Thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for an early copy of The Wedding Party. I am still hysterically crying. This was a FANTASTIC READ!!! The cover is SPECTACULAR!!! The plot was phenomenal!!! Melanie’s story was heartbreaking!!! I cannot say enough about this book. Know that you won’t do anything else but READ once you start. The characters were great and the ending was perfect. Thank you again Rebecca Heath.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of The Wedding Party!

I enjoyed the different points of view on this story. It's told by Adele the bride, Melanie the mother of Adele's ex-boyfriend Ollie, and Sofie the sister of Ollie. Each one has their own feelings about how the wedding weekend will pan out, but little did they know, another family member had her own plans.

Adele and Ollie were boyfriend and girlfriend up until right before Ollie's accident. Many secrets come out about the accident later in the book. So now Adele is getting ready to marry Jason (one of Ollie's 'good friends'). The few days leading up to the wedding are a cluster of lies, a fire, old memories, and a dark secret from the past.

As told from the grieving mother's point of view, Jason had something to do with her son's death. She is hoping Adele has a change of heart, while Adele's own mother couldn't be more thrilled as Jason has helped them financially.

Adele and Jason do end up getting married, but not the way she planned. Jason had other plans. His plans backfired once they were married, resulting in an 'accident' from someone who knew everything that was going on.

The one who knew about everything going on has dropped her own subtle hints until the huge twist at the end. The twist brought the book together, but left you with a few more questions that never got answered.
Overall it was a good book!

The colourful cover of “The wedding party” is definitely what originally attracted me to this book! And then to find out it is a thriller located in Australia, sign me up! The last few Australian located thrillers I’ve read have been the excellent balance of summer vacation and mystery thriller combination so I was excited to dig in.

The plot follows a couple who return to childhood stomping grounds for their upcoming wedding. For some this is their vacation spot for others it is their full time home but one thing is clear, these families are connected deeply and have known each other for a very long time.

The chapters alternate between characters and it is quick to see that some characters are harbouring grudges, others seem to have a guilty conscience and for some they definitely have an agenda of the sabotage / revenge variety.

I’d say the bride to be was the most interesting character as it wasn’t sure what her intentions truly were or where her loyalties actually lied. We got some flashback scenes to the groups childhood through the POV of the sister that gave more context to the true nature of some of the characters.

This was a very mid thriller for me, there was lots of drama throughout and a very quirky twist to the ending but I struggled with not feeling connected to any of the characters, no one seemed particularly likeable or redeemable so I wasn’t very invested in the outcome.

Thank you to Aria & Aries publishing and Rebecca Heath for the EARC!

Publish date: January 23rd 2025

This thriller has an fun and entertaining setup, but ultimately, it didn’t resonate with me. The story, centered around a seemingly perfect wedding weekend unraveling with secrets and drama, felt overly predictable. The characters came across as clichés for me, making it hard to feel invested in their stories. Overall, it was an okay read, the setting and atmosphere had potential but I didn’t feel the tension and suspense I usually look for in thrillers.

Thank you Rebecca Heath, Aria & Aries | Head of Zeus & NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.

I am absolutely swooning! This book is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and all the chaos that comes with wedding planning.

From the moment I dove in, I was captivated by the vibrant characters and their hilarious antics. Heath has a knack for creating relatable situations that had me laughing out loud while also tugging at my heartstrings. The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and their journey to love is both sweet and entertaining.

What I loved most was how the story beautifully captures the ups and downs of relationships, not just romantic ones but also friendships and family dynamics. It’s a perfect reminder of the importance of love and support during life’s big moments.

This book is a fantastic read and a real page-turner. I didn't want to put it down. I read it within a week as I just had to find out what happened to all of the characters.

Our cast of characters meets at a place they all used to visit regularly for Adele and Jason's wedding. When they were kids, Adele was dating a young man named Ollie, and when he died tragically young by falling off the nearby jetty, everyone was devastated at the loss, especially his mother and sister. A few years later, Adele and Jason reconnect and are now bringing everyone together again to celebrate their upcoming wedding. But this wedding is bringing back a lot of feelings and memories that many had tried to squash and forget.

Nothing is as it seems with the wedding party. There is love, loss, betrayal, suspicion, doubt, unrequited love and old memories that will never be forgotten.

This book is a whirlwind. It starts off slowly, allowing us to get to know the characters in the days before the wedding. Does Adele really want to marry Jason? Is Jason really the man he portrays himself to be? Is someone trying to stop the wedding from happening? And what really happened to Ollie all those years ago?

I can't recommend this book enough. It is one of the best page-turners I have read this year, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

The Wedding Party had a cover that drew me in! This story has chapters alternating from three PoVs and two timelines- all of which are easy to follow.
Adele and Jason reunite with their friends and family on the Australian coast for their wedding. Some of those people are still holding onto grudges and secrets about a tragic death that happened 12 years prior.
The twists and turns kept me going until the very end even though the pace was a little all over the place. I found some parts dragging on and others being rushed. The ending exposed more secrets and revelations but I wound up with more questions.
Great for readers who want a thrilling summer read, a slow burn, or family dramas.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Wedding Party by Rebecca Heath is a suspenseful and atmospheric thriller set against the sunny yet sinister backdrop of an Australian seaside town. It masterfully blends past and present through alternating perspectives to unravel secrets, lies, and buried traumas surrounding Adele and Jason's wedding.

Adele and Jason, childhood friends, return to their former summer stomping grounds to tie the knot. But this is no ordinary celebration. Adele’s first love, Ollie, tragically died here years ago, and his memory still haunts many of the wedding guests. Among them is Melanie, Ollie’s grieving and unstable mother, whose point of view adds a layer of tension and ambiguity. Sophie, Ollie’s enigmatic sister, takes us back in time, revealing pieces of the tragic past that continue to ripple through the present.

The narrative alternates between Adele, Melanie, and Sophie, with each perspective adding depth to the story. Melanie’s grief and bitterness make her an unreliable yet compelling narrator, while Sophie’s chapters provide crucial flashbacks to the days leading up to Ollie’s death. Adele, grappling with guilt and unresolved emotions, is an intriguing and multi-faceted protagonist. As the wedding approaches, the tension mounts with anonymous threats, mysterious sabotage, and unexpected revelations.

Heath excels at creating complex relationships and weaving suspense into every interaction. The setting—both idyllic and oppressive—perfectly mirrors the story’s duality of light and darkness. While some characters could have used more development, and the pacing occasionally lagged, the twists and turns kept me hooked until the very end. The resolution delivers a mix of shock and satisfaction, leaving lingering questions about love, loyalty, and the consequences of buried truths.

If you enjoy thrillers with rich character dynamics, dual timelines, and an undercurrent of mystery, The Wedding Party is a compelling choice. Perfect for fans of family dramas and slow-burn suspense.

Thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC

This book was not for me at all. It really lacked any sort of mystery or suspense. This book had so much potential based on the plot, but it fell short. The story was really messy and the ending was all over the place. The characters were unlikeable - I didn;t care what happened to any of them.

The pacing was uneven, really dragging on. The climax was very disappointing. And it seemed we didn't get a lot of answers. Disappointing.

Thank you Aria & Aries | Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked Rebecca Heath’s “The Summer Party” and I loved “The Dinner Party.” The author is skilled at creating a gathering and threading a mystery or two (past and present) throughout the storyline.

In this case, what bride invites the estranged sister of her long dead boyfriend to be a bridesmaid as well as his bitter, accusing mother? Or plans her wedding at the vacation spot where the former boyfriend died? Of course, this wedding party is going to have fireworks.

The plot moves between the wedding and the days before Ollie’s death 12 years ago. When bride Adele was Ollie’s girl, groom Jason was just part of their friend circle, and Melanie, Ollie’s mom, could (and still) only imagine Adele as Ollie’s soulmate.

The POVs alternate between Adele and Melanie in the present, and Sophie, Ollie’s sister, in the past. It appears someone is trying to sabotage the wedding (sending anonymous messages, canceling the caterers, sabotaging a venue), but whoever is doing that out-of-sight can’t match the surliness and drunkenness of most of the immediate family members. Adele initially seems like the only sympathetic character, but that, too, might be an illusion.

Anyway, author Heath’s books always seem like gossipy fun. I’ve been to a couple of weddings where I’ve never seen the couple again but didn’t realize it at the time — Adele’s and Jason’s wedding is heading that way in this book. Until the end, you wonder if “The Wedding Party” will even include a wedding. I thoroughly enjoyed this party. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Just some blue ones.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO There is no difference between regular peonies and wedding peonies.

Thank you to Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

super thrilling! did not see the plot twist coming at all. was a little slow and boring at times, something with the pacing was a little off. overall still a solid read that i would rec!

Twelve years ago Ollie Rhodes did after doing a dive off of the jetty on Refuge Bay. At the time Adele thought that she would spend the rest of her life with Ollie. Everyone knew everyone in this tight community so when Jason and Adele decide to marry they invite everyone to the wedding. This would include Melanie and Sophie Rhodes who is Ollie's mother and sister. Everyone at this wedding has their own secrets and why they don't want Jason and Adele to marry. Adele keeps finding threating messages, Jason keeps getting threating text messages, their venue cathces on fire, what else can go wrong? The Wedding Party will keep you on your toes from the first chapter. No one in this book what they seem to be. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book Publishing for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

Compelling..
A wedding destined to be deadly in this simmering novel of suspense as three families inexorably bound by tragedy gather and where secrets and lies will inevitably out. Relayed effectively across a dual timeline with a propulsive plot populated by a well drawn cast and atmospheric backdrops, a cinematic tale unfurls. Compelling and tension fuelled.

Adele and Jason are childhood friends, due to get married. All their friends and families are together for the wedding week, some aren't happy about the marriage. And some people, including the bride and groom, have secrets they need to keep hidden.

The story is told in two parts. The first is the week leading up to the wedding, told from two POVs. The second part takes us back 12 years to when a young man tragically lost his life.
The start had me hooked straight away, and while it did get a little slow at points, it kept me reading, desperate to find out just what happened to Ollie all those years ago. I'll admit, I figured some bits out, but I hadn't been at all prepared for that ending. It took me completely by surprise and its what bumped up my rating.
I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, author, and publishers for this ARC. Wedding themed thrillers are one of my favorite summer sub-genres to read and this was a nice last warm day kind of read to me as it's starting to get colder here. It has multiple POV's, and with past and present. Lots of domestic-ish wedding drama. I liked this one enough, I wished there was more with the ending and I don't want to post any spoilers as the book isn't out yet. This was my first book by this author and plan to check out more from them. I love the cover of this as well.

The book was enjoyable in places but I feel that some parts didn't read true to the storyline. The ending felt wrong and the scene felt like it was built to be bigger than it was

The Wedding Party was a captivating, frustrating read. Captivating since the slow burn was building to a crescendo through the alternating POV and approaching wedding date. Frustrating since the ending was so odd - rushed, disconnected, unbelievable. Great in parts - bewildering in others.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was my first book by Rebecca Heath, and I really enjoyed it! I liked how the story began with an upcoming wedding, then used flashbacks to gradually reveal what had happened in the past. The suspense built as the reader pieces things together. I didn’t predict the ending; it wasn’t a dramatic twist and I wasn’t initially fully satisfied. However, after reflecting on the story for a while, I realized it was actually brilliantly done. The beginning had some slower moments, but they were important for setting the stage. I’ll definitely be reading more from Heath—I think I’ve found a new author to follow!

So good! After a terrible tragedy Adele decides to marry her outwardly nice but not really nice fiance, in the same place her boyfriend drowned years before. There are dark secrets buried by the families that about to bubble to the surface and potentially ruin the wedding. Really good!

I struggled to follow this book at some points as some of it didn’t seem to make sense, however I stuck with it and enjoyed it overall. It’s my first book by this author and I’d definitely consider reading further books in future.