I was intrigued at the beginning of this book, with a prologue that hinted at a lot of intrigue and suspense. However, the narrative was repetitive, and the main character was infuriating, constantly jumping to (very hypocritical!) conclusions about her loved ones. Overall, I was disappointed.

Happy pub day to this fun thriller.

Six friends. Three couples. One trip to Portugal together changes it all. Whose relationships will be ruined? Which friendships can’t be mended? Only time will tell. Xoxo gossip girl.

Well…I tried to write a synopsis. And somehow it turned into me becoming good ol’ GG because that’s exactly how this book felt: a long episode of a teen drama. I mean the title alone explains it all: The Guilt Trip…it was such a guilty pleasure. If you want to break up some of your more serious reads with this drama fest between friends and lovers, this one is a good option.

Jones start us off by heading to Portugal to celebrate Will and Ali’s soon-to-be wedding. (Thrillers with a destination wedding?? Ummm yes please - those never disappoint.) We slowly find out all of the characters’ hidden secrets, ones they wish stayed in the past, and even more they’re trying to conceal now. When the truth finally comes out, someone’s life may be in jeopardy.

Like I said…guilty pleasure. I listened to this one on audio and was sucked right in the little show these friends put on. Some of it dragged on a bit, I just grew impatient and wanted to know what was going to happen, but I think that’s when you can tell the author does a good job with building suspense. The narrator was great and entertaining, so definitely give it a listen if it’s on your list.

Thank you Minotaur Books for the ALC!

Drama, drama, drama! I was expecting a thriller, but all I got was drama. I didn’t like any of the characters. They were whiny and annoying and definitely not the kind of company I would ever keep. However, I kept listening because this story was like a train wreck and I also kept hoping it would get better. There was no suspense or tension, just secrets and lies, needless gossip, ridiculous antics, and a confusing ending. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC

I started listening to The Guilt Trip on a road trip last week, and I still think I am deciding how I felt about it. I was entertained, but I don’t think I would classify this as a thriller. It honestly felt more like a soap opera. So, it kept me on my toes guessing what would happen next, but more in a dramatic way, not a “who did it.” I felt like it went on a little too long, and the end didn’t quite feel like it justified the means. But if you are a soap fan, and/or read it with that intention I think it will be more enjoyable.

The narrator was enjoyable and did a great job differentiating the characters.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the fourth book I’ve read by Sandi Jones and I absolutely love her writing. She has certainly mastered the psychological thriller/domestic suspense genre and this latest one definitely proves that.

I love how addicting her books are and this one is no exception. It slowly pulls you in with an entertaining read about a group of friends that are literally torn-apart when secrets start coming to light. I loved that I just never quite knew who was trustworthy and who wasn’t…my ultimate favorite kind of read!

This is just such a fun ride and I loved that I had no idea where it was heading. There are red herrings galore, which just hooks you and keeps you fully engaged as there is this sinister undertone throughout. And that ending completely floored me…I did not see that last part coming!

This book is my definition of summer reading. It is pure entertainment, filled with plenty of drama, suspense and secrets…the perfect combination! It’s addicting and binge-worthy and I enjoyed it immensely!



Audio thoughts: This was such a fun book to listen to…made all the better by the stellar narration of Clare Corbett. She nailed this one overall with her expressiveness, but most especially with the voice of Ali. She gave all the characters unique voices and infused just the right amount of emotion and suspense into her voice. I highly recommend the audio if given the choice.

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones is a domestic suspense story about three couples who travel to coastal Portugal for a small wedding. Two of the couples have been married for about twenty years and the third couple is getting married. Each person has their own secrets, which are slowly divulged in this novel. The characters aren’t very likeable and at times are caricatures. The short chapters kept me listening and interested in the story.

The beginning was captivating, but then in the middle, the story is a bit stilted and frustrated me, with 100 pages of nonstop paranoid ruminations about a spouse who may be cheating. Meanwhile the two long-time married couples are practically the worst wedding guests imaginable. The characters jump to wrong conclusions and yet can’t accept facts when they’re thrown in their faces. The last third picks up with more action and we finally get some answers, culminating in a terrible event that occurs at the wedding reception. I listened to the audiobook which was deftly narrated by Clare Corbett.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books / Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC of this audiobook.

Oh boy. I hate giving out low stars, but this book just didn’t work for me.

That’s not to say that the narrator of the audiobook didn’t do a great job- she did. It was the best part of the whole experience. Corbett is a great voice actor and actually carried the book for me.

The problem was with the characters. Were there ever 4 more unlikeable people than Rachel, Noah, Paige, and Jack? I really don’t think so. A lot of the time I was wondering whether these people were really all friends and/or lovers, as no one seemed to actually like each other. That, plus their terrible treatment of Allie (literally, the only character I actual had any sympathy for) just made me despise them.

Maybe that was the point, but it was painful spending that much time with characters I just couldn’t stand. Rachel had some redeeming qualities, I guess, but not enough to get me to like her.
The ending was surprising, but didn’t seem like a great conclusion to a story where the core issue ended up being pretty mundane.

Two stars. One because I liked Allie, and if she had been the main character of this story I might have fared better. Two because the narrator was excellent. I would definitely listen to other books narrated by her.

Rachel and Jack, Paige and Noah, and Will and Ali all take a trip to Portugal to celebrate the wedding of Will and Ali. However, the secrets begin to unravel as the weekend continues and puts all three relationships at risk.

The Guilt Trip was PACKED with drama, so much so that it didn’t seem quite like a mystery/psych thriller. The plot continues to move and kept me hooked because I was eager to find out what would happen next!

This was the first book I’ve ever listened to on audiobook and I honestly think it affected my perception of the book. I am such a visual learner, so it was harder to fully take in every line and part of the novel.

Overall, great and engaging read! A similar review will be posted on my Instagram account full of book reviews: @fully.booked_kel

First line: The policeman, with the slicked-back hair, stands at the bottom of my hospital bed, staring at me intently.

Summary: Rachel and Jack, along with their best friends, Paige and Noah, have traveled to Portugal for a wedding. Jack’s brother is marrying the young, beautiful and impulsive, Ali. Even before the trip starts secrets start to reveal themselves about who Ali really is. Jack says he had a coworker tell him about an affair he had with Ali. And as the trip progresses Rachel begins to believe that this is a cover story for an affair between Jack and Ali. As more clues come to light, Rachel is convinced that her marriage is not what she thought it was. Does she ruin the weekend and tell the secret or does she wait until it is too late?

My Thoughts: I was unbelievably disappointed in this story. It was like a high school drama. So many worries about someone kissing someone else, insinuations, flirting, innuendos and lots of drama! Rachel was worried about just because she felt insecure. Then her friend continued to feed into the insecurity. It was a lot of hearsay and bad timing. I was just so done with it about half way through but I kept going hoping that it would redeem itself or bring it to a satisfying conclusion but it was a silly ending. Not Sandie’s best book.

FYI: Skip this one unless you love relationship drama.

The twist in this one was pretty pedestrian but it felt like all of those British thrillers lately -- predictable and kind of boring. I ended up listened to the audiobook because I couldn't get into the actual book and the narrator was fine. I wouldn't read this one again and I think a lot of other books will give you a greater twist and lots of anticipation but you may have better luck.

The Guilt Trip comes out next week on August 3, 2021 and you can purchase HERE.

The policeman, with his slicked-back hair, stands at the bottom of my hospital bed, staring at me intently.
"So, can you confirm you knew the deceased?" he says, in heavily accented English.
I nod, but even that hurts.
His eyes narrow as he studies me. "Do you remember what lead up to this unfortunate incident? Were there any altercations between the guests? Was anything said?"
I almost laugh. Where would I start?
Should I be honest and say everybody was at each other's throats? That it was only a matter of time before something like this happened? That I wish it wasn't me who caused it?

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook.

Sandie Jones creates such interesting mystery/thrillers with characters galore. I enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook. Her voice was crystal clear and fit well with the tone of the story. Highly enjoyable!

I really wanted to like this book, I love the cover it is gorgeous and the summary seemed interesting. However, I found the story confusing. Maybe it was because I went in thinking it was going to be a thriller, but that wasn't how it felt, more a romance with a bit of suspense. I am not saying it is a bad book, and I think it will have loads of fans, I think I just went in thinking one thing and getting another and it disappointed me.

One thing I will say is I really enjoyed the narrator, her voice was pleasant and even with an accent, it was clear. I would definitely enjoy more audiobooks read by her.

As @books_n_yogapants said, welcome to the hot mess express for this one! This book had a total soap opera vibe for me as these characters were full of secrets and they were all desperate to keep them hidden and in the past! I didn’t trust a single one of them but I think that made it even more compelling!

This was a speedy and captivating read that had a fun and intriguing premise and I enjoyed all the misdirection and twists.

What I didn’t love was that I found the beginning a little slow and then ending a bit rushed.

All in all, It was an entertaining and fun escape!

3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook starts strong with a good narrator and an interesting story. Rachel & Jack are traveling with their best friends, Noah & Paige, to Jack's brother Will's destination wedding in Portugal. Will's bride-to-be, Ali, is traveling with them, and the 3 couples are even sharing a villa. Too bad Ali is only the most annoying person on earth - she loses her passport, drinks on the plane and then acts drunker than she has a right to be, and is just a general PITA. Clare Corbett embodies Ali perfectly - all shrill squeals and happy chatter (though it's more difficult to discern the differences between Paige & Rachel, or Noah and Jack).

Once they arrive, things settle down a bit, although it seems to Rachel that Ali is being a little too friendly with Jack, who used to be her boss and who introduced her to her groom. The next day, Rachel finds evidence that Ali has been in the bedroom she's sharing with Jack, even though Ali & Will's room is on a different floor than theirs. Are Jack & Ali having an affair right under Rachel and Will's noses?

As the plot thickens, more and more drama and history is introduced. Noah & Rachel were once best of friends in college, with the potential for something more. Paige & Rachel are now best girlfriends, but in the early days, Paige was resentful of Rachel's relationship with Noah. And why did Ali leave Jack's company anyway? Was she actually fired because of her behavior?

Once the wedding is underway, things ramp up even further, careening towards a denouement that is certainly dramatic, but not much within the realms of reality. If you like twisty, yet unrealistic plots, this is the story for you. A good yarn overall, but some points off for the wrap-up.

A group of friends and family head off to a destination wedding together, two married couples, the bride and the groom. They seemingly all have secrets, and they won’t stay secret while they’re away.




^This is basically all I knew about the guilt trip going in. I’ve been liking going in blind lately. It feels more surprising and sets you up for great twists.




I really enjoyed this book! I could not stop listening. I can’t say the plot was particularly new, but I still found myself desperate to know the truth. Sandie Jones does such a great job of leading you in and making you want more.




The setting for this one is great. There’s something about a destination wedding that makes it a little powder keg for drama. The Guilt Trip is FULL of drama for almost all the characters, lots of secrets, very juicy.




I think I most connected this was for the theme of possibly never truly knowing anyone. Someone can be your best friend, husband, brother, a new acquaintance and you don’t really know if you’re seeing the real them. You’ll never know what secrets they’re hiding. Look, I’ve seen too many murder documentaries to be trusting.




I am pretty surprised at how much I loved this one! Domestic suspense is almost always a fail for me, but Sandie Jones has won me to the dark side. If you’re a lover of drama and secrets, you’ll love The Guilt Trip. It comes out August 3rd, and I highly recommend the audio! The narrator does an amazing job with all of the characters.


Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for my review copies!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC of the audiobook!

Thrillers tend to be hit or miss for me. This particular book was a miss. While I enjoyed the setting and the concept of the book, the execution was not the best. I was able to get all of the plot twists and clues before they happened. The characters were okay but felt very stereotypical; middle aged women jealous of young woman in her twenties. It was not for me, but it might be great for someone else. What really made it enjoyable for me was the narrator. Clare Corbett did a fantastic job. Thank you again for the advanced copy!

I thought it was a thriller, but it is more a psychological / cheating drama. I used not like audiobook, and I still prefer book but it is nice to have something light when I doing chores and this was the right book.
Let's talk about the story, for me it was a little slow repetitive and predictable. The end seems also a little too rushed.
I want to thank NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for this advance audio copy of the book in exchange for this honest review.

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones was a great read. I enjoy the locked room mystery plot. A wedding, friends, lies, and deception – perfect combination. The characters all had something to like about them and something to despise, this makes them real to me. I do wish the scenery was described in greater detail. The narrator, Clare Corbett, was great. I could listen to any book she performs.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my honest review. *****

When I tell you this was a wild ride… Six friends Rachel and Jack, Noah and Paige, Will and Ali take a trip for the wedding of Will and Ali This trip had so many twists, turns, and DRAMA! The beginning starts out with drama getting ready and on the way to the trip. The first beginning was a tad slow for me and I was this close 🤏🏽 to DNF. I’m so glad I stuck it out to the end because when the secrets and claws came out, things heated up for sure!

I felt like I had whiplash going from one convo to the next, playing telephone. (Do you remember that old school game?) Friendships, marriages, and weddings are in trouble when the beans start to spill. While they think it’s pretty little Ali that’s the trouble, they need to look in their own backyards. Who can we believe here🤭

If you’re into drama filled books, this is the one for you! While it may start off slowly, it picks up and it quite the entertaining read!

Thanks you so much to for my gifted copy!

Whether you want to call this suspense or a thriller, more importantly, it's just plain good writing. I relished the intertwining stories of the couples and how their characters and storylines were revealed. I'd categorize this as a great summer read. This is all about the set-up and journey for me. It really explores the truths and mistakes people make in presuming too much.

Trust is often misplaced. Goodness comes from the heart. Secrets are the downfall in many relationships. Simple concepts, but time and again people make the same mistakes. Sandie Jones artfully explores those themes in this engaging story.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.