Secrets. Scandal. Betrayal. In Paradise, pleasure comes at a dangerously high price…
Three couples each receive an exclusive invitation to the fantasy holiday destination of a lifetime…
The host: Martin McKenzie, global billionaire and media mogul. Charismatic, powerful and always gets what he wants.
The location: A breathtakingly beautiful undiscovered island, nestled in the Aegean Sea. Private, secluded and not quite as it seems.
The details: Seven days of pure hedonism, five-star luxury tailored to every desire, also includes… secrets, lies, and infidelity.
As the guests begin to enjoy everything the luxury island has to offer, cracks begin to surface between the three couples. But that is not all. Someone is watching them. When they discover the truth – it will be explosive in more ways than they can ever imagine.
A jaw-dropping, absorbing and spectacular blockbuster of a novel. THE beach read of the summer you won’t want to be without.
4,5 stars! I loved this book!!! Six people sent to a remote resort island, being filmed while they are not aware of it. They are also slipped drugs to reduce their inhibitions. And why? Because the instigator of all of this is the richest man in the world and he can do whatever he wants? Set people up for a little revenge, done. While a lot of secrets come out of this weekend, the biggest shocker is how the "guests" are made aware of the fact that they are being filmed. This was a great book and yes there were some sex scenes, but all except for one, the majority of them was implied so I didn't really have to skip any pages. While I figured out a couple of the secrets prior to the author enlightening me, it was still a shocker when the whole story came out. This book kind of reminded me of a Jackie Collins book what with the glamour, the rich, the famous, the wannabes and the has been. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not wait to figure out why this rich guy brought all these people together. You don't find out until the end, but there's lots of action going on before the the big reveal. I would like to thank Bookouture and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this highly entertaining book. I would definitely recommend it, it definite kept my interest peaked.
Wow, what a great find this book was. Now and again you come across a story that is a little different from your usual choice and this one was no exception. You are introduced to three sets of couples, all with different problems within their relationship. Martin McKenzie is a billionaire business man with his finger in TV reality shows. He has a new scheme up his sleeve and sets up Super Eight for like minded voyeurs. With the help of his steely eyed wife Elaine, he invites the couples to Pleasure Island with an offer they cannot refuse. Only there is more to this 'holiday' that each couple do not know about but by the end of their stay, lives will be turned upside down and huge secrets will be revealed. Mia and JJ- singer and rockstar. Nate and Billie-Jo-Footballer and fame wag. Rupert and Angelika- Lawyer and journalist. I have to say I was routing for Nate and Anjelika throughout this story and I'm sure you will be too. So go ahead and give this book a try, it certainly held my attention all the way.
Disjointed and not gripping enough to make me continue.
It's very rare for me not to finish a book but the constant corrections I was compelled to make were too time consuming.
I felt the author had swallowed a thesaurus. The continual misuse of words went from amusing to irritating so I gave up.
I'm very sorry to write this as I do appreciate the work that goes into writing anything but I hope the author goes on to write better. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be reading another.
This is the absolute worst book I have ever read. I do not watch reality TV and now I know why. What a spiteful, narcissistic, hateful group of characters!! And the writing??? Typos upon cliches upon misuse of vocabulary. What a train wreck!!!
Pleasure Island is one of those rare things: a faultless novel. I couldn't even name one thing I disliked about it. Well, apart from some of the characters of course. But loving to hate them is part of the fun. There's a touch of The Cabin in the Woods at the start of Pleasure Island when we are introduced to Martin McKenzie, a media mogul and billionaire who is organising the trip of a lifetime for a bunch of people he seemingly dislikes, and who definitely dislike him. We witness the couples receiving their invitations, some having reservations about going to the island, but really, when faced with a free holiday to a place where your every whim is catered for, I imagine most of us would cast all doubts aside. Call me gullible and pass me my ticket!
After a, shall we say, problematic introduction to the island our couples head off to their new abodes and I instantly found myself jealous of a fictional setting. It just has everything you could possible want from such a place, and despite the reader knowing otherwise, it really does seem to be paradise for the guests. Except for the fact that the couples can't stand each other, and a lot of them have negative history which results in a pretty acrimonious start to the whole thing. It's so hard to discuss the story and say 'this is what happens next' without giving away major plot details, but the air of mystery surrounding the story was part of what made Pleasure Island such a gripping read for me because you have no idea just what Martin McKenzie and his cohorts have planned. The setup and idea behind the island itself is just pure genius, and is the reason that Pleasure Island is one of the most thrilling books I have read this year.
It's funny because there weren't all that many characters that I actually liked. Whereas the majority of people will probably hate Billie-Jo, I loved her. She's kind of like every single spoiled rich kid and reality TV star morphed into one, even though her start in life was the polar opposite to that lifestyle, and she's on the island with her long-suffering husband, footballer Nate. She would probably be a nightmare to spend time on an island with, but from an entertainment point of view she was a lot of fun to read about. I also liked Angelika, a journalist who is on the island with her boring, kill me now lawyer husband Rupert. Angelika is a character I changed my mind about numerous times, and she discovers that Pleasure Island can also be Temptation Island. In fact, most of the characters discover this as things get more and more outrageous and the characters lose all their inhibitions because of certain happenings behind the scenes.
In terms of where the story ultimately takes us, all I can say is that it is incredible. There are untold twists and turns throughout, including a couple of major twists that left me wondering just how I didn't work them out myself. I think I was too caught up in the story to overthink things, and also I think despite the relative OTT nature of the whole plot, the reasonings behind what goes on and everything else just falls into place beautifully which does give the story a bit of a believable edge, and something like this happening in real life would be so wonderfully addictive that it would be the news story of the year, perhaps the decade. Once those twists started coming I wondered just how much more I could take. Please believe me when I say that this is one of the best books you could pick up this summer.
Pleasure Island is a truly addictive read, and if you are yet to pick it up, I would wait until you have a spare couple of days to do so because you will not want to stop reading. It is pure, unadulterated excitement from start to finish once you are reading this book and I cannot recommend it enough. Anna-Lou Weatherley is an author who has passed me by in the past but she's definitely now an author whose books I won't even hesitate to pick up. Pleasure Island is my final July read and I couldn't have asked for a better book to end the month on. I loved Pleasure Island so much that I want to read it again, and I am already envious of those who have it to read.
From the second I saw this book announced, complete with its absolutely gorgeous cover, and interesting sounding blurb, I knew I wanted to read this. The second I could get hold of a review copy I did, and I am delighted that I did, as this is easily one of the best books I have read this year.
Within minutes of starting to read the prologue I was utterly hooked. I wanted to know why the people were doing what they were doing, and far more details about the situation. I had a feeling I may be reading something special, and the rest of the book did not disappoint.
The main action gets fully going at around 15% into the book, and what happens there got my adrenalin pumping, and into a state where this book was clearly going to be a page turner.
In the bit before that we are introduced to the three couples that have been invited to the exclusive Pleasure Island, and the reactions to receiving the invitation. However none of them could ultimately resist a trip to an exclusive exotic island where there every need is going to be catered for free of charge.
The descriptions of Pleasure Island, conjure up a beautiful place, that is untouched by commercial tourism, and is the ideal location for a spot of rest and relaxation. There is all manner of sports facilities, a spa, pools, beach and fabulous weather. What more can you really want.
However not everything on this trip is as it seems, and before long a few of the guests, start getting curious as to why they were there, and a general feeling of paranoia.
Interspersed with chapters on the island, we get sections based on the host of this trip's point of view, as to what he and his friends are observing, and doing, as well as the occasional chapters on other view points, one that you wouldn't have seen coming initially.
I am of course being deliberately vague as to the entire contents of this book, as I feel I can't reveal one thing, without possibly giving away a hint as to something else that happens. It is a fast paced, engaging read, by an exceptionally talented author.
My best way of describing this, and how I was thinking as I was reading the start of the book is, that Pleasure Island reads like a cross between Tasmina Perry and Victoria Fox. If you are fans of either of those authors then you should definitely read this book.
Pleasure Island is a book full of secrets and revelations. It is an island for every hedonistic need, and there is sex, drugs, a rock and roller, scandal, revenge, betrayal, life changing events and then if all that was not enough a finale that was mind blowing. Although some things had been revealed to the reader over the course of the books, there were still things left that left me shocked, amazed and generally incredibly impressed with how well this whole story comes together.
Ultimately Pleasure Island is a spectacular and intriguing story that is perfect summer reading. My only regret about reading this book was that I didn't save it for my own holiday to savour while lounging by the pool, in a destination that wouldn't have been quite my own Pleasure Island!
Thank you so much to Bookoutre and Netgalley for allowing me to review this fabulous book. This was all my own honest opinion.
Pleasure Island has such a beautiful, striking cover that totally evokes the feeling of Summer and all it entails. When this book was first revealed over on Twitter it struck me initially that that both the title and cover were very reminiscent of novels by Victoria Fox and early Tasmina Perry, both experts in the Summer bonk/blockbuster genre and this book slips in nicely alongside the pair. I'm a huge fan of both authors and can now add Anna Lou Weatherley to this list as Pleasure Island was simply stunning and has left me with a huge book hangover that will take a considerable amount of time to cure. Admittedly I had never heard of this author before but it was the cover and title that just screamed 'read me now, I am the ideal read for the summer months'. I wasn't fortunate enough to read this by a pool in a hot country but nonetheless it didn't take away from my enjoyment in any way. I wanted this read to take me away to a tropical place in my head and far from the gloomy weather we have had here in Ireland for what seems like forever and it certainly did providing me with a story I won't forget in a hurry.
The cover alone provoked numerous questions. Why was that woman there on the walkway? Would the island offer as much pleasure as the title suggests or does it have secrets, lies, scandal, betrayal and adventure in store for its lucky visitors? This is an epic trip which the selected few won't forget in a hurry. The quote on the first page indicates we are in for a bumpy ride as pleasure and pain are said to be opposite from each other yet constant companions. So does the island experience entail equal amounts of both? Well that would be giving things away wouldn't it? You really can't say too much about this book because the smallest thing would give the whole thing away and ruin what is a phenomenal read. It has an incredible pace packed full of twists and turns full of manipulation and surprises.
The prologue alone was tension filled and tantalisingly glimpses were offered that only made me want to read on and reach the main body of the story. We are introduced to Martin McKenzie overseeing a meeting of sorts with a select few people present. Their wealth indicates that they are lucky to be attending this meeting as it is a club which only top dollars and connections can buy entry to. Even from just a few pages it's evident McKenzie is an ambitious, determined, ruthless, selfish, spiteful control freak whose true character shows the further we delve into the book. What role he plays you will have to discover for yourself?
So the basic premise of the book is six guests are invited to a luxury island for a two week all expenses paid holiday. Anything you could wish for will be laid on. Think of it and it will magically appear. No request too big or small. Sure you couldn't refuse. You may feel this is too routine I've read this before and it's been done to death but rest assured you have never read anything like this. The entire concept is just mind blowingly good and I was left more than stunned several times over. The six guests have all been chosen for specific reasons and the reader is left guessing the entire way through.This is great I like to be kept on my toes and not have all the questions answered at once. I genuinely didn't have a clue about most of the characters connections and reasons for inclusion except for one but that was very near the end when something just clicked with me. Instead I sat back and enjoyed the thrilling ride. So just who was invited?
Angelika Deyton, a journalist, who is on the rise within her newspaper and married to Rupert, a celebrity barrister. The pair don't have a great relationship. They basically exist, argue and throw insults at each other. Angelika believes the trip will bring them closer together and help solve some of their issues. Angelika was my favourite character dare I say it she seemed to be the most normal amongst all the madness. She had a bit of commonsense and ingenuity to her. Mia Manhattan, a washed up starlet, is accompanied by toyboy lover Joshua James himself on the cusp of fame with his band. Mia is bitter, no one in the celeb world wants to know her and her agent can never secure her any bookings. This invitation is the last resort to put her name back on the map. She was my least favourite character as she seemed to whine and moan a lot and expected her career to pick back on track without putting any effort into it. Having a young lover whose head is in the clouds will not achieve this. Nate - a former footballer currently in a serious depression and married to wannabe model Billie Jo is the last to be invited. Nate is not sure she is marriage material rather a fame seeker with a serious habit that needs controlling. Billie Jo may be ditzy but god she has some sharp one liners that put other women in their place. So why have these six been invited? Well they don't know and they have no idea what awaits them and trust me reader you are in for one heck of a ride. You have the details re the players now let the game commence and enjoy every fabulous minute of it.
Pleasure Island is one of those books that has you up reading until the early hours rapidly turning the pages keen to discover what lies next around the corner. You only turn off the light because your eyes are closing and need to be rested. To continue on would do this book an injustice otherwise you would miss out on details and gems of one liners and observations thrown in a paragraph when least expected. This is not your usual clichéd Summer bonkbuster, yes it has what you would expect from that type of read but behind all that there is a good decent storyline extremely well executed. The two elements combined to create a sublime Summer read.The author has taken the general concept of this genre and turned it on its head and should be congratulated for writing such a different read sure to enthral many people this Summer. Anna Lou Weatherley you have earned yourself a new fan and I suspect many more are waiting in the wings. This is THE Summer read of 2015 go and buy it now.
When three couples get the invitation of a lifetime from media mogul Martin McKenzie to join him on his exclusive island, they have no idea what they are getting themselves into. Sex, secrets, scandal and surprises await them on Pleasure Island....but is everything really as it seems?
This book is FANTASTIC. A really sexy, intriguing summer novel to get stuck into whether you're soaking up the sun on the beach, lazing in the garden (or in reality with our rubbish summer...cwtched up on the sofa with a hot drink and a blanket!) All the sizzling summer fun you need is wrapped up in this super-hot novel by Anna Lou Wetherley. It will keep you in suspense, keep you guessing and keep the temperature HIGH. Loved it. Five cwtches.
This book wasn't anything like I expected it to be. I was expecting a book about celebrities partying on a pleasure island. But no, this was so much more than that!
The author has managed to write something with so many different layers. The back stories are so well done, we don't find out some of them until near the end in fact. I had actually figured out pretty early on one of the big revelations, but not all of it as I found out!
I loved the characters of Nate and Angelika. I was rooting for both of them throughout the book. The characterisation of both these people was excellent, but so were the other players in the story.
This is a story with so many twists and turns, I enjoyed every bit of it. I look forward to seeing what dark tale the author brings us next!
This was fantastic! I read and loved Wicked Wives awhile ago so I was delighted to be given chance to read an early copy of this latest release by Anna-Lou Weatherley and it did not disappoint in any way. It had everything in a great summer read, sexy scandal, betrayal, a glamorous luxurious location and an intriguing storyline. Full of larger-than-life characters who still manage to remain believable and with so many twists and turns you can barely turn the pages quickly enough. I loved it! Pleasure Island is up there with the best of them in this genre and it deserves to be a best seller. A truly brilliant read and I can't wait for the next book, more please.
I received this ARC from Netgally.com I appreciate the opportunity but I cannot finish this book. I really tried. From the very beginning I couldn't get into it but I trudged through. This book is full of hateful mean and vindictive people. The couples all pretty much hate each other. The women are called sluts. The reality tv creator should seriously be put in prison for this disgusting "experiment" I still kept reading after some of the disgusting things he pulled but I draw the line a drugging a woman(without her knowledge) having her raped and filming it(also without her knowledge).
Thanks to bookouture, netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. I'll begin by saying this kind of book is not my preferred genre, however I chose to read it for a break from murders/thrillers etc. It was fairly enjoyable. It features a cast of the most greedy, vile and self absorbed characters. However the author succeeds in making them really come alive. The plot was faintly ridiculous, but the story was well written and pacy. There was enough intrigue to keep me reading, and it did have an exciting and explosive conclusion. This book is pure escapism, perfect for fans of this genre.
Pleasure Island was a fantastic read, I loved it. I loved the setting, the story, the characters, some you loved to hate. Once I picked this up I couldn't put it down and was totally gripped right to the last page. Martin McKenzie in my mind was Alan Sugar, it seemed to be the only way I could picture him for some reason. I loved all the back stories of the characters which spanned through out the book, some right to the end. A really enjoyable read which I've been recommending to all my friends.
Fantastic read for the beach- lose yourself on the luxury island where everything is going on all around you. The cover provides great promise and you won’t be disappointed. Some couples have been invited to the island and who could resist an invitation to a holiday of a lifetime. But just why have they been invited and should they be concerned? Plenty of secrets and scandals to be revealed, racy relations make for the ideal summer read. With many thanks to Bookoutre for the chance to read this one. I will definitely read more by this author.
Thoroughly disturbing read, not at all what I expected from the front cover. I was looking for a light, "feel good" summer read, but instead got an insight into the mindset of perverts and sexual deviants. Wish I could unread the book, not at all what I was looking for. I nearly quit halfway through the book, but needed to know the ending - which was entirely predictable in the end. Would not recommend.
2.5 stars rounded down. However, I feel like this could've been a 3 star read had the editor done a better job. It was poorly organized and there were a lot of errors.
It was like a mix of Nine Perfect strangers and Love island. Not a combo I would usually enjoy, but I didn't hate it. You must suspend reality in order to get through it and it was a bit drawn out in the end. Don't give up on this author if you didn't like this one! I would highly recommend Weatherley's The Night of the Party.
I have always wanted to visit a fabulous island resort so this intrigued me. Minor spoilers ahead!
Three couples are invited to a true paradise island where they get more than they bargained for.
First couple is Angelika and uptight, verbally poisonous Rupert. The dude can’t say anything nice. He’s a barrister and she a reporter. They get their invitation and Angelika accepts and signs without Rupert really knowing. I mean he does but...
Next we have Nate and Billie-Jo. Oh Billie-Jo the gold digging ho but I do like this gal just a smidge for some strange reason. Maybe because she knows exactly who she is. Nate is a former footballer who has had some recent bad luck. She doesn’t deserve him. Nuh uh no way
Then we finally have the “older” woman “younger man” duo of Mia the diva and singer 😉 and JJ -Joshua Jones a newly signed up and coming rockstar. Mia’s husband recently left her for a younger woman. Revenge you say thy names is Joshua.
The host is a billionaire psychopath who is seeking revenge on Angelika for writing a bait and switch article about him and on Mia for leaving him after he launched her career. Martin McKenzie is a first class asshat for sure and he proves it over and over and you get it. He puts his special guests through mental and physical trauma, records without their knowledge and shares with the SuperEight, a group of paying customers, on the dark web.
This book had me hooked even though I predicted some events. I am now a fan enough to try a 2nd book maybe Wicked Wives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This wasn't quite what I thought I was going to be reading if I'm honest. I expected something else and this has been on my tbr for a while so I forgive myself the mistake.
I expected a contemporary romance. Whenever I see a chick lit tag I do get a little worried as sometimes that implies a different sort of tone of book and I don't always love those. This wasn't like that. And I can't see the tag contemporary romance but I've used those as well cause what else does this go into.
When I opened this I double took and I don't think I'm dramatic. I literally closed it checked the description and started again. The amazon reviews and the ones on here seem so positive and so I do feel guilty but this was not for me. It sort of reminds me of Love Island meets a whodunit mystery. And it's just weird for me.
I admire the concept but I think if this is this authors usual work I won't venture again.
Did not finish at 60% and wish I had stopped earlier. This book is LONG and filled with overly detailed nonsense information that add nothing to the story line and only get rephrased in the next chapter.
At one point I thought my Kindle malfunctioned and brought me back a few chapters because I felt as if I was reading something I already read.
Nothing thrilling, intriguing or mysterious at 60% in.
OMG! I really enjoyed this book. I was actually reading another when I happened on this one. Pleasure Island grabbed me from the first page and kept my interest. So glad this was the weekend because I ended up reading this in two days! What a story and a great twist at the end. Highly recommend. You will not be disappointed!
DNF @ 24% - I refuse to read a book I’m not having a good time with at all. If I’m skimming there’s a problem.
This book is boring. It’s full of incredibly unlikable people. The blurb was interesting. The prologue was too long and barely ok to read. Every chapter since has been all tell and minimum show. It’s just boring.
This has everything, lust, greed, heartbreak, opulence, addiction,voyeurism, and twists you won't see coming. Some parts a bit too graphic and depraved for my taste, but really good read overall.
DNF, and trust me I rarely do that! But this book was so poorly written, full of disgusting, filthy language and pornographic acts, that it was just not worth my time to slog through. I would never have picked up that book if I knew it was X-rated in addition to being garbage fiction. 0 stars
It was just a little too incredible for me at many points in the book. Because of that, I began discounting most of what was being written. An author can take liberties for the reader to swallow, but it was a little too much for me