This book was pretty good, but still had some flaws and issues. The synopsis was good, but the overall execution of this book was not the best. I think the book had choppy timing and some things were not fully finished and finalized.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

The author was incredible at describing locations and how someone is feeling, however this book fell a little short for me with the barely fleshed out side characters

Rounded up to 3.5 stars

Chloe is going on a family vacation to Mykonos to prove to everyone that she is deeply in love with her husband, Scott so that when he is killed the next week, she won’t become suspect #1. Don’t worry though, her husband is a despicable human, and her extended family is… not the greatest, so you want him to die. 

I grabbed this ARC from NetGalley based on the cover, the title, and the promise of a fun beach read. It definitely is a fun beach read, and it held some pleasant surprises, so let’s dig in.

At first, I felt a little out of sorts with this story because it seemed to take forever for Chloe to reveal why she wanted her husband dead. I get that you can’t info dump, but this seems like a pretty major detail. He seems like a lazy, annoying, unhelpful lout, which okay, sucks, but a divorce would work just fine, no? When the reason is finally revealed, it makes sense, but then I was wondering why Chloe ever married him, which is again revealed later. It’s not a huge deal, but I think the pacing would improve if those curiosity seeds (which do compel us to keep reading) were cleared up a bit sooner.

There were several times where Bonner dropped the names of characters without telling us who the eff they are. In chapter 1 she mentions “Jack” but it isn’t until chapter 8 that he is definitely attached to a character. Most of the other characters have been introduced by then, so you can infer who he must be, but that is a long time to wait. She does the same thing with several other characters throughout, and it is a bit disorienting.
There were a few reveals that were really fun, and added new layers to the readers’ understanding of the motivations and reasons for certain plot points. A plot to kill a husband on vacation could be terribly basic, but I liked how the backstories and the plan itself made the entire story more of a page-turner than just a fun ride (which it still was).

There were definitely a lot of clues dropped that I guessed were misdirects or red herrings right away. A few of the major motivations and items attributed to the wrong characters were obvious to me, but at the end of the day I still found the story compelling. I still wanted to know exactly how it would turn out. So it didn’t really matter. And Bonner threw enough extra complications in to make it interesting.

There are several POV switches throughout the book, which I didn’t expect based on the description, but I think they were a wise choice by the author. Switching between Tori (sister-in-law), and Grace (concierge), builds up the suspense as we get a realization from one character and then are whisked to another before we get any resolution.

I particularly enjoyed Tori and Grace’s POV—they provided some unexpected characterization moments, and I liked the way Bonner had them all thinking stuff behind the other’s back that would then be addressed in the next POV. 

I liked the ending, but it did feel a bit rushed. I also wanted a bit more of an explanation as to why the murderer took the risk to do what they did on vacation, and with the knowledge that the person they were trying to protect would most definitely become a suspect. 

Some of the writing could use a bit of a tidy-up. There were several instances of the same phrase being used within the same paragraph, as well as a reliance on some cliche phrases (stared daggers, for example), and one transition that I almost couldn’t believe survived an editor, “Anyhow back to the here and now.” If you’re going to the past and back again, you better have a reason for it, and that reason better give you a damn good transition. And this is a personal pet peeve, and definitely is not a big deal, but she mentions the “bougainvillea that gives the villa its name” about 3 times.

Overall, though, this was an enjoyable read. It kept me turning the pages, was light and amusing (not quite funny, but definitely amusing), and is British, which is just always more fun, ain’t it?

If you’re looking for a beach read that delivers a bit more than the premise promises, pick this one up. It’s light enough to take on vacation but layered enough to keep you reading and working on that tan. 

On another note: if anyone knows how to get ahold of Bonner, I’d love to bug her about endorsing my upcoming release, Alibi by Accident. It’s a crass cozy mystery romp set partially in Mykonos so… I think she might enjoy it.

Another fun summer read from Sarah Bonner. Absolutely a must read author for me. Always guaranteed binge read, full of laughs and shocking twists. I powered through this one, loving this story of 2 rich and powerful families on a Greek Island holiday where things don’t exactly go to plan.

Chloe is fed up with her husband Scott and decides that the only way to get away from him is to kill him. She has it all worked out. So she plans a big family holiday to act as her alibi for when he is dead, But of course nothing works out the way you hope it will which leads to a hilarious series of events keeping them all on their toes.

These people were all quite awful and it was so fun seeing them all wondering what in earth is happening. If you love a good popcorn thriller grab this one and have some fun with it.

Thanks so much to Boldwood Books on NetGalley for my early copy to read. Publishes on February 27th.

Synopsis:

Chloe has meticulously planned her husband Scott's murder, but to avoid suspicion, she must first craft the perfect alibi. Her plan? A lavish family getaway to a luxury villa in Mykonos, playing the devoted wife.

But cracks appear as soon as they arrive. Family tensions flare, Scott's sister Tori grows suspicious, and the ever-watchful villa concierge, Grace, seems to see too much.

Review:
A. Twists and Suspense
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Consistently suspenseful, with clever and satisfying twists.

B. Atmosphere and Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐: Good atmosphere, writing was solid but lacked emotional or suspenseful depth.

C. Character Development
⭐⭐⭐: Decent character development; some characters stood out.

D. Pacing and Engagement
⭐⭐⭐: Pacing was decent, with a few engaging moments.

E. Mystery Resolution
⭐⭐⭐: The resolution made sense but wasn’t particularly satisfying.
P.S. There is a plot hole for me (like how did even Tori knows!?)

F. Emotional Impact
⭐⭐: Minimal emotional engagement; few memorable moments.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC (epub)!

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
If you’ve read Sarah bonner’s other book - How to Slay at Work - you’ll enjoy this, but it’s important to note that although the titles are similar this is not related. This is a decent beach read - I guessed two of the main reveals but there’s enough twists and turns in the midst and at the finale to keep even a savvy reader happy and satisfied.

Rating: 3.4/5

From the title and accompanying synopsis, I had anticipated "How to Slay on Holiday" centering around a serial-killing strong female character à la Villanelle or Sweetpea. However, although this novel is clearly derived from that sphere of influence (which is acknowledged by references in the book to both of these individuals), author, Sarah Bonner, takes this story down a slightly different track.

Given that it is revealed at the start of proceedings, it isn't really much of a spoiler to say that the tale begins with Chloe planning to end the days of her bullying husband. This seems to establish a fairly basic premise for the subsequent plot development, but matters are about to become more complicated. This aspect is well executed and I like the way Sarah Bonner gradually incorporates further elements of the backstory to allow the narrative to develop in a more unexpected fashion. There are numerous twists along the way, which could be described as either clever, convoluted, convenient or possibly even contrived, depending upon your personal viewpoint, but it does provide for an enjoyable romp.

The marketing blurb suggests that this book would appeal to fans of Katy Brent or Julie Mae Cohen and that claim is easy to appreciate. Personally, I don't think this quite matches the sharp-witted edginess of Katy Brent's work, but I prefer it to the excessive chick-lit bias of Julie Mae Cohen's books. Overall, a good fun read and I dare say I will be back for more from Sarah Bonner.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

First off- WHAT?!?! I love a thriller that completely knocks me on my ass with the ending. as someone who reads a lot of the same premise a lot, it’s refreshing to get completely bamboozled by the ending.

How to Slay on Holiday is a story about 2 dangerous families and one dead husband. But the question is, who did it? The story keeps the reader enthralled with what was unfolding before you, and keeps you second guessing everything and everyone.

4 stars!!! Thank you netgalley for the ARC

I read this book soooo fast! It had me gripped until the last page.
I didn't see the twists coming and I could not figure what was going to happen next.
Tori is my favourite character, she was razor sharp and one of the funniest characters. I don't want to give spoilers, but I did not expect who the third perspective was going to be.
It only was not a 5 star for me, because the end felt a bit rushed and I would have loved the book to be a bit longer. Still an amazing thriller though and highly recommend.

I absolutely loved all the twists and turns this book had. It keeps you guessing until the very end! I thought it would be good for some light reading but before I knew it my whole day was gone. I literally could not put it down!

This was a funny book. Chloe Cooper plans a Greek Villa vacation for her family and her husband's family. She needs to make it look like they are in love before the hitman kills her husband the next week. Turns out all the men in these families are douche bags. Who else wanted Scott dead and who actually killed him?? Funny!

I laughed and enjoyed this fast paced thriller filled with dark humor, exquisite cuisine, and family drama. Chloe Cooper has planned a perfect family holiday in a villa in Mykonos to show what a loving wife she is. In reality she has planned to eliminate her husband Scott and has the perfect alibi.

Chloe’s description of going through air plane security with her clueless husband had me laughing as I too am a planner.

Someone else has another plan for the holiday. This kept me guessing until the end of who done it.

This is my first book by this author and I will be looking for more as this was a binge read of pure delight.

Awesome book!! Great author! Will be looking for more!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are very few guarantees in life, but one is that if Sarah Bonner writes a book, I'm going to read it. Slick, sun-soaked and scandalous, How to Slay on Holiday is an unmissable wild ride.

This book is an example of a GREAT concept with so-so execution. Chloe’s husband Scott is the worst, so naturally she has arranged to have him ~taken care of~ (they’re rich and fancy so gotta speak the lingo okay?). To ensure no one suspects her involvement in his death, she has arranged a family holiday in Mykonos for the week before, with plans to put on a “I’m so in love” show to throw everyone off the scent the week before everything is scheduled to take place. The only problem is that Scott gets killed early, while still on holiday, and Chloe is a prime suspect.

This book features a cast of hateable characters, fun descriptions of ~rich people things~, and minor twists that can be spotted from a mile away. Despite it being thoroughly predictable I still enjoyed it - 2.75* rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC!

I thought this book was really funny. It's a relatable book nowadays with scandals and marriage. I really liked the effot and writitng style the author put behind the book.

Whoa what a wild ride! So much intrigue in this twisty plot. Did not see the end coming until the last page. Fabulous. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Chloe has arranged a vacation for her entire family at an exclusive Greek resort. It isn't for relaxation or bonding, however. Instead, it's to create the lasting impression that she and her husband Scott were madly in love. That's what she needs everyone to believe because she has planned for Scott to be murdered when they return home. Chloe and Scott come from two different but powerful crime families. Chloe has brought along her parents as well as Scott's parents and their siblings with their significant others. No one really likes or trusts anyone else. At least the concierge, Grace, who is on site at the resort, is helpful, since she works for the company Chloe has hired to eliminate Scott. This comes in handy when there is an unexpected death that needs to be cleaned up and made to go away so that Chloe's careful plan doesn't get exposed.

The story was told from the points of view of Chloe, Scott's sister Tori, and Grace. It was interesting to get the various points of view and to see the secrets each woman was hiding from the others. It was also fun to try to work out who was responsible for the death, since they each assumed it was one of the others. It was hard at times to keep everyone straight, as there were plenty of siblings and in-laws running around. I enjoyed the twists and turns and was surprised by the final reveal of who was really pulling the strings in the background.

You’d kill for a holiday like this one…
Chloe has spent months planning the murder of her husband, Scott. Everything is ready, but first she must create the perfect alibi to avoid any suggestion of her involvement in his death. And what better way to avoid suspicion than playing the loved-up wife on an extravagant holiday with their extended families?! Great read! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! It had great suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, action, fantastic characters, funny and some wild twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This was the last book of the year I read and ABSOLUTELY loved it. it got me out of my reading slump, loved the concept and who couldn't relate lol
Full of twists and loved the whole location setting too.