Member Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I have to be honest; when I first started reading this one I found myself confused and having a hard time following what was going on and getting into the book. But, I powered through and once the diary pages were introduced the pieces started to fall into place. Once I understood where this was going I was on board and really liked the book. Overall a great read!
Welcome to the grand opening of The Manor, an eco-chic luxury retreat nestled deep in a remote forest. The Manor is the brainchild of lifestyle and wellness maven, Francesca and her new husband Owen, an avant-garde, naturalist architect.
The opulent opening has spared no expense and the Midnight Feast is the most highly anticipated event the area has ever seen, but not everyone shares in the excitement. What lies just beyond the Manor's sleek facade? What sinister secrets does the forest hold?
Told from many POV, this richly layered, edgy psychological thriller is full of twists and turns.
Lucy Foley does it again!! So much I did not see coming! This book has been one of my favorites this year! I did not want to put his down, but life made me! Thank you Net Galley for picking me to read this title! #TheMidnightFeast #NetGalley
The Midnight Feast is a book I truly don’t know how to describe. When I close my eyes I can imagine the location of this story as though I were there in person. I can see the employee’s uniforms, the decorations, the Manor itself. The vibes this book put off was so wonderful to experience. There’s mystery and excitement to the Manor, and there’s fear to the potential threat against it.
I can’t think of the last multi-POV book I’ve read where I truly enjoyed everyone’s POV equally. I was excited to catch up with each character each time it switched. Every character in this book has their motivations, and I truly enjoyed getting to experience each and every one of them. While not every character in this book is an angel, there’s such a strong nuance to each character that you can find them empathizing with (most of) them.
I’m not the kind of person to spoil stories as I review, so I’m finding it hard to find ways to talk about the characters and how I enjoyed them, as there is some pretty hefty spoiler territory for each of them. Each character truly is a treat to be in the shoes of, however. I was especially a big fan of getting to see their different perspectives, and witnessing their moments of slipping in their portrayals of themselves.
The scenery of this book feels so rich, and its lore feels so intriguing with a payoff I loved. The characters may have made the story, but what I’d give to experience this world for a little longer.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.
The Midnight Feast is perfect for readers who already know and love Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware or Ellery Lloyd’s The Club. If you like your thrillers twisty and your mystery to keep you guessing til the end, you’ll love the Midnight Feast.
This was a chaotic story but I had an absolutely great time reading it. When I first started reading this book, it was giving similar vibes as The Guest List. But the feeling went away as I got further along and this definitely felt original and different from her other books. Taking place in the English countryside on beautiful cliffs along the sea, the story gives us a spectacular atmosphere for this mysterious thriller that provides a bit of local folklore with the clashing of the upper and lower classes. As with other Lucy Foley books you have a multitude of POVs. I usually hate more than 3 POVs but Foley does a great job of limiting confusion at the beginning of the book. Her writing is easily consumable and I definitely was surprised as the pieces and parts were revealed.
This is my 3rd Lucy Foley book. In my opinion, her stories are getting better and this is her best one yet.
I went into this one blind. Without reading the description, I requested it knowing that it may be a hit or miss thriller. For context, I was meh with The Paris Apartment, couldn't remember a thing that happened in The Guest List, and I'm currently reading The Hunting Party. The Midnight Feast is hands down my favorite! I'm immediately gripped by the setting, a posh (re: expensive) hotel opening weekend. What could go wrong? Apparently, everything from the locals' distaste of the manor/hotel, to THE BIRDS, to fires, to the past unraveling both in real time and through journal entries.
I'm giving this a 4.5 stars. The story got my attention and nearly sustained it till the ending where it became just a bit unhinged. I wasn't quite sure what I was reading at that point. I might go back to figure out the birds because the symbolism and Hitchcock reference didn't always land for me. Overall, my favorite of the author.
Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this enough to continue reading it until the end. However, I thought the characters were boring and the plot was mediocre. I can’t pinpoint specifically what it was but this book just didn’t vibe with me.
This book starts on the opening weekend of a manor. It is stunning built on the Dorset coastline. It is a luxurious wellness hotel owned by Francesa. What guests down know is that the manor has a unsightly past. While the guests dont what it is there are many that do and have been waiting. And there is a theme of the birds who Francesca needs to keep happy. The book is told through many points of view inclduing Edie who was the most likable. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the tension in the book. One by one characters started to show themselves and it did play out well. The ending was worth the wait for sure.
I read The Guest List and really liked it so I was really excited to read this one.
I have mixed feelings about this one. A high end resort opens in a small town. There is a lot of folk lore surrounding the woods that back up to the hotel. There are mysterious creatures known as “The Birds” that lurk in the woods.
I felt the first half of the book was confusing. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and the journal entries from the past did not help matters. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who is who and connect the dots to the future. The second half of the book is full of twists and everything makes sense in the end. I definitely did not anticipate all the twists.?
This was a very enjoyable thriller. I enjoyed the way Foley strings you along with little bits of information about the characters and as you read you see how everything slowly starts to become intertwined. The plot twists felt believable and not too far fetched and out of the realm of possibilities.
This was an amazing read! The timelines were perfectly woven together and my jaw DROPPED at all the reveals at the ending. The perfect thriller. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read. Will be reviewing on IG and threads.
This atmospheric story about the opening of Tome Manor will grab you right from the start. Franchesca Meadows has spared no expense on opening night where wealthy guests have arrived just before Solstice. But there are whispers about the manor's dark past, and folklore of the Night birds that must be kept happy. When a body is found, the police are called to investigate and uncover the secret's that won't hide forever.
I really loved the premise of this story of the creepy manor in the woods with all it's secrets. Told from multiple POV and journal entries that opened a window to the past this story all came together in the end. I only wished it had gone into more details about the folklore and the night birds. I will definitely be reading more by Lucy Foley.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good thriller and this one hooked me in pretty quickly! This is a multi-POV novel similar to Foley’s “Guest List,” but there are less characters to follow. Initially I didn’t love that DI Walker was written in third person compared to the first person narration of the others, but it was actually quite clever and made sense in the end. The Summer Journal added another element of story telling and I really enjoyed it!
I personally don’t love folklore, but I think it added a little something to the story line and didn’t find it to be predictable at all.
Thanks to NetGalley & Publishers for an ARC.
I enjoy Lucy Foley's books and this one did not disappoint. It was a slow start to get into the book, but once I got to know the characters and setting, I was hooked. I could not put this one down and ended up finishing it well past my bedtime. The manor was created on a part of the island that should not be disturbed, but once it's happened there is no turning back. We get to know each character over time and the slow burn to the end was full of fun plot twists. Guessing what would happen next made this one fun and I was still pleasantly surprised that I couldn't get all the twists. With so many locked room style mysteries it can be hard to make yours stand out, but Foley managed to do so with some fun twists and varying perspectives.
I have enjoyed Lucy Foley’s books in the past; but, It’s been a long time since I’ve struggled so much with a book. So many characters bouncing back and forth, past and present. I couldn’t quite figure out the scenery, the theme of the book, and couldn’t follow what was going on most of the time. Not for me.
An addicting story just like the rest of Lucy Foley’s books! The Midnight Feast pivots between present day and journals from 15 years ago slowly piecing together a mystery that’s been buried for years. It started off a little slow but after a few chapters I was hooked!
Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC!!
Once again, Lucy Foley takes readers on a winding road with several intertwining plotlines. There are points where you have no idea how she'll wrap them all up- but she does in expert form. Twisty, dark, and thrilling; The Midnight Feast is her best yet.
Not to detract from the glowing review- and I understand it is a cultural thing- but why in the year 2024 are we still calling cigarettes the f slur? quite offputting for the amount of times it was used.
The Midnight Feast is a wild ride of a book! Thank you so much to NetGalley for this exciting ARC. Lucy Foley sets up the most perfect scene, then pours it in a blender and turns it on high. The story is told in multiple points of views and different timelines. Everything flows together perfectly with the use of a character’s diary.entries.
The second half of the book - OMG! - it was full steam ahead. I could not stop reading it. The back stories of the characters are well thought out and the storyline comes together like a beautifully orchestrated work of art. This is definitely one of my favorites so far this year.
This book was exactly what I expected from Lucy Foley with the multiple POVS and timeline jumps. I loved the inclusion of the diary entries as well. I also enjoyed the folklore aspect mixed in throughout the story.
Once I hit 40% I couldn’t put it down which is the typical case for me with a Lucy Foley book. While some of the ending was predictable I still really enjoyed this book. This was a solid read for the mystery thriller vibes.