Member Reviews
A really suspenseful and twisty mystery with unreliable narrators and a supernatural element. Bella is back trying to fix something in her past. She’s at a fancy resort on its opening weekend. To celebrate the solstice there will be a midnight feast. The owner is Francesca Meadows, a fabulous socialite with big hopes for this new venture. From the beginning we know that there is a dead body and that there was a fire. The police officers investigating the incident find more bodies and everything gets weirder as the plot flies along. Bella has a journal from when she was a teenager and it is clear that something happened back then, something that all the characters must atone for. The dying village where the resort is built is another character. How these fancy people are affecting them, mostly for the worst. I liked all of the main characters, except for one. I was surprised by most of the twists and I was intensely rooting for Bella and the mysterious Birds, who may be real or not. The least likable characters, such as the locals trying to sabotage the resort were even understandable. I also loved the setting, the difference between the luxurious hotel and the run down town, the creepiness of the woods and all the mysteries that may be supernatural, or not. Another five-star read from this author.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/William Morrow.
first off, i just want to say thank you to netgalley and william morrow for the arc in exchange for the honest review. unfortunately, i was let down with this book. i couldn’t connect to any of the characters and it was so unbearable to be in their point of views. and for a thriller this was so dull and not gripping at all. i found myself getting distracted left right and centre and i take that a sign that this book wasn’t doing what it was meant to.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, is a mystery thriller told in alternating perspectives of five different characters, plus a diary entry of a “unknown.” It also hops around in time. It takes place at a Manor owned by one of the characters, Francesca, a.k.a. Frankie. At some point throughout the story chaos ensues at the Manor and we’re left trying to figure out what happened and who was involved.
Some of the things that really worked in this book were how everything kind of wrapped up at the end. There were reveals that I did not expect yet made sense. There were even a couple of twists that I would call absolutely brilliant. The chapters were short enough that it kept the intensity going and nothing that was revealed seemed ridiculous or convenient.
What didn’t work were the characters themselves. None of them were exactly relatable and other than Francesca, I really couldn’t distinguish who was narrating other than by the title of each chapter, which told you who was narrating that chapter. I would’ve liked a little bit more character development and to be able to read that in their narrations. That’s really my only complaint and the only reason this isn’t five stars.
This is my first Lucy Foley book and I did quite enjoy it and would definitely read more of her books. I also would absolutely recommend this. 4 1/2⭐️!
***Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and Lucy Foley for an advanced copy and exchange for an honest review.***
I really tried to like this one, but this one wasn't for me. I think the pacing was slow and the timeline was all over the place. The characters were insufferable and I couldn't connect making the reading experience a miss for me.
I will still recommend this book as I know a lot of people will like this.
One of Lucy foley’s best ever!! I loved the setting of this and the multi pov. Sure some elements of the story were exceptionally convenient, but we got a very hateable villain and I’m never mad about an “eat the rich” thriller plot line.
I liked this book, but I did not love it.
The Good: Short chapters made it a quick read. The main twist did twist me - I did not see it coming! Love a sneaky twist. The diary entries are what made the book enjoyable for me. I love the backstory and intention they added. The different point of views worked here and did not feel confusing. The setting was beautiful and Lucy Foley did amazing work with her imagery.
The Bad: I really did not have much of an idea what was going on for the first half and because of this it took me much longer to get into the story than I anticipated. I felt as if the main storyline did not start until halfway through the book either. I also felt like the book could have done more with the folklore aspect in general. There was a great story there and it just kind of.. ended.
This book was savage. I found this book to be an engrossing read that lingered in my thoughts long after the last page. The story, set against the backdrop of a seaside summer, brings together a group of friends and their families, their lives intertwined by a haunting tragedy.
Foley's narrative is like a beautifully woven tapestry, each thread revealing a bit more of the intricate plot. The twists were masterfully crafted, each one hitting like a surprise wave at the beach, leaving you breathless and eager for more. The suspense built up in such a way that I felt like I was holding my breath, waiting for the next revelation.
The lore of the birds was a haunting element that initially drew me in, reminiscent of old fairy tales whispered around a campfire. While it added a layer of eerie mystery, I couldn’t help but wish for it to be explored further to deepen the novel's chilling atmosphere.
Despite this, "The Midnight Feast" remains Foley's best work yet. It's a gripping, soap-worthy tale that keeps you guessing until the very end. For any reader who loves a good mystery with emotional depth, this book is a must-read. Foley has truly outdone herself, crafting a story that resonates with the complexities of friendship, family, and the secrets that bind us.
It's official. I've thrown in the towel. DNF @45%
I had so many issues with this book.
⁀➴ I had no idea what was going on or why.
⁀➴ The constant flipping of timelines while not covering any ground plot wise in any of them.
⁀➴ This is a thriller, it should be gripping but I was bored.
⁀➴ And to reiterate - I know that this is an uncorrected arc copy but the amount of grammatical errors took away from my reading enjoyment. I'm talking about extra quotation marks, missing quotation marks, whole wrong ass words - I had to read many sentences over and over to realize wtf she was trying to convey.
There is nothing but stuck up rich people, great atmospheric vibes, feathers, trees and birds.
Birds. Birds. Birds.
Thank you for suffering and bitching with me about this bird box of a book my darling - next time we need a winner, we're 0 for 2 now. 🤦🏻♀️ Meagan 🖤💚🕯️📖
🖤Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Lucy Foley for the complementary digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 💚
I'm a big fan of Lucy Foley's books so I was happy to have the opportunity to read and review an advanced reading copy of her latest thriller, The Midnight Feast. Having now finished, I can honestly say that I love the concept, the setting, and Foley's lush descriptions. This is a title that would really appeal to readers who enjoy quieter suspense/thrillers. If you prefer a bit slower pace and not anything particularly disturbing, then this book may be right up your alley!
WOW! The plot. The unique characters. The timeline. The multiple POVs. Everything about this book was amazing!
This page turner was gripping from the very beginning and kept me on my toes the entire time. There were unexpected twists and turns in both the past and present of all the characters that left my jaw on the floor! I will admit that I was a bit apprehensive about the folklore aspect but it was incorporated so well and really fit with the culture of the small town surrounding the Manor.
Owen, Bella, Francesca and Eddie tell the tale of past and present, in this multi point of view page turning thriller, The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. Murder and lies abound at The Manor on the Dorset coast. Who can you trust? What really happened? How will it all end? This fast paced page turner will have you guessing.
I enjoyed this new Foley novel, it was well written and a little eerie. It made me think of adventures in my youth and left we wondering how it would all turn out. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advance copy of The Midnight Feast, all opinions are my own.
I read 40 percent of this book and gave up. I really wanted to like thus story but it just didn't pull me in. I felt it was too slow.. I didn't feel connected with any of the characters either.
I happens to have read other Lucy Foley books that I've liked. The Guest List and The Paris Apartment both were excellent books. I just feel this book fell short.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Retreat turned horror nightmare, a creepy song that is forever stuck in my head, and multiple POVs? Sign me up! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Lucy Foley's latest novel The Midnight Feast.
The story centers around The Manor, a new wellness hotel nestled in the Woodland Hutches, founded by Francesca and designed by her husband Owen. No expense has been spared and each room is fitted with bespoke items guaranteed to help guest relax and restore. However, there's just something creepy about the woods around the Manor...
I love how Foley's detailed description makes you feel like you're a fly on the wall watching the story unfold. Each character who's POV we follow has a well fleshed out personality and I found it easy to keep track of each character. My only complaint is that some characters don't seem to recognize each other after 15 years?? That seems a little odd to me. It wasn't a huge deal breaker, though.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.
Lucy Foley is an author that writes well, is entertaining, and I would even say she's missing her calling as a screenwriter, because her stories tell like movies, which is what they are supposed to do, but few have the gift to write well and fluidly enough for someone to read an entire book in one day because it's reading fast enough to be a movie in their head, and entertaining as such. She did it again with this one, assuredly, and it does not disappoint.
Lucy Foley's books are all kind of White-Lotus-adjacent where you've got a cast of seriously flawed characters and one of them is murdered, and the who-what-when-where-why all kind of unfold throughout the book. And sure, they are all formulaic, but that formula is WILDLY entertaining, so who cares? These are just begging to be a mini-series, I would watch the crap out of this on HBO or Netflix or whatever. SOMEONE OPTION THIS PLEASE. That is all. If you are looking to be wildly entertaining in a mystery-thriller-white-lotus-esque situation, look no further. 4 stars.
Unfortunately this did not work for me. I had trouble getting into the present day parts of the story, and there were some things that really gave me the ick.
The positives of this book were the parts in the past told through journal entries, the references to Midsommar, and the eerie creepy bird references. But the overall mystery, which was driving me to keep reading, ended up feeling predictable and flat.
Thank you to NetGalley and Williams Morrow for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
I had a hard time picking this book up at first but after a pep talk I finally started it. Like the other Lucy Foley books, there is a point where you just can not put it down. I like the multiple character POV as she has done in her other books. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the plot development was well done. I enjoyed the twist and turns in the book. I was not able to tell what was coming which I after reading so many suspenseful thrillers is not easy to accomplish.
Thank you very much for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was my second Lucy Foley novel and I have to say oh my goodness the twists. The way she was able to tie everything and everyone together. *chef’s kiss*
This book was the perfect summer vibe, and I was surprised at everyone’s role in the end. The book is told through multiple POVs and some of the narrators are more enjoyable than others (mostly because some of the characters are more engaging/likable than others). All that being said, did I stay up all night to finish reading? Yes, yes I did.
Being a fan of Lucy Foley, I was very excited to be accepted for the ARC from NetGalley for The Midnight Feast! The cover is absolutely beautiful and really ties into the whole theme of the book. The way Lucy describes the scenery of The Manor was captivating. I enjoyed how the book was written, being in current time but also seeming historical, based on the descriptions of the town and towns people. I really enjoyed the book overall. The beginning and middle was very slow moving, but the end tied it all together pretty quickly. I did find all the different characters somewhat confusing at times, especially when going into the past from the diary entries.
A luxury resort opened up in a small English town and the locals aren’t happy about it. The property was inherited by a health and wellness influencer. The image she portrays starts to fall apart. Lies and manipulation play a big part in the undoing of the new owner and the past comes back to haunt the people involved.
🌲Multiple POVs
🌲Gaslighting
🌲Vengeance
This story has an M. Knight Shyamalan feel to it. If you’re looking for a suspenseful thriller, then this is the one for you. There are POVs that give the reader a look into the past that help explain why some of the characters’ actions.
Lucy Foley is an excellent writer and she is in-depth with the details in her stories. Every single thing matters. 5/5 stars.
Special thanks to #NetGalley and #WilliamMorrow for the #ARC to review. Publication date is June 18, 2024.