I enjoy books about boarding schools or colleges, however this one never was able to grab my attention. 25 years ago a student and teacher went missing and now a journalist is trying to uncover what exactly happened to them. The ending was pretty predictable with a couple of twists.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was a solid 3.5 star read for me. It kept me involved and entertained and I finished it in about 3 sittings. This story is set with 3 main couples, some additional side players, during a wedding on a remote island in Portugal. I thought the premise of the story was very entertaining, our narrator is unpredictable and unreliable. She puts a lot of guilt on herself for things that she really has no control over and at the same time doesn't know who or what to believe throughout the entire book. I like a book that makes all of the characters suspicious and you are then unable to figure out just who did what. The author gives you clues throughout the story that are timed well and easy to keep track of. Sometimes in stories the author gives you so much and you are trying to keep it all straight in your head and then are left with some unresolved plot points at the end. That did not happen in this story. You were able to keep track of everything and have it all answered in the end. At times I felt the book could have had better pacing as we seemed to revisit the same thoughts inside Rachel's head over and over instead of just pushing the story along. That being said, I really enjoyed this story by Sandie Jones and will definitely read more.

This book is a trip indeed! It kept me questioning the motives of the characters and which were trustworthy until the end. As always, Sandie Jones has written a compelling triller you won't want to put down! Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of THE GUILT TRIP by Sandie Jones.
Another great read by Sandie Jones. I have been in a reading slump but this story really drew me in. Highly recommend.

Wow! This is the perfect summer book club book! Scandal, affairs, lies, deceit, attempted murder, revenge…. it has it all! I think it would lead to some great discussions. I thought this was an intriguing novel that kept me guessing. I found myself rooting for some couples, then changing my mind. I was also hating some characters because of their choices, but then later changed my mind on them too! It was a character driven book and I was trying to figure out who to trust the whole time! I liked how everything was wrapped up nicely at the end. I really enjoyed this book and it helped keep me entertained through end of summer chores!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Six people travel to Portugal for a wedding. Rachel and Noah have been friends since college while it may have been something more it never went to the next stage. 20 years later, Rachel is married to Jack and Noah is married to Paige and they are all friends! Jack’s brother is marrying Ali in a destination wedding. Ali seems to rub everyone in the group the wrong way. Rachel starts to worry there are some hidden secrets in the group! It doesn’t take long for things to unravel.
I am not sure how to rate this book. I found it interesting, but I did guess some of the plot twists. Some of the characters annoyed the crap out of me but again, it kept me entertained. So 🤷🏻‍♀️ I enjoyed this book more than the author’s last book. It came out last Tuesday!! Thank you @netgalley!

This book reminded me so much of the Latin soap operas I used to watch growing up. The lies, the secrets, the desires, the affairs, the suspicions, the betrayals, the angst, the DRAMA! And while all of this is happening (most of it due to miscommunications and misinterpretations) not one single person acts like an adult and confronts any of the others.

The story definitely kept me reading in order to find out what in the world would happen, however I found it dragged at times. I wanted so badly to shake some sense into Rachel, and all the overdone angst just frustrated me.

Overall, I'd say it was interesting and kept me engaged, but it wasn't my favorite Sandie Jones book.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This is the third book I have read by Sandie Jones and she is becoming one of my favorite authors. This book though was not as good for me as her others. The characters were difficult to like and annoying at times. It was hard to believe they would behave like that. I was engaged in the story, but it was a little slow at parts. The ending picked up but was confusing and I had to reread it to understand what was happening. The setting (and Portugal) sound lovely and would be a great place for a wedding. Even though this book wasn't her best for me, I would highly recommend this author.

For most of The Guilt Trip it felt as though I was immersed in a dramatic soap opera. Characters whose lives were tangled together in a web of secrets and deceit. To me, the suspense aspect didn't really even come into play until perhaps the last 25% of the book. I felt the story up until this point was engaging, but it lacked surprise. As the lies came to light and the drama unfolded, it wasn't all that shocking. Still, I was satisfied with the ending, so I'd say that although it wasn't a "blow-me-away" read, it was still an alright reading experience.

If you're in the mood for a domestic drama/suspense novel, check it out for yourself.

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*Complimentary copy for review provided by St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

Sandie Jones NEVER EVER disappoints. This book had me hook line and sinker. I am so grateful that i was able to listen and review this title early!

The twists in this book are incredible and truly not ones you can see coming, this further solidifying Sandie Jones as an absolute master of her craft!

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own.
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If I am being honest, I put this story down. I had it both on audio and in print. I did not enjoy either. There were a lot of characters. I got very confused as to who was who and why were they involved in the trip. The characters I experienced were very unlikeable. Sometimes that works for me, sometimes it doesn't. In this case....it did not. Overall. I felt like it was missing something and I chose to put the book down without finishing it. I will read her again.....but this title was a no go for me.

Interesting premise, but kind of predictable. The predictability got old after awhile and I thought that the end was confusing.

Special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for my own opinion.

I really didn't read every page, I have to be honest. I skimmed after about 70% in and maybe should've skimmed a lot sooner. It wasn't that I didn't like the book, just been there, read this same book many times over. Three couples, well two couples and one couple who are friends but were something long ago....they are all going to see one couple get married.

And then cut! Back to the same old, same old, hundreds of books just like this one of lying, backstabbing and deceit. I just read one too many books like this, but if you haven't then this is as good as any.

3 stars!

The Guilt Trip was an okay book. Nothing I will remember a few weeks from now, more soapy drama than exciting thriller. It is a serious slow burn type of book, and it really not much happens until the very end. If slow build and anticipation is your jam, then this might work for you. It wasn't for me. I struggled keeping up my attention and I really didn't care for a single character in the book. Sometimes unlikable characters are fun, but these guys and gals were just annoying to me.

This was my first Sandie Jones book and boy oh boy am I a FAN!

The Guilt Trip is about 4 friends going to their 5th friends wedding in Portugal. The 4 friends are traveling with the bride to be and she's kind of a nightmare, or is she? There are so many lies, twists, and turns in this story and you're never quite sure who is telling the truth.

If you haven't already read a Sandie Jones novel, do yourself a favor and pick up The Guilt Trip! It's a quick, fun, and twisty trip that you won't regret going on.

Three couples travel together to Portugal for a wedding. What could go wrong?

Rachel and Jack are empty nesters, looking forward to some time with their friends and family at the picturesque seaside village in Portugal where Jack’s brother, Will, is getting married to Jack’s former coworker, Ali. Rachel finds Ali overbearing and brash but is determined to grin and bear it for Will’s sake. Along for the trip are Noah, Rachel’s closest friend from college, and his wife Paige, who is now her best friend, and also not Ali’s biggest fan.

It doesn’t take long for Rachel to start wondering if there’s something going on between Jack and Ali, but she’s got her own secrets around the truth of her relationship with Noah.

To say any more would spoil the story, but suffice it to say The Guilt Trip has quite a bit of drama, lies, secrets, and suspect behavior. I wouldn’t really call it a thriller, though something does happen toward the end that moves it from just a drama into something a little more sinister.

While there’s a lot of talking, there’s not much communicating, which creates quite a bit of conflict between Rachel and those around her. Slowly the truth is revealed — what Ali is hiding, if Jack is cheating on Rachel, and even Rachel’s own secrets — and no one can see the fallout that’s coming.

The only other book I’ve read by Sandie Jones was The Other Woman and I’d say The Guilt Trip is equally enjoyable.

I have to disagree with this being marketed as a thriller. I just didn't see it. This book was like watching a soap opera. Packed full of drama. It was messy and entertaining. The characters are beyond flawed. I can't say I particularly liked any of them as not one had any redeeming qualities. Though I get that was the point. It worked with the craziness of these people. Unfortunately this just wasn't a favorite for me.

We can't love them all, right? I did really enjoy The First Mistake and The Other Woman so I'll definitely check out her future books.

Thanks to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

ahh!! I'm so disappointed in this book!! Loved her previous novel, but this one was a DUD!! I barely got 100 pages in before I DNF! I think the cover is beautiful and the idea of the story is amazing, but poor written.

Old friends from college and their spouses. A family wedding on a cliff top in Portugal. Catching up. Meeting a new addition to the family. It should be a wonderful trip, right? ..... Right? It might have been....if secrets had stayed secret. But, hidden truths just have this strange knack of coming into the light at the most wrong times.

I can sum this story up in one word. Twisted. OMG -- there was so much going on in this story right from the start and so many twists, turns and reveals, that it ended up being a total binge read for me. I'll be honest -- the characters in this book are a total train wreck. But I couldn't look away.....

I started out reading an ebook review copy...then got a review copy of the audio book as well. This story riveted my attention in print and audio both. The audio book is narrated by Clare Corbett and runs 10.5 hours long. Corbett does a great job of voice acting. She brought the horribly unlikable characters to life.

The ending was perfect. The story is disturbing, but the wrap up was oddly satisfying. Karma.

This is the first book by Sandie Jones that I've read. It was such wicked fun that I'm definitely reading more by her!

**I voluntarily read a review copy -- and listened to a review audio book -- of this story. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Thanks to Minotaur Books for an advanced copy of The Guilt Trip.

I love the group is isolated and someone is murdered and now all of the secrets come out while we figure out who did it!

This was full of secrets and lying and I was hooked from the beginning! It was a little tough to keep some of the characters straight in the beginning, but once I figured out who everyone was and how they were connected I was in!