It's hard to follow a story when the main characters are not so likable. And when their behavior towards one another makes them even less sympathetic. Friends from childhood, but not really, they get back together to celebrate a wedding.
What should have been joyful and inclusive, the planning and run up become fraught with simmering hostility and violence.
This didn't capture me, a little too uncomfortable for me.

I really tried getting into this one. Picking it up a few times. But just not interesting enough to keep my attention.
Mediocre story and characters to me.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Unfortunately, this was one of those books that I kept trying to read, but just couldn't get into. None of the characters were particularly compelling to me, and the chapters jumping around time distracted me.

Toxic female friendship. It's been happening since the beginning of time and it's likely to last beyond time. Power struggles are the largest part of it. As perfect as some friendship may seem, there are cracks.

The Bridesmaid isn't any different. It's about two women, best friend since childhood. It's about a bride and her bridesmaid. It's about one woman who wants what she feels she deserves.

It's a quick, tension filled beach read. It's sure to be a hit.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

I’ve tried picking The Bridesmaid up a few times but I just can’t stick with it. The writing style isn’t for me. Since I didn’t finish this book I’m giving it three stars for fairness.

This was a great story, woven between childhood and adulthood, giving sharp, real portrayals of both. The relationships kept me guessing till the end. I found myself really pulling for Sasha! The revenge twist was very entertaining.

This was a really intriguing story, toxic friendships and how bad they can really get. It did hold my interest but I felt as the story went on the pace slowed and I was less intrigued. Still held my interest and I felt it was enjoyable.

I was looking forward to The Bridesmaid but unfortunately it just did not work for my taste. I found it very slow to start with and I disliked the characters. I need a book that grips me quite early on and this didn't but I am sure many people will love it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

This was quite a slow read for me which I usually don't like so it took me quite some time to get into the whole story. I didnt end up enjoying it as much as I'd originally anticipated.

The storyline was unpredictable and kept me reading to the end to see how it resolved, but I did not find this to be an enjoyable read. The main character was unlikeable, as were many of the others. At times the style seemed to be YA rather than adult. Though the ending was somewhat of a surprise it all seemed to lack believability. This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and though it wasn’t the right one for me, since other readers have positive feedback for her I will consider reading one of her other books.

Sasha - Daughter of the housekeepers of Saxby House
Caitlin - Daughter of the owners of Saxby House
Two young girls from very different worlds form an unlikely friendship that spans over two decades.. Sasha craves approval from Caitlin who is spoilt, spiteful and cruel and only offers her friendship when it suits. Told in alternating chapters between the past and present, the reader learns about the toxic friendship through the years as a build up to the day when one woman becomes a bride, the other a bridesmaid and a long buried secret is revealed..............
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it, but am slightly confused by the genre it comes under. It is a mystery, for sure, but it lacks the heart racing, nail biting conclusions of ‘proper psychological thrillers’.
A mash up of mystery/chick lit. Don’t expect any scary bits, but still a FAB read!

Huge amount of thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for an e arc of this book in exchange my honest review and opinion.

Sasha and Caitlin are unlikely friends. Caitlin’s family is well off and owns the estate that Sasha’s parents work on. Their friendship is uneasy, but lasts until adulthood. Sasha is Caitlin’s bridesmaid in her upcoming wedding and Sasha is determined to make it perfect for Caitlin and to finally prove that she is just as good as Caitlin.
I really enjoyed this book! I love multiple timelines, a grand house, and secrets and this delivered and then some. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a thriller. I feel like it’s more of a mystery that focuses on women and their relationships. I’ve never read anything of Nina Manning’s before, but I will be reading more in the future. This will be released on May 27, so do yourself a favor and check it out

Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
3 Stars!
This book was fraught with suspense and will keep you reading. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Story was more of a mystery with best friend drama.

Ridiculous is how I would describe this book and its protagonist, Sasha. Despite contemplating a DNF at 30%, I powered through the entire story hoping I'd be able to revise my opinion.

Why a 33-year old woman would hang on to the approval of a toxic friendship, I don't understand. And instead of walking away from the so-called friendship like a normal person, she decides to avenge herself, at Caitlyn's wedding of all days...??!!! Talk about stealing her thunder....!!! Caitlyn is shown to be the bad guy in this story, but it was Sasha that I really hated.

None of the characters in the story were likeable. After all that suspense build-up, the big secret wasn't even all that earth shattering; though the actual villain of the story, revealed in the last chapter, was kind of unexpected. But I must say that the author has a particularly compelling writing style, for that alone forced me to finish reading the book.

Overall, not that great.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First off let me say I enjoyed this book by Nina Manning. I've never read her before but now I'll put her on my list! I did not think this was especially a thriller/mystery, more of a complicated relationship between 2 women.. I liked the development of the characters. I enjoyed Sasha and her family, I understood Caitlin and her family, and I think most women will understand the dysfunctional codependent dynamic between the two friends. The ending was surely a surprise!

A dark book that centres around friendship and boundaries. The book is told from the girl's childhoods and now.

Sasha and Caitlin have been best friends from an early age. Caitlin comes from money and Sasha's family are staff at Caitlins home. Sasha is taken under Caitlin's wing and over the years things just start to feel off.

It took me a little while to get into but this book got me out of a reading slump. The pages unfolded so many secrets and I couldn't stop turning the pages. This book is full of twists that I really didnt see coming but fit so well within the story.

I love Nina's style of writing and there isnt a book I've not enjoyed.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was my first time reading anything by Nina Manning and the cover and description drew me in. I love this book. I typically read psychological thrillers and this book had that and then a little chick lit thrown in. I loved it from the first page to the last and found it to be so good. Do yourself a favor and read this as you won't be disappointed.

I found this a little slow paced but it did start to to get better mid way through. I wasn't too keen on any of the characters and found myself a little detached from the story. There was definately potential in the story.

3.25 stars. This was my first time reading a Nina Manning book and I think it was a good starting place!

Sasha moves to the grand estate of Saxby Hall with her parents where they have recently been employed. Not long after moving in Sasha meets Caitlin, the privileged, wealthy, and mercurial daughter of the Clemonte family. The pair become fast friends and Sasha finds herself doing anything to maintain her friendship with Caitlin and to keep her happy. Fast forward about twenty years and Sasha, still the supportive friend, is meticulously planning Caitlin’s wedding to their childhood friend Chuck. As the wedding approaches, things start veering off course.

The story is told from Sasha’s perspective during two timelines: when the girls are teens; and later, in their thirties. The chapters are short, which makes it easy to keep flipping the pages.

This was a solid thriller, a bit slow at times, but one that I was still compelled to stay up late reading. I don’t know how I feel about the ending. I guess I was hoping for something more explosive to the tension that had been building. It did resolve things nicely, so there’s that. And it certainly changed my perception of some of the characters!

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this ARC.

Definitely Toxic in the friendship department. Very good plot with lots of secrets and trying to figure each one out kept me riveted. I liked the main character, she tried to be the Perfect friend. The ending where ALL the secrets were revealed was WOW!! Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy of The Bridesmaid.