
The Private Jet
by Sarah Goodwin
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Pub Date Feb 13 2025 | Archive Date Feb 18 2025
Avon Books UK | Avon
Description
In the dazzling lights of Thailand, socialite Lila Wilde is set for the night of her life. When her fame-hungry DJ boyfriend proposes at an exclusive nightclub, Lila makes a spur-of-the-moment decision: she invites a mix of celebrities, influencers, and near-strangers to keep the party going back at her luxurious villa — just a short flight over the lush Thai jungle. Champagne flows, music pulses, and the vibe on her private jet is nothing short of euphoric.
THE HARDER YOU FALL.But when disaster strikes mid-flight, the dream turns into a nightmare and the group are stranded in an unforgiving jungle, far from the world of luxury they know. What begins as a desperate fight for survival quickly descends into something darker. Secrets are exposed and power dynamics shift, as the stranded passengers begin to realize the greatest threat might not be the jungle — but each other.
Some parties are unforgettable…this one might be deadly.–––––––––––––––––
Readers LOVE Sarah Goodwin:‘Wow! This just got under my skin from the start and I couldn't put it down! I flew through it in a day and loved every second’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Suspense, twists, deceit… I had my heart in my mouth the whole time’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘IT WAS SO GOOD’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Utterly unputdownable… You’re going to love every single twisty page!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘INTENSE… My heart was pounding’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I started this book today and finished it in one sitting. I literally could not put it down’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Definitely a five-star read. I couldn't put this one down. It never failed to keep me on the edge of my seat… Such a great ending too!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow! I read this way too quickly, I really didn't want it to end… Amazing… Loved it!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘You'll be on the edge of your seat, racing to finish this book… I read this book one afternoon. I simply could not put it down. I cannot wait until a friend reads this book because I want to discuss it… Get a copy now!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9780008732806 |
PRICE | £2.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 384 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

Oh wow what a read that was!
I wasn't sure to start with but once we got to the trip on the jet i just couldn't read it fast enough.
We certainly find out about the true character of a number of people and the horror of it all, oh my goodness.
Its difficult to write this review without giving to much away but this is the best thing i have read for a while.
Fabulous writing from Sarah Goodwin and what a great movie this would make.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

The Private Jet is a highly engaging novel that explores themes of survival and the transformative power of adversity. The story follows Lila, the privileged daughter of a rock star musician, who lives a life of luxury and excess. After a night out in Thailand, she decides to continue the party at her family's secluded mansion in the jungle, just a short flight away on her father’s private jet.
However, disaster strikes when the plane crashes during a storm, thrusting Lila and the other survivors into a desperate fight for survival. The author does an excellent job of crafting well-drawn, dynamic characters whose development keeps readers captivated as the plot unfolds. The tension steadily builds as their desperation grows, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.
With its vivid descriptions and intense narrative, the novel evokes echoes of Lord of the Flies and The Beach, delivering a gripping and thought-provoking read. The Private Jet is a must-read for fans of survival stories and character-driven drama.

A private plane full of party-goers crashes in the jungles of Thailand and the passengers struggle to survive with nothing more than they brought for a nightclub. Well, what could go wrong? So, you already know this will be a catastrophe even though the survivors include two celebrities who have made their fame via wilderness/survivalist shows. The plane belongs to Lila Wilde, a young socialite with an infamous musician father and more money than she knows what to do with. She gets so wrapped up in enjoying her new engagement that she invites a bunch of people she barely knows or doesn’t know at all to come party at her family’s property just a plane ride away. And that’s when disaster strikes.
The number of survivors quickly dwindles and that’s not a surprise because the story is told partially in the present time and partially in the past as we read about their time in the jungle. In the present, Lila’s at an airport, watching an old interview she gave a few years back when she was fresh out of the jungle, so we know she survives. It’s jarring to see her current state of mind compared to how she was before and as the disaster occurred. To say it changed her is a gross understatement. I found the descriptions of the jungle and its dangers pretty accurate based on my zero knowledge of the Thai wilderness. But it seems on point – animals, treacherous terrain, killer bacteria, poisonous plants, weather exposure, etc.
The celebrities act as you’d expect, treating the ‘normals’ like dirt, even though the non-famous have a much better grasp on reality. Alliances form and break instead of everyone working together and you wonder how anyone will possibly get out of there safely. Like all this author’s works, it was fast-paced and entertaining, and I found myself quickly immersed in the book and reading most of it in one sitting. You may find yourself disgusted with Lila at first but as the story builds, your opinion might well change. And you’ll never be as thankful to be safe and sound reading about characters constantly on the brink of death!

I devoured this book it had suspense, twists and deceit! I loved the setting in Thailand. I couldn't put it down! I flew through it in a day and loved every second!
This was a five star read it was unputdownable and I was racing to finish it as I was dying to see how it would play out!
A must read for 2025!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

The plot of The Private Jet is absolutely insane! What a rollercoaster this was -I couldn't put it down.

Rating: 4.2/5
Sarah Goodwin is both developing and maturing as a writer. This is the fifth of her books that I have read and it is comfortably the most accomplished. In each of the first three I read, I was entertained and found elements of the writing to be genuinely impressive. However, similar traits were evident in all of the books that meant that they stopped short of realising their full potential. In her novel prior to this one, "The Island", there were clear signs of the author beginning to address some of the shortcomings and, with this latest offering, she has taken another significant stride forwards.
Although there are echoes of "Lord of the Flies" and Alex Garland's "The Beach",which are essentially down to the setting, "The Private Jet" is very much its own novel rather than simply a facsimile. In what essentially becomes a "survival against the odds" story, the author makes valid observations of human nature and how social status and codes relating to moral behaviour can alter and/or break down under a given set of circumstances.
I have been critical of Sarah Goodwin previously for failing to maintain a solid narrative standard throught the novel. In my first three experiences of her work, the opening half of the story was gripping and made for compelling reading, before losing its way in the latter half. There is no such issue here. The author still manages to grab the audience's attention in the earlier stages, but, if anything, draws the reader in still further as the story develops. She achieves this through admirable description of the setting and the challenges facing the protagonists, but also through sound characterisation, which really involves you in the struggles and challenges facing the group. The depiction of the first person narrator, Lila, is particularly worthy of praise. Lila is unlikely to endear herself to many readers in the early chapters - she is little more than a dislikeable, spoiled brat. However, gradually, the author allows her to metamorphosize into a character that the audience can sympathise with and warm to. So, rather than thinking, "She derves everything she gets", the reader is more likely to be siding with her in her battle for survival.
Another sign of the growing maturity of the writer is that, rather just being an enthralling adventure thriller, this novel also manages to deliver moments of genuine poignancy. "The Private Jet" is Sarah Goodwin's most accomplished, most rounded and filmic novel to date and I am looking forward to coming back for more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

"The Private Jet" by Sarah Goodwin is an intense story of survival played out against a vast, unforgiving jungle. Having read one of Sarah Goodwin's books before, I knew I was in for one hell of a ride. And boy, a wild ride it was! I’ll never look at a flight the same way after reading this book.
Told in the first-person point of view and alternating between timelines, the story follows Lila Wilde, a lifestyle influencer and daughter of a famous rock star. Spoiled and accustomed to luxury, Lila travels to Thailand with her wannabe DJ boyfriend, Bryce, for a vacation. When he proposes in a nightclub - far from the romantic setting she imagined - Lila impulsively invites a mix of celebrities and strangers to her father’s villa, only a short flight away.
While flying on her father's private plane, it encounters rough conditions and crashes in the Thai jungle, with only a few survivors left. They must face venomous snakes and countless dangers while waiting for a rescue that might never come. Pretty soon, divisions arise between the "haves" (the rich and famous) and the "have-nots" (the common people), forcing Lila to choose a side. Thus begins a gripping tale of survival where every person is for themselves, and only the strongest have a chance of making it out alive.
Though the start is a bit slow, it lays the groundwork for the nail-biting tension that follows. The story has "Lord of the Flies" vibes and was a quick, enjoyable read. The blurb was a bit misleading - I thought it would be about a vacation gone wrong aboard a plane - but it turned out to be more of a survival game, and just as compelling. I found the novel addictive, largely because the characters are so human, with believable strengths and flaws. I was so emotionally invested I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out who would survive.
The true nature of people is revealed in times of danger, as was the case here. As resources dwindled, the characters' real personalities came to light, not a pretty sight. Lila transformed from a spoiled and spineless heiress into a capable woman, and I grew to like her. In contrast, Bryce's true colors emerge during the crisis, rendering him utterly despicable. While it’s tempting to judge Lila for some of her actions - or inaction - we can’t truly know how we’d react in similar situations.
One aspect I didn’t love was the overuse of drugs and drinking, which led to several reckless decisions. The portrayal of all wealthy characters as drug users felt a bit stereotypical, and Lila’s casual attitude toward certain substances might send the wrong message. I was especially irritated by the scene where a character gave his girlfriend a spiked drink without her knowledge; instead of confronting him, she chose to avoid a fuss, which felt disappointing.
The author expertly builds tension and atmosphere throughout the book. The vivid descriptions make the setting come alive, making the story feel frighteningly real. I felt like I was right there with the characters, foraging for food and struggling to survive against the elements.
On the surface, this is a thrilling survival story, but at its core, it explores how far people will go to survive and how quickly they can lose their humanity. Another takeaway is the reminder not to take anything for granted. I loved the book and highly recommend it to fans of suspense and survival tales. The pages couldn’t turn fast enough to keep up with the engrossing plot!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Takimg a private plane and her friends to her her fathers luxury home Lila Wilde finds herself struggling to survive in a Thai jungle.
The Plane has crashed and spoiled little rich girl has a massive test to see just how strong she is and what she is willing to do..
This is a glitzy read and really not that serious of a book. it is a book to enjoy for a few hours and that is exactly what I did. it did get a little hairy at times and I wondered just how Lila would cope.
an enjoyable read although a little 'scruffy' at times..

Animal Farm with a rich kids twist! This book will have you hooked from the beginning to the end!
Lila has everything at her fingertips; endless cash to spend, luxury condo, multiple houses to party in; all thanks to her very famous dad. After a fun raging night out, Lila finds herself impulsively inviting a number of guests from the bar onto her dad's private jet to one of his houses. Impulsive night out soon turns into a nightmare of a plane crash. Left stranded in an isolated jungle. Some survived the crash, but how many will survive the jungle?

This whole book could be irrelevant if people just didn't do drugs. For some reason, I thought the setting was stuck on a plane itself, so this was an entirely different book than what I got from the blurb. A bunch of people are high and drunk in Thailand and decide to take Lila's dad's jet to their house. It crashes. In the jungle without a flight plan. All these people are just trying to survive. I ended up skimming most of it when they crashed in the jungle. Was not exciting for me, but that doesn't mean it's not a good book.

Imagine being plucked from obscurity by Lila Wilde, a famous influencer and rock star royalty, to join her exclusive entourage on a private jet. Wilde, true to her larger-than-life persona, lives up to her namesake with an invitation to continue the party at her opulent mansion in Thailand. Over 30 people, caught up in the glamour and allure, eagerly join the spontaneous adventure.
But the dream quickly morphs into a nightmare when the private jet crashes in the heart of an unforgiving jungle. Stranded, disoriented, and with no way of knowing if rescue will ever come, the group faces the terrifying reality of survival. The black box is likely miles away, and so are their chances of salvation.
Sarah Goodwin’s The Private Jet is a masterclass in tension as she methodically ratchets up the fear. The jungle itself becomes an antagonist, with every conceivable terror—diseases, dehydration, dangerous wildlife, and even poachers—lurking in the shadows. With no one and nothing to trust, the survivors must navigate a perilous balance between cooperation and self-preservation, and the question remains: how many will make it out alive?
This thriller had me absolutely hooked from start to finish. Goodwin’s vivid descriptions and relentless pacing kept me on edge the entire way. My only critique? The most sinister character didn’t quite get the comeuppance they deserved. But that’s a minor qualm in an otherwise electrifying read.
If you’re ready for a pulse-pounding tale of survival, betrayal, and the primal instincts that emerge when the comforts of modern life vanish, this is the book for you!
#AvonBooksUK #ThePrivateJet #SarahGoodwin

Tense, Atmospheric..
What happens when the party ends? Socialite Lila Wilde is on a night of excess, when the party ends she decides it just has to carry on. Inviting a melange of near strangers, celebrities and influencers back to her extravagant villa. It’s only a short flight away through the jungle by private jet. As the flight commences, the atmosphere is euphoric..but not for long. Disaster strikes and a struggle for survival begins. With a credible and well drawn cast populating a pacy and menacing plot with often unexpected twists and a swiftly flowing narrative, this tense, atmospheric and edgy tale of suspense, secrets and survival is impossible to put down.

Lila Wilde lived in a world that being bankrolled by her famous rockstar father, meant that money was merely a way to buy the lifestyle she was used to but more importantly, the lifestyle that she wanted others to perceive she had. She lived in a world of promotions and falsity that was completely shallow. It is of no surprise that her boyfriend and subsequent fiance, Bryce, opted to invite a complete group of strangers both VIP and not to hop on her private plane for an impromptu trip to her father's compound in the jungle. No one could have predicted the plane crash nor the events that followed. Lila had to tap into her personal strength and determination to live without any financial capabilities to get herself out of that situation. She saw death because of illness and fire. She saw personalities that were repugnant; but she also saw people who were willing to sacrifice themselves to help.others. As she said at the end, never take anything for granted. I thought it showed a true strength of character to go back to the jungle to fight the poachers. She may have been approached by others asking if she was Lila Wilde but she was far more than an initial impression.

THE PRIVATE JET BY SARAH GOODWIN.
Release date set for the 13th of February 2025.
GLITZ and GLAM and SURVIVAL.
This book was a crazy wild ride and i really enjoyed it.
It pulled me in from the very beginning and held tight till the very end.
Thank you Avon books uk, netgalley and sarah for this ARC

What’s your worst nightmare? Does it involve plane crashes, tigers, deadly snakes and giant scorpions? That’s not your nightmare. It belongs to Lila Wilde, daughter of rock royalty. After a night of drug and alcohol fueled partying in Phuket, Lila has her pilot prepare her private jet for a flight to one of her father’s homes in the Thai countryside.
Much as I want to tell you more, this thriller needs to be read without spoilers. I read it in one day. I could not turn the pages fast enough. Now I’m trying not to have nightmares. Sarah Goodwin is also the author of Stranded, another thriller that I recommend. I have no idea what she will think of next but I want to read it! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Sarah Goodwin for this ARC.

This book is deliciously addictive and I couldn’t put it down after I started it. I become totally engrossed in the characters and plot and really enjoyed it. This is another great read by Sarah Goodwin and one that I’d definitely recommend.

Twisty and hard to put down! Lila Wilde, daughter of a rockstar, doesn’t want the party to end. So she and her star struck boyfriend invite a group of virtual strangers, mostly a group of celebrities and influencers, to join them at her dad’s villa in Thailand just an hour away by plane. But trapped at 30,000 feet, things take a sinister turn and some may not live to tell about it. This storyline was exciting and addicting to read, overall a great survival thriller.
Thank you Netgalley, Avon Books UK, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on February 13, 2025

This book felt very timely for me with the rise in "influencers" on social media. I could completely see something like this happening in real life. Socialite Lila Wilde, daughter of a famous rock star, has it all! While taking a trip to Thailand, she gets caught up in the partying and decides to fly her and some new friends to her dads secluded estate. The story takes a drastic turn when the plane goes down and everyone is forced to survive in the jungles of Thailand. A wonderful tail of survival with great descriptions of the landscape and animals that would be found there. I felt myself cheering for Lila by the end!

Sarah Goodwin strikes gold again in this suspenseful survival novel. As an outdoors person I am accustomed to animal encounters but never in a jungle, never lost. I could practically feel the fear and tension of the unknown while reading about a lost group of mostly strangers navigating the wilds, finding water, going raving mad, befriending and arguing.
Clubbing, being seen, social media influencing, and fame are what influencer Lila Wilde lives for. She grew up in the brand name lifestyle and her notoriously wealthy and famous father was unfortunately not the father figure she needed. But she knew the ropes and went to Thailand with her boyfriend, the perfect opportunity to flaunt. But cracks begin to appear and senses tingle. Her private jet plunges into jungle and not all 38 passengers survive. But those who do witness horror after horror and live the cat and mouse nightmare.
My lifestyle is so far removed from this one but that made an interesting read. Nearly all the characters are odious but I appreciate the life lessons learned. Surviving causes one to reflect on the truly important.
My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this engrossing novel.

This was a fun thriller! When we meet Lila Wilde, she's an irresponsible socialite who only cares about having a good time. On the spur of the moment, she invites friends and random clubgoers to continue partying at her father's villa a short plane ride away. After the plane crashes in the Thai jungle, Lila and the few remaining survivors have to try to figure out how to make it out alive. They face a lot of obstacles and danger, both from the jungle and within the group, and Lila really has to step up. A real page-turner, with some depth to it, especially in Lila's character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished The Private Jet by Sarah Goodwin. I couldn't put it down.
Lila's father is a rock star and she has grown up with all the perks. When she takes a group of drunken strangers on her father's jet to the home they own in Songkhla ,the plane doesn't make it there. It crashes in the jungle and no one knows they're there because there was no flight plan filed since the trip was last minute. The balance of the story is spent on how the characters survive or don't the plane crash to try and find rescue.
I love her books. They're are always suspenseful and entertaining! I highly recommend this title.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

Flying the friendly skies has never been more frightening! Glitz, glamour, party, music, champagne, and survival! The Private Jet is an intense story of survival, strength, prestige, courage, and determination. Many of Sarah Goodwin's books have focused on survival, with the characters struggling against the odds, finding the strength inside themselves to keep going no matter what! With The Private Jet, Sarah Goodwin delivered once again.
Socialite Lila Wilde is having a great time celebrating after her DJ boyfriend proposed in Thailand. Caught up in the music, the dancing, and the partying, Lisa invites a group of people to join her and her new fiancé on her private jet to travel over the Thai jungle back to their luxury villa to continue partying. Once on the jet, things take a drastic turn!
This was a gripping, tension filled, shocking tale of survival. I loved the vivid descriptions of the jungle and of the characters. I thought Sarah Goodwin did a wonderful job of showing how the characters changed over a short period of time. I loved the tension, the mounting dread, the lurking danger, and the overwhelming drive to survive. I was fully invested and on the edge of my seat throughout the book. I also found myself wondering what I would do and how I would react if I were in the same situation(s) as the characters in this book.
Wonderfully written, riveting, tense, and shocking!

Sarah Goodwin clearly loves to write a stranded in a remote place story. She does it well too.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. The tensions between the 'haves' and 'have-nots' is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies.
The ending felt a little too neat and moralistic for my liking but didn't detract too much from the rest of the book.

Sarah Goodwin’s The Private Jet is an electrifying blend of glitz, danger, and psychological intrigue that had me hooked from the very first page. Lila Wilde’s luxurious, over-the-top lifestyle sets the stage for what starts as a glamorous celebration and spirals into a gripping tale of survival and betrayal.
Goodwin masterfully transitions the story from the dazzling lights of Thailand to the harsh, unrelenting jungle, creating a stark contrast that heightens the tension. The characters are richly layered, and as secrets come to light, their complex dynamics pull you deeper into the drama. The shifting power plays and unraveling alliances kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
The writing is sharp, the pacing is relentless, and the twists are jaw-dropping. Goodwin doesn’t just deliver a thriller—she crafts an unputdownable experience. This book is perfect for fans of survival dramas, psychological suspense, and stories that reveal the darker sides of human nature.
The Private Jet is a wild, unforgettable ride, and I absolutely loved every moment of it. Highly recommended!

I was sooo happy when I saw Sarah Goodwin had a new book coming out! Release date February 13th.
Lila Wilde is set for the night of her life when she invites a bunch of people from a nightclub to fly on her plane in a short flight to her villa. But then the plane crashes and they are stuck in the jungle with no help in sight.
5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.

I love Sarah Goodwin’s books, so I KNEW I needed to get my hands on this one. The premise didn’t intrigue me as much as her other books, but the story far surpassed my expectations.
I could not stand a big chunk of the characters. They all made me so mad. They were greedy, mean, and stuck up. The ones that weren’t, still turned their back on Lila a few times. This made the story! It gave you that emotional reaction a thriller should give. People were dropping like flies in ways you would expect being lost in a jungle after a plane crash. Terrifying ways to die!
This storyline didn’t have any crazy twists, but it was thrilling! I really enjoy Sarah’s writing style. This was definitely a 5/5 read for me!

Loved this! Sure, most of the characters were completely insufferable but it was SO entertaining and super easy to read!

4.5 stars! I devour Sarah Goodwin's books every single time. Such a great survivalist thriller, and I read this in one sitting.
I loved the contrast between the first few chapters and the remainder of the book, post-plane crash. These wealthy influencers living the high life are confronted with a tough reality, when they're thrust into a setting—the middle of the jungle—where social status and follower count means zilch. And I liked how the influencer "faction" tried to maintain a semblance of status at first, then slowly descended into a free-for-all. This was definitely a characters vs the elements thriller. It wasn't necessarily scary, but I was at the edge of my seat because of the natural dangers lurking in the jungle.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the FMC. She was extremely shallow at the beginning, which I think was a necessary character flaw to some extent, but she didn't grow on me as much as I would've liked. I also wish the action started earlier on in the book. It felt like there was a bit too much exposition, and I wanted to get into the survival aspect immediately. But couldn't recommend more if you're in the mood for a fast-paced thriller!
Thank you so much to Avon Books UK for sending me an ARC of The Private Jet. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

"The jungle was the first thing in my life that didn’t care who my father was."
Every time I read a new Sarah Goodwin book, I say it's her best yet! I'm saying it again. I didn't think she could top the sheer tension of The Yacht but being dropped into the itchy hot jungle really did it for me.
Lila is a famous influencer and the daughter of a rock star. She's vacationing with her boyfriend Bryce in Thailand when a drunk and high decision changes many lives. Lila and ~30 of her new closest friends(some people she and Bryce met at the club) decide to take her father's private jet to one of his party homes nearby.
They hit turbulence, both literally and figuratively, and then crash in the middle of the jungle. You'd think they'd be rescued quickly in the 2020's but they were not.
Only a few survive the initial crash and many more succumb to the elements along the way. As always, a social order reveals itself and there are winners and losers. Despite it being Lila's plane, she ends up as a have-not.
This story is told interestingly, as we hear from Lila in the jungle and then from Lila who is watching an interview of herself on TV in the airport. We know Lila survives but who else lived to tell the tale and why are people so mad at Lila?
This was absolutely excellent. Like an influencer Yellowjackets and I was so into it. This one will keep you up late turning the pages, especially the last half!

I always look forward to the latest Sarah Goodwin book and this was no exception but I hated the characters, to the point that I almost stopped reading it. Glad I didn't give up, as the story really picks up if you can get over the spoiled brat socialite Lila Wilde and her hanger on wannabe famous boyfriend. I was ready for the worst to happen to the characters at one point. However it was very exciting when they were lost in the Thai Jungle trying to survive and I really enjoyed this part of the book with similarities to Lord of the Flies. It was good to see the progression of some of characters throughout the book which is written in both past and present tense.
An enjoyable thriller with lots of twists.

Not the most realistic of reads but a good way to pass an afternoon, safely on the ground
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✈️ The Private Jet - Sarah Goodwin ✈️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I was lucky to receive a ARC of this book, which is due to be released on 13.02.25, highly recommended as it’s a fast passed thriller.
In the book we meet Lila who’s a well off privileged daughter of a rock star who’s making her carer in the influencer scene. She gone to Thailand with her boyfriend Bryce who’s a rising DJ
After a night out in the club Lila and Bryce want to continue the party and gather a group of partygoers and jump on a private flight to her dad’s secluded villa.
Things take a sudden turn when the plan crashes and the number of survivors starts to drop. This now become a fight for survival.
I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down! In fact I’ve read it in one day 😬 I just wanted to see how this played out and what would happen next.
The twists and turns this story took were jaw dropping and I was just invested from the off. Highly recommend this one!

4.5🌟
If everyone will please take their seats….
Lila Wilde is the daughter of a famous rock star. Her life-style may be short on love and support, but the perks are enormous. She has the ability to buy anything she wants, and access to daddy’s private jet to travel anywhere in the world.
Her latest indulgence is taking off to Thailand with her boyfriend Bryce. After the first night of partying she doesn’t want the night to end. So she invites a group of fellow partiers (virtual strangers) on her jet to her dad’s private Villa, just an hour away.
But life will change forever in that one hour.
The publisher’s blurb kept the premise quite vague, and so will I. You need to go into this read as blind as possible!
OMG! This was not what I expected and I mean that in the best possible way! I was absolutely super-glued to my kindle and devoured this in just a couple sittings.
Sarah Goodwin has done it again! She has delivered a thoroughly unputdownable read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK

I loved this book! The writing flows and its also an interesting story. We all know Lila lives, but we don't know the fate of the other characters. I was reading late into the night to find out what happened after the plane crashed. I loved all of the characters, the good and bad. This book has many twists & turns, will the poachers get hold of them? Will they get attacked by wild animals? I definitely recommend you read it & find out ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sarah Goodwin has done it again, another amazing survival thriller book that hits all the spots. From the start i was engrossed as i always am with a sarah goodwin book and the excitement i felt when i got the notification for my approval. I finished The Private Jet in one day and couldn't stop once i started.
The Private Jet follows socialite influencer and daughter of a famous rockstar Lila Wilde as she is in Thailand on holiday with her DJ boyfriend Bryce soon to be fiance. After being proposed to in a nightclub Lila invites strangers and fellow celebrity influencers to come on her private jet to party at her father's villa to celebrate. What seems to be a fun idea at the time soon turns out to be one's worst nightmare. While flying the private jet encounters turbulence and rough air conditions which makes the plane crash into the jungle. Lila survives but many of the people onboard are killed in the crash with only a few survivors left. While trying to survive and find help the group encounter snakes, monkeys and many other predators.
Lila in the beginning is a spoiled individual but we witness after the crash she in torn between sticking with the fellow celebrities or the 'normals'. At a time i didn't like her character but as injuries were becoming more and more apparent she started trying to survive as well as help the others whether it was hunting/foraging for food or helping with injuries. There is mention of drugs and drinking which as it goes along we see how the celebrities use their status to belittle the 'normal' survivors and treat them like dirt when they are the ones who are doing the most to find help. There is one particular character that i absolutely loathed, the change in personality and overall mannerism was making me so mad that i was begging Lila to stand up for herself.
The private jet is filled with suspense, betrayal and survival that you really root for them to make it out of there alive. As the survivors keep dropping you are hoping for a miracle that each time you think it can't get any worse it gets worse. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to others to pick up and read. Most definite a must read for 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK I Avon for the copy of this arc in exchange of my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.
The Private Jet was a tense thriller focused on survival and some not so great discoveries about the people you surround yourself with. Luckily this book also carried with it some redemption, and was well written in getting its message across. The plot is interesting and the story fulfilled the brief, starting with Lila, a socialite / celebutante who managed to survive in a Thai jungle after a horrific plane crash. While we know Lila makes it she was en route to a party with her boyfriend and some friends, and the story was just as much about seeing what happened as who survived.
There were some love to hate them characters, a lot of disbelief that this posse could survive more than a day, and plenty of very real terror. The pacing here is excellent and I found myself wondering what I might do to make it, and who I might be after surviving in such harrowing circumstances.
A well done thriller, and very unique for its genre, I recommend picking this up and maybe not reading it during a plane ride.

Sarah’s latest fight for survival thriller
Perfect for fans of the series of ‘Lost’.
Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Tense pacy thrillers
- The series LOST
- Fight for survival fiction
- Poignant endings
With thanks to Avon Books UK | Avon and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

When Laura's boyfriend proposes, she takes advantage of her father's wealth, inviting 30 random people to join her at his private retreat to party.
They travel by her father's jet; disaster strikes and the plane crashes miles from anywhere. No phones, no food, no water, no clothing - how will they survive?
This book explores the fragility of civilised behaviour and what happens when we are put under pressure. This was a tense, exciting and entertaining read. which kept me up well past the witching hour. The characters were well-developed so it was easy to invest in what happened. A great read. - buy it!

Sarah Goodwin has now become one of my favourite authors and in my opinion, Queen of the survival thriller! This one was another belter!
Lila, her boyfriend Bryce, and a group of others fly in her private jet back to her luxury villa in Thailand after a night partying. But when the worst happens during the flight, the survivors are left marooned in the hot, menacing Thai jungle with only meagre rations. As the group battle the elements and the predatory wildlife, they begin a hopeless fight for survival.
This book had many of the same qualities as Sarah's debut novel Stranded, one of my favourite books. I was immediately caught up in the whirlwind of the story and almost felt like I was there with the group, experiencing their ever growing terror. This is as much a study of human psychology, as a battle to survive. Each of the characters was so vividly captured and real, as was the harshness and remoteness of the jungle.
The increasing sense of desperation and menace was palpable, making this impossible to put down.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Sarah Goodwin, publishers Avon Books and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of The Private Jet.
I have read a few of Sarah Goodwin’s books before, and enjoyed them all. I absolutely LOVE a disaster book, film, documentary etc. You name it, I’ll watch/read it!
So, saying that, you won’t be surprised to hear I have given this a full 5 stars, and would have given it more if I could!
Loved the exploration of the characters and how the adversity of fighting to survive changed them. I lived it with them. I didn’t want it to end.
One thing’s for sure… I don’t want to be lost in the jungle!

WOW
WHAT A READ
Influencer and mega rich, due to Daddy’s rock star wealth, Lila Wilde is in Thailand, she is partying hard and ‘fancies’ carrying on that party at the family mansion, to do this she charters her private jet and pilot/staff and with her bf, other influencers and randoms off they go, heady, full of it and carefree
Until the plane crashes
In the jungle
Some survive, some don’t, the ones that survive wish they hadn’t as snakes, wild pigs, tigers, dengue fever and other jungley things start to pick them off
Then they start on each other, some are deemed disposable, some granted the right to survive
Chilling and exceptionally believable
Will anyone survive this jungle hell or survive the self imposed hierachy
Needs to be a film, series asap
10/10 superb creative writing

Sarah Goodwin certainly makes it difficult for me to like her characters. They always seem to be rich, young immature people that I can’t take too.
I’ve actually stopped reading two of her books for that reason, but this story pulled me right in. I was there in the Thai jungle with Lila Wilde and her contemporaries, most of them strangers. I couldn’t stop reading this story and by the end I was rooting for Lila.
Definitely my favourite of Sarah Goodwins books, I would recommend it if you like a good psychological thriller. I actually had a nightmare about a plane whilst reading this!
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I always like reading a new spin on the good old plots of old. I think it's clever how thrillers thrill instantly when adding a common human fear. A plan crash on an island automatically ticks the blood pressure increase box. You're already wondering, fearing and thinking "what would I do?"
I also find it fascinating to see how people either adapt or react in survival mode. Because I don't think we can always say the "true" person comes out. We know from wars or traumatic circumstances around the world that people dknt always do what morally or preferably they would otherwise have done.
I found the people on this plan a category of quite hateful spoil squirts. And dint think I'd like many. Some definitely stuck to being able to be judged by their cover too! Lila I found softened in my affectipns so I did feel for her. And want know how she survived. And how it changes her as you get to eventually see through the pov switches.
It's very uncomfortable to see how naturally some.characters turned even worse than expected. But sadly predictable too.

Glitz, glamour, and a deadly game at 30,000 feet…THE HIGHER YOU FLY…
THE HARDER YOU FALL.
The blurb of this book is quite vague but it still drew me in so I requested an ARC of this. This was a solid 3.5 for me. I wish I could rate it higher but the lack of depth in the characters and tension throughout the book dropped it from a 4 to a 3.5. It is well written but it felt like some of the deeper character moments had been cut as sometimes they flipped from one thing to another very quickly. The author noted at the end that she had cut some of the gorier moments. I wonder if leaving them in would have helped with the character development more. The character arcs were what was expected but it felt... jolty in parts.
Good summer read though and keeps you reading. Just left me wanting something more.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC

When a private plane carrying Lilia, the daughter of rock star royalty, her fame hungry boyfriend and a group of hangers on, crashes in the unforgiving Thai jungle it’s fight for survival to see who, if anyone will get out alive.
Wow, this was gripping! Even at nearly 400 pages I flew through this book whilst on holiday, leaving a number of unfinished books to lie abandoned on my suitcase.
You may have to suspend belief a few times but this was a brilliant destination thriller and one I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a page turner this summer

This was a great concept and enjoyed the survival element of this book, it was used perfectly for a thriller novel and was invested in what was happening. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and had that realistic element that I was hoping for. I was invested in what was happening to the characters and thought the writing style worked well from Sarah Goodwin. It uses Thailand perfect and was glad everything flowed together.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a real page turner. Good plot and great host of characters and I was eager to keep reading to find out what would befall them next.
As irritating and spoilt as Lila was in the beginning, she was a likeable character. I hated that throughout their time in the jungle and even afterwards, that she constantly felt responsible for what happened and the others kept blaming her too. They were all adults who decided to get on that plane and fly to a strangers house, she didn’t force anyone. She was in no way to blame!
There’s really no way of knowing who would survive to the end and that was good, a proper mystery. We know Lila does from the tv interviews, but at what cost to her image and reputation.
I would highly recommend this book and thank NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Totally unputdownable.
Devoured this in a few short hours
Fast paced and impossible not to be totally addicted to.
Sarah Goodwin has once again written a totally wonderful book, that got under my skin instantly.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this, and the more I read, the more I needed to continue reading. It was like a drug, I just needed more.
It's about when a hedonistic night out on the Bangla Road in Phuket (somewhere I have actually visited), goes very wrong when they want to take the party elsewhere.
What follows is a tale of survival, and of making tough decisions in impossible situations. The ways the characters change over the course of this is scary, but I would imagine realistic.
I have no idea what I would do if I crashed in the Thai jungle, with a bunch of strangers, other than panic, so the fact that Lila seemed more determined than that was good for me to read.
I couldn't' get enough of this story, and and just in awe at this author's writing.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I really enjoyed The Private Jet. It was fast paced, full of unlikeable characters which unusually I actually cared about and was so atmospheric I could actually feel the fight for survival.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC.

ooo i enjoyed this was gripped from start too end its interesting how people react in the situation that they were thrown into and i wont understand the we are better than them mentality cos to me we are stuck we need to get along and help each other out. Its interesting how it all played out and its a good thing for people who are influencers and put on a shoelw for the camera to read i think and see how they would react in these situations like a reality check for them...

I love Sarah's books, they really pack a punch and generally once I've started reading I find it hard to stop. I got sucked into the action on this one straight away. Worst nightmare realised through the story of this plane crash and the unfolding horrors that follow. This has a great cast of characters, some more likeable than others and it really kept me gripped from start to finish. Definitely recommend for an easy quick thriller.

A spoilt daughter of a rockstar, a plane full of inebriated strangers and a flight that goes horribly wrong. I felt that this like Lord of the Flies but with grown ups; where someone's true personality is revealed under extreme pressure.
I really enjoyed the unravelling of certain characters and how they revealed themselves. Also, the suspense of the flashforward of knowing certain characters survived but then flashing back to the incident itself and trying to work out what was going to happen next. A really gripping and suspenseful story full of twists and turns. 3. 5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wasn’t able to read this one digitally but I did order a copy of the book so will be reviewing it after I’ve read it. I’m really excited for it as I’ve only heard great things about it.

Imagine being plucked from obscurity by Lila Wilde, a famous influencer and rock star royalty, to join her exclusive entourage on a private jet. Wilde, true to her larger-than-life persona, lives up to her namesake with an invitation to continue the party at her opulent mansion in Thailand. Over 30 people, caught up in the glamour and allure, eagerly join the spontaneous adventure.
But the dream quickly morphs into a nightmare when the private jet crashes in the heart of an unforgiving jungle. Stranded, disoriented, and with no way of knowing if rescue will ever come, the group faces the terrifying reality of survival. The black box is likely miles away, and so are their chances of salvation.
Sarah Goodwin’s The Private Jet is a masterclass in tension as she methodically ratchets up the fear. The jungle itself becomes an antagonist, with every conceivable terror—diseases, dehydration, dangerous wildlife, and even poachers—lurking in the shadows. With no one and nothing to trust, the survivors must navigate a perilous balance between cooperation and self-preservation, and the question remains: how many will make it out alive?
This thriller had me absolutely hooked from start to finish. Goodwin’s vivid descriptions and relentless pacing kept me on edge the entire way. My only critique? The most sinister character didn’t quite get the comeuppance they deserved. But that’s a minor qualm in an otherwise electrifying read.
If you’re ready for a pulse-pounding tale of survival, betrayal, and the primal instincts that emerge when the comforts of modern life vanish, this is the book for you!

Tense survival thriller, setting influencers against "normals" when a private jet crashes deep in the Thai jungle.
Daughter of a famous rock star, Lila thinks nothing of inviting a group of people she has barely met to a party to celebrate her engagement after her boyfriend proposed in the middle of a night club, or of using her father's private jet to take them.
It wasn't the dream proposal she had wished for, but it wouldn't do for her sponsors to see any bad publicity if she doesn't go along with vibe.
But unforseen circumstances leave the group of near strangers stranded and competing with each other for scarce resources and their survival.

The Private Jet is a suspense-filled, need-t0-survive thriller that takes place in the wilds of the Thai jungle. Lila Wilde and her boyfriend are vacationing in Thailand - the perfect place for her to highlight her meditation posts on social media and for him to secure some DJ-ing gigs. After he proposes to Lila during one of his sets, the night turns into a wild celebration. When Lila invites everyone at the club to join her on her private jet, she has no idea what the night has in store. After the plane crashes, the group finds themselves deep in the Thai jungle with very little to help them survive. The remaining passengers will not only need to survive the dangers of the jungle but also have to fight off each other.
The Private Jet is a well-written, suspenseful thriller that demonstrates just how far humanity can descend when faced with unexpected dangers and their survival is at stake. This is one of those books that you keep thinking about long after you finish reading. This book truly highlights the beauty and perils of the jungle. The jungle, and more generally nature, is its own character in The Private Jet. The way the author paints the scene and describes each obstacle leaves the reader feeling like they are actually one of the stranded passengers living a nightmare. I was completely engrossed in the story from page one. The Private Jet is an easy five stars! I will absolutely be reading more by Sarah Goodwin.

i loved this- it’s not something i shall read but i abjwolelrt loved the premise - think hunger games meets gossip girl rich people - i loved Lila’s character growth - she’s so strong!!!

Now that Lila's boyfriend just proposed, she feels like this is the best night of her life. She decides to keep the night going by bringing friends, strangers, influencers, celebrities on a private jet to her villa. It's just a short flight - over the jungle in Thailand.
When everything goes wrong people's true colors start to show. What a ride!

I enjoyed “The Private Jet” way more than I anticipated. What I thought was going to be a plane crash mystery, turned out to be a full season of “Survivor” with a dark twist. Incredibly thrilling and excitingly fast-paced.
The story starts when rich Lila Wilde and her boyfriend Bryce go on a holiday. On this holiday, during a wild party, Lila invites everyone to her private jet to continue the party. What no one expects to happen is for the plane to crash in the middle of the jungle.
The character building and development is incredible. Especially with Lila, whilst she discovers people’s true nature and herself having to do some gruesome things to survive. It was amazing to see how the team dynamic changes and what people are willing to do to survive. It reminded me of the Hunger Games a little bit. Everyone that survives a plane crash very soon shifts into a survival mode, and very soon they realise that the jungle is a dangerous place to be stuck in, but not the only enemy. Suddenly, it no longer matters who has the most wealth, but who is the strongest in the group.
I couldn’t help but wonder what I might do if I were in Lila’s situation. It’s quite scary to think it’s a possibility, especially in this day and age where we are used to the comfort of the modern world. After the first half of the book, I couldn’t put it down. It gripped me and kept pleasantly surprising me. The ending was satisfying, and I love the idea of the book asking the reader a question. This book would make a perfect choice for a book club, I am already anxious to speak to someone about it. The most satisfying part is that one character that receives their karma back. Chef’s kiss. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! It’s too good a thriller not to. Definitely worth your time.

A super-rich girl, Lila, whose dad's a famous music guy, gets engaged in Thailand. She's having a blast and doesn't want the fun to end. So, she's like, "Hey, anyone who wants to, hop on my jet! We're going to my secret island place."
Big mistake.
The plane goes down. Hard. Nobody knows where they are. The important bits of the plane, like the thing that records everything, are gone. They're lost in the middle of nowhere.
Now, it's a fight. They're battling the jungle, each other, and just trying to stay alive. It's a crazy mess. Who makes it? Nobody knows.
This author, Godwin, writes really wild stories. This one's no different. It's like you're right there with them, stuck in the jungle, hoping they make it out. It's a real trip.

A party in Thailand goes very, very wrong in this immersive survivalist adventure.
Lila, a young socialite, is at a party in Thailand to celebrate her DJ boyfriend getting a set in a club there. When the party ends, she decides she's not ready for it to be over, and impulsively invites everyone in earshot to take her private jet to continue partying in her father's mansion. It's the best night of her life. Until the plane goes down, killing most of the group, wounding others and leaving only a few survivors, deep in the jungles of Thailand.
I admit I won't know much about Thailand specifically, but I know enough about jungles to know that being lost in them is never good. Sarah does an excellent job at explaining the specific dangers through a couple of surviving Thai natives, discussing the illnesses, the creatures and the environmental dangers without making it come off as a lecture. Watching the characters, none of whom are equipped for survival, degrade over the days and weeks without rescue is very compelling.
Thanks to an occasional flash-forward to a post-rescue interview with Lila, we can figure out some of what's happening, but watching it happen is still fascinating. Decisions made by Lila and other characters were heartbreaking. I have no idea what I'd do in that situation!
This is a really compelling read for anyone who enjoys characters thrown far out of their comfort zones.
Book recommendation: The River by Peter Heller is another high-stakes survival tale that mixes adventure with introspection. Set in the wilds of Canada, it focuses on two friends lost in a dangerous and uncharted wilderness, where the elements and their own tensions start to take their toll.
Movie review; As a contrast to the searing jungle heat, Alive centres on a plane crash high in the frigid Andes. The difficult decisions and dangers faced by the survivors will strike a chord with this one.

This was my first Sarah Goodwin book and will not be my last. This story was tense, atmospheric and had me on the edge of my seat, needing to know what happened next to this group of people.
A lot of these characters are unlikeable but it just adds to the story, seeing the social divide still take place when survival is at its lowest. Goodwin did an amazing job at showing how people change, for better or for worse, when placed in these situations.
I'm definitely interested in picking up more books from Sarah Goodwin in the future!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lila private jet is party central with music and champagne and the lure of an after-party in Thailand. Things quickly go wrong trust is lost and the party turns deadly. The higher you fly. The harder you fall.
Sarah Goodwin is one of my favourite authors and this story did not disappoint. Go in blind and enjoy the ride I had no idea what to expect and it was a thrilling and tense ride from start to finish. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Sarah Goodwin for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this, I couldn't put it down and it wasn't what I was expecting.
It didn't take long to get through as I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow! The Private Jet by Sarah Goodwin was so good! Incredibly suspenseful and utterly captivating, I felt like there was no shortage of drama in this book. I loved the glitz and glamour of Lila's socialite lifestyle combined with the stunning location of Thailand, combined with the propulsive twists throughout the story.

Whoa! This one had me on the edge of my seat - I read through it in just a day. I highly recommend going in as blind as possible - it was definitely not what I expected!

Lila Wilde, influencer and daughter of a millionaire rock star, is newly engaged on a trip to Thailand. She doesn’t want the party to stop, so she invites those willing from the club to join her and her fiancé on her private jet to the secluded home. What transpires is a plane crash, with no flight plan and crashing miles away from the tail and the black box, they survivors are unsure about their odds of being rescued. What follows is a wild story for survival against the environment, and others, and against all odds. Who will make it out alive to tell the story.
I really enjoy Godwin’s writing and stories. They are always something a little different and quite a ride and this is no different. Enjoyable, you feel stuck in the jungle with Lila and the others hoping for a way out.

This is one of those books that is difficult to review without giving anything away. I loved it and had a lot of fun reading it. This is the perfect beach/vacation read. Or if you are like me, and it is a dreary winter here in Texas, it is a great escape book! Unlikeable Lila and her equally shallow, unlikeable friends and a few unlikeable strangers take a ride on a private jet to fly to Thailand to party with her also unlikeable DJ boyfriend. Seeing a theme here? Bear with me, it works! Just pick this one up and settle in for a fun escape! Oh, and that beautiful cover!! I would also check out some of Sarah Goodwin's other books. She is one of my favorite authors for a quick, easy and suspenseful read!
Thank you to #NetGalley, Sarah Goodwin and Avon Books UK | Avon for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this! This is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish, the plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
The setting is vividly described, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall reading experience.
Highly recommended!

Absolutely fantastic, I really enjoyed it. It was perfectly paced and kept me guessing all the way through. I couldn't put it down and read it in a couple of hours

From looking at the blurb, I was considering not reading this....40 pages in, I was thinking of bailing, but...once you get into the 'meat' it's actually a good read. Plenty of incidents along the way keep you engaged.
Well written and I might well look up more of Sarah's books. Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Sarah Goodwin is an auto read for me!
I’ll read anything she writes!
This is an engaging and well written story. This fast-paced story really ramped up the tension throughout.
Goodwin keeps things fast paced in this exciting thriller which is definitely worth reading.

If I could throw this book at you and shout read this book now I would.
It’s a string thriller and a perfect beach read. It was such a rollicking good read.
Well written and fast paced and a great thriller

4.5 Stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this much-appreciated ARC. Sarah Goodwin has proven herself to be a leading writer of survival fiction. She immerses the reader in spine-tingling outdoor adventures, with finely drawn characters who must endure. The characters may be kind and helpful or selfish and villainous, but nature does not choose their fates. She places various personalities in situations where they must survive a challenging environment as well as each other. Reviewing one of the author's earlier books, I remarked that fans of the TV reality series Alone or Naked and Afraid XL should enjoy Goodwin's fiction. The Private Jet takes the thrills and chills of survival to the extreme. It was gripping and tension-filled throughout.
The narrator, Lila White, is a socialite/influencer who is self-absorbed and spoiled and who feels entitled due to her rock-star father's great wealth. He indulges her financially. Lila obsesses about her appearance, wearing designer clothes and fine jewelry. She has an assortment of credit cards with unlimited purchasing power, talented makeup artists and hair designers, and easy access to her father's private pilot and other employees.
Her boyfriend, DJ Bryce, is a shallow want-to-be celebrity attracted by Lila's fame and wealth. She slowly realized that fact after taking him on a vacation to Thailand and showering him with expensive clothes and accessories. They are enjoying Thailand's frantic nightlife at an exclusive night club. Bryce is drinking and swallowing an assortment of pills, and Lila suspects he spiked her drink. The place is buzzing with music, dancing, alcohol, and drugs when Bryce proposes. The nightclub has social influencers, minor celebrities, tourists, and locals enjoying the evening. Lila accepts the proposal, although she is disappointed he ignored her hints that they become engaged at a romantic site of her parents' engagement.
She invites the crowd of rich and famous and ordinary strangers to continue the party at her father's luxurious villa about an hour away by private jet. The pilot is on standby, and she tells him to omit a flight plan as there is no time. The flight experiences turbulence, causing the plane to crash deep in the jungle. Only a few of the thirty-eight people on board survive, and some still alive are injured. A section of the plane that contained its black box is missing, so there is no information on the location of the crash, making search efforts unlikely.
The survivors, including Bryce, blame the unlikeable Lila for causing their dire predicament. A social hierarchy had developed with the self-entitled sleeping in the plane section, whereas those they consider below them 'ordinary people' and the injured must stay outside. Bryce has already attached himself to the few celebrities lazing about within the plane, and Lila understands his true intentions towards her as a fame seeker.
She remains outside, caring for the injured and helping some hard-working people build structures for greater comfort. She feels guilty for the accident and is upset with Bryce's treatment of her. She gradually changes from the entitled character to a brave survivalist with compassion for others. She participates in foraging for food and searching for water, and her selfishness decreases in a desperate situation in the jungle. Bryce has made Lila return her large, ornate engagement ring that may make him the target of bandits.
While wandering in this steamy jungle, they encounter many obstacles, including everything you can imagine that would lead to danger and suffering. There are poisonous snakes, wild boars, tigers, ticks, leeches, bats, biting insects, poachers armed with rifles, and dengue fever. More will die in this riveting, shocking story, highlighting prestige, bravery, determination, changes in outlook for better or worse, resilience, resourcefulness, death, and sacrificing others for greedy purposes.
After living on some unappetizing fruit, the need for protein is extreme, and they are forced to subsist on insects, snakes, spiders, etc, and other disgusting food sources we have seen eaten on TV reality shows. Hope is gone when they realize no rescue is coming. This was a riveting, suspenseful, and shocking story throughout. It was atmospheric and character-driven.
From the beginning, we know that Lila survives and is being interviewed for her story. How were they rescued? Who else is alive after the ordeal?
Highly recommended for readers of adventure and survival stories. The book will be published today.

Sarah Goodwin is one of my favorite authors. I have read several of her books and enjoyed every single one. I find them hard to put down and gripping. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

You can always guarantee a good escape with Sarah Goodwin. This was a taunt thriller set on a stunning thai island where murder comes a calling. A plane is stranded like in Lost and then The Beach takes over. A good mix with Goodwin's flair for the dramatic and the twists and atmospheric memories

During a night out socialite Lila Wilde impulsively invited a group of strangers to continue their party at her luxury villa only a short flight away. While the celebrations are continuing on Lila’s private jet, the plane suddenly gets into difficulties and the party turns much more sinister.
I have read most of this author’s books but none ever beat her first book, Stranded. This definitely comes close, the author is on top form with this latest offering. I was hooked almost straight away, really enjoying the writing style and once the drama starts the tension goes into overdrive. The isolation of the jungle setting was authentic and scary. Some of the scenes and what they had to endure was truly shocking and horrifying!
Even though there were a few unlikeable character’s I found them entertaining to read. As the book progressed you saw the changes in Lila during her journey and I found I connected with her more. This is definitely worth a read if you enjoy entertaining, fast paced survival thrillers. 4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.