I am a fan of Nina's books but unfortunately this one wasn't as good as the others. I didn't connect with Sadie and the ending was disappointing.

This is my second book by Nina Manning, I loved the first one and this one definitely does not disappoint.

I absolutely love a destination sitting in a thriller book, even more so when it’s a remote setting or a setting that can’t be left.

The pacing is slower than what I’m used to but I quite liked that - it helped build up tension and suspense.

I loved the ending, which I didn’t expect at all, and it left some questions unanswered.. are we going to get a sequel?

This is the perfect summer/beach read! I am also a huge fan of thrillers taking place on remote islands, so that was a huge plus! This was a great quick read and I was very pleased with it. I’ll definitely be checking out more books from this author.

What a twisted and delightful read! I can't stop thinking about it.

Sadie Adamson is working in Fiji and trying to move on from a toxic ex. She has friends she hangs out with. There is one in particular, Avril, with whom she connects and immediately goes on a mini vacation to an unknown island that is far away. Sadie arrives at the location and notices that there are only women, 2 children, and nothing else. She realizes that Avrim has brought her there and doesn't intend to take her back to her old life.

As days pass, Sadie begins to notice some discrepancies, half truths, and lots of silence from Avril and the other women. The commune is not the utopia that Avril was selling and that Avril and the rest of the women hide deadly secrets.

Thank you, Netgalley and Hodder & and Stoughton, for this magnificent ARC. All opinions are entirely my own

This was different from other thrillers I’ve read.

Although it didn’t feel particularly fast paced I still felt compelled to read as I just wanted to know what was happening!

Really thought the writing flowed well and kept me intrigued. Liked having the story told from ‘Now’ and ‘Then’ POV’s.
This is the first Nina Manning book I’ve read but I do have others on my TBR and I know I’ll enjoy them!

I’d say this is definitely a thriller with discoveries rather than shocking moments but enjoyable to see how it all panned out.

The ending does leave you wondering a few things and I actually enjoyed that as it’ll keep me thinking!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is the perfect destination thriller for the summer of 2025! The secluded island serves as the perfect backdrop for a scary yet entertaining plot. A terrific read all around!

“You won’t want to leave… until you can’t.” That tagline couldn’t be more fitting for Nina Manning’s latest psychological thriller, The Beach Holiday which is a compelling, atmospheric read that had me hooked from the start.

After a break-up and in need of an escape, Sadie accepts an invitation to a remote island just off the coast of Fiji.

With its white sands, postcard-perfect sunsets and blissful isolation (no Wi-Fi or mobile signal), it feels like paradise.

A chance to finally switch off, reset, and leave her past behind.

But it soon becomes clear that the island is hiding more than just luxury and tranquillity.

Why are only women allowed? Why is a part of the island strictly off-limits? And why do the guests never seem to leave?

Told through a dual timeline, the story moves between “then” and “now,” gradually building tension as Sadie’s memories and understanding begin to fracture.

As she starts to piece together what’s really going on, the sense of unease ratchets up and so does the pace.

I devoured this book in just three days; the short chapters and the mounting mystery made it hard to put down.

Manning does a brilliant job of creating a sense of claustrophobia and growing dread, despite the seemingly idyllic setting.

I really felt like I was on the island with Sadie, experiencing the disorientation, the suspicion, and the creeping realisation that something isn’t quite right.

This is a twisty, unsettling thriller that explores themes of control, identity, and the dark side of utopia. If you enjoy stories where paradise slowly turns to nightmare, The Beach Holiday is one you won’t want to miss.

A gripping, sun-drenched psychological thriller with a sinister undercurrent. Prepare to be pulled in... and not let go.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Tense, twisty and intriguing all in a beautiful setting. Fabulous book for a holiday read or anytime really. I loved this book and would definitely look out for other books by this author. The only slight downer was the book ended so suddenly, I hoped it would go on a bit longer.

Thank you to Net Galley for my advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I read it in less than 24 hours. The short chapters really added to the pace of the book. It has plenty of mystery and plenty of questions that needed answering. The island was described really well and the characters were likeable. I also really liked the dual timeline with it going back from then to now.

A good read. I would recommend this book and I will look for books by this author in future.

**3.5**

Thank you so much, NetGalley for this ARC ❤️

Sadie comes out of a bad relationship and travels to Fiji. Gets herself a job. One day meets a woman who invites her to a remote paradise island. She goes. Notice that it's a women's commune and it does seem like paradise. At first. Something isn't right....

A thriller. It's good, but I found it all very slow. But still intriguing.

The Beach Holiday is billed as an utterly gripping psychological thriller with a heart stopping twist. Sadie has escaped England and toxic boyfriend and heads to Fiji. Here she is befriended by Avril and travels with her to a remote, women only Fijian island. It seems the perfect place to reflect and rebuild but is everything as it seems. What starts out as a new adventure, quickly develops into a place of uneasiness with areas off limits and dark secrets. Whilst I enjoyed this book, I did feel like there was something lacking and it didn’t grip me as much as other thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the chance to review.

What begins as a sun-soaked escape quickly twists into a chilling and suspenseful thriller in Nina Manning’s The Beach Holiday. After a breakup and in desperate need of a fresh start, Sadie accepts an invitation to an exclusive island off the coast of Fiji. With no Wi-Fi, a stunning landscape and the promise of peace, it seems like the perfect chance to reset.

But paradise doesn’t come without its shadows. The island’s rules are strange — only women are allowed to visit, one section is completely off limits, and no one seems to be leaving. As Sadie tries to relax, her unease grows with every cryptic conversation and unanswered question.

Manning crafts a tense atmosphere that slowly seeps into every chapter. As Sadie unravels the truth behind the island’s eerie serenity, the book evolves into a powerful commentary on autonomy, power and what it truly means to be free.

Suspenseful, clever and deeply unsettling, The Beach Holiday grips tightly and refuses to let go.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Just loved the premise of this one. An island only for women but with mysterious occurences? Absolutely count me in.

A character that wants to get away after a bad breakup, a fresh chance, an island for women which no one can leave and mysterious twists. All the ingredients for a perfect thriller. The action starts from the go and you know something is going to happen.

The characters are well written and I loved how it has the eerie vibes with a mix of a destination thriller. A perfect holiday read!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

he Beach Holiday by Nina Manning – ★★½

After ending a toxic relationship, Sadie escapes England and sets off for a remote island off the coast of Fiji. With no Wi-Fi and only women for company, the island seems like the perfect place to reset. But things quickly take a strange turn: certain areas are off-limits, no one seems able—or willing—to leave, and the air of paradise begins to darken. As Sadie digs deeper, she uncovers a sinister secret hiding beneath the idyllic surface.

I was genuinely excited for The Beach Holiday after loving The Beach House last year. Unfortunately, this one didn’t hit the same high notes. It felt like it was trying too hard to be dark and mysterious, but ended up veering into territory that felt oddly corny and reminiscent of a watered-down, all-female The Beach (yes, the Alex Garland classic—only with more unanswered questions).

The pacing was inconsistent—slow to start and then suddenly rushed at the end. While the story had serious potential, it lacked the tension and twists I hoped for. Major plot threads were dropped or underdeveloped (What happened to the helicopter? Why are there children but no fathers? Why did no one speak out once they left?).

The premise promised a thrilling “holiday gone wrong,” but what unfolded was more cult-like dystopia than suspenseful mystery. Told solely from Sadie’s POV, the narrative missed opportunities to explore the motivations and backstories of the other women on the island. I wanted more depth, more balance, and fewer loose ends.

Parts of the book were enjoyable and I didn’t hate it—I just didn’t love it either. A more fitting title, tighter plot, and more consistent pacing could have lifted this one. Sadly, this wasn't the beach escape I was hoping for.

Thank you to the author, the publisher (Hodder & Stoughton), and NetGalley for the ARC.

This deliciously twisty story kept me up late at night, desperate to know the outcome. A definite 5 stars Perfect destination thriller 🏖️

I would have rated this story higher if it had been a little less predictable. It is told from a female perspective which with the main subject in mind is to be expected, however I think the author could have balanced a little more. Easy reading and not exactly follow the title, any more and it's a spoiler. A good book needing just a little more for a fourth star.

cant imagine much things come worse than being stuck. theres a reason so many books and films are made of being stuck on an island isnt there. this is something i used to try and figure out when i was little. just how and what could i use if i ever needed to get off an island. but when there is seemingly something more sinister going on on said island, well what then?
so here we have this book. Sadie needs a break, she needs to get away from all the things going on in her life. namely those that remind her of her recent breakup. so when she gets the opportunity to go to a gorgeous island off Fiji who is going to say no to that? once on the island all is gorgeous right. the sand, the sounds, the sun with days ready for spending on beaches and in the sunsets to look forward to. buuuut that wouldnt be a story would it? nope, because something starts to feel very off. there is strange occurrences going on here, things she is noticing that arent quite right. and as things start to get really dark real quick she soon realises she is on an island in danger with no way to escape.
this book had me hooked. i loved being so invested myself to no just what was going on. it felt like as the reveal happened we were along for the ride too. almost like when she looked round corners or heard things we could really feel all her fears too.
and i was hooked right until the end. i neeeeded to find out just what was going on. and more to the fact how Sadie would end up.
Nina knows how to offer her readers what they want. her books are delicious thrillers and ive not regret one single page of reading from her yet.

I really did enjoy this one although it could have done with a few more chapters to find out a bit more about what happened at the end I've taken off a star for that reason so 4 stars it is

Many thanks to NetGalley, Nina Manning and Hodder & Stoughton for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Truthfully, I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either. I was really looking forward to reading The Beach Holiday because I love a good thriller, but honestly, I came away a bit disappointed. The story had so much potential but it lacked the twists and excitement I was hoping for.

On the plus side, it’s definitely an easy read. I found myself wanting to keep picking it up just to see what would happen next but for me it just didn’t have that “wow” factor. It felt like it needed a few more chapters to really develop the story and build up to a more exciting plot twist.

One of my biggest frustrations was the ending. I don’t mind an open-ended conclusion and can live with a bit of ambiguity (in my head, it’s always a happy ending anyway haha) but this one just felt unfinished. A scary, life-changing situation happens and then it’s never really addressed again. There were also missed opportunities to show the main character getting her life back on track which made the ending feel a bit rushed.

In the end, The Beach Holiday was okay. It’s a decent pick if you’re after a light, easy thriller for a beach read but if you’re looking for something with depth, suspense, and a satisfying payoff, this one might fall a bit flat.

The title of this book doesn't fit the story at all. The main character is travelling and working before she ends up joining an island community for a long period of time - she isn't on holiday, and she doesn't spend much time on beaches either. It really needs a different title that better represents what the book is actually about.

Parts of the book I enjoyed, but the pacing was a bit off. The first half of the story was a bit of a slow burn and then the final section of the book was all a bit rushed, and it ended very suddenly.