Wow. Wasn't sure at first, what I was getting with this story but it ended up being even better than I had thought when I'd read the premise.
So many lies and cover-ups and misunderstandings. And I think I kept waiting for the other penny to drop but that doesn't happy until the VERY end. So enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Rachel is off to Portugal for her brother-in-law's wedding to Ali. Ali annoys basically everyone else, especially Jack, Rachel's husband, who Ali used to work for. And Ali is all set to marry his brother. But is she up to no good? Is she having an affair with Jack? And what of Noah and Paige, Rachel's best friends, who seem to be along for the ride. How will their presence complicate matters?
A really fun domestic thriller. *Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this novel.*

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

This was one fantastic ride!!! I started listening and could not stop. You're attending a wedding of your soon to be sister-in-law in Portugal, it should be exciting but you are dreading it because you really don't like spending time with her. Luckily your best friends are invited as well, so you make the best of it... or can you?

This book was gripping and thrilling! My original hunch was sort of obvious so I should have known better, but soon, I didn't know which way was up or down. I enjoyed the twisty turns of trying to figure out who was lying and who was telling the truth. It was a trip I won't soon forget! And I am a bigger fan of Sandie Jones, I believe she has the thriller genre figured out! Fantastic!

I was really excited to read this book as I’ve enjoyed many of the author’s previous books. I felt this book failed to engage me in the beginning because there were many characters introduced all at once. There was a lot of drama and it almost felt like high school kids sleeping around with each other. By the time I reached the end, I was a bit confused with what was happening.

Welcome to the hot mess express because these six individuals have so many secrets you cannot help but love to hate these characters. Sandie Jones did a great job with the twists and turns in this book, however as the listener of the audiobook, I sometimes got lost due to confusion of characters, affairs, and all the other craziness that these six bring to the story. I would recommend reading this book over listening to it!

This book just wasn’t for me. I had difficulty keeping track of the characters as they all blended into one another and I found the narration somewhat robotic.

Sandy beaches + Sandie Jones =
A perfect summer experience!

Yes, I was seeking a perfect summer experience when I eagerly and enthusiastically requested THE GUILT TRIP, Sandie Jones' newest release. Sandie Jones is an author who rarely disappoints.

Until now.

THE GUILT TRIP is about three couples who travel to a cliff-top villa in Portugal for a destination wedding. All travel together as friends, all leave as suspects.

The book was slow, tedious, and repetitive; lacking that "thriller" element that was promised. The character development of all of the six MCs was shallow.

Perhaps having so many MCs was the problem. With six MCs, it was very difficult to keep them (and all of their infidelities!) straight. I felt like the audiobook should have been accompanied by a PDF scorecard.

Also, there have been many, many "6 friends go away, not everyone returns" books and, therefore, it was hard to view this book as "fresh content."

I listened to the audiobook, read by Claire Corbet. Although Claire Corbet is a talented narrator, she shrieked very loudly when she was reading the lines of one of the MCs. When hearing those loud shrieks, I had to remove my headphones to avoid getting a headache.

I feel guilty about not liking THE GUILT TRIP. I have always been a HUGE Sandie Jones fan and I wanted to give her a 5-star review. Maybe next time.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE GUILT TRIP. This book is not as it appears, each time you think you’ve got things sorted out- BAM- a twist. It will have you guessing until the end.

My NetGalley app still plays audiobooks in what sounds like an echo chamber. I look forward to hopefully being able to listen to audiobooks without an echo!
Thank you!

This book is full of as much drama as the title suggests, filled with exhausting characters, messed up lies, and lots of mistrust all surrounding a destination wedding I wouldn’t want to be a fly on the wall to attend. It’s a smart thought out plot, the author nails that, but these characters are so off putting it throws the story for an even bigger tailspin. Great job to the author!

The Guilt Trip was full of drama and unlikeable characters and gave me big soap opera vibes. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing...I don't know if it was the book for me. Was I entertained? Mildly. I listened to the audiobook, and I think that was the right way to consume this book. Was I bored? Kind of. The story seemed repetitive like we get it, you have a secret that might ruin your life if your husband finds out, get to the action, please.

The ending was weird, but now that I think about it, the end does fit the soap opera vibes. I believe the book was well written and feel that the right reader would love this drama-filled story.

Thank you, Netgalley and Macmillan Audio/Minotaur Books, for the ARC.

Rachel spends the few days leading up to her brother-in-law’s wedding fretting about whether or not her husband is sleeping with his brother’s fiancé. This carries on for almost the entire book, her fretting, and almost nothing else.
Things finally start to pick up right near the end of the book. It’s all a bit preposterous but entertaining enough.
Thanks to #netgalley and #macmillonbooks for this ARC of #theguilttrip in exchange for an honest review.

The tag line for this reads, “They went away as friends. They came back as suspects.”
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A destination wedding meant for celebration and friendship turns into a dark weekend of secrets, murder and suspicions.
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A summer suspense thriller that would be perfect to take on vacation, but maybe not a destination wedding!
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Thank you #NetGalley and #Minotaur and #MacmillanAudio

I have really enjoyed Sandie Jones' writing, and this book was no exception.

The book starts out by developing the characters of three different couples. You know right away that something is going on with these characters, and their relationships, but it is not clear as to what is happening. As the story unfolds a web of lies is revealed, and characters discover things about each other that they never expected.

But the web of lies is only the beginning. Jones writes in a way that leaves you guessing as to the truth of where the actual spider is, and who are the bugs trapped in the web. Slowly the truth unfurls and with it the webs are broken apart, eventually concluding in a horrific scene that leaves some in the hospital, another dead, and the spider revealed for the venomous arachnid that they are.

This book was not my favorite of Jones' but was a satisfying romantic thriller that left me with questions up to the end, wondering about nature of humans, how we operate, how we love, and how we make the choices that we make on a daily basis.

The two English married couples (Rachel & Jack, and Noah & Paige) have been good friends for a long time. Rachel and Noah have been best friends since they met at University. They once had a chance to become something more but they are happily married to someone else now (Rachel to Jack, and Noah to Paige). Paige also became Rachel's best friend. Jack’s brother Will is getting married to an attractive young women Ali, and they are all traveling together to a destination wedding in Portugal.Jack seems to hate impulsive Ali, but Rachel started to suspect they were having an affair......

This psychological thriller reminds me of The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I love destination mysteries with some dramas but The Guilt Trip has way too much dramas. I want more mysteries than cheating dramas. Also, the main characters are inconsistent and didn't feel authentic.

If you like reality TV shows, you may like this thriller very much (5 stars). But, if you are looking for smart psycho-thrillers, you may get disappointed(2 1/2 stars). Therefore, I give this one 3.5 stars.

Drama, drama, drama!

Jack & Rachel are going to Jack’s brother, Will’s wedding. Will is marrying Allie, a woman who used to work with Jack, who just up until recently, got along well with Jack.

Rachel is starting to suspect that Jack and Allie are having an affair. But with the help of Noah and Paige, friends of Rachel, things get much more interesting! Is Allie having an affair with Jack? Or is something else going on with her friend group?

Although, I did guess the major “twist” early on, the stories events were entertaining. The ending however, was a bit odd & I wasn’t expecting something like that to happen. It did have a satisfying ending, and another bit of a twist.

I would recommended, I enjoyed listening to this book on the way to work.

The cover always is what initially pulls me in to a story in this one was no different. As immediately acted to the concept and was hopeful that this one would completely entertain me.

Initially I liked the plot and where things were going they felt that momentum never really worked, I was constantly waiting for more to happen and felt frustrated with the characters not just communicating with one another. I did appreciate the few twists that came along but in the end this one just didn’t work for me and I struggled to stay interested.

I did enjoy the writing though and would consider picking up more of her work.

This was a really fun audiobook it was mysterious and kept me wanting to listen. I just had no idea what was going to happen or what the big mystery was going to be. The beginning was a little confusing to keep track of all the different characters and who was partnered with who, but once I got that it was a lot easier to follow. I thought the setting was cool and liked that it all took place around a wedding. This just really kept me guessing and I had no idea how it was going to all resolve. I do think I am still confused about the ending. There are a lot of different things you could believe and I am still unsure if I missed a small detail that would have made everything make more sense.

I would rate this a 3.5 stars and rounded it up to 4.
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Rachel and Jack are flying to Portugal to attend Jack’s brother, Will’s wedding to the flamboyant Ali. Ali insists on Rachel’s best friend Paige and her husband, Noah attend also. There’s history between a number of them which makes for a drama filled with suspense and a few twists. ⁣
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For the most part, I enjoyed this book but at times Rachel annoyed me with how much she got into her head and speculated on possible scenarios. If you like domestic dramas, this book is for you. ⁣
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Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this title. Wow wow wow! If you want a page turner grab this book and prepare to read from start to finish in one sitting.
6 friends travel to a wedding in Portugal. Upon arriving tensions rise as each couple starts wondering if their partner is cheating and lying. I will admit there were quite a few characters to keep up with but this really reminded me of The Guest List which was one of my favorite reads. I couldn’t believe the ending! Let’s just say add to your must read right now.

I really enjoyed the narration of The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones. The story was very well written as well and Jones continues to put out extraordinary work!