Jude and Sophie are living the dream after moving to Bali. Their friends Nate and Layla quit their jobs and escape their busy life in London to spend a few weeks with them. But it's not long before cracks in their friendship begin to show.
It's not my favourite book by author, but it still would make a great beach read. I thought there was so much going on that it was hard to know what was going on at times.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for this ARC in exchange for honest review.

OMG the chokehold this book had on me! Gripping from start to finish and was not expecting the ending whatsoever! Absolutely recommend for anyone who loves a suspenseful read.

This was my first Nikki Smith book and what a read!! I loved the Bali setting and feel this would be perfect for a beach read. It wasn't really fast paced but I didn't mind that. But such a great read. Cannot wait to read more from Nikki

A good beach read, I loved the Bali setting but I think it could have benefitted from a slightly faster pace. It definitely picked up in the second half however, and I really enjoyed the various twists and turns that led to the end.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A gripping, twisty sun-soaked thriller
I really enjoyed this book by the lovely Nikki Smith. The Bali beach vibes made me desperate to be on holiday in the sun and I know this is going to make an excellent beach read when it is released in the Summer. The setting was perfect and really well researched.
I like a book where you don't know who to trust and this certainly delivered, it was told from four different peoples POV and you aren't sure whether to trust a single one of them.
I had so many questions all through the first half of this book but the reveals came thick and fast during the second half, with the ending leaving me breathless!
Would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for this ARC.

So much is going on in this book that I made copious notes which had lots of question marks because this isn't just a simple story of Jude and Sophie visiting mates Nate and Layla in Bali on an extended holiday after a burglary before going back to London. Soon, there is trouble in paradise, and chaotic lives collide. Can they trust anyone?

Every one of those characters is hiding at least one, often more secrets, everyone is lying to the others, and the secrets are hinted at for such a long time before they are exposed that I was just jotting down keywords like "fire", "what was behind bathroom door?", "what happened at wedding?" and "lost job why?".

I was captivated by this book and finished it late at night but I'm sitting here now thinking how far-fetched it is that all these things happened to just those four people in the past. It's extremely well-written and full of twists and turns, but you have to suspend disbelief at all the coincidences and how bad the lads turn out to be. Also, the pacing is a bit off, with everything happening at once at the end.

We get four third person POVs interspersed with a mystery POV telling us a story in instalments that happened in 2007, and it takes the longest time to make the connection to the present. I can't say I saw any of the twists coming the way they did - beware of all the men in this story! Sure, Layla has a problem with alcohol and Sophie is a petty thief, but that's small fry against the other characters.

Also, if you're thinking of making a new life in Bali because it's so cheap and you can work anywhere as a "digital nomad" (#blessed), this book will hopefully disabuse you of that notion, as it makes quite clear how detrimental it is for the country and the Balinese people.

This is fantastic as a fast-paced beach read about some privileged people with issues. You have to pay real attention though about who is who and what their secrets are. If you like dark twisty thrillers, this tale of deceit and revenge is for you, but observe the content warnings as there are many.

Absolutely loved this page turner.. The characters were well described and I felt like I could have been on the beach in Bali.

Nikki Smith is such a clever writer, she always sets her thrillers in dream destinations and whisks us away to luscious beaches and hideaways in the depths of winter. We've already been to the Maldives and Mallorca, now we're off to Bali, the land of the digital nomad.

Bali is packed full of Brits and Australians who have moved there for a dream life that wouldn't be possible in their home countries. Their jobs can be done anywhere in the world, so why not live in an idyllic utopia rather than the rain and gloom of the UK.

Nate and Layla have moved to Bali permanently; they are building a villa there, surfing and doing yoga, whilst also working. Their best friends Sophie and Jude are having a miserable time back in London, tired and burnt out - and when they're burgled, its the final straw. The couple decide to take a sabbatical and jet off to stay with Nate and Layla.

Its clear from the outset that there are unresolved tensions and animosities between the couples as well as buried secrets about their current life decisions. The atmosphere is stilted and uncomfortable; no-one saying what they really feel but instead trying to live up to an idealised image.

As the stay continues, the cracks between the two couples and within the couples themselves widen. When the truths start to emerge, the gloves are off. No one is going to come out of this well.

They Had it Coming was another great read from Nikki Smith. I loved the Balinese setting and could totally imagine the sunshine and waves lapping as I read it. The characters were all so entertaining to read about and not particularly likeable so when the truth came out, it was a satisfying reveal. I can't wait to see where the next book will take us!

With its mix of sun, sea, sand, and cocktails Nikki Smith's "They Had it Coming" will be an ideal summer read—dark, twisted, and utterly addictive. The vivid descriptions are really immersive without ever becoming overwhelming, painting such a clear picture that I felt transported to Bali despite never having been there. I also loved how the tourists and digital nomads were portrayed through the eyes of the locals, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.
With four friends—two couples—harbouring so many dark secrets, the novel unfolds through multiple POVs, shifting timelines, and the short chapters make it impossible to put down. As someone who has devoured thrillers for nearly 30 years, I was able to guess some twists, but many still caught me off guard. The characters aren’t exactly likeable or relatable, but they feel real and believable.
Let’s just say… they really had it coming! 😅 A gripping, addictive read—4 very shiny stars!

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my access to review.
I have read and loved all of her other books so was excited to dig into this .
The cover and title really set the scene for this book !
Atmospheric with the location jumping out of the pages and full of tension from all characters .
This book had a lot going on that it felt too crowded at times and could lose the readers interest .
However this is brilliantly written with twists and turns and not all is as it seems .
You think all secrets have been revealed but there will be more .
Fascinating and interesting themes , I just would have liked more on them than some of the other parts .
Perfect beach reading or if you just want to escape dreary uk weather and reality

Not the best from this author.
The surroundings were beautiful, the storyline and characters not so much.
I picked this up several times and eventually skimmed through.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for the ARC!

A hedonistic destination thriller that will have you captivated and turning the pages as fast as you can.

We jet off to Bali in this fast paced story, where we meet two couples: Nate and Layla, who’ve just moved to the country as digital nomads, and their friends, Sophie and Jude, who have come to visit.

Tension is clear right from the off between all parties, and you’re instantly left wondering what happened to make the atmosphere so frosty? There’s hints here and there.

It’s not until later in the novel, as secrets start to unravel, that the author sets out the truth. But just when you think that’s the full story - there’s some more twists coming.

The author really brings Bali to life and you can tell the setting has been well researched and the culture carefully woven into the story.

I really enjoyed this quick sun soaked thriller over the course of a couple of days.

It will make a fantastic beach read when it is released in May!

This was a sun-soaked, fast-paced thrilling read and it’s definitely a perfect holiday page turner! It had secrets, deceit and characters you'll love to hate all in one!

This author cleverly builds up the complex
plot that had many clever twists and turns which in turn reached a deeply satisfying ending. I loved it!

It was a fantastic psychological thriller set against a glamorous Bali backdrop. I loved the authors descriptions of Bali and the complex characters that made up the plot it really kept me guessing until the final page! My favourite couple was Nate and Layla.


A massive 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars from me!

Really enjoyed this one! As a Baliphile I was wondering how accurate it would be and the author nailed that digital nomad, expat life. Such a great story that brings all those living abroad fears into play. Loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advance copy to read.

This is my second book I have read by Nikki Smith. Her writing is fast paced at times and easy to follow.

This book follows two couples who are friends from the UK, one has moved to Bali and the other go to visit them in Bali for an extended period. The writing of Bali and the scenery, is well developed and descriptive. However, I found the characters lacking substance and found myself constantly having to remind myself who was who. It is told from multiple character POVs and also interspersed with chapters from 2007 and other characters. These flashbacks seemed completely irrelevant to me and didn't add any extra depth to the story.

The first 30% I was definitely more invested in the story, but as it went on I found myself less willing to read on.

There are some big plot twists in the last 10% of the book, but sadly in my opinion they did not make the book for me. I think there are lots of people who will enjoy this as an easy, psychological thriller, perhaps when on holiday or in the warmer months imagining the Balinese backdrop.

3.5 stars.

This book is a gripping and suspenseful novel that dives into themes of revenge, betrayal, and the secrets we hide. The story keeps you hooked with its fast pace and twists, as you piece together the layers of the characters’ lives. Nikki Smith’s writing is sharp and emotional, making the tension palpable throughout. While the plot is compelling and full of surprises, there might have been moments where certain elements felt slightly predictable or overly dramatic. However, the final twist is brilliantly executed and adds a satisfying punch, making it a thriller that leaves a lasting impression.

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
• psychological thriller
• domestic thriller
• revenge & betrayal
• friends drama

Thank you Nikki Smith, Penguin General UK & NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.

I really liked it overall. I think there wasn’t clear, continuous mystery plot, until the last few chapters, however as the story progressed things did get more intense and you start to doubt everyone.
But majority of it, was more dysfunctional and unreliable characters and relationships, which was also fun to read about.

Overall I thought that this book was very good. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the descriptions of Bali and the characters were particularly good. I liked the alternating viewpoints, and felt like we got to know the characters very well. The plot really held my interest as there were a lot of hints to the secrets the characters held, but they only revealed themselves towards the end. I found the locals versus expats storyline particularly fascinating.

My only real issue was that there was so much going on, and I would have liked to have delved a bit deeper into some of the plot points. As an aside, I never want to read the phrase 'digital nomads' ever again, if you made it into a drinking game with this book then you would be hammered.

The dynamics between couple friends can often be complicated. Never more so than when everyone concerned is keeping secrets from everyone else...

So when two couples who have known each other forever and always done things together need to adapt to changes after Nate and Layla move to Bali and Sophie and Jude then decide to visit them there, you can bet all kinds of juicy stuff is going to come rushing to the surface.

But maybe that's what they deserve - all of them (or perhaps some more than others!) Nikki Smith does a great job of entertaining and keeping you guessing with this lively thriller, which gets 3.5 stars.

Jude and Sophie have had a few problems, so take a long holiday to visit their friends Nate and Layla who are living as digital nomads in Bali. The two couples have been friends for a long time but they all have secrets from and about each other. Sophie is still angry with Layla for getting drunk and ruining her wedding, and it seems that she wants to punish Layla.
Bali is beautiful, but there are problems. Nate and Layla have got involved with some dodgy people, and there are constant delays with the building of their new villa.
This book is well done for this type of revenge thriller, there are lots of unexpected twists and turns, and the ending is really good.
Recommended