The Summer Holiday follows Kate and her husband Jeff vacationing alone at their summer home. One day Kate runs into her old college friend Coco. She invites her over for dinner and she immediately feels like something is off between her husband and Coco. Both Jeff and Coco brush it off. But Kate thinks that they are hiding something and she is determined to get to the bottom of it.

This book started off really good but the more I read this book I disliked it. The story was overall entertaining. But the pacing was so slow this story just dragged on and on. It also felt very repetitive. The plot twists in this book just were not that shocking for a thriller. I was rather bored with the plot twist actually. I felt like the plot twist could have been so much better. I also hated the third-person writing style of this book. It made it very hard for me to connect or care about these characters. I would not suggest this one and I do not think I will read anything else by this author. This was such a miss for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, S.E. Lynes, and Bookouture for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Kate and her husband Jeff are on a holiday in Spain. During their stay there Kate sees Coco Moss. The popular girl from university. She talks to her and invites her to their villa. Once Coco's there and she sees Jeff, there is horror on both of their faces. When Kate asks them what happened they brush it off, so Kate decides to find the truth on her own.
This one is a slow-paced thriller, which I'm not a big fan of. Because it was slow, my anticipation was building and I expected a mind blowing twist that will completely shake me. To my surprise, I had actually guessed the twist just by reading the synopsis. Though I have to say at the very end, like the last five-ish pages there were two more twists, that weren't actually the focus of the book, but they did manage to surprise me, my jaw dropped to the floor.
We follow three POVs which help us get to know Kate, Jeff and Coco better. I felt so sorry for Kate, because even though she can be annoying, she doesn't deserve a husband like Jeff. He was so disgusting and I hated him so much.
Coco's POVs were a bit misleading at times I would say. She kept mentioning how Jeff ruined her, but once the truth was revealed we found out that wasn't really the case?
I enjoyed the writing style a lot and that's what kept me going even though it's a slow book.
Also, the ending was great. Everyone got what they deserved. Well, almost...
If you are in the mood for some drama and gossip, then this might be the book for you.

Pros: First, I must absolutely begin with Lynes’s ability to create characters insanely thoroughly, yet contrasting as can be from one another. Kate and Coco, 2 of the 3 MCs, couldn’t be more opposite aside from their one shared quality: inauthenticity. The way they cope with this carries the story itself and leads to a surprising twist at the end that kept me saying “what the f__” and “what” the whole time! You’d think Lynes herself had been these two women with how well written they are.

The third MC, Jeff, well, I don’t want to give much away, but in short: love can be blind and he sure lives it. Guess you’ll just have to read it if you want to know why I say that.

The overall plot development is executed brilliantly in not only the wording (witty, slapstick, on the knee), but also in the obvious and subtle actions. Things that normal people would notice, our characters do, too. There is little to no oblivion here and this feels like a story that could truly happen in real life… which is always the best kind. This book is also great for those of you who are detail-oriented and like to play amateur FBI. (Insert wink face here.)

Cons: I truly have no cons for this book, but that’s my standard format of review. I guess if I *had* to choose one, don’t read if you have an aversion to psychopaths and narcissists?

Conclusion: If you need a semi-realistic read where people fake it until they make it and then have varying responses to it… this is your book. If you need high drama with a spin of realism, do not pass over this. Don’t do it. Pick this book up yesterday, friend.

University sweethearts & married couple, Kate and Jeff are staying at their villa in Spain, the same as they do every year. Jeff still works when he’s on holiday or is off doing his own thing and Kate … well, Kate is left on her own, nearly all the time.

While out one day, Kate spots Coco from their uni days. She decides to feign a meeting and invites her & her family over for evening drinks.

When Jeff and Coco first meet, it is obvious that they know each other although they both deny it and things go downhill from there.

What secrets are Jeff and Coco keeping? How can Kate find out the true story where these two are concerned?

What a plot! The author has done it again and turned my mind upside down.

I felt for Kate, I think a lot of us have been there with that feeling of being invisible or just there for everyone’s needs but our own.

Still having her best friend from uni, Lizzie, was wonderful for Kate, she needed that friend as she has lost most along the way over the years.

The author has written great characters, ones that actually make you stop and think about their lives. They are believable and could be any one of us.

I really didn’t like Jeff or Coco, I’m not a violent person but they are the sort of people who you feel you could hit if you saw them and the way they behaved.

One of the things I enjoy about this author’s writing is that you know the story is never going to go how you would normally expect it to and thankfully that hasn’t changed with this book either.

A most enjoyable story with plenty of secrets, lies and pain.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another winner from S E Lynes - S E must be shorthand for so exciting! This domestic noir set in a holiday villa in Spain builds slowing as we meet Kate and Jeff, a married couple in their fifties, going through a midlife crisis they don’t know about yet. We hear their story in separate short snappy chapters with both of them talking to us of their lives together often with varying perspectives - Kate feels in the background, always waiting on him literally and figuratively. Jeff feels as if he is constantly working to support their lifestyle while he is never around, literally and figuratively. Their daughter has grown up and they have grown apart. Surprisingly, they meet Coco a woman who was at the same university where they first met and fell in love thirty years ago. Within three days their lives change irrevocably and watching them is tense, fast paced, and heartbreaking.

I enjoyed this book, it has twist, turns and surprises that kept me guessing. I loved the way it was written both in the present and the past so that we could see what had happened all those years ago, Brilliantly written and definitely worth a read.

The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes

Kate is fifty-three years old and she is hoping to rekindle her marital relationship with her husband Jeff while they holiday in their Villa in Spain. Their daughter, Lou is not with them and this is the first time in seventeen years that they are alone on holidays together and Jeff has been always working and does not seem to pay Kate any attention, in fact he is always taking her for granted. Kate tries everything and anything to get Jeff’s attention and at the beginning of the book seems like Kate is a mouse of a woman who is afraid to speak up just in case she offends anyone.

But then Kate sees Coco Moss also holidaying in Spain and remembers how popular Coco was in university, how everyone was in love with Coco. Kate invites Coco over for drinks but she does not know that Coco and Jeff have been involved in the past. When the truth comes out you would expect Kate to give up on life but she becomes empowered.

I love this book! S. E. Lynes is one of my favourite authors and every one of her books are wonderful.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review

What a fab book! This one saw me through a horrible 13hrs in A&E, so thanks to the author for making a horrid experience so much more bearable!!

Kate and Jeff go off on their first holiday in years. Kate is hoping this holiday turns out to be one to remember, and it certainly does. Only not in ways she would have liked. For Kate is hoping for romance, and for her husband to pay her some attention. She is not hoping for ex college mate, Coco Moss, the woman everyone adored at Uni to turn up and ruin everything.

This is a proper page turner. It's a psycho thriller yes, but in my opinion, it's a bit lighter than the thrillers this author has treated us to in the past.

I'm chuffed to be able to say I've read every single one of S.E. Lynes' 12 wonderful books. She really does draw the reader in and every single one of her books is believable and guaranteed to make you want the next book, and the next and the next. This is no exception. Fabulous!

My review is on Goodreads and will be posted to Amazon etc on publication day.

May thanks to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this before anyone else!

Another S. E. Lynes. Another 5-star book.
Where’s the surprise? She nails it every time.
I had a hard time deciding who were the good guys and who were the bad guys in this one. I didn’t get along with Coco very much, at the beginning. I liked Jeff. But he was being a jerk. But then we get to know him better. Did that change how I felt? For the better? And Kate. I could not get myself to empathise with Kate. But I should, right? But how? Then, as the picture unfolds, we get to know and understand the characters better - and really, nothing’s ever quite as it seems, is it? There were two great twists at the end. One of them, we should have seen coming, right? But not with Lynes. She’s too good. The second one comes as the revealing of a newish character - and no, we wouldn’t have guessed.
Again, I fully recommend you read this. And all her other ones. She’s the single best psychological thriller writer around. Believe me, I know.

Kate and her husband Jeff go on holiday to Spain and bump into Coco, a popular girl from Kate’s past. Kate invites Coco to their villa, but as soon as Coco arrives, it’s obvious that Jeff recognises her and that there is a strange connection between Kate’s old college friend and her husband. Kate wanted a romantic holiday with her husband, but things are about to take a turn for the worse…
Full of surprises and shock, twists and turns, this is another cracker of a read by S.E. Lynes. Characters you’ll love to hate and soooo many secrets they’ll do anything to keep buried.

This is weird as a middle age woman, Kate still want to get approve, befriend with popular girl, prove herself, be part of social circel like what... There is Jeff kind of man i scary to ecounter, manipulative, cheater, doesnt feel guilty making miatake.. yuck. Oh my god there is Coco who hurt her?? Being mischief like that..

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheSummerHoliday #SELynes #Bookouture #NetGalley #ARCs

Another very fast paced and well written book by SE Lynes, who is now one of my go-to authors for this genre. Full of characters that ooze personality, crackling dialogue and an excellent narrative. Cannot recommend more highly.

Susie has done it again. A brilliant read from start to finish! Great character profiles; love them or hate them they gel the story together.
Secrets, a life time of habits and living a life of pretense.
Wanting a perfect life but to what lengths would you go to achieve it?

When Kate goes on holiday with her husband Jeff and bumps into the woman she wanted to be from when they were in college, what could possibly go wrong? Are secrets about to be revealed, and are they from the past or present? An easy, fast paced summer read which kept me guessing which direction the book would end up taking.

S E Lynes is one of my favourite authors and so I was super keen to get my hands on this!

Kate and Jeff are finally on holiday together in Spain. Kate is hoping to relax and spend some quality time together to rekindle their romance. Jeff, however seems strangely distracted and things turn even more mysterious when Kate bumps into Coco, a much admired friend from the past. Why is Jeff now acting so oddly and what is his connection to Coco?

I enjoyed this well written story and thought the author cleverly captured the atmosphere of Spain, especially the luxury villa and its surroundings. I felt for Kate who appeared to be totally in the dark about the goings on and was willing her to wake up! The other characters were less likeable, but this in no way detracted from the story.

The pace is steady, but suspenseful and it kept me reading. The tangle of twisted relationships and lies were always compelling and, although I felt slightly disappointed by the ending, I would still highly recommend this latest book from this author.

Thanks to author, S E Lynes, publishers Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

This wasn’t the thriller I thought I was going to be reading, not sure I’d categorize it as a thriller at all. It did have a small twist at the end but the whole book as a whole wasn’t one to catch my attention- took me almost a week to read it- just fell flat for me.

Kate is on a Summer holiday with her husband, their first vacation as a couple since having a grown child. Their relationship is stained. When Kate runs into an old classmate from college, she discovers a dark and twisted past between her new friend “Coco” and her husband Jeff.

A happily married couple on holiday when they run into the popular girl from university. Then they have dinner together when both the husband and guest go pale when they see each other. What are they trying to hide? The wife is determined to find out. Surprising twists and turns that I didn’t see coming held my attention. If you like the unexpected this book is for you.

The Summer Holiday just did not click for me. Neither of the three main characters were likeable and I found the majority of the plot to be predictable. Calling it a psychological thriller is a stretch. The second half was definitely easier to get through and more enjoyable, but all in all not for me.

Firstly the setting for this story was described beautiful, I like that it was set in Spain with flashbacks to Leeds, it was so descriptive I felt transported there at times. But sadly I didn't enjoy this much, The Summer Holiday is a really slow burn with quite unlikeable characters that I didn't feel any connection too. The premise was interesting but intriguing enough to make me need to read on. I feel like this needed to be quicker with higher stake twists to give that thrill and suspense a mystery book needs.

I was excited to start read this one as I really enjoy this Authors work.

It had short chapters which were very fast paced throughout the story. The characters are all unlikeable really, but I think some had to be like that for the story to work out. I felt that the storyline was good, but it fell flat nearer the end and I also felt disappointed by the ending. I needed more!

There were a couple of twists thrown in that I didn’t see coming which helped to round this one up from 3.5 to 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.