The Honeymoon by Jane E. James is a whirlwind of secrets, suspense, and intertwining fates set against the backdrop of an idyllic Balinese getaway. What starts as a dream honeymoon for three newlywed couples quickly unravels into a tangled web of deceit, past connections, and shocking revelations.

At first, everything appears perfect—paradise, romance, and the excitement of newly married life. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that these couples share more than just a luxurious resort. Their pasts are entwined in dark and unexpected ways, and as long-buried secrets come to light, the honeymoon turns into anything but a celebration of love.

The novel is a fast-paced, gripping read with plenty of twists and turns. While it’s marketed as a thriller, it leans more towards a crime mystery, with revelations that, while intriguing, could have benefitted from a bit more buildup and suspense. Some of the twists felt a little sudden, almost handed to the reader rather than teased out for maximum impact. However, the final twist is truly unpredictable and wraps up the story in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

Told from multiple perspectives, the story flows seamlessly, making it easy to keep track of the various characters and their motives. The characters themselves, while well-written, lacked the emotional depth needed to make their actions feel fully justified. I didn’t find myself particularly attached to or repelled by any of them, which slightly dulled the emotional stakes.

That said, the book kept me entertained throughout. The short, punchy chapters and constant reveals made it hard to put down. If you enjoy stories about tangled relationships, revenge, and secrets lurking beneath the surface, this is a book worth picking up. Just maybe don’t take it with you on your honeymoon!

This started out so promising with the amazing setting and thrilling storyline however I started to lose interest halfway through. It all felt a bit unrealistic how everyone was just linked to another

I love mysteries where you don't know who is after who and why. One of my favorite books is Agatha Christie's" And Then There Were None." I loved learning about the characters and why the killer targeted them. You won't be disappointed if you get this book. Thank you Netgalley for this great book.

Wow!. This book had me from the beginning and kept my interest all the way until the end. Psycological and gripping thriller with lots of twists and turns. So many characters and each one always seems to be the culprit! I really loved it. The drama and the suspense are amazing.
I read this in one sitting, what a book!

A strong 3* honeymoon.... Well.... If this was my honeymoon mind, I'd be well pissed off!

So all seems good and well at the beginning, lovely honeymoon in a tropical, fancy destination... But soon enough the honeymoon period wears off.... See what I did there!!

Anyhooo, we follow the story of 3 couples / 6 characters and learn how they are all knowingly and unknowingly intertwined, I thought this was all nicely done and the connections were easy to follow and were not too unbelievable.

I wouldn't call the story a thriller as such, more of a crime mystery with a loooot of twist and turns, which weren't necessarily shocking, there's wasn't any buildup to any event, it was kinda handed to us, I would have liked a bit more anticipation.... A bit more of a tease maybe. But it was still an enjoyable read and I did not see the ending coming at all! That was a nice touch that finished off the book reaaaally well.

The characters I didn't really feel much towards, didn't empathise or hate any in particular over another, I could have done with a teeny bit more feels here to justify some actions maybe of one or two characters. But again, this didn't take away from the story.

All in all a really good read, kept me interned throughout, a different take on a crime/murder story, the perspective of multiple characters is something I very much enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy, the author and publisher

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that psychological thriller element that I was looking for and enjoyed in this type of book. The characters had that element that I was wanting and worked in the suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for. I was invested in the couples and was glad everything was realistic and worked. Jane E. James has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

Three couples newly married, a honeymoon in Bali and two weeks of bliss. But there's more to this story than love and fun. There are plenty of secrets and so much more! This really is a twisty, crazy psychological thriller and one that is ever so hard to put down.

This is a fast paced rollercoaster of a thrilling ride with more twists and turns than a real rollercoaster. It is never predictable and always kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing of this book is so well done, it keeps you engaged and keeps the atmosphere of the book tight and tense. I just couldn't get enough and didn't put it down until the final page. A very exciting and thrilling book and one I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
The setting is vividly described, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall reading experience.
Highly recommended!

This was a solid thriller to me overall, a decent 3 star read. Three couples that are newlyweds go to their honeymoons in Bali. They are all there to enjoy paradise but as the days pass it’s actually the complete opposite. The island is corrupted with murder, a long lost son, adulterous affairs, betrayal and more. Literally every person has a lie that they are trying to cover up, so this leaves many twists & turns in this book. I enjoyed the three different point of views from Samantha, Timothy, & Angelika and I loved the short chapters. I wish that each character in the book weren’t all connected in some way because it would have been more fun and believable. Thankful to be able to give my honest review for a complimentary copy.

I really enjoyed this book and it held my attention from start to finish. Ideal setting and great storyline - full of unexpected twists.
Highly recommended.

The Honeymoon by Jane E. James is a page-turner thriller that was impossible to put down. I'm starting by saying the pace of this book was amazing, it felt fast and engaging for start to finish. The book is well written with great characters, and several POV's in each chapter. The transitions between each perspective was smooth and it didn't felt confusing like i initially expected. Each character has is own voice and way of present their point of view, and i felt like this added some depth to the story making it quite interesting.

There were several twists and turns but the story flowed nicely and without feeling heavy or confusing. The pacing made it impossible for me to not read the book in one sitting, there wasn't a single dull moment throughout the story and i highly recommend it.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Joffe Books via NetGalley.

A nanny turned wife, a husband with a penchant for collecting spouses, a picture-perfect honeymoon that hides dark secrets—this book had all the makings of a juicy thriller. And, to its credit, it does deliver on twists and turns, especially the final reveal. But while the tangled web of secrets is fun to unravel, the sheer number of coincidences and over-the-top connections between the characters push the story into the realm of the ridiculous.

Told through multiple perspectives, the narrative technique is ambitious but ultimately falls into cliché territory. Everyone has a secret, everyone is unreliable, and as the story barrels forward, it becomes increasingly hard to suspend disbelief. The fact that all these characters, with all their entangled pasts, just so happen to end up on the same remote island? Really??

The Honeymoon by Jane E. James is a fast-paced thriller that is an easy read. Three newlywed couples are vacationing on Bali at a luxurious resort. Picturesque beaches, stunning jungles, hot sun and unlimited drinks, this is a perfect place to begin married life. Samantha and Nathan, Jonah and Timothy, and Bartosz and Angelika all spend time together enjoying hikes and long days on the beach but soon the couple's marriages and friendships become strained. All of the couples are connected some way and when they start to figure out the connections, the secrets they all hide are suddenly exposed. The locals call this "Black Magic Island", and when the bodies start to surface, so do everyone's darkest secrets.
This book was full of revenge, secrets and murder. The plot had the perfect blend of suspense, mystery and deception along with very well thought out characters. Told through multiple POVs you get a sense of what everyone is hiding and how they connect with the other characters. Definitely a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jane E. James, and Joffe Books for this ARC. Expected release date is February 11th 2025.

I immediately feel into the couples and their deceit, as always with Jane E. James books this was a very intense read with great twists.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Honeymoon by Jane E. James published by Joffe Books
This was such a great book to read, great characters and great setting. Loved the plot and the twists and turns throughout, right up to the last paragraph!
Characters and setting are well described, easy to follow and remember, the story is told from different characters perspectives. This was a quick read and a real page turner.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but certainly not the last

Couples on a honeymoon. Bliss right? Nope.
I really got into this. With all the pov from each couple angle you really got to get your thriller vibes hyped further and further as each couple becomes more involved,more secrets threaten to be outed and each involvement with eachother slowly reveals itself. And each couple don't want certain things known. So does it put them in danger. Or make them dangerous?

This book wasn't for me. I love thrillers that happen on vacation but this one fell flat for me.

All the connections are too far fetched, I can accept that to a certain extent but it was too much. It wasn't as engaging as I would have hoped. Thanks for the advance review copy.

This is a novel about three honeymooning couples on the island of Bali who are bound by secrets as they get to know each other on the beach and beyond, When concierge Putu suggests he "knows" things and demands money to keep his mouth shut, protagonist Samantha realizes she has a secret as well and her marriage will be in trouble if it gets out! So as they hike to the top of the mountain to watch the sunrise, "accidents" begin to happen and these secrets that connect them all will come out as well!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you #Netgalley for this advanced copy!

So many perspectives at first it was hard to keep up, but once you figured out the characters and their secret pasts you become hooked! Little did each of these couples entering the island know what was in store for them and the secret name of the island, is it cursed? I really enjoyed this island thriller!

Incredible fast-paced destination thriller, that will have you gripped throughout!

Three newlywed couples are on a hot, chilled out honeymoon on the island of Bali. But their honeymoons are far from the relaxing honeymoon they planned on! Which of the couples will make it off the island?

I sped through this in a few days as it was gripping, filled with secrets and utterly impossible to put down! I really enjoyed the multiple point of views and the pace of the whole book! At around 270 pages it is relatively short but packs a punch for sure!

4 stars from me! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review!