Nate and Jude where best friends until Nate decides to leave the company, they both worked at and decides to live in Bail with his wife Layla. Many people moved about but can work online from the beautiful island.
Jude leaves with his wife Sophie until one day they come home to find out they have been burgled. After that, event they decide to take a few months break and head to Bali to see Nate and Layla and see the Villa that they are building out there.
But when the foursome gets together, the tension soon rises and soon secrets are revealed about what happened years previously. That all is not what it seems.
This has quite a slow pace but, and interesting read, nevertheless. I liked the setting of Bali, and the beautiful scenery and relaxed atmosphere described in the story, and this will be a great beach read to take on holiday. The four characters are all complex and not likable but or trustworthy, but it adds to the story and there wasn’t much going on until the second half of it. It wasn’t clear what was relevance to the chapters that were going back in time until about the last quarter of the book and the ending wasn’t what I was expecting. 3.5 stars from me.

Nikki's best book yet.

Jude and Sophie are visiting Nate and Layla on the beautiful island of Bali. Steeped in tradition but being taken over by monied foreigners.

As the book picks up pace you will learn of the past problems each character has had to deal with. Our boys have plenty to account for!
The scene outside the club will make your heart leap out of your chest.

Gorgeous detail about the island and it's beauty, along with culture.

Amazingly, this is my first Nikki Smith book, but I've heard such rave reviews for it, and her.

I am not a hot holiday kind of person. I'm more of a wrap up in several layers whilst exploring Lapland in the snow (that would be my dream) kind of holiday. And yet if you take away all the thriller elements, Nikki has made the idea of living, or at least holidaying, in Bali sound really lovely.

I like the four main characters - Layla and Nate, and Sophie and Jude; there are some similarities, as there often is in friendship groups, but they're clearly their own people and their own couples, and they work well individually and as a whole. None of them are 100% good and none are 100% bad. They are flawed and just very real.

I love this dysfunctional element she's created. Friendships at any age and of any length are never straightforward. Everyone has arguments and disagreements and secrets. But the love binds them together. And I think Nikki has captured that. There are clearly issues within the couples and between the couples, which shows they are not perfect. It's in this glamorous location, and it could have been quite an unbelievable glamorous story, but she's added all the darker elements that reality brings.

Nikki has cleverly weaved the storylines together, dropping clues and hints throughout, whetting the appetite of the reader. There's so many layers, from stuff happening now, in the recent past, and further past. It's all mixed together and never feels like too much. You think you've figured something out and then something else happens and it completely throws everything up in the air.

I read it in less than a day, it was so addictive. This may have been my first Nikki Smith book but it definitely won't be the last.

I think the best thing about this book for me was the fact in was set in Bali , the story not so good . I have a read book by this author in the past but I’m afraid this one wasn’t for me . The characters weren’t likeable but maybe they weren’t supposed to be , maybe I should say they weren’t interesting. The story had a few secrets that half way through I wasnt too interested to find out . I did persevere to the end and I didn’t guess the ending but it was still a bit of a let down . The whole book didn’t gel very well for me . I would only give this 3 stars and wouldn’t recommend I’m afraid.

Told from the viewpoints of 2 couples Nate & Layla, Jude & Sophie. Wow secrets & lies galore. I loved both couples, even if all four of them are a little twisted, some more than others! This is a fast paced book with lots of twists & turns, secrets & lies and I loved every word of it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.