Cover Image: The Guilt Trip

The Guilt Trip

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Member Reviews

The Guilt Trip is a fast paced book that kept my attention. I read it quickly because I needed to know how it ended. The majority of the book was simply trying to uncover all the secrets between the characters. It wasn’t until the very end that a murder mystery is thrown into the mix. At that point the book picks up speed and then it ends. It was nice to have the secrets revealed at that point but the murder aspect caused some confusion. I’m still not exactly sure what the ending means. The book was pretty strong early on but didn’t wrap up well. There weren’t enough details and lots of holes. I liked the story and the mystery but I think it needed more. I’d rate it 3.5 ⭐️.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

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Sandie Jones never disappoints! The Guilt Trip is such an intriguing, twisty story. A fast paced thriller full of secrets and the unexpected. I loved the character bonds and friendships, along with the detailed group dynamics that the author provides. Full of drama and betrayal, this novel is a must read!

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Wow oh my drama! I was so excited to be approved for this ARC because I LOVED the author’s other book “The Other Woman.”

Before diving into this one, keep in mind it’s more of a slow burn drama. I went in expecting a murder mystery/thriller, and left me feeling a little disappointed. For all the drama and build up, the ending wrapped up too quickly in my opinion. Honestly, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions.

Several parts of this story felt well written, but some parts felt a little wordy. It had my attention once the secrets started to spiral, I just wish the ending wasn’t so rushed!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for this advanced copy!

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I can’t say that I feel guilty about not liking The Guilt Trip. The story is devoted to three couples and the interplay and doubts that enter into their relationships as they spend time together leading up to and immediately after the marriage of one of the couples. As they spend this time together the two couples not getting married keep finding reasons to get mad and doubt each other’s fidelity. Is it horrible that a quarter of the way into the book I was hoping one of the characters would end up dead and they’d spend the rest of the book trying to figure out who did it? No such luck. Just ongoing drama and increasing paranoia by Rachel, the narrator, about the affair she’s convinced her husband is having with Ali, his future sister-in-law, and at the same time worrying that her husband and best female friend will find out exactly the depths of her relationship with her best friend from university. It doesn’t help that Jones makes these characters inconsistent – they’re going to call people out for who they really are! No wait, don’t say anything until after the wedding! But we need this out in the open as soon as possible! Make up your bloody minds about what you’re going to do and quit annoying me because any sympathy I had for any of you disappeared about twenty pages into the story. I couldn’t help but feel the need to rush through the book to just get away from these whiny, obnoxious, drunk people that at the slightest provocation allow themselves to spiral out of control. The ending was unexpected and satisfying, but it just wasn't enough to save the whole book.

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This was a fast-paced read, though I couldn't help but think that a lot of the issues between these characters would have been solved by asking the right questions and just talking to each other, rather than jumping to conclusions. The book primarily centers on Rachel, who, along with her husband Jack and 2 best friends Noah and Paige, travels to Portugal to attend the wedding of her brother-in-law, Will. Will is marrying Ali, who is over a decade younger than Rachel's crew, and tends to get on their nerves.

Once the group is ensconced in their fabulous cliffside retreat, secrets begin to come out and Rachel becomes suspicious not only of Ali, but of others around her. There are also some unanswered questions related to her relationship with Noah, who was her best friend in college and is now married to Paige. Rachel drove me crazy for most of the book by constantly making snap assumptions and being skeptical of almost everyone.

Even though Rachel questioned lots of things, not all of her accusations were unfounded, and I did enjoy following the constant twists and turns as the book unfolded. While I felt that some of the suspicions were clear red herrings, there were other revelations that truly surprised me. There is not break in action throughout the entire book.

Overall, I liked the story despite my annoyance with Rachel, and appreciated the suspense and surprises. I also thought the ending was tied up nicely, which I know some people don't find realistic, but I always appreciate. I'd recommend the book to those who enjoy thrillers and domestic suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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THIS is the exact book I am looking for after reading something super heavy and serious. I had so much fun with “The Guilt Trip.” It gave me “The Guest List” vibes, but with many more troublesome, twisty character plots. It made me think “wow, how well does anyone know their partners and best friends?” I enjoyed the rapid-fire clues and indiscretions, and would definitely put this in my 2021 beach bag! Travel, surfing, sand, and crazy people: perfect summer book.

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Wow! I loved The Guilt Trip! Oh what a tangled web we weave! In the Guilt Trip I quickly learned I needed to ferret out who is lying more and who was lying less. And if there is anyone left standing...will that person be a liar or a truth-teller? This fast moving destination wedding story will pull readers in and not let go until the very end.

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I love stories about vengeful, conniving and gossipy women and this one did not disappoint! Rachel and Jack are married, with one grownup son, Josh. Paige is married to Noah, a lifelong friend of Rachel’s. Will is Jack’s brother engaged to Ali. They have all gathered, along with others, at a tropical location for the wedding of Will and Ali. There were so many twists and turns and an unexpected turn of events which gripped me. So many questions, is Josh Jack’s son, are Noah and Rachel really just friends, is Ali a pathological liar? I loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Six friends--three couples--are travelling to Portugal for the destination wedding of two of them: Will and Ali. Accompanying them are Will's brother Jack and his wife, Rachel, and Noah and Paige. Noah and Rachel go way back--to their university days when they might have been something more than friends. But old feelings die hard and secrets among the group make things spin out of control, especially when Rachel learns something about Ali that could destroy them all.

I've enjoyed all of Sandie Jones's books and The Guilt Trip (love the title--it captures the plot perfectly) is no exception. This offers plenty of twists and you'll be left guessing what's going to happen until the very last page. I thought I knew where this was heading many times, but Jones surprised me until the end. Highly enjoyable and reads quickly, this would be the perfect beach book.

Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for granting me this copy to review.

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What a fun read! It’s a high drama story between three couples and the deceit that lays between them. It is definitely a lot of back and forth in regards to adultery and a spectacle of relationships. So who is telling the truth and who are the guilty?

Jack and Rachel are a couple. Will is Jack’s brother and he is engaged to Ali who is adorable and spunky and the young one and loud and also used to work for Jack. Noah and Paige are the final couple and Noah and Rachel have been best friends for years. So many dynamics so of COURSE there will be raised brows on what is really going on and with who.

3.5 stars for me- it was a super easy read and entertaining through the end. Sure it was a little cheesy but either way it was amusing with an enjoyable end.

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

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it was amazing
Wow, this book was amazing. I typically don’t read thriller books, but I could not put this down. You never knew what was going to happen next and just had to keep reading to find out what was going on. And the twist at the end?! Totally unexpected. I figured everything out...right when the cops did. That’s how good this book keeps you guessing! A brilliant read!

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I could barely put this book down there was so much going on and I wanted to find out how it ended!! Even though there were a lot more characters to keep track of I think it was pretty easy once they were all introduced and I really liked Noah and Rachel. I was on the fence about Ali but then found a liking to her especially at the end. The story of Rachel and Noah and how it unfolds told from Rachel kept me interested and how she chose Jack and went what seemed to be the "safe" route but still maintained her friendship with Noah while developing one with his wife Paige. This was a little les thriller through most of the book and more suspenseful with the drama unraveling. I wished the ending had been a little more grandiose I was a little disappointed that the suspense didn't match as much as how the vibes did throughout the rest of the book. The book did keep m engrossed to find out what happened next and what side Ali was on and who she was loyal to in the end! Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the copy to read and review.

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This book had a slow start with quite a bit of character building. By the end I was completely shocked with the outcome! 4 stars from me

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Three couples are on holiday for one of the couples' wedding. Some are holding on to secrets from their past. Some are holding on to secrets of their present. Either way, things are bound to get dicey.

The biggest secret was pretty easy to guess early in the book, but the twists leading up to its reveal made it intriguing until the end.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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3.5 -While I really enjoyed the premise of this book and the drama that follows I’m honestly left completely confused about the ending. The author makes the second half of the book so rushed and unorganized that it was difficult to follow. The last few minutes of the book has me left with more questions than answers. I’m still not sure I know what happened. I wouldn’t categorize this as thriller or mystery but maybe drama. I kept waiting for something to finally happen, and it did but left me much more confused. I did really like the character development and plot overall. Some of the characters were not easy to like and at points you felt sorry for them. Overall, a good read but I didn’t love it.

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Thank you to @netgalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book.

Two brothers. Two high school best friends. A new friend. A flashy and over the top bride to me. These people form three couples en route to Portugal for the marriage of Will, one of the brothers, and Ali, the bride to be who only Will seems to approve of. Jack, Will’s brother, seems to have major issues with Ali. His wife Rachel can’t seem to understand why Jack hates her so much. Rachel’s long time best friend Noah and his wife are just along for the ride. By the end of this trip, nothing will be the same between them. Secrets, lies, skeletons in closets, the is no shortage of drama in this story.

I was pleased to see that Jones has returned to the same form as her earlier book, The Other Woman. This book is twisty. The characters aren’t particularly likeable, but it works for this one. Parts are predictable, but the story is entertaining and keeps you wanting to read more. The Guilt Trip is set for an August release. If you’re here for juicy family dramas, for sure pick this one up!

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The Guilt Trip has an interesting premise. Three couples travel to Portugal for a wedding; among the six travelers are the bride and groom, two brothers, two best friends, two former colleagues, two former lovers, and many secrets! I expected a fast-paced, action-packed thriller, but this book is definitely amore of a character study. The last 10 percent of this book was very tense and exciting, but getting to that point was a bit of a slog. The main revelation that sets off the final act was very obvious to me from early on, and it was frustrating watching the characters worry, withhold, and talk around each other instead of just coming out with it and avoiding the confusion.

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I give this 3.5 stars. A fairly fast paced domestic thriller where nothing is as it seems. Three couples all heading away for a wedding weekend from England to Portugal and what could go wrong - nearly everything. Following the story of Rachel and Jack, Noah and Paige, and Ali and Will. It has many common themes you’d find in a domestic thriller involving a group of six friends - unrequited love, secrets, affairs, lies, etc. The twists and turns were good and I found that this could be a good beach read or by the pool read. The ending I didn’t see coming, but other parts did seem predictable, overall it was a quick read that kept me entertained. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the eARC.

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At about 25% I actually put the book down. I found it boring and I was just not feeling much. Some time passed and I reminded myself why Sandie Jones was one of my favorite authors and decided to give it another go. Well, I am so glad I did. I enjoyed it right up til the end where Jones knocked my socks off.

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First of all, thank you to Sandie Jones, the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC of The Guilt Trip. It had a great premise and thriller element which I thought immediately grabbed my attention.

The book is about 3 couples whose lives are intertwined in ways they never knew. They arrive in Portugal for a wedding weekend expecting to have the time of their lives. It turns sour very fast. I liked the build up to the reveal and I found every character believable. At times I found myself cursing the narrator, Rachel, for being naive. I overall enjoyed this book and the ending was perfect!

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