The Guilt Trip

Three couples travel together to Portugal for a wedding. What could go wrong?

Rachel and Jack are empty nesters, looking forward to some time with their friends and family at the picturesque seaside village in Portugal where Jack’s brother, Will, is getting married to Jack’s former coworker, Ali. Rachel finds Ali overbearing and brash but is determined to grin and bear it for Will’s sake. Along for the trip are Noah, Rachel’s closest friend from college, and his wife Paige, who is now her best friend, and also not Ali’s biggest fan.

It doesn’t take long for Rachel to start wondering if there’s something going on between Jack and Ali, but she’s got her own secrets around the truth of her relationship with Noah.

To say any more would spoil the story, but suffice it to say The Guilt Trip has quite a bit of drama, lies, secrets, and suspect behavior. I wouldn’t really call it a thriller, though something does happen toward the end that moves it from just a drama into something a little more sinister.

While there’s a lot of talking, there’s not much communicating, which creates quite a bit of conflict between Rachel and those around her. Slowly the truth is revealed — what Ali is hiding, if Jack is cheating on Rachel, and even Rachel’s own secrets — and no one can see the fallout that’s coming.

The only other book I’ve read by Sandie Jones was The Other Woman and I’d say The Guilt Trip is equally enjoyable.