The Holiday by T. M. Logan

          3.5 Stars

The plot line of this book is actually pretty good.  The conceit is that a group of 4 university friends (Kate, Jennifer, Izzy and Rowan) all get together for a blissful summer week in a sun bleached France to celebrate their friendship and that fact that they are all about to enter the milestone of their 40th year.  Previously they have managed to sneak a girly weekend away to catch up and keep the friendship group together but this is different, this time partners and children are tagging along.  The length of their friendship means that there is history aplenty between the 4, exacerbated by the fact their partners really don't get on and then throw in a bunch of children ranging from their teens to pre-schoolers and more or less anything can happen.

The majority of the tale is told from Kate's point of view and we only ever really get to know the cast of characters from her point of view.  This is a shame as I found Kate to be rather irritating.  Apparently she is a civilian forensics officer but seems to have no critical thinking skills.  Early on in the story she sees a series of messages on her husband's mobile that sets the tone for the rest of the book.  Basically it becomes a series of vignettes detailing blissful sunny days overshadowed by squabbles and Kate's internal monologue of doom.

The author does produce a good study of family dynamics and how friendships change over time, often fracturing and only held together by habit rather than any joy in each other's company.  The small glimpses in to how each family relates to each other and those outside the family group are also well drawn and realistic.  Although, teenagers seem to be the enemy of mankind as a whole and the three in this book fulfill every stereotype going between them.

Of course nothing is what it seems and we slowly wade through days of ennui that are building to a dramatic finale.  I will admit that there is a nice twist in the end and the final night does erupt in to a spectacular Hollywood style crescendo with everything getting resolved.  Unfortunately, the real situation that is revealed is slightly too far fetched to be believed and the secrets that are finally exposed don't really come as any great shock at this point.

It was a solid enough read with good pacing and some excellent inter-personal dynamics.  Unfortunately I just found myself frustrated by the narrator and ultimately disappointed in the scope of the ending.

THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED FROM READERS FIRST