Some good twists from Seskis but the plot felt drawn-out

One Step Too Far still sticks in my mind, years after reading it, as one of the best twists I've ever come across, and seeing the author's name attached to this, I was quite keen to see what she'd come up with.

And it's a great summer beach read. A woman on honeymoon has lost her husband - he just hasn't come back. As hope fades, interest on the luxury island centres on her, the police arrive, the media picks up the story, and Jemma tries to stay calm as her marriage falls apart.

We know she has secrets, but we also know she wants to find him. Just where is the husband? And what happened?

Cleverly plotting Jemma on honeymoon with the story of how she met and fell for her husband years ago, we gradually learn (with a great twist early on) about their relationship.

And the ending IS a good one, though it's quite brief after such a big build-up. The payoff for the reader's attention is good, but some may feel a little cheated that it ends quite suddenly after the revelation. Though I'll be surprised if anyone guesses it!

Jemma isn't the most likeable of protagonists, but her situation is rather sympathetic and she is a victim as much as her husband possibly is.

Not one to read on your own beach honeymoon, but a great choice for lying in the sun with and puzzling over.

With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.

I haven't read a really good thriller for ages and I hoped that this would change that. I was not disappointed. Although, I really hated the main character, she is selfish and annoying, she really made the book (and I really like having someone to hate).
I loved the flashback chapters and the mixed perspectives, they made the twists even more shocking!

....THE TWISTS.... they were crazy, the final twist is so unexpected I actually laughed. I think I would have preferred a slightly less ridiculous twist. But, overall it was a really enjoyable read. I would recommend it as a beach/summer read or for when you want a book that you wont be able to put down.

I have never read a book by this author. Where have I been!
So Jemma is set up on a blind date by her friend and ends up with her total opposite Dan. But is he or is it really the snobby way Jemma views things that makes the relationship what it becomes?
Some will read this book and champion Dan saying he has aspirations and can see a path with Jemma.
But Jemma is a rather complex character who even now after a period of reflection I am not sure whether I actually like.
To prevent spoilers I will say family dynamics, snobbery and a self destruction button play a large role in Jemma finding herself in paradise with a missing husband.
What follows are many twists and turns which will have you pitying her,hating her and having feelings of indifference towards her.
Where is her poor husband and who would blame him if he had run off ?
This is a page turner which has you glued to the plot.
You do not see it coming at the end although there are very well placed clues throughout.
Be careful what you wish for should be Jemma's mantra.
Thanks to the publisher,Netgalley and the author for the ARC. I am now a follower.

A disappearing husband on a tropical paradise island is the main thread of the mystery in this novel.

The story is told through a combination of past and present chapters with the past in third person and the present in first person which I found a little disconcerting at first but you get used to the style. There are many hinted tensions in the now which are eventually explained in flashback and set the scene for the story.

You are kept guessing throughout whether it was an accident, murder or run away and if it is foul play, which of the cast is involved but all is revealed in a magnificent final twist in the closing chapters.

Overall a great read.

A book that keeps you guessing all the way through. Cleverly written book that supports the recapping the characters without losing the pace.
A couple on their honeymoon in the Maldives: the husband goes missing; questions are asked, British police take over from the local police and take the matter to the next level.

I really enjoyed The Honeymoon which I read in a couple of days.

It follows the story of Jemma who has been planning the perfect honeymoon for as long as she can remember. Now on a beautiful island in the Maldives, the man she married a week ago has disappeared.

If you're after a psychological thriller with some twists and turns thrown in then this book is for you. I found the main character, Jemma to be infuriating at times with her behaviour, but this all just adds to the plot. The book is really well written and I found myself totally immersed in the story from the very first chapter.

I would happily give this book 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK Michael Joseph and Tina Seskis for the chance to review.

I feel lucky to have an advanced copy of this book sent to me because I was going on holiday to the Maldives and I really wanted to read it whilst I was there. I was hooked from the very first page and is perfect for a holiday read. Trouble in paradise is the order of the day with this little beauty of a book. For as long as she can remember Jemma has dreamed of her perfect honeymoon in the Maldives unfortunately some dreams can turn into nightmares. Told in alternating chapters from past to present it keeps the reader captivated. I will be recommending this title to all my family and friends.

I raced through this to find out the 'whodunnit'.... and the ending had me speechless!

I devoured The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis with an ominous sense of dread. I couldn’t guess if we were dealing with an unreliable narrator, vengeful family members, a huge red herring of a disappearance, or just your average random psychopath. So as you can imagine I was flipping pages rapidly to solve the mystery of the missing husband.

[book-info]

First Line of The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis


“I gaze at the sea, and it is a wonderous, ever-shifting patchwork of paint-box blues, the likes of which I’ve never seen before, and I wonder if he’s out there."

My Thoughts on The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis

I loved the paradox between the dream setting, and the nightmare reality. A honeymoon in the Maldives makes me dream of romantic walks on white sands, swimming lazily in glittering warm waters, and indulging in all the 5 star luxury. Instead Jemma experiences the horrific, and abrupt disappearance of her new husband.

The story is told in two timelines; the honeymoon timeline, and flashbacks to when they met and their journey up to their marriage. I loved the full cast of characters. There were lots of potential suspects, and a full pond of red herrings swimming in circles to confuse and disorient you.

With messy relationships to be untangled, tense family dynamics to be grasped, and the two timelines to be connected, this turned into a page-turner of a read. I love the observations that the author makes about life in general, and she can straddle humour with suspense easily.

My only complaint is that I guessed the ending. Well not conclusively, but it was definitely on my suspicion list. And it makes me worry for the state of my brain from all these psychological thrillers that I lap up, as it really shouldn’t have even crossed my mind!

Overall another exciting, and engaging read from Tina Seskis. This is her third book, and I’ve loved them all.

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Who should read The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis?

I recommend this to you if you like exotic locations, messy relationships, and a perplexing story. Fans of Lucy Dawson, Ruth Ware and Liz Nugent should also enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.

A total page turner of a story with a big twist at the end. This is the 3rd book by Tina Seskis that I have read and it did not disappoint .

This is not my usual read but I enjoyed it nevertheless; veering more towards chic lit than crime thriller in places. I liked the slow pace of the book for about 80% but I thought it was a bit rushed once the main character returned from the Island, or is this just because I wanted it to continue. I thought I had nailed "who done it" quite early on, but the author strung me along rather nicely, so I did not see the twist coming at all. I enjoyed reviewing this book and an opportunity to read something different.

Jemma has been dreaming of a beautiful wedding and afterwards a luxury honeymoon in the Maldives for ages. At last she has hooked ‘a keeper’ who loves her and wants to indulge her every wish. They have lived together and their relationship has blossomed, yes she is more than happy to be married to him. She is ecstatic and throughout their engagement as she plans every detail of her wedding day meticulously, hoping her dreams of the happy ever after will at last be realised. She’s really looking forward to their honeymoon on a paradise coral island.
Soon the wedding is over and now she is on her honeymoon and laying on their fabulous marital bed in their beautiful 5* waterside villa. They even have their own butler who will bring the food of their choice to them, or drive them the short distance to the dining room where chef’s line up to serve them delicious food, individually prepared for their enjoyment. She is surrounded by beauty, both on the small coral atoll and when she swims in the turquoise ocean and over the glorious reef, teaming with fishes and coral of every colour and size. It should be her dream come true, but instead of a paradise on earth, her honeymoon has turned into a disaster of magnificent proportions. Her husband of a week has disappeared and she cannot remember what happened when she was last with him. The island dhonis have been out at sea looking for him after his snorkel and mask were found washed up on a remote beach on the other side of the island. What a nightmare. She is all alone and her imagination is running wild. She doesn’t know who she can trust and what to do. It appears she is the chief suspect in the local murder enquiry. She cannot believe what is happening.
I really loved reading ‘When We Were Friends’ back in April 2015 and was delighted to be asked to review 'The Honeymoon', drinking in the intriguing pre publication ‘blurb’. Having spent time on a couple of Maldivian islands I couldn’t wait to start reading. I was disappointed in the slow pace of the book in the first couple of parts of the story, but soon the pace ramped up as the story bolted towards the finale and I found myself turning the pages as the story continued, absolutely littered with red herrings, blind alleys, twists and turns. I never once guessed at the ending. I did not engage with any of the characters and I was really shocked by the final delivery that solved the mystery. I did not like it at all.
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Penguin for my copy of this novel, sent to me in return for an honest review. We all have our opinions and this is what I thought. I’m aware of other reviews glowing with effusive praise for ‘The Honeymoon’. It’s a good job that we are all different and a variety of tastes are met. Nevertheless I am pleased to have read it. The descriptions of the island and the tranquillity, the superlative marine life; these were a real treat and brought back very many happy memories. It’s a 2.5* from me.

This is the first one I've read by this author and I'd heard great things about it so was looking forward to reading it.

The story is about Jemma and her new husband and it begins in the Maldives where they are spending their honeymoon, but he has gone missing. The book switches between past and present and is told by various people. It soon becomes apparent that everything is not all that it seems with the honeymooners and this becomes clearer as the story unfolds.

There are many twists and turns along the way and just when I thought I'd sussed it out something else happened to throw me off course. I really enjoyed this book and would like to thank Penguin UK Michael Joseph for the approval. I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon UK & US on publication day.

Jemma's perfect honeymoon to a 5 star resort in the Maldives which has been planned for years and years is going horribly wrong. Her husband of 1 week has disappeared without a trace. What's happening to her!
An action packed story with plenty of twists and turns kept me glued from the first page to the last. I would highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Honoured to have received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher and my thanks also to NetGalley.

I wanted to love this book, however I could not relate to the main character, I found myself disliking her, mainly due to her actions and thoughts after the disappearance.
I was also excited for the twist however I found this to be far fetched and honestly left a little disappointed with the direction this book had taken.

This was mildly entertaining, mainly because of the setting of the Maldives islands. Jemma's husband goes missing while they are on honeymoon. I wanted to know what happened, so I did finish the book, but I have to say that I found the ending to be far fetched and rather silly.

I read and enjoyed Tina Seskis’ first novel a little while ago and loved it so when I heard she had a new book coming out I was keen to read it. I was thrilled when NetGalley approved my request recently.

Jemma and Jamie are on their honeymoon on a beautiful and exclusive island resort in the Maldives. One morning Jemma wakes up to find her new husband is missing and from there the novel slowly builds as we find out what led up to him disappearing and what actually happened to him.

The novel is told in alternating chapters of past and present, and this worked really well as I found myself engrossed in both parts of the story and wanting to see how the timeline would converge and where it was all leading. It’s also told in four parts, and I have to say that at the end of the first part my head was spinning and I simply had to read on as fast as I possibly could.

The atmosphere on this beautiful island becomes increasingly stifling as Jemma feels that everyone, staff and other guests alike, are suspecting her of harming her husband. Even the couple she had become friends with start being a bit more distant with her. She is unsure how to behave and worries about how people who see her around the island are perceiving her. The paranoia she feels grows and grows – it emanates off the page to the point it was making me nervous about what was going to happen next.

As the book went on I became more and more unnerved by the whole situation. I’m scared of open water as it is so the idea of being on a small island resort isn’t my idea of fun, but there is an underlying sense of malice in this book that you can never quite put your finger on why. It gave me that feeling you have when you’re seriously sleep-deprived and everything has that slightly unreal feeling to it. This isn’t a scary book but there is a real creepiness to it and it gets under your skin – the feeling doesn’t let up until well after you’ve finished reading. The writing in this book is brilliant in the way it really evokes these feelings in the reader, almost mimicking some of what Jemma is feeling.

I suspected just about everyone in this book of having had something to do with Jamie’s disappearance. During the times when I wasn’t reading, my mind was constantly pondering on various scenarios that could have happened. Tina Seskis throws in so many brilliant red herrings and twists that it’s impossible to know how it will all turn out. One of my suspicions did prove to be partially correct but I defy anyone to work out what exactly happened on this island!

This is a slow-burn thriller that builds the tension and the claustrophobic atmosphere to such a degree that it feels like you’re enmeshed in the situation yourself. It’s dark and twisty, gripping and impossible to put down! I highly recommend The Honeymoon.

The Honeymoon is due to be published on 1st June and can be pre-ordered now.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Michael Joseph via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, I never knew quite what to expect as i progressed further with it. Totally unpredictable and a real page turner. Would recommend this.

Thank you to the publishers and net galley for the arc in return for an honest review.

Honeymoon starts off at a cracking pace. Jemma is on her honeymoon on a luxurious island in the Maldives, but her husband has disappeared. Chapters in the present day are interspersed with a chapter from the past, when Jemma is set up on a blind date and meets Dan, who she slowly gives her heart to and settles into a comfortable life with.

About a quarter of the way through the book there is a twist that I was not expecting, but it is from this point that the book goes down hill. Jemma is an erratic and unreliable narrator who I just couldn't summon up any feelings for. She was unlikeable, but not to the extent that she became someone I loved to hate. Dan's family dynamic is never really fully explained, nor is the reason for the tension between the siblings. The secrets that are alluded to throughout the remainder of the book (the secret Jemma has revealed to Chrissie, Jemma's sudden hatred of her husband and wish to get the marriage annulled, the relationship between her husband and his female boss) all seem to come to nothing. I read the book, quickly, but mostly so I could finish it and find out exactly what happened.

The final chapters are when the book grabbed my interest again. There was no way on earth that I would have guessed the ending, it was brilliant and macabre.

Hard to write a review this time. It is more of a mystery than a thriller to be honest. Jemma has just married her long term boyfriend Jamie and together they go to an island in the Maldives for their honeymoon. They stay at luxury resort and an idyllic place and it looks like a dream come true.

But Jamie disappears, possibly drowned or maybe not. Jemma is now alone in a tropical island with no real friends and above all no husband. I found the beginning of the book quite compelling, the middle part was a bit boring as it was all about Jemma who was not a very nice character, too selfish and egocentric for my liking. Above all it went into full blown chick lit for a while. The end, well, it is a real shock. Chick Lit meets Tales of the Unexpected.
I often guess the ending of many psychological thriller, this was impossible to guess, at the same time it was a bit disappointing as it was too unexpected. You read so many pages getting to know characters and try to find out what happened and then...I guess it was clever, there were clues actually but I can't say anymore.
Overall not bad at all if you like a shocking twist, but beware if you don't like chick lit, you might get bored, a lot of it is about getting married or not, jealousy and regrets.