Well….what was this? Lol. 60% of this was boring and then suddenly things started happening that just didn’t make sense. Too many thin characters; I struggled to keep track of who was who and also really didn’t care.
I still don’t understand the ending properly coz how did those people know each other? Maybe I missed it idk. Think it had the potential to be a good plane read but I just didn’t find it coherent enough to enjoy.

Firstly, a big thank you to Penguin General UK (Viking) and Net Galley for the ARC and the chance to read this wonderful book.

‘The Beach Party’ is an easy, yet intense, read; a perfect holiday read. I’m not sure how I feel about the third person perspective, I really feel like first person would have been a better choice, but I did like the dual timelines and how we jumped between them. It is really interesting to see how the events, as they were playing out, still affected the characters in the timeline set well in future.

Nina is a great, well crafted villain. I hated her throughout the entire book and boy was I happy when Karma finally caught up to her in the end, and she finally had to suffer the consequences of her destructive and cruel actions.

For a good chunk of the book, the characters felt very flat, very 2D, which was a bit disappointing, but they become more fleshed out as the book went on which was good. At the start they all kind of moulded into one, but maybe that’s a reflection of how Nina had made them be, because they all eventually show their individual characteristics.

There are so many secrets hinted at and unravelled in this story that you are constantly left on the edge of your seat. Nina is definitely going on my most hated characters list because even now, I’m still appalled by everything she did. I really recommend this book – the ending is great, the intensity and tension is built well, and the characters really come into their own as the book progresses. A 4⭐️read for me.

This is the story of six friends and what happened in 1989. All troubled people with secrets and keeps great pace as you try to work out who’s guilty of what. I loved the subtle references to the 80’s -the songs, mix tapes, Swatch, ra-ra skirts - 10/10 for research!
The tension builds up nicely throughout the book and all comes together nicely at the end. Top marks ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Beach Party by Nikki Smith, is a very engaging thriller novel that pulls you in from the start. I read this book in one sitting; it’s a fascinating story that keeps you guessing till the very end.

I loved the setting and the plot of this novel - it had me hooked straight away.

I'm not a huge fan of dual timelines but that's more personal preference than a comment on the author's skill, and I did feel that we were constantly being reminded unnecessarily that it was 1989.

A perfect quick and easy beach read.

Quick and easy, enjoyable read - perfect for holidays! Solid 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

A great beach read that has you guessing who is the ‘bad guy’ all the way until the end, and even then… A plethora of ego’s, manipulation, entitlement and lashings of suspense!

This will be perfect for a holiday read- it's set in Majorca on a villa, as 6 friends go on holiday together after graduating from Birmingham University. Things soon go pear shaped.
All is not as it seems and the friendships are bound by secrets, lies, relationships and blackmail.
I found the characters were easily confused at first and had to keep.checking who was who but I soon got it sorted. The dual timeline works well and you're never really sure who knows what and who has done what.
A really gripping twisty thriller brilliant for anyone who loves all things 80s!

I read this as an ARC through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was absolutely blown away by how good this was!
I don't give 5 stars easily, but this had me hooked.
Six friends go away to a luxury villa in Mallorca for a two week break. What can possibly go wrong?.....
There were some wonderfully rich, believable characters with their individual flaws and assests.
I really loved the references to some of the 80s must haves! Walkmans, swatches, shimmery pink lipstick, ra ra skirts, and so on! It added real authenticity!
It is told through different pov's and across two timelines, 1989 and now.
This story is a really punchy, twisty, turny journey with horrors and happiness throughout and an ending that I didn't see coming!
I highly recommend it 🌟

Set in 1989, six friends head off to their holiday of a lifetime in Mallorca but of course, something terrible happens and bad decisions lead to further drama. Each chapter brings more disaster and you won’t be able to stop reading. A scorching nightmare! This summer’s must read.

A definite beach read.
I like how the author transported us to Mallorca. Some of the characters were a bit jarring but that is life though isn’t it?
You go through life and there will be jarring moments and characters, overall though I really did enjoy this book immensely.
Nikki Smith has done it again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in Mallorca six friends revisit the scene of a student holiday in 1989 when after a beach party a death occurred. Originally explained as an accident it becomes obvious that someone is covering up the truth.
I was irritated by the numerous nods to the 1980s, which was overkill for me. A few less would have worked as well to keep us in the era. I found some of the characters a little too similar and not distinct enough but the plot made up for this. A good beach read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters, so well written from the beginning until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for this ARC which I can definitely recommend.

This is the kind of book that transports you into the setting and oh boy, what a setting it is. I loved the blend of the past and present and the way the sub plots interlinked. A good read.

An intriguing story about six friends who shared a holiday thirty years ago which went horribly and tragically wrong. The plot is intricate and with unexpected developments. The truth about past events eventually comes out with a very satisfactory denouement.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. I am a big fan of Nikki Smith so I was really looking forward to her new book. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. Another great thriller which kept me guessing until the end. Fast paced with lots of twists, everything i want in a book. Would definitely recommend this book.

This would be a great beach or holiday read and I really liked the throwback to the 1980s.
I always appreciate short, snappy chapters and this utilised those well.
At times certain characters didn't feel particularly distinct from one another, which meant that they started to blend into one in my mind at points.
But I enjoyed the twists and the tension that is built as secrets are revealed to us as we make our way through this.
Whether you're heading to a beach yourself or fancy transporting yourself as you read this, I think that would be the best way to read The Beach Party as you would get a lot more from it if you were in that space of mind.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When we comitte a crime, are we ever free from it? To move on and live our lives like nothing happened. Six friends seem to think this when they are on a holiday kf a lifetime, celebrating the end of their university days.

But a night from that time comes back to haunt them when history decides its time for payback. This book reminds me of Pretty Little Liars of friends with a huge secret and someone determined to make them pay.

The title of the book alone sold this book to me along with the gorgeous cover. That bonfire makes you want to go to the beach and sit around with good friends.

I enjoyed this one and I loved being in the Spanish sunshine with all these characters. This was a very tense read with lots of twists, turns, secrets and lies to keep you guessing what was going on, I wanted to know what had happened in the past to bind them together and how it might all end. One I would recommend.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for this eARC. I give this book 2.5 stars. I thought that the plot of this book had a lot of potential, and I really enjoyed the dual timelines in the story. At some points, it was quite messy and I lost interest. I also found the characters to be truly unlikeable, which made it a little hard to read. I think the writing is accessible and the premise is good, but it was just not for me.