Rating: 3.4/5

From the title and accompanying synopsis, I had anticipated "How to Slay on Holiday" centering around a serial-killing strong female character à la Villanelle or Sweetpea. However, although this novel is clearly derived from that sphere of influence (which is acknowledged by references in the book to both of these individuals), author, Sarah Bonner, takes this story down a slightly different track.

Given that it is revealed at the start of proceedings, it isn't really much of a spoiler to say that the tale begins with Chloe planning to end the days of her bullying husband. This seems to establish a fairly basic premise for the subsequent plot development, but matters are about to become more complicated. This aspect is well executed and I like the way Sarah Bonner gradually incorporates further elements of the backstory to allow the narrative to develop in a more unexpected fashion. There are numerous twists along the way, which could be described as either clever, convoluted, convenient or possibly even contrived, depending upon your personal viewpoint, but it does provide for an enjoyable romp.

The marketing blurb suggests that this book would appeal to fans of Katy Brent or Julie Mae Cohen and that claim is easy to appreciate. Personally, I don't think this quite matches the sharp-witted edginess of Katy Brent's work, but I prefer it to the excessive chick-lit bias of Julie Mae Cohen's books. Overall, a good fun read and I dare say I will be back for more from Sarah Bonner.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

First off- WHAT?!?! I love a thriller that completely knocks me on my ass with the ending. as someone who reads a lot of the same premise a lot, it’s refreshing to get completely bamboozled by the ending.

How to Slay on Holiday is a story about 2 dangerous families and one dead husband. But the question is, who did it? The story keeps the reader enthralled with what was unfolding before you, and keeps you second guessing everything and everyone.

4 stars!!! Thank you netgalley for the ARC

I read this book soooo fast! It had me gripped until the last page.
I didn't see the twists coming and I could not figure what was going to happen next.
Tori is my favourite character, she was razor sharp and one of the funniest characters. I don't want to give spoilers, but I did not expect who the third perspective was going to be.
It only was not a 5 star for me, because the end felt a bit rushed and I would have loved the book to be a bit longer. Still an amazing thriller though and highly recommend.

I absolutely loved all the twists and turns this book had. It keeps you guessing until the very end! I thought it would be good for some light reading but before I knew it my whole day was gone. I literally could not put it down!

This was a funny book. Chloe Cooper plans a Greek Villa vacation for her family and her husband's family. She needs to make it look like they are in love before the hitman kills her husband the next week. Turns out all the men in these families are douche bags. Who else wanted Scott dead and who actually killed him?? Funny!

I laughed and enjoyed this fast paced thriller filled with dark humor, exquisite cuisine, and family drama. Chloe Cooper has planned a perfect family holiday in a villa in Mykonos to show what a loving wife she is. In reality she has planned to eliminate her husband Scott and has the perfect alibi.

Chloe’s description of going through air plane security with her clueless husband had me laughing as I too am a planner.

Someone else has another plan for the holiday. This kept me guessing until the end of who done it.

This is my first book by this author and I will be looking for more as this was a binge read of pure delight.

Awesome book!! Great author! Will be looking for more!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are very few guarantees in life, but one is that if Sarah Bonner writes a book, I'm going to read it. Slick, sun-soaked and scandalous, How to Slay on Holiday is an unmissable wild ride.

This book is an example of a GREAT concept with so-so execution. Chloe’s husband Scott is the worst, so naturally she has arranged to have him ~taken care of~ (they’re rich and fancy so gotta speak the lingo okay?). To ensure no one suspects her involvement in his death, she has arranged a family holiday in Mykonos for the week before, with plans to put on a “I’m so in love” show to throw everyone off the scent the week before everything is scheduled to take place. The only problem is that Scott gets killed early, while still on holiday, and Chloe is a prime suspect.

This book features a cast of hateable characters, fun descriptions of ~rich people things~, and minor twists that can be spotted from a mile away. Despite it being thoroughly predictable I still enjoyed it - 2.75* rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC!

I thought this book was really funny. It's a relatable book nowadays with scandals and marriage. I really liked the effot and writitng style the author put behind the book.

Whoa what a wild ride! So much intrigue in this twisty plot. Did not see the end coming until the last page. Fabulous. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Chloe has arranged a vacation for her entire family at an exclusive Greek resort. It isn't for relaxation or bonding, however. Instead, it's to create the lasting impression that she and her husband Scott were madly in love. That's what she needs everyone to believe because she has planned for Scott to be murdered when they return home. Chloe and Scott come from two different but powerful crime families. Chloe has brought along her parents as well as Scott's parents and their siblings with their significant others. No one really likes or trusts anyone else. At least the concierge, Grace, who is on site at the resort, is helpful, since she works for the company Chloe has hired to eliminate Scott. This comes in handy when there is an unexpected death that needs to be cleaned up and made to go away so that Chloe's careful plan doesn't get exposed.

The story was told from the points of view of Chloe, Scott's sister Tori, and Grace. It was interesting to get the various points of view and to see the secrets each woman was hiding from the others. It was also fun to try to work out who was responsible for the death, since they each assumed it was one of the others. It was hard at times to keep everyone straight, as there were plenty of siblings and in-laws running around. I enjoyed the twists and turns and was surprised by the final reveal of who was really pulling the strings in the background.

You’d kill for a holiday like this one…
Chloe has spent months planning the murder of her husband, Scott. Everything is ready, but first she must create the perfect alibi to avoid any suggestion of her involvement in his death. And what better way to avoid suspicion than playing the loved-up wife on an extravagant holiday with their extended families?! Great read! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! It had great suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, action, fantastic characters, funny and some wild twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This was the last book of the year I read and ABSOLUTELY loved it. it got me out of my reading slump, loved the concept and who couldn't relate lol
Full of twists and loved the whole location setting too.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

This is worth a look, while I enjoyed the fast-paced narrative of this story and the writing style, there was a lot left unresolved but it was a fun read and well worth reading to see what happens !

A fun read! Yes there is murder but with crazy twists.
Love this author and cannot wait for more.
(Loved the small reference to Sweet Pea.)
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I devoured this book in less than 8 hours! This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be looking into more of her works now. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and that epilogue was a surprise to me!

I enjoyed the fast-paced narrative of this story and the writing style. I did find I still had several questions at the end that I would have preferred answered.

This was a twisty thriller that kept you engaged from start to finish! The writing was fast-paced and suspenseful. I was left with a few questions that I would have liked to have seen explored but, nothing that detracted from the overall story.