A review by momobookdiary
The Honeymoon by Gemma Rogers

fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I applied to read Gemma Rogers' The Honeymoon expecting a mystery or thriller, as it was marketed, but what I got instead felt more like a reality-show style of women's fiction. There was no mystery beyond what was already given away in the synopsis, and the so-called "thriller" aspect was too far fetched. The plot centres on Kelly, stuck on a honeymoon with her cheating husband, his best friend, and the other woman involved.

Kelly’s actions and decisions felt unrealistic from the start, and her lack of serious reflection on her broken relationship was hard to believe. The "big secrets" promised in the blurb? Not shocking or original at all. The twists I was waiting for never came.

The characters were frustrating and unlikeable, including Kelly herself, whose indecisiveness and poor decision-making made it hard to root for her. The writing itself was repetitive and clunky, lacking the polish I expected, and I found myself mentally editing as I read.

While the drama might appeal to some readers, it wasn’t for me. The twists felt unbelievable, the character development was weak, and overall, this felt more like a trashy domestic thriller than a mystery. I finished it in one sitting, just wanting to get it over with. Unfortunately, The Honeymoon was not what I had hoped for and left me disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Gemma Rogers for the opportunity to read and review.