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All Her Secrets
From the bestselling author of The Patient comes another powerful novel about betrayal, family and the secrets of the past.
PAXOS, GREECE
A young girl meets two boys on the beach one hot summer night. Her life will never be the same again.
LONDON, ENGLAND
Julia is the perfect spouse, mother, cook, cleaner and speech writer to her husband, James. But behind it all is a stifled woman trapped in a gilded cage. When she meets Laurel, a therapist who promises fulfilment, Julia opens herself up to the hope of a different future.
BOUND BY THE PAST
But what happened in Greece all those years ago that binds these two women together? And will uncovering the truth destroy everything… or set them free?
THE QUEEN OF THE WHAT-IF NOVEL IS BACK WITH A TENSE, EMOTIONAL READ THAT WILL MAKE YOU QUESTION EVERYTHING…
PAXOS, GREECE
A young girl meets two boys on the beach one hot summer night. Her life will never be the same again.
LONDON, ENGLAND
Julia is the perfect spouse, mother, cook, cleaner and speech writer to her husband, James. But behind it all is a stifled woman trapped in a gilded cage. When she meets Laurel, a therapist who promises fulfilment, Julia opens herself up to the hope of a different future.
BOUND BY THE PAST
But what happened in Greece all those years ago that binds these two women together? And will uncovering the truth destroy everything… or set them free?
THE QUEEN OF THE WHAT-IF NOVEL IS BACK WITH A TENSE, EMOTIONAL READ THAT WILL MAKE YOU QUESTION EVERYTHING…
Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2023
330 people are currently reading
27382 people want to read
About the author
Jane Shemilt
9 books676 followersJane is a general practitioner who completed a post graduate diploma in Creative Writing at Bristol university and went on to study for a M.A in Creative writing at Bath Spa. She was shortlisted for the Janklow and Nesbitt award and the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize for Daughter, her first novel.
She and her husband, a Professor of Neurosurgery, have 5 children and live in Bristol, England.
She and her husband, a Professor of Neurosurgery, have 5 children and live in Bristol, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 528 reviews
December 16, 2023
If you're looking for a fast-paced psychological thriller that will completely disconnect you from the outside world for a few hours and immerse you in a tragic story, moving back and forth between two timelines and two points of view - once of a victim and of struggling survivors - then this book is absolutely everything you need. It's unputdownable, mind-bending, dark, and a twisty tale.
The storyline of thirteen-year-old Sophie takes us back in time 20 years ago, leading us to a luxurious getaway: a vacation house located in Paxos, Greece, where her family works as caretakers for a wealthy British family. This family includes an ambitious investor named Peter, his depressed, day-drinking wife, and their daughter Julia, who is used by her own father to gain leverage in his business deals. Sophie appears content with her life, helping her family clean the place and serve food and drinks to guests, all while trying to befriend Julia. But when a group of teenagers arrives as new guests, she has no idea that her life may change in a single night, dragging her entire family into a catastrophic chain of events, and burdening her young shoulders with an unbearable tragedy.
The other storyline takes place in present-day London, where an older Julia (in her mid thirties) has recently remarried to provide financial security and a planned life for her fifteen-year-old daughter, Lottie, in exchange for losing her freedom and identity. Her college professor husband, James, exhibits controlling habits, and her packed schedule includes writing and editing her husband's speeches, cooking, catering for special events organized for high society, and trying to act as the perfect, flawless wife, all of which leave her exhausted and feeling increasingly trapped with each passing day. However, her life will take another turn when she crosses paths with beautiful, confident, and successful psychiatrist, Laurel, who may help her confront many truths about her own life that she has been denying. Little does she know that her therapy sessions will lead her to delve into an ominous night at their family house in Paxos, which forever changed the lives of the caretakers who worked for her family. What happened on that night, and why was she kept in the dark about the secrets her family hid from her for years?
I can honestly say that some parts of the book were truly hard to digest, leaving you disturbed and feeling deeply sorry for the main characters and the tragedies they endure. The story touches on many triggering subjects, including physical and verbal abuse, as well as family neglect, which will open your wounds and make you empathize with the characters at each chapter, feeling their pain even more than you could imagine.
While some of the twists are predictable from the beginning, I still enjoyed the sentimental ending and the well-developed characterizations of both Sophie and Julia.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to thriller and mystery lovers who crave a fast-paced, riveting story to get lost in during a single sitting.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this thrilling book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The storyline of thirteen-year-old Sophie takes us back in time 20 years ago, leading us to a luxurious getaway: a vacation house located in Paxos, Greece, where her family works as caretakers for a wealthy British family. This family includes an ambitious investor named Peter, his depressed, day-drinking wife, and their daughter Julia, who is used by her own father to gain leverage in his business deals. Sophie appears content with her life, helping her family clean the place and serve food and drinks to guests, all while trying to befriend Julia. But when a group of teenagers arrives as new guests, she has no idea that her life may change in a single night, dragging her entire family into a catastrophic chain of events, and burdening her young shoulders with an unbearable tragedy.
The other storyline takes place in present-day London, where an older Julia (in her mid thirties) has recently remarried to provide financial security and a planned life for her fifteen-year-old daughter, Lottie, in exchange for losing her freedom and identity. Her college professor husband, James, exhibits controlling habits, and her packed schedule includes writing and editing her husband's speeches, cooking, catering for special events organized for high society, and trying to act as the perfect, flawless wife, all of which leave her exhausted and feeling increasingly trapped with each passing day. However, her life will take another turn when she crosses paths with beautiful, confident, and successful psychiatrist, Laurel, who may help her confront many truths about her own life that she has been denying. Little does she know that her therapy sessions will lead her to delve into an ominous night at their family house in Paxos, which forever changed the lives of the caretakers who worked for her family. What happened on that night, and why was she kept in the dark about the secrets her family hid from her for years?
I can honestly say that some parts of the book were truly hard to digest, leaving you disturbed and feeling deeply sorry for the main characters and the tragedies they endure. The story touches on many triggering subjects, including physical and verbal abuse, as well as family neglect, which will open your wounds and make you empathize with the characters at each chapter, feeling their pain even more than you could imagine.
While some of the twists are predictable from the beginning, I still enjoyed the sentimental ending and the well-developed characterizations of both Sophie and Julia.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to thriller and mystery lovers who crave a fast-paced, riveting story to get lost in during a single sitting.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this thrilling book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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September 1, 2023Felt like watching a clock ticking slowly, so I gave up.
June 2, 2023
4.5 stars
It all has its roots in Paxos, Greece in 2003, a particularly hot summer in Europe. Sofie aged 13, helps her parents who work at a luxury property owned by wealthy Peter and Jane. As usual, a crowd of friends and “hangers on“ assemble, including Peter and Jane’s daughter, Julia. Fast forward to 2023 to a picture perfect family, unless the recent pictures in GQ belie the truth. Julia, mother to teenager Lottie, is married to James the headteacher at the prestigious Westminster School. James is charming, ambitious and hugely confident and to him appearance is all. This powerful novel is told in dual timelines through which we learn how both Sofie and Julia are bound by the past.
This is a beautifully written novel which has real intensity especially at the start. You feel the atmosphere in Paxos and it gives you goosebumps and freezes your blood. You just know something bad is going to happen but it could come from several directions. The stifling, oppressive heat of ‘03 is used to real effect as you wait for the storm to break, the air is fraught with the promise of danger. The beginning of the 2023 narrative contrasts really well with this, it seems bright and optimistic until it isn’t. I like how the author develops this with the suspense and tension becoming increasingly taut as fear builds. The dynamics are fascinating, especially in the later time line with the Paxos family of Sofia who couldn’t be a greater contrast to that of Julia. Money isn’t everything.
All the darker elements of the book are done well and dealt with sensitively. The excellent characterisation matches the situations that unfold, it becomes clear that these are damaged people and you root for their recovery. The storyline is an emotional one with everything from shock, anger, sadness, but also admiration.
I find this novel to be an immersive read, I expected it to be so as I really like the way that Jane Shemilt writes. It fully engages my attention, it’s a page turner that I reluctantly put down. The ending feels just right to me too.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
It all has its roots in Paxos, Greece in 2003, a particularly hot summer in Europe. Sofie aged 13, helps her parents who work at a luxury property owned by wealthy Peter and Jane. As usual, a crowd of friends and “hangers on“ assemble, including Peter and Jane’s daughter, Julia. Fast forward to 2023 to a picture perfect family, unless the recent pictures in GQ belie the truth. Julia, mother to teenager Lottie, is married to James the headteacher at the prestigious Westminster School. James is charming, ambitious and hugely confident and to him appearance is all. This powerful novel is told in dual timelines through which we learn how both Sofie and Julia are bound by the past.
This is a beautifully written novel which has real intensity especially at the start. You feel the atmosphere in Paxos and it gives you goosebumps and freezes your blood. You just know something bad is going to happen but it could come from several directions. The stifling, oppressive heat of ‘03 is used to real effect as you wait for the storm to break, the air is fraught with the promise of danger. The beginning of the 2023 narrative contrasts really well with this, it seems bright and optimistic until it isn’t. I like how the author develops this with the suspense and tension becoming increasingly taut as fear builds. The dynamics are fascinating, especially in the later time line with the Paxos family of Sofia who couldn’t be a greater contrast to that of Julia. Money isn’t everything.
All the darker elements of the book are done well and dealt with sensitively. The excellent characterisation matches the situations that unfold, it becomes clear that these are damaged people and you root for their recovery. The storyline is an emotional one with everything from shock, anger, sadness, but also admiration.
I find this novel to be an immersive read, I expected it to be so as I really like the way that Jane Shemilt writes. It fully engages my attention, it’s a page turner that I reluctantly put down. The ending feels just right to me too.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 28, 2023
Two women. Two secrets. One terrible night.
The Greek vacation house is a luxurious getaway for a wealthy English family, windows open to sun and the sea, a sparkling swimming pool, and a verdant garden. One hot summer night, while the parents and their friends drink wine and amuse themselves, a young woman—the teenage daughter of the Greek caretaker—ventures for a walk on their private beach. Her life will never be the same again.
Ten years later, Julia is the perfect spouse and mother. Slender, blonde, expensively dressed, she’s the classic “yummy mummy” of high society: cook, organizer, arm candy, and speechwriter to her influential husband. But behind her winning smile is a stifled woman trapped in a gilded cage, stricken with anxiety and perfectionism. When Julia meets Laurel, a therapist who promises to help her find fulfillment, Julia opens herself up to the hope of a different future.
What happened in Greece all those years ago that binds these two women together? And will uncovering the truth destroy everything… or set them both free?
What a special story. While not really something I would normally read, The Vacation House took me on quite the poignant journey. Along the way, however, there were plenty of jaw-dropping twists and just a dash of suspense. All in all, despite being nothing like I expected, it was still everything that I wanted.
While I ultimately truly enjoyed this magical tale, the first two-thirds or so of this book was a long, hard slog for the most part. Somewhat dry and much more of a drama than domestic thriller as it had been billed, I struggled to connect with the characters or setting. The further into the plot that I got, however, the more I grew to like young Sofie and adult Julia. Not to mention getting pulled into the winsome descriptions of Greece.
After all, told in alternating dual POVs and timelines, the weaving storyline drew a harrowing narrative that was, at times, quite hard to read. All the same, by the time I reached the last fifty pages, the suspense reached its peak and I was happily startled by one breathtaking twist after another. Twists that I didn’t, for the life of me, foresee.
I do have to forewarn you, though, that this is a dark, heart-wrenching story. Filled with difficult to read topics and themes, it was still a resounding success in its ability to look deeply into the effects of trauma and self-worth. Still, if you are triggered by the subject matters of rape or suicide, this might not be the best book for you.
By the time I put this one down, what had been a three star book up until the last fifty pages jumped up the ratings for me. The ending left me satisfied yet also emotional, something I rarely find in my go-to genres. Just the same, this was hardly a fast-paced, suspense-driven book. If I had to classify it, in fact, I’d say it was a beautifully crafted mix of drama and domestic suspense. So if either of those sound like they’d be up your alley, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. After all, it was a hit for me in spite of my initial lack of enthusiasm. Rating of 4 stars.
Thank you to Jane Shemilt and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: December 26, 2023
*Note: In an effort to not give away any of the twists, I’ve included the synopsis provided by the publisher.
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: rape, eating disorder, anxiety, suicide, infidelity, death of a parent, mention of: dementia, pedophilia, cancer, molestation
The Greek vacation house is a luxurious getaway for a wealthy English family, windows open to sun and the sea, a sparkling swimming pool, and a verdant garden. One hot summer night, while the parents and their friends drink wine and amuse themselves, a young woman—the teenage daughter of the Greek caretaker—ventures for a walk on their private beach. Her life will never be the same again.
Ten years later, Julia is the perfect spouse and mother. Slender, blonde, expensively dressed, she’s the classic “yummy mummy” of high society: cook, organizer, arm candy, and speechwriter to her influential husband. But behind her winning smile is a stifled woman trapped in a gilded cage, stricken with anxiety and perfectionism. When Julia meets Laurel, a therapist who promises to help her find fulfillment, Julia opens herself up to the hope of a different future.
What happened in Greece all those years ago that binds these two women together? And will uncovering the truth destroy everything… or set them both free?
What a special story. While not really something I would normally read, The Vacation House took me on quite the poignant journey. Along the way, however, there were plenty of jaw-dropping twists and just a dash of suspense. All in all, despite being nothing like I expected, it was still everything that I wanted.
While I ultimately truly enjoyed this magical tale, the first two-thirds or so of this book was a long, hard slog for the most part. Somewhat dry and much more of a drama than domestic thriller as it had been billed, I struggled to connect with the characters or setting. The further into the plot that I got, however, the more I grew to like young Sofie and adult Julia. Not to mention getting pulled into the winsome descriptions of Greece.
After all, told in alternating dual POVs and timelines, the weaving storyline drew a harrowing narrative that was, at times, quite hard to read. All the same, by the time I reached the last fifty pages, the suspense reached its peak and I was happily startled by one breathtaking twist after another. Twists that I didn’t, for the life of me, foresee.
I do have to forewarn you, though, that this is a dark, heart-wrenching story. Filled with difficult to read topics and themes, it was still a resounding success in its ability to look deeply into the effects of trauma and self-worth. Still, if you are triggered by the subject matters of rape or suicide, this might not be the best book for you.
By the time I put this one down, what had been a three star book up until the last fifty pages jumped up the ratings for me. The ending left me satisfied yet also emotional, something I rarely find in my go-to genres. Just the same, this was hardly a fast-paced, suspense-driven book. If I had to classify it, in fact, I’d say it was a beautifully crafted mix of drama and domestic suspense. So if either of those sound like they’d be up your alley, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. After all, it was a hit for me in spite of my initial lack of enthusiasm. Rating of 4 stars.
Thank you to Jane Shemilt and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: December 26, 2023
*Note: In an effort to not give away any of the twists, I’ve included the synopsis provided by the publisher.
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: rape, eating disorder, anxiety, suicide, infidelity, death of a parent, mention of: dementia, pedophilia, cancer, molestation
January 4, 2024
Not sure how to rate this one. 3.5 stars, rounded down because it is sad and disturbing (trigger warnings galore: , but ultimately redemptive, almost too late though. Took SO long to get going and get set up.
There are two timelines. The first is from 20 years ago, in Paxos, Greece. Thirteen year old Sophie is the daughter of caretakers of the vacation home of a wealthy family. One member of the family is aloof Julia, who Sophie tries to befriend but Julia has no time for her. Many events occur over that vacation that change lives. The second timeline is present day, where Julia is married to James and they have a fifteen year old daughter Lottie. James is very controlling, Lottie is distant, and Julia decides to secretly go to therapy with Laurel.
Overall there isn't anything groundbreaking or surprising, but the writing is quite strong and compelling. The events that occur are horrific and very disturbing, but in the end there is hope and healing. The characters are well developed and evoke emotion from the reader as we root for their ultimate redemption from the past. I wouldn't say this is a thriller, it is more of a drama and examination of the different ways trauma can affect a person.
I wish the setup had been a bit less drawn out and overly detailed, because it bogged the story down and didn't allow it to move as quickly as it should have. It may cause some readers to give up, and they will miss out on a well told tale.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
There are two timelines. The first is from 20 years ago, in Paxos, Greece. Thirteen year old Sophie is the daughter of caretakers of the vacation home of a wealthy family. One member of the family is aloof Julia, who Sophie tries to befriend but Julia has no time for her. Many events occur over that vacation that change lives. The second timeline is present day, where Julia is married to James and they have a fifteen year old daughter Lottie. James is very controlling, Lottie is distant, and Julia decides to secretly go to therapy with Laurel.
Overall there isn't anything groundbreaking or surprising, but the writing is quite strong and compelling. The events that occur are horrific and very disturbing, but in the end there is hope and healing. The characters are well developed and evoke emotion from the reader as we root for their ultimate redemption from the past. I wouldn't say this is a thriller, it is more of a drama and examination of the different ways trauma can affect a person.
I wish the setup had been a bit less drawn out and overly detailed, because it bogged the story down and didn't allow it to move as quickly as it should have. It may cause some readers to give up, and they will miss out on a well told tale.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
November 24, 2023
2.5 Stars
I think your enjoyment of this book will be decided on how you like the pacing and how quickly you figure everything out. This started out really slow for me and I figured out the whole book within the first few chapters. It felt like the mystery and suspense was forecasted loudly, leaving no secrets or twists to be discovered. However, the writing was good, the characters largely despicable and unlikeable, and the atmosphere felt dark and foreboding.
Trigger Warnings:
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I think your enjoyment of this book will be decided on how you like the pacing and how quickly you figure everything out. This started out really slow for me and I figured out the whole book within the first few chapters. It felt like the mystery and suspense was forecasted loudly, leaving no secrets or twists to be discovered. However, the writing was good, the characters largely despicable and unlikeable, and the atmosphere felt dark and foreboding.
Trigger Warnings:
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
April 26, 2025
This story takes place in two timelines and is told in two voices. In Greece, we follow Sophie, the 13-year-old daughter of the staff that caretake the vacation home for a wealthy English family. 20 years later, the alternative voice is Julia, and that takes place primarily in England.
Overall, I'm surprised this book doesn't have higher readership. That said, if some readers were scared off, I would say rightly so. This is dark, and there are some terrible things that take place on page which I think are going to stick with me for a really long time. It is dark and sad and difficult to get through, so I think one should go into this book knowing that. It is not a standard thriller. Some elements are just too scary and real to think about.
I found the writing difficult to get into at first. There are a lot of characters in the past timeline of Greece. I had a hard time following at first. The story picked up quickly, and it was a page turner, despite the heavy subject matter. I did predict how the timelines and stories would converge, but I was overall satisfied with the story and the outcome.
3.5⭐. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.
Overall, I'm surprised this book doesn't have higher readership. That said, if some readers were scared off, I would say rightly so. This is dark, and there are some terrible things that take place on page which I think are going to stick with me for a really long time. It is dark and sad and difficult to get through, so I think one should go into this book knowing that. It is not a standard thriller. Some elements are just too scary and real to think about.
I found the writing difficult to get into at first. There are a lot of characters in the past timeline of Greece. I had a hard time following at first. The story picked up quickly, and it was a page turner, despite the heavy subject matter. I did predict how the timelines and stories would converge, but I was overall satisfied with the story and the outcome.
3.5⭐. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.
August 16, 2023
All Her Secrets by Jane Shemilt was a gut wrenching and cleverly told narrative that was a past and present POV. It’s really about two peoples lives and how they have survived their childhoods.
I’m personally still shocked at the amount of abuse the majority of females still face. This was a tough read that at times I wanted to put down because of the unfairness. But I had to see how it would end! And I loved the ending and could breathe again at the conclusion.
This author writes compelling stories that I always enjoy and I recommend this one.
*There are triggers warnings in this so read with caution. I only gain strength from books like this and I’m glad I read it.
Thanks Harper Collins via NetGalley.
4.5⭐️
I’m personally still shocked at the amount of abuse the majority of females still face. This was a tough read that at times I wanted to put down because of the unfairness. But I had to see how it would end! And I loved the ending and could breathe again at the conclusion.
This author writes compelling stories that I always enjoy and I recommend this one.
*There are triggers warnings in this so read with caution. I only gain strength from books like this and I’m glad I read it.
Thanks Harper Collins via NetGalley.
4.5⭐️
December 13, 2023
I went into this blind, and I will say—it was nothing like I expected. When I saw the title, I pictured a bunch of young people on vacation together, partying it up, with a murder maybe. Nope. That didn’t happen! But I was surprised in the best way! I loved this one! It was my first book by this author and will not be my last! It was told from two POV’s, Sofie in the past and Julia in present day. Horrific things happened to Sofie at the vacation house where her family worked. Julia’s family was vacationing at the house Sofie’s family was employed. Julia has some trauma of her own from those days. Flash forward to present day, Julia’s traumas have shaped the woman she is today. She comes across secrets….many secrets….that link parts of her present day life with Sofie’s in the past.
April 16, 2024
This was a lot darker than I thought it would be. I would HIGHLY recommend checking out the trigger warnings before venturing in. The plot was happening but ever so slowly, and I honestly didn't know where it was going until halfway through the book. Even then though I did not find myself wanting to continue to pick this one up. It just didn't hit the mark for me.
This book is in dual POVs and timelines. We have Sofie in the past grappling with an unimaginable experience, and then we have Julia who is in the present in a loveless marriage that she signed up for in order to have security. Both women have serious trauma and secrets, and the question is how they tie together or cross over. This story involves covering up for "friends," deciding to acknowledge what happened in the past and taking control of the situation. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I was not prepared for the trauma. The intersection of the stories was a bit odd for me and also did not happen until at least halfway through the book.
Again this one was not for me, but I do want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is in dual POVs and timelines. We have Sofie in the past grappling with an unimaginable experience, and then we have Julia who is in the present in a loveless marriage that she signed up for in order to have security. Both women have serious trauma and secrets, and the question is how they tie together or cross over. This story involves covering up for "friends," deciding to acknowledge what happened in the past and taking control of the situation. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I was not prepared for the trauma. The intersection of the stories was a bit odd for me and also did not happen until at least halfway through the book.
Again this one was not for me, but I do want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2024
Set in Paxos, Greece and London, England twenty years apart, the plot follows the fates of two women.
2003 - one swelteringly hot summer on the Greek island of Paxos, a wealthy British family visit their vacation house. They bring along some guests with them as well.
The Greek family that act as caretakers for the villa, its gardens, and outbuildings, are hardworking and dedicated. When the owner family is in residence, they fulfill the role of servants. Cooking and cleaning up after the family and their guests. Sofie is the thirteen year old daughter of the Greek family. She helps her mother and works hard, but like the rest of her family she is largely ignored or taken for granted by the British folk. That summer something horrendous happens to Sofie that will forever impact upon her family, her future, and her life.
2023 - Julia is the svelte and beautiful wife of the headmaster of a prestigious London school. A teacher herself, she has forfeited her career in order to support her husband. She cooks for him and for school activities, she writes and edits his speeches, she maintains her perfect appearance and keeps their home impeccable in order to sustain his exalted reputation. She married him to provide security for herself and her teenage daughter. She is not a happy woman.
How the lives of young Sofie and Julia intersect is something you will have to read for yourself. I daren't spoil this wonderful plot for you. I was completely engrossed in the outcome of the plot, and even though my suspicions were proved correct, that did in no way mar my reading enjoyment.
The characters were very well developed. The descriptions were so well rendered that you could feel the heat of a Greek summer, the anguish of Sofia, and the desperation of Julia. It was a visceral novel with several disturbing scenes that might prove upsetting reading for some readers.
Though touted as a psychological thriller, it was so much more. A tragic story of the ramifications and consequences of trauma. It spoke to the arrogance and entitlement of the wealthy, and the resultant class inequality. Also, it was a revenge story - and this time the revenge was indeed served very cold.
Themes of this novel included sexual abuse, social inequity, the abuse of power, loss, complicity and betrayal.
I liked both Sofie and Julia's characters, with Sofie being my absolute favourite. I felt such empathy and yes, sympathy for her plight and its aftermath. I will remember her for some time.
This is the first novel I've read by this author. Now I am very keen to read her entire backlist of five novels. The writing was skilled and the ending of the story proved very satisfactory. Highly recommended!
NOTE: "The Vacation House" has also been published under the title "All Her Secrets".
2003 - one swelteringly hot summer on the Greek island of Paxos, a wealthy British family visit their vacation house. They bring along some guests with them as well.
The Greek family that act as caretakers for the villa, its gardens, and outbuildings, are hardworking and dedicated. When the owner family is in residence, they fulfill the role of servants. Cooking and cleaning up after the family and their guests. Sofie is the thirteen year old daughter of the Greek family. She helps her mother and works hard, but like the rest of her family she is largely ignored or taken for granted by the British folk. That summer something horrendous happens to Sofie that will forever impact upon her family, her future, and her life.
2023 - Julia is the svelte and beautiful wife of the headmaster of a prestigious London school. A teacher herself, she has forfeited her career in order to support her husband. She cooks for him and for school activities, she writes and edits his speeches, she maintains her perfect appearance and keeps their home impeccable in order to sustain his exalted reputation. She married him to provide security for herself and her teenage daughter. She is not a happy woman.
How the lives of young Sofie and Julia intersect is something you will have to read for yourself. I daren't spoil this wonderful plot for you. I was completely engrossed in the outcome of the plot, and even though my suspicions were proved correct, that did in no way mar my reading enjoyment.
The characters were very well developed. The descriptions were so well rendered that you could feel the heat of a Greek summer, the anguish of Sofia, and the desperation of Julia. It was a visceral novel with several disturbing scenes that might prove upsetting reading for some readers.
Though touted as a psychological thriller, it was so much more. A tragic story of the ramifications and consequences of trauma. It spoke to the arrogance and entitlement of the wealthy, and the resultant class inequality. Also, it was a revenge story - and this time the revenge was indeed served very cold.
Themes of this novel included sexual abuse, social inequity, the abuse of power, loss, complicity and betrayal.
I liked both Sofie and Julia's characters, with Sofie being my absolute favourite. I felt such empathy and yes, sympathy for her plight and its aftermath. I will remember her for some time.
This is the first novel I've read by this author. Now I am very keen to read her entire backlist of five novels. The writing was skilled and the ending of the story proved very satisfactory. Highly recommended!
NOTE: "The Vacation House" has also been published under the title "All Her Secrets".
August 15, 2023
This book started slow but ended up really good. It takes place in 2 timelines- Greece in 2003 and London in 2023 (note that the synopsis mentions a 10 year gap but it’s actually 20 and everything makes more sense that way). The earlier timeframe is about Sofie, the caretaker’s daughter at a fancy vacation home, and the later timeframe is about Julia, the daughter of the vacation homeowner who is now in a seemingly perfect marriage (with cracks!). The way these 2 storylines converge is very well done.
The first quarter of the book provides background and was a little slow. Once the action happens the rest of the book reads at a faster clip. It’s hard to read what happens to Sofie and is a scene that will likely stick with you. I expected not to like Julia but I ended up empathizing with her. I will say that I wasn’t super surprised by the twists in the book but I did think the storyline was weaved together very well. I also enjoyed the ending.
Overall, maybe not a super unique or surprising read but definitely a good one. Is recommended to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first quarter of the book provides background and was a little slow. Once the action happens the rest of the book reads at a faster clip. It’s hard to read what happens to Sofie and is a scene that will likely stick with you. I expected not to like Julia but I ended up empathizing with her. I will say that I wasn’t super surprised by the twists in the book but I did think the storyline was weaved together very well. I also enjoyed the ending.
Overall, maybe not a super unique or surprising read but definitely a good one. Is recommended to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2023
THE VACATION HOUSE is a powerful novel that captured my attention from start to finish. The dual timelines and alternating points of view were weaved together perfectly. I felt terrible for both Sofie and Julia and the things they both endured. I thought that Jane Shemilt handled it with care and even surprised me with a few twists at the end. Overall, this was a well written story that was different than most the books I've read lately. I'll definitely be reading more her books in the future!
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews in the near future.
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews in the near future.
January 28, 2024
Warning: there are triggers of rape, violence, and family dysfunction in this book, and they are disturbing.
The book begins on a Greek island, where one family acts as caregivers of an estate for another family. It’s a beautiful setting. With warm family images, but also dark events occur.
The story shifts to current day, where Julia is dealing with a complicated marriage. She meets some new people in her life, and starts to make some changes… secrets emerge in a surprising way.
Even with such a difficult subject involved, the book has good resolution and I enjoyed it more than I expected.
The book begins on a Greek island, where one family acts as caregivers of an estate for another family. It’s a beautiful setting. With warm family images, but also dark events occur.
The story shifts to current day, where Julia is dealing with a complicated marriage. She meets some new people in her life, and starts to make some changes… secrets emerge in a surprising way.
Even with such a difficult subject involved, the book has good resolution and I enjoyed it more than I expected.
January 11, 2024
I may have to create a 'Nope' shelf just for this book.
By the time I got to the third straight chapter detailing CW I was ready to throw in the towel. I found it distasteful and gratuitous. And the other half of the story was boring. DNF.
By the time I got to the third straight chapter detailing CW I was ready to throw in the towel. I found it distasteful and gratuitous. And the other half of the story was boring. DNF.
February 16, 2024
2 stars
Useless disturbing scenes, long, boring, predictable.
For a short book this sure felt long and dragged.
I am not sure why the author felt the need to give such descriptive details of a horrible sexual abuse, maybe to compensate for the lack of everything else.
Useless disturbing scenes, long, boring, predictable.
For a short book this sure felt long and dragged.
I am not sure why the author felt the need to give such descriptive details of a horrible sexual abuse, maybe to compensate for the lack of everything else.
September 21, 2023
I’ve always been a fan of Jane Shemilt’s writing and this was no exception. A traumatic event leads to unforeseen and devastating consequences. The story weaves between two settings and dual time periods. I love how everything was tied together in the end, although I did find it to be predictable. Still, a fast-paced, entertaining read with a good message.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, William Morrow and Jane Shemilt for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, William Morrow and Jane Shemilt for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 31, 2023
A bewitching story of a vacation house in Paxos, Greece and the life of a headmaster's wife in a prestigious school in London.
Julia and Sophie have much in common but it's not obvious what it is at the start of the novel. Switching between times and Pov's Shemilt crafts a tale that brings it all together with surprising circumstances. It's not a book for the faint of heart as a trigger warning for mental and emotional abuse and rape.
#WIlliamMorrow #TheVacaationHouse #JaneShemilt
Julia and Sophie have much in common but it's not obvious what it is at the start of the novel. Switching between times and Pov's Shemilt crafts a tale that brings it all together with surprising circumstances. It's not a book for the faint of heart as a trigger warning for mental and emotional abuse and rape.
#WIlliamMorrow #TheVacaationHouse #JaneShemilt
January 28, 2024
4.5 Stars
I enjoyed this one, although very sad.
It focuses on bullying.
The power of people with money and what they can get away with.
Julia used to visit Paxos with her family as a teenager.
Sophie, who was thirteen and worked at the villa, admired Julia.
Sophie worked hard with her family at the villa until the unimaginable happened.
Twenty years later, Julia is married to a school principal and is very unhappy.
She starts seeing a therapist, and from there, the story gets very interesting.
It is a story of violence and revenge.
I loved the writing of this novel with an ending I wasn't expecting.
I enjoyed this one, although very sad.
It focuses on bullying.
The power of people with money and what they can get away with.
Julia used to visit Paxos with her family as a teenager.
Sophie, who was thirteen and worked at the villa, admired Julia.
Sophie worked hard with her family at the villa until the unimaginable happened.
Twenty years later, Julia is married to a school principal and is very unhappy.
She starts seeing a therapist, and from there, the story gets very interesting.
It is a story of violence and revenge.
I loved the writing of this novel with an ending I wasn't expecting.
August 16, 2023
A story of revenge, two women, and the brutal crime that tied them together.
This story is set in beautiful Greece which adds a unique element. Not to mention, you'll want a snack while reading, as the Greek food described is mouth watering. It switches from the points of view of the two women as well as timelines amped up the suspense. It was slow in some places--I skimmed a few parts--but I was still interested and invested to read to the satisfying conclusion.
This story is set in beautiful Greece which adds a unique element. Not to mention, you'll want a snack while reading, as the Greek food described is mouth watering. It switches from the points of view of the two women as well as timelines amped up the suspense. It was slow in some places--I skimmed a few parts--but I was still interested and invested to read to the satisfying conclusion.
April 6, 2024
I have no idea why I thought The Vacation House by Jane Shemilt was a thriller, but it is most definitely not that. It is a very slow-paced domestic/general fiction novel that tells 2 stories. One of Sofie in 2003 Paxos, Greece, and the other of the wife of a school headmaster Julia in present-day London, England. While both have their own intricacies, Sofie's POV packs a wallop and if you have triggers, you will for SURE need to check them before starting this. Some parts of the story are so traumatizing that it was very hard for me to read, and Shemilt is clearly not scared to take on sensitive and important subject matters.
Despite this not being a thriller, there are still a couple of twists, and while I kinda saw through one of them, the others quite surprised me. The Vacation House is a great book to listen to in the audio format, and I thought Amalia Vitale did exceptionally well with both viewpoints. She fully embodied both Sofie and Julia, and it honestly felt like I was listening to 2 different narrators. She is just that good. You should go into this book expecting a heavy read that ends in a hopeful way and a slow-burning plot, but if you are good with both of these things, you will most likely enjoy the depth and writing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Despite this not being a thriller, there are still a couple of twists, and while I kinda saw through one of them, the others quite surprised me. The Vacation House is a great book to listen to in the audio format, and I thought Amalia Vitale did exceptionally well with both viewpoints. She fully embodied both Sofie and Julia, and it honestly felt like I was listening to 2 different narrators. She is just that good. You should go into this book expecting a heavy read that ends in a hopeful way and a slow-burning plot, but if you are good with both of these things, you will most likely enjoy the depth and writing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 10, 2024
3.5 rounding down. This is a visceral and heart breaking books in both timelines that it covers. It is unrelenting abuse of girls and women and it wears on you after awhile. Clearly it is well written because I still feel nauseous after reading it but it doesn’t mean I enjoyed this book.
Julia is the perfect housewife and mother but her marriage looks a lot prettier from the outside. When she touches base with Laurel, a therapist, to help her find happiness again unlocks a dark secret from the past.
This book is going to haunt me tonight. The sexual abuse of a young girl is a lot to read and just the viciousness with which the author has characterized many of the men is jarring. However it is also the work of a talented author and if you’re looking for a read that will linger, this is the one for you.
Julia is the perfect housewife and mother but her marriage looks a lot prettier from the outside. When she touches base with Laurel, a therapist, to help her find happiness again unlocks a dark secret from the past.
This book is going to haunt me tonight. The sexual abuse of a young girl is a lot to read and just the viciousness with which the author has characterized many of the men is jarring. However it is also the work of a talented author and if you’re looking for a read that will linger, this is the one for you.
January 13, 2024
I won this book as a giveaway so I managed my expectations with how much I’d like it. I loved it! It was captivating and the two stories tying together was great!
July 31, 2023
If you're looking for a fast-paced psychological thriller that will completely disconnect you from the outside world for a few hours and immerse you in a tragic story, moving back and forth between two timelines and two points of view - once of a victim and of struggling survivors - then this book is absolutely everything you need. It's unputdownable, mind-bending, dark, and a twisty tale.
The storyline of thirteen-year-old Sophie takes us back in time 20 years ago, leading us to a luxurious getaway: a vacation house located in Paxos, Greece, where her family works as caretakers for a wealthy British family. This family includes an ambitious investor named Peter, his depressed, day-drinking wife, and their daughter Julia, who is used by her own father to gain leverage in his business deals. Sophie appears content with her life, helping her family clean the place and serve food and drinks to guests, all while trying to befriend Julia. But when a group of teenagers arrives as new guests, she has no idea that her life may change in a single night, dragging her entire family into a catastrophic chain of events, and burdening her young shoulders with an unbearable tragedy.
The other storyline takes place in present-day London, where an older Julia (in her mid thirties) has recently remarried to provide financial security and a planned life for her fifteen-year-old daughter, Lottie, in exchange for losing her freedom and identity. Her college professor husband, James, exhibits controlling habits, and her packed schedule includes writing and editing her husband's speeches, cooking, catering for special events organized for high society, and trying to act as the perfect, flawless wife, all of which leave her exhausted and feeling increasingly trapped with each passing day. However, her life will take another turn when she crosses paths with beautiful, confident, and successful psychiatrist, Laurel, who may help her confront many truths about her own life that she has been denying. Little does she know that her therapy sessions will lead her to delve into an ominous night at their family house in Paxos, which forever changed the lives of the caretakers who worked for her family. What happened on that night, and why was she kept in the dark about the secrets her family hid from her for years?
I can honestly say that some parts of the book were truly hard to digest, leaving you disturbed and feeling deeply sorry for the main characters and the tragedies they endure. The story touches on many triggering subjects, including physical and verbal abuse, as well as family neglect, which will open your wounds and make you empathize with the characters at each chapter, feeling their pain even more than you could imagine.
While some of the twists are predictable from the beginning, I still enjoyed the sentimental ending and the well-developed characterizations of both Sophie and Julia.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to thriller and mystery lovers who crave a fast-paced, riveting story to get lost in during a single sitting.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this thrilling book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The storyline of thirteen-year-old Sophie takes us back in time 20 years ago, leading us to a luxurious getaway: a vacation house located in Paxos, Greece, where her family works as caretakers for a wealthy British family. This family includes an ambitious investor named Peter, his depressed, day-drinking wife, and their daughter Julia, who is used by her own father to gain leverage in his business deals. Sophie appears content with her life, helping her family clean the place and serve food and drinks to guests, all while trying to befriend Julia. But when a group of teenagers arrives as new guests, she has no idea that her life may change in a single night, dragging her entire family into a catastrophic chain of events, and burdening her young shoulders with an unbearable tragedy.
The other storyline takes place in present-day London, where an older Julia (in her mid thirties) has recently remarried to provide financial security and a planned life for her fifteen-year-old daughter, Lottie, in exchange for losing her freedom and identity. Her college professor husband, James, exhibits controlling habits, and her packed schedule includes writing and editing her husband's speeches, cooking, catering for special events organized for high society, and trying to act as the perfect, flawless wife, all of which leave her exhausted and feeling increasingly trapped with each passing day. However, her life will take another turn when she crosses paths with beautiful, confident, and successful psychiatrist, Laurel, who may help her confront many truths about her own life that she has been denying. Little does she know that her therapy sessions will lead her to delve into an ominous night at their family house in Paxos, which forever changed the lives of the caretakers who worked for her family. What happened on that night, and why was she kept in the dark about the secrets her family hid from her for years?
I can honestly say that some parts of the book were truly hard to digest, leaving you disturbed and feeling deeply sorry for the main characters and the tragedies they endure. The story touches on many triggering subjects, including physical and verbal abuse, as well as family neglect, which will open your wounds and make you empathize with the characters at each chapter, feeling their pain even more than you could imagine.
While some of the twists are predictable from the beginning, I still enjoyed the sentimental ending and the well-developed characterizations of both Sophie and Julia.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to thriller and mystery lovers who crave a fast-paced, riveting story to get lost in during a single sitting.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this thrilling book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
November 28, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Vacation House.
A vacation house in Greece becomes the backdrop of a brutal crime and ties two not very different women for a decade.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
When Julia meets Laurel, a beautiful therapist, their lives collide in ways Julia would never have imagined.
Told in alternating timelines, Sofie's POV from a decade ago, and Julia's in the present, readers are given insight to the events of one summer night and why these women are forever bound to each other.
I love revenge stories, and even though I knew who Laurel was, I wanted to see how it would play out.
The present timeline is Julia's story; how she empowers herself to reclaim her life and identity with Laurel's help; reestablish her relationship with her daughter, Lottie, and find her voice.
I loved how Sofie and Nico work together on her plan for revenge, and the ending is bittersweet, yet apt.
I did feel parts of the narrative dragged, especially with Sofie's side of the story.
There are graphic descriptions of the assault, and some readers may find this triggering and disturbing.
The descriptions of Greek food were mouth watering, and the author described Paxos, the people and land well.
A vacation house in Greece becomes the backdrop of a brutal crime and ties two not very different women for a decade.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
When Julia meets Laurel, a beautiful therapist, their lives collide in ways Julia would never have imagined.
Told in alternating timelines, Sofie's POV from a decade ago, and Julia's in the present, readers are given insight to the events of one summer night and why these women are forever bound to each other.
I love revenge stories, and even though I knew who Laurel was, I wanted to see how it would play out.
The present timeline is Julia's story; how she empowers herself to reclaim her life and identity with Laurel's help; reestablish her relationship with her daughter, Lottie, and find her voice.
I loved how Sofie and Nico work together on her plan for revenge, and the ending is bittersweet, yet apt.
I did feel parts of the narrative dragged, especially with Sofie's side of the story.
There are graphic descriptions of the assault, and some readers may find this triggering and disturbing.
The descriptions of Greek food were mouth watering, and the author described Paxos, the people and land well.
August 10, 2023
This was the first novel I have read by Shemlit and I absolutely loved it! The novel takes place in two different settings; Paxos, Greece in 2003 and ten years later in London, England in 2023. This is the story about two different women; Sofia and Julia and the events that drastically changed their lives. In Paxos, Julia and her wealthy British family gather with friends at their vacation house. On a hot summer evening, Sofie, the daughter of the home’s caretakers takes a walk alone on the beach and what transpires will scar her forever. Ten years later, Julia is now living in London, married to a man she despises but feels she cannot escape from. When she meets a therapist named Laurel, she confides in her and feels that with her help she may find her way to a happier life. Will the events of the past and the struggles in the present come together and bring the women some sort of salvation? This was a story of deception, survival and ultimately redemption. I gave this novel 5 stars!
October 27, 2023
I want to thank NetGalley for the advanced reading of this book. I was impressed with the skilled writing of this book. It starts out a little slow but is necessary for the end result. The story plot is twisted. But in a good sort of a way for a fantastical different ending that is amazing. Unlike anything I've read before. The story takes place in Greece in the start of it. A rich families vacation house with the snob child Julia, and a pair of disgusting entitled teenager tag along. The poor family that are servants to this Vacation House. One horrible night that changes both families for ever. The events afterward effect the poor family the most. Devastation and heartache are what follows. Karma is alive and well within this book. With a WOW ending you won't ever guess. This could be a made for TV movie I know I'd watch. I highly recommend this book for everyone.
March 5, 2024
This book starts with beautiful descriptions of a private home on the island of Paxos, Greece. The descriptions are lush and stunning and not only speak of the beauty of the island but include the rest of the senses as well, it’s scents of thyme and lavender and salt and motor grease. Young Sophie is still innocent but at 13 is longing for worldliness.
It is important for future readers to know that this book contains one of the most brutal and descriptive rape scenes I have ever read. It is disturbing on a visceral level. It involves a child.
4.5 stars.
It is important for future readers to know that this book contains one of the most brutal and descriptive rape scenes I have ever read. It is disturbing on a visceral level. It involves a child.
4.5 stars.
January 7, 2024
This book was very slow to start, and I figured out the twist pretty early on. It's just another revenge twenty years later story that has been written many times before.
February 9, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Listened to the audio book and enjoyed the plot although some of it was disturbing. Figured it out rather quickly so there wasn’t much build up at the end.
Listened to the audio book and enjoyed the plot although some of it was disturbing. Figured it out rather quickly so there wasn’t much build up at the end.
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