A bachelorette party in Vegas takes a turn for the worse when the bride wakes up to a trashed hotel room, a missing maid of honor, and no memories of the night before. This one reminded me of the Hangover but not in a good way. The beginning felt too similar and there was not really any suspense for what is supposed to be a thriller. I think part of it was just the way the characters were written. A few pages in, I was like why has Jess been described as a teacher?? Like the voice she used was different than her normally calm teacher voice. Why couldn't it just be her normal voice? It was just things like this. I think part of the problem was that I just didn't care enough about the characters to really be invested in it.

I felt like the first half of the book was extremely repetitive, to where I was finding myself skimming through it to just read the dialogue. Overall, I feel like the story line was alright. The twist I did not see coming but I felt it was a little anticlimactic and was anticipating something more sinister. Great idea though for a story.

I found this book a fast paced thriller from beginning to end, with no shortage of twists and turns it had me gripped wanting to find out how the story ends whilst also being funny, would recommend

In the novel "Waking Up In Vegas", five best friends - Jess, Lisa, Olivia, Rachel and Megan sets on an unforgettable bachelorette weekend that quickly spirals into havoc and fog of confusion. Jess, the responsible planner, is ready to trade her usual careful attitude for a wild celebration in Las Vegas. With VIP passes and promises of carefree fun, she hopes to make memories that will last a lifetime before she the knot with Miles her fiancé. However, her excitement turns to horror when she wakes up in a bathtub full of ice and poker chips floating around her, her memory of the previous night completely vanished when she wakes up in Bellagio one of the most prestigious hotels in Vegas. Last night was stormed with Pulsing Lights, thumping music and flowing drinks, Here, then laughter and the overwhelming exciting bachelorette night turns to wild goose chase to figure out what had happened later for the five girls.

As Jess frantically searches for her missing friend, Rachel, she discovers her friends scattered around their lavish suite, each dislocated in various forms. Together, they attempt to bring together the fragmented events of their lost night, only to unearth a tangled web of secrets that could spoil their longstanding friendship.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas, the novel draws reader's attention to the complexities of female friendships, trust, and the insecurities that lie beneath the surface. With every discovery, the group must confront not only the fallout of their wild escape form reality but also their own lives and choices.

A gripping psychological thriller that intertwines humor with tension, Waking Up In Vegas is perfect for fans of "The Hangover" and "Gone Girl." It’s a journey of self-discovery and resilience, reminding readers of the strength found in true friendship, especially when the stakes are high.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy for my honest review. Novel Nerd blog: https://smithareading.blogspot.com/

Not what I expected at all. A book that will keep you intrigued and turning the pages. Not just a fun bachelorette weekend in Vegas.
Missing friends, secrets and extortionate credit card charges are all part of the fun. Or is it chaos?

An intriguing mystery involving a group of friends in Vegas for a bachelorette party. The story goes back and forth between the night before and the morning after the girls wake up and can’t remember what happened.

There was a lot of repetition in the writing. I remember reading “expensive smelling perfume” quite a lot.

Also, the ending did not seem realistic to a Vegas experience in my opinion and felt off.

Waking Up In Vegas is a book about mystery and friendship. I picked it up because I’m about to head on a trip to Vegas myself, and I loved the references to notable places in the city. I really enjoyed the alternating chapters, as you move between the past and present to find more clues and move towards finding out what happened the night before.

Although I found the characters likeable and loved the friendship between the women, I wish they had been developed more at the beginning. Some of the dialogue feels a bit superficial and gets quite repetitive, as they keep telling each other how amazing they look and Rachel keeps telling Jess how she wants to make it the best night ever.

I didn’t see the ending coming and it was a very different approach for this kind of book - I’m really not sure how I feel about the answers we got.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book but, for a psychological thriller, it just didn’t have me gripped.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Five woman go to Vegas for a bachelorette weekend but wake up in the morning misding one of their friends and not remembering a thing from the night before. The story starts very gripping and is told alternately from the night before and the morning after. I kept on reading and guessing what could have happened but the solution in the end was kind of disappointing. Also the writing was a bit repetitive: in the first part whenever Olivia is mentioned there is the explanation that she "is the newest member of their friend group" and we read about the fact that Lisa is recently divorved again and again. All in all a book that in my opinion started out really gripping and kind of fizzled out in the end.

This was my first book by J.E. Rowney and I absolutely loved it. I always like a good book that goes back and forth in the timeline, so if that's not for you, you might get frustrated. I also love a book that makes me guess and gasp, and I found myself doing both! Check this out if you want a fast-paced read! I can't wait to dive into more by this author!

Waking Up in Vegas - 2.5 stars

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. I found the pacing slow, which made it hard to stay engaged. Despite my efforts to enjoy it, I ultimately felt disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A group of 5 girls on a bachelorette weekend in Vegas. Organised by maid of honour Rachel for best friend Jess, Rachel promises Jess an unforgetable Vegas experience. Except Jess wakes up in the morning in a bath of ice and casino chips, three of her friends are scattered around the luxurious suite which is a mess, and one friend is missing. No-one has any memories of the night before. The women have to work to retrace their steps to attempt to work out just what happened the night before and find their missing friend.

This was a fast-paced thriller and I enjoyed the alternating timelines of 'last night' and 'this morning'. The author has clearly experienced Vegas as her descriptions of the setting were great and really added to the atmosphere of the story.

I did enjoy the ending although I was left with some questions!

Overall, a fast read that will leave you turning the pages quickly to find out just what happened, with an ending that - for me - was unexpected!

Thanks to the author for an ARC of this book.

A story of friendship, resilience and forgotten memories. An absolute adventure.

Imagine waking up in Vegas the night after your Bachelorette party with zero memory of the night before. 1 friend is missing and the rest of you are in precarious situations.

This story is a wild ride and once it gets started it is hard to put down.

Highly recommend!

Hate to say it but this book was not for me at all.
The constant switch between 'last night' and 'this morning' was annoying and it hindered me from gaining any rhythm or momentum reading. Had the book been split into three parts, for example, part one - this morning, part two - last night and part three - this morning. It would of made the flow of the story much easier for me to follow and get feeling invested in. But that might just be me.
I also noted in the beginning of the story, the repetition of character details, divorced, overworked, planner, felt overdone. Now having completed the story, I understand why, but it's still stuck with me.
While the characters seemed somewhat transformed and ok about the experience, I unfortunately can't share the same sentiment.

I received a free copy of, Waking Up In Vegas, by J.E. Rowney, , from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jess is getting married, she and her friends have her bachlorette party in Vegas. What could possible go wrong? This book goes back and forth, between last night and this morning, it was an ok read.

The first few chapters are very captivating! Why did she wake up in a weird ice bath? Why is an employee in her bed?

It's very much The Hangover vibes.

The back and forth between the morning of the and the night prior creates a fun mystery. Reading the characters try to find their friend and figure out what happened through the dialogue and bond through this was enjoyable. The tension between the friends was also fun.

I didn't find myself captivated and motivated to inhale the book, but it's an easy read and I think it will do well! It's a fun Vegas thriller! I think this would make the perfect book gift for a thriller lover who enjoys cozy mysteries, fun dialogue, and a quicker read. It took me having curiosities about the book after putting it down to finish it, and I'm glad I did. Thank you for allowing me to read this!!

Thank you NetGalley! This was great. I did not see which way it would go with the build up. I loved the flash backs mixed with present day. You’ll enjoy this female Hangover

Looking for a quick and captivating mystery? Then read this book!! Waking up in a bath of ice or handcuffed to a stranger while your best friend is missing this is how the author grabs you from the first pages!!! What happened to Rachel? Jess and her friends have to piece together what the heck happened on their night out .This is a very fast moving page turner. Loved this book and definitely couldn't put it down !!

This story starts with five friends arriving in Las Vegas for what should be an epic bachelorette party. We meet Jess, our bride-to-be, her maid-of-honor, Rachel, and her other friends, Megan, Olivia, and Lisa. As an amazing maid-of-honor, Rachel has booked incredible suites for the women at The Bellagio and has planned a night to remember, with VIP passes and luxury at every turn.

Except in the morning, no one remembers anything and Rachel is missing.

This story is told in alternating timelines: one from the night before, when the bachelorette party is off and running, and the next day when the women are on a frantic mission to find out what happened to Rachel.

If you love Las Vegas, you should enjoy this book. It's clear to me that the author has a deep appreciation for the city and its history. We see the luxury of The Bellagio, from the rooms to the views, to the artwork. Then we see limo rides throughout the strip, the exclusive clubs and events, and high-roller accommodations. This story reminded me how much I used to love going to Vegas, and it instantly brought back a lot of the feelings of excitement I felt when traveling there.

This story did drag a bit in the middle for me. I think this was because parts felt a bit predictable and so I was ready to move past those points. Another thing that I wished had been different was establishing the bond the women had with each other. In the first 30% or so of the story, there is a lot of the women sort of, fawning over each other. How beautiful and successful and the dresses shimmering and glittering in the lights and then Jess (the bride) constantly thanking Rachel for setting everything up. It felt repetitive. I think the author was trying to show us the true affection and friendship the women shared, but I wish this had been conveyed differently.

The end was...different. It was somewhat unbelievable based on how the story was told. If there had been more character development, it wouldn't have been as unrealistic.

There were definitely some logistical aspects in this book that didn't totally jive to me, but it was nothing that felt distracting or ruined the quality of the story.

If you enjoy stories with wild nights in Vegas, a girls' night to remember, and some mystery and luxury mixed in, this is the story for you!

“Waking Up In Vegas” is a psychological thriller that revolves around five best friends embarking on an unforgettable bachelorette weekend in Las Vegas. The story centers on Jess, who has always been the responsible planner among her friends. However, during this particular trip, she decides to let loose and enjoy the wild side of Vegas with her four closest companions.

The excitement of VIP passes, exclusive clubs, and carefree fun quickly turns into a nightmare when Jess wakes up in a bathtub full of ice with no recollection of the previous night. Alarmingly, her maid of honor and best friend Rachel is missing, while the other girls are found scattered throughout their luxurious suite in various states of disarray.

In this high-stakes environment of Las Vegas, Jess and her friends are forced to confront their deepest insecurities and question their trust in one another. Each revelation leads them to reevaluate not only their wild weekend but also their lives as a whole.

“Waking Up In Vegas” is an addictive reading experience that resonates with anyone who has ever tested the bonds of friendship. It explores themes such as choices, secrets, and the strength found in relationships when faced with adversity. This thrilling tale is perfect for fans who enjoy movies reminiscent of “The Hangover” combined with elements from “Gone Girl.”

Omg my God this book was absolutely fantastic heart stopping from beginning to end.
What those ladys went through I was on the edge of my seat all the way through.
Will defo be telling friends and family about this book it's a must read it will not let you down.