The Unwedding took me on a wild ride, and I loved every minute of it! Condie is such a wonderful story-teller, and she kept me guessing.

Thank you, NetGalley!

This book was one that kept you guessing. There were twists and turns that shocked you and some that you figured out. There were many characters so it took some time to figure out each one's significance in the plot. Good quick read!

I remember really enjoying Matched years ago, so I was curious how I'd like an adult mystery from her. This book sucked me in and although felt very different from the writing style of Matched, I still wanted to figure out what was going on at the resort. Along with solving the mystery, I thought it was an interesting journey of self-discovery. I thought the suspense was good throughout until the end. I just didn't feel like the revelations were a strong enough motive. However, it's a good atmospheric vacation read.

I read Ally Condie's YA books, so of course I was so excited when i learned that she was coming out with an adult mystery novel.

Ellery is a recently divorced mother of 2 that takes her 20 year anniversary trip alone. She thinks it will be good to take some time to relax and regroup after her devastating divorce.

She was wrong. When the groom to a wedding taking place on the resort ends up dead, she and two friends she made try to solve this murder as well as other mysterious crimes taking place.

This was a fun mystery novel and I can't wait to see what else Ally Condie comes out with.

Ellery Wright and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one of the most stunning places on earth?

But now, she’s traveling solo.

To add insult to injury, there’s a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a loved and certain future glimmering just ahead. Now, she isn’t certain of anything except for her love for her kids and her growing realization that this place, though beautiful, is unsettling.

When Ellery discovers the body of the groom floating in the pool in the rain, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed. Before the police can reach Broken Point, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving the guests trapped. When another guest dies, it’s clear something horrible is brewing.

I really enjoyed the set up of this story, and it being billed as, 'White Lotus meeting Agatha Christie' had me all in! I liked the characters, and the author throws enough of them at you that you get a little confused as to who is who and who is on the 'right' side or the 'wrong' side. Once the resort is in the grips of being closed off from civilization because of a storm, the investigation into the deaths begins to ramp up and the fun begins. The writing excelled in successfully capturing the claustrophobic feel that came with the resort being closed off from everyone.

I also liked beginning each chapter with a brief description of a card left for the guests daily featuring a quote, a brief weather forecast and details about one piece of artwork featured in the in-house collection was a nice touch. Made me feel like I was also staying at the resort! There did to be some issue though with continuity since some characters have secrets or it is inferred that they may have a deeper connection to certain plot points or theories, which then are never fully revealed!

Unfortunately, the final confrontation made the final reveal so very dull and less impactful​ than it could have been.​ I think the story over all was attempting to cover too ​many themes - too broad a scope of trying to bring together other storylines to tie into a richer one-​ that it lost its focus of what it initially started off being. I enjoyed it at a summer read, and it went quick, but more development into plot and theme would work for a future endeavor.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the download.

I go way back with Ally Condie. I loved her YA books when I was in my late teens. I was super excited to check out this adult novel she'd written and it did not disappoint. A recently divorced mother of three goes alone on what would have been her 20th anniversary trip with her now-ex. Unfortunately, so much for forgetting about her relationship woes because there's a fancy wedding happening the week that she's there. That is, until the wedding is called off and someone turns up dead the next morning. A storm has washed out the bridge to the resort and suddenly we have a killer locked-room mystery with atmosphere and a hefty cast of characters. Are the deaths at the resort unfortunate accidents or does someone know something? Filled with flashbacks to another extreme situation our MC was in a few years back, we are led to the reveal, slowly but surely, right up until the very end. A fun, fast-paced mystery.

This was an exciting quick read following a newly-divorced mom of three who goes on her anniversary trip to Big Sur solo—only for a massive storm to wipe out connection with out outside world and a shocking death to occur. Ellery, who survived a fatal bus accident years earlier, is one of a handful of guests at the resort not taking part at the wedding but after the storm, and with a possible murderer on the loose, Ellery and her small group of new friends and allies must do what they can to solve the mystery and make it out alive. Despite Ellery being solo, she immediately becomes friends with BFFs Ravi and Nina—who are really fun characters to have along for the ride (Ravi especially). It was a fast-paced book and perfect for a fun summer beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Ally Condie, and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was fun!! Definitely gave me White Lotus vibes, which was perfect for summer. I was a fan of Condie’s Matched series in high school, so I was excited to read her adult debut, much less a mystery by her. I thought her atmospheric writing for the setting was perfect, as the book felt creepier and tenser as events progressed. I was immersed and hooked from early on, and there were a couple twists that I did not predict. I liked Ellery as a protagonist and seeing her relationship with Ravi specifically grow. It wasn’t a perfect or stand-out mystery, as some of it was either predictable or a little repetitive, but I did genuinely enjoy reading it and would read more by Condie in the future.

A lovely resort in Big Sur, a private wedding, a huge rainstorm mudslide, and a murder...

Ellery Wainwright goes solo to the Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California, following a sudden and devasting divorce. The trip was already paid for, intended to be the perfect place for she and Luke to celebrate twenty years of marriage, so Ellery decides to go on alone. It so happens that her stay isn't anything like she expected. Initially, a wedding is canceled when the bride is left standing at the altar. Then the first dead body is discovered. Things get worse when the resort is cut off due to a deluge washing out a bridge preventing anyone getting in or out. When yet another guest dies, it becomes clear that things are not at all what they seem and some of those there are not good people.

This started out OK with Ellery meeting and making friends with the guests at the resort. Lots of different characters are introduced but it's like almost instant friendship which seemed a bit strange. Of course, most all the people staying there have secrets or are lying. I just never warmed to Ellery as she wallowed a lot in her post-divorce misery, missing her kids, or hints about a past trauma. She was ingratiating herself at every turn and getting into everyone's business. Many of the others were stereotypes and not all were explored or fully developed enough.

Then, the story went haywire at about 80% when these sudden complete confessions were taking place out in the woods. The ensuing action and behavior of the characters was quite unbelievable and contrived. I just never bought into Ellery being so clever or so popular and all of the people just laying the whole thing out like an outline. And all the motivations were quite lame. Definitely need to suspend a ton of disbelief to buy into the big twists and reveals. It lost me.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Christine Lakin, did a decent job with voicing all the characters, but this book had so many that the performance would have benefited from having a larger cast of narrators.

This started out so great, but then it got kind of boring... I was annoyed by how much she was still obsessed with getting back together with her husband - he was clearly a jerk. Also at the end, when the characters sit around and explain what happened - that is such a writing copout.

I adore Ally Condie's writing and I am thrilled to see her take her talents to adult mystery. The atmosphere, the setting, the cast of characters - all of it added up to an addictive page-turner. This is a great book club choice, and I'm thrilled it was a Reese's Book Club pick for June.

This wasn’t a bad book, but it was not what I thought it was going to be. I was so hooked in the beginning and then the end fell flat!

Ellery is spending what is supposed to be her 20th wedding anniversary trip alone and divorced.

To add insult to injury, there is a wedding taking place at the resort. And then she discovers a body.

This book is twisty and turny. It makes me NEVER want to go to a resort.

I loved the setting and the mystery, I loved the clever idea of beginning each chapter with a little note that they received each morning.

I have read some of Condie's YA books and was excited to read a different genre from her. I will definitely continue to pick up her books in the future and look forward to what else she has up her sleeve.

I really enjoyed The Unwedding. I find that a lot of our customers are looking for thrillers that aren't necessarily scary - they always say, "ones I can read at home alone." This book certainly fell in that category, while still keeping me guessing the whole time.

I liked the concept behind The Unwedding, and was sometimes entertained by the story, but it felt a bit uneven and lagged at times, enough to leave me undecided for a bit on just how to rate this story. If you’re looking for a suspenseful light beach read you might enjoy this one.

Thank you Ally Condie, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

DNF @ 33%. The Unwedding seemed promising - the stunning cover, the location, and the nod to Agatha Christie. The first chapter hooked me and I was enjoying the atmospheric vibe, but ultimately the characters were flat and the plot wasn’t really going anywhere so I decided to set this one down.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley.

*I don’t rate DNFs but putting one star here to submit my NetGalley review.

The Unwedding was a closed room mystery/ thriller about a recent divorcée taking her 20th wedding anniversary trip alone. The book had a strong cast of characters and I was hooked from the beginning.
Unfortunately, I felt like the second half of the book was lacking and caused me tons of lose some interest as the book came to an end.

The first thing that popped into my head when The Unwedding was announced was "Ally Condie wrote an adult novel?!?!?!?!" Cue to me screeching in excitement because I love Ally's writing, and I devoured the Matched Trilogy as it was published in the 2010's.

The Unwedding, set in a picturesque jaw droppingly beautiful resort in Big Sur, California, is everyone's dream vacation that seems too beautiful to be real.

However, it is very real and things go awry after a groom stands up his bride, or does he and another guest, the protagonist, Ellery finds the groom's body floating in a pool. Ellery is on her twentieth anniversary vacation alone, after a bitter and shocking (to Ellery) divorce occurs.

Fast friendships, twists and turns and more bodies ensue as a storm takes out the road, power and safety of the guests.

A whodunnit with a side of art thievery as well. The remaining guests band together to not only stay alive, but put together who has killed the groom and another guest.

I did not see some of the twists and incorrectly guessed the culprit, but this was a fun and interesting book. I look forward to seeing what Ally writes next for adults.

Ellery's husband decides to leave her right before their 20th wedding anniversary, She decides to go on to the luxurious resort in Big Sur, California they were supposed to celebrate. When she finds a the body of a groom, she becomes involved in the lives of the wedding party. A mudslide cuts off the resort from the outside world and another body is found, will Ellery be next and what secrets will be discovered? I thought this moved a little slow and thought she too quickly became close to total strangers, but did enjoy the mystery. 3.5 stars

Set at an exclusive resort in Big Sur, during a torrential rain with mudslides and a multi murder mystery - of course I wanted to read this!

Ellery just finalized her divorce, right in time for what would have been their 20th wedding anniversary, for which they planned a decadent vacation at a resort in Big Sur. Despite the lack of a husband, Ellery attends anyway. But what she walks into is not the idyllic retreat she had in mind. Because there are other guests there, with secrets and sinister intentions - and Ellery has to figure them out before it is too late.