The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes was another brilliant domestic thriller from start to finish, especially as it had me hooked from the very first page till the end. It's a great page turner, which is fast paced, very twisty throughout. I loved the three main characters Kate and Jeff who are married and Coco, who they both have history with from their past. An evil web of lies and secrets that has to come out in the end.

This author never disappoints. I found "The Summer Holiday" a fantastic read for your summer holidays, sitting by the pool or even in your garden. I highly recommend it. I loved it!.

Big Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes for review.

The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes

I had high hopes for this book and the beginning did grab my attention but then, as I continued, I lost interest, read the end and thought, “say what?” so returned to skim through the unread part only to realize that I did not like and could not relate to even one of the three main characters. Kate was a wimp that kept waiting for something that would never happen, Coco was a manipulative narcissistic rather evil person, Jeff was a man I could not admire and wished had made other choices…in fact…I wished all three had never met and had lived other lives.

How to evaluate this book? I suppose that if reading is to create feelings and tell a story, then this book did evoke negative feelings and make me wish I had not been left with the characters and their story in my mind. If it is supposed to show characters as they truly are then this showed three people in ways that left me glad that I do not know them in real life. The writing evoked feelings and thoughts so can’t discredit the writer’s ability to create impressions, develop characters, etc…

So…well written, well plotted, had a few twists and turns, didn’t like the characters or way the story ended…but know some will really find it a great story…hmmm… I read one of this author’s books and rated it 3 and another 5 and this one is perhaps equal to or less than that of the story I rated three stars.

Did I like this book? No
Would I read more by this author? Maybe
Do I think others will like this book? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARD – This is my honest review.

2 Stars for the way I felt after reading it
4 Stars for it being publishable
3 Star average

The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes

Published: May 9, 2023
Bookouture
Pages: 369
Genre: Psychological Fiction
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

S.E. Lynes is the Amazon #1 best-selling author of THE HOUSEWARMING, VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE PACT, THE PROPOSAL, THE WOMEN, THE LIES WE HIDE, CAN YOU SEE HER? HER SISTER's SECRET and #10 best seller, THE BABY SHOWER. A former BBC Producer, she has lived in France, Spain, Scotland, and Italy and is now settled in Greater London. After completing her MA, S E Lynes taught creative writing at Richmond Adult Community College for ten years. She now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing in Richmond Borough.

“You owe me.”

Kate and Jeff are on holiday, and Kate is hoping they will be able to rekindle their marriage. Their daughter is about to leave for college, and it will just be them. When Kate sees someone from their college days, she is floored. Coco Moss, the coolest girl at uni, is here on vacation. Now, Kate hopes to connect with Coco finally. And Coco hopes to get revenge.

Holy buckets. This was intense. I love how S.E. Lynes tells a story. I was hooked from the first chapter. This is a fast-paced thriller with so many unexpected twists.

Kate was sweet. I wanted to hug her because she was so lonely in her marriage. Her husband was a successful lawyer, and they had a great life. But material things aren’t everything.

Jeff was a putz. I didn’t like him from the start. He was selfish and cold and had such arrogance about him. Coco was also a nightmare, selfish and calculating.

This story unfolds and descends into chaos. The pacing is frantic, and the twists are insane. I could not stop reading. The floor dropped from under me several times, and I could not turn the page fast enough.

Fast paced, twisty and drama filled domestic thriller, the three main characters are flawed and unlikeable making it an addictive read. It’s set in beautiful Spain which makes it the perfect holiday read.

Kate is on a romantic getaway with her husband, but when she bumps into an old college friend she invites them around for a drink, but when her friend Coco and her husband, Jeff see one another, Kate catches the look they give one another and she feels not is all as it seems.

This novel is written from the three main characters' points of view who also reflect back on their past. This narrative does not go where you automatically think it will and Lynes gives nothing away to the reader until they are ready.

This narrative left me guessing and intrigued from page one, I was unable to put this down. This was a great read and my first read by this author.

I’m not trying to be negative when I say that after finishing The Summer Holiday, my overwhelming feeling was one of relief that I had read the same author’s most recent novel, The Ex, first. Because had that not been the case, I fear that I might have found this book very difficult to describe.

On the one hand, it contains so much of what Susie Lynes does so well. Only she can take an event so innocent and innocuous – in this case, a chance meeting between two former classmates at Leeds University, at a Spanish seaside resort more than 30 years since they last saw each other – and use that to gently lure the reader into the story, whilst all the while turning said event into something that’s neither innocuous nor innocent. At one point I thought I had a suspicion of what had really happened between Coco and Jeff all those years ago, but – as usual – I was wrong. The real truth was so much darker and more horrific that I physically gasped.

Then there’s the way she’s able to convey a setting. At no point do I recall my attention being distracted from the main storyline by any detailed descriptions of places. Yet somehow – and I only wish I knew how – the images of each of the key places featured in the book, from a luxurious villa in Cadaques to a rank student house in Leeds, became so clear in my mind that I could see, feel, even smell them.

And then there’s Susie’s wonderful use of language and dark sense of humour, which, because this book is – for the most part – less dark than some of her others, is really allowed to come to the fore. The image of the fifty-something-year-old Kate as she struggles to make her way down to the beach whilst wearing a too-long maxi dress and without a bikini top underneath … well, it’s one that I had a silent chuckle at. (When Mrs Book Nook wasn’t looking, obviously.) I suspect that if a female reader of a similar age were to read that passage whilst on her own summer holiday, she wouldn’t be able to help but laugh so hard that she’d snort her sangria back out through her nose. Oh, and the description of a hangover as “feeling like 10lb of s*** in a 5lb bag” is one that I’m probably going to steal.

But on the other hand … I think that for me, a key issue of this book is the same one that The Ex has. For the book to really work, you have to ‘get’ its main character. In The Ex, that was no problem for me at all because I understood Sam Moore absolutely. Here, though: I don’t think I really ‘got’ Kate.

I understand that as a teenager, she was shy and insecure. I get that it mattered to her then to be liked by the enviably charismatic Coco Moss. But the plot relies on her still feeling exactly the same way decades later, only for those feelings to then evaporate after a period of days.

I’m not saying that couldn’t happen. Perhaps it could, and has done. And it’s my being a middle-aged man that means I’m insensitive to it. But because I couldn’t feel it myself, and therefore couldn’t form any sort of bond with Kate – and indeed, didn’t really like her – I just wasn’t drawn into the book in the same way.

That might still have been alright if I could have related to one of the other characters instead. But Jeff – no matter what he may tell himself otherwise – is simply selfish whilst Coco is just despicable. So much so that several psychological analyses, narrated by her in the first person, are passages that I should have found interesting. But instead, I found myself skimming over them thinking, ‘oh, shut up, you bitch’. And it’s for the same reason that the final chapter of the book – so often one of the many highlight in an S E Lynes novel – actually left me feeling a little bit frustrated this time round. I hope it’s not a spoiler to say that Coco didn’t get the ending that I thought she deserved.

To sum up, then. Because I’ve read The Ex, it’s easy. That book felt as though Susie Lynes had written it for me. But, even though it contains an awful lot to like, The Summer Holiday didn’t. You should absolutely read it, though. Because it just might be the book she’s written for you.

My thanks to the author, Netgalley and Bookouture for my inclusion on the blog tour. I have reviewed the book voluntarily and honestly, and will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram and my book review blog.

What the hell have I just read?!?! What a twisted web of lies did these people lead and who the hell is it going to bite in the backside? There are three parties in this predicament and there is the one I’m rooting for as the innocent party in all this.

Kate and Jeff are taking their first holiday just the two of them together in years. Should be bliss right? No kids to keep an eye on, no stroppy teens to deal with… but it’s not the relaxing holiday Kate was looking forward to with her husband. He’s off doing his own thing! Until Kate runs into an old Uni acquaintance Coco, when everything changes!!

I have to admit, I loved the little trips to the past in Leeds. Being familiar with parts of the student area of the city, I could picture the scenes before me playing out in Hyde Park and Woodhouse. They made me smile, as you do when your home city/town appears in a book!

Lynes led me a right merry little dance with The Summer Holiday. She dropped little hints about the past but that’s it until she smashed me over the head with her grand reveal. That left me reeling! I kept tapping my kindle in disbelief as the truth came out and the consequences began to occur. Bejeezus! This is one twisted thriller! Loved it!!! If you love thrillers, you need to read The Summer Holiday!!

A getaway read with some twists along the way!
Vacation reads are mostly wins for me so even though they’re always pretty much the same, they are all enjoyable to some extent!
You’ll get your fill of detestable characters and some you’ll root for too.
There were a couple picky things that seemed unrelated or unlikely such as why Coco was ever on vacation with her family in the first place, but it’s still a fun popcorn read.
The cover kind of has nothing to do with the book so definitely don’t read this based on what the cover looks like.
I own almost all of the author’s books on my Kindle and I think this was a great book for me to start with and I’m excited to read more from her! 🤗
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up!
Shout out to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

The Summer Holiday is a gripping, shocking, and secret filled page turner! S.E. Lynes has crafted a brilliant twist filled tale of secrets, deception, and lies!! Woo-hoo! This was right up my alley! I was captivated from the very beginning and didn’t want to put this book down!


Kate had high hopes that getting away with her husband, Jeff would be just what they needed to reconnect and spend quality time together. He is a successful lawyer and always busy, this will be the holiday where they can focus on themselves. When Kate runs into Coco, someone she looked up to during her college days, she thought it would be wonderful to invite her over for drinks. She hoped to impress Coco with her lifestyle. Kate thought she was in for a lovely evening, but when she witnessed the look of horror on both Jeff and Coco's faces, she couldn’t help but be anxious and concerned. Kate's perfect holiday might not be so perfect after all.

I enjoyed the POV's of Kate, Jeff, and Coco. They were fabulous and had me turning the pages and wanting more. Through the three POV's, readers also get a glimpse into the character's college days. This really sets the stage and paints a fuller picture of the characters. Talking about the characters, S.E. Lynes created such an interesting bunch of unlikeable characters. The three main characters were juicy, fun to read about and really moved the story along.

As always, the writing was top notch and I was engrossed in the story, not wanting to put this book down. I wanted to know all their secrets, both past and present. When the end came, I was left satisfied with the shocking reveal that proved yet again that S.E. Lynes is at the top of her game writing twisty, well thought out and executed books.

I can't wait to see what she writes next!

The description of The Summer Holiday had me intrigued and the story did not disappoint. It was fast paced, twisty, turny and kept me gripped to the final page. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend this and all of S.E. Lynes books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Love S E Lynes books - another twisty read great for the summer holidays. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

I did not enjoy this book. It felt so silly to me that a 50 something woman is still so obsessed with someone they idolized in college. All the characters were blah and I was bored.

I enjoyed this fast-paced, while slightly predictable, domestic suspense read, centered on Kate, who is spending a few weeks at her summer villa along with her husband Jeff. Kate sees the "it" girl from college, Coco, and goes out of her way to make a good impression. It quickly because obvious that Coco has something to hide and it appears that Kate's husband does as well. Kate spins into a frenzy of paranoia while also trying to get Coco to like her. The story is told from these 3 POVs and also goes back and forth from when they were in college to the current time.

I found Kate to be super pathetic and I wanted to shake her. I was embarrassed for her that after all of these years since college, she was still so desperately trying to fit in. She was also so very paranoid, even though it did turn out she had some reasons to be suspicious. She grew on me more at the end when she started to grow a backbone. I did figure out the twist in the book very early, but I still enjoyed it, and it was interesting to learn more about the events that led up to the things that happened. I figured out the end as well, but thought it was well done and I was satisfied at how it all worked out.

All in all, this book was a little more predictable than is ideal, but it was fast-paced and I enjoyed seeing Kate finally evolve. The ending was fun and memorable. I'd recommend the book to those who enjoy domestic suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars I have enjoyed several of this authors other books so was excited to read this one. Unfortunately it just didn’t grab my attention. I struggled to relate to any of the main characters and I felt they were all unlikeable. The pace of the book was also very slow. Sorry just not for me but I will still look out for her other books in future

Loved this book do much! This author is an absolute master at suspense. I have loved every single one of her books and this one is just wow! Addictive. Just brilliant

I often wonder something about the current femme-fatale trope, the seriously dubious vamp who everyone idolises, is a blast at book club, in bed with her best friend's husband, and has a past shadier than an avenue of Jacarandas in full bloom. What I wonder is how many of these women are out there - is she real or just the fictional flavour of the moment (I've read quite a few books in this vein over the last few months).

The thing is, no one seems to see her coming, she hides in plain sight, so how would we know if the new mum in grade 3 is as wholesome as she appears? Anyway, about the book. Very few of these characters are likable in any way, I think Troy, then Lou (who we never even meet) are the only ones. Kate is okay, but really, I wanted to shake her till her teeth rattle on many occasions. Jeff got what he deserved. As for Coco? Well, as the saying goes, the world belongs to the brave but heaven to those who deserve it. She may get one, but she sure won't get the other.

Quite a good, gripping read.

3 and a half stars rounded off to 3.

This wasn’t the domestic thriller I thought I was going to be reading, not sure I should be calling it a thriller at all. I loved that the story was set in Spain, it really gave me that summer vibe I wanted. It started a bit slow in the beginning, but the second half was much better . Plot twist was predictable, but there were some minor twists that shocked me. I think the biggest problem for me were the characters. They were incredibly unlikable, and they acted like teenagers, despite being in their 50s.
Overall, the Summer Holiday didn't quite work for me, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try if you want to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You know your spouse. That sixth sense speaks very clearly at times. Kate and her husband Jeff are away at a holiday in Spain. Kate is shocked when she sees somebody she knew when at university, and her name is Coco. It takes time to approach her, but when she does, she invites her and her family to dinner. Coco shows up alone, and Kate cannot help but really wonder about the look that passes between Coco and Jeff. Despite the charged glance that passes between them, they act as if they don’t know one another. Kate knows her instincts are not far off. Something is wrong. But it is about to get far worse. Worse than she ever could have imagined.

Kate buries her pain in bottles of alcohol. Her marriage to Jeff is unfulfilling. Their teen daughter Lou is just about an adult and did not accompany them to Spain. Without Lou with them, and with Jeff filling his days with anything not to do with Kate, she realizes just how lonely she really is. Meeting Coco again after decades just might fill the void in Kate’s life, even if only for the duration of the holiday.

Meanwhile, that charged look that had passed between Jeff and Coco? Well, not only does it connect back to their university days, but something alights between them now. With Jeff and Coco bonded by a secret that might never be revealed, Kate’s life is about to be truly upended.

More domestic suspense than psychological thriller, this was truly a riveting read. The ending left me shocked, but not surprised, as the secret that had been hidden for decades was just enough to change the course of several lives. With multiple POV’s, and a fast pace, this thrilling story by S. E. Lynes is one that I won’t soon forget.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Summer Holiday is a slow burn in the beginning but heats up very quickly about a third of the way into the.book. You can't outrun your past no matter how hard you try and you can't go back and live like you did when you were in college without consequences.! How far will a person go to fit in with the cool crowd? Will they turn their back on everything that's become important to them? This book is about three people who knew each other or of each other in college. Two of them are keeping a big secret from the other. The two keeping the secret haven't seen each other since the incident occurred in college until they meet by chance while on a summer holiday!

Kate and Jeff have been married for a long time and decide to take a summer holiday to Spain. Their 17 year old daughter is vacationing with a friend and her family on a ski trip. Kate and Jeff have settled into a routine a couple falls into after many years together. Unfortunately for Kate, Jeff leaves her alone while he works long hours, plays golf, goes to the gym, etc. He rarely asks Kate to do anything with him other than go out to eat. Kate bakes cakes for a living and Jeff is a lawyer. Jeff promised Kate that he wouldn't work while on holiday, but he's already broken that promise on day one.

Kate decides to walk into town and get some breakfast by the beach. She finds a nice place and gets a table with a view of the beach. She feels frumpy as she looks around at what other women are wearing. She's in an old swimsuit, and sun dress wearing a ball cap. She notices a beautiful woman at a table with her family. There's something familiar about her. Her jawline, the way she laughs, the piercing in her nose. That's Coco Moss from Leeds University, Kate thinks. Coco was at Leeds the same time Kate and Jeff were. She was a woman that every man wanted and that every woman wanted to be like. She was the center of the "cool" crowd at Leeds. Kate and Jeff studied hard and weren't part of that crowd. Kate remembers Coco well, but she's sure that Coco wouldn't remember her at all.

Kate decides to slip out and go shopping to look more like Coco. She buys a large straw hat, a beautiful beach dress and a new swimsuit to wear under it. She trades in her flip flops for a pair of beautiful strap sandals. She now feels like she belongs. She goes back to her table and finishes her meal. She notices that Coco's husband and boys are leaving, but she's not. Kate decides to go introduce herself and see if Coco remembers her. Coco isn't sure who Kate is, but hides it well as she tells her she thinks she remembers her. They sit together and chat for awhile. Coco is an artist who travels a lot as her paintings are in shows. Kate decides to invite Coco and her family to their cottage for drinks and appetizers the next evening. She tells Coco that their place has a pool and the kids would love it. Coco accepts the invitation and gives Kate her cell number so that she can text her the address.

When Kate gets home Jeff is gone. He's probably out running, swimming, etc. When he finally gets back it's late and Jeff tells Kate he was snorkeling. She is so over him doing things without asking her that she can't stand it. She tells Jeff that she ran into a college friend from Leeds and her and her family are coming for drinks, a swim, and appetizers the next day. Jeff is not happy. Kate has made an invitation without asking him first! This is something that Kate's used to as Jeff does it to her all of the time.

The next evening there's a knock at the door. Jeff got home 5 minutes ago and is up showering and dressing. Kate is furious that he cut it so. close and did nothing to help prepare for the evening. Kate got various wines, beers, and liquors delivered as well as prepared a nice mixture of appetizers. They're going to be out by the pool where they can relax and keep an eye on the kids while they swim. When Kate opens the door, Coco is the only one there. Coco explains that Troy is working on new music for his album and couldn't come while the boys were busy.playing video games on their Xbox. She leads Coco out by the pool and gets her a drink. Kate tells Coco that Jeff will be out in a minute as he only got home a little bit ago.

As Kate and Coco are chatting, Jeff steps out to see who's here. It's as if time freezes. Coco stops talking, her mouth hangs open, and she looks scared. Jeff stops in his tracks, the color drains from his face, and his mouth hangs open. Kate looks from one to the other and knows immediately that they know each other and may even have slept together the way they're acting. They both realize how they must look and make an excuse as to why they reacted that way. Coco says she thought Jeff was her ex who was violent and a bad man, but is relieved she made a mistake. Jeff just covers by saying he hasn't seen Coco since Leeds and was shocked to see her here. Jeff didn't think Kate knew Coco. Kate knows they're both lying, but why? What would cause them to lie? Will Kate find out what they're hiding? If she does, will she wish she didn't know?

The Summer Holiday will suck you in and have you flipping the pages rapidly to find out who's hiding what and why! Will both families make it home from the summer holiday intact? Will the history of what happened come to light? I devoured this book in 2 days and enjoyed it tremendously! I rate The Summer Holiday 4 stars and recommend it highly! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Summer Holiday in exchange for a fair review. #TheSummerHoliday

Kate and Jeff met at university and married shortly afterward. They are the parents of a grown daughter. Kate has worked as a cake decorator and Jeff’s high-powered job has meant he is always on call and works very hard. But it has paid off for them as they have a nice home and also own a villa in Spain.

They have just arrived at their villa for a two-week holiday. Kate takes off to a local cafe where she sees a woman she recognizes from university, Coco Moss. While they were not direct friends, Kate had always wanted to be friends with her. She wants to be like her and look like her. Later, she sees her again and strikes up a conversation mentioning mutual people from university. When Kate says they own a villa there, Coco is intrigued and agrees to have drinks at their place the next evening.

When Coco arrives, she and Jeff look at one another in total shock which leaves Kate wondering if they know one another more than just casually at university. After Coco leaves, Kate questions Jeff who insists that he doesn’t know her and that she is just someone that everyone wanted to have as a friend and Kate is silly to want to tag after her. Ah, but Jeff is hiding something and hopes he can keep it secret.

Oh, my goodness! What a crazy good book. These characters are all so flawed but so real. This book kept me on the edge of my seat with all the lies, deceit, envy, and cold-heartedness. Don’t miss this one!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.