The Island Hideaway

by Louise Candlish

How far would you follow him before you accept it's over?

Eleanor Blake, distraught after breaking up with her fiance Will, decides to do what most would scarcely dare: secretly follow him to the island hideaway where he's on holiday with the woman who took her place. But on the shimmering, sun-drenched Sicilian island of Panarea, distractions come in many forms - including her fellow hotel guest Lewis, an enigmatic Englishman with secrets of his own to protect. And then there's Frannie, a young Italian actress on the island to prepare for her first film role, who is as charming as she is beautiful. Can she really be so perfect? And shouldn't Eleanor be the first to suspect that things might not be as they seem?

The Island Hideaway is a surprising, insightful and compelling novel from the bestselling author of Since I Don't Have You.

Previously published as Prickly Heat.

Genres: Audiobook, Chick Lit, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2004

About the author

Hello and welcome to my page... You may already know my domestic noir thrillers or perhaps you're curious and not sure which to try first - either way, you're in the right place!

My latest is OUR HOLIDAY, a Sunday Times bestseller, WHSmith Richard & Judy Book Club pick and Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025 nominee. It features my favourite ever love-to-hate characters Perry and Charlotte, second home owners in the idyllic English beach resort of Pine Ridge. It's now in development for the screen - I'll share news on that as soon as I can.

Next up is A NEIGHBOUR'S GUIDE TO MURDER, published in July 2025 (UK) and 2026 (US), available to pre-order now.

Last year I celebrated my 20th anniversary as an author with the news of two prestigious awards for my 90s-set thriller THE ONLY SUSPECT: the Capital Crime Fingerprint Award for Thriller of the Year and the Ned Kelly Award for Best International Crime Fiction. Stay tuned for TV news on that one too - it will be the next of mine to hit our screens!

OUR HOUSE is the one you may know me for as it's now a major four-part ITV drama starring Martin Compston and Tuppence Middleton (watch the full series free on ITVX). This is the novel that turned my career around, winning the 2019 British Book Awards Book of the Year - Crime & Thriller and shortlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award, the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Best Crime Novel of the Year Award​, and the Audible Sounds of Crime Award. It was also longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and the Specsavers National Book Awards. A Waterstones Thriller of the Month, it recently received a Nielsen Bestseller Silver Award for 250,000 copies sold.

A bit about me: I live in a South London neighbourhood not unlike the one in my books, with my husband, daughter and a fox-red Labrador called Bertie who is the apple of my eye. Books, TV and long walks are my passions - and drinking wine in the sun with family and friends. Authors I love include Tom Wolfe, Patricia Highsmith, Barbara Vine, Agatha Christie and Evelyn Waugh. My favourite book is Madame Bovary.

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Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up from 2.5.

My mistake for not realising it wasn't one of her psychological thrillers... although a nice little story nothing really happens and I found it quite boring. Wouldn't recommend. Do enjoy her psychological thrillers though so will stick to them next time!

[Anni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder how many readers booked a holiday on this idyllic island after reading this story? The description of the island is certainly enticing, even if there is the constant threat of volcanic activity in this Sicilian hideaway.
This is the first of Candlish’s novels - and I must admit, it shows as a debut. However, the characters and sense of place are just as authentic and atmospheric as in her later novels. Her research is impeccable, but the main problem for me was the unlikely storyline - which is just too far-fetched to be credible. Nevertheless, I give it three stars for the compulsive readability factor, which always keeps me intrigued throughout all her novels.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed other books by Louise Candlish but this one was a disappointment. Probably this was because the central character didn’t engage my sympathy but the whole plot was odd. The main plus point was I think I’d like to visit Panarea. (Island off Sicily)

[Jana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so, so, so bad. Probably the worst book I've ever read. I don't even know where to start. If like me you recently watched the second season of White Lotus which is set on Sicily and were expecting something similar, please know that that is not what you'll get. I knew that the book would be light reading but I had no idea just how light! It reads as if it was written by a student writer. The main character is DUMB and insufferable, so is her ex-fiance who we are expecting to believe is worth pursuing on a very expensive sounding holiday on a remote island. All the other characters are incredibly flat, everyone is chain-smoking and chain-drinking and there are so many other problematic things I don't even want to get into it as I don't want to waste any more time on this book. PLEASE DON'T READ IT.

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I've seen that Louise Candlish is going to treat us with a second book in a year I was really thrilled. This book was actually previously published as "Prickly Heat" back in 2004 but as I have not read it then I was not going to miss the opportunity this time.

Like with "The Disappearance of Emily Marr" I had some problems to get into this book as well. The beginning was not so easy and heart - warming. We met Eleanor, a young woman who struggles to get over with being rejected by her fiance. She had this "brilliant" idea to follow him and his new girlfriend to some island in Italy and actually stalk him. This actually made me feel a little uncomfortable and I started to expect really shocking things to happen.

I have a feeling that I don't actually know Eleanor. Yes, I know how old she is, where does she work, that she has some best friends, parents and that she works in an office and she doesn't like her job. But after having finished the book I still think that I know her on the surface and don't know much about her inside, her feelings, thoughts. Nevertheless, after getting used to Eleanor's idea of stalking, I started to warm to her. At the beginning I thought, wow, poor Will, Eleanor is going to makes his holidays a hell, but reading further we get some retrospection and get to know Will as well. And my feelings started to turn around towards Eleanor. She was actually funny, intelligent, warm woman, feeling rejected and not knowing what to do with her life now. After Will.

There are also other characters in the book, living in the same hotel as Eleanor. It was really refreshing to follow their conversations at the dinners or on the beach, to observe their interaction and to see how different people they were. They added much to this book and every one of them had their own story which also interesting and was a great sub - plot and distraction from Eleanor's story. They feel likeable and real, like people that we meet on our holidays too. One of the more important characters is going to be Lewis, who lives in the same hotel, whom Eleanor meets on her way to the island and who - as it looks - has his own secrets. Secrets that I haven't expected.

Like I said, the beginning was a little slow and hard for me, but then suddenly the story took pace and I found myself totally interested in the book. I was very curious how it is going to end, if Eleanor will meet Will, if he finds her stalking him, and I for sure didn't expect how it all turned out to the end. Which is great, there is nothing better than a book that is able to surprise me.

The writing is brilliant, easy to follow, the action full of twists, turns and surprises, full of emotions and highs and lows. The story is really intriguing and although one can find the main idea a little confusing, this book is worth reading and I heartily recommend it. Not only on summer holidays, with its beautiful italian weather and great, real descriptions of the island, I have read it in front of my fireplace and enjoyed it the same:)

I have received a copy of this book from publisher in exchange for a review.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...

I’ve gone back to Candlish’s older books again and, once more, I don’t think the reprint with its new cover does the story any favours. The dark colours are synonymous to the thriller genre, more of Candlish’s recent books, so it was a big surprise when I discovered that this book is more of a romantic drama.

[Lauren Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this read, I really did. My only criticism is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed… and I’m left with more questions, than answers. However, I read this book in a day so I guess I really really liked it. I’ll be going back to this author again.

[Sarah AF · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover was misleading. Very misleading. It was only on having already started this that I learned that it was Candlish's first novel and one that had been marketed under a *very* different cover, publishers shifting to this particular cover when Candlish's career took off as a predominantly Thriller author. Instead, this was a (weak) chick-lit, female-journey-of-discovery novel spruced up to try and appeal to Candlish's more-recent audience. At least I didn't pay for the experience, eh?

It was extremely dull and Eleanor was so incredibly frustrating as a protagonist that I think we were actually expected to get behind on the basis of the character reactions around her? Following your former fiancé and his new partner on their holiday is not healthy, relatable behaviour and yet characters were lining up to active enable it! Within the setup of the English tourists staying at the hotel, the dialogue was so inane, very much reading like an author attempting to depict bonhomie on the basis of a few character stereotypes and no actual experience of human interaction. The plot plodded on, Eleanor's routine of stalking her ex through a monocular not only repetitive but behaviour that was never sufficiently explored, and the "dramatic" finale never held any suspense. In fact, the revelations that came in the wake of that were truly preposterous.

I'm not put off reading more of Candlish's work, I'll just be staying wayyyy clear of the pre-2010s books.

[Vicky Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining book with some great farcical scenes to make you chuckle at. Just the ticket.

[Sam Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some reviews and was slightly put off by them. But I put them aside and took my own opinion on this book and I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed it. I didn’t think the storyline was unrealistic as some people said I found it very well written in fact and could relate to some parts of it.
I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had previously read a short story by Louise Candlish and enjoyed it so much that I bought this one.

Since reading the book I have found out this was published a few years ago under a different name - Prickly Heat. Since then it has been updated to fit into the world today. Things such as technology have changed which the author updated. Was this necessary? I am not sure, however the cover of the book also was update, which I think has been for the better. It appealed to me more and I am sure some others would feel the same.

The book follows Eleanor, she pursues her ex- fiance to an island. I found the story very hard to get into, it starts straight in what felt like the middle of the story. I found it hard to work out who was who and build up the scene/plot. This eventually became apparent and throughout the story we go from the past to the present so understanding the characters became clear. This was something else that I found hard to follow.

The plot of the story is an unbelievable one, Eleanor follows her ex - fiance to an island to 'spy' on him, she spends her days trying to look out for him but at the same time trying not to be seen. The likely hood of this actually happening is slim to non. But it is chick lit in style and relatively easy to read. At the beginning of the book, I was wondering how this was going to pan out and what Eleanor was going to do when she did spot Will. I felt that actually little happened, she watches him from various places and even meets up with his now current partner but nothing surprising happens. This I felt was a bit disappointing and at the end of the story I actually felt a little flat.

We also meet the other characters in the book who are staying at the same hotel as Eleanor and actually I enjoyed reading about them more and what they got up to. This created a diversion in the book at kept it moving.

This is a good beach read for you to pack in your case, as it has the holiday feel while reading it. Overall I found the book to be O.K - nothing taxing but perfect for the beach.

[Nelly G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just what the doctor ordered! After heavy and depressing reading at least 5 times in a row, this book reminded me of good stuff that i love so much and miss terribly like romance, travel, adventures.
The main character seems absolutely insane and unstable following/stalking her exboyfriend, which lures you into reading and wanting to find out more. Another adoring thing about the book is vivid presentation of the flora and fauna of the italian island, where all the events are taking place, and people, houses and sights sound so beautiful and charming. Panarea island seems a perfect place to escape, even though it's described as very touristy, or have a romantic rendezvous. The ending is quite twisted and unpredictable.
Anyway, i enjoyed the book which my friend had bought in Ireland for 1 or 2 euros. Don't judge a book by its cover or price:)
Now Panarea is in my travel list!

[Rachel Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, loved it, loved it!! I have a love-hate relationship with Louise Candlish’s books: read one and loved it, read one that was “meh”, abandoned the 3rd in disgust. But this one was just perfect! The madness we’re prone to when a relationship breaks down, the finer points of language that are inevitably lost in translation when multi-cultural groups find themselves thrown together in foreign countries... perfectly portrayed in this light-hearted romp. Just the beach read I needed!

[Clair Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uninteresting

Not one of Louises better novels. I found it dull and quite boring. I kept reading in the hope that there was some kind of twist to the story, but unfortunately not. If I had read this one first, I don't think I would have read more of her novels.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice light beach read which I was wanting. I wish there was a bit more at the end.
Author reminded me of Adele Parks, Carole Matthews and Sheila O'Flanagan.

[Lisa Jefferson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well what can i say not the best of reads but i did give it ago

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louise Candlish (2013) THE ISLAND HIDEAWAY
London. Sphere

⭐⭐⭐ 3 out of 5 stars

The sleeve reads, "How far would you follow him before you accept it's over? Eleanor Blake, distraught after breaking up with her fiance Will, decides to do what most would scarcely dare: secretly follow him to the island hideaway where he's on holiday with the woman who took her place. But on the shimmering, sun-drenched Sicilian island of Panarea, distractions come in many forms - including her fellow hotel guest Lewis, an enigmatic Englishman with secrets of his own to protect. And then there's Frannie, a young Italian actress on the island to prepare for her first film role, who is as charming as she is beautiful. Can she really be so perfect? And shouldn't Eleanor be the first to suspect that things might not be as they seem?"
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Have read a few Candlish books now so I'm used to loving what she writes. Whilst this was good, it didn't live up to what I'm used to from her books. Only found out at the end that this one is a revised and updated version of her first book, Prickly Heat.
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[Patricia Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have given the book a 2⭐️ rating mainly for the beautiful descriptions of Panarea. This just wasn’t my cup of tea but it’s my own fault for going on the cover (the styling is very similar to Louise Candlish recent psychological thrillers)

This is far from a thriller. In fact I don’t even know what genre it is. The main character Eleanor is extremely unrelatable and downright annoying. Who would think it’s a good idea to pursue and stalk an ex boyfriend on his holiday with a new partner? None of the characters had any flesh on their bones, and the men who seemed to just want to ogle and force themselves on fellow hotel guests made me shudder. Let’s not even discuss the antics of the 14 year old ….

This turns out to be Louise Candlish’s first novel, and it definitely shows, even with the updates that she informs us of at the end of the book. Next time I will do more research into any book of hers before I select it ! I do love her psychological thrillers and will continue to read those, but this just didn’t do it for me.

[Lisa Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I read this in one day. I love how Louise Candlish writes , she really gets you to feel for the characters . While this is an ideal beach read it's written far more intelligently than frothy chicklit. Plot and characters are entirely credible and there are some lovely touches of humour and vulnerability. The central character Eleanor has followed her ex fiance to an Italian island, hoping to claim him back from his stunning new girlfriend. During that time she encounters other holiday makers - all characters in their own right. The author captures the essence of the Italian scenery with evocative description. Throughout the novel it gets easier to sympathise, even empathise, with the lovelorn Eleanor. I particularly liked the fact that the ending isn't a schmaltzy cliche. Highlight recommend this as pure escapism and an entertaining read .

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy Louise Candlish's style of writing. I especially liked her book, the disappearance of Emily Marr. However, this book was a bit disappointing. I was waiting for something to happen, and it never really did. I actually like Eleanor, I found her funny and relatable. I just wish there had been a bit more action. The Frannie character was predictable and frustrating and I was physically rolling my eyes when she appeared. I found the best thing about the book was Louise's added bit at the end to explain how she had updated this book (her first novel) for a modern audience.

[Sylvia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think a great deal of this book. It may have been updated but it felt totally out of date. The author comments at the back about recognising the change in smoking habits since the original version was written but that she decided not to change it. Regardless of the change in acceptability of smoking, why would someone spend so much time writing about it. It is not relevant to the storyline of the book. What remained of the book which didn't seem much seemed fairly pointless. A pity as I've read other books by the author and really enjoyed them.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable summer read, with mostly believable characters. I did find Eleanor’s bizarre behaviour at the start of the story a little unbelievable but I know from personal experience that rejection and a broken heart is enough to send you a little crazy! I found myself drawn into the story and enjoying the cast of characters and caring about what happened to them. I’d recommend this as a holiday novel.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read some of this author’s novels before and always enjoyed them but this one I felt was a little below par! I then found out that this was a re-write of her debut novel which explains everything! I found this story line a bit unbelievable and far fetched. In saying that, there is a lot to commend this summer read in that the glorious Island is well described as are the characters . I read to the end.

[Bronwen Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I’d give Louise Candlish books ago after reading “the only suspect” which I really enjoyed….HOWEVER this book was so disappointing. The books description gives an indication of some sort of thriller / twist but it’s far from this. It’s a book of nothing, the story line was boring, the main character was annoying and it was pointless. I continued to read thinking something was going to happen in the story but it never did! Very boring book with no storyline.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good escapism destination. Sounds like a beautiful place.

I much prefer Louise's latest thrillers than these. She's done well to make the transition. Due to her thrillers, I wanted to try her earlier books. I discovered this one in my local library and it's a refreshed version from 2004, apparently her very first book "Prickly Heat".

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The weather had been rubbish and I thought a good read featuring a sunny location would be good. I read it to the end but was fed up with the ending. Why are the author's books so variable? Not satisfied with this - not enough going on - ridiculous cat and mouse but nothing gripping, I am afraid.

[Nadette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I'm used to different works by Louise Candlish, although this is her debut novel, after all.

I liked the scenery in Sicily - although I can never understand the desperation that the main character had at following her ex around. Also, I could see the red flags from a mile away.

I'm glad there was a plot twist, even though I felt it wasn't great. I did, however, like the side characters.

[Rachel Pratt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book on the back of another book by the same author . What a difference , didn’t enjoy it one little bit. Quite ridiculous , jilted female follows her ex to an island . It’s not clear why and she spends the time walking around in a big hat observing him and his new love . Nothing more that’s it , it’s deeply unsatisfying.

[Valerie Colquhoun · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t believe I finished this!!! Disliked throughout but had read there was a surprise so persevered. The surprise was very disappointing ! Confirmed that people do strange things or this author imagines they do.