Absolutely captivating read from Jess Ryder. The setting of Inios is so well written you can easily see yourself there. The way the story moves between the two timelines is brilliant.
Highly recommended from me.

I loved The Villa by this author but I didn't feel the same love for The Island. It was a much slower book and it didn't pull me in. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters - except Estelle - but I enjoyed the dual timelines/POV & how it all culminated to the final scenes and I certainly didn't catch on to one of the twists in the book!

Overall, it was grand. I'll definitely read more of Jess Ryder in the future I just don't think this one was one for me.

My second book by Jess Ryder and another great read. Juno is on a mission to get away from her life and find the father she has never met. She turns up on the Greek island of Inios with no plan only the fact she wants to uncover the secret of what happened when her parents met all those years ago.
There are some great characters and I really didn’t know who to trust and kept questioning myself.
I enjoyed reading the letters Estelle had sent all those years ago and I felt the flashbacks to the past really added to the story.
A great read with plenty of twists and turns and an excellent ending I was definitely not expecting.
Thanks to NetGalley , Jess Ryder and Random
House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A really interesting story which I was happy to read whilst on holiday in Greece. The two strands of mother and daughter visiting the island and the resolution were well done and I didn’t guess the ending. Recommended

Book Review: The Island Escape by Jess Ryder
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

The Island Escape is a solid mystery with an atmospheric setting and an intriguing premise, but it didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch or suspense I was hoping for.

The story follows Juno as she arrives on the Greek island of Inios in search of the father she’s never met. The backdrop is beautifully drawn—sun-drenched cliffs, secretive locals, and a haunting sense of something hidden beneath the surface. Ryder does a great job of building a sense of mystery, and the tension around the island’s past is engaging.

However, while the setting shines, the pacing felt uneven. The plot took a while to gain momentum, and some twists were more predictable than surprising. Juno was a likeable enough lead, but I struggled to fully connect with her emotionally, which made some of the bigger reveals less impactful than they could have been.

That said, the writing is crisp, and fans of slow-burn psychological thrillers might appreciate the moody tone and layered secrets.

Final Thoughts:
This is a decent beach read with a gorgeous setting and some compelling elements, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of depth or originality. A good pick if you're in the mood for a light mystery with a scenic escape.

Jess does it again. This is the perfect book if you are travelling abroad (especially if youre going to Greece). It has everything from romance to who dunnit style and I couldn't put it down. Imagine a chick lit crossed with an Agatha Cristie. It was brilliant!

Well done Jess and I can't wait for your next book!

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House UK & Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Island Escape by Jess.

I really enjoyed Jess' novel, The Villa, so I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately, I'm so sorry, this wasn't for me.

There was waaay too much detail (sometimes 3 pages when it could be covered in a page max), I didn't connect with any of the characters and the twist wasn't very twisty for me. It feels like it's missing 'something' to give it a spark.

I'll definitely read more of Jess' books in future but sadly I didn't enjoy this one.

I loved this loved the setting I haven’t read many books based in Greece so was lovely to read something different
This was interesting and a lovely easy read I like the characters like the whole concept a good thriller

A gripping thriller set on the picturesque Greek island of Inios. I loved the atmospheric Greek setting and ways of life. Juno leaves her home for a break from her husband and heads to the Greek island to find her family connections. During her time she discovers long lost secrets, makes friendships and discovers her past. The writing is really engaging and the characters intriguing. A story full of suspense and packed with twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book.

An okay thriller - nothing massively special but a decent plot and a gorgeous Greek island setting. Twist didn't blow me away but I read this in a day so it's a nice quick read

I was thrilled when the team asked me to review this book, thank you publishing house and netgalley for the opportunity! I was gripped from start to finish, absolutely binge worthy material - I read this book in 2 days. Unheard of for me!
The beginning gave me some Mamma Mia vibes and I adored how the timelines entwined, it kept me reading and wanting more. Loved the twists and surprises along the way, the main character had her own flaws but you can tell her thinking was becoming panicked as the story unfolded so it all played nicely together!

The Island Escape by Jess Ryder is a gripping and atmospheric mystery that takes readers on a suspense-filled journey to the beautiful, yet haunting, Greek island of Inios. The story follows Juno, who arrives on the island with one clear goal: to find her estranged father, whom she has never met. What she doesn't expect, however, is the eerie, unsettling atmosphere that clings to the island, and the growing sense that something terrible happened there decades ago, when her parents fell in love.

The island, once a paradise, is now plagued by shadows of the past, and Juno’s quest to uncover her family’s hidden secret quickly becomes more complex than she ever anticipated. As whispers follow her every step, Juno is drawn deeper into the island’s history, where long-buried truths threaten to come to light. But someone is determined to keep those secrets hidden, no matter the cost.

Ryder does a fantastic job of building tension throughout the book. The stunning, yet oppressive, setting of the island enhances the atmosphere, making it feel like a character in itself—one that holds its secrets tightly and refuses to let go. The suspense builds gradually, with each new clue Juno uncovers leading her closer to the truth, and just when you think you have it all figured out, Ryder throws in a twist that will leave you hooked until the final page.

The characters are well-crafted, and Juno, in particular, is relatable and determined, making her search for answers both compelling and personal. The dynamic between her and the island’s residents adds to the intrigue, as they are not all as welcoming as they first appear.

The Island Escape is a captivating read that blends suspense, mystery, and the allure of a beautiful but haunting location. It’s a perfect pick for fans of atmospheric thrillers, and with its unforgettable setting and well-paced plot, this book will leave you eagerly turning pages to uncover the dark secrets lurking in the shadows.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

ooh this was good! Greece here I come! And what a visit. Juno goes there to find the father she's never met and well, she finds a lot more than she bargained for. Great to have it set on an island in the middle of nowhere as it added to the overall helplessness and will she be able to escape kind of feeling. Gripping but fun in equal measure. With the blurb involving the line ; Mamma mia with murder; I was singing the songs as I was reading this....

This book was fantastic the more I read, the more shocked I became! I was instantly fascinated by the plot. I loved the writing style and I honestly could not untangle the web of lies.

This book was so good I ended up reading it all day. Just excellent! It was gripping, chilling and clever!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!

This is a truly fantastic thriller that comes packed with twists and turns. I loved the atmospheric Greek setting and intriguing characters. The writing style is quick and engaging.

A really gripping thriller set on the picturesque Greek island of Inios. The story follows Juno, who arrives on the island to uncover family secrets and find the father she has never met. As she delves deeper, she discovers that the island holds dark secrets from the past. Ryder's writing is engaging and suspenseful, making this a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers

Secrets..
Juno has travelled to the paradise Greek island of Inios - to find a father she has never met. She couldn’t have anticipated the feelings that she encounters once there. Not only is her father not there but the island, although idyllic, seems seeped in secrets of their familial past - what secrets have been kept from her? As she searches for answers, unbeknownst to her, someone is desperate to keep them hidden. A pacy and immersive suspense with a nicely drawn cast and a well imagined and luscious backdrop.

A good read, I do like Jess Ryder. I prefer her earlier work generally, but still enjoyed this. Twists, uncertainty and complex relationships. All make for a decent thriller read

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Juno takes a break from her life and her husband in the UK to search for the father she never knew existed on an island in Greece. Her mother, who she has mostly been estranged from pleads with her not to go, but Juno is determined. Once she is there, she isn't able to find her father and later starts to realize there are some things in play that she didn't expect.

I usually really like this author and I was really excited about this setting in Greece, but the one fell a little flat for me. The story unfolded in a not terribly interesting way and the ultimate reveal wasn't very shocking or exciting. This was a bit of a miss, but I do like this author a lot and I look forward to her next novel.

Juno needs a break from her husband as they continue to struggle to conceive. She decides to head to Greece with some letters from her mother, to try to find her daughter. Her mother warns her to come home; she is in danger. Juno ends up with a job at the hotel of her birth family, trying to discover their secrets about her father. She meets people from her mother's past that also tell her she needs to leave. Juno's roommate is convinced this family had the last wedding planner killed and thinks they are in danger. Juno finally decides to leave when she finds herself in big trouble. Will she survive? The ending was not what I expected. I want to say that Juno is a little naive in a lot of ways, to the point where one wants to shake their head. But this book was good. Lots of twists and suspense. Def recommended!