An Island Promise by Kate Frost

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

For twenty-one-year-old Belle Madden her first holiday to Ibiza with best friends Gem and Laurie was memorable for all the right partying the night away, planning a future filled with big dreams and making a promise to return in ten years to celebrate living their best lives – hopefully…

Fast forward a decade and Belle is desperate for a change. Eager to escape her relationship troubles, she jumps at a job opportunity that takes her back to the White Isle.

Despite loving island life and her new job, Belle realises something is missing. With their busy lives the three friends have drifted apart, their friendship fractured. Remembering their promise to return, Belle seizes the opportunity to organise a reunion holiday.

After the initial excitement of being back together in Ibiza, cracks start to appear. A lot can change in ten years. Dreams can be shattered, love lost and hope destroyed. And when secrets are revealed, long suppressed emotions begin to unravel…

My Opinion

Kate Frost has previously written some delightful novels and An Island Promise was no exception. Kate Frost takes the reader on an emotional journey, and shows just how much can happen in 10 years. This is going to make for a great holiday read.

Belle, Gen and Laurie all have their own secrets which just made the book far more interesting. Kate Frost handles some difficult topics delicately and leaves the reader wanting to know more about the characters.

Rating 4/5

At twenty-one, Belle, Gem, and Laurie enjoy a wild holiday in Ibiza. They pledge to return ten years later. Their final night is full of drama and surprises. Ten years later, Belle is successful but finds her previously loved job difficult now that she has split with her ex. A chance to work in Ibiza gives her an escape. Gem and Laurie's lives have not worked out as planned, and when Belle invites them to a reunion, they decide to try and recapture past magic. I like the connections the author creates in this story, which lead to conflict and a chance to correct past mistakes for the three women. I enjoyed the character development the three friends undergo. I like the insight into life in Ibiza. It's an engaging escapist read with moments of humour, poignancy, and gentle romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Sadly this story was rather predictable, & did not hold any surprises for me. The second half was better than the first. Lovely setting. Luxurious resort. Great local family. Really enjoyed all Kate’s other books

I adore Kate Frost”s books because the story leads readers down a path where what is around the corner is just out of reach.
Belle, Gem, and Laurie swear to meet up again in 10 years in Ibiza to recreate their celebrations except lots of stuff gets revealed.
I thought Belle and Laurie were genuinely good friends, but I couldn’t bring myself to like Gem. She crossed the line on that trip 10 years ago and was not a good friend.
I thought Diego was kind of a dirtbag but his extended family especially his mother Marie were exceedingly kind and welcoming to others who were still considered family.
The ending was very pleasing.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The perfect book to be read on a beach holiday.

Three friends Gem, Laurie and Belle are in Ibiza having a fabulous time. When they talk of what they’ll be doing in their lives after the holiday, they each promise that they’ll come back to the same place in ten years for a reunion.

But, now, life for each of them has changed and it’s not anything like they thought it would be like back then in Ibiza.

When they do eventually meet up in Ibiza, there are secrets that are revealed and some twists along the way.

I loved the setting, making you wish you were there enjoying the atmosphere and the characters were lovely and relatable.

I highly recommend this book.

I thought this was going to be a friends go to the beach book but it was so much more. It's 3 friends returning to Ibiza after a decade to see if it was really as amazing as it was when they were 21 and to get away from their current lives for a much needed vacation. What follows are fun and some difficult trips down memory lane, running into people they thought they'd never see again and making some amazing connections that will change all 3's future. I love a friend vacation book and this is the perfect book for summer. It made me want to take a trip to Ibiza and check out all the sights from this book. Towards the end of the book the story takes us into their futures to see what has become of them and it will make you smile.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book takes readers on a nostalgic and emotional journey to the picturesque island of Ibiza. The novel's vibrant descriptions of the island capture its dual essence: the lively nightlife and serene beaches. The story revolves around Belle, who escapes to Ibiza for a dream job, hoping to find fulfillment beyond her career success. She invites her best friends, Gem and Laurie, to join her in recreating their past fun.

The characters are well-developed, each grappling with personal dilemmas and growth. The narrative's pacing is steady, blending moments of introspection with lively interactions. The book’s strength lies in its exploration of friendship, love, and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of a beautiful island.

Overall, this is a heartwarming and engaging read, perfect for those who enjoy stories about friendship, second chances, and the magic of new beginnings.

The perfect summer read!!

Imagine going to an island with your 3 best friends!! Sounds amazing right? Except that 10 years later life can change a bit.

Friendship, loss. Family, are a couple of themes you see in the book.

Its about faith and dreams and love. But also about secrets that are revealed later.

I enjoyed reading this book! It made me think of my girlfriends!!

Belle, Gem and Laurie decided after going on vacation to Ibiza that they would return in ten years. They made memories during that trip and after meeting up at a friend’s wedding they decided it was time to return to Ibiza.
This is a book filled with friendship- romance and each of their lives and everything they have done in the past ten years.
It was a story of how big or little things can fill the lives of friends.
Kate Frost did a good job of making me like the characters. It was a story of friendship and how they evolve as we age.
Thank you NetGalley, Kate Frost and Boldwood Books for the ARC of An Island Promise. This is my personal review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book from Kate Frost, looked forward to reading it, after enjoying previous books written by her.
never having been to Ibiza, she brought the island to life for me, with her beautiful descriptions. A tale of friendship and all its ups and downs

A escapist tale that is as stunning as the cover of the book as it shines just as brightly through every word written. Belle, Gem and Laurie are three friends having the time of their lives in Ibiza and they make a promise to each other to return in ten years time for a reunion but alot has changed in that time. The settings of this are idyllic and I immediately wanted to be there. The characters are lovely except I could not like Gem, I understand she has a lot going on but I still think she is a terrible friend. The plot has secrets, lies, friendship, love and not to be missed twists! The author has a way with words and it slowly draws you in until you are so absorbed that you can't look away. Friendship and having the courage to start again is at the heart of the story!

I’m not the target audience for this book. The pace is too slow for me.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This is my first read by Kate Frost and I really liked it. It is about three best friends, Belle, Gem and Laurie who go on vacation to Ibiza, 10 years ago when they were 21. They have the time of their lives clubbing, partying, drinking, They make a promise before they leave, that they will go back in 10 years! Fast forward ten years, they meet up at a friends wedding, different issues going on in each of their lives, but decide they need to go back to Ibiza. Belle meanwhile has taken a temporary position at a luxury hotel as the Event Planner/Coordinator. She invites her two friends to stay at her hotel. Things take off from here once Gem and Laurie arrive. A blast from their past trip adds drama, as well as Belle's handsome boss. I enjoyed all of the characters and cannot wait to read more by Kate Frost. I received this free copy of the book from Netgalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. Although I didn't enjoy this quite as much as previous books I've read by Frost, this was still an enjoyable summer read. I was absolutely invested in the story, and the different strands were explored and woven together very well. I struggled to warm to Gem, but felt all the characters were written authentically and in a way which helped make the story jump off the page.

Another stunning book from Kate Frost, this time set on the island of Ibiza. The author has the incredible talent of transporting you to other countries just by her evocative descriptions and rich narrative.

An Island Promise follows a decade of friendship between Belle, Laurie, and Gem, starting with a holiday in Ibiza at age 21, that has an effect on all their lives afterwards.

Kate has a gentle way of writing that soothes the soul, but she's also not afraid to tackle more sensitive subjects. By the end of the book you feel as though you've shared a lifetime of experiences, and a part of you remains in the world the author has created. A beautifully written romance that I highly recommend.

a fab read of living life to the fullest, friendships and how things can change and love.
a fantastic story set in Ibiza a great holiday read to lose yourself in

Fabulous summer read with friendship , family and love at its core.

Belle , Gem and Laurie are enjoying an epic summer holiday in Ibiza after graduating uni, all have big plans for life and love now they’re entering the real world!

Fast forward ten years Belle finds herself back on the White Isle ready to move on with her life , start a new chapter and maybe revisit an old flame. Belle also desperately wants her friends back together how they were the last time they were in paradise together.

Belle befriends the older and lovely hotel owner Caleb with his own heartache he is trying to overcome. Caleb’s family are connected closer to Belle and her friends than she first realises. Belle discovers a completely new side to Ibiza she falls in love all over again with a whole new side of the island.

A fab read you’ll need lemonade and a spot in the sun to fully submerge into this story

This was a pleasant if a bit formulaic novel that at times suffered from slow pacing.

Three best friends (Belle, Gem, and Laurie) spend a carefree and uninhibited week on Ibiza to celebrate their graduation before assuming their new roles as adults. They share their dreams and predictions for their futures and commit to reuniting on the island in ten years. The storyline then picks up at present day revealing that their dreams have not been fulfilled as they had hoped, and they have drifted apart.

Belle is the primary focus as she takes a risk and assumes a temporary position at a luxury hotel planning and coordinating events. She is also the driving force behind organizing the reunion and convincing her friends to keep their commitment. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the strain on their relationships is based on withholding the truth of their lives and a long-standing secret.

The outcome is predictable (as well as the “twist”), but the descriptions of the island, the hotel and restaurants, and the warmth of culture kept me engaged to the feel-good ending.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Kate Frost never disappoints, her books make you feel good and wanting more. A really lovely story of friendship and romance.. Predominately set in Ibiza this is a perfect read for you summer holidays! You won’t be able to put it down

This book had me intrigued from the first few pages. It kept my interest and I did not want to put it down. There were some twists along the way that kept it interesting. I was really hoping there would be more or even a sequel to carry on the lives of the characters.