They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith #TheyHadItComing @Mrssmithmunday @PenguinUKBooks @nikkismithauthor.bsky.social #BookReview

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer . . .

Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie. They've been a four for as long as they can remember: fancy dinners, dancing 'til dawn . . . Even living and working together.

So when Nate and Layla suddenly quit their lives and move to Bali, with its white sands and exotic beach clubs, Jude and Sophie are their first visitors. Anything to escape their life in London.

But as the two couples reunite, cracks begin to show.

Which is hardly surprising; they've been lying to each other for years.

And now, it's time for revenge.

They Had it Coming by Nikki Smith was published on 22 May 2025 by Penguin. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

They Had It Coming is one of those juicy, sun-drenched thrillers that lures you in with beautiful beaches and close friendships… then slowly reveals the dark undercurrents hiding just beneath the surface. Nikki Smith has a real talent for taking a glamorous setting and turning it into something wonderfully unsettling.

The story follows two long-time couple-friends; Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie, whose lives have been entangled for years. When Nate and Layla suddenly relocate to Bali, their friends are quick to follow for what they assume will be a fun holiday. However, nothing about this getaway is as sunny as the setting suggests. As the cocktails flow and old memories bubble up, you can feel the tension tightening and tightening. 

Nikki Smith’s writing is sharp, inviting, and full of sly little details that make you constantly question what you think you know. Each character is flawed in a very human way, and watching the group dynamics unravel is both addictive and uncomfortable. She builds suspense with a slow burn that never drags; I was eagerly flipping the pages to see who’s hiding what and how far they’ll go to protect their secrets.

What I really love is the way the author explores friendship: the kind you outgrow, the kind you cling to out of habit, and the kind that becomes toxic without anyone noticing until it's too late. It’s a thriller, but it’s also a careful look at the power shifts and silent resentments that can rot relationships from the inside.

If you enjoy twisty psychological suspense set against a stunning backdrop, with messy characters, layered motives, and a delicious sense of dread, this one is absolutely worth packing in your beach bag.

A fun, tense, and compulsively readable tale of secrets, lies, and the revenge that’s been a long time coming.

Nikki Smith worked in finance until 2017, when a 'now or never' moment prompted her to
apply for the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. 

She is the author of five novels and co-host of the podcast In Suspense. 

She lives in Guildford with her family and loves to travel, ideally somewhere hot and sunny.

www.nikkismithauthor.com