I DNF’d at 45%. I never DNF books but I could not summon up the motivation to finish this audiobook. To put it plainly - it was boring. I had no reason to care about any of the characters and even the components of the mystery couldn’t inspire enough motivation to keep reading.

Having booked the perfect anniversary getaway, Ellery is excited to get away with her husband. When he springs a divorce on her instead of a happily ever after she finds herself going solo to the resort off of Big Sur, California. Finding herself surrounded by vacationers there for a wedding, Ellery wants to jetset back home to be with her kids. but her best friend insists that she needs this getaway. However, tragedy strikes the wedding party and Ellery is thrown into the investigation. A fun who dun it with some interesting characters, I enjoyed this audiobook. Thanks to Netgalley and the audio publisher for an audio copy for an honest review.

Ally Condie’s “The Unwedding,” brought to life by Christine Lakin’s engaging narration, takes readers on a journey to the stunning yet eerie Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. The story centers around Ellery Wainwright, who finds herself alone at this luxurious resort, meant to celebrate her twentieth wedding anniversary with her husband, Luke. Instead, she’s navigating this milestone solo, surrounded by the beauty of Big Sur but haunted by her own emotional turmoil.
Ellery’s solitary trip coincides with another couple’s wedding at the resort, a painful reminder of what she has lost. Condie does an excellent job of contrasting the joy and hope of new beginnings with Ellery’s uncertainty and heartache. The plot thickens when Ellery discovers the groom’s body floating in the pool, setting off a chain of suspenseful events. A mudslide traps all the guests at the resort, and as another guest meets a grim fate, it becomes clear that danger lurks among them.
What makes “The Unwedding” stand out is its rich character development and the relationships that form under duress. Ellery’s interactions with other guests provide moments of warmth and connection amidst the tension. The flashbacks to her past are particularly moving, offering insight into her character and evoking empathy from the reader.
Condie masterfully uses the setting to enhance the story’s suspense. The relentless rain and the isolation of the resort mirror the characters’ growing sense of dread. For thriller fans, this novel offers a gripping narrative filled with twists and turns, making it hard to put down.
In summary, “The Unwedding” is a compelling read that blends suspense with deep emotional exploration. Through Ellery’s eyes, we experience the pain of lost love and the strength found in unexpected friendships. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted thriller with a strong sense of place and character.

I love the title of this one... a wedding that didn't happen; an Un Wedding!

This one was good. It started really well and hooked me from the start. It was exciting and thrilling, but overall it felt like it fizzled out pretty quick. It seemed like there were a lot of side story lines and characters that it just all got too confusing and boring to me. The ending was a bit of a let down given the exciting start.

I listened to the audiobook. The narrator was very good. I enjoyed the book and looked forward to the times when I got to listen. As with most books in this genre, the characters make bad decisions and the big reveals sometimes felt farfetched. This one kept me coming back though and I looked forward to finishing and finding out what happened.

I'd recommend this book for readers looking for a mystery-thriller that airs more on the side of mystery. My library will definitely buy this and I think it will be popular with patrons.

The Unwedding by Ally Condie and narrated by Christine Lakin has a darkly comical murder mystery in a luxury hotel. Ellery has just completed her divoce but couldn't get a refund on a luxury holiday she had booked. Ellery bites the bullet and decides ot go on her own, only to find herself embroiled in a murder mystery. The upside however is Matt

The narration by Christine Lakin was on point and suited the narrative which was well crafted and engaging. A good listen and great mystery

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing, the author Ally Condie and narrator Christine Lakin for this ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

I’m so bummed out that this book didn’t work for me. I’m not sure if it was the fact that I didn’t really care about any of the characters and therefore was bored OR the fact that I was reading a similarly themed book alongside this one that I ABSOLUTELY LOVED (Shout out to The Wedding People a book I would absolutely recommend).

I haven’t had a book in such a long time that I was so apathetic and indifferent about….like didn’t even hate it just a complete blip on my memory.

2.5⭐️

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the review ALC this book!

Ellery should be celebrating her wedding anniversary at an exclusive resort, but instead is on vacation solo...alongside a rowdy and intimate group there for a wedding. She befriends a duo, the only others not there for the wedding, and is grateful for the comradery. Ellery is unfortunate enough to stumble upon the body of the groom during a storm and everything is thrown into question. It's a complicated story full of secrets. Ellery's character grows over the course of the story, but a few of the other characters seem a bit one-dimensional. I really enjoyed the ending. I hope that Ally Condie continues to write for adults.

Many thanks to Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Recently divorced Ellery went on the vacation that was non refundable on her own. Only to spend the week trying to solve the murder a of the wedding party. Though all of this Ellery met Matt and it may just be the fresh start she needed along with her best friend helping her though.

The novel's setup presents an intriguing blend of luxury resort setting and murder mystery, reminiscent of popular works like "The White Lotus" and Agatha Christie's stories. While the initial premise and isolated setting create a promising atmosphere for suspense, the plot apparently takes an implausible turn towards the end, potentially undermining the story's credibility. The shift from a grounded mystery to far-fetched developments may have disrupted the narrative's tension, resulting in an ending that feels disconnected from the book's more compelling early chapters.

I love the premise the atmospheric setting and suspense but the ending was very anti climactic. I also hoped for a more engaging mystery. The narrator was fantastic. Overall a solid read I had just hoped for a bit more

4 stars easily for this closed door mystery. I’ve been a fan of Condie since her YA Matched days. This was nothing like Matched and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Full review on socials.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This story was very different from Condie's other books; I was hoping for more intrigue but found the end fizzled out for me. I, unfortunately, did not enjoy the twists at the end but still appreciated the opportunity to try Condie's first thriller!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was awesome! I thought the premise sounded intriguing and the set up was great but the book started to fall flat for me. I love the author’s writing style but I expected more mystery and thriller and less women’s fiction. I’m sure this will be a favorite for some but it just wasn’t the book for me.

I started reading the ebook of The Unwedding but it was hard to put down and I remembered I had downloaded the audio as well. Thank GOODNESS!

Not only could I not put the book down, but I couldn't stop listening! Thankfully the narrator was excellent, her tone conveyed the tension of the story and managed all the character's voices quite nicely.

The story itself reminded me of a mix of many of today's current mysteries - mysterious settings, suspicious guests, building tension, threat of escalation as the storm has them stranded and the body count starts to add up. But near the end, it also reminded me of Agatha Christie type mysteries where the characters all talk out the crime. None of that is a criticism, I really enjoyed it.

I'd highly recommend this to friends, family, and patrons who enjoy mysteries and thrillers especially the "locked room" type that are set in an exotic location.

Twisty, well crafted kept me guessing. An artfully, woven mystery integrating backstory with present, at one point I was trying to ascertain if Ellery's past was some how connected, only to be left hanging and wondering. Did not want story to end! Thank you for the opportunity to read.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator was pleasant and the author set the stage for a deeply descriptive locale that I was googling because I thought this resort was real. The twists and turns were surprising and yet everything made sense. Our protagonist was worth rooting for and I enjoyed going on the journey with her as she alone navigated what should have been a happy anniversary splurge, and instead was a stressful, deadly solo venture. The friendships that formed and the confidence and peace she found were really satisfying at the end.

Stuck in a remote, luxurious setting, alone, going through an unexpected divorce is no vacation. But, when wedding party members begin disappearing, and a storm knocks out any way off the resort, the real "fun" begins.

Author Ally Condie crafts a locked room mystery full of interesting characters, and wild motives. Slowly building to an explosive finale you won't see coming.

This book was not what I expected, and everything thing I loved. It had love, loss, friendships, murder, mystery, and such great people. I have never read any of Ally Condie's books, but I am going to go and read them from now on. This book has gotten a lot of good buzz and it is all worth it. I am glad I read it and can't wait to read any of her other books.

I had high hopes for this book and I was hooked instantly. I thought this was going to be a 5-start from the first half of the book. I thought the second half of this book was disappointing. The murder mystery was interesting and fun but I thought Ellery’s trauma wasn’t needed for this story and seemed very random. The ending seemed very non-climactic. I felt like the author had the perfect story setup for a fun book but it ended up being semi unmemorable. I dont think the books description of White Lotus meets Agatha Christie, was accurate. That line over promises and under delivers.

I received the audio version of this book and the narrator is Christine Lakin. I thought she was good and had voices for all of these characters! She made the book enjoyable and was the main reason I finished it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook of The Unwedding!