About the Book
There’s trouble in paradise. . .
For as long as she can remember, Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon. A fortnight’s retreat to a five-star resort in the Maldives, complete with luxury villas, personal butlers and absolute privacy. It should be paradise, but it’s turned into a nightmare.
Because the man Jemma married a week ago has just disappeared from the island without a trace. And now her perfect new life is vanishing just as quickly before her eyes. After everything they’ve been through together, how can this be happening? Is there anyone on the island who Jemma can trust? And above all – where has her husband gone?
My Thoughts
I read and enjoyed Tina Seskis’ first novel a little while ago and loved it so when I heard she had a new book coming out I was keen to read it. I was thrilled when NetGalley approved my request recently.
Jemma and Jamie are on their honeymoon on a beautiful and exclusive island resort in the Maldives. One morning Jemma wakes up to find her new husband is missing and from there the novel slowly builds as we find out what led up to him disappearing and what actually happened to him.
The novel is told in alternating chapters of past and present, and this worked really well as I found myself engrossed in both parts of the story and wanting to see how the timeline would converge and where it was all leading. It’s also told in four parts, and I have to say that at the end of the first part my head was spinning and I simply had to read on as fast as I possibly could.
The atmosphere on this beautiful island becomes increasingly stifling as Jemma feels that everyone, staff and other guests alike, are suspecting her of harming her husband. Even the couple she had become friends with start being a bit more distant with her. She is unsure how to behave and worries about how people who see her around the island are perceiving her. The paranoia she feels grows and grows – it emanates off the page to the point it was making me nervous about what was going to happen next.
As the book went on I became more and more unnerved by the whole situation. I’m scared of open water as it is so the idea of being on a small island resort isn’t my idea of fun, but there is an underlying sense of malice in this book that you can never quite put your finger on why. It gave me that feeling you have when you’re seriously sleep-deprived and everything has that slightly unreal feeling to it. This isn’t a scary book but there is a real creepiness to it and it gets under your skin – the feeling doesn’t let up until well after you’ve finished reading. The writing in this book is brilliant in the way it really evokes these feelings in the reader, almost mimicking some of what Jemma is feeling.
I suspected just about everyone in this book of having had something to do with Jamie’s disappearance. During the times when I wasn’t reading, my mind was constantly pondering on various scenarios that could have happened. Tina Seskis throws in so many brilliant red herrings and twists that it’s impossible to know how it will all turn out. One of my suspicions did prove to be partially correct but I defy anyone to work out what exactly happened on this island!
This is a slow-burn thriller that builds the tension and the claustrophobic atmosphere to such a degree that it feels like you’re enmeshed in the situation yourself. It’s dark and twisty, gripping and impossible to put down! I highly recommend The Honeymoon.
The Honeymoon is due to be published on 1st June and can be pre-ordered now.
I received a copy of this book from Penguin Michael Joseph via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author
Tina Seskis grew up in Hampshire, before going off to study in the beautiful city of Bath and then moving to London, where she has lived on and off ever since.
Tina’s first novel One Step Too Far was released in 2013, and has since been published in 17 languages in over 60 countries. Her latest novel, The Honeymoon, will finally be released on 1st June 2017.
Tina lives in North London with her husband and son.
(Author photo and bio taken from: Goodreads)
RatherTooFondofBooks 
A great review Hayley- I’ve read all Tina’s previous books and this one is now on must read list!!
Thank you 🙂 I really enjoyed this one so I hope you do too.
It’s interesting because I really didn’t enjoy this book at all. I seem to be in the minorty though (my review is up today too). Glad you enjoyed it though.
I’m sorry that you didn’t enjoy the book at all. It would be a very boring world if we all loved the same things though. I hope your next read is one you really love.
Hello Tina, great review sounds a must
Fab review! I’ve read a lot of praise for this one and also really enjoyed the authors other book! This is my next read!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I’ll look out for your review 🙂
How cool that you liked her first book then were able to get hold of this to review. And she obviously did a good job of creating the atmosphere.
I was thrilled when I got approved to read it on NG as I really did love her previous novel.
Definitely convinced. I need to read this one. I like a good thriller where almost everyone is a suspect and the creepiness bit also has me intrigued. Great review!
Thank you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I suspected everyone – it was hard to write this review as I didn’t want to give any spoilers but it’s a great read.
This one sounds amazing, I love it that you can suspect just about everyone :-). I hope to read this one in the future :-). Fab review Hayley!
It was a great read, you never know who to trust throughout the book. I hope you get a chance to read it soon. Thank you so much 🙂
What an interesting premise for a story! I can see how the suspense must have built up as the truth is slowly revealed. I like the setting, too.
It was a great setting for a novel, it was unnerving having these character on this island and not knowing who the killer was. I found it a really engrossing read.
Great review! I like this kind of story, and I enjoyed One Step Too Far by the author. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you 🙂 One Step Too Far is the book I read too and I thought it was a brilliant read. I think you’ll enjoy The Honeymoon too when you read it.
If you suspected that many people of having an involvement, that is a sign of a good mystery in my opinion! I could not imagine waking up while on your dream honeymoon to discover your spouse has vanished. Not only the terror of what has happened, but to have someone disappear in an area you are unfamiliar with would surely heighten the suspense. Fantastic review!
Thank you so much 🙂 I honestly didn’t trust anyone in this book, and the fact it was set on an exclusive island resort just heightened the tension so much. I recommend it.
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Check out the book, The Honeymoon, by Tina Seskis, as featured on the Rather Too Fond of Books blog.
This one looks really good! Didn’t remember seeing it on Netgalley but I don’t have much luck with Penguin so I probably skipped over it. Will have to think about grabbing a copy sometime.
I recommend it, I really enjoyed it. I hope you manage to get hold of a copy and that you enjoy it.
Thanks Hayley 🙂
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I love books that handle the flicking between past and present so well you are just engrossed in both narratives the same way! Fantastic review 🙂
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