I enjoyed this book but I will say it is not quite the Nina Manning standard I am so used to.

That aside this is an expertly weaved novel which goes from beach to cult. It has a location that you can practically feel given the exquisite writing and if you hang on when it feels a bit weird you’ll find a very enjoyable book.

For anyone who ever just "wanted to get away from it all", this story offers an intriguing take. After a bad breakup, a disillusioned Sadie flees her home in England for a simpler life in Fiji. Although she is enjoying her time in Fiji, something is still missing and when she meets the enigmatic Avril, everything changes. Avril wants Sadie to travel with her to a different island to further experience island culture. Sadie jumps at that chance but soon discovers that Avril is lying and seems to have an agenda that could prove dangerous. Sadie's arrival in paradise is marred by secrets and violence simmering below the supposedly idyllic commune lifestyle that Avril has created. Written with a then/now narrative the reader knows Sadie faces a terrible obstacles on the island as she fights for her life right until the tragic conclusion.

Thank you #NetGalley for the eARC of #TheBeachHoliday!

The Beach Holiday started with a compelling premise—Sadie fleeing an abusive relationship and landing in what seems like a tropical escape—but quickly veers into much darker, unexpected territory. If you're expecting a vacation-gone-wrong thriller, be prepared for something more along the lines of a cultish commune with feminist dystopian undertones.

The island setting is vivid, and there’s an eerie tension simmering beneath the surface from the moment Sadie arrives. The questions pile up fast: Why are only women allowed? Why does an older woman whisper to Sadie to run? Why are men being kept out of sight—or worse?

The title Beach Holiday makes me believe this is going to be a vacation thriller, when in fact, it was mostly set in a commune. Sadie runs to Fiji to get away from her abusive boyfriend, Bruno. When she meets Avril at a bar, and she offers to take her away for a while, Sadie jumps at the chance. But she does not end up where she expected. Why are only women on this island? Why did the old lady tell her to run? There was just some sick and twisted things toward the end of this book. I would not recommend it.

Nina Manning books do seem to be really good or not as good. This falls into the latter category. Sadie goes to Fiji to get away from her abusive boyfriend. She meets Avril who offers her a place to stay, a boat ride away. While this is a lie, Sadie didn't realize exactly what she was getting herself into until it was too late. Avril takes her to a commune of women; a commune that also holds men captive, for lack of better words. An older lady tells her to run. Her roommate ends up being stabbed in the foot and dies. Just what is going on here? And will she escape?

So this book was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be a vacation gone wrong, but was really a book about women in a cult trying to punish men. I couldn't get into it. I skimmed some, but just don't like cult books.

I don't think Beach Holiday is a fitting title. This is basically a book about a girl trying to leave her abusive ex and gets stuck in a cult. Sadie thinks Avril is a friend and is offering her some solitude, where she is actually trapping her in a women's commune. I would not have requested this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for ARC of this book.

I didn't want this book to end. Its full of wonderful and interesting characters . All throughout the story you can feel an air of tension that's building, you know something bad is going to happen, you just don't know what, or when.
The Beach Holiday is my favourite to date by Nina Manning, and I've read all of hers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in a beautiful setting.
Some interesting characters and a storyline with some twists.
Having said that i just couldn't engage and ended up picking and putting down several times.
Not one of my favourites from this author.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.