Six graduates are bound by a secret which could have cost them their degrees, except that Nina had come up with a scheme. Nina always has a scheme. It is 1989 and they are all off to her parent’s villa in Mallorca for a few weeks of sun, sand, booze, and drugs. They have been friends for their whole time at University, so their relationship is not dependent on that secret, but it does colour and define them. Nina is rich, bright, well-connected while the others are more down market and at least a couple owe their degree to her. She is a natural leader and also completely egocentric. Their sexual relationships are mostly platonic, not overt, more like dependencies. Seb owes everything to Nina, Aiden is “in the closet” (remember it’s 1989), Will has a brother in jail and doesn’t have space for a lover, Zoe is in unrequited love with Will, Claire is fixated on Nina and a committed druggie, and Nina is Queen. Seb hooks up with a local girl, Gaby, and she invites them all to a Beach Party. And that’s where it all goes wrong. Jump forward to the present and they have all gone their separate ways but remain tied to the incident following the Beach Party. And then they all get an e-mail from someone claiming to know what happened that night, and requesting that they come back to the Villa (no longer owned by Nina’s family) on threat of exposure. So what happened, why did it happen, how did it affect them, who is the blackmailer?
I don’t have a problem with lots of questions, it’s usually a positive sign. In this case a lot of the confusion comes from the layout of the book. We have two timelines, mostly that for 1989, and shifting viewpoints, and obfuscating revelations about their history prior to the start, most of which isn’t that difficult to predict and appears to be there mainly to hide the fact that there are no real red herrings. The ending makes sense but is still a bit untidy. So an ideal beach read, requiring no real thought. There is an audience for that sort of story and I’m sure it will do well with that audience.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

The Beach Party is the ultimate pool side read this summer. Deeply seductive, with addictive prose and a plot that has so many twist, turns and delicious secrets, you won't want to put it down. And you will without a doubt want a dip in the pool once you've finished reading it.

For me, a great thriller has to have short, punchy chapters - the kind that reel you in and then keep you reading 'just one more chapter...' The Beach Party has exactly that and I rattled through it at a rate of knots!

Based mainly in Mallorca, this manages to be a beach read while also skilfully building the tension. The story is told through multiple POVs so the perspective keeps changing and I found this helped to hook me more. As I found out more about each character's backstory I became more invested, even when they were behaving badly (some way more than others).

The author has managed to build a vibrant world capturing the hot sunny holiday setting, with the underlying edge of darkness never far away. The story is fresh and did not feel in any way formulaic, the ending also surprised me - I was kept guessing right to the end, which was a satisfying conclusion to a great read. I could not put it down and had to find out what happened - exactly what you want from a thriller! Highly recommended.

I found this similar to other books I’ve read. Six friends holiday in Mallorca and hide secrets of what happened there until they are all summoned back again by an anonymous text. The characters aren’t particularly likeable and it didn’t hold me attention much. An average thriller.

6 friends spend time e on holiday when something happens. Years later they get a summons to appear at the same villa.
The story is OK but the characters are a bit two dimensional and stereotypical. I can't believe that the person with the money would have so much control over the others. Then it takes until 90% through the book for them to all meet again, making the ending a bit rushed.

This was an intriguing book and the swapping of timelines kept me somewhat interested. It was an unusual story where friends are summoned to return to the scene of a crime, but who has done the summoning? I did not guess the outcome but I did unfortunately lose interest by the end of the book and found the ending unrealistic and unbelievable. I am sure others would enjoy this book but unfortunately, it was not one for me.

I found The Beach Party to be a great summer read. I liked the dual timeline aspect of the story and there were plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Despite the anti-climactic ending, I did enjoy this.
The dynamic between the friends was interesting to read and there were characters I liked, and some I didn't.
I wish I could have read about what happened to each of the characters after they left the villa before they got their mysterious email. And I wish I had read each character receiving their email.
The mystery of the emailer was good, it literally could have been anyone, but it was a little bit of a disappointing reveal. I felt like there could have been more thriller aspects.
The 1989 chapters were really well done and kept me reading.
I received a copy via NetGa;;ey and all opinions are my own.

I like a book where the story is something that could occur in real life, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. The Beach Party is about unconventional friendships that highlight the intricate web of relationships and the delicate balance between power and vulnerability. However, the overall believability of the story left much to be desired.

The novel revolves around a group of 6 university friends, led by Nina the seemingly rich and self-centred party girl, who all embark on a vacation to Nina’s parents lavish villa in Mallorca. However, beneath the glamorous facade, the dynamics within this friendship circle are far from ordinary. Rather than close-knit friends, they seem more like a group of acquaintances who ended up traveling together, most with dark secrets from their past.

As we delve deeper into the lives of these characters, it becomes clear that each one is flawed in their own way. Claire, seemingly trapped in an eternal quest for Nina's approval, prioritizes her every whim to an excessive degree. Zoe, on the other hand, finds herself on the outskirts of the group, alienated from the hushed conversations and private exchanges shared between Nina and Claire. And then there's Seb, a loyal companion to Nina, whose loyalty comes at a price. Burdened by a dark secret skilfully wielded by Nina as a means of control, Seb serves as her faithful lapdog, obeying her every command. Aiden and Will left much to be desired.

Nina embodies a character type we've encountered many times before. Her predictable behaviour lacks depth and fails to evoke any empathy or interest from the reader. Whilst the backstory of most of the male characters is explored, I don’t recall reading anything about Nina, Zoe or Claires childhood/parents. Additionally, the group dynamic feels strained and forced, with tension brewing between two of the male characters.
While the characters in "The Beach Party" are intricately woven into the fabric of the story, unfortunately, none of them managed to evoke a genuine connection. Their actions and motivations often leave the reader questioning their likability and relatability. However, despite these shortcomings, Nikki Smith masterfully captures the complexity and intrigue that can arise within friendship circles, even if this particular group falls short of being entirely endearing.

The Beach Party takes readers on a sun-drenched journey filled with secrets, manipulation, and hidden agendas. Excitement is attempted through various twists and turns, they fall short of leaving a lasting impact. These minor plot twists, add depth to the story, but left me feeling confused and I still have questions such as how was Zoe treated for her injuries and how did Zoe and Will get home, what happened next?

Regrettably, I found little enjoyment in this novel. The unconvincing plotline and weird group dynamic made it difficult to immerse myself in the story or develop any connection with the narrative.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #Penguin General UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

Hold onto your hats and prepare for a twisty, murky ride!

There are more layers of deceit in this book than you would think possible!

In 1989 a group of friends, well some of them already don’t get on, go on holiday together. While their tragedy befalls them! Who is to blame? Who gets out alive? And who 33 years later wants to bring them all back together?

A largely unlikeable bunch of people, a gritty, twisty and dark plot. This book somehow managed to be both fast paced and feel like it was dragging. At times I was riveted and at others I wondered how long it would take.

A good read that certainly keeps you on your toes. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

This one wasn't quite what I expected, I wasn't prepared for the dual timelines, but it was an addition that I really enjoyed. There were many twists and turns throughout this that I didn't see coming and a few that I did.

I found a few of the chapters a little slow, and not many of them were very likable, but I can appreciate that they may have purposely been written this way.

I enjoyed how the story unfolded and I would definitely pick up another read by Smith!

First time I've heard of this author I enjoyed this one and the little twist at the end a good summer read

Blimey - that was a bit stressful. But in a REALLY GOOD WAY! Nikki Smith is known for building tension and keeping us guessing, but she has surpassed herself with The Beach Party.
I love a little bit of 80s nostalgia (and she was absolutely spot on with the details, big and small) and a summer read that takes me away to somewhere more glamorous than my own back garden. This ticked all the boxes.
Definitely recommend this pacey and twisty thriller.

Six university friends grab the opportunity of a cheap holiday in a borrowed villa in Majorca.

Tangled relationships and secrets within the group lead to a tense holiday which ends when they’re involved in a serious accident.

30 years later they are contacted by someone who knows their secret!

You know from the start of this book that is going to have you on edge. The characters are mostly unlikeable with each having a secret and all of them have a reason to dislike at least one of their fellow travellers.

This is a good summer read (I wish I’d read it on holiday a couple of weeks ago) with plenty of twists and a great ending.

Thanks to netgalley, PenguinUKBooks VikingBooksUK for this ARC I received for an honest review.

3.5 stars.
So... back in 1989 six friends went on their hollibobs to one of the gang, Nina's parent's villa in Mallorca. There was a little bit of shenanigans on the way there but, once they got there, things really kicked off... A beach party, arrived at by boat, with drink and drugs, and a very late, tired, inebriated, boat journey home ended in tragedy. Being upstanding kids on the cusp of adulthood, the rest of their lives, and showing great responsibility, they decide to sweep it all under the carpet. All involved were "involved" and it was an accident and... well, they shouldn't have to suffer...
Shocking I know... but that's what happened.
Fast forward to the now and the secret they hid for decades is infiltrating their present. Emails are received... Someone is threatening exposure... Unless they all go back and face what they did... Now, who didn't see that coming!
Throw in a few more secrets and a few more shenanigans along the way and you got yourself one heck of a wild ride... a bit on the eye rolley side. Shockingly over the top on occasion. And a few credibility and continuity issues which niggled and irked a bit but the rest was so much fun I can mostly forgive them.
The characters are all, well, how can I put it... nasty. Horrid. I really didn't like any of them. Even Zoe, who elicited the most sympathy from me until I realised that it was her own fault she was friends with these losers so she made her bed...!
Pacing was mostly OK. A bit draggy in parts but nothing too slow that I lost interest.
All in all, a decent enough read which did engage me, left me mostly satisfied. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A good read with a great twist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

I've enjoyed the author's previous novels so was looking forward to reading The Beach Party. It's a dual timeline novel, set in the present day and 1989 when 6 friends travel to Mallorca for a decadent post graduation celebration.
I loved the 1980s setting and the cultural references which really brought the novel to life for me. It is a slow burn novel that took me a while to get into and I felt that the unlikeable characters were drawn a little superficially as it took me a while to differentiate between them. An average thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. Set mainly in 1989 it is the story of 6 friends who have just graduated and are on holiday in Majorca. There is clearly a lot of history between them, which becomes clearer as the story progresses. They are having a great time drinking, smoking and enjoying the sea and sun. Then, one night after a beach party, tragedy strikes , and the group find themselves covering up a serious crime. Now, 30 yeas on, somebody is determined they are going to pay for what they did. This is a real page turner that will keep you guessing to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This quite a good story about 6 friends from uni who go to stay in a villa in Majorca. There are 3 boys and 3 girls and at first I found it difficult to differentiate them so it could be said that they are rather thinly drawn.

It is a very easy read and keeps your interest by having all sorts of secrets between the characters mentioned as we go along but the truths are not revealed until further on in the book.

None of the characters are very likeable so I felt a certain detachment and no involvement with them. The book does show the dreadful things reckless, self centred people will do when bad things happen to them. I found their actions to be just about believable and I suppose it does make you think about what you would do in the (unlikely) event that you found yourself in similar circumstances.

I felt that the roundup when they all go back to the villa was fairly believable with some interesting reveals but i did not like the actual end - the existence of the recording seemed just too convenient and I am surprised that anyone would be prosecuted today under the Act mentioned.

This was my first book by Nikki Smith. It is a mystery thriller with a dual timeline based in 1989 and the present day.

A tragedy occurs in 1989 and, in the present day, it seems like someone knows the secret.

I found this to be an engaging book and enjoyed the dynamics of the friend group. Once I got started, I read this one quite quickly.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review and the very best of luck to the author in their future career.