I’ve always been a fan of Jane Shemilt’s writing and this was no exception. A traumatic event leads to unforeseen and devastating consequences. The story weaves between two settings and dual time periods. I love how everything was tied together in the end, although I did find it to be predictable. Still, a fast-paced, entertaining read with a good message.

This book dragged for me and there were chapters that I skimmed through. This was probably because of its predictability. A third of the way through I figured out how it would end and that ruined it for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. This review is my own words.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy in Exhange for an honest review.

This was really such a sloooow burn, but it was a good story. It has some very heavy material that is talked about from start to finish and was really sad to read. This book is told from two different perspectives (Julia and Sofie) during two different time periods (2003 and 2023). I felt like I was zoning out some throughout, but I think that the last 20% of the book made it worth the read. I had some of it figured out but when it all came together, I was surprised. It has a satisfying way of tying things together. I don't feel like I will recommend this book a ton to others, but it wasn't necessarily bad. The dialogue and pacing was slow for me... I am thinking of giving it a 2.5 Star rating. Some parts really shined, but overall, it was a miss for me...

The Vacation House
Written By Jane Shemilt
Publisher William Morrow
Release Date December 26, 2023

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Suspense: 3/5
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5


“ Two women. Two secrets. One terrible night.”

This is an amazing fast pace psychological thriller set in two different time frames. In Greece 2003 we meet Sophie. Her family are the caretakers of a beautiful home by the sea that is owned by very wealthy vacationers from London. One evening, Sophie strolled along the beach and something happened to her that will change her life forever. It is then we are in London in 2023 where we meet a woman, Julia, whose marriage is falling apart and who despises her husband. Yet she is also raising a daughter while figuring out how to deal with issues from her childhood. Her family owned the home that Sophie’s family worked for all those years ago. Now she has started seeing a therapist in hopes of figuring out how to not feel so trapped in her loveless marriage. What could possibly bring these two women together all these years?
Both women want to forget the events of the past and learn how to not struggle in the present time. This is a well written story by the author who does an amazing job of building the scenes for the reader from two different times as well as two different POV’s. There is not really much suspense but I would say that the book was not predictable at all. It was slow at first but did pick up speed about half way through. It is hard to write a review about this book without giving too much info away but I would certainly give this book 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me an opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book! I remembered reading/liking The Daughter several years back and wanted to give this author’s latest book a try! Great blend of characters, although I truly despised several of them. I could not stop reading to see what happened next. While I’d figured out part of the story toward the end, it was still a great read!

This book kept me reading for hours! The plot was very well done and while it moved quickly, there were many twists and turns. The character development was fabulous and I was taken in by Laura right away and was not disappointed at the ending!! What a fun and complex book with many current themes tucked in. Overall a great read!

I had a hard time getting into this book but I enjoyed it overall. The characterization was nicely done and the the mystery kept me curious enough to keep reading. The dual timeline of The Vacation House kept the novel interesting and the Greek/London settings kept me engaged with the story.

The Vacation House is a dual time-line novel following two strong female main characters. In 2003, we are brought around the island home of Sofie. Sofie's family work as the live in caretakers of a gorgeous home by the sea, owned by wealthy English vacationers. In 2023, we follow Julia as she navigates a loveless marriage, raising a young daughter, and dealing with inner trauma. Julia is the daughter of the wealthy English man who owned the estate where Sofie's family worked.

This book was a slow burn, and about halfway through I considered not finishing it. I am so glad I stuck with it though because this was a wonderful book, completely out of the realm of anything I usually pick up. This novel brings the reader into the world of class differences, sex differences, and, of course, different ways of living with traumatic pasts. While this work took me away into the beautiful setting of Paxos, it also brought me into a world filled with sorrow.

Shemilt's characters were lovely and well-written: the "bad guys" easy to hate and the "good guys" easy to love, yet still flawed in their own ways. This is a novel that I stayed up way past my bedtime to read, and that alone should speak its praise.

This is the first book I've read by athor Jane Shemilt and it did not dissapoint. Told in dual POV, it's the story of two women, Sofia and Julia. Sofia's story, told in 3rd person, takes place in the past and centers around a tragic event that changed both their lives. Julia's story told in first person is a gripping tale of a woman living life on a knife edge. Her controlling husband shapes everthing she does include her appearance and what she eats. Her struggle to find herself brings everthing to a dramatic climax. Suspenseful, page turning, well written. I really enjoyed it.

This was my first time reading a book by Jane Shemilt and I found it to be an easy and interesting read. It should be noted that the subject matter may be upsetting for some people and involves the rape of a young girl and its immediate aftermath on her family and for many years later. Overall my rating is a 3.5, with my biggest issue being that I figured out what was going on long before Julia did, and I failed to understand how the heck she didn't see it. But props for making me weirdly suspicious of the nice art teacher. As always, thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for providing this ARC.

The Vacation House by Jane Shemilt is a fast-paced psychological suspense novel set in Greece in 2003 and London in 2023. My first book by this author but I see that she has a backlist and I will be reading all of her books!! Two timelines, two locations, two protagonists—this book was a deliciously twisty ride and I loved every page. Highly recommend!!!

This was a book with a lot of tragedy and sadness, but also a very satisfying ending. Much more serious than the fun mystery suggested by the cover and description. I also enjoyed the description of the Greek setting. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started slow but ended up really good. It takes place in 2 timelines- Greece in 2003 and London in 2023 (note that the synopsis mentions a 10 year gap but it’s actually 20 and everything makes more sense that way). The earlier timeframe is about Sofie, the caretaker’s daughter at a fancy vacation home, and the later timeframe is about Julia, the daughter of the vacation homeowner who is now in a seemingly perfect marriage (with cracks!). The way these 2 storylines converge is very well done.

The first quarter of the book provides background and was a little slow. Once the action happens the rest of the book reads at a faster clip. It’s hard to read what happens to Sofie and is a scene that will likely stick with you. I expected not to like Julia but I ended up empathizing with her. I will say that I wasn’t super surprised by the twists in the book but I did think the storyline was weaved together very well. I also enjoyed the ending.

Overall, maybe not a super unique or surprising read but definitely a good one. Is recommended to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I've read this book several times. Vacation house in Greece, something bad happens ten or twenty years ago, past comes back to haunt those involved, the past is avenged, etc. It was heavy for a summer read and the twists were not that surprising and easy to guess.

Thanks for letting me preview this book.
Unfortunately it was all over the place and the beginning couldn’t keep my attention. It could be because after the cover and synopsis of the story it just wasn’t the story expected..

I found it difficult initially to be reading about wealthy elitist males and the way they treat others, however it is well written engrossing, gut wrenching, and ultimately, redeeming. I received this as an advance copy from the author via NetGalley and voluntarily leave this review.

This was the first novel I have read by Shemlit and I absolutely loved it! The novel takes place in two different settings; Paxos, Greece in 2003 and ten years later in London, England in 2023. This is the story about two different women; Sofia and Julia and the events that drastically changed their lives. In Paxos, Julia and her wealthy British family gather with friends at their vacation house. On a hot summer evening, Sofie, the daughter of the home’s caretakers takes a walk alone on the beach and what transpires will scar her forever. Ten years later, Julia is now living in London, married to a man she despises but feels she cannot escape from. When she meets a therapist named Laurel, she confides in her and feels that with her help she may find her way to a happier life. Will the events of the past and the struggles in the present come together and bring the women some sort of salvation? This was a story of deception, survival and ultimately redemption. I gave this novel 5 stars!

DNF, sorry. The cover was gorgeous. Too much "telling" early on. The early pages didn't grab my attention. Not what I expected from the cover. Perhaps another reader will love this story.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

This was a great fast paced read! It kept me on edge the whole time. Waiting from page to page to see what is the turn that is coming. The ending just made this! Thank you Jane Schemilt for a great read!