Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my access to review.
I have read and loved all of her other books so was excited to dig into this .
The cover and title really set the scene for this book !
Atmospheric with the location jumping out of the pages and full of tension from all characters .
This book had a lot going on that it felt too crowded at times and could lose the readers interest .
However this is brilliantly written with twists and turns and not all is as it seems .
You think all secrets have been revealed but there will be more .
Fascinating and interesting themes , I just would have liked more on them than some of the other parts .
Perfect beach reading or if you just want to escape dreary uk weather and reality

Not the best from this author.
The surroundings were beautiful, the storyline and characters not so much.
I picked this up several times and eventually skimmed through.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for the ARC!

A hedonistic destination thriller that will have you captivated and turning the pages as fast as you can.

We jet off to Bali in this fast paced story, where we meet two couples: Nate and Layla, who’ve just moved to the country as digital nomads, and their friends, Sophie and Jude, who have come to visit.

Tension is clear right from the off between all parties, and you’re instantly left wondering what happened to make the atmosphere so frosty? There’s hints here and there.

It’s not until later in the novel, as secrets start to unravel, that the author sets out the truth. But just when you think that’s the full story - there’s some more twists coming.

The author really brings Bali to life and you can tell the setting has been well researched and the culture carefully woven into the story.

I really enjoyed this quick sun soaked thriller over the course of a couple of days.

It will make a fantastic beach read when it is released in May!

This was a sun-soaked, fast-paced thrilling read and it’s definitely a perfect holiday page turner! It had secrets, deceit and characters you'll love to hate all in one!

This author cleverly builds up the complex
plot that had many clever twists and turns which in turn reached a deeply satisfying ending. I loved it!

It was a fantastic psychological thriller set against a glamorous Bali backdrop. I loved the authors descriptions of Bali and the complex characters that made up the plot it really kept me guessing until the final page! My favourite couple was Nate and Layla.


A massive 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars from me!

Really enjoyed this one! As a Baliphile I was wondering how accurate it would be and the author nailed that digital nomad, expat life. Such a great story that brings all those living abroad fears into play. Loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advance copy to read.

This is my second book I have read by Nikki Smith. Her writing is fast paced at times and easy to follow.

This book follows two couples who are friends from the UK, one has moved to Bali and the other go to visit them in Bali for an extended period. The writing of Bali and the scenery, is well developed and descriptive. However, I found the characters lacking substance and found myself constantly having to remind myself who was who. It is told from multiple character POVs and also interspersed with chapters from 2007 and other characters. These flashbacks seemed completely irrelevant to me and didn't add any extra depth to the story.

The first 30% I was definitely more invested in the story, but as it went on I found myself less willing to read on.

There are some big plot twists in the last 10% of the book, but sadly in my opinion they did not make the book for me. I think there are lots of people who will enjoy this as an easy, psychological thriller, perhaps when on holiday or in the warmer months imagining the Balinese backdrop.

3.5 stars.

This book is a gripping and suspenseful novel that dives into themes of revenge, betrayal, and the secrets we hide. The story keeps you hooked with its fast pace and twists, as you piece together the layers of the characters’ lives. Nikki Smith’s writing is sharp and emotional, making the tension palpable throughout. While the plot is compelling and full of surprises, there might have been moments where certain elements felt slightly predictable or overly dramatic. However, the final twist is brilliantly executed and adds a satisfying punch, making it a thriller that leaves a lasting impression.

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
• psychological thriller
• domestic thriller
• revenge & betrayal
• friends drama

Thank you Nikki Smith, Penguin General UK & NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.

I really liked it overall. I think there wasn’t clear, continuous mystery plot, until the last few chapters, however as the story progressed things did get more intense and you start to doubt everyone.
But majority of it, was more dysfunctional and unreliable characters and relationships, which was also fun to read about.

Overall I thought that this book was very good. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the descriptions of Bali and the characters were particularly good. I liked the alternating viewpoints, and felt like we got to know the characters very well. The plot really held my interest as there were a lot of hints to the secrets the characters held, but they only revealed themselves towards the end. I found the locals versus expats storyline particularly fascinating.

My only real issue was that there was so much going on, and I would have liked to have delved a bit deeper into some of the plot points. As an aside, I never want to read the phrase 'digital nomads' ever again, if you made it into a drinking game with this book then you would be hammered.

The dynamics between couple friends can often be complicated. Never more so than when everyone concerned is keeping secrets from everyone else...

So when two couples who have known each other forever and always done things together need to adapt to changes after Nate and Layla move to Bali and Sophie and Jude then decide to visit them there, you can bet all kinds of juicy stuff is going to come rushing to the surface.

But maybe that's what they deserve - all of them (or perhaps some more than others!) Nikki Smith does a great job of entertaining and keeping you guessing with this lively thriller, which gets 3.5 stars.

Jude and Sophie have had a few problems, so take a long holiday to visit their friends Nate and Layla who are living as digital nomads in Bali. The two couples have been friends for a long time but they all have secrets from and about each other. Sophie is still angry with Layla for getting drunk and ruining her wedding, and it seems that she wants to punish Layla.
Bali is beautiful, but there are problems. Nate and Layla have got involved with some dodgy people, and there are constant delays with the building of their new villa.
This book is well done for this type of revenge thriller, there are lots of unexpected twists and turns, and the ending is really good.
Recommended

This is my first book by Nikki Smith and I really enjoyed it. The descriptions of Bali are lush and evoke the heat, landscape and people so beautifully.
The two couples have their secrets which are gradually revealed and kept me guessing until the very end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book is okay. It felt rather slow and lacking in depth. I've found her other books much faster paced and exciting.
The wrapping up of characters' reasonings and motives at the end had too many unbelievable coincidences

I thought this sounded like a good summer read even though you couldn't pay me to ever go to Bali.
In my absolute honest opinion i feel like a more appropriate synopsis would be, "Hints of Secrets, Booze, Food, Decent Descriptions of the Area, F-Bombs, A Slightly Interesting Side Story, Rinse-Repeat."
I could not stand any of the characters which, fair enough, might have been written that way on purpose. I became increasingly anxious to get to the end once i realised by 30% in that we were going to be stuck in rinse-repeat for the long run; This is where i would normally perma-dnf a book, but stuck with it. It nearly picked up around 88% and then finally ended on an okay note.
Thank you to Penguin General UK for this ARC copy. I will not be sharing my review until "around publication" As Requested. xox

The very best thing in the book is the lush descriptions of Bali.

I found both of the couples not particularly gripping and a lot of the action is very predictable.

I do enjoy Nikki Smiths books ,I found this to be quite an entertaining read as usual ,had quite the unexpected twist towards the end .

This book centres around two couples, Nate/Layla and Sophie/Jude. Initially they seem to have relatively normal, if not enviable lives. As the book progresses, we see lies and secrets that come out and threaten to unravel their "perfect" lives.

I definitely found this book an interesting read. I just found some of the sentence structure to be a bit difficult to process at times and that took me out of the story a bit.

The characters were interesting and well developed, though I found myself frustrated with all of them and their decisions quite often. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as I was very engaged and invested.

My issue with this book was the pacing. At the start there was a good amount of background and introductions to the characters. I found after this I was waiting and waiting to get some answers, then all of a sudden they all came at once! Hooray! Sadly the end of the book was very close and I felt I needed a little more closure.

I loved the flashbacks to 2007 and I would have liked to see more about that story in the present day.

In Nikki Smith's "They Had It Coming," readers encounter two couples whose ostensibly perfect lives start to disintegrate under the strain of concealed secrets and pent-up grievances.

The captivating Nate and spirited Layla, once at the heart of London's social scene, impulsively decide to trade their old lives for the sun-drenched beaches of Bali. Their closest friends, dependable Jude and vulnerable Sophie, eagerly trail after them, seeking a break that holds the promise of rejuvenation. However, what begins as a joyful reunion quickly unearths deeper conflicts and unresolved matters.

The characters are skillfully crafted and relatable, drawing readers into their chaotic world. The strained dynamic between Nate and Layla originates from their hasty choice to trade their settled lives in London for a fresh start in Bali. This bold move unearths latent problems within their relationship, including discontentment and unvoiced misgivings. Layla wrestles with her sense of self and the ramifications of their abrupt relocation, while Nate's magnetic yet unstable conduct fuels discord. Their bond is marred by a pervading sense of betrayal as they grapple with the web of lies woven over the years, culminating in a climactic moment that compels them to reassess their dedication to one another.

Jude and Sophie confront their own distinct challenges, predominantly rooted in jealousy and self-doubt. Jude's unwavering allegiance to Nate is shaken as he begins to unveil the truth behind Nate and Layla's past duplicity. Simultaneously, Sophie contends with feelings of insufficiency, especially when juxtaposing her life with the ostensibly dazzling lifestyle of Nate and Layla. The Bali reunion functions as a trigger for these suppressed emotions, bringing to the forefront unresolved antagonisms that endanger both couples' friendships.

Smith adroitly captures the essence of Bali, depicting it as a tropical sanctuary that starkly contrasts the emotional turbulence churning beneath the surface. The verdant scenery and lively nightlife provide an evocative setting for volatile revelations that are far from tranquil. The immersive ambiance augments the tension, ensuring each disclosed secret carries substantial weight.

Emotionally resonant themes of trust, loyalty, and retribution permeate the book, urging readers to contemplate their own relationships as they observe the ease with which deception can corrode the sturdiest of bonds. Smith's writing is absorbing and approachable, facilitating readers' connections with the characters' struggles without the impediment of overly intricate language.

While the novel thrives in character development and emotional depth, it occasionally relies on conventional tropes. Some plot twists may feel slightly recognizable to avid readers of psychological thrillers, so incorporating more unpredictability could have escalated the suspense and maintained readers' intrigue until the book's conclusion.

Another unputdownable thriller by Nikki Smith. The premise is promising - two couples, Bali, secrets, history & thoroughly untrustworthy protagonists! Who is telling the truth, and is it the whole truth? Your view of who the baddie is changes every couple of chapters and I will confess to a ‘OMG’ squeal at one point. The fact that the chapters are so short means you just want to keep reading to find out what happens next.

This is a fantastic thriller. Completely packed with twists and turns. You will be left doubting each and every character you won’t know who to believe.