The Retreat: A Novel

In Zara Raheem’s newest novel we meet Nadia Abbasi—whose attempts to save her marriage create unexpected complications—and follow her as she navigates the twists and turns of love. Perfect for fans of Sonali Dev, Christina Lauren, and Sara Desai.

Nadia Abbasi’s marriage is falling apart. It starts with a gifted Roomba, but when she stumbles upon some questionable photos in her husband Aman’s office, everything makes sense—the late-night texting, the sudden interest in fitness, the new clothes. Aman—the kind, thoughtful man she married—is having an affair.

Determined to find out what went wrong in her marriage, Nadia enlists the help of Zeba, the estranged sister she hasn’t seen or spoken to since their mom’s funeral over a year ago. As the two sisters fight to reconcile their past, Nadia realizes her relationship with Aman is not the only one that needs mending.

Nevertheless, the plan itself is simple: confront the “other woman” and win back her husband. Her clumsy attempt at sleuthing leads her from yoga studio—Aman’s latest hangout—to a three-day wellness retreat in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains. But somewhere in between falling out of tree pose and choking down plant-based meals, Nadia’s plans unravel again when she discovers more than she expected about herself, her husband, and the nature of love.

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Published Apr 25, 2023

352 pages

Average rating: 7

89 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Sue Dix
Mar 14, 2026
10/10 stars
I read the first book in this series, and I have to say, this second book is much, much better! The lead detective, Elin, really comes into her own in this twisty thriller. A mysterious island with a dark background is the scene of what appears to be an accident, but soon proves to be the first in a series of murders. Elin and Steed have to work solo as a storm descends on the island. Will they catch the murderer? I did not see the ending, and there’s a third book coming soon?
ClaireN
Jan 27, 2024
8/10 stars
Slow start and found it slightly confusing at first as the chapters go from one character to another. But after a while, stories merges into one and the suspens picks up. Nicely written overall and once passed the first few chapters, hard to put down. There will clearly be some more books in the same series, and I am looking forward to reading them.
anne ducastel
Jan 08, 2026
4/10 stars
too much like the sanatorium...
Ellery
Jun 28, 2025
10/10 stars
I liked this book, read it in two sittings
MsWineyBooks
Jun 19, 2025
9/10 stars
This story had a slow start for me and it took me a while to really get into it. But once I did, it was fast paced. The story had twists and turns like you wouldn’t believe. There are 353 story pages and the story twist up until the 352nd page! Definitely a great read.

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