This was a great read. I was instantly sucked in and couldn’t put it down! It did begin to drag a bit once Ali got to the vacation house and I feel like there was opportunity there to create more suspense in order to move the story along quicker.

While the entire story was a little predictable, never in a million years would I have guessed the twist. Things picked up again here. Now, it’s hard for me to decide how I feel about the ending. It was good and wrapped things up very nicely; however, I was really hoping for more of a change in Ali. She seemed to have second thoughts about her actions, but at the end, it just didn’t seem like she was really remorseful.

Overall, this was a solid read, and I definitely recommend it for fans of “Lucky” and “We Were Never Here.”

My review will be posted to my instagram, @readingwithtrey on Monday, July 17.

Nine guests arrive at their luxury holiday home, they all know each other well except for the cook – Lulu. While she had been their cook the year prior, they don’t know much about her. Lulu isn’t exactly the woman they hired. She has plenty to hide, and nowhere to run when things get hot. Even though this is the idyllic getaway, loyalties will be tested, secrets exposed and tension will rise.

I loved the scenery that this book described. The village in Provence just seemed gorgeous and it made me want to visit. The characters were interesting in this one. There were three primary characters, and really none of them were very likeable. I really wanted to like Lulu, but there was just something that I could never get over. I did enjoy the twists that this one had. It was a good psychological thriller, and the theme of the characters being grifters was interesting. This book did hold my attention and make me want to find out how everything was resolved. While it wasn’t my favorite book of the month, or week, it was still a decent and worthwhile read – even if just for the scenery. I would recommend it.

Thank you so much to the publisher Harper Paperbacks, and Netgalley, @netgalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Sabine Durrant. It started out really exciting with the cons Ali and Sean pulled off. But once Ali flees and goes to the luxury holiday home as Lulu, it gets really dry and long. Ending was better, but overall it just wasn't as good as it sounded.

I love a good con artist story. The numerous ways nefarious people find to prey upon the innocent will never cease to amaze me, and Sabine Durrant's new novel Sun Damage is no exception. This tale about a female grifter who teams up with an established con artist to manipulate a wealthy young woman at a French resort before moving her operation to a villa in the south of France scratched my fraudster reading itch, and will likely be enjoyed by fans of Laura Lippman.

However, unlike Lippman's clever and surprising stories, Sun Damage is truly a mixed bag. There are some elements of this book that work extremely well, while others just do not hit the mark. The novel starts off strongly with a picturesque setting and intimate vibe. Our main character seems to be inviting us into her con game, showing us how to work over unsuspecting victims, all the while leaving us holding our breath, waiting to see if she will be able to pull it all off.

But once the novel moves to the vacation home, the book seems to lose its way. We are introduced to a ton of characters, which I truly despise in novels because I find it so difficult to keep track of everyone if the author does not write them memorably ... which in this case, Durrant did not. Furthermore, the novel seems to lumber along without really going anywhere. In fact, our main character almost reads as an entirely different person once she leaves the resort, making her difficult to get to know or even like.

In all, Sun Damage has some really incredible chapters mixed in with some total duds. This story doesn't quite capture your attention in the way that it should, considering the intense subject matter.

I was promised a thriller, and what I got was more like a character study of a grifter with a wee bit of a conscience, and hints of thriller here and there. Enjoyable, but not what I was expecting, which left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the copy of Sun Damage by Sabine Durant. I loved the writing style that drew me right into the story and the characters were interesting, even if some of them didn't feel completely developed. If you like descriptive writing, interesting characters, and some twists, you will like this one, even if what might have been a big reveal was pretty predictable for me. I do wish the ending hadn't been so tidy, I could have used a little more intrigue!

Slightly over-promised with its thrilling start, fortunately the remaining drama is still somewhat engaging, for the first third of Sun Damage I was completely engrossed by its summery, picturesque European setting, as well as the relentless psychological tension and mind game between all the primary characters (for once a thriller synopsis is not giving anything away, so I'll respect that and be vague in my review). When a pivotal incident finally hit, I was hunkered down and ready for this ride to fully take off... but apparently the book had other plans.

The remaining two thirds of Sun Damage was unexpectedly placid and low stake, confined to a single location when the narrative was suggesting a whirlwind cat and mouse game across Europe. Still, I found Sabine Durrant's writing to be pleasant and the character work solid, hence I was able to see the book through without feeling like being tasked with an unavoidable chore.

Reading Sun Damage actually mirrored my experience with The Villa by Rachel Hawkins in many ways: scenic European setting, suspenseful premise, but in actuality just slightly heightened domestic drama. While the material is objectively decent, I do feel like a victim of a bait and switch with its thriller-skewing marketing (however, if we were being meta—actually thematically appropriate to this particular novel). "Reminiscent of the works of Patricia Highsmith" does hold true, but only for the first 30%—approach this as a decent, inoffensive mystery beach read, but a 5-stars thriller it is not.

An author I hadn’t read before with an atmospheric setting in all the ritzy places I’ve always wanted to visit. There are exotic beaches, glitzy vacationers, glamorous hotels with fine dining and holiday targets - marks ripe for picking, at every turn. While I loved the scenic area, the extremely detailed descriptions of menial everyday activities were painfully tedious. Example: I showered, I washed my hair, towel dried, brushed my teeth, on and on. It was a slow start and I almost threw the towel away. I don’t intend to be critical, I persevered and the pace improved.
Ali is a runaway from the care system, after being removed from her mum’s, with too many family placements that didn’t work. Sean took her in and is grooming her in his expertise as a grifter, teaching her various cons. Lulu is one of their current marks. Ali is quite trapped when everything about the con goes horribly wrong. Ali has to escape this nightmare and pull off the ultimate con to save herself. The family she is deceiving has it’s own drama, affairs, lies and secrets. In the end you’ll wonder who’s really conning who?
The plot concept was strong and the ending was very satisfying. But, I had mixed feelings about the story, it felt like some of the secondary character development could have be improved.
The digital advance reader copy of “Sun Damage” by Sabine Durrant, HarperCollins Publishers, was provided to me by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

I was so bored and could not get into it. I eventually gave up at 40%. I do appreciate the chance to read early.

Sun Damage is a beautifully written, drama-filled psychological thriller that takes place in the south of France and follows con artist Ali, as she deals with the consequences of a job-gone-wrong. In the aftermath of her and her partner's most recent (failed) con, Ali finds herself posing as a private chef for a vacationing family. Ali needs to ensure that not only are her secrets kept safe but also are the secrets of those around her.

Durrant's writing style is truly beautiful and the scene setting is epic. I truly felt like I was in the south of France and I could practically smell and taste the foods that were described. The character development is also very well-done. For me, the pacing is a bit off. I found the first quarter of the book to be quite slow, then the middle to be page-turning, fast-paced, and then the last quarter to be too rushed. There were definitely a few twists that I did not see coming. Overall, I enjoyed Sun Damage and will be recommending it - it's definitely a perfect summer/beach read!

I received an advanced copy of this book from Harper Perennial and Paperbacks via NetGalley.

Set against a backdrop of scorching heat, a group of nine individuals gathers at a secluded villa in the southern region of France. Although they are familiar with one another, the perception of knowing each other well is about to be shattered. Within this intense environment, at least one person harbors numerous hidden truths, with nowhere to escape. As the unforgiving sun beats down upon them, loyalties will be challenged, long-held secrets will be unveiled, and tensions will escalate to a breaking point, pushing them beyond the brink of return.

Based on the initial description of this book, I had high expectations and anticipated a more enjoyable read. However, I found the overall story to read relatively slowly. Additionally, Rob's peculiar reaction to "Lulu" was odd.

Sun Damage tells the story of a grifter named Ali. She was raised in the foster care system, and you can’t help but root for her. She partners up with a conman named Sean, and they con their way throughout Europe… until a con goes wrong in southern France and a woman ends up dead.

Instead of reporting it, Ali runs. She looks so much like the woman, that she takes her place. Is it a long con? Or is Ali (now Lulu) becoming a better person?

Sun Damage is the perfect summer read - and is available August 1. I read this in 2 sittings. It was a little predictable and ended with a nice little bow (drives me nuts when that happens 😂 everything can’t be a happy ending all the time!)

I wouldn’t call this a thriller, but it did have a fun twist at the end. A solid 4 star quickie read to take with you on a pool day!

I was ready to tear this book open as soon as I received it.
Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant was a great slow burn thriller.
Durrant’s writing style was beautifully descriptive and atmospheric.
A well written story with a compelling setting and entertaining characters Sun Damage was the perfect read. The story immediately drew me in, held my attention, and kept me invested. Its stellar plot and the author's intricate detailing made this an addictive read.
Dripping in intrigue, this author has written a glamorous, witty, and totally riveting story full of secrets, lies and . . . some more lies.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Harper Perennial for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

3.5/5 stars

3.5 stars

Sun Damage is a beach read with a summery, south of France setting that becomes its own character, and two main characters that you .love and hate in equal measures. Sean and Ali are con artists whose partnership is unraveling due when one of their cons spirals out of control and ends badly.

I loved the landscape and setting most in this story. The sounds, smells of the south of France perfectly encapsulated summer, and I felt I was right there, sun in my face, smelling the salt of the sea. Descriptions are big for me, and in this area, the author did not disappoint.

After a bit of a slow start, a few secrets and a not completely unexpected twist are revealed toward the end. Sun Damage was a fun, light, entertaining summer read, with the location the star of the show.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for providing me an ARC of this book.

I wanted to like this book but it was just so painfully dry. I couldn’t absorb what I was reading most of the time because I was bored.

I really enjoyed this well written slow burn psychological thriller. A pair of grifters, make their way conning rich people, until a con goes wrong and the woman runs away, taking on someone's else identity and wrestles with what they did and who she is and who she wants to be. She is being chased by her former partner, and the tension builds as it seems likely he is going to find her I was able to easily connect with the main character, despite her many differences from me and liked how she resolved the situation she was in 4.5

Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed in this novel. I went in expecting a fast-paced, interesting, and high-stakes story, but found myself struggling through the majority of it. I think that the premise of the story and plot was grand, but personally believe that about 70% of the novel was slow.

This was a great vacation read, with lots of twists and turns. Good character development and suspenseful scenes, Throughly enjoyed it and would recommend.

QUICK TAKE: loved the Ripley-esque story that bookends this one, but the middle dragggggged for me. How this con artist gets hired to be a private chef -and manages to keep her job when she lays in bed all day and the family is forced to order pizza- is beyond me. I needed higher stakes, european holiday escapism and more drama, and ultimately was a bit underwhelmed here.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>Sun Damage</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
What a great read. Ali is kind of unremarkable and forgettable but that is exactly why Sean is interested in her. Ali's history as a troubled foster child, shunted from one home to another, has made her lonely and observant. Sean is a con man, alternating between menacing and charming. Together they are in Europe conning those who want something without true effort as they mold themselves into whomever and whatever the victim desires. When easy target Lulu appears, Sean and Ali approach looking for a quick gain.
Despite Ali's doubts, Sean continues their efforts to con Lulu out of whatever she has. When Lulu expresses doubts, violence follows. Ali realizes she is way out of her league. To escape Sean, Ali takes on Lulu's identity.
At times this novel is reminiscent of Highsmith's <i>The Talented Mr. Ripley</i> but without the psychopathology of the protagonist. Readers of this novel will want Ali to escape and turn her life around.