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This is the July Monthly Group Read discussion for The Guest List by Lucy Foley. This will satisfy the prompt #22 A book set mostly or entirely outdoors. This was selected to celebrate Summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere!

Lindsey is our "luminous leader" for this month's discussion. Thank you, Lindsey!

Every person reads at a different pace, so please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot-related surprises. This allows others to decide whether this information might reveal surprising information they have not yet read.

It can also be helpful to other readers if you post the location within the book noting your progress (chapter or page number) with the spoiler. That way, if someone else has read that far they can go ahead and open the spoiler, but if not, they'll know to skip it for now and return later...

TO ADD SPOILER TAGS:
Use this for spoilers, just remove the spaces:
< spoiler > write your spoiler here and close with < / spoiler >

Posts here should only be contributions to discussion about this book.

Hey everyone!!! My name is Lindsey and I'll be leading this month's discussion on The Guest List . I'm super excited to discuss this fun book with you.

For those who are thinking of reading, here is what the book is about:

The bride �� The plus one �� The best man �� The wedding planner �� The bridesmaid �� The body

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

Who will be reading along with us???

If anyone is a member of Book of the Month Club, this is an option as an add-on.

Let's get this party started with a little music!!!! 🎵 🎶

Here is a playlist inspired by The Guest List to listen to as you read.

Turn Up the Volume!

🎵

Let's kick things off with a few starter questions:

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style?

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? It was voted on for a Book Mostly Outdoors, but could be used for several other ones.

3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? (For that last question, think pre-covid when all travel was safe...)

4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland?

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails?

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style?
I haven't read any others

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? It was voted on for a Book Mostly Outdoors, but could be used for several other ones.
I didn't use it for a prompt.

3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? (For that last question, think pre-covid when all travel was safe...)
There are so many beautiful places in the world to pick from! But for me, having family & friends to celebrate is important. So I'd probably have picked something close to home like this couple. I've been to several destination weddings - Hawaii was a favorite.

4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland?
No, but hope to visit some day.

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails?
Foggy, misty, eerie.

6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style?
No, I have not read any other books written by Lucy Foley. However, I have The Hunting Party on my TBR list. Yes, I like her writing style.

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? It was voted on for a Book Mostly Outdoors, but could be used for several other ones.
I've already read this book, and I used it for prompt #13 - A locked room mystery. I used another book earlier in the year for prompt #22.

3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? (For that last question, think pre-covid when all travel was safe...)
Destination weddings seem glamorous, but do not interest me. I haven't been to a destination wedding (unless Facebook Live counts). I think destination weddings are fine it you are interested in having one. They seem costly and maybe a bit limiting to the people you can invite.

4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland?
I have not been to Ireland, but I would love to visit it some day.

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails?
When I first saw the cover I thought of a haunted house with all the fog and gloominess surrounding the island.

6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?
Always. I like being surprised by whodunit, so I don't like figuring it out, but I love the mystery and working through the "crime."

"It feels as though we float somewhere between a kind of savage wilderness and self-curation - that perfect veneer we try to present to the outside world. " - Lucy Foley

Read author Lucy Foley on playing with contrast and duality in her novel #The Guest List. -->

7. The book opens with a scene at the wedding reception with a storm raging. They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day. Do you believe that? Does this scene set the stage for a union blessed with good luck? Or is it foreshadowing doom?

It looks like this one is on Hoopla so I'll be able to start it in a few days without having to wait for the library hold. Yay!

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style?

I haven't read Lucy Foley's books yet.

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? It was voted on for a Book Mostly Outdoors, but could be used for several other ones.

I'm done with the challenge, so I'm just joining this month to participate in the conversation.

3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? (For that last question, think pre-covid when all travel was safe...)

I would only have a destination wedding if there was a way to remove the cost barrier for guests, but if that were an option, I'd love to go somewhere with beautiful scenery like Norway.

I haven't been to one before, but I was invited to one in Mexico a few years ago. I couldn't go because Dengue is bad in the area and I've had it once (and the second time you get it is often deadly), so it wasn't worth the risk. I'm generally not a fan of them because only people with higher wealth can go, and they're usually in tropical locations that have Dengue, so I can't go for that reason. Ireland could be an option for me safety-wise, but I'm guessing I'll be less interested in attending a wedding there after reading this book. ;)

4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland?

I haven't been. It looks nice, but I have an aversion to traveling to places where it's likely to rain the whole time I'm there. Rain is a total vacation-ruiner in my book since I primarily want to travel to explore the outdoors with nice scenery.

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails?

It seems like it will be fairly dark and the people on the guest list for the wedding will be the focus of the murder mystery.

8. Will is a celebrity that shoots a reality survival tv show. As he says, "It's all smoke and mirrors" alluding that it's staged. Do you watch any survival shows on tv? Which ones? Do you think they are real or staged?

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style?
I've never read anything by her.

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? It was voted on for a Book Mostly Outdoors, but could be used for several other ones.
I'm using this one for Book Set Mostly Outdoors.

3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? (For that last question, think pre-covid when all travel was safe...)
I went to a wedding in Hawaii before. If I could have had a destination wedding, I think I'd want to have it somewhere in the mountains. I'm not sure where.

4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland?
I have not been to Ireland, but I am planning a trip to the UK next summer and plan to spend a day or two there. Can't wait!!

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails?
It looks scary. Reminds me of And Then There Were None but also In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware.

6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?
I try to figure out who the murderer is, yes. I try to see if I can find any clues.

7. The book opens with a scene at the wedding reception with a storm raging. They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day. Do you believe that? Does this scene set the stage for a union blessed with good luck? Or is it foreshadowing doom?
I don't believe weather has anything to do with how lucky or unlucky your marriage will be. I think the weather is foreshadowing something more sinister is going on besides just a wedding.

8. Will is a celebrity that shoots a reality survival tv show. As he says, "It's all smoke and mirrors" alluding that it's staged. Do you watch any survival shows on tv? Which ones? Do you think they are real or staged?
My husband and I love watching Running Wild with Bear Grylls. We also use to watch Survivor Man. I know that there is a lot of "smoke and mirrors", but there also has to be some skill. With respects to Will, I think he doesn't know as much as he his show viewers thinks he knows.

Lucy Foley reads an extract of her book The Guest List -->

9. Was it clear from the start that this would be a murder mystery? What were some clues that made the novel fit into that category?

10. The story includes a lot of build-up �� character-building time as folks arrive to the island �� before the wedding even begins. How does the author manage to build suspense and keep readers�� attention even while there isn’t much activity going on in the present?

I haven't started listening yet, but I can answer some of the new questions it looks like.

6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?

I would say only slightly. I don't read mysteries too often, but when I do I'll think, "hmm, maybe it's this character" from time to time when new characters are introduced, but I don't spend a lot of brain power trying to figure it out. I think that would kind of ruin it anyway, right? The main reason I don't read mysteries frequently is because I don't like how most endings become a tell-all where the antagonist explains everything they did and why. I'm guessing that's a standard for the genre, but I'd prefer it if mysteries give you pieces along the way, leave some things up to interpretation, etc. It just feels too easy and unrealistic when it's all explained to readers in the end. Oh well, it's possible this book will end that way but I'm expecting it, so I won't be too annoyed.

7. The book opens with a scene at the wedding reception with a storm raging. They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day. Do you believe that? Does this scene set the stage for a union blessed with good luck? Or is it foreshadowing doom?

Hmm I don't have strong beliefs on things like rainy wedding days being lucky, but I'm guessing in this story the storm signals doom ahead for the wedding participants.

8. Will is a celebrity that shoots a reality survival tv show. As he says, "It's all smoke and mirrors" alluding that it's staged. Do you watch any survival shows on tv? Which ones? Do you think they are real or staged?

I sometimes watch survival shows like Alone by proxy (?) when my partner puts them on and I don't think they're staged, but maybe a little?

9. Was it clear from the start that this would be a murder mystery? What were some clues that made the novel fit into that category?

Since the description mentions, "the body" I assume it's a murder mystery. ;)

Read this last fall, but I'm jumping in for the discussion!

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style? Nope, this was my first one by Foley. Yes, I liked it more than I thought I would.

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? Read this last year, so not re-reading for this year's challenge.

3. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? Scotland or Italy. I've never been to a destination wedding but I love the idea of them. So much easier and it can just be about the couple and very limited guests and then just honeymoon in Europe afterwards. I don't love the traditional US big blowout weddings.

4. Have you ever been to Ireland? Yes! Went back in 2018 to Wales, Ireland and Scotland. Loved it and will go back at some point.

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails? A creepy murder mystery set on a remote island-- a la shutter island.

6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story? Of course! I let myself get wrapped up in the story, so I don't take it too seriously, but my brain is constantly guessing, however usually this means I get caught by the red herrings. 😂

7. They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day. Do you believe that? Does this scene set the stage for a union blessed with good luck? Or is it foreshadowing doom? In this case, it's foreshadowing doom. I think more of a light drizzle or sprinkle prior to the wedding is ok and may be good luck.

8. Do you watch any survival shows on tv? Which ones? Do you think they are real or staged? I don't! I think they are mostly scripted these days, but interesting none the less.

9. Was it clear from the start that this would be a murder mystery? What were some clues that made the novel fit into that category? Yes, I'm fairly certain the blurb, the cover and the summary all alluded that this would be a murder mystery.

10. How does the author manage to build suspense and keep readers�� attention even while there isn’t much activity going on in the present? I think being able to spin all the different perspectives kept the reader guessing.

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style?

I have The Hunting Party on my list to read, but have not started it yet. I will definitely read it as I like her writing style.

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? It was voted on for a Book Mostly Outdoors, but could be used for several other ones.

I read this book back in March for A Past Prompt (2019: A book told from multiple POVs)

3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? (For that last question, think pre-covid when all travel was safe...)

I have always thought if I did a destination wedding it wouldn't be on a beach or an island, but at the New York Public Library. They have rooms you can rent out.

4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland?

I went to Ireland in the summer of 2009 and backpacked around the southern region going from Dublin to Slane, back to Dublin, down to Limerick (I don't recommend), to Cork (my favorite) up to Galway - the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, and "kissed" the Blarney Stone. Took a ferry to the Aran Islands and biked around there.

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails?

I have already read this book, but I did find the cover to be ominous of what was to come. I know the weather can change in the blink of an eye.

11. We read the perspectives of Aoife, Hannah, Jules, Johnno, Olivia and a little with Will. It also jumps back and forth between the present and the events leading up to the murder. What did you think about reading all those different perspectives? Which character were you most engaged with? Which one the least?

12. Aoife, the wedding planner, says "As a wedding planner you can't afford to miss anything." What signs, clues or red flags did she miss in the beginning of the story that could have prevented this from being the perfect wedding day for Will and Jules? Once you read the ending, what signs, clues or red flags did she miss that could have derailed that perfect ending from happening?

13. Will and the guys (the other groomsmen) seem to treat Johnno differently. Why do you think that is? What did you think of Will's relationship/friendship with Johnno in the beginning? What about in the end after more comes to light?

6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?

I definitely do - only because I want to see how predictable the book is. If I can figure out and be right in the end I will knock a star off, I want it to be unpredictable with lots of twists. If I can see it coming from a mile away no thank you!

7. The book opens with a scene at the wedding reception with a storm raging. They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day. Do you believe that? Does this scene set the stage for a union blessed with good luck? Or is it foreshadowing doom?

I think its good luck to marry someone you actually love versus the weather. In this book it seems like the storm is foreshadowing due to the content - murder!

11. We read the perspectives of Aoife, Hannah, Jules, Johnno, Olivia and a little with Will. It also jumps back and forth between the present and the events leading up to the murder. What did you think about reading all those different perspectives? Which character were you most engaged with? Which one the least?

I typically have a hard time with books that change perspective, mostly because I have to flip back and forth to remember whose perspective I am reading from. Lucy Foley did a good job in changing voices based on the POV, most authors use the same voice so it is hard to differentiate. I liked Jules the best I think - I related to her more than I thought I would and Aoife since she was hosting the guests. I liked Olivia the least - she seemed whiny to me and I didn't like reading her parts.

11. We read the perspectives of Aoife, Hannah, Jules, Johnno, Olivia and a little with Will. It also jumps back and forth between the present and the events leading up to the murder. What did you think about reading all those different perspectives? Which character were you most engaged with? Which one the least?

I love a book with a few different perspectives as long as I can remember who is who. I also like the forward and back parts of the book. I feel like it adds dimension and interest, especially for a murder mystery.

I engaged with Hannah the most. I felt like I could relate to her the most. She seemed to be the most stable, normal person there. But I also felt for Olivia. It's obvious she is going through a trauma and needed help. It made me so mad that her sister didn't see it.

I liked Johnno the least. He complained too much about his life and seemed very bitter.

14. Each chapter is written from a different character's perspective and jumps back and forth in the timeline. Did you like that format? If not, why? Does that writing style work for this story?

#Behind the Book

Into the wild! Take a photo tour of @lucyfoleyauthor's research trip to the west coast of #Ireland, her setting for #The Guest List. 🌊⁠���
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She reflects: "When you listen to the wind howling through the ruined houses it’s hard not to think of ghosts... There’s a real feeling of being cut off from the rest of the world, and a sense that it wouldn’t be all that easy to get back."

15. Let’s first start with Jules. Why was she so eager to marry Will despite not knowing him for very long? Why did you think she chose to ignore the letter that said not to marry him?

16. Olivia, the sole bridesmaid, doesn't try on her dress to get it properly fitted before the wedding. So it's too big. Johnno, the best man, forgets his suit. What crazy mishaps happened at your wedding? Did they impact your overall wedding experience? Do you think Olivia and Johnno did this on purpose?

17. We have Olivia who is depressed and pretty haunted. When she’s describing Steven and what happened, did you suspect it was (view spoiler)[Will (hide spoiler)] or were you surprised at that reveal? Do you think she’ll ever tell Jules about what really happened with him?

18. There's a twisted family dynamic on the bride's side, yet Jules expects them to meet her standards. Is she being realistic with her expectations? Is she being too hard on Olivia?

Volume up!! 🔊

Here comes the bride... and bridesmaid. 👰 Meet Jules & Olivia from #The Guest List. 🔊 Volume up! 

Interview with the Author

Lucy Foley in conversation with Chris Whitaker

Watch/listen to interview here -->

19. What did you think about Hannah’s storyline? She’s horrified to find out that (view spoiler)[Charlie and Jules slept together after the birth of their child (hide spoiler)]. Do you think Hannah will leave Charlie or will they stay together?

Lindsey wrote: "6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?"


I am so late to this party!!! I read this book a few months ago, in December 2020 ... and I did not like it. at all. I gave it 2stars. Am I here to rain on everyone's parade? NO! I'll be nice :-)


I no longer have a spotify acct, so I'm transcribing that playlist onto my itunes so I can get into the spirit of things.


1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style?

Nope, never read anything else by her. (And I never will again mwuahahahaha. But seriously. I won't.)


3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be?

I've always thought it might be nice to get married on the beach. So maybe Nantucket or something. So I liked the location for this book! Or I could just go to Long Beach Island, where my mother lives.

In reality, I'm separated (because I'm too lazy to finally get divorced, but eventually we'll do it) odds are good that I will never get married again - I'm not going through all that another time.

I've never been to a "destination wedding," but I've travelled for weddings, and it's fun for the whole family to get together and have a mini vacation together around the wedding. My one cousin lives in St Petersburg (Florida, not Russia!), and had her wedding there, and the rest of us all flew down for it and found this cute little hotel right on the ocean and it was great. The day after the wedding, everyone went to Busch Gardens.


4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland?

No! But I want to!! I flew over Ireland once (landed in Gatwick) and looked down and it was all GREEN and SHEEP and it was just like the photos you see!!!!


5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails?

I expected wedding guests to be murdered one by one.


6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?

I usually don't. But I do pay attention as best I can, and sometimes my brain manages to make some connections and leap to some conclusions. I'm not actively trying to solve it though. (And in this case, I did not figure it out.)


7. They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day. Do you believe that? Does this scene set the stage for a union blessed with good luck? Or is it foreshadowing doom?

No, I don't believe that, although I've heard it before. I think it's just something people say to try to feel better about the fact that it's raining on their wedding!

In this case, I didn't feel like it served as foreshadowing. It was a plot device to trap everyone, that's all.



8. Do you watch any survival shows on tv?

I don't. And no I don't think they are real. (Tangent: I am right now reading One to Watch which is set on a dating reality show! And I LOVED The Last One, set on a survival show.)



9. Was it clear from the start that this would be a murder mystery?

Yes, wasn't it marketed as a murder mystery?


10. How does the author manage to build suspense and keep readers�� attention even while there isn’t much activity going on in the present?

Pfft. I'd say she doesn't manage it at all, which is why I didn't like the book!!


11. We read the perspectives of Aoife, Hannah, Jules, Johnno, Olivia and a little with Will. It also jumps back and forth between the present and the events leading up to the murder. What did you think about reading all those different perspectives? Which character were you most engaged with? Which one the least?

It really annoyed me. I thought Foley was artifically amping up the "suspense" just by confusing the reader with all these POVs. I was especially annoyed at the time jumps to the present, because we weren't told what was going on - leaving the reader in the dark when the characters know what's going on is a cheap ploy that I never appreciate.

I didn't like ANYONE. From my review:

every character in this story is completely unlikeable and unsympathetic. I wanted to toss them ALL off the cliff.

I guess out of the bunch, Olivia (little sister), Hannah (the friend's wife), and Aoife (the organizer) were the most sympathetic.

The next questions are harder for me, because I've forgotten some details.


12. Aoife, the wedding planner, says "As a wedding planner you can't afford to miss anything." What signs, clues or red flags did she miss in the beginning of the story that could have prevented this from being the perfect wedding day for Will and Jules? Once you read the ending, what signs, clues or red flags did she miss that could have derailed that perfect ending from happening?

I don't remember thinking that there were red flags I'd missed. At the end, we learn that Aoife had some info that wasn't shared with the reader, so I guess that was a red flag she knew about.


13. Will and the guys (the other groomsmen) seem to treat Johnno differently. Why do you think that is? What did you think of Will's relationship/friendship with Johnno in the beginning? What about in the end after more comes to light?

I just assumed it was classism. I really hated both Johnno and Will. Johnno seemed to be relentlessly inserting himself into a friend group that didn't really want him there.



14. Each chapter is written from a different character's perspective and jumps back and forth in the timeline. Did you like that format? If not, why? Does that writing style work for this story?

I'm often fine with multiple POVs, and I'm willing to go alone with time jumps, too. In this case, the reader is in the characters' heads, but all the reader learns is vaguey vague nonsense like "if they all knew" and "I couldn't stop thinking about my past actions" but no specifics and that particular little literary device never makes a good impression on me.



15. Let’s first start with Jules. Why was she so eager to marry Will despite not knowing him for very long? Why did you think she chose to ignore the letter that said not to marry him?

Jules seems really hung up on IMAGE. Marrying Will looks good. She gets tunnel vision and refuses to see anything else.


16. Olivia, the sole bridesmaid, doesn't try on her dress to get it properly fitted before the wedding. So it's too big. Johnno, the best man, forgets his suit. What crazy mishaps happened at your wedding? Did they impact your overall wedding experience? Do you think Olivia and Johnno did this on purpose?

Just like all the other charactres, Olivia and Johnno are only thinking of themselves.

At my wedding ... one friend from work got the date wrong and didn't show up, a bridesmaid got there late so she wasn't in some of the posed group photos, and my dad's friend got really drunk, did some stupid stuff (I feel like punches may have been thrown), and then fell into a large houseplant. My dad's other friend got the job of walking this guy out to the parking lot. I thought the whole thing was pretty funny! Yes, you can tell I have very classy family :-) My father was a Teamster. They're all knuckleheads.



17. We have Olivia who is depressed and pretty haunted. When she’s describing Steven and what happened, did you suspect ... or were you surprised at that reveal? Do you think she’ll ever tell Jules about what really happened with him?

I had no idea!! Not the least suspicion. I think after the crazy events, Jules & Olivia will become closer and she'll eventually tell her.



18. There's a twisted family dynamic on the bride's side, yet Jules expects them to meet her standards. Is she being realistic with her expectations? Is she being too hard on Olivia?

She's not being realistic at all. It's part of why I disliked her. She's self-centered, hung up on image, and refuses to see anything other than what she wants to see.



19. What did you think about Hannah’s storyline? She’s horrified to find out ...

I really wanted to like Hannah, but I had a hard time. I don't think she's going to take any final actions.

17. We have Olivia who is depressed and pretty haunted. When she’s describing Steven and what happened, did you suspect it was XXX or were you surprised at that reveal? Do you think she’ll ever tell Jules about what really happened with him?

My heart went out to Olivia. She was being forced to be okay when she just couldn't. Jules is way too hard on her. How can she not see how much she is struggling??

I wasn't so surprised by the reveal with what happened to Olivia, but I was very surprised about the reveal with what happened to Hannah's sister. Jaw drop.

20. Olivia and Hannah seem to have a pretty instant connection and comfort level with each other. Why do you think that is? Was it surprising? Could you guess the secret Olivia was hiding?

21. Why was it so much easier for Olivia to open up in the cave?

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style?
yes, i have also read the hunting party and have a couple of her others on my to-read list. i like the style though sometimes it gets a lil hectic to keep track of so many characters and narrators

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? It was voted on for a Book Mostly Outdoors, but could be used for several other ones.
i enjoyed the hunting party and it was also chosen as a book club pick

3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? (For that last question, think pre-covid when all travel was safe...)
i got married in the fall and would have loved a real fall setting with the leaves changing color either up in the mountains or somewhere cooler than 90 degree weather i had. i think they are cool but also difficult depending on where and when you have to travel, especially if you have to pay for everything on your own - not everyone can afford exotic trips and sometimes people dont stop to think about that when planning things like this.

4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland?
no, not yet but hopefully someday

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails?
a wedding, but after reading the other book by the same author i could only assume there would be more to it

6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story?
usually

7. The book opens with a scene at the wedding reception with a storm raging. They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day. Do you believe that? Does this scene set the stage for a union blessed with good luck? Or is it foreshadowing doom?
i got married on a yacht and it started pouring in the middle of the ceremony - yes we were on the deck outside so that was great fun. i dont view it as an omen, but i also dont think that it inspires good luck.

8. Will is a celebrity that shoots a reality survival tv show. As he says, "It's all smoke and mirrors" alluding that it's staged. Do you watch any survival shows on tv? Which ones? Do you think they are real or staged?
i only watch singing and cooking competitions, none of the other reality stuff because yes i think it is fake

9. Was it clear from the start that this would be a murder mystery? What were some clues that made the novel fit into that category?
i thought so. there were so many...

10. The story includes a lot of build-up �� character-building time as folks arrive to the island �� before the wedding even begins. How does the author manage to build suspense and keep readers�� attention even while there isn’t much activity going on in the present?
jumping back and forth between timelines also helps with this and revealing some stuff but not everything obviously creates buildup

11. We read the perspectives of Aoife, Hannah, Jules, Johnno, Olivia and a little with Will. It also jumps back and forth between the present and the events leading up to the murder. What did you think about reading all those different perspectives? Which character were you most engaged with? Which one the least?
i think it is sometimes a lil hectic when there are too many different narrators so thank goodness this book had less than some others i have read. i didnt really identify with most of them. i really didnt like a few of them at all the entire time. i guess i felt sorry for Olivia so i wanted to hear her story but i figured out what her secret was early on. i didnt like most of the rest. Jules was a materialistic bridezilla. Will was so horrible to everyone - he really had a lot of enemies.

12. Aoife, the wedding planner, says "As a wedding planner you can't afford to miss anything." What signs, clues or red flags did she miss in the beginning of the story that could have prevented this from being the perfect wedding day for Will and Jules? Once you read the ending, what signs, clues or red flags did she miss that could have derailed that perfect ending from happening?
well since we learn she had her own agenda i dont think she really cared about much else!

13. Will and the guys (the other groomsmen) seem to treat Johnno differently. Why do you think that is? What did you think of Will's relationship/friendship with Johnno in the beginning? What about in the end after more comes to light?
it was weird and definitely not what i thought it was - johnno was a lot smarter than he let on, too

14. Each chapter is written from a different character's perspective and jumps back and forth in the timeline. Did you like that format? If not, why? Does that writing style work for this story?
it was a little hectic with all the different narrators and characters, but at least it wasnt as many as some other books i have read and yes, it made sense why she chose to do that

15. Let’s first start with Jules. Why was she so eager to marry Will despite not knowing him for very long? Why did you think she chose to ignore the letter that said not to marry him?
everything seemed to be about appearances with them. she probably just thought it was a weirdo fan.

16. Olivia, the sole bridesmaid, doesn't try on her dress to get it properly fitted before the wedding. So it's too big. Johnno, the best man, forgets his suit. What crazy mishaps happened at your wedding? Did they impact your overall wedding experience? Do you think Olivia and Johnno did this on purpose?
well the best man bailed at the last minute so we had a maid of honor/best woman since she was friends with both of us, a bridesmaid, a groomsman, and a flower girl. so we didnt exactly have a balanced wedding party, but it didnt impact anything major. it also rained right in the middle of the ceremony - yah getting soaked was a lot of fun. i dont think either did these things on purpose, but i dont think being part of the wedding party was that important to them.

17. We have Olivia who is depressed and pretty haunted. When she’s describing Steven and what happened, did you suspect it was (view spoiler) or were you surprised at that reveal? Do you think she’ll ever tell Jules about what really happened with him?
absolutely. that was one of the things i figured out easily. i would like to think Olivia will tell Jules the truth and they will eventually become closer, but who knows?

18. There's a twisted family dynamic on the bride's side, yet Jules expects them to meet her standards. Is she being realistic with her expectations? Is she being too hard on Olivia?
a little. but that is also because she is a little bit of a bridezilla and apparently they dont have a close sisterly relationship

19. What did you think about Hannah’s storyline? She’s horrified to find out that [(spoiler)]. Do you think Hannah will leave Charlie or will they stay together?
not sure. the spoiler honestly didnt shock me but i am not sure if it will push them apart entirely due to having a family?

20. Olivia and Hannah seem to have a pretty instant connection and comfort level with each other. Why do you think that is? Was it surprising? Could you guess the secret Olivia was hiding?


I jsut figured Hannah was supposed to be one of those people that are easy to talk to. Maybe it helped that they both seemed to feel like outsiders in this crowd.

No I did not guess the full story at all.


21. Why was it so much easier for Olivia to open up in the cave?

The same reason it's easier to get your kids to talk to you while you're driving your car! It feels safe, enclosed, no other distractions, and you're not making eye contact.

20. Olivia and Hannah seem to have a pretty instant connection and comfort level with each other. Why do you think that is? Was it surprising? Could you guess the secret Olivia was hiding?

I think they had an instant connection because they were both the outsiders, on the outskirts. I didn't know what Olivia was hiding at first. But when it is revealed, it was another connection they shared. I also think Hannah was sensitive to someone in pain because of what happened to her sister.

21. Why was it so much easier for Olivia to open up in the cave?

It's always easier in the dark, with a stranger, that you don't have to look at face to face. Whenever I want to have a serious talk with my teens or husband, I like to talk to them while driving. For some reason, side by side makes for easier talking.

Hi everyone! This is my first time participating ina group read and I'm excited. I finished The Guest List a few days ago and I can't wait to hear what everyone else thinks.

1. Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, which ones? Did you like her writing style? This was the first book I read by her. After finishing the book I added The Hunting Party to my TBR. I really liked her writing style. It reminded me of Agatha Christie minus the racism.

2. Which prompt are you reading this for? It was voted on for a Book Mostly Outdoors, but could be used for several other ones.
I read it for the locked room mystery.

3. This book is about a destination wedding. If you could have a destination wedding, where would it be? Have you ever been to a destination wedding? What are your thoughts on them? (For that last question, think pre-covid when all travel was safe...) If I wanted to get married I'd love to have a destination wedding any place tropical. I've never been to a destination wedding. A friend of mine is having a destination wedding in Mexico next year and I'm trying to decide if I want to go. I think destination weddings are fun and new. They can be pricey for those attending but they can work and be successful.

4. The setting of this book is off the coast of Ireland. Have you ever been to Ireland? No, I've never been to Ireland.

5. Looking at the title and cover of the book, what are your expectations of what this book entails? My expectations are something dark and ominous.

6. When you read a murder mystery, do you try to solve the mystery as you read the story? When I read murder mysteries I'm always trying to figure out who did it.

7. The book opens with a scene at the wedding reception with a storm raging. They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day. Do you believe that? Does this scene set the stage for a union blessed with good luck? Or is it foreshadowing doom?
I've never heard that it's good luck to have rain at your wedding. I'm not sure if I believe it or not. I think this scene set the stage that their union wouldn't be blessed and it foreshadowed doom( now that I read the book)

8. Will is a celebrity that shoots a reality survival tv show. As he says, "It's all smoke and mirrors" alluding that it's staged. Do you watch any survival shows on tv? Which ones? Do you think they are real or staged? I don't currently watch any survival shows but years ago I loved Survivor and Naked and Afraid. I don't think they're staged but not fully real either. I think they pick people that will cause some type of drama with their attitudes or beliefs.

9. Was it clear from the start that this would be a murder mystery? What were some clues that made the novel fit into that category? Well, when I read what the book was about I saw that someone would be dead but from the start, I didn't know.

10. The story includes a lot of build-up �� character-building time as folks arrive to the island �� before the wedding even begins. How does the author manage to build suspense and keep readers�� attention even while there isn’t much activity going on in the present? I think the author builds suspense by going back and forth between the wedding night and the day of the wedding.

11. We read the perspectives of Aoife, Hannah, Jules, Johnno, Olivia and a little with Will. It also jumps back and forth between the present and the events leading up to the murder. What did you think about reading all those different perspectives? Which character were you most engaged with? Which one the least?
Since I listened to it and it was a full cast production I really liked it. I think reading different perspectives and not just straight dialogue is an interesting concept from a writer's perspective and as a reader. Oddly, I was really engaged with Olivia and not so much with Will.

12. Aoife, the wedding planner, says "As a wedding planner you can't afford to miss anything." What signs, clues or red flags did she miss in the beginning of the story that could have prevented this from being the perfect wedding day for Will and Jules? Once you read the ending, what signs, clues or red flags did she miss that could have derailed that perfect ending from happening?
As I finished the book I don't think it would have been the perfect wedding day. It was never planned to be.

13. Will and the guys (the other groomsmen) seem to treat Johnno differently. Why do you think that is? What did you think of Will's relationship/friendship with Johnno in the beginning? What about in the end after more comes to light? I think they treated Johnno differently because he didn't have as much money as they did and he'd gotten overweight. I thought they were close in the beginning but by the end, I realized that wasn't true at all.

14. Each chapter is written from a different character's perspective and jumps back and forth in the timeline. Did you like that format? If not, why? Does that writing style work for this story? I loved the format.

15. Let’s first start with Jules. Why was she so eager to marry Will despite not knowing him for very long? Why did you think she chose to ignore the letter that said not to marry him? Jules was eager to marry Will because she had so much pressure to marry someone after having so many failed relationships. She chose to ignore the letter because she was too blindly in love with him.

16. Olivia, the sole bridesmaid, doesn't try on her dress to get it properly fitted before the wedding. So it's too big. Johnno, the best man, forgets his suit. What crazy mishaps happened at your wedding? Did they impact your overall wedding experience? Do you think Olivia and Johnno did this on purpose? I've never been married but I've heard of things happening at other people's weddings. I definitely know they both did it on purpose.

17. We have Olivia who is depressed and pretty haunted. When she’s describing Steven and what happened, did you suspect it was (view spoiler) or were you surprised at that reveal? Do you think she’ll ever tell Jules about what really happened with him?
I was totally flabbergasted by the reveal. I doubt she'll tell Jules what really happened since they really aren't close

18. There's a twisted family dynamic on the bride's side, yet Jules expects them to meet her standards. Is she being realistic with her expectations? Is she being too hard on Olivia? She's being unrealistic and way too hard on Olivia.

19. What did you think about Hannah’s storyline? She’s horrified to find out that [(spoiler)]. Do you think Hannah will leave Charlie or will they stay together? Hannah's storyline was really sad. I don't think she'll leave Charlie, they have too much invested in each other. They're going to need counseling though.

20. Olivia and Hannah seem to have a pretty instant connection and comfort level with each other. Why do you think that is? Was it surprising? Could you guess the secret Olivia was hiding? I didn't really pick up on their connection. I was clueless about the secret Olivia was hiding until it came out.

21. Why was it so much easier for Olivia to open up in the cave?
I think it was easier to open up in the cave because there weren't that many people around and it was secluded.

I finished this a few days ago so let's see if I can answer more questions now...

10. The story includes a lot of build-up �� character-building time as folks arrive to the island �� before the wedding even begins. How does the author manage to build suspense and keep readers�� attention even while there isn’t much activity going on in the present?

I didn't feel that there was a ton of suspense built in this story except that I wanted to know what happened to Olivia.

11. We read the perspectives of Aoife, Hannah, Jules, Johnno, Olivia and a little with Will. It also jumps back and forth between the present and the events leading up to the murder. What did you think about reading all those different perspectives? Which character were you most engaged with? Which one the least?

I also listened to this one and the full cast production worked pretty well. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to keep track of all the different stories. I was most engaged with Olivia and her situation. As far as the least, maybe Aoife since I wasn't sure how she fit into everything for most of it, and I don't remember Will's parts too well. I guess I was never rooting for him?

12. Aoife, the wedding planner, says "As a wedding planner you can't afford to miss anything." What signs, clues or red flags did she miss in the beginning of the story that could have prevented this from being the perfect wedding day for Will and Jules? Once you read the ending, what signs, clues or red flags did she miss that could have derailed that perfect ending from happening?

Hmm I can't remember these details...

13. Will and the guys (the other groomsmen) seem to treat Johnno differently. Why do you think that is? What did you think of Will's relationship/friendship with Johnno in the beginning? What about in the end after more comes to light?

It seemed like Will, Jules, etc. sort of saw Johnno as "beneath" them and annoyed with his presence. It was pretty interesting to learn more about his background and connection to Will later in the story.

14. Each chapter is written from a different character's perspective and jumps back and forth in the timeline. Did you like that format? If not, why? Does that writing style work for this story?

This format can be tricky to pull off, but I enjoy it when it works. I'd say it worked for this one, so hat tip to the author.

15. Let’s first start with Jules. Why was she so eager to marry Will despite not knowing him for very long? Why did you think she chose to ignore the letter that said not to marry him?

I wasn't too clear on why Jules was in such a rush and why she wasn't more concerned about the letter.

16. Olivia, the sole bridesmaid, doesn't try on her dress to get it properly fitted before the wedding. So it's too big. Johnno, the best man, forgets his suit. What crazy mishaps happened at your wedding? Did they impact your overall wedding experience? Do you think Olivia and Johnno did this on purpose?

I haven't been married, but for this story, I don't think Olivia and Johnno were intentionally trying to disrupt things, but they just had their own issues going on where Jules and Will having a picture perfect wedding wasn't their top priority/need.

17. We have Olivia who is depressed and pretty haunted. When she’s describing Steven and what happened, did you suspect it was (view spoiler) or were you surprised at that reveal? Do you think she’ll ever tell Jules about what really happened with him?

I definitely didn't guess that! And I don't think she'll tell Jules.

18. There's a twisted family dynamic on the bride's side, yet Jules expects them to meet her standards. Is she being realistic with her expectations? Is she being too hard on Olivia?

I think she's expecting too much and is too hard on Olivia.

19. What did you think about Hannah’s storyline? She’s horrified to find out that [(spoiler)]. Do you think Hannah will leave Charlie or will they stay together?

Hannah's storyline was frustrating. I didn't like how (view spoiler)[Charlie slept with Jules since that plays into the stereotype that hetero folks of different genders can't have close platonic friendships that never "go there" (hide spoiler)]. I can't decide if I'd root for them to stay together or not. Maybe if Charlie puts in a big effort to show remorse and ensure it never happens again.

20. Olivia and Hannah seem to have a pretty instant connection and comfort level with each other. Why do you think that is? Was it surprising? Could you guess the secret Olivia was hiding?

I think they both felt like somewhat outsiders at the event, which helped. No, I didn't guess what she was hiding.

22. There's alot of animosity between Jules and Olivia. Why do you think that is? Is there any hope they can work through the issues to have a close relationship? Does their mom help or make the situation worse? Given this, why do you think Jules asked Olivia to be her maid of honor?

23. Superstitions seems to be an underlying theme in this book. The night before the wedding, Aoife sees the cormorant on the steeple, a bad omen meaning death. Do you believe in superstitions? What about ones surrounding weddings? If so, which ones?

24. Johnno is distraught when he finds out that Will sabotaged his chance of being on the show. Let’s talk about how that reveal caused him to finally confront Will about their coverup.