Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison Publishes 7/21/26

 


I'm always a fan of a time loop novel.  This one was a little different because there were multiple people trapped in the loop.  The story is told from the point of view of Didion, the oldest sister.  She and her younger sister Sammie go to Mercy Island to lay to rest their mother.  Didion's old boyfriend and another friend also go to the house for the weekend.  Only Saturday is on repeat.  They can't get to Sunday.  The reader gets flashbacks to their past and the trials and tribulations the friends went through that led to them all drifting apart.  

The novel had a lot to unpack.  Their relationships were complicated but ultimately no character really stuck out to me as one I was really rooting for.  There were times where the story was a little slow and I lost interest.  I love magical realism novels but this one struggled to keep my interest.  I really enjoyed the premise and I thought it ended well but this was definitely not my favorite time loop novel.  There was a lot of family drama and I did not agree with some of the choices that were made.  At times it made me a little frustrated.  I think part of my problem was that I just didn't connect with these characters.  I do think the writing was good and others will have a much different connection and therefore like this book more than me.  Overall, I do think it is a solid story but just one I did not connect as well with. 


3 out of 5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

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