You’re Invited

In Jayatissa’s second novel (following My Sweet Girl) Amaya Bloom has a wedding to stop. It’s been five years since she’s spoken to her best friend, Kaavi Fonseca, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t kept tabs on her. When Kaavi announces her engagement to Amaya’s ex-boyfriend via Instagram, Amaya is incensed. Then Kaavi invites her to the wedding in Sri Lanka. Spurred into action, Amaya heads to her hometown determined to do whatever it takes to disrupt the nuptials—even if she has to kill to do it. Jayatissa is a master of the disjointed narrative. Precisely timed revelations give readers the pleasure of feeling as though they are in on the action. All of this is accomplished while simultaneously layering in subtle commentary on Sri Lanka privilege. Unfortunately, skilled storytelling isn’t enough to overcome the novel’s vague plot or the failure to fulfill the expectations built around Amaya’s falling out with Kaavi.