Not sure the title reflects the book tbh, this is not a family drama as such nor does it focus on a ‘family’ who aren’t nice or who are pretending to be nice but it is a story of a couple’s secrets and a psychological whodunit ish kinda read

Set in beautiful surroundings I have to say that one description of the sea and the ambience/smell/ feeling it creates when walking at night had me right there on a memory lane trip of past holidays, it was a simple line but evoked much

The story itself is good and you can feel the main characters object horror at events and his desperation, some parts maybe took believability to the higher end but its fiction afterall ( and I was enjoying it so suited me )

A clever conclusion that I hadn’t even thought of, always welcome 😊

“Just the Nicest Family” is a mystery/thriller by Alison James. I’ve rather mixed feelings about this book. On the positive, it REALLY held my attention and it also was a really quick read (which I enjoyed). The chapters are short and the multiple points of view I found good. What I felt was lacking was some repeated information (granted, from different characters at the same event, but …) and also that there was a lot of build-up and once the “big reveal” is revealed, things happen pretty quickly. The faux romance between two characters I felt was thrown in there as a huge red herring. What I struggled with was that the “event” wasn’t that earth shaking and the “who done it” also wasn’t a surprise … and the epilogue felt, well, lackluster and unnecessary. I would’ve felt more surprised if the two characters decided to make the faux romance a real one and both of those characters had caused the murder [what a plot twist!]. But, I digress … if you like short chapters, engaging characters, and an easy to figure out mystery/thriller, this book may be up your alley. Overall, a solid 3.5 star book for me.

Alison James' "Just the Nicest Family" is a gripping and suspenseful novel that keeps readers hooked from the very first page. The story follows a seemingly perfect family as they embark on a summer vacation at a stunning French villa, but beneath the picturesque surface, dark secrets threaten to unravel their carefully constructed facade.

James masterfully weaves a tale of deception, secrets, and the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones. The author's vivid descriptions transport readers to the sun-drenched setting, creating an immersive atmosphere that serves as a stark contrast to the mounting tension and unease.

The author's pacing is impeccable, building suspense and tension with each passing chapter, leading to a shocking and satisfying conclusion.

"Just the Nicest Family" is not only a thrilling page-turner but also a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of family dynamics, the weight of secrets, and the consequences of our actions. James' writing is both engaging and insightful, prompting readers to reflect on their own relationships and the facades we all present to the world.

Alison James has crafted a captivating and emotionally charged novel that is sure to resonate with fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who appreciates a well-written, character-driven story. "Just the Nicest Family" is a must-read for those seeking a gripping and unforgettable tale of secrets, lies, and the lengths we'll go to protect the ones we love. I wish the ending was more defined without leaving you guessing about certain outcomes.

The perfect beach read! The Cutler family appear to be the perfect family until a holiday in the south of France dismantles their idyllic life.

This is a nicely twisty domestic thriller that draws you in from the first page.

With thanks to the publisher for access to this ARC in return for an honest review.

Felt bad for Tim and the situation he found himself in. Later loved that Louise was working directly with the detective to help find her husband innocent even though his actions didn’t not require her help

Just the Nicest Family by Alison James ticks all of the boxes for me as a psychological thriller with some well-timed twists, and I was gripped from beginning to end.

Tim and Louise Cutler and their children have been invited to a villa in the south of France as part of a corporate deal involving the sale of Tim's veterinary practice. It all sounds idyllic, but the presence of other guests, including an ill-advised decision to include some friends from home, will lead to secrets and lies becoming exposed, and relationships to be tested. One thing is certain, though. It is a holiday that none of them will ever forget.

Told in multiple POVs and with a timeline that shifts between then and now, this is one you will not be able to put down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

Book/Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

TRIGGER(S): INFEDELITY, RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, MURDER, EXTORTION

POV: Multiple, Third Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Part of a series: No
Safe or Dark: Darkish (see trigger warnings above)

“But, you know, no family is perfect, right?”

I’m so jealous that I’m not at a villa somewhere in the south of France, sipping cocktails by the pool. Well, I was up until a certain point. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I could not put this book down! It had me in a chokehold from start to finish! 

This book was a breeze to get through. The chapters were nice and short, and the writing was engaging. A great “popcorn thriller." This would be so fun to read on the beach or while tanning at the pool. The colorful cover definitely has me wishing that summer were here already! Most of the chapters left off at a place where you just HAD to read the next one to find out what happened. 

The changes in point of view were made smoothly, and you were very aware of who was telling the story at what point. The past and present timelines were also done well. They were woven beautifully together. They flowed nicely, didn’t jump around, and seemed choppy. 

The character diversity was awesome. We had the good, the bad, and the others. Some were very likeable, while others were near insufferable. It was a great balance. 

As hard as I tried, I just didn’t like Louise Cutler (the FMC). I felt like she was whiney and throwing herself a pity party. I didn’t like Louise at all. I didn’t feel bad for her, and I didn’t enjoy her character.

However, I felt very bad for Tim Cutler and had a lot of empathy for him. He so badly wanted to be the perfect husband. He worked hard on his marriage, and his love and adoration for Louise were obvious.

Christina Locke was an atrocious human being. Point blank. She was disgusting. I wanted to punch her in the face on multiple occasions.

The side characters, for the most part, were all rather enjoyable and fun. Most of them were also very relatable. Especially the ones in the group on vacation at the villa. More than once, a character did something, and I rolled my eyes, telling myself, “We all have that one friend.”. 

The twists in the story were done to perfection. *Chef’s kiss*. Hats off to Alison James! They were just absolutely beautiful. When I read the first twist, I actually said out loud, "What the hell is happening right now!?” It has been a while since I read a book that had twists and turns this good. I was certain that I had figured out one of the plot twists about halfway through the book, but Ms. James did a wonderful job of throwing up all off the trail of the real one. 

Not much bothered me about this book to be honest but I did have my qualms.

The terms “soccer” and “football” were used interchangeably. This may have been done intentionally so those of us who more commonly use the term “soccer” knew which sport was being referred to. But it did throw me off somewhat. Especially since this was done with no other terms that are more commonly used in the UK versus America. That is a minor flaw, though, in the grand scheme of things. 

This tale is a wonderful reminder that looks can be deceiving. While a couple, marriage, family, life, or person can look perfect from the outside looking in, there is often more going on beneath the surface than we know. We are never privy to what goes on behind closed doors. Keep that in mind the next time you see someone who seems like they have it all. 

This story gets you thinking about how well you know the people around you and, more importantly, how well you know your spouse. 

It's time for me to go read through Alison James's catalog. I am looking forward to her next release. She will for sure be a new go-to author of mine. 

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.

Wow!!! What a wild ride! This was a brilliant, fast-paced book with surprises and twists all throughout. I felt so horrible for Tim, because no means no, and should whether you’re a man or a woman. I was so angry and frustrated with that whole situation. But the whole story was very well thought out and very entertaining. The only thing I was disappointed with was the ending. I am not a fan of incomplete endings, but I guess deciding my own ending could be better than a finalized horrible ending. I feel this book deserves a solid 5 stars.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc!

Just The Nicest Family is described as an 'unputdownable psychological thriller. I honestly did not feel that way. It was kind of drawn out and I just couldn't get fully into it. Not much happened in the book until the end. I do think it had some good twists, a decent story line, and an ending with no questions left unanswered.
The main couple in the book were a little displeasing. I feel like they played into the perfect couple/family narrative a little too much.
I thought there were too many characters, so it was a little confusing at times. I had to refer back to my notes I took.
Overall I did enjoy the book and gave it 3/5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Alison James for this Arc copy and opportunity!

This book was described as an absolutely addictive and unputdownable psychological thriller- and I don't think it lived up to the hype. It kept me intrigued and reading but I wasn't at the edge of my seat.

Tim & his wife Louise are going to the south of France in a beautiful villa for a business trip to negotiate the sale of his vet clinic. This book is a great reminder of "don't mix business and pleasure" and don't invite random friends you don't even like that much on a vacation.

It was about 30% of the book and nothing had happened yet - and we didn't know what was going to happen, nothing was teased at the beginning. The author was trying to establish that the family was this perfect family and that was the perception everyone has of them but didn't show them being cohesive and loving - just told us. Also they clearly weren't...

Most of the book could have been avoided if a man didn't take out his dick and had more respect for his wife. Also find it so hard to believe that she got enough plastic surgery and big sunglasses that he didn't recognize the women how has been blackmailing him.

There wasn't anything really shocking as the story progressed and there twists and turns really just felt like meandering through a pretty predictable story - nothing really shocking or crazy was revealed.

All in all it's an average three star for me.

Tim and Louise seem like the perfect couple however Tim is hiding a secret from his past which is could cause his marriage and life to shatter apart. What will he do to hide his secret……will an idyllic holiday in a beautiful villa be the beginning and end of it all.
The book kept me intrigued, it was a very entertaining read. My suspicions were right in some areas and way off in others. The book is described as addictive and unputdownable which I totally agree with. Tim was one of those characters that had me feeling sorry for him one minute then just shaking my head with anger.
The twists towards the end I didn’t see coming, not shocking but definitely surprising and makes you reassess the whole book.
It’s a great summer read, I wish I had done been laying by a pool with the sun shining down on me while I was enjoying it.
I will absolutely be checking out Alison James other books.
Thank you NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of Just the Nicest Family. First of all, the cover is Fabulous, makes you want to be at the villa immediately for the whole summer. Very strange that the synopsis did NOT happen, I was waiting quite a bit to see what he was going to say and why she was going to have to act. Very misleading!!!! I definitely understood Tim’s dilemma with telling Louise what she needed to know but he couldn’t. I didn’t agree with what he did afterwards for years but that’s what made up this plot. I totally saw the connection with the guests and who one of them was immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed figuring out what was going to happen next and couldn’t wait to see it unravel. The ending with Louise was very open and I didn’t like that at all. Overall, a very good beach read. Thank you again.

ADORED this wonderful book - Alison is one talented writer, cant wait to read more of her books. Edge of the seat thriller so wonderfully written. The scenery descriptions etc. were so vivid too. LOVED this book, highly recommended.

Just the Nicest Family is a fast-paced thriller, told through multiple POVs that alternate between present and past. I love love love this structure when done well, and this one was! And a fast-paced thriller with short chapters? Count me in.

Without giving anything away, I was immediately drawn in through the dual POVs of Louise and Tim, and the flashbacks that showed that not everything is as it seems. At the villa, I loved the drama that unfolded between the other couples and the secrets we were let in on! I guessed the big twist somewhat early on, which made it hard for me to stay engaged going forward. Things felt a little drawn out after the big twist is revealed, and I didn’t feel that the ending twist contributed much to the book as a whole.

This was a fun read with fully-realized characters that I enjoyed getting to know in all of their flawed glory. This was my first novel by Alison James, and I look forward to reading more from her!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Free things come with a price tag and a purpose. This couple figured that out the hard way. A free stay at a French villa? Sure! Is there a motive behind it? Absolutely!!
The cover first caught my eye and turned out was an entertaining read, too. The characters were mysterious enough and the setting worked well. The plot was a somewhat predictable but still a good read. I'd pick up another book by this author and read it.
Thanks to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to be a quick and very entertaining read. I really liked that Louise and Tim were a solid, happy couple before the drama started, as usually in thrillers you don't get to see the good side of relationships so there is less impact when problems arise.

I found the premise of the book a bit stressful, as the whole thing could have been avoided so easily, but for the sake of the book I was happy to go along with it, even if I did want to shake some sense into Tim! I liked the French villa location and enjoyed getting to know the characters. The Prentices were really fun light relief.

I had quite a lot of the plot figured out, but the journey was fun and I loved the final twist in the epilogue. Overall I would definitely recommend the book.

I have read a few of this authors books and always enjoy them this was no exception. I loved the writing style with two different timelines and multiple perspectives it helped build up the tension throughout. It was full of many twists and turns with some coming as a real surprise to me. Fantastic summer holiday thriller which I can’t wait to recommend. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this excellent book.

Having read Alison James books before I knew to expect a good read and thankfully I was not disappointed.

I could not put this down. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to review. A Def must read for the summer and a 5 star read for me for this year

Buckle up for a twisty vacation thriller! "This Perfect Family" throws Tim and Louise into paradise, but cracks quickly appear in their seemingly idyllic facade. Told through multiple perspectives and timelines, the story unfolds with shocking revelations that upend your expectations. While I predicted one twist, the author masterfully delivers several more, completely addressing my initial concerns. The final one leaves you reeling, forcing you to re-evaluate everything you thought you knew. With its fast pace and addictive writing style, this is a must-read for fans of Freida McFadden and anyone who loves a good vacation gone wrong. 4 stars!

Just The Nicest Family by Alison James
Rating:4/5
Release Date: 19 June 2024

Tim and Louise, along with their two children, are offered a luxurious two-week getaway to the sunny south of France. Tim, a vet, hopes to seal a crucial business deal during their vacation, while Louise, a seasoned schoolteacher, looks forward to spending quality time with her family. However, Louise's plans take an unexpected turn when Tim invites another couple, Kevin and Shona, whom she doesn't know, instead of her cousin and her husband.

Upon meeting Shona, Louise senses an immediate clash of personalities, dampening her hopes for a peaceful holiday with her loved ones and their hosts. Amidst other guests, Louise finds solace only in Renee, their gracious host.

But their idyllic vacation takes a dark turn when a body is discovered by the shimmering pool, shattering the tranquility of their surroundings and forever altering their lives.

As secrets unravel and hidden truths come to light, Louise finds herself questioning the very foundation of her marriage. Tim harbours his own secrets, but as events unfold, it becomes clear that some secrets are destined to surface, wreaking havoc in their wake.

In a multiple POV tale where past mistakes and decisions resurface to wreak havoc, the characters, while often unlikable, add depth and intrigue to the narrative, making it an engrossing and compelling read.

“Just The Nicest family” is a gripping page-turner that effortlessly holds the reader's attention from start to finish.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author, Alison James, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.