A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 I don't have a whole lot to say about this one aside from the fact that I had expected more, but rather found myself struggling to finish it. Much like watching an episode of The Young and the Restless, it's virtually impossible to care about any of the characters and the constant repetitive loop arounds - especially within the neurotic mind of the narrating character was disconcerting to say the least and pretty boring. I can see where it might make for an easy beach read, but aside from that, I would choose another way to spend my reading time.

This book really wasn’t for me. I did not care for the writing style. I had a hard time following what was going on.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sandie Jones for an ARC of this book!**

We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
...So if an old friend I know
Stops by to say hello
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?

Suspicion is the tie that binds in The Guilt Trip, as six "friends" embark on a journey to Portugal where they will celebrate the wedding of Will and ultra flighty, dramatic, and over-the-top bombshell Ali. The other four players are Will's brother Jack and his wife Rachel, and their couple friends Noah and Paige. Of course, Noah and Rachel have a wistful romantic past they both cling to since they nearly ended up married...but that's all ancient history, of course. What they all have in common is a disdain for Ali and more secrets than you can shake a stick at. Though the novel is written in the third person, our 'narrator' feels like Rachel, who begins to fixate on Ali and begins to suspect there is more up her non-existent sleeves (since she's always in a skimpy outfit) than meets the eye...and that the truth might hit a little too close to home. Will this wedding of the century even come to pass without tragedy striking? Do ANY of these couples even stand a fleeting chance at a happily ever after...and after the dust settles, who exactly will be around to board a return flight?

This was my first Sandie Jones, and after plodding through this book I feel I have a fairly good sense of what she has to offer as an author and what tropes she prefers---"I'm going to steal your husband., are my friends REALLY who they seem, etc.", and unfortunately, I just didn't love her execution of these familiar themes. None of these characters were particularly likable, so I really didn't care who ended up with who or what the consequences of their decisions were. Rachel's constant fretting was also a bit overstated--she was almost ALWAYS on the verge of collapse anytime she considered her husband's potential philandering. Jones made these fits feel so dramatic, I kept worrying she was going to have a heart attack every couple of chapters! I'm not really sure why her baseline needed to be a state of panic, but it got old quick.

If you're on the edge of your seat waiting for the thriller aspect of this book to kick in, I'd sit back and put your feet up for a while---it takes till about 70% for things to get going in this regard and takes even longer for the 'twists' to be revealed. By this point, I was just ready to find out what was going on in order to move on, but the epilogue was a bit confusing and I'm not really sure it was necessary, other than to make things seem a bit more layered and complex than they actually were. With little to no buy-in for any of these characters, I'm also not sure it mattered whether they got a happy ending or not...or honestly, whether any of them deserved it!

This is a dramatic and soapy read, much like an episode of Maury or Jerry Springer crossed with a destination wedding show---a combination I'm not sure any of us were missing. I sincerely hope I have better luck with Sandie's back catalog, but I don't foresee this one sticking with me for long!

3 stars

THE GUILT TRIP by Sandie Jones is chalk full of drama right from the beginning 😅 Thank you @netgalley and @minotaur_books for my free e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This one just published yesterday, August 3!

This was my first book from this author, and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would, I’m still going to read her other books! I have The Other Woman and The First Mistake on my shelves!

I think part of what threw me off, is that this one isn’t the kind of thriller I was expecting. This book read more like a family drama to me, with one big finale twist at the end. I was initially hooked by the drama, but wanted more thriller-y vibes! I found the first half kind of slow but then once the rumours and secrets started to be revealed for what they were, things got more interesting. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, but I also felt like it was kind of just thrown in... and not really executed properly, as it wander really believable to me (just my opinion tho!) it was crazy tho and full of suspense as you didn’t know what was going to happen and who was (or wasn’t) going to survive!

I also didn’t really like any of the characters. I’m sitting here trying to figure out who my favourite character was, and I don’t think I have one. A lot of these issues and secrets that were kept, could have been resolved if these people just talked to each other! This whole drama fest could have been avoided if Noah, Paige, Jack, Rachel, Will and Ali just talked to each other. The character I felt the most sorry for was Will tho! Poor Will! He wasn’t even hardly part of any of the drama that happened. He just wanted to get married to the love of his life and settle down!

This is my long winded way of saying even tho I didn’t love this book, I still did enjoy some aspects of it. The destination wedding in a cliff edge in Portugal? You just know there’s going to be trouble!

I enjoyed this author's first two novels, but this one felt disjointed. The characters didn't seem real and the pacing felt off.

I usually love Sandie Jones' books, but this was a miss for me. The writing style seemed different than her past books -- almost like it took a few steps back. I felt like the label wasn't correct either -- it felt more like a family drama than a thriller to me. I think if I'd known it was more of a family drama, I would have enjoyed it more. I didn't feel any threats and the story was missing tension. I'm sure plenty of people will love this, but it just wasn't for me.

3 couples traveling to Portugal for a wedding sounds like a dream come true, right? That is, unless one of them is hiding a secret that could destroy everything. How well do you really know anyone is a question that will be asked many times.

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones kept me reading late into the night. While I feel like this was more of a domestic drama than a thriller, I loved the twistiness of it all. The tense situations and unlikable characters made this a great read because I kept hoping something would happen to them (haha). I really enjoyed this and will look for others by Sandie Jones.

I'm here to tell you that if you haven't read it yet and are a fan of family dramas with a crazy ending then this is the book for you. I absolutely loved how this book read like a soap opera type drama around a destination wedding as the setting.

It centers around a group of three couples going to Portuguese Villa for a destination wedding. After arriving in their villa in Portugal  Rachel begins to discover secrets that have her questioning not only Ali but her husband, Jack, as well. Suspicions arise and rumors start circulating that will test everyone's relationships.

Overall it was an enjoyable book, but not the thriller I was hoping for,  more of a domestic drama.

This book was not what I was expecting. I think the premise is interesting but the overall story was lackluster. I was expecting a thrilling, edge of your seat plot, but it was the opposite. There were parts that were just repetitive, which made it difficult to read. The ending was good but I was a little bored by the time I finished. Overall the writing is okay, but missing that wow factor. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I pick up a suspense thrillers I expect to be on the edge of my seat for most of the book. While this book fell short of that feeling until the last two chapters it was still a good story about three couples who learn each other’s secrets the good and the bad. I was pulled in by the drama of the book and wanting to see what would happen. This is a quick read for a thriller beginner who is easing their way into the thriller genre. I was left with a lot of questions at the end to who actually committed the act in the end of the book. I gave this a 3⭐️ for I liked it.

This thriller will undoubtedly be a reread!! The beginning starts slowly and while I don't generally prefer that style I was pleased since there were six individuals to keep track of and get to know. Ali is scheduled to marry Will in a matter of days and they invite Will's brother, wife and their mutual friends to a beautiful seaside location for some pre-wedding fun. I couldn't quite tell when or how tragedy would befall the group, but at every turn I reevaluated what may happen. This was a sneaky story because I didn't guess anything! Everyone seems very normal, with some flaws and insecurities but all around mostly likeable! The only exception being Ali who commands all the attention! Whatever was going to happen she is suspect or victim number one! When the secrets start falling I found myself flipping back trying to see if there were any subtleties that I missed! As the tension quickened I did disagree with the excessive paranoia by the main character Rachel, but as more secrets revealed themselves I knew no level of paranoia would've mattered! I couldn't read the end fast enough mainly because I couldn't decide which way was up, which lie was THE lie! You feel for Rachel's predicament and the ending came as a complete unforeseeable shock!!

I listened and read this book. It was not my favorite Sandie Jones book. I felt it was very slow and boring. A little like the Big Chill. All these people who know each other but do they really know each other? They all have secrets and to be honest it was like who is sleeping with who?? To me it did not get good until the last few chapters when something actually happens. You know something has to happen because it is supposed to be a "thriller". But this thriller did nothing for me. I almost did not finish it but I felt I had to, to give my honest review.
Thanks to #netgalley, #mcmillanaudio #stmartinspress & @sandiejones_author for an ARC of this book

It seems it's become a bit of a trend for psychological thrillers to feature not so likable protagonists. If this is something you are not into, then this is not a book for you. If on the other hand you like your thrillers set in dreamy locations (in this case Portugal) and you reach for psychological thrillers because you want a good dose of entertainment then this is definitely a book for you.

Destination wedding. 3 couples. Secrets and half truths at every corner. What could possibly go wrong? Rachel and Noah are best friends who were almost something more 20 years ago. Rachel is married to Jack, Noah is married to Paige and the two couples are headed to Portugal for the wedding of Jack's brother Will to a wild card Ali. In this dreamy settings, with all 6 of them under one roof things become to unravel in ways none of them could've foreseen.

Needless to say, as I wholeheartedly miss travel, I absolutely loved the setting of this story. Good books take us on unexpected journeys right? And though some plot twists were not necessarily unexpected, overall I truly enjoyed this book. It was fun and entertaining and a great mind escape. Exactly the kind of book I'd be reading on a beach in Portugal (if that was an option at the moment).

This was my first Sandie Jones book and I enjoyed it so much that I will most definitely be reading some of her earlier work. And I have to say I really liked the book cover. (I'm sure I'm not the only one who values a well done book cover)

A big thank you to St. Martin's Press, netgalley and the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to be a slow moving book in the beginning but once it picked up it was almost impossible to put down. This book has so many secrets and lies being told you don't know whom to believe. As the saying goes with friends like this who needs enemies. Who do you believe when everyone you talk to is telling you something different. I certainly would recommend this book to others.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and Minotaur Books, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Publication Date August 3rd
Written by Sandie Jones
St. Martin's Press
⭐️⭐️⭐️/3.5

This book is set in Portugal at a villa surrounded by cliffs and the ocean.  Six friends who have been friends for a long time meet to attend a wedding.  It was a locked room/ isolated location trope, which has become one of my favorites. This book was a real slow burn for me.  Almost everyone was keeping a secret and it took quite a while for the mystery of it to be slowly revealed.  Assumptions were made which led to thinking the wrong thing about the wrong people and overlooking what was right in front of you. It took me 80% into the book to get more invested and interested in the plotline. In the beginning, most of the characters were very unlikeable.  You knew they were lying or omitting truths, but you weren't sure what they were.  I really didn't care for any of them except Noah and Rachel. The book is told from Rachel's POV and a lot of it is her inner thoughts where she is letting her imagination run with the fact that she thinks her husband Jack is having an affair with Ali who is marrying Jack's brother Will this weekend. The epilogue was told in a completely different person's POV but it is not super obvious who it is although I think I know.

A lot of the book is in character development and going from present to past to delve more into these six friend's backgrounds and history. The ending was shocking and some details are left out I think to make you fill in the gaps with your own perspective and speculation. Motives were not always too clear, but I think this was on purpose to let the reader figure out what they think it all means. For me, all the pieces fit together and I was greatly satisfied with the ending. I loved the book cover and the setting. I would have rated it higher if the pace was a little faster, but I did really enjoy this book. For people who enjoy slow-burn mysteries, I think you should definitely give this book a read.

Thank you to @netgalley and  @stmartinspress  for the digital ARC of this novel!

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones is a thrilling novel following a group of 5 friends who are traveling to Portugal but with a new addition, Ali, who will be marrying one of the guys, Will. What starts off as a hopeful weekend in a beautiful country, quickly spirals after Rachel discovers an insidious secret about Ali. However other secrets about the rest of the group start to be revealed, which may pull this group apart. Or maybe hurt more than feelings.


The premise of this book had me hooked and the stunning book cover sold this for me from the beginning. However one I opened this book up it pulled me into a gripping novel that built the tension throughout the novel, leaving me in anticipation. I also appreciated how the tension lead to a fitting ending that made sense for each of the characters that left you satisfied.

As for the characters, it was interesting to see how the group interacted and how the introduction of Ali influenced the group dynamics. I loved the tension between Ali and Rachel and the narratives Rachel created about Ali throughout the novel. It was clear that each of the characters were playing off each other due to past histories and each had their own judgement or interpretation of situations. I think the relationship dynamics were the best part of the novel!

Overall I recommend this book for those wanting an exciting novel with compelling relationship dynamics in a beautiful setting. Perfect read for a warm, summer day!


Many thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

<b>**3.5-stars**</b>

Rachel, Jack, Noah and Paige are a friendship foursome with a lot of history. Rachel and Noah have been best friends since college and there was a time when they considered being more than friends. Alas, it wasn't to be. Now twenty-years later, Rachel is happily married to Jack, while Noah is married to Paige.

When Jack's little brother, Will, decides on a destination wedding with his young, sexy, flamboyant fiance, Ali, the foursome, with Ali in tow, travel to the beautiful country of Portugal for the event. It never takes long for drama to arise when Ali is around. It seems to follow her everywhere, and as predicted by the friends, is created before they've even left the airport.

Ali's exuberant, over-the-top nature gets under everyone's skin. There's never a break with her. It's always something. Rachel is unnerved to observe that Ali seems to be paying special attention to her husband. While Jack doesn't appear to be recipricating her advances, Rachel still begins to wonder, what exactly is going on there?

As they settle into their cliffside villa, things continuously get worse. Ali flaunting herself around is making everyone uncomfortable, especially now that Jack has revealed to the friends something he heard about her from a work colleague. Is this even a woman he wants his brother to marry?

But Ali isn't the only one with secrets. Everyone has something to hide and as suspicions begin to creep across the group of friends, all is threatened to be revealed.

This was a compelling story. I definitely had fun reading it; particularly the first half. I'm all for excessive domestic drama. I love long-buried secrets, deceptions, betrayals; it's addicting. The setting was great and I loved the whole destination wedding scenerio.

I was hooked. Nevertheless, there were some finer details that didn't sit quite right with me. It's a good story, but not perfectly suited to my tastes. Don't get me wrong, I liked it. I'm not mad I read it. It was interesting, it was shocking, wild and not a bad way to spend a weekend!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I always appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion. I think if you love quick, domestic suspense stories, you should definitely give this one a shot!

between them that I really could care less about. It was a middle-of-the-line thriller for me. Not bad, but not one I would read again or jump to recommend to others.

3.5 stars

I'm a fan of Sandie Jones as I think she is a good storyteller. I don't think any of her books are necessarily 5 star reads but they do hold my interest. However, because I am very familiar with the author's writing style, I kinda knew what to expect from this story. This book has thriller and suspense elements and so it is a little disappointing that nothing really blew my mind with the plot.

Rachel and her husband, Jack, are attending the destination wedding of Will and Ali. Along for the trip are Noah and his wife Paige. Noah and Rachel have been friends for about 20 years and she now considers Paige one of her best friends as well. I'm sure this will be a great trip for everyone with absolutely no drama whatsoever. (That's sarcasm people!)

Within a few chapters I was already hooked as the story has a soap opera type feel to it. I don't consider that a bad thing at all as I personally love watching messy drama unfold. (Just in fiction, not in real life.) At some point in the second half it does feel like the story is dragging a bit. The action does eventually pick up though and things really get bonkers. But the bare bones of the ending were fairly predictable even if the details were surprising. (Not sure if that makes any sense but I do my best not to give away spoilers in my reviews)

The ending might not have wowed me but the book as a whole was pretty entertaining. It makes for a decent vacation/lazy weekend read.

Thank you Netgalley, St Martin’s Press and Sandy Jones.
This was a quick read, I enjoyed the plot and the characters.
I found the part of Rachel wondering if her husband was cheating a bit long.
The section after the wedding was fast paced and I did not expect the turn of events.
Lots of secrets and untrustworthy people.
Who can you trust?
Recommend
4 stars