This is the first book I’ve read by Nikki Smith and having read the synopsis, thought it would be right up my street. I was not left disappointed!

This is a destination thriller set in the beautiful setting of Bali. The story is based on a friendship of two couples and what happens when one half moves to Bali and the other joins them for a holiday, it starts to become very clear that their friendship is far from perfect. Each chapter is from one of the friend’s perspectives, which I particularly enjoyed. And the chapters were short, which worked well.

What I loved about this book was that everybody seemed to be harbouring a secret and I was gripped trying to find out what each one was! And what tied in with what and how.

This was an overall easy read, that kept me gripped throughout. I thought the ending was good and hardly guessed any of the outcomes, which is always a bonus for me.

I’d definitely like to read more from this author and give this a solid 4 stars. It would make for the ideal holiday read!

Thank you to Penguin General and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced readers copy of this book.

Nikki Smith is the quenn of destination thrillers! In her latest novel, They Had It Coming, she takes us off to Bali where friends reunited, cracks behind to show and secrets threaten to surface. I'm not going to lie, she had me looking up flights to all sorts of sunny places while I was reading, hence the title of queen!

They Had It Coming is a very fun, fast paced and gripping thriller/mystery which would make for an ideal holiday read this summer! Smith shows us just how strain friendships can become against a stunning Balinese backdrop. I really enjoyed reading this one and it was exactly what I was after at the time I picked it up! This is my second time reading one of Nikki's book and they're such a treat! Can't wait to see where she takes us next!

They Had It Coming drew me in straight away. It was full of suspense, drama, secrets, lies, and betrayal. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I liked Sophie and Layla. They were both interesting, charismatic, and complex. I struggled a bit with Nate and Jude. They weren't very likable. Both of them were combative and selfish. It made the story more interesting, though.

Nikki's writes beautifully, setting the scene for Bali well. It was very atmospheric and descriptive. I almost felt like I was there.
This is the first book I've read from Nikki Smith, and I'm definitely interested in reading more.

The twists and turns were great, I didn't see them coming. The last twist was very clever, and it tied everything together well.

I think fans of Adele Parks, Ruth Ware, and JP Delaney will enjoy They Had It Coming.

I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin General UK, and Nikki Smith for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Beach Party was my first rendezvous with Smith, which I enjoyed but for the use of the present-tense narrative.

It didn't put me off reading another of her books, but I have the same words for this: enjoyable but for the present-tense narrative, which adds nothing and takes away a lot.

However, it's a tense thriller about four friends of longstanding, none of whom I particularly liked…but I think that was the intention. Of course, it's not long before you realise that the word 'friends' has to be used somewhat loosely. And then there's the intrigue of an event that occurred fifteen years previously that weaves in and out of the story, making you wonder what on earth it has to do with anything: until the very end. Nicely done.

Gripping, well-written and entertaining. But let’s ditch that present-tense narrative, shall we?

A Gripping Tale
This story had an excellent twisty plot. It kept me guessing until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks for letting me read and review it!

I really enjoyed this fast paced and twisty thriller. I was quickly transported to Bali and intrigued by the 4 main characters. This is the perfect beach read, and one that I’d definitely recommend.

Great entertainment that feels like you're on a rollercoaster, never certain whose side I'm on. Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie—two couples bound by years of friendship—find their dynamic unraveling when Nate and Layla make a sudden move to Bali. Their friends soon follow for a holiday escape, but paradise isn't as perfect as it seems. As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, the cracks in their relationships deepen.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced, twisty thriller. The Bali setting is gorgeous and so immersive and offers the ideal backdrop to contrast with the tension between the characters. The story is told from 4 different POV and keeps you questioning everyone’s motives. Each character is deeply flawed, making it hard to fully root for—or against—anyone. The first half was a slow build, filled with suspense and intrigue, and then the second half delivered twist after twist, culminating in a breathless and satisfying ending.

A compelling read with great atmosphere and character depth. Perfect for summer reading!

Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie. They've been a four for as long as they can fancy dinners, dancing 'til dawn. Even living and working together. So when Nate and Layla suddenly quit their lives and move to Bali, with its white sands and exotic beach clubs, Jude and Sophie are their first visitors. Anything to escape their life in London. But as the two couples reunite, cracks begin to show. Which is hardly surprising; they've been lying to each other for years. And now, it's time for revenge.

A quick thriller set in Bali . It’s set with a group of friends who are hiding secrets .

Told from my multiple perspectives.

Who is telling the truth?

Is anyone safe?

Nate, Layla, Jude and Sophie were best friends and each shared a close-knit bond. After Nate and Layla relocate to Bali, for a basically a better life, Jude and Sophie stay in London. After a burglary in their London flat, Jude and Sophie decide to take 3 months off and spend some time in Bali with their friends. However unresolved issues and tensions return when the foursome are all back together.

Each person is hiding something, and as events take a drastic turn, one by one secrets are revealed. Some of the twists and reveals, I did not see coming making for a really enthralling read.

This is a cracking read that totally had me hooked. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

5 stars.

The pacing was off with this one but even then I still couldn't wait to figure out everyone's secrets.

I love a good summer destination thriller, and have to say the book cover on this one was brilliant and really drew me towards it.
The premise is that Nate and Jude are best friends, forging their careers with the same company. Then Nate suddenly decides to leave the company and start a new business venture with his wife, Layla, on the beautiful island of Bali. Jude stays with the company, but starts to have job problems. One evening, he returns home with his wife Sophie to find that they have been burgled. Sophie is completely traumatised by the burglary, and as Jude wants to get away from the office, he decides to take some time away from work and visit Nate and Layla in Bali with Sophie.
However, both couples have long-held secrets which they are concealing from each other, and in the heat of the Bali sun, those secrets come to light.
The first half of the book sets the scene, and while the setting is stunning, it was too slow for me, and I wanted to flick forward through the pages. The second half of the book brought multiple reveals, and although there were plenty of twists and turns, it could definitely have been more thrilling. The ending also could have been more dramatic.
So a disappointing 3 stars from me as I like Nikki Smith. It won’t stop me reading more from this talented author.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Penguin and Nikki Smith for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

A great beach read. Told from multiple points of view makes for a real page turner. All the characters are secretive with flaws. But they are likeable in the main!
This is a definite beach read so go buy us my advice!

Another fab read from Nikki. I found this one really gripping and I loved the short chapters. I flew through this book and really enjoyed how fast paced it was. Really looking forward to reading more books from Nikki.

Sun, secrets, and simmering revenge - THEY HAD IT COMING is a fabulously twisty destination thriller that proves paradise can be anything but peaceful.

Set against the lush, Instagram-perfect backdrop of Bali, Nikki Smith serves up a sharply observed tale of two couples whose friendship has always been more complicated than it appears. When Nate and Layla ditch their high-powered London lives for a dream escape, Jude and Sophie are quick to follow - only to find the cracks in their carefully curated friendships starting to widen.

As layers of long-held lies and betrayals unravel, Smith masterfully ratchets up the tension. This isn’t just a beach read - it’s a psychological powder keg wrapped in sunshine and suspicion. The shifting perspectives keep you guessing, and the pacing is perfectly taut, leading to a finale that’s as satisfying as it is shocking.

A smart, suspenseful look at envy, entitlement, and the darkness that can thrive even in the most beautiful places.

This is the perfect holiday thriller
Based in Bali
Flashbacks
Relatable characters
Full of twists and turns

Excellent twisty storyline.
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

Long-term friendships and hidden jealousy, secrets and issues - what could possibly go wrong? Love this read it kept me hooked. The setting was great and the background stories and it really keeps you guessing. Another great book from Nikki Smith can’t wait for the next one

I loved this book and wpuld definitely recommend for a fabulous beah read/psychological thriller. Beautifully set in Bali, a group of friends reunite for a holiday, but everyone has their secrets. A fabulous cosy mystery, highly recommended xx

A good book to take on holidays for a poolside or beach read. Not hugely original but entertaining. Easy read for when you don't want anything heavy!