The Unwedding

Reese's Book Club Pick (A Novel)

By: Ally Condie

Narrated by: Christine Lakin

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK

“Our June Reese’s Book Club pick is the perfect summer listen!!! The Unwedding by Ally Condie opens with a wedding at a gorgeous resort in Big Sur... but everything begins to fall apart when the main character Ellery discovers a dead body the morning of the ceremony.”–Reese Witherspoon

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, in this “clever, witty and fast-paced whodunit.” (Harlan Coben)

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Ally Condie (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

“Ally Condie’s adult debut THE UNWEDDING is a clever, witty, and fast-paced whodunit. I read it in one sitting and can’t wait for the next.”—Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of "I Will Find You"

“Mesmerizing! Equal parts a clever whodunit and compelling character’s journey, The Unwedding will speak to anyone who’s been there, done that, and had the vacation from hell thrown on top of it all. This Big Sur luxury resort closed-room mystery will stay with you well past the final page.”—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Dead bodies, brutal secrets and a fabulous view–The Unwedding is proof that Ally Condie knows exactly what we love and what we fear. Come take a wonderful rollercoaster of a trip, but don’t expect much sleep.”—Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author of "The Lightning Rod"

Narrator was excellent as was the story!

First listen to this author and I was not disappointed. I love the flow of the story and I could picture the setting perfectly!

Enjoyable but a little too contrived.

I was definitely hooked on listening but I found the ending a bit contrived and overly complicated. Characters were entertaining and the writing was engaging.

Unsatisfied…? Not at all!

Ally Condie's book the Unwedding is superb, largely due to her exceptional writing skills and her ability to vividly create scenes through action beats. Her prose seamlessly integrates descriptive details and dynamic actions, fully immersing readers in the world she builds.

Condie's evocative and engaging writing effectively conveys emotions and atmospheres, adding depth to her characters and settings. This skillful use of action beats drives the narrative forward with a compelling sense of realism and immediacy, making her storytelling stand out in contemporary fiction.

It was ok

Great narrator! The storyline felt repetitive and the big build up reveal wasn’t very exciting. I don’t understand how the character came to some of her conclusions.

surprised

I'd never read this author before, but the book description caught my attention. I'm really loving it and am only about 28 percent through. Christine Lakin is a fabulous reader as always. I remember her from Step By Step growing up. for once, lately I don't feel as though I've wasted a credit on a book. I've lost 4 credits on books, that didn't meet my expectations.

The environment as another character

The narrator was great. I know and love the area and the author captured it beautifully.

A whole lot of okay

I can’t believe that this was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick. Her picks are usually good. I couldn’t wait for this one to end

Would recommend

The Unwedding is a wonderful listen.. I couldn’t wait to listen to this book as it kept me guessing the whole time. It’s about murder but also grief as it tells the story of a woman going through divorce and the loss of a sense of family. Beautifully written!

Slow at first

I felt like the story was a little slow in the beginning, but about half way through it started becoming really interesting. I didn’t see a few of the twists coming at all. Nice ending.

Easy Listen

Loved all the twists and turns, great story and good performance by the reader made for a really enjoyable Reese Audio pick !