EXCERPT: I stagger backwards a few steps, sucking in air, my hands on my hips , bent over like an old lady climbing stairs. It's suddenly occurred to me that if Kate hasn't her phone on her, or her wallet or any ID, she can't have gone anywhere. The police thought she'd maybe got on a plane or a train or hired a car, that she'd decided to leave - never mind the fact she left behind all her clothes. I hadn't really thought they were right but I guess I was clinging to the hope that maybe, just maybe, they were and she was off doing her own thing. But without her wallet, without cash or credit cards, passport, or her phone, where would she go? What could she possibly be doing? There's only one answer. And I have been trying my hardest to stay positive and not think it, except for last night when my imagination ran wild, but now I need to accept it. Something very bad has happened to Kate.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Two friends go on holiday. Only one comes back.

Orla and Kate have been best friends forever. Together they’ve faced it all – be it Orla’s struggles as a new mother or Kate’s messy divorce. And whatever else happens in their lives, they can always look forward to their annual weekend away.

This year, they’re off to Lisbon: the perfect flat, the perfect view, the perfect itinerary. And what better way to kick things off in style than with the perfect night out?

But when Orla wakes up the next morning, Kate is gone. Brushed off by the police and with only a fuzzy memory of the night’s events, Orla is her friend’s only hope. As she frantically retraces their steps, Orla makes a series of shattering discoveries that threaten everything she holds dear. Because while Lisbon holds the secret of what happened that night, the truth may lie closer to home…

MY THOUGHTS: If you have ever been lost in a maze, you will get a similar experience in reading The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson. The author will lead you down blind alleys, through wrong turns and into dead ends before finally spitting you out at the end. And what an ending! Despite forming two theories early on in the book, one of which was right, knowing the who and the why, I still did not see that ending coming! Sneaky, Ms Alderson.

The characters are a disparate and interesting assortment. Some dodgy police; a creepy landlord; a naive first time mum facing 40, feeling guilty for not enjoying motherhood as much as she should after her desperate and financially ruinous attempts to conceive; her best friend, a super-wealthy newly divorced good time girl who is funding this girl's weekend away; the husbands or, in Kate's case, the ex-husband; and Konstandin, Uber driver and possibly Russian mafia, who seems to turn up at the most opportune moments. The question must be asked - is he a good guy? Or a bad guy?

While this may be a quick and easy read, (overnight for me), it is no less gripping for being so. It certainly didn't feel like 400 pages. I could easily imagine The Weekend Away being made into a movie. Plenty of action and intrigue.

😍😍😍.8

THE AUTHOR: Having spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and princess-obsessed daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home. After several months in India, Singapore, Australia and the US, they settled in Bali where they lived for five years.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

I was hooked by the premise of this book - a girly weekend away where only one comes back - it sounded like exactly the type of thing I look for in a thriller. Unfortunately, the book didn't quite meet my high expectations but was still a fast-paced read with plenty of conventional thriller boxes ticked.

Best friends Orla and Kate used to go on a weekend break together every year. They've neglected that recently so decide to embark on a weekend holiday to Lisbon. They stay in a beautiful apartment (courtesy of Kate's soon-to-be ex-husband who is oblivious to Kate still spending his money) and start the first night as they mean to go on (although Orla would have much preferred a quiet night in now that she is baby-free for the first time in nine months). After a drunken, drug-fuelled night, Orla wakes up with little recollection to an empty apartment. Kate is missing and Orla has no idea where she is. She hunts around for clues hoping that Kate is just hooking up or out drinking. But Kate doesn't come back and Orla is soon a prime suspect in her disappearance. What really happened that night?

Based on the description, this book had every chance of being brilliant. And while it did have plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings, it also had a lot of filler and repetition to drag out the tension. I wasn't personally a fan of the storyline and I didn't find it fully believable. I thought the motive was weak and didn't enjoy the cliffhanger ending. The cover of the book also doesn't fit the story at all (the girls don't even go to the beach) - seems a bit of a petty thing but for people that judge books based on the cover I thought they could have found a better image.

On the flip side, this book had a fast pace, particularly in the beginning, and was hard to put down in a race to find out what happened. There are enough characters to question everyone with a few secondary storylines to throw us off the scent. The writing style was good and the tension was maintained throughout. The reason it's only a three-star is because I've read a lot of thrillers and this one followed the similar conventions that make it a good but average thriller. Would probably recommend to people who want a quick, easy read.

Fast-paced, easy to read thriller. Characters you love or loathe and some you change your mind about several times throughout the novel. Orla is somewhat naive but likeable. Kate is ‘interesting’ and I adored Konstantind. Superb twists and turns and red herrings! Hopefully a sequel on the cards!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

3.5 Stars,

There were things i liked about this book:
-its a binge read, you start reading you dont want to stop.
- At some point all the characters seemed unreliable,

I read this book along with other netgalley reviewers as a book club pick, so it was a fun experience to be read while discussed with friends, right in the middle, many of us had theories some really good some that seemed nearly impossible.

I know Im not supposed to judge a book by its cover bur I didn't feel the connection between cover and story.
Although they were in Lisbon, i didn't get to travel in my mind, everything was, apartment/bar/police station/ cars. ( the cover suggested more outdoorsy atmosphere)

Ending:
Made to leave anyone in a crossroads of emotions, and a feeling that no real justice was made.

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely,
Who do I recommend it to: Fast voracious readers, that would probably read it in one sitting by the beach or at their patio.

Another fast paced, gripping, strong, addictive thriller from the fabulous Sarah Alderson.

I honestly couldnt put this down, it had me hooked even though it wasnt so much anything new the twists and turns kept me completely entranced throughout. The location and setting was well executed and the characters were believable, relatable and likeable which is always a big bonus.

Written entirely from the point of view of the main character Orla, Sarah Alderson ,managed to get the narrative spot on. I love the authors atmospheric writing style.

The only downside for me was that although I didnt guess the ending it felt slightly mundane compared to the thrill of the rest of the book.

Overall a really good read with plenty of little surprising moments.

3.5*

Many thanks to netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC.

Loved this book and couldn't put it down. Very well written, descriptive, and I felt really captivated and absorbed in the lives of the main characters Kate, Orla, and Konstandin. A mystery that deepened with every turn of the page and I couldn't wait to find out what had happened. Even the ending of the book leaves you wanting more!
Highly recommended read. 5*

I did enjoy this story, moved at a good pace and details were well drawn, with fairly decent plot twists, if a little unbelievable. Only complaint is the author's incessant use of strings of questions to present the mystery elements to the reader....

slightly misleading cover as its not a 'beachy' setting.

Another addictive and fast-paced thriller from Sarah Alderson! This got me reading late into the night and a wonderful distraction from all the turmoil that's happening right now. Many twists, a dark undercurrent, and a final surprising twist at the end that's becoming a signature touch for the author. A great palate cleanser when you're in a reading slump.

I was lucky to get this book from netgalley.
I was looking forward to reading it from the blurb and I wasn't disappointed.
The story takes you on lots of twists and turns, some I guessed and others I didn't. The story was well written and it was fast paced.
Thank you to netgalley and the author and publishers for the chance to read this for my honest review

The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson is an exciting read, and my first book by this author. Wow, this book was a wild ride, full of twists and turns. I don't plan on vacationing in another country anytime soon. I ended up staying up late to finish this book, and I highly recommend this book if your looking for a fast paced thriller.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fun read that had me hooked right from the start. Two friends go on a long-overdue weekend away. They have been friends forever. For Orla, it’s her first time away from her baby, while her friend Kate is getting a divorce. Both need some fun time but on their first night, Kate goes missing. To make matters worse Orla’s memory of their night out is hazy. There are lots of twists and the odd red herring to keep the reader enthralled. Overall an enjoyable read that I would highly recommend. It's my first time to read anything by Sarah Alderson and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

How well do you know your best friend?

Orla and Kate have been best friends forever. Former party girls who loved to dance till dawn, new mum Orla and newly single Kate, have drifted apart of late. However, if there’s one thing guaranteed to bring them back together, it’s their annual weekend away. This year, a trip to Lisbon is on the cards. While Orla is a little nervous to leave her baby for a whole weekend, she’s also looking forward to a weekend spent catching up with her best friend. Maybe they’ll even dance the night away. That’s something Orla hasn’t done in a while. As for Kate, glamorous as ever, she’s still the fun-time girl Orla knew way back when. And Kate is ready to party!

The morning after the night before, Orla awakes with the hangover from hell. There’s no sign of Kate. Nor is there any sign of the two very good-looking guys they brought back from the club. Ahem. Orla’s not sure what her husband would make of that particular detail. Not that anything untoward happened. At least she’s pretty sure. The truth is, though Orla doesn’t think she drank that much, details of her night out with Kate are hazy.

As the hours pass, and Kate doesn’t return, Orla starts to panic, convinced that something terrible has happened to her friend. Alone in a city she doesn’t know, she sets out to find Kate, but it seems as though her friend has vanished into thin air. Turns out, Kate has her secrets. Secrets that will shatter Orla’s world. Did Orla ever really know her best friend at all?

Fast-paced, engaging, and a whole lot of fun, The Weekend Away is a great summer page-turner, with a twisty ending that will leave you wanting more. A winner!

I enjoyed this. Lots of twists and turns although I did feel that some of the choices made were a bit odd - not how I would expect someone to react in that situation. Overall a great read which kept me guessing.

For someone who has an irrational fear of being framed for a crime I didn’t commit I sure do seem to love books with that plot.

Two friends go away on vacation and out for a night of drinking, but you only one wakes up the next morning. Every single character is “shifty”, the twists are aplenty, and the novel is rife with tension. Would have given it 5 stars if the author hadn’t done me dirty at the very end. Would recommend and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Sarah Aldersons last book appeared in my top 20 books of 2019 list and I am thrilled to announce that I’m pretty sure The Last Weekend will be making an appearance on this years list! What a book! I knew I would probably love it as I have loved her last 2 books but it really did blow me away! The plot was pitch perfect, the setting was beautifully presented giving a great sense of place and it had realistically portrayed untrustworthy characters. I was hooked from the blurb to be honest but once I started reading it there was no way this book was leaving my hands!

We all have that friend don’t we? The one we let our guard down with and who we trust with our deepest feelings and secrets. These are the friends we spend our much valued free time with and so it was understandable that Orla and her best friend Kate decide to go away to Lisbon for a girly weekend when things have been strained for them both. Kate is getting divorced and Orla is struggling to deal with motherhood so a Portuguese weekend should do them both the world of good. But after their first night there, Orla wakes up to discover Kate missing. What follows is a desperate race against time to find Kate, who’s secrets are all about to come tumbling out…

The Weekend Away is the PERFECT beach read (or back garden read if you’re having a chilled staycation this year!) as it contains all you need for a gripping psychological thriller. The glamorous city of Lisbon, with its seedy underbelly, was the perfect location for the Airbnb apartment rented by Kate and Orla who’s relationship has become strained over the last few years due to their differing lifestyles. I was kept on the edge of my seat by the direction the storyline took as I was never quite sure if it was going to flip on its head, do a 360 or throw in a twist I wasn’t expecting! You’ll need to read it yourself to find out if it did!

This book really did it for me and I know I will buy Sarah Alderson’s next book now as I trust her to deliver my perfect type of psychological thriller. Her books are clever, compelling reads that are pure escapism from the real world and who doesn’t want a couple of hours away from 2020!

Highly recommended by me!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've rounded it up to 4 stars, but I think its more of a 3.5.

I enjoyed that this book was very fast-paced. The chapters weren't too long, and I never felt bogged down while reading them. It made it easy to want to keep reading. I really wanted to know what happened next! I've seen a few reviews saying that people knew whodunnit, but I really had no idea. Every time the author tried to convince me that someone did it, I believed her. I never guessed who did it until it was finally revealed, though I did have my suspicions the first time this character was being blamed.

I was a little let down at the end of the book. I get that its a thriller, but I wanted things to be wrapped up a little better. I felt like the last chapter tried to wrap it up, but it didn't quite get there for me. I didn't like that it left on a cliff-hanger that wasn't totally relevant to the plot of the story. Fuck that guy though, amirite?

I found the beginning of the book a little more sluggish than the latter half. I flew through the last 50%, but I had somewhat of a hard time remaining focused during the first half. I didn't much care for the main character's inner monologue. I thought she was a bit whiny and I got tired of hearing her repeat herself. I thought the last half was awesome though (at least, up until the very last chapter). I'm glad I read it and I think it's a fairly solid thriller.

I started this book with high hopes that it was going to be exciting and twisty. Yes, it was twisty but, the character Orla really grated on me. Considering she was a grown women, married, with a baby and held down a job, she was a very irresponsible, irritating person who didn’t seem to have a lot of good sense when it came to people and men in particular. She seemed quite happy to get into cabs, move into a monks apartment and generally left herself wide open to rape and drugs.
It’s a shame the story held promise but, unfortunately it just annoyed me I the end.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

For many years, best friends Orla and Kate have embarked on a annual weekend away. This year takes them to Lisbon for a couple of days where Kate can forget about her forthcoming divorce and Orla can take a break from life as a new mum. The morning after the first night, however, all has gone wrong. Waking up feeling very much worse for wear, Orla discovers that Kate is nowhere to be found. Knowing immediately that something is wrong, she tries to enlist the help of the police, who are less than enthusiastic in their approach to the missing woman. Retracing their steps from the previous night, Orla makes discoveries about her friend that lead her to think that she didn’t know her as well as she thought she did.

What should have been a relaxing break ends up as a nightmare for Orla, and we are thrown straight in with her as we witness her frantic search for her friend. From the start, I had great sympathy for Orla as we see Kate engaging in a great deal of irresponsible behaviour. Torn between not wanting to appear a letdown and the need for a quiet time, I willed Orla to put her foot down and stand her ground with Kate. Maybe things would have turned out different if she had!

Kate was a thoroughly unlikeable character, and it was quite easy to see why someone would have wanted her out of the way, but who? The author introduces us to a plethora of characters, each with their own motive, and I was constantly torn as to who the guilty party could be. As Orla is a classic unreliable witness due to events that will become apparent, we were unsure as to what had actually happened, leaving us waiting until the very end to get the full picture. This kept my interest piqued, making me not want to put the book down!

The Weekend Away has one of the best final pages that I have read in a long time, twisting everything on its head and leaving us with a superb cliffhanger. I thought this was a clever ending, leaving us with no doubt as to what had happened while also making us want more!

This is an ideal summer read and, once you start, you will not want to stop.

I was really looking forward to this one and while this didn’t really bring anything new it still really drew me in from the beginning. It got stuck in and provided great twists and turns and really kept your interest. Halfway through it really got going and I found myself trying to figure what way it was going to pan out. Loved how Orla was portrayed throughout the story and she was a really likeable character. I really liked Alderson’s style of writing and would be interested in reading more of her work. As much as I enjoyed this read and found it kept me in suspense along with being an easy read the outcome did fall flat for me. It could have gone so many ways after such a build up but I would still recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read this ARC and review that was due to be published on the 23rd of July.

"My head throbs as though an axe is embedded in my skull. I roll over, noting the fact I'm lying under the covers. How did I get here? Memories jostle through the blur, fragments from last night, no whole picture...There were two men...Kate brought them back with us...but there's no sign of the men or of Kate. Silence greets me. Where on earth is she?"

Best friends Kate and Orla have a girls' weekend in Lisbon. Kate is outgoing and child-free, divorcing wealthy husband, Toby; Orla is a new mum to baby Marlow, happily married to Rob (both have stayed back home in London). When Kate goes missing the morning after their first night, Orla meets Uber driver, Kosovan Konstandin, and together they embark on a journey to find her.

Written from Orla's perspective, the characters are well-drawn and the Lisbon setting adds to the story. Konstandin's character added vibrancy and his back story was heartbreaking. Short chapters, frequent reveals and red herrings kept the plot tight. So many twists and turns means I kept thinking I knew what had happened to Kate and why, and whilst I'd definitely identified the most likely candidates, there was a final twist from one to another. Full of deception, betrayal and empowerment, this is one of those thrillers that has you hooked, wanting to read just one more chapter.