It's marketed as a thriller and yet it isn't really. More of a dark contemporary suspense-filled drama that will have you reading well into the night. I have to say that I enjoyed this book far more than her last but it still doesn't beat her fantastic debut thriller "The Daughter in Law" which was phenomenally brilliant.
The story begins with an unnamed character slipping into bed and snuggling up to a child as she relives the memories of the past that still haunt her, a letter clutched in her hand. Then it slips back in time to 1991 then forwards to 2009 and then back again to 1988...where the story really begins. The timelines might appear confusing at first but they become clearer as the story progresses, after which the main timelines are 1988 and 2009 with the progression of time going forward. I will begin where the story does...
Dorset 1988: Eleven year old Sasha lives on the vast estate of Saxby House where her parents are employed by matriarch Josephine Clemonte as housekeeper and head gardener respectively. They live in a cottage provided to them under the terms of their employment and their children, Sasha and Hunter, enjoy the vast grounds in which to play. In the summer of that year, the lady of the manor's granddaughter comes to stay along with her parents and Sasha is excited at the prospect of meeting someone her own age. The moment she meets Caitlin Sasha is completely enamoured and a friendship is born.
However, Caitlin is not always as she appears and Sasha often hears her mumbling to herself and when she asks her to repeat it, Caitlin just stares at her blankly before continuing on her way. In awe of her beauty, Sasha revels in this new-found friendship despite Caitlin's odd behaviour and often cruel treatment of her new best friend. Regardless, Sasha is eager to be the bestest friend, hungry for her acceptance and approval and eager to please.
What follows is a foray into Sasha's sometimes lonely existence throughout the rest of the year when Caitlin is back at school in London. She longs for the summer when for three months, she and Caitlin are together once again. The following year Sasha meets Chuck, the son of a family friend, who attends the various parties the family hold whether it be New Years Eve or a birthday celebration. Sasha is drawn to Chuck who isn't as snobbish or as aloof as Caitlin though she realises that nothing could ever come of their friendship because people like them don't really mix or marry people like her. Still, she enjoys her time with Chuck...when she isn't with Caitlin, that is...because he accepts her for who she is while Caitlin is quick to point out the differences in their social status, as if some kind of power play to keep Sasha in her place.
And yet, Sasha is still eager to maintain their friendship and will do anything to please the girl who so obviously regards her more of a toy that can be picked up and put down whenever she chooses. As if Sasha is merely someone to entertain her during months of boredom.
Then one night Sasha discovers a secret about the Clemontes but is persuaded by Caitlin's mother Ava never to reveal it. As the reader, we are not privy to the secret until towards the end when the bombshell is revealed at Caitlin's wedding.
London 2009: It's been twenty years since Sasha and Caitlin became friends and yet the status quo remains the same. Despite everything she dishes out to her "best friend", Caitlin proudly proclaims that she never apologises. While as an adolescent I can understand her need for acceptance but as an adult I'm surprise Sasha continues to stand for it. But then Sasha has a plan...for what? Revenge? Or truth?
Caitlin's on-off relationship with Chuck over the years has somehow managed to earn a proposal which promptly preceded an impromptu trip to Greece for a "hen holiday". Her role as bridesmaid was to ensure everything from the trip to Greece to the choosing of the gown to the fittings to the party favours to the actual wedding itself went smoothly. Caitlin didn't appear to be at all interested in organising her own wedding and left it all in the hands of her competent best friend and bridesmaid, Sasha. In fact, the bride herself is completely indifferent about the whole event which puzzles Sasha. Surely Caitlin would be revelling in the glow of engagement and excited at the prospect of marrying Chuck...but it seems she's not particularly bothered. Until she sees the perfect wedding dress which bears a striking resemblance to her mother's own, stained red after convincing her mother to allow her to wear it for a play they put on one summer in which Caitlin had the starring role. But is it marrying Chuck that is at the forefront of her mind? Or is it the prospect of getting revenge on her emotionally-absent mother? Sasha isn't sure. But one thing remains clear...Sasha's own plans for Caitlin's big day.
While I went into this book expecting a thriller, I was surprised to discover that I enjoyed it even though it wasn't. Despite its slow start, the tension builds throughout where the pace picks up towards the halfway mark after which it explodes in a myriad of rainbow coloured shards to reveal the truth. However, everything is smoke and mirrors as the reader is left assuming something that isn't truth whilst revealing something completely different in the end.
A real page-turner I was surprised to enjoy THE BRIDESMAID more than I thought I would. But I wouldn't categorise it as a thriller. It's more of a dark contemporary suspense-filled drama with a twist. But in the end, even the twist kind of fell flat, not just to the reader but to the characters it was aimed at in the first place. I could relate to adolescent Sasha and her desire to please Caitlin in an attempt to maintain their friendship because I was Sasha at that age too. It's a difficult time where you are navigating the change from child to young adult and some of us are just eaten alive by the Caitlins of this world.
A story about friendship, co-dependency, family and secrets, THE BRIDESMAID is a compelling and somewhat addictive tale of two friends from two different worlds. Recommended to those who like dark contemporary tales.
I would like to thank #NinaManning, #Netgalley, #RachelsRandomResources and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheBridesmaid in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
This is one of those books that despite being fraught with suspense and drama it leaves you wondering how on earth to categorise it. It's marketed as a thriller and yet it isn't really. More of a dark contemporary suspense-filled drama that will have you reading well into the night. I have to say that I enjoyed this book far more than her last but it still doesn't beat her fantastic debut thriller "The Daughter in Law" which was phenomenally brilliant.
The story begins with an unnamed character slipping into bed and snuggling up to a child as she relives the memories of the past that still haunt her, a letter clutched in her hand. Then it slips back in time to 1991 then forwards to 2009 and then back again to 1988...where the story really begins. The timelines might appear confusing at first but they become clearer as the story progresses, after which the main timelines are 1988 and 2009 with the progression of time going forward. I will begin where the story does...
Dorset 1988: Eleven year old Sasha lives on the vast estate of Saxby House where her parents are employed by matriarch Josephine Clemonte as housekeeper and head gardener respectively. They live in a cottage provided to them under the terms of their employment and their children, Sasha and Hunter, enjoy the vast grounds in which to play. In the summer of that year, the lady of the manor's granddaughter comes to stay along with her parents and Sasha is excited at the prospect of meeting someone her own age. The moment she meets Caitlin Sasha is completely enamoured and a friendship is born.
However, Caitlin is not always as she appears and Sasha often hears her mumbling to herself and when she asks her to repeat it, Caitlin just stares at her blankly before continuing on her way. In awe of her beauty, Sasha revels in this new-found friendship despite Caitlin's odd behaviour and often cruel treatment of her new best friend. Regardless, Sasha is eager to be the bestest friend, hungry for her acceptance and approval and eager to please.
What follows is a foray into Sasha's sometimes lonely existence throughout the rest of the year when Caitlin is back at school in London. She longs for the summer when for three months, she and Caitlin are together once again. The following year Sasha meets Chuck, the son of a family friend, who attends the various parties the family hold whether it be New Years Eve or a birthday celebration. Sasha is drawn to Chuck who isn't as snobbish or as aloof as Caitlin though she realises that nothing could ever come of their friendship because people like them don't really mix or marry people like her. Still, she enjoys her time with Chuck...when she isn't with Caitlin, that is...because he accepts her for who she is while Caitlin is quick to point out the differences in their social status, as if some kind of power play to keep Sasha in her place.
And yet, Sasha is still eager to maintain their friendship and will do anything to please the girl who so obviously regards her more of a toy that can be picked up and put down whenever she chooses. As if Sasha is merely someone to entertain her during months of boredom.
Then one night Sasha discovers a secret about the Clemontes but is persuaded by Caitlin's mother Ava never to reveal it. As the reader, we are not privy to the secret until towards the end when the bombshell is revealed at Caitlin's wedding.
London 2009: It's been twenty years since Sasha and Caitlin became friends and yet the status quo remains the same. Despite everything she dishes out to her "best friend", Caitlin proudly proclaims that she never apologises. While as an adolescent I can understand her need for acceptance but as an adult I'm surprise Sasha continues to stand for it. But then Sasha has a plan...for what? Revenge? Or truth?
Caitlin's on-off relationship with Chuck over the years has somehow managed to earn a proposal which promptly preceded an impromptu trip to Greece for a "hen holiday". Her role as bridesmaid was to ensure everything from the trip to Greece to the choosing of the gown to the fittings to the party favours to the actual wedding itself went smoothly. Caitlin didn't appear to be at all interested in organising her own wedding and left it all in the hands of her competent best friend and bridesmaid, Sasha. In fact, the bride herself is completely indifferent about the whole event which puzzles Sasha. Surely Caitlin would be revelling in the glow of engagement and excited at the prospect of marrying Chuck...but it seems she's not particularly bothered. Until she sees the perfect wedding dress which bears a striking resemblance to her mother's own, stained red after convincing her mother to allow her to wear it for a play they put on one summer in which Caitlin had the starring role. But is it marrying Chuck that is at the forefront of her mind? Or is it the prospect of getting revenge on her emotionally-absent mother? Sasha isn't sure. But one thing remains clear...Sasha's own plans for Caitlin's big day.
While I went into this book expecting a thriller, I was surprised to discover that I enjoyed it even though it wasn't. Despite its slow start, the tension builds throughout where the pace picks up towards the halfway mark after which it explodes in a myriad of rainbow coloured shards to reveal the truth. However, everything is smoke and mirrors as the reader is left assuming something that isn't truth whilst revealing something completely different in the end.
A real page-turner I was surprised to enjoy THE BRIDESMAID more than I thought I would. But I wouldn't categorise it as a thriller. It's more of a dark contemporary suspense-filled drama with a twist. But in the end, even the twist kind of fell flat, not just to the reader but to the characters it was aimed at in the first place. I could relate to adolescent Sasha and her desire to please Caitlin in an attempt to maintain their friendship because I was Sasha at that age too. It's a difficult time where you are navigating the change from child to young adult and some of us are just eaten alive by the Caitlins of this world.
A story about friendship, co-dependency, family and secrets, THE BRIDESMAID is a compelling and somewhat addictive tale of two friends from two different worlds. Recommended to those who like dark contemporary tales.
I would like to thank #NinaManning, #Netgalley, #RachelsRandomResources and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheBridesmaid in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 29, 2021
3.5
The characterization and relationships of all the characters in this book were fantastic. I loved the demonstration of power imbalance in the friendship which was super entertaining. I do admit that the ending surprised me, I was expecting something far grimmer than the conclusion so I was disappointed in the overall ending. but I found everything added up really nicely. The old manor setting sounded beautiful because of the well-detailed description and I got slightly jealous to not be able to see it for myself. The plot is a well-paced clue wise but it still took me three sittings to complete this when usually a thriller takes me one. There just isn't a big fear factor which I adore in thrillers and that's why I think it was harder for me to enjoy myself even though the friendship dynamic intrigued me. Overall this book has good characterization, entertaining relationships, a beautiful setting but I wished for something grimmer.
The characterization and relationships of all the characters in this book were fantastic. I loved the demonstration of power imbalance in the friendship which was super entertaining. I do admit that the ending surprised me, I was expecting something far grimmer than the conclusion so I was disappointed in the overall ending. but I found everything added up really nicely. The old manor setting sounded beautiful because of the well-detailed description and I got slightly jealous to not be able to see it for myself. The plot is a well-paced clue wise but it still took me three sittings to complete this when usually a thriller takes me one. There just isn't a big fear factor which I adore in thrillers and that's why I think it was harder for me to enjoy myself even though the friendship dynamic intrigued me. Overall this book has good characterization, entertaining relationships, a beautiful setting but I wished for something grimmer.
June 8, 2021
This review is long long overdue, but I finally finished! (Even if I technically finished at 3 AM which is not good for my sleep schedule but whatever, this book was worth it)
The Bridesmaid has such an alluring, unique premise that immediately drew me to the story. The book starts with a bang, getting right under a reader’s skin and foreshadowing an unsettling future. As the first bit of this story is keen on the descriptions and details, the storytelling is a bit slow. This pace greatly picks up however as the plot begins to move forward and different experiences of the past come to light.
The style is very atmospheric, really going into detail about the environment, the emotions, the whole aura of the setting. The dual timeline format of this book is very effective as you can see how different relationships were formed and grew over time. The jumps from past to present made this a fairly unique form of storytelling, and I found myself looking forward to the tidbits of the past to see how certain situations turned out the way they did. The back and forth added so many layers to this story, further contributing to the buildup and impact of the reveals.
I do find the whole “I have a secret, I wonder what’ll happen if I tell someone” situation to be a bit... repetitive? It just stuck out a bit while I was reading this, especially in the beginning, though this is pretty prominent in mystery/thriller-type books in general.
I didn’t actually like the characters throughout the first half of the book, which honestly did add to the very unsettling style of this mystery. I never really knew who was in the wrong and who was in the right throughout this! Each character had a dark, immoral side along with other somewhat redeeming qualities? This made for such a creepy, eerie form of storytelling with lots of very effective suspense and foreshadowing. What I did love was how you could see the motives behind every character, and why they act the way they do. Different perspectives reveal different aspects of these characters, and things are often not what they seem.
I also very much loved some of the minor characters and their supportive nature towards the main characters. Even as they didn’t play much of a role in the actual mystery element, they didn’t cause further problems for our MCs thus making me like them much more as a whole.
I did feel like the critical reveals were a bit rushed and very much packed towards the end. The first reveal definitely caught me by surprise and worked really well with the plot of the book, but the ones afterward were a bit dimmed due to how they just kept piling on top of the first one. This book I feel would be characterized less as a mystery and more like a collection of unraveling secrets and various truths of the Saxby Hall and its family.
I loved the different themes explored throughout this book and how Manning did not shy away from showing all the sides of her characters, as ugly as they may be. The suspense and drama are prominent in this story, making this such a page-turner! I was glued to this until the AMs!
I had a really great time with this story, watching as secrets come to light, relationships are unraveled, and new, hidden sides of characters are revealed. The twisted friendship along with the mysteries of the past made this such a dark, suspenseful read! I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an atmospheric mystery with twists and turns at every corner and eerie, unsettling relationships waxing and waning throughout the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a complimentary copy of this book!
Strong 3.5, rounded up :)
The Bridesmaid has such an alluring, unique premise that immediately drew me to the story. The book starts with a bang, getting right under a reader’s skin and foreshadowing an unsettling future. As the first bit of this story is keen on the descriptions and details, the storytelling is a bit slow. This pace greatly picks up however as the plot begins to move forward and different experiences of the past come to light.
The style is very atmospheric, really going into detail about the environment, the emotions, the whole aura of the setting. The dual timeline format of this book is very effective as you can see how different relationships were formed and grew over time. The jumps from past to present made this a fairly unique form of storytelling, and I found myself looking forward to the tidbits of the past to see how certain situations turned out the way they did. The back and forth added so many layers to this story, further contributing to the buildup and impact of the reveals.
I do find the whole “I have a secret, I wonder what’ll happen if I tell someone” situation to be a bit... repetitive? It just stuck out a bit while I was reading this, especially in the beginning, though this is pretty prominent in mystery/thriller-type books in general.
I didn’t actually like the characters throughout the first half of the book, which honestly did add to the very unsettling style of this mystery. I never really knew who was in the wrong and who was in the right throughout this! Each character had a dark, immoral side along with other somewhat redeeming qualities? This made for such a creepy, eerie form of storytelling with lots of very effective suspense and foreshadowing. What I did love was how you could see the motives behind every character, and why they act the way they do. Different perspectives reveal different aspects of these characters, and things are often not what they seem.
I also very much loved some of the minor characters and their supportive nature towards the main characters. Even as they didn’t play much of a role in the actual mystery element, they didn’t cause further problems for our MCs thus making me like them much more as a whole.
I did feel like the critical reveals were a bit rushed and very much packed towards the end. The first reveal definitely caught me by surprise and worked really well with the plot of the book, but the ones afterward were a bit dimmed due to how they just kept piling on top of the first one. This book I feel would be characterized less as a mystery and more like a collection of unraveling secrets and various truths of the Saxby Hall and its family.
I loved the different themes explored throughout this book and how Manning did not shy away from showing all the sides of her characters, as ugly as they may be. The suspense and drama are prominent in this story, making this such a page-turner! I was glued to this until the AMs!
I had a really great time with this story, watching as secrets come to light, relationships are unraveled, and new, hidden sides of characters are revealed. The twisted friendship along with the mysteries of the past made this such a dark, suspenseful read! I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an atmospheric mystery with twists and turns at every corner and eerie, unsettling relationships waxing and waning throughout the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a complimentary copy of this book!
Strong 3.5, rounded up :)
April 21, 2021
Once a bridesmaid, always a bridesmaid? NOT so for Sasha. Enough is enough.
Bridesmaids are generally underappreciated. They do all the work to make the bride’s day perfect. They follow along with the bride’s wishes and deal with the mounting pressure of the big day. The focus is always on the bride. Nina Manning’s, “The Bridesmaid,” mirrors this relationship in an unlikely friendship between two girls.
Sasha first met Caitlin at Saxby House when they were children. Sasha’s parents work for the Clemonte’s on their estate. The girls were besties, inseparable, until the day Sasha has had enough. Enough of having to do things Caitlin’s way. Enough of putting up with Caitlin’s odd behaviour. Enough of the secrets.
This novel is about toxic relationships and explores the reason behind these types of friendships. A slow burner, and more a mystery than a thriller, you’ll discover that nothing is as it seems. In an attempt to keep secrets for appearance's sake, someone fails to connect with the most important people around her - thus perpetuating the problem. This is the bridesmaid’s story from the beginning of the friendship to the end of it.
The author studied psychology and applied it to the relationships in this book. It’s a decades-long journey into why people behave the way they do. It’s a unique read because, for most of the book, the main characters are teenagers. Most psychological thrillers I’ve read have adult protagonists.
Publishes May 27, 2021
I was gifted this advance copy by Nina Manning, Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Bridesmaids are generally underappreciated. They do all the work to make the bride’s day perfect. They follow along with the bride’s wishes and deal with the mounting pressure of the big day. The focus is always on the bride. Nina Manning’s, “The Bridesmaid,” mirrors this relationship in an unlikely friendship between two girls.
Sasha first met Caitlin at Saxby House when they were children. Sasha’s parents work for the Clemonte’s on their estate. The girls were besties, inseparable, until the day Sasha has had enough. Enough of having to do things Caitlin’s way. Enough of putting up with Caitlin’s odd behaviour. Enough of the secrets.
This novel is about toxic relationships and explores the reason behind these types of friendships. A slow burner, and more a mystery than a thriller, you’ll discover that nothing is as it seems. In an attempt to keep secrets for appearance's sake, someone fails to connect with the most important people around her - thus perpetuating the problem. This is the bridesmaid’s story from the beginning of the friendship to the end of it.
The author studied psychology and applied it to the relationships in this book. It’s a decades-long journey into why people behave the way they do. It’s a unique read because, for most of the book, the main characters are teenagers. Most psychological thrillers I’ve read have adult protagonists.
Publishes May 27, 2021
I was gifted this advance copy by Nina Manning, Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 22, 2021
The Bridesmaid centers around two best friends who meet as children. An unlikely friendship due to the family backgrounds of the girls. Caitlin is rich and spoiled, but craving some attention from her parents. Sasha is much less advantaged money wise but is much more loved by her family.
The story is told in multiple timelines by Sasha. After reading some of the nasty things that Caitlin does, one would wonder why Sasha tolerates the friendship. Along the way Sasha learns some secrets of Caitlin's family. Years after the friendship began Caitlin is now getting married with Sasha as her maid of honor. As the wedding day approaches, Sasha feels more and more like the secrets need to come out.
A slow starter book that eventually gets to the "good" stuff. I was wondering just what the secrets were until the very end. Let's just say it was not at all what I was expecting.
Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc
The story is told in multiple timelines by Sasha. After reading some of the nasty things that Caitlin does, one would wonder why Sasha tolerates the friendship. Along the way Sasha learns some secrets of Caitlin's family. Years after the friendship began Caitlin is now getting married with Sasha as her maid of honor. As the wedding day approaches, Sasha feels more and more like the secrets need to come out.
A slow starter book that eventually gets to the "good" stuff. I was wondering just what the secrets were until the very end. Let's just say it was not at all what I was expecting.
Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc
August 24, 2022
"Sometimes your closest and best friend is your worst enemy!"
Okay, so I found this book on kindle unlimited and it was listed as a thriller. Score.
However, it didn't read like a thriller to me and I really struggled to finish this. It was kind of like watching a soap opera if they made soap operas about ridiculously wealthy people.
Maybe I struggled with this one as its hard to relate to the characters, or maybe it was because not one person in the story was likeable. Every character had secrets; some that could be harmful if they got out, others that could mend relationships.
I found the story pretty slow and it kept feeling like it was building up to something but never actually getting there.
It isn't a bad book, by any means. It just wasn't to my taste. I like a more gritty storyline. I do have more from this author on my tbr so I guess I'll just see how I get on with one of those.
Okay, so I found this book on kindle unlimited and it was listed as a thriller. Score.
However, it didn't read like a thriller to me and I really struggled to finish this. It was kind of like watching a soap opera if they made soap operas about ridiculously wealthy people.
Maybe I struggled with this one as its hard to relate to the characters, or maybe it was because not one person in the story was likeable. Every character had secrets; some that could be harmful if they got out, others that could mend relationships.
I found the story pretty slow and it kept feeling like it was building up to something but never actually getting there.
It isn't a bad book, by any means. It just wasn't to my taste. I like a more gritty storyline. I do have more from this author on my tbr so I guess I'll just see how I get on with one of those.
September 21, 2022
This audiobook is included in my Audible membership. I started it following some beautifully written books, therefore the writing was glaringly simplistic. Sometimes, that is just what I need after heavy subjects, but unfortunately this did not work for me.
April 22, 2021
Always a Bridesmaid…
Sasha and Caitlin’s unlikely friendship begins as children at Saxby House. Sasha, the servants' daughter, is enamored with the beautiful Caitlin, granddaughter of the manor. Always in awe of Caitlin’s wealth and status, Sasha revels in this friendship but also tolerates a lot of odd behavior and poor treatment from her bestie. Sasha is also intrigued by the undercurrent of secrets and lies hiding beneath the grandeur of Saxby House and is determined to uncover them. One night she does…
Fast forward to adulthood... Caitlin is about to get married and Sasha is her bridesmaid, in charge of creating the perfect wedding day. But Sasha has put up with toxic behavior and playing second fiddle to Caitlin for twenty years, and she’s finally had enough…
“The Bridesmaid” is an enjoyable read but it didn’t completely hang together for me. Told in alternating timelines but entirely from Sasha’s perspective, the story has an intriguing premise but it’s quite wordy and took entirely too long to get to the point. I also struggled with believing that what amounted to a summer friendship of convenience would have endured into adulthood, considering how poorly Caitlin treated Sasha.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sasha and Caitlin’s unlikely friendship begins as children at Saxby House. Sasha, the servants' daughter, is enamored with the beautiful Caitlin, granddaughter of the manor. Always in awe of Caitlin’s wealth and status, Sasha revels in this friendship but also tolerates a lot of odd behavior and poor treatment from her bestie. Sasha is also intrigued by the undercurrent of secrets and lies hiding beneath the grandeur of Saxby House and is determined to uncover them. One night she does…
Fast forward to adulthood... Caitlin is about to get married and Sasha is her bridesmaid, in charge of creating the perfect wedding day. But Sasha has put up with toxic behavior and playing second fiddle to Caitlin for twenty years, and she’s finally had enough…
“The Bridesmaid” is an enjoyable read but it didn’t completely hang together for me. Told in alternating timelines but entirely from Sasha’s perspective, the story has an intriguing premise but it’s quite wordy and took entirely too long to get to the point. I also struggled with believing that what amounted to a summer friendship of convenience would have endured into adulthood, considering how poorly Caitlin treated Sasha.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2021
2.00 stars
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From the moment that Sasha met the beautiful, wealthy, and loveable Caitlin, she knew the two of them would grow up to be best friends. The two girls spent their childhood growing up at Saxby house where they form a friendship riddled with lies and dark twisted secrets. As the year's pass, the two remain friends, and when Caitlin announces she's getting married - that leaves Sasha with the task of being a bridesmaid. Sasha tries her best to make Caitlin feel special on her special day, but no matter what she does, it never seems to make Caitlin happy. As the big day approaches, Sasha has a secret of her own, one that would possibly end her friendship forever.
Reading the synopsis I was very intrigued, it's branded as a thriller, but in my opinion, it was lackluster suspense sprinkled with a dash of mystery. The book was 99% build-up to the wedding with some flashbacks of when the girls were younger so we get a better picture of their relationship growing up. The entire book hints that Sasha has a *big* secret that will ruin the wedding, we're given no hint as to what it could be - but when we find out what it was, I was left a little discouraged since the book had so much buildup for little to no pay off.
If you're looking for an easy-read mystery, I would suggest you pick it up, however, it just didn't hit the mark as a binge-reading thriller I had been hoping for.
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I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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From the moment that Sasha met the beautiful, wealthy, and loveable Caitlin, she knew the two of them would grow up to be best friends. The two girls spent their childhood growing up at Saxby house where they form a friendship riddled with lies and dark twisted secrets. As the year's pass, the two remain friends, and when Caitlin announces she's getting married - that leaves Sasha with the task of being a bridesmaid. Sasha tries her best to make Caitlin feel special on her special day, but no matter what she does, it never seems to make Caitlin happy. As the big day approaches, Sasha has a secret of her own, one that would possibly end her friendship forever.
Reading the synopsis I was very intrigued, it's branded as a thriller, but in my opinion, it was lackluster suspense sprinkled with a dash of mystery. The book was 99% build-up to the wedding with some flashbacks of when the girls were younger so we get a better picture of their relationship growing up. The entire book hints that Sasha has a *big* secret that will ruin the wedding, we're given no hint as to what it could be - but when we find out what it was, I was left a little discouraged since the book had so much buildup for little to no pay off.
If you're looking for an easy-read mystery, I would suggest you pick it up, however, it just didn't hit the mark as a binge-reading thriller I had been hoping for.
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I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 25, 2021
The Bridesmaid is about friendship, codependance, family and about how things, people and relationships are not always what they seem to be and very importantly, the fact that you shouldn't be quick to judge because people have their own story, past and motivation for behaving like they do.
I had a hard time to "digest" Sasha and Caitlin kind of friendship, I couldn't understand why Sasha puts up with so much nonsense coming from Caitlin, but at the same time couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what was going on, and what these family secrets the author refers to many times were.
I wasn't disappointed. A good psychological domestic thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had a hard time to "digest" Sasha and Caitlin kind of friendship, I couldn't understand why Sasha puts up with so much nonsense coming from Caitlin, but at the same time couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what was going on, and what these family secrets the author refers to many times were.
I wasn't disappointed. A good psychological domestic thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2021
Nina Manning builds an interesting cast of characters and a premise that unfolds in a way that kept me reading until the end, although I must admit the ending disappointed. Most of the story was a slow build towards what I was hoping would be a carefully constructed surprise ending, but instead the last portion seemed rushed and more telling than showing. So great concept but the execution left something to be desired. But then again, I am picky. For readers who are just looking for a good distraction during pandemic lockdown or a distracting beach read, they'll like this. For those interested in authentic characters, clean story line and aha ending, not so much.
May 28, 2021
Here’s an author who knows how to keep readers guessing!
Sasha and Caitlin meet as children and become best friends. Caitlin comes from a wealthy family, Sasha is the child of the hired help but they form a close bond which lasts through the years. Sasha keeps Caitlin on a bit of a pedestal, doing anything for her – even keeping secrets. Now they’re grown up and Caitlin is getting married her bridesmaid is, of course, Sasha. Sasha bears the responsibility for making the big day just the way Caitlin wants it, going the extra mile again and again but the bride is hard to please and continually manages to utter put-downs and snide remarks toward her bridesmaid. As the big day approaches, the strain begins to show and cracks open in the relationship. Secrets which kept them together now threaten to tear them asunder.
Nina Manning knows how to grab her audience, keep them on their toes and reel them in. With a cast of well-crafted characters and secrets galore swirling in the background, this is one which consumed me. I’m not sure I actually liked Caitlin very much; I’ve never had much time for those who think they’re entitled and she certainly fits that bill. I enjoyed the chapters going back and forth in time meaning we were learning about the history of the friendship at the same time as the wedding got closer. An excellently plotted story line, packed with information which stopped me overthinking what else was going on. The secrets, when revealed, were both surprising and shocking. Without a doubt, this is a stunningly clever psychological thriller from an author who knows her stuff; one to watch and earning my recommendation and all five stars.
Sasha and Caitlin meet as children and become best friends. Caitlin comes from a wealthy family, Sasha is the child of the hired help but they form a close bond which lasts through the years. Sasha keeps Caitlin on a bit of a pedestal, doing anything for her – even keeping secrets. Now they’re grown up and Caitlin is getting married her bridesmaid is, of course, Sasha. Sasha bears the responsibility for making the big day just the way Caitlin wants it, going the extra mile again and again but the bride is hard to please and continually manages to utter put-downs and snide remarks toward her bridesmaid. As the big day approaches, the strain begins to show and cracks open in the relationship. Secrets which kept them together now threaten to tear them asunder.
Nina Manning knows how to grab her audience, keep them on their toes and reel them in. With a cast of well-crafted characters and secrets galore swirling in the background, this is one which consumed me. I’m not sure I actually liked Caitlin very much; I’ve never had much time for those who think they’re entitled and she certainly fits that bill. I enjoyed the chapters going back and forth in time meaning we were learning about the history of the friendship at the same time as the wedding got closer. An excellently plotted story line, packed with information which stopped me overthinking what else was going on. The secrets, when revealed, were both surprising and shocking. Without a doubt, this is a stunningly clever psychological thriller from an author who knows her stuff; one to watch and earning my recommendation and all five stars.
May 28, 2021
This follows the story of childhood friends Sasha and Caitlin. The two become friends when Sasha‘a parents begin working at the family home of Caitlin’s grandmother. The two girls are from very different backgrounds but quickly become best friends, which they continue to be, and Sasha is asked to be Caitlin’s bridesmaid. The girls however have secrets, going back to their childhood, which could be exposed and threaten their relationship and Caitlin’s big day.
This was set across different timelines which I loved; the present and the girls’ childhood. I enjoyed how things built up and the two stories intertwined as things began to be revealed. I did have an inkling about what the secret was and was a bit underwhelmed when it was revealed. I did enjoy this book and the exploration of the sometimes tense relationship between the two girls, but couldn’t help feeling that I wanted more from it and a bit more excitement. It was a bit of a slow burn and I was expecting a bit more of a kick to the finale, but despite that it was an enjoyable read trying to guess what the big secret was and it did keep me intrigued.
This was set across different timelines which I loved; the present and the girls’ childhood. I enjoyed how things built up and the two stories intertwined as things began to be revealed. I did have an inkling about what the secret was and was a bit underwhelmed when it was revealed. I did enjoy this book and the exploration of the sometimes tense relationship between the two girls, but couldn’t help feeling that I wanted more from it and a bit more excitement. It was a bit of a slow burn and I was expecting a bit more of a kick to the finale, but despite that it was an enjoyable read trying to guess what the big secret was and it did keep me intrigued.
January 5, 2022
A good name
This book was so entertaining. I would call it Gothic fiction. A young girl from the city moves with her family to an old wealth family estate. Sasha comes from a loving hard working family and has no friends so she has high hopes when she gets to meet Caitlyn the owner's granddaughter. She realizes they are both from completely different worlds but the dark tangle of family secrets makes it hard for her to bond with and understand her friend Caitlyn. Sasha is determined to uncover all of these secrets, but when she stumbles on information she is sworn to secrecy.
The years pass and the wait of the secrets become too much. And so does the unhealthy friendship with Caitlyn. Sasha is left to put her life aside and plan Caitlyn's perfect wedding. The secrets are about to come out.
This book was so entertaining. I would call it Gothic fiction. A young girl from the city moves with her family to an old wealth family estate. Sasha comes from a loving hard working family and has no friends so she has high hopes when she gets to meet Caitlyn the owner's granddaughter. She realizes they are both from completely different worlds but the dark tangle of family secrets makes it hard for her to bond with and understand her friend Caitlyn. Sasha is determined to uncover all of these secrets, but when she stumbles on information she is sworn to secrecy.
The years pass and the wait of the secrets become too much. And so does the unhealthy friendship with Caitlyn. Sasha is left to put her life aside and plan Caitlyn's perfect wedding. The secrets are about to come out.
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