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The Summer Holiday
One loving couple. One surprise guest. One week to destroy everything…
When the doorbell rings, I take one last look round the villa. The nuts and olives are in bowls; the white wine is chilling in the fridge; everything is ready for my old college friend, the guest I’m dying to impress.
When I open the door, Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, as effortlessly beautiful as ever. But then her face freezes in horror, her mouth falling open. I turn to see my husband Jeff behind me, his eyes wide, his cheeks pale.
After a moment, they both smile, pretending nothing happened at all. But I know what I saw.
This holiday was meant to rescue my marriage, not ruin it.
But the connection between my friend and my husband isn’t what I thought.
All three of us have something to lose, and something to fight for.
And when the truth comes out, not all of us will survive…
From the no.1 bestselling author S.E. Lynes comes a brilliantly gripping thriller that will have you racing through the pages and gasping out loud at the twists. Fans of Paula Hawkins, Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn will love The Summer Holiday.
When the doorbell rings, I take one last look round the villa. The nuts and olives are in bowls; the white wine is chilling in the fridge; everything is ready for my old college friend, the guest I’m dying to impress.
When I open the door, Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, as effortlessly beautiful as ever. But then her face freezes in horror, her mouth falling open. I turn to see my husband Jeff behind me, his eyes wide, his cheeks pale.
After a moment, they both smile, pretending nothing happened at all. But I know what I saw.
This holiday was meant to rescue my marriage, not ruin it.
But the connection between my friend and my husband isn’t what I thought.
All three of us have something to lose, and something to fight for.
And when the truth comes out, not all of us will survive…
From the no.1 bestselling author S.E. Lynes comes a brilliantly gripping thriller that will have you racing through the pages and gasping out loud at the twists. Fans of Paula Hawkins, Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn will love The Summer Holiday.
336 pages, ebook
First published May 9, 2023
538 people are currently reading
974 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Lynes
20 books831 followersS. E. Lynes is the #1 Amazon best selling author of THE HOUSEWARMING, and 'intelligent and haunting' psychological thrillers, VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE PACT, THE PROPOSAL, THE WOMEN, THE LIES WE HIDE, CAN YOU SEE HER? and HER SISTER'S SECRET
Formerly a BBC producer, after gaining an MA in Creative Writing, she became a Creative Writing Tutor at Richmond Adult Community College and now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published three children's books in Italy.
Formerly a BBC producer, after gaining an MA in Creative Writing, she became a Creative Writing Tutor at Richmond Adult Community College and now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published three children's books in Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
April 6, 2023
I requested this book after reading some positive reviews. As always when I discover a new author, I’m excited. Will I find great books that promise hours of adrenaline-fueled entertainment? To my delight, Lynes has what I takes to write engaging stories that reels you in and I’ve already ordered another book that I’m looking forward to reading.
In the summer holiday we meet Kate, a disgruntled wife and her husband Jeff. They are on holiday, and Kate feels sure this will be the trip of a lifetime, where she and Jeff finally can connect again. When she meets Coco, a woman she admired in school, everything seems perfect. The only problem is, why does Jeff and coco act so strange when they see each other again?
A perfect start for a plot where you don’t know exactly what has happened, other than there are dark secrets just waiting to be revealed. Lynes manages to leave breadcrumbs that make you hungry without satisfying your craving for more. She focuses on the desperation and longing Kate has, and although I prefer strong main characters and Kate has her issues that has made her a bit of a pushover, she portraits the reason for it realistically. I understood why Kate made her decision, and also why Jeff made his. He was not my favorite character, but that made it interesting since it made it easier to sympathize with Kate. The ending was neat and twisty, just as I like it.
To sum up: A twisty psychological thriller that gets under your skin.
Thanks to bookatoure and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion
In the summer holiday we meet Kate, a disgruntled wife and her husband Jeff. They are on holiday, and Kate feels sure this will be the trip of a lifetime, where she and Jeff finally can connect again. When she meets Coco, a woman she admired in school, everything seems perfect. The only problem is, why does Jeff and coco act so strange when they see each other again?
A perfect start for a plot where you don’t know exactly what has happened, other than there are dark secrets just waiting to be revealed. Lynes manages to leave breadcrumbs that make you hungry without satisfying your craving for more. She focuses on the desperation and longing Kate has, and although I prefer strong main characters and Kate has her issues that has made her a bit of a pushover, she portraits the reason for it realistically. I understood why Kate made her decision, and also why Jeff made his. He was not my favorite character, but that made it interesting since it made it easier to sympathize with Kate. The ending was neat and twisty, just as I like it.
To sum up: A twisty psychological thriller that gets under your skin.
Thanks to bookatoure and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion
May 12, 2023
A getaway read with some twists along the way! 🏝
Vacation reads are mostly wins for me so even though they’re always pretty much the same, they are all enjoyable to some extent!
You’ll get your fill of detestable characters and some you’ll root for too.
There were a couple picky things that seemed unrelated or unlikely such as why Coco was ever on vacation with her family in the first place, but it’s still a fun popcorn read.
The cover kind of has nothing to do with the book so definitely don’t read this based on what the cover looks like!
I own almost all of the author’s books on my Kindle and I think this was a great book for me to start with and I’m excited to read more from her! 🤗
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up.
Vacation reads are mostly wins for me so even though they’re always pretty much the same, they are all enjoyable to some extent!
You’ll get your fill of detestable characters and some you’ll root for too.
There were a couple picky things that seemed unrelated or unlikely such as why Coco was ever on vacation with her family in the first place, but it’s still a fun popcorn read.
The cover kind of has nothing to do with the book so definitely don’t read this based on what the cover looks like!
I own almost all of the author’s books on my Kindle and I think this was a great book for me to start with and I’m excited to read more from her! 🤗
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up.
May 13, 2023
** HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY **
4.5 stars. My second S.E. Lynes book and it did not disappoint! I'll never forget The Ex, which I read in August 2022 (fave for that month!) and I was keen to read more of S.E. Lynes' work.
This is a domestic thriller, in which Kate and her lawyer husband go on a holiday, the first without their now teen daughter, and Kate's looking forward to getting back in touch. But then, the popular girl from college is there and it is a disaster. People all have their secrets but some are worse than others.
I was engrossed very early on and could not put this down (well, besides when commitments required). I was impressed that for a pretty common theme amongst domestic thrillers, the author put what I considered to be an original story line to it and some fab twists.
I loved the changing POVs and how you could not only easily identify who it is (yay for POV headings) but could tell exactly who it would be even if there were no headings because of the well developed characters and writing. Amazing! Although, the characters weren't really likeable at all for me but I think that was intentional so it worked.
There was one thing at the end of this that I wish I knew a bit more about how it was closed out but that's probably a me thing and many love it because it really makes the book stick with you.
I would definitely recommend this one if you enjoy domestic thrillers, with loads of suspense and twists, and a bit of emotion.
S.E. Lynes might quickly become an auto-buy author for me. Love it when you find an author who works for you. 2/2!
Publication date: 9 May 2023.
⚠️ Check TWs online, I think there's probably a few ⚠️
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 stars. My second S.E. Lynes book and it did not disappoint! I'll never forget The Ex, which I read in August 2022 (fave for that month!) and I was keen to read more of S.E. Lynes' work.
This is a domestic thriller, in which Kate and her lawyer husband go on a holiday, the first without their now teen daughter, and Kate's looking forward to getting back in touch. But then, the popular girl from college is there and it is a disaster. People all have their secrets but some are worse than others.
I was engrossed very early on and could not put this down (well, besides when commitments required). I was impressed that for a pretty common theme amongst domestic thrillers, the author put what I considered to be an original story line to it and some fab twists.
I loved the changing POVs and how you could not only easily identify who it is (yay for POV headings) but could tell exactly who it would be even if there were no headings because of the well developed characters and writing. Amazing! Although, the characters weren't really likeable at all for me but I think that was intentional so it worked.
There was one thing at the end of this that I wish I knew a bit more about how it was closed out but that's probably a me thing and many love it because it really makes the book stick with you.
I would definitely recommend this one if you enjoy domestic thrillers, with loads of suspense and twists, and a bit of emotion.
S.E. Lynes might quickly become an auto-buy author for me. Love it when you find an author who works for you. 2/2!
Publication date: 9 May 2023.
⚠️ Check TWs online, I think there's probably a few ⚠️
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 8, 2023
EXCERPT: People like me can't afford to not have options. We need a parachute, and we need to keep that parachute strapped to our backs at all times. There is no way, no way, I would do what Kate has done - put all my eggs in one basket, even a good solid basket like you. Seriously, I want to shake your wife by the shoulders and say, darling, you had time, you had so much time to find something and someone else just in case, but all you did was feel sorry for yourself and - and this is the worst - wait. All this waiting. And for what? For your husband to want to spend time with you? To change? To love you? And now, you're so miserable and lonely, probably desperate to leave, but you have no one to jump ship with and no life raft in the water. But I have - someone to jump ship with, I mean.
You, (name removed), are my emergency dinghy.
ABOUT 'THE SUMMER HOLIDAY': One loving couple. One surprise guest. One week to destroy everything…
When the doorbell rings, I take one last look round the villa. The nuts and olives are in bowls; the white wine is chilling in the fridge; everything is ready for my old college friend, the guest I’m dying to impress.
When I open the door, Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, as effortlessly beautiful as ever. But then her face freezes in horror, her mouth falling open. I turn to see my husband Jeff behind me, his eyes wide, his cheeks pale.
After a moment, they both smile, pretending nothing happened at all. But I know what I saw.
This holiday was meant to rescue my marriage, not ruin it.
But the connection between my friend and my husband isn’t what I thought.
All three of us have something to lose, and something to fight for.
And when the truth comes out, not all of us will survive…
MY THOUGHTS: I find it really difficult to believe that a fifty-something year old woman could still be in awe of someone she admired, but whom ignored her, at University all these years later. And this was a major stumbling block for me. Kate craves Coco's attention. She's like an over-eager pup, jumping up on Coco wanting to be patted. To make things worse, Kate is a whinger, and her whining about all the things she lacks in her very privileged life takes up a good portion of this book. She is an insecure whinger, and the other two main characters, her husband Jeff and Coco Moss, are equally as unlikable, each in their own way.
Okay, so ignoring the unlikable characters and the amount of time spent on Kate's whining, the actual storyline is okay. It's not great, but it's okay.
The major twist didn't surprise me at all, although a couple of the more minor ones did.
I know Ms Lynes is capable of writing a gripping read but, for me, she missed the mark with The Summer Holiday. This was an average read, just.
⭐⭐.5
#TheSummerHoliday #NetGalley
I: selynesauthor @bookouture
T: @SELynesAuthor @Bookouture
#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #psychologicaldrama
THE AUTHOR: After graduating from Leeds University, S E Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen to be with her husband. In Aberdeen, she worked as a Radio Producer at the BBC before moving with her husband and two young children to Rome, where she lived for five years. There, she began to write while her children attended nursery. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University. She combines writing with teaching at Richmond Adult Community College and bringing up her three children in Teddington, Middlesex.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions
You, (name removed), are my emergency dinghy.
ABOUT 'THE SUMMER HOLIDAY': One loving couple. One surprise guest. One week to destroy everything…
When the doorbell rings, I take one last look round the villa. The nuts and olives are in bowls; the white wine is chilling in the fridge; everything is ready for my old college friend, the guest I’m dying to impress.
When I open the door, Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, as effortlessly beautiful as ever. But then her face freezes in horror, her mouth falling open. I turn to see my husband Jeff behind me, his eyes wide, his cheeks pale.
After a moment, they both smile, pretending nothing happened at all. But I know what I saw.
This holiday was meant to rescue my marriage, not ruin it.
But the connection between my friend and my husband isn’t what I thought.
All three of us have something to lose, and something to fight for.
And when the truth comes out, not all of us will survive…
MY THOUGHTS: I find it really difficult to believe that a fifty-something year old woman could still be in awe of someone she admired, but whom ignored her, at University all these years later. And this was a major stumbling block for me. Kate craves Coco's attention. She's like an over-eager pup, jumping up on Coco wanting to be patted. To make things worse, Kate is a whinger, and her whining about all the things she lacks in her very privileged life takes up a good portion of this book. She is an insecure whinger, and the other two main characters, her husband Jeff and Coco Moss, are equally as unlikable, each in their own way.
Okay, so ignoring the unlikable characters and the amount of time spent on Kate's whining, the actual storyline is okay. It's not great, but it's okay.
The major twist didn't surprise me at all, although a couple of the more minor ones did.
I know Ms Lynes is capable of writing a gripping read but, for me, she missed the mark with The Summer Holiday. This was an average read, just.
⭐⭐.5
#TheSummerHoliday #NetGalley
I: selynesauthor @bookouture
T: @SELynesAuthor @Bookouture
#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #psychologicaldrama
THE AUTHOR: After graduating from Leeds University, S E Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen to be with her husband. In Aberdeen, she worked as a Radio Producer at the BBC before moving with her husband and two young children to Rome, where she lived for five years. There, she began to write while her children attended nursery. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University. She combines writing with teaching at Richmond Adult Community College and bringing up her three children in Teddington, Middlesex.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions
May 12, 2023
The Summer Holiday is a gripping, shocking, and secret filled page turner! S.E. Lynes has crafted a brilliant twist filled tale of secrets, deception, and lies!! Woo-hoo! This was right up my alley! I was captivated from the very beginning and didn’t want to put this book down!
Kate had high hopes that getting away with her husband, Jeff would be just what they needed to reconnect and spend quality time together. He is a successful lawyer and always busy, this will be the holiday where they can focus on themselves. When Kate runs into Coco, someone she looked up to during her college days, she thought it would be wonderful to invite her over for drinks. She hoped to impress Coco with her lifestyle. Kate thought she was in for a lovely evening, but when she witnessed the look of horror on both Jeff and Coco's faces, she couldn’t help but be anxious and concerned. Kate's perfect holiday might not be so perfect after all.
I enjoyed the POV's of Kate, Jeff, and Coco. They were fabulous and had me turning the pages and wanting more. Through the three POV's, readers also get a glimpse into the character's college days. This really sets the stage and paints a fuller picture of the characters. Talking about the characters, S.E. Lynes created such an interesting bunch of unlikeable characters. The three main characters were juicy, fun to read about and really moved the story along.
As always, the writing was top notch and I was engrossed in the story, not wanting to put this book down. I wanted to know all their secrets, both past and present. When the end came, I was left satisfied with the shocking reveal that proved yet again that S.E. Lynes is at the top of her game writing twisty, well thought out and executed books.
I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Kate had high hopes that getting away with her husband, Jeff would be just what they needed to reconnect and spend quality time together. He is a successful lawyer and always busy, this will be the holiday where they can focus on themselves. When Kate runs into Coco, someone she looked up to during her college days, she thought it would be wonderful to invite her over for drinks. She hoped to impress Coco with her lifestyle. Kate thought she was in for a lovely evening, but when she witnessed the look of horror on both Jeff and Coco's faces, she couldn’t help but be anxious and concerned. Kate's perfect holiday might not be so perfect after all.
I enjoyed the POV's of Kate, Jeff, and Coco. They were fabulous and had me turning the pages and wanting more. Through the three POV's, readers also get a glimpse into the character's college days. This really sets the stage and paints a fuller picture of the characters. Talking about the characters, S.E. Lynes created such an interesting bunch of unlikeable characters. The three main characters were juicy, fun to read about and really moved the story along.
As always, the writing was top notch and I was engrossed in the story, not wanting to put this book down. I wanted to know all their secrets, both past and present. When the end came, I was left satisfied with the shocking reveal that proved yet again that S.E. Lynes is at the top of her game writing twisty, well thought out and executed books.
I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
March 26, 2023
Kate and her husband, Jeff, finally go on a holiday alone together after 17 years. Jeff is a successful lawyer, so this was meant to be a nice getaway. It was, until Kate sees Coco Moss, the popular girl that she was obsessed with at University, that her and Jeff attended. Kate invites Coco for drinks at their Villa and she notices a surprise reaction between Coco and Jeff. She has the feeling something happened between them years ago and she is determined to figure it out.
THE SUMMER HOLIDAY was a slow burn thriller. It kept me entertained and intrigued. I was thinking this was going to be a book about cheating, but it was so much more than that. Be prepared for a bomb shell of a twist, I totally did not expect. You will have to wait until the end of the book, but I promise it is worth it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
THE SUMMER HOLIDAY was a slow burn thriller. It kept me entertained and intrigued. I was thinking this was going to be a book about cheating, but it was so much more than that. Be prepared for a bomb shell of a twist, I totally did not expect. You will have to wait until the end of the book, but I promise it is worth it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
May 15, 2023
You know your spouse. That sixth sense speaks very clearly at times. Kate and her husband Jeff are away at a holiday in Spain. Kate is shocked when she sees somebody she knew when at university, and her name is Coco. It takes time to approach her, but when she does, she invites her and her family to dinner. Coco shows up alone, and Kate cannot help but really wonder about the look that passes between Coco and Jeff. Despite the charged glance that passes between them, they act as if they don’t know one another. Kate knows her instincts are not far off. Something is wrong. But it is about to get far worse. Worse than she ever could have imagined.
Kate buries her pain in bottles of alcohol. Her marriage to Jeff is unfulfilling. Their teen daughter Lou is just about an adult and did not accompany them to Spain. Without Lou with them, and with Jeff filling his days with anything not to do with Kate, she realizes just how lonely she really is. Meeting Coco again after decades just might fill the void in Kate’s life, even if only for the duration of the holiday.
Meanwhile, that charged look that had passed between Jeff and Coco? Well, not only does it connect back to their university days, but something alights between them now. With Jeff and Coco bonded by a secret that might never be revealed, Kate’s life is about to be truly upended.
More domestic suspense than psychological thriller, this was truly a riveting read. The ending left me shocked, but not surprised, as the secret that had been hidden for decades was just enough to change the course of several lives. With multiple POV’s, and a fast pace, this thrilling story by S. E. Lynes is one that I won’t soon forget.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Kate buries her pain in bottles of alcohol. Her marriage to Jeff is unfulfilling. Their teen daughter Lou is just about an adult and did not accompany them to Spain. Without Lou with them, and with Jeff filling his days with anything not to do with Kate, she realizes just how lonely she really is. Meeting Coco again after decades just might fill the void in Kate’s life, even if only for the duration of the holiday.
Meanwhile, that charged look that had passed between Jeff and Coco? Well, not only does it connect back to their university days, but something alights between them now. With Jeff and Coco bonded by a secret that might never be revealed, Kate’s life is about to be truly upended.
More domestic suspense than psychological thriller, this was truly a riveting read. The ending left me shocked, but not surprised, as the secret that had been hidden for decades was just enough to change the course of several lives. With multiple POV’s, and a fast pace, this thrilling story by S. E. Lynes is one that I won’t soon forget.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 8, 2023
S E Lynes books never disappoint. This was a fast paced, dram thrilled, twisty domestic thriller that I just could not put down. We are transported to sunny Spain, the food, the beaches, the alcohol! This would be the perfect poolside read, unfortunately it is winter this side of the world!
The 3 major players were all incredibly unlikable, but who was the worst? Coco, Kate and Jeff really showed their true colours as the book progressed. It was a book where you wanted to bash all their heads together. Secrets are always dangerous, and these grown adults certainly had plenty of them.
Thanks to Bookoture for my advanced copy of this book to read and review. Publishes 9th May
The 3 major players were all incredibly unlikable, but who was the worst? Coco, Kate and Jeff really showed their true colours as the book progressed. It was a book where you wanted to bash all their heads together. Secrets are always dangerous, and these grown adults certainly had plenty of them.
Thanks to Bookoture for my advanced copy of this book to read and review. Publishes 9th May
April 19, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
The people closest to you know exactly what you're trying to hide.
The hostess: Kate wants this holiday to be different. It's the first time in years it's just been her and her husband. A chance to walk along the beach, eat ice cream together in the bright Spanish sun, remind each other of why they fell in love. And what better way to start than inviting their glamorous university acquaintance Coco for a drink at their clifftop villa, with it's pristine pool.
The host: Jeff doesn't know why Kate's making such a big deal about their surprise visitor. But if it makes her happy, that's fine. He wants her to be happy. He'll never tell her what he did to ensure it....
The guest: when Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, she has an idea what she's about to see. As Jeff comes down the stairs, he freezes in horror.
One innocent invitation could cost everything.
This steady paced thriller held my attention throughout. Kate and Jeff had been childhood sweethearts. They are on their first holiday to their villa in Spain without their daughter in seventeen years. The story is told from Kate, Jeff and Coco's perspectives. I was not keen on any of the characters. Kate came across as a bit pathetic and Jeff wasn't much better. Jeff and Coco deny ever knowing each other, and Kate knows they're hiding something. The story is character driven. Although there are some twists, none of them are shocking. We get flashbacks to the characters university days. I thought the ending felt a bit flat, so I took half a star off for that reason.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SELynes for my ARC of #TheSummerHoliday in exchange for an honest review.
The people closest to you know exactly what you're trying to hide.
The hostess: Kate wants this holiday to be different. It's the first time in years it's just been her and her husband. A chance to walk along the beach, eat ice cream together in the bright Spanish sun, remind each other of why they fell in love. And what better way to start than inviting their glamorous university acquaintance Coco for a drink at their clifftop villa, with it's pristine pool.
The host: Jeff doesn't know why Kate's making such a big deal about their surprise visitor. But if it makes her happy, that's fine. He wants her to be happy. He'll never tell her what he did to ensure it....
The guest: when Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, she has an idea what she's about to see. As Jeff comes down the stairs, he freezes in horror.
One innocent invitation could cost everything.
This steady paced thriller held my attention throughout. Kate and Jeff had been childhood sweethearts. They are on their first holiday to their villa in Spain without their daughter in seventeen years. The story is told from Kate, Jeff and Coco's perspectives. I was not keen on any of the characters. Kate came across as a bit pathetic and Jeff wasn't much better. Jeff and Coco deny ever knowing each other, and Kate knows they're hiding something. The story is character driven. Although there are some twists, none of them are shocking. We get flashbacks to the characters university days. I thought the ending felt a bit flat, so I took half a star off for that reason.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SELynes for my ARC of #TheSummerHoliday in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2023
A book by this author guarantees a good read with in depth characters to meet and fathom out,a well paced storyline and an exciting plot BUT what also is guaranteed is it will be a completely different book to any of her others, you never quite know what you are about to read or what is to come….for an avid reader this is great.
Here we meet Kate,Jeff.( married couple ) and Coco Moss……..an old acquaintance from their Uni days,Coco was everything Kate wanted to be,she had it all and more but Kate had Jeff……she had been satisfied,and her life was good,well not bad….until she saw Coco again and Pandora’s box was well and truly opened
What follows is a look into ‘want’,what they all think they want,what they desire,what lies they will cover and what deceptions they are prepared to go to to get this and all told with an intimate and often chilling insight into the characters psyche
I loved it,loved to shudder with fury at some of the antics the characters got up to and had a real laugh out loud moment at the few lines relating to a horses stable!
The writing is as always intoxicatingly good,the story scarily believable and the outcome a surprise even to an old hand thriller reader like me 😊
Loved it ,and a brilliant acknowledgements section to boot
Here we meet Kate,Jeff.( married couple ) and Coco Moss……..an old acquaintance from their Uni days,Coco was everything Kate wanted to be,she had it all and more but Kate had Jeff……she had been satisfied,and her life was good,well not bad….until she saw Coco again and Pandora’s box was well and truly opened
What follows is a look into ‘want’,what they all think they want,what they desire,what lies they will cover and what deceptions they are prepared to go to to get this and all told with an intimate and often chilling insight into the characters psyche
I loved it,loved to shudder with fury at some of the antics the characters got up to and had a real laugh out loud moment at the few lines relating to a horses stable!
The writing is as always intoxicatingly good,the story scarily believable and the outcome a surprise even to an old hand thriller reader like me 😊
Loved it ,and a brilliant acknowledgements section to boot
April 11, 2023
Fiftiesh Kate and her very successful husband, Jeff, are vacationing at their holiday home in Spain when Kate spies Coco Moss, someone she knew at school. Kate is reduced to a nervous, insecure wreck as Coco was THE girl everyone wanted to emulate. Working up courage, she eventually approaches Coco and invites her to their home for drinks. When Jeff and Coco encounter each other, their shocked expressions and edgy demeanor tell Kate there is something they are hiding. Old secrets are slowly revealed that will affect all of their lives.
This is a slow burn, with lots of ruminating from the three MCs differing POVs. A character driven psychological thriller with twists, many readers loved this book. It missed the mark for me, perhaps because the three MCs were so unlikable. I thought that the mature Kate, mother and operator of her own business, a bit ridiculous with her seeming adolescent crush on Coco. And Jeff and Coco were despicable.
Initially, I had to force myself to stick with the book, but after about the the halfway point, I found I couldn’t put it down, wanting to quickly get through it to find out what would happen next.
Again, many people will really like this book; it just wasn’t my favorite read.
Thanks to #netgalley and # bookouture for the ARC
This is a slow burn, with lots of ruminating from the three MCs differing POVs. A character driven psychological thriller with twists, many readers loved this book. It missed the mark for me, perhaps because the three MCs were so unlikable. I thought that the mature Kate, mother and operator of her own business, a bit ridiculous with her seeming adolescent crush on Coco. And Jeff and Coco were despicable.
Initially, I had to force myself to stick with the book, but after about the the halfway point, I found I couldn’t put it down, wanting to quickly get through it to find out what would happen next.
Again, many people will really like this book; it just wasn’t my favorite read.
Thanks to #netgalley and # bookouture for the ARC
March 25, 2023
I must confess when I grabbed The Holiday, I imagined it would be a typical, quick beach type of read, but I couldn't have been more wrong! I found this book gripping. It’s a cracker of a book that deliciously twisted, with unreliable narrators, and unlikable characters. And don’t get me started on the lies, half truths and manipulation!!! Don’t you just love this kind of storytelling? It’s the type of book that gives you goose pimples. A heightened sense of menace and dread grows at each flick of the page.
Kate and Jeff are on their first parent free holiday. Kate imagines long romantic walks, cocktails and reconnecting with her husband. Sounds idyllic? Hardly! Kate runs into Coco, and it soon becomes apparent that Jeff and Coco not only know each other but they're hiding something! Each of them must decide how far they’ll go to protect themselves. And at the end of the holiday, not everyone will walk away…And so begins a deliciously twisted tale.
I really disliked the three main characters. They had so many traits that I find off putting, but you know what? It didn’t make an iota of a difference as these negative traits actually made the characters more believable. The story is told in alternating chapters from Kate, Jeff’s and Coco’s POV. This not only gives the reader a personal perspective, but it allows us to be privy to the secrets they have kept hidden and their dangerous thoughts! I really couldn’t see why the couple had such an unhealthy fixation with Coco. Out of the three, I found her the most manipulative and calculating. But I guess as the saying goes, ‘People will see what they want to see’. Amid the subterfuge, the characters’ relationships fracture, the tension is palatable, pushing the reader onwards to the dramatic conclusion.
One of the strengths of this book is the way S.E. Lynes delves into the human psyche, exploring the complexities of relationships. For me, a psychological thriller has to have that jaw dropping moment that takes me by surprise! And there was! I really enjoyed The Summer Holiday. It’s an intense character-driven psychological thriller that’s seriously twisted.
You can read more of my reviews at Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
Kate and Jeff are on their first parent free holiday. Kate imagines long romantic walks, cocktails and reconnecting with her husband. Sounds idyllic? Hardly! Kate runs into Coco, and it soon becomes apparent that Jeff and Coco not only know each other but they're hiding something! Each of them must decide how far they’ll go to protect themselves. And at the end of the holiday, not everyone will walk away…And so begins a deliciously twisted tale.
I really disliked the three main characters. They had so many traits that I find off putting, but you know what? It didn’t make an iota of a difference as these negative traits actually made the characters more believable. The story is told in alternating chapters from Kate, Jeff’s and Coco’s POV. This not only gives the reader a personal perspective, but it allows us to be privy to the secrets they have kept hidden and their dangerous thoughts! I really couldn’t see why the couple had such an unhealthy fixation with Coco. Out of the three, I found her the most manipulative and calculating. But I guess as the saying goes, ‘People will see what they want to see’. Amid the subterfuge, the characters’ relationships fracture, the tension is palatable, pushing the reader onwards to the dramatic conclusion.
One of the strengths of this book is the way S.E. Lynes delves into the human psyche, exploring the complexities of relationships. For me, a psychological thriller has to have that jaw dropping moment that takes me by surprise! And there was! I really enjoyed The Summer Holiday. It’s an intense character-driven psychological thriller that’s seriously twisted.
You can read more of my reviews at Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
April 13, 2023
Holy cow what did i just read…. Talk about twists oh my my!
This unputdownable book had me going nuts to figure out what was going to happen.
I absolutely hated CoCo! Despised her like no other. Her uppity, conniving ways had me so disgusted from the moment her POV came into the book. I’ll give the author major kudos on getting to hate CoCo so much and I’m pretty sure you’ll feel the same. I’ll even admit I skimmed a bit of CoCo’s POV because she made me sick with her analytical hogwash.
This is an absolute must read, filled with love, lust, affairs, secrets so many secrets. You will start to feel sorry for Kate and maybe even for others like I did in the end.
This unputdownable book had me going nuts to figure out what was going to happen.
I absolutely hated CoCo! Despised her like no other. Her uppity, conniving ways had me so disgusted from the moment her POV came into the book. I’ll give the author major kudos on getting to hate CoCo so much and I’m pretty sure you’ll feel the same. I’ll even admit I skimmed a bit of CoCo’s POV because she made me sick with her analytical hogwash.
This is an absolute must read, filled with love, lust, affairs, secrets so many secrets. You will start to feel sorry for Kate and maybe even for others like I did in the end.
March 30, 2023
Kate is hoping that their holiday will make her and her husband Jeff closer as they have been growing apart.
When Kate goes out to the beach on her own she meets a woman she knew at university, she was obsessed with this woman then and befriends her because she is still in awe of her.
Lots of deception and lies in this story that’s full of unlikeable characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Kate goes out to the beach on her own she meets a woman she knew at university, she was obsessed with this woman then and befriends her because she is still in awe of her.
Lots of deception and lies in this story that’s full of unlikeable characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2023
The Summer Holiday is a slow burn in the beginning but heats up very quickly about a third of the way into the.book. You can't outrun your past no matter how hard you try and you can't go back and live like you did when you were in college without consequences.! How far will a person go to fit in with the cool crowd? Will they turn their back on everything that's become important to them? This book is about three people who knew each other or of each other in college. Two of them are keeping a big secret from the other. The two keeping the secret haven't seen each other since the incident occurred in college until they meet by chance while on a summer holiday!
Kate and Jeff have been married for a long time and decide to take a summer holiday to Spain. Their 17 year old daughter is vacationing with a friend and her family on a ski trip. Kate and Jeff have settled into a routine a couple falls into after many years together. Unfortunately for Kate, Jeff leaves her alone while he works long hours, plays golf, goes to the gym, etc. He rarely asks Kate to do anything with him other than go out to eat. Kate bakes cakes for a living and Jeff is a lawyer. Jeff promised Kate that he wouldn't work while on holiday, but he's already broken that promise on day one.
Kate decides to walk into town and get some breakfast by the beach. She finds a nice place and gets a table with a view of the beach. She feels frumpy as she looks around at what other women are wearing. She's in an old swimsuit, and sun dress wearing a ball cap. She notices a beautiful woman at a table with her family. There's something familiar about her. Her jawline, the way she laughs, the piercing in her nose. That's Coco Moss from Leeds University, Kate thinks. Coco was at Leeds the same time Kate and Jeff were. She was a woman that every man wanted and that every woman wanted to be like. She was the center of the "cool" crowd at Leeds. Kate and Jeff studied hard and weren't part of that crowd. Kate remembers Coco well, but she's sure that Coco wouldn't remember her at all.
Kate decides to slip out and go shopping to look more like Coco. She buys a large straw hat, a beautiful beach dress and a new swimsuit to wear under it. She trades in her flip flops for a pair of beautiful strap sandals. She now feels like she belongs. She goes back to her table and finishes her meal. She notices that Coco's husband and boys are leaving, but she's not. Kate decides to go introduce herself and see if Coco remembers her. Coco isn't sure who Kate is, but hides it well as she tells her she thinks she remembers her. They sit together and chat for awhile. Coco is an artist who travels a lot as her paintings are in shows. Kate decides to invite Coco and her family to their cottage for drinks and appetizers the next evening. She tells Coco that their place has a pool and the kids would love it. Coco accepts the invitation and gives Kate her cell number so that she can text her the address.
When Kate gets home Jeff is gone. He's probably out running, swimming, etc. When he finally gets back it's late and Jeff tells Kate he was snorkeling. She is so over him doing things without asking her that she can't stand it. She tells Jeff that she ran into a college friend from Leeds and her and her family are coming for drinks, a swim, and appetizers the next day. Jeff is not happy. Kate has made an invitation without asking him first! This is something that Kate's used to as Jeff does it to her all of the time.
The next evening there's a knock at the door. Jeff got home 5 minutes ago and is up showering and dressing. Kate is furious that he cut it so. close and did nothing to help prepare for the evening. Kate got various wines, beers, and liquors delivered as well as prepared a nice mixture of appetizers. They're going to be out by the pool where they can relax and keep an eye on the kids while they swim. When Kate opens the door, Coco is the only one there. Coco explains that Troy is working on new music for his album and couldn't come while the boys were busy.playing video games on their Xbox. She leads Coco out by the pool and gets her a drink. Kate tells Coco that Jeff will be out in a minute as he only got home a little bit ago.
As Kate and Coco are chatting, Jeff steps out to see who's here. It's as if time freezes. Coco stops talking, her mouth hangs open, and she looks scared. Jeff stops in his tracks, the color drains from his face, and his mouth hangs open. Kate looks from one to the other and knows immediately that they know each other and may even have slept together the way they're acting. They both realize how they must look and make an excuse as to why they reacted that way. Coco says she thought Jeff was her ex who was violent and a bad man, but is relieved she made a mistake. Jeff just covers by saying he hasn't seen Coco since Leeds and was shocked to see her here. Jeff didn't think Kate knew Coco. Kate knows they're both lying, but why? What would cause them to lie? Will Kate find out what they're hiding? If she does, will she wish she didn't know?
The Summer Holiday will suck you in and have you flipping the pages rapidly to find out who's hiding what and why! Will both families make it home from the summer holiday intact? Will the history of what happened come to light? I devoured this book in 2 days and enjoyed it tremendously! I rate The Summer Holiday 4 stars and recommend it highly! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Summer Holiday in exchange for a fair review. #TheSummerHoliday
Kate and Jeff have been married for a long time and decide to take a summer holiday to Spain. Their 17 year old daughter is vacationing with a friend and her family on a ski trip. Kate and Jeff have settled into a routine a couple falls into after many years together. Unfortunately for Kate, Jeff leaves her alone while he works long hours, plays golf, goes to the gym, etc. He rarely asks Kate to do anything with him other than go out to eat. Kate bakes cakes for a living and Jeff is a lawyer. Jeff promised Kate that he wouldn't work while on holiday, but he's already broken that promise on day one.
Kate decides to walk into town and get some breakfast by the beach. She finds a nice place and gets a table with a view of the beach. She feels frumpy as she looks around at what other women are wearing. She's in an old swimsuit, and sun dress wearing a ball cap. She notices a beautiful woman at a table with her family. There's something familiar about her. Her jawline, the way she laughs, the piercing in her nose. That's Coco Moss from Leeds University, Kate thinks. Coco was at Leeds the same time Kate and Jeff were. She was a woman that every man wanted and that every woman wanted to be like. She was the center of the "cool" crowd at Leeds. Kate and Jeff studied hard and weren't part of that crowd. Kate remembers Coco well, but she's sure that Coco wouldn't remember her at all.
Kate decides to slip out and go shopping to look more like Coco. She buys a large straw hat, a beautiful beach dress and a new swimsuit to wear under it. She trades in her flip flops for a pair of beautiful strap sandals. She now feels like she belongs. She goes back to her table and finishes her meal. She notices that Coco's husband and boys are leaving, but she's not. Kate decides to go introduce herself and see if Coco remembers her. Coco isn't sure who Kate is, but hides it well as she tells her she thinks she remembers her. They sit together and chat for awhile. Coco is an artist who travels a lot as her paintings are in shows. Kate decides to invite Coco and her family to their cottage for drinks and appetizers the next evening. She tells Coco that their place has a pool and the kids would love it. Coco accepts the invitation and gives Kate her cell number so that she can text her the address.
When Kate gets home Jeff is gone. He's probably out running, swimming, etc. When he finally gets back it's late and Jeff tells Kate he was snorkeling. She is so over him doing things without asking her that she can't stand it. She tells Jeff that she ran into a college friend from Leeds and her and her family are coming for drinks, a swim, and appetizers the next day. Jeff is not happy. Kate has made an invitation without asking him first! This is something that Kate's used to as Jeff does it to her all of the time.
The next evening there's a knock at the door. Jeff got home 5 minutes ago and is up showering and dressing. Kate is furious that he cut it so. close and did nothing to help prepare for the evening. Kate got various wines, beers, and liquors delivered as well as prepared a nice mixture of appetizers. They're going to be out by the pool where they can relax and keep an eye on the kids while they swim. When Kate opens the door, Coco is the only one there. Coco explains that Troy is working on new music for his album and couldn't come while the boys were busy.playing video games on their Xbox. She leads Coco out by the pool and gets her a drink. Kate tells Coco that Jeff will be out in a minute as he only got home a little bit ago.
As Kate and Coco are chatting, Jeff steps out to see who's here. It's as if time freezes. Coco stops talking, her mouth hangs open, and she looks scared. Jeff stops in his tracks, the color drains from his face, and his mouth hangs open. Kate looks from one to the other and knows immediately that they know each other and may even have slept together the way they're acting. They both realize how they must look and make an excuse as to why they reacted that way. Coco says she thought Jeff was her ex who was violent and a bad man, but is relieved she made a mistake. Jeff just covers by saying he hasn't seen Coco since Leeds and was shocked to see her here. Jeff didn't think Kate knew Coco. Kate knows they're both lying, but why? What would cause them to lie? Will Kate find out what they're hiding? If she does, will she wish she didn't know?
The Summer Holiday will suck you in and have you flipping the pages rapidly to find out who's hiding what and why! Will both families make it home from the summer holiday intact? Will the history of what happened come to light? I devoured this book in 2 days and enjoyed it tremendously! I rate The Summer Holiday 4 stars and recommend it highly! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Summer Holiday in exchange for a fair review. #TheSummerHoliday
June 4, 2023
A vacation you will never forget.
The Summer Holiday is a slow burn thriller that builds with tension as the plot progresses and then the unexpected ending hits you.
An exotic location, the perfect couple, an uninvited guest, one week that changes everything and the drama that follows.
Kate and Jeff are holidaying at their villa in Spain.
Married for many years they have arrived to put a spark back in their marriage.
Then one day while out Kate sees an old friend from her uni days, Coco, inviting her back to their villa for a drink and catch up.
When Coco knocks at the door and enters, a shock look is noticed between Jeff and Coco.
Then the secrets arise and lies begin and the final question is asked…..
Who is telling the truth?
A trip to a scenic town becomes the holiday from hell for a husband and wife.
It took me a little bit to get fully immersed into the thriller and I did find the last third quite gripping.
The characters are bold, the story is interesting and the twists are good.
My first book from this author and I will definitely seek out more.
The Summer Holiday is a slow burn thriller that builds with tension as the plot progresses and then the unexpected ending hits you.
An exotic location, the perfect couple, an uninvited guest, one week that changes everything and the drama that follows.
Kate and Jeff are holidaying at their villa in Spain.
Married for many years they have arrived to put a spark back in their marriage.
Then one day while out Kate sees an old friend from her uni days, Coco, inviting her back to their villa for a drink and catch up.
When Coco knocks at the door and enters, a shock look is noticed between Jeff and Coco.
Then the secrets arise and lies begin and the final question is asked…..
Who is telling the truth?
A trip to a scenic town becomes the holiday from hell for a husband and wife.
It took me a little bit to get fully immersed into the thriller and I did find the last third quite gripping.
The characters are bold, the story is interesting and the twists are good.
My first book from this author and I will definitely seek out more.
September 23, 2023
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the plot of this book and how the author made the main characters older and more mature in their relationships than the typical demographic. I really enjoyed the glimpses into the past and and how even after 20+ years of marriage you never really know who you’re sleeping next to. It’s crazy how fast your world can crumble with one bad decision, and how do you come back from that? I really felt it concluded sufficiently and look forward to reading other books from this author!
I really liked the plot of this book and how the author made the main characters older and more mature in their relationships than the typical demographic. I really enjoyed the glimpses into the past and and how even after 20+ years of marriage you never really know who you’re sleeping next to. It’s crazy how fast your world can crumble with one bad decision, and how do you come back from that? I really felt it concluded sufficiently and look forward to reading other books from this author!
May 16, 2023
Twisty psychological thriller.. and just when you think the tests are done ..bam...another one to side swipe you. Brilliant when you don't see it coming.
Really enjoyed this book, but not surprised the author is a treat.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
Really enjoyed this book, but not surprised the author is a treat.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
April 25, 2023
"When I open the door, Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, as effortlessly beautiful as ever. But then her face freezes in horror, her mouth falling open. I turn to see my husband Jeff behind me, his eyes wide, his cheeks pale.
After a moment, they both smile, pretending nothing happened at all. But I know what I saw.
This holiday was meant to rescue my marriage, not ruin it."
This story is told from multiple perspectives. One of these characters is Kate. She is married to Jeff and together they reside in Spain. Sitting on the terrace one day, Kate sees a woman who went to school with her thirty years ago: Coco.
This woman used to be very popular and Kate still wants to be friends with her. She therefore decides to approach her and invite her to her home. Soon after, Coco comes to visit her. When she sees Jeff, something strange seems to happen. Do these two already know each other? Kate senses that something is not right and tries to find out what exactly is going on.
You also make jumps to the past and read how Jeff and Coco know each other. Something strange happened that evening and I wondered if this twosome had something to do with it.
The story builds slowly, but the writing style is pleasant. I must say that I sometimes found it repetitive and perhaps the pace could have been a bit higher. I wondered all the time what had happened that evening. I enjoyed this story for the most part!
I want to say a big thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy!
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
After a moment, they both smile, pretending nothing happened at all. But I know what I saw.
This holiday was meant to rescue my marriage, not ruin it."
This story is told from multiple perspectives. One of these characters is Kate. She is married to Jeff and together they reside in Spain. Sitting on the terrace one day, Kate sees a woman who went to school with her thirty years ago: Coco.
This woman used to be very popular and Kate still wants to be friends with her. She therefore decides to approach her and invite her to her home. Soon after, Coco comes to visit her. When she sees Jeff, something strange seems to happen. Do these two already know each other? Kate senses that something is not right and tries to find out what exactly is going on.
You also make jumps to the past and read how Jeff and Coco know each other. Something strange happened that evening and I wondered if this twosome had something to do with it.
The story builds slowly, but the writing style is pleasant. I must say that I sometimes found it repetitive and perhaps the pace could have been a bit higher. I wondered all the time what had happened that evening. I enjoyed this story for the most part!
I want to say a big thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy!
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
May 9, 2023
We always want what we can't have, but be careful what you wish for..
Kate and Jeff are finally taking a holiday alone. Their baby bird is about to leave the nest, and Kate wants to work on their relationship. He's always consumed with work and she's always alone and feeling needy. She knows the first step is probably working on herself.
All of that goes out the window though, when she sees Coco Moss. You'd think it was a celebrity to hear Kate talk about her but Coco is just the cool girl from uni. She and Jeff both always wished they were in that crowd and looked at them with starry eyes.
Kate can't resist inviting Coco back to their villa to surprise Jeff and to show Coco how successful they are, but when Coco and Jeff lock eyes, Kate knows some sort of current is flowing between them. They say there isn't, but Kate will descend as far into madness as she needs to get to the truth.
This wine-soaked, tense domestic drama was very character-driven. They're built very cleverly and I enjoyed hearing from all sides as it is narrated by Kate, Jeff, and Coco. A perfect holiday read if you're up for a bit of thrill!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
Kate and Jeff are finally taking a holiday alone. Their baby bird is about to leave the nest, and Kate wants to work on their relationship. He's always consumed with work and she's always alone and feeling needy. She knows the first step is probably working on herself.
All of that goes out the window though, when she sees Coco Moss. You'd think it was a celebrity to hear Kate talk about her but Coco is just the cool girl from uni. She and Jeff both always wished they were in that crowd and looked at them with starry eyes.
Kate can't resist inviting Coco back to their villa to surprise Jeff and to show Coco how successful they are, but when Coco and Jeff lock eyes, Kate knows some sort of current is flowing between them. They say there isn't, but Kate will descend as far into madness as she needs to get to the truth.
This wine-soaked, tense domestic drama was very character-driven. They're built very cleverly and I enjoyed hearing from all sides as it is narrated by Kate, Jeff, and Coco. A perfect holiday read if you're up for a bit of thrill!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
April 16, 2023
When Kate and Jeff’s daughter goes on holiday with her friend and her parents the couple take the opportunity to holiday alone at their villa in Spain. Kate feels this holiday is just what she and her husband need. On one of the first days there Kate sees Coco Moss, someone she once knew from her university days and thinks this is the perfect opportunity to boast to Coco how much life has improved for her over the years. She invites Coco and her family to her villa for drinks. When Coco arrives at the villa she faces Jeff and immediately both their faces recoil in shock . What are they hiding ? This book whilst for me a slow burn is one you will just want to keep on reading to discover what is going on. Everyone seems to be hiding something and there is a lot of tension in every chapter. All the characters in my opinion were all horrible and I couldn’t warm to any of them. The setting of the book in Sunny Spain was wonderful and you can actually feel yourself there drinking cold drinks and eating tapas as you read. This is the perfect read for fans of psychological suspense thrillers. Reading the acknowledgments at the end I was thrilled to get a mention.
April 29, 2023
Kate and Jeff are on holiday at their villa in Spain, just like every other year, only this time it's just the two of them as their daughter Lou, who is now at uni, is away with friends. They've been married a long time and have lost themselves along the way so Kate is trying to salvage what they have during this holiday. When she bumps into Coco Moss, an old uni acquaintance and someone she highly revered back in the day, she invites her for drinks, still trying to impress her after all this time, but she's not prepared for the reaction when Jeff and Coco come face to face, clearly they have already met, the question is when, and what are they trying to hide from Kate?
The Summer Holiday is the latest psychological thriller by Lynes, I'm always excited when I hear that another one of her books is being published and this time was no different. What is different with this one is it's not as dark as some of her previous books, so I found it to be a slightly lighter read but still with the intensity that I've come to know and love from this author and still with some great twists along the way. The story is told by all three characters, I didn't like Coco or Jeff and, whilst I felt sorry for Kate because she clearly felt invisible most of the time, something I'm certain many of us have experienced at some point in our lives, I also wanted to give her a good shake so she could see these two horrible people for what they really were and kick them into touch! This is another fabulous read from Lynes, who never fails to impress me with her descriptive thrillers, keeping me up till 2am to finish it. Loved it!
I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
The Summer Holiday is the latest psychological thriller by Lynes, I'm always excited when I hear that another one of her books is being published and this time was no different. What is different with this one is it's not as dark as some of her previous books, so I found it to be a slightly lighter read but still with the intensity that I've come to know and love from this author and still with some great twists along the way. The story is told by all three characters, I didn't like Coco or Jeff and, whilst I felt sorry for Kate because she clearly felt invisible most of the time, something I'm certain many of us have experienced at some point in our lives, I also wanted to give her a good shake so she could see these two horrible people for what they really were and kick them into touch! This is another fabulous read from Lynes, who never fails to impress me with her descriptive thrillers, keeping me up till 2am to finish it. Loved it!
I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
August 2, 2023
This was a slow burn for me up until about chapter 9, after that it really got going.
Kate and husband Jeff are holidaying at their villa in Spain, their first holiday alone since having their daughter 17 years ago. Kate bumps into Coco who was a bit of an idol at uni in Leeds and befriends her again on the holiday.
Kate, Jeff and Coco have a lot of catching upto do but there is also a deep buried secret from the uni days itching to break out
Kate and husband Jeff are holidaying at their villa in Spain, their first holiday alone since having their daughter 17 years ago. Kate bumps into Coco who was a bit of an idol at uni in Leeds and befriends her again on the holiday.
Kate, Jeff and Coco have a lot of catching upto do but there is also a deep buried secret from the uni days itching to break out
January 22, 2025
Rated 3.5
May 10, 2023
Loved this book do much! This author is an absolute master at suspense. I have loved every single one of her books and this one is just wow! Addictive. Just brilliant
May 8, 2023
The people closest to you know exactly what you're trying to hide.
The hostess: Kate wants this holiday to be different. It's the first time in years it's just been her and her husband. A chance to walk along the beach, eat ice cream together in the bright Spanish sun, remind each other of why they fell in love. And what better way to start than inviting their glamorous university acquaintance Coco for a drink at their clifftop villa, with it's pristine pool.
The host: Jeff doesn't know why Kate's making such a big deal about their surprise visitor. But if it makes her happy, that's fine. He wants her to be happy. He'll never tell her what he did to ensure it....
The guest: when Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, she has an idea what she's about to see. As Jeff comes down the stairs, he freezes in horror.
One innocent invitation could cost everything.
So the best thing about this book was the location. It's summer, there's sun, a beach and a pool. Nothing like the cooling and relaxing sensation of water immersion. Everything else was blah.
I really don't know where to start with this review. I have read several Susie Lynes' thrillers and admittedly she IS a bit of a hit or miss author for me. But some have been so good - I loved "The Baby Shower", "Can You See Her?" and "Her Sister's Secret" - while others are either average or a bit of a snorefest. My biggest issue with her books unfortunately is the slow pace she so often begins with. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This time I spent the first 25% wanting to throttle Kate who at 53 years old should be long past the idolisation of someone who was a popular girl at university. She spent most of the time either gawking at her or trying to emulate everything about her when she wasn't stalking her. I wanted to leave her to her flights of fancy and go dive into the infinity pool I could just see myself in or dip my toes in the sandy surf of the beach. I just love water!
Basically, Kate and Jeff were love's young dream from their university days and Coco Moss was the popular girl who broke the rules and pushed the boundaries and did her own thing. She'd dye her hair pink and when others followed, she's swap to electric blue and then when they did the same, she'd go orange or bald or whatever. Coco Moss didn't care what others thought of her. And now three decades later, Kate has seen the still stunning Coco lounging beachside now with a couple of teenage children in tow. Kate abandons all other plans she and Jeff may have had and thus spends the afternoon gazing at her, studying her and her clothes then pops into town to purchase the very same outfit so she didn't look like the frump she actually was. She was so stoked at running to Coco and then inviting her to drinks at their villa, she couldn't see beyond that.
So when Coco walks into their villa the following evening she stops dead, a look of abject horror on her face. Kate turns and follows her gaze...where she sees Jeff descending the stairs, a similar expression on his face also. What's going on here that she's not getting?
But try as she might, Kate cannot get Jeff to reveal the truth about his and Coco's mirrored reactions of shock and horror at seeing the other after all these years. So what secrets are they hiding?
Quite honestly, by that stage I didn't much care. All they were doing was getting blindingly drunk and reminiscing about university days with no truth coming to light. And honestly, all three of them either made my skin crawl or I just loathed. No one was likeable and I didn't care what happened to them. I did, however, skip to the final three or four chapters to see how it ended and if any big reveal was to come. Yeah, it kind of did...but it didn't rock my world or make any huge difference. So therefore I don't feel as if I missed out on anything.
Overall, THE SUMMER HOLIDAY just didn't do it for me and I really hate leaving negative reviews. But unfortunately we can't like every book we read.
I would like to thank #SELynes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheSummerHoliday in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The hostess: Kate wants this holiday to be different. It's the first time in years it's just been her and her husband. A chance to walk along the beach, eat ice cream together in the bright Spanish sun, remind each other of why they fell in love. And what better way to start than inviting their glamorous university acquaintance Coco for a drink at their clifftop villa, with it's pristine pool.
The host: Jeff doesn't know why Kate's making such a big deal about their surprise visitor. But if it makes her happy, that's fine. He wants her to be happy. He'll never tell her what he did to ensure it....
The guest: when Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, she has an idea what she's about to see. As Jeff comes down the stairs, he freezes in horror.
One innocent invitation could cost everything.
So the best thing about this book was the location. It's summer, there's sun, a beach and a pool. Nothing like the cooling and relaxing sensation of water immersion. Everything else was blah.
I really don't know where to start with this review. I have read several Susie Lynes' thrillers and admittedly she IS a bit of a hit or miss author for me. But some have been so good - I loved "The Baby Shower", "Can You See Her?" and "Her Sister's Secret" - while others are either average or a bit of a snorefest. My biggest issue with her books unfortunately is the slow pace she so often begins with. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This time I spent the first 25% wanting to throttle Kate who at 53 years old should be long past the idolisation of someone who was a popular girl at university. She spent most of the time either gawking at her or trying to emulate everything about her when she wasn't stalking her. I wanted to leave her to her flights of fancy and go dive into the infinity pool I could just see myself in or dip my toes in the sandy surf of the beach. I just love water!
Basically, Kate and Jeff were love's young dream from their university days and Coco Moss was the popular girl who broke the rules and pushed the boundaries and did her own thing. She'd dye her hair pink and when others followed, she's swap to electric blue and then when they did the same, she'd go orange or bald or whatever. Coco Moss didn't care what others thought of her. And now three decades later, Kate has seen the still stunning Coco lounging beachside now with a couple of teenage children in tow. Kate abandons all other plans she and Jeff may have had and thus spends the afternoon gazing at her, studying her and her clothes then pops into town to purchase the very same outfit so she didn't look like the frump she actually was. She was so stoked at running to Coco and then inviting her to drinks at their villa, she couldn't see beyond that.
So when Coco walks into their villa the following evening she stops dead, a look of abject horror on her face. Kate turns and follows her gaze...where she sees Jeff descending the stairs, a similar expression on his face also. What's going on here that she's not getting?
But try as she might, Kate cannot get Jeff to reveal the truth about his and Coco's mirrored reactions of shock and horror at seeing the other after all these years. So what secrets are they hiding?
Quite honestly, by that stage I didn't much care. All they were doing was getting blindingly drunk and reminiscing about university days with no truth coming to light. And honestly, all three of them either made my skin crawl or I just loathed. No one was likeable and I didn't care what happened to them. I did, however, skip to the final three or four chapters to see how it ended and if any big reveal was to come. Yeah, it kind of did...but it didn't rock my world or make any huge difference. So therefore I don't feel as if I missed out on anything.
Overall, THE SUMMER HOLIDAY just didn't do it for me and I really hate leaving negative reviews. But unfortunately we can't like every book we read.
I would like to thank #SELynes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheSummerHoliday in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 25, 2023
What beautifully flawed characters: Three people whose layers are slowly stripped back to reveal who they really are on the inside. All three, to various degrees, striving to fit the persona they present to the outside world. Coco Moss – what a brilliantly nuanced character, the cool girl at uni other girls wanted to be and boys were in awe of. Kate, a woman so lacking in confidence she lost herself trying to be what she believed her husband wanted her to be, her sense of self, her identity. Jeff, striving to atone for the impetuous sin of his youth. Thirty-odd years later and Kate and Jeff have the perfect marriage – on the outside. Jeff is wealthy, handsome, fit, and absent in his marriage while busy in pursuit of perfection. Slightly imperfect, but striving, still striving, Kate patiently waits for him to come back to her. Enter Coco, still the epitome of cool. Kate can’t be her – oh, how she wishes she could – but if she can be seen to be hanging out with her, surely she will earn the approval she so badly seeks from Jeff. In bringing Coco into their lives, though, Kate has unwittingly opened a door to the past Jeff has been desperate to keep closed. Their lives begin to unravel spectacularly when secrets from their university days come squirming out. The twists, perfectly placed, ramp up the intrigue as you read – there’s a gorgeous twist towards the end about Coco’s life that genuinely had me in open-mouthed awe. This story is wholly satisfying, especially if you, as many people do, have ever suffered lack of confidence or imposter syndrome. Totally engrossing, cleverly and exquisitely written, The Summer Holiday is a book I would definitely recommend.
April 14, 2023
This was read as part of a buddy read.
Having read and adored all the authors' previous books, I was very excited to read The Summer Holiday and my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy.
Kate has spent her entire adult life living in the shadows of her successful husband, Jeff. Desperate for his attention and love and with a chance to rekindle their marriage, they have their first holiday alone at their Villa in Spain whilst their only daughter is holidaying elsewhere friends.
Coco Moss went to University with Kate and Jeff. She was cool, beautiful, popular, envied and worshipped by everyone.
When their paths cross many years later in Spain, Kate decides to befriend Coco, but things don't go to plan with deadly consequences.
Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with any of the characters, so it was difficult to feel sympathy or any type of emotion towards them or their situations. They were all really unlikeable, in my opinion.
There were a couple of surprises, and the setting of Leeds and Spain added an atmospheric layer to the story, but overall, it fell a little flat for me.
Having read and adored all the authors' previous books, I was very excited to read The Summer Holiday and my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy.
Kate has spent her entire adult life living in the shadows of her successful husband, Jeff. Desperate for his attention and love and with a chance to rekindle their marriage, they have their first holiday alone at their Villa in Spain whilst their only daughter is holidaying elsewhere friends.
Coco Moss went to University with Kate and Jeff. She was cool, beautiful, popular, envied and worshipped by everyone.
When their paths cross many years later in Spain, Kate decides to befriend Coco, but things don't go to plan with deadly consequences.
Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with any of the characters, so it was difficult to feel sympathy or any type of emotion towards them or their situations. They were all really unlikeable, in my opinion.
There were a couple of surprises, and the setting of Leeds and Spain added an atmospheric layer to the story, but overall, it fell a little flat for me.
March 30, 2023
Kate and Jeff have escaped to their Spanish holiday for their summer holiday. It’s their first trip without their daughter Lou, the glue that holds the family together. For Kate it’s a chance to reconnect with her husband, but as usual he spends the first few days working leaving Kate to her own devices. A chance meeting for Kate with an old acquaintance has her reminiscing but when she invites Coco to the villa, Jeff freezes in horror. This wasn’t my favourite book by this author, I found the pace to be quite slow and the plot didn’t grab me as expected. I would rate it 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.
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