I was so excited to read this book because not only was it done by my favourite author, but the description was nothing at all like anything I’ve ever read before so to say I had high expectations was an understatement. I was very pleased when this book managed to not only live up to the high demands that I set but it also surpassed anything I could have imagined. The characters were very well written, and I especially loved our main character, Kate. There was just something about her that made you love and feel concerned about the choices that she was making. This story is all about Kate, who is on vacation with her husband Jeff. Kate looks at this vacation as a time to reconnect with her husband and get back to where they once were romantically. Right in the middle of the vacation the couple runs into Coco. Coco is a woman that Kate went to school with and idolizes. Things seem fine, however, when Jeff and Coco start acting strangely with each other, the reader is left to figure out what is really going on with this encounter. Who is Coco really and what is her connection to Jeff? Amazing read, and I loved how fast paced it was. I couldn’t put this book down because I had to see what was going on and I couldn’t get enough of the characters. They were so realistic that it was almost like I was pulled into this world completely and I was watching it unfold before my eyes. This book was full of so many twists that it really had you spinning when everything was revealed in the end. Like other books by SE Lynns this one leaves you guessing at answers and the ending was amazing I never saw it coming. I can’t wait until this book is released and more people are able to experience the rollercoaster ride that is this story. If there is only one criticism that I have about this book as I have mentioned in my other reviews its that this one has multiple points of view, so it is always changing who is talking. I’m not normally a fan of these and while I did understand why it was important to the story, I did find it a tad frustrating however I loved when Coco was in charge. Great read nonetheless, and I’m so glad that I got the chance to check it out. Anything that S.E. Lynns writes its amazing and always packs a punch, and this book is not an exception. It pulled me deep in as a reader and I had to get to the bottom of everything. Clear your schedule if you want to check it out though because it was impossible to put down.

I found the start of this book a little slow to begin with. I picked it up and read , then put it down for a while before reading again so it took me a bit longer to read this book. Once it got going, it got a lot faster and I, once again, had to read and put off doing anything until I finished it. It definitely developed well.

This was a good one. My first read by S.E Lynes and I will be picking up more books for sure.

Kate is a wife desperate for anyone’s attention including her husband. Jeff is in love with his one night stand from college. His one night stand may be a psychopath. Set in beautiful Spain, on the beach and close to a super cute little town made for an amazing setting for a dark and twisty novel. Although I wasn’t a big fan of Kate or Jeff as characters, Coco really made up for what they lacked. Kate’s desperation for attention and Jeff’s sole fixation on Coco was a little lack luster. But Coco being a closet psychopath and her small monologues throughout was a treat. The triple POV was great when learning about Jeff’s thoughts and the story of his and Coco’s past.

All in all I was hooked after chapter 1 and binged this pretty quick.

Compelling, Suspenseful…
A Summer holiday that will change everything in this suspenseful and compelling character driven tale of twisted relationships, lies and betrayal. When the truth comes out, just who will be left standing? With a swiftly moving plot populated with a deftly crafted cast of not always likeable characters, twists and turns aplenty, an edgy narrative and an ideal setting this is an entertaining and engaging read from first to last page.

3.5 stars rounded up.

The people closest to you know exactly what you're trying to hide....

The hostess: Kate wants this holiday to be different. It's the first time in years it's just been her and her husband. A chance to walk along the beach, eat ice cream together in the bright Spanish sun, remind each other why they fell in love. And what better way to start than by inviting their glamorous old university acquaintance Coco for a drink at their clifftop villa, with its pristine pool.

The hist: Jeff doesn't know why Kate is making such a big deal about their surprise visitor, But if it makes her happy, that's fine. He wants her to be happy. He'll never tell her what he did to ensure it....

The guest: When Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, she has an idea what she's about to see. As Jeff comes down the stairs, he freezes in horror.

One innocent invitation could cost everything.

This steady paced thriller held my attention throughout. Kate and Jeff had been childhood sweethearts. They are on their first holiday to their villa in Spain without their daughter in seventeen years. The story is told from Kate, Jeff and Coco's perspectives. I was not keen on any of the characters. Kate came across as a bit pathetic and Jeff wasn't much better. Jeff and Coco deny ever knowing each other, and Kate knows they're hiding something. The story is character driven. Although there are some twists, none of them are shocking. We get flashbacks to the characters university days. I thought the ending felt a bit flat, so I took half a star off for that reason.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SELynes for my ARC of #TheSummerHoliday in exchange for an honest review.

Initially, I didn’t care for the characters and the story line was a little slow so I wasn’t sure whether or not this book was for me. But, I really like how S.E. Lynes writes, so I persevered. About half way through things picked up the twists started.
Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Kate lives an affluent life with her husband Jeff and their daughter. Jeff works long hours and is often out playing sports or with work colleagues. Kate spends a lot of time on her own and running her cake making business. Jeff and Kate met at university and have known each other for a very long time.

They have a house in Spain and for the first time they holiday at their Spanish home without their daughter. Jeff spends a lot of time working even though they are on holiday and Kate spend time in the local cafes watching the world go by. She is left speechless when she spots Coco Moss at the table next to her in the cafe. Coco is with her partner and twin boys.

Kate plucks up the courage to speak to Coco - she idolised Coco at university and desperately wanted to be noticed by Coco and her friends but she was almost invisible to them. Kate invites Coco over for drinks and is shocked when Coco agrees to come!

When Coco arrives Kate notices tension and shock all over Jeff and Coco’s faces when they see each other. They both pass it off as nothing but Kate knows what she saw and is determined to get to the bottom of things.

I felt sorry for Kate as she was so in awe of Coco and Coco used this to her advantage!

A really good read.

What do you do when a decades old fantasy shows up? Here is the story of a couple who have hidden the same fantasy since uni. The twists and turns are worthy of whiplash! Very interesting read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

I wasn't sure about this book at first. Whilst I enjoyed the storyline I couldn't warm to any of the characters. However the more I read the more I wanted, I couldn't put it down as I needed to know what was going to happen. It is full of suspense. I didn't love the ending but it did keep me guessing. Definitely worth a read.

S E Lynes is a reliable writer of thrillers and this is no exception, it keeps you turning the pages and are invested in the outcome
E

This was good - very good. At first, I thought it was going to be quite obvious, but it was very clever indeed and a great ending. I will look out for this author in the future

I love SE Lynes. Love, love , love!!!!! I should know better by now though not to start a book by this author right before bed. Because once begun you can't stop reading. The writing is vivid and pulls you into the heart of the story. It literally holds you in its beating heart. The atmosphere is tense and palpable. The settings lush and the secrets are too many to count! The final twist will make you scream out loud. So I don't recommend reading on a crowded train or airplane . Exquisite. Five stars. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. Don't miss this book!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bookouture and S. E. Lynes for the opportunity to read THE SUMMER HOLIDAY, to be published May 9, 2023. Secrets galore! This psychological thriller had it all - intrigue, suspense, murder, infidelity, karma, and love. It was intense throughout and kept me reading into the night. There was one character who you loved to hate. All of the others weren’t awfully difficult to like. They were genuine and very believable. 5/5 Stars. #NetGalley. #Bookouture #SELynes #TheSummerHoliday

The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes is a fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story follows Kate and her husband, Jeff, as they embark on a holiday alone without their daughter for the first time in forever. They are holidaying in their privately owned villa in Catalonia, and the ostentatiousness of the story doesn’t end there, as these are two very successful people.
From the outset, it’s clear that something is not quite right between them, though, and as the tension builds, we’re drawn deeper into the mystery. This intensifies with a chance meeting with a university alum, Coco Moss. The girl that had everything and everyone wanted to be. While I enjoyed the overall plot, there were moments that made me cringe, particularly when Kate becomes something of a fan-girl over Coco. Some of her decisions didn’t quite fit with someone who had been married for over thirty years and was in her fifties. She acted more like a silly teenager, which was sometimes embarrassing to read.
I appreciated how everything unfolded throughout the book, with Lynes skilfully weaving together past and present memories to create a sense of unease and suspicion. It was all skilfully unravelled, so we got the complete picture of what had happened then and how that affected the now.
The ending, unfortunately, felt a bit rushed, and I would have liked to have seen more of Jeff's punishment. That said, I did appreciate how everything fell into place, and Lynes' attention to detail was impressive. Overall, I found The Summer Holiday to be a gripping read, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a suspenseful thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy of this books.

Kate and her husband go on a vacation and see the it girl from college they are both very (embarrassingly) obsessed with. Things ensue from there.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad story, but it was slow and fairly predictable. There were one or two things that I wasn’t expecting near the end, but I don’t think I’d call it a thriller.

I was also confused why the perspectives are third person for some and first person for others?

Anyways, it wasn’t horrible but if you’re looking for a fast paced book with lots of twists, I that’s not this. If you’re looking for a story about people and how hiding things can impact lives, then you’d like it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy of this books. I saw that it was highly recommended by other readers and I second this!
There is so much to this atmospheric location read- a villa in the heat of summer in Spain, money, secrets, old friends and floundering relationships.
It’s a fast paced, enthralling read with lots of twists and turns- I’ll be looking to read the backlist of S.E Lynes’ books now!

I’ve enjoyed the books I’ve read from S.E. Lynes in the past and The Summer Holiday is no exception. The book picks up with our main character, Kate, a married woman in her 50s in a stagnant marriage to her college sweetheart Jeff. While at their vacation home in Spain, she runs into the “it” girl from college, Coco Moss, and she immediately tries to become friends with her. Soon, this reunion turns into a love triangle and the life Kate thought she had starts to dissolve. This book is told from all three perspectives The characters are all kinda unlikable, but this did not keep me from reading the book! This was a character driven psychological thriller and while the twist was pretty easy to point out, I enjoyed reading until the very end. This is a quick read and made me wish I was in Spain, watching this all unfold from a balcony overlooking the black sands.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Susie Lynes has the ability to take you deep into her characters relationships, whether you relate to them or not you're invested in their story until the very last page.
In this book we meet Kate and Jeff, a wealthy couple who own a villa in Spain. Their daughter is old enough to have holidays with friends and Kate is hopeful that her and Jeff can recreate their earlier life together but when she meets an acquaintance from their university days she's shocked by Jeff's reaction when he meets Coco again.
The story is told from all 3 main characters point of view. Secrets and lies that have been kept hidden for decades resurface with tragic consequences for more than one of them
A great read

When Kate and Jeff’s daughter goes on holiday with her friend and her parents the couple take the opportunity to holiday alone at their villa in Spain. Kate feels this holiday is just what she and her husband need. On one of the first days there Kate sees Coco Moss, someone she once knew from her university days and thinks this is the perfect opportunity to boast to Coco how much life has improved for her over the years. She invites Coco and her family to her villa for drinks. When Coco arrives at the villa she faces Jeff and immediately both their faces recoil in shock . What are they hiding ? This book whilst for me a slow burn is one you will just want to keep on reading to discover what is going on. Everyone seems to be hiding something and there is a lot of tension in every chapter. All the characters in my opinion were all horrible and I couldn’t warm to any of them. The setting of the book in Sunny Spain was wonderful and you can actually feel yourself there drinking cold drinks and eating tapas as you read. This is the perfect read for fans of psychological suspense thrillers.

What starts as he annual summer holiday soon starts to go downhill. Kate and Jeff met at university and have a daughter. They go on their annual summer holiday and Kate bumps into the “popular” girl from uni who everyone wanted to be like or friends with. What ensues is a delve into the murky past of their youth and the far reaching effects it had.

It is hard to go into more detail without spoilers so will just say that I loved it. The characters were all interesting although had their flaws and could be repulsive human beings. The story flowed well with the odd little twist here and there.