This could have been 50% shorter. Some/many parts of it dragged and I found myself taking breaks while reading. The ending was also not very satisfying! A lot in here held promise but ultimately the execution wasn’t quite there for me.

Absolutely brilliant - another hit from Louise Candlish!

I love choppy narratives flicking back and forth in time and between characters, although I will admit it took me a while to get the two families straight for some reason.

Once I was settled in and got to know this complicated and flawed cast of characters I was hooked. I don’t know why I tried to figure it out as I went as Louise Candlish is the master of twists and once again I was blindsided. I loved it though, I love getting it wrong and being surprised!

I didn’t know much about second homes and the effects they have on communities and so I found this aspect really interesting and something a bit different as it was bigger than personal relationships.

If you enjoyed Our House and The Heights you’ll love this!

In beautiful surroundings the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' are in conflict. Each page brings an insight into the the characters' lives, thinking and morality. Or lack of it. Cliff edge death, ineffective investigation, blackmail, tables turned - they are all there. Not to mention belief in 'superiority' and privilege. Is there redemption for crimes committed; is there resolution of conflict? Best to read on, discover and enjoy!

Our Holiday is a thriller based in Pine Ridge where the locals are fed up with second home owners driving up property prices and leaving homes empty. The bank holiday comes to a deadly end and the book switches from before and after as the reader pieces together what has happened. The characters are all horrible people so I wasn't on anyone's side and I'd have liked more of them to get their comeuppance. A decent read but quite a slow burner. The second half kept me interested. I really enjoyed the authors visuals and could imagine the location clearly. 3 stars due to the slow start.

Another great read from this author however it did take me a while!
It was definitely a slow burner and took me a while due to the hefty amount of characters over a dual time line.
That said, once picked up pace- it was another well written, brilliantly executed thriller.
Will def recommend to the girls for their summer read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the author/publishers for the ARC, much appreciated

Louise Candlish is a fantastic writer and I have read everyone of her books.. I loved this book too. Very atmospheric and a great story. Can’t recommend enough!

Louise Candlish is an absolute master at creating claustrophobic atmospheres in locations the reader will recognise and, in Our Holiday, she has chosen Pine Ridge - a unique spot on the English Riviera, favoured by a select band of London second-homers who descend in the summer holidays but who leave their holiday homes empty for much of the year. To say that this is a bone of contention with locals is an understatement and this particular summer is going to prove less than idyllic. But exactly how far is anyone prepared to go in the battle between various factions - not all of which are as obvious as at first they may seem?

There are some truly wonderful (and memorable!) characters, here, some of which I'm pretty sure most of us have encountered in the real world, and it's not just their interactions that draw you in, it's the build up that those little comments, the throwaway lines, the random acts, that Candlish is just so good at, as they come back to bite so unexpectedly. There's also more than just a touch of pathos which I have to say did catch me out but was no less welcome because of that and, for me, enhanced what was already up there as a top notch 2024 read for me. Highly recommended.

A page turning book, bringing in topical elements perfect for a beach read. Having met Louise, I was thrilled to find this on my shelf. Each character had their flaws, some with more vulnerability than we first think.

I do think that the thriller tag on this is a little misleading, but still enjoyable, and a bit different from my normal reading. I found it a little less easy to read than some of Louises other books, but generally okay. Felt quite politically heavy at points.

Set in Dorset where many properties have been purchased as holiday homes which are left empty in winter. Unfortunately this results in locals being very angry as because of this they are unable to get on the property ladder. I completely sympathies with them. Charlotte and her friends meet up in summer when one up man ship takes over and secrets unfold. I found it hard to get into, mainly because of the numerous characters. I appreciate other readers will enjoy this book more than I did.

I’ve really enjoyed all of the author’s novels and her previous thriller The Only Suspect was definitely her best. Our Holiday is set in Pine Ridge, an idyllic coastal town on the Dorset coast where second home owners are increasingly outpricing locals in the housing market. Londoners Charlotte and Perry have had their second home there for years and Charlotte is thrilled when their London friends Amy and Linus join them as homeowners in Pine Ridge, Both families are there for August and become the targets of a local campaign group highlighting the impact the second home owners have on the community.
I absolutely loved Our Holiday and was completely immersed in it over the course of 24 hours. Louise Candlish is brilliant at giving the reader hints at what’s going on and creating a multi layered and tense narrative. Second home ownership is obviously a very current issue especially in many coastal towns and the author really highlights the impact it’s having on young people. I loved the portrayal of the relationships between the older generation and their children and although the ‘Down from Londons’ are unlikeable characters Candlish gives more than stereotypical characterisations.
A satisfying and compelling read that I’d recommend.
4.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I’ve been a big fan of Louise’s for years and have loved watching be journey into different genre .
Whilst this book was of course an excellent read like her others , it didn’t quite have the gripping factor for me personally.
It’s a busy plot with a lot of characters that were hard to keep track at times.
However Louise’s writing always impresses with her layering of reveals ,twists and turns . She has perfected writing unlikeable characters and flawed families .
This book gives an insight into 2 sides of a hot topic and it was interesting to read both .
Secrets,lies and a sizzling summer escape what could possibly go wrong .
Thank you hq for a copy in exchange for a honest review

Rating: 3.3/5

I always enjoy reading novels by Louise Candlish, but inevitably, there are some that I enjoy more than others. I loved her previous offering, "The Only Suspect", which I would personally rate as being the best work she has produced so far. There is plenty to like and admire about latest book, too, although overall, I don't think it shows Louise Candlish at her very best.

The setting on the Dorset coast is terrific and the backdrop is wonderfully painted by the author. The theme has been astutely chosen too, which looks at the problems created in local communities by wealthy out-of-towners purchasing second homes in the area. The potential for conflict is well-depicted and it is impossible not to have sympathy for the indigenous population that finds itself being priced out of the area.

There is quite a large cast of central characters in "Our Holiday" and it did take me a little while to recognise and become comfortable with who each one was, without having to refer back to my notes. However, each of the protagonists is well-drawn and the author has succeeded in giving them distinct and appropriate voices.

Although described in the accompanying blurb as a thriller, this is far more of a drama. It is also quite a lengthy read and whilst I never lost interest in the story, I do think that some more severe editing may have aided the pace without detracting from the impact. Much as I am an avid reader of novels, I could actually imagine that this would work more effectively as a serialised TV drama, rather than in book form. Perhaps the screenplay may even be being worked on already! Who knows? Either way, I dare say that I will be back for the next offering from Louise Candlish.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

A page turning book, bringing in topical elements. Each character had their flaws, some with more vulnerability than we first think. Certainly puts me off owning a holiday home. Bound to be another best seller.

I thought this was fab. All the drama of holidaying in Cornwall with teenagers / families / friends. Secrets, lies and local hostilities packaged up into this great thriller by Louise Candlish.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ridge Pine is overrun with second home owners who swan in for summer and vacate leaving the properties empty whilst local residents experience a housing crisis. A group of locals are taking a stand against this, steered by resident mechanic, Robbie. Summer ends with a fatal catastrophe and the race is on to find out who the perpetrators were.
I struggled to get into this book initially and I never really warmed to any of the characters so it was a 3 star read for me. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book and found the topic of second home owners interesting and thought-provoking. Unlikeable characters and I was sometimes confused about who belonged to which family - but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment. It was a very entertaining read.

I’m a huge fan of Louise Candlish, so was naturally so excited to read this new book.
Wow, it certainly didn’t disappoint.
This book is so well written and has lots of complex themes throughout.
I loved the writing style, the pace and the hugely unpleasant characters.
It’s one of my favourite reads this year and I would definitely recommend.

A good story which gathers pace as it moves into the second half. The story is told from the point of view of several characters which is sometimes confusing as the reader learns the characters.
I was pleased to see that there wasn’t a ‘tidying up’ chapter at the end. The story lines are complete but one or two of them are left to interpretation.
Interestingly the characters address some of the issues of today, second homes, privilege, resentment and potential action against the issues, and the huge gap between the haves and have nots. As all this resentment was being addressed I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. In common with many readers I suspect, I don’t have a second home or live in a caravan but could relate to the feelings of both sides without having a connection with either.
Recommended

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and Harper Collins for approving my request to read this book.

Our Holiday is a slow burning mystery/thriller. The main focus is local residents that are protesting against holiday home owners who are buying second homes at inflated prices so they cannot afford to live in them. They become so embroiled it results in a summer house being driven off the edge of a cliff.

I can't say too much more without giving much away but it's a great read, well written with characters with many layers and secrets! Looking forward to reading more by the author.