This was a bit of a slow burn for me. The plot and story were great but it drug on a bit. Good ending though!

I read this really quickly and was easy to pick up and get back into when I was busy etc. was a great read. Would recommend to anyone. Flowed really easily.

Just the Nicest Family was a very quick read. It is a murder mystery set in the South of France. Tim and Louise Cutler take their family on vacation as the guests of a woman who is looking to buy Tim's veterinary practice. Some less than desirable friends accompany them and before long a dead woman shows up at the pool. The backstory on who the woman is and how she came to be dead at the pool was a little bit unbelievable. There were some good twists and turns here and the descriptions of the South of France were nice. Thank you to the publisher and #netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.


Reading Progress

I was excited to read this book, the synopsis really pulled me in. The actual story had SO many ways it could go, I was turning pages quickly. However I soon became bored, the story dragged, it wasn’t moving fast enough and there weren’t any twists, The book did not go one of the many fun ways I though it could, and I found it predictable. Essentially Tim is looking to sell his veterinary practice because he needs that money (which is unknown to his wife). The buyer invites him out on a luxurious vacation with his wife & 2 children, they can also invite a couple to go with. Instead of inviting someone they know well, they invite a couple they kind-of know that has a child that is friends with their daughter. Once they get to the Villa, they fund the guest they invited along is already there? Awkward. There is also another couple there they do not know, along with the owner. Everyone there is hiding something, they all have secrets, some have intertwining lives they don’t know about. Eventually there is a death, a stranger, so they believe. Tim is worried, he needs this sale to go through, and now he’s implicated in the death! It goes on and on and on … this is where I’m getting bored. Exactly what I thought was going on is (unfortunately). There is an itty bitty twist at the end, but even that doesn’t really make sense.

I loved that this felt like a fresh take on tbe usual destination thriller. The characters were well written but mostly unlikeable. It's well plotted out, has twists and turns and suspense built throughout. I really enjoyed it! The writing kept the plot moving along, it felt different from a lot of the other thrillers I've read recently and I coukdnt wait to finish it. In a good way!

A fantastic summer read!!
I was completely captivated by this book and the way the story played out.
All the guests at the villa were intriguing and there were so many twists and turns. As for the final one though, I didn't see that coming!
Amazing, brilliant book.

When I started this book, I was very curious about where it would take me. I was pleasantly surprised with the plot of this one. Tim is a vet, and his medical practice is being sold. The buyer of the business invites him and his family to a villa in France for a vacation. Tim and his wife invite family friends to go as their guests. Soon after their arrival, there is a body discovered by the pool. That is when the drama starts.

There are multiple unlikeable characters. I questioned everyone at one point or another. The plot develops at a fast pace, and I was very intrigued and invested in what was going to happen. There were solid twists and turns throughout the story. This was my first book by this author, but I definitely plan to read more by Alison James. I truly enjoyed this book and James' writing style.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m a thriller lover and could not get into this book. I unfortunately had to dnf it on my end but did not want to leave an unfair review. I will only post my feedback here and not Goodreads

I like a page-turning domestic thriller, and in many ways this didn't disappoint. It was an easy read and each chapter left me wanting more. Set mainly in an intriguing location with a set of characters that offered the opportunity for some great dynamics, it felt like it could be a promising thriller.
However, it didn't really pull up any trees.
Its title wasn't really suited to the subject matter and the plot relied heavily on some outrageous coincidences.
And the ending left me feeling a bit... meh. It wasn't great, but it was OK.

That said, I would probably give an Alison James book another try in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone has secrets, and Louise and Tim are no exception. When those hidden truths are exposed, they threaten to unravel their relationships and family life. At first glance, you might think this book is all about family dynamics, but it's really more focused on a couple, Louise and Tim, who happen to have kids.

This book is like a soap opera in book form, which can be entertaining in its own way. There were moments when I was genuinely entertained, but I admit, I couldn't get into it as much as I had hoped. The story never really hooked me.

As for the surprise ending, let's just say it was lackluster at best. The twist didn't quite deliver the punch I expected—it didn't feel all that "twisty." But this one could be a good pick if you're looking for a book to pass the time while lounging by the pool or sitting on the beach. Just don't go in expecting a mind-blowing conclusion.

"Just the Nicest Family" by Alison James is perfect for some light, beachy entertainment. Give it a go if you're in the mood for something easy to read. But if you're looking for a gripping story with a killer twist, you might want to keep looking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

Apart from the various character perspectives (not my favourite format), and some weaker outside characters, this was a very good, enjoyable read.

The main characters - Tim and Louise are seemingly a perfect couple. and, with their children ,are the nicest couple you would love to meet and read about?

The setting of a gorgeous, large French villa is the stage for Tim to try and sell his UK vets practice. Amongst all the other guests is the possible buyer but so much then happens with lots of secrets, twists and turns. Ms James writes well and keeps us guessing with many clues.

Overall a well paced book and well worthy of four stars.

Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the chance to read and review

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ Holiday theme thriller
✨ France
✨ Fast Paced
✨ Detective Work


✨ the story was main focus on the family especially tim as he is a vet and want to sell his practice . The buyer of the business invites them with the family but there is already drama between them. As soon as everything is coming together in there beautiful holiday, a body was started to appear in the pool.
Who is to blame? Is it a suicide ? Or someone murder the person?


✨ The story was great but some of the characters are unlikeable . There is some kind of jumping of scenes which is I don’t quite understand so it loses a point to me . Other than that great read.



✨ Thankyou @bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review.




🫶🏼shaye.reads

Just The Nicest Family had a great plot and an interesting premise that I could not wait to read about. While it absolutely was interesting while I was reading it, I was overall just a little let down. I felt no connection to the characters and Tim just outright annoyed me, which I could have looked over if the writing was better. I feel that the writing came across as very choppy and telling me how to feel and spelling every small detail out, versus letting me feel emotions and feeling shocked at the twists that were shocking. I liked it somewhat while reading it, but it took me a long time to finish because I just had no desire to get back to it. I was going to give it 3 stars, but the fact that Tim had that happen to him by Tina really ruined it for me. At first I was excited about a topic that does not get the awareness it deserves or needs being addressed in this book, but instead, it was painted in a much worse light, painting Tim out to be a cheater??? I was incredibly disappointed by this miss in bringing awareness to this topic.

Just the Nicest Family by Alison James was another superb book from start to finish and so addictive. Once I start to read any of Alison's books I am hooked and can't turn the pages quick enough. I usually end up reading her books in one sitting an this book was no different! It was Excellent!

They seem to be a perfect family on the outside! but don't be fooled............They are all hiding secrets are about to bubble to the surface......…

A great holiday read especially if you are in a beautiful French villa where this book has been set. But anywhere in the world will do. Alison has a way of deporting you to any part of the world in her books......This book will not disappoint. Another excellent book

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Escape to the south of France and spend a portion of your summer in a villa! This book settles you into the scene of a vacation that has a lot of secrets under the surface threatening to destroy the sanctuary that the place should be. I felt like the scenery draws you in with its beauty and serenity while the characters help create the tension that rips it apart.

Tim needs to sell his veterinarian practice in order to keep his secret hidden. It could destroy his marriage and life as he knows it. To the outside world, it seems as though he and Louise have a perfect marriage, but it doesn’t take long to see the cracks – for me, even more so through Louise as she was more fake and a bit pretentious than Tim was throughout. The variety of characters are written well and play their role to fulfill all the twists and turns throughout the book.

I felt like the transitions between chapters, scenes, and timelines was smooth, making the book an enjoyable read from start to finish. I think it serves as a reminder to all of us that hiding things – no matter how severe or small – it can upset our lives in unspeakable ways. The ending leaves you in a bit of a lurch – one I saw coming – but left me feeling a bit uneasy. I can’t help but want my books to end wrapped up in a neat little bow.

2.5 Stars

'Just The Nicest Family' by Alison James centers on Tim Cutler, negotiating the sale of his veterinarian clinic with Renee Weber, CEO of a Swiss company. To facilitate the deal, Renee invites Tim, his spouse Louise, and their children to spend two weeks at the Villa in Le Mas des Flores. What begins as a business retreat quickly reveals itself to be a setting where secrets among the villa's guests threaten to unravel lives.

Despite introducing multiple characters and perspectives, the novel unfolds as a relatively quick and straightforward read. While the second and last parts of the book are marked by twists and dramatic events, I found myself predicting the identity of the killer and much of the plot early on.

One significant issue with the book is its title, 'Just The Nicest Family', which feels misleading and inappropriate given the story's content. Rather than portraying a "nice" or "perfect" family, the narrative delves into a family mired in bad decisions, lies, and extraordinary events. This discrepancy between title and content sets up false expectations for readers from the outset.

Another drawback is the book's reliance on outrageous circumstances to propel the story forward. From Tim's dubious claim regarding an incident with Tina to the improbable coincidence of Merry and Tim ending up in the same house, these unrealistic plot devices detract from the overall believability of the narrative, making it challenging to fully engage with the plot.

Character development also suffers in 'Just The Nicest Family'. Although the novel features a variety of characters, their motivations and behaviors often feel underdeveloped and inconsistent. This lack of depth prevents readers from forming meaningful connections with the characters or empathizing with their dilemmas.

Alison James employs a brisk writing style that maintains a fast pace throughout the narrative. The descriptive prose effectively sets the scenes but doesn’t compensate for the predictable plot twists and shallow characterizations.

Overall, 'Just The Nicest Family' offers moments of suspense and rapid storytelling, making it a quick and relatively engaging read. However, it ultimately falls short due to its predictable plot, reliance on unrealistic scenarios, and lack of character depth. While readers seeking a straightforward thriller with melodramatic elements may find enjoyment here, those looking for depth, complexity, and genuine surprises may be left wanting.

The description pulled me in but i strugglr with multiple P.O.V and jumoing from then and now can grt confusing i spend alot of time flicking backwards to see what i missed and it ruins the story but thats just me.
the story was good it and i enjoyed it though just took me longer too finish than i would have liked

While the multiple POV's is not my usual go to in.a book, I was kept intrigued and on my toes the entire way through. It was a quick paced read, that I genuinely did not see the ending coming at all! It was a fast paced quick read that follows the secrets of a couple, and who doesn't love juicy dirt! Especially when it's slightly murderous! Will definitely be a physical copy purchase.

Secrets secrets everywhere. This one was well written with characters that draw you in. The story line was solid and held my interest. It flowed at a good pace without being too intense. I loved the atmosphere that was brought in. You have every type of character in this mix and it lends to the unpredictable twists and turns that sprinkle through this story. There were some head shaking and jaw dropping moments but mostly a good solid story that kept me invested until the end.

Just the Nicest Family is a slow burn but still enjoyable.

Tim and Louise are the perfect couple. They have been together for some time and still stay strong in their marriage. What is hidden under the surface are the deep dark secrets.
Many secrets, twists and turns. Some secrets are predictable, but some are not, and they will sneak up on you! I was left with my jaw on the floor. Allison James was great at leaving clues without giving away too much and I enjoyed that.
This is a dual perspective format. Not just of the main characters but some others as well and I did not really love that. The outside characters were just kind of there, not really relatable or enjoyable.

Overall, the storyline was intriguing and kept me guessing.
Quick enjoyable read.