She Started It
Books | Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
3.9
(77)
Sian Gilbert
A hot, twisty summer debut thriller about a Caribbean bachelorette party that takes a sinister turn. It’s Lord of the Flies meets And Then There Were None...but with Instagram and too much prosecco.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.
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More Details:
Author
Sian Gilbert
Pages
352
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published Date
2023-06-13
ISBN
0063286327 9780063286320
Ratings
Google: 4
Community ReviewsSee all
"2.25⭐️"
Sher Free✌️
"3.5⭐️ I guessed the twist due to a small clue midway and liked it. Would have done 4⭐️ but the characters were just so unlikable and not relatable at all. You know the ones. Still a good read. "
Rhon
"
Annabelle, Chloe, Ester, and Tanya have been friends since secondary school. They all receive invitations to a hen party from a girl they used to bully. Why not go? The hen party is on an island in the Bahamas, they have first class airfare, and everything has been paid for.
Over the course of 4 days on a private island, the girls learn that maybe Poppy, the bride, hasn't forgotten what they did. They also learn that their friendships are riddled with secrets. Then someone is dead.
Most of the book is told in the present with Annabelle, Chloe, Ester, and Tanya alternating first person narratives. Occasionally, Poppy tells what happened 10 years ago with her diary entries. Each time you read more about how these girls tormented Poppy in the past, you feel more for her. The other characters are truly oblivious to the hurt they caused her.
The prologue is brilliant. You think you know the outcome of the book going into chapter one. But what seems obvious in the prologue becomes very muddied as the story goes on.
She Started It definitely has twists and turns. I had the biggest one figured out early in the book, though.
The ending is ridiculous. So many unanswered questions!
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read about bullies getting their comeuppance years later and for anyone who enjoys watching female friends turn on each other.
Content warnings- bullying, drinking, drugs, self harm, murder, blood, suicide.
"
Brandi Always Reading
"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"
Angelica Ashley
"The premise was great. The twist was good. My issue lies with the characters. Don't get me wrong- I had no problem with them all being unlikable. I just think they didn't seem real. They each relied on like one trope, ei the leader, the influencer, the ex best friend. Aside from their one "thing" they were so flat. Which maybe was the intention? Make the mean girls all feel like they are husks of people? Idk. It wasn't bad but I feel like it could have been better. "
Alexia Hollis
"This was my June BOTM pick and I was looking forward to reading this debut novel. I don’t mind novels with irredeemable characters but every single character in this book is completely unlikeable, even the “good guy” who we are clearly meant to be rooting for. Most of the twists that were meant to be shocking are pretty easy to sus out from the very first pages, but it takes a long time to build which leaves the ending feeling rushed. The writing itself was quite dull which may be the only thing it actually has in common with Lord of the Flies. I had higher hopes for this novel and I wanted to love it. All this being said, I did finish it over 24 hours. It’s a pretty quick and simple read. If you like revenge tropes and simple plot twists this might be the novel for you."
Lianna
"I really enjoyed this book and did not see the big twist coming at the end. The characters got a little confused and intertwined for me but other than that a great book. "
S
Sabrina
"Island thriller about catty girls "
Melanie Schmitz
"AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! I finished this book in like 3 days and even when I wasn’t reading all I could think about was going back to it!!
If you love mean girls/thriller/horror/and amazing ending twists then this is your PERFECT DREAM book!!
It honestly exceeded all of my expectations. I just loved all of the secrets and how everything was played out throughout the book so there was always something that kept you guessing and wanting to go back for more!! "
Logan Piercey
"It's a decent mystery, but it's so predictable, and I feel like too many clues were given early on as to what was coming. It's not bad, but it's also not a standout thriller for me; it's just fine. <br/><br/><br/><br/>CW - suicide, self-harm, suicidal ideation"
Emily
