With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

Nikki Smith is an auto author for me all day long. Short, solid chapters move the pace along nicely and the characters are very well developed giving the story a lot of depth. The author’s ability to play the secrets and lies game is exceptional as she reels the reader in and keeps you in suspense. Well written with a great descriptive narrative of Bali, it flows effortlessly with the chapters told from different POV. The secrets, once revealed keep coming resulting in some great twists. Definitely one for reading on the beach!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this very intriguing thriller that had me hooked from the start. It was fast paced with lots of mystery and surprising twists. The four main characters were all complex individuals with their own unique elements adding to the story. A great mystery thriller that I would definitely recommend.

I really enjoyed Nikki Smiths first book. Her writing draws you in and the book was perfect for the sunlounger on holiday by the pool. Nothing too taxing, but exciting and twisty.
The second book I got really annoyed with. The writing was quite scatty, and the final crunch came when she dropped a huge blatent plug - for her OWN book!! If it wasn’t on my kindle I’d have thrown it at the wall.
Benefit of the doubt. Book 3. Pacey - check. Decent characters - check. Intriguing - check. Blantent clanger of a plug for book #2? Oh yes. CHECK.
I’m sorry I can’t take that from my books, and although I was enjoying this one, I won’t be reading this author again for this reason. It’s just cheesy and rude.
2 stars for promise only.

They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A destination thriller set in Bali. Told from a number of viewpoints, you don’t know who to trust and wonder what’s going on. Compelling reading. The book comes to a twisty satisfying close. Centered around 2 couples, Nate & Layla, Jude & Sophie. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin for an advance copy. Publication Date 15 May 2025.

For now it’s a 3 ⭐️.

I couldn’t get on with the characters, they all felt very unlikeable. However, I think I’m just not in the mood for it. So I’m planning to pick this back up over the summer as this does feel like it’ll be a good summer read.

I did like the story and the writing style, but for now it’s going to be a reread :)

There was seemingly a lot going on in this story. Two couples, four friends each, with something to hide.

Spending all of their time together soon begins to unravel each of them and their secrets and lies get closer and closer to the surface.

I didn't like any of the four main characters but I put that down to good writing as I don't think you're supposed to like them! They are four very unlikable people and you definitely get that vibe.

Written from different points of view plus one historical element, this is a style I enjoy, especially as it is written in short sharp chapters.

I also loved the Bali setting, I could just picture the gorgeous villa and surrounding areas ❤️

Unfortunately for me, this story just didn't gel. There was a lot of 'i have a secret, they have a secret' throughout the majority of the book without much given away. I know that sometimes this kind of tension building can be the making of a book but it just didn't work for me with this one.

When secrets were finally revealed I just didn't find them all that amazing and the wrapping up of all the individual stories didn't seem to come together well for me.

However, this is only my humble opinion! Nikki is a great writer and I thoroughly enjoyed both The Guests and The Beach Party (this was a 5🌟 read for me!)

A very entertaining read. I totally loved the characters (mostly), the plot, the relationships and the location.

It was interesting to get an insight into the impact of ex-pats buying property and the impact on the local community and environment.

I also liked that the main character's lifestyle (on the surface was out of this world) was particularly fragile and flattered to deceive.

I thought the plot ending was incredibly creative and satisfying (to a degree).

All in all I can thoroughly recommend this book. Be prepared to turn the pages faster and faster!

Glamorous location ✔️
Old friends ✔️
Secrets ✔️
All the perfect ingredients for a blockbuster novel from Nikki Smith.
The novel starts with an unnerving opening scene of a young woman on a night out and then moves onto the present day when Jude and Sophie are dealing with a recent burglary at their London home and decide to visit their old friends, Nate and Layla in Bali. In some short scenes as the couples prepare to meet, we learn that they haven't met since Jude and Sophie's wedding and that something dramatic happened leading to a breakdown in their friendship. And so the scene is nicely set for some recriminations and revelations. And goodness, there are some real shocks and revelations ahead! I couldn't even begin to guess at the twists and I loved every page of this book. I couldn't put it down.

I really didn't gel with the characters in this book. They were all equally unlikeable. They were all dissatisfied with what they had and all wanted more.  The endless drinking, expensive restaurants and lack of respect for each other and themselves really shocked and annoyed me. They all had multiple secrets in their closets which were just alluded to until close to the end when to be honest I was losing the will to live or complete the book and didn't care any more. I loved the setting and the descriptions of Bali but I think for me this would be a 'holiday pick up, put down and don't pick up again unless I'm desperate book'. Sorry.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The plot opens in a nightclub. A mysterious man helps an intoxicated woman into a cab as her friends have left her behind. Only she never gets home.

Sophie has arrived home to find a break-in taking place. She takes refuge in a neighbour's apartment until her husband Jude arrives home. Distraught about feeling invaded, the two decide to take a six-month holiday away from it all and take up the offer from old friends to join them in Bali. There is tension at the outset between Sophie and Layla who she blames for ruining her wedding day. While she ensures everyone that she has moved on it is doubtful. Nate is Layla’s partner and an old university friend of Jude. The two share a history of jealousy, lies and crime which constantly bubbles throughout the plot.

As the four begin their reunion all is not what it seems to be . Jude is hiding something from the others and everyone else is hiding their own secrets. There are jibes and petty arguments between them as they mask their real intentions.

Smith cleverly places a sub plot alongside the main story which serves to develop a backstory for one of the characters and their desire to get ahead by any means possible.

One aspect I did enjoy was how she challenged the role of travellers who head off to places off the beaten track in the hope of finding themselves. In doing so they disregard the problems they are creating for the local economies and native people.

If you are after a fast-paced high octane read, then this is the book for you. There is plenty of tension and mystery throughout and I highly recommend it. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

I do love a destination thriller, especially when it’s written by Nikki Smith! Once again, she delivers a gripping, sun-drenched psychological thriller in They Had It Coming, a novel that proves paradise can be just as dangerous as it is beautiful. Nikki Smith’s destination descriptions are so vivid that you can almost feel the heat on your skin and hear the waves, but beneath the beauty, there’s always a sense that things aren’t quite as they seem.

Set against the lush backdrop of Bali, the story follows two couples, Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie, whose long-standing friendship is tested as secrets, betrayals, and old grudges bubble to the surface. From the outset, Nikki Smith masterfully builds tension, dropping subtle hints that not everything is as perfect as it seems. The novel’s multiple perspectives allow readers to step inside each character’s mind, peeling back layers of deception and mistrust. As the friends navigate lavish villas and stunning beaches, the contrast between their idyllic surroundings and the dark undercurrents of their relationships only heightens the suspense.

What sets this thriller apart is its intricate character work. None of the protagonists are entirely innocent, and Nikki Smith expertly makes the reader question who can truly be trusted. The relentless pacing and shocking twists build toward a climax that is both chilling and deeply satisfying. She skilfully blends exotic escapism with psychological tension, making They Had It Coming an utterly compelling read.With its sun-soaked setting and relentless twists, They Had It Coming is the perfect beach read, fast-paced, suspenseful, and utterly unputdownable.

Told from the points of view of a set of very unreliable narrators, peppered with half truths, outright lies, mysterious strangers and a lot of sunshine this is a great summer holiday read!

This book was all about revenge. It was full of unlikeable characters and a fabulous setting of Bali. Yes, to all of these please. It was entertaining and had me guessing because of all the shady characters.

Once again Nikki Smith has written a book which has kept me reading all night.
Also longing to visit Bali where it’s set - Bali is a character all of its own; which adds to the overall story.
Layla, Nate, Sophie and Jude were relatable characters, but wow what twists and turns. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.
#Netgalley #TheyHadItComing

They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith is a riveting exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the dangerous consequences of concealed truths. The story revolves around two couples—Nate and Layla, and Jude and Sophie—whose seemingly perfect lives begin to unravel when Nate and Layla impulsively abandon their familiar existence in London for the tropical allure of Bali. When Jude and Sophie arrive to visit, what starts as a fun reunion soon exposes the cracks in their relationships.

Nate and Layla’s decision to leave behind their comfortable life sets the stage for a cascade of unresolved conflicts. Layla struggles with her sense of identity and the repercussions of their sudden move, while Nate's charismatic yet unpredictable behaviour deepens the fractures in their relationship. The emotional tension grows as both couples are forced to confront the lies and betrayals that have been simmering beneath the surface for years. This is no longer just a vacation—it's a collision course toward confrontation and reckoning.

Jude and Sophie, who had always been the more grounded pair, are not immune to the turmoil. Jude begins to question his loyalty to Nate as the truth about their past deception begins to surface, while Sophie battles with feelings of inadequacy, especially as she compares herself to the glamorous lifestyle of her friends. Bali, with its serene beaches and vibrant nightlife, serves as an unsettling backdrop for the emotional upheaval, heightening the tension as old wounds are reopened and new grievances come to light.

Smith crafts each character with depth and relatability, making their internal struggles resonate with readers. The themes of trust, loyalty, and vengeance are explored with raw emotion, as the characters' once-solid bonds are tested by their actions and secrets. The novel’s pacing keeps the tension simmering, leading to a dramatic and impactful climax that forces the characters to reevaluate their relationships, loyalty, and motivations.

They Had It Coming is an engaging and thought-provoking read, perfect for fans of psychological dramas that delve into the complexities of friendship and the hidden costs of deception. Smith’s sharp, accessible writing draws the reader in, making it hard to look away from the unravelling of these once-close relationships.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Nate and Layla are living the golden life in Bali, building their own villa, eating out at beach-front restaurants, surfing, yoga whilst working. What isn't to love? Jude and Sophie their friends aren't having the greatest time in London after Sophie comes home and their apartment has been burgled. Deciding to visit Nate and Layla they jet out for what they think is going to be a fun sunny holiday but everything isn't as perfect as the couples make themselves out to be. There is secrets between everyone of them and some trouble brewing between them.

Told in each character's pov and a hidden pov from many years ago that we see how that event matches up to the current timeline we learn about each of their backstories and what secrets they have. I was intrigued by some past events and really wanted to see what would come out of it. Personally i was constantly figuring out who the person was in the hidden pov and when i realized who they was it all added up which i really liked.

Full of tension between everyone, the cracks become bigger and the secrets have to come out as we later learn. Full of suspense and some twists and turns. The characters were all different in personalities and i enjoyed the realness of their problems and lives they were living.

Overall ' they had it coming ' was an interesting fun read that i managed to get through in a matter of hours and would recommend to others to pick up and read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business | Penguin for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

Destination Suspense..
Bali beckons in this immersive destination suspense centred around a group of four. The group have been close for as long as they can remember but when two of them split and move across the world to Bali, the other two soon become their first visitors. Before too long worrying incidents begin and it becomes clear that not everything is quite as it seems. Is there rot beneath the glossy and perfect surface ? - secrets and lies will inevitably out. A heady suspenseful tale with a propulsive and compelling plot, a cast of credible characters and a well imagined and sumptuous setting.

Nikki Smith’s They Had it Coming is a gripping and twist-laden psychological thriller that delves into the dark undercurrents of friendship, betrayal, and revenge. With its sharp pacing and complex characters, this novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats, unravelling secrets that are as shocking as they are inevitable.

The story centres on two couples—Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie—whose lives have been intertwined for years. From fancy dinners to shared workplaces, their bond has always seemed unbreakable. But when Nate and Layla abruptly leave their lives behind and move to Bali, the façade begins to crack. Jude and Sophie, eager to escape their own troubles in London, visit their friends in the tropical paradise, only to find that the idyllic setting hides a web of lies and simmering tensions.

As the four friends reunite, long-buried secrets and resentments rise to the surface. What follows is a tense and unpredictable game of manipulation and revenge, where loyalties are tested, and no one is quite who they seem. Smith masterfully builds the suspense, weaving together multiple perspectives and timelines to create a narrative that is as intricate as it is compelling.

The characters are richly drawn, each with their own motivations and vulnerabilities. The dynamics between the four friends are fraught with tension, their interactions laced with a sense of impending doom. Smith’s exploration of themes like trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to for revenge is both chilling and thought-provoking.

The exotic setting of Bali adds a layer of contrast to the dark narrative, its beauty and tranquillity serving as a stark backdrop to the characters’ unravelling relationships. Smith’s prose is sharp and evocative, capturing the emotional intensity and psychological complexity of the story with precision.

They Had it Coming is a story of friendship turned toxic, of secrets that can’t stay buried, and of the devastating consequences of betrayal. It’s a tale that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

They Had It Coming

Unputdownable Balinese just desserts

Two young mid-thirties couples whose men are former schoolmates turned corporate citybankers decide to pursue their dream of a better life in Indonesia. Nate and girlfriend Layla make the first move by emigrating from London to Bali and start building a villa while making good money as digital nomades.
Having been dishonourably fired from his job, Jude talks his wife Sophie into visiting their old friends for a few months, with a view to emigrating as well. Almost from the start, the tension between the two couples grows into enmity and their dream turns into a veritable hellish nightmare…
The clever and twisty plot will keep you glued to the edge of your seat, highly recommended!

I was so happy to receive a NetGalley arc in return for a review from one of my favourite authors! Another destination thriller with 4 friends that are holding secrets and lies that might just end up killing someone. A fabulous setting and great characters. A low lying sense of anxiety boils through the pages to a twisty ending. Pasts catch up with people. A great storyline.