I flew through this book in one sitting on a plane ride. The story, told in both “now” and “then” timelines sucks you in quickly and keeps you guessing. Stella and Austin are on their honeymoon in Venice when Austin suddenly goes missing. The story follows Stella as she frantically searches for her missing husband and learns that things aren’t always what they seem.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC - this was my first Shalini Boland and I am now interested in picking up some of her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC of The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland.
Shalini Boland is one of my favorite authors and I love all the books I have read of hers so far and this book is no exception. Austin and Stella are on their honeymoon in Venice when Austin mysteriously disappears. This sets the scene for a fantastic book that alternates from present to past with a twisted ending. What a fantastic book!!

It was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. But for newlywed Stella, the dream honeymoon has turned into a nightmare overnight. Her perfect husband, Austin, has vanished without a trace. Alone in Venice, Stella frantically searches for him. But as fear turns into confusion, she finds herself questioning everything she knows about the man she married. Has Austin really abandoned her, or has someone from his past finally caught up with him, the business partner he threatened to sue? The obsessive ex-girlfriend who refuses to let go? When Stella becomes convinced someone is following her, panic sets in.
This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, and some fantastic crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑺𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍. 𝑺𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆?

I'm always in line for anything by this author, and her latest is an action-packed, twisty, stunning read.

Stella and Austin have just gotten married and are on a dream honeymoon in Venice. Their first night together is everything Stella hoped it would be, and when she wakes briefly to the sounds of Austin getting dressed, he placates her by telling her that he left his credit card at the restaurant. He soothes her back to sleep, reassuring her that he'll be right back.

But Austin never returns.

Alone in a foreign country and far from home, Stella calls upon her in-laws and her parents to help her make sense of this bewildering situation. She pieces together all the parts of Austin's life, and when she considers the business partner he's suing, the ex-girlfriend who just refuses to let go, and the fact that she's positive someone is following her, she has to ask herself some tough questions about her new husband and their life together.

This was a completely immersive, ignore all the things that need to be done kind of read. Your heart will break for Stella, and the author builds up the supporting characters so well that all of the scenes easily played out like a movie. Told through alternating timelines, the reader gets some great insight into this relationship and why that masterpiece of an ending had to happen. I truly believe this is her twistiest book yet! A massive thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the early read. THE HONEYMOON will publish June 13, 2024.

OMG! Shalini Boland does it again with this fast paced thriller. The Honeymoon tells the story of Stella and Austin and goes back and fourth between the past ( a year before their wedding) and the present ( their honeymoon). This book is filled with characters that you just love to hate and they all look guilty. This one had me hooked from the very first page and I finished it in just one day.
Austin is the love of Stella's life, or so she thinks. What happens when the person that you have grown to depend on and trust with your life just suddenly disappears?

Clear your schedule and hang on because because you will be in for a wild ride.

Firstly, to Netgalley, the author and publisher, thank you for gifting me an advanced copy of the book, it was greatly appreciated.
Shalini Boland is one of the top authors whom I follow automatically, and she has written another excellent book that I devoured in one sitting. Austin and Stella have been dating for four years when they marry in the beautiful city of Venice, it seems that all of Stella’s dreams have come true. A handsome new husband and the excitement of how her new life is going to unfold. The book alternates in chapters from the present to the past.
On the first night of their honeymoon Austin leaves their suite at 11.30pm after leaving his credit card behind in the restaurant where they had just spent a wonderful evening dining. But as the night progresses Austin does not return and Stella becomes increasingly worried as the hours move forward. Soon Stella discovers that Austin has been lying to her, shady business operations seem to have taken place and the presence of his ex-girlfriend in their lives leaves her unsettled and worried that her new dream life may not be as amazing as she thought. Then throw in the fact that she feels she is being followed by more than one person in the coming days as she searches the streets looking for Austin which adds another excellent dynamic to the book.
This all sets the scene for a fabulous book that once I started, I could not put down. The ending is spectacular, and I did not see this major twist coming, it was incredibly clever of the author to end the story in this way. You are literally on the edge of your seat until the last pages.
I highly recommend you read this book and encourage you then to try her others, I do not think you will be disappointed, I have to say I think it is my favorite book so far by Shalini Boland.

Ugh, this book just wasn’t my cup of tea!

This is a slow-burn peppered with a lot of unnecessary details and chatter.

I found it challenging to connect to the characters and I did not like the twists nor the ending. I mean, there is suspending disbelief, which I am absolutely fine with ‘to a certain extent’ and then, there is this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of the Honeymoon by Shalini Boland due to be published June 13, 2024.
Stella is on her honeymoon in beautiful Venice, Italy, when her husband, Austin, vanishes without a trace. Stella searches for him and finds out her husband has been less than truthful. Not to mention, she is being followed by two different people. Austin’s business partner said he is lying about everything. Who is telling the truth? What happened to Austin?
The Honeymoon had me hooked from the beginning. It alternates chapters from then – a year before their marriage, and now – their honeymoon in Italy. You will get a lot of backstory on their relationship as well as Stella’s with her parents and Austin’s parents.
The ending will surprise you – both of them! This one is not to be missed!
#NetGalley #ShaliniBoland #Thomas&Mercer #TheHoneymoon

The new Shalini Boland book is clever and fast moving. Stella’s new husband Austin disappears on the first night of their Venice honeymoon. Stella is bewildered and terrified as she attempts to navigate the Venice police procedures and the Venice streets to look for him. She considers him the love of her life and can’t imagine what could have happened. Of course, Austin does have an obsessive ex girlfriend and an angry business partner. The characters in this engrossing and layered thriller are believable and likable. Hang on as you read this complex story. What an ending! With thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. My opinions are my own. @shaboland

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this one! Shalini Boland is an auto buy author for me! As soon as I got my hands on the ARC, I didn't even read the synopsis, I just jumped right to it and abandoned the book I was reading at the time. I finished this in less than 12 hours. I loved the writing style and the back and forth on the present and the past, it have the story a nice pace. I wish there were some lesser description sections and that is a minor thing. I enjoyed the Venice atmosphere and the general anxiety in the air. I though I knew how the story was going to progress but as always I was wrong! I loved the twist and even more than that - omg that epilogue!!! Outstanding!! Highly recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Shalini Boland for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!