A book which includes sex abuse, coercive control, mid-life crises, domestic abuse, breakdowns, child abuse, suicide, child neglect and abduction. I found this book hard going and fairly depressing due to the above themes and would not recommend it.

I found this book somewhat confusing at first. Jess’ sabbatical and the reasons for it were rather weak and certainly unrealistic in today’s NHS. Some good and serious issues raised which were skilfully addressed. There was a rising sense of apprehension in the later parts of the book. This was a very well written climax.

I did enjoy this book although I found it a little slow at first with some unresolved threads. Slow build thriller involving the very serious issue of hidden domestic abuse. Good character depiction believable and relatable. A little predictable in places but enough to keep the reader still guessing

Maybe it is the cover and the blurb stating, “one perfect holiday, one shocking ending” and the fact that it is described as a psychological thriller, but 'The Family Retreat' is not the book I was expecting. Despite the rather frequent statements of “what was to come” (a common trope used in many basic thrillers as an attempt to ramp up the tension) it really is not a psychological thriller.

'The Family Retreat' is much more of an exploration of abuse, coercion and control than it is any form of typical thriller. These topics are handled carefully and surely by the author, with a definite air of knowledge and understanding of the subjects. It is a brave author that tackles these themes, particularly in the one book.

There are some genuinely thrilling moments that are tackled with sensitivity and sympathy but I’m not sure why it is being forced into the thriller category, although this may greatly increase its readership. So no, it’s not ‘the perfect summer read’ – it is much too serious and believable a book to sit neatly in that description.

Having thoroughly enjoyed this author’s debut book,I was looking forward to another compelling read by this author and this book did not disappoint. It was a riveting read for me , full of twists and turns and an unexpected ending. It tackled many modern day issues and was a very interesting , worthwhile read.

So. The book. Oh my.

Lovely fellow readers. It was the first book that I've read that for 12% or more I didn't know what's the name of the main character. Sure, it is mentioned in the synopsis, but I've read it a long time ago and I forgot. It was only then that it was mentioned, and then I've caught her name perhaps three times more. In the whole book. Nobody directed her with her name. Why? Were they all really so damaged, so deep into their own thoughts and problems?

It was actually a very, very, very slow burner. For the most time I really didn't know where we are going, wher the book is leading, what is the main problem, because not those of Jess's, right? It were the last 20 % (!!! REALLY) when SOMETHING has happened, it were the last few chapters that were filled with action - the whole book has been leading towards those last pages. And I mean, they were not bad written, but it was one very long stream of consciousness, things that, in retrospection, were not relevant to this what's going to happen.
The characters are not likeable and mostly disturbed, probably too many people with issues in one place.

So actually for the very, very important and sensitive topic the book gets 5 big, fat stars from me, but for the execution unfortunately only 2. It simply took too much time to reach those important points, but 1) there were too many of them and b) there was not enough time to left to tackle them in the most deserved way. The writing style is brilliant, very descriptive (VERY), but writing style is not all and there were too many issues that simply put me off. There were too many "but worst was yet to come" that eventually made me feel completely irritated, as it was a very long wait. A bit risky, because when you eventually came to this "worst", you can be so tired that it can have the opposite effect. However, and the brownie points go to the author, she has done it brilliantly describing it through Ollie's eyes. It was shocking.

It's a heavy, raw read, not for a lovely summer evening, it will need your attention as it deals with many issues, such as mental health, family abuse on a very different and high level, abused family relationships. Some of the descriptions are very detailed and realistic.

I enjoyed this book, it didn’t turn out like I thought, what seemed to be an ideal setting/relationship etc actually was a lie.
Very true to life, the characters whilst not instantly likeable were intriguing and the slow but. Plot held my interest to see it through to the end.
Definitely a big twist along the way.

Enjoyed this domestic noir that covers lots of interesting issues for women, domestic abuse, child protection, aging parents, over-working to provide validity, but it's a good read that doesn't lay heavy and I read it quickly.

This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was a tough read at times and darker than your usual summer novel. The characters were well written and the twists in the plot, cleverly interwoven and revealed. There were some powerful observations and statements about domestic abuse, sexual abuse, eating disorders and skewed family dynamics. A good read overall.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. Initially I wasn't sure about the storyline, however once i was into the story I felt the tension building, although I really wasn't sure why. The main characters were well described and their concens felt genuine. These sensitive issues were handled well and not the outcomes I expected. However, I was confused about the place some of the characters had in the story & couldn't always remember who they were.
I will however recommend this book to my friends and followers online.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy for an honest review. I regret to say I found this book very tough going. Virtually nothing happens in the first 3/4 of the book and then suddenly it's rather a jumble so I'm not entirely sure what did happen. The issue of domestic violence during the pandemic is crucially important and I commend the author for raising this issue.
Not for me

I enjoyed the author's observations; her characters were rich and detailed, and I found their behaviours to be astutely depicted. The description of the women in the story having to manage men's emotions, to dim their own feelings to make room for the men in their lives was interesting food for thought, making me think about instances from my own life. The story was compelling and engrossing.

One recurring irk was that were so many side-characters to keep track of, who had zero impact on the story (most didn't actually make appearances), but were referred to by name, as though important. In one single chapter, for example, we have Alicia Featherstone (mums neighbour), Max (dad's colleague?), Martin Fellowes (childhood friend), Terri Garner (a patient), Sarita (another patient, I think?), Carol Marshall (not sure!), Jackson Strutt (no clue!)... you get the picture! I understand the author was building a rich world and history around the protagonist, but think these types of characters can simply be referred to as 'neighbour' and 'patient', to avoid overloading the reader.

Overall, an enjoyable read.

For me this wasn’t the psychological thriller I was expecting, but this novel soars in other ways.

It’s not often light is shone on to some of the topics dealt with sensitively here, I think the writer is hugely talented for the way she wrote about them.

A book for anyone who likes real issues and a beautiful setting.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Bev Thomas and the publisher for the advance review copy.

The story follows Jess and her family as they take a month long retreat to the idyllic Dorset coast following a sabbatical from work as a GP.

I found this book extremely slow. The first 80% of the book I felt there was nothing really going on, lots of characters, lots of conjecture to what might happen, lots of 'this will eventually make sense' and no suspense. The last 20% so much happened it was confusing, chaotic and disappointing. Also Helen's 'speech' towards the end felt inauthentic from her character and more like a point the author wanted to make.

The writing is descriptive and easy to read, it touches on a lot of social issues and is set in a lovely part of the country.

Sadly it was not an enjoyable read for me.

I found this to be a really compelling & thought-provoking read. It was also really interesting to read a book that didn’t shy away from weaving recent / current events eg Covid into the plot, as I’ve not yet read many books that do that & it’s done really well here. It felt really believable and I didn’t see any of the twists coming - I was thinking about them for a while afterwards. Thanks for letting me read!

I chose this book because I'm a fan of mysteries, I thought it might be something like the genres that I have read before. However, this book is more of a suspense drama.

I think the main character, Jess, was so relatable. Her drive to help others, much to the detriment of her own happiness, could describe so many of us. There were also funny, relatable moments of 'keeping up with the Jones' that brought a lightness to the story. Other, more prominent characters were well-rounded, though I couldn't keep up with some of the lesser-mentioned characters and who I was reading about at times.

I kept reading the book because I was waiting for the mystery, something to keep me turning the pages and this didn't come until much later in the book. I can see why the story up to this point was needed, to show the turn in events, but I'm not sure it was what I was expecting.

I feel like this book would be great for people who enjoy serial dramas on TV or working Mothers. The main character is definitely someone who I couldn't completely relate to, but I think parts of her can appeal to the life experiences of many women.

This is a brilliant insight into the demands and stresses of a GP woven into a chilling drama unfolding in an idyllic Dorset location. There are several different family dynamics at play with very strong and believable characterisations clearly illustrating the cliche " you never know what goes on behind close doors." An excellent edge of the seat read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

A compelling psychological domestic thriller that drew me in from the start. Although a slow burn, I enjoyed the story of GP Jess, forced to take leave after a stressful period at work and retreats to the coast with her young family. There are many emotional issues that are dealt with sensitively by the author. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

An interesting and engaging story about a family taking a break from their London life after a stressful event and befriending a seemingly perfect family in their Dorset hideaway. Only things are not quite what they seem, taking a darker turn which places the whole family in jeopardy.

Well-written and compelling, I would recommend this book.

A harrowing storyline.

Dr Jess Gibson and her husband Rob, an author, together with their two children decide to take a cottage in Langton on the coast for the Summer holidays. Their neighbours, Helen and her husband James are in the adjoining property – with children of a similar age. Jess feels somewhat uneasy in Helen’s company until the day Helen tells her, “My sister’s in trouble” and Jess’s immediate reaction is to save the sister from whatever is going on to endanger her life.

Bev Thomas certainly researched the subject of marriages with sinister disparities, and it was interesting to see how easily people hide what goes on behind closed doors while giving the appearance of living perfectly normal lives. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any empathy or feelings for the characters.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.