How to slay on Holiday is a fun quick read. Chloe has spent months planning the murder of her husband, Scott. Everything is ready, but first she must create the perfect alibi to avoid any suggestion of her involvement in his death. And what better way to avoid suspicion than playing the loved-up wife on an extravagant holiday with their extended families? It is a dark thriller and I read each chapter with ease. I enjoyed reading the different povs, but some of the characters lacked depth. The writing was fast paced and enjoyable.

Whoa what a wild ride! So much intrigue in this twisty plot. Did not see the end coming until the last page. Fabulous. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Chloe has arranged a vacation for her entire family at an exclusive Greek resort. It isn't for relaxation or bonding, however. Instead, it's to create the lasting impression that she and her husband Scott were madly in love. That's what she needs everyone to believe because she has planned for Scott to be murdered when they return home. Chloe and Scott come from two different but powerful crime families. Chloe has brought along her parents as well as Scott's parents and their siblings with their significant others. No one really likes or trusts anyone else. At least the concierge, Grace, who is on site at the resort, is helpful, since she works for the company Chloe has hired to eliminate Scott. This comes in handy when there is an unexpected death that needs to be cleaned up and made to go away so that Chloe's careful plan doesn't get exposed.

The story was told from the points of view of Chloe, Scott's sister Tori, and Grace. It was interesting to get the various points of view and to see the secrets each woman was hiding from the others. It was also fun to try to work out who was responsible for the death, since they each assumed it was one of the others. It was hard at times to keep everyone straight, as there were plenty of siblings and in-laws running around. I enjoyed the twists and turns and was surprised by the final reveal of who was really pulling the strings in the background.

You’d kill for a holiday like this one…
Chloe has spent months planning the murder of her husband, Scott. Everything is ready, but first she must create the perfect alibi to avoid any suggestion of her involvement in his death. And what better way to avoid suspicion than playing the loved-up wife on an extravagant holiday with their extended families?! Great read! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! It had great suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, action, fantastic characters, funny and some wild twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This was the last book of the year I read and ABSOLUTELY loved it. it got me out of my reading slump, loved the concept and who couldn't relate lol
Full of twists and loved the whole location setting too.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

This is worth a look, while I enjoyed the fast-paced narrative of this story and the writing style, there was a lot left unresolved but it was a fun read and well worth reading to see what happens !

A fun read! Yes there is murder but with crazy twists.
Love this author and cannot wait for more.
(Loved the small reference to Sweet Pea.)
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I devoured this book in less than 8 hours! This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be looking into more of her works now. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and that epilogue was a surprise to me!

I enjoyed the fast-paced narrative of this story and the writing style. I did find I still had several questions at the end that I would have preferred answered.

This was a twisty thriller that kept you engaged from start to finish! The writing was fast-paced and suspenseful. I was left with a few questions that I would have liked to have seen explored but, nothing that detracted from the overall story.

The plot is what attracted me to this book, the idea was so clever and interesting to read about. I was excited to see how Bonner would go about it. The world building and imagery within the book was something I couldn’t fault. The pacing of the story was well done as I managed to finish the book in under 2 days, which is what I love about psychological thrillers. The tension throughout the book was what kept me reading.

While I was excited about the plot of the story, halfway through the book it started to feel disjointed. The repetitiveness of the internal monologues and referring to the reader grew tiresome. I wished there was more in depth characterization especially with Chloe’s character. It felt like there was too much added to the story but not enough depth/explanation for everything. I wished we learnt more about Grace, Tori and the rest of the Cooper/Wilson families. For me, there were a lot of unanswered questions that could have been addressed and the ending threw me off completely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book.
It was fun, wit, crazy, relatable. I loved the writing style, which reminded me a lot of “How to kill your family” by Bella Mackie, one of my favourite books. I loved the main character, the honesty, how raw and relatable she was. I loved how the characters around her were, apparently, idiots, but how they turned out to be not.
This was a very nice novel, that I enjoyed and went through in one sitting, and I am looking forward to read everything by this author!

If you are in the mood for a fun read, check out How to Slay on Holiday by Sarah Bonner. It was an amazing good time!

Chloe Cooper, has a marital dilemma: she's spent months meticulously planning the murder of her husband, Scott. To pull it off without suspicion—after all, they're supposed to be madly in love—she devises the perfect alibi: a week-long family getaway to Greece. What could go wrong?
The book's pacing is quick, with tension simmering beneath Chloe's fraught interactions with Scott, her overly curious sister-in-law Tori, and the enigmatic villa concierge, Grace. Initially, I was hooked, but as the story unfolded, I found myself lost in the labyrinth of plot twists and developments.
While the premise offers the promise of a deliciously dark tale, the execution fell flat for me as the story progressed. The secondary characters bring intriguing dynamics to the table but lack the depth to fully engage. I picked up this book ready to root for Chloe and her sinister plan, but the narrative didn't deliver the thrill I'd expected based on its description and cover.
The twist, while undeniably surprising, felt like it came out of nowhere. In hindsight, I can see the breadcrumbs leading to it, but the ending didn’t feel earned or satisfying. It left me wanting more cohesion and payoff from such an intriguing setup.

Thanks NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 27 feb 25

Thanks NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this humorous mystery/suspense novel. It almost reminded me of a book version of WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S. There are quite a few characters and points of view in this book, so you need to keep track of everything and how everyone relates. That said, this was a hard book to put down and I did not guess that ending. Definitely a fun read. Check it out when it’s published at the end of February.

2.75/5 rounded up.

I'm so sorry, this had such a great premise but such a lackluster execution for me. It just could not keep my attention. And I don't think I can quite put my finger on why. I think maybe it was the slow start mixed with the writing style?? There also wasn't much characterization, in my opinion. But I feel like there was more to my inability to get invested in this book.

This book follows our main character as she takes a trip to a luxury resort in Greece. But she has been planning her husband's murder for months now. And as you can imagine, that's a bit chaotic and insane. And quite the premise for a story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

How to Slay on Holiday by Sarah Bonner offers an intriguing blend of sun-soaked luxury, dark humor, and domestic drama, set against the picturesque backdrop of Mykonos. The novel follows Chloe Cooper, heiress to a morally murky family empire, as she hatches a meticulously calculated plan to murder her cheating husband, Scott, while crafting the perfect alibi during a family getaway. What unfolds is a twist-laden narrative where nothing—and no one—is quite what it seems.

The premise is undeniably gripping, and Bonner’s vivid descriptions of the Greek villa, mouthwatering cuisine, and glittering coastline instantly immerse the reader in Chloe’s seemingly idyllic vacation-turned-crime scene. The book’s pacing is brisk, with tension bubbling under the surface of Chloe’s strained interactions with Scott, her suspicious sister-in-law Tori, and the mysterious villa concierge, Grace.

However, while the setup promises a deliciously dark romp, the execution leaves room for improvement. Chloe’s characterization wavers throughout the novel, making it difficult to connect with her motives or sympathize with her plight. She alternates between a cunning, relatable protagonist and a shallow, bratty figure whose final decisions feel inconsistent with the groundwork laid earlier in the story.

The supporting cast—Tori, Grace, and even Scott—offer interesting dynamics but lack the depth needed to fully engage the reader. Grace, in particular, had the potential to be a standout character, but her juvenile dialogue and underexplored backstory undermined her enigmatic presence. Similarly, Tori’s suspicions of Chloe’s plan are introduced but never fully explained, leaving a loose thread in an otherwise tightly plotted mystery.

Pop culture references peppered throughout the dialogue add a layer of humor and relatability but occasionally feel overused, detracting from the suspense during pivotal moments. In high-stakes scenes, these references break the immersion and diminish the gravity of the unfolding drama.

Structurally, the novel feels rushed in places where it could have delved deeper into character relationships, emotional stakes, or the logistics of the crime itself. Key moments—such as the aftermath of Scott’s demise or the family’s reactions during the explosive finale—are glossed over in favor of internal monologues or abrupt scene transitions, leaving readers craving more.

How to Slay on Holiday remains an entertaining read for fans of twisty domestic thrillers. Bonner’s clever premise, witty dialogue, and immersive setting carry the story through its weaker points, delivering a page-turner that will keep readers guessing. While the novel doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential, it’s a fun, fast-paced addition to the “vacation-gone-wrong” genre that will leave readers intrigued to see what Bonner pens next.

Incredibly engaging beginning all to end on a rather meh note. I think most readers are approaching this book with an understanding of “yes, I want her to kill her husband let’s do it” but it’s completely lacking the catharsis and enjoyment you’d expect from the description & cover. The stakes are routinely upside down, characters treat things laxs when they shouldn’t and freak out on things that are simple. The ending is desperately wrapped up like it’s midnight on Christmas Eve throwing a final twist in the hopes of making an impact. This only leaves the reader feeling unresolved & wishing for what could have been!

Sarah Bonner’s How to Slay on Holiday follows Chloe Cooper, an heiress to an illicit family empire with a bit of a marital problem: she’s spent months meticulously planning to murder her husband, Scott. Of course, she’s going to need a rock-hard alibi to ensure she’s never suspected, and what better way to craft it than by hauling their families to Greece for the perfect, week-long getaway? As Chloe works overtime to portray her marriage as the loving and fulfilling union their families believe it to be, tensions bubble amid sister-in-law Tori’s growing suspicions, and the increasingly enigmatic behavior of the villa concierge, Grace. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of the Greek island, Mykonos, this book promises a thrilling mix of drama and intrigue, with twists at every corner.

I found the premise of this novel to be compelling, and thought Bonner created a vivid setting in her imagery of the Bougainvillea. Paired with detailed descriptions of Greek cuisine and culture, I felt immersed in the luxurious holiday atmosphere and found myself eagerly flipping pages to uncover the novel’s twists. There was clear effort in making the narrative feel fast-paced and engaging, which paid off in the sense that I finished the book rather quickly in one night.

Still, the execution of the plot left much to be desired. Chloe’s characterization felt inconsistent. Beginning as irritable and cold, Chloe grew more relatable and rational as the problems in her marriage were laid out, only to be reverted to a disappointingly bratty, shallow conclusion by the final page. Supporting characters like Tori and Grace had more potential, but their development felt incomplete. For example, Tori’s discovery of Chloe’s plan was never explained, and Grace’s professional persona often clashed with her juvenile dialogue, niche references, and a lack of distinct voice between the other character POVs.

The overuse of pop culture references was another drawback. While they at times added humor and relatability, they ultimately felt excessive, making the novel read as dated and out of place — especially during high-stakes moments where the characters should be focused on the weight of covering up a crime scene, not how they were sort of, kind of dressed as Walt and Jesse from Breaking Bad.

I also felt that, structurally, this book suffered from a rushed pace and lack of depth. Scenes that could have added emotional weight, established character dynamics, or built tension were glossed over in favor of repetitive internal monologues. I would have liked the story to include moments like the flight to Mykonos, or carrying the body out of the villa, or even more detail in how the family handled the finale. The abrupt ending simply didn’t do justice to the layered plot, leaving far too many questions unanswered and, in my opinion, character arcs unresolved.

All that being said, the story’s bones were solid enough for the story to be enjoyable. With stronger characterization, more descriptive scenes, and a bit tighter editing, this could have been a truly entertaining thriller. While How to Slay on Holiday didn’t quite hit the mark for me, I appreciate the author’s effort in delivering a fresh take on the vacation-gone-wrong trope, and I’m curious to see how her work evolves in the future.