Just the Nicest Family by Allison James is a captivating exploration of the complexities of family dynamics, secrets, and the fragility of appearances. The story revolves around the seemingly perfect family, whose lives are turned upside down by unexpected revelations and moral dilemmas.

Allison James has a remarkable ability to create multi-dimensional characters that resonate with readers. The protagonist’s journey is both relatable and thought-provoking, as she grapples with the contradictions between her family's facade and the realities lurking beneath the surface. The author skillfully weaves in themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, and the quest for truth, making it a compelling read that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

A family should be having a beautiful summer break in a French villa. There are so many secrets and lies within the family though! Will these two weeks be relaxing, or will they be murderous and terrifying?

I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley.

First off, trigger warnings for rape and murder. Also, spoilers ahead as I rant.

There is a lot going on in this book, including the fact that it jumps back and forth between past and present. In present time, Tim convinces his wife Louise to go on a vacation to Italy with some strangers and Renee, the woman he's trying to go into business with. He thinks it's a good idea to also invite his friends, Shona and Kevin, despite Louise's protests. Shona is degrading Kevin and later cheats on him with Renee's boyfriend Jared, which tells you everything you need to know about them. Renee is being dodgy about discussing business with Tim, when she's the one that invited him to begin with. Then there's the mysterious wealthy Stafford couple, Merry and Richard. Merry avoids everyone as much as possible, while Richard spends his time begging everyone to play tennis with him.

In the chapters set in Tim's past, he gets sexually assaulted by a waitress named Tina after a work event. Tina lies to Tim and tells him that she was 15 when it happened, and then proceeds to blackmail him for the next 10 years. Instead of telling his wife or demanding proof of age, he keeps this a secret for the entirety of the blackmail and past the vacation in Italy taking place in real time. Honestly, Tim is an idiot.

As if things couldn't get any crazier, a female is found deceased in the backyard present time, who was friends with Tina. Tim is arrested for the murder and his marriage is put to the test. Come to find out, Tim isn't the only person in the house who knows the deceased.

If you're looking for a book that is full of deceit and shady characters, with a touch of murder and marital issues, read this book. With that being said, there are a handful of unanswered questions at the end so be prepared for that.

4 stars.

This is an intricate psychological thriller with unexpected twists that I couldn’t put down. Alison James has come to be an author I can depend on for a perfect read, full of psychological suspense.

Thank you, Alison James, Bookouture, & netgalley, for my copy! All opinions are my own.

Centred around a three minute mistake with catastrophic consequences, Just the Nicest Family is a classic summer thriller filled with drama, secrets and lies.

Although it’s not a thriller I’d typically reach for, it was a fun, summery read and gave off similar vibes to The White Lotus TV series. The characters were unlikable which put me off a little bit at first, but then it helped fuel the drama and I think it worked well. They all had distinct personalities and storylines so it was easy to keep track of who was who.

I liked how the story was told in several different perspectives and each time it switched POVs, more answers came to light with the occasional twist.

Some of the twists were predictable, but some were unexpected. I liked how it all came together.

Overall, this book was entertaining and quick - a good poolside read.

Gripping, fast-paced, simply fantastic — what more can I say, I truly enjoyed this book. With so many twists and turns, readers won’t be able to put this book down.

Very gripping. Really enjoyed this book. Will look forward to her future ones. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.

This book had alot of characters and at times was confusing. The ending was disappointing and I was hoping for so much more. It was just too predictable for me.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture and Netgalley for a E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
My rating:
1.5 Stars (Rounded down)
My Opinion:
I had to DNF this book. I could not enjoy picking up this book. I thought the story would have been interesting. But it was extremely slow for me. I am a mood reader, and it was difficult for me to pick up. I did not enjoy the dual timelines and the different point of views. It was a lot to remember and going through the book, I had to remember who was talking. Even in the dual POVs, it was in second person. I didn't get to hear the person thoughts or what they were going through. It was just from their point of view looking into the world. I wish the author made the book first person and I could understand the characters feelings and thoughts. I would have made the book go by faster.

A fast paced thriller that kept me guessing. I found the title extremely intriguing which made me want to pick it up. It's a good holiday book which makes for an interesting read.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

This was a bit of a slow burn for me. The plot and story were great but it drug on a bit. Good ending though!

I read this really quickly and was easy to pick up and get back into when I was busy etc. was a great read. Would recommend to anyone. Flowed really easily.

Just the Nicest Family was a very quick read. It is a murder mystery set in the South of France. Tim and Louise Cutler take their family on vacation as the guests of a woman who is looking to buy Tim's veterinary practice. Some less than desirable friends accompany them and before long a dead woman shows up at the pool. The backstory on who the woman is and how she came to be dead at the pool was a little bit unbelievable. There were some good twists and turns here and the descriptions of the South of France were nice. Thank you to the publisher and #netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.


Reading Progress

I was excited to read this book, the synopsis really pulled me in. The actual story had SO many ways it could go, I was turning pages quickly. However I soon became bored, the story dragged, it wasn’t moving fast enough and there weren’t any twists, The book did not go one of the many fun ways I though it could, and I found it predictable. Essentially Tim is looking to sell his veterinary practice because he needs that money (which is unknown to his wife). The buyer invites him out on a luxurious vacation with his wife & 2 children, they can also invite a couple to go with. Instead of inviting someone they know well, they invite a couple they kind-of know that has a child that is friends with their daughter. Once they get to the Villa, they fund the guest they invited along is already there? Awkward. There is also another couple there they do not know, along with the owner. Everyone there is hiding something, they all have secrets, some have intertwining lives they don’t know about. Eventually there is a death, a stranger, so they believe. Tim is worried, he needs this sale to go through, and now he’s implicated in the death! It goes on and on and on … this is where I’m getting bored. Exactly what I thought was going on is (unfortunately). There is an itty bitty twist at the end, but even that doesn’t really make sense.

I loved that this felt like a fresh take on tbe usual destination thriller. The characters were well written but mostly unlikeable. It's well plotted out, has twists and turns and suspense built throughout. I really enjoyed it! The writing kept the plot moving along, it felt different from a lot of the other thrillers I've read recently and I coukdnt wait to finish it. In a good way!

A fantastic summer read!!
I was completely captivated by this book and the way the story played out.
All the guests at the villa were intriguing and there were so many twists and turns. As for the final one though, I didn't see that coming!
Amazing, brilliant book.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

This was great. Who doesn't love a destination thriller? I worked out the big twist very early but that's fine because I love being proven right. I loved hating on Shona, that was fun but I did feel sorry for Kevin. In the end, Tim annoyed me with how he tried to justify being a POS, but that's cool, happy to dislike characters too.

Looking forward to reading more by James.

When I started this book, I was very curious about where it would take me. I was pleasantly surprised with the plot of this one. Tim is a vet, and his medical practice is being sold. The buyer of the business invites him and his family to a villa in France for a vacation. Tim and his wife invite family friends to go as their guests. Soon after their arrival, there is a body discovered by the pool. That is when the drama starts.

There are multiple unlikeable characters. I questioned everyone at one point or another. The plot develops at a fast pace, and I was very intrigued and invested in what was going to happen. There were solid twists and turns throughout the story. This was my first book by this author, but I definitely plan to read more by Alison James. I truly enjoyed this book and James' writing style.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m a thriller lover and could not get into this book. I unfortunately had to dnf it on my end but did not want to leave an unfair review. I will only post my feedback here and not Goodreads

I like a page-turning domestic thriller, and in many ways this didn't disappoint. It was an easy read and each chapter left me wanting more. Set mainly in an intriguing location with a set of characters that offered the opportunity for some great dynamics, it felt like it could be a promising thriller.
However, it didn't really pull up any trees.
Its title wasn't really suited to the subject matter and the plot relied heavily on some outrageous coincidences.
And the ending left me feeling a bit... meh. It wasn't great, but it was OK.

That said, I would probably give an Alison James book another try in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.