Member Reviews

If you have hung around my blog long enough you will know that I am a HUGE fan of Shalini Boland.

I don't think I have yet to read a book that has left me disappointed and I mean, can I really complain?

Boland, is back with another sure to be bestseller and I am SO here for it. The Honeymoon is going to be everyones mind long after concluding, including mine.

I went in blind, there is never a reason to read a synopsis when it comes to a book written by Boland. I know without a doubt I would love it.

Twisted
Juicy
Deceitful

Everything needed for a sure to be grand slam of a thriller. This book exceeds all expectations

I promise, you do not want to miss this, here is a little teaser :

It was the perfect romantic honeymoon. Until her husband disappeared.

It was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. But for newlywed Stella, the dream honeymoon has turned into a nightmare overnight. Her perfect husband, Austin, has vanished without a trace.

Alone in Venice, Stella frantically searches for him. But as fear turns into confusion, she finds herself questioning everything she knows about the man she married. Has Austin really abandoned her, or has someone from his past finally caught up with him—the business partner he threatened to sue? The obsessive ex-girlfriend who refuses to let go? When Stella becomes convinced someone is following her, panic sets in.

As hours turn into days and clues start to unravel dark secrets, a terrified Stella can’t help but ask herself: is her husband who she thought he was at all?

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This one kept my interest from the first page! I didn't care for the beginning so much because I thought I figured it out and I did by half I would say. I didn't really like how much the story was a bit slow midway. Stella marries Austin and goes on their honeymoon in Venice. On the first night Austin goes missing. Is everything as it seems?? Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

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I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This book was absolutely amazing and I stayed up late last night to finish it. Stella and Austin get married and go to Italy for their honeymoon. Austin leaves the hotel at 11 pm to go back to the restaurant where they had dinner to get his credit card he left there earlier in the evening. Austin never returns and the search begins. The book is told in parts in the past and now and it flows so good with the storyline. The twists at the end we're such surprises for me! I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend!

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Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook inexchange for an honest review.

I've read several of Bolands mysteries before and was drawn into the cover and story of this newest release. It takes place in beautiful Venice and quickly spirals out of control when Stella's husband Austin doesn't return to their hotel room. The story takes us to the past and present to learn what might have gone wrong.
So.. I have to say the resolution went wrong... I will not spoil the ending here but I have to say I felt like Boland dropped the ball on the killer as it felt like she ran out of time or didn't feel like writing a smooth resolution to what happened to Austin. It was believable yet, I felt cheated when she simply left out a few hours of narrative that changed the whole story. I'll leave it at that and say, it didn't work for me. And that epilogue was so unbelievable that the character could have also been involved just felt like... well, fiction.

I give this one 3 stars because it had my attention from the start, yet it failed to get 5 stars because of the ending.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this read. I find I like Shalini’s books. I am always read for a laugh and definitely going to be shocked. Her chapters are never too long and the book always flows really well. I will keep looking out for her books.

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The Honeymoon is a fast paced thriller/mystery about a woman who is on her honeymoon when her husband goes missing.

This book was pretty good! I liked how fast paced this was and it kept me engaged the whole time. I liked how it kept jumping from modern day to the past. That always keeps me intrigued. I also loved the setting and how it was described.

I will say that I don’t like when an author is lying to us throughout the whole book. I won’t say more because it will be a spoiler but it did bother me. I also felt like the twists were a bit unbelievable at times.

If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller, I would recommend this one!

Thanks so much to netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

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Shalini Boland NEVER disappoints. Keeps me up all night but… totally worth it. The Honeymoon was nearly impossible to put down. Stella and Austin are on their dream honeymoon when the first night Alex goes to pick up a lost credit card and never returns.. I loved the story and the characters. Perfect wedding season read!!!

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Stella and Austin, the newlyweds on their honeymoon in Venice. Both deeply in love enjoying the magical first night of their stay, when Austin nips out to retrieve his credit card he left at the restaurant and doesn’t return.

Told on the two timelines of then and the lead up to the wedding where we learn all the background from the characters and now with the investigation into Austin’s disappearance is underway, the story moulds together nicely keeps the reader speculating.

I really enjoy a Shalini Boland thriller, I have to say this wasn’t my favourite, the plot was great and I enjoyed the twists but the mention of every food and drink cooked and devoured throughout each day really began to get on my nerves.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Shalini Boland for the ecopy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

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The Honeymoon provided an exceptionally good read, with its fast pace and astonishing twists that kept me guessing right up to the shocking conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC.

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Stella and Austin are newlyweds and just arrived in Venice for their honeymoon. They have been together for three years and Stella is happy that he finally popped the question. But on their first night Austin leaves the hotel room to get his credit card he forgot in the restaurant they had dinner. He promises to be back very soon. But he never returned. Stella informs the Italian police and calls Austin’s parents. She herself wanders the streets of Venice and keeps looking for him, asking every shop owner and in restaurants. But Austin just vanished. And she has the feeling that someone is following her.



The story is told in two timelines. The one in the past shows us some events from Stella’s and Austin’s past and where they stand with their family and friends. The other timeline is of course in the present. I was immediately drawn into the story. It is an easy and quick read and the chapters often end with a little cliffhanger so you want to keep reading. I read it in one sitting, something I rarely do, but it really is a quick read. The story is not something I never read before and I had feeling what had happened and who was responsible. There are some red herrings but after a while I really became suspicious and as it turns out I was right.



This book is pure entertainment and I enjoyed it. The reason I don’t give five stars is that although it is a short book it is full of unnecessary details, like what kind of panini Stella was eating. And after a while I could not help laughing that always when she wants to eat something she was disturbed by the police. Literally all the time. As soon as she mentions to eat something I knew some revelation was about to happen. This was my second book from Shalini Boland and I would say, not my last one.

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During the first night if their Venice honeymoon, Stella's husband Austin goes back to the restaurant where he left his credit card, but never returns. Stella and his parents frantically search the area, but there is no sign. With his business partner making accusations and Stella convinced she is being followed, they are all desperate to find Austin.

This was a classic Boland, quick to get into and be grabbed by, lots of tension, twist and turns and more than your average bombshells! Perfect reading booster, especially if your mojo needs a kick up the butt!

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The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland was an interesting, engaging thriller with a lot of twists and turns.
This book had me right on the edge of my seat and I loved everything about it.
It was well written with great characters, short grippy chapters, fast paced throughout and with an explosive twist at the end that I just never saw coming.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

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Stella's honeymoon is not going as planned. Her husband is missing, and she believes someone is following her. She will do whatever it takes to find him, but she must be careful.

Although I had an inkling of where the story was going, I was not prepared for the shocking truth. Told from two different perspectives, one in the past and one in the present, we uncover shocking revelations.

This book was a pleasure to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book.

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This just wasn’t the book for me. I didn’t feel a connection to the main character and I felt nothing exciting happened throughout the book. There was no real suspense or gripping moments. I did like the twist but I felt like it made no sense as the story was told from Stella’s point of view. I really liked the epilogue. That was a true OMG moment. Overall it was a fine read but nothing outstanding. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy!

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The Honeymoon is one of those books that has you racing to the finish to find out what happened. I read it in less than one day as I couldn't put it down! If you've read a Shalini Boland book than you know what I'm talking about. Her books grab you and don't let go. Stella and Austin have been together for four years when they get married. They go to Venice for their honeymoon as Austin's parents own a travel company and give them the trip as their wedding gift. After having a wonderful dinner they go back to their honeymoon suite to consummate their marriage. Stella feels closer to Austin than she ever has and the night of making love was the best yet.

When Stella wakes up her back feels cold and Austin is not in bed with her. She's so tired and groggy, but she sees Austin dressed and getting ready to go out. Stella asks him to come back to bed, but he tells her the restaurant called and found his credit card on the table. He's going to walk back to the restaurant to get his card, find a store to buy a phone charger, and then he'll be back. Stella tells him to wait until the morning, but Austin is dressed and ready to go. He tells her to get some sleep and he'll be right back. Stella offers to go, but he can see how tired she is so he tells her to stay and rest.

Stella can't sleep once Austin is gone and waits for him to return. The problem is Austin doesn't come back. Stella doesn't know what to do when time goes by and he's still not back. Where could Austin be? Did something happen to him? Should she call the police? She goes down to the lobby and tells the people working the desk what has happened. They tell her to wait until morning as a lot of travelers go and get drinks before coming back. Stella is very worried and knows something must have happened to Austin. Stella can't sit still and decides to walk to the restaurant to see if Austin is still there. It's 1 a.m. but some restaurants are open late. When she gets there the restaurant is dark, but she knocks on the door and yells for them to let her in. The owner is in bed above the restaurant and comes down as he recognizes Stella from dinner. He tells Stella that Austin did come and get his credit card but has no idea where he went after that.

On her way back to the hotel after checking a store that sold phone chargers, Stella realizes that her life has taken a turn. What should've been the happiest time of her life has now become a nightmare! She calls the police and reports her husband as missing. She calls Austin's parents to let them know what's happened and they tell her they're going to fly in later that day. They're terrified that something has happened to their son. What happened to Austin? Will he be found? Did he run away to avoid business problems? Why would he leave Stella on their honeymoon? Stella feels like she's being followed as she searches for Austin. Is Stella in danger? Are Austin's business decisions coming back to haunt them? The Honeymoon is a fantastic thriller with several twists you won't see coming! I rate The Honeymoon 4 stars with a high recommendation. The Honeymoon is available on June 13 and should not be missed! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of The Honeymoon in exchange for a fair review. #TheHoneymoon

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Holy Wow! The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland is amazeballs! I don’t know how she keeps getting better and better with each book. Stella and Austin just got married and are spending their honeymoon in Italy, how lucky right? But soon after their arrival Austin goes missing. This is when we get to know a few people that may have a grudge and want to get even with Austin. What a rollercoaster of a ride this was. I’m still trying to process what I just read. My head is spinning from the twists. I read it so fast that I may go back and start again just to savor it this time. A million thanks to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer, and Ms Boland herself for this advanced copy. Mind blown….. mic drop!

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Yet another thrilling and engaging story from Shalini Boland!

Stella is in Italy on her honeymoon with Austin when Austin disappears. It appears several people have ill will toward him including his business partner, Bart. Bart claims Austin has been stealing funds from their joint business account; something Austin adamantly denies leading to him to sue Bart.

Another person holding bad feelings toward Austin is his ex-girlfriend who is still furious and jealous that he’s moved on, going so far as showing up drunk to Stella and Austin’s engagement party.

Then there’s the mysterious Seraphina; a woman Austin was talking to through a dating app which is how he met Stella.

As the clock ticks down, questions swirl around Austin’s disappearance. Did he go on the run with some of the money from stole from his business with Bart? Did his ex-girlfriend follow him to Italy to show just how betrayed she felt? Or has he skipped out on his new bride to track down Seraphina?

Told in two lines, leading up the wedding and during the honeymoon, I was hooked and glued the whole time! This was a four star read for me meaning I absolutely believe thriller and Boland fans alike will be excited to check this out!

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Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

Austin and Stella are blissfully happy on their honeymoon in Venice, until Austin realises he has left his credit card in the restaurant, nips back to get it and never returns.

An absolutely brilliant premise and it totally delivered. The plot is fast paced, detailed and very well thought out, with an absolute blinder of a twist that totally floored me! And then another one in the epilogue that I could never have expected.

Highly recommended!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Shalini Boland and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC in return for an honest review.

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Stella is married to the love of her life, Austin and they are celebrating the first night of their honeymoon in a lavish hotel in Venice. They return from their meal at a local restaurant when Austin gets a call to say he's left his credit card behind and he insists that she stays in the hotel while he goes back to get it, but he doesn't return. Stella spends the following days searching for him but when she has no luck tracing him she decides to contact the police and then his parents. As events begin to unfold she learns things about her husband that make her question who she married, what or who has made him disappear, and who is the man she's convinced is following her?

This latest thriller by Boland sets off on its rollercoaster journey from the very first page, switching so fast between Now and Then that there was no time to shout stop I want to get off, although it was more a case of scream if you want to go faster, because this ride was certainly not slowing down for anyone. Alternating between the months leading up to the wedding and the days that followed, this fast paced, intriguing read kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, with twists that just kept on coming right up until Boland smashed it out of the park with the jaw dropping ending that I definitely didn't see coming. Another JUST WOW story from an author that never disappoints. I loved it!

I'd like to thank Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

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Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Shalini Boland. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Stella's dream honeymoon in Venice with her husband, Austin, has turned into a nightmare when he doesn't return back to their hotel room their first night there. Desperate, she searches the city, eventually going to the police and calling his parents who rush to help. But is Austin who she thinks he is? And is someone following her?

Always enjoy curling up with a new book from this author, and this one didn't disappoint. Told in "then" and "now" chapters, we learn about Stella and Austin's relationship leading up to their wedding, as well as Stella's frantic search to find him. I raced through this one and was shocked at the ending! Pack this one along on your vacation - you won't be disappointed!

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