This had all the ingredients for a book I would really enjoy so I was expecting to love it. I did like it but for me it didn't come together as I hoped.

A positive was that I loved the setting - I could picture the resort and it felt authentic. I also enjoyed 'people-watching' alongside Laila, I was intrigued to what secrets would be uncovered as she observed her fellow guests.

Unfortunately the plot withered and died a bit for me. There was so much introspection from the two main characters - there were pages and pages dedicated to Laila's longing for a baby and Em's mum guilt and after a while I found this plain boring to wade through and it slowed the pace to the point where I barely even cared who the murderer was anymore.

I do have to add a big THANK YOU to the author for not giving Laila a 'miracle baby' at the end of the book. In almost all the books I've read where the main character has fertility struggles, they end up magically pregnant at the end and it's such a slap in the face for readers who struggle with the same issues and know that it just doesn't work like that. So in that respect, this book was a breath of fresh air.

A decent thriller told from various perspectives, definitely one to take with you on holiday this year, it will keep you gripped until the end.

The Other Guest by Heidi Perks.
Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset.
As Laila sits by the pool she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the other family staying in their resort.
Em has no idea who Laila is, or that she has been watching her and her teenage sons and husband so intently.
Five days later their worlds will be blown apart by a horrifying event.
Laila thinks she knows the truth of what happened. But in telling Em what she's seen, she stands to lose everything she holds dear.
And what if she's got it wrong?
This was a good twisty read. Sometimes slow. I'm not sure who I liked out of Laila or Em. 4*.

This was a page turner thriller featuring people watching Laila who becomes obsessed with some of the other guests on a luxury resort holiday which was intended to bring her and her husband closer together after some emotionally wrought years. When a body is found in the hotel pool Laila becomes even more obsessed, meanwhile she’s drifting further than ever from her husband. I found this an easy read and the dual perspectives added a good element as more and more is gradually revealed. In honesty the ending was a bit of a disappointment but it did tie things up well.

She thinks she knows the truth. But what if she's wrong?

Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset.

As Laila sits by the pool she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the other family staying in their resort.

Em has no idea who Laila is, or that she has been watching her and her teenage sons and husband so intently.

Five days later their worlds will be blown apart by a horrifying event.

Laila thinks she knows the truth of what happened. But in telling Em what she's seen, she stands to lose everything she holds dear.

And what if she's got it wrong?

Wow had me gripped all the way through really enjoyed this book totally recommend

Thank You NetGalley and Random House Uk, Cornerstone
I just reviewed The Other Guest by Heidi Perks. #TheOtherGuest #NetGalley

A fantastic book it was so exciting and I just couldn’t put it down. Very twisty and just the sort of book I love to read from time to time. I love Hedi Perk’s books they are very good. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Husband and wife try to reset their relationship on a holiday in a five stars resort on a remote Greek island. Laila likes to watch other guests, and the way the couples and families interact. One day someone is found dead and she knows something about it. Should she tell what she saw or remain silent?

A gripping novel, where everybody has secrets and doubts about each other. Laila and James hope that maybe the holiday was going to be some kind of turning point, one final chance to get their marriage back on course. Do they still trust each other or is it too late?

At first, the novel is fast-paced and the characters are appealing, but over time just gets slow and the characters start to get lost in their inner turmoil. Even the atmosphere of a luxurious holiday resort starts to deteriorate and can't save the story's narrative.

Even so, it is worth reading, to explore the paths of trust, hope, family relations, and above all, love.