The Unwedding by Ally Condie

e-Audio, 10:58:00
Narrated by: Christine Lakin 
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Published by: Hachette Audio
Read from: June 14-15, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: Libro FM (I received a copy of this e-audio from the publisher’s audio app in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Car Accident, Death, Gun Violence, Murder
For Readers Interested In: Amateur Detective, Locked Room Murder Mysteries, Celebrity Book Clubs, Adult

      The White Lotus meets Agatha Christie in this bold novel from a #1 New York Times bestselling author: a recent divorcee’s exclusive Big Sur resort vacation unravels when she discovers a dead body on the day of a wedding.
     Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world.
     She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one of the most stunning places on earth?
      But now, she’s traveling solo.
      To add insult to injury, there’s a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a loved and certain future glimmering just ahead. Now, she isn’t certain of anything except for her love for her kids and her growing realization that this place, though beautiful, is unsettling.
     When Ellery discovers the body of the groom floating in the pool in the rain, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed. Before the police can reach Broken Point, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving the guests trapped. When another guest dies, it’s clear something horrible is brewing.
     Everyone at Broken Point has a secret. And everyone has a shadow. Including Ellery.

*MY THOUGHTS*

This started out SO. GOOD. But it just went downhill from there. The literal only times I tuned back in were when someone was shot, dying, or missing. I didn’t actually care about any of this. And it’s so strange, because I usually love locked room mysteries.

Sad to say it, but I liked the inserts and the little asides more than the actual story. It was the only time when we got information on the actual case. I just did not care about literally anything else to do with this story. And it’s strange, because I usually like amateaur style detectives. But this one was a bit too much of an amateaur. She wasn’t really looking into anything, she just turned out to be in the right spot at the right time and she overheard a lot. (Basically a glorified nosey woman lol) The whole thing was very cringe and I was very disappointed.

The characters were the main focus in this mystery when it should have been the plot if that makes sense. The “friends” she met were so snobbish and ridiculous and I rolled my eyes every time they came back to talk. And then for everyone else it was like the author decided to do everyone’s back story instead of actually making it interesting or thriller-y if that makes sense lol I was so bored.

For this to be sold to me as a “thriller,” it was not………… for lack of a better word, thrilling. It was definitely a mystery, but this didn’t have my heart racing or even my interest very much at all. In fact l found myself falling asleep listening and I was listening while I had a migraine to ensure I finished it faster. It really was a little like work to finish this off.

The only reason I still finished it was because I wanted to know whodunit and if I had guessed right. Andddddd I actually didn’t. But Idk if that was because I wasn’t paying great attention because I was bored, or if she actually got me. I think it was the later because I had forgotten all about that character. And I know she probably did that on purpose too. It was weird and I just didn’t care for it at all.

This was a train wreck. And it was weird because I usually like Ally Condie’s work. Maybe I’m still too attached to her YA work, but this just didn’t hit the same for me. I gave it a shot but I don’t feel I was right for this one.

Overall, I give this