This one has been on TBR shelf for a long time and I finally got to it last week. Fran is one of the most original characters you would read about and very relatable. Her opening scene in the train was superb and set the mood for the rest of her journey. Kate is yet another character that stands out though for different reasons. This is the second book by C. L. Taylor that I've read and I found it enjoyable. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Fran’s little sister, Jenna, disappeared while on a Soul Shrink retreat and the investigation determined she had committed suicide. Two other retreat participants died and the founder, Tom Wade, served time in prison. Now he’s been released and Soul Shrink is back. Against her better judgement and to stifle her mother’s insistence it wasn’t suicide, Fran signs up for a Soul Shrink retreat on the island of Gozo with the hope she’ll be able to finally find out what happened to Jenna.

I’ve enjoyed several books by C.L. Taylor, but sadly this one fell short for me. By and large, all the characters were unappealing and the plot was a bit flimsy, while the ending came out of left field and seemed pretty unbelievable. The story moves between Fran in the present and Jenna in the past. Typically, this type of plot moves rather quickly but the pace is erratic and uneven due to a great deal of repetitive introspection and backstories.

Her Last Holiday was an ok read but certainly not a great one for me. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

Reading Between the Wines book review #43/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: Her Last Holiday
Author: C.L. Taylor
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: I see so many posts and literature about retreats and I can’t help but think that most may be ran by kooky people or a start for a cult. This book does not do anything to help repel this idea for me. I really enjoyed reading to find out what happened in Gozo. I liked one part of the end but the very end I could I have done without.

Cheers and thank you to @AvonsBooksUK and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @HerLastHoliday.

#HerLastHoliday #CLTaylor #AvonsBooksUK #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Enjoyable and fast paced thriller, would recommend to friends! I enjoyed the plot and found the characters to be relatable.

CL Taylor strikes again with an epic read that had me hooked from page 1. Taylor has been a form favourite of mine and each book is better than the last. Her Last Holiday does not disappoint!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Thanks to Avon Books, C.L. Taylor and NetGalley for the ARC; this is my unbiased review.

Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor
Avon Books UK, 29th April 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:
Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong.

Tom Wade, the now infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people. But he has never let on what happened to the third victim: Jenna.

Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

Review:
C.L. Taylor's masterful storytelling is on fine display in this twisty thriller, deftly told from the perspective of three different women.
Just as with the previous books I've read by this author, I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and became immersed in the plot. Taylor's talent for capturing the heart and mind of the reader puts her firmly among the finest writers of the genre.

#BookReview #HerLastHoliday #CLTaylor #AvonBooksUK #NetGalley #PsychologicalThriller #Thriller

Really enjoyed this - will definitely be recommending and looking forward to the next one by this author!

There are a lot of characters and the majority are very unlikeable
It is a slow burn which didn’t work for me too well
I enjoyed the writing style but I did have to suspend my disbelief at times

Devoured it. This book kept me captivated from the very first page to the end. Totally gripping and full of suspense, this book has a strike of genius

Absolutely loved it and totally looking to read all C L Tailor books now

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Going in, I didn't think I'd like this one so much, but it kept me riveted. The back and forth between then and now was a little weird to get used to at first, then when you figure out the voices - then is Jenna only, now is Fran & Kate and both sound different/are easy to distinguish - then it's not hard to follow the unfolding of this story. Some of the twists took me by surprise, especially in the last 20% of the book, and I was not disappointed by what the author revealed and made happen - it also didn't come out of the blue, which was a pleasant surprise as many thrillers just seem to cook up an ending that doesn't make sense overall - this one didn't. The resolution of it all felt a little rushed - especially with the parents and the mother, I'd say - but it does still hold the line and can be enjoyed as is.
Overall, I wished I could've sunk into this book in 1-2 sittings rather than reading bits every day. It really benefits from the immersive experience, I'd say

A thriller that builds as CL Taylor adds layer upon layer to the story of one sister's disappearance and the man who refuses to help find her. As she works her way into the same situation, this sister is not as positive that she has the killer in sight.

Wow shame on me for never having read CL Taylor’s books before! As a supposed fan of psychological thrillers how did this author escape me? I loved this book and was drawn in by the 3 main characters who all told their part of the story. An absolute must read for thriller fans. Will be seeking out more books by the author that is guaranteed!

I've only read a small handful of C. L. Taylors books but this one is by far my favourite. I was immediately swept up into the mystery as the story unfolds through the eyes of three women; Fran, Jenna and Kate. Fran is feeling immense guilt over the death of her sister Jenna while on a retreat in Gozo. She feels that if only she'd paid more attention to her little sister then maybe she wouldn't have gone to the retreat and would still be here.

Kate is impatient to restart her business with her husband Tom after he was imprisoned for the death of two clients on the retreat and is prepared to push aside anyone or anything that gets in her way. Jenna's chapters are set during the retreat; showing a tense build up to the events that brought the retreat to a tragic end.

This book was definitely a page turner; as Fran attends Kate and Toms first retreat since his release from prison in an attempt to get answers about what happened to her sister, she starts to unravel a story of betrayal and deception. I had my suspicions whilst reading and thought I'd uncovered the perpetrator but I was proven wrong with a brilliant twist. The main theme of this book is clearly secrets as everyone seems to be hiding something and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to unravel them.

Jenna receives news that shocks her. To come to terms with it and process what it means she joins a wellness retreat in Malta. Tragedy strikes and the leader is arrested and sent to prison. Jenna’s sister Fran is desperate for answers, when the leader organises another retreat she signs up to see if she can uncover the truth.

For me this book was unlike any other thriller that I have read before and that was all because of the writing style and the different point of views. Yes, only authors have created amazing stories from different POV'S but to have 3 different women, with all such different voices was refreshing. The characters within this read were so well thought out.

A story full of suspense, twists and brilliant writing, it had me guessing so many things and not one of my theories were correct. Awesome read!

Hold on to your hats, folks, 'cause we've got a spiritual retreat gone wrong, and it's more than your run-of-the-mill thriller! So, Tom Wade, the enigmatic SoulShrink, decides to host this retreat, and guess what? Two folks kick the bucket, and one mysteriously vanishes! Talk about a retreat to remember!

Fran's sister, Jenna, is the one who goes missing, and boy, does Fran carry that guilt on her shoulders. She's like, "If only I was there for her emotionally, she wouldn't have gone on this whole spiritual journey."

Fast forward two years, and guess who's back at it again? Tom, freshly out of jail, is hosting yet another retreat. And you know what? Fran's mom is all like, "You gotta go and figure out what happened to Jenna!" So, she reluctantly hops on board, seeking answers and closure.

Now, let me tell ya, this book is more than meets the eye! Sure, it's got that charismatic cult leader angle, but it goes way deeper. We're talking emotional manipulation, toxic family dynamics, and acceptance - it's like a buffet of meaningful themes!

But here's the real kicker - the characters! Oh, they're like a buffet of personalities! The emotional depth and growth are off the charts, even for the side characters. Like, they're so well-displayed that you'll feel like you're at a character convention!

And let me tell ya, this book is the epitome of well-written and engaging! It's like a rollercoaster of emotions and suspense that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

So, hey, psychological thriller fans, listen up - this one's a must-read! It's not your typical wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am thriller; it's got heart, it's got depth, and it's got all the feels! I'm slapping on five stars and highly recommending it 'cause it's the real deal!

How had I left this book on my TBR pile for so long? I’m sure I originally had an ebook and an audio of this one. I’m finally reading it via audiobook. What can I say? This is a truly unique concept for a book that kept me hooked from start to finish.

We have three different voices of three different women. Each of them were extremely different and all of their stories were extraordinary in different ways.

Her Last Holiday will keep you guessing right until the end. I had so many lightbulb moments when I thought I had worked it out. Each time when I realised I was wrong I was eagerly listening for more.

Cally Taylor is a wordsmith like no other and I truly loved listening to this chilling tale. I’ve always been really intrigued by self help probably because I’m 99% a pain but we’re not talking about me. In creating this retreat an ideal has been formed and the people that flock to this sort of retreat are helpless and feel like they cannot speak to anyone in their lives. This is where soul shrink capitalises on the loneliness of this bunch. We have the Then with Jenna and the group she was with and then the Now with Fran and the group she’s with and then we have the third voice…

I loved getting to know these individuals, they truly are a dynamic bunch with a number of characters. I won’t say anymore than that as I don’t want to sway any opinions. But what I will say is I got so many of them wrong…

There’s so much I want to say and so much I cannot say. Fran is a truly fascinating leading character and I loved deciphering her layers. That was a revelation in many ways and made me realise and fully appreciate why she is the way she is. I also really enjoyed reading about the weird family dynamics that Jenna and Fran have, as this unfolds you can see why both the girls are the way they are and what drove them to being that way. It also made me think a lot about communication – not only within families but with anyone you truly care about.

Her Last Holiday is a tale that will take you on a journey of self discovery. If you are looking for a book that will pick you up and suck you in from the off, look no further. I loved the chat with C L Taylor at the end of the audiobook. She always comes across so well and this just added to the experience of this book.

I love C.L. Taylor's work, and this novel is no exception.

We follow Fran as she signs up for Tom Wade's infamous SoulShrink retreat.

Nothing unusual there you might think, but Tom has just come out of prison, and two years previously Fran's sister Jenna inexplicably disappeared at the last SoulShrink retreat.

Two years on and still with no answers, Fran is determined to get some justice for her sister and find out the truth behind her disappearance, no matter what it takes..

This novel alternates between Fran in the present day, Kate (Tom's wife) in the present day and Jenna in the past. Her Last Holiday is a fast paced thriller, full of unsavoury characters, and lots of twists and turns. Highly enjoyable.