Wow! What a page turner from the very beginning! The first page really sets the scene for the creepy ambiance of the rest of the novel. Whilst you know from the first couple of pages in the novel where this will end, you can’t help but hope that it won’t.

The story revolves around Emma, the Narrator of the story, an assistant who is sent instead of her Boss, to an exclusive, once in a life time holiday, to a new private resort. Amongst the other guests are a famous actor, seedy politician, mega influencer, billionaire and famous tv host. Whilst you can’t help but engrossed in the story, Emma is a pretty unlikeable character that is difficult to connect to, yet it does not take away from the pace or desire to navigate the clues with Emma as to who is responsible for what transpires.

I was still not fixed who the true villain was until the very end, and this novel keeps you guessing until the very last paragraph. Like me, I bet you reread the epilogue more than once. Recommend this as a solid airport read.

Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read, review and give my honest opinion of this ARC.

Emma receives an exclusive invitation to a luxurious island resort, courtesy of her boss Rebecca. Excited but with ulterior motives, Emma plans to write an expose on the elite guests. However, her dream vacation turns into a nightmare as she uncovers a sinister plot lurking beneath the resort's opulence. Emma must navigate dangerous secrets and decide if revealing the truth is worth risking her life in a game of power and deception.

This book is one of those where your opinion of "Who done it" will shift throughout the entire story. Every time I had a theory, I thought the ending was obvious. I was wrong, again, and again, and again.

Once the plot starts moving, it doesn't stop. You'll be sucked in, unable to put it down until you finish. The writing is streamlined, without a lot of fluff and very easy to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book was so, so for me. It was a 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars. I felt compelled to keep reading even though I really wanted to DNF this 20% in. It wasn’t a spectacular read but it got better as the story went along. I will try this author again.

Vacation gone wrong. Quick and enjoyable read. Gave it 4 stars because I felt like there were some holes in the plot. Overall would recommend.

What appears to be a long, luxury weekend on a secluded private island turns murderous and mysterious.

Emma, who has been gifted the long weekend by her boss, is an ordinary person and the only member of the very small group on this trip who is not rich and famous. But her companions, all of whom seem okay at first glance, are among the richest and most famous in the world. Emma wonders just how she’s going to fit into this crowd, a worry that intensifies when she is rudely not welcomed at the resort by the staff. She manages to convince them that she is there instead of her boss, who, clearly by oversight, neglected to inform the place that Emma is coming in her stead. Clearly, she is the proverbial sore thumb, and the room she is grudgingly shown to is minuscule compared to the elaborate individual villas of the other guests.

The story rapidly gets very dark as one by one her companions mysteriously die. Although Emma manages to escape death by the villain, she is missing and is presumed dead. But is she dead? And what evil plot took out her companions? I won’t tell. You will have to read the book for yourself.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

In lieu of a raise, Emma's boss surprises her with a luxurious private island getaway, accompanied by a select group of celebrities. However, their paradise quickly transforms into a nightmare and Emma realizes that nothing is as it appears.

This book was a very atmospheric quick thriller that was very entertaining to read. While I did enjoy it overall, there were moments when the reading became slightly challenging. In my opinion, the book could have been better if it had omitted the diary aspect. The transition only occurs in the final chapters, which felt somewhat disjointed. It's difficult to believe the idea of the Emma jotting down her experiences during such intense moments, especially when considering the logistical challenges she would have faced - like writing in pitch dark.

Dispite this I found it a quick easy read and it was very enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

This is a fantastic locked room type mystery/thriller set in a high-end resort on remote island. My favorite kind of read leading up to the summer! I loved everything about this

1.5 rounded up.
This one just didn’t work for me. If my pet peeves aren't the same as yours, you may enjoy it.

Energy: Precarious. Eager. Farcical.
Scene: 🌎 Luxury complex on a private island in an undisclosed location
Perspective: We read a story based on journal entries from a 32-year-old assistant who attended the opening of an exclusive luxury hotel alongside several celebrities. We know the assistant didn’t survive the trip, and the release of their journal is meant to quell rumours of what happened.

🐺 Growls: Overly drawn-out, dull action. Interrupting the suspense with random thoughts. Stuffing the entire premise and twists in a rushed, convoluted epilogue with unresolved subplots.
🐕 Howls: Emma and her tedious, repetitive inner monologues.
🐩 Tail Wags: Clear introduction to all the characters and their backgrounds.

🤔 Random Thoughts:
Over-the-top camp can be fun, but this was a struggle-chugging rush to the frantic ending with most of the story invested in Emma repeating herself.

Speaking of Emma…I’m sure she’s meant to be immature and lacking self-identity, but she read like a whiny 13-year old. So, the steamy insta-love tropes felt more like middle school fantasizing across the cafeteria. The kind where she’s misinterpreting every glance as romantic interest.

The action scenes kept getting interuppted with Emma's inner monologue. So random too, like her gushing over her parents. It knocked me out of the story enough that I just wanted everyone dead so we could be done with these characters. 😅

The story is present-tense first person. I guess Emma was carrying around her journal and writing everything that happened…asking the bad guy to pause while she writes about her sheer terror. While in the pool. Underwater. Unfortunately, that’s how I kept picturing it 🫠

----
🎬 Tale-Telling: Simplistic, almost middle-grade style.
🤓 Reader Role: Emma tells us her thoughts about everything happening.
🗺️ World-Building: Under-described (‘the pool’, ‘the bar’, ‘the villa’). The author had a specific layout in mind relevant to the survival scenes, and I had mentally placed everything differently. A little map/layout at the start would have helped.
🔥 Fuel: What happened on the island? How did Emma die? Will Emma’s steamy fantasies about her famous co-travellers come true? Once the action starts, will they survive? Who is trying to kill them, and why?
📖 Cred: Over-the-top camp
🚙 Journey: Someone starts telling you a crazy story about their vacation, and they’re obviously exaggerating, but when you try to excuse yourself, they talk faster and louder.

Mood Reading Match-Up:
-Bottles at the bar. Distant pool waves. Tropical sun. Soft linen. Airy rooms. Smell of death. Blood. Gunshots. Screaming.
-Escape, isolated, killer on the loose survival slasher
-Rich people behaving badly, starstruck, culty tropes

Content Heads-Up: Fire/fire injury (brief, off-page). Infidelity (brief, off page). Suicide (graphic on page). Sexual content (consenting). Grooming (brief, off page). Death, blood, body horror, gore. Gun violence, mass shootings.

Rep: Lesbian. Bisexual. Heterosexual. Cisgender. White and Black British and American. Diverse skin colours.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from BooksGoSocial and NetGalley

My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

The cover of this one instantly drew me in. Vacation thriller plus rich people dramas? Count me in. I was craving a vacation thriller and something super fast paced which this book lived up to. I flew through this book and had no idea who the mastermind was. The last line of the epilogue???? Mind completely blown. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I love a good vacation thriller and this one did not disappoint! A deliciously twisted read.

Emma is invited to an exclusive luxurious resort, after her boss had to cancel her invite last minute. Emma isn't just excited for the once in a lifetime opportunity at the amazing resort. She is also thrilled to have to chance to write a tell-all article about the über rich and famous guests. However, the long weekend vacation is not the blissful getaway Emma imagined. The weekend quickly turn into a nightmarish ordeal. Emma is determined to use her journalist skills to figure out what is happening. But will she be able to figure everything out before she is caught as the journalist? Or will Emma become a victim?

I do not want to say too much more about the plot as things turn crazy pretty quickly and it is best to go in blind. It is a really quick and easy read. I loved all the imagery and details about the beautiful resort! The plot and character development was exceptional. I could not wait to see where the novel was heading - and it did indeed take many surprise turns!

The ending was CRAZY. It is definitely going to be on my mind for a while....I was kept guessing "whodunit" until the epilogue, which is rare for a book! Every time I thought I had it figured out, I had a new suspect in mind.

This was my first read by SM Thomas and definitely not my last!

Thank you BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept my interest, it was fast paced and thought it would have the typical 'whodunit' ending. About 75% in it got a little much for my liking and I really didn't care for the ending.

I love a good twisty thriller!
This book was a pretty easy and quick read, and I enjoyed the take of a fancy vacation gone wrong. Put me in the summer feels, which is definitely where I’m at right now!
I liked Emma for the most part, much different than the vapid, rich and famous she was pretending to be a part of. Nothing turned out the way Emma wanted it, but that’s the joy of a thriller

Thank you to NetGalley and S.M. Thomas for this ARC of Long Weekend!

Thank goodness for the epilogue or I would have torn my hair out with frustration at the apparent end of this terrific “locked room” mystery. The author created a situation and characters designed to misdirect the reader and this, combined with their knack for brining context to life, makes for a fast paced, gripping read. Such a clever ending and leaving it unresolved on the face of it was unusual and worked really well.

Definitely recommend this mystery plot with an intriguing beginning and ending that’s quite different from the average thriller. It’s full of suspense, surprising twists and good character development.
The epilogue ties everything together and has a perfect, shocking twist!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fast paced thriller with a completely unexpected twist. That being said, i didn’t really connect with any of the characters. It started out with a good premise but became chaotic and bogged down as the story progressed. On a positive note, I did read it in one day! .

Thank you to AR Hurne Publishing and NetGalley for the EARC.

This style of books has been done before many times. Written in many different styles, taking place in a lot of different places and with a lot of different styles of disappearing.

But considering all that this book was still a breath of fresh air. The suspense was still suspensing. I was still trying to guess who the bad guy was.
This book still kept me guessing through out the whole book. So well written.

I read this book in 4 hours. I did not move. I set myself up with snacks and water and then was not able to leave. It sucked me right in. Kept its claws in me until I had finished it.

A quick read but absolutely worth it.

You follow Emma. Who has been stuck in her job working for her boss Rebecca. Rebecca doesn’t want to give her a raise but will gift her an exclusive getaway at a richy rich brand new luxury getaway.

Emma plans on luxury pampering, drinks with rich people, and an exclusive expose where she would give away all the secrets of the rich.

The weekend does not go as Emma had planned.

Make sure to grab the book to find out what happens. You won’t be disappointed.

"Long Weekend" follows Emma, a struggling journalist, who receives an exclusive invitation to the grand opening of a luxurious island resort. Tasked with writing an article about the elite guests by her boss, Emma sees an opportunity to expose the excesses of the wealthy. However, as she delves deeper into the secrets of the guests, Emma uncovers a sinister plot lurking beneath the surface. Caught in a web of power and deception, Emma must navigate dangerous waters to uncover the truth before she becomes the next victim of this twisted game.

"Long Weekend" grips readers from the very first page and doesn't let go until the shocking conclusion. From its captivating opening, the novel sets a tone of suspense and intrigue that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.

The protagonist, Emma, is a compelling character whose journey exposes the stark divide between social classes. Readers will quickly become invested in her quest for the truth and will empathize with her struggles as she navigates the treacherous waters of the resort. The vivid descriptions of the setting immerse readers in the opulence of the resort, adding depth and atmosphere to the story.

While the story starts from page one and immediately draws readers in, it doesn't sacrifice character development or plot complexity. Instead, it expertly balances tension and intrigue, keeping readers guessing until the very end. However, some repetitive elements, such as reminders of Emma's socioeconomic status, can be a bit distracting at times.

Overall, "Long Weekend" is a gripping thriller that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. With its intriguing plot, well-developed characters, and unexpected twists, it's a book that's hard to put down. Whether you're a seasoned mystery enthusiast or simply looking for a compelling read, "Long Weekend" delivers an exhilarating experience that will leave you eagerly turning pages until the very end.

I really enjoyed this type of thriller novel, it had everything that I wanted from the description. The characters were everything that I was looking for and thought the overall story worked with them. I was engaged with the story and loved how this had me on the edge of my seat. SM Thomas has a great overall feel and I enjoyed the writing from this book.

I think this is a decent beach read. I did put it down at the 30% mark. There was not much happening that kept me interested.

This was a quick popcorn thriller, with some good twists, and I read it quickly, but couldn’t seem to get into the plot. I think that because I didn’t care about the main character I had trouble caring overall. But it did have a good twist. Fun setting and premise, just didn’t wow me.