The novel was easy to read and enjoyable enough. But there were so many plot holes and I felt the book ended a bit abruptly.

**5-Star Review for *How to Slay on Holiday* by Sarah Bonner**

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

*How to Slay on Holiday* by Sarah Bonner is a delightful, witty, and utterly charming read that had me hooked from the very first page! This novel perfectly blends humor, romance, and a touch of mystery, making it the ideal getaway read for anyone looking to escape into a world of fun, adventure, and self-discovery.

Bonner’s writing is sharp and engaging, with a tone that strikes the perfect balance between lightheartedness and depth. The protagonist, with her quirky personality and relatable struggles, is a joy to follow as she navigates the ups and downs of a holiday that’s anything but ordinary. The setting—a picturesque holiday destination—is beautifully described, drawing you in and making you feel like you’re right there alongside the characters, soaking up the sun and the drama.

The plot is full of surprises and delightful twists. What I particularly enjoyed was how Bonner incorporated elements of suspense and mystery into what could have been a straightforward rom-com, keeping the narrative fresh and unpredictable. The humor is spot-on, with witty dialogue and laugh-out-loud moments, but the novel also takes the time to explore deeper themes of personal growth, relationships, and finding one’s own path in life.

The characters are well-developed and genuinely likable, with great chemistry and interactions that kept me engaged. There are moments of romance, but it’s the friendships and self-reflection that really give this book its heart. The book strikes a perfect balance between escapism and emotional depth, making it more than just a light read—it’s a rewarding one.

*How to Slay on Holiday* is a joyful, heartwarming, and refreshingly fun novel that I highly recommend. Sarah Bonner has created a perfect holiday escape for readers who are looking for a book that combines laughter, romance, and a little mystery with an unforgettable setting. A perfect 5-star read!

How to Slay on Holiday by Sarah Bonner is pure chaotic fun—a darkly entertaining thriller with a wicked sense of humour and twists that hit you out of nowhere. This isn’t about literary prose or award-winning writing (and who needs that for a murder-filled holiday, anyway?). It’s about a story so compulsively entertaining, you’ll devour it faster than a plate of baklava.

Set against the glamorous backdrop of Mykonos, Chloe’s meticulously planned getaway to craft the perfect alibi spirals hilariously and dangerously out of control. Bonner nails the high stakes and the absurdity of a holiday gone horribly wrong. The writing is punchy, fast-paced, and full of sharp humour. It’s not trying to be highbrow—it’s all about keeping you flipping pages late into the night.

Chloe is a wonderfully messy protagonist, balancing relatable frustrations with razor-sharp cunning. The multiple POVs were a great touch, constantly making me second-guess what was really happening. And that epilogue? Absolutely killer (pun intended).

If you love a “vacation-gone-wrong” thriller with twists, drama, and a good dose of dark humour, this one’s for you. A huge thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the early copy—mark your calendars for February 27th because How to Slay on Holiday is the perfect escapist read for 2025!

I requested this arc from NetGalley as it sounded like a similar premise to How to Kill Your Family, which was one of my favourite reads of 2023 (I was late to the party as per)

For me, unfortunately this book lacked substance - it was entertaining enough in parts, but the plot kept getting more and more unbelievable as it went along and there were too many ‘coincidences’ that had me rolling my eyes.

Also there was a major plot point NEVER explained which winds me right up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my advance copy.

I love a good murder mystery and this one had SO many unexpected twists and turns. If you think you’re going to be five or ten steps ahead of the author, you absolutely are not. She’s gunna hit you with so many events you don’t see coming!

I really enjoyed Bonner’s writing style which made this an easy & quick read. Sadly, this one fell short for me. This was a character-driven book and I disliked so many of the characters. They’re rich, spoiled, entitled, ungrateful, and I couldn’t relate to any of them.


How to Slay on Holiday
Sarah Bonner
Pub Date: 27 February 2025

Fun beach read that does not take itself too seriously. Perfect for a day by the pool

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one hell of a ride.

Everything that could go wrong, does. I really appreciate the detail of how much planning Chloe goes to, only to find out killing Scott is not quite going to go as she planned.

The location and atmosphere in this book will transport you directly to Mykonos and I would love to have read this on a beach.

Expect funny, impossible suspense and a great ending.

So, I just finished "How to Slay on Holiday" by Sarah Bonner, and I’ve got to say—this book was a WILD ride. Imagine booking a luxury villa in Mykonos with your extended family, pretending to play the perfect wife, all while secretly plotting your husband’s murder. Yeah, that’s the kind of rollercoaster you’re in for with this darkly comedic thriller.

Chloe, the soon-to-be widow, is equal parts clever and morally questionable. She’s planned every detail of her husband Scott’s “accidental” demise but didn’t count on meddling family members, nosy staff, and secrets bubbling up like ouzo at a taverna. One of the things I loved most about this book is how Bonner balances sharp humor with genuine suspense. The multiple POVs—Chloe, her sister-in-law Tori, and the ever-watchful villa concierge Grace—add layers of intrigue and keep you guessing about who’s really in control. Are the characters a bit over-the-top? Sure. But that’s part of the charm! They’re all delightfully dramatic in a way that feels perfect for a sun-soaked thriller.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

How to Slay on Holiday is a fun, quick, and easy read. The use of three POVs helps the story move along at a pace and also allows the reader to learn things that not all of the characters know.

There are secrets aplenty between the two families on holiday and also between all of the characters. At times, I wondered how on earth it could ever be resolved but resolved it was.

A really fun read, sharp and snappy.

I am a Sarah Bonner fangirl and this book was just *chefs kiss*

I flew through this, the storyline is super easy to follow, the language isnt majorly difficult to read, it reads really well and I read this whole thing in 3 hours so it has the 'unputdownable' factor.

If you are looking for a quick easy read, this is the one.

Dont think it is a summer read only because of the title!

Loved this book! It has the magic combination of multiple pov and short chapters that keep everything snappy and totally engaging. I really enjoyed the story and found the plot intriguing if a little far fetched! Altogether a very entertaining read.

I LOVED this book from the very first chapter! The first person , multiple POVs have you feeling like you are right there in the story inside the Villa with the Coopers and Wilson’s! The whole time reading I just kept telling myself, “one more chapter, just one more!”

The story was so intricately woven together and will have you guessing until the very end! If you love thrillers that will have you on your toes the entire time then this is for you!

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood publishers for my ARC copy!

I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this book. From the short chapters (always a plus) and addictive writing style to the surprisingly brilliant characters, I was hooked from the very beginning. Each day followed chapters in a different characters POV alternating between 3, which changed my opinion on what I thought really happened each time. The short chapters kept me flying through the book, as I constantly told myself “Just one more chapter” over and over again. The last half of the book had me questioning everything constantly and the epilogue blew my mind! I highly recommend this book and wish I could go back and read it for the first time again. While I thoroughly enjoyed this in the middle of winter, this would be THE perfect summer read!

The biggest thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

Love the style of writing, totally draws the reader in from the start.
Told from different characters viewpoints but totally mesh together and move the story forward.
This is the second book I have read by Sarah and she has been added to my list of authors to look out for.
A big family holiday with obnoxious male characters of differing generations.
Already committed to having her husband killed on return Chloe is trying to project an Ideal marriage to both sides of the family. It does not go to plan.
Enjoy I did

I so wanted to love this book. It's started out as a super strong 5/5 with Chloe's sarcastic musings and veiled contempt of her husband. And then all of the sudden we went into psychological thriller territory where everyone is batsh@# crazy and completely Gone Girl delusional so the story no longer has to make any sense or follow any logic b/c everyone is a psycho. To be fair, it said it was a dark thriller but I didn't realize it was one of those psychological ones where in the end it was all just a dream.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

In How To Slay on a Holiday we follow Chloe and her extended family. This is not a normal holiday, no. It's one to establish an alibi. You see, Chloe wants to kill her husband but first has to make sure her in-laws and her own family thinks they are in a happy relationship. This might sound terrible, but no worries; Her husband <spoiler>is a manipulative abusive jerk that is in on top of the drugs crime world, just like everyone else.</spoiler>. The plan however is derailed. Why? You have to read to book to find out.

The story is funny, tense, full of twists and little clues scattered throughout. The prologue is the perfect ending although I did still have a question of what might have really happened on a night that is talked about in the book.

The writing style is easy to follow and hooks you in. I couldn't stop reading and had multiple nights cut short because of that. The book follows 3 of the woman who are a lot more layered then first thought. They are awesome girl bosses and I wouldn't mind being their friend. The one thing that I didn't like and got me out of the story sometimes (and the reason for 4 stars instead of 5) is that the characters sometimes speak to us, as if we are there next to them. It might be meant as a way to explain things but sometimes it just wasn't necessary.

Overall it's a good book and definitely a fun light-ish read.

How to Slay on Holiday by @sarahbonner101 is a 4 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ funny, true crime fictional read. Grab this book for some laughs inside the pages off a thriller. 😊☠️ Thank you @netgalley and @boldwoodbooksnl for this ARC. In this read, Chloe is planning the murder of her husband, Scott and a family vacation to the Greek islands seems to give the impression that they are in love and remove any doubt in her family. But, when she discovers that she isn’t the only person who is plotting Scott’s death things take a drastic and dramatic turn. Using multiple perspectives the narrative is very witty and filled with fun within the premise of a thriller and mystery. Readers will laughs and enjoy the twists within the plot. Look for this publication soon! #peachypages #bookstagram #bookreview #book #booklover #netgalley #arc #sarahbonner #thriller #truecrime #boldwoodbooks #readreadread #bookworm

A dark and twisted thriller set in Mykonos featuring two crime families related by marriage. Although the characters were dislikable and unbelievable I enjoyed the story and multiple viewpoints. A great holiday read.

Review: How to Slay on Holiday by Sarah Bonner

How to Slay on Holiday is a book that hooked me with its premise but ultimately left me frustrated. The story revolves around Chloe, who plans to kill her husband. To avoid suspicion, she organizes a family vacation to present the image of a perfect couple. The setup was intriguing, and the first half of the book promised a thrilling read.

One of the positives was the simplicity of the writing style. It was accessible and made for a quick read, with multiple points of view adding layers to the narrative. The first 50% had solid pacing and enough tension to keep me turning the pages. However, things began to unravel in the second half.

The story’s execution didn’t live up to its potential. Characters appeared suddenly to conveniently solve problems, while plot elements introduced early on were abandoned or contradicted later. This led to inconsistencies and shallow motivations that made it hard to stay invested. Chloe, the protagonist, lacked depth, and her actions often felt unconvincing. While Tori was a standout character with a more compelling presence, others, like Scott, Rob, and Jack, felt one-dimensional and unpleasant. Even the subplot about the parents’ rivalry, which had potential, was discarded without resolution.

The pacing also suffered in the latter half. What began as a promising thriller devolved into chaos, with rushed twists and implausible resolutions. By the time the epilogue revealed its final twist, I had already lost interest due to the uneven storytelling between the 65% and 90% mark.

In the end, while the premise was creative and full of potential, the execution fell short. How to Slay on Holiday could have been a gripping thriller, but the lack of cohesion and character development held it back.

Rating: 2/5. A promising idea that ultimately disappointed in its delivery.

Chloe has brought her and her husband Scotts families together for a luxury holiday to Mykonos. Both families being crime bosses, they are all used to such luxury and getting what they want. However, Chloe is planning her husbands death and this holiday is purely to create an alibi of the smitten wife still in the lovey dovey phase with her husband. She has hired a hitman to kill him, so if she plays her cards right, no-one will have any reason to suspect her.

Except her sister in law who knows her plan (it's never explained how she came to this realization, we as the reader are just to accept that) and wants in!

So imagine the shock when Chloe wakes up next to her dead husband who has obviously been murdered. It's too early, she doesn't have an alibi, she can't remember the night before, did she kill him?

Despicable characters, money, family politics, plenty of twists and people not always who they seem make this a fun, easy read. Add in the gorgeous backdrop of Mykonos and you've got yourself the perfect beach whodunit.