The Island

A festival getaway and a missing passport… this tense thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat! A totally jaw dropping ending you don’t see coming!

Bravo, Sarah this is a smash hit!

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Tense destination thrillers
- Festival fiction
- Jaw dropping endings
- Domestic thrillers

With thanks to Avon and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

A ‘locked room mystery’ set on a heat-ravaged Greek island was always going to be a tall challenge, so I approached this thriller without overly exacting expectations and ready for the implausible. The novel starts with the presentation of protagonist Jodi, who suffers from anxiety and has moved back in with her university friends Carla and Ari in an effort to overcome her challenges. When the friends win free tickets to a coveted Greek music festival, Jodi very reluctantly decides to travel with them, but despite the holiday feeling and hilarity all around her, it does not long until her new surroundings unsettle her: items that go missing, a man who looks uncannily like her unwholesome former partner, a missing girl who resembles her … could it be that Jodi, despite her mental anguish and increasingly paranoid demeanor, is in fact the only lucid character as things go from bad to worse?

A tensely plotted thriller that remixes all the staples of a good thriller, this book will make an excellent summer read, for those of us lucky enough to be able to travel, and for those of us staying behind! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon Books UK | Avon, and the author, Sarah Goodwin, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

One of my favourite books of recent years was Sarah Goodwin's debut novel, Stranded. Because of this, I always eagerly await her new novels!

The Island begins with 3 flatmates, Jody, Ari and Carla winning tickets for a new summer music festival in Greece. Despite troubles back home, especially in the case of Jody, the girls are excited at this amazing opportunity. However, on arrival, the festival is far from glamorous and its then events begin to escalate to the point where the girls wonder if they'll make it out alive....

I loved the individual characterisations of the girls, especially Jody, her nervousness, low mood and eventually fear is brilliantly portrayed, as is the relationship between the girls. Sarah has a certain clever way of giving her books a real sense of place and she does this here, I could easily picture and sometimes even almost smell the festival!

The tension is nicely built and escalates throughout, keeping me turning the pages for more.

Another great read from this author, definitely recommended, as are her previous 5 books.

Huge thanks to Sarah Goodwin, publishers Avon and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really thoroughly enjoyed this book. Eye opening book for music festivals specially for young girls.

This is the 6th book I've read by Sarah Goodwin and can really say I've enjoyed them all. All very different themed psychological thrillers.

Jody has recent left an abusive relationship has moved in with her friends Ari and Carla. They win some tickets to attend a festival on an island in Greece and they cant wait to get there. All is not as it seems and Jody's not sure if she wants to take part but doesn't want to disappoint her friends. it becomes clear on arrival that things are not quite as promised when they get there but they all decode to make a go of it.

The author gives great descriptions of the location so you really feel you are there which helps build up the tensions.

My only complaint about this book is the title. There are already so many books called The Island and I feel "The Festival" would be far better suited to it.

Another great summer hit from Sarah.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As a festival fan I was looking forward to reading this book. I was not disappointed, it's a really clever story and very well written. I loved it.

3.5 ⭐️
Unfortunately the end was too rushed and far fetched after the rest of the book was so slow.
Enjoyed it (I love a thriller set on holiday/abroad) but probably wouldn’t remember it enough to recommend it.
Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was brilliant, really exciting and creepy and I couldn't put it down until I found out what would happen! Another fantastic book from Sarah Goodwin.

From the very beginning, The Island sets the scene with an intensity us thriller lovers live for. The author's description of the festival was written in such an atmospheric way that it felt like you were actually there. You're immediately thrown into the tension and wanting to know how we got here. In true psychological thriller fashion, the book turns slow burn as the backstory is laid out and ends in a climatic and pulse-pounding crescendo. It doesn't feel too drawn out though and keeps you engaged/hooked throughout. This is my first book from this author, and I really appreciate her writing and how she describes the settings and people. The verbiage helps you picture the scene perfectly while not being overly wordy. That's a talent many authors struggle with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

A decent summer beach read. A bit slow to start with but it soon gets going into a super read. Holiday island, festival (?), Sun,and the beach all rolls up into your perfect summer holiday read.

Suspenseful, easy read!

Just what I was looking for on my vacation.

Thanks for the opportunity to read it!

I have read nearly every book by Sarah Goodwin. Everytime i am alerted of a new upcoming book i know i have to get my hands on it. Once again a great thriller read that will captivate and engross you in the reading process.

The Island follows Jodi who has moved in with her two flatmates Ari and Carla after her breakup with her abusive ex boyfriend. After winning tickets to an exclusive festival on a private greek island with promises of having the best summer. Jodi wants to stay at home where she knows she is safe but eventually embarks on the journey. The festival soon becomes clear all is not as it was described as but they try to make it still fun after all what could go wrong right?

The book starts off slow but quickly amps up the tension with twists and turns as we go alongside Jodi and learn about her past and trying to figure out who she can trust. This was a thrill entertaining read that has characters that you will root for and some not so much. The atmosphere was described in great detail, i was totally engrossed and enjoyed this book. Would definitely recommend

A big thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Avon Books for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

What a great read. Absolutely loved it. Could not put it down

Thank you for the opportunity to review

"The Island" by Sarah Goodwin is a total trip!

It had me reliving my wild LA raving days in the 90s – that whole underground desert party scene, complete with the sketchy vibes and the promise of something unexpected. Goodwin perfectly captures the thrill and the danger, and the characters are just real enough to make you wonder where the line between reality and performance blurs. Not for the faint of heart, but for anyone who craves a jolt of adrenaline-fueled nostalgia, this is a must-read. 4.5 out of 5 stars!

I enjoy Sarah Goodwin's books, and this latest one is no exception. She's great at building up suspense, and you get a real feel for the festival island .I could almost taste the dust and smell the unpleasant odors of that place. I did think the end was a little bit rushed and overdone. Thank you # netgalley for this advanced copy.

I really liked the idea of this book and felt that the concept of an island festival gone wrong was very clever. Sarah Goodwin writes the high-stakes scenes in an impressively anxiety provoking way.
During the final third of the book, I was absolutely hooked and could not put it down. My issue, however, is that the build up seemed to go round in circles, often making me feel frustrated with the characters. I understood the reason for the main character’s paranoid and anxious way of thinking, but it began to make for quite frustrating and draining reading.

Overall I enjoyed this is a quick read and found the end of the book exciting and interesting, if a little unbelievable (how can so many dramatic things happen to one girl?!)

When friends Ari, Carla and Jody win tickets to a festival on an island in Greece they are all excited apart from Jody who is more reserved than them. She is glad to get away from her ex controlling boyfriend and hadn't told her friends what he had put her through.
The festival wasn't organised and was a bit of let down , drugs were being sold openly not somewhere that Jody was happy with. When Jody comes across a young woman that she has met there who is in a really bad way things start to go very wrong for her. Who can she trust now as she knows her friends and others have been lying to her.
Brilliant book . Will look out for her next book.

Another brilliant read from Sarah Goodwin. I thoroughly enjoy her writing and imagination. Her writing is so captivating that it draws you in from the first page and doesn't let go until the very end

Another great read from Sarah!

Three flatmates travel to Greece after winning tickets to the newest and most exclusive festival of the year. Jody is asked to go with Ari and Carla and even though she is reluctant to leave her home, she agrees. At least in Greece she will be many miles away from her abusive ex boyfriend Nick…..won’t she?

This book had me hooked when reading it whilst on holiday. Would highly recommend if you enjoy a twisty, engaging read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

You can always count on Sarah Goodwin to write a great book and this one doesn't disappoint

Jody has just gone through a bad breakup and moves in with university friends Ari and Carla, but struggles with anxiety and self confidence. . When her friends win tickets to a new music festival called Lethe in Greece they drag Jody along.

The festival seems a little strange, hardly any security, no big known acts and lots of drug selling amongst the crowd. Jody feels like something is amiss and she keeps thinking she can see her ex in the crowd.

When a girl goes missing Jody gets caught up in something she's not prepared for and everything begins to unravel.

Sarah Goodwin keeps things fast paced in this exciting thriller which is definitely worth reading.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for an advanced copy to review.

This is my second Sarah Goodwin thriller and it didn’t disappoint. A slow start to build tension, culminating in some big reveals.
After a bad break up Jody moves back in with her friends from university. Feeling pressured to succeed and make big life decisions she reluctantly joins her friends at a festival in Greece. She keeps thinking she sees her narcissistic ex boyfriend in the crowd, and then when a girl who looks like her goes missing, her anxiety kicks in. Who can Jody trust??
Suspenseful and atmospheric.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 15th August. Another fantastic book by Sarah Goodwin this book was a twisty, unputdownable thriller with plenty of twists and turns that made it impossible to put down!

Overall, great characters and a fantastic plot with many red- herrings along the way!

Sarah Goodwin is one of those thriller writers who deserves every success. Her story Stranded remains one of my all time favourites, and this book The Island was also a really good read.

Jody, our protagonist, is hiding a lot of things, and battling anxiety and dysfunction as a result. After a bad breakup, she moves back in with her friends from university, Ari and Carla, but is unable to function normally. When her friends win tickets to a new music festival in Greece, Jody reluctantly joins them.

But the festival turns out to be an incredibly stressful experience for her - not least because she suspects that she has spotted her abusive boyfriend in the crowd. Is he stalking her?

And when a girl who looks very much like Jody goes goes missing, things starts to get even more frightening - to the point where Jody soon starts feeling unsure of whether she can trust anyone, including Ari and Carla...

Goodwin has delivered a suspenseful, exciting, atmospheric and entertaining read, that also manages to raise some underlying social issues - such as the pervasive nature of gender-based violence and exploitation. Well worth a read.

Compelling, Immersive..
Winning tickets to what promises to be the very best festival of the year seems like a godsend for Jodi, Ari and Carla - but as they arrive on a private, sun soaked Greek island, they soon realise that not everything is as it seems. With a well done undercurrent of gradual menace, a well imagined backdrop and a propulsive plot populated with a credible cast, this is a compelling, claustrophobic and immersive one sit read.

Jodi has just come out of a rather controlling relationship and moves back in with her uni mates Ari and Carla, when Ari wins tickets to the summers hottest music festival they head off the festival full of excitement.
Echo's of the Fyre Festival here as when the girls arrive they find the whole thing a bit off, bands nobody has heard of, no stewards or safety tents, a bit of a free for all.
Things get more sinister the further into the festival - it becomes a fight for their and others survival at the hands of the nefarious festival organisers who have there own awful reason for the festival,
A great read, a great thriller

Sarah Goodwin does it again, a real thrilling read.
What should have been a wonderful festival on a beautiful island turns into anything but.
The whole place felt creepy and i just wanted the girls to get the hell out of there.
A real gripping read which i read in just a couple of sittings.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

With many thanks to Netgalley and Jessica Whitehead for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
Another winner from the talented Sarah Goodwin. The author sets the scene perfectly and chapter by chapter the pace ramps up more and more. Although the setting is a festival on a Greek island there’s a touch of eeriness about the story that draws the reader in and elevates the suspense. Good characters in this as you try and work out who is deceiving who. A solid and addictive read that will grip you from the start.

The Island by Sarah Goodwin
Rating:4/5
Release Date: 15 August 2024

Jody, Ari, and Carla were ecstatic when they snagged golden tickets to the summer's most hyped music festival, boasting glamour, mystery, and a plethora of freebies. However, their excitement soon turned to dismay upon arriving at a secluded Greek island, surrounded by influencers and celebrities, only to find the festival site lacking the promised allure of music, art, and immersive experiences. Despite their disappointment, they resolved to salvage the trip.

Their determination wavered on day three when a startling revelation transformed the festival into a harrowing ordeal, leaving the trio stranded on the island with no way to escape.

I had no expectations when I picked up “The Island”, choosing it solely based on its cover and title. To my delight, it turned out to be one of those hidden gems that I thoroughly enjoyed.

“The Island” gripped me right from the start. I couldn't tear myself away and devoured it in just a few short hours. The eerie ambiance and suspense are crafted with such finesse, keeping you on edge throughout!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon Books UK | Avon, and the author, Sarah Goodwin, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.