Member Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley, M.A. Hunter, and Boldwood Books for providing the ebook. This gripping, fast-paced thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, with its constant twists and turns that had me reading late into the night. A thrilling cat-and-mouse story that will keep you guessing until the very end!
At first I was like frustrated because the protagonist Zoe is bummed about some breakups, including the high school boyfriend. I have never been bummed about a breakup with a man so I could not relate. I tend to be relieved personally. I felt for Dan at first but dude needs to get his shiz together.
I like that the book is simple and I l0ved the setting. The mystery is interesting.
Four friends meet up again in this book, if you love a good reunion novel this may well be the one for you.
This book is complex, layered and a remarkably engrossing slow burn.
It is really worthwhile to stick with the slow burn here and I would very much like to read more by this author who is a credit to this genre.
Lily, Zoe, Dan, and Rod are childhood friends and the four of them are meeting for the first time in years for Rod’s wedding.
Rod’s parents have passed away, leaving him a very wealthy man. When the friends meet Rod’s fiancé Bella they can’t help but be a little suspicious of her. Her hard-to-place and frequently changing accent and the way she met Rod raises some flags that Rod doesn’t see.
But happy to see one another, they’re excited to get their road trip going as they head to the location of Rod’s family estate. Making a stop along the way, a cashier tells the group of a party taking place close by. After agreeing to give her a ride to the party, they set off for a night of fun.
When they awake much later after sleeping in the car, no one seems to remember the party or the night before. Slowly untangling from the limbs stretched out in the car, they’re all shocked when they hear a scream.
Scrambling out of the car, they see a man, dead in the road, with evidence on the car that they had hit him. As they try to process the scene in front of them, things aren’t adding up. The one in the drivers seat would have needed more room for their legs and would have moved the chair back. Another has the actual keys in their pocket yet awoke in the backseat. What happened and why can’t anyone remember?
Dan, Lily, and Zoe immediately flash back to a similar deadly crash when they were in school. They made a pact to never speak about it yet it seems someone knows.
It would seem all the guests have secrets they’re holding and will do anything to keep. Each begins to look at the other wondering who is a friend and who is a foe?
I’m always impressed by the thrilling and engaging stories M.A. Hunter writes! He has a gift for truly providing shocking and jaw-dropping twists. I definitely recommend checking this one out along with his other works!
The Reunion is an addictive, twisty thriller featuring four friends who are on their way to Scotland for a wedding and a long overdue catch up.
Secrets and lies abound, pasts are uncovered and friendships fracture as the truth is revealed.
Narrated from multiple POV, The Reunion is a pacey thriller that had me hanging on the edge of my seat, I needed to know exactly what had happened and I needed to know now!
I found all of the characters to be unlikeable and I couldn't take to any of them. This didn't distract from my enjoyment of the book in any way.
This was very addictive. I was blitzing the audiobook all the time I could. I wanted to know what had happened in the past with these friends. Everyone’s got secrets, and it became addictive because I wanted to know what these secrets were, I had kind of guessed one twist at the end with who was behind everything, but I was wrong in respect that someone I thought was involved wasn’t actually involved. And the moment I was more upset, in a weird way, for who was hurt in Scotland – which to be honest, seemed to have been swept under the rug.
When I found out what had happened back in time with Saul and how the evening had been planned out, I felt a bit of oomph was missing. I didn’t feel like there was a big reveal, even when there was one. I’m not sure why. I felt like everyone got away with everything, and I didn’t know if that was right. I don’t know what I wanted for people, and I’m not sure if that’s the end I wanted. But I found the entire book so very addictive. I thought it was an absolute wild ride to how secrets can damage people, how secrets can damage friendships, and just how at the end of the day everything can be destroyed because of it. This book really amplified this.
I was hooked, I wanted to know the ins and outs of it all. I needed to know. It was on my mind constantly! I just wanted to be left alone to read/listen to it! Kudos to the author for this!
I reallyyyy enjoyed this book. There were so many layers to this book. We have a secret from the past that is coming back 24 years later to haunt the present. But then we also have a horrible accident in the present that is slightly similar to the past.
When a police officer starts to look into the past, will he discover the current as well? The dynamic between the characters was great! They all are trying to trust each other but also can't help but turning on one another and then coming back together and then turning on each other again. The whiplash the characters are having with one another is so intriguing and really keeps you invested in the book.
Everyone has their own secrets from when they last saw each other, but are those secrets connected to what's happening now? You would have to read the book to find out!
The settings are also interesting as the first half they don't have access to their phones and are in a location no one knows that seems really remote. And then the second half is in a mansion of one of the characters with the police officer staying there as well. This big change in location really upped the stakes and also came at just the right time to bring my curiosity back up.
I honestly really want to read every book from this author and honestly probably will! I read this book so fast and really got lost in the drama.
The Reunion by M A Hunter was a good psychological thriller, however, it did take me a while to get into it but stick with it - it gets there in the end, and ended up being a good book. So Never underestimate a book cover!
It was full of twists and turns throughout and there is a tension-filled atmosphere from the very first few chapters till the end.
Zoe, Dan, Lily and Rod, Lily all graduated at college and sadly have all drifted apart over the years. They all come together again to attend Rod's wedding to Bella in Scotland. Lilly has borrowed her dad’s old car and they all cram themselves into it and go to the Manor home which is on a remote island in Scotland, which Rod has inherited.
As they all set off together there is tension in the car between them all. They have so many secrets they are hiding from each other and they are dreading to be alone all together again as someone is going to slip up.
But, we all know that how hard to try and hide your secrets they have a way of coming out.........
Big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.
This is my first read from this author and it did not disappoint. I devoured this fast paced read in one setting.
This new thriller from M A Hunter for this year.
This is an unsettling but absorbing read. Fast paced and completely engrossing.
Group of friends reunite for a wedding in Scotland after not being as close since high school. Each of them has secrets they are keeping and there is a shared secret between them.
The Reunion has an interesting premise and the writing is engaging and kept me wanting to find out what happens.
Some of the twists were easy to guess. Others I didn't see coming. The ending felt like a bit of a letdown for me. The story was building to a climax which fell a bit flat.
If you like thrillers I'd still check this one out because the writing is good. This is the second book I've read by this author and I would definitely read others.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I love books that are about reunions and I was very excited to read this book. However, it did have a slow start, but it was very suspensible and did keep my attention throughout the whole book.. The second half of the book did pick up pace and I was very interested to see how it was going to end and was not expecting that ending at all. Good read and will be checking out more books from this author.
I love a good reunion story! This one was a slow burn but I think it was intentional as to build character development. It’s been a couple of decades since this group of friends has been together and they are all invited to a wedding. I could feel the undercurrent of something hidden just below the surface and as the story goes on, the pieces begin to come together. What did happen to their friend decades ago? What has happened since? Is everyone hiding something? You will find out! Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc.
Zoe’s going to a wedding, one that’s a bit of a reunion of her school friends. Ones she’s not seen in a while. Sounds like fun, if you like that sort of thing. But she’s not really up for it and after finishing The Reunion I don’t blame her. She’s in for a hellish weekend ! A not so happy reunion!!
But this isn’t just about Zoe and her telling a story. Dan got to tell his perspective; he’s her sixth form sweetheart who has massive problems of his own and they aren’t just hurting him. He’s a man under extreme pressure!! On top of this dual narrative is the sporadic diary entry from the unfortunate and unexpected deceased member of their friendship group.
I’ll admit I was hooked. I wanted to know what happened that fateful night, I wanted to know who set the group on their trajectory in Scotland and I wanted to know who was tormented Zoe. Despite her misdemeanours, I quite liked Zoe. She’s torn between so many points that she doesn’t know which way is up anymore.
Hunter has written another cracking thriller that I was addicted to. When I wasn’t reading, I was playing over in my mind what I had read and trying to be detective (I’m never going to be a police officer, folks). With each chapter my mind got more muddled with the information I was presented with and I suspected everyone! I even questioned whether the person who died, had died!!! A tension packed read for MA Hunter which I thoroughly enjoyed!!
After many years a group of friends reunite for a wedding. It is clear that there is a big secret in the past involving them.
The group of friends all seem to have their own secrets happening now also.
While I enjoyed the story, I must admit it felt like I had read this before. I hadn't, it just felt too similar to other books I had read. Yes the overall story and secrets were different but the overall vibe of the book was familiar.
Sadly, I was underwhelmed by this one. I normally devour everything this author writes.
Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc.
I love to read books about reunions where someone is keeping a secret. In this book, everyone seems to be keeping a secret.
But as often happens, it doesn't seem as big a deal 20 years after the fact. So the problem is, the beginning of the book is very slow with a lot of buildup to the secret, which turns out to be more traumatic to the people carrying the guilt. There were quite a few elements that stretched my suspension of disbelief, and I can't say the characters were wholly likeable. But there are some new secrets, and a few twists that kept me reading until the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader's copy.
Four friends reunite to celebrate an upcoming wedding in Scotland. The group encounters new issues along the way and ultimately discuss what happened to a friend decades ago. This book was okay. It progressed slowly and there were some things that had me questioning if that could actually happen.
The Reunion is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages with its secrets, twists, and tension-filled atmosphere. This was my first book by the author, and from the start, it gave me serious Lucy Foley vibes—a fantastic surprise since she’s one of my favorite writers!
The story centers on Zoe, who reluctantly reunites with her old friends for a wedding at a remote manor house in Scotland. Haunted by the memories of a tragic night that fractured their group, Zoe braces herself for a weekend full of unresolved tensions. The road trip to the wedding sets off a chain of chilling events that unearth buried secrets and leave everyone questioning what really happened years ago.
The book starts strong, immediately pulling me into its eerie, atmospheric setting. I especially enjoyed the multiple POV structure, which adds complexity and keeps you guessing. Each character holds a piece of the puzzle, and their secrets slowly unravel in ways that push the story in unexpected directions. The tension between the characters is palpable, creating a sense of unease that permeates every chapter.
While the middle part slows down a bit, the story builds toward a satisfying plot twist. However, I did find the ending slightly predictable—I was hoping for a shocking twist to completely blow me away. Still, the journey to uncover the truth was thrilling, and the final revelations tied the story together effectively.
If you love psychological thrillers with complex characters, a tense atmosphere, and plenty of secrets to unravel, The Reunion is a strong pick. M.A. Hunter has definitely earned a spot on my radar, and I’m excited to explore more of his work!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book had me hooked from the prologue—it set up so much tension and mystery that I couldn’t wait to see how it all unraveled. The idea of old friends reuniting on a remote Scottish island, with secrets from their past bubbling to the surface, felt like the perfect setup for a gripping thriller.
At first, the pacing was spot-on, and I loved how the flashbacks added depth to the story. But once I got further in, the momentum started to drag. There was a lot of repetition, and I found myself frustrated with how the characters’ relationships were portrayed. They were supposed to be this close-knit group, but their interactions felt forced and, honestly, pretty unrealistic.
The fact that none of the characters were particularly likable was both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, it kept me guessing about their motives, but on the other, I didn’t feel invested in any of them. It’s hard to root for people who constantly seem at odds with each other.
That said, it’s a quick, entertaining read—great for when you’re in the mood for a bit of suspense without too much complexity. I enjoyed the twists, even if they weren’t entirely satisfying, but this one didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Four estranged school friends reunite for a wedding in remote Scotland, but their gathering stirs up dark secrets from their past. Years ago, a friend’s death left lingering guilt and questions, and now, tensions resurface as old wounds are reopened.
This was an interesting narrative, told through the perspectives of Dan and Zoe—both struggling in their own lives. The car journey is the first time they have all seen each other since the loss of a shared friend many years ago and there is clearly an undercurrent of guilt and suspicion and that reslly is the drive in the book: lies, secrets, and buried emotions. The plot is mostly believable and a gripping; a twisty engaging read for fans of the secluded location psychological thriller.