Wowser, this was an absolute corker of a story, loved it from start to finish.

The story was very well written, was captivated throughout, plus it had me guessing as the story progressed trying to figure out what was really going on, there were a few red herrings thrown in, not to mention sitting on edge of my seat at times in eager anticipation of what might happen next, it was intense, entertaining and pretty fast paced.

As for the finish, how the story came to its conclusion, just brilliant, was so not expecting it, very clever and nicely done indeed.

Stella can't believe how lucky she is. She in in Venice, on her honey, with the love of her life, Austin. Things couldn't be more perfect, until Austin disappears. Distraught and alone in another country, Stella is desperate to find Austin, but as the days go by, it seems like he's vanished. Could someone have done something to him? Austin's ex was obsessed with him, he also had a falling out with his business partner, and someone seems to be following Stella.
Shalini Boland does not disappoint, especially with the unexpected twists! I was definitely surprised by this one, although the very final twist was easy to figure out. This was a quick read and had me engrossed the whole time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book is pretty simple, a newly married couple is on their honeymoon when the husband has to go back to a restaurant to pick up his forgotten card only to never return back to the hotel.

Okay so we have some family drama. The FMC Stella’s father doesn’t approve of the new husband Austin. He thinks he’s arrogant based off one singular thing he said when they first met. Petty or does the hatred run deeper?

Then on the other hand we have a female best friend of Austin named Keri and she’s very much in love with him. Does he love her and they ran away together?

Finally we have a soured business relationship. Austin’s business partner/coworker has been stealing money from the business and Austin has outed him. Is this his revenge?

Throughout we’re following the inner monologue of the FMC Stella, the grieving wife. She alerts his family and they arrive to help. Standard police procedures are followed. It’s a pretty straightforward plot line and it’s all well and fine in terms of my enjoyment of it. Nothing mind boggling but entertaining enough.

My issues start with the twist. Now if you’re a reader who hasn’t picked this up, time to stop reading because spoilers ahead…

Again, spoilers ahead.

So we aren’t meant to believe that not only was Stella lying the entire time to police, Austin’s family and friends, but also to herself? She’s acting like a grieving woman within her own head knowing full well what happened to her husband? I’m sorry but that’s just plain silly. Of course no one will guess that the killer is the FMC of the FMC is lying even in her inner monologue.

The Honeymoon was my first book read by Shalini Boland. I enjoy a current day / flashback timeline and I thought that was executed well. I was actually shocked by the conclusion.

Love this authors books so was looking forward to reading. This was a fast paced psychological thriller told in the then and now and had me hooked from the first page and read in practically one sitting. It really kept me on my toes as was a roller coaster of a read with lots of twists and turns along the way that make you question can you trust anyone at all and is anyone who they really seem.

,As my go-to author for a really great psychological thriller Shalini Boland never disappoints. As Stella searches for her missing husband the tension was such that I could feel her desperation at being left alone in Venice without anyone to turn to. Her fear that she is being followed around the city, through deserted alleys had me almost afraid to breathe.. As always with this author there are several twists but I could not have envisaged the shocking end of this book. A real pageturner, it would probably not be a good idea to start this book if you have an early start the next morning because this is one book you won't be able to put down.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

Gripping thriller following a bride on her honeymoon who’s new husband has gone missing, also going back and forth between current and past perspectives. I absolutely did not see the ending coming! 👏 another amazing book by Shalini Boland!

The Honeymoon is a different kind of psychological thriller. You are following Austin and Stella in dual timelines. They are in love get married leave on a very romantic honeymoon to Venice and Austin disappears. Stella is determined to find her new husband. There are great twists you don’t see coming. Just when you think you figured it all out there’s a surprise twist ending. Thank NetGalley

3.5 ⭐️ (rounded down). I am definitely in the minority when it comes to this book. The reviews are so high which made me very eager to read it and thrilled when given an advanced copy but I have to be honest, it was just okay to me. I thought it started off really well but then it turned into a very, very, VERY slow burn! The alternating timelines of “now” and “then” I did enjoy, but again, it just seemed to drag on. As far as characters, I can’t say I really liked any of them. I guess I felt bad for Stella for the majority of the book but I wouldn’t really say I liked her character. To be honest, I was set at a 2 star rating at about 50% of the book BUT the little unpredictable shocker at the end was deserving of a higher rating. I prefer a fast paced, exciting book but I could see why the ratings are higher for someone who doesn’t mind a slow burn because the storyline itself was good and the ending (including the epilogue) made it worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

To see other reviews I’ve left, please check out my Instagram and Goodreads pages:
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808
*Goodreads - Cherihy808

This was incredibly engaging and gripping! Lots of twists kept it moving at an intense pace and the final twists at the end made my jaw drop. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!

Being on your honeymoon in one of the most romantic cities in the world is supposed to be the happiest time of your life; one that you can talk about to your children and grandchildren for years to come. Unfortunately for Stella, her's is memorable for all the wrong reasons.

There was much about The Honeymoon that I enjoyed. The tension and suspense was well developed and the descriptions of Venice really made me feel that I was there. Stella's shock as she comes to terms with the living-nightmare of the situation she suddenly finds herself in is portrayed in a successful way as we follow her around the back streets and dark corners of this beautiful city as she desperately searches for the fairy-tale that she thought she was living.

However, it isn't without its irritations. The duel timeline makes Stella seem naive at best, as you find out more and more in the Then chapters you wonder how on earth she could think her husband to be was a trustworthy catch. But this could be overlooked if you believe that love is blind. However, what Boland gets right about Venice, can't be said for Christchurch. I have first hand knowledge of the area and these people and their lives just don't add up - no one is called Stella and Austin around here for a start! It really was like reading a book written by two different people and I just wish that there had been some way of filling in the background information without constantly breaking the tension built up in the present.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an early copy of The Honeymoon. It’s always exciting to see a new Shalini Boland book out, she does NOT disappoint. I had questions from the beginning of this one and WOW did they get answered. I really can’t understand how Shalini thought of this plot, it was WHOA!!! I NEVER saw the twist coming at all. A fast read, in one day, sooooooooo good!! Both sets of parents were just lovely characters, you would wish them for your parents. Make sure you have nothing to do when you start this, you won’t be able to put it down. Thank you again.

Despite the reservations from her dad, Stella is happy to be marrying the love of her life Austin. Their engagement has been fraught though with a court case looming with Austin's work partner Brad and the interference from his ex girlfriend Keri. But the wedding goes ahead and they embark on their honeymoon in Venice. But on the first night, Austin goes missing and Stella spends her days searching for him. But when Brad rings her convinced that Austin has disappeared deliberately she wonders if their whole relationship was built on a lie.
Shalini Boland is an automatic read for me, her books get under my skin and I cannot put them down. The tension is on point and each story as fresh as her first.
I'm grateful to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and not expected

Another great book from one of my favourite authors. A well written storyline with plenty of twists and good characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this great ARC with a brilliant ending that I never guessed.

Newly weds Stella and Lewis Austin on honeymoon in Venice, and Austin goes missing, so what's the story behind his disappearance?
As this story unfolds with loads of twists and turns, the story is mind blowing from start to finish keeping you thinking I have got this then suddenly you haven't but you just have to carry on reading.
This author is so clever in her work every single book is different and I enjoy every single one.
Five big ones from me leaving me hungry for the next one.

"The Honeymoon" by Shalini Boland is a unique psychological thriller told in dual timelines from the first-person perspective of newlywed Stella. The story alternates between past and present, before and after the honeymoon of Stella and her husband Austin.".

Stella, a dance instructor, and Austin, a successful business owner, have been together for four years before finally taking the next step and getting married. Austin appears to be the perfect husband—attentive, loving, and caring. However, their bliss is disrupted by his ex's attempts to drive a wedge between them and Austin's troubles with his business partner, adding to their stress.

After their marriage, they embark on their honeymoon in Italy, hoping to relax and leave their troubles behind. However, what was supposed to be the perfect time of their lives turns into a nightmare. On the first night of their honeymoon, Austin goes out to retrieve a credit card he forgot at a restaurant they dined at earlier and has not seen since. Stella's stress intensifies as she frantically searches for him to no avail. The plot thickens as curious tidbits emerge, and we delve deeper into the characters' lives

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. While I initially expected a typical disappearance plot, it was anything but. The suspense was expertly crafted, slowly creeping up on the reader. The author skillfully builds tension and atmosphere throughout the book. The ending was intense, keeping me on the edge of my seat, and the epilogue managed to shock me, despite suspecting some plot twists.

The story is mostly character-driven, focusing more on the traits and emotions of the characters. I found Stella likable to a certain extent. There is enough action that the reader is immediately drawn into the story with further details of past events dropped like breadcrumbs along the way. As I felt that some characters got away too easily with their actions, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. Nonetheless, I loved the book and highly recommend it to fans of slow-burn psychological thrillers with a bite.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"The Honeymoon" by Shalini Boland is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Boland masterfully weaves a tale of intrigue and mystery, drawing readers into a world of uncertainty and doubt.

Stella's nightmare honeymoon in Venice unfolds with chilling suspense as she searches desperately for her missing husband, Austin. Boland expertly crafts a plot filled with twists and turns, leaving readers guessing until the very end. The atmospheric setting of Venice adds an extra layer of tension to the story, making every shadowy alley and winding canal feel ominous.

What I loved most about "The Honeymoon" is its exploration of trust and betrayal. As Stella delves deeper into Austin's past, she uncovers dark secrets and questions everything she thought she knew about her husband. The psychological depth of the characters and their complex relationships kept me hooked until the final page.

This book truly kept me up at night, turning page after page to uncover the truth behind Austin's disappearance. With its heart-pounding suspense and shocking revelations, "The Honeymoon" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Shalini Boland has once again delivered an unforgettable story that will leave readers breathless.

I enjoyed this one a lot. All the characters were great in it and it kept me entertained to the very end. I'm pretty good at guessing the endings but this one I did not. Would definitely recommend this for quick entertaining story. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars

Shalini Boland's newest thriller, The Honeymoon, is a wild ride that will leave your jaw on the floor with every twist and turn. Stella just married Austin, a charming entrepreneur with a bitter ex-girlfriend and a tumultuous relationship with his business partner. Stella sees only the good in Austin until he disappears on the first night of their honeymoon in Venice and mysterious circumstances surround his.disappearance. As the police investigate and Austin's parents fly out to join the search, Stella becomes more embroiled in Austin's secrets.

I'm so grateful to NetGalley for the ARC of this amazing roller coaster ride of a novel that will keep you up all night!

Alright, imagine this: Stella and Austin, the lovebirds fresh off their "I do's," are living it up in the city of canals, Venice. But wait, what's this? Austin pulls a Houdini and disappears without a trace, leaving poor Stella in a panic! So, what's a determined wife to do? She turns into a detective faster than you can say "ciao" and dives headfirst into the mystery.

Now, buckle up because this story doesn't unfold like your typical Italian opera. No sir, it's a rollercoaster ride with twists and turns as we hop between past and present, trying to piece together what in the world happened to Austin. But hey, fair warning: while the journey's scenic, it's like navigating Venice's maze-like streets—it can feel a bit slow getting to the big reveal.

And speaking of reveals, let's talk about that ending! Just when you think you've figured it all out, Boland drops a bombshell that'll leave your jaw on the gondola floor. Seriously, I'm still reeling from it, and I reckon it's gonna be stuck in my head for days to come.

So, hats off to Boland for crafting an ending that's more satisfying than a plate of homemade spaghetti. And big thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the change to review this ARC. You guys rock!