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Honeymoon
There's trouble in paradise. . .
For as long as she can remember, Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon. A fortnight's retreat to a five-star resort in the Maldives, complete with luxury villas, personal butlers and absolute privacy. It should be paradise, but it's turned into a nightmare.
Because the man Jemma married a week ago has just disappeared from the island without a trace. And now her perfect new life is vanishing just as quickly before her eyes. After everything they've been through together, how can this be happening? Is there anyone on the island who Jemma can trust? And above all - where has her husband gone?
For as long as she can remember, Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon. A fortnight's retreat to a five-star resort in the Maldives, complete with luxury villas, personal butlers and absolute privacy. It should be paradise, but it's turned into a nightmare.
Because the man Jemma married a week ago has just disappeared from the island without a trace. And now her perfect new life is vanishing just as quickly before her eyes. After everything they've been through together, how can this be happening? Is there anyone on the island who Jemma can trust? And above all - where has her husband gone?
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
About the author
Tina Seskis
9 books391 followersTina Seskis's first book, One Step Too Far, was released in 2013, and has since been published in 18 languages in over 60 countries.
Tina has written five novels. Her latest, HOPE CLOSE, was released on 24th March 2020 and is a novel about staying home, hope and redemption...
Tina grew up in Hampshire, before going off to study in the beautiful city of Bath and then moving to London, where she has lived on and off ever since, now with her husband and son.
Tina has written five novels. Her latest, HOPE CLOSE, was released on 24th March 2020 and is a novel about staying home, hope and redemption...
Tina grew up in Hampshire, before going off to study in the beautiful city of Bath and then moving to London, where she has lived on and off ever since, now with her husband and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews
January 21, 2019
WOW! What can I say about a book that you get to the end of and just go Holy F...! I'm sitting here shaking my head wondering what just happened. Jemma and Jamie were in the Maldives on their honeymoon when Jamie disappears. Of course, nothing is as it seems, yet every explanation I came up with was never quite right, and the truth? Hooley Dooley, this is one you'll just have to read for yourselves.
June 13, 2017
5☆ Exciting Physiological Thriller
When I read the blurb for The Honeymoon I was excited. It doesn't give much away but enough to get your curiosity juices flowing.
So let me start by saying... this book will not let you down!
It has the right amount of twists, spine tingling moments and a great storyline.
This is my first book i have read by Tina Seskis but it most definitely won't be my last. Tina is creative and her dark addictive storyline leaves the imagination running wild with theories and conclusions!
It is written in four parts and mainly told by Jemma. The need to split the book into four parts works as it uncovers the back story along the way. Creating the perfect ambience of a disturbingly creative physiological thriller.
Briefly the story line is Jemma and her husband head off to the Maldives for their honeymoon. The perfect island for love, romance and relaxing.
Only Jemma's husband has gone missing with no note, no signs or evidence as to where he has disappeared too.
Why would your husband just suddenly disappear on he's honeymoon?
Who knows more than they are letting on?
We soon get to learn their history as a couple. But just when you think you may be getting closer to answers.... then your twisted in another direction.
Jemma isn't exactly the most likeable character. She comes across as selfish and spoilt.
Sorry for the brief overview I just really don't want to give anything away.... it's just too good!
It's full of suspense, twists, dark and intriguing characters you love and loathe, mystery, intrigue, very addictive, short sharp chapters, secrets and lies, obsession, resentment and jealousy.
With One shocker of an ending!
Be prepared for once you open the book there is no stopping... it's highly addictive and compelling. You have been warned!
If your looking for a physiological thriller that has the perfect mix of keeping you guessing and addicted then The Honeymoon is the book for you.
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
When I read the blurb for The Honeymoon I was excited. It doesn't give much away but enough to get your curiosity juices flowing.
So let me start by saying... this book will not let you down!
It has the right amount of twists, spine tingling moments and a great storyline.
This is my first book i have read by Tina Seskis but it most definitely won't be my last. Tina is creative and her dark addictive storyline leaves the imagination running wild with theories and conclusions!
It is written in four parts and mainly told by Jemma. The need to split the book into four parts works as it uncovers the back story along the way. Creating the perfect ambience of a disturbingly creative physiological thriller.
Briefly the story line is Jemma and her husband head off to the Maldives for their honeymoon. The perfect island for love, romance and relaxing.
Only Jemma's husband has gone missing with no note, no signs or evidence as to where he has disappeared too.
Why would your husband just suddenly disappear on he's honeymoon?
Who knows more than they are letting on?
We soon get to learn their history as a couple. But just when you think you may be getting closer to answers.... then your twisted in another direction.
Jemma isn't exactly the most likeable character. She comes across as selfish and spoilt.
Sorry for the brief overview I just really don't want to give anything away.... it's just too good!
It's full of suspense, twists, dark and intriguing characters you love and loathe, mystery, intrigue, very addictive, short sharp chapters, secrets and lies, obsession, resentment and jealousy.
With One shocker of an ending!
Be prepared for once you open the book there is no stopping... it's highly addictive and compelling. You have been warned!
If your looking for a physiological thriller that has the perfect mix of keeping you guessing and addicted then The Honeymoon is the book for you.
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
January 3, 2018
2.5 stars
After enjoying both of the previous novels from Tina Seskis, this one comes as a huge disappointment which never fits neatly into either the chick-lit or psychological thriller genre, and delivers a cocktail of light but often puerile fodder for the necessarily disengaged mind. The unreliable narration from lead character, Jemma, indicates that this should be psychological thriller territory but the superficiality and lack of depth for both characters and their decisions push this towards dulled down chick-lit.
The novel opens with Jemma telling herself that, "everyone has rows, even in paradise", when her husband of just one week disappears from their honeymoon on a palatial seven-star private island situated in the Maldives. It doesn't help that Jemma alludes to the drunken events of the previous night which have led up to her discovery that he is missing and consequently her memories seem sketchier by the minute. Has he upped and left her and if so, how has he made it off the secluded island? Or has something more much more sinister occurred, be it a drowning or a murder? And, more significantly, just what is Jemma's role in all of this - is she to blame or guilty, and just who the hell can she trust on the island? A dual narrative, one based in the present and one that begins seven-years prior to this and gradually converges onto the present, takes readers right the way back to Jemma's inauspicious first meeting with Dan Armstrong and their ensuing up and down relationship, which smacks of making do. Cutting back to the present readers sees Jemma struggle with her husbands disappearance and reassess her amiable friendship with a pair of newly weds, Chrissy and Kenny, also staying on the island. In the wake of the disappearance, relations turns rather frosty both with the island staff and indeed the newly weds. As the past narrative recounts the ups and downs in the tepid romance between Jemma and Dan we are introduced to the frankly scathing Mrs Armstrong and Dan's younger brother, Jamie, a successful, charming and slightly better looking version of Dan. As Jemma continues searching on the island her story comes up to date and readers find out which of the two brothers she has wound up being married to and their insidiously competitive fraternal relationship. Yet as this story is brought up to date it becomes clear that Jemma has become a willing pawn in their game of one-upmanship.
As the search labours on, the rumours of a previous nights lovers tiff circulate and Jemma's becomes increasingly concerned that she has told Chrissy far too much that could make its way into police hands. When her in-laws and the other brother arrive the full extent of the nightmare hits home and soon reveals a connection with her husbands demanding boss. As the lead character, I found Jemma a huge source of frustration with both her unreliable point of view and her mood swings which see her change direction like the wind. It won't take readers too long to identify her neurotic personality and if there was ever a candidate in need of mood stabilising drugs it is Jemma. Given her unreliability I found her to be something of an enigma and struggled to pin down her intended motives and remarkably immature for supposedly being thirty-four-years of age. I suspect what she needed was an extended stay in a psychiatric ward and anger control therapy! On the basis of the two previous page-turner from Seskis, I found myself struggling to plod on with The Honeymoon between the mood swings of Jemma and endless speculation surrounding the whereabouts of Jemma's errant husband. Constantly reanalysing the disappearance without having heard the full story behind the build-up quickly wore me down. The final third of the novel sees a third person narrative which focuses on Jemma and Chrissy to reveal the final shocks - just make sure you are already seated before you fall down in hysterics at the revelations!
Although I found I easily identified the first few twists that unravelled I was nowhere near on the later ones to come, but even the element of tension was tempered by the fact that they were in all honesty fairly silly. In short, I found The Honeymoon an unstimulating read with a meandering plot that poses repetitive and rhetorical questions for more of less the entirety of the first half and with some very weak characterisation, particularly for both of the Armstrong brothers. For all my criticism, however, the prose is vibrant and frequently very humorous but this all felt a little too aimless to make for an engaging read.
After enjoying both of the previous novels from Tina Seskis, this one comes as a huge disappointment which never fits neatly into either the chick-lit or psychological thriller genre, and delivers a cocktail of light but often puerile fodder for the necessarily disengaged mind. The unreliable narration from lead character, Jemma, indicates that this should be psychological thriller territory but the superficiality and lack of depth for both characters and their decisions push this towards dulled down chick-lit.
The novel opens with Jemma telling herself that, "everyone has rows, even in paradise", when her husband of just one week disappears from their honeymoon on a palatial seven-star private island situated in the Maldives. It doesn't help that Jemma alludes to the drunken events of the previous night which have led up to her discovery that he is missing and consequently her memories seem sketchier by the minute. Has he upped and left her and if so, how has he made it off the secluded island? Or has something more much more sinister occurred, be it a drowning or a murder? And, more significantly, just what is Jemma's role in all of this - is she to blame or guilty, and just who the hell can she trust on the island? A dual narrative, one based in the present and one that begins seven-years prior to this and gradually converges onto the present, takes readers right the way back to Jemma's inauspicious first meeting with Dan Armstrong and their ensuing up and down relationship, which smacks of making do. Cutting back to the present readers sees Jemma struggle with her husbands disappearance and reassess her amiable friendship with a pair of newly weds, Chrissy and Kenny, also staying on the island. In the wake of the disappearance, relations turns rather frosty both with the island staff and indeed the newly weds. As the past narrative recounts the ups and downs in the tepid romance between Jemma and Dan we are introduced to the frankly scathing Mrs Armstrong and Dan's younger brother, Jamie, a successful, charming and slightly better looking version of Dan. As Jemma continues searching on the island her story comes up to date and readers find out which of the two brothers she has wound up being married to and their insidiously competitive fraternal relationship. Yet as this story is brought up to date it becomes clear that Jemma has become a willing pawn in their game of one-upmanship.
As the search labours on, the rumours of a previous nights lovers tiff circulate and Jemma's becomes increasingly concerned that she has told Chrissy far too much that could make its way into police hands. When her in-laws and the other brother arrive the full extent of the nightmare hits home and soon reveals a connection with her husbands demanding boss. As the lead character, I found Jemma a huge source of frustration with both her unreliable point of view and her mood swings which see her change direction like the wind. It won't take readers too long to identify her neurotic personality and if there was ever a candidate in need of mood stabilising drugs it is Jemma. Given her unreliability I found her to be something of an enigma and struggled to pin down her intended motives and remarkably immature for supposedly being thirty-four-years of age. I suspect what she needed was an extended stay in a psychiatric ward and anger control therapy! On the basis of the two previous page-turner from Seskis, I found myself struggling to plod on with The Honeymoon between the mood swings of Jemma and endless speculation surrounding the whereabouts of Jemma's errant husband. Constantly reanalysing the disappearance without having heard the full story behind the build-up quickly wore me down. The final third of the novel sees a third person narrative which focuses on Jemma and Chrissy to reveal the final shocks - just make sure you are already seated before you fall down in hysterics at the revelations!
Although I found I easily identified the first few twists that unravelled I was nowhere near on the later ones to come, but even the element of tension was tempered by the fact that they were in all honesty fairly silly. In short, I found The Honeymoon an unstimulating read with a meandering plot that poses repetitive and rhetorical questions for more of less the entirety of the first half and with some very weak characterisation, particularly for both of the Armstrong brothers. For all my criticism, however, the prose is vibrant and frequently very humorous but this all felt a little too aimless to make for an engaging read.
May 17, 2017
The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis is a psychological thriller with quite a few twists and turns. I really disliked the main character in this book and I could not believe her version of the disappearance of her husband but the story kept me hooked until the end. I would like to thank NetGalley for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2017
So many books promise a shocking twist that you won't see coming but when you get to the end you are left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed.Well this totally gripping,twisty thriller has a twist that was so unexpected my jaw literally almost hit the floor.
Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon for as long as she can remember but now her dream honeymoon has turned into a nightmare.
The man that she married a week ago has disappeared from the five star resort in the Maldives without a trace.
After everything that they have been through,how can this be happening? Can Jemma trust anyone on the island?And above all where has her husband gone?.
This twist packed,thrilling story is split into four parts and has chapters that are set before,during and after the honeymoon.Although it is mainly told by Jemma there is also some chapters that are voiced by other characters but it never got confusing and the story was easy too follow.Jemma was a complex,frustrating and not very likeable character who I struggled to feel any sympathy for as the story unfolded.I liked Jemma`s best friend Sasha but the other main characters were untrustworthy and unlikable for various reasons,I suspected quite a number of them of being involved in or knowing something about Jemma`s husband`s disappearance and each time I was totally wrong.
It's a twist packed story that had me hooked from the first page and whipping through the pages as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was going on and how this brilliant page turning was going to end
Many thanks to penguin books UK/Michael Joseph for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon for as long as she can remember but now her dream honeymoon has turned into a nightmare.
The man that she married a week ago has disappeared from the five star resort in the Maldives without a trace.
After everything that they have been through,how can this be happening? Can Jemma trust anyone on the island?And above all where has her husband gone?.
This twist packed,thrilling story is split into four parts and has chapters that are set before,during and after the honeymoon.Although it is mainly told by Jemma there is also some chapters that are voiced by other characters but it never got confusing and the story was easy too follow.Jemma was a complex,frustrating and not very likeable character who I struggled to feel any sympathy for as the story unfolded.I liked Jemma`s best friend Sasha but the other main characters were untrustworthy and unlikable for various reasons,I suspected quite a number of them of being involved in or knowing something about Jemma`s husband`s disappearance and each time I was totally wrong.
It's a twist packed story that had me hooked from the first page and whipping through the pages as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was going on and how this brilliant page turning was going to end
Many thanks to penguin books UK/Michael Joseph for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
June 1, 2017
This book. Seriously.
Ok so on the surface you have a psychological thriller in the vein of many other psychological thrillers, a life turned upside down, secrets hiding around corners, characters you are not sure are trustworthy and a twisty plot that keeps you turning the pages.
Well “The Honeymoon” has all of that and brilliantly done too – add to that a beautifully described setting, Paradise then Paradise Lost, add in this authors keen eye for characterisation and rather dastardly plotting, all done in a wonderfully immersive style and you do have a winner. A proper page turner where you really are not sure where it is going.
I mean considering the enclosed environment our protagonists are stuck in you wouldn’t think there would be much room for maneuver – I mean Jemma’s husband has to be SOMEWHERE right? Anyone who has read “One Step Too Far” will know that whatever is on the surface the underneath is where the truth lies when it comes to Tina Seskis, therefore I would just hold onto your hats.
Honestly this is just pure brilliance – that ending though.
Just wait.
I loved this. I’m sure it will divide opinion but one thing I’m reasonably certain of is that nobody will work this out before they get there. Oh there are plenty of clues. There is no cheating of the reader here. But until you read those WORDS I’d like to bet you will be on the other side of the world from the truth. Maybe on a random beautiful little island…..
Inventively clever, devilishly tricky – The Honeymoon takes its place on the very small pile of books that actually made me gasp at the resolution. Like One Step Too Far before it – This could get to be a habit.
Highly Recommended.
Ok so on the surface you have a psychological thriller in the vein of many other psychological thrillers, a life turned upside down, secrets hiding around corners, characters you are not sure are trustworthy and a twisty plot that keeps you turning the pages.
Well “The Honeymoon” has all of that and brilliantly done too – add to that a beautifully described setting, Paradise then Paradise Lost, add in this authors keen eye for characterisation and rather dastardly plotting, all done in a wonderfully immersive style and you do have a winner. A proper page turner where you really are not sure where it is going.
I mean considering the enclosed environment our protagonists are stuck in you wouldn’t think there would be much room for maneuver – I mean Jemma’s husband has to be SOMEWHERE right? Anyone who has read “One Step Too Far” will know that whatever is on the surface the underneath is where the truth lies when it comes to Tina Seskis, therefore I would just hold onto your hats.
Honestly this is just pure brilliance – that ending though.
Just wait.
I loved this. I’m sure it will divide opinion but one thing I’m reasonably certain of is that nobody will work this out before they get there. Oh there are plenty of clues. There is no cheating of the reader here. But until you read those WORDS I’d like to bet you will be on the other side of the world from the truth. Maybe on a random beautiful little island…..
Inventively clever, devilishly tricky – The Honeymoon takes its place on the very small pile of books that actually made me gasp at the resolution. Like One Step Too Far before it – This could get to be a habit.
Highly Recommended.
December 9, 2017
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!
This is a tremendous psychological thriller. It encapsulates every ingredient required for this genre and throws in surprises all the way through. The author manages to keep the suspense peaking throughout and the intrigue got the better of me; unable to put it down.
If you want a book to escape in for a day or two, and you want something easy to read, I'm sure this won't disappoint. The author also throws in some very clever dark humour along the way and I found myself laughing at parts I maybe shouldn't have done.
Excellent characters. Excellent writing. Excellent story!
I can't recommend this book enough!!
This is a tremendous psychological thriller. It encapsulates every ingredient required for this genre and throws in surprises all the way through. The author manages to keep the suspense peaking throughout and the intrigue got the better of me; unable to put it down.
If you want a book to escape in for a day or two, and you want something easy to read, I'm sure this won't disappoint. The author also throws in some very clever dark humour along the way and I found myself laughing at parts I maybe shouldn't have done.
Excellent characters. Excellent writing. Excellent story!
I can't recommend this book enough!!
May 30, 2017
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
The Honeymoon is a gripping mystery that had me intrigued from the synopsis alone - and happily the book itself did not disappoint!
Told from a few different perspectives (but mainly from Jemma's in both first and third person), the book takes us through what happens on the idyllic island in the Maldives that Jemma and her husband are honeymooning on, and the way her husband's disappearance pans out, and also the lead up to this happening, travelling back in time to when they first met and their subsequent relationship. We also see some of the story from Chrissy's point of view, who is also on holiday there with her husband.
Jemma herself is very difficult to like. She's spoilt, shallow and quite harsh in her treatment of boyfriends. She also seem incredibly flaky. I feel like as the reader you're supposed to dislike her a little, as it only adds to your uncertainty over whether she is to blame for the nightmare unfolding in the book. All along we are wondering who has something to hide, and whether we're getting the full story from Jemma and those around her?
The story is fast paced and utterly addictive. I loved Tina Seskis's writing and loved the various twists and turns that The Honeymoon presented. One of them (which is fairly early in the book but still a good twist, I think ) seems to have been given away in some reviews thay I've seen (after I read the book, luckily not before!) so I'm keeping all of those out of this review so as not to ruin any of it. Part of the enjoyment of this book is in being surprised, I think!
I absolutely loved the ending and was left feeling suitably satisfied, something I can't always say about novels in this genre!
Great writing and a fun, easy to read storyline that kept me guessing makes this a fantastic summer read - or 'any-time-of-the-year' read, really! It's fun, twisty, and surprisingly dark at times - I loved it!
Many thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
The Honeymoon is a gripping mystery that had me intrigued from the synopsis alone - and happily the book itself did not disappoint!
Told from a few different perspectives (but mainly from Jemma's in both first and third person), the book takes us through what happens on the idyllic island in the Maldives that Jemma and her husband are honeymooning on, and the way her husband's disappearance pans out, and also the lead up to this happening, travelling back in time to when they first met and their subsequent relationship. We also see some of the story from Chrissy's point of view, who is also on holiday there with her husband.
Jemma herself is very difficult to like. She's spoilt, shallow and quite harsh in her treatment of boyfriends. She also seem incredibly flaky. I feel like as the reader you're supposed to dislike her a little, as it only adds to your uncertainty over whether she is to blame for the nightmare unfolding in the book. All along we are wondering who has something to hide, and whether we're getting the full story from Jemma and those around her?
The story is fast paced and utterly addictive. I loved Tina Seskis's writing and loved the various twists and turns that The Honeymoon presented. One of them (which is fairly early in the book but still a good twist, I think ) seems to have been given away in some reviews thay I've seen (after I read the book, luckily not before!) so I'm keeping all of those out of this review so as not to ruin any of it. Part of the enjoyment of this book is in being surprised, I think!
I absolutely loved the ending and was left feeling suitably satisfied, something I can't always say about novels in this genre!
Great writing and a fun, easy to read storyline that kept me guessing makes this a fantastic summer read - or 'any-time-of-the-year' read, really! It's fun, twisty, and surprisingly dark at times - I loved it!
Many thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
August 24, 2020
These days it's becoming quite hard to find a good thriller maybe because I've read plenty since I became a thriller fan and since then I have unconsciously established a set of standards. I appreciate psychological introspection because they're necessary. After all I'm talking about psycho-thrillers but when they dominate the pages of the book, it becomes an immediate turnoff. I'm also learning that I'm not a huge fan of multiple POVs. Two or three are okay but four or more, I find it overkill. I also appreciate unreliable narrators as long as they're likable or charming or convincing.
The first half of this book actually passed most of my criteria but then events seemed to started to become repetitive and I felt like the suspense was prolonged way more than necessary. It doesn't help that as I went further with the story, the characters became more and more unlikable and I started feeling apathetic towards them. I just needed to know what really happens in the end and considering I have already invested my time, I chose to persist.
And when I finally learned what happened, I don't even know how to feel because what the hell??!!!! That was so freaking unexpected like something Stephen King would write and I can't exactly say it's a good thing. Gaah! The horror! And yet the irony of it is in perfect juxtaposition with the setting, a supposedly paradise and yet something that horrifying and unsettling could take place. The ending alone merits one bonus star.
I guess the entire story would have fared for me better if it were maybe 50 or 100 pages less. Still a solid three-star read.
The first half of this book actually passed most of my criteria but then events seemed to started to become repetitive and I felt like the suspense was prolonged way more than necessary. It doesn't help that as I went further with the story, the characters became more and more unlikable and I started feeling apathetic towards them. I just needed to know what really happens in the end and considering I have already invested my time, I chose to persist.
And when I finally learned what happened, I don't even know how to feel because what the hell??!!!! That was so freaking unexpected like something Stephen King would write and I can't exactly say it's a good thing. Gaah! The horror! And yet the irony of it is in perfect juxtaposition with the setting, a supposedly paradise and yet something that horrifying and unsettling could take place. The ending alone merits one bonus star.
I guess the entire story would have fared for me better if it were maybe 50 or 100 pages less. Still a solid three-star read.
May 6, 2017
I have been a huge Tina Seskis fan ever since I read One Step Too Far, which I have named in my top 20 all time favourite books and has probably the best twist I have read in recent years. I get 99% of twists nowadays but that one gave me one of the best “twistgasms” I have ever had!!! The Serpentine Affair didn’t quite live up to my ridiculously high expectations so I was looking forward to reading The Honeymoon, hoping those dizzy heights were to be reached again. I had been waiting so long to read it that my excitement at getting a review copy reached fever pitch but OMG it was worth the wait! This book is going to blow your mind!
The Honeymoon is a slow burning claustrophobic suspense where the heat and the island setting adds to the tension building right from the first few pages. Told in the “Now” by Jemma who realises on the fifth morning of her luxurious honeymoon in The Maldives that her new husband has gone missing. We are also treated to flashbacks starting seven and a half years earlier which fills in a few of the blanks about their relationship and also treats us to a few surprises quite early on in the action. But fear not, there are plenty more twists and turns to come!
I did find myself becoming mildly obsessed with discovering why a man would go missing on his honeymoon and a whole host of theories ran themselves through my brain, trying to look for the most oblique possibilities as I know how this authors mind works! Or I THOUGHT I did because she has just given us once again a twist that I didn’t see coming in a million years but that also managed to be a bang on trend, socially relevant observation that managed to both shock and delight at the same time. Honestly, I kneel before the brilliance of this author!
There was a widely spread cast of characters to give us plenty of possible suspects and plausible scenarios as to why someone would disappear from such an island paradise. And we are always in two minds as to whether or not it was a planned departure and if so, what set off such a dramatic chain reaction. The exploration of family relationships and the sexual chemistry given off by another honeymoon couple both seem to leave Jemma exploring various avenues in her search for her husband but the island is a small place and the longer he is gone the likelier it looks that he wont be returning.
The themes of obsession and revenge cut through the tension, filling scenes with enough resentment and jealousy to make this a top notch psychological thriller that will have you gasping out loud. I am still thinking about this book now, weeks after finishing it and I can’t wait to see what everyone else will be saying about it on publication day. This has been such a difficult review to construct as I’m terrified of giving away spoilers whilst trying to entice you into one of the best books of 2017. And has it put me off planning a celebratory holiday to the Maldives next year? No! But if my husband ever reads The Honeymoon then I have a feeling he won’t be quite as keen!
The Honeymoon is a slow burning claustrophobic suspense where the heat and the island setting adds to the tension building right from the first few pages. Told in the “Now” by Jemma who realises on the fifth morning of her luxurious honeymoon in The Maldives that her new husband has gone missing. We are also treated to flashbacks starting seven and a half years earlier which fills in a few of the blanks about their relationship and also treats us to a few surprises quite early on in the action. But fear not, there are plenty more twists and turns to come!
I did find myself becoming mildly obsessed with discovering why a man would go missing on his honeymoon and a whole host of theories ran themselves through my brain, trying to look for the most oblique possibilities as I know how this authors mind works! Or I THOUGHT I did because she has just given us once again a twist that I didn’t see coming in a million years but that also managed to be a bang on trend, socially relevant observation that managed to both shock and delight at the same time. Honestly, I kneel before the brilliance of this author!
There was a widely spread cast of characters to give us plenty of possible suspects and plausible scenarios as to why someone would disappear from such an island paradise. And we are always in two minds as to whether or not it was a planned departure and if so, what set off such a dramatic chain reaction. The exploration of family relationships and the sexual chemistry given off by another honeymoon couple both seem to leave Jemma exploring various avenues in her search for her husband but the island is a small place and the longer he is gone the likelier it looks that he wont be returning.
The themes of obsession and revenge cut through the tension, filling scenes with enough resentment and jealousy to make this a top notch psychological thriller that will have you gasping out loud. I am still thinking about this book now, weeks after finishing it and I can’t wait to see what everyone else will be saying about it on publication day. This has been such a difficult review to construct as I’m terrified of giving away spoilers whilst trying to entice you into one of the best books of 2017. And has it put me off planning a celebratory holiday to the Maldives next year? No! But if my husband ever reads The Honeymoon then I have a feeling he won’t be quite as keen!
June 29, 2017
Meh. The plot was laughable
December 9, 2016
I am a huge fan of Tina's first book One Step Too Far and was honoured when she contacted me and asked me to read an early version of this book. I was gripped from the first page and didn't put it down until the last page. This clever psychological thriller is full of characters with dark secrets and guilt. The Honeymoon has twists and turns everywhere and should be HUGE in 2017.
May 10, 2020
I loved this story, it had all the elements that I look for in a book. Twists and turns and you don’t find out who did it until nearly at the end, which is just how I like it. I haven’t read Tina Seskis before I just picked this one up from a charity shop and thought I’d give it a go. I’m glad I did as I throughly enjoyed it. I will be looking out for more of this author’s books soon.
August 15, 2019
Don’t know even where to start. DO NOT RECOMMEND! Extremely stupid and unreasonable girl Jemma gets married and on their honeymoon in Maldives groom disappears. Sounds intriguing? Believe me, not. Tina Seskins tried to make complex characters but just made them completely unreasonable and unrealistic. Why Jemma behaves so stupid is a mystery. How come 2 almost perfect men loves her is a mystery as well😀 Don’t want to spoil too much, but the end is completely out of blue, without any motive and any logic.
Just avoid. 1* is very generous
Just avoid. 1* is very generous
July 8, 2017
The story unfolds painfully slowly until the last few pages when everything is explained at breakneck speed that doesn't do the book justice.
July 3, 2019
Awwww!! Znala sam već po naslovnici da će biti "limunada". Od toliko hvalospjeva da je preeeedobar psihološki triler i feeenomenalna autorica koja zna čitatelju ”zamazati” oči i držati ga u neizvjesnosti do samoga kraja...morala sam probati...gubitak vremena.
January 3, 2018
Certainly a page turner but just as certainly - daft. 2.5 stars.
August 30, 2017
I really enjoyed it. The main character gave me some hard time.
June 16, 2017
So without giving too much away (I wouldn’t even know where to start with “giving too much away” with this one so you don’t have to worry about spoilers here!) Jemma is on her Honeymoon with her husband on a beautiful, idyllic Maldivian island. It’s literal paradise, with clear water, their own private bungalow with private infinity pool, delicious food, gorgeous weather – the works. It should be a newlywed couples dream but there’s trouble in paradise and her husband has gone missing. With only 100 or so people on the island, he should be easy to find, right? Jemma can’t believe what is happening and her world turns upside down right there in paradise whilst she frantically speaks to the police, tries to look for her husband herself and work out what has happened to him. Has he drowned? Secretly left the island? Or something more sinister? And how does Jemma’s past tie into this huge mess?
Now I hope I’ve made that sound super duper exciting – probably not as I’m rubbish at summing up books. First of all, the writing style was utterly effortless. You know those books that you sorta read on autopilot, that you don’t even have to think about and your brain and your eyes and the words on the page are in total synchronisation? That’s how I felt with this. It was an effortless read. The language used pulled you straight in and I got such a sense of this beautiful island that I almost felt like I was there. I loved the format of the book; first of all it was in 4 “sections” and within some of those sections we have “now” as in what is happening on the island right now with Jemma and her missing husband and the 7 or so years before the wedding and everything that has led up to this moment. Oh it was oh so clever and I loved how Tina went backwards and forwards between past and present.
This book is the literal epitome of “drip feeding” you information. She keeps you guessing until the end. The very, very end. And I can honestly say, hand on Bible, truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth that The Honeymoon contains the most clever of twists, the most effortlessly shocking sentences that make you question everything and the ability to mislead you right until the end. We’ve all read thrillers where we can get a sense of what’s going on about 2 3rds of the way through but not this. My gosh. I’m speechless. And it’s not often a book renders me speechless.
As for the characters, there’s a right mix of them and even each individual character has a vibrant story and aura to them. They all have secrets and elements to them that you don’t originally see until the end of the book. Some of them are exceptionally misleading and I didn’t expect my thoughts on some of them to change so dramatically throughout. The person you meet at the beginning of the novel is far from the complicated person you know at the end. And it’s brilliantly done. There really is a huge element of the “you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors” phrase in this book which, whilst interesting to read, is quite an important message as it’s so true and even the most perfect looking of couples are golden.
This entire book was just electric. Every chapter leaves you on the edge of your seat, knowing that it’s building up and building up to something massive but you have no idea what or when we will ever get there. At one point, I wondered honestly if we would ever find out what happened to her Jemma’s husband because it was looking so impossible. I wondered if the author was going to be incredibly mean and leave us in the dark forever! Not forever, but she leaves us in the dark long enough to go a little bit haywire with anticipation. Tina is a master a pulling the wool over your eyes in The Honeymoon and this is probably the most unpredictable thriller I have ever read. And undoubtedly, the best book I’ve read in 2017 so far. It’s going to take a lot to beat.
Find all my book reviews here: www.jennyinneverland.com
Now I hope I’ve made that sound super duper exciting – probably not as I’m rubbish at summing up books. First of all, the writing style was utterly effortless. You know those books that you sorta read on autopilot, that you don’t even have to think about and your brain and your eyes and the words on the page are in total synchronisation? That’s how I felt with this. It was an effortless read. The language used pulled you straight in and I got such a sense of this beautiful island that I almost felt like I was there. I loved the format of the book; first of all it was in 4 “sections” and within some of those sections we have “now” as in what is happening on the island right now with Jemma and her missing husband and the 7 or so years before the wedding and everything that has led up to this moment. Oh it was oh so clever and I loved how Tina went backwards and forwards between past and present.
This book is the literal epitome of “drip feeding” you information. She keeps you guessing until the end. The very, very end. And I can honestly say, hand on Bible, truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth that The Honeymoon contains the most clever of twists, the most effortlessly shocking sentences that make you question everything and the ability to mislead you right until the end. We’ve all read thrillers where we can get a sense of what’s going on about 2 3rds of the way through but not this. My gosh. I’m speechless. And it’s not often a book renders me speechless.
As for the characters, there’s a right mix of them and even each individual character has a vibrant story and aura to them. They all have secrets and elements to them that you don’t originally see until the end of the book. Some of them are exceptionally misleading and I didn’t expect my thoughts on some of them to change so dramatically throughout. The person you meet at the beginning of the novel is far from the complicated person you know at the end. And it’s brilliantly done. There really is a huge element of the “you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors” phrase in this book which, whilst interesting to read, is quite an important message as it’s so true and even the most perfect looking of couples are golden.
This entire book was just electric. Every chapter leaves you on the edge of your seat, knowing that it’s building up and building up to something massive but you have no idea what or when we will ever get there. At one point, I wondered honestly if we would ever find out what happened to her Jemma’s husband because it was looking so impossible. I wondered if the author was going to be incredibly mean and leave us in the dark forever! Not forever, but she leaves us in the dark long enough to go a little bit haywire with anticipation. Tina is a master a pulling the wool over your eyes in The Honeymoon and this is probably the most unpredictable thriller I have ever read. And undoubtedly, the best book I’ve read in 2017 so far. It’s going to take a lot to beat.
Find all my book reviews here: www.jennyinneverland.com
June 8, 2017
This review was originally posted on Between My Lines
I devoured The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis with an ominous sense of dread. I couldn’t guess if we were dealing with an unreliable narrator, vengeful family members, a huge red herring of a disappearance, or just your average random psychopath. So as you can imagine I was flipping pages rapidly to solve the mystery of the missing husband.
First Line of The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis
My Thoughts on The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis
I loved the paradox between the dream setting, and the nightmare reality. A honeymoon in the Maldives makes me dream of romantic walks on white sands, swimming lazily in glittering warm waters, and indulging in all the 5 star luxury. Instead Jemma experiences the horrific, and abrupt disappearance of her new husband.
The story is told in two timelines; the honeymoon timeline, and flashbacks to when they met and their journey up to their marriage. I loved the full cast of characters. There were lots of potential suspects, and a full pond of red herrings swimming in circles to confuse and disorient you.
With messy relationships to be untangled, tense family dynamics to be grasped, and the two timelines to be connected, this turned into a page-turner of a read. I love the observations that the author makes about life in general, and she can straddle humour with suspense easily.
My only complaint is that I guessed the ending. Well not conclusively, but it was definitely on my suspicion list. And it makes me worry for the state of my brain from all these psychological thrillers that I lap up, as it really shouldn’t have even crossed my mind!
Overall another exciting, and engaging read from Tina Seskis. This is her third book, and I’ve loved them all.
Who should read The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis?
I recommend this to you if you like exotic locations, messy relationships, and a perplexing story. Fans of Lucy Dawson, Ruth Ware and Liz Nugent should also enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.
I devoured The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis with an ominous sense of dread. I couldn’t guess if we were dealing with an unreliable narrator, vengeful family members, a huge red herring of a disappearance, or just your average random psychopath. So as you can imagine I was flipping pages rapidly to solve the mystery of the missing husband.
First Line of The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis
“I gaze at the sea, and it is a wonderous, ever-shifting patchwork of paint-box blues, the likes of which I’ve never seen before, and I wonder if he’s out there."
My Thoughts on The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis
I loved the paradox between the dream setting, and the nightmare reality. A honeymoon in the Maldives makes me dream of romantic walks on white sands, swimming lazily in glittering warm waters, and indulging in all the 5 star luxury. Instead Jemma experiences the horrific, and abrupt disappearance of her new husband.
The story is told in two timelines; the honeymoon timeline, and flashbacks to when they met and their journey up to their marriage. I loved the full cast of characters. There were lots of potential suspects, and a full pond of red herrings swimming in circles to confuse and disorient you.
With messy relationships to be untangled, tense family dynamics to be grasped, and the two timelines to be connected, this turned into a page-turner of a read. I love the observations that the author makes about life in general, and she can straddle humour with suspense easily.
My only complaint is that I guessed the ending. Well not conclusively, but it was definitely on my suspicion list. And it makes me worry for the state of my brain from all these psychological thrillers that I lap up, as it really shouldn’t have even crossed my mind!
Overall another exciting, and engaging read from Tina Seskis. This is her third book, and I’ve loved them all.
Who should read The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis?
I recommend this to you if you like exotic locations, messy relationships, and a perplexing story. Fans of Lucy Dawson, Ruth Ware and Liz Nugent should also enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.
May 29, 2017
WHAT THE HELL?!?!? This book just sucked me in, churned me around for over 400 pages, and then spat me out with an ending that left my mouth hanging open in shock and disbelief! Tina Seskis I bow down to your extraordinary writing skills that made this unbelievable story burst to life and completely take me by surprise. THE HONEYMOON is such a gripping a read that I am struggling to put into words just how exceptional this story is but I will try to get control of myself long enough to make an attempt.
Jemma has finally achieved her goal of marriage and is now on her honeymoon with the man that she agreed to spend the rest of her life with. On this beautiful paradise island that is the perfect place for love, Jemma should feel happiness and fulfilment but that is not the case. Her husband has vanished, as if into thin air, and as time ticks by, the outcome does not look favourable. But what has happened to him? Who is hiding something? And will she ever see him again?
THE HONEYMOON by Tina Seskis rolls out this harrowing tale in short snappy chapters and as it switches from the past to the present, we really get to know all of the main characters involved in great detail, while the frenetic pace of the drama is maintained and even heightened.
Jemma, and some of the other characters, are not always likeable and they all seem to have a darker side to their personality, but that only adds to the tension and heavy atmosphere that is hovering in the air as you turn every page. I actually felt my stomach wobble as I read this book. as each page took my mind down a different, terrifying avenue, but nothing prepared me for the ending - I love when a book really throws me for a loop!
Deeply emotional and traumatic, the reader can actually feel what is being described and for me, that really makes THE HONEYMOON by Tina Seskis stand out from the crowd. THE HONEYMOON by Tina Seskis has just topped my best books for 2017 list, and I highly recommend that you buy this novel now - you won't regret it!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
Jemma has finally achieved her goal of marriage and is now on her honeymoon with the man that she agreed to spend the rest of her life with. On this beautiful paradise island that is the perfect place for love, Jemma should feel happiness and fulfilment but that is not the case. Her husband has vanished, as if into thin air, and as time ticks by, the outcome does not look favourable. But what has happened to him? Who is hiding something? And will she ever see him again?
THE HONEYMOON by Tina Seskis rolls out this harrowing tale in short snappy chapters and as it switches from the past to the present, we really get to know all of the main characters involved in great detail, while the frenetic pace of the drama is maintained and even heightened.
Jemma, and some of the other characters, are not always likeable and they all seem to have a darker side to their personality, but that only adds to the tension and heavy atmosphere that is hovering in the air as you turn every page. I actually felt my stomach wobble as I read this book. as each page took my mind down a different, terrifying avenue, but nothing prepared me for the ending - I love when a book really throws me for a loop!
Deeply emotional and traumatic, the reader can actually feel what is being described and for me, that really makes THE HONEYMOON by Tina Seskis stand out from the crowd. THE HONEYMOON by Tina Seskis has just topped my best books for 2017 list, and I highly recommend that you buy this novel now - you won't regret it!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
March 21, 2017
*** contains spoiler ***
Brilliantly written story of a woman who marries her ex's brother who then disappears. You gain an insight as to the kind of woman she maybe that will make you wonder if she had a hand in it.
It's set mainly in Mauritius and the ending is totally unexpected.
I loved this book
Brilliantly written story of a woman who marries her ex's brother who then disappears. You gain an insight as to the kind of woman she maybe that will make you wonder if she had a hand in it.
It's set mainly in Mauritius and the ending is totally unexpected.
I loved this book
August 8, 2017
Putting the most random twist at the end of the book and not giving any clues to it during the story does not make for a good thriller/mystery book.
September 1, 2017
Please check out my book blog at: www.thebuzzingbookmark.com
In a nutshell, I loved this one. It was an easy read, with short, punchy chapters, that kept the plot moving along. And it had a twist within the first third of the book that I didn't see coming at all. I loved that because normally in psychological thrillers there's one big twist at the end, but more often than not, there's nothing during the story.
I also thought that the characters were all very distinct, and the way that the author described them, allowed me to form a clear picture of each of them in my head. I must say that I wasn't very keen on the main character, Jemma. And she only got worse throughout the story. By the end, I was feeling incredibly sorry for her husband. She was grating on my nerves so badly that I wanted to drown her in the lovely, clear blue sea of their island get away! So well done to the author for stirring such emotions in me.
Now for the ending, mmm, I'm not sure quite how I felt about it. Let's just say that I didn't love it. I've reworded this final paragraph of mine a few times, and each time I write it, I find that I might actually be giving something away. With that in mind, I'll keep my feelings short and sweet - the ending was dark, totally unexpected, perhaps a little bit far fetched, and a little bit of a let down for me. The ending just seemed to pop out of nowhere and probably caused me to award 4 stars to this read, rather than 5.
This is a great book that I would describe as an easy, gripping and entertaining holiday type read. It's the type of book that you can slip into your handbag, stash in your beach bag or even have lying on the passenger seat of your car, to be grabbed and read at any spare moment. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if I did find the ending slightly weak.
And in case this makes you feel disappointed, or perhaps you now think that you won't read it after all, let me leave you with this thought: the ending made me feel physically sick! So go on, read it, and let me know your thoughts...
My Rating: * * * *
Publication Date: 30 June 2017 (South Africa)
Genre: Psychological thriller
Format: Paperback
Source: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Tina Seskis and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
In a nutshell, I loved this one. It was an easy read, with short, punchy chapters, that kept the plot moving along. And it had a twist within the first third of the book that I didn't see coming at all. I loved that because normally in psychological thrillers there's one big twist at the end, but more often than not, there's nothing during the story.
I also thought that the characters were all very distinct, and the way that the author described them, allowed me to form a clear picture of each of them in my head. I must say that I wasn't very keen on the main character, Jemma. And she only got worse throughout the story. By the end, I was feeling incredibly sorry for her husband. She was grating on my nerves so badly that I wanted to drown her in the lovely, clear blue sea of their island get away! So well done to the author for stirring such emotions in me.
Now for the ending, mmm, I'm not sure quite how I felt about it. Let's just say that I didn't love it. I've reworded this final paragraph of mine a few times, and each time I write it, I find that I might actually be giving something away. With that in mind, I'll keep my feelings short and sweet - the ending was dark, totally unexpected, perhaps a little bit far fetched, and a little bit of a let down for me. The ending just seemed to pop out of nowhere and probably caused me to award 4 stars to this read, rather than 5.
This is a great book that I would describe as an easy, gripping and entertaining holiday type read. It's the type of book that you can slip into your handbag, stash in your beach bag or even have lying on the passenger seat of your car, to be grabbed and read at any spare moment. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if I did find the ending slightly weak.
And in case this makes you feel disappointed, or perhaps you now think that you won't read it after all, let me leave you with this thought: the ending made me feel physically sick! So go on, read it, and let me know your thoughts...
My Rating: * * * *
Publication Date: 30 June 2017 (South Africa)
Genre: Psychological thriller
Format: Paperback
Source: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Tina Seskis and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
May 15, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
I absolutely loved the premise for this, there seems to be a theme in psychological thrillers as of late where a husband disappears then the book focuses on the wife trying to uncover what really happened to them. Instead of being bored by this new trend, I’m rather intrigued by it, especially when there’s a unique spin on it, and there is definitely a fresh perspective in The Honeymoon.
This is broken into four parts and is told from Now and beginning seven and a half years previously when Jemma and her husband meet. Now is when he first goes missing and is so atmospheric, the suffocation of the humid island is portrayed perfectly and is shown not as paradise, but a hell on earth for Jemma. The flashbacks provide insight into the state of the couples relationship and of course nothing is as perfect as it first seems. Jemma narrates the bulk of the story, but some other key characters also get the chance to make their version of events heard, which I found a nice addition as Jemma isn’t especially likable.
This had everything I look for in a good psychological thriller, a great setting, untrustworthy characters, paranoia, fast pacing, and constant guesswork on my end. There was a twist very early on that surprised me, and then several more along the way. There weren’t too many just for the sake of having a bunch of shocking moments though, they all added something relevant to the plot. The big reveal towards the end was astonishing, I don’t know that anyone would be able to guess exactly what happened, it’s very disturbing and a bit out there, but was completely fascinating and satisfying to me.
I absolutely loved the premise for this, there seems to be a theme in psychological thrillers as of late where a husband disappears then the book focuses on the wife trying to uncover what really happened to them. Instead of being bored by this new trend, I’m rather intrigued by it, especially when there’s a unique spin on it, and there is definitely a fresh perspective in The Honeymoon.
This is broken into four parts and is told from Now and beginning seven and a half years previously when Jemma and her husband meet. Now is when he first goes missing and is so atmospheric, the suffocation of the humid island is portrayed perfectly and is shown not as paradise, but a hell on earth for Jemma. The flashbacks provide insight into the state of the couples relationship and of course nothing is as perfect as it first seems. Jemma narrates the bulk of the story, but some other key characters also get the chance to make their version of events heard, which I found a nice addition as Jemma isn’t especially likable.
This had everything I look for in a good psychological thriller, a great setting, untrustworthy characters, paranoia, fast pacing, and constant guesswork on my end. There was a twist very early on that surprised me, and then several more along the way. There weren’t too many just for the sake of having a bunch of shocking moments though, they all added something relevant to the plot. The big reveal towards the end was astonishing, I don’t know that anyone would be able to guess exactly what happened, it’s very disturbing and a bit out there, but was completely fascinating and satisfying to me.
July 19, 2019
For as long as she can remember, Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon.
Jemma an interior designer had met Dan on a blind date, with those awkward questions like have had to come far? You done this many times before?
Let's get the worse bit over with. Jemma was drunk from drinking champagne at a party got off with Dan's brother Jamie which over the course of time she ends up marrying Jamie.
Ever said a few word you shouldn't have and regretted them.
While on the honeymoon Jemma is about to regret her words she wished that Jamie wasn't there.
Now on her honeymoon from their Luxury bungalow on the fifth day Jamie disappears.
Well she wanted her husband gone, yet she wished now that he would return. Jemma prays that maybe miraculously, he'll turn up. Surely he must be on the Island somewhere. We see everything through Jemma's eyes she just wants to know where her husband is.
The police in the Maldives and the police from the UK are investigating into Jamie's disappearance. Who will be convicted for Jamie disappearance?
Surely Jemma isn't capable of getting rid of a Twelve stone man?
With family and friends plus honeymoon secrets I highly recommend The Honeymoon.
July 8, 2017
If you're a fan of promising books, let down by hysterically ridiculous/rushed endings then this is right up your alley!
June 25, 2017
I thought the premise of this book looked interesting. An idyllic setting, a romantic honeymoon, a bride- but where has the groom gone?
I really deeply, disliked Jemma! Self-absorbed, bad tempered and manipulative, Jemma pressurised Jamie into proposing but did she still hanker after his brother? (Who I did like & was glad he'd escaped her!) She is the narrator of most of the story- which should make her more sympathetic but doesn't.
I kept reading this because I really wanted to know what had happened to Jamie. Did Jemma know more than she seemed to?
As to the ending- yes it was unexpected but believable? I don't think so.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read it. Lots of people really enjoyed it but I'm afraid I didn't really.
I really deeply, disliked Jemma! Self-absorbed, bad tempered and manipulative, Jemma pressurised Jamie into proposing but did she still hanker after his brother? (Who I did like & was glad he'd escaped her!) She is the narrator of most of the story- which should make her more sympathetic but doesn't.
I kept reading this because I really wanted to know what had happened to Jamie. Did Jemma know more than she seemed to?
As to the ending- yes it was unexpected but believable? I don't think so.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read it. Lots of people really enjoyed it but I'm afraid I didn't really.
July 27, 2017
This is how a thriller should be done! It builds momentum nonstop, alternates time periods that keeps it fresh & literally leaves you guessing how it's all going to unfold to the very last few pages. Brilliant!!!
June 1, 2017
Some good twists from Seskis but the plot felt drawn-out
One Step Too Far still sticks in my mind, years after reading it, as one of the best twists I've ever come across, and seeing the author's name attached to this, I was quite keen to see what she'd come up with.
And it's a great summer beach read. A woman on honeymoon has lost her husband - he just hasn't come back. As hope fades, interest on the luxury island centres on her, the police arrive, the media picks up the story, and Jemma tries to stay calm as her marriage falls apart.
We know she has secrets, but we also know she wants to find him. Just where is the husband? And what happened?
Cleverly plotting Jemma on honeymoon with the story of how she met and fell for her husband years ago, we gradually learn (with a great twist early on) about their relationship.
And the ending IS a good one, though it's quite brief after such a big build-up. The payoff for the reader's attention is good, but some may feel a little cheated that it ends quite suddenly after the revelation. Though I'll be surprised if anyone guesses it!
Jemma isn't the most likeable of protagonists, but her situation is rather sympathetic and she is a victim as much as her husband possibly is.
Not one to read on your own beach honeymoon, but a great choice for lying in the sun with and puzzling over.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
One Step Too Far still sticks in my mind, years after reading it, as one of the best twists I've ever come across, and seeing the author's name attached to this, I was quite keen to see what she'd come up with.
And it's a great summer beach read. A woman on honeymoon has lost her husband - he just hasn't come back. As hope fades, interest on the luxury island centres on her, the police arrive, the media picks up the story, and Jemma tries to stay calm as her marriage falls apart.
We know she has secrets, but we also know she wants to find him. Just where is the husband? And what happened?
Cleverly plotting Jemma on honeymoon with the story of how she met and fell for her husband years ago, we gradually learn (with a great twist early on) about their relationship.
And the ending IS a good one, though it's quite brief after such a big build-up. The payoff for the reader's attention is good, but some may feel a little cheated that it ends quite suddenly after the revelation. Though I'll be surprised if anyone guesses it!
Jemma isn't the most likeable of protagonists, but her situation is rather sympathetic and she is a victim as much as her husband possibly is.
Not one to read on your own beach honeymoon, but a great choice for lying in the sun with and puzzling over.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
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