I read The Bay on Netgalley in exchange of honest feedback, and honestly this thriller was such a delight and honour to read and review. Now I don’t know a thing about surfing and have never been to Australia even if I’m dying to go there one day, but this book made me fall in love with both.
It was chilling, suspenseful, thrilling and action packed. I loved the character development and the fact that the quiet one held the biggest secrets and was the deadliest. This is a perfect read for any thriller fans, and it held my interest throughout, and is basically unputdownable book.
If I could give it more than 5 stars I would, simply because I love the location, the sea and the waves, and all the characters. This is a perfect summer/holiday read and I recommend it to everybody.

Having loved Allie Reynold's debut novel Shiver which featured a reunion of former competitive snowboarders, I was eagerly anticipating her follow up novel to see what was in store for us readers. And The Bay couldn't be more different in that it's set at remote Sorrow Bay in Australia, a beach that a motley crew of surfers would like to keep a secret from the rest of the surfing community.

And after finishing reading I can say that the setting Sorrow Bay certainly lived up to its name as a lot has happened there over the last few years. The surprise arrival of Kenna forces Mikki and Jack to bring her with them to Sorrow Bay much to the annoyance of the rest of the group who are already there. Her arrival creates unrest amongst the group and sets in motion a few shocking events that will mean that life will never be the same for any of them again.

Kenna's mission had initially been to come over to Australia to persuade her best friend Mikki to return home after she heard about her plan to marry Aussie Jack to get a residency visa. And the longer she spends with the group, the more she can see that they have a strange hold on each other. She finds herself living life on the edge as she discovers some information about some former tribe members, did they leave of their own free will or did someone make them disappear? The more she questions things, the more you realise that there's a dangerous cat and mouse game at play and someone doesn't want her to keep digging for answers.

The 'tribe' as they called themselves were a mix of flawed characters and I can honestly say that like Kenna I really didn't know who to believe and trust. They all had toxic qualities that made my skin crawl and appeared to have a hold on each other as a unspoken threat to prevent them from leaving the group and threatening the balance of their nomadic lifestyle. Most of them were here in Australia on working or tourist visas that were either due to expire or may have expired which is why they choose to live this life under the radar. The more you learn about each of them, the more you realise that quite a few of them are hiding dark secrets and aren't who they say they are. With each snippet of information being provided I was trying to piece together the information to figure out what had happened previously and who was responsible for the current day events. And boy how wrong was I!

The Bay is a gripping, suspenseful read that has a real claustrophobic feel to it despite it being set on a beach and the surrounding coastline of Sorrow Bay.

This author’s first thriller was set in the snow and this one takes a u-turn and is set in Australia in the blistering heat. This author knows how to use the setting to create the perfect thriller atmosphere and a sense of claustrophobia. This was packed full of shady characters, plot twists and snappy short chapters which added to the tension. This makes you question who you can trust and who is telling the truth, with a shocking reveal at the end. This author is now an auto buy for me and can’t wait to see what she brings out next.

https://lynns-books.com/2022/06/23/the-bay-by-allie-reynolds/
4 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : From One Extreme to Another

I loved Shiver by Allie Reynolds and so was super excited to see The Bay due for release (also known as the Swell) and it didn’t disappoint. I mean, this couldn’t be further removed from the freezing temperatures and dangerous peaks of Shiver. Here we have the sweltering heat and huge swell of some kick ass waves on a remote Australian beach. What both books do have in common is a sense of danger, extreme sports, secrets and an almost closed room feel to them.

As The Bay starts we meet Kenna. She’s travelled to Sydney to surprise her friend Mikki. Kenna and Mikki have been BFFs forever, until personal tragedy pushed the two apart. Kenna left the Cornish coastline to pursue a career in London and Mikki travelled to the other side of the world to find a new tribe and a fiancee. Kenna isn’t convinced about the whirlwind romance and has sprung her surprise to see if her friend is actually okay. When she arrives, Mikki and her other half, Jack, are about to leave on a surfing trip and so Kenna tags along. She doesn’t feel like everything is quite as peachy as it should be and decides to give this trip a couple of weeks in order to convince her friend to return to the UK.

When the three finally arrive at Sorrow Bay (and may I say this isn’t the most optimistic name for a beach where people come to surf) Kenna is met with a rather frosty reception from the other members of the tribe: Sky, the unofficial leader who pushes the group beyond reasonable limits, Victor, Sky’s OH who suffers from PTSD following a surfing/swimming incident, Clemente, moody and secretive and Ryan, a bit of a creepy guy who seems to be the adopted protector of the group’s secret beach.

And, yes, the secrecy of the beach is the real crux of the matter with this story. This is a group of people who realise that this is a surfer’s dream come true and they will go to just about any length to prevent it from becoming common knowledge.

What I really liked about this one is that it’s very edgy. There’s a lot of tension between the group and this almost animalistic way of treating one another. I have to say I would have been out of there in a New York minute. Meanwhile Kenna is constantly digging, asking questions, poking around when no one is looking and generally antagonising certain members of the group. I wanted to shake the girl – wtf, stop, could you be a little bit more subtle for heaven’s sake. I can certainly see where the references to Point Break come from – what with this really tight click of surfers who are very reluctant to let anyone else into their inner circle but you might also want to think of the strange premise for The Beach.

So, we have a very competitive group of people, on the face of it they’re close buddies, but there are underlying tensions and secrets that start to come between the group. What could possibly go wrong eh? Especially with a storm brewing and the promise of some killer waves.

In terms of the group. Reynolds manages to make them all a bit, well, unlikable. It’s difficult to really find a favourite amongst this bunch although I did eventually form an attachment to Kenna even though at first I was unsure why she was so determined to interfere in Mikki’s life (especially as Mikki seemed rather detached). The thing is, everyone is a bit suspect. And there’s a strangely consistent competitive edge. Everyone is afraid to back down for fear of losing face and it makes them take ridiculous risks.

The setting is great. Danger lurking on virtually every page. For me, being such a raging wuss this beach felt like the furthest thing from my idea of paradise but these guys were mad for the waves so what do I know.

The writing is really good, similar to Shiver, Reynolds does an excellent job of setting the scene, drawing the characters and making the sport positively leap off the page. I don’t know if the author actually surfs but she does an impressive job of making it seem so – well, in my totally inexperienced brain that is.

Criticisms. I don’t really have anything to be honest. I enjoyed reading this. It took a few strange twists and turns and although I expected the ending to be unexpected it was perhaps more unexpected than I expected (haha).

Anyway, I had a good time reading this. It was crazy, tense, well written and absorbing.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I loved the premise of The Bay and it certainly disappoint, So many things make this a brilliant thriller.
The setting is magnificent, I loved the surfing element and the descriptive writing made it so easily to visualise.
It's defnitely a slow burn rather than a chuck you straight into the action but that works really well as the tension builds up throughout until you are holding your breath waiting for something to happen. The location and descriptions of The Bay sound so creepy and some parts send shivers down my spine (in a really good way!)
The group of characters were so intriguing, each with their own back story that gradually come to light as the story unfolds. They all have their unlikeable traits which just adds to the chilling plot.
I won't say too much more for fear of spoilers but this is an excellent summer thriller and I would definitely recommend it.

I have been so looking forward to reading The Bay – Shiver was the first book I read in 2021 and one of my favourites of the year. Reynolds successfully brought her knowledge of snowboarding to the world of Shiver, and now has done the same for surfing – in Shiver I was transported to the familiar world of the mountains, this time the less familiar world of Australian beaches and surfing communities, but equally well-captured, and fascinating to learn about a sport I know little or nothing about. This is another tense and atmospheric thriller that I absolutely loved.

Kenna flies from the UK to Australia to surprise her best friend Mikki, following Mikki’s unexpected engagement to Jack, who she hasn’t known long. Kenna finds herself accompanying them on a trip to Sorrow Bay, a remote surfing spot where she meets four of their friends, known as The Tribe. It soon becomes clear that The Tribe will do anything to protect their secret spot, and Kenna’s arrival is not warmly received. All of them seem to be hiding something and as Kenna begins to uncover secrets, she has to figure out who, if anyone, she can trust.

Reynolds brings the setting to life and as a reader it is easy to picture yourself with the waves lapping and the sand between your toes – but this idyllic paradise soon becomes a much more threatening one thanks to its remoteness, which creates a sense of claustrophobia and brings a real locked room (or should I say beach) element to the book. Largely told from Kenna’s perspective, there are chapters from other voices sprinkled throughout which helps to get to know the undoubtedly interesting characters, if largely unlikeable and often morally questionable. There are plenty of twists and short chapters add to the tension, and I was kept guessing throughout as to who was telling the truth as the story headed to a shocking reveal. I can’t wait to see what Reynolds writes next as she has now joined my auto-buy list.

I haven't read Shiver yet, but I have it high on my list now.

The story focuses on Kenna and her trip to Australia. A group of friends are going on a trip to a well-isolated place, perfect for surfing and out of the peeing eye. Like any other young adults, they like to party and enjoy the moment. But not everything is so easy or carefree as it seems.

They all have secrets and some will do anything and everything in their power to keep those secrets buried.

This was such an immersive experience overall. I loved how the author is describing each detail with easiness and captivating at the same time.

The suspense is building up slowly, and the ending is definitely a twisted one. There are still many loose ends that I don't think we will ever get the answers, but that's ok.

Overall, it's such a great story many readers will enjoy!

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

There’s something about this book that unsettled me from the off. We follow Kenna as she arrives in Australia on something of a whim, determined to meet up with her old friend Mikki, and try to persuade her to return to the UK. Upon arrival she meets Jack, Mikki’s fiancé, and her doubts about him play an integral part in her decision to accompany them on a road trip to a place called The Bay.
The Bay is a little known surfing haven where Mikki and her new friends, known as The Tribe, gather. They eat, drink, work out, surf…and yet their intensity around it suggests there’s more to this wild space. Slowly, Kenna finds herself caught up in its allure while also trying to remain distanced and work out exactly how it’s linked to missing backpackers and a number of mysterious deaths.
During her brief time there Kenna learns about each of The Tribe members and the secrets they would probably rather remain hidden. She finds herself once more caught up in daredevil behaviour, and as the book develops we sense the threat building. Dipping in and out of the characters’ narratives, we know there’s a number of them who will do anything to preserve their little slice of heaven.
I really found myself caught up in the passion of the way surfing was presented. Each of the characters was quite damaged, and I briefly wondered whether that is some kind of pre-requisite for being attracted to extreme sports and adrenaline-filled activities. I found it frustrating to be drip-fed so much information about exactly what was going on but to not be able to assign the actions to someone specific. It meant I read everything through a filter, looking for details that often weren’t there. By the time we reached the end I was relieved we’d got some answers, but the unresolved details were a harsh reminder that in life we often don’t get answers and have to make the most of what we’re doing with the details we get.
After reading Shiver I was keen to see what Allie Reynolds did next, and she did not disappoint. I look forward to seeing what exciting (yet also terrifying) activity she focuses on next. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this before publication in exchange for my personal review.

When Kenna visits Australia to check on her best friend Mikki and her fiancé, she finds herself joining them on a trip to a remote surfing spot. They have a group of friends who strive to keep The Bay hidden, and everyone seems to have secrets of their own.

It becomes apparent that no one ever leaves The Bay and Kenna wonders what the others are really capable of.

This book is the very definition of a page turner. It will have you hooked to the last word.

Allie Reynolds does a brilliant job at building Kenna's character and getting you inside her head. I enjoyed getting to know the other members of the group from her perspective.

I loved the remote setting and the tense feeling it created. Even as someone who knows nothing about surfing, I could imagine the scenes as if I was there.

A thriller that you won't be able to put down.

Shiver was one of my favourite reads last year so I was really looking forward to The Bay.
Just like Shiver, I was immediately hooked by this book and couldn't put it down!

The story is mainly told by Kenna who flies to Australia to surprise her best friend Mikka, in time for her wedding.

She arrives to discover that Mikka has a new close knit group of friends who spend most of their time at 'The Bay' surfing together and call themselves 'The Tribe.' Not long after arriving Kenna joins them on a trip but she soon starts to feel something isn't right. The tribe behave a bit like a cult! Can Mikka's new fiancé Jack be trusted? What secrets are this group of friends hiding? What happened to the missing backpackers?

I loved this character driven, tense thriller. Most of the characters are flawed and dislikeable so it is easy to suspect them all! I loved the twists in the story and found it hard to predict. Each character has secrets to hide! Similarly to Shiver (with the snowboarding references) there is lots of information about surfing in this story but I found it made the book an immersive and atmospheric read. I could really picture 'Sorrow Bay.' I loved the slow building tension which all came together so well at the end with a final shocking revelation.
Allie Reynolds is definitely an auto buy author for me now. I loved it!

With a blurb that compares it to The Beach meets Point Break, I was expected an action packed, thrilling ride.
Unfortunately I didn't get any of that. This book was a miss for me and I honestly didn't really enjoy it.
One of my main problems was just how slow paced and dull it was. Literally nothing much happens until the final 30%. I also disliked the characters and struggled to define who was who.
Throughout the story never pulled me in and I never connected to it, so by the end I couldn't care less about what was going to happen. I felt bored reading it, which I didn't expect as going off the blurb it sounded like it would be thrills galore.
However the writing wasn't bad and in the final 30% the plot and pacing did pick up, but by that point I just wanted it to end.
There are so many good reviews for this, so maybe I'm the odd one out here, so if you like the sound of it, I encourage you to give it a go, as I hope you will enjoy it more than I did!

How to protect your friend and leave a perfect location to do what you want, share everything. How to be stronger in a group and how to remain alive. Can you trust someone, who has secrets, who tell lies, who protects you, who is the good one and who is the bad one?

This was everything you need for a thriller and crime story. It is not as black and white as you first think and like most typical thrillers, is full of twists. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed Shiver by this author so was looking forward to this.

I think it will make a great holiday read and the setting descriptions are great, as were those around the surfing, but for me the relationship was a little too unrealistic and I personally saw the the ending coming quite a while before.

I haven't read Shiver, but have heard great things about it so was eager to read this one.

Kenna flies to Sydney to surprise her old friend Mikki, just in time to attend her wedding. Kenna doesn't know that Mikki is now a member of a cult like group (the Tribe) who jealously guard their remote surfing beach, Sorrow Bay.

The blurb describes it as The Beach meets Point Break, there's a lot of surfing, and a lot of the risky training exercises the Tribe's leader Sky dreams up to test them to their limits. I didn't find either of these elements particularly enjoyable, while waiting patiently for the 'thriller' plot to emerge.

The characterisation is good, with Kenna's friendship with Mikki explored from every angle, as Kenna attempts to find a way to save Mikki from the Tribe.

There are some very good moments, and the thriller picks up towards the end. It would be too easy to say it's not one for me. If the balance of thriller against surfing was increased I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline

Read Allie Reynolds book Shiver and wanted to read this straight away due to enjoying Shiver so much! I was not disappointed, The Bay was just as good, if not better! I could not put it down, was full of twists and turns and every page kept you guessing! I felt like I could visualise being on the bay with the way Allie Reynolds tells the story! Looking forward to her next book!

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kenna travels all the way to Australia because she thinks her best friend in the whole world Mikki is in trouble , Mikki has a new boyfriend called Jack and Kenna can sense that somethings not right with between them both.

I enjoyed the book but I couldn’t quite get into it and it wasn’t really a page turner so to speak.

Allie Reynolds has written an incredibly atmospheric, claustrophobic thriller with surfing at the heart of the story. Three years ago, Kenna lost the two loves of her life - surfing and her boyfriend who drowned. Now her best friend is engaged to a guy in Australia who is part of a close group of surfers, so Kenna heads out excited to surf again and meet the man her best friend fell for so fast. Can Kenna survive this secretive, mysterious group of surfers who seem to get rid of people in order to keep their private beach a secret? The story is very character-driven and fast-paced. There are plenty of twists to keep readers guessing. Highly recommend to fans of the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach or if you enjoy fast-paced thrillers. This would make the perfect beach read!

A group of people calling themselves the Tribe, discover a bay where they are the only surfers. There are no locals or other surfers. Kenna's friend Mikka has joined the tribe, but Kenna thinks something doesn't feel right, so she is desperate to get Mikka to leave. Who are the tribe members? Where are the missing backpackers on posters around the bay?
As the mystery deepened, I was hooked. No one knows who they can trust, and Kenna searches for the truth of what has happened to the girl before her, and can she escape?
Excellent surf descriptions and I could really imagine being cast away in the bay!

The Beach meets Chasing Mavericks – A hugely addictive read!

After reading Allie’s debut Shiver and loving it, I was very excited to sink my teeth into The Bay. Different to any other thriller that I’ve read and very unique, this is a book I highly recommend you read this summer!

When Kenna finds out that her best friend is getting married soon, she decides to surprise her by flying to see her in Australia! Mikki is shocked but doesn’t seem that pleased by Kenna’s arrival, but why? Instantly Kenna isn’t keen on Mikki’s fiancé Jack and can tell something isn’t quite right about him, so she decides to make it her mission to convince her friend not to get wed and return home to the UK instead.

Convincing her will take time though, so Kenna ends up joining Mikki and Jack on a surfing trip to a place called Sorrow Bay. On arrival, she meets their friends, collectively known as ‘the tribe’. Made to feel very unwanted and unwelcome by this strange bunch of surfers who all have secrets to hide, Kenna no longer fears for just Mikki’s safety but for her own too!

This book is fast-paced, action-packed and expertly written. With so many unreliable characters it was hard to know who to trust, I changed my mind multiple times about who I thought was up to no good, but I didn’t guess correctly and I love how shocked and surprised I felt at the end of the book.

This story is also incredibly atmospheric, I could almost hear the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks and smell the wax on the boards! Allie has done an amazing job with writing this story so that the reader feels completely immersed in it. I’ve not stopped thinking about it since I finished it and would love to meet some of the characters again in another book one day!

I could go on raving about this book, but for now, I suggest you ‘carve’ some space in your time and ‘drop in’ on this riptide of a ride summer thriller. You will not be disappointed!

Thank you to Allie Reynolds, Headline and NetGalley for my copy of this fantastic book 📖

I loved it!

Kenna arrives in Australia to visit her friend Mikki and hopefully bring her back home. But as she arrives, Mikki and her Fiance are about to leave for a trip to a secret Bay to camp and surf. Kenna goes along and meets the other, or the Tribe as they are known. Everyone has secrets, people are missing or dead, what has Kenna gotten herself into. What a great ending.

It reminded me of the Film with Leonardo Dicaprio, The Beach.