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She's So Bad

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Caroline thought Sardinia, Italy would be her sanctuary. She was wrong ... Still grieving the sudden loss of her husband, heiress Caroline escapes to her ancestral home with her estranged stepdaughter, Julia. She hopes that the island's rugged beauty will find her peace and bring them closer.

But paradise turns perilous when a string of near-fatal accidents makes one thing terrifyingly clear—someone wants Caroline dead. What hidden truths could be worth killing for?

Enter Giorgio, a handsome, charismatic younger man who convinces Caroline to invest in his new venture. Why would she agree at the risk of losing everything?

The Ultimate Betrayal Hides in Plain Sight.
A sun-soaked escape turns into a deadly game of deception as danger lurks behind every breathtaking vista, people turn up in strange places, and secrets are revealed. Who can be trusted as the line between truth and betrayal blurs?

She’s So Bad is a gripping psychological thriller packed with deadly secrets and shocking twists that will keep you turning pages until the very last reveal.

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2025

153 people are currently reading
1794 people want to read

About the author

Bonita Fabian

3 books12 followers

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5 stars
66 (35%)
4 stars
63 (34%)
3 stars
39 (21%)
2 stars
9 (4%)
1 star
8 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee.
1,175 reviews276 followers
July 24, 2025
This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm so happy I did! It was fast paced, and suspenseful. The characters were well developed and intriguing and it was very well written and descriptive. There was a sense of foreboding throughout and I didn't know what to expect. There is lots of family drama and tension. There are twists that I did not see coming and I loved how it all came together. This is the kind of thriller I love! Definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Booksandcoffeemx.
2,525 reviews138 followers
August 15, 2025
A beautiful Italian island as the setting of a psychological thriller? Count me in!

She’s So Bad is full of secrets, betrayal, and shocking twists. I loved the mix of family drama and suspense, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another surprise I didn’t see coming.
If you like fast-paced, twisty reads, this book is for you!
Profile Image for CarlitasFox.
1,544 reviews28 followers
May 5, 2025
A page-turning thriller
I came across Bonita Fabian’s psychological thriller that blew up my mind. The story revolves around Caroline, a widow, together with Julia, her stepdaughter. Caroline decides to move to an island with the purpose of leaving behind her loss and sorrow but to her surprise nothing is colour pink there- terrible and mysterious things happen. The question is whether they will stay there to sort all the problems out or not.
It’s a story that will sow a variety of fears to anyone who is about to move away but at the same time, readers won’t stop reading it to see the denouement of everything. I found it a captivating story with well-portrayed and complex characters that will change throughout the chapters. I liked it and I highly recommend it.



Profile Image for Evelyn.
1,324 reviews29 followers
May 5, 2025
This fast-paced psychological thriller truly kept me turning pages from beginning to end, not only because of the interesting premise but also because of how superb the storytelling is.
The protagonist of this story decides to start a new life on a picturesque island in Italy, but soon her plans are thwarted and what seemed like a quiet life turns into a dangerous race for survival. Accompanying the characters on this journey is amazing, because along the way the reader will discover facets of each of them that were imperceptible to the naked eye.
With a few shocking surprises along the way, as well as various perspectives, this story fulfilled all my expectations and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Chelsie.
1,512 reviews
July 20, 2025
Caroline has lost her husband and decides that a trip back to her ancestral home just might help her grieve. She decides to take her step-daughter Julia with. However there is tension from the second they leave the US. Caroline thought this would be a nice trip but she seems to have become a target for crime and it seem someone is not happy she is here and alive. Near drowning, poisoning and very deep cut and Julia believes she knows who it is. As she tries to tell others of these mishaps and who is behind them, they seem somewhat shocked and try to find a reason behind these things happening, like they are just odd incidents. But often, people cannot keep secrets and secrets there are within this family! But someone cannot keep quiet and spills the truth and the truth is just waiting to be uncovered, but will these foreign police be able to do anything before Julia and Caroline head back to the US? This was a fast paced thriller and I didn't quite see the ending. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.
122 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2026
Edit: I changed my mind and finished it (was going to DNF at 20%) and honestly will say I don't think I would've missed much.

The book mostly focuses more on Caroline's family history and relationships with no real hint of the mystery described. There were a few near-misses but it was "clearly orchestrated by her stepdaughter" so you know that's a red herring. There was such an abundance of evidence that it was Julia that it obviously wasn't. And that really only left one person who it could be. And they played themself like an idiot. Just spilled all the beans, to everyone, about every crime.

The writing is very subject-verb-object. Short sentences with little frills or descriptors. Very matter of fact. And I struggled for it to hold my attention.

The stepdaughter Julia is beyond unlikeable. Which I guess is the point. But honestly the FMC Caroline is not much better. Pretty much everyone, with the exception of Rosalia and Salvatore, sucks in this book. Which makes it a tough read when you don't really have anyone to root for.
Profile Image for Sarah.
2,114 reviews
July 29, 2025
This book was unhinged in the best way! My initial thought of Julia- woman, you are 35.. act like it. Stop throwing tantrums and stop being so incredibly rude! My initial thought of Caroline- poor woman! Her stepdaughter is acting really ugly and how could Julia act this way towards her stepmother as they both lost someone they love.

I was so engrossed in this book that I didn't want to put it down and read it in a night. I couldn't believe the way she acted with Giorgio, a veritable stranger- she gave him the benefit of the doubt (more than she trusted her stepdaughter) even when people told her otherwise. Caroline was a contradiction to me. I loved a lot of Caroline's family in Italy though, they were good people.

Oh the ending was super, super satisfactory! I really liked how the last, maybe 10%, went down!
Profile Image for Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff).
2,684 reviews99 followers
July 31, 2025

This book hooked me when it whisked me away to the Italian island of Sardinia! Although I’m sure you can tell from the ominous cover that this is no beach read.

The descriptions of the dazzling sights and delicious foods of Sardinia set the perfect atmosphere for this exciting thriller. And a lot is going on here - the pages are full of family drama, marital problems, business deals, and multiple murder attempts.

Betrayal comes in various forms here, which began to place doubts in my mind, and the sense of unease built with the turn of each page.

This is one of those stories that has some very unlikeable characters, but things are not as they appear. It has a surprise twist at the end, and a few things are left open, but this book does tie in to her previous novel, They Will Know.

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @bonniefabiancohen for the #gifted book.
Profile Image for Miss W Book Reviews.
1,825 reviews154 followers
July 12, 2025
She's So Bad by Bonita Fabian is a fast-paced thriller I absolutely loved!

I really enjoyed They Will Know and was so excited for a new thriller by this author and it did not disappoint!

Caroline, who is a recent widow along with her stepdaughter Julia has moved to a remote island to try and grieve and heal from her husband's passing.

What she doesn't expect is being the target of several attacks.

This is an exciting fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. This one kept me on the edge of my seat.

Such a quick moving, perfectly paced plot with great characters!

Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Kim Wilch.
Author 6 books80 followers
Read
August 6, 2025
This is one of those thrillers that grabs you from page one. Caroline, newly widowed and hoping for peace, escapes to a remote island—only to land in the middle of a nightmare. Between tense moments with her stepdaughter Julia, a charming-but-suspicious young man pushing a shady investment, and a series of murderous attacks, her “quiet getaway” turns into a fight for survival.

Fabian knows how to keep the plot racing and the suspense dialed all the way up. The twists keep coming, the atmosphere is deliciously tense, and that beautiful island backdrop only makes the danger more chilling. It’s a quick, twisty, edge-of-your-seat read—perfect if you want a spine-tingling escape in just a few sittings.
Profile Image for Almiria.
808 reviews10 followers
May 4, 2025
She's So Bad by Bonita Fabian is a plot-driven, spine-chilling suspense novel that follows the recently widowed Caroline, her stepdaughter Julia, and a mysterious young man who encourages the wealthy Caroline to invest in his venture. Caroline has retreated to a remote island to recover from the loss of her husband, but her stay is not peaceful for long as she finds herself the target of murderous attacks.

Fabian delivers the story well and keeps the plot moving quickly, with unexpected twists. While the characterization in this novel is not all that deep, if you enjoy reading fast-paced thrillers, then this might be just the book for you. I am giving it four out of five stars.
Profile Image for Gianfranco.
618 reviews7 followers
May 5, 2025
Italian-style horror

I found it a very attractive story, maybe it is also due to the excellent way in which the author traps you with her narrative and her fluidity in the times so that as a reader you do not feel stagnant for a single moment. Imagine embarking on a journey to what you think will be your new paradise and all of a sudden it turns into the worst nightmare. This well-written thriller is fantastic, the characters have a very particular and unique characterization, giving the whole story a sense of reality that evokes the reader to really place himself in the time-space of each scene. Personally I loved it, I must congratulate this author.
Profile Image for Cassie’s Reviews.
1,619 reviews29 followers
June 2, 2025
What a page turner!!! I mens just looking at the cover makes you want to grab it!
This fast paced thriller starts off with introducing us to grieving widow heiress Caroline, who also has an estranged step daughter. She believes her ancestral in Sardinia, Italy is the perfect escape from their loss and she hopes it will also bring them closer. It soon becomes apparent after many “accidents” someone is wanting Caroline dead. To make things more suspicious we meet the handsome, charismatic younger man Giorgio who wants her to invest with him… danger lurks behind every turn and she wonders who can she trust and whose willing to keep secrets hidden?
Profile Image for Air.
533 reviews34 followers
June 5, 2025
The twists and turns of this one will keep you guessing every chapter! I really enjoyed how well the author was able to build up the suspense while keeping dialogue and atmosphere. I really enjoyed the things we slowly learned about the characters and how we were able to watch as it all came to a head. With such a picturesque island but a slew of murderous attacks, Caroline is in for the fight of her life!! Loved it.

Thank you Suzy approved book tours!
Profile Image for Danielle B.
1,358 reviews220 followers
August 8, 2025
The cover art of SHE’S SO BAD grabbed me before I even read the first sentence of the book. I am happy to say that I also really enjoyed the story! This was a fantastic psychological thriller that takes place in Italy. I loved the fast pace and all of the twists kept me guessing! I will have to check out some of this author’s previous books now.

Many thanks to Bonita Fabian for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
Profile Image for Richard Youngstrom.
24 reviews
September 26, 2025
This is an excellent tale with lots of surprises throughout. The author does an excellent job of creating realistic characters and ensuring their behaviors are consistent with the story line. A series of disclosures as the story unfolds keeps changing the understanding of each character. The final reveal is surprising, but totally in character with the story line and changes the understanding of the book title.
Profile Image for Christy Taylor.
1,182 reviews53 followers
July 15, 2025
I love a book that keeps me guessing and this one did that until the very last sentence. Wow - - so much family drama and so many twists and turns! I absolutely loved the Italian setting. The writing was so descriptive that I could clearly picture it all and could almost taste all the delicious food and drinks. This one was unputdownable for me.
5 reviews
November 29, 2025
Only so-so.

The story seems contrived and only somewhat interesting. Additional work with a good editor could help a lot. For example, the author repeatedly describes and/or introduces main characters, using nearly the same words, as if trying to convince the reader of the truth. B
1 review
May 22, 2025
I truly enjoyed this book .
Very suspenseful and full of intrigue.
I truly enjoyed all the different characters .
Loved that it took place in Italy like her last book .
I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspense!
Profile Image for Sandra.
1,031 reviews31 followers
September 1, 2025
I am definitely in the minority regarding this book. I almost stopped reading it, but I thought it must improve. The descriptions of food and customs kept me going. I did not like the main character nor her stepdaughter. It does have some interesting twists. It was free from BookBub.
5 reviews
September 7, 2025
Slow to read.

I was disappointed that it wasn't a true thriller but a series of small stories about a family. Not much drama. It didn't take long to suspect the niece wasn't anything more than a spoiled brat.
Profile Image for Doris Snyder.
150 reviews7 followers
October 6, 2025
Interesty

This was a very interesting read with a very surprising ending. I alway enjoy a story more when I can’t guess ahead. However, it needs to be carefully edited for errors. Still fine.
236 reviews3 followers
Read
November 24, 2025
Incredulous planning

The story held this reader's interest until the end. I only gave it four stars because I didn't think the last nursing home scene made sense since the character up until then was too smart to make that mistake.
413 reviews3 followers
January 27, 2026
A Murder Mystery With A Surprise Ending

A whole cast of interesting and quirky characters. Family secrets are unveiled little by little. What you believe to be true suddenly is turned around in a shocking way. You find out you didn't know anything until the very end.
Profile Image for AMAO.
2,089 reviews44 followers
May 16, 2025
❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashley Salgado.
20 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2025
Great thriller. It had me invested as soon as I opened the book
142 reviews
September 1, 2025
Loved the twists that continued on til the last sentences in the book. Recommend this book if you like easy read with twists.
511 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2025
Very interesting

This book keeps you wondering what will happen next. With all the twists and turns you will be kept guessing until the very end.
98 reviews
January 6, 2026
Tangled Web

I must say "I didn't see that coming". Do yourself a favor folks read this. Laughing at myself right now.
Profile Image for Debbie Rozier.
1,398 reviews92 followers
July 21, 2025
I enjoyed this thriller set in Sardinia. Caroline has come to visit her family after her husband’s tragic death of a heart attack in his law office. She has brought along her adult step-daughter, Julia, who is very much a brat.

Accidents start piling up for Caroline and she is convinced Julia is out to get her for the inheritance.

I like the pacing of this one. This book is also a prequel of sorts for another one of Bonita’s books, THEY WILL KNOW, which I read and enjoyed.

The twist at the end was well executed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews