I am a little bit unsure about what to say. Don't get me wrong: it was a thrilling and quite fast paced story but for me personally, the characters were a little too confused and the book felt more like a drama instead of a Thriller. So if you don't expect the most mind-blowing story: go for it!

Pacy Domestic Suspense..
A traumatic discovery on her wedding day forces Kelly’s hand. Departing the wedding festivities, abandoning her family and new husband, she embarks on the planned honeymoon alone. Things are about to change yet again and with the arrival of the new groom come new revelations. Fast moving domestic suspense with an ample cast and a pacy plot tending to the overly repetitive.

This is the first novel I’ve read by this author and it certainly won’t be the last. The Honeymoon is a tense domestic thriller with a pacy plot that builds with each chapter. It’s full of secrets and will keep you hooked. Well written with short, punchy chapters and a worthy five star read. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

it was okay, I couldn't really connect with the writing style, it felt a little simple. But it was a good premise. Thank you for my ARC

Book Review: "The Honeymoon" by Gemma Rogers

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gemma Rogers delivers a heart-pounding psychological thriller in "The Honeymoon" that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the shocking finale. As an ARC reader, I found myself completely absorbed in this tale of betrayal, secrets, and the struggle for personal redemption.

The story opens with a whirlwind wedding that quickly devolves into a nightmare when the protagonist discovers her husband, Ryan, in a compromising position with Liza, his best friend’s wife. This moment of ultimate betrayal sets the stage for a gripping exploration of love, trust, and the lengths we go to escape our reality. I felt every ounce of the protagonist’s heartache and confusion as she flees from her own wedding, seeking solace and clarity on the sun-soaked beaches of Crete.

Rogers expertly balances the initial bliss of the honeymoon with the unraveling tension that follows Ryan’s unexpected arrival. The idyllic setting becomes a pressure cooker for emotions as secrets emerge, leaving the reader guessing what lies beneath the surface of this seemingly perfect couple. Just when you think you have a handle on the plot, Rogers masterfully twists the narrative, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

The writing is sharp and evocative, perfectly capturing the beauty of the Cretan landscape while contrasting it with the dark emotional turmoil of the characters. I was particularly drawn to the psychological depth of the protagonist; her journey of self-discovery amidst the chaos was both relatable and poignant. Each character is layered and complex, making you question their motives and alliances throughout the story.

Rogers has a knack for creating suspense that builds steadily, and the revelations that unfold are both surprising and impactful. The pacing is brisk, making it a true page-turner—once I started, I couldn’t put it down! The emotional stakes are high, and just when you think you have everything figured out, Rogers throws in twists that will leave you reeling.

For fans of Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell, "The Honeymoon" is an absolute must-read. It’s a beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat thriller that explores the fragility of relationships and the dark secrets that can lurk behind closed doors. Gemma Rogers has solidified her place as a talented voice in psychological thrillers, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!

What a great book this was. I loved everything about it.
Slow tension built up and finally so many twists and turns that i didn't see coming. An excellent read I love thrillers

Really enjoyed this one! I never quite knew what was going to happen as the tension slowly built. I am a sucker for thrillers that happen on an island or holiday and this one had the added element of the honeymoon - that had quite a few twists and turns. It had me hoping she would get the heck away from a certain cast of characters. Enjoyed the satisfying ending, And the dog business called Walkies, I wish I had one here like that!

Wow, what an amazing book. The characters were so well developed. It was exciting to watch Kelly, Ryan, Bobby and Liza travers over the many obstacles that relationships can involve. I was actually sympathetic to each characters plight as well feeling anger towards them at other times. Much like real life-no one is all good or all bad. There were a couple of times that I forgot that. Great book and I highly recommend it!

I received an ARC of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. Looks like I am in the minority here among lots of 5-star reviews, but this book was just not good. From the very beginning and Kelly's reaction to seeing her new husband cheating on her, it just didn't seem believable. It is very repetitive with chapter upon chapter of nothing happening - ooh, the sunbeds at the resort are all taken! Great, another piña colada! Pretty fish while snorkeling! All extraneous details. And the whole "Ryan has secrets" - well, the secrets are not very exciting or original. I kept waiting for more to happen - a big twist - but it never came.

This story immediately starts with Kelly catching her new husband cheating. She decides to go on her honeymoon alone and isolate herself from everything and everyone for ten days. But then her husband Ryan comes after her...

During this honeymoon, Kelly discovers even more of her husband's secrets. I can't say too much about this, but her husband made a mess of things. And then some strange things happen on Crete. Kelly doesn't know who she can trust anymore...

Things are also going out of hand at home and the tension is increasing further.

I thought 'The Honeymoon' started well. I especially found the chapters that took place during the holidays very interesting. Once home it was still interesting, but it was a bit weaker for me.

This story will be published on October 18th and a big thank you to @netgalley and @theboldbookclub for the review copy!

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed it. Though the UK English threw me for a bit 😅 overall great book. Loved how it kept throwing more at us after I thought Kelly's life couldn't get any worse.

What would you do if you caught your husband and best friend having an affair at your wedding reception? Kelly decides to go on a one person honeymoon. But, she never could have predicted the events that would unfold.
The plot was fast paced, and filled with lots of twists and turns. I lost track of all the lies and connections for a bit! At the end, all the pieces of the story come together in a shocking ending.
The story was captivating from the start. A great thriller for those who love the genre.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

During wedding reception Kelly finds her husband in a situation with his best friend's wife that he shouldn't be. What will Kelly do?

I enjoyed the tension that made me want to keep reading. But I also was frustrated with Kelly. She wouldn't trust those she should & gave to trust to those she didn't know. She also lacked a backbone for a woman in that situation.

I thought I was going to get whip lash from the rollercoaster once all the pieces of the puzzle were on the table. I would recommend The Honeymoon to those that haven't read Gemma Rogers before.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I inhaled this book in less than a week. It's a fast paced romance that has a beginning that really draws you in.

I like the concept behind this novel. A bride catches her new husband and her best friend hooking up on her wedding day??? What???? Crazy!

This novel is not without flaws. The main character doesn't really have a backbone and there's not a huge amount of character development. I spent a big chunk of time questioning her dumb trust in others and constantly lying to everyone. (Seems like a contradiction, doesn't it?)

That being said, I read until the end and I enjoyed this book. The plot moves at a fast pace and there are a lot of twists and turns.

I understand that this is an advance copy and the final edit may not have taken place but I could not get on board with the writer's style and was constantly editing it in my head as I read. Likewise the story didn't flow for me at all, I found it so, so repetitive. The tone was not consistent - I thought at first this was to build suspense and lead us down a certain path that would provide a nice twist, but no.

I loved the pacing, the tension, and how the twists just kept coming. The characters felt so real, and I was totally invested in how it would all unfold. Definitely a must-read if you enjoy a good, intense thriller!

Kelly has just got married to Ryan, the happiest day of her life…. until it isn’t. She spots Ryan in a more than congratulatory embrace with her friend Liza. She storms off and takes off for their honeymoon alone, having hidden Ryan’s passport. He appears a few days later, denying everything and then a surprise or two shatters her world even further. Can she get through the holiday in one piece?

OMG! I raced through this, turning ever faster. Gemma has the skill of tantalising the reader and building a tension throughout each chapter and just as one thing begins to clarify, another leaps up. I felt for Kelly and the situation she unwittingly found herself in, one that no doubt could be true on occasion. It's cleverly written and very well thought out, a captivating read that thoroughly entertained me. Nice one!

For more reviews please follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @nickisbookblog
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Love love love this book! So well written and so much suspense, I was on the edge of m y seat the whole time. I could not put this book down until it was finished. Love the ending.

Kelly and Ryan just had a beautiful wedding. They are celebrating at the reception with their friends and family. Kelly leaves the reception area, only to find her new husband entangled with his best friend's wife, Liza. Instead of confronting them, Kelly decides to leave the wedding reception and head straight to the airport for the honeymoon in Crete. Once in Crete, Kelly begins to relax at the luxury resort. However, after a few days, Ryan shows up. And of course, he is denying everything. But Kelly knows what she saw. She just wants to get through he rest of the vacation and get home to sign the divorce papers. But it seems Ryan has a few secrets up his sleeves....

I love vacation themed thrillers, and this one did not disappoint! A super fast paced and easy read, I could not put this one down and gobbled it up in two sittings. At first, it seemed like it was going to be a typical domestic thriller, but the twists and turns took this one in a different direction. Some of these characters are just awful, people lol. Can't wait to read more from Gemma Rogers!!

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

„Happiness consists of living each day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon or the last day of your vacation.“ ~ Leo Tolstov

Unless your name is Kelly and, a few hours into your wedding reception, you stumble upon your newly minted husband cheating on you with your best friend, so you decide to sneak out of your own wedding festivities and head on your honeymoon alone - at least until your cheating, lying husband decides to follow you, all while denying anything happened. And, surprise - his squeeze and her husband, the best man, are also joining you! What could possibly go wrong…

What sounded intriguing and started out well enough quickly turned into a very lackluster book. None of the characters are likeable, not even Kelly, who is the biggest hypocrite and spends no time at all mourning her ten-year relationship before hopping into bed with the (of course, eye roll) good-looking barman. But more than that, I found it infuriating how she couldn’t make up her mind. While she declares her relationship and marriage are over (and she seeks, depending on the chapter, a divorce or an annulment, going back and forth between the two like they are the same), she still constantly refers to Ryan as her husband and, even more infuriatingly, makes a lot of VERY stupid decisions out of misplaced concern for him.

I also couldn‘t get into the writing style and found it extremely repetitive (example: the fact they could have died had they been at the house during the fire is mentioned at least three times. I mean… duh). And once the not-so-happy former couple get back home, the story took such a crazy turn that I was wondering if I was reading a different book (in fact, the actual honeymoon makes up less than half the pages of the book).

I‘m sure lots of people will enjoy this as a quick read, but it wasn‘t for me.

TW: domestic abuse, sexual assault, attempted rape.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„The Honeymoon“ is slated to be released on October 18, 2024.