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The Break-Up Retreat: A Novel

Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26
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An undercover journalist goes to expose an exclusive psychological wellness clinic where women go to recover from heartbreak, with dire consequences, in this creepy thriller from The Bachelorette Party author Camilla Sten.

Welcome to Himlafall Clinic, where we use revolutionary therapy techniques to heal you from heartbreak. Whether you are going through a devastating breakup, or can’t seem to stop picking the wrong partners, we are here to help you change your life, once and for all…

Isobel Anderssen has heard rumors. Nestled deep in the Swedish woods, there is a retreat. Primarily aimed at helping women who have gone through devastating break-ups, the Himlafall Clinic is meant to heal your mind and help you move on.

Sometimes people are never heard from again.

Armed with a fake story and a contraband phone to record interviews, Isobel is ready to expose Himlafall’s founder and get closure for the families of missing loved ones. But when she gets there, nothing goes to plan. Her contact is missing. The founder, Dr. Martina Hastings, knows how to get under Isobel’s skin in ways she didn’t anticipate. And all the while, the ghosts of the missing haunt her at every turn. It is clear something is going wrong and Himlafall, and Isobel must uncover the truth, before she disappears once and for all.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 9, 2026

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10136 people want to read

About the author

Camilla Sten

23 books1,403 followers
Camilla Sten is a writer, and her publisher made the mistake of letting her set this author page up by herself. She is best known for her internationally bestselling novel "The Lost Village", which has sold to 19 countries, and has written books ranging from YA fantasy to contemporary thrillers.

Camilla lives in Sweden with her American boyfriend and two fluffy, evil cats. She is quite enjoying talking about herself in the third person, and might keep it going after she's submitted this author bio.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Nilufer Ozmekik.
3,163 reviews61.7k followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 19, 2026
This is a fast-paced, intriguing psychological thriller that delivers a locked-room mystery in an atmospheric and chilling setting. A secluded retreat where heartbroken patients arrive hoping to heal sounds peaceful in theory — but instead of recovery, they find themselves confronting their darkest inner demons… along with an unmistakable outer danger that seems to whisper in their ears, warning them to leave before it’s too late.

Even if you’ve already read the blurb, let me briefly walk you through the premise — and of course, I’ll add my own thoughts along the way.

Isobel Lindschold is an undercover journalist determined to make her big breakthrough. She wants to prove — to the world and to herself — that she is more than just the daughter of a once-admired journalist whose reputation was destroyed by scandal. Her father was her hero until he became her greatest disappointment, and that shadow weighs heavily on her ambitions. Isobel is hungry to expose the truth, to write something meaningful, something that matters.

That’s why she voluntarily enrolls in a breakup retreat at Himlafall Clinic, hidden deep within the isolated Swedish woods. The clinic offers the revolutionary “Hastings Therapy,” created by Dr. Martina Hastings — a disciplined, charismatic psychiatrist and bestselling author whose method promises life-changing transformation.

But Isobel isn’t there to mend a broken heart.

Under a false name and fabricated backstory, she infiltrates the program after discovering a disturbing Reddit comment claiming that a former patient, Susanna Wallin, disappeared after attending the retreat. Isobel suspects something sinister is happening behind the clinic’s serene façade. She plans to investigate from the inside, working with her source Sandra.

Except… when she arrives, Sandra is nowhere to be found.

From that moment, the unease builds steadily. Isobel feels watched. Her belongings — including a hidden burner phone — go missing. The other patients behave erratically, each one unreliable in their own way. Clara, in particular, exerts a manipulative, almost bullying dominance over the group. Dr. Martina herself radiates a cold, unsettling authority, frequently crossing ethical boundaries in the name of “healing.” And the caretakers? They seem to know far more than they reveal.

As isolation tightens its grip, paranoia seeps in. Who can be trusted? Where is Sandra? Why is no one giving her a straight answer? The deeper Isobel digs, the thinner the line becomes between investigation and psychological unraveling. What begins as an exposé slowly transforms into something much more dangerous — and Isobel may have made the gravest mistake of her life by entering a place designed to dismantle the mind.

Overall, while the major twist felt somewhat predictable to me, the final act still delivered heart-pounding intensity and a strong surge of tension. The action sequences toward the end were gripping and cinematic. I did find Isobel’s characterization slightly uneven — her “daddy issues” effectively fuel her motivations, but I kept expecting an additional layer of trauma or emotional depth that never fully materialized. Martina’s psychological dominance over the group also felt a bit questionable at times.

That said, Katarina and Leyla stood out as particularly compelling and emotionally resonant characters. They added nuance and depth to the story that I appreciated.

Despite a few reservations, this was still an absorbing, binge-worthy read that I finished in just a few sittings. The atmosphere alone makes it hard to put down. As a devoted fan of the author, I’m happily rounding my 3.5 stars up to 4 — because even with its imperfections, it completely captured my attention.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for granting my wish and providing a digital copy of this gripping mystery in exchange for my honest thoughts. I truly appreciate the opportunity.
Profile Image for Sarah.
666 reviews
September 24, 2025
I would like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have enjoyed the author’s previous books so I was excited to dive into this one and finished it quickly. Isobel is a journalist going under cover to find out what is really going on at Himlafall, a break up retreat being run by a famous psychologist. She wants to know what happened to a missing patient and why people are going bankrupt over being there. Set in a remote location 5 hours outside of Stockholm, and when the weather goes bad and things start going wrong… it becomes a game of cat and mouse, who will win? A very atmospheric thriller that I couldn’t put down. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with for her next book.
Profile Image for Alana.
332 reviews6 followers
February 26, 2026
Unfortunately, this one didn’t land for me. Although I found the pacing very fast and the setup intriguing, there simply isn’t enough information, dialogue, or action for me to differentiate the characters, get invested in the story, or care about what happens next—especially given how short it is.

The setting is a retreat for recent singles to receive therapy about their relationships and move on from them. However, we never learn why half the people are there or what really happens at the retreat at all. I don’t think many of the core group of characters had any real description beyond the seven or eight names mentioned. Aside from one character who we hear about what colour her hair is and a tattoo she has for some random reason.

At the beginning, there’s a schedule for the retreat, but it only seems to be followed for that one page. After that, there’s no structure at all. The relationships between the patients in their group settings feel very unrealistic, and everything just feels scattered and unfocused. Feels like half the book was missing.

We learn quite a bit about the main character’s past at the beginning, which gives her some depth, but it doesn’t end up connecting to anything else in the story, so it feels pointless. Overall, it all felt very disjointed.

The ending was very anticlimactic and left me with more questions than answers. I was expecting more Wayward-institution vibes or at least some tension building, but instead there was just a lot of nothing.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for an arc copy to review! I would try this author again once more
Profile Image for Trisha.
6,021 reviews237 followers
Want to read
February 16, 2026
oooh I like this author too!! Such a fun, new release year! this cover is gorgeous! Can't wait - Pub Date: June 2026

*** ARC REC'D THANK YOU! **

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Profile Image for Calista Andrechek.
1,362 reviews19 followers
January 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Camille Sten and St Martin’s Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn’t what I expected from Sten, much more thriller than horror until the ending. Still very enjoyable with some stellar twists and decently quick pacing. I would recommend.
Profile Image for Colleen.
43 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of The Break-Up Retreat, publishing June 9, 2026.

The story centers around Isobel, a Scottish journalist looking to make her big break. Thanks to Reddit, she learns about a “break-up retreat” hosted in the Scottish woods by an Instagram-renowned psychologist, promising women that they will get over their breakup and break their precious habits and patterns within a week. When she gets wind of a mysterious disappearance from the resort within the last year, she gets the idea that this could be the piece that puts her on the map and makes her career.

Posing as a struggling woman who got dumped by her fiance, she goes undercover to detail the not so ethical approaches to therapy and the strange behavior of the staff. Her time at the retreat is mysterious and interesting, and I wound up reading the book in 3 days. It’s a semi-slow burn, but has plenty of suspense to keep it interesting until the conclusion, which did wrap everything up, but fell a little flat for me personally.

Overall, I liked this book and enjoyed reading it. I would rate it 3.5 stars and read more by this author when I want a quick thriller.
Profile Image for Megan.
285 reviews1 follower
February 26, 2026
WOW I really enjoyed this one. I kept picking this book up at night and falling asleep and having to close it early but when I picked it back up tonight I could NOT put it down. There were some parts that genuinely creeped me out - and I mean that in a good way. I actually love books that cause visceral reactions like a chill down the spine.

The MC in this book is an undercover journalist who is going to the Himlafalls Clinic disguised as a typical patient; someone recovering from a bad break-up. She has heard rumblings of past patients going missing and mistreatment from the lead psychologist on staff and wants to get to the bottom of it.

I wasn’t entirely interested in all of the therapy sessions, I was mostly interested in the MC sneaking around and what was going on after hours at this clinic. The ending felt a bit scooby-dooish to me and I wondered if a couple plot pieces were entirely realistic.. but overall I found myself very invested in this novel. It was a fun ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced reader copy! 🫶
Profile Image for Kimberly.
168 reviews
February 22, 2026
This was another quick fun read from Camilla Sten. I loved the format of this book with Reddit threads, book, and interview excerpts spread throughout.

Investigative journalist, Isobel goes undercover as a patient in the Himlafall Clinic. Patients have complained of going bankrupt after their stay and one has even gone missing. Isobel is going to prove to everyone she is nothing like her father - a disgraced journalist.

While the ending was predictable, the mixed media format pushed this from a 3.5 to a 4 for me. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Profile Image for Linda.
400 reviews11 followers
February 15, 2026
If you like thrillers with a splash of horror then I highly recommend this novel. Perfect for fans of the author Riley Sager, and fellow lovers of Nordic noir

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Minotaur (the Publisher), for providing me with a complimentary advance digital / e-copy of The Breakup Retreat by Camilla Sten coming out on June 9, 2026 in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Heather Collicutt.
43 reviews8 followers
February 18, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest feedback. This book is a page turner. Very fast paced and kept my attention 100%. There was no page skimming from me in this one!!! What a ride. Highly recommend to check out this book when it releases in June!
650 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 26, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you love locked-room thrillers with cult vibes and a sinister wellness twist, “The Break-Up Retreat” by Camilla Sten is a tense, binge-worthy ride that’s equal parts psychological mind game and survival story.

The story follows Isobel Lindschold, an ambitious journalist desperate to prove she’s nothing like her disgraced father. When she learns about a woman who disappeared after attending the exclusive Himlafall Clinic, a secluded breakup retreat in the Swedish woods, she sees her big break. Under a fake identity, Isobel checks herself into the retreat, determined to expose its charismatic founder, Dr. Martina Hastings, and her so-called “Hastings Therapy.”

But from the moment she arrives, things feel off.

Patients are isolated from the outside world. Group therapy sessions quickly turn into something closer to public humiliation. Martina weaponizes her psychological expertise, tearing into insecurities and even exposing private confessions in front of the group. The atmosphere is thick with gaslighting, manipulation, and quiet intimidation. And when Isobel’s contact at the clinic is suddenly nowhere to be found, her carefully crafted plan begins to unravel.

One of the strongest elements of this book is its atmosphere. The remote forest setting, the locked-door feel of the clinic, and the growing paranoia create a steady undercurrent of dread. Isobel starts to feel watched. Her belongings go missing. Other patients behave unpredictably. With such a contained cast, everyone feels suspicious, whether that is staff, fellow patients, even Martina herself. The tension builds in layers, and the question isn’t just what’s happening at Himlafall, but who’s truly pulling the strings.

The mixed-media format adds another compelling layer. Reddit threads, social media posts, formal complaints, and interview excerpts are woven between chapters, slowly revealing that the retreat’s polished public image doesn’t match reality. These snippets deepen the mystery and make the story feel unsettlingly plausible, especially in an era of influencer psychologists and viral “healing” programs.

Isobel herself is an interesting, if slightly uneven, protagonist. Her motivation, which involves escaping her father’s shadow and restoring journalistic integrity, gives her a strong drive, but emotionally she can feel a bit distant at times. Still, watching her slowly succumb to Martina’s manipulation while being aware and even while investigating it, is one of the book’s most chilling aspects. It highlights just how skilled and dangerous psychological control can be.

As for the twists: there are several. You may see parts of the big reveal coming, especially with a limited suspect pool, but the layered nature of the mystery and the action-packed climax still deliver satisfying tension. What starts as a “maybe it’s a cult” story becomes something more complex and unexpected. The final act escalates dramatically, with high stakes and real consequences, and ultimately wraps up the major threads while offering thoughtful commentary on abuse, power, and mental health.

Overall, “The Break-Up Retreat” is a fast-paced, atmospheric psychological thriller that explores manipulation, ambition, and the dark side of self-help culture. Even if parts feel predictable, the unsettling setting, layered mystery, and sharp look at psychological control make it an absorbing read you can easily finish in a sitting.
Profile Image for Suesyn Zellmer.
526 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 19, 2026
One of the issues I had with this story is the premise of people spending exorbitant amounts of money for a retreat at the Himlafall Clinic just because they’ve had a break-up. They never say how much it costs either, so is it really that much money, or does it just seem that way to people who don’t have much money? Isobel is one of those people, but she comes up with the money somehow (it’s never explained how) and intends to go there to investigate rumors she’s heard about people disappearing from the retreat.

And even though her friend who works there warned her not to let the leader get to her, you’ll never guess what happens. Yes, she lets her get to her, and she almost becomes one of the ridiculous people who believe in the ridiculous self-help BS. It’s like the one thing she was supposed to not do, and Isobel does it. Come on! The leader’s not even that charismatic - she uses terrible methods that are the opposite of healing, and everyone is just blind to it.

Although the author tries to convey a spooky and creepy atmosphere, it just becomes long-winded and very slow-paced throughout. Most of the sense of danger was just in Isobel’s head; she’d be terrified of the littlest thing that wasn’t remotely frightening. At one point, Isobel wants to leave, and even though she just feels verbally threatened and is in no way prevented from leaving, she still doesn’t go!

I enjoyed this author’s previous book immensely, but this one just doesn’t have the same appeal. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC copy of The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten.

I've read all of Camilla Sten's books (all eARC believe it or not) and The Break-Up Retreat is certainly one of her better books following her debut. I read this in a matter of two days as it kept me on my toes throughout Isobel's journey at the retreat as well as her personal backstory.

Set deep in the eerie stillness of the Swedish woods, the Himlafall Clinic is an unforgettable backdrop - both serene and suffocating. A retreat designed to heal broken hearts becomes the perfect setting for secrets, manipulatin, and mounting dread. The atmosphere so vivid you can feel the cold air and hear the forest closing in.

Isobel Anderssen is a compelling, flawed, and fiercely determined journalist. Her mission to expose the truth behind Himlafall - and its founder, Dr. Martina Hastings after the disappearance of one of her patients creates a constant undercurrent of tension. Little by little, as the layers peel back, the psychological cat-and-mouse between them becomes increasingly tense and deeply personal.

The pacing can feel a bit repatitive in some ways, but the twists are genuinely surprisng. Sten does a wonderful job exploring grief, vulnerability, and the dangerous allure of charismatic authority. The little internet snippits are a nice touch, adding to the tension of the story.

The Break-Up Retreat is one that will linger with you.
1,333 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 16, 2026
“The Break-Up Retreat” is a wild story. Isobel is going undercover to expose Dr. Martina Hastings and the Himlafall Clinic. She is convinced that Dr. Martina is toxic and dangerous. And her concerns quickly seem to be born out. Dr. Martina is manipulative and engages in unethical behavior, sharing confidential information from individual therapy sessions in the group therapy sessions to break down the patients.

However, she might not be the only threat. Isobel is experiencing strange things and being warned about inquiring further. Isobel thinks one of the staff could be a potential ally, but efforts are made to limit contact. Some of the other patients start to question Dr. Martina’s methods but she is very effective at squashing dissent, often by tearing down the dissenter.

In addition to events at the clinic, the story is interspersed with snippets of Reddit conversations that focus on a woman in an abusive relationship with another woman, as well as Instagram posts and comments that focus on Dr. Martina, many positive but also regular negative comments from one individual trying to expose Dr. Martina. There are also snippets from a formal but anonymous complaint against Dr. Martina and Himlafall Clinic, as well as other information suggesting there is a problem.

Someone is playing a dangerous long game.
Profile Image for Paige.
71 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2026
This was a fast-paced, locked-door thriller with a really unique concept that immediately pulled me in. The idea of a secretive breakup retreat set at the Himlafall Clinic? So good. It’s the kind of setting that automatically feels tense and suspicious in the best way.

The story follows Isobel, who goes undercover at the retreat to expose its founder, and that undercover angle definitely kept things moving. The pacing was strong throughout — it’s one of those books you can fly through in a couple of sittings.

That said, I didn’t feel super connected to Isobel as the female main character. Her backstory was well built out and thoughtfully developed, but emotionally I just never fully clicked with her. I wanted a little more depth in how she reacted to everything happening around her.

It was also fairly predictable at times, and with a limited cast of characters, it wasn’t too hard to narrow down where things were heading. Still, the atmosphere and unique premise made it an entertaining read overall.

If you like contained, suspenseful thrillers with an undercover twist and a slightly sinister wellness vibe, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC.
Profile Image for Lauren.
30 reviews5 followers
February 20, 2026
✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨
The Break Up Retreat by Camilla Sten
4 ⭐️
Genre: Atmospheric Psychological Thriller

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for this advanced reader copy! To start:
- I loved the unique plot line - heartbroken women spend an arm and a leg to earn a week at the Himlafall clinic. An undercover journalist signs up in hopes to investigate the woman who mysteriously disappeared from there!
- The atmospheric setting - a secluded and exclusive cabin retreat in the Swedish woods? A scary rain storm? Yes please to all!
- The mixed media in the story - you’ll see email excerpts, Reddit threads, Instagram posts. I truly enjoy books that incorporate these.

Why didn’t I rank this novel 5 stars?
- There were quite a few characters that didn’t receive enough development in order for me to tell them apart. Leyla and Katarina were very similar.
- The pacing felt a bit slow at certain points. A little extra editing down could help this book to pack a bigger punch.
- I wish there had been more clues along the way. I like a book where I’m questioning everyone at every corner. The villain just seemed like a weird vagrant in the woods.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book! I binged it in 2 days and will absolutely be recommending to friends and family!
779 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 25, 2026
Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Break-Up Retreat: A Novel by Camilla Sten from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. It will be published in June 2026.

I really enjoyed reading Camilla Sten's debut novel, so I was super excited when I had a chance to read an advanced copy of The Break-Up Retreat: A Novel. More than 20 years ago, when I was going through a terrible break-up, I thought it would be genius to start a retreat for women getting over a broken heart. Apparently, I am not the only one who has thought about this concept. Admittedly, I was thinking of a more positive environment than the retreat in this book.

Sten's break-up retreat is borderline culty. No surprise that in this high control environment things start to go very wrong. An investigative journalist goes undercover at the retreat to look into the mysterious disappearance of a former participant. To do that, she has to confront some of her own relationship demons. While I found the mystery/thriller aspect great, I really got into the treatment methods and the social media postings about the retreat philosophy. I could have read a whole other book just about that because the psychology bits are intriguing. If you like a somewhat locked room mystery, cults, or psychological thrillers, check this out!

Bonus points for the way the advertising was weaved into the posts just like you see in real life. It was perfect.
Profile Image for gina dickerson.
12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading this author, and I ended up finishing the book in one sitting. I’ve always had a soft spot for thrillers with cult-like premises, and this one really worked for me. I found the story to be atmospheric and engaging.
The story follows Isobel, a journalist who goes undercover at Himlafall, a remote breakup retreat run by a instagram famous psychologist to investigate the disappearance of a former patient and why guests seem to be leaving emotionally and financially devastated. The isolated setting, combined with the main character’s undercover role, creates a constant undercurrent of tension, heightened even more as the weather turns and events begin to spiral. I also really enjoyed the reddit threads and the doctor’s notes woven throughout the story which added an extra element that I enjoyed. The blend of psychological suspense with light horror elements made this an immersive, fast-paced read that I flew through. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,560 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 17, 2026
This is a fast-paced thriller, one of the author's strongest. Isobel is a journalist who is waiting for her big break. She may have found it in a retreat for the broken hearted, where a young woman went missing several months ago. She creates a backstory, gets funding from a friend, and has another friend working at the facility. It seems like she's made it as safe as possible.

But when she gets there, things start to mysteriously disappear. The therapy methods are very controversial and create problems and mistrust amongst the patients. And someone is changing files, hiding in the woods, all kinds of suspicious behavior.

It's not at all what Isobel signed up for, and becomes more dangerous by the minute. You have an idea where the story is going, but not how it is going to get there. Also, it's quite atmospheric and doesn't rely on elements of the supernatural (as some of the author's earlier work has) - this is grounded in reality, which made it more terrifying.

This is a quick, very entertaining thriller.
162 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this title.
The Himlafall Clinic makes for a chilling backdrop in The Breakup Retreat, and the atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from a Camilla Sten mystery. The story stays in Isobel’s perspective, but the addition of Martina’s social media posts and some Reddit threads keeps the mystery of the clinic engaging. Those digital snippets provide a modern layer to the plot that makes it easy to stay invested in what is actually going on.

The short chapters also make this a very quick read, which is always a plus for keeping the momentum high in a thriller. While Isobel is a decent lead, the subplot involving her father felt unnecessary and didn't really add anything to the story. The twist itself is quite interesting, though some of the ways things play out near the end feel a bit juvenile and silly. It isn't a perfect thriller, but it is a solid, enjoyable read.
#TheBreakUpRetreat #NetGalley
Profile Image for Amanda.
19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 19, 2026
2.5 stars, but rounded up to a 3. The premise of The Break Up Retreat immediately grabbed me, an isolated heartbreak clinic in the Swedish woods with rumors of missing women is such a strong setup for a psychological thriller. The atmosphere is moody and unsettling, and the concept had so much potential.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.

The pacing felt very slow, and I found myself skimming sections to stay engaged. While the setting is eerie, the tension never fully escalated in a way that felt surprising or gripping. I also struggled to connect with the characters, which made it difficult to feel invested in the outcome or the stakes.

There are readers who will likely appreciate the quieter, slow-burn psychological approach, but I personally wanted more suspense, sharper twists, and stronger emotional investment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bo.
114 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 26, 2026
Oof.
This book... was not my favorite.

The premise was pretty familiar- a retreat of some sort, something bad has (probably) happened there, and someone is going undercover to figure it out. It's been done before and will be done again- but that doesn't mean it can't be thrilling.

Unfortunately, I did not find this thrilling. I saw pretty much everything that was going to happen immediately in the book- love interests, who the baddie was, what was at play behind the scenes.

Now, the last 15-20% of the book is fast-paced and held my attention, but by that point I didn't really feel invested in any of the characters. The main character was an idiot and there were too many other people at play to really get to know any of them.

So if you have a big TBR and don't need to add to it- I would say skip this. If you really enjoy this particular trope, give it a go and maybe you'll like it more than I did!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Profile Image for Olivia Adrianna.
135 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 18, 2026
Everything by Sten I will read and devour.

This was no exception, and dare I say one of the best by the author.

Dr. Martina Hastings runs a wellness clinic under the guise of helping people move on from their pasts after heartbreak, and takes a lot of guidance from her book « Freud’s ex-Girlfriend ».

The alias, Isobel is her fake name, is a journalist looking into the disappearance of one of the patients who went missing while at the retreat. On her first night, she receives a note saying:

« Go home. There is nothing for you here. It’s too late. »

The twists turn and the isolation creates an ambience for the reader. The woman who disappeared, Susannah, is not who we seem to think she is as social media results begin to reveal…

Really good! Read in one sitting and absolutely captivated.
Profile Image for Zoe Lipman.
1,434 reviews32 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 19, 2026
4.5/5 rounded up because this was so much fun and I am so very kind and generous.

I loved this! I had so much fun with this!

This follows a journalist who goes undercover at a retreat designed for people who have just had rough break-ups (hence the title). But this place is sketchy, hence the journalist.

And things get messier...and spookier.

I think anything else I could say could be spoiler-y. Just know, that this was fun and I sped through it in one sitting.

I think the atmosphere and location of this book was perfect for spooky happenings, I am always suspicious of retreats like this.

The characters were impactful, I felt strongly about every single one of them. At some point, I was suspicious of everyone.

Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Ken Fredette.
1,204 reviews57 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 20, 2026
I like either of the Sten's and read all books made into English. This story is about Psychologist's and Psychiatrist's and I am happily retired. It surrounds an unhappy patient who comes back to a clinic with something of hatred for the founder of the clinic. The owner was not there when this patient was at the clinic and it turned into hatred of her. Isobel was the reporter that was going to make a scope of the clinic to the public but was undercover while their. It turns out a person working for the clinic goes berserk and kills several people. This is a story that shows how therapy works when it is abused by the people that are technicians who abuse what people say in one on one therapy and bring it up during group therapy.
Profile Image for Emelia (emeliaisreading).
469 reviews33 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 26, 2026
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: June 9, 2026

📍 Swedish Mountains
🏨 Psychological Wellness Clinic
🎙 Undercover Journalist
💧 Daddy Issues

The pacing was very slow, and a lot of the dialogue from the workers at the clinic made me feel like I was reading a bad self-help book. I kept hoping it would pick up, but aside from scamming, manipulative therapist, and girls arguing, there was very little going on well past 50%. Once it picked up, the twists were great, but it felt like nothing happened for a long time, then everything happened at once. I just wish the pacing had been quicker.

Thank you so much Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy.
Profile Image for Emma Crowell.
164 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 17, 2026
I read Camilla Sten’s first book, The Lost Village, back in 2019, and it was nice to get to read something else from her again. In both her first book, and in this one, Sten has an excellent premise, and is good at setting up a story that seems to be moving one way, only for the twist to occur and change everything. But there’s a lot of loose ends left after the twist, characters fall kind of flat, and the person turns out not to be the villain gets suddenly cast as someone who did no wrong, because they aren’t the true villain. But her books read really quick, are very spooky in their atmosphere, and are always enjoyable.
Profile Image for asil.
101 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 21, 2026
This was so fun. An undercover girly gets admittance into an exclusive treatment facility to expose a swindling psychologist who’s bankrupting vulnerable people… and maybe connected to a patient’s disappearance? I was instantly in

The Reddit thread inserts layered in suspicion and outside perspective, and I loved how it exposed the corrupt side of Instagram wellness culture with the curated ads, the influencer endorsements, the constant push to spend money in the name of “healing”. It felt sharp and uncomfortably realistic.

And that ending!!! I reread it three times because my brain needed a reset. Such a fabulous, perfectly executed twist.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC!!!!
Profile Image for Sarah Skoniecki.
62 reviews5 followers
February 24, 2026
The breakup retreat by Camilla Sten follows the story of a freelance journalist on a mission to uncover what nefarious practices might be happening at an intensive “breakup” retreat in the countryside of Sweden.
I was hooked by the first few pages, the writing style is well-crafted but with a steady pace of new details that makes it hard to put the book down.
I loved the way the facility and the surrounding grounds were described I really felt like I was there making it easy to get lost in the book and imagine being there as the story unfolded. There were definitely some twists I didn’t see coming. Would definitely recommend this book the suspense at times had me holding my breath!
Profile Image for SuzieQuzie7973.
163 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 24, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Camilla Sten for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.

The Break-Up Retreat is just so amazing. This book checked all the thriller boxes for me. The character development and world building is fantastic. Ms. Camilla,s writing flows like honey. The turns, twists and suspense will leave y'all saying " wait, what?" Ms. Camilla is going to draw you in quickly and not let go until the very end. If y'all like thrillers with a touch of horror, then this book is for you.

I wholeheartedly recommend that y'all get y'alls hands on this book. Trust me, y'all won't regret it.
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