The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz

The Birthday Girl

by Melissa de la Cruz

In the thrilling, suspenseful new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz, all of Ellie de Florent-Stinson’s secrets come to light in one eventful evening full of twists, turns, and surprises.  
 
Before she became a glamorous fashion designer, Ellie de Florent-Stinson was a trailer-park teen about to turn sixteen. But a night of birthday celebration doesn’t go exactly as planned and descends into a night she’ll never be able to forget.
 
Now, on the cusp of her fortieth birthday, it appears Ellie has everything she ever wanted: a handsome husband; an accomplished, college-age stepdaughter; a beautiful ten-year-old girl; adorable and rambunctious six-year-old twin boys; lush, well-appointed homes in Los Angeles, Park City, and Palm Springs; a thriving career; and a dazzling circle of friends.
 
Except everything is not quite as perfect as it looks on the outside—Ellie is keeping many secrets. But hiding those skeletons has a cost, and it all comes to a head the night of her fabulous birthday party in the desert—where everyone who matters in her life shows up, invited or not. Old and new friends and frenemies, stepdaughters and business partners, ex-wives and ex-husbands congregate, and the glittering facade of Ellie’s life begins to crumble. 
 
Beautifully paced and full of surprises, The Birthday Girl is an enthralling tale of a life lived in shadow and its unavoidable consequences.

Reviewed by Baroness Book Trove on

5 of 5 stars

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I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Sweet Sixteen party twenty-four years ago changes the lives of three people.


The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz is a brilliantly written book from this author. However, it is different then what I have usually read of hers.

The Present


We start the book in the present time celebrating the main character's, Ellie de Florent-Stinson, big fortieth birthday. We go through the whole day up to the early morning of the next day. She goes through a lot of emotions dealing with issues from her past that she does not want to remember. But she is also trying to keep what her life has become from being taken from her.

The Past


In between the present chapters, we go into the past and its a bit tricky at first. I thought Ellie was one complex character, but I ended up being completely wrong. Any person that goes through the way that Ellie, Leo, Brooks, and Arnold went through have to become different people. Especially when we learn what had happened sixteen years ago and how it affected the people around the two young girls that we're celebrating just now.

Five Stars


The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz is honestly different than what I thought it was going to be. I devoured it when I was able to sit down long enough to. Ms. de la Cruz did an excellent job on this book. It had me on the edge of my seat in the past and present scenes. I was so invested in what was going to happen to Ellie, and I worried that everything around Ellie was going to fall apart. What an awesome job!

I am giving The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz a five-star rating and recommending it to anyone that likes Psychological Thrillers.



Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz. 

Until the next time,



Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 15 August, 2019: Finished reading
  • 15 August, 2019: Reviewed