Just the Nicest Family sets up an intriguing premise: a seemingly perfect family, a luxurious vacation, and dark secrets simmering beneath the surface. Alison James does a solid job creating tension, keeping readers guessing about what exactly is being hidden and how far the characters will go to keep up appearances. The idyllic French villa setting adds a nice contrast to the underlying unease, making for a compulsive beach read.

That said, the novel leans heavily on familiar domestic thriller tropes—secrets, lies, and a marriage unraveling under pressure. While the pacing is steady, and the writing is engaging, the twists are fairly predictable for seasoned thriller readers. Some character motivations feel a bit forced, and the tension fizzles in places where it should build.

If you enjoy quick, suspenseful reads in the vein of The Couple Next Door or The Perfect Nanny, this one will keep you entertained, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression. It’s a fun, easy thriller with enough drama to keep the pages turning, but it doesn’t quite break new ground in the genre.

Another excellent read from Alison James. We meet Tim, Louise and their two children. Tim is a vet and he is offered a free holiday for them to stay in a private villa owned by Renee who will also be there. She is the owner of a multinational veterinary company and is looking to buy Tim’s company. He is desperate for the deal to go ahead as his company is struggling at the moment. Renee says that they can invite some friends along but to Louise’s dismay he invites Kevin and Shona, a couple who she does not really know. When they all arrive and settle in Shona soon begins to set her sights on one of the other guests and Tim becomes afraid that this may affect his deal. One morning the body of a young woman is found beside the pool. No one recognises her or why she was there except Tim. Before long secrets are revealed especially Tim’s that will change Louise’s life. The story was told from multiple points of view with so many secrets and lies and some unlikeable characters which make this book a gripping read. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I can't recommend it enough! I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, I finished it in a couple of days!

The premise is a family holiday where secrets are readily exposed. Tim has a struggling vet practice which he is hoping to sell and has taken his family and some friends to a villa to close the deal. The story starts years before with Tim at a works events where 2 girls are part of the catering staff. Something that happens later that night ripples through the years and at the villa after Tim thinks its long done he is forced back to that night by a chance encounter with a local. This took a while to get going for me and there seemed to be too much emphasis on the past. The final reveal was so quick and really far out there it felt too ott and I struggled to believe it was a realistic conclusion very entertaining however. The twists and turns were good just took too long to reveal. There were parts of the plot that blew my mind once it got going i loved the nonlinear approach and the way the truth was revealed . The emotional writing of tim and his wife helped. However when the girls from the catering were developed it felt a little rushed .The story was more about tims secret and how it affected his life and they were just a little afterthought. I found this entertaining and enjoyed the reveal. This is perfect for anyone who likes a good secret based story. Thank you netgallery, publisher and author for this entertaining 4 star read.

A decent thrille3 tha kept me engaged. Slow burn that took me about halfway through to get started and interested but those are usually one of my favorite types of thrillers.

I was drawn in by the premise of this book. I felt it read more like a psychological thriller than a family drama. There were lots of characters and I felt like the twist was a bit obvious from the beginning and the reveal at the end didn’t have such a wow factor for me. I still did enjoy it and the setting of the book was great.

This gripping thriller blends a tale of secrets and hidden motives. The writing is masterful, and the story unfolds at a superb pace. Just when you think it’s over, another twist changes everything.and you’re back to square one. The ending was a shocker.

This was an okay book and I thought it as well written. The only thing I did not like was that is was expected and the plot very similar as all the other books I read.

Fantastic original thriller set in the south of France. A family trying to keep up pretences but is seemingly difficult to do so. Great story

An indulgent read about a family that take up an offer to holiday in a luxury villa with some other guests…..resulting in dramatic consequences! Twists and turns and gripping read!

Just the Nicest Family by Allison James is a captivating exploration of the complexities of family dynamics, secrets, and the fragility of appearances. The story revolves around the seemingly perfect family, whose lives are turned upside down by unexpected revelations and moral dilemmas.

Allison James has a remarkable ability to create multi-dimensional characters that resonate with readers. The protagonist’s journey is both relatable and thought-provoking, as she grapples with the contradictions between her family's facade and the realities lurking beneath the surface. The author skillfully weaves in themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, and the quest for truth, making it a compelling read that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

A family should be having a beautiful summer break in a French villa. There are so many secrets and lies within the family though! Will these two weeks be relaxing, or will they be murderous and terrifying?

I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley.

First off, trigger warnings for rape and murder. Also, spoilers ahead as I rant.

There is a lot going on in this book, including the fact that it jumps back and forth between past and present. In present time, Tim convinces his wife Louise to go on a vacation to Italy with some strangers and Renee, the woman he's trying to go into business with. He thinks it's a good idea to also invite his friends, Shona and Kevin, despite Louise's protests. Shona is degrading Kevin and later cheats on him with Renee's boyfriend Jared, which tells you everything you need to know about them. Renee is being dodgy about discussing business with Tim, when she's the one that invited him to begin with. Then there's the mysterious wealthy Stafford couple, Merry and Richard. Merry avoids everyone as much as possible, while Richard spends his time begging everyone to play tennis with him.

In the chapters set in Tim's past, he gets sexually assaulted by a waitress named Tina after a work event. Tina lies to Tim and tells him that she was 15 when it happened, and then proceeds to blackmail him for the next 10 years. Instead of telling his wife or demanding proof of age, he keeps this a secret for the entirety of the blackmail and past the vacation in Italy taking place in real time. Honestly, Tim is an idiot.

As if things couldn't get any crazier, a female is found deceased in the backyard present time, who was friends with Tina. Tim is arrested for the murder and his marriage is put to the test. Come to find out, Tim isn't the only person in the house who knows the deceased.

If you're looking for a book that is full of deceit and shady characters, with a touch of murder and marital issues, read this book. With that being said, there are a handful of unanswered questions at the end so be prepared for that.

4 stars.

This is an intricate psychological thriller with unexpected twists that I couldn’t put down. Alison James has come to be an author I can depend on for a perfect read, full of psychological suspense.

Thank you, Alison James, Bookouture, & netgalley, for my copy! All opinions are my own.

Centred around a three minute mistake with catastrophic consequences, Just the Nicest Family is a classic summer thriller filled with drama, secrets and lies.

Although it’s not a thriller I’d typically reach for, it was a fun, summery read and gave off similar vibes to The White Lotus TV series. The characters were unlikable which put me off a little bit at first, but then it helped fuel the drama and I think it worked well. They all had distinct personalities and storylines so it was easy to keep track of who was who.

I liked how the story was told in several different perspectives and each time it switched POVs, more answers came to light with the occasional twist.

Some of the twists were predictable, but some were unexpected. I liked how it all came together.

Overall, this book was entertaining and quick - a good poolside read.

Gripping, fast-paced, simply fantastic — what more can I say, I truly enjoyed this book. With so many twists and turns, readers won’t be able to put this book down.

Very gripping. Really enjoyed this book. Will look forward to her future ones. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.

This book had alot of characters and at times was confusing. The ending was disappointing and I was hoping for so much more. It was just too predictable for me.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture and Netgalley for a E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
My rating:
1.5 Stars (Rounded down)
My Opinion:
I had to DNF this book. I could not enjoy picking up this book. I thought the story would have been interesting. But it was extremely slow for me. I am a mood reader, and it was difficult for me to pick up. I did not enjoy the dual timelines and the different point of views. It was a lot to remember and going through the book, I had to remember who was talking. Even in the dual POVs, it was in second person. I didn't get to hear the person thoughts or what they were going through. It was just from their point of view looking into the world. I wish the author made the book first person and I could understand the characters feelings and thoughts. I would have made the book go by faster.

A fast paced thriller that kept me guessing. I found the title extremely intriguing which made me want to pick it up. It's a good holiday book which makes for an interesting read.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.