This was a lot of fun! Thrillers like these are my kryptonite and I devoured this in one sitting! I can't wait to read more from the author!

The premise of this book made me really hopeful for this book! It was kind of misleading? Almost all of this book was just fluff and some alluding details sprinkled in. The main plot happened in the blink of an eye. And then it was over and so was the story. I was expecting a little more… suspense. There were a lot of crucial details that felt missing and left out. But this is just my honest opinion.


If you think it sounds interesting, please give it an honest try! I don’t regret reading it at all. It just wasn’t what I find interesting.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

An entertaining mystery with murder, lies, and deception. Overall, average and read it before in a different setting type of story.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley

The Trip,

I could sure use a trip right now.

However, I was not "settling" for a fictitious version when picking this book up but more like a book that would transport me from this realm and into another. Well, I got what I had come for.

Phoebe Morgan is a mastermind behind a keyboard. Time and time again, I was left with my jaw on the floor

This book right here holds every key component to a bestseller and I am so here for it! Don't believe me? Check out this teaser :

A new heart-stopping thriller from the author of The Wild Girls in which two couples go on vacation and murder ensues.

How well do you know your friends?

Four friends are on the vacation of a lifetime in Thailand. Until a vicious murder shatters their paradise.

Four friends who would do anything for each other—until now.

Only one of them committed a crime.

But all four know how to keep a secret.

And they’re all guilty of something…

*The Trip* had an interesting premise, but ultimately, it wasn’t quite for me. Following a group of friends on vacation in Thailand, the story was hard to engage with; the characters often seemed unprepared, making questionable safety choices, and it was sometimes difficult to keep track of who was speaking. The main event—a murder—occurs very late in the story, with minimal impact on the group, and while there were a few twists, the pacing felt slow, leaving some suspense underdeveloped. However, the author’s writing style shows promise, and there are lovely descriptions of Thailand, which may appeal to fans of travel mysteries with interpersonal drama. Thank you to William Morrow and Goodreads for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I probably picked this one up for the wrong reason -setting. It was your run-of-the-mill mystery with a meh twist at the end, but i wanted more about everything. I didnt grow to care about any of the characters or what they were doing. I finished the book and kept reading mostly hoping for more description of where the story took place. The one good thing that came from this is my exploration of Thailand and planning a future vacation.

I started reading this book slowly, and while I appreciated the intriguing secrets the characters carried, I found it difficult to connect with them because of how they were treated. The portrayal of their experiences didn’t resonate with me, and I struggled to empathize with their journeys.

The vacation experience depicted in the story felt like a nightmare, and the solutions the characters pursued didn't work for me. I can see how some readers might appreciate the themes of coping with personal challenges, but for me, the treatment of the characters overshadowed the potential enjoyment. This story may appeal more to those who enjoy character-driven narratives, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

As I was reading The Trip by Phoebe Morgan, all I could think about was that the vacation described was NOT for me, at least in Bangkok. The setting just made me anxious.

Between the lights and activity and the crowds, it sounded like a sensory overload! Once they got to the luxurious beach, I felt better however that's when things began to get worse for the couples.

The background is this: two couples (four friends) head to Thailand to get some sunshine and a break from the cold winter.

As you can probably guess, things take a turn with betrayals and secrets. Every chapter was tense and I couldn’t read the pages fast enough.

Synopsis:

How well do you know your friends?Four friends on the holiday of a lifetime. Until a vicious murder shatters their paradise.Four friends who’d do anything for each other, until now.Only one of them killed Caleb.But all four know how to keep a secret.And they’re all guilty of something…

I don't really know how I felt about this story. I love a good slowburn mystery, an island, secrets, etc. but I feel that this book was just *slow*. I wasn't compelled by the characters or plot, I just found myself fighting the pacing a great deal. Once the story pressed on, the pacing did improve, though. But for me it was a little bit too late for me to get invested and care. While I didn't care for the secrets or characters, the world and the settings were lushly described and very vivid.
Overall, this was okay/bordering on good, but I think that the initial pacing of the book really shoots itself in the foot.

My thanks to William Morrow, Phoebe Morgan and Netgalley.
I quit this book damned near halfway through.
For shits sake! I was over it at the 25% mark!
Stupid people. Keeping stupid secrets.
I hate that!
I know its just a book and I should see how it all plays out, but really?
I am someone who lies like a rug, "what i call anecdotal fibs" otherwise known as increasing the humor. But on the big things I'm ALWAYS honest. Usually to my detriment, but I don't want to try to keep my facts "lies" straight. Why bother and stress?
Because of this ridiculous part of my personality I often find it difficult to enjoy books like this. It has to be really well written and the characters absolutely have to be likable.
This book was not that.
Secrets annoy me.
I am an open book.
Liars get no play.
Unless you're a serial killer or rapist, then what's the point of lies?
It all comes out in the wash.
It's a lifetime. Everyone screws up, and if you haven't? Boring.
No recs for this book.

After reading and loving The Wild Girls last year, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on whatever Phoebe Morgan managed to came up with next. So just imagine my glee when I read the synopsis for The Trip. Four close friends. A dream holiday in Thailand. Plenty of life-changing secrets. And, of course, the dark, twisted turn of events. Put all together, this intoxicating premise promised one wild ride for this diehard lover of suspense-laden tales.

While I certainly found much of what I had hoped for within this quick, easy read, the slow burn first half dragged just a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I did speed through these pages in just one thoroughly enjoyable evening, but it didn’t quite have the pizzazz that Morgan’s last novel possessed. Adding to my mild dismay was the fact that I guessed each and every finely plotted twist before it was revealed in all of its glory. Much of this was likely down to my insatiable appetite for all things suspense, but it definitely put a damper on my love for this novel.

That’s not to say, of course, that I didn’t inhale every word. Told via multiple POVs in a round robin-type way, I loved getting a full picture of the escalating unease from all those involved. Likewise, the first-person narration was a nice addition to the structure. It made me feel as though I was hearing it from a dear friend and not just a fictional character. The best pieces of the puzzle, however, were easily the palpable tension and fast-paced second half. Sinister and dark, I happily gobbled it all up.

All in all, this was a dream trip that quickly turned into anything but. With one final twist in the very last chapter, Morgan came up with plenty of surprises that managed to ratchet the growing apprehension. With a dynamite setting filled with evocative descriptions, I could smell the Thai food, taste the salt on the wind, and feel the sand under my feet. A claustrophobic tale of a vacation gone wrong, you should be sure to grab this now, no ifs, ands, or buts. Rating of 4 stars.

Thank you to Phoebe Morgan, William Morrow, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.

Four friends take a trip to Thailand when a murder occurs. I think this one was supposed to be a slow burn of suspense, but it was just slow to me unfortunately. 20% in on my kindle and I still had no real inkling of intrigue. I wanted to like this one more but it just did not live up to the premise.

I found it enjoyable once the story picked up, but the beginning felt a bit too slow for my taste. It seemed to drag on at times, as not much happened throughout most of the narrative. However, I did appreciate the ending! This book is definitely a slow burn, revealing the story piece by piece. Once the secrets started to unfold, everything began to click into place. What stood out to me the most were the settings; the author truly transported me to these exotic locations alongside the characters. It felt like a holiday gone wrong! The plot kept me guessing the whole time, as I had no clue what twists were coming or who the antagonist was. Overall, it was an easy and engaging read.

I recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving into this book.

Thank You NetGalley and William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for allowing me to read this ARC.

Enjoyed it. In the beginning I couldn't keep track of who was talking and kept confusing the characters. Did these people ever travel before? They make so many mistakes and have no clue about safety. Did any of them actually research Thailand? Holly had a huge guide book. Their driver to the hotel warns them that Bangkok is beautiful but not always safe, but they don't seem to believe him and laugh it off. They walk from their luxuriant hotel to a hostel that was probably featured in a horror movie. Holly seemed scared about possible thieves but felt safe in the hostel where anyone could walk into your room. They never even locked their room where they left all of their stuff. Why doesn't Holly put her bag on her shoulder when she takes the picture? Would you let something out of your sight that contains your passports, phone, money and credit cards? They all don't seem to be the smartest of travelers. How did Caleb even find Saskia? Why didn't Saskia tell Theo she feels uncomfortable around Caleb and to stop inviting him along everywhere? Why did Lucas and Holly go on this vacation if they had to watch every penny that they spent? The group of friends seemed more interested in drinking than actually sightseeing. The murder doesn't happen until the very end and doesn't affect their vacation at all. Holly was furious about Lucas borrowing money from Theo, so her actions at the end were shocking. People will do anything for money. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Parts of it I expected. Others were a shock. I wasn't surprised with what happened to Caleb, because I had the same thoughts. Will Theo and Saskia's marriage survive what they experienced together? I'm guessing they will no longer be friends with Holly and Lucas.

Definitely recommend giving the book a try. Enjoyed the story, writing style and characters. At times it was a bit slow and I thought more was going to happen. There were some twists and turns that I never saw coming. Koh Samet sounded like a beautiful place to visit. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from William Morrow through Goodreads. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A murder mystery centered around two couples on vacation. This would be a great summertime read - I was iffy at first, thinking this would be similar to so many other books with similar plots, and I was so wrong.

I read this in two days and was hooked the entire time.

I had very high expectations going into this book as I loved The Wild Girls but this one didn't pack the same punch and suspense for me. I did appreciate that it was a very fast read with short chapters but I felt it lacked a lot in the thrilling department. There were a couple of good twists but for the most part it felt like reading about two couples vacation with some drama thrown in.

Many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy for my honest review!

Themes:
* Friendship & Trust
* Deception & Betrayal
* Power Dynamics
* Manipulation

What Made It A Great Read:
Morgan’s use of Thailand’s exotic locations adds richness to the story, contrasting the beauty of the setting with the sinister events that unfold. The plot keeps you guessing with unexpected twists, especially in the final chapters, leaving readers on edge. The dynamics between the couples are fraught with hidden tensions and secrets, which make their relationships intriguing. Morgan does a good job of exploring the darker aspects of human nature, especially the lengths people will go to protect their secrets.

What I Didn’t Really Like:
The book started off pretty slow and sluggish before any tension started to kick in. The shift between first-person and third-person perspectives for different characters was confusing for me. Some parts of the plot could’ve had a little more action and depth, especially in the middle of the book.

Vibes: The Beach (Movie, 2000); The Guest List (Book, Lucy Foley), A Perfect Getaway (Movie, 2009)

This was a fantastic read that I really enjoyed! Sometimes I felt like I knew what was going to happen, others I was not so sure.

Lucas and Holly, Theo and Saskia some good friends had planned a trip to Thailand together. All was going great and they were having fun until a mysterious person appeared from nowhere, and said person thought he needed to be involved with everything they did. Who is this mysterious man and why is he acting the way he is? He is making the whole group of them uncomfortable.

This was a great read, but I do think that adding some more twists and turns leading up to what happened would be an excellent touch. For example, maybe finding little clues at the hotel and at the villa making all of them question themselves.
And then the ending, maybe a bit of a struggle to add to it?

Found a few typos:
Location 1550, room 1102 and room 112 mentioned interchangeably
Location 3355, He was tender to me, was Caleb - this is confusing and would suggest rewording
Location 3760, always have done. Should this be always have?

What could be better than four friends spending a week together in Thailand? Saskia and Theo Sanderson were newlyweds and their friends Holly and Lucas were happy to be getting away from their daily work regimen even though the trip could strain their already tight budget. Things went awry almost the moment they arrived in Bangkok; their reservation at the luxurious Omni was apparently not confirmed so they had to spend their first night in a hostel. Saskia thought she saw a person from her past- a previous life that not even Theo was aware of. A missing Rolex watch, cryptic messages, missing passports and a stranger trying to ingratiate himself into their activities. The Trip by Pheobe Morgan is a tale of suspense that had me riveted from the beginning to the end; I hated to put it down. I liked the characters for the most part, although at times found them to be a bit tiring and annoying. I was completely surprised by the ending- always fun. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, William Morrow Publishing and Pheobe Morgan for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Trip; my review reflects my honest opinion. 4 stars.

This started out a little slow and predictable but started to pick up about a third of the way through and then grabbed ahold of me till the end. Once the secrets and tension started to build I was excited to see where it all led. I also very much enjoyed the conclusion and final ending.

The choices of POV were interesting. I was immediately intrigued when I realized that there was no POV for Theo. However, I was confused as to why Lucas’s POV was in the third person while the women’s were both in the first.