Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Loved it!!! Take me to a luxury Caribbean resort anyday (despite the toxicity). I adore books set in holiday day locations, it's such an escapism.
Despite our MC Lily, clearly being so messed up and dangerous, I loved the vulnerability of her and just wanted to give her a hug. I'm not usually keen on anything romantic but this romance wasn't cheese, it was hot!!
I love the ending and I believe there scope for a 2nd book on how Lily's life continued?... I'd be the 1st in line for this for sure and I'm certainly looking up the author #SiennaSharpe other books.
One tiny niggle of annoyance was they kept referring to drinks as "beverages", alot! not a term I use or rarely read in books, seemed odd.
Big thank you to #NetGalley for the advanced copy

Was this review helpful?

3.75 stars
While I enjoyed the luxury resort vibes (especially as I read it poolside on holiday), this wasn’t what I was expecting.
Despite it being immersive and me feeling like I was at the Riovan, we don’t get all that much background on Lily’s previous kills. And maybe I’m used to the ‘bodies’ in question being the worst of the worst, but I’m not entirely sure that they deserved to or warranted being offed in the first place.
Yes they were toxic and promoting a toxic culture, but I’m not all that surprised that that’s how they were behaving at a ‘health’ resort.
Even when she was deciding who to kill this year, I was struggling to agree with her choices at all.
We don’t really see a single kill, either, in what I thought would be something similar to How To Kill Your Family, etc.
And I get that this is a taxing thing for her to go through, but Lily’s behaviour was all over the place, making it difficult to root for her.
I did like how everything was resolved in the end and didn’t anticipate the way that it would go or what actually happened to Jess.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I really wanted to love this one especially because I felt like it was a new and fresh concept. However I found Lily’s internal dialogue a bit too depressing and repetitive.

Was this review helpful?

I was unsure what to expect when I started reading this but actually really enjoyed it!
I love a good mystery/thriller so this was right up my street. I often find I can predict what is going to happen in this genre but Beach Bodies kept me guessing and I found it very intriguing. I enjoyed the romance element to it and felt like this was done well as it didn’t overpower the other elements of the story and also didn’t feel forced.

Was this review helpful?

I have such mixed feelings about Beach Bodies!

Initially it was sort of giving a White Lotus-esque vibe and I enjoyed the initial story building and was intrigued to see what was bringing Lily back to the resort every year

However the ending just felt a little flat and rushed to me, particularly in relation to Jessica’s character.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this so much, the combination of thriller and romance was such a good hook and kept me enthralled throughout (I ended up reading this over a 24 hour period in 3 sittings). I really loved the commentary being made throughout - what a great way to talk about that without making anything feeling preachy. I can't believe this was a debut - I'll definitely be looking out for more from Sienna Sharpe in future.

Was this review helpful?

This was a really engrossing tale that really built and developed. A gorgeous setting and great cast of characters. A great read.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this! It started off as if it were a cute romance, and then we realise it's more about murder than romance. Really well written, and hooked me straight away.
I loved the social commentary that is throughout the book, the themes of toxic dieting and "body posivitity", and Lily's motivations for what she does (no spoliers)
If you looking for a cute thriller with a sprinkle of romance, this is for you!

Was this review helpful?

What a totally addictive story this was, which stayed on my mind for a while afterwards too.

I absolutely loved Lily's motivations, and just how devious she is. And I also agree with her feelings on the beauty / wellness industry, especially with regards how women are made to feel about their bodies.

I was never totally sure how it would all play out, it definitely was unpredictable to me and I absolutely loved the clear headed ness, rules and decision making abilities involved in Lily's style of vigilante justice.

I definitely did not expect the ending at all. While most of the action is taking part in an elite resort in the Caribbean, that had me wishing I had saved this for a beach read, as it's definitely a perfect holiday read.

Also loved Lily's clear attraction to the one guest, that is potentially going to cause her no end of trouble, as if someone is determined to get away with causing another suspicious death, she should perhaps stay away from journalists.

A totally fabulous debut novel and I'm eager to see what this author writes next.

Thank you to Transworld Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Loved Beach Bodies! The characters were great and the story was so so good. Loved every minute of reading this!

Was this review helpful?

Beach Bodies by Sienna Sharpe is a thrilling and captivating tale set in the sun-soaked paradise of the Riovan Wellness Resort on a Caribbean island. Lily Lennox, a successful businesswoman, spends each of the past five summers life-guarding at the exclusive resort. But there's a sinister secret she’s hiding—mysterious deaths have occurred on the island each year she’s there. Lily knows it’s best not to draw attention to herself, especially when her mission is murder.

This year, however, a handsome guest named Daniel Black seems to be asking just a few too many inconvenient questions. As Lily navigates her growing attraction to him, she must also ensure she doesn’t attract suspicion, all while balancing her dark secret.

What makes Beach Bodies so intriguing is how it keeps you guessing throughout the story. As someone who often predicts outcomes in this genre, I found this book full of twists that kept me engaged. The romance element was skillfully woven into the plot, never overshadowing the other aspects of the story, and it didn’t feel forced.

Lily, as the main character, was incredibly well-developed. Seeing the story unfold from her perspective, especially from the killer’s point of view, was both unique and gripping. I found myself surprisingly sympathetic to her, a testament to Sharpe’s writing skills in crafting a character that you end up liking, despite her dark side.

Beach Bodies is a thrilling, well-balanced mix of suspense, romance, and intrigue. If you're looking for a page-turner with an unexpected twist, this book is worth the read.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Was this review helpful?

I was unsure what to expect when I started reading this but actually really enjoyed it!
I love a good mystery/thriller so this was right up my street. I often find I can predict what is going to happen in this genre but Beach Bodies kept me guessing and I found it very intriguing. I enjoyed the romance element to it and felt like this was done well as it didn’t overpower the other elements of the story and also didn’t feel forced.
Lilly was a great MC - seeing it from the killer’s perspective was interesting and the writing was done well so that you ended up actually liking her!
I also felt that the bisexual representation was done well as it again didn’t feel forced and felt natural within the story.

Was this review helpful?

This book delivers a deliciously dark and sun-drenched thriller with a truly compelling anti-heroine. Lily Lennox, a serial killer hiding in plain sight as a lifeguard at an exclusive Caribbean wellness retreat, is a fascinatingly complex character. You find yourself oddly drawn to her, even as you witness her chilling intentions.
The author skillfully crafts a narrative that balances the idyllic setting of the Riovan Wellness Resort with the undercurrent of sinister secrets and deadly agendas. The "wellness retreat to die for" tagline is no exaggeration, and the tension builds beautifully as the mystery of the recurring deaths unfolds.
What truly sets this book apart is the slow-burn reveal of Lily's backstory. The drip-fed information keeps you hooked, piecing together her motivations and adding layers to her already intriguing personality. The introduction of Daniel Black, whose inquisitive nature threatens to expose Lily's carefully constructed facade, adds another layer of suspense. The burgeoning attraction between them creates a captivating dynamic, forcing Lily to navigate her deadly mission while battling unexpected feelings.
If you enjoy thrillers with a morally ambiguous protagonist, a captivating setting, and a healthy dose of suspense, this book is a must-read. The author has created a truly memorable character in Lily Lennox, and her story will leave you pondering the complexities of human nature long after you turn the final page.

Was this review helpful?

this was a breath of fresh air! lovely twist to the genre touching on some very delicate topics in a great way. Would recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I loved that this was a twist on a romance book with some murder mystery thrown in. There were some really important topics involved in the plot including mental health and body image which felt very well written and perfectly placed within the story.

Was this review helpful?

Why does successful entrepreneur Lily return as a lifeguard to the Riovan Wellness resort every year? who is the attractive Daniel Black and why is he so interested in Lily? Is she involved in the 5 deaths that have happened at the resort? An enthralling tale of love and revenge.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this and it was a different take on a murder mystery. The setting and premise got my attention and I was invested from early on.

It was a decent read but just dragged a little with the back and forth (flashbacks) but overall worth checking out.

3.5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

A thriller with a sexy romance where the heroine is a self confessed serial killer, what more could you ask for? An unconventional plot with twists and turns that kept me engrossd from the first page to the last.

Was this review helpful?

Firstly, I 100% support women's wrongs! I loved the fmc of this story and the fact she was a serial killer - what a vibe!
The steamy romance was a great addition to the plot and kept me turning pages. I was hooked into the unpredicatable plot of the story and couldn't help but root for Lily on her destructive journey.
This is quickly becoming one of my favourite sub-genres and I can't wait to see what the author comes out with next!

Was this review helpful?

This book twists and turns and kept me guessing till the very end. I wasn’t quite sure whether to love or judge Lily and yet the way the author weaves in flashbacks, calls with people who hint at unrest in Lily’s earlier years and dribs and drabs that come through in her emotions really made me want to root for her. The book has so many good, if unpleasant characters and moments, that are far fetched but not quite so far fetched that they are unimaginable. A real cast of unpleasantness where Lily sometimes seems to be the only true person. A mad, and entertaining read.

Was this review helpful?