Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 6th June. I loved the premise and the setting of this book. Whilst reading the book it was evident and portrayed mystery lurks around every corner which made it even more gripping!

This book shifts between past and present which I liked and Eddie as a character I thought he was sincere. I’d give this book 5 stars! 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was definitely Foley’s best book yet! A hooky plot and cast of characters, I loved the flashbacks to their childhood 15 years ago through the diary.

Spoiler for ending: maybe would have nice to have had a reunion with those left from childhood at the end of the book?

But overall really really enjoyed and think Foley does what she does best: write really great addictive books.

The Midnight Feast was my third Foley novel and sadly it will be my last. When I first read the blurb for this book, I was very excited and was even more so when I got approved for this ARC, unfortunately it fell flat for me and several times I wanted to DNF.
The book is told from three different POVs; with the inclusion of one depicting the discovery of a body whose identity remains unknown right until the very end.

Through these POVs, we get a sense of who our characters are, and the story unfolds in a pretty long and drawn-out manner. The pacing in this book felt unnecessarily slow and the action and suspense prolonged to the point where nothing major happens until the 60% mark; and even then, it's mediocre at best.
To make matters worse, the book then proceeds to throw in another timeline- the teenage years of one of our MCs. Though I understand the authors reasons for including this, as it gives us a sense of backstory that becomes relevant to the plot in the end. It filled the book with teenage drama that wasn't needed, and they were several scenes that I could've done without as they added nothing to the plot.

The predictability also made this a very subpar read for me as well. I was able to decipher every plot twist and secret before the ending. The ending was okay if not a little over the top and unbelievable in some ways.
Three stars because it's pretty easy to keep track of the characters and overall, a pretty simple read that can be binged in a day.
I've heard others say that when you read one Foley book you've read all, I can see what they meant now. This book was very reminiscent of one of her previous novels and I didn't care for that one either.
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Thank you to Netgalley, Harpercollins UK and Lucy Foley for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

“ if you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise” …. and the opener is a surprise and a half whichsure grabs my attention. You ready for the feast?

It’s June 2025, nearly the Solstice and the opening night of Tome Manor, maybe the new jewel of the Dorset coast with no expense spared to attract guests. However, it’s surrounded by ancient woodlands and many locals are far from happy at the intrusion of wealthy guests which little bothers the Manors owner, Francesca Meadows. Take a deep breath though, because there’s no mistaking the fact that there’s something disturbing swirling in the warm air, whispers about local folklore that should raise a concern or two. The warning bells are clanging but how will it all play out? Several guests are uncomfortable and want to move out of their woodland. “hutches” disturbed by the atmosphere. Their instincts are good as the day after the Solstice fisherman notice a fire and go onto discover a body floating in the sea. This is just the start. Who is behind what’s playing out? Why is Francesca rattled by the appearance of Bella, a guest? Perhaps, most importantly of all, why does Francesca have to keep the birds happy???

The story is told via several points of view and a summer journal which makes it a bit slow to get going but allows us to comprehend those undercurrent and more. Francesca’s point of view is illuminating, who is the real Francesca? This becomes clearer to see and it isn’t pretty. Best watch your back Frankie, oh sorry, Francesca. What’s Bella’s game?? That starts to become more transparent, but it’s also clear to see that there are several characters who are wearing masks and hoping to disguise their pasts. All are well portrayed although not necessarily likeable with the exception of Eddie, the Barman amongst other things.

I really like the premise of the novel which goes way beyond the us versus them, locals versus wealthy incomers it might suggest. There are a little hints, as light as a feather that things are going to get. …..nasty? Talking of feathers, there are some very good inclusions such as Daphne Du Maurier’s/Hitchcocks The Birds which is a nice touch.

There are some very good descriptions, the vivid scene setting is especially noteworthy and it certainly screams atmosphere. The storytelling is colourful and very visual. The superstition angle which the hotel “interferes” with gives a palpable sense of foreboding, with prickles on the back of the neck. The plot really ramps up and towards the end there are some excellent revelations that you don’t foresee and one really good twist, well played.

Overall, whilst I don’t feel that this is Lucy Foley’s best novel, I still devour her midnight feast with some relish. There are some standout sinister moments and plenty of delicious (or otherwise) wickedness from the past and in the present day.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Something Wicked…
Midsummer arrives on the Dorset coast. A gathering at a luxurious spa retreat, formerly a Manor House, surrounded by ancient woodlands - the opening weekend, glamorous, serene and elegant and peopled by the elite - but secrets are stirring in the undergrowth as something wicked this way comes. A deliciously atmospheric mystery laced with a gothic edge and with a sultry, slow burn plot peopled with a keenly observed and well crafted cast of characters and a narrative of many threads and voices, past and present, which merge perfectly. Compelling, intriguing and wholly engaging.

I requested this book because I have read a couple of Lucy Foley's novels and enjoyed them, however this one just didn't quite live up to her usual standard. The timeline jumped about too much making it confusing to read and figure out what is happening when, and there were just too many character POVs to keep track of, both making this novel a bit of a disjointed read. However, there were still some good twists and turns.

I have read all of Lucy Foley’s previous novels so was quick to request her latest on Netgalley, The Midnight Feast.

Set during the opening weekend of an exclusive hotel on the south coast of England, the story follows the owner, Francesca and guest, Bella, as well as the local characters that object to the development of the hotel.

I found this to be a creepy and twisting story and think it would make the perfect poolside read for the summer holidays. There are some unliveable characters and I enjoyed the history between some of the characters and the flashbacks to past events.

Overall another enjoyable read by Lucy Foley.

This will be a great book for the summer time. Fast paced and twisty perfect for the beach. If you like Foley’s other books you’ll like this one

As soon as I was approved to read this, I abandoned the rest of my TBR. I'm so glad I did as this is possibly one of the best books I've read, ever.

The writing style was so lovely and immersive, and the characters felt real. I loved the dark tone to the book, it was so atmospheric. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, Eddie's was probably my favourite but it was nice that they all felt so distinct from one another - a lot of books fail to do that.

The story itself was so interesting to read, and even though it was a bit of a slow burn I didn't feel like a single page was wasted. There were plenty of twists to keep me entertained and everything came together so perfectly in the end.

I don't think I can rave about this book enough, 100% recommended and definitely my favourite book of the year at this point.

I’m sad to report that I found this one disappointing. Lucy Foley’s thrillers started off strong for me. I really enjoyed both The Hunting Party and The Guest List, but things changed with The Paris Apartment. It was just okay. Still, I didn’t let that deter me from The Midnight Feast. Immediately the setting, a seaside manor house turned exclusive retreat, gave me The Hunting Party vibes, and I thought, ‘yes, Foley is back on form!’ But I quickly realised this one was not going to be a new favourite.

While I enjoyed the multiple points of view and the setting, this book had numerous downsides for me. Firstly, the timeline jumped about too much, and that, mixed with the multiple narratives, made for a choppy and disjointed read. Even the chapter titles didn’t help make it much clearer and in my opinion, showed some pretty bad writing. The chapter title, ‘After the day after the solstice’, is evidence of this. So two days after the solstice?

Secondly, a journal belonging to a teenager is introduced, which I felt weakened the story technically as the prose didn’t at all sound like it belonged in an adolescent diary. Who quotes large chunks of dialogue verbatim in their diary? Then this teenager goes from using lush descriptions to the word ‘cos’. It just didn’t work. The backstory it provided was more interesting than the present and essential to the plot, but technically it felt jarring because it just didn’t flow or feel believable.

And lastly, the plot itself was just not my cup of tea. I can get on board with many different elements in a thriller, including the supernatural, the occult, folklore, you name it, but this was just a little too bizarre, and I found myself not caring about the characters in the slightest.

Despite all this, it did have some positives: multiple POVs; a dual timeline; a great setting; a steady pace; and several intriguing twists and turns.

It’s not my intention to put anyone off this book, especially Foley fans, but in my opinion, this is far from her strongest thriller. Thank you to both NetGalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Possible spoilers

3.5 stars

A familiar tale, rich kid takes poor kid under their wing, and something goes wrong.
I liked the present day and flashback style of this story, always giving enough away in each section to keep you hooked.
My favourite bit was how all the characters lives twisted in and out of each others... I thought we has hit peak, and saw we still had quarter of the book to go.
It has its creepy moments too, they were nicely done.
An enjoyable read that left me with a smile on my face at the very end.

I love Lucy Foley so I was super excited to read this and knew my Friday plans had to change to read this immediately and I am so glad I did because I couldn't put it down. I was hooked and I love the twists and suspense, really well done.

This felt like Saltburn meets The White Lotus and I absolutely tore through it. I've read all of Foley's books and largely enjoyed them, but this book brought together all the best elements of her previous works and was truly excellent. It was gripping from the outset and incredibly well paced with some great twists. I liked that there was a smaller cast of characters from whose perspective the story is narrated and characterisation itself was really well done. The allusion to pagan folklore and the book's presentation of privilege and wealth was interesting and nuanced. 100% recommend - a perfect thriller for the summer.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Well I devoured this book - couldn't put it down! Loved the intrigue, the story and the setting. Perfect summer read!