Well….I gobbled down every single word of this one, so good! This is my first read with this author and now her whole backlist is on my TBR list. If all of her books are as twisty and fun to read as this one, I have lots of good books to look forward to! Highly recommend for a fast, thrilling read!

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Shalini Boland for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an excellent read, I couldn’t put it down.. what a page turner. The characters were great, the plot was exciting, the setting was intriguing and the style of writing was perfect. Everything about this book I enjoyed so much. It’s full of twists and turns throughout and the ending was superb. I have read many books by this author and not one of them have disappointed me. One of the best authors out there for psychological thrillers, can’t wait for her next book. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

(3.5 stars)

I recently discovered that you could buy a full, life-size suit of armour, complete with helmet, visor and shield on a well-known internet auction site for around £500.

This isn't something I particularly want, or have room for. But it's something that I fear I might need after sharing my review of The Family Holiday by Shalini Boland. This is a book that's had many, many reviews from people who have loved it, and I can see why. But I have to be honest. And this means saying that I ... er ... didn't.

Oh, don't get me wrong, it's not bad. Indeed, it contains everything that I could reasonably expect to find in a Shalini Boland novel. Which, in a nutshell, is a fast-paced storyline that has me absolutely hooked from the end of Chapter One and thereafter frantically turning the pages until the finish.

The story is told in the first person from the dual narratives of Beth and Amber. Beth is a full-time mum and has been feeling increasingly distant from her husband Niall, a successful author. So when he suggests a family holiday on Italy's Amalfi coast, in a home that he has found on a house-swapping site, it feels like a heaven-sent opportunity for her family to re-connect.

But why is Amber, the owner of the house in Italy, behaving in the way she does? Is Beth's neighbour right not to trust her? And why is there a photograph of Amber and Niall in her house? Surely they've never met before?

You just know that everything is going to go horribly wrong. And not just because of the blurb, which I felt gave quite a lot away. This really didn't matter, I still raced through the book because I really wanted to know. The real problem for me was that after finishing it, I couldn't help but feel that it lacked something. And I suspect I might know what that something is.

I was fortunate enough to be able to listen to a recent online event hosted by Staffordshire Libraries and featuring Shalini together with her fellow Bookouture author, Susie Lynes. And whilst I have to admit to having been in bed with the migraine from hell at the time, and therefore acknowledge that I may have missed some of the fine details, I think I got the gist. And I believe it was Susie who said that for her, the psychological thrillers that really work are those in which the reader can empathise with the main character to the extent that they share a sense of loss. The said character's life doesn't absolutely have to be perfect at the start of the book, but the closer to perfection it seems, the greater that sense of loss is when it all starts to unravel.

I suspect that she's right, because (a) she's Susie Lynes and a writing genius and (b) in The Family Holiday, those senses of initial perfection and subsequent loss really aren't there. I was in total agreement with Beth in that I could think of few things worse than a house-swap holiday, and the added stress that this would bring both prior to and during your time away. And Niall is such a **** (censored because I know Amazon won't publish the word I'd like to use) that I almost wished for him to disappear out of Beth's life.

Things unfortunately aren't any better with regard to Amber's storyline. Both she and her husband Renzo seem untrustworthy, and you can't help feeling that they almost deserve anything bad that happens to them.

My other problem is that I didn't really like the blurb. It gives away something that doesn't happen until 70% in. And when you consider that in the Kindle version, the book is finished at 92% - the rest is mostly taken up with the blurbs of some of Shalini's other novels - the effect is for the whole plot to seem rather too predictable.

Of course, you may not mind this. Perhaps - like so many others - you'll love the fact that Shalini has the ability to engross you so easily and have you glued to the book until the end. So please, go ahead, read the book and make up your own mind. However, for me, The Family Holiday is probably best summed up as follows: it's fine. But not as fine as the author's finest.

Now, if someone could tell me when it's safe to take this chain mail off, I'd be very grateful. My shoulders are killing me ...

My thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my personal blog.

Such a great twisty story that kept my attention from the first page. I spent most of the book wishing that Beth would stand up for herself and cheered silently when it finally happened. Like the author’s other books , a five star read.

This will put you off the idea of a house swap for a long, long time.

When Beth and her husband, author Niall, tire of the Dorset winter, Niall finds a house swap online. The house, owned by British ex-pats Amber and Renzo, is a luxurious villa on the Amalfi Coast. Although Beth has some doubts - why would anyone want to trade homes to come to Dorset in the winter? Why would Niall, not usually the helpful sort, do the research on a house swap?

There are reasons, of course, but they are deeply buried in this unputdownable, fast-paced thriller. They are buried in a web of stalking, blackmail, affairs, gaslighting and more. Shalini Boland has done it again! The Family Holiday is a quick read with well developed characters, although not all likable, an intriguing plot, a beautiful location (the Italian Coast) and an exciting conclusion. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Shalini Boland for this ARC.

I'm a Boland fan and usually gobble her thrillers up like a hungry predator but this one fell a bit short for me.

Nothing happened for quite a while. It was all about vacationing, nothing suspicious, no twists. I found myself skimming through in some parts. Things started bubbling up at the 50% mark but it was dolled out very slowly and too sparingly. Even the big twist was lackluster and the ending wasn't explosive.

The writing was great though slow. The characters were mostly up to par. The plot, however, felt scrambled.

This was a hell of a ride!

It started slow and the pacing was a bit fast. At some point, things were a bit boring, but then they paced up. I must admit that I was expecting that Niall died in the middle of the book, but towards the end it wasn't bad either. Beth was a bit weak for my taste, tho I can understand why. Amber was a total psycho! And that ending?! Are you kidding me? It was great. Luciana, you have my entire gratitude and love; you're an icon.

* Possible Spoilers *

I enjoyed this book up until the ending. I thought it took awhile to get started but after that, it was pretty interesting to me. I didn’t like that she jumped to “One Year Later” closer to the ending and we didn’t see how Beth escaped the killer, when she went back to the Villa. I was wondering how she escaped. I can say, I didn’t expect the ending at all though! I thought for sure Niall was dead when he was pushed off the balcony. Overall, this is a good read!

Hubba Balloo! 😳😯😳

I was so excited to read this new book by Boland but unfortunately I was left wanting more. I always enjoy her novels but this one just didn't hit the mark for me. I still loved the journey and read it quickly, but was sad to not have shockers like I'd hoped.
Niall and Beth decide to do a house swap with a family in Italy; Amber & Renzo, for two weeks. But that's where the excitement and enjoyment ends. Niall & Amber both harbour deep, dark secrets and this pleasant holiday away for each family, is going to end with tears, fights & even death for one family.
Even though I guessed to a degree some of the revelations, I still enjoyed the ride & especially the the enticing ending to boot! I always love Boland's writing & her books, but this one for me didn't hold as much of a psychological thriller and it fell flat for me for the ending. There was no major shocks & I felt it tied up too neatly for me.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release date: March 28, 2022

I give this 3.5 / 5 Bouquets! 💐

Two families arrange to swap homes for a two week vacation. It seems like the perfect opportunity, even if Amber is a little critical of Beth's cozy cottage. Beth is loving Amber's Italian villa until she finds an old photo of her husband in one of Amber's jacket pockets and starts asking questions.

I loved that all four of the adult characters were distinct individuals with their own personalities and temperments, which made them easy to keep straight at the plot developed. The settings were vivid and atmospheric and gave me a bit of vicarious travel. But when the revelations came there were a LOT of them and I felt that the way they were presented let the plot fall flat.

The secrets we keep from those we love can be dangerous, more dangerous than we ever imagined. That is the story of the Kildare’s and the Mason’s. The Kildare’s live in a lovely cottage in England and the Mason’s have a gorgeous home in Italy. Both families post their homes on a holiday-swap website that allows people to swap homes for a week or more and so the Kildare’s and Mason’s swap homes for a holiday. The twists and turns come after each couple arrives at the others home. Niall Kildare has a secret that he has been keeping from his wife Beth. Renzo Mason has a secret he’s not shared with his wife and Amber Mason has more secrets than both men.

The twists and turns in this story will have your head spinning and have you reading straight through to see where the secrets lead. Shalini Boland’s The Family Holiday is well written and an enjoyable thriller. I would definitely recommend this story.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. All opinions above are my own.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This was such an atmospheric, suspenseful thriller! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I loved the alternate point of views and go back and forth from reading about each family’s holiday. You’ll definitely have a feeling of dread and just know that major things are going to happen! I love that feeling when I’m reading. There are so many shocking revelations and I loved the suspense throughout! Twists and turns up until the very last page! Jaw dropping ending that I didn’t see coming!

This was a decent psychological thriller. It was well paced and had me hooked from the start. I did feel like it lost a bit of momentum halfway through and felt a little far fetched at points.

Shalini Boland is another of my favourite authors. I just adore her seamless writing style and description. When a new book comes out you can guarantee I’ll be reading it and will love it just as much as the previous. I don’t read the blurb for any of her books because I know I’ll love it as I love the familiarity of her writing as well as the anticipated twists you’re sure to come across.

The Family Holiday is another well plotted, thought out novel that just gets your heart racing as you read it. It was a great mix of thriller and mystery as you read through the process of the house swap and try to guess where it will go. A house swap was an interesting theme which I’m not sure I’ve read in a book before but it really did keep me on my toes guessing what was happening.

Another intense engrossing read that secured another five star rating.

I've always been intruiged by house swaps, yes it's wonderful to see other countries but do you really want complete strangers staying in your house, sleeping in your bed and potentially searching through your belongings?
This is the scenario facing Beth as her obnoxious husband Niall finally arranges for them to have a family holiday. And although the sumptous villa in the Naples region of Italy looks perfect, the trip doesn't exactly get off to the best start.
I read this book in one sitting, I could not put it down. I love Shalini's style of writing, always draws me into her books. This one is no exception
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy for which I am under no obligation to leave my honest review
Publication date 29th March

This was a good paced thriller with some setbacks that made me question the overall plot, not sure if I believed some of it but it kept me reading till the end as I was waiting for the twist, I did work some of it out but mostly it was a little unbelievable. It almost felt rushed at the end to just wrap it up. If you enjoy a fast paced read with some mystery and family dynamics then you will like this.

Five stars for The Family Holiday by Shalini Boland! This book immediately drew me in and kept me turning pages late into the night. Likeable well-developed characters and a fast-paced story line kept me guessing. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next! A thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable read!

This story reminds me of the movie “The Holiday” with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. In the movie the house swap was a major success for both. Unfortunately, this house swap between Beth and her family and Amber and her family is far from a success.

Set mostly in an Italian Villa, Beth is hoping some time with her husband will put their marriage back to rights. Her husband is a rude, self-righteous jerk! Amber is hiding something from everyone. Once it gets out, no one will be the same afterwards.

This is a great psychological thriller with surprises coming until the very end!

An engrossing read, definitely one to pack in your bag for holiday this year, I will certainly be checking out earlier books by this author