Polly Phillips is one hugely talented author. I absolutely adored the previous book and this one is even better.

This is a tense read and we follow Emily, a character who is deeply unhappy despite having a great home, loving husband and children. As we read we find that Emily is experiencing trauma from the past and will be facing some of those responsible at the reunion.

This is a dual timeline which gives us an insight into the past and the present. I have loved this as we gain a full insight into events that have taken place, which really allow us to understand why emily behaves the way she does.

I have definitely been hooked by this book. Completely unable to predict where it may go. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing along the way.

This is a book I have devoured. I can safely say Phillips gets better and better with every book. This has been well written and filled with an interesting bunch of characters. I’ve definitely had mixed opinions on these.

This is completely addictive and includes real themes of privilege and male toxicity. This is a book I knew I was going to love, but still exceeded my expectations.

This has been every bit as addictive as the author’s previous book and I definitely struggled to put this one down. This is without a doubt a must read and one I highly recommend.

I could easily picture this on the big screen and I’m already eagerly anticipating what the author has in store for us next.

This was a great book, thoroughly enjoyed it. Kept me engaged throughout. I will def be reading more from this author

The Reunion is THE thriller of 2023. The story has a fast-pace, compelling characters, and a plot that doesn't let readers go. Emily is haunted by her time at university, so when an invitation to a reunion arrives....she decides if she can't forget, maybe it's time for revenge. This is one twisty tale. Highly recommended!! Be sure to check out The Reunion asap!

After reading Polly’s debut thriller My Best Friend’s Murder last year and absolutely loving it, I was thrilled to get the opportunity to be on the blog tour for her newest book.

I very much flew through The Reunion, it offered much of the same slow build tension and satisfying twists that I enjoyed in My Best Friend’s Murder. I really liked the juxtaposition of elegant and classy Cambridge University largely being the backdrop for the sordid and secretive goings on in this story, the contrast was excellent.

I was drawn in by the first few chapters and struggled to put the book down at times, the writing is addictive and fast paced. Although there is plenty of revenge, plotting and deception throughout for us thriller lovers, I also appreciated the gentler strands of Emily’s life such as her strong connection with and then heartbreaking loss of her sister and the snippets of her life with her twins.

Overall this book is a well-written page turner and comes highly recommended from me.

This has to be my book of the year. It is the most gripping and riveting read, one that I will wholly recommend to anybody.

The book is toad into parts and centres around the character of Emily Tolier. Fifteen years ago she left Cambridge University under a cloud. Something happened that would leave an imprint on her life. Gone was the life and career that she dreamed about. Now she is a married mum to twins about to return to Cambridge for a reunion.

The flashbacks tell the story leading up to the incident that changed her. The current story counts down to the act of revenge on those she fells destroyed her.

Many twists come up along the way with some new earth shattering revelations.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC

I raced through this one whilst on holiday, inhaling the last huge chunk on the flight home. Having read and loved Polly’s debut last year, I was pretty certain I’d enjoy this one and of course I did!

The story is told using two timelines, one being Emily’s time at university and the other the present day, leading up to the reunion. This, alongside the short, snappy chapters kept me intrigued and wanting to read on.

I honestly thought I knew where the story was going and thought I nailed the culprit, but oh was I wrong! It’s not predictable, there are plenty of twists and the suspense is kept up throughout.

I’d definitely recommend if you love suspense thrillers that keep you guessing throughout. And if this is the first you’re hearing of Polly Phillips, go and check out her debut, My Best Friend’s Murder 👏🏻

The Reunion was always going to be a must-read for me having loved :Phillips' last book My Best Friend’s Murder. And it proved to be another cracker, a truly addictive story of revenge that kept me turning the pages.

Emily Toller is happily married and the mother of twins. Despite her apparently perfect life, her life has been marred by events that took place during her final term at Cambridge. She hasn’t been back since but 15 years later r decides that the upcoming reunion is the perfect time to exact revenge on the people she holds responsible.

Told from a then and now perspective, we learn about Emily’s life at university leading up to the night in question, and a countdown to Emily’s carefully planned revenge.

With compelling characterization - and plenty of characters you will love to hate - and a plot that successfully builds suspense and keeps the reader guessing as it reaches its dramatic conclusion, I raced through it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was a pacey and intriguing book. It wasn't perfectly written, but I enjoyed it and raced through it in no time. A recommended beach read.

Thank you to the publisher and the tour organiser for sending me a copy of the book and inviting me to be part of the tour

I have really enjoyed the authors previous book and was really excited to read this one

The first part of the book did fall slightly flat for me. I felt like the author set the scene for a few too many chapters. However, once the action started and we were seeing the revenge and being let in to the secrets, I became very invested in the book.

One thing I did not expect was to shed a little tear over Helen. That really tugged at my heart strings!

I really enjoyed the character development in this book and how we learned about each character in a lot of detail.

I did guess a bit of the twist, but not in full, but equally it did not spoil the book for me in the slightest.

Anyone who enjoys a revenge thriller will enjoy this one

THE REUNION

Emily and her husband Nick are attending their University reunion, something happened to Emily whilst she was studying all those years ago and she’s not ready to let it go… she wants revenge.

Set at Cambridge University this is a very timely tale of privileged men and how they believe the world owes them something. Many of the characters are part of an exclusive boys club (similar to the Oxford Bullingdon club) and think that means they can do whatever they want and they won’t face any consequences.

Emily has always been an outsider, never quite feeling like she fits in with these people - and she wants them to pay for what they did.

I love a dark academic thriller, it definitely had The Secret History vibes at points - following the dark, toxic friendships of the elite at prestigious universities.

I loved Emily’s character and even though she was slightly unhinged I couldn’t help but root for her - I do love a woman scorned tale!

Please look up trigger warnings before reading.

I did not finish this book. There was nothing apparently wrong with it, I was just really not enjoying the writing or the characters, therefore I did not wish to continue reading a book I knew I wouldn't enjoy.

I loved this book. There is simply no other way to put it.

It was gripping, had an air of nostalgia about it, the storyline was easy to follow, and (most unlike me) I guessed 'who done it'!

So why did it not get five stars? Simply because throughout the first 98% of the book, there was suspense, and the only thing stopping me from reading more was the need to get up to work the following day. The last 2% were somewhat disappointing, and anticipation I had plummeted.

It wasn't quite "and I woke up and it was all a dream", but it was pretty close.

I would read another Polly Phillips book. However, I would suggest future endings aren't rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Simon & Schuster UK for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emily is invited to her University reunion, 15 years after a shocking incident that caused her to leave her education incomplete. She has been carefully plotting her revenge for some time, and this is the perfect time to execute her plan. In true mystery plot style, things did not go to plan, resulting in an utterly shocking conclusion that I did not see coming!

Polly Phillips has created an intense atmosphere that had me gripped and invested from the beginning. I found this hard to put down and enjoyed the concept of this. The writing style made this flow at a great pace, and the duel timeline of then and now helped fill in the background and history of the characters.

The concept of revenge porn and sexual consent focuses heavily in this read, so please be careful if this sensitive topic triggers you. The author deals with this heavy subject in a fantastically gentle manner, preventing it from being exhausting to the reader.

A highly recommended read for fans of the genre. The Reunion is available to buy now!

Emily isn't keen on the Cambridge University reunions but she's determined to go to the 15th-anniversary one. Her ten-year-old twin children, Artie and Xander will be looked after by Nonna Luci while she is away. Emily's husband, Nick is also invited to the reunion as he is a Cambridge Uni alumni. Will Emily succeed in getting everything she hopes for?

This psychological revenge thriller is told in a 'Then and Now' narrative, covering the time at University when Emily and Nick were students to now; the hours up to Emily's revenge plan.

This really well-executed tale contains some terrific characterisation, it's engaging and it's superbly plotted. The timelines are well balanced with a good number of reveals and twists and the pacing is rapid; there was no boredom from this reader! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I especially liked the author's portrayal of Emily's character, her anxiety and her sense of unfulfillment.

I definitely recommend reading The Reunion and I will be looking out for Polly Phillips's next novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Simon and Schuster UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Reunion begins literally mid throttle. The protagonist Emily is in the midst of a potentially life threatening struggle at a university reunion gathering and we are plunged straight into the action, before being taken back in time to some weeks before the reuniona and further back to the days at Cambridge University. Our point of view is channelled through Emily and we are aware that an incident happened just before her final exam that led to her fleeing and bot graduating. She lost her confidence and despite being now married with children she feels like she was robbed of her potential career and something is lacking. She needs to go back and confront the people she believes caused her life to go off on a tangent. This book builds slowly and we are then launched into a flurry of twists and thrilling reveals in the final chapters when the pace and tension builds to the crescendo - that stirring opening scene where Emily was under attack. The story comes full circle and I have to say I was blindsided by several of the reveals; mainly due to the unreliable narration; we see what Emily does and what she wants us to see. I fluctuated between feeling sympathy for her, irate on her behalf to feeling frustrated with her and quite frankly disliking her. She is so wrapped up in her own betrayal and feelings of injustice at the hands of selfish friends that she also fails to see how she can be selfish and just as callous. A gripping read and one that will engage you emotionally. #thereunion #pollyphillips #netgalley

Emily can' forget the cloud of shame hanging over her from uni. When the opportunity of a reunion appears, the only thing on her mind is revenge. Despite being happily married with a family she can't forget the past. All is not as it appears. A nail biting read that will have you hooked right till the end.

My first novel by author Polly Phillips and it was a good read. Personally I wasnt riveted by it in a way in which I can not put the novel down but nonetheless a good read.

The blurb reads -
A chance to reconnect.
A chance to get revenge . . .

Emily Toller has tried to forget her time at university and the events that led to her suddenly leaving under a cloud. She has done everything she can to forget the shame and the trauma – and the people involved. She has tried to focus on the life she has built with her children and husband, Nick.

But events like that can’t just be forgotten. Not without someone answering for what they’ve done.

When an invitation arrives to a University reunion, everything clicks into place. Emily has a plan.

Because if you can’t forget – why not get revenge?


So we meet Emily who was an interesting character to read about, I did not really warm to her at all. But the story she is involved with was good. Emily is traumatised by an event that happened back in university and she is out for revenge. She is not an overall happy woman and that really comes across in the depths of the pages.

The book does not immediately give away the extent of what happened so paired with Emily's narratives and flashbacks it does become apparent.

A good beach read if you like a thriller and a bit more mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley, Polly Phillips and the publisher's for a allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

When a drunken night at university has repercussions for the rest of your life. Who can you trust? Your best friend? Your long term boyfriend? Your best male pal? What is the truth and how is it used to control you?
An unsettling book about different relationships and how perspectives affect perception.

📚 Book Review 📚 The Reunion By Polly Phillips.
🗓 Publication Date - 21st July 2022

The main character is called Emily. The story goes between then and now.
We find out the there is a university reunion. But something traumatic happened to Emily near the end of her time there. Hence why this has been the first reunion she has attended with her husband. We find out steadily, what happened back then and also what Emily plans to do - revenge is a dish best served cold!!

Sometimes people are just not who we think they are!
I’m going to be honest… I’m not a huge fan of reunion type storylines but this did throw out a few twists and turns that kept me wanting to know more.

Thanks for allowing me to read this ARC, in return for my honest review.

#netgalley #pollyphillips #thereunion #bookstagram #bookstagramshaz

Revenge is a dish best served cold.
I loved this book ! Chapters back and forth with Then and Now timelines which I find keep me so hooked to get to the next chapter. Definitely going to read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.