"The Good Bride" by Jen Marie Wiggins

 

"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" (Tolstoy). This sums up the book perfectly. "The Good Bride" by Jen Marie Wiggins is a slow-burn family drama told from multiple POVs. I had high expectations for the book, but unfortunately, they weren't fully met.

The book follows the Bancroft family, who are as dysfunctional as they come. Bride-to-be Ruth Bancroft is marrying Teo in a quaint fishing village on the Gulf Coast, where her mother resides. Cracks in the family start to show as the wedding preparations continue.

Weddings are stressful affairs, even more so when secrets and lies bubble under the surface. The arrival of Ruth's estranged father adds to the existing tension. The plot thickens when Ruth begins receiving anonymous notes warning her that "she is next." Things come to a head when gunshots disrupt the rehearsal dinner and a guest goes missing. As secrets start spilling out, what was supposed to be a happy event quickly turns into a debacle.

The story is mostly character-driven, focusing more on the traits and emotions of the characters, with only minimal action. I liked the main characters, Ruth and Teo, although Ruth was more well-developed. The book explores themes of messy family liaisons, modern media, lies, betrayal, and fallible human nature, which I found intriguing.

While the premise intrigued me initially, I struggled to connect with the narrative. It is more of a family drama than a thriller, with not much happening until the last third of the book. Although there are some tense moments, especially towards the end, they aren't quite enough to sustain the plot's momentum. The pace was extremely slow, and I didn’t feel a sense of urgency to keep reading. The plot plods along with limited action, focusing instead on the characters and the setting. Still, there are some interesting turns toward the end.

Overall, I enjoyed the book despite its flaws. The interactions between the characters, their dynamics, and the setting were well done. I also appreciated the writing, felt invested in the characters' fates, and liked the ending. I loved that Ruth finally grew a backbone and learned to stand up for herself. Therefore, I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of slow-burn family dramas. There was definitely drama here.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own. 

* For more info about the book: "The Good Bride" by Jen Marie Wiggins