I requested The Island not realising that it is a young adult book, which isn't my favourite genre. Once again though I was pulled into this thrilling story. C. L. Taylor is one of the best writers of exciting books that I have read.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ Young Adult in exchange for an honest review.

Fun fact: I love books about people trapped somewhere, especially if they're thrillers. I was definitely intrigued by The Island which tells the story of an island holiday gone wrong when six teenagers have their tour guide die and their escape boat sabotaged. Stuck on the island, they seem to be haunted by their worst fears as bad things happen to them one by one.

This book definitely started strong and it has a lot of good qualities that most YA thrillers lack. The characters felt distinct and developed enough for the story they were in, and I was genuinely intrigued by the scenario being set up. It was extremely well-paced and I raced through to find out what was happening and who was behind everything.

I think my main issue is that there were a fair few elements lacking, and I think some of those were down to this being a YA book and some weren't. I didn't find the actual ending to be at all satisfying. It was a cool concept but poorly executed in my opinion. I also felt the stakes weren't quite high enough. It is YA but I read a lot of YA thrillers/horror and most of them have stuff a little more intense than this. I'm not sure if it was the events themselves or just how they were written which I found a bit tame, but it would have been nice to have felt more tension as a reader.

Overall, this is a solid YA thriller with a cool premise and a good execution. It's not perfect but there's a lot to like here and C.L. Taylor is clearly very talented. I definitely recommend it as someone looking for a light low-effort read with strong characters.

Overall Rating: 3/5 stars

A gripping, fast-paced, twisty thriller!

Knowing what a fabulous author C L Taylor is, as soon as I heard she had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance to read it. I haven’t read a YA book in many years but knowing how much I loved the point horror books as a teenager, I was keen to give it a go. I am so glad I did!

The story is told from the perspectives of Jessie and Danny, who are on holiday in Thailand with four other friends Meg, Milo, Jeffers and Honour. As a gift for Jeffers 17th birthday, his dad has paid for the teens to have a guided survival experience on a tropical island for seven days. Things quickly go wrong though, when their guide dies not long after they arrive and they become stuck on the island!

As if being trapped on a remote island wasn’t bad enough, the group soon realise that someone knows what each of them fears most, as their phobias suddenly start to come to life!

The fast-paced style of writing is perfect for this book and with the many twists and turns, I didn’t once get bored. The chapters end with mini cliff-hangers which helps to hold your interest and makes this an unputdownable read.

Initially, it seemed like there were a lot of characters to remember but I quickly got used to them and luckily didn’t find it confusing. It definitely helped to have just two of the teens as narrators rather than all of them. The story is very cleverly written, with never too much being revealed about each person, I found myself suspecting anyone and everyone and I did not guess the ending!

Whilst this book sits in the Young Adult category, I think it is a thriller that can easily be enjoyed by all ages.

Secrets, suspicion and spine-tingling suspense!

Thank you to C L Taylor & HQ for my copy of this book and my place on the blog tour.

I really enjoyed this YA book and how the author approached fears and phobias through a group of teens alone on an island near Thailand.

The group of 6 have known each other all their lives, they have holidays every year. As they have grown up they have drifted apart somewhat, dynamics between each of them have altered. Tragedy has hit more than one of the group and this leads to a small void starting to encroach on the group.

A holiday on an island, a chance to get away under the supervision of a guide should be good for the group. However, when the guide dies things that had been kept hidden or controlled start to unravel. A sense of seeing beyond the mask if you like as the situation the teens find themselves in changes dramatically.

I really enjoyed the tense suspense of this novel and how the author explored the changing and challenging dynamics of the group. As they find themselves in disarray they also start to suspect that there is a danger stalking them. What or who this is they are not sure, who is to blame, who is playing games and what is to happen are questions that I needed to know the answers to as I read.

The isolation of the island adds to the sense of loneliness and separation. As I got to know each of the 6 better I began to realise that there is more than meets the eye, they are not quite the stable group I initially thought they were.

This is a really good tense, suspense ridden YA thriller and one that I really enjoyed. A good deal of mystery, intrigue and suspicion across the novel gives it that page-turner addiction. One I would recommend.

A bit of a departure from this authors usual writing and this was definitely aimed at a YA audience. Unfortunately, I really couldn’t get into this book and did not finish it. I love this author's books but unfortunately not this one.

The Island is a thrilling young adult novel written by C.L. Taylor. It follows six teenage friends as they spend one week on a remote island in Thailand. Their guide suddenly dies and then all of their worst fears start coming true. Are they alone on the island or is there someone hiding in the shadows waiting to pick them off one by one? Will anyone survive?

The story is narrated from the dual POV of Jessie and Danny which makes a lot of sense after finishing the book. I would liked to see the what was happening from the POV of the other characters but I don’t think it would have the same effect that it does. I liked all of the characters but I did find Danny, Honor and Jeffers to be really annoying most of the time. Also the way that Danny would refer to himself in the third person during his narration was weird but it definitely does make sense now. I like Jessie even though she comes across as a little unbalanced but that isn’t surprising after everything she has been through. I did like the fact that there was a bit of romance because it added something different to the story and I liked that something good came out of all the bad things that happened.

I really liked the ending and found it to be a surprising twist. I also felt like it had a very important message about trauma and mental health.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

This is a suspenseful story about six teenagers marooned on an island. Their darkest fears materialise as someone is turning paradise into hell. The characters are authentic and behave relatably. After witnessing an adult tragedy, the team dynamics start to crumble. Vulnerabilities and weaknesses rule each of the teenagers' motivations. A vividly portrayed island setting is integral to the suspense. The dual point of views are both unreliable protagonists can their accounts be trusted?

The story has psychological suspense and insights into team dynamics and how stress affects individuals and the group. There are poignant moments and twists with a satisfying ending. It's a fast-paced read which keeps you turning the pages.

It's an addictive medley of naivety and noir that will appeal to its intended audience and adults who like psychological suspense and atmospheric settings.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a very interesting YA thriller with a really good concept!

I thought this book was structured really well, and was definitely paced in a way that made sure suspense was built up without being boring or repetitive.

I do think that it was quite predictable at some points, and it sometimes did seem a bit unrealistic. But it was definitely a suspenseful and interesting read.

Would definitely recommend.

This YA thriller is pitched as Lost meets the Hunger Games.

Six teenagers are taken for a week long trip on a beautiful, deserted island. They have everything they need for a week of camping and enjoying being back to nature and surviving a sunshine paradise.

But it isn’t long before things go wrong.

Before they even reach the island, the cracks in the group are beginning to show.

Jessie, Danny, Honor, Meg, Milo and Jefferson. Their parents all met years ago at NCT classes so they’ve all grown up together. But as they get older, they have less common. They only meet as a group for annual holidays. If it wasn’t for their parents, this group would have drifted apart a long time ago.

One the first night they share their greatest fears around the campfire. And before long they are happening.

The sudden death of their guide leaves them stranded and scared. As they decide what to do the tangled and frayed friendships are tested to their limits as they no longer know who to trust.

The sinister happenings on the island are really creepy. Trying to work out who was before them kept me guessing. The story is well structured and the changes in pace of events allows the reader to share the rollercoaster of emotions the group experiences as their secrets and fears are revealed.

This is a great YA thriller – lots of terror and teenage angst that readers will be able to relate to and I will definitely be recommending it.

Thank you HQ Stories for my gifted copy and for inviting me to be a part of this tour.

This story was a tense affair. 6 teens are stranded on a tropical island for a week and everything goes wrong for them.
While the plot pointed you in one path, I liked the way it unfolded and so it kept my interest.

This story helped remind me why I enjoy YA books so much. It was easy to read, fast-paced and completely gripping – I read the entire thing in one sitting because I was so desperate to see what was going to happen.

Unfortunately, I did pretty much figure out the twist at the end, though all the different twists and turns did make me question myself at times. I think part of me was hoping for something a little bit more shocking for the ending, and yet I also think that having anything too outlandish for the ‘reveal’ would have ruined the rest of the story, so maybe the issue is actually that I read too many of this type of book!

That being said, the book was still an enjoyable read. The author handled the sensitive topics well, and did a great job in capturing the essence of suspicion and mistrust, coupled with teenagers who struggle to deal with their emotions.

I’ve been meaning to try out CL Taylor for ages after following her on Twitter. While best know for her Adult Thrillers, the Hunger Games meets Lost description of this YA really drew me in.

We start the novel in a standard contemporary YA tone. This follows a group of teens who’s parents are all friends, so there’s an element of awkwardness between them which comes at that age when you’re forced together with people who you’ve grown apart from. And this tension already existing within the group works wonderfully as events unfold.

The group have a survival trip to an isolated island planned, until their guide dies. Things soon start to unravel, and each person’s personality really comes across in the way they cope as things go wrong.

The development of the plot is written in a way that feels realistic, while also horrifying in what is happening. Taylor brilliant weaves in events that build the tension and have you, along with the teenagers themselves, questioning what is happening.

Of course, the true test of a thriller is the ending. And I can confirm that this is a brilliant one.

Author: C.L Taylor
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Format: E-Book Advanced Reader Copy
Published: 21st January 2021
Pages: 288
Rating: 3 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Lost meets The Hunger Games in the thrilling new young adult novel from C.L. Taylor, the Sunday Times and million-copy bestselling author.

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 quickly turns into a nightmare.

Because someone on the island knows each of the group’s worst fears. And one by one, they’re coming true.

Seven days in paradise. A deadly secret.

Who will make it off the island alive?

CAWPILE

Characters – 6
Atmosphere – 7
Writing Style – 5
Plot – 6
Intrigue – 8
Logic – 6
Enjoyment – 7

Overall: 6.4

Review

Trigger Warnings: Sexual harassment, panic attacks, loss of a sibling, grief, loss of a parent and, PTSD.

This review contains spoilers.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, HQ via Netgalley, however, this in no way influenced my opinion. Thank you to HQ for providing me with a copy.

So, I requested this on NetGalley after seeing the cover and reading the synopsis, last year I started to enjoy Mystery/Thriller novels more so I was excited to read this, unfortunately, I was a little disappointed. As soon as I read the prologue of this novel, I was drawn in because of how ominous it was and after the ending, you can see how it ties into the story. One aspect of this enjoyed was how addictive it was, I couldn’t put it down as I just had to find out what happened next. Now, let’s talk about the characters, I actually quite enjoyed Jessie’s character and exploring her backstory. Sadly, I didn’t really like the character of Danny, he was very irritating to me and his relationship with Honor was very toxic. I did like the other characters in the novel, especially Jefferson. Unfortunately, I guessed the twist a few chapters before the reveal, while I didn’t guess the specific I noticed that Danny was the only one seeing things like the snake. While I saw it coming I thought it made for an interesting but heartbreaking twist as we discover why Danny is seeing things. The pacing of this novel felt a bit all over the place to me, something big would happen then things would get boring again, and this resulted in the story feeling a bit disjointed. Another issue I had was that the ending felt very rushed, the fact their parents showed up just as the final reveal was taking place was a little coincidental in my opinion.

Overall this was a decent YA Mystery/Thriller novel with interesting but predictable plot twists and frustrating main characters.

Buy, beg, steal or borrow this! (Don't actually steal it):

Lost meets Hunger Games meets Lord of the Flies...

Six teenagers, Jessie, Danny, Honor, Milo, Meg and Jeffers, have known each other since they were babies - their parents were part of the same antenatal group. Although they're not as close as they used to be, they all meet up once a year when their parents organise a group holiday. This year they're all in Thailand and, as it's Jeffers birthday, his dad has organised the teenagers to stay for a week on a private island with a guide as part of a survival adventure.

The Island is beautiful, white sand beaches and their guide Anuman is friendly and competent at showing them how to build shelters and forage for food. The first night they spend around the campfire, telling ghost stories and each other their biggest phobias. But then the following day something happens to Anuman, the boat is damaged and all their phobias start to come true.... Is there someone else on the island or is one of their group responsible?

The book is told from two of the group's perspective - Jessie and Danny, with the exception of one chapter. It's a fast paced tale which I found utterly addictive, sneaking in a chapter whenever I could. The characters are realistic and it really did keep you guessing almost until the end. The ending was perfect and, completely unlike me, I actually can't fault it at all. I absolutely loved it, it's the best book I've read in years and I'm giving it 5 stars!

#cltaylorauthor #netgalley #theisland #isurvivedtheisland

Review posted to Amazon, Waterstones, Instagram, Goodreads and Facebook book groups.

I am a big fan of C L Taylor having read all of her previous books. Although this is a YA book, don’t let that put you off reading it as it is a brilliant psychological thriller. Told from two perspectives, this had plenty of twists and turns which kept me guessing throughout. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am so envious of our YA community today. Working as a Senior School Librarian I get to see first hand the excitement books can have over them – if of course they find the time to read amongst endless schoolwork or scrolling on their phones. They have such amazing books to read and The Island is a perfect example of this. When you are fighting against social media, gaming and all the other distractions that come with modern life, well the stories have to be gripping. Oh my goodness, The Island certainly is that. And please don’t think you have to be a young adult to enjoy it. I am 40-something and absolutely loved it. I literally could not put it down and stayed up reading way into the night.

Jessie is one of six teenage friends who meet up every year for an annual holiday – something of a tradition for their parents since they met through their antenatal group over seventeen years ago. This year they are in Thailand and as a special birthday treat for Jefferson, the camping and outdoor nut of the group, the teenagers are off to spend a week on an Island with only a guide for company. No luxury hotel, no internet and no mobile phone signal. It should be the adventure of a lifetime but not all is as it should be and tensions are running high within the group.

The first night passes with stories around the campfire and talk soon turns to their greatest fears. The next days things take a turn for the worse when their guide is taken suddenly ill and dies. Strange events begin happening and the adventure soon becomes something of a nightmare as they are no longer sure if they are alone on the Island. Someone seems to be messing with them, making their worst fears a reality and paradise soon becomes hell. It’s not long before the friends begin to become suspicious about each other.

Reading this I can see why Cally has sold so many books. Characters are brilliantly built as the story moves along, the tension is palpable and you really can’t stop reading. It was incredibly engrossing from start to finish with a seamlessly executed plot. With books that are targeted towards our younger readers it’s incredibly important to be able to feel a connection with the difficulties the characters are facing and I think the various emotions and underlying issues within the group can be identified with by pretty much anyone. Also when thinking about the premise of this story, imagine your worst fear coming true and that happening when you are far away from all you know and love. Imagine not knowing who you can trust or which way to turn. The atmosphere created from the situation is absolutely brilliant and makes for a very exciting read indeed.

I will be most definitely adding this to my Library book shelves at school as well as recommending to my own family and friends! It will be perfect for the many lovers of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson. Thank you so much to the team at HQ for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and supplying me with a copy via Netgalley. I shall definitely be reaching for Cally’s backlist of novels now. Absolutely brilliant!

Wonderful coming of age hormonal teenagers drama

It was supposed to be a fun birthday getaway on an island alone with just them and a guide

But things turn downhill quickly, and they begin to question their friendships as well as their sanity

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for ARC

I really couldn’t get into this book , maybe it would appeal to a younger reader . I only got 25% in . I love this authors books but unfortunately not this one

Brilliant. I am reading more YA novels this year and I LOVED this one!

Set on a remote jungle island where six teenagers are on a seven-day adventure break. I found this an exciting and enjoyable read from the start. I would love to have been able to read in a single sitting but my day didn’t go to plan however I did find myself reading it at any possible opportunity (yes, imagine kindle in hand at all times!)

I had an idea who was behind the strange goings on but not enough to spoil the read – just enough to keep me reading, and to speed up the reading to see if I was on the right track. I found myself completely absorbed and could picture the setting very well thanks to the authors descriptions.

These are six teenagers who’s parents have been friends for years so they have been thrown together for an annual holiday each year. The friendships have changed as the toddlers become children and then teenagers and this history is woven into the story.

C. L. Taylor writes highly addictive books that I have enjoyed and I was so excited to find this YA Thriller when I have committed to focusing on YA/MG reads this year. As a thriller it is up there with the best of them and I will be watching out for more from this wonderfully talented author.

Many thanks to C.L. Taylor, HQ Young Adult and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I strayed unaware into this Young Adult themed offering from C L Taylor, so it unsurprisingly wasn’t quite what I expected. As a reader securely established in my seventh decade I guess it’s fair to say I’m unlikely to be representative of the author’s target audience. However, it seems to this reader, at least, that there was likely to be something in the unusual plot that would engage an audience grappling with the transition between teenage years and the responsibilities of adult life. Having said that, I have to express general unease with the concept of a ‘young adult’ readership. My own experiences, and observations of the reading habits and enjoyment of younger generations in my own family, point rather more firmly to older children and young adults being catholic in their reading tastes, rather than proceeding stepwise through early learning, children’s fiction, teen fiction, young adult etc before finally graduating to adult fiction.
Grumble over, it is only fair to report that Ms Taylor’s signature features are present and correct: skilful storytelling; the maintenance of a steady and engaging pace in the unfolding narrative; and a need on the part of the reader to keep turning the pages long past the intended lights out moment. Recommended.