So, I just finished The Plus One by S.C. Lalli, and I have to say—it was fine. Not bad, not amazing, just… fine. It’s the kind of book where you can see the potential for something really great, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this title.

When can anyone have a posh, exclusive destination wedding without a murder? I’m going to say…. Not very often. This book was full of twists and turns but it was a bit predictable. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters but it was a quick read.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of the plus one in exchange for my honest review. I did not get to this one before the release date unfortunately. The beginning of this book is good but the pace slows down considerably. Set in Cabo with the backdrop of an lavish Indian wedding a double murder and investigation takes place. There are not many twists and turns and there is a semi happily ever after for Shay our main character. Pick this one up if you like a bollywood whodunit but lots of family issues

This was a great read! I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was hooked and read the whole book in three days! Loved it

This book started out with a bang, giving off The White Lotus vibes. I was really enjoying the locked room mystery build-up until the cartel suggestion. I wish there was more about the character's hidden secrets than the back and forth of ethics and cartel, but I enjoyed the story overall. Shay's character felt a bit immature and naive to be doing some of the things she was doing, but I appreciate her efforts to right the wrongs. Overall, this was a great read and I'd definitely recommend it!!

A very well done mystery thriller. The main character is relatable and he story line moves swiftly. Thanks for sharing with us.

"The Plus One", at the heart, is a murder mystery steeped in culture. When Shay and her boyfriend, Caleb, travel to Cabos to attend the wedding of a couple involved in two high-profile businesses, the start of the festivities ends quickly after the couple is murdered. Shay and Caleb both have secrets of their own and work to keep those while also keeping themselves from danger.
Overall, this was a fun book. I enjoyed getting to explore more of different cultures and the reasoning behind the actions of various characters. However, I believe there was a little too much explanation in terms of suspects, which led to several outcomes being possible. The end answer as fine but nothing spectacular for me.
S. C. Lalli does put together a mystery that keeps the reader engaged, as well as adding in dual timelines for some more background information, but I feel there was too MUCH background information for me to stay focused on the mystery on hand.

I really struggled to finish this book. The story seemed like it was going to be very interesting but I found it to be boring. There was no build up and the book just dragged on. The characters weren’t my favorite which can make or break a book for me. I really wanted to like this book but it didn’t have me ok the edge of my seat. Thank you NetGalley, S.C. and William Morrow for the ARC!

4.75 stars rounded up to 5 stars ⭐️
It has been a long time since I have stayed up into the middle of the night reading a book because I HAD to know what was going on, but I finished this book in one sitting because I was dying to know what was going on. I am a sucker for a well done alternating timeline and this one was *well done*. I subtracted .25 star only because I kind of saw the big twist coming but it really didn’t take away from the story much. One thing that made me laugh several times throughout the book were the nicknames the author used for characters, like “Brown Hulk Hogan” or “The Backstreet Boy”. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a fast paced thriller with alternating timelines, some humor, and diversity.

The wedding of scions of very wealthy Indian-American families at the ultra-luxury Los Cabos resort gets off to a rocky start when both bride and groom are murdered.

This story moves along at a good pace with things happening constantly which I enjoyed. Although the point of view was from a single perspective, the storyline was still handled well. There were plenty of twists and turns, and I have to admit that I did not really care for quite a few of the characters, but that did not detract from the story at all. Thank you to S.C. Lalli, William Marrow Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

This was my first time reading S.C. Lalli, and I received The Plus One as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents an intriguing premise with its blend of luxury, suspense, and mystery. The plot is engaging, with several twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. The Plus One by S.C. Lalli is a twisty thriller set at a luxury resort in Cabo, Mexico. The story revolves around the wedding of Radhika Singh and Raj Joshi, a weeklong affair that promises to be the event of the season, uniting two influential Indian-American families. Shaylee "Shay" Kapoor, an outsider dating Raj's best friend Caleb Prescott III, finds herself entangled in this world of wealth and excess. However, the festivities take a dark turn when Radhika and Raj are found murdered in their hotel room. As chaos descends, Shay must navigate a web of lies and secrets to uncover the truth behind the murders. The character development is a mixed bag. Shay is a relatable protagonist, and her perspective as an outsider adds an interesting dynamic to the story. However, some of the secondary characters felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to fully connect with the broader narrative. The interactions between the characters are filled with tension and drama, but at times, the motivations behind their actions seemed a bit forced. The pacing of the novel is generally good, though the first half felt a bit slow. The setting of a luxurious resort adds a glamorous backdrop to the unfolding mystery, enhancing the overall atmosphere. The ending, while surprising, left a few questions unanswered, which might be frustrating for some readers. #netgalley #theplusone

Do you ever really want to be THE PLUS ONE? How ‘bout at the week-long union of two powerful, rich families? S. C. Lalli starts off making you wish to be there, but oh, it wouldn’t be good unless something happened!

The marriage of Raj Joshi and Radhika Sangh promises to be the event of the season. The Joshi family builds and runs top hotels worldwide and the bride is a social influencer with her sister being the brains behind an international company. On the day the festivities are to begin, the bride and groom are found dead in their rooms. What could possibly have happened and who is responsible for the deaths? And why did all the guests have to sign a nondisclosure agreement?

Shay Kapoor is THE PLUS ONE of the best man, Caleb Prescott III and sets out to try to find out what happened to the two celebrates. How did someone enter their rooms without a key card? There were very few given out to others in the wedding party. Caleb and the other best man, Sean suspect each other in the killings. But what was Raj doing travelling to Cabo monthly? And what of the drug cartels and are the deaths related to them? What’s going on with the suspicious fires at the Joshi work sites? And what is Caleb hiding?

As Shay searches for answers, she enlists the help of events director, Daniela who helps her stay on the island to investigate. Putting the pieces together with so many jagged edges will not be an easy task.

There were a lot of twists and turns in this novel. While I have dreamt of visiting a luxury adults only resort, I don’t think I’ll start with this one. The jagged edges take shape slowly but do eventually form a full picture as Shay was able to connect all the pieces. I could feel the tension ratchet up with each turn of the page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Thank you Netgalley, author and William Morrow Paperback for the ARC.

💍✨ Glam, Secrets, and Murder ✨💍

A week-long destination wedding in Cabo, Mexico, of socialite Radhika Singh and millionaire heir Raj Joshi—two Indian-American elites—is tragically derailed when the would-be bride and groom are found dead, shot in their room just a day before saying “I do.” What begins as a glamorous celebration turns into a shocking nightmare of murder, secrets, and mayhem.

Shaylee “Shay” Kapoor, girlfriend of the best man and someone with her own mysterious ties to the couple, isn’t buying the story everyone’s accepting. With flashbacks revealing hidden truths and dangerous alliances, Shay dives into a web of lies surrounding the families, their history, and a potential drug cartel connection. But as the layers of deceit unfold, Shay realizes the biggest question isn’t just who did it—but whether she’ll survive uncovering the truth.

✔️ Destination wedding drama
✔️ Uber-rich families with skeletons in their closets
✔️ Murder, mayhem, and Bollywood-style twists
✔️ Popcorn-worthy entertainment

If you’re in the mood for a quick thriller that’s equal parts over-the-top and jaw-dropping, this one fits the bill. Think red herrings, gasp-worthy reveals, and a finale dripping in drama. While it’s not without its flaws, it’s the perfect “don’t-think-too-hard” kind of read.

⭐ My Rating: 3/5

The Plus One ended up being much more than I was expecting! I loved all of the zigging and zagging that the plot took.

I hadn't read a book by S.C. Lalli before, but the blurb sounded good. Plus, I love White Lotus so the comparison made me pick this one up. I thought it was pretty well written. I enjoyed the story. It wasn't the most amazing mystery I've read, but I think it was decent. I'd read another book from this author.

Thank You Partner Bibliolifestyle and William Morrow for this book in exchange of my honest review of The Plus One by S.C Lalli.
The Plus One is about a wedding murder mystery that will have you turning pages and keep you guessing until the very end. This takes place during a lavish Indian wedding which is happening at a luxury resort in Mexico. The author was new to me and I can not wait to read another book from this author. It was written so well and I loved all of the twist and turns. Every character in this was interesting and I especially liked Shay. Overall, this was another amazing wedding thriller mystery that I highly enjoyed. I would recommend this one to any reader who loves mystery or thriller books. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this great read in exchange of my honest review of The Plus One by S.C Lalli.

💍📖 Review of The Plus One by S.C. Lalli 📖💍

Murder at a wedding? High society drama in Cabo? The Plus One by S.C. Lalli brings all the intrigue, secrets, and suspense you’d want from a story where a luxe destination wedding turns deadly. Shay Kapoor, an outsider dating the groom’s best friend, finds herself caught in a whirlwind of wealth, family secrets, and twisted motives when Radhika and Raj, the bride and groom, are found shot dead just before their big day. As tensions rise, Shay realizes she might be the only one who can piece together what really happened—but with her own secrets, she’s got a lot to lose, too.

This book gives White Lotus vibes with its lavish setting, and The Guest List twist with all the skeletons these characters have hidden in their closets. While I loved the setting and the intense family dynamics, the mystery itself didn’t completely blow me away. I’d say it’s a fun ride with plenty of tension but don’t go in expecting a shock-a-minute thriller. Still, Lalli did a great job creating a complex social web, and I was invested enough to see how all these tangled lives would unravel!

If you’re in the mood for a high-society mystery full of scandal and drama, The Plus One might just be your next beach read! 🏖️🔍

💭 Question for You: If you could crash any fictional wedding, which one would you pick…and why? 🎉💐

This book was written so good! I loved meeting all the new characters and the twists and mystery in each chapter of the book. Definitely recommend on reading!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me access to an e-copy of the ARC for this book.
3.5 stars. This book bored me out of my mind for the first twenty pages but after that let me tell you -- it kept me on the edge of my seat. I read the whole thing in one sitting instead of working on my midterms because I wanted to solve this twisty, complicated puzzle. Everyone was shady and there was so much going on that I could hardly keep up. This would be a great airplane or vacation read because it just keeps you absolutely hooked. My only issues were really with the characters -- I appreciated what the author was trying to do by making everyone certain shades of morally gray, but honestly... I don't think she entirely nailed it. The main character's conflict with her best friend, Lexie, just felt super weird and honestly like... kind of on Lexie? So that made me mad. And without spoiling it, the reveal at the end kind of fell a little bit flat for me. Just based on what was happening I could easily predict who the killer ended up being, and honestly the ending just didn't quite tie up everything the way I would have wanted it to (cough cough drug cartel). That would be fine if the author meant it to be an ambiguous ending, but I could clearly tell the intention was to wrap everything up neatly with a little bow. Also, there were just so many times that I wanted to scream at Shay in this book because she was being incredibly stupid. Like just actually moronic. However, I still really enjoyed this read. I loved reading about the different aspects of a Hindu wedding and sinking into the atmosphere of the setting. I will definitely check out this author's books in the future.