I adore Ellery Lloyd, and how they tell a story. They bring both perspectives to the table and only walk away after they have developed the hell out of any possible twists.
The way the timeline was used was clever and I enjoyed the build up. I guessed who was guilty reasonably early on, but that didn't keep me from enjoying the build-up and crash to the end.

I have many thoughts on this book. First, I didn't think that the book was going to go in the direction that it did. I guessed that Juliette was still alive but then I realized, well based on time periods that wouldn't even make sense. Second, Athena and Freddie being the culprits?? I don't know how much I really liked that after sitting on it for a couple days. Lastly, this was sooooo much slower than it should've been. It was a pretty well written book, I just don't know if I am shocked by the ending or if it was lacking.

Anything by Ellery Lloyd is a must-read for me, and this one continues the trend. Have used this book to introduce others to their work.

Wow! I'm delayed in reading this -- it pubbed last June! I got an ARC and didn't end up reading it early but I grabbed the audio and LOVED THIS BOOK. (better late than never, right?)

Would recommend if you love:
-GREAT twists (but not thriller-y or scary)
-Multi-timeline
-Multi-POV
-Well-developed characters

This book is SO TWISTY but not in a thriller or scary way. My jaw dropped at that one about 73% in. Had to sit with that a moment! The characterization was wonderful, and each character adds something to the storyline either in the present timeline or the past. The story is told in alternating POV of Caroline and Patrick (plus Juliette) and multi-timeline as well which is my favorite. There's a bit of mixed media with Juliette's journal entries. All of these factors made this a compelling story that was SO BINGEABLE.

Overall, I loved this and could not read it fast enough. It was one of those "wish I could read this again for the first time" stories...even though I rushed through it this one should be SAVORED!!! SO GOOD!

THE FINAL ACT OF JULIETTE WILLOUGH is an exceptional art thriller that effortlessly weaves together the mystery surrounding a Surrealist masterpiece and the body count piling up around it. This duo, Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos, captivates us as we slide down the rabbit hole of Juliette Willoughby’s life and all those touched by this artist both past and present.

I am not lying when I say this book was one of my favorites for the year. The way the authors move back and forth between characters and time could be overwhelming or take away from the mystery. However, they nailed it. Each perspective and story being told propelled the narrative forward at a perfect pace. In addition, there are carefully placed breadcrumbs and secrets revealed adding to the building of tension until the reader gets to the brilliantly crafted ending.

THE FINAL ACT OF JULIETTE WILLOUGH is a must-read. The art history, the wonderfully conceived characters, and the murders surrounding this painting came together to give us a clever, layered, and addictive thriller. It was so good!

4.5⭐️
This was a very clever and exciting novel. Told through multiple timelines and perspectives, this story tells a tale rich in art and intrigue. There's murder, questionable art, Egyptian lore, a secret society, and truth to uncover - all centering around the Willoughby name and, of course, artist Juliette. Her legacy and mysterious life were captivating, and reading this made me feel like I was on an adventure to uncover the real truth with each narrator and in each timeline. I absolutely thought I had it figured out on more than one occasion - and while a few of my hunches were right-ish, I never did have it all puzzled out.

This book felt like being thrust in the middle of a dire art deal where everything is at stake and no one is to be trusted. Very much giving art heist movie x family secrets determined to stay buried vibes. A great read!

📖 Book Review 📖

📱🎧 "The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby" by Ellery Lloyd

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
published June 11, 2024

I struggled to get invested in this book. Juliette Willoughby left quite a mark on her family that haunted generations for years. She was never the same, dealing with mental illness and the loss of her sister. The mark she left on the art world was more mysterious when her prized masterpiece “Self Portrait As Sphinx” burned in a Paris studio fire in 1938 taking the heiress’s life as well. Now 50 years later, two art history students from Cambridge found an old, forgotten diary of the deceased heiress, which could disrupt the “perfect” Willoughbys well-kept secrets. Told in multiple timelines is the captivating story of a young woman artist fighting to survive and leave her mark on the world.

#somanybooks #readsomemore #audiobooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby was a cute read it follows a couple times lines to tell the story of renound painter Juliette Willoughby and her life. I liked the little twists and turns in this mystery. I do feel like there was alot of fluff we didn't need or use that made the story a little complicated. It did finally come together at the end but I feel like it took longer than it should have. I also didn't understand why the truth didn't come out when Juliette died. It made no sense the way the author played it out.

Thank you netgalley for a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is a captivating mystery that spans three timelines: 1938 Paris, 1991 Cambridge, and present-day Dubai. With its intriguing plot and rich themes about art and legacy, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction and/or a good mystery with a twist!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me!

An interesting thriller set in the world of art history with an ending I didn't see coming. It felt very different from this author duo's previous work, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I liked Juliette's POV the best. Not sure how it ties into The Club, though.

I previously read The Club, which was also written by husband and wife writing duo, Ellery Lloyd, but didn't love it. But once again, I was sucked in by a stunning cover and an intriguing description. Sadly, this was another book that just wasn't for me.

This novel is told in 3 timelines, which I found confusing and ultimately hard to follow. This book got great reviews, and I can understand why. It really is beautifully written. Maybe if I was more of an art enthusiast, I would have gotten more into this one, but I felt a bit bored and had trouble understanding what was going on with the shifting timelines.

If you are an art lover and enjoy historical fiction, this might be the read for you. For me, I think I've determined that maybe Ellery Lloyd just isn't my jam.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

A female painter dies in a house fire in the 1930s after painting her masterpiece. In the 1990s two college students think they have found her painting but someone has been trying to keep it hidden. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first time reading Ellery Lloyd, and I received The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents an intriguing narrative that blends historical fiction with mystery and suspense. The plot is engaging, with multiple timelines that add depth and complexity to the story. The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd is a historical mystery that spans three distinct time periods. In 1938, British expatriate Juliette Willoughby exhibits her only painting at the International Surrealist Exhibition in Paris, only to mysteriously withdraw it before perishing in a fire with her artist lover. Fifty years later, two Cambridge art history students uncover evidence suggesting the fire was no accident, threatening to expose dark secrets about Juliette's aristocratic family. In the present day, Caroline Cooper, a renowned expert on Juliette's work, is in Dubai to authenticate the recently resurfaced painting, "Self-Portrait as Sphinx," which was auctioned for a staggering sum. The novel weaves together themes of love, obsession, and the often-overlooked contributions of women in the art world. The character development is solid, particularly with Juliette and Caroline. Juliette's tragic story and Caroline's quest to uncover the truth are compelling and well-executed. However, the constant switching between timelines and narrators can be disorienting at times, making it challenging to stay fully immersed in the story. The twists and turns throughout the novel keep the reader guessing, but some plot developments feel a bit forced and could have been more seamlessly integrated. The ending, while satisfying, leaves a few questions unanswered, which might be frustrating for some readers. Overall, The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is a decent read with a unique premise and well-drawn characters. Despite its flaws, it shows promise for Ellery Lloyd as a writer. I'm curious to see how their storytelling evolves in future works. #netgalley #thefinalact

A captivating and complicated thriller that weaves mystery, art, history, and suspense. The story is rich and reminiscent, seamlessly shifting between the past and present to create a compelling narrative. There are twists and turns as Caroline uncovers dark family secrets. What was the truth behind Juliette’s death?
Many thanks to Harper and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm always in for a mystery with multiple timelines. The novel first takes place in the late 1930s in Paris, with our main characters, two surrealist artists, Juliette Willoughby and her married lover Oskar Erlich. There was a fire that took place at her studio, in which Juliette and Oskar both pass away. The other timelines are the early 90s at Cambridge, where students are studying her art, and discover information that may prove this fire was not accidental at all, and present day.

While entertaining, it seemed like the author couldn't decide whether this book was supposed to be a historical fiction novel or more of a thriller/mystery, so both seemed to be a bit lacking. I'm not big into historical fiction or the art world, so I don't think this book was meant for me, but could be for someone else. I was not eager to pick this book up, but but I did enjoy how the different storylines came together in the end.

If you want to curl up with a good mystery, this is the book for you! This is a story told across three timelines and three locations – modern day Dubai, 1990’s Cambridge, and 1930’s Paris. From the very beginning the plot had me hooked. It is a story about 2 art students, a valuable painting and Juliette Willoughby’s legacy. It is well written with clever twists, layers of intrigue and moments that make that reader go “Ah!” 5 stars!

I had no idea what to expect from this book and wow is all I can say. It starts out as a story about art students at Cambridge and turns into something much more, but I do not want to spoil it for anyone so just read it - you will not want to put this book down!
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Publishing for the digital ARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper for providing me with an eARC of The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby in exchange for my honest review!

Having previously clicked with Ellery Lloyd's other books, People Like Her and The Club, I'm glad that this latest book from the author duo becomes another winner. It ambitiously pursues a narrative with plenty of moving parts by hopping between different timelines and POVs, and it uses all of this material to flesh out what's happening in the present, what happened in the past, and how those two things are tightly interconnected. It's ultimately a story about the ways in which our society ignores women and the positive contributions they make, about the journeys that artwork goes on throughout their lifetime and around the globe, and about the nuances of dysfunctional families. There's one point in particular where this hits me with a crucial twist, and hooboy, what a satisfying moment that was.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby four out of five stars. I'll continue to look forward to more of Ellery Lloyd's work.

Thank you Harper and NetGalley for the eARC of The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. All opinions in this review are my own.

I can see why people like this book, but unfortunately, I just don't think this author is for me. I found the timelines to be very unbalanced. I feel like I needed more of Juliette in the past to better understand why these college students were so focused on her. I do like how everything came together in the end, but after reading two books that I didn't love, I think I have to admit that this is not the author for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.