Quite a slow burnt thriller.

Simone, Vicky and Hannah received a birthday invitation by their old best friend Jodie for her 40th.

However they haven’t been speaking for decades, so why Jodie invited them? Or did Jodie send out the invitation?

The writing style was in a POV moving from the present and the past. Bit by bit to build up the story structure.

I enjoyed reading the book, but I did expect something twisty and quick to pick up. If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this may not right for you.

Pub date: April 18, 2023

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!
This book was reaaaaally slow to start, like to the point where I considered DNFing, it was also confusing at points remembering what year & POV we're in, there was just so much going on and it really hurt my brain. Kind of disappointed with this book as I am a huge thriller enjoyer and this just didn't deliver for me :(

This book was very slow to start. It was all over the place, going back and forth between past and present. It wasn’t until the halfway point where things started to pick up. This was a good book once it got going, but not not my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion.

I will say the story for this book is what drew me in; 4 college friends reuniting on an island cut off from the world, where secrets are slowly revealed. And the suspense in the writing kept me reading late into the night to finish this book in row sittings. However, the story constantly jumped from multiple POV, as well as back and forth between current and past times. At times it was confusing to follow, and to me it felt like there were too many storylines to keep straight. Most of the characters all had relationships and friendships that overlapped in the past and present, which made it confusing to keep track of.

Overall, it read like a true thriller, but it just seemed a bit too all over the place with the plot.

**Would also like to include a trigger warning that the book does discuss Rape & Sexual Assault.

Really enjoyed this book! The characters weren’t the most likable but the plot and mystery really drove the novel. The multiple point of views were a bit confusing at times but overall it was an enjoyable book. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

When the gold-rimmed invitations arrive through the doors of best friends Simone, Hannah and Vicky they’re instantly taken aback. Their ex-friend Jodie is inviting them to a lavish Mediterranean villa to celebrate her birthday. They haven’t spoken in years since she betrayed them in the worst way. So how did they make the guest list?

Firstly, what a great cover, I was instantly drawn to the book. I have read other books by this author and have really enjoyed them, this was ok but definitely not my favourite. The book moves from past to present which does provide back story of the girls relationships and history of their friendship, it also did help at times keep up with what was happening.

Four women, Jodie, Hannah, Simone and Vicky are all extremely close to each other until the day the girls feel that Jodie has betrayed them, did she? After this the other girls ceased contact with Jodie . Next thing they know, the girls receive an invitation to attend Jodie's 40th birthday. They decide to go as hey, who knocks back a trip to Ibiza, especially one that is expense free. They are hoping they will have the time of there lives even though things all seem a little strange...which they are.

Initially the book does not move at a fast pace, you are drip fed information and it is really not until the half way mark that things pick up. I am marking it down a star as I was not very satisfied with the ending and at times I was left shaking my head as I felt a bit puzzled in parts.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of The Birthday Reunion. Right up my alley about a girls weekend get away and the cover was so intoxicating!!! I Love books like this and this one did not disappoint! Great story, good characters and roller coaster of a ride to read. Thank you again Claire Seeber for making my vacation with an enjoyable book.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of The Birthday Reunion. The cover is to die for, drew me in by that!!! I liked the going back and forth every chapter, it explained the main plot But the last few chapters were very confusing even the last part of one of the characters. I’m still trying to work it out in my head. All in All a very good, interesting, full of twists read. I truly enjoyed it!!!

I really enjoyed this book, one of my favourites in a long time, it kept going until the very end, looking forward to reading more in the future

Just the type of book I love to read…. When the gold-rimmed invitations arrive through the doors of best friends Simone, Hannah and Vicky they’re instantly taken aback. Their ex-friend Jodie is inviting them to a lavish Mediterranean villa to celebrate her birthday. They haven’t spoken in years since she betrayed them in the worst way. So how did they make the guest list? This was definitely an intriguing and absorbing read. I really enjoyed this book and it will appeal fans of thrillers. This book keeps you guessing until the very end.

The Birthday Reunion by Claire Seeber was not exactly a completely addictive psychological thriller, but it did have some good twists. The story is about four friends, one dream getaway, and who will make it out alive?

The book is told from the point of view of each character and goes back and forth between present-day and past events when they were younger.

The Birthday Reunion was just okay for me. I thought there were some good secrets and some good twists, but the back and forth between characters and timeline was not to my liking.

I would check out more books by this author as I liked some of the story and how it unfolded in certain parts. I give this a 3.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4).

#TheBirthdayReunion #NetGalley @bookouture

Invitation For Revenge..?
When three friends receive an invitation to a birthday party at a villa in the Mediterranean they are more than taken aback. The invitation appears to be from Jodie - someone that they haven’t had contact with for many years, a former good friend who betrayed them all in one way or another. Despite their angst they reluctantly go - but it will soon become clear that Jodie did not send the invitation. Will revenge be sweet or served very cold? Slow burn psychological suspense with a well drawn and credible cast of characters, an underlying thread of menace and an engaging narrative.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Simone, Jodie, Hannah and Vicky are inseparable. They live together, then one fateful night everything changes. Later Jodie betrays them and they vow never to speak to her again.
Fast forward and the three woman are sent invitations to Jodie’s all expenses paid 40th birthday party in Ibiza. Reluctantly they go. Things are weird and there are more twists to come.
This book is told from the point of view of all the characters and flits between present day and way back to when they lived together.
I enjoyed this book but I felt after a really good build up , the ending was both messy and confusing. So a bit disappointing.

This was a fantastic thriller It had lots suspense, action, murder. It was full of twists and turns which will keep you on the edge until the very last chapter. The storyline was a bit different to what I usually read but kept me gripped.

It starts with three friends who receive an invite in the post to a luxury holiday of an old friend who treated them all terribly reluctant to go but can’t pass the opportunity to get an all paid holiday they head off but will all return. Fantastic book which I will definitely be recommending it is so worth reading!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

The Birthday Reunion was a bit different to what i had expected.
A decent story about a group of friends meeting up after a 20 year gap with one of them.
I really had to concentrate at the beginning as to who was who as the story goes back and forth.
Slow paced to start with but it gradually picked up speed and the further it progressed the more i enjoyed it.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy..
Overall an enjoyable read.

The Birthday Reunion" by Claire Seeber is an intriguing psychological thriller that will play with your head. The book is told from different perspectives and follows four women: Simone, Hannah, Vicky, and Judie. They were once good friends until Judie's betrayal drove a wedge between them. Fast forward 20 years later, when out of the blue, they receive invitations in the mail to celebrate Judie's birthday in a lavish Mediterranean villa. Who can resist? Although Hannah tries to dissuade them from going, they all accept the invitation for their own reasons. However, things don't turn out as expected, starting with a creepy old villa, continuing with a surprised Judie denying she invited them, and finishing with odd goings-on. Things gradually escalate out of control. Murder is afoot, and someone isn’t playing by the rules. Good plotting, judiciously dropped clues, and twists a plenty make this a thrill ride.

The story is written in the first-person perspective and alternates between the present and the past, providing detailed backstories of the main protagonists. Each chapter is clearly labeled with the location, timeline, and characters' names to help the reader keep track of the story and differentiate between the speakers. I liked the writing, the dynamics between the characters, and the gradual way the key points were revealed.

The book has a slow pace and may not be the edge-of-your-seat suspense that some readers expect. However, once you get past the slow start, the tension builds steadily, leading to a final showdown and a satisfying ending. Overall, I enjoyed the story and recommend it, but don't expect a fast-paced thriller. Just allow the story to develop slowly and creep up on you, and it will be worth the wait.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

The premise of this book hits on so many things I love, including friendships with buried secrets and locked-door mysteries. However, I'm kind of confused by the delivery. The first 25% was a drawn-out jump between three different perspectives and three different timelines — and none of them were entrancing enough to keep me reading.

Also, the summary seems slightly at odds with the story itself. For example, the run-down state of the villa was a major point in the book, so I'm not quite sure what "sumptuous" relaxation the blurb is referring to. Maybe that came later; unfortunately, I DNF'd this one.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, A sort of crazy who done it and so many crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!