I gave this one 3 stars because I never could get into the story. The story line was interesting, but the ending fizzled for me and I just really didn’t care for any of the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

So, I really enjoyed this as a light and easy read. I imagine this one would be a great read to take on holiday by the pool, unfortunately I do not have one booked in yet, as it stands.

In this book we meet the Cutlers, a seemingly ordinary but well off family, as they are invited to spend two weeks for free in the South of France. The offer has come from Renee, who owns a huge multinational veterinary company who is in the process of buying out Tim Cutlers struggling clinic. This holiday, that sounds like a dream come true, turns out to be life altering in all the worst ways.

The narrative flicked between “then” and “now” with multiple points of view which, unusually, did not make this confusing in the slightest. Sometimes with multiple points of view I get so frustrated, as usually I am only interested in one of the story lines, but James cleverly kept the intrigue with two converging story lines throughout.

I liked that I cared about the Characters and what happened to them, I sympathized for Louise and her struggles in the book and I like that we could all relate to individual parts of certain characters personalities or lives. On the other hand, I also liked the fact that not all characters needed to be elaborated on too deeply. The family that were invited as "plus-ones" to the Cutlers however I felt as superfluous to the story and incredibly brash and annoying, however I suspect this was by design?

I saw the big reveal coming and was slightly underwhelmed by it, especially as it is hard to believe it was unrecognised for an entire two weeks. I did not however see the twist coming in the epilogue, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The book was left on somewhat of a cliff-hanger and I am desperate to know what decision was made. In all, the ending felt a little anti-climactic and rushed, almost unfinished. I enjoyed as much as I enjoy a McDonalds, satisfying but not amazing, gave me what I wanted, but didn’t blow my socks off. Interestingly, I would pick up a book by this Author again.

Good but a little hard to follow. Also kind of unrealistic. I didn't find the characters really likable at all. In my opinion it is the setting that saves the book.

The Cutler family seems to have it all. Tim and Louise are the envy of every other couple they know because their marriage is strong and they openly show affection for each other no matter where or whom is around them. When Tim gets offered a dream vacation to a villa in France by a potential buyer for his veterinary practice; he and Louise and their two children Harry and Eloise jump at the chance to enjoy the French holiday away.. Tim invites along another couple Kevin and Shona Prentice despite Louise's apprehension as she does not know Shona very well, but Tim assures her all will be well. As the story line builds the reader is introduced to other characters also vacationing at the villa, and signs of strain in Tim and Louise's marriage began to come out as something that happened years ago comes to light.

Towards the end of their already volatile vacation in France, a body is found at the villa's poolside and the story of how and when she got there unfolds throughout the novel. Told from the different perspectives of the characters vacationing together the story of Hannah Messenger's past and future demise is revealed. When Tim is shockingly accused of the crime, Louise teams up with a French private investigator name Guillame to get to the bottom of her husband's secrets and clear his name. By the end of the book Louise must decide if her marriage is worth saving or if she is ready to move on from the perfect facade with Tim to start anew with someone else. The book is full of interesting characters and a memorable story line that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

I loved this book. I read it in almost one sitting and finished in less than a day. The storyline kept me hooked from page one and I had to find out how it ended before I could put it down. James does a wonderful job of building the scenes and characters in such a way that you feel you are at the villa watching the story play out right before your eyes. Each character is unique and set apart from the next by the way they dress or their interesting quirks. My only critique is the way the book ended. The epilogue offers a new perspective from Renee not seen before in the rest of the novel and explains how she had a hand in setting things up, but the ending before the epilogue told from Louise's perspective shows her trying to make a choice between two key men in her life, but never reveals who she chooses. The author may have written this ending intentionally for the reader to make up their mind on who they think Louise chooses, but I wish the author would have finished with an additional chapter from Tim's perspective concluding how the story really ends. I guess I am not a reader who loves the cliff hanger endings where I am left to decide how I want the story to end. Other than that I thought this was a great novel and I intend to recommend it to my friends.

Tim's vet business is struggling and he needs the deal with Renee who has the money to go ahead and make him rich. Him and his family are invited to France to stay at Renees villa so they can dicuss details before signing any contracts. Tim also invites friends Shona and Kevin much to the disgust of his wife Loiuse. They are not the only ones staying there and when Shona sets her sight on someone elase Tim is afraid it will end the partnership before it even begins.
Things take a turn for the worse when a dead woman is found near the pool which soon turns into a murder investigation. Quite a few ot them staying there have secrets they don't want to get out and involves the dead woman. Does Louise really know her husband or is their marriage based on lies.
Loved this book from beginning to the end.

Thank you for an advance copy of this thriller/drama. We have Louise and Tim who are given an opportunity to go to a beautiful villa in the South of France for holiday. Louise has some reservations but in the end they go...and then secrets are revealed about them and some of the other guests staying at the villa. As someone who is just starting summer holiday, I loved this setting and I liked the alternating POV/timelines to slowly reveal the secrets. A good summer thriller.

Tim and Louise are invited to a luxurious villa in France so that Tim can sell his veterinary practice to a major conglomerate. The other guests, as well as the Cutlers, have secrets which are revealed throughout the course of this murder mystery. James unweaves the tale using multiple narrators. This was a quick and engaging read. Though somewhat predictable, I found it enjoyable and would recommend it for a summer pool bag. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5 ⭐️

Tim Cutler and his family are spending 2 weeks in the south of France with a prospective buyer to his company. During their stay an unknown woman is found dead by the side of the pool. There are several suspects but what’s the connection to the dead woman?

This was an enjoyable (although very predictable) murder mystery that is perfect for a beach read. It’s very fast paced with chapters told from different characters.

There was an end reveal that was unexpected but not a huge twist.

Thanks to NetGalley for the EARC!

Fast paced, edge of your seat thriller! I loved this book and stayed locked on the entire time! I love a good thriller and this one did it for me! 10 stars if I could give them!

Tim and Louise, along with their kids, go on a two-week holiday in the south of France. Tim, a vet with a big business deal in mind, invites another couple, Kevin and Shona, which upsets Louise. The tension between Louise and Shona creates drama during the trip. Their host Renee is the only one Louise feels comfortable around. However, a grim discovery by the pool changes everything, revealing secrets that challenge Louise and Tim's marriage.

As secrets unravel, Louise questions her beliefs, while Tim's hidden truths put their relationship to the test. Past mistakes resurface, causing chaos. Although not all characters are likeable, they add depth to the gripping story, making it an easy yet captivating read.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of the book. My thoughts are my own.

Five stars for this addictive, immersive read! I'm not sure what I liked most about this book, because it truly has everything. This psychological thriller is set in a private villa in the south of France, and that alone sets it up for the perfect summer read. There are characters who are mostly acquaintances all coming together for a two week stay with a wealthy host. Eventually something tragic happens, a body is found by the pool, and suspicions are on all the guests. Watch the lies spill out, and the relationships get tested, as the murderer is sought out.

Some of the characters include:
Tim - veterinarian, about to sell his practice to the wealthy owner of the villa. You want to like him, but find it difficult based on what he does early on in the book.
Louise - Tim's wife, who seems to drink the Tim and Louise are a perfect couple Kool-Aid.
Shona - the trainwreck of a wife of Tim's friend, who makes everything awkward for Tim and Louise, and her husband.
Renee - owner of the villa, who may not want to buy Tim's vet practice if some of the secrets are brought to light.

The story is told from multiple POVs, shifting from the past to the present. This really helped develop the main characters, and made the book more interesting -- right up to the epilogue!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Definitely one of those books that makes you want to keep reading. I loved the tension at the holiday home and the awkwardness and undertones were addictive. A perfect summer read.

Wow! What a great read! This is the perfect summer thriller. Just the Nicest Family starts out slow but then it picks up quickly and I could not put it down. This is the first book that I have read by Alison James; but it won't be the last.

This book is filled with secrets and lies. I really liked how this was told in multiple points of view and that it shifted between the past and the present. I really liked how well the characters were all developed.

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The perfect summer thriller!!! Set in the south of France, with memorable characters, this book will not disappoint. Tim and his wife Louise, along with their children are offered a two week holiday at a luxurious villa ,by the CEO of a company looking to close a business deal with Tim during their trip. Posh surroundings as well as other guests puts Tim and Louise in unfamiliar territory, but they try their best to fit in. They invite a couple, Kevin and Shona, (against Louise’s wishes ) to join them at the villa. While Tim is trying to do business with Renee, the CEO, Louise is left with the other guests, none of whom she feels comfortable with.
They all wake up one morning to find a dead body next to the pool. This is when everyone’s holiday changes as well as everyone’s future. Storylines from the past mix with the present. Lots of good twists, and the ending- never saw that coming!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookutoure for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌

Just the Nicest Family : Alison James

Format: eBook (NetGalley)
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: June 19,2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tim and Louise find themselves in Paris for two weeks. This seems like a wonderful getaway for their perfect family. Little does anyone know, Tim has some secrets in his past.

Alternating POVs go between Louise and Tim, and then also time jumps to the past. So many secrets and so much drama! I was able to guess the twist pretty early on in this one. Some of the book was hard to focus on as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

#JusttheNicestFamily #NetGalley #AlisonJames

For me, this book started out slow but I am not a believer of giving up on a book - so I pushed through, and I'm happy to say I am so glad I did! It definitely starts to pick up a third of the way in, and you getting hit with info stack after info stack and it gets very exciting! I always love a good who-dunnit, and this definitely gives you that plus some! This is the first book I have read by Alison James, and it will not be my last! I am excited to look into her other works. Also, let me just say - the last excerpt OMG! Worth the wait guys!

They seem like the perfect family. But their secrets are about to come out… A must read for those who love a mind-blowing psychological twist! Deliciously dark and twisty… Will have you locking all the doors and flipping pages in order to find out what happened…

"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive" Sir Walter Scott's famous line could not be more apt where this book is concerned. When four very different couples end up spending time together in a luxury villa there are bound to be problems but no one could have expected to wake up to the body of a strange young woman lying by the pool. This is a really great read. The knowledge that one of the guests has a secret almost leads the reader into a false sense of security. But of course this is too easy as gradually other events in the guests' pasts come to light.
Alison James always produces a book that just begs to be read in one sitting. Her tantalising peeks into the past had me breathlessly racing through the book.. But I could never have guessed at the shocks to come. I read the epilogue three times and I still could barely believe it. Another brilliant read by a great author, I can't wait for the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

Just the Nicest Family is a fast paced murder mystery/thriller with full of secrets, past and present timelines, multiple character viewpoints and several unexpected twists. Once the secrets and mysteries start to reveal themselves you will have a hard time putting this one down. Solid 4 stars.

Thanks to the author and Bookouture via NetGalley for the chance to review this book.