An honest review of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks for June

As Witherspoon notes in her introduction to the book: The Unwedding begins with a woman, Ellery, traveling to a luxurious resort in Big Sur, California to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary. The first problem? She’s there alone after a recent divorce. And not only is her single life a thorn in her side, there’s also a wedding scheduled to take place at the resort during her trip.

I say “predictable” because it never happens: Ellery finds the groom’s body floating in a pool. Ellery teams up with two new friends, fellow guests Nina and Ravi, to figure out what happened. Then another mysterious death occurs, and to make matters worse, the investigation is thwarted by a violent storm that leaves the guests stranded at the resort. Like any good thriller, there are twists and turns, seemingly promising leads that lead nowhere, and plenty of secrets that threaten to be revealed.

Although the middle of the book occasionally drags a little, Condie’s first novel for adults is a gripping read that kept me guessing until the last page. Ellery is a protagonist you will empathize with deeply, and the supporting characters are impressive and well-developed. If you’re like me, you’ll also appreciate the vivid descriptions of the beauty of Big Sur (which, along with the exciting plot, will remind you of another Witherspoon project, Big little lies).

All in all? Great choice, Reese.