Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for this early release. The story wasn’t really what I was expecting. A bit of a modern day Lord of the Flies crossed with Lost and mental health issues all rolled into one. Found parts a bit hard to follow along as wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t, but it came clear in the end.

The families have been getting together for holidays since they met when their children were born. Now the children are teenagers & are in Thailand. Jefferson is into survival etc & his father arranges for the six teens to go to a deserted island with a guide to survive off the land, make their own shelter & find their food. The trip should have been idyllic, instead it turned into a nightmare.

I did wonder if this was going to be a mix of Lord of the Flies meets Lost. However it was much more than that. C.L. Taylor captures the isolation, the fear & the mixed up teen feelings beautifully. I'm not sure what makes a book a YA one? Is it because the main characters are all that age? Whatever it is this is a terrific thriller that kept me riveted to the page, trying to guess what was going on (without success I might add!!) This is another cracking book from this author is brilliant in whatever genre their book are in! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I absolutely adore CL Taylor so I was definitely keen to join this blog tour. This book definitely hasn't disappointed. I have loved it from start to end.

As always, this has been an addictive read which has pulled me straight in. I have been completely captivated and have devoured this book in one sitting.

There are so many issues in this book which could be discussion points. These include: mental health, grief, loss and phobias. Taylor has also included group dynamics in this one. It has been an a superb read.

I have been completely filled with intrigue reading this fantastic book. Taylor has included multiple mysteries which have been completely impossible to work out.

I am definitely a fan of this author and this book has not disappointed. This is action packed and a absolutely wonderful read. I absolutely recommend this gorgeous book. A definite five star read.

What a pleasure !

I was a little concerned when I saw that this was a YA novel, as I am certainly not a young adult, except in my dreams 😊 but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The characters are clearly drawn, there is a strong plot with plenty of twists and red herrings that moves along at great speed and with a satisfactory ending.

On top of which the author sensitively tackles significant teenage issues.

A good read, and one that I certainly will be suggesting to people a touch younger than me!

Cally Taylor returns with another young adult novel. I loved The Treatment, her first dip into young adult fiction, and was excited to read The Island.

I finished this in a day, and it was a definite page-turner like most of her books. In this one, a birthday gift of a trip to a remote tropical island goes horribly wrong, and six friends find themselves abandoned for a week trying to survive and awaiting rescue. They think they're alone on the island, but are they? After revealing their phobias and fears to each other, these start to become a reality. Is someone else on the island after all? Is someone messing with them and trying to harm them?

The book is told from two main perspectives: Jessie, who has experienced a previous traumatic experience that is slowly revealed and Danny, one of the male characters on the island with his girlfriend Honour and who jumps between extreme jealousy and wanting to protect her.

The story builds to a dramatic and dark conclusion, and I was surprised once it was revealed what was happening. At 55, I'm unlikely to fall into the author's ideal readership for this book, but to be honest, it didn't matter at all. I enjoyed it, and it kept me thoroughly entertained on a cold January Saturday in lockdown.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

If you'd like to read this one, you can find it all the usual places as it was published on January 21st, 2021.

The publicity for this book likens it to a Lost meets Hunger Games hybrid, and I have to say as a huge fan of both (like, OBSESSED with Lost back in the day) I was sold! The Island is the author’s second YA offering, sitting alongside an impressive catalogue of psychological thrillers for adults. I’ll admit that I haven’t read anything by C.L. Taylor before, and so had nothing to compare to personally – but I had heard great things and went in with high expectations.

I liked the concept that these six friends weren’t necessarily friends by choice, but that they had been put into this circle by chance of them being born in the same place at around the same time, their parents attending the same antenatal group. That they’re not in each others pockets and generally have their own lives outside of the holidays they all go on annually added a really interesting angle to the plot.

The group are ‘stranded’ on a desert island for a week with a guide as part of a survival experience, only for the guide to die in front of them. Stranded for real, they’re soon terrified by strange goings on which seem to target the worst fears of each of the group.

Told in the main from the perspectives of two of the teenagers, Jess – who is recovering from an unknown traumatic experience which unravels as the book progresses, and Danny, an alpha male who is madly in love with Honor, another member of the group. Secrets are revealed and truths told and discovered as the novel races on.

It’s a brilliant setting for a novel, and the sense of place is fantastic throughout. Despite the outdoor living and open skies, there is a sense of stifling claustrophobia throughout as events intensify, the expanse of this beautiful tropical island, shrinking page by page.

It’s a wonderful novel, and it takes on some tough themes, mental health being front and centre. It became far darker than I was anticipating with it being YA and it was all the better for it, adding a stark edge of reality just as it is needed.

This book was an absolute blast to read, it hooked me quickly and didn’t let go. I love it when I find a book that can give me bubbles of excitement, encouraging me to steal time hither and thither to just so that I can find out what happens next! As the first book I’ve read by C.L. Taylor, it has been quite the introduction! I’m very much looking forward to exploring the back catalogue over the course of the year!

Rating 4.5/5

I love a remote setting and even though I have never read any of C.L. Taylor’s books I have heard great things, so I was exceptionally intrigued to hear about The Island, and can I say this was such an addictive read that I ended up reading it in one day. I was pretty much captivated from the first page and even though I was desperate to find out what was going on I was at the same time always a little bit terrified at what was going to happen next, that is how amazingly tense the atmosphere of the book was.

It is mainly told from two points of view, Jessie and Danny, but you get a good sense of their friends Meg, Milo, Honor, and Jeffers from their viewpoints. I really enjoyed the awkward chemistry of this group, their parents met at antenatal classes and have been holidaying together pretty much every year since, so they have known each other a long time but don’t see each other very often and to add to that the dynamics between the group have changed as they have become teenagers and the platonic friendships have in some cases morphed into something more.

What was great though is that you can tell that they are all holding something back and that is causing these slight fissures in the group which really makes you question everyone’s motives, it means there is a lot of wondering why these things are happening and whether they are all going to turn on each other. Of course, I had characters that I was more drawn to than others and tensions were high so it was interesting to see how they worked together and the power dynamics shifted when they realise that they only have themselves to rely on but even when some were under suspicion I was still rooting for all of them.

Obviously, this is the kind of book that I can’t say too much about the plot line because the joy is in having that reading experience yourself but it was very clever and unexpected. I liked that it was fast-paced and gave me that feeling of imminent danger at every turn but I also liked that it explored a lot more than that as well, they have to deal with grief, exploring loyalty through fear and paranoia, their survival instincts, their response to danger and how they deal with the fractures in the group as things intensify.

The Island is a very enjoyable and intense thriller with some unexpected turns, I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by C.L. Taylor.

I requested an early copy of this book on the basis that C.L.Taylor is one of my favourite authors, without realising it was aimed at the Young Adult reader. Maybe the fact that I am a long time out of that age group, could be the reason that I couldn't get into the story, and didn't finish it. I'm sure the younger readers would enjoy it though

Although this book is marketed for young adults, it could be enjoyed by a much wider audience. This retired grandmother certainly found it very enthralling and enjoyable.

Take a group of six sets of parents who have known each other since ante-natal classes and developed the habit of taking an annual holiday together. Transport them all to an exotic setting, Thailand, where one of the children is to celebrate a birthday with a trip to a remote and uninhabited island off the coast for a week of wilderness living together with their teenaged friends.

When things go wrong and all six are forced to face their greatest fears, it is hard to know just what is happening and who is behind it. Cally Taylor has written an engrossing, enthralling and enjoyable thriller which paints a vivid backdrop to challenges which will test the resilience of these young people to the full. It is a brilliant read which I highly recommend.

A group of teenagers who have been friends since their parents met at NCT classes and have been on holiday most years since. They don’t see each other often but have always go on after a day or two. Jeffer’s father has paid for the trip for him and his friends. Milo, Danny, Jessie, Megan and Honor.

However, this year they are teenagers and things have changed, hormones have taken over and bravado is at the maximum. They head off to a exclusive island in Thailand with a specialist guide, Anuman on a week’s survival trip.

On the first evening they all share their phobias and the next day tragedy strikes and the group have to fend for themselves. There are relationships and secrets all bubbling away under the surface. They try to leave the island but someone has made sure they can’t.

Things start to take an even darker turn and they start to turn against each other in their fear.

This is a addictive book and I loved the characters. Jessie, it is obvious she has been through a massive trauma. Danny is like the alpha of the group. Milo and Meg are siblings and Jessie has feelings for Milo and the others are worried that he is using her.Jeffers is ostracized by the group and ends up setting up his own camp. Honor and Danny are a couple but even that is not going well.

It’s a bubbling pot of emotions and they start to think they are not alone on the island. The setting is glorious and deadly the perfect combination for a inhabited island.

I love Cally’s writing it’s twisty and turny, and you never quite know where it is headed next and this story is no exception. When Jessie heads off for a swim after another falling out with Danny. She sees a boat heading towards the beach. What happens next splits the group and tension rises even higher.

This is a great story its compelling, entertaining and suspenseful and I was gripped. It is also emotional, all the group have stuff going on and they don’t really want to deal with it, like most teenagers. I just wanted to hug Jessie she has been through such a lot, it kept me guessing right until the end.A really excellent read !

5 *****

A very enjoyable YA psychology thriller!
I found this a mix of Lord of the flies meets The Hunger Games.
It's everyone's worst nightmare being stuck on an Island. But at least you are stuck there with 5 of your best friends from birth. The only problem is you are now 17 and some have grown apart.
Then the "fun" starts because someone starts using each person's phobia against him or her to terrify them. Surely it can't be 1 of them?
I found the pace fast and there are some good twists. I got initially a bit confused with all the different characters but I always have that problem when there's a lot of character to get to know in a book.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Jessie, Danny, Milo, Meg, Honor and Jefferson have been friends since their parents met at NCT classes. Each year they go away as a group and this year is no exception.

On an exotic trip to Thailand with their families, the teens embark on a survival trip to a nearby island for Jeffers 17th birthday. Equipped with a guide and the bare essentials they embark on their week long trip of adventure.

Everything is going to plan until disaster strikes, and one by one their worst nightmares begin to come true.

I loved this! I am a great fan of CL Taylor and have read her previous YA novel as well as most of her adult thrillers.

The story is told alternatively between the viewpoints of Jessie and Danny, do a different brand perspective is put on the story, although they amalgamate into one united voice - well almost...

Although this is a YA novel there is enough tension and expectation in it to satisfy an adult thriller lover. There’s plenty of cliff hangers (pun intended) and the storyline keeps you connected and engrossed throughout. I read this around 24 hours!

It did put me in mind of the Bear Gryll’s tv series, except the group of teens were much more successful than the adults usually dumped on the island, although they had a lot more to deal with than just surviving.

Another fantastic book and I can’t wait for the next one.

This is a really good thriller that had my heart rate going in some parts. I've always enjoyed books by this author but I think this is deffinatly my favourite!
A group of teenagers go to a remote island, away from their parents with a tour guide on par with Bear Grylls to keep them safe, when the guide unexpectedly suffers a fatal stroke the group are left to fend for themselves with no way off the island .
I had lots of different theories about what was going on but I really didn't see the ultimate twist coming. Fantastic story!;

Welcome to The Island.
Where your worst fears are about to come true…

It was supposed to be the perfect holiday: a week-long trip for six teenage friends on a remote tropical island.
But when their guide dies of a stroke leaving them stranded, the trip of a lifetime turns into a nightmare.
Because someone on the island knows each of the group’s worst fears. And one by one, they’re becoming a reality.

Seven days in paradise. A deadly secret.
Who will make it off the island alive?

I’m a huge C.L. Taylor fan so was delighted to take part in the @hqstories blog tour for the book! A YA novel, The Island is a little different from her other books but it is still a page turner.

Six teenage friends go on a survival trip to a remote island but disaster starts to appear around every corner and they find themselves stranded in the island. This was a quick read and I wanted to read more to find out what was going on! As a reader, you suspect everyone of something at some point and it’s not until the end that everything is revealed. The ending surprised me but I also felt it was lacking something too.

This is a good YA novel and would be perfect for fans of Lost or Karen McManus - this book definitely had hints of both of those!

This book enticed me with the tagline, Seven Teenagers, Six Days and One Deadly Secret. I mean what more could you want, plus it is a Young Adult book just to add an extra feel. When reading this it made me think of the TV show Lost, although without the dramatics of the plane crash. It did, however, have the sense that something is not quite right with the Island. When your fears start to come true then seriously you need to get outta there. But then where is the fun in that for a reader!

We do have a group of characters where you are suspicious from the start. I didn’t like everyone but you definitely were rooting for everyone. These friendships are life long, their parents were friends in the NCT group and so the yearly holidays are the norm. This time it’s Jeffers’ birthday and the gang go to a remote island to celebrate, yet it all goes a bit Pete tong from the off. All the excitement made for an addictive read.

The story is told from the point of view of Jessie, where something in her past has moulded her present day. It made her aloof to everyone, her friends aren’t quite sure of her anymore since the “incident.”

The other story is told by Danny, Danny is fiercely protective of his girlfriend Honor and the rest of the gang. When things start to go wrong, the fear Danny feels we feel. He tries everything in his power to keep everyone safe as he tries to figure out what the heck is going on.

I enjoyed the pacing between glimpses to the past but with the majority of the story being told on that Island. Your worst fears start to come alive, you doubt what is real and you need to figure out what to do to survive. The isolation of the island amplifies the dire strait of the situation, not able to get off the island, the jungle not offering a sanctuary as you would hope. I think I would root myself on the beach and not move, I mean have they not watched Lost! When the gang did traipse through the jungle, I felt like you could imagine the noises of the jungle come alive, the heat from the sun and the sounds of the sea. I loved all of that, until, well until their fears started to come alive…I mean Spiders!! Enough said.

It was an enjoyable read, one that was hard to put down and a great hit for a YA book and I am glad I got the chance to read it!

A group of teenagers find themselves alone on a tropical island where their holiday survival experience turns into a real fight for survival. It's as if someone has it in for them, taunting them with their personal - and in some cases, secret - phobias.

The opening is a slow introduction to the group of weeping girls and protective boys, each of whom looks out for the others by asking if they are okay, very regularly. The chapters vary their perspective from the first-person tale of a self-conscious girl, to the view of an insecure boy who is infatuated with another girl from the group of friends. But once the story kicks off, the tension remains until the very end.

A story about friendship, grief, bereavement, facing fears and survival of body and mind, but ultimately it is a book about belonging. A great Young Adult read.

The Island was a book that I could not stop reading it. Even though I had work next day I binged this book until the early hours of the morning. Desperate to know who was behind these events and to see if my guesses for the culprit were correct.

We are told the story from two viewpoints, Jessie and Danny. Reading from their perspective, there is a definite feeling of knowing them best. Of understanding their perspectives and how they react to certain events. The other four are more mysterious and therefore more suspicious.

I always thought that a remote island would be a pretty amazing holiday, but now I am having second thoughts. There are so many things that could go wrong.

Every book I have every read by C. L. Taylor is one of my favourite authors and has never let me down. Whether it's her books for adults or those aimed for a younger audience. All of them have drawn me in and kept me guessing. And every time I have guessed wrong.

While this is a book targeted for young adults as an adult this didn't effect my enjoyment of the book at all. Like all C. L. Taylor books I felt very much at home and was absorbed from page one. Brilliant, addictive and compelling, this was a throughly enjoyable read!

I’ve loved all of C L Taylor’s books I’ve read and really enjoyed The Treatment her first step into the world of YA writing. So I couldn’t wait to read The Island. The whole blurb reads like any of her adult novels, the suspense, that hook to pull you in to her psychological thrillers.

I won’t say too much about the whole story line as the blurb says enough and I fear I’ll say something that will spoil the rather tense build to the book’s climax. But what I will say is it was rather brilliant. I was there shadowing this party of 6 as they got used to their surroundings without their local survival guide. At this point, I had flashbacks to reading William Golding’s Lord Of The Flies – would this group of teens turn savage in order to survive or was there something more twisted to their stay?

I loved how the narrator switched between Jessie and Danny. Their different voices guided me through this ordeal in a Thai paradise. I was intrigued why those two in particular were telling me the story but irrespective of the reason, I was hooked with their tale.

This not-so-young adult thoroughly enjoyed this tense escape to a remote Thai island. I was hooked on the story but had to break for a 5 minute breather at the end of a number of chapters to catch my breath and steady my unnerved self. Taylor has yet again created a taut thriller for both young adults and her adult fans.

This is certainly no story like the Famous Five. Here, in Thailand, six teenagers are having to survive on a remote island with no chance of rescue until a week has passed because one of the parents has “booked” the island for a week’s stay. There’s no chance of ginger beer, a picnic or a mystery to solve as the group worry for their own safety.

A young adult thriller, I think this will appeal to teenagers and older readers alike. It’s a gripping story that moves at a quick pace. From both Jessie and Danny’s perspectives, I like how this narrative split provides a different insight into the group dynamics. Jessie and Danny have very different experiences on the island; whilst both characters have varied close attachments within the group, Jessie is undoubtedly affected by the recent death of her brother. Taylor does not go into detail with this information until far later in the novel, leading readers to anticipate what really happened to Jessie and her brother.

Taylor addresses the issue of mental health in this book, most specifically towards the end. I think this is so important, particularly with the increased awareness in society today. It demonstrates how anyone can be suffering silently and this ties in with the how the characters are being targeted by their own phobias. What begins as a spur-of-the-moment discussion by the fireside on the beach ultimately comes to haunt them – a bit like the despair that follows several of the characters.

I had many theories about what was driving this story forwards, but Taylor surprised me right until the end! It is not a complicated plot and, being set on a deserted island with just six characters means that there are not too many distractions. In other words, the character list is quite small and once you have got their identities confirmed in your head, you can simply sit back and enjoy the narrative unfolding. On this basis, I think this story would certainly appeal to young adult readers, particularly those who are more reluctant towards reading. The opening captures your attention immediately and this is the theme for the rest of the story.

I liked the escapism that this book provided and enjoyed the concept of being on holiday in Thailand! However, with these phobias coming true for the characters, I don’t think this is a place I would visit in a hurry – my fears are far too numerous!

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This book had me gripped from the very beginning. It normally takes me a few chapters to get into thrillers but this one had me hook line and sinker, wanting and needing more. C.L Taylor is magnificent at what she does, The way this book was written was amazing, the detail made me instantly connected to the characters and I did not want to put this book down at all, I sped through it and still didn't guess the ending. At various points throughout the book, I was certain I knew what was happening and who was behind all this but I was wrong. The ending was really unexpected. However, I only rated the book four stars because I felt as though the ending after the big reveal was a little bit rushed and would have loved to have seen more from the characters. Overall though, I definitely would recommend this to lovers of thrillers/mysteries/ya, it was fantastic!