This story was somewhat interesting, although it had holes in it. The writing was definitely lacking.

In the ever-expanding canon of domestic suspense fiction, few recent novels achieve the level of controlled intensity and exhilarating duplicity as this latest triumph—The Second Honeymoon. Feats your eyes on this, a line as bold and chilling as any in the genre: “It’s our tenth wedding anniversary… and my husband is planning to kill me.” From that first declaration, the reader is thrust into a tightly coiled narrative that expertly explores betrayal, psychological warfare, and female agency within the suffocating framework of a high-gloss marriage gone terminally wrong.

At once an escapist thriller and a sharply observed character study, the novel follows a woman’s harrowing voyage—both literal and emotional—as she boards a luxury cruise ship from Florida, unaware of how close she is to becoming her husband’s next “accident.” But this is no victim’s narrative. Instead, the novel pivots into a cat-and-mouse game at sea, as our protagonist quickly realizes the stakes and begins to plot her countermove, unspooling secrets of her own that suggest she is far more than a passive target.

The author’s command of suspense is masterful. With echoes of works by Gillian Flynn and B.A. Paris, the plot is intricately designed, yet never loses its propulsive clarity. Every chapter ends with an emotional or narrative cliff-edge, yet none feel contrived. The pacing is a marvel: swift but never rushed, offering just enough space for tension to ferment before pulling the reader onward like an undertow.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its psychological acuity. The central marriage, while exaggerated for the thriller form, is rooted in recognizable dynamics—control disguised as affection, silences more dangerous than arguments, a performative intimacy hiding years of quiet estrangement. The husband, Andre, is a portrait in sociopathic charisma, while the protagonist is a revelation of resilience and cunning. Her voice is sharp, self-aware, and laced with both dread and dark humor, grounding the novel even in its most heightened moments.

In terms of setting, the cruise ship becomes a brilliant symbolic microcosm. Isolated, opulent, and inescapable, it transforms from a dream vacation to a floating prison—a staging ground for both romantic collapse and personal rebirth. The tropical backdrop contrasts with the coldness of intent, creating a dissonance that enhances the menace.

This novel is not only a compelling narrative but a showcase of what makes domestic suspense so enduringly popular: it weaponizes the familiar (marriage, trust, routine) and turns it into a thrilling, almost voyeuristic spectacle. It is also a subtle meditation on the performativity of gender roles and the myth of romantic bliss, all wrapped in a sleek, high-stakes narrative that entertains without sacrificing emotional depth.

The Second Honeymoon is a standout entry in the modern domestic suspense tradition—cleverly structured, psychologically rich, and impossible to put down. It confirms the author’s place as a skilled architect of tension and a storyteller with an instinct for the genre’s most riveting possibilities. It is, quite simply, a prime example of how deliciously entertaining domestic suspense can be.

✨Book Review✨
📖 The Second Honeymoon
✍️ McGarvey Black
📅 Publication: August 7, 2025

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
It’s their tenth wedding anniversary… and Andre is planning to kill his wife.
He’s arranged the perfect cruise and the perfect murder. His new girlfriend, her replacement, is already waiting in the wings.
The luxury ship departs from Florida, bound for paradise. A surprise gift from Andre. Their first real vacation in five years. A second honeymoon.
He’s chosen her the perfect outfit. The champagne flows. Everything is going according to plan. Andre’s plan.
But he doesn’t realize what she’s capable of. Not yet

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
Told through the perspectives of Becca, Andre, and Stella, the story immediately drew me into the heart of the drama. I found myself cheering for Becca and deeply enjoying the warmth and strength of her friendship with Stella, whose complexity added rich layers to the tale. Andre’s narcissism made him easy to despise, which only heightened the tension. Once the characters were fully established, the plot shifted into a gripping, fast-paced thriller. It’s the kind of book that makes you say, “just one more chapter,” until you suddenly realize you’ve been reading well into the night. I’d definitely recommend it!
Thank You @Netgalley and @Joffe Books for allowing me to review this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing me with this eARC. All opinions are my own honest opinion.

The second Honeymoon is my frost book by this Author and I really liked this. The premise is very interesting, we have our main character who knows her husband is taking her on a cruise trip as a second honeymoon but she knows he is plotting her murder. He is not aware that she knows about his affair and his girlfriend that’s ready to take her place.

What the husband doesn’t know what she is capable of. It was a quite twisty ride and I enjoyed it very much! Will recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley! This book had me on my toes after the first twist bomb dropped. My jaw securely dropped. And I was sucked into the book until I finished. Such an amazing read

Suspenseful, but wrapped up a bit too neatly at the end.
Characters were a mix for me, and while parts kept me guessing, overall this was a bit of a miss for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, for access to this eARC.

INCREDIBLE.
Wow, just wow.
Thank you to Net Galley and Joffe Books for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this title.
I devoured this book in a day and could not put it down.
Incredible story telling, easy to follow and a fast paced story,
Everything I look for in a book and I wish I could read it over again!

I really enjoyed this book and was gripped from start to finish.
It follows the story of Becca and Andre as they celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary with a cruise. But it’s not the romantic getaway that Becca thought it would be as secrets are discovered and the story unfolds.
Well worth a read.

First, thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC!

I do not think I've read anything by McGarvey Black before this book, but the cover and the blurb instantly drew me in! And what can I say - the book did not disappoint!

This is the story about Becca, and her hsuband, who is planning to kill her on their tenth wedding anniversary so he can be with his girlfriend. But Becca does survive....

Overall, it was just the right pace, with a lot of tension, and even the multiple POVs could not intimidate me (I think I am really getting better with reading multiple POV books in general). We hear the story from the POV of Becca, Andrew - the husband- and then Stella, Becca's best friend. All the characters are really well written, and I really recommend that you go and get the book once it does publish!

Another brilliant, twisty and gripping thriller from McGarvey Black that I could not wait to get stuck into. Andre and Becca are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary so Andre surprises Becca with a cruise. Not only that but he has bought her new outfits, a hat, sunglasses, the whole shebang. And you know what they say? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, especially in this case!

The characters in this book, love them or hate them (just one!) are really well written and I would quite happily spend some time in Puerto Rico, having read about Javi’s idyllic life there. Olive and Stella are forces of nature and I was really rooting for them to come through with what they needed to see.

The plot was very clever and I loved, LOVED the ending!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, McGarvey Black and Joffe for an ARC of this book.

when i read the blurb for this book i was excited already. this is a unique premise and i was so ready for it. and im really glad i came across it because what a corker of a thriller this was. it was so unique, so different. we know, and the characters knows the plan. but do we? do they? who does anyone trust here. well lets find out...
i wasn't sure what to expect going on or how the writer would do it, how they would piece the blurb together for us. but boy was it cleverly done and it was easy to sit there hooked all the way until the end. every time i thought "right find a point to stop" i couldn't. i couldn't so i just read all the way and im so glad i did. what a ride.
it was hard to have any sympathy for Andre. he was a horrible man, and 'that' type of man. i loved hearing all the points of view to get really into their characters. it managed to up the tempo too as you feel them all coming together, what they are feeling, thinking or ready to do next. and do we trust them?
the premise of this book was a husband and wife with the husband gifting an anniversary cruise to his wife Stella. all so lovely right? hmmm but hings haven't been great in their relationship lately so whats this about? well, turns out Andre has plan for being in the middle of water and its more sink than swim...for his wife. oh and we get added deliciousness to this story when his girlfriend is also on this cruise. oh. oh! and shes might just be all part o the way Andre plans to get away with it.
but Becca has been underestimated. thats an understatement. and she might just fight back.
as time spans we get to learn more about the characters and their motives. we get to see just how much thought the author has put in to this book. its brilliant.
each part of this book brings so much more to this book. and there IS so much more to this book.

what an exciting read. Had me on the edge of my chair through out. It was well written. The plot was exciting. Lots of twists and turns to keep you going. I coudln't put this down once i started it.

Brilliant plot, characters will written and really decent pacing.

Unfortunately the ending of the book is not well thought through, easy tropes and written lazily meaning a 4 star book becomes an average 2.

Really disappointing as the author clearly has talent.

I was intrigued after reading the description of this book and added it to my TBR. I had never read this author before, but now I have to go read his other works because I really enjoyed this story. The characters were unique and it was interesting to see how their traits came out through the story. The story itself was interesting and suspenseful. So much so that the pages kept turning and it was difficult to put down, needing to know what was going to happen next. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this book up, but I am glad I did because it was a heck of a ride.

I’ve not discovered this author yet but what a wonderful discovery. Totally gripping all the way through. Very clever. Will be looking at their previous books.

I’m super grateful for being chosen to be an ARC for this book. It was a very catching and intriguing story from the start. I enjoyed the entire book. The characters were built very well and the story was captivating and thrilling. I kept looking forward to what would happen next. I highly recommend this book and don’t waste time grabbing your copy. I unfortunately couldn’t find this book on Goodreads to leave a review

The Second Honeymoon by McGarvey Black ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a quick paced thriller about a second honeymoon gone deadly wrong!

Multiple POV and deadly plots made this an intriguing read

I took a chance by reading a book from an author I've never heard of before. When I do this, sometimes the book is wonderful, and other times, I end up regretting wasting my time. In this situation, I had zero regrets!

The story is told from three different points of view; Becca, Andre, and Stella. The plot was intriguing, and it was such an easy read. I felt sorry for Becca, and I thought Andre was a horrible narcissist who is demeaning towards women. I definitely wanted to see Andre suffer.

From start to finish, I loved this book. I did find the ending to be predictable, so that's the reason I didn't give this book five stars. Ms. Black, you have a new fan!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

The Second Honeymoon is a fantastic summer read.

Everything in this novel happens super fast, it is a very quick, easy read, a classic page turner!

The story alternates between the POV of Becca, her husband Andre, and her best friend Stella. Becca comes home one day to find out Andre is gifting her a cruise to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, as well as an expensive outfit for their holiday. Becca confides in her best friend Stella that things haven't been perfect recently. Stella is the perfect "could she be the villian?" type of character.

Once they're on the cruise, it turns out that Andre has planned to throw Becca overboard. To make matters more interesting, his girlfriend Lily is on the cruise as well, disguised as Becca. Once Becca is gone, Andre and Lily spend the rest of the cruise together. Afterwards, they have a plan. They must wait a year before going public to avoid raising suspicion. Meanwhile Stella tries to get Andre to date around, but she's a bit too friendly to him... seriousy, what is going on with Stella?? amazing.

Unfortunately for Andre, Becca survives and lands on Javi's property in Miami. Javi and his family escaped Venezuela, he's got interesting connections and he also happens to have a lot of money. He helps Becca regain her memory and recover from her misadventure so that she can find whoever did this to her,

The story spans many years from beginning to end. As it progresses, we learn Andre's motive for wanting to murder Becca. He's a despicable character, wow! his girlfriend Lily is no better, where do I even begin? she's a selfish person from beginning to end.

That's as much as I can say without spoiling things. The Second Honeymoon really has it all: a murder plan, a love story, an investigation, a trial with a surprise witness and a superb, old school thriller ending.

A solid 5 star!

Once you pick this book up you won't want to stop reading. When Andre suprised his wifr Becca with a luxury cruise as a enth wedding anniversary gift was over the moon. She suffered with ill health and knew that this would help bring them close together again. She had a new complete outfit also as a gift and couldn't wait to wear it. What should have been a fantastic holiday soon went down hill.
Brilliant from start to finish. I read it in 2 days, highly recommend reading it.