This is a tale of friends embarking on a trip, only for it to take a disastrous turn by the end. It’s filled with secrets, twists, and murder, delivering everything you could want from a story like this. However, I wish the story had progressed a bit more swiftly at the beginning or provided more depth towards the end. Despite these minor flaws, it was still an enjoyable read.

The Trip was indeed a trip to read. It was an intriguing story about two couples, Holly and Lucas, a single couple who were financially strapped, and Saskia and Theo, a married couple who were wealthy. The couples were close friends and they went on a holiday together to Bangkok, Thailand. While there, a man named Chad invaded their party and invited himself to be a part of their group. Saskia was struck dumb when she saw him because she had known him from another life. She had not told Theo, but she had been married before to Andrew who was physically abusive. It was during that marriage that she met Chad, who convinced her to kill Andrew for the money. Chad was actually the one who killed Andrew, and Saskia and Chad decided to go their separate ways.

He had somehow learned about her trip to Thailand and was back In her life because he knew that Theo had a great deal of money and he wanted her to once again kill her husband for the money. Chat stole Theo's Rolex watch and he also stole Saskia's wedding ring. Of course he gave her her ring back. But he would not leave her alone until she agreed to kill Theo, to which Saskia agreed.

By this time, the couples were on an island hoping they had left Chad behind in Bangkok. The group had agreed that Chad was weird and they didn't want anything to do with him. But he had put a tracking device on Holly's phone and he showed up on the island and invited himself to dinner with them. But Lucas had had enough and told him to bug off and leave them alone. Chad left, knowing that he and Saskia had agreed that she would invite Theo to the cliffs where Chad would push him off.

That night, when Saskia and Theo were alone in their bedroom, she confessed everything to him, including the fact that Chad wanted to kill him. They agreed to go to the cliff but they had another plan. Holly had overheard everything between Saskia and Theo.

Lucas had borrowed a great sum of money from Theo because his bank account was overdrawn and he had had a 35% cut in his salary as a teacher. He had taken on another job teaching at night. Holly was very upset about that because it cut into their time together. But Lucas knew he had to work that second job if he was going to pay Theo back. Holly and Lucas had their eye on the flat they were going to buy so they could live together and the extra money he was making was going to also pay for that.

With the information that Holly had about Saskia and Theo, she knew she had to do something.

The author wove this story together beautifully. The characters were believable and the storyline was easy to follow. The saga was told in the four different voices of the lead characters. I pretty much had it figured out that Theo wasn't going to die, but I was blindsided by the twist ending. This book held my attention completely and I couldn't wait to see what was coming next. I applaud the author on the craftiness by which the story was taken. I gave it five stars.

Four friends on vacation in Thailand are faced with a murder that shatters their paradise. They must confront the fact that one of them is a murderer, but they all have their own secrets and guilt to hide.

The writing style of this book is unique, but unfortunately, it was quite slow-paced. Despite this, I found myself continuing to read on, hoping for a thrilling mystery to unfold. The book felt like a leisurely vacation story with a mystery at its core, but the reveal was lackluster, and the ending failed to excite me. I had high expectations due to the online hype surrounding the book, but ultimately, it fell short.

While the characters were well-developed and some secrets were revealed over time, the overall plot felt lacking. It read more like a simple vacation tale rather than a gripping thriller. Personally, this book did not resonate with me, but I encourage you to give it a chance and form your own opinion. Despite my disappointment, I believe that you will be able to fully grasp the essence of this book, even if it does progress slowly.

Thank you, William Morrow for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Phoebe Morgan’s The Trip is a gripping psychological thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful journey through the sun-soaked beaches of Thailand, where paradise quickly turns into a nightmare. This novel, perfect for a summer read, delves into the dark secrets and hidden tensions that simmer beneath the surface of two seemingly perfect couples on vacation.

The story centers around four friends who embark on what is supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime. However, as the days unfold, the idyllic setting becomes the backdrop for betrayal, lies, and ultimately, murder. Morgan masterfully builds tension, using the exotic locale to heighten the sense of isolation and danger. The lush descriptions of the Thai beaches contrast sharply with the growing unease among the characters, creating a palpable sense of dread.

Morgan’s characters are well-developed and complex, each bringing their own baggage and secrets to the trip. The dynamics between the couples are fraught with underlying tensions that slowly come to light, revealing the cracks in their relationships. The author does an excellent job of peeling back the layers of each character, making their motivations and actions believable and compelling.

The pacing of The Trip is relentless, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that propels the reader forward. Morgan’s writing is sharp and evocative, capturing the beauty of the setting while also conveying the mounting suspense. The twists and turns are expertly plotted, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Morgan throws in another twist that leaves you reeling.

Morgan delves into the complexities of friendship and marriage, examining how well we truly know the people closest to us. The psychological depth of the characters adds a layer of richness to the narrative, making it more than just a simple thriller.

The Trip is a taut, well-crafted thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Phoebe Morgan has delivered a novel that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, with a plot that twists and turns in unexpected ways.

For fans of psychological suspense and beach reads with a dark edge, The Trip is a must-read.

I loved reading The Wild Girls in 2022. So of course I was thrilled to read her newest title.
The Trip by Phoebe Morgan is an intriguing and suspenseful story that will keep you turning the pages.
The buildup of tension makes this a thrilling read, offering an atmospheric and thought-provoking story.
As secrets are revealed and the tension ride these characters are brought to life.
The easy to read writing style and the ultimate mystery kept me engaged.
Amy and William are very interesting and intriguing characters.
The mystery was great and the events page-turning.

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

This book was simply not for me. I could not connect with the characters and found them shallow from nearly page one. I, unfortunately, did not finish this book.

I do not believe my negative experience with the book accurately represents the book. Therefore, I will not be publishing my review on other sites.

What happens when 4 friends go on a couples trip to Bangkok? Nothing good I can tell you that! So immediately after arriving their hotel reservations are not in the computer and they are forced to stay at a hostel. That's only the beginning to the gang's troubles! Add in a mysterious stranger who always seems to be where they are then things go from bad to worse! I thought the ending had not 1 but 2 twists so that was fun reading! I did find the beginning a slow start but once things started happening it never stopped! Thanks William Morrow for the book to read and review!

This book was really boring. I feel like it dragged on forever and then the last half had a little bit of action. The book never really picked up and the characters never really resonated with me or made me want to keep reading.
I feel like the idea was there behind the book, but the book just couldn't ever pick up and get going.
Sorry this was a no for me.

This book follows Saskia, Theo, Holly and Lucas on their trip to Thailand. Mysterious things begin to happen once they arrive and at a visit to a tourist attraction, Lucas and Holly run across a guy named Caleb who returns a missing item. He keeps hanging around the couples because he knows one of them very well. What happens? Who is his mysterious person he know? Read the book to find out!

The Trip written by phoebe Morgan is my first book by the author and in the beginning I was really into it but felt as if once Caleb joined the fray I started losing interest especially when Theo is so oblivious to not only his wife’s distress but their new friends curiosity but then when they were in the restaurant and Saskia was locked in the bathroom I thought how could no one notice I thought the book was taking a downturn but then it started getting really good and ultimately it is a book I absolutely recommend. Had the beginning been as awesome as the end it would’ve made for a five star reeds but alas it’s still worth reading. #NetGalley,#William Morrow paperbacks, #PhoebeMorgan, #TheTrip,

I’m sorry but what did I just read? The premise sounded so good, but the execution was awful. As many people have mentioned, nothing happened for the first 2/3 of the book and then when it got interesting it fizzled so quickly. The last 20% should’ve been the beginning and it should’ve gone into what happened after the end of the book. The characters were static and I didn’t feel drawn to any of them. I’m also confused why we didn’t get a first person account from one of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Phoebe Morgan and William Morrow for this ARC.

"The Trip" is a compelling and suspenseful read that will keep readers on edge from start to finish. Phoebe Morgan delivers a tightly woven thriller that expertly combines character development with a plot full of unexpected twists. The novel’s exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the darker sides of human nature makes it an engaging and thought-provoking psychological thriller.

Four friends go on vacation in Thailand for a few days of fun and relaxation in the sun but thanks to a person who somehow joins their group and won't go away, their vacation turns into a few days of confusion and murder. I thought that this was a fast paced thriller and I really enjoyed it. There were a few things that I didn't like but I'll address them later in the review.

Two couples in their early 30s - Saskia & Theo and Lucas & Holly - plan a holiday trip to Thailand. Theo has lots of money, while Lucas and Holly are counting every penny. Since Lucas made the arrangements for the trip, he booked an expensive hotel but when they got to the hotel, there was a mix up and no room was available so they spent the night at a hostel. That in itself would be scary because there was another person staying in the room with them and they really had no place to hide their passports and money. Once they got back to the expensive hotel, it looked like their fun would begin but a man that they met at the Buddhist temple, Caleb, attaches himself to their group. It's apparent that he is trouble but we don't find out until much later on what his back story is and who he knows from the original group. It turns out that all 5 of the people are hiding secrets - some worse than others. When things begin to unravel and secrets come to light - their group of 5 will be reduced by one. You don't know until almost the end who is murdered and why. I can't say much more about the plot without possibly giving away a spoiler. What I will say is that I thought that this was an excellent page turner of a story.

I really wasn't sure how these two couples stayed friends - along with the differences in the money they had very different goals in life. I thought that the rich couple was pretentious and enjoyed showing off to the other couple. One other thing, they either never travelled to a foreign country or they were just plain stupid -- there is no way that a seasoned (or smart) traveler would leave their purse in a crowded tourist attraction. Despite problems with the characters at different times during the book, I thought that this was a real page turner and I had trouble putting it down until the end. Phoebe Morgan is a new author for me and I plan to read some of her earlier books.

This was a true thriller, addictive, well written and definitely got my Heart Rate up and pounding a few times!

Title: The Trip
Author: Phoebe Morgan
Anticipated Publish Date: October 08, 2024

Saskia, Holly, Theo and Lucas head to an exotic vacation together. After a bumpy start, the friends start to feel like everything is unraveling, including deep dark past secrets. My biggest issue with the book was the mixed POVs. While I generally enjoy books with multiple POVs this book felt off to me. Both Saskia and Holly's POV were in first person, and Lucas's was in third person. We did not get to hear from Theo's POV, and I was waiting to see why throughout the whole book.

The beginning was a bit slow, in establishing the background and motives of the characters but it was worth it. With the lush descriptions of the hotel, villa, and various locales adding to the immersive atmosphere of Thailand. Phoebe Morgan’s attention to detail made it easy to picture the stunning settings, which only heightened the suspense as the plot thickened. The last 20% was the best part of the book. I can't wait to see what's next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Phoebe Morgan, & William Marrow Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#netgally #thetrip

This was a page turner! I could not put it down. Following Saskia, Theo, Holly and Lucas on a trip to Bangkok was not what I expected. This book had a lot of fun andventures for them, but the what happened on the way kept me reading. This book was definitely a 5 star! I’m not one for spoilers, but I would definitely recommend this book to someone who loves an unexpected ending!

Four friends head to an exotic vacation together. After a bumpy start, the friends start to feel like everything is unraveling, including deep dark past secrets.

This was an interesting one. The premise sounded so good! I love thrillers set in exotic locations and the thought of four friends together far from him was really appealing. I did like the characters. The multiple POVs really added to the narrative. I liked both of the female POVs, which were in first person. They really let you in on what was actually going on, and there was a lot going on. This one was a slow burn, with the story given to you a little bit at a time. Once some of the secrets start coming out, the story starts really falling into place.
The thing I liked most about this one was the settings. The author really put you in these exotic locations with the characters. Made me feel as though I was right there on vacation with them.

All in all, this was a good slow burn thriller that has a lot of twists.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

4 stars

First and foremost: all four of the main characters are awful and have no common sense. I could not understand how they were friends with each other and it was so frustrating watching them make terrible decisions over and over. HOWEVER, this helps build the tension because you never really know what’s going on or who to trust. Throughout the book you’re left with a feeling of unease even if you can’t quite figure out why. As the book goes on you start to learn more about the characters and you start to figure out what’s happening. I enjoyed the mystery of it and liked how it ended up playing out.
My one main issue was with the changes in narration. Both fmc pov’s were in first person while you only got one of the mmc’s pov and it was in third person. I was waiting for some kind of reveal or explanation as to why this was but I didn’t really get any resolution on that.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

This book had me guessing! There was a lot of build up and drawn out suspense, which led to questioning when the next plot twist would happen, or which of the several characters would be involved. It felt a bit like a play on "And Then There Were None," with the characters being unable to trust each other and the constant waiting for the other shoe to drop. The beginning was a bit slow, in establishing the background and motives of the characters (but nicely done), but the last 20 to 30% of the book was worth it! Overall, ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. Thank you to NetGalley and Ms. Morgan for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

I always love the back and forth between the characters and their perspectives of what’s going on. This book has it all and made me want to keep reading more and more