I Want What You Have is a masterclass in psychological suspense—an intoxicating blend of obsession, revenge, and buried secrets that unfurls with cinematic precision. Set against the backdrop of the luxurious LunaBliss resort, the novel invites readers into a seemingly idyllic retreat that quickly morphs into a chilling psychological battleground.

From the first page, Smith’s prose is taut and evocative, drawing us into the mind of a narrator whose intentions are as meticulously plotted as the week she orchestrates for her unsuspecting guest, Gemma. The narrative pulses with a quiet menace, each scene laced with symbolic detail—black lilies, unexpected arrivals, and a haunting familiarity that Gemma cannot quite place.

What sets this thriller apart is its elegant pacing and emotional depth. Smith doesn’t rely solely on shock twists (though there are plenty); she builds tension through character psychology, crafting a protagonist whose motivations are disturbingly relatable. The slow reveal of Gemma’s past and the narrator’s obsession culminates in a heart-stopping crescendo that leaves the reader breathless.

Fans of Freida McFadden and Emily Shiner will find themselves right at home. The novel explores not just the thrill of secrets, but the cost of envy and the fragility of curated perfection.

A haunting, addictive read that lingers long after the final page. Smith has delivered a psychological thriller with teeth—and soul.

Thank you to Hayley Smith, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a great book! I was instantly hooked, and I couldn't put it down. It was a suspenseful story, with some fantastic twists. The ending was not what I had expected! I've read a few books from this author, and I can't wait to read more! I recommend this book and author to fellow thriller readers!

Black lilies, a free vacation, old grudges. This one is a fun twisty ride! I love to read these kind of books when you are on the edge of your seat waiting what’s next!

This book was exactly what I was wanting.

You’ve got the influencer aspect then you have these two individual woman who we aren’t sure what they have in common but the character development amongst both of them is wonderful and then they go back-and-forth between the two characters trying to figure out what’s going on and why these characters are connected and why there’s tension and then we get the timeline back to see that they went to school together

The POV’s and back in time chapters were done so well they were replaced in the perfect way and if you’re going to put your reader back in time, having them have really important context that they’re craving and doing it in a lengthy enough chapter where you can actually get lost in it is not only hard to do, but it was executed so well in this one.

I hate to compare this book to others, but I feel like this is so when I get when I want a Freida McFadden book which is my favorite thriller author of all time. When I find an author or a book that even gives me remotely similar experience, I am over the moon with happiness.

Thriller lovers whether you are just getting into them or you want something that’s a bit more mellow and not as extreme. I totally recommend getting this one. I loved every single page of this one.

Please know there’s definitely still murder in here. It’s a thriller there’s chaos there’s backstabbing there’s troubles with IVF. There are so many things that happened. People are fighting and screaming so this is not a cozy book per se. It’s definitely still a thriller.

I want to buy this, but I am just so grateful that I was able to get an ark of this and then I have a publisher that produces really amazing thriller arcs that I can count on. Like I’m genuinely obsessed with this one. It did such a phenomenal job at what I was hoping it would be.

Thank you for this ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily..

I Want What You Have by Hayley Smith is an unputdownable thriller that kept me guessing until the absolute last page. I read this book in 24 hours and barely had my kindle out of my hand. When that first twist hit, WOW. My jaw leapt to the floor. The characters were not likable but you were rooting for them anyway which for me was a first. I don't usually keep reading with such unlikeable people but the vibes were fantastic. Ms Smith's writing style is also beautiful and everything just flows. She doesn't use too much detail, she walks the fine line of just enough and not too much. I loved this book so much, I wish I could do 1/2 or 1/4ratings. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I’m in the minority here but I thought this book was just ok. I couldn’t connect with any character and actually walked away not sure to whom the author intended the reader to relate. The story centers on Gemma and Addie; the former winning a trip to a lavish resort and the latter pulling the strings behind the scenes.

The book moved at a fast clip but I couldn’t understand many of the decisions these characters made. It seemed pretty obvious that Addie was someone from Gemma’s past but it took Gemma an excruciatingly long time to figure out what was happening. There was also a death that was brushed over a bit (as the characters didn’t react the way I think people actually would) and what felt like misguided guilt from one of the characters. The end was twisty but I wouldn’t say it was fully satisfying.

Overall, this was a decent read but I just wasn’t fully invested in the story. Others seem to love it though! Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hayley Smith has done it again!!Initially I wasn't sure about whether the subject of this book would interest me, but it had me engrossed very quickly. Three couples are on a week's break at a fertility retreat and there are links between them that you don't see coming. The chapters are short, which is perfect for a thriller because I wanted to keep reading just one more each time. The more I read, the more I was addicted and the more I thought I knew where the plot was going - how wrong I was! It gripped me to the end, it was exciting all the way through and full of lies and secrets. I fully recommend this 5 star read.

This is such a good tea the storyline the way everything came together it was so good edge of your seat good wow

This lady really knows how to write and this was good just not my favourite.
A decent paced read with some twists and surprises but i did start understanding what was going on so that spoilt it a bit.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

oo la la that was amazing! from the cover all looks bliss right. two gals sitting in the sun by the pool. haha yeh right you are, we are all in for a sharp shock and you'll be thinking of that cover in delicious difference after you've started this book. and what a book it was. i had to finish this one. there was no disturbing me. i was rude. i was grunty. i was please just leave me with this brilliant book kind of place. and im not ashamed to be so because this book had me sat.
Gemma has something in her past that is in the category of PAST for a reason. i get it. but someone doesn't and they dont want to let it be so for Gemma either.
and this person isn't going to be letting it go. and they are on a mission to make everything fall out that box and land where it may.
the unease you feel is exciting in a thriller like this. its exactly as it should be and you are almost smiling in delight at how good Hayley pulls you into this story. there is way more to come, way more going on and this vacation is about to be a dark one.
and you are sat waiting and just reading to find out what happened and whats going to happen.
when you hold on tight to pain or resentments its like poison and never was that truer in this book.
and yet still Hayley offers up her surprises. she spins us round and says look behind you you didn't see that bit coming did you? and no. no we did not.
this book was awesome. a top tier, all the stars and more read for me.

I’m already a big fan of Hayley’s so jumped at the chance to read this new book. Absolutely brilliant right from the start. It had me engrossed all the way through, I couldn’t put it down. Secrets, lies and twists all the way through to the end. Highly recommend this. Another winner from Hayley.

This one was just okay for me. It kept me reading, but as new bits of information were uncovered, I was able to work out the twists pretty easily. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing! New to me, author Hayley Smith has gained my attention with her gripping and chilling new novel, I Want What You Have. I sunk my teeth right in and never looked back. Full of edge of your seat drama and twists, the gasp out loud moments are frequent.

The past always has a way of catching up with us, and anyone who doesn't believe this is in total denial. Gemma has been keeping a secret for twenty years but also has been waiting for the walls to close in. When an influencer she follows alerts her that she won a getaway at a fertility retreat she is ecstatic. Newly married to Matt, she has been trying to get pregnant for a while. She convinces her besties Sophy and Tom to go with them. When they arrive, the retreat looks magical, and she begins to relax. Little does she know those walls are starting to close slowly, setting her up for a downward spiral. As she starts to put the pieces together, she realizes some or all of them might not make it out alive.

This was an addictive, fast-paced suspense story. It alternates between the three female character's perspectives and alternates between the present and twenty years ago. The chapters are short and easy to follow. The tensions mount leading to a shocking ending. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

What a brilliant read, a fast paced thriller full of twists and turns which kept involved in this great storyline.

All the characters were interesting with plenty of lies between them. It was extremely well written with a nail biting ending for me, just brilliant.

I always enjoy books from this author and I look forward to her next masterpiece.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Have you ever wished you could turn back time?
I think everyone at some point has to deal with things they'd rather just wipe away completely. Often it's smaller things, but for Gemma, it's a trauma she has buried deep in her memory — and wants to keep that way forever.
However, someone else has a different opinion…

Sometimes you don’t have a plan, but when the perfect opportunity presents itself, why wouldn’t you take advantage of it?
If the mouse offers itself, you’d be crazy not to act like a cat... right?

The internet — and by extension, social media — is a wonderful invention.
Just look at how many things you can do from your comfy chair that used to take so much more effort, and often required you to actually leave the house. Connecting with people all over the world, sharing tips and tricks, doing giveaways…
All of that and so much more is possible with just a few clicks.
But there’s always another side to the story.
Unfortunately, it’s also the perfect way to do things that are not so kosher.

From the beginning, the author makes it clear that behind this fun vacation lies a dark past — and that someone is planning to bring everything to light.
The reader has to wait patiently, as the tension builds, to find out what really happened.
But the wait is rewarded, because I found the revelation truly moving and a clear example of how far people will go when driven by the green-eyed monster.

At first, it seemed to me like a fairly straightforward story — and I thought I figured out very quickly who the troublemaker was.
But oh wow… I was not at all prepared for what was still to come...

That twist hit me like a punch in the gut.
I was just completely thrown off.
And then the final chapter gave me an uppercut to complete the picture.

Wow, wow, wow.
I thought this was a brilliant story.
Jealousy, betrayal, and manipulation are central themes here — and of course, those are the perfect ingredients for a psychological thriller.

I enjoyed it, was shocked, and felt my heart break.
Top, top, top! 5 stars.

Thank you!

I feel like I'm in the minority but I Want What You Have just kind of missed the mark for me. I was very intrigued after reading the blurb. The book was decent and it held my interest but I just felt like it was missing something. It wasn't necessarily memorable or anything that made me want to not put it down. I would say it's a solid 3.5 in my opinion but I would definitely read more from this author in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Reading the blur I knew this book would be right up my street and boy it does not disappoint. The story is based on a couple winning a competition to a fertility retreat on a media influencer social page. Gemma invites her best friend as part of the prize but the completion win leads to an unraveling of the friends past and a tragic event. I absolutely loved this book. I read a lot of thrillers /mystery and I have ro this this is a breath of fresh air. Short chapters and different POVs are an excellent combination. I didnt want to put this book down. It left me wanting more. I will be looking into more of Smiths books.

A great thrill of a read about a newly married woman who wants desperately to have a baby but is still haunted by traumas from her past. When she wins a competition from her favourite influencer of a week at a fertility retreat she is over joyed but from the moment they all arrive at the remote venue in wales something doesn’t seem right and her new influencer icon may not be as innocent as she appears. Don’t miss this one!!!

Gemma wins a free fertility retreat from an Instagram giveaway organised by her favourite influencer. The retreat is conveniently located in a remote site in the mountains in Wales, and the whole thing sounds a bit too good to be true. Desperate to be a mother, Gemma ignores everyone and eventually convinces her husband Matt to go with her as well as her best friend Sophy and her husband Tom. Addie is an influencer and host of the competition to win a few stay at LunaBliss. She also happens to know Gemma from back in the day and soon enough we discover she has a personal vendetta against her. The giveaway is nothing but a honey trap to get back at Gemma, but why? What secret from the past is Gemma hiding and how does it connect to Addie's thirst for revenge?

Told from the alternating POVs of Gemma and Addie, the first part of the story is narrated from alternating timelines of the time before the retreat and the stay of retreat. We learn that Gemma may or may not be as nice as she seems, and her marriage to Matt might not exactly be perfect. For starters, Matt is a Tinder rebound and she doesn't seem to be completely over her ex Reuben. She also seems to have a selfish view of what friendship means. Her best friend Sophy is always there for her, and Gemma takes and takes but never gives back. Meanwhile, Addie has her own demons from the past which she has worked hard to overcome. Addie has a dark past, but we don't really know if she was guilty of the things she was accused of. She certainly seems to think she's a victim of injustice and we know she believes Gemma is the reason for it. Not a lot more can be said here without spoiling things.

The second part of the story starts by rewinding back to twenty years ago. Through her POV, Sophy tells us all about Gemma back in school. Sophy's POV alternates with Gemma and Addie's POV during the retreat in present time. Something has happened at the retreat which has caused a chain reaction and it all ends in disaster. I appreciate that the author has made it so that we don't really know who the villian is. I kept going back and forth as to whether Gemma was the villian all along.

The story then jumps to the future where we learn how it all ended and everything that has happened since the retreat from Addie, Gemma and Sophy's POVs. In all honestly, the twist was incredibly easy to figure out. That being said, it didn't take away from enjoying the book.

All in all, to me this is a nice beach read for when you want to relax and read a nice book.

The blurb drew me in immediately I couldn’t put it down! One of those books where you need to make sure you’re free for a few hours because once you start you won’t be able to put it down!

Three words to describe this book suspense-filled, unputdownable and an addictive page- turner with a wild unexpected twist! There was many twists and turns which compelled me to keep turning the pages late into the night!

Just book the day off work to read this. Five massive sparkling stars! Love, love, it! The ENTIRE plot was fantastic!