My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher: Legend Times Group
Summary: Following a sensational scandal at one of London's most desired post codes, Jane and Patrick decide to escape the gossip with a family holiday to Ibiza, their eight-year-old George in tow. Also on the island that week is a TV reality show involving an eccentric artist, a horny It Girl, a Brazilian soccer player, and a famous musician. As hapless celebrities are picked off one by one, Jane is desperate to be on the program, leaving childcare in the not so capable hands of a teenager. One lesbian escapade and an explosive row over hair removal later, the contestants of Ibiza or Bust leave the island with more than sand in places they never knew existed.
This may actually have been more fun than The Square. This time the setting is Ibiza with a handful of characters known from the first book and new ones to get to know.
I don't watch reality programmes but I do enjoy books that show a behind the scenes look in at them. The Brazilian hit all the hallmarks. You can't really go wrong with a bunch of people vying to upgrade from C (possibly D-list) "celebrities" on a reality television series. I didn't even feel badly for any of them that there was a ringer in the group. It's takes a particular talent to write a generally off-putting group that makes you still want to turn the page and not tune out of the story. As with The Square, I wanted to know how things would turn out for everyone.
Jane remains gloriously vapid & I'm still wondering what Patrick sees in her. Still, Jane's inner thoughts were worth a lot of laughs out loud. My favorite being when she posits she should be famous because Theresa May is and she, Jane "has A LOT more going for her than Theresa bloody May." Belle was one that I quite pulled for in all the chaos in Ibiza. Gemma was a standout in the Ibiza (or Bust) group with Alan coming in a second with his excellent observations. But the real standout is little George. He was a delight in the first book and he just continues being awesome here.
I've only one real regret, that I won't have this to read poolside this summer. It strikes a good balance between frothy fun and making a relevant statement on this age of the sport of chasing insta-fame. This is a fun one and definitely one to take along on vacay.
Many thanks to the publisher for offering me a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest views.
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