PLOT: 3.5/5
CHARACTERS: 3.5/5
WRITING: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
GENRE & THEME: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Stranded on an Island, Girls gone Bad
“In reality, we all stick together because we know no one else would ever understand what we did in the past. And the trouble is, we’ve all become so convinced that what we did was alright that we’ve accepted an invitation from the very woman we did it to.”
– Sian Gilbert, She Started It
There’s something irresistible about a stranded on an island mystery, the girls gone bad trope, and morally grey heroines—and when a novel seamlessly weaves all three together, it’s an absolute thrill. Sian Gilbert’s debut novel, She Started It does exactly that, delivering a story that is as exciting, as mysterious, and as wicked as it sounds. Trust me, this one is a wild ride.
What is the story like?
Imagine a beautiful, exquisite tropical island—the kind you only see in movies or on rich people’s Instagram. Imagine a bachelorette party so exclusive that only a handful of girls are invited, and that too on an all-expenses-paid trip. Imagine the most diva-like girl gang coming together for a once-in-a-lifetime kind of fun.
Except… whatever they imagined never happens.
Instead, the tropical paradise they dreamed of turns out to be sinister as hell.
That’s exactly what happens to Annabel, Chloe, Tanya, and Esther—friends who have been inseparable since childhood. Though life may have pulled them in different directions over the years, their bond still holds strong.
Then, out of the blue, something unexpected happens. They receive an invitation from someone they had long forgotten—Poppy Greer. Not exactly a friend, more of an old acquaintance, and certainly not someone they ever expected to hear from again.
Poppy invites them to her bachelorette party, offering first-class tickets and an exclusive three-day stay on a luxury private island in the Bahamas—complete with pristine white sands, endless blue skies, and an unlimited supply of exotic cocktails. A dream getaway. Or so it seems.
But something isn’t right, and soon, this glamorous getaway takes a dark and sinister turn. What starts as an exciting trip quickly spirals into something far more dangerous.
Will they be able to save themselves and make it out unscathed? And more importantly, what dark secrets are they all hiding?
My thoughts
To be honest—the premise is instantly gripping and pulls you in right away. The setting is absolutely stunning, and I loved each of the girls with their shady pasts, conniving attitudes, catty vibes, rich-girl tantrums, and deep, dark secrets.
Then there’s the island itself—pristine, breathtaking, the perfect backdrop for a novel like this. It’s the kind of place you’d dream of staying at, yet from the moment the girls step off the boat, a creeping sense of danger lingers in the air. That foreboding atmosphere seeps into the narrative so craftily, a definite brownie point for the author’s writing skills.
Now, as for the ending—I wouldn’t give it full marks. I saw it coming way before the climax, but even then, the execution of the plot and suspense deserves all the praise. Every moment on the island, every action, every seemingly innocent activity revolves around one central goal, amplifying the eerie, unsettling tone. The nighttime scenes, in particular, were so vividly described that I could practically see a movie playing out in front of my eyes—it was that atmospheric and captivating.
In the end, She Started It is an entertaining crime thriller from a debut author who definitely shows a lot of promise. Read it for the bitchy, catty vibes. Read it for the secrets. Read it for the atmospheric chills. While it may not be the best thriller out there, it certainly delivers an addictive and engaging ride.
Can’t wait to read it? Grab your copy of She Started It using the link below!
