I have to admit what first attracted me to this book was the cover. I think it's so striking and eye catching, I love it. Then when the blurb said it was comparable to And Then There Were None I had to read it.
First off I loved the setting of Deadman's Bay in the Bahamas. I felt that having this as the setting really added to the isolation vibes.
When this started I was feeling the thread of tension that was simmering between the characters and I was enjoying it. But unfortunately this book ended up being a bit of a let down.
My main issue was the characters. I found them all to be so unlikeable and I had no idea why they were friends as they clearly couldn't stand each other. They also read like they were in their late thirties not twenties whilst at the same time I was begging them all to just grow up and get over it.
It was obvious from the start what was going to happen and it did lack any mystery or thrills for me.
The tension I was picking up on at the beginning began to fade as the whole thing becomes slightly ridiculous. This is one book you have to suspend your disbelief and just go with it.
Unfortunately this also felt a little too drawn out for me (probably because it was pretty obvious where the story was going)
However if you are looking for a popcorn escapist thriller, you might like this more than me.

She Started It gives locked room mystery vibes, which is my favourite genre. Sadly, this book was not executed very well.

I found the premise bizarre, if I hadn't spoken to someone for 10 years there is no way I'd go to their hen party?

The plot was sadly very predictable.

At 30% I guessed the whole plot and was getting a bit bored. Skipped ahead to 85% to realise I had mapped out the whole plot and even got the twist right.

Unfortunately disappointed!

A very dark story.
It starts off as a slightly mysterious invitation to a hen party on a remote island.
The bridesmaids, who should know better, can't resist the luxury holiday.
They really have remembered their past behaviour they thought they had got away with.
As things escalate, more and more of the past is revealed.
Brilliant read.

Wow just wow this book had me hooked!! At first I was a bit skeptic about it as it just seemed so eh and didn’t feel like it was going to grab me. But I was wrong so wrong!

This was so well written and the plot twists especially at the end did not expect that!

While it had the twists and turns that make it such a quick read there was also little heartbreak in it, and just shows that some people never change.

10/10 recommend this

Thank you so much for the chance to read this book.

3 ⭐


This was a fun holiday set thriller.
I will admit I guessed the twist incredibly early on but it was still enjoyable to read.

I feel the very end felt slightly lacking in my opinion for the open endedness but perhaps that is just me.
Overall it was fun and I would recommend.

Four best friends - Annabelle, Tanya, Esther, and Chloe - are invited to a private island for an all-inclusive hen party. All paid for by Poppy, another
girl they knew from school. Only Poppy wasn't a friend. Poppy was the girl they spent years bullying, tormenting, and essentially ruining her life. Not wanting to say no to the holiday of a lifetime, they all head there together, assuming that Poppy still just wanted to be friends and hoping she had forgotten everything they did to her. But Poppy hasn't, and she's ready to make them pay.

Everything about this book was just perfect. From the very first page, I was hooked, and I couldn't put it down even for a moment. It truly shows just how bullying in our childhood/teens can affect us as adults. Each chapter jumps between the four friends, with entries from teenage Poppy's diary scattered throughout. I did figure out the big twist a while before it was revealed, and I'm so glad it all played out the way I thought it would. My heart genuinely hurt for Poppy, and honestly, I kinda hated the main four girls.
I really hope there's a follow up to this at some point because the story didn't feel like it was completely finished.
A must-read for any thriller lover.

This started off great for me.

4 friends get an all expenses paid first class trip to the Bahamas... Its a girl Poppy they have not seen in 10 years whole this group of girls used to bully.

I found it super hard each chapter to remember who's pov it was in as all 4 girls pov was very similar and unlikeable.

I don't mind unlikable characters in a book but the plot and story needs to be interesting and this just fell short for me.

I am not sure whether I guessed what would happen or not as some of the story was slightly different to what I had imagined.

The ending was a little bit of a shock but felt as though more could've been built up on it as it felt slightly underwhelming. However, the overall storyline was interesting to see what the group of girls did to Poppy and how they have changed. Well... they hadn't really changed in my eyes and I felt they were selfish in their own way.

The writing based on this was easy to read and gripping at times.

This book is the perfect summer thriller, filled with mysterious characters and unexpected twists that keep you hooked until the very end. The secluded island setting is utterly fascinating, adding an extra layer of intrigue and atmosphere to the story.

Each character brings their secrets and complexities, making the narrative rich and engaging. The twists and turns are expertly woven into the plot, ensuring that the story remains captivating and full of surprises.

Overall, I found this to be an incredibly enjoyable read. The combination of a gripping mystery, well-developed characters, and a mesmerizing setting makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking to get lost in a thrilling summer read.

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The whole premise of this book felt a bit odd. If I had relentlessly bullied someone for years and years I’m not sure I’d be accepting an invitation to a deserted island.

It was quite hard to really differentiate between all of the characters other than the named chapters. They all had a very similar voice and didn’t provide much variety. Poppy is the only person who inspired any feelings at all.

I did enjoy the revenge. They were all fairly unpleasant people and didn’t do much to redeem themselves. Other than the implausibility of the plot it read pretty well and kept me entertained.

Trigger warnings for bullying, self harm, drug use

Oh my god - where do I start? This book was so good, I read the first 22% in two sittings and the last 78% in one sitting, staying up way past my bedtime to finish it!

I found the story being told from four characters viewpoints a bit confusing to begin with, but once I got into it, it definitely helped build the suspense. I think I suspected everybody at least at some point, even if just briefly, but I didn't guess that plot twist until right before it was revealed. I almost feel like there could be a sequel to clear up the little cliffhanger at the end.

Unputdownable hen party horror

Holy Cow, what a ride authoress Sian Gilbert is taking us on! Poppy invites four former class mates who bullied her mercilessly 25 years ago to be her bridesmaids and to accompany her to an island in the Bahamas for her hen weekend, all expenses paid. Soon after the ladies‘ arrival in their paradisiac luxurious destination, strange things start to happen …This brilliantly plotted story with many clever twists kept me at the edge of my seat.

Gritty from the first chapter… A private island in the Bahamas with a wedding planned… Random invites to be bridesmaids. As the story unfolds it becomes clear it’s time for revenge, punishment and consequences. Bullying. Secrets &Calculated cruelty… This story has it all with outrageous incidents and a mean girls vibe!

Some of the storyline I was able to guess… however I didn’t see the incredible twist coming at the end - wow!

Fantastic debut novel by Sian, I’ll definitely be first in the queue for her next release!

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Destination thrillers
- Vendetta / revenge fiction
- Can’t read fast enough stories
- Satisfying endings

This is a good hen party revenge book. Annabel, Esther, Tanya and Chloe are invited to Poppy's hen weekend on a remote Bahamas island. The four women bullied poor Poppy horribly at school and are not sure why they are invited, but don't want to miss the opportunity of an all-expenses-paid trip.
The revenge plan is really clever, with lots of revelations about the women, and plenty of twists. The book is written in chapters by each of the friends, and extracts from Poppy's school diary, which is really sad.
Fast paced and well-written.
Good beach read.

This is one of the most gripping books I have ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Perfect for psychological thriller readers

When four friends are invited to their old school friend's hen do for a fully paid luxury trip, it seems like too good of an opportunity for a free holiday to miss! Except they weren't her old school friends; they were her bullies.

This is a perfect page turner for by the pool. Lots of characters to dislike and a lot of action to keep you entertained!

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.

As someone currently planning a hen getaway, I couldn't wait to read this and I loved every second if it! Granted it got a bit unbelievable but I was so deep by that point that It didn't phase me. The characters are vile, there are plenty twists and turns and it was just perfect escapism at its finest

This book was an enjoyable read. However it was a bit out there with some unbelievable twist and plotting. Easy quick read.

An enjoyable read. Very well written characters that I loved to hate ! Totally self absorbed with no ounce of humanity. The storyline flows seamlessly and keeps you hooked right from the start .

The hen party from hell is the best way to describe this book. It is a lesson to all bullies out there - someday, karma will catch up with you and you will have to pay for what you did. It's easy to diminish teenage behaviour and bullying as harmless because its kids being mean to kids but sometimes, that bullying goes way too far and can have lasting effects. And this is what happens here. Polly has come to get her revenge and she may well deserve it!! A great book to take on holidays, perfect summer read!