This truly is an ensemble piece, and Meghan makes that clear from her narrative approach. We have six different POvs as we explore the pains and triumphs of three estranged siblings and their partners, convening to celebrate their parents’ anniversary. This is their reunion - Ford, Cooper, and Palmer. Each have their own individual stories, their own character journeys, but overarchingly the story is about them as a family.

Meh, another hairdresser read. The premise is good - revenge is a dish best served cold, but it took a long while to get there. Dad’s in a hurry the moment we touch down, eager to meet up with Elizabeth and her kids. My soon-to-be family, which is beyond weird to think about. It’s been ten years since Mom died, ten years that Dad and I have been a unit of two. What we have works fine, but I’m trying to keep an open mind. Elizabeth makes Dad happy, and she seems cool enough. It’s the other Mayweathers—eight on this trip alone—I’m not so sure about. This is a fantastic, fast flowing story of revenge, secrets and lies. I was hooked from the first few chapters. Written in the first person and set over two timelines of then and now, it’s a very gripping and intriguing tale. I loved hearing of Emily’s time at Cambridge, the descriptions of the university and town were so evocative and the difference between her and the wealthier students was so evident that I really felt for her, she seemed like a small fish in a big pond. It's one of the victims of this chain of events that turns out to be far more complex than Thomas had imagined.

Summary: When the stars of the hit show Girl on the Verge reunite for a much anticipated reunion show, fireworks ignite. Old loves and new rivalries form as they try to navigate a return to the world of Girl and whether or not a reboot is in their future.

The Reunion is told in alternating chapters, between the current day and the past (leading up to the current day), so each of the events and twists (and there are SO many twists!) are slowly revealed, right up to the very end. The actual event that sparked Emily’s desire for revenge didn’t feel as overwhelmingly damaging and life destroying to me? Maybe I’m just not as easily embarrassed 😅 but that feeling didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story at all. The author kept the level of suspense up for the entire story and made sure we never really knew who was trustworthy and who had something to hide. Anyone else remember the anticipation you would get when you had to WAIT for every episode...or record an episode on VHS if you weren't gonna be home when it aired? Soooooo good. That delayed gratification, I swear. It made TV magical. And this book definitely triggered some nostalgia for that lost feeling.The story is laced with the arrogance of those who have an air of entitlement and assumed superiority; and is shot through with elements of outrageously toxic and debauched behaviour of student drinking societies – both fascinating and revolting in equal measure. Emily had such a promising start at university, but the incident which forced her to abruptly leave has left a dark cloud hanging over her for her entire life. When she receives an invitation to a university reunion she decides that it’s time to confront the past. And revenge is, as they say, definitely sweet…

Problematic, however, is how many of the characters lash out unthinkingly, almost at the drop of a hat, acting out impulsively.

There were some parts in the early chapters that felt over-descriptive (a play-by-play of Liv's every move isn't really necessary), but either it got better or I stopped noticing. The gossip articles sprinkled in between chapters was a fun and insightful touch. She finally bares her soul to Thomas, and that would seem to clear up a lot of the questions -- except instead it points to an even more complicated scenario. Reunited and it feels so good? Not quite. When the Chance siblings gather in their hometown for their parents’ wedding anniversary, secrets and complicated emotions bubble to the surface which could derail the celebration.