'White Lotus' Fans *Need* to Read This Reese's Book Club Pick
Like many folks, I'm all in on the third season of The White Lotus—the stunning locale, the top-notch performances and the drama, baby. While watching the most recent episode, it dawned on me: This show is super similar to a book I read—and loved—not long ago. If you're looking to fill the White Lotus-shaped hole in your week after this season wraps in a few days, I highly recommend checking out The Unwedding, a novel by Ally Condie that was last June's Reese's Book Club pick.
cover: tk; background: getty images
As Witherspoon notes in her intro to the book, The Unwedding opens with a woman, Ellery, heading to a luxurious resort in Big Sur, California, to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary. The first hitch? She's there alone, following a recent divorce. And not only is her singleness at the front of her mind, there's also a wedding slated to happen at the resort during her trip.
I say slated to happen because it never actually does; Ellery finds the groom's body floating in a pool. Alongside two new friends, fellow guests Nina and Ravi, Ellery attempts to figure out what happened. Then, another mysterious death occurs, and to add insult to injury, the investigation is thwarted by a violent storm that leaves the guests trapped at the resort. Like any good thriller, there are twists and turns, seemingly promising leads that go nowhere and a lot of secrets threatening to be uncovered.
The similarities to The White Lotus are numerous: The setting is described in glorious detail (though we obviously can't see what the property looks like, Condie's prose brings the Big Sur backdrop to life), and the ultra-rich guests each have their own issues and potential motivations. I blew through The Unwedding in just two days and highly suggest you do the same if you're in the market for media about rich people acting up after The White Lotus ends and we wait for season four.
$29; $16 at Amazon
These 23 'White Lotus'-Inspired Styles Will Have You *So* Ready for a Vacation
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