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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
The one star is for my complete lack of enjoyment, the slow, nearly nonexistent forward tension and a gallery of unlikeable characters. I did not enjoy the revenge theme and organized criminality, this has been done to death, no pun intended.
Amber living in Italy and Beth from England and their families exchange homes for holiday. Beth finds a picture of her husband in the pocket of a jacket in Amber’s house. Nothing happens other that she worries about this and tries to placate her asshole of a husband.
The idea of switching homes for holiday is both tantalizing and terrible. I’ve lent out my house to friends in other countries sometimes, but never to strangers. Having strangers snooping around is not enticing and this is the only thing done well in this book.
Not recommended, unless you want a slow burning compilation of clichés.
Amber living in Italy and Beth from England and their families exchange homes for holiday. Beth finds a picture of her husband in the pocket of a jacket in Amber’s house. Nothing happens other that she worries about this and tries to placate her asshole of a husband.
The idea of switching homes for holiday is both tantalizing and terrible. I’ve lent out my house to friends in other countries sometimes, but never to strangers. Having strangers snooping around is not enticing and this is the only thing done well in this book.
Not recommended, unless you want a slow burning compilation of clichés.
Beth, Niall and their two boys Connor and Liam live in the Dorset countryside in a chocolate box pretty cottage. Niall is a successful author and this allows Beth to stay at home bringing up the boys. Niall has been so busy lately that the family haven't had a holiday in ages. A much needed break would be lovely; so when Niall suggests the Amalfi coast in Italy, Beth's heart leaps. But this is a house swap holiday and very different to what they are used to.
Amber, Renzo and their two children are going to swap homes for two weeks with Beth and Niall. They are coming from Italy to Dorset; a relaxing countryside break.
But what begins as a perfect holiday ends in the perfect murder...
I have read quite a few of Shalini Boland's books now and they never disappoint. Full of twists and turns and buried secrets The family holiday is a great psychological thriller. Recommended.
Amber, Renzo and their two children are going to swap homes for two weeks with Beth and Niall. They are coming from Italy to Dorset; a relaxing countryside break.
But what begins as a perfect holiday ends in the perfect murder...
I have read quite a few of Shalini Boland's books now and they never disappoint. Full of twists and turns and buried secrets The family holiday is a great psychological thriller. Recommended.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Who wouldn't love a get away in a beautiful house in another country? In this book two families do a house swap. They get to experience the culture in another country. This book is full of twists and turns along with a shocking ending. A quick read that you won't want to put down.
If you knew you wouldn’t be caught, would you snoop around in someone’s house? One of the characters in this book snoops in a closet and finds something in a jacket pocket that instantly changes how she sees the world. They say that once you see something you weren’t supposed to see, you can’t unsee it. Your mind keeps replaying it. Over and over. Boland explores the aftermath of secrets revealed.
This story is about the perfect family, the perfect home and the perfect murder. It’s also the story of a house swap gone wrong. Terribly wrong. You see, neither family is perfect. They are both hiding secrets and despite travelling 1000s of miles across the globe, their secrets found them and brought them to their knees.
There’s no doubt about it, there are some real risks to home exchanges. Most people conjure up an image of the home not being as listed, whether it be dirtier or messier than presented. Not many would even project that the house would be better than imagined! The Mason’s mansion in Maiori town, on the Amalfi Coast, is heaven-sent for Niall and Beth Kildare. The British couple can’t believe they’ve traded their tired 300-year-old cottage in Dorset for two weeks at Villa della Luna. Before the two weeks is over, they’ll wish they never agreed to the swap. On the surface, the Mason family look like they have it all, but the Italians are anxious to get away and enjoy the anonymity in Devon in a cozy cottage. Why?
Boland’s success comes from writing about the plausible; readers become absorbed because it could happen to them! We may not have done a house swap, but maybe we’ve done an Air BnB, or maybe we’ve simply snooped around when we thought nobody was watching. Boland knows our human nature is curious and she runs with it.
As is the case with all the Boland books I read, I spend most of my time suspicious of the potential villain’s actions. In this book, there are chapters in Italics. There’s no chapter title to suggest who is speaking, so it adds to the mystery and tension. Readers presume that some trauma has occurred in the past and the person has never healed. Boland makes sure to dole out tidbits allowing readers to guess and guess again who the villain is and what happened to make them this way.
“I thought that time and space would knit the wound together. That I’d be scarred, yet somehow able to carry on. But that’s not the case at all. I’m still paralysed by it. The pain increases week to week….there’s only one way I can think of to ease it. One way to make things better.”
This villain this time turned out to be clever, composed and manipulative. Boland’s trademark is to give a hint of a twist early in the story and sometimes readers don’t know they’ve read a hint until they happen upon the twist and then there’s the inevitable, “Ugh, I should have seen that coming!” It happens here, too; the inevitable “of course!”
The symbolism of ‘Villa della Luna’ is not lost on me! The moon has no light of its own. It reflects the sun’s light. One of the homeowners has lost a light within and is desperate to get it back. It’s been said that the moon is the light that rules the night. You’ll have to read to find out which character is ‘of the night’ and why. Astrologists also refer to moon signs as symbolizing one’s innermost self; under the moonlight people discover who they truly are and their hidden desires. Keep in mind that what you see in the moonlight is always better than it appears in the sunlight.
I’d never seen Boland’s sense of humour reflected in her writing until this book. I was snickering at the authentic portrayal of 11-year-old Connor and 7-year-old Liam’s antics. Try to read the airport scene with a straight face. I dare you!
I was gifted this advance copy by Shalini Boland, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This story is about the perfect family, the perfect home and the perfect murder. It’s also the story of a house swap gone wrong. Terribly wrong. You see, neither family is perfect. They are both hiding secrets and despite travelling 1000s of miles across the globe, their secrets found them and brought them to their knees.
There’s no doubt about it, there are some real risks to home exchanges. Most people conjure up an image of the home not being as listed, whether it be dirtier or messier than presented. Not many would even project that the house would be better than imagined! The Mason’s mansion in Maiori town, on the Amalfi Coast, is heaven-sent for Niall and Beth Kildare. The British couple can’t believe they’ve traded their tired 300-year-old cottage in Dorset for two weeks at Villa della Luna. Before the two weeks is over, they’ll wish they never agreed to the swap. On the surface, the Mason family look like they have it all, but the Italians are anxious to get away and enjoy the anonymity in Devon in a cozy cottage. Why?
Boland’s success comes from writing about the plausible; readers become absorbed because it could happen to them! We may not have done a house swap, but maybe we’ve done an Air BnB, or maybe we’ve simply snooped around when we thought nobody was watching. Boland knows our human nature is curious and she runs with it.
As is the case with all the Boland books I read, I spend most of my time suspicious of the potential villain’s actions. In this book, there are chapters in Italics. There’s no chapter title to suggest who is speaking, so it adds to the mystery and tension. Readers presume that some trauma has occurred in the past and the person has never healed. Boland makes sure to dole out tidbits allowing readers to guess and guess again who the villain is and what happened to make them this way.
“I thought that time and space would knit the wound together. That I’d be scarred, yet somehow able to carry on. But that’s not the case at all. I’m still paralysed by it. The pain increases week to week….there’s only one way I can think of to ease it. One way to make things better.”
This villain this time turned out to be clever, composed and manipulative. Boland’s trademark is to give a hint of a twist early in the story and sometimes readers don’t know they’ve read a hint until they happen upon the twist and then there’s the inevitable, “Ugh, I should have seen that coming!” It happens here, too; the inevitable “of course!”
The symbolism of ‘Villa della Luna’ is not lost on me! The moon has no light of its own. It reflects the sun’s light. One of the homeowners has lost a light within and is desperate to get it back. It’s been said that the moon is the light that rules the night. You’ll have to read to find out which character is ‘of the night’ and why. Astrologists also refer to moon signs as symbolizing one’s innermost self; under the moonlight people discover who they truly are and their hidden desires. Keep in mind that what you see in the moonlight is always better than it appears in the sunlight.
I’d never seen Boland’s sense of humour reflected in her writing until this book. I was snickering at the authentic portrayal of 11-year-old Connor and 7-year-old Liam’s antics. Try to read the airport scene with a straight face. I dare you!
I was gifted this advance copy by Shalini Boland, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Two families - The Masons and the Kildares - are about to take a two-week holiday and have used a house swap service and will be residing in each other's homes. The Kildare family are from the UK and the Masons are from Italy. One family lives in a crumbling cottage and the other family has a luxurious villa.
The couples are Beth and Niall and Amber and Renzo, and each have two children. Beth is equally excited and nervous. While thrilled to soon be vacationing in what just might be a gorgeous setting, she wonders if her modest dwelling will insult the family who will live in their home for two weeks.
Now, it has been said that there is no such thing as a coincidence. So, is it a coincidence that these two families are swapping houses, or is something more at play? Someone has an ulterior motive. Someone is not going to make it home. And if that is not enough to excite the curious reader, make sure to read to the very last page - the very last word, for a surprise ending that will floor you.
Shalini Boland has hit it out of the park again! Every book I have been privileged to read by her has snagged my attention. That is exactly what happens with The Family Holiday. It is intriguing from beginning to end and leads to a jaw-dropping conclusion.
Please also see my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/PCsloSYuPnw
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The couples are Beth and Niall and Amber and Renzo, and each have two children. Beth is equally excited and nervous. While thrilled to soon be vacationing in what just might be a gorgeous setting, she wonders if her modest dwelling will insult the family who will live in their home for two weeks.
Now, it has been said that there is no such thing as a coincidence. So, is it a coincidence that these two families are swapping houses, or is something more at play? Someone has an ulterior motive. Someone is not going to make it home. And if that is not enough to excite the curious reader, make sure to read to the very last page - the very last word, for a surprise ending that will floor you.
Shalini Boland has hit it out of the park again! Every book I have been privileged to read by her has snagged my attention. That is exactly what happens with The Family Holiday. It is intriguing from beginning to end and leads to a jaw-dropping conclusion.
Please also see my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/PCsloSYuPnw
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
This is my 3rd Shalini Boland book that i have read and what a story. I read it in one sitting.
I felt like i was apart of the characters lives because Shalini brought them too life through the details.
I loved everything about this story, the twists, the turns, and the ending which left me gobsmacked.
This was an amazing psychological thriller and for any psychological thriller book lovers out there you will love this one
Thank you netgalley and bookouture for allowung me to give an honest review.
I felt like i was apart of the characters lives because Shalini brought them too life through the details.
I loved everything about this story, the twists, the turns, and the ending which left me gobsmacked.
This was an amazing psychological thriller and for any psychological thriller book lovers out there you will love this one
Thank you netgalley and bookouture for allowung me to give an honest review.
Another great psychological thriller from Shalini Boland. This one is set partly on the Amalfi coast and partly in the Dorset countryside. I have to say that right from the beginning I wanted to strangle the husband, Niall. Why on earth did his wife, Beth, put up with him?? I was screaming 'Leave the Bas*ard' at Alexa as she read the book for me!
The book is a fast paced, east listen and has all the twists and turns that I exoect from Ms Boland, and it kept me guessing to the end.
I enjoyed Katie Villa's narration.
The book is a fast paced, east listen and has all the twists and turns that I exoect from Ms Boland, and it kept me guessing to the end.
I enjoyed Katie Villa's narration.