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The Family Retreat
When Rob decides the family needs to get away for the summer Jess is not convinced - won't all the things they're escaping be waiting for them on their return? But the kids are thrilled, and before long their idyllic little cottage, the sea air, and the feel of skin sticky from sun-cream, lollies and sand, begins to work its magic. Jess allows herself to sink into the holiday vibes - the family even make holiday friends.
The summer heat intensifies Jess - ever vigilant - unearths a secret, a problem she's sure she can help solve. But things are not always as they seem. The water may look inviting but even the gentlest looking waves can hide the deadliest undercurrents.
As autumn approaches, Jess - and the reader - will come to realise this is going to end in a way no-one could have imagined...
The summer heat intensifies Jess - ever vigilant - unearths a secret, a problem she's sure she can help solve. But things are not always as they seem. The water may look inviting but even the gentlest looking waves can hide the deadliest undercurrents.
As autumn approaches, Jess - and the reader - will come to realise this is going to end in a way no-one could have imagined...
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2022
52 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Bev Thomas
9 books108 followersBev Thomas was a clinical psychologist in the NHS for many years. She currently works as an organizational consultant in mental health and other services. She lives in London with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
July 3, 2022
GP Jess, her writer husband Rob and their children Sam and Ruby retreat to a seaside cottage for a month as Rob believes Jess in particular needs a break from their London life. At a fundraising event Jess meets Helen, their initial meeting is not auspicious but then something changes when Helen asks for Jess’s help.
First of all, the positives. The setting in Dorset is really good and is used well , allowing for some scenes ranging from heartwarming to chilling. The characters though not all especially likeable are portrayed well, however, for a professional like Jess I find it hard to believe she misses serious issues with a couple of characters which is mostly because she seems to do a lot of looking back! After about 30% there are some tense scenes and as the novel progresses there are some very thought-provoking points on concerning social issues and these are pertinent and well made.
However, it is very slow initially, it’s very drawn out and prevaricates like mad on certain things such as why Jess needs a break from London. As the novel progresses it’s the opposite of the first third, the plot becomes very busy, there’s a lot going on and includes somethings which aren’t followed up and generally it makes me feel rather bamboozled. However the most irritating thing of all is that Jess repeatedly “looks back“, “I would wonder later“ and afterwards she realises things like “the worst is to come“. On one page alone we get three of these backward reflections!!
Overall, the plot is good but I would have enjoyed it more with a more in the moment proactive approach from Jess.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
First of all, the positives. The setting in Dorset is really good and is used well , allowing for some scenes ranging from heartwarming to chilling. The characters though not all especially likeable are portrayed well, however, for a professional like Jess I find it hard to believe she misses serious issues with a couple of characters which is mostly because she seems to do a lot of looking back! After about 30% there are some tense scenes and as the novel progresses there are some very thought-provoking points on concerning social issues and these are pertinent and well made.
However, it is very slow initially, it’s very drawn out and prevaricates like mad on certain things such as why Jess needs a break from London. As the novel progresses it’s the opposite of the first third, the plot becomes very busy, there’s a lot going on and includes somethings which aren’t followed up and generally it makes me feel rather bamboozled. However the most irritating thing of all is that Jess repeatedly “looks back“, “I would wonder later“ and afterwards she realises things like “the worst is to come“. On one page alone we get three of these backward reflections!!
Overall, the plot is good but I would have enjoyed it more with a more in the moment proactive approach from Jess.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 17, 2022
It took me quite a while to read The Family Retreat because it felt so intense, so raw and so accurate that I needed to step back from time to time and process the depth of emotion and tension. I thought Bev Thomas’s ability to draw in the reader and make them experience what Jess experiences was exceptional.
I can’t say much about the plot for fear of spoiling the read for others, but what Bev Thomas does so completely brilliantly is a kind of sleight of hand that has the reader believing one thing before she hits them with a different reality that is breath taking. As the narrative drew to a close I felt literally rooted to my seat as I read, unable to tear myself away form what was happening.
The Family Retreat is fabulously written, and I loved the setting descriptions particularly. It comes as no surprise that the author was a psychologist as the authenticity, the sensitivity and the authority of the psychological elements is mesmerising, making the book a brilliant read. There are some difficult themes explored through the narrative that give The Family Retreat incredible depth and maturity.
I loved the characterisation because, through the lynchpin of Jess, we get to know the people in The Family Retreat so completely. Jess felt totally real to me and so many aspects of her personality resonated with me personally, particularly that of trying to be all things to all people, so that the narrative was all the more affecting. However, the one person who astounded me most was Polly who is a universal everywoman so familiar in today’s society. Helen’s response to Polly’s experiences has a seismic impact on the reader and I wish every politician and patriarchal figure could read The Family Retreat so that they understand the lives of so many in our society. Through these characters Bev Thomas gave me far greater clarity and understanding than any factual account has managed. A retreat suggests a place of reflection and learning and my word do these characters learn about themselves and others!
I’m aware this review is somewhat vague and indistinct but it’s hard to articulate thoughts without giving away too much. I can say, however, that I thought The Family Retreat was, quite simply, excellent – in style, subject matter, plot and character. I found it compelling, affecting and educational as well as totally entertaining. Don’t miss this one.
I can’t say much about the plot for fear of spoiling the read for others, but what Bev Thomas does so completely brilliantly is a kind of sleight of hand that has the reader believing one thing before she hits them with a different reality that is breath taking. As the narrative drew to a close I felt literally rooted to my seat as I read, unable to tear myself away form what was happening.
The Family Retreat is fabulously written, and I loved the setting descriptions particularly. It comes as no surprise that the author was a psychologist as the authenticity, the sensitivity and the authority of the psychological elements is mesmerising, making the book a brilliant read. There are some difficult themes explored through the narrative that give The Family Retreat incredible depth and maturity.
I loved the characterisation because, through the lynchpin of Jess, we get to know the people in The Family Retreat so completely. Jess felt totally real to me and so many aspects of her personality resonated with me personally, particularly that of trying to be all things to all people, so that the narrative was all the more affecting. However, the one person who astounded me most was Polly who is a universal everywoman so familiar in today’s society. Helen’s response to Polly’s experiences has a seismic impact on the reader and I wish every politician and patriarchal figure could read The Family Retreat so that they understand the lives of so many in our society. Through these characters Bev Thomas gave me far greater clarity and understanding than any factual account has managed. A retreat suggests a place of reflection and learning and my word do these characters learn about themselves and others!
I’m aware this review is somewhat vague and indistinct but it’s hard to articulate thoughts without giving away too much. I can say, however, that I thought The Family Retreat was, quite simply, excellent – in style, subject matter, plot and character. I found it compelling, affecting and educational as well as totally entertaining. Don’t miss this one.
July 10, 2025
Po książkę „Rodzinny wyjazd” sięgałam z ogromnymi oczekiwaniami. Opis zapowiadał thriller psychologiczny osadzony w dusznej atmosferze letniego wyjazdu, gdzie pod pozorem rodzinnej sielanki czai się mrok, tajemnice i niepokój. Liczyłam na historię, która wbije mnie w fotel, sprawi, że będę przewracać strony z wypiekami na twarzy, nie mogąc się doczekać kolejnych zwrotów akcji. Niestety, im głębiej wchodziłam w opowieść, tym bardziej czułam, że nie otrzymuję tego, co mi obiecano.
Jess i Rob to małżeństwo z długoletnim stażem, które postanawia spędzić wakacje z dwójką dzieci w nadmorskim domku. Z pozoru ma to być zwykły rodzinny wypoczynek – czas oderwania się od codziennych problemów, oddech od rutyny. Jednak od samego początku czuć, że coś jest nie tak. Jess nie do końca ufa tej decyzji – intuicja podpowiada jej, że wyjazd nie będzie lekarstwem na kłopoty, które zostawili za sobą.
Rodzina daje się jednak ponieść letniej atmosferze: plaża, krem do opalania, piasek w butach, beztroska dzieci. Wśród nowych znajomych pojawia się pewna tajemnica, w którą Jess zaczyna się angażować. Jej wewnętrzny niepokój narasta – kobieta czuje, że musi coś zrobić, że dostrzega więcej niż inni. Ale czy na pewno? Czy nie szuka dramatów tam, gdzie ich nie ma?
Nadchodzi jesień, a wraz z nią dramatyczne konsekwencje decyzji podjętych w letnim słońcu.
To, co miało być thrillerem, okazało się melancholijną opowieścią o kobiecie zmęczonej życiem, niepewnej własnych emocji, rozdartej między intuicją a rzeczywistością. Autorka zbyt mocno skupiła się na wewnętrznych rozterkach bohaterki, a zbyt mało na budowaniu napięcia i prowadzeniu intrygi. Przez większość książki miałam wrażenie, że „coś się zaraz wydarzy” – ale to „zaraz” trwało niemal do końca. A gdy już nadeszło – zabrakło mi szoku, emocjonalnego ciosu, który powinien zamknąć taki thriller.
Momentami fabuła była nużąca i rozwleczona. Brakowało zwrotów akcji, które wywołałyby dreszcz niepokoju. Czułam się bardziej jak czytelniczka dramatu obyczajowego niż thrillera psychologicznego. Główna bohaterka – choć dobrze napisana psychologicznie – nie wzbudziła we mnie silnej więzi. Jej wątpliwości były realistyczne, ale nie porywające. A przecież właśnie tego oczekujemy po thrillerze: by nas porwał, poruszył, zostawił z sercem bijącym zbyt szybko.
„Rodzinny wyjazd” to książka, która miała być emocjonalną petardą, a okazała się jedynie tlącą się iskrą. Nie mogę powiedzieć, że to zła książka – jest poprawnie napisana, miejscami klimatyczna, z ciekawym spojrzeniem na dynamikę małżeńską i macierzyństwo. Ale jako thriller – zawodzi. Zabrakło napięcia, zaskoczenia, mroku. To raczej opowieść o rozpadzie złudzeń, o kobiecie, która próbuje coś naprawić, ale sama gubi się we własnych intencjach.
Jeśli ktoś szuka refleksyjnej, powolnej narracji z wątkiem psychologicznym – może odnaleźć się w tej historii. Ale jeśli, tak jak ja, oczekujecie emocji, które Was porwą – niestety, możecie poczuć się zawiedzeni.
Jess i Rob to małżeństwo z długoletnim stażem, które postanawia spędzić wakacje z dwójką dzieci w nadmorskim domku. Z pozoru ma to być zwykły rodzinny wypoczynek – czas oderwania się od codziennych problemów, oddech od rutyny. Jednak od samego początku czuć, że coś jest nie tak. Jess nie do końca ufa tej decyzji – intuicja podpowiada jej, że wyjazd nie będzie lekarstwem na kłopoty, które zostawili za sobą.
Rodzina daje się jednak ponieść letniej atmosferze: plaża, krem do opalania, piasek w butach, beztroska dzieci. Wśród nowych znajomych pojawia się pewna tajemnica, w którą Jess zaczyna się angażować. Jej wewnętrzny niepokój narasta – kobieta czuje, że musi coś zrobić, że dostrzega więcej niż inni. Ale czy na pewno? Czy nie szuka dramatów tam, gdzie ich nie ma?
Nadchodzi jesień, a wraz z nią dramatyczne konsekwencje decyzji podjętych w letnim słońcu.
To, co miało być thrillerem, okazało się melancholijną opowieścią o kobiecie zmęczonej życiem, niepewnej własnych emocji, rozdartej między intuicją a rzeczywistością. Autorka zbyt mocno skupiła się na wewnętrznych rozterkach bohaterki, a zbyt mało na budowaniu napięcia i prowadzeniu intrygi. Przez większość książki miałam wrażenie, że „coś się zaraz wydarzy” – ale to „zaraz” trwało niemal do końca. A gdy już nadeszło – zabrakło mi szoku, emocjonalnego ciosu, który powinien zamknąć taki thriller.
Momentami fabuła była nużąca i rozwleczona. Brakowało zwrotów akcji, które wywołałyby dreszcz niepokoju. Czułam się bardziej jak czytelniczka dramatu obyczajowego niż thrillera psychologicznego. Główna bohaterka – choć dobrze napisana psychologicznie – nie wzbudziła we mnie silnej więzi. Jej wątpliwości były realistyczne, ale nie porywające. A przecież właśnie tego oczekujemy po thrillerze: by nas porwał, poruszył, zostawił z sercem bijącym zbyt szybko.
„Rodzinny wyjazd” to książka, która miała być emocjonalną petardą, a okazała się jedynie tlącą się iskrą. Nie mogę powiedzieć, że to zła książka – jest poprawnie napisana, miejscami klimatyczna, z ciekawym spojrzeniem na dynamikę małżeńską i macierzyństwo. Ale jako thriller – zawodzi. Zabrakło napięcia, zaskoczenia, mroku. To raczej opowieść o rozpadzie złudzeń, o kobiecie, która próbuje coś naprawić, ale sama gubi się we własnych intencjach.
Jeśli ktoś szuka refleksyjnej, powolnej narracji z wątkiem psychologicznym – może odnaleźć się w tej historii. Ale jeśli, tak jak ja, oczekujecie emocji, które Was porwą – niestety, możecie poczuć się zawiedzeni.
August 25, 2022
3.5 stars
The Family Retreat by Bev Thomas is a psychological thriller..
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Faber and Faber (and in particular Rachel Quinn), and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Rob and Jess try to escape their current problems by renting a cabin by the sea for them and their two children.
Jess, a doctor, has been having some problems at work. She also doesn't feel she is getting enough support from her husband. But perhaps this trip to the seaside will be just what she needs.
She meets another woman who is staying at the cabins for the summer, and she has two children roughly the same age as Jess's. Although Jess finds Helen a little stand-offish at first, she soon finds herself embroiled in this woman's life.
Meanwhile, Jess's father is acting a little strange.
My Opinions:
First, I admit that I really disliked the first 50% of this book (which made it a long haul). It moved very slowly, and it seemed so predictable, but not all of it was.
The book deals with mental illness, disabilities, abusive relationships, and family secrets.
On the matter of characters, I didn't really like any of them that much, which makes for a difficult read. I imagine I was supposed to like Jess, but for someone as bright as she was supposed to be, she "missed" a lot of signs, and she was very self-centered. Her husband was a bit of an idiot, and her parents and sister just pissed me off. Helen was really interesting (although I did see through her story from the start), and I liked both Joyce and Philip.
So, although I didn't really like the characters, the plot was good once it finally got going. It ended up being an okay read.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 12, 2022
I surprised myself by being a big fan of Bev Thomas's debut novel, A Good Enough Mother, a psychological thriller about a psychotherapist dealing with trauma from her past. The protagonist of this second novel, Jess, is a GP who's been forced into taking a sabbatical for getting obsessed with some of her patients' issues. This tendency to take too much onto herself emotionally ("my sense of over-responsibility," as Jess's therapist calls it) carries over to her family's month-long stay in Dorset while their London house is being repaired after flooding. Her father's increasingly strange behaviour, her sister's history of eating disorders, and neighbours' respective struggles with a child with severe autism and domestic violence fill her headspace and cause her to make some odd decisions.
While the climax is truly unexpected and gripping, there's so much portentous build-up to even little events (meetings with a particular patient, her father's party, etc.) that it all ends up feeling a little silly. It's clear that Thomas's main aim here was to expose how women suffering abuse don't receive the support they deserve, but so many fringe issues being thrown in dilutes the message somewhat.
While the climax is truly unexpected and gripping, there's so much portentous build-up to even little events (meetings with a particular patient, her father's party, etc.) that it all ends up feeling a little silly. It's clear that Thomas's main aim here was to expose how women suffering abuse don't receive the support they deserve, but so many fringe issues being thrown in dilutes the message somewhat.
August 28, 2022
Jess and her family have rented a cottage for the summer. It’s the perfect chance to unwind and spend time together. But there are secrets lurking under the surface, just waiting to emerge…
I read A Good Enough Mother by this author which was incredible, so I was delighted to get my hands on this one and it didn’t disappoint. I LOVE the author’s style of writing; her prose, her reflections, her hints of what is to come swept me right into this story. And I don’t often quote parts of books but the following passage brought tears to my eyes (yes another book that’s made me cry round the pool in Fuerteventura, I’m on a roll here! 😭) as it was just so powerful and perfect.
…I know I will have to get up in the night and go to him. I will have to press my hand lightly on his back and feel his breathing. And it will be this slight movement of his back, the gentle sound of his breathing that will begin to still my own beating heart. I know this is what I will be doing. On many nights in the months and years to come. Perhaps - forever. And I know what this is. This is motherhood..
Another brilliant holiday book. Read in one day. Always a good sign.
I read A Good Enough Mother by this author which was incredible, so I was delighted to get my hands on this one and it didn’t disappoint. I LOVE the author’s style of writing; her prose, her reflections, her hints of what is to come swept me right into this story. And I don’t often quote parts of books but the following passage brought tears to my eyes (yes another book that’s made me cry round the pool in Fuerteventura, I’m on a roll here! 😭) as it was just so powerful and perfect.
…I know I will have to get up in the night and go to him. I will have to press my hand lightly on his back and feel his breathing. And it will be this slight movement of his back, the gentle sound of his breathing that will begin to still my own beating heart. I know this is what I will be doing. On many nights in the months and years to come. Perhaps - forever. And I know what this is. This is motherhood..
Another brilliant holiday book. Read in one day. Always a good sign.
August 16, 2022
I adore how Bev Thomas writes! The love affair began with A Good Enough Mother and continues here with The Family Retreat-an emotional look at family, the lies we let ourselves believe and the sacrifices family demands from us. If I did trigger warnings then I wouldn’t know where to start as there are some very difficult subjects covered here but I don’t and every single distressing situation is handled perfectly by an author who completely understands the dynamics of relationships within families.
Spending a summer on the Dorset coastline sounds idyllic and Jess, her husband Rob and their two young children are looking forward to time away from the stresses of family life. But GP Jess takes longer to unwind due to the problems she has found emotionally challenging at work. Still, meeting other parents means she gradually starts to relax and even attempt friendships as the sea air works its magic. But as the summer progresses, secrets and lies build up to a breathtaking and shocking crescendo…
There is so much I want to praise about this book! The characters felt authentic and I became completely invested in their lives, even the supporting characters like Joyce, Gemma and Pete. Their struggles, the ensuing emotions and the actions that organically evolved from those feelings were subtle but powerful at the same time. I lived alongside them, a fly on the wall, watching as lives implode during those few short weeks of summer. As they all head towards some shocking revelations, I felt physically sick as I really had come to feel quite protective of Jess and those around her.
The theme of safeguarding played a major part in this storyline and the difficulties surrounding a very emotive subject were explored sympathetically. For GP Jess, her caring nature and sense of duty meant that she often looked at problems with a dichotomous thinking without considering any grey areas. Her sessions with her therapist helped to show the reader how these thought patterns have shaped the woman she is now and why she often doesn’t react to what is so obviously in her eyesight. She is a complex character but I found her absolutely fascinating even if I struggled to understand her thinking at times.
The Family Retreat was sometimes hard to read due to some disturbing issues within the storyline but I still found it impossible to put down-it was like watching a car skidding slowly across an icy road on an unstoppable collision course that you can’t take your eyes away from as you stand impotently by. And it’s not until the end that the title starts to make a lot more sense! I found it to be a powerful, thoughtful and impactful book with a setting that is both beautifully described and well utilised as a backdrop to the accompanying family drama.
Spending a summer on the Dorset coastline sounds idyllic and Jess, her husband Rob and their two young children are looking forward to time away from the stresses of family life. But GP Jess takes longer to unwind due to the problems she has found emotionally challenging at work. Still, meeting other parents means she gradually starts to relax and even attempt friendships as the sea air works its magic. But as the summer progresses, secrets and lies build up to a breathtaking and shocking crescendo…
There is so much I want to praise about this book! The characters felt authentic and I became completely invested in their lives, even the supporting characters like Joyce, Gemma and Pete. Their struggles, the ensuing emotions and the actions that organically evolved from those feelings were subtle but powerful at the same time. I lived alongside them, a fly on the wall, watching as lives implode during those few short weeks of summer. As they all head towards some shocking revelations, I felt physically sick as I really had come to feel quite protective of Jess and those around her.
The theme of safeguarding played a major part in this storyline and the difficulties surrounding a very emotive subject were explored sympathetically. For GP Jess, her caring nature and sense of duty meant that she often looked at problems with a dichotomous thinking without considering any grey areas. Her sessions with her therapist helped to show the reader how these thought patterns have shaped the woman she is now and why she often doesn’t react to what is so obviously in her eyesight. She is a complex character but I found her absolutely fascinating even if I struggled to understand her thinking at times.
The Family Retreat was sometimes hard to read due to some disturbing issues within the storyline but I still found it impossible to put down-it was like watching a car skidding slowly across an icy road on an unstoppable collision course that you can’t take your eyes away from as you stand impotently by. And it’s not until the end that the title starts to make a lot more sense! I found it to be a powerful, thoughtful and impactful book with a setting that is both beautifully described and well utilised as a backdrop to the accompanying family drama.
March 10, 2023
I didn't enjoy the way the book was written. There was not enough descriptive writing explaining the story when it started no feeling of suspense or excitement
July 24, 2022
TW: This book includes themes of domestic abuse and mental health disorders.
3.5 Stars Rounded up.
A story of a family who rent a tiny cottage in Dorset to get away from their London life over the summer while work is being done on their home. Rob is a writer and Jess is a GP on sick leave and they have 2 small children. Whilst there they meet their neighbours: Helen, James and their two children, who have recently moved back from Germany, Helen and Jess' children all get on well, which brings the two of them together in a strained relationship, which starts to unearth secrets.
The story is quite slow placed, we the reader know something has happened recently to Jess at her role as GP, but it is very slow and drawn out process to find out exactly what that is. It can be quite difficult to keep track of everything that is going on at times, as the story jumps back and forth a lot and a real overuse of "looks back", "I would wonder later" and "the worst is to come". These phrases are fine in context usually, but I think it's there over use that irked me and not always followed up on or explained.
I liked the development between all the characters they felt real and gave a good insight into where they all were mentally in their lives. Having said that I didn't necessarily like all the characters, but then not all characters need to be likeable and at times it felt like there were too many stories all trying to be told in the one story to do any of them real justice, it could easily have been split into two books.
The book does deal with some very difficult issues like domestic abuse and mental health disorders, which I felt were thoughtfully, realistically and sensitively done, but that's not to say it's an easy read, because these things aren't easy.
I loved the descriptions of the surroundings, making the coast and the dancing ledge almost a character in its own right and of the characters I felt I could really picture the story as it unfolded and it kept me intrigued to see what would happen next and if my suspicions were correct.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.
3.5 Stars Rounded up.
A story of a family who rent a tiny cottage in Dorset to get away from their London life over the summer while work is being done on their home. Rob is a writer and Jess is a GP on sick leave and they have 2 small children. Whilst there they meet their neighbours: Helen, James and their two children, who have recently moved back from Germany, Helen and Jess' children all get on well, which brings the two of them together in a strained relationship, which starts to unearth secrets.
The story is quite slow placed, we the reader know something has happened recently to Jess at her role as GP, but it is very slow and drawn out process to find out exactly what that is. It can be quite difficult to keep track of everything that is going on at times, as the story jumps back and forth a lot and a real overuse of "looks back", "I would wonder later" and "the worst is to come". These phrases are fine in context usually, but I think it's there over use that irked me and not always followed up on or explained.
I liked the development between all the characters they felt real and gave a good insight into where they all were mentally in their lives. Having said that I didn't necessarily like all the characters, but then not all characters need to be likeable and at times it felt like there were too many stories all trying to be told in the one story to do any of them real justice, it could easily have been split into two books.
The book does deal with some very difficult issues like domestic abuse and mental health disorders, which I felt were thoughtfully, realistically and sensitively done, but that's not to say it's an easy read, because these things aren't easy.
I loved the descriptions of the surroundings, making the coast and the dancing ledge almost a character in its own right and of the characters I felt I could really picture the story as it unfolded and it kept me intrigued to see what would happen next and if my suspicions were correct.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.
April 8, 2023
An enjoyable and thought-provoking read, The Family Retreat is a very subtle domestic thriller, using authentic situations and obstacles to build up a little tension in an engaging story of strained family dynamics and neighbourhood drama.
I found the title a little misleading because the family don't go on much of a "retreat". Sure, they've swapped their busy London home for a more idyllic one, but they're definitely not a break. Jess sticks her nose right into the town's business, joining in with events and making friends straight away, so it doesn't feel like a holiday atmosphere.
So forget this being "the perfect chance to unwind and spend time together", as Jess has priorities all wrong and I was unusually annoyed by the fact that she couldn't take a few weeks off. The Dorset setting is used well, but there's just a lot going on so you're never in the holiday mood. Even her parents come to visit, so it feels like this family had moved to a new town rather than taking a break.
But Jess' intrusive behaviour is validified, and we wouldn't have had all the drama, otherwise, I suppose. There is also some great social commentary along the way. You can tell that the author has experience in psychology as she uses Jess to get into other people's dilemmas, and I did enjoy the concept of seeing [or not seeing] problems from the outside.
Jess is definitely going to need another holiday after this one, though. Serves her right, really.
I found the title a little misleading because the family don't go on much of a "retreat". Sure, they've swapped their busy London home for a more idyllic one, but they're definitely not a break. Jess sticks her nose right into the town's business, joining in with events and making friends straight away, so it doesn't feel like a holiday atmosphere.
So forget this being "the perfect chance to unwind and spend time together", as Jess has priorities all wrong and I was unusually annoyed by the fact that she couldn't take a few weeks off. The Dorset setting is used well, but there's just a lot going on so you're never in the holiday mood. Even her parents come to visit, so it feels like this family had moved to a new town rather than taking a break.
But Jess' intrusive behaviour is validified, and we wouldn't have had all the drama, otherwise, I suppose. There is also some great social commentary along the way. You can tell that the author has experience in psychology as she uses Jess to get into other people's dilemmas, and I did enjoy the concept of seeing [or not seeing] problems from the outside.
Jess is definitely going to need another holiday after this one, though. Serves her right, really.
June 26, 2023
A complex storyline, with a couple of sub-plots running through it, very well written and beautifully executed xxx
August 16, 2022
Back in April 2019 I read Bev Thomas' debut novel, A Good Enough Mother. That book astounded me, I was totally enthralled by it and it went on to become one of my top books of that year.
It's been a long time since that book and I was delighted to find that Thomas had published her second novel; The Family Retreat.
Just like her debut, this book is fairly short at just over 300 pages long, and just like the other one, this is packed with evocative and emotional writing. This author draws on her own experiences as a counsellor to deliver a story that packs such a punch, and one that left me reeling in parts.
Jess and Rob have decided to spend the summer in a cottage by the sea. Jess works as a GP in an inner-London surgery where she often takes on too much, and gets far too emotionally involved in the lives of her patients. The reader is aware that Jess is currently not working, but it takes some time for us to know why. Rob is a script writer, always on the verge of great things, currently working on the script that will make his name. From the outside, this couple and their two small children appear happy and carefree, but the inner turmoils that they face daily are slowly simmering toward the surface.
There's a small community in the holiday cottages and Jess feels drawn towards Helen whose family are also staying for the summer. Helen is nothing like Jess, she's practical and orderly and neat. Their families are similar, with sparkly attractive parents, and a boy and a girl each, but the two women are very different in outlook. However, as they spend more time together, Jess learns more about Helen.
There are many strands to this story, not only is Jess dealing with the fallout from her workplace, she's also having to cope with the increasingly strange behaviour of her elderly father. There's quite a lot of foreshadowing within this story, the reader is perfectly aware that something terrible is about to blow these families apart, but we are never quite sure what is going to occur. When it does happen, it's shocking and dark and the passages that deal with it made my heart pound with fear. It's a quiet book and then wham! the reader is knocked sideways by unexpected and horrific revelations and events that change everyone.
For me, the creeping fear and tension created by Jess's thoughts really made the book work. I liked the fact that I knew that something was going to happen, I loved the slow exploration of events and the fact that what seemed to be the obvious conclusion really wasn't.
I've waited a long time for this book and it has most certainly been worth it. Bev Thomas is a talented author whose descriptive prose, powerful characters and incredible insight into the human mind really appeals and pleases me. Love it, highly recommended.
It's been a long time since that book and I was delighted to find that Thomas had published her second novel; The Family Retreat.
Just like her debut, this book is fairly short at just over 300 pages long, and just like the other one, this is packed with evocative and emotional writing. This author draws on her own experiences as a counsellor to deliver a story that packs such a punch, and one that left me reeling in parts.
Jess and Rob have decided to spend the summer in a cottage by the sea. Jess works as a GP in an inner-London surgery where she often takes on too much, and gets far too emotionally involved in the lives of her patients. The reader is aware that Jess is currently not working, but it takes some time for us to know why. Rob is a script writer, always on the verge of great things, currently working on the script that will make his name. From the outside, this couple and their two small children appear happy and carefree, but the inner turmoils that they face daily are slowly simmering toward the surface.
There's a small community in the holiday cottages and Jess feels drawn towards Helen whose family are also staying for the summer. Helen is nothing like Jess, she's practical and orderly and neat. Their families are similar, with sparkly attractive parents, and a boy and a girl each, but the two women are very different in outlook. However, as they spend more time together, Jess learns more about Helen.
There are many strands to this story, not only is Jess dealing with the fallout from her workplace, she's also having to cope with the increasingly strange behaviour of her elderly father. There's quite a lot of foreshadowing within this story, the reader is perfectly aware that something terrible is about to blow these families apart, but we are never quite sure what is going to occur. When it does happen, it's shocking and dark and the passages that deal with it made my heart pound with fear. It's a quiet book and then wham! the reader is knocked sideways by unexpected and horrific revelations and events that change everyone.
For me, the creeping fear and tension created by Jess's thoughts really made the book work. I liked the fact that I knew that something was going to happen, I loved the slow exploration of events and the fact that what seemed to be the obvious conclusion really wasn't.
I've waited a long time for this book and it has most certainly been worth it. Bev Thomas is a talented author whose descriptive prose, powerful characters and incredible insight into the human mind really appeals and pleases me. Love it, highly recommended.
August 29, 2022
Rating: 2.0/5
After reading the accompanying marketing blurb, you could be forgiven for expecting "The Family Retreat" to be a mystery thriller. It isn't. It is a domestic drama that raises some significant societal issues, but the execution is somewhat lacking and, as a consequence, the impact is lessened and the novel doesn't quite hit the mark.
There are certainly aspects of this book that are impressive. The writing is intelligent and there are a number of astute observations of human behaviour. I quite enjoyed the earlier sections of the novel, but by the 40% mark I was tired of the constant carrot dangling and promises of "jam tomorrow" - I wanted more tangible gratification for the time I had invested. I was actually to be kept waiting for some significant time to come, as it is only in the final quarter of the novel that there is a marked gear change. However, even with this eventual upping of pace, I found that I was not really feeling satisfied. Although the long-missing momentum had finally arrived, the narrative also became disjointed. The author was raising some significant and important issues - but there were too many of them and they were being presented in a fashion that was too fractured for the impact to be maximised.
On the whole "The Family Retreat" was no more than an okay read. It had the potential to be far more hard-hitting and memorable, but was let down by its pace and structure.
After reading the accompanying marketing blurb, you could be forgiven for expecting "The Family Retreat" to be a mystery thriller. It isn't. It is a domestic drama that raises some significant societal issues, but the execution is somewhat lacking and, as a consequence, the impact is lessened and the novel doesn't quite hit the mark.
There are certainly aspects of this book that are impressive. The writing is intelligent and there are a number of astute observations of human behaviour. I quite enjoyed the earlier sections of the novel, but by the 40% mark I was tired of the constant carrot dangling and promises of "jam tomorrow" - I wanted more tangible gratification for the time I had invested. I was actually to be kept waiting for some significant time to come, as it is only in the final quarter of the novel that there is a marked gear change. However, even with this eventual upping of pace, I found that I was not really feeling satisfied. Although the long-missing momentum had finally arrived, the narrative also became disjointed. The author was raising some significant and important issues - but there were too many of them and they were being presented in a fashion that was too fractured for the impact to be maximised.
On the whole "The Family Retreat" was no more than an okay read. It had the potential to be far more hard-hitting and memorable, but was let down by its pace and structure.
November 15, 2022
Psychologically astute novel set in DORSET
I was drawn to this novel when I saw an informed review of the novel, describing it as full of psychological ‘aha’ moments. And it is. In the review it said that it has “an astuteness that most other books would miss, whatever their genre....”
Jess is a GP in the East End of London and a mother of two young children. From the outset, the reader is aware that her professional behaviour has been questionable of late, and so she is taking a break. Gradually, as the story progresses, it becomes clear what has happened and how her responses – conditioned by her experiences within her own family – have brought about a level of misjudgement that has affected her clinical work. Rob, her husband, organises a few weeks in a rental cottage in Dorset. It’s away from the daily pressures of work but stuffed, as they all are, into a tiny cottage, her role in the family is brought into sharp relief. Rob then has to depart unexpectedly on an urgent work assignment, so Mum and the two young children are left to manage daily life.
Jess communicates on a weekly basis with a therapist via the internet, having to go to a neighbour’s house where the signal is better. She befriends her neighbour Helen, who, similarly has two children, and the four young off-spring spend time together, trawling the beaches with their mothers. As the friendship grows, Helen starts to confide in Jess, sharing personal information. Meanwhile, Jess is struggling to piece together the snippets of information around the increasingly erratic behaviour exhibited by her father, whilst also still being sharply aware of her own sister’s mental health issues. It is a complex family dynamic that Jess understands but is forced to confront as she tries and keeps all the plates spinning.
We look back at Jess’s past issues and we also know that events will unfold in the near future which will affect everyone in this small hamlet.
The storyline moves along, exploring the residual emotional impact of childhood and how it informs adult behaviour. It is indeed convincing and high level psychological drama and that feels real and intelligently put together.
I was drawn to this novel when I saw an informed review of the novel, describing it as full of psychological ‘aha’ moments. And it is. In the review it said that it has “an astuteness that most other books would miss, whatever their genre....”
Jess is a GP in the East End of London and a mother of two young children. From the outset, the reader is aware that her professional behaviour has been questionable of late, and so she is taking a break. Gradually, as the story progresses, it becomes clear what has happened and how her responses – conditioned by her experiences within her own family – have brought about a level of misjudgement that has affected her clinical work. Rob, her husband, organises a few weeks in a rental cottage in Dorset. It’s away from the daily pressures of work but stuffed, as they all are, into a tiny cottage, her role in the family is brought into sharp relief. Rob then has to depart unexpectedly on an urgent work assignment, so Mum and the two young children are left to manage daily life.
Jess communicates on a weekly basis with a therapist via the internet, having to go to a neighbour’s house where the signal is better. She befriends her neighbour Helen, who, similarly has two children, and the four young off-spring spend time together, trawling the beaches with their mothers. As the friendship grows, Helen starts to confide in Jess, sharing personal information. Meanwhile, Jess is struggling to piece together the snippets of information around the increasingly erratic behaviour exhibited by her father, whilst also still being sharply aware of her own sister’s mental health issues. It is a complex family dynamic that Jess understands but is forced to confront as she tries and keeps all the plates spinning.
We look back at Jess’s past issues and we also know that events will unfold in the near future which will affect everyone in this small hamlet.
The storyline moves along, exploring the residual emotional impact of childhood and how it informs adult behaviour. It is indeed convincing and high level psychological drama and that feels real and intelligently put together.
April 22, 2023
On holiday with her family, Jess starts to ingratiate herself with the other people living near her country cottage – villagers and visitors. And while on the surface, it is all sweeping beaches and sinking your toes into the sand here, there are several harrowing stories playing out beneath the picturesque surface. A horror is about to explode in the idyll.
This is no fast-paced thriller where twists are pushed to the outer edges of believability. There is no skimming over detail in order to advance the plot. This is slow-paced, nuanced stuff with compelling prose that completely drew me in. I found it difficult to stop reading.
The author asks intelligent questions, she excavates – why is Jess’ father behaving in this out of character way; what is it that contributed — maybe caused — her sister’s anorexia, and why is fellow holiday maker, Helen, so aggravatingly perfect?
'The Family Retreat' has left a real impression on me. It’s got me thinking about that old motif again – ‘everybody is fighting a secret battle’. These are weighty subjects that Thomas is grappling with here, but she manages to lighten the mood with beautiful moments and such kindness. Joyce is a gem, by the way! A moving, unsettling and wise novel and a very fine follow-up to Thomas’ debut. Count me in for everything that she writes next.
This is no fast-paced thriller where twists are pushed to the outer edges of believability. There is no skimming over detail in order to advance the plot. This is slow-paced, nuanced stuff with compelling prose that completely drew me in. I found it difficult to stop reading.
The author asks intelligent questions, she excavates – why is Jess’ father behaving in this out of character way; what is it that contributed — maybe caused — her sister’s anorexia, and why is fellow holiday maker, Helen, so aggravatingly perfect?
'The Family Retreat' has left a real impression on me. It’s got me thinking about that old motif again – ‘everybody is fighting a secret battle’. These are weighty subjects that Thomas is grappling with here, but she manages to lighten the mood with beautiful moments and such kindness. Joyce is a gem, by the way! A moving, unsettling and wise novel and a very fine follow-up to Thomas’ debut. Count me in for everything that she writes next.
August 22, 2022
A twisty, chilling book touching on some tricky subjects which could be triggering and having a deeper darker look at others including male violence. Definitely not a book for the faint of heart.
It's a story that has you looking for the patterns just like it's main character.
I wasn't sure if I liked all the characters but i don't think you are meant to 😂 but did love the kids and Joyce.
Will be reading Bevs other book.
It's a story that has you looking for the patterns just like it's main character.
I wasn't sure if I liked all the characters but i don't think you are meant to 😂 but did love the kids and Joyce.
Will be reading Bevs other book.
January 31, 2025
I found this to have a low start, but you could tell it was building up to something, so it definitely had the suspense factor, which did make me want to read on, and I am glad that I did. When secrets were revealed, it was an Oh my god moment, and it rounded the story really well. The characters and the different relationships were enjoyable to get to know and watch develop. Overall, it was an enjoyable book.
March 20, 2024
I found some parts of the plot a little hard to keep up with but really enjoyed the twists and turns on the way
May 17, 2025
Loved this book. Very powerful writing and realistic plot. While I had guessed something before it was revealed this didn’t in any way spoil the dramatic ending which kept me on the edge of my seat.
October 18, 2022
Oh so Booooorrrrring!!! Waste of time 2.5 stars
January 24, 2024
Listened on audiobook (not listed here; Clipper Audio). Perfectly entertaining read. Quite a few themes. As other reviews have noted, sometimes a little too much prevaricating and I did sometimes find this anti-climatic (other times not).
July 5, 2025
This is the kind of book that when you get to the end you want to read again to pick up on all the clues to the twist that you missed. Very cleverly written, subtly building throughout.
August 22, 2022
This is a family drama/thriller which explores some very interesting issues surrounding parenting, family life and mental health. It's raw honesty is both refreshing and affronting providing a compelling, gripping read which leaves you a lot to think about. There are fascinating details about the drama that unfolds which gives the writing integrity. I have great respect for Thomas for this novel as she has blended an exciting, gritty thriller which is moving and thought-provoking. This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
June 29, 2022
Jess and her family are on holiday while work is being done on their London home; Helen and her family are on holiday just because. Neither is telling the whole truth. Jess is a GP on ‘sick’ leave, and her husband, Rob, is a screen writer based in London and often away on business. Helen’s family have recently returned from Germany and are buying a new property in London. Her husband, James, is starting a new business and is either in London or travelling on weekdays. Rob is immersed in script problems and quite laissez-faire about domestic matters, while James is highly focussed on his family, constantly doing things to entertain them but also genial and helpful to neighbours and friends. Inevitably, Jess and Helen become close, especially since they both have two young children who constantly want to spend time playing by the sea. In many ways they are having an idyllic time but underneath Jess, outwardly a happy, scatty mum, is ridden with worry and guilt over her failures as a GP. Helen on the other hand, is outwardly placid, highly organised although reticent about her past. The only cloud on her horizon comes from the frequent, at least daily, phone calls from her troubled sister. No one sees the rapidly approaching catastrophe.
This book is classed as general fiction which, on the face of it, conforms to the family drama tropes. However, the underside is of the story is a mystery, things are not as they seem, but small clues are scattered through the tale enabling the reader to puzzle out the true nature of the drama. The writing is of high quality and the whole thing proceeds at a surprisingly fast pace, while feeling, in the early stages, like a meander on a warm afternoon. The ending is well constructed and the final tidying up expeditious and satisfying. I would give it 4.5 so rounded to 5.
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 book is classed as general fiction which, on the face of it, conforms to the family drama tropes. However, the underside is of the story is a mystery, things are not as they seem, but small clues are scattered through the tale enabling the reader to puzzle out the true nature of the drama. The writing is of high quality and the whole thing proceeds at a surprisingly fast pace, while feeling, in the early stages, like a meander on a warm afternoon. The ending is well constructed and the final tidying up expeditious and satisfying. I would give it 4.5 so rounded to 5.
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.
August 25, 2022
A bittersweet brooding book in which he tension slowly builds until a terrible secret is told. I really enjoyed how the author drew on the light and dark of life and told a deeply human tale of vulnerabilities and tragedies.
The backdrop to the story really rang true to me, a retreat to the coast for a month to refresh batteries, a new take on past mistakes and to take stock of life. That idyllic setting is then offset against some of the worst aspects of life including domestic abuse, mental health and childhood abuse issues.
I think the difficult subjects were sensitively and well handled and woven into a compelling and interesting story with its own twists that I didn’t fully see coming. A definite recommend from me, albeit with a slightly unsettling aftertaste.
The backdrop to the story really rang true to me, a retreat to the coast for a month to refresh batteries, a new take on past mistakes and to take stock of life. That idyllic setting is then offset against some of the worst aspects of life including domestic abuse, mental health and childhood abuse issues.
I think the difficult subjects were sensitively and well handled and woven into a compelling and interesting story with its own twists that I didn’t fully see coming. A definite recommend from me, albeit with a slightly unsettling aftertaste.
August 21, 2022
All my reviews can be found at https://damppebbles.com/
I am addicted to summer thrillers this year. Last year I had a thing for flight-based thrillers. This year it’s definitely the ‘summer holiday gone horribly wrong’ vibe I am loving! So when The Family Retreat landed on my radar I was, of course, drawn to it. I love the cover. It screams ‘PERIL’ at me, with the child in the ocean, and I found the blurb to be very intriguing. Plus a lot of the summer thrillers I’ve read recently have been set overseas but The Family Retreat is based in beautiful Dorset, which was also a pull. It’s an extremely well-written, suspenseful, dark tale which I devoured.
General Practitioner, Jess and her screen-writer husband, Rob are having extensive work done on their London home. In a bid to avoid the dust and the noise they pack up their young family and head to the Dorset coast for several weeks. Although initially unsure, Jess soon realises that the move could be a blessing as she’s already taking a hiatus away from her patients and the practice. The Gibson family soon become friendly with the small, local community, including the annoyingly perfect Helen and her more likable husband, James, who are also temporary residents of the community and have children of a similar age. Jess’s strong desire to know her new neighbours better reveals a secret which she is sure, with her experience and contacts, she can help with. But Jess’s interfering in other people lives, her meddling in things which don’t concern her, could have deadly consequences for her new community…
The Family Retreat is a suspenseful family-based thriller which I found very compelling with strong characterisation. Jess is an intriguing woman who to me felt overworked and repeatedly overlooked, both at work and at home. Yet the need to prove herself, go above and beyond, pushes her forward. This is very much her story, told from her point of view. When she meets Helen, Jess is drawn to her. She finds her guarded and intriguing, she wants to become friends, but Helen holds back. I found the relationship between the two women absolutely fascinating. I could feel Jess’s need to connect more with Helen but Helen was very closed off. I became very invested in the characters’ lives, I was keen to find out how things were going to end for these people. And what a jaw-dropping ending it is.
This is a well-paced tale where tension builds slowly over the course of the book. I adored the sweeping, dramatic setting which could be picture perfect one minute and a brooding, angry, dangerous threat the next. There’s a sub-plot featuring Jess’s parents which I thought really added to the story. Making characters that already felt real to me even more believable. With the extended absence of husband Rob (away on a business trip in the US), with the strange behaviour of her father, with the pressure to return to work, with two young children to look after and the need to fit into a new community, it’s no wonder that Jess has the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes, The Family Retreat is the perfect summer thriller if you’re looking for a smart, sophisticated read with superb characterisation and well-written suspense. It’s a very human story with an unexpected twist in the tale which I thoroughly appreciated. I enjoyed the time I spent with the characters. Some are definitely more likable than others but I really warmed to Jess, despite her meddling, and grew to like her more and more as the story progressed. The Family Retreat is a slow-build, suspense filled tale of closely guarded secrets which I very much enjoyed. Recommended.
I am addicted to summer thrillers this year. Last year I had a thing for flight-based thrillers. This year it’s definitely the ‘summer holiday gone horribly wrong’ vibe I am loving! So when The Family Retreat landed on my radar I was, of course, drawn to it. I love the cover. It screams ‘PERIL’ at me, with the child in the ocean, and I found the blurb to be very intriguing. Plus a lot of the summer thrillers I’ve read recently have been set overseas but The Family Retreat is based in beautiful Dorset, which was also a pull. It’s an extremely well-written, suspenseful, dark tale which I devoured.
General Practitioner, Jess and her screen-writer husband, Rob are having extensive work done on their London home. In a bid to avoid the dust and the noise they pack up their young family and head to the Dorset coast for several weeks. Although initially unsure, Jess soon realises that the move could be a blessing as she’s already taking a hiatus away from her patients and the practice. The Gibson family soon become friendly with the small, local community, including the annoyingly perfect Helen and her more likable husband, James, who are also temporary residents of the community and have children of a similar age. Jess’s strong desire to know her new neighbours better reveals a secret which she is sure, with her experience and contacts, she can help with. But Jess’s interfering in other people lives, her meddling in things which don’t concern her, could have deadly consequences for her new community…
The Family Retreat is a suspenseful family-based thriller which I found very compelling with strong characterisation. Jess is an intriguing woman who to me felt overworked and repeatedly overlooked, both at work and at home. Yet the need to prove herself, go above and beyond, pushes her forward. This is very much her story, told from her point of view. When she meets Helen, Jess is drawn to her. She finds her guarded and intriguing, she wants to become friends, but Helen holds back. I found the relationship between the two women absolutely fascinating. I could feel Jess’s need to connect more with Helen but Helen was very closed off. I became very invested in the characters’ lives, I was keen to find out how things were going to end for these people. And what a jaw-dropping ending it is.
This is a well-paced tale where tension builds slowly over the course of the book. I adored the sweeping, dramatic setting which could be picture perfect one minute and a brooding, angry, dangerous threat the next. There’s a sub-plot featuring Jess’s parents which I thought really added to the story. Making characters that already felt real to me even more believable. With the extended absence of husband Rob (away on a business trip in the US), with the strange behaviour of her father, with the pressure to return to work, with two young children to look after and the need to fit into a new community, it’s no wonder that Jess has the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes, The Family Retreat is the perfect summer thriller if you’re looking for a smart, sophisticated read with superb characterisation and well-written suspense. It’s a very human story with an unexpected twist in the tale which I thoroughly appreciated. I enjoyed the time I spent with the characters. Some are definitely more likable than others but I really warmed to Jess, despite her meddling, and grew to like her more and more as the story progressed. The Family Retreat is a slow-build, suspense filled tale of closely guarded secrets which I very much enjoyed. Recommended.
April 11, 2023
So. The book. Oh my.
Lovely fellow readers. It was the first book that I've read that for 12% or more I didn't know what's the name of the main character. Sure, it is mentioned in the synopsis, but I've read it a long time ago and I forgot. It was only then that it was mentioned, and then I've caught her name perhaps three times more. In the whole book. Nobody directed her with her name. Why? Were they all really so damaged, so deep into their own thoughts and problems?
It was actually a very, very, very slow burner. For the most time I really didn't know where we are going, wher the book is leading, what is the main problem, because not those of Jess's, right? It were the last 20 % (!!! REALLY) when SOMETHING has happened, it were the last few chapters that were filled with action - the whole book has been leading towards those last pages. And I mean, they were not bad written, but it was one very long stream of consciousness, things that, in retrospection, were not relevant to this what's going to happen.
The characters are not likeable and mostly disturbed, probably too many people with issues in one place.
So actually for the very, very important and sensitive topic the book gets 5 big, fat stars from me, but for the execution unfortunately only 2. It simply took too much time to reach those important points, but 1) there were too many of them and b) there was not enough time to left to tackle them in the most deserved way. The writing style is brilliant, very descriptive (VERY), but writing style is not all and there were too many issues that simply put me off. There were too many "but worst was yet to come" that eventually made me feel completely irritated, as it was a very long wait. A bit risky, because when you eventually came to this "worst", you can be so tired that it can have the opposite effect. However, and the brownie points go to the author, she has done it brilliantly describing it through Ollie's eyes. It was shocking.
It's a heavy, raw read, not for a lovely summer evening, it will need your attention as it deals with many issues, such as mental health, family abuse on a very different and high level, abused family relationships. Some of the descriptions are very detailed and realistic.
Lovely fellow readers. It was the first book that I've read that for 12% or more I didn't know what's the name of the main character. Sure, it is mentioned in the synopsis, but I've read it a long time ago and I forgot. It was only then that it was mentioned, and then I've caught her name perhaps three times more. In the whole book. Nobody directed her with her name. Why? Were they all really so damaged, so deep into their own thoughts and problems?
It was actually a very, very, very slow burner. For the most time I really didn't know where we are going, wher the book is leading, what is the main problem, because not those of Jess's, right? It were the last 20 % (!!! REALLY) when SOMETHING has happened, it were the last few chapters that were filled with action - the whole book has been leading towards those last pages. And I mean, they were not bad written, but it was one very long stream of consciousness, things that, in retrospection, were not relevant to this what's going to happen.
The characters are not likeable and mostly disturbed, probably too many people with issues in one place.
So actually for the very, very important and sensitive topic the book gets 5 big, fat stars from me, but for the execution unfortunately only 2. It simply took too much time to reach those important points, but 1) there were too many of them and b) there was not enough time to left to tackle them in the most deserved way. The writing style is brilliant, very descriptive (VERY), but writing style is not all and there were too many issues that simply put me off. There were too many "but worst was yet to come" that eventually made me feel completely irritated, as it was a very long wait. A bit risky, because when you eventually came to this "worst", you can be so tired that it can have the opposite effect. However, and the brownie points go to the author, she has done it brilliantly describing it through Ollie's eyes. It was shocking.
It's a heavy, raw read, not for a lovely summer evening, it will need your attention as it deals with many issues, such as mental health, family abuse on a very different and high level, abused family relationships. Some of the descriptions are very detailed and realistic.
August 16, 2025
Honestly, I thought the approach to such a sensitive topic in the book was really well done. It also brought into focus the modern day 'gender roles' and how women are still responsible for a lot of both the emotional and physical burden of running a household and how men often gloss over these things without giving them a second thought. I think these two things tied in together very well and this was very well approached by the author.
However, I found the 'twist' in the book extremely predictable and I think this ruined it for me. This was partly due to the fact that the author kept making reference to the "horrible thing" and so constantly you were looking out for it. This was not subtle and honestly just irritated me and I was disappointed with how much it seemed to take over the writing.
Also, so much of the book was taken up with just filler information that it made for a very monotonous read, especially at the start. Why did she bother mentioning Robert's twins if they are never going to appear in the story at all?! I personally think that having them make an appearance could have further played into the book's themes as we would have likely seen Jess bear the brunt of caring for these kids that she hardly knows while Rob continues to play the role of 'fun dad'. This also just irritated me and I found a lot of the book a bit boring.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only for how well it brings into focus the social gender divide, and the fact I think a lot of women would feel seen by this. But for me, the writing and overall storyline was lacking and I would definitely not read it again.
However, I found the 'twist' in the book extremely predictable and I think this ruined it for me. This was partly due to the fact that the author kept making reference to the "horrible thing" and so constantly you were looking out for it. This was not subtle and honestly just irritated me and I was disappointed with how much it seemed to take over the writing.
Also, so much of the book was taken up with just filler information that it made for a very monotonous read, especially at the start. Why did she bother mentioning Robert's twins if they are never going to appear in the story at all?! I personally think that having them make an appearance could have further played into the book's themes as we would have likely seen Jess bear the brunt of caring for these kids that she hardly knows while Rob continues to play the role of 'fun dad'. This also just irritated me and I found a lot of the book a bit boring.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only for how well it brings into focus the social gender divide, and the fact I think a lot of women would feel seen by this. But for me, the writing and overall storyline was lacking and I would definitely not read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2022
The synopsis here says what you need to know about this book: family goes to Dorset for a month as writer husband has to complete the final edits on his script. Wife, a GP, ostensibly on sick leave befriends a woman there, and there's a catastrophe. There are secrets, too. These are all the ingredients for a corker of a novel that straddles the 'family drama' 'mystery' genres': a good, solid holiday read. And it basically is, except that the writer has really latched onto that technique of hinting and withholding of information rather too much. It's prolonged narrative foreplay and you can almost work out the process of writing it, with the frequency of phrases like '...but worse was yet to come' and 'looking back'. Don't get me wrong, I love a bit that, but I say a BIT of it, not THAT much, thanks, because it rather than increasing the tension, after a while, it has the opposite effect. Foreplay gone wrong, effectively, which is a shame, because there is great promise here. I loved that it was set in Dorset. and there were elements of characterisation that were compelling. The pace, slow at first, building quite rapidly towards the end, was understandable, I thought, and worthy. it really just was that tic of forced narrative tension that made me want to shout out, 'ALRIGHT, this is a page turner, I get it.' I'm pretty sure a lot of readers will love that. My grateful thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.
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