She Started It by Sian Gilbert

Genre: Thriller

Format: Print, Hardcover

Pages: 340

Start Date: June 5th, 2023

End Date: June 7th, 2023

My Ratings

Overall: ★★★★

Character Development: ★★★★

Ending: ★★★

Suspense Level: 🔪🔪🔪

Pace: Quick

Recommend: Yes

Triggers: Mental Health, Suicide

Summary - Goodreads

The party of a lifetime is nothing like what they expected...

Annabel, Esther, Tanya, and Chloe are best friends—or were, as children. Despite drifting apart in adulthood, shared secrets have kept them bonded for better or worse, even as their childhood dreams haven’t quite turned out as they’d hoped. Then one day they receive a wholly unexpected—but not entirely unwelcome—invitation from another old friend. Poppy Greer has invited them all to her extravagant bachelorette party: a first-class plane ticket to three days of white sand, cocktails, and relaxation on a luxe private island in the Bahamas.

None of them has spoken to Poppy in years. But Poppy’s Instagram pics shows that the girl they used to consider the weakest link in their group has definitely made good—and made money. Curiosity gets the better of them. Besides, who can turn down a posh all-expenses-paid vacation on a Caribbean island?

The first-class flight and the island’s accommodations are just as opulent as expected...even if the scenic island proves more remote than they’d anticipated. Quite remote, in fact, with no cell service, and no other guests. The women quickly discover they’ve underestimated Poppy, and each other. As their darkest secrets are revealed, the tropical adventure morphs into a terrifying nightmare.

Endlessly twisty, sharply observant, and deliciously catty, She Started It is sure to shock readers until the very end.

My Thoughts - Contains Spoilers, Continue at Your Own Risk

This is the book I needed to get out of my rut! It was your standard thriller, but I can't hate on that - they are my FAVORITE. The book had an air of predictibity, but there was a huge plot twist I wouldn't have expected. I had an "ah-ha" moment once it was revealed that I think the book did a good job highlighting school bullies & their effect on their victims even into adulthood.

I thought the book was cleverly written & I really enjoyed Poppy's character. I liked the way the author started in the present & letting us in gradually via her diary, similarly to the way her sister Wendy must have learned about everything that Anabell, Chloe, Tanya, & Esther did to her over the years.

Was this a basic thriller? Um yeah. Was it super believable? I mean, I'm sure there are greedy enough people out there willing to accept a freebie vacation from someone they tormented in school - so, kinda? Sometimes the worst thrillers are the best, not saying that this is the worst book I've read. It's probably far from the worst but I think you get where I'm going with that. Sometimes we just need a quick, simple, & fun read for a little escape & I think this book does a good job of that!

I'm Curious

1. This book talks a lot about bullying, were you ever a bully in school? Were you ever bullied?
2. Would you accept an invitation to a luxurious vacation by someone you wronged? Even if you think enough time has passed & they are over it?
3. Do you hold grudges?
4. We're you surprised to find out that it was Poppy's sister in the end?

Next Book: The Maid by Nita Prose