The premise for The Hideaway had me intrigued. It's exactly the type of thriller I usually love. Strangers stranded together at a wellness retreat in the rainforest. None of them sure who to trust. It sounded great.

The Hideaway had me hooked straight away, I loved the first third of the book. It was tense and intriguing, I raced through it. Unfortunately, after the first third, it really lost momentum for me.
I found after they got lost in the rainforest that they just made multiple stupid decisions that people really wouldn't make.
I really liked Naya, Scott, and Mira, but I found Carly and Ben less likable and a little boring.

If it had carried on as great as the start, it would have been a fantastic read. It definitely had potential, and I'd be keen to read more from Nikki Allen.

3 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan, and Nikki Allen for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The prologue really reeled me in for this one, boy oh boy!! I inhaled this book to start with but struggled to get back into it on the second sitting.
I loved the premise and the setting - the writing really took me to that tropical paradise.
But the ending.. the less said the better

Well, I will say that this is a very quick read full of nonstop trying to survive in a rainforest, not knowing who to trust, amid mudslides and other disasters! For a debut thriller, it was pretty good. The characters felt real, with secrets, weaknesses, but also sparks of good, willing to help others out, at least some of them. I liked most of them, especially when they discover inner strength to continue on even as hope dwindled about getting out. Mira and Nala really stand out for that. And this all-paid trip, chosen by the health guru Hannah, did deliver her promise to change their lives! At least the ones who survive the trip.

I think going to the Hideaway would have been pretty fun, without all the drama, though I don't think I would have bought into what Hannah was promoting. This book does deliver strong points on the whole, medicine versus alternative lifestyle in helping/healing people and the dangers of both. And how people might be choosing to follow what someone says on social media instead of their doctor. It is definitely a real issue and what with the characters coming from all walks of life with addiction, health issues, or behavioral problems all looking for Hannah to change them, you can definitely see the issue about how one person cannot heal all that, no matter what is professed on social media. So, I can understand why the killer did what they did and why they start the crusade. A bit extreme but hey, this is a thriller.

So, a pretty good thriller and I am glad I got the chance to read it.

This is a debut novel by Nikki Allen and for the most part I enjoyed it!
There were a lot of things I liked about this book but there was also a few things I didn't.
So what did I like? I enjoyed the writing style, the pacing was good, and I liked how we got chapters from different characters POV's.
One thing I really liked was the setting of this book. The rainforest in Costa Rica played such a huge part of the story it was like it was its own character. I loved that aspect.
However I did find the characters to be really quite 2D and flat. One thing that did irritate me about them was how they acted like they were long time friends, when in reality they had only known each other for 24 hours!
I did lose a bit of interest by the 60% mark because of the characters, the plot was enjoyable if a bit basic. But it was a fast paced, easy to read in one sitting kind of book.
This was an enjoyable read but nothing special.

I enjoyed this book, it kept my interest and it was easy to read. Its set in Costa Rica, so the descriptions are nice too.
Its a good thriller, a bit of a who dunnit, although I didnt guess right!
Definitely a good idea for a book, i almost wished I could go to the actual retreat!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Five strangers from across the world are on an exclusive trip to the Costa Rica rainforest. They have been selected by a spiritual wellness influencer whom they all follow avidly. The trip is all-expenses-paid, and they will be staying at the luxury retreat, The Hideaway.
On arrival at the resort, their excitement is tempered by the fact that Hannah, their host, is nowhere to be seen. The staff inform them that there is nothing to worry about and their Hannah has just been held up and will be with them in a couple of days. The group are to continue with the original itinerary.
The story is told from multiple points of view, and we soon learn that each of the group has secrets to hide and reasons for being at the resort which they do not want revealed.
They then take a planned trip into the rainforest, leaving their mobile phones behind. Quite quickly, the group find themselves in a terrifying and dangerous situation, and nobody knows whom they can trust. Plus, their host still has not arrived.
Reviewing The Hideaway as a whole, it is quite a good read. The characters are well put together, the premise works, and the writing is taut. Where it doesn’t work is the overall plot. Up to the point where the guests journey into the rainforest, everything works. After, the plot loses momentum, but also becomes quite predictable. I had the mystery and the twist worked out quite far ahead.
So three stars from me, but I will look out for more from the author.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Nikki Allen and especially Pan Macmillan for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Tantalisingly eerie and deliciously dark, The Hideaway is a compulsively readable debut that had me turning pages late into the night. Set against the backdrop of a lush, remote Costa Rican rainforest, this is a sharp, suspenseful takedown of the wellness industry - its pseudoscience, influencer culture, and the alarming trend of taking medical advice from social media over qualified professionals.

The story follows five strangers - Mira, Scott, Carly, Naya, and Ben - who win an all-expenses-paid retreat with their favourite spiritual influencer, Hannah. But when they arrive, Hannah is nowhere to be seen. With only her staff present and vague messages promising her delayed return, suspicion begins to simmer. Each character arrives with their own secrets, insecurities, and emotional baggage - and as they explore the jungle and their “healing journey” begins, so does the slow unravelling of trust. Then they make a disturbing discovery in the rainforest, and their dream retreat spirals into a waking nightmare.

Told through multiple POVs, Nikki Allen masterfully maintains suspense without ever tipping her hand too early. I was constantly second-guessing myself, right up to the jaw-dropping twist. The prose is tight and immersive - atmospheric without being overindulgent - and the pacing is spot on, steadily building to a brilliant finale.

Every character felt grounded and believable, even the more unlikeable ones. Naya and Mira stood out most for me, offering the strongest arcs and emotional depth. I loved how the book explored both mental and physical health with nuance, showing how deeply personal (and sometimes dangerous) our pursuit of wellness can become.

From the oppressive heat to the hum of insects, the author's writing pulls you straight into the rainforest - and doesn’t let go. A gripping, clever debut that blends social commentary with survival suspense in the best way.

Five strangers meet up at a wellness retreat in the Costa Rican rainforest, excited to meet their host, the famous influencer Hannah. Only when they arrive and Hannah is no where to be seen, they are confused but try to immerse themselves in the experience by heading out into the wilderness. It soon becomes clear that they cannot trust their surroundings and it becomes a survival battle.

I enjoy a survival thriller, especially when set in a remote, exotic location, so the plot of this book really worked for me. I loved the rainforest setting and could really imagine the surroundings through the descriptions. I also enjoyed how the story was told in the different voices of those staying at the retreat, this helped to distinguish between the characters and understand their backstories and perspectives.

I found the idea of survival mixed with the wellness aspect intriguing and was keen to see how it would play out. Even though I found this interesting, I found that I was a bit underwhelmed by the survival side of things and it became predictable, likely because I have read a few similar books recently. Even so, this was still an entertaining story and richly told, meaning I would read more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

'The Hideaway' by Nikki Allen started strong with a gripping prologue but that prologue and a fast paced first quarter unfortunately didn't deliver for the whole book.

It has a highly promising setup - a glamorous, remote retreat filled with strangers, a body found in the jungle and a fight for survival and I hoped it had all the makings of a twisty, high-stakes thriller.

But, after a solid first quarter, I found that the story lost momentum as the characters spent most of the book wandering the rainforest with little real tension for me as a reader. The survival elements felt more like the result of bad luck than genuine suspense and the final reveal and epilogue were especially underwhelming.

Sadly a missed opportunity that didn’t live up to its intriguing premise for me but if you enjoy survival stories you'll likely have more luck than me.

Fantastic debut from Nikki. It had me gripped and wanting to know what was next!

This certainly was not the Hideaway these guests were expecting!! There’s murder, mystery and suspense all wrapped up on this Costa Rican island not the relaxing retreat they thought they were getting!

I loved all the little hints at the secrets these guests might be keeping and the reveals that came.

Some great cliff hangers that made you want to keep reading. Multi POV’s which you all know I love!
Nikki’s writing flowed and made it easy to read and engage with the story.

The characters personalities really came across well to me. I loved Naya’s caring nature and determination and I loved Mira’s change in her outlook on life ❤️

I think I’ll be sticking to just a pamper day at my local spa after reading this though 🙈😂

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Five people win the chance to spend a week at an exclusive hideaway resort hosted by wellness influencer Hannah.
Carly, Mira, Naya, Scott and Ben all have their own reasons for wanting to be selected. They've all suffered trauma and feel that Hannah can help them come to terms with this.
However on arrival Hannah has been stranded at a neighbouring village due to a horrendous storm. Undeterred the 5 partake in the walk she's organised to a picturesque waterfall, this is where the drama starts and the tension starts to rise.
This was a riveting storyline, from the thrilling prologue to the final page, there are underlying secrets that each person has that are drip fed throughout the novel. Its mysterious and tense. I loved it
I have left my review on Goodreads, Bookmory, Storygraph and Amazon and Waterstones

This type of book is one of my favourites. Destination thriller, fight for survival, and suspicious of everyone.

The prologue sets the tone for the book. Straight away the author sets the narrative. Using vivid descriptions to set the scene you can imagine yourself in the Costa Rica rainforest.

We follow the point of view (third person) of 5 strangers who have won an all expenses paid trip to a brand new wellness retreat.

With their host delayed, they take a hike to a nearby waterfall. Things soon take a turn, and it becomes a fight for survival as they become lost in the rainforest.

We experience the hidden dangers of the forest, but can we be sure one of these strangers isn't just as dangerous.

Each of them has their own secrets they are battling with, and the longer they spend lost, the more erratic and paranoid they become.

The author takes us on a journey of human behaviour in a survival situation, how one wrong move can become life or death. I really enjoyed seeing how each of the characters dealt with the situation and how they interacted with each other.

I flew through this book. It was faced paced, and I was so immersed in the story, I couldn't stop reading.

Although each of them flawed, I did like the characters. Especially as their secrets are teased out and we get to know them more. Some parts really made my heart ache for them.

Perfect for Lucy Clarke fans. I think this is a debut novel but I will be on the look out for future books from this author.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the advanced copy.

The Hideaway was a fantastic debut – twisty and thrilling with this luxurious location turning into a nightmare.

I love a destination thriller. There’s something about a dream going horribly wrong in a stunning location that is just so enticing. It offers that escapism but then tinges it with doom. The Hideaway is an excellent example of the genre with this beautiful rainforest setting that turns into hell on earth for our five protagonists. They’ve been led there by wellness influencer Hannah for an all-expenses-paid escape. The social commentary around influencer culture is done very well, with a particular focus on the darker side of the wellness industry and disregarding professional medical advice. It is a twisting of spiritualism that has dangerous ramifications. This feeds into the central mystery well. The pacing and tension are brilliant with an oppressive timer running down and continually heightening the stakes as new obstacles cross their paths.

Allen delves into this in thought-provoking ways with each character bringing their own perspectives and guarded reasons for embarking on this retreat. I liked the performance aspect of their applications, giving us more insight into them but also adding layers to the overall story being woven. On that note, the characterisation was great with five distinctive voices. They felt real and fleshed-out with quirks and secrets. It is always fun to read a book and fall in love with characters while also knowing they could be lying through their teeth. With such a small group, the odds are stacked against you and I found myself questioning each of them throughout. It means you never have stable footing while reading but keeps you glued to the pages. I also really liked the survival aspects of this thriller without giving anything away.

The Hideaway is an impressive debut with plenty to say and a wonderful way of delivering its message.

The book had a good premise but I was expecting a bit more depth in the story and the characters. It's a shirt novel and almost 80% of it was inside the rainforest so it was a bit monotonously in terms of setting.
Some good twists though. I liked the ending.

Overall a twisty read that is tense, and thick with atmosphere. A perfect storm of guilt, ego, and unravelling good intentions.

A promising debut novel by Nikki Allen!

Following a group of 5 strangers who are gifted a once in a lifetime visit to a luxury wellness retreat with their favourite influencer, but things start going wrong when the influencer, Hannah, isn’t there as expected when they arrive.

Following a heavy tropical storm on their first night, causing a further delay for the awol Hannah, they’re invited to take a walk to a private waterfall and rock pool.

Sadly, the storm creates a difficult scenario, as it changes the landscape in dangerous and undesirable ways.

We learn a lot about our 5 strangers, as they find out what it means to put their trust in strangers, learning more about each other along the way, and discovering uncomfortable truths about themselves.

The characters are well written, and I empathised with their plight.

This is a fast, thrilling read, and I’m excited to see what Nikki comes up with next!

Thanks to both Nikki and Pan MacMillan for the chance to read this during a heat wave here in England, it added a lot of immersion to the experience!

Five Americans, with varying degrees of emotional instability, travel to Costa Rica for a vacation they have won, an all expenses paid luxury stay at the Hideaway, hosted by owner and famous wellness influencer Hannah. Surprisingly, Hannah is not there. Bad weather has kept her away but she promises to return the next day and urges Carly, Ben, Scott, Mira and Naja to go ahead with the planned activities. The first, a hiking trip to a secluded waterfall ends in catastrophe. A sudden tropical storm causes a mud slide, the trail is washed out and the group is left alone in the rainforest with little food and water. To survive, they must rely on each other. But is that a good idea? Have they all come to the Hideaway seeking wellness advice or does someone have a darker reason for this trip?

The Hideaway is a quick, exciting read. In just a few pages, characters we hardly know are plunged into a dangerous fight for life. The action continues with disaster after disaster as they hope for rescue. Truths are revealed and new relationships are formed. Put The Hideaway is your beach bag and enjoy! 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Nikki Allen for this ARC.

First things first, thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC!

This book had so many things drawing me in - the blurb, the cover, the setting. In summer, I do love reading destination thrillers, just like in winter, I love snowy settings. Not to mention, it makes me feel like I can be in places I can never travel to in real life. Like the Costa Rican rainforest, in this case.

So yes, I did accept the challenge of the different POVs - we do have our five winners Carly, Mira, Naya, Scott and Ben,and their host, Hannah - because I really wanted to read this book. And I did not regret it! It was gripping from the start, with a lot of twists and tensions. A very great debut book, very much recommended!

Wow! What a atmospheric and breathtaking novel! I really felt like I was one of the people trapped and fighting for their lives out there in the wilderness. I can’t wait to read this author‘s next novel. If I could give it more than five stars I would.

This destination thriller describes the experience of five lucky winners chosen to enjoy a week long retreat hosted by wellness influencer.

The action kicks in right away with Ben, Scott, Mira, Naya and Carly discovering upon arrival that their host is nowhere to be seen. Apparently, Hannah is stuck at a nearby village due to bad weather.

Undeterred, the quintet set off on one of the planned activities, a nature walk to a waterfall - and shockingly enough, things start going wrong. But if the trope is a familiar one, the writer does an excellent job of delivering sufficient twists and turns in the course of her story telling to keep readers entertained.

This is one that's worth checking out and it gets 3.5 stars.