If you like fast-paced, twisty novels, then this is for you! There are multiple mysteries, which I enjoyed. I wondered how they were going to all work out and/or fit together. I had a feeling about one of the characters, but I wasn’t sure if I was right. It took a small minute to get into the book, but once the action starts, you won’t want to stop reading.

I really enjoyed how Hayes wrote every character. They were distinct and you either loved them or hated them. And even though I may have disliked (or even liked) a character, it didn’t mean my mind stayed that way during the whole book. But also, I felt like Hayes did this on purpose.

Over all, this was a great read. I don’t want to say too much more because I don’t want to give anything away. Read the book!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Mother Of The Bride' by Samantha Hayes.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Samantha Hayes, Bookouture publishers, Bookouture Audio, Hachette UK, and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 26th March 2024.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Trapped Wife', 'The Engagement' and 'The Inheritance'. I would highly recommend them all!
This novel consists of a prologue, 58 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THOSE TWISTS!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!!
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, drama, suspense, lies, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see them coming at all!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Samantha!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you managed it big time!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with shocks, suspense, secrets, drama, lies, family, tension, deceit and family. In this fantastic book we meet Elizabeth, more commonly known as Lizzie and Owen. After a whirlwind romance and discovering that Lizzie is having an unplanned pregnancy they are now also engaged. Lizzie is dreading telling her controlling mother but after some financial difficulties it isn't just the news she needs to tell her but also to ask for her help. The last family wedding was her sister's Shelley where she was meant to be marrying Rafe but it ended in a tragedy with Rafe being found dead the day of the wedding. Will Lizzie and Owen be able to get through their wedding without any disasters or tragedy? What really did happen to Rafe? Will Lizzie's mother take control of all plans? Well, you'll just have to grab your copy of this absolutely gripping page turner to find out for yourselves!!!! Filled with wedding plans, drugs, a controlling mother, death, suicide, falls, lies, twists, complex characters and an explosive ending you would have never seen coming you will not be able to put this book down!! With Sam's absolutely amazing evocative writing skills and Tamsin's brilliant narration I was walking around with my earphones constantly in while I was doing the washing, cleaning the house and driving around. When I was listening to it sitting down I was on the edge of my seat and I found myself biting my nails throughout!! This really is an absolutely compelling, addictive, action past and speedy psychological thriller that i devoured in one sitting as will anyone who picks it up!! The storyline is multilayered and along with wedding plans there is Lizzies dad in a mental care facility, the search for the brother of a boy who committed suicide after a teacher taught them the wrong syllabus, stolen money and a police investigation into the death of Rafe, each with their own twists and turns to give you whiplash!! It really is like being on a rollercoaster reading this book as it will have you speeding in one direction then a twist and a turn and your shooting off in a completely different one at the speed of light!! I thought I had it all worked out at one point but nope, I was completely wrong. Please do not let my partner know that I said that though as of course, I am never actually wrong!!! It was intriguing to see the dynamics between the characters which were intricate and complex. Another gripping and addictive storyline from this fantastic author not to be missed! There were at least not one, not two but several explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is scarily realistic and what happens in the book. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!

This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Tamsin Kennard who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Tamsin did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Samantha but also to listening to more books narrated by Tamsin! I have previously listened to 'Her First Child' by Sheryl Browne, 'The Suspect' by Kathryn Croft, 'Love You Gone' by Rona Halsall, 'My Daughters Boyfriend' and 'Her Husband's Mistake' by Daniel Hurst that were all also narrated by Tamsin Kennard and I would highly recommend listening to or reading them all as it they re other fantastic page turners from other great authors!! I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Samantha but also to listening to more books narrated by Tamsin.
I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. this is one of those books where how I felt about each of the characters changed throughout the storyline so I wont go into what I thought about them as I don't want to run the risk of spoiling the storyline for future readers. Sam and Tamsin both do an amazing job of portraying the individual characters personalities with their fantastic writing and narrative skills really bringing each of them to life in front of your eyes and you feel like you can reach out and touch them. I had no idea who to trust and who were hiding secrets, especially as it seems that every one of the characters had something to hide. There was definitely mixed feelings with some of them and some major shocks to be had!! Regardless of whether I loved them or hated them they all worked perfectly together to create an absolutely gripping and tension packed storyline!! If you want to know more you will just have to grab your copy now!! All in all a great eclectic mix of unique characters that worked perfectly with this storyline.
This is the EXACT reason that you are one of my favourite authors Samantha!! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to your next success 🥂

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue of Samantha's 'Date Night' which promises to be another explosive page turner and one I am looking forward to reading myself!!

Overall an absolutely heart racing, nerve wracking, compelling and unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!

382 pages/ 9 hours 51 minutes

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited, £9.99 in paperback and £16 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Loved the story from start to finish. Couldnt put the book down. Loved how the characters were portrayed throughout how they grew in the story. Lots of twists in the story which kept me on edge at times. Loved how it all came together at the end.

"Mother of the Bride" by Samantha Hayes was a gripping 4-star read! The book kicks off at the wedding of Lizzie and Owen, portraying two individuals deeply in love. However, an interruption halts the ceremony, prompting a flashback to events two weeks prior. Much of the plot unfolds during this period. We get to meet Shelley, a grieving sister, Sylvia, a malevolent mother, and Jared, Lizzie’s first crush from high school.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The author liked to recap portions of the story which I felt slowed down the pace. You really get to know all the characters, sometimes that makes you like them and sometimes not so much. There are several twists throughout the book and I think one of the major twists was predictable. What’s revealed in the epilogue though definitely took me by surprise, I was not expecting that at all. I am willing to give this author another try.

Thanks to Bookouture, Samantha Hayes, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Mother of the Bride by Samantha Hayes. This book was quite fast paced and it kept my interest. I was able to figure out what was really happening but it did not ruin the story for me. I continued to read it and enjoy it. I would definitely recommend this book to others for a good read and some entertaining fun. A 4 star rating from me.

Love it when I see another Samantha Hayes book about to be released.

This book had all the elements of a great domestic thriller. Crazy mother, meek bride, family drama and murder.

The story is fast paced and keeps you interested from the start. I found myself having a hard time putting it down.

If you love family drama dished up along with a side of murder this is a must read for you.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn’t put this down. I listened to it all in one day. I did not expect the ending, or the epilogue. Lizzie can’t trust her mother, especially after her sister’s almost wedding the year before. She’s afraid to have Owen even meet her. She wants to know exactly what her mother has done, but the more she learns the less she wishes she knew. I devoured all the details and had just as many questions as Lizzie did.
This is my first book by Samantha Hayes and it won’t be my last.

I’ve read some other books by this author and enjoyed them. This one did grip me from the beginning for sure. The opening was great. Will pick up more from this author.

As always, with a Samantha Hayes Book, you are guaranteed a great read.

The characters are so well-formed that they appeared so easily in my mind, playing out the story. Some not particularly likeable, whilst others drew my sympathy. Sylvia is the mother from hell, creating a lot of tension and you do begin to wonder why. Owen, the fiancé seems so naive, which I found a little frustrating.

Hayes description of the village and community really brought the story to life, meeting old school friends, visiting family.

Here is a plot that, at first glance, seems dark and relatively simple, lulling the reader into thinking they can see the ending. Don’t be fooled! There are plenty of clever twists and surprising turns that stopped me in my tracks. As the pace increased there were pulse-raising moments that filled me with tension.

I enjoyed watching the drama unfold to reach its conclusion, with just a final tweak to surprise the reader.

I usually love this authors books but unfortunately struggled with this one. The concept was good but I found the whole storyline frustrating. I couldn’t relate to the main characters and just found them to be incredibly dumb and naive

I went into reading this book and assuming I knew the ending before I began and I could not have been more wrong. As I read on, I was immediately hooked and I could not put this book down. I do not want to give away any spoilers but almost no one in this story is who they seem to be on the surface. All the characters have delicious layers and the reader is in for a real treat. A seemingly open and shut case of a seeming mother out to disrupt her daughter's weddings is the far from the real story here.

Thank you to Samantha Hayes, Bookouture, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

My mother is obsessed with every detail of my wedding – controlling my dress, my ring, my happiness. But when the day finally comes, will she really let me go? Last year, my sister’s fiancé was murdered on his wedding day. And I found my mother’s corsage next to his body…

Please let me be wrong about what my mother did. Please let Owen be safe.

But when the priest asks if anyone objects, I turn to look at my mother. Her eyes are icy beneath the brim of her hat, and she’s staring right at me.

Is my husband’s life in danger? Or is it mine…?


It's been a year since Lizzie's sister's wedding that ended in tragedy as the groom was murdered and "mommy dearest" seems to have had a hand in it. Lizzie and her new husband, Owen, just want to be happy in the life they're building as they celebrate their engagement and pregnancy, but does Lizzie's mom, Silvia, have other plans? The characters were developed beautifully. Not everyone is who they seem to be and there are a host of secrets that are revealed as Lizzie comes to see the truth, as it's revealed on her own wedding day. Silvia is the definition of a nightmare mother and mother in law. She is toxic, devious, cunning, narcissistic, and cruel. A villain that you almost love to hate. I found this to be a "can't put down, reading into the late hours of the night, tension fueled" ride. I had the day off and read the whole book in a day! I simply couldn't go to bed until I knew how it would end. If you're into dysfunctional families, twists and turns, love, deception, chaos and murder, then this is the book for you! There are plenty of red herrings and shocking revelations. I had no idea how it would end, but the last part of the book totally shocked me. I was sitting there with my mouth wide open and mind blown at the conclusion. This book releases today and you're not going to want to miss it!

Crikey this was a belter of a story! It's a while since I've lost a day to a book because I couldn't tear myself away, but that's what happened with Mother of the Bride. The mother, Sylvia, is a wonderful creation and the whole cast of characters were so three dimensional and real. That's what makes this story so compelling. Such a fun read. And my god, it was tense. Highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

After reading the blurb about the story I was not sure I would like the writing style and almost passed over this title.

Good thing I didn't because Mother of the Bride is a fun ride. I'm not going to lie, I found myself liking the mother with her unhinged sparky ways. I wasn't rooting for her, but she's rather entertaining.

This was a pretty good suspense. The character of Lizzie was quite annoying throughout a lot of the book, so that took away from it somewhat. However, there are quite the twists at the end that makes it worth it!!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

Two things about this book: first this family should never plan weddings and if I’d pretend to be an orphan if I had a mother like Sylvia.
I didn’t blame Lizzie a bit for wanting to keep a great distance between her and her mother who reminded me of a cold slithery cobra. But other things didn’t add up with another character and I cracked that connection early on.
One last situation is resolved in the most unexpected way at the end for me to slump in disbelief.
Lots of secrets and lies but don’t buy a wedding gift!!!

This is my first Samantha Hayes book and it was sooooo good!!!!!!!!!!! I was reading it every chance I got and thinking about it when I couldn't read. This is a great thriller that you will read all through the night.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this eCopy to review

Another gripping thriller from Samantha Hayes. Mother of the Bride sees Lizzie forced to live back with her mother who is very difficult to live with. On finding out that Lizzie is engaged to Owen and pregnant her mother goes into over drive planning their wedding in just 2 weeks time. Lizzie is convinced that her mother killed her sister's fiancé on their wedding day so she is not very keen on the idea!

I thought I had it all figured out but there were plenty of twists and turns I did not see coming. Great characters, great family relations, and a fast paced plot keep you hooked from start to finish.

Lizzie and Owen are happily engaged and expecting a baby, but Lizzie hesitates to tell her mother the good news. It's been just one year since her sister's wedding ended in tragedy: the groom was murdered, and the killer could potentially be someone close to them.

The beginning is slow but gains momentum halfway through, and the unexpected ending is enjoyable.

Thanks, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for approving this ARC request. It's an edge of your seat thriller from the beginning to the final sentence. This book kept me reading until very late as it was so hard to put down until I finished it. A demanding, controlling and cruel mother has taken over the plans for her daughter Lizzy's wedding. It's not what Lizzy wants but her fiancé Owen wants the big church wedding. There are so many twists and turns in this story - it'll blow your mind. If you think you know what's going to happen - think again. The story flows seamlessly to a surprising conclusion. I'd highly recommend this book.