Do you like novels with crazy characters? If so, then this might be the story for you. I am not sure who is the craziest but I loved to see them acting insane.

This novel takes place on the rich fathers yacht. He and his wife start playing their mind games with his two sons and their wives. Both sons are competing trying to take over for their father as head of the company. It is an awkward race between them, and there is no love lost.

As the story develops it is amusing to gain insight into each character and what they are thinking or doing.

This was just an okay thriller for me and not my favourite Kaira Rouda book but not bad in any sense. while I enjoyed the characters and seeing how crazy they were, I found it to be a long, where nearly 300 pages felt like 500. I was also disappointed by the ending. To me it was not very surprising or crazy considering the characters themselves were nuts. I felt like I needed a more surprising ending. That being said I enjoy this author's novels and I will be reading her next one!

Thank you to netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC

Is there anything better than reading about rich people antics? Family drama is compelling and then add money and it’s the perfect formula for a bingeable, fun read. The secrets revealed and the twists had me reading late into the night. I also enjoyed the multiple POV’s and always felt one step ahead of the characters. This is the first in a series and I’m interested to see where it goes.

Beneath the Surface is a story of family and dark secrets. Richard's three children have so many issues, they are rich and they are spoiled! But they also carry so much baggage from childhoods of not being loved and being indulged. They come together on a family reunion on their father's yacht. With all the secrets there are so many twist and a few 'I didn't see that coming!'

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was such a juicy, rich people drama and I loved it! This author is especially good at writing sociopaths. This is is first book in the series and I can’t wait to read more about this crazy family. It’s about a family that has always been contentious and they are all invited to their father’s yacht. They are all vying to take over the family business and it gets ugly 👀

I really liked the multiple POVs in this domestic thriller. Everyone has something to hide and the drama amidst this whole family keeps you intrigued. I loved the setting on a yacht and the stormy weather to give it some extra layers of discomfort and interest. I kind of was expecting something more nefarious with more of the characters or a really big twist at the end. I’m the end it felt a little predictable. I was expecting the last person standing (not literally) to have some kind of additional secret right at the end or something. It was a quick and easy read but not anything jaw dropping.

I am a big fan of this author, so I was excited to get a copy of this book. This one was a quick read for me and I really enjoyed it. My favorite part was the setting on a luxury yacht which made for the perfect locked room set up. I liked the family drama and a different point of views. Check out my beautiful hat and sunscreen that came with the book. It doesn’t look good on me, but my son loves it.

Wow this book has everything- family issues, money, power, manipulation , and the twists will blow your mind!!!!!!!!!!! This is definitely one of Kaira Rouda's best books in my opinion.

⭐⭐⭐/5

• domestic suspense
• rich behaving badly
• dysfunctional family/secrets

This was a quick read. I enjoyed the yacht setting, but these characters kind of exhausted me (not in a good way).

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

This is another amazing one by one of my favorite authors! It will grip you from page 1 and never let you go!

I’ve read a lot of Kaira Rouda and this hand down is my favorite. Plot twists, money greed estranged siblings and a boat ride from hell. I literally cannot wait for the next book on the series!

Beneath the Surface is the perfect title for this book by Kaira Rouda! Billionaire RIchard Kingsley buys a huge yacht and invites his children aboard for a trip to Catalina Island. Everyone thinks it's because he's getting ready to retire and he's going to pick who is going to take over his company. All of these characters have secrets to keep and they will do anything to keep them. They have all done terrible things! Each chapter the deception just keeps getting better and better! What could possibly go wrong?!!! You will have to read the book to find out!
This book is the first in a series too!

This book is insane. Everyone is insane there. Ok, maybe not insane, maybe just horrible. Super horrible.
A family where everyone hates each other? Check! Tension? Check! Rich and horrible people? Check! Lies? Check! Everyone lies there, all the time, check! When you think you have read it all, some more horrible things happen, Check!
Add on top of this some very good writing, suspense, and fast-paced page-turning, and you got yourself this. Absolutely a must-read for every thriller reader out there! Even if you feel like you have read it all, like there is nothing new ever being written – nope, this is new.
This is book one in a new series. Yay! Can’t wait for book two!
p.s. if you are looking for relatable and likable characters, this book is not for you! (And I say it as a good thing!)

Kaira Rouda has done it again. I was immediately sucked into the story and read it almost in a single sitting. I’m honestly not sure quite how to categorize this one. I suppose domestic thriller, though even that doesn’t feel quite right. Right from the start I got a very strong Knives Out vibe from this one. Not because the stories similar, because they aren’t. Not even remotely so. But rather because like Knives Out, Beneath the Surface features a wildly dysfunctional family…and to be honest a mostly despicable one as well. These are some loathsome people, and you will enjoy hating them, lol. I’m guessing it might be how some people feel about those Real Housewife shows.

Billionaire Richard Kingsley has been married multiple times, fathering children with each of those wives. Now he needs to choose a successor to lead his company and so he has planned a weekend trip for his family during which he’ll make his decision. Richard is not the nicest of fathers, and he enjoys pitting his children against each other for his own amusement. And over the course of the weekend they go at each other hard, not pulling any bunches, as each believes they should come out on top and lead the company. This is an absolutely wild story. What’s crazy is that even though many of the characters are despicable at times you’ll actually sympathize with them. Ms. Rouda does an absolutely wonderful job of making these characters feel real. In each chapter she changes the POV so we get a chance to really get to know these characters. The book is the first in the Kingsley series, and while I don’t know how many books are planned, I’ll definitely be looking forward to revisiting this dysfunctional family in the future. I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Beneath the Surface.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R103PJ0GJRLISV/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

So scandalous, entertaining, and filled with lots of dysfunctional family drama!! The characters in this book are filthy rich and so very annoying. I was addicted to the twisted plot and it left me guessing. I love ALL of Kaira's books! Can't wait to read The Kingsleys book 2!

I’m a fan of rich people behaving badly storylines and this one sounded interesting to me. Unfortunately at 25% in it isn’t working for me - I’m just finding myself too annoyed by everyone to get into it. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC copy in exchange for a review.
This fun thriller takes place on a fancy yacht! I really love rich people drama and this book did not disappoint. I was very invested until the very end. I look forward to more titles from this author.

Beneath the Surface is a Succession (and some Arrested Development, minus the hilarity of the Bluths) kind of a vibe. It is the story of a wealthy man who invites his kids on his yacht to determine who will take over his company. These people are deplorable - each one is worse than the next with their secrets, lies and deceptions. But the yacht life is fun in all its fancy glamour and glitz, the setting is Catalina Island (coming from Newport Beach) which is right here and the twists and dark jabs just kept coming. Made for an entertaining and quick read even though it did go off the rails in the end and get a little bonkers.

The Kingsley family have all been invited onto their father's brand new mega-yacht to cruise to Catalina Island and find out what Richard's plans are for the future of the company. John, the oldest son, believes the company should be his. He's put in his time, done everything his father asked. Ted thinks the company should be his, he helped grow the real estate side of the business exponentially when he worked there. Youngest sibling Sybly is a wild card with plans of her own. Things take an interesting turn with Richard's big announcement and the plotting intensifies.

This book was a lot of fun, imagining what happens in these secretive, insanely rich families when it's time to pass on the family business. What skeletons are they hiding? You *know* there will be skeletons! This was a fast, fun read, the kind of book you read on the beach or as your guilty pleasure. Rouda's writing style is edge of your seat, but also super easy to read.

Beneath The Surface is a great domestic drama that has suspenseful elements, multiple POVs, and so many secrets! The story follows the uber rich Kingsley family as they embark on a quick family retreat on the patriarch’s gigantic new yacht to Catalina Island. While the family seems picture perfect, below the surface, there are lies, deception, bad behavior, attitudes, and entitlement. The ending has a shocking twist!

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and @netgalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

The queen of scandal and intrigue, Kaira Rouda (favorite author) returns following The Widow with her latest smashing thriller and first in the new series, The Kingsleys— A weekend family voyage to Catalina Island on a mega-yacht with a controlling billionaire father and his power-hungry ruthless children goes bad in the highly entertaining, BENEATH THE SURFACE family drama when the weather is not the only storm brewing!

No one does wicked, ruthless, and delicious scandal better than Kaira Rouda! Let the games begin!

Come aboard the Splendid Seas from Newport Beach, California, to Catalina Island—host billionaire CEO Richard Kingsley of Kingsley Global Enterprises, a mega-real estate empire and father of three.

What does the patriarch have in store? What are his succession plans? He has a big announcement to make.

First, the Kingsley family does not get along. So imagine being stuck on Richard's new toy, a 185-foot yacht worth $1.2 billion, with this group. There is Captain Bill and a chef. Smooth sailing? Not a chance.

Richard & Serena: The aging father & CEO with his younger 5th bride. What do they have planned? Who will take over Kingsley Global Enterprises? Serena thinks she will be his last wife and their future child, the final heir. (Think again).

John & Rachel: The oldest son (52). He will go to the extreme to do what his father asks. He never relatively measures up in his wife's eyes (a criminal defense lawyer). He is always seeking approval. John thinks soon he will be in charge.

Ted & Paige: The youngest son, not in the family business but hopes to be. They are preparing for an empty nest with teen twin girls soon off to college.

Sibley & Colson: The stepdaughter and the black sheep of the family with her questionable boyfriend.

Curious, the three children want to know the big announcement. All are dying for a powerhouse position and inheritance. Richard hates whiners. You know he will have cameras spying on them. Who will get the best stateroom? Who will win in the end?

Told from POV:
Paige
John
Serena
Richard
Sibley

With fun updates from media, OC SCOOP! Who will be the next president of Kingsley Global Enterprises? Buckle up!

Things do not go as expected. An affair, a murder, a divorce, a break-in, someone goes rogue, and an unexpected, shocking announcement—and we catch up to six months later as we anticipate #2 installment.

What a FUN, wicked voyage with adults misbehaving!

"In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans." —Khali Gibran

This scandalous, entertaining dysfunctional family drama includes manipulation, betrayal, ruthless & despicable behavior, backbiting, power, ambition, scheming, stealing, blackmail, revenge, affairs, sibling rivalry, gambling debts, lies, secrets, deception, scandal, and no morals. There are more than winds and waves and storms to deal with.

Succession meets The White Lotus! You will be shocked by Richard's choice (loved), and I cannot wait for #2 to see how the new role continues.

Paige was my favorite character! As always, Kaira stirs the action and suspense with the wealthy misbehaving. There is not quite as much dark humor and snark as some of her other books; however, it is highly entertaining.

I am a massive fan of the author, having read all her books. If you have not, I highly recommend all of them. I am looking forward to The Kingsleys, #2 in the series.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a gifted ARC for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Sept 5, 2023
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