Review: You Are Fatally Invited | A Visit to Novel Books and Cafe
“Sometimes the art of fiction isn't in how intellectual it is, but how well it makes you actually forget the world around you. Sometimes, binge reading to escape reality can save a person's life.”
Publisher’s Description: “When renowned anonymous author J. R. Alastor hires former aspiring writer Mila del Angél to host a writing retreat at his private manor off the coast of Maine, she jumps at the chance—particularly since she has an ax to grind with one of the invitees. The guest list? Six thriller authors, all masters of deceit, misdirection, and mayhem.
Alastor and Mila have masterminded a week of games, trope-fueled riddles, and maybe a jump scare or two—the perfect cover for Mila to plot a murder of her own. But when a guest turns up dead—and it’s not the murder she planned—Mila finds herself trapped in a different narrative altogether.
With a storm cutting off the island, and the body count rising, Mila must outwit a killer who knows literally every trick in the book.”
I’ll be honest (as I always am) and admit that I had mixed feelings on this one. I loved the idea of this book and the beginning setup. It felt like a fun murder mystery game (but one that’s actually fun, not one you committed to before you realized how involved it was and now are regretting as you talk to someone with a fake accent who did as little preparation into their character’s backstory as you did).
Then as I dove in, I just felt…confused. Much like the always uncomfortable murder mystery party mentioned above, there were a lot of characters, a lot of backstories to keep straight, a lot of switching points of view with minimal information being given, and a lot of unnecessary characters having a moment in the spotlight only to die one chapter later. The ever-changing narrator (yes, you get pretty much every character’s point of view) felt performative and unnecessary. I would’ve preferred to have one narrator and be left in the dark a little more, instead of the overload of misinformation that ended up happening.
Main character Mila was my favorite part of the book. I loved that she spoke to the reader as if she were talking to the person she was trying to kill, but continued to refer to them as ‘you’ so you had no idea which guest she hated. I love a character who thinks they have it all figured out, only to realize they are in way over their head. Her reactions to everything spiraling out around her felt very real and human, despite all her extreme revenge plotting.
I won’t get into the ending too much, but it fell very flat for me. Some things felt unrealistic, and I felt disappointed in the final tests and solution. To be honest, I couldn’t even tell you what the motivation for J. R. Alastor’s plan was because I was so rapidly trying to finish this book and move on. I would love to know if anyone else felt the same way, or if my reading this book while on vacation just wasn’t a good match.
In conclusion, I enjoyed the journey but didn’t love the final destination. Still worth a read if you LOVE murder mystery parties, a Glass Onion vibe, or have any interest in thriller writing.
My rating: 3.5/5
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Novel Books and Cafe (Deep Cove, North Vancouver)
I stumbled on this bookstore completely by accident, which is both exciting and rare because I tend to feverishly research bookstores in any location I’m at. After a morning of kayaking in Deep Cove, I wandered into the busy main street looking for something to eat, and instead got lost in this sweet bookstore that was packed full of great reads and happy people. My husband ordered a coffee from their back bar, and I loved getting some time to browse the shelves and debate with myself for the 100th time about buying the new Frederik Backman book (I’m really trying hard to just wait for my Libby hold to come through. I’m currently hold number 50 so you know….any day now).
Novel is an independent bookstore and a favorite among the locals. They have a wide selection of books, a full espresso bar, and in-house baked goods. The cafe hosts local authors, readings, and book signings, along with art from local artists, creating a platform for Deep Cove residents to grow in the literary scene.
Thanks for joining me today! As always, I love hearing any thoughts you have, and I hope you all have a great week of reading and a weekend of bookstore hunting!