The Birthday Girl cover art

The Birthday Girl

A Novel

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The Birthday Girl

By: Melissa de la Cruz
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
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About this listen

In the thrilling, suspenseful new novel from number one New York Times best-selling 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 16. 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 40th birthday, it appears Ellie has everything she ever wanted: a handsome husband; an accomplished, college-age stepdaughter; a beautiful 10-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.

©2019 Melissa de la Cruz (P)2019 Penguin Audio
Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Marriage Exciting

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Critic reviews

“[Melissa de la Cruz] contrasts the glamorous but vacuous world of the back-stabbing elite with gritty but often sweet memories of Ellie's impoverished youth.... Scandalous and bittersweet, our heroine's charmed life seems to teeter on designer stilettos as she gets closer to the truth of who she really is.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Melissa De la Cruz expertly mixes biting satire with suspense and throws in more than a few surprises.... Readers will be riveted as long-simmering secrets come to light.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Alternating narratives and layers of unanswered questions keep the pace moving quickly, and readers interested in domestic drama with ominous undertones will be hooked.” (Booklist)

All stars
Most relevant  
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. I've seen some of the other reviews and felt apprehensive that I wouldn't like it.
This book seemed realistic rather than the usual unbelievable drama in some psychological thrillers. I liked that the characters acted in ways that were believable and justified. I have been reading Melissa's books for the past 18 years and I haven't read a book of hers that wasn't fab!

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