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The Island Escape
THE PERFECT SUMMER READ FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE EX-WIFE.
'An excellent, fast-paced psychological thriller' 5* Reader Review
'A fantastic and original read' 5* Reader Review
'Amazing writing' 5* Reader Review
'Not the ending I was expecting, but it was the ending I didn't know I wanted' 5* Reader Review
'The characters were great, the story itself was very enjoyable and suspenseful, the setting was fantastic' 5* Reader Review
___________________________________
Forty years ago, the island was paradise. Now, it’s haunted by shadows of the past.
When Juno arrives at the breathtaking Greek island of Inios, she has one to find the father she’s never met.
But he isn’t there, and nothing is as she expected. As whispers follow her every step, Juno is convinced something terrible happened all those years ago when her parents fell in love.
Desperate for answers, Juno knows she can’t leave the island until her family secret that has been hidden for decades is finally uncovered.
Little does she know how far someone will go to keep it buried…
___________________________________
Praise for Jess
'Gripping' Sunday Times Style
'Full of surprises' Sun
'An intensely evocative novel' The Sunday Times Culture
'A great read' Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Island
'Kept me up late into the early hours' Ali Lowe, bestselling author of The Running Club
'‘You’ll love the way the chapters switch from the weekend of the murder to the return visit, as the hunt for the killer takes some unexpected, and violent, turns' Daily Express
'An excellent, fast-paced psychological thriller' 5* Reader Review
'A fantastic and original read' 5* Reader Review
'Amazing writing' 5* Reader Review
'Not the ending I was expecting, but it was the ending I didn't know I wanted' 5* Reader Review
'The characters were great, the story itself was very enjoyable and suspenseful, the setting was fantastic' 5* Reader Review
___________________________________
Forty years ago, the island was paradise. Now, it’s haunted by shadows of the past.
When Juno arrives at the breathtaking Greek island of Inios, she has one to find the father she’s never met.
But he isn’t there, and nothing is as she expected. As whispers follow her every step, Juno is convinced something terrible happened all those years ago when her parents fell in love.
Desperate for answers, Juno knows she can’t leave the island until her family secret that has been hidden for decades is finally uncovered.
Little does she know how far someone will go to keep it buried…
___________________________________
Praise for Jess
'Gripping' Sunday Times Style
'Full of surprises' Sun
'An intensely evocative novel' The Sunday Times Culture
'A great read' Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Island
'Kept me up late into the early hours' Ali Lowe, bestselling author of The Running Club
'‘You’ll love the way the chapters switch from the weekend of the murder to the return visit, as the hunt for the killer takes some unexpected, and violent, turns' Daily Express
- GenresThriller
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
26 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Jess Ryder
19 books361 followersJess Ryder is a pseudonym of novelist/screenwriter/television producer, Jan Page
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 13, 2025
This was a great thriller, with a captivating mystery and plenty of heart behind it. I was offered this book after reading Jess Ryder's previous book, The Villa. I actually liked this better even though I enjoyed The Villa quite a bit!
The setting was more interesting to me and felt more real somehow. Perhaps it's because the author, as she mentions in her acknowledgements, spent time in this particular world in Greece - she seems to have an affinity with it and describes it so well.
I have to admit, the title didn't get my attention by itself, but the description of "Mamma Mia with murder" certainly did! I would definitely agree that it fits that tagline well. A daughter searching for a lost father on a Greek island with a somewhat hippy mother. And it doesn't even take to the point where it all turns a bit darker to be interesting; the narrative had my attention throughout. There was always an underlying tension as Juno is warned by her mother, among others, to stay out of everything, but she forges ahead.
The book is well told through a first person narrative by Juno, the daughter, Estelle's postcards to her parents at home, which is how Estelle's story is unfolding for Juno (and gives a good unreliable narrator version - who tells their parents the real truth?!), and a third person narrative from Estelle's perspective that gives us as the reader a little extra insight.
This makes an excellent summer read to keep you on your toes and guessing throughout. There's not just one mystery to uncover, but a few, and some will definitely be surprises - I'm sure!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for a review copy of this book.
The setting was more interesting to me and felt more real somehow. Perhaps it's because the author, as she mentions in her acknowledgements, spent time in this particular world in Greece - she seems to have an affinity with it and describes it so well.
I have to admit, the title didn't get my attention by itself, but the description of "Mamma Mia with murder" certainly did! I would definitely agree that it fits that tagline well. A daughter searching for a lost father on a Greek island with a somewhat hippy mother. And it doesn't even take to the point where it all turns a bit darker to be interesting; the narrative had my attention throughout. There was always an underlying tension as Juno is warned by her mother, among others, to stay out of everything, but she forges ahead.
The book is well told through a first person narrative by Juno, the daughter, Estelle's postcards to her parents at home, which is how Estelle's story is unfolding for Juno (and gives a good unreliable narrator version - who tells their parents the real truth?!), and a third person narrative from Estelle's perspective that gives us as the reader a little extra insight.
This makes an excellent summer read to keep you on your toes and guessing throughout. There's not just one mystery to uncover, but a few, and some will definitely be surprises - I'm sure!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for a review copy of this book.
September 21, 2025
The Island Escape was such a fun and absorbing read. I got pulled into the drama right away and loved the mix of suspense, secrets, and the tropical setting. The characters felt real, with their flaws and tangled relationships, and that made the story more engaging. There were a few moments where the pacing slowed a bit, but overall it kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Perfect for when you want something twisty but not too heavy.
However, I do think my enjoyment of this book was influenced due to the fact I was reading it whilst basking in the Greek sun.
However, I do think my enjoyment of this book was influenced due to the fact I was reading it whilst basking in the Greek sun.
July 23, 2025
Perfect read full of twists and turns x
May 6, 2025
The Island Escape by Jess Ryder
I read “The Villa” by Jess Ryder last year and rated it really highly, so when I was offered the chance to read her next book, I jumped at it. However, I felt really let down as there was a massive downgrade in this recent book from her previous work.
As with “The Villa”, Ryder does a brilliant job setting the scene; the Greek landscape feels beautiful, well-crafted and immersive. The author writes lovely descriptions that feel life-like and engrossing. Clearly she has visited Greece or done research on the landscape as it was very realistic and felt hugely similar to all the Greek towns I have personally visited. I also enjoyed her use of personalised similes; she steered clear of over-used, cliche descriptions- for example I loved the one at the beginning “the [ferry] doors opening like the yawning mouth of a whale” which evokes a really striking image. Certainly the writer has a great way of setting the scene, but there was often far too much of this detail involved in the scenes. We’re left reading pages of long descriptions about the setting or the atmosphere or the unimportant events, which could have been cut to less than a page to keep it fast-paced and interesting. This all felt unnecessary and left the pacing feeling odd and disjointed.
The majority of the middle parts of this book felt drawn out and lacked any inciting incidents, so the plot fell stagnant and became disinteresting. There was no need for us to have so much detail about all the weddings, the party planning, Estelle’s holiday or her time at uni etc. Even the scene where Andreas’s party is sabotaged (which felt like it was meant to be a dramatic moment in the plot) felt underdone, like there was no real meaning associated with the events and it lacked any tension or suspense to keep me gripped. The pacing felt weird and slow due to this lack of action. When the body was discovered, I expected things to finally pick up in terms of action or mystery but it felt like it was pushed to the sidelines and the overriding plot was Juno searching for her Dad, which left the plot feeling lifeless and repetitive. Considering this is marketed as a Mystery/Thriller, it didn’t have much mystery, nor much thrill, unfortunately.
In her previous book, I loved Ryder’s creation of the characters and found them to be complex and interesting, yet I just did not warm to any of the characters in this story. Juno came across as irritating, naive and overly optimistic to the point it felt like she had no critical thinking skills whatsoever and just went along with things regardless. Her going to Greece expecting a premade perfect Greek family that would embrace her with open arms was overly hopeful. Also, when Juno says towards the start “I shouldn’t have told anyone Niko is my father, I have to be more careful going forward…” then immediately in the next chapter tells Millie and then later tells anyone who asks it was like uhhh okay maybe not, I guess we’re not learning from our mistakes then! She willingly walked herself into so many stupid situations just because she refused to think about anything logically. It also felt unrealistic that Juno turns up in Greece, happens to be approached by Millie for a massage then within a couple of hours has a job as a wedding planner with no future experience and has lied her way into it. It felt far too convenient, like it was key to the plot that she had that job, so it just fell into her lap! ** SPOILERS INCOMING ** The ending when Juno is attacked was so aggravating as it could have so easily been avoided by Juno not being so hopelessly obsessed with thinking everyone is great and wanting to be liked by everyone, or just having some perceptive thought. Despina came across as desperate to keep her on the island and I knew exactly what was about to happen, but Juno willingly walked herself into the situation like a lamb walking into the slaughterhouse, smiling and cheerful all the way. **END OF SPOILERS ** Her character just made me annoyed as she didn’t really have much personality other than being hopelessly naive and showing zero awareness or critical thinking skills and all the while abandoning her husband at home in the hopes of finding some premade family in Greece waiting for her. How frustrating. It was like Juno’s character was created and used solely as a device to keep the plot moving, but there wasn’t any real exploration into her as a character, and, if there was, it was all very shallow.
Estelle was also an odd character who I just couldn’t warm to. I did like the flashback elements of the book and especially thought it was clever to do it in a way as if we were reading her letters and postcards from the past alongside Juno. I thought this split between present and past added an interesting side to the book and did keep me interested, yet I found myself preferring Estelle’s POV over Junos as it was more intriguing. However, Estelle as a character came across as a selfish, overly indulgent, reckless teenager who was obsessed with a boy she’d known for a very short amount of time. Estelle’s internal monologue was annoying to listen to as she is contradicting herself at multiple times and seems, like Juno, to lack any critical thinking or personality other than loving Greece and obsessing over Niko. Her investigation of Rob’s disappearance was quite gripping and I liked these scenes, but it quickly fell off. Otherwise, her motivations were unclear until the very end and I found myself thinking “okay so what was the point of including that?” at several intervals throughout. Even at the end it didn’t really become clear why half of Estelle’s POV was required to make the plot understandable. At the end when Estelle keeps saying she needs to “let Niko decide for himself” yet keeps going to see him and trying to subtly sway his decision was narcissistic and a very weird POV to read. I’m not sure if it was intended to be aggravating to read her thoughts here or what but it was so annoying… like, girl, please leave the man alone, do the right thing and leave the man to support his wife and child, stop being so self-centered! I found myself hating her more and more as the book went on; I mean this very well might have been the intention but considering I also wasn’t a fan of Juno I just felt irritated whilst reading this book.
I’m really sorry to say I just did not find this an enjoyable read. Jess Ryder’s previous book was really good, but there felt like there was something missing from this one and it just left it feeling lacklustre and uninspired. I’d be very interested to read any future work from Ryder and see if this was just a blip in an otherwise good writing career! Overall, I rated this 2.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Jess Ryder for the ARC.
I read “The Villa” by Jess Ryder last year and rated it really highly, so when I was offered the chance to read her next book, I jumped at it. However, I felt really let down as there was a massive downgrade in this recent book from her previous work.
As with “The Villa”, Ryder does a brilliant job setting the scene; the Greek landscape feels beautiful, well-crafted and immersive. The author writes lovely descriptions that feel life-like and engrossing. Clearly she has visited Greece or done research on the landscape as it was very realistic and felt hugely similar to all the Greek towns I have personally visited. I also enjoyed her use of personalised similes; she steered clear of over-used, cliche descriptions- for example I loved the one at the beginning “the [ferry] doors opening like the yawning mouth of a whale” which evokes a really striking image. Certainly the writer has a great way of setting the scene, but there was often far too much of this detail involved in the scenes. We’re left reading pages of long descriptions about the setting or the atmosphere or the unimportant events, which could have been cut to less than a page to keep it fast-paced and interesting. This all felt unnecessary and left the pacing feeling odd and disjointed.
The majority of the middle parts of this book felt drawn out and lacked any inciting incidents, so the plot fell stagnant and became disinteresting. There was no need for us to have so much detail about all the weddings, the party planning, Estelle’s holiday or her time at uni etc. Even the scene where Andreas’s party is sabotaged (which felt like it was meant to be a dramatic moment in the plot) felt underdone, like there was no real meaning associated with the events and it lacked any tension or suspense to keep me gripped. The pacing felt weird and slow due to this lack of action. When the body was discovered, I expected things to finally pick up in terms of action or mystery but it felt like it was pushed to the sidelines and the overriding plot was Juno searching for her Dad, which left the plot feeling lifeless and repetitive. Considering this is marketed as a Mystery/Thriller, it didn’t have much mystery, nor much thrill, unfortunately.
In her previous book, I loved Ryder’s creation of the characters and found them to be complex and interesting, yet I just did not warm to any of the characters in this story. Juno came across as irritating, naive and overly optimistic to the point it felt like she had no critical thinking skills whatsoever and just went along with things regardless. Her going to Greece expecting a premade perfect Greek family that would embrace her with open arms was overly hopeful. Also, when Juno says towards the start “I shouldn’t have told anyone Niko is my father, I have to be more careful going forward…” then immediately in the next chapter tells Millie and then later tells anyone who asks it was like uhhh okay maybe not, I guess we’re not learning from our mistakes then! She willingly walked herself into so many stupid situations just because she refused to think about anything logically. It also felt unrealistic that Juno turns up in Greece, happens to be approached by Millie for a massage then within a couple of hours has a job as a wedding planner with no future experience and has lied her way into it. It felt far too convenient, like it was key to the plot that she had that job, so it just fell into her lap! ** SPOILERS INCOMING ** The ending when Juno is attacked was so aggravating as it could have so easily been avoided by Juno not being so hopelessly obsessed with thinking everyone is great and wanting to be liked by everyone, or just having some perceptive thought. Despina came across as desperate to keep her on the island and I knew exactly what was about to happen, but Juno willingly walked herself into the situation like a lamb walking into the slaughterhouse, smiling and cheerful all the way. **END OF SPOILERS ** Her character just made me annoyed as she didn’t really have much personality other than being hopelessly naive and showing zero awareness or critical thinking skills and all the while abandoning her husband at home in the hopes of finding some premade family in Greece waiting for her. How frustrating. It was like Juno’s character was created and used solely as a device to keep the plot moving, but there wasn’t any real exploration into her as a character, and, if there was, it was all very shallow.
Estelle was also an odd character who I just couldn’t warm to. I did like the flashback elements of the book and especially thought it was clever to do it in a way as if we were reading her letters and postcards from the past alongside Juno. I thought this split between present and past added an interesting side to the book and did keep me interested, yet I found myself preferring Estelle’s POV over Junos as it was more intriguing. However, Estelle as a character came across as a selfish, overly indulgent, reckless teenager who was obsessed with a boy she’d known for a very short amount of time. Estelle’s internal monologue was annoying to listen to as she is contradicting herself at multiple times and seems, like Juno, to lack any critical thinking or personality other than loving Greece and obsessing over Niko. Her investigation of Rob’s disappearance was quite gripping and I liked these scenes, but it quickly fell off. Otherwise, her motivations were unclear until the very end and I found myself thinking “okay so what was the point of including that?” at several intervals throughout. Even at the end it didn’t really become clear why half of Estelle’s POV was required to make the plot understandable. At the end when Estelle keeps saying she needs to “let Niko decide for himself” yet keeps going to see him and trying to subtly sway his decision was narcissistic and a very weird POV to read. I’m not sure if it was intended to be aggravating to read her thoughts here or what but it was so annoying… like, girl, please leave the man alone, do the right thing and leave the man to support his wife and child, stop being so self-centered! I found myself hating her more and more as the book went on; I mean this very well might have been the intention but considering I also wasn’t a fan of Juno I just felt irritated whilst reading this book.
I’m really sorry to say I just did not find this an enjoyable read. Jess Ryder’s previous book was really good, but there felt like there was something missing from this one and it just left it feeling lacklustre and uninspired. I’d be very interested to read any future work from Ryder and see if this was just a blip in an otherwise good writing career! Overall, I rated this 2.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Jess Ryder for the ARC.
July 8, 2025
Jess Ryder delivers a sun-drenched psychological mystery in The Island Escape, a gripping dual-timeline thriller set against the breathtaking backdrop of a small Greek island. This is a story about secrets, family ties, and the lingering shadows of the past.
Plot Summary:
The novel follows Juno, who travels to the island of Inios in search of answers about her estranged father. What starts as a hopeful journey becomes a tangled web of deceit as Juno uncovers long-buried truths that connect to her mother’s mysterious past. Set between the present day and the 1980s, Ryder masterfully weaves two timelines into a single thread of tension, slowly unspooling until the final twist clicks into place.
What Worked:
The atmosphere is lush and evocative—Ryder paints the island vividly, from olive groves to sun-bleached ruins, creating a setting that’s both beautiful and claustrophobic.
The mystery is layered, and while the pace is steady, the suspense builds effectively.
The dual timelines give the story depth, and the contrast between the carefree, passionate past and the sharp tension of the present is compelling.
Perfect for fans of stories like The Villa or One of the Girls—this is your beach read with a bite.
What Didn’t:
Some readers may find the middle a bit slow, with exposition taking time to pay off.
Character depth is hit-and-miss—Juno is relatable, but some secondary characters feel like they serve the plot more than they breathe.
Final Thoughts:
The Island Escape is a moody, atmospheric mystery that will appeal to fans of summer thrillers with emotional stakes. If you enjoy untangling long-held family secrets and basking in a coastal setting while doing it, this one’s for you.
📚 Recommended for:
Readers who like slow-burn suspense
Fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Clarke, or Louise Candlish
Anyone craving a Greek-island getaway with a dark twist
Plot Summary:
The novel follows Juno, who travels to the island of Inios in search of answers about her estranged father. What starts as a hopeful journey becomes a tangled web of deceit as Juno uncovers long-buried truths that connect to her mother’s mysterious past. Set between the present day and the 1980s, Ryder masterfully weaves two timelines into a single thread of tension, slowly unspooling until the final twist clicks into place.
What Worked:
The atmosphere is lush and evocative—Ryder paints the island vividly, from olive groves to sun-bleached ruins, creating a setting that’s both beautiful and claustrophobic.
The mystery is layered, and while the pace is steady, the suspense builds effectively.
The dual timelines give the story depth, and the contrast between the carefree, passionate past and the sharp tension of the present is compelling.
Perfect for fans of stories like The Villa or One of the Girls—this is your beach read with a bite.
What Didn’t:
Some readers may find the middle a bit slow, with exposition taking time to pay off.
Character depth is hit-and-miss—Juno is relatable, but some secondary characters feel like they serve the plot more than they breathe.
Final Thoughts:
The Island Escape is a moody, atmospheric mystery that will appeal to fans of summer thrillers with emotional stakes. If you enjoy untangling long-held family secrets and basking in a coastal setting while doing it, this one’s for you.
📚 Recommended for:
Readers who like slow-burn suspense
Fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Clarke, or Louise Candlish
Anyone craving a Greek-island getaway with a dark twist
July 8, 2025
Juno is in her late thirties, and she arrives on the Greek island of Inios to find her father, whom she has never known.
After her gran’s death, while she was clearing her house, Juno found letters from the 1980s. Letters from Estelle, her mother, to her parents, detailing her summer at Inios and her deep love for Nico Zimiris.
Armed with this information, Juno confronts her mother, who tells her to stay away from the island and the Zimiris family.
This, obviously, doesn’t work, and Juno arrives at Inios and finds work as a wedding planner for none other than the Zimiris family!
She soon discovers that nothing is as it seems…
I loved the author’s previous book, The Villa, so I jumped at the chance to read her latest work, and I wasn’t disappointed.
This book had me from the gripping prologue of the events from 1985, where Estelle and Nico have done something terrible and departed the island, vowing to never contact each other again.
I was racing through the story, trying to find out what really happened back in 1985.
I loved the idyllic, scenic setting of a Greek island. However, upon closer inspection, the island was claustrophobic, with everyone knowing each other’s business. Also, I didn’t like how the Greek men treated their women; such old-fashioned views!
This book offers some delicious twists and turns. I definitely recommend it.
After her gran’s death, while she was clearing her house, Juno found letters from the 1980s. Letters from Estelle, her mother, to her parents, detailing her summer at Inios and her deep love for Nico Zimiris.
Armed with this information, Juno confronts her mother, who tells her to stay away from the island and the Zimiris family.
This, obviously, doesn’t work, and Juno arrives at Inios and finds work as a wedding planner for none other than the Zimiris family!
She soon discovers that nothing is as it seems…
I loved the author’s previous book, The Villa, so I jumped at the chance to read her latest work, and I wasn’t disappointed.
This book had me from the gripping prologue of the events from 1985, where Estelle and Nico have done something terrible and departed the island, vowing to never contact each other again.
I was racing through the story, trying to find out what really happened back in 1985.
I loved the idyllic, scenic setting of a Greek island. However, upon closer inspection, the island was claustrophobic, with everyone knowing each other’s business. Also, I didn’t like how the Greek men treated their women; such old-fashioned views!
This book offers some delicious twists and turns. I definitely recommend it.
July 4, 2025
This is a great read.
Juno heads to the Greek island of Inios to try and find out more about her father as her Mum, Estelle won’t tell her much. Finding some old letters and photos from her Mum, Juno starts her search.
Her relationship with Estelle is distant but when both her husband and Estelle find out she has gone to Inios they’re far from happy.
Estelle tells her to come home immediately as she’s not safe but when she asks why, Estelle won’t say.
We then have chapters from Estelle when she met Juno’s father and we are able to start to fill the gaps.
This was an intriguing story with a few surprises in store.
Thanks to Random House UK for the opportunity to read this book.
Juno heads to the Greek island of Inios to try and find out more about her father as her Mum, Estelle won’t tell her much. Finding some old letters and photos from her Mum, Juno starts her search.
Her relationship with Estelle is distant but when both her husband and Estelle find out she has gone to Inios they’re far from happy.
Estelle tells her to come home immediately as she’s not safe but when she asks why, Estelle won’t say.
We then have chapters from Estelle when she met Juno’s father and we are able to start to fill the gaps.
This was an intriguing story with a few surprises in store.
Thanks to Random House UK for the opportunity to read this book.
July 7, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. Sucked me in from the start, easy to read, set in Greece so lovely descriptions. Felt like i was there.
Enjoyed the plot, wasnt sure which way it was going to go. I had lots of guesses but none were correct.
A good holiday read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Enjoyed the plot, wasnt sure which way it was going to go. I had lots of guesses but none were correct.
A good holiday read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2025
I had high hopes for 'The Island Escape' based on the premise, but ultimately the book felt a little flat and failed to draw me in. The setup is a classic for a destination thriller - a gorgeous, sunny island, a family mystery, and secrets galore, however, the story felt thin, lacking that 'something' to really get me caught up in the story.
I struggled to connect with the characters which made it hard to care about their fate or the stakes involved. Even the big reveal and plot twist didn’t impact me. It landed with a bit of a thud and felt like a bit of a let down.
Overall, it’s beautifully set and is a solid premise, but it never quite delivers on its potential. A decent summer read if you’re after easy escapism, but if you want some real suspense this one may leave you underwhelmed.
I struggled to connect with the characters which made it hard to care about their fate or the stakes involved. Even the big reveal and plot twist didn’t impact me. It landed with a bit of a thud and felt like a bit of a let down.
Overall, it’s beautifully set and is a solid premise, but it never quite delivers on its potential. A decent summer read if you’re after easy escapism, but if you want some real suspense this one may leave you underwhelmed.
May 31, 2025
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House UK & Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Island Escape by Jess.
I really enjoyed Jess' novel, The Villa, so I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately, I'm so sorry, this wasn't for me.
There was waaay too much detail (sometimes 3 pages when it could be covered in a page max), I didn't connect with any of the characters and the twist wasn't very twisty for me. It feels like it's missing 'something' to give it a spark.
I'll definitely read more of Jess' books in future but sadly I didn't enjoy this one.
I really enjoyed Jess' novel, The Villa, so I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately, I'm so sorry, this wasn't for me.
There was waaay too much detail (sometimes 3 pages when it could be covered in a page max), I didn't connect with any of the characters and the twist wasn't very twisty for me. It feels like it's missing 'something' to give it a spark.
I'll definitely read more of Jess' books in future but sadly I didn't enjoy this one.
June 16, 2025
I enjoyed Jess Ryder’s novel, The Villa, so this novel sparked my interest. Around forty years ago, Nico and Estelle left the Greek island of Ionis. Cut to the present day, and Juno has temporarily left her marriage and is on Ionis to attempt to find out what happened to her father. Her mother, Estelle, whom she hardly ever sees, leads a hippie, eclectic lifestyle in Portugal and warns her not to meddle, as it will not be safe, but Juno ignores her warnings. Juno has never met her father. All she has is a series of letters that Estelle sent to her parents, talking of her romance with Nico and him being the eldest son of a wealthy and powerful family of restaurant owners.
The main story is set in two timelines. Estelle backpacking on the Greek island where she meets Nico, and they fall in love. However, Nico’s family strongly disapprove of their relationship, and things start to go awry.
In the present day, Juno visits the island and gets a job posing as a wedding coordinator for the same business that belongs to her missing father’s family. She has to be careful not to reveal her true identity or intentions, but it soon becomes clear that she is in danger as secrets are uncovered.
This book had a really good premise, but was let down by execution. It’s too bogged down in detail, with lots of unnecessary scene setting. The characters are not likeable and not fleshed out. Plus the plot winds around not getting anywhere and ends with a bit of a whimper.
So an average 3 stars from me.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Jess Ryder for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an honest and open review.
The main story is set in two timelines. Estelle backpacking on the Greek island where she meets Nico, and they fall in love. However, Nico’s family strongly disapprove of their relationship, and things start to go awry.
In the present day, Juno visits the island and gets a job posing as a wedding coordinator for the same business that belongs to her missing father’s family. She has to be careful not to reveal her true identity or intentions, but it soon becomes clear that she is in danger as secrets are uncovered.
This book had a really good premise, but was let down by execution. It’s too bogged down in detail, with lots of unnecessary scene setting. The characters are not likeable and not fleshed out. Plus the plot winds around not getting anywhere and ends with a bit of a whimper.
So an average 3 stars from me.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Jess Ryder for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an honest and open review.
June 16, 2025
Forty years ago Estelle and Nico fled the island of Inos. Now their daughter, Juno, is on the island trying to find the father she’d never met, and discover what had happened. As a young child she had been dragged around the hippy communes of the world by Estelle, before settling to a stable life with her grandparents while Estelle continued her wandering ways. Juno had had no information about her father “an unknown Italian waiter” until now, aged thirty-nine, when she has found a collection of letters and postcards which Estelle had sent to her parents during her time on the island, describing her romance with Nico, eldest son of a prominent family of restauranteurs. The family business has expanded a lot and Juno manages to get a job as their ‘Wedding -event organiser’, without telling them that she is Nico’s daughter and, therefore, also a member of their family. The phrase ‘opening a can of worms’ springs to mind.
This is, in theory, a murder-mystery-thriller, but, although I has features that fit with those three categories, it is more of a domestic drama, really. The plot is not very complicated, not very original, the characters are all a bit thin and there is little in the way of tension. I also have some niggles about the logistics. Readers looking for something to relax with rather than puzzle over will enjoy it, but I’m in the puzzle camp.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
This is, in theory, a murder-mystery-thriller, but, although I has features that fit with those three categories, it is more of a domestic drama, really. The plot is not very complicated, not very original, the characters are all a bit thin and there is little in the way of tension. I also have some niggles about the logistics. Readers looking for something to relax with rather than puzzle over will enjoy it, but I’m in the puzzle camp.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
July 3, 2025
I found this a very enjoyable read, written over two timelines, 1980s by Estelle and present day by Juno, her daughter.
Juno Curnell knew that she needed space, she loved her husband, Luke but the constant stress of trying for a baby and failing, the endless ovulation charts, temperature reading were bringing her down.
Juno had been raised by her grandparents from the age of eleven, her hippy mother, Estelle, was living in Portugal. Estelle refused to tell Juno who her father was but Juno found out that his name was Niko and her mother had fallen in love with him when she had spent her summer vacation from uni on the beautiful Greek island of Inios.
Juno was going to use her time out to try to find Niko, she travelled to Inios and managed to get a job as a wedding planner working for Nikos brother Andreus, she didn't tell anyone who she was, at the back of her mind was her mothers warning "please don't go the Inios, your life will be in danger".
As this story unfolds, people disappear, bodies are found, identities uncertain, the Greek islanders have their own strict codes of conduct, they welcome tourists for their money but not into their families.
Will Andreus discover Juno's secret ? Will Juno find Niko ? Why is her life in danger, who can she trust ?
This story transports me back to happy holidays on the Greek islands, the author obviously knows the islands well. The story does drag on a bit but it has an unexpected but great ending.
Thank you Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.
Juno Curnell knew that she needed space, she loved her husband, Luke but the constant stress of trying for a baby and failing, the endless ovulation charts, temperature reading were bringing her down.
Juno had been raised by her grandparents from the age of eleven, her hippy mother, Estelle, was living in Portugal. Estelle refused to tell Juno who her father was but Juno found out that his name was Niko and her mother had fallen in love with him when she had spent her summer vacation from uni on the beautiful Greek island of Inios.
Juno was going to use her time out to try to find Niko, she travelled to Inios and managed to get a job as a wedding planner working for Nikos brother Andreus, she didn't tell anyone who she was, at the back of her mind was her mothers warning "please don't go the Inios, your life will be in danger".
As this story unfolds, people disappear, bodies are found, identities uncertain, the Greek islanders have their own strict codes of conduct, they welcome tourists for their money but not into their families.
Will Andreus discover Juno's secret ? Will Juno find Niko ? Why is her life in danger, who can she trust ?
This story transports me back to happy holidays on the Greek islands, the author obviously knows the islands well. The story does drag on a bit but it has an unexpected but great ending.
Thank you Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.
June 26, 2025
Overall 3.75 stars.
Premise: Juno decides to retrace her mother’s journey from the 80’s to have closure regarding her parents in the beautiful Greek island of Ionos. However the island seems to hold more secrets than she could have anticipated and her arrival could just be the trigger the unraveling of over a decade long mystery.
Jess Ryder does it again! The author does a great job of laying out the atmosphere, describing the beautiful and picturesque scenery while exploring the personalities of the characters very well. Although the chapters flit in between the 1st person POV of the present time and the 3rd person POV of the events of the past, the reader would definitely be able to get a sense of all the character and their different personalities. Just as with Ryder’s previous book, I felt all the characters were written well for readers to be able to see both positive aspects as well as the flaws.
Although I personally enjoyed the family drama with mystery aspect, I feel readers would not label this a thriller but rather a genre based on realistic drama that encompasses both family dynamics, self-growth and a family mystery.
The overall book kept me captured however I felt the ending to be quite predictable and unfortunately too rushed.
Readers that enjoy mysteries with a good element of one finding themselves while understanding cultural differences would really enjoy this book!
Premise: Juno decides to retrace her mother’s journey from the 80’s to have closure regarding her parents in the beautiful Greek island of Ionos. However the island seems to hold more secrets than she could have anticipated and her arrival could just be the trigger the unraveling of over a decade long mystery.
Jess Ryder does it again! The author does a great job of laying out the atmosphere, describing the beautiful and picturesque scenery while exploring the personalities of the characters very well. Although the chapters flit in between the 1st person POV of the present time and the 3rd person POV of the events of the past, the reader would definitely be able to get a sense of all the character and their different personalities. Just as with Ryder’s previous book, I felt all the characters were written well for readers to be able to see both positive aspects as well as the flaws.
Although I personally enjoyed the family drama with mystery aspect, I feel readers would not label this a thriller but rather a genre based on realistic drama that encompasses both family dynamics, self-growth and a family mystery.
The overall book kept me captured however I felt the ending to be quite predictable and unfortunately too rushed.
Readers that enjoy mysteries with a good element of one finding themselves while understanding cultural differences would really enjoy this book!
June 29, 2025
3.5* rounded up
This story is told in two parts. Every other chapter follows Juno as she explains why her marriage is in trouble and why, instead of dealing with it, she has booked an open ended trip to the Greek island. For the most part, Juno's chapters were a little boring. She gets to the island, seeks out the people who are related to her, hoping they’ll lead her to her father, but not wanting to tell them who she is. She decides to get a job with the family, working as a wedding coordinator at one of their venues. Meanwhile, she is secretly trying to find anyone who remembers her mother and father, hoping to find out what happened all those years ago. Her chapters get a little more exciting towards the end, but I'm not sure I'd call this book a thriller.
In between Juno's chapters, we go back to the summers of 1984 and 1985, when her mother Estelle is in Inios. We follow her as she makes new friends, and then meets the handsome Niko. After a whirlwind romance, she heads home believing it wasn't just a holiday fling, it was the real thing. The following summer, despite Niko telling her not to come back, she returns to the island and things very quickly go south.
The two timelines come together at the end, but I just kept waiting for something more to happen.
The book was well written, and the author did a great job with describing the island. So much so that I felt like I was there.
This story is told in two parts. Every other chapter follows Juno as she explains why her marriage is in trouble and why, instead of dealing with it, she has booked an open ended trip to the Greek island. For the most part, Juno's chapters were a little boring. She gets to the island, seeks out the people who are related to her, hoping they’ll lead her to her father, but not wanting to tell them who she is. She decides to get a job with the family, working as a wedding coordinator at one of their venues. Meanwhile, she is secretly trying to find anyone who remembers her mother and father, hoping to find out what happened all those years ago. Her chapters get a little more exciting towards the end, but I'm not sure I'd call this book a thriller.
In between Juno's chapters, we go back to the summers of 1984 and 1985, when her mother Estelle is in Inios. We follow her as she makes new friends, and then meets the handsome Niko. After a whirlwind romance, she heads home believing it wasn't just a holiday fling, it was the real thing. The following summer, despite Niko telling her not to come back, she returns to the island and things very quickly go south.
The two timelines come together at the end, but I just kept waiting for something more to happen.
The book was well written, and the author did a great job with describing the island. So much so that I felt like I was there.
June 2, 2025
Juno takes a break from her marriage and goes to search for her father on the Greek island of Ionis She has never met her father and the little she knows about him is from copies of letters and photos her mother kept when she was corresponding to him 40 years ago. Her Mother who she now rarely sees and lives in Portugal warns her not to go to the island as it is not safe. But Juno doesn’t listen and heads off regardless.
The story was set in two times lines. Estelle bag packing on the Greek island where she meets Niko and they fall in love. But things don’t run smoothly, and their relationship goes against his families’ principles.
Then we meet find Juno visiting the island and gets job as a wedding co-ordinator and her father’s family’s business. Being careful not to reveal or she really is. So, she can discover where her father is. But things don’t go to plan.
The island Escape by Jess Ryder is the fourth book I have read, and it would make a great beach read. This has an intriguing storyline, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the beautiful places on the island, it made me want to book a flight somewhere. But I didn’t think the characters were very likeable and thought that Juno was a bit annoying as she wasn’t taking any heed of anything anyone was saying. But I did think the ending was the most satisfying. 4 stars from me.
The story was set in two times lines. Estelle bag packing on the Greek island where she meets Niko and they fall in love. But things don’t run smoothly, and their relationship goes against his families’ principles.
Then we meet find Juno visiting the island and gets job as a wedding co-ordinator and her father’s family’s business. Being careful not to reveal or she really is. So, she can discover where her father is. But things don’t go to plan.
The island Escape by Jess Ryder is the fourth book I have read, and it would make a great beach read. This has an intriguing storyline, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the beautiful places on the island, it made me want to book a flight somewhere. But I didn’t think the characters were very likeable and thought that Juno was a bit annoying as she wasn’t taking any heed of anything anyone was saying. But I did think the ending was the most satisfying. 4 stars from me.
June 28, 2025
The Island Escape is a decent read but I do prefer The Villa.
Juno has decided to find her father, she is thirty nine years old and has an estranged mother and was basically brought up by her grandparents. She has come to Ionis a Greek island that her mother spent time on whilst back packing. Whilst there she fell in love with a Greek man but has never spoken of him and the dark secret she holds very close. Hoping to reenact her mothers footsteps she’s manage to get a job at the place where her fathers family own but her mother messages her to tell her it’s not safe and to get home but Juno isn’t ready to back down so quickly and finds herself in something she can’t get out of.
Their book described Greece perfectly, the dual timeline between Juno and her mother, Estelle worked really well and I was unsure all the way through the book where this was going to go. It’s a twisty read that I enjoyed the only gripe I have is Juno is thirty nine but when you read her chapters her character reads as though she has just left school. A decent ending though and a good pace throughout the book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Juno has decided to find her father, she is thirty nine years old and has an estranged mother and was basically brought up by her grandparents. She has come to Ionis a Greek island that her mother spent time on whilst back packing. Whilst there she fell in love with a Greek man but has never spoken of him and the dark secret she holds very close. Hoping to reenact her mothers footsteps she’s manage to get a job at the place where her fathers family own but her mother messages her to tell her it’s not safe and to get home but Juno isn’t ready to back down so quickly and finds herself in something she can’t get out of.
Their book described Greece perfectly, the dual timeline between Juno and her mother, Estelle worked really well and I was unsure all the way through the book where this was going to go. It’s a twisty read that I enjoyed the only gripe I have is Juno is thirty nine but when you read her chapters her character reads as though she has just left school. A decent ending though and a good pace throughout the book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2025
When Juno arrives at the breathtaking Greek Island of Inios, she wants to find the father she's never met. But he isn't there, and nothing is as she expected. As whispers follow her every step, Juno is convinced something terrible happened all those years ago when her parents fell in love. Desperate for answers, Juno knows she can't leave the island until her family secret that has been hidden for decades is finally uncovered. Little does she know how far someone will go to keep it buried.
I love Greece, so I was happy to see that this was where this book was set. Juno's mother was a bit of a hippy, but she never knew her father, so she went off to Greece and the island of Inios to see if she could find him. Juno's mother warned her to keep away, but she didn't listen to her. Juno is taking a break from her marriage to search for her father. This story is descriptively written. It's told in the first person in the present day, and third person in the past. It also has a dual timeline that's told in the past - when Estelle met Niko- and the present day.
Published 3rd July 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Cornerstone and the author #JessRyder for my ARC of #TheIslandEscape in exchange for an honest review.
I love Greece, so I was happy to see that this was where this book was set. Juno's mother was a bit of a hippy, but she never knew her father, so she went off to Greece and the island of Inios to see if she could find him. Juno's mother warned her to keep away, but she didn't listen to her. Juno is taking a break from her marriage to search for her father. This story is descriptively written. It's told in the first person in the present day, and third person in the past. It also has a dual timeline that's told in the past - when Estelle met Niko- and the present day.
Published 3rd July 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Cornerstone and the author #JessRyder for my ARC of #TheIslandEscape in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2025
Juno arrives on the Greek island of Inois with the intention to find the father that she’s never met. But once she is there she realises that nothing is as she expected. He isn’t there and the island is shrouded in secrets. Desperate for answers Juno aims to find out the truth.
I read this author’s previous book, The Villa, and loved it so was excited to see another destination thriller by this author. This ended up being another well written, entertaining read, with an interesting mystery running throughout. I was engaged in the story almost straight away and it held my interest until the ending. There were also a few good twists and turns that I didn’t expect.
The author did a great job at creating a beautiful, sun soaked atmosphere. I could really feel myself on the island. The characters were well written and easy to follow. The story is told in two timeframes which helped keep the story compelling and build up towards the reveals. Overall this was another enjoyable book by this author and a perfect holiday read. I look forward to the next! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I read this author’s previous book, The Villa, and loved it so was excited to see another destination thriller by this author. This ended up being another well written, entertaining read, with an interesting mystery running throughout. I was engaged in the story almost straight away and it held my interest until the ending. There were also a few good twists and turns that I didn’t expect.
The author did a great job at creating a beautiful, sun soaked atmosphere. I could really feel myself on the island. The characters were well written and easy to follow. The story is told in two timeframes which helped keep the story compelling and build up towards the reveals. Overall this was another enjoyable book by this author and a perfect holiday read. I look forward to the next! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
July 6, 2025
Book Review
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this perfect summer thriller. Very cleverly titled..escaping to... or escaping from ???
Set on an idyllic Greek Island, this sun-drenched treat of a book stars a mother, Estelle, and daughter Juno, whose stories are set almost 40 years apart!
A story that reels you in fast and keeps you guessing at every turn
It was wonderful to sit in the sun reading this. Absolute perfect book to slip into your case if you heading out for a beachy summer holiday.
Thank you so much to @centurybooksuk for my proof copy and congratulations to @jessryderthrillers
on a fantastic book
🌞Also the week....
The highs.... I'm currently staying with my kids, for 2 nights in a safari lodge looking out over a lagoon surrounded by white sands...check out the pics!! Its glorious! ...and its only 45 mins from our house 🤣
The Lows ....our current sojourn is much needed as my poor daughter Tilda was rushed to hospital after another epilepsy seizure on Monday. Fortunately we were all there to ve by her side and she's currently lounging in the lagoon so we all live happily ever after!
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this perfect summer thriller. Very cleverly titled..escaping to... or escaping from ???
Set on an idyllic Greek Island, this sun-drenched treat of a book stars a mother, Estelle, and daughter Juno, whose stories are set almost 40 years apart!
A story that reels you in fast and keeps you guessing at every turn
It was wonderful to sit in the sun reading this. Absolute perfect book to slip into your case if you heading out for a beachy summer holiday.
Thank you so much to @centurybooksuk for my proof copy and congratulations to @jessryderthrillers
on a fantastic book
🌞Also the week....
The highs.... I'm currently staying with my kids, for 2 nights in a safari lodge looking out over a lagoon surrounded by white sands...check out the pics!! Its glorious! ...and its only 45 mins from our house 🤣
The Lows ....our current sojourn is much needed as my poor daughter Tilda was rushed to hospital after another epilepsy seizure on Monday. Fortunately we were all there to ve by her side and she's currently lounging in the lagoon so we all live happily ever after!
June 3, 2025
This was a decent read but far from the gripping thriller I expected. The setup had all the makings of something juicy: an exotic island, secrets from the past, a mysterious disappearance but what followed felt more like a slow-moving drama with thriller elements sprinkled in as an afterthought.
The dual timelines tried to build suspense, and occasionally succeeded, but overall the tension never quite reached the level it needed to. As for the characters, they mostly fell flat. Their decisions often felt forced and I found myself more frustrated than invested.
On the bright side, the island setting was well done—lush, vivid, and the perfect backdrop There were a few twists that managed to surprise me and I appreciated the underlying themes of fractured friendships, betrayal, and tangled family secrets.
𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 : unreliable characters, secrets & lies, disappearance & cold case.
Thank you to Jess Ryder, Random House UK & NetGalley for my e-ARC copy.
𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 : 03 july 2025
The dual timelines tried to build suspense, and occasionally succeeded, but overall the tension never quite reached the level it needed to. As for the characters, they mostly fell flat. Their decisions often felt forced and I found myself more frustrated than invested.
On the bright side, the island setting was well done—lush, vivid, and the perfect backdrop There were a few twists that managed to surprise me and I appreciated the underlying themes of fractured friendships, betrayal, and tangled family secrets.
𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 : unreliable characters, secrets & lies, disappearance & cold case.
Thank you to Jess Ryder, Random House UK & NetGalley for my e-ARC copy.
𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 : 03 july 2025
July 10, 2025
This is the second book by Jess that I’ve read and I’m so eager to read more as this was a fast paced, twisty thriller that had me hooked immediately just like The Villa. It’s a destination thriller set on a Greek Island, which despite the happenings has made me want to return and spend some time island hopping, the scenery and location just sounds incredible.
I don’t think I saw any of the twists coming in this, I was properly blind-sighted as was Juno but really loved it. There’s an undercurrent of tension throughout the whole book and it gives that sense of unease because you don’t know who to trust.
Because of this there were points where I was like noooo, that’s going to end in trouble , but then had to read on to find out what was going to happen.
This had me hooked from the start to the finish, with chapters alternating between Juno in the current day and Estelle’s letters from 40 years ago it gave a great depth to the book and it really did feel like I was uncovering things alongside Juno. Another fabulous read!
I don’t think I saw any of the twists coming in this, I was properly blind-sighted as was Juno but really loved it. There’s an undercurrent of tension throughout the whole book and it gives that sense of unease because you don’t know who to trust.
Because of this there were points where I was like noooo, that’s going to end in trouble , but then had to read on to find out what was going to happen.
This had me hooked from the start to the finish, with chapters alternating between Juno in the current day and Estelle’s letters from 40 years ago it gave a great depth to the book and it really did feel like I was uncovering things alongside Juno. Another fabulous read!
July 13, 2025
Juno arrives on the Greek island of Inios for a summer with a mission. She needs to escape what's happening with her own relationship and also finally find her father.
She has a plan but nothing turns out quite as she expected it to. There's no sign of her father, no one remembers him, even his family act like he never existed. Her mother refuses to give any more details so Juno, desperate for answers decides to stick it out on the island to try to uncover what happened that summer when her parents met.
Jess has done a wonderful job of giving us a beautiful island setting with a haunting mystery. This is a perfect summer read!
I really enjoyed the glimpses into the past that we got through Estelle's story and trying to put together the hints that we gather along the way.
Safe to say I didn't see it all come together until near the end and found it very satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley and Randomhouse UK Cornerstone for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
She has a plan but nothing turns out quite as she expected it to. There's no sign of her father, no one remembers him, even his family act like he never existed. Her mother refuses to give any more details so Juno, desperate for answers decides to stick it out on the island to try to uncover what happened that summer when her parents met.
Jess has done a wonderful job of giving us a beautiful island setting with a haunting mystery. This is a perfect summer read!
I really enjoyed the glimpses into the past that we got through Estelle's story and trying to put together the hints that we gather along the way.
Safe to say I didn't see it all come together until near the end and found it very satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley and Randomhouse UK Cornerstone for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 7, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Juno takes a break from her life and her husband in the UK to search for the father she never knew existed on an island in Greece. Her mother, who she has mostly been estranged from pleads with her not to go, but Juno is determined. Once she is there, she isn't able to find her father and later starts to realize there are some things in play that she didn't expect.
I usually really like this author and I was really excited about this setting in Greece, but the one fell a little flat for me. The story unfolded in a not terribly interesting way and the ultimate reveal wasn't very shocking or exciting. This was a bit of a miss, but I do like this author a lot and I look forward to her next novel.
Juno takes a break from her life and her husband in the UK to search for the father she never knew existed on an island in Greece. Her mother, who she has mostly been estranged from pleads with her not to go, but Juno is determined. Once she is there, she isn't able to find her father and later starts to realize there are some things in play that she didn't expect.
I usually really like this author and I was really excited about this setting in Greece, but the one fell a little flat for me. The story unfolded in a not terribly interesting way and the ultimate reveal wasn't very shocking or exciting. This was a bit of a miss, but I do like this author a lot and I look forward to her next novel.
July 16, 2025
Juno has always had a fractured relationship with her mum who left her with her grandparents to go travelling and now lives in Portugal. When she and Luke are trying to start a family, she becomes interested in who her father is. But her mum is not telling. When she was clearing her grandmother's house, she finds a packet of letters written by her mum from a Greek island, the summer she was born and mentioning someone called Niko. Could this be her dad? When her mum will not explain, she has no choice but to go looking on Inios.
This had all the promise of a destination thriller. An estranged family, beautiful island, a mystery, duel time line between Juno and her mum. I loved the insight into how the island changed between the two time lines and the plot was good, if a little predictable. But somehow, for me, it was a little flat and didn't grip me to keep turning the pages.
This had all the promise of a destination thriller. An estranged family, beautiful island, a mystery, duel time line between Juno and her mum. I loved the insight into how the island changed between the two time lines and the plot was good, if a little predictable. But somehow, for me, it was a little flat and didn't grip me to keep turning the pages.
April 24, 2025
My second book by Jess Ryder and another great read. Juno is on a mission to get away from her life and find the father she has never met. She turns up on the Greek island of Inios with no plan only the fact she wants to uncover the secret of what happened when her parents met all those years ago.
There are some great characters and I really didn’t know who to trust and kept questioning myself.
I enjoyed reading the letters Estelle had sent all those years ago and I felt the flashbacks to the past really added to the story.
A great read with plenty of twists and turns and an excellent ending I was definitely not expecting.
Thanks to NetGalley , Jess Ryder and Random
House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
There are some great characters and I really didn’t know who to trust and kept questioning myself.
I enjoyed reading the letters Estelle had sent all those years ago and I felt the flashbacks to the past really added to the story.
A great read with plenty of twists and turns and an excellent ending I was definitely not expecting.
Thanks to NetGalley , Jess Ryder and Random
House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
June 21, 2025
The Island Escape
By Jess Ryder
4 Stars
When Juno arrives at the breathtaking Greek island of Inios, she has one purpose: to find the father she’s never met.
But he isn’t there, and nothing is as she expected. As whispers follow her every step, Juno is convinced something terrible happened all those years ago when her parents fell in love.
Desperate for answers, Juno knows she can’t leave the island until her family secret that has been hidden for decades is finally uncovered.
I enjoyed reading this story. It's steady paced and the writer's descriptions of the Greek island and its traditions are superb. The characters seem to be dimensional and likeable/hateable. An all-round good story and a great read.
By Jess Ryder
4 Stars
When Juno arrives at the breathtaking Greek island of Inios, she has one purpose: to find the father she’s never met.
But he isn’t there, and nothing is as she expected. As whispers follow her every step, Juno is convinced something terrible happened all those years ago when her parents fell in love.
Desperate for answers, Juno knows she can’t leave the island until her family secret that has been hidden for decades is finally uncovered.
I enjoyed reading this story. It's steady paced and the writer's descriptions of the Greek island and its traditions are superb. The characters seem to be dimensional and likeable/hateable. An all-round good story and a great read.
June 23, 2025
A fast paced book that alternates between the 1980’s and present day. Juno arrives on the Greek Island of Inios determined to find her father, Nico. Her mother, Estelle spent time on the island in the 80’s and Juno was the result of her relationship with Nico. However, Estelle had warned Juno not to try to find him, stating it was too dangerous but would not explain herself. Therefore Juno decided there was only one way to find out the truth. Leaving her distraught husband behind she embarks on a journey that could potentially change her life or have devastating consequences. An excellent story with several twists, plenty of interesting characters and a delve into the traditional ways of the Greek people. A story based on love, naivety and the results of the unthinking actions of youth.
June 28, 2025
This book is based on the Greek island of Inios and Juno is in search of the father she’s never met. However he isn’t there and there are things that do not appear to be as they seem. Juno finds her relatives but why is she being told to leave and not tell her found family who she is. It’s as if secrets need to be left buried but Juno wants answers. Will she end up getting what she wants or will she end up risking everything?
Ok so there was a twist at the end that I didn’t guess but overall this was an ok thriller. I found Juno annoying if I’m being honest and this did have an influence on my final rating. As I have said before reading is subjective and I know that other readers will love this so please do not let my opinion stop you from reading it
Ok so there was a twist at the end that I didn’t guess but overall this was an ok thriller. I found Juno annoying if I’m being honest and this did have an influence on my final rating. As I have said before reading is subjective and I know that other readers will love this so please do not let my opinion stop you from reading it
June 30, 2025
The Island Escape is full of intrigue and mystery exploring the story of Juno and her mother Estelle and set across past and present. Estelle visited the Greek island of Inios in the eighties and met the love of her life but things don’t go smoothly leading to something happening they vow never to speak of again. Juno meanwhile talking a break from her marriage and decided to retrace her mother’s steps and hopes to find the father she’s never met. But with a close knit community and warnings to leave the island immediately it seems she’s finding more secrets than answers. This book had me hooked and I really enjoyed how the plot unfolded especially the ending. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author for the chance to review.
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