**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.

I found the book mostly intriguing but felt like the ending was off and just not what I had hoped for. The last 10% of the book just kind of had the book go down hill for me. I really was drawn to Sadie and the crazy journey she had on the island but the ending felt like it needed a bit more.

The Beach Holiday is a great beach read. Sitting by the ocean, hearing the waves, and reading about the beaches and sunsets on an Island off Fiji is a great way to pass a summer day.

Sadie dumps her awful boyfriend and is looking for a way to distance herself from him and all reminders of him. Along comes the opportunity to go to a remote Island off Fiji, and who wouldn't jump at that opportunity. And at first, it's just as she imagined it would be. White sandy beaces, warm days, beautiful sunsets. At first. Then she starts to notice strange things about the Island. Soon, the darkness of evil rears its ugly head, and there's no way to escape the island.

This story piqued my interest at the start, and I had to keep going to know how it was going to turn out. I've enjoyed many of Nina Manning's other books, and this one rated right up there with them. The story flows rapidly, and the chapters are sure and bingeable. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder Publishing for the advanced copy

Title: The Beach Holiday
Author: Nina Manning
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Genre: Thriller
Pub Date: June 12, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 304

Sadie and her boyfriend recently broke up and she is looking forward to leaving England when invited to visit an island just off the coast of Fiji.

The island is exactly what Sadie imagined: paradise. Beautiful sunsets, gorgeous white beaches and with no Wi-Fi, Sadie can finally try to escape her past.

But she quickly discovers that there's more to the island than meets the eye.

Why are only women able to visit? Why is a section of the island off limits? And why does no one seem to want - or be able - to leave?

As Sadie begins to question everything, she starts to uncover a dark secret that lurks in this haven. But now she's stuck on a remote island with no way out.

I read and totally enjoyed [" The Beach House" I enjoyed it plus I loved reading the authors ‘Acknowledgements as well as the ‘Book Club Question’. However, this early Galley did not have either.

I struggled with the story. I read a lot of thrillers and know the author typically likes to lead us a direction and then the twist comes. I like this author and will read another!
About the author:
Nina Manning began her career in the catering industry. She has worked as a private chef cooking for royalty and TV personalities.
She has a degree in Psychology and is a voracious reader of many genres.
This is her eighth novel.
She is a mother to three young children so when she is not writing or reading she can usually be found romping in the woods with the family and her chocolate Labrador.

Want to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton granted me this e-Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 10, 2025.

Sadie has split up with her boyfriend, and decides to travel the world. She finds a job, and a place to live in Fiji, which she enjoys, but still is looking for something more. One day, a woman called Avril strikes up a conversation with her, and the two become friendly. Avril offers an invitation to Sadie for her to accompany her to an island paradise, just what Sadie has envisioned for herself. No WiFi, no TV, no social media, just beautiful beaches, peace and tranquillity, so Sadie accepts the invitation.
The two travel to the island, and at first glance it appears everything Sadie had imagined, but she soon discovers that all is not how it appears.
This is a psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages to find out the mysteries of the island. I enjoyed the characters, they were believable, and the plot was thrilling. 5 stars.

This book had really good potential but for me fell short in the last 10% or so! A few more chapters would have been good for a little more explanation towards the end.

I did really like Sadie as the main character and felt sorry for her the majority of the book, being stuck as she was.

Sorry, I tried to liked it but this book was not what I was expecting (and not in a good way). I thought it would be more of a mystery, instead it was about a cult, and it left me with more questions than answers.

There isn’t enough I could say about how good this book is! I was hooked from page one, and I think my favourite thing was I was guessing up until the end and that is my kinda read! I couldn’t put this one down!

I loved every page I kept saying to myself “one more chapter and I will stop”, well that never happened, I raced through it as I absolutely loved it!

I adored the Fiji location three words to describe this book suspense-filled, unputdownable and an addictive page- turner with a wild unexpected twist!

You definitely don’t want to miss this one when it comes out! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️stars!

I enjoyed this book but I will say it is not quite the Nina Manning standard I am so used to.

That aside this is an expertly weaved novel which goes from beach to cult. It has a location that you can practically feel given the exquisite writing and if you hang on when it feels a bit weird you’ll find a very enjoyable book.

For anyone who ever just "wanted to get away from it all", this story offers an intriguing take. After a bad breakup, a disillusioned Sadie flees her home in England for a simpler life in Fiji. Although she is enjoying her time in Fiji, something is still missing and when she meets the enigmatic Avril, everything changes. Avril wants Sadie to travel with her to a different island to further experience island culture. Sadie jumps at that chance but soon discovers that Avril is lying and seems to have an agenda that could prove dangerous. Sadie's arrival in paradise is marred by secrets and violence simmering below the supposedly idyllic commune lifestyle that Avril has created. Written with a then/now narrative the reader knows Sadie faces a terrible obstacles on the island as she fights for her life right until the tragic conclusion.