I was hooked to the story, but semi rolled my eyes with all the deceit and alleged infidelity. It definitely had drama and twists. Lots of characters to keep track of and I can’t honestly say I know what happened at the end haha It didn’t wrap up in the clear way I wanted to so I’m not sure if we know who was lying or telling the truth

Interesting web of lies spinning tales book but overall just didn’t do it for it, I couldn’t get into the characters and I felt like the build up took 99% of the book and then didn’t explode like you’d expect.

2.5 stars. I did not enjoy this book. Lots of drama and soap opera like chapters. I could not stand Ali. Made it hard to get through the book. Slow and couldn't keep my attention at all. I do like a good destination wedding read with some drama and thrills. This book also has the exotic location that I look for from time to time. I thought this looked really good. It is not for me though. I was bored and pushed through. The 3 couples just annoyed me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to read for review. I will give the author another try.

This book had an interesting premise, but went off the rails fairly quickly. No character is likeable as they are all hiding something. Yet, they decide to all go to Portugal together so two of them can get married. Even though it seems like no one likes the bride? The whole thing was odd and seemed a bit forced.

The book is told through the perspective of Rachel. She has secrets of her own but seems to be easily influenced by others. She implicitly trusts her husband and decides not to trust Allie (the bride). And still everyone lies to each other and pretty much ruins not only Allie's wedding day but her wedding weekend.

The ending is left up in the air, which is annoying. I like things wrapped up and I want to know what happened. This doesn't have that.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. The book 3 couples go to Portugal one couple is getting married and each couple has secrets. Who is jack having an affair with? Who is telling the truth? Suspenseful up until the end parts of the book did drag out but for the most part a quick read

This was my second Sandie Jones book and I definitely did not enjoy this one as much as the first one I've read. I didn't care for all the couple drama that was going on and I couldn't keep the characters straight enough to even know who was cheating on who and with whom. The twists at the end were done really well which is why I'm giving this book 3 stars but everything leading up to them I could have done without. I will still continue to read her books but this one wasn't great to me.

The couples, heading to Portugal for a wedding. Rachel and Jack have been married the longest. They left their teenaged son Josh at home to go to Jack’s brother’s wedding. Jack has a lot riding on this trip, as he was the one who introduced Will to Ali in the first place. Ali had been working with Jack, and at a bar one night after work, Will had been in town and dropped in for a drink. Now Will and Ali are getting married, and maybe Will will stop wandering around so much and settle down.

Also invited on the weekend are Noah and Paige. Rachel and Paige are best friends, but it was originally Rachel’s friendship with Noah that brought the couples together. Back in college, Rachel was supposed to travel with Noah. It had all been planned. But right before they were set to leave, Rachel had met Jack. She thought the relationship could turn into something really special, but not if she were to travel to Asia with someone else. She chose to stay home, and when Noah came home months later, Rachel was married to Jack and they were expecting a baby.

Rachel is looking forward to getting away to Portugal, and they villa Ali and Will rented is gorgeous. But Rachel knows a secret, and her feelings are off-balance. Jack had clearly been uncomfortable around Ali for several months. She had found another job and was doing well, so Rachel didn’t know why he’d been unhappy with her. But as they were packing for the trip, he let her in on his secret. He had discovered that Ali had been having an affair with someone at her new job. Rachel didn’t understand why he wouldn’t tell his brother about it, why he was just letting Will marry her anyway, but he didn’t have the heart to tell his brother.

So Rachel was setting off to Ali’s wedding trip, knowing that she was cheating on her fiancé, and not sure what to do about it.

Rachel confides in Paige, and the two women speculate about Ali’s relationships. She’s a beautiful woman, skinny and athletic, and she loves clothes that are more revealing than what Rachel or Paige wear. Paige also asks if Jack would tell Will before the wedding, to try to protect him for a terrible mistake.

But then Rachel walks into her room just after seeing Ali in the hallway. Jack was in the room, wearing only a towel. Is it possible that Ali had just left her bedroom, where her husband had been practically naked? Is it possible that Jack had made up the story about Ali having an affair with someone from work to cover up the fact that Ali was having an affair with Jack?

As their time in Portugal ticks by, the secrets and lies pile up. And when Rachel finally admits to herself that she has a secret too, then the wedding becomes a ticking time bomb of questions and innuendo, rumors and gossip. Will all three relationships be strong enough to withstand the truth, or will the wedding tear them all apart?

The Guilt Trip is a slow-burn thriller about the lies we tell our partners, and the ones we tell ourselves, in relationships. It’s about the assumptions we make and the promises we break. It’s about family and friends and secrets, and how they all intertwine in our lives to leave us entangled in each other’s stories. Author Sandie Jones brings us a domestic thriller with such a surprise ending.

I listened to the audio book of The Guilt Trip, and I thought narrator Clare Corbett did an amazing job of bringing these characters to life. A great deal of this book happens in Rachel’s head, as she tries to figure out what may be going on between Jack and Ali and what she wants to do about it, and I could feel the tension building in my shoulders as I listened to it.

I wanted to love this book. I do love relationship drama, but I struggled with this one. So much of the drama is based on just gossip and rumor that I struggled to stay involved with these characters. But I stuck with it, and the ending took a crazy turn that I did not see coming. The Guilt Trip is a crazy ride, and you have no idea when you’re starting out just where you will end up.

Egalleys for The Guilt Trip were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks, but I bought the audio book myself through Chirp.

you're always in for a wild ride with Sandie Jones books! It was really hard to like and connect with any of the characters (I think that was the point) but there wasn't a ton of mystery or thriller to this one. Almost seemed as if that part and the climax was an afterthought?

5⭐️
Sandie Jones has dont it again. I went through the whole book a true Ali hater. When Rachel starts finding out the truth everything started to change for me. I finally saw Ali in a new light. Tons of red flags about jack. Towards the end it all came together and started to make sense.

Destination wedding, three couples, what could go wrong? The couples are staying in a beautiful home in Portugal for a destination wedding. The bride-to-be is flighty and attention-seeking, but is that all there is to the weekend? Many secrets have been hidden for years, but this could be the weekend they are reveals. Wedding, reception, differences between truth and appearances, and unrevealed secrets make for another great Sandie Jones book. Thank to you Ms. Jones, McMillan audio, Minotaur books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I listen on audiobook which was good. The only thing that could have made it better was to have a guy reading the guys' parts.

This is one of those books that I began reading a couple times, and for this reason or that, stopped. When I finally sat down and committed to reading the entire thing, I wondered why I ever stopped..... I was sure everyone in this one was absolutely crazy, and was honestly surprised to find out that wasn't the case. The ending was super shocking to me. I really like the last couple books I've read by Sandie Jones, so I'm excited to see what is dreamt up in the future. Also, I'm so late reviewing this book, but I can honestly say I've hand-sold several copies, so I'll add in that those people also really liked this one!

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones is a perfect summer read, with so many plot twists, character development, and tons of drama among couples, friends, and family.

When six couples go to Portugal for a wedding, it sounded like the perfect getaway. From the very first chapter, it's obvious that this is not going to be that type of trip. All six of the characters are flawed and not very likeable, but this book is so hard to put down. Each situation and revelation is worse than the one before, and it's hard to stop reading to find out what horrible information will be learned next.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you enjoy drama and suspense.

A big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks for the review copy. This is the second book I have attempted to read by Jones. I know others love her books but I just struggle to read them.

Let's dive in - headfirst - into Sandie Jones' latest rollercoaster of a novel, "The Guilt Trip." A novel that intertwines friendship, secrets, and betrayal with an intensity that makes it difficult to put down.

Picture this: Three couples, all friends for years, jet off to a breathtaking cliff-top villa in Portugal for a destination wedding. Ali, the soon-to-be-bride, is the latest addition to this close-knit group. As the wedding festivities kick off, a shocking revelation about Ali turns the joyous occasion into a simmering pot of suspense.

Jones proves she is great at suspense. The way she crafts her characters and their relationships is impressive. There's a depth to her characters that makes them feel real, and the dialogue is often punchy, with each line echoing with hidden meanings.

The plot twists in "The Guilt Trip" are truly the heart and soul of this book. Jones skillfully keeps readers on edge, injecting elements of doubt and suspense that make you question every revelation. It's a slow burn of tension that builds up to a satisfyingly dramatic crescendo.

That said, "The Guilt Trip" does have its share of potholes. There were moments when the narrative pace slowed down a bit too much, causing the tension to dissipate. A few readers have mentioned - and I agree - that some plot points felt a bit too convenient, and that the conclusion, while dramatic, left a few loose ends.

Jones' ability to evoke a vivid sense of place is superb. The gorgeous yet isolating cliff-top villa becomes a character in itself, adding a layer of atmospheric tension.

All in all, "The Guilt Trip" is a captivating read. It's a suspenseful exploration of friendships and secrets, where nothing is as it seems. While it has its rough edges, the novel is a testament to Jones' storytelling prowess.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for the review.</i>

Within the haunting pages of Sandie Jones' latest psychological thriller, "The Guilt Trip," lies a labyrinthine tapestry of deceptions and duplicities that will leave readers breathless, questioning the very nature of guilt and innocence.

Jones masterfully spins a web of intrigue, where the lines between truth and lies blur and secrets slither beneath the surface. The story unravels against a backdrop of palpable tension, drawing me into a mesmerizing dance with the characters, where trust becomes a luxury and betrayal lurks around every corner.

In "The Guilt Trip," Jones ventures deep into the complex psyche of her protagonists, offering glimpses of their pasts, dark and twisted, hinting at the profound guilt that plagues their souls. The characters are skillfully crafted, each with their own motives and hidden agendas, weaving an intricate mosaic of suspicion and unease.

The narrative unfolds in a series of calculated moves and unexpected twists, leaving me teetering on the precipice of uncertainty. Jones’ meticulous attention to detail amplifies the sense of foreboding, as she peels back the layers of the story, revealing hidden motives and long-buried secrets that have the power to shatter lives.

Jones' prose possesses an alluring and seductive quality, capturing the essence of a psychological tug-of-war that ensnares both the characters and the readers. Each page is imbued with an atmosphere of palpable menace, as the weight of guilt hangs heavy in the air, tainting every interaction and driving the narrative forward with a relentless urgency.

"The Guilt Trip" is a labyrinth of surprises, its twists and turns leading readers down a path shrouded in shadows. Jones skillfully plays with perception, leading us astray one moment only to pull the rug from under our feet the next. The narrative is a delicate dance, where truth becomes an elusive partner, and suspicion takes center stage.

To fully unravel the secrets that lie within "The Guilt Trip" is a challenge best savored by the reader. This is a tale that demands your full attention, compelling you to question your own assumptions and reevaluate the nature of guilt and its lingering consequences.

Sandie Jones has woven a tapestry of intrigue and suspense in "The Guilt Trip," a mesmerizing tale that will haunt readers long after the final page is turned. Prepare yourself for a journey into the depths of darkness, where guilt becomes a menacing force, and nothing is as it seems.

Everyone expects drama and maybe some blood letting any time an extended family group gathers. But you'd expect the group to be on their best behavior when attending what is supposed to be a very romantic destination wedding. Well, not this group. Sandie Jones took a well used story line and added a whole lot of BAM to the telling. In this group of 6, each member is either related to another member, married to another member, or has a big secret they prefer not to share at this time. But not sharing would make for a boring book and boring, this one is not. The term soap opera comes to mind several times while reading, but if it's a soap opera, it's a very good one because the ending will make you say "oh, no". 5 easy stars.....

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

Less of a thriller and more of just a lot of drama. Was a little hard to follow at times but loved it anyway. Will definitely continue reading this author.

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a copy. Life got in the way of me reading this before the time expired :(
it seems really good, so will be checking it out from the library or purchasing it from my local bookstore
5 stars for the vibes it gives

Ok, so first off this took me way longer than I wanted to finish. I was so intrigued by the synopsis, and I was invested in the beginning. Once I got about 50 pages in, I was really considering just DNFing, but I pushed through till the end. I had such a difficult time keeping the characters and their stories straight. Once I reached the last 100 or so pages, it definitely picked up, and I enjoyed the ending. This was just an ok read for me.

*Thank you @minotaurbooks and @netgalley for the egalley in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon because less than 4 stars.*

A little difficult to follow the characters. That's okay. I loved the books I have read by this author but I am not particularly a fan of this one. I will say it is drama packed. Less of a thriller BUT so fun to read.