Happy Release Day!
Congratulations Jen
on the release today of
The Good Bride!
The Good Bride by Jen Marie Wiggins
Mystery Thriller, 288 pages
Published December 10, 2024 by Crooked Lane Books
The Wedding of the Year turns disastrous in this twisty family drama full of lies and betrayals, perfect for fans of Laura Dave, Lucy Foley, and Ruth Ware.
One year after a devastating hurricane, bride-to-be Ruth Bancroft is marrying her perfect groom in a quaint fishing village on the Gulf Coast. The weekend is carefully curated, with the displays of pomp and social media magic meant to promote an area still struggling to rebuild as well as bring Ruth’s estranged family back together.
Yet as good intentions often go, this road to wed is hell and paved in complications. With tensions rising between the family and the bridal party, long-buried secrets come to light, and accusations start flying. Things officially spiral out of control when the oceanfront rehearsal dinner is rocked by a series of gunshots, and a high-profile guest goes missing. As the investigation gets underway, it turns out that everyone has something to hide.
Big Little Lies meets The Guest List in this gripping page turner that asks the big questions about messy family liaisons, modern media, and the lies we tell the world.
My thoughts about The Good Bride ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"The world goes red when he appears. A lone silhouette at the foot of the mangled pier. Around him, the bay of Blue Compass churns."
The Good Bride had great potential to be an exciting thriller—a great cast of characters, a beautiful upcoming wedding at a fabulous location, family dynamics like you wouldn't believe, and twists that came at me when I wasn't expecting them. But I found myself not really connecting with any of the characters, they all seemed superficial and unreal to me. Maybe it was just me not being in the right frame of mind for this story at this time. That happens sometimes. I also found the storyline disjointed and confusing, jumping around a lot, maybe needing a little more depth to the scenes to get me fully invested in the story.
This is the first thriller written by this author and I am looking forward to reading future books by her. I am confident that her next book will be great and I'm willing to give it a chance for a good read.
I received an ARC of The Good Bride and this is my honest opinion of the book.
About the author
Jen Marie Wiggins's first book, the gifty nonfiction title Married AF: A Funny Guide for the Newlywed or Bride, was published with Sourcebooks in 2022. She has a background in advertising and public relations, and her writing has appeared in Southern Coastal Weddings, Savannah Magazine, Savannah Homes, and elsewhere. The Good Bridedraws much of its inspiration from the devastation and rebuilding struggles of Mexico Beach, Florida, a place near and dear to Jen's heart.
Connect with Jen
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