This book was such a nice read.
Through this story, you not only fall in love with with two amazing characters, but you get to travel to a completely different part of the world and explore it through the eyes of these characters.

Blake and Jubilee are realistic characters with whom I could connect a lot. Their relationship development was really well-written.
I loved how Blake is soft and shy and he always blushes around Jubilee. And Jubilee is such an unique character. She's a strong woman of colour who is passionate, driven and has a beautiful voice.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. I always love a good vacation romance book.

I liked it! Blake is so cute, blushing just because Jubilee is stunning. He was so awkward and she’s so bright, fun and outgoing.

I personally don’t like long chapters. It also ran to long for me. In the middle there was nothing happening, like the relationship got stuck. Also some problems got quickly solved, out of nowhere. And she was so confused with her feelings one day and magically decided a grand gesture in 2 seconds. It also frustrated me that he didn’t get to talk at all, when the main conflict came. She just decided and got away.

The writing style was repetitive. The places were described beautifully. The characters were fun but there wasn't much going on, a lot was inner monologues.

Blake gets left at the altar. He decides to do something crazy - to still go on his two-week honeymoon cruise. Jubilee is waiting for her big break. In the meantime, she sings on stage four cruise ship. They meet on the cruise and quickly form a connection. Jubilee becomes Blake's tour guide on days off the ship. As the two week cruise comes to an end, they need to decide what they are going to do!

If you're looking for a great summer book or beach read, look no further! This one was great. I've never been on a cruise and it made me want to go on one and see all the sites they talked about. Also, who DOESN'T swoon over a cute, rich man?!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: June 11

I love books where the characters have been places I’ve been to. While I haven’t been to Athens where the cruise starts, I have been to both Rome and Barcelona which were featured. In the Barcelona scenes I had been to all the places mentioned so it filled me with wonderful memories.

I liked both Blake and Jubilee. Both were very fun characters. I will say that this is an insta-love story which I’m not a big fan of, but Mila handled it well showing the pair first become friends and then grow to something more. The book was also quite a short and easy read, so that also contributed to the feeling that they were progressing very quickly in their relationship.

My biggest struggle with this book was the evil-ex trope. It one of my least favorite tropes because it feels misogynistic. While this book wasn’t overly egregious on this front, it just rubs me the wrong way because no one is actually like this in real life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Edition NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect book to read during summer vacations. It's lovely, cute, fun, lighthearted. And it has romance, vacation, travelling, and wonderful characters.
It made me want to travel so much! and visit all those lovely places Blake and Jubilee went to.
Even though I didn't connect that much with the characters, I still loved them. I love how natural, bubbly, and real Jubilee is. And I think I'm a little in love with Blake. He's so cute, kind, and eager to know life for real.
And I have to say, I really liked the ending. It wasn't the typical predictable happy ending. Still, it sweet and a happy ending nonetheless.

Between 3 and 3 1/2.

Blake is left at the altar and he decides to go on his honeymoon in a luxury cruise by himself. He meets Jubilee, who's a singer, and they make an arrangement for her to show him the cities at the ports. They come from different backgrounds, and lead very different lives, but they become friends and start crushing on each other.

It was the first time I read this author. The writing is solid, the characters are interesting, and it was a cute story.

There's sexual content and some language, and I think the story would have been stronger without both.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Could there be a book more geared to my interests? We have - a "Clark Kent but even sweeter" male lead who is jilted at the altar; a talented woman of color slowly coming into her own; cruise ship shenanigans; sightseeing galore with a vacation romance turning happily ever after!

I like that although Blake comes with all the trappings of a romance novel billionaire (because he is, in fact, a billionaire in a romance novel), he is also a bit fumbly and shy and figuring things out for himself. Jubilee is just lovely and you're immediately on her side the moment you meet her. If it was a bit more steamy, it would have been an automatic five star read but even with the steam dialed down, this was exactly what I needed to read right now with the world going up in flames.

I really wanted to like this book and have heard such good things about the author. I wasn't into it from the first chapter when I found the hero's best friend to be so awful. I tried to power through and ended up stopping at 17%. Mostly, the writing style did not work for me and I found there was so much exposition so early that it felt forced and I kept waiting for that to pass and it didn't seem like it was going to happen. I'm rounding up to 2 stars here but I'm not providing a star rating on Goodreads because I'm sure if I powered through it had the potential to redeem itself to a 2.5-3 stars and I don't feel comfortable leaving a 1 star review since I read so little.

4.5 stars

Blake is so unapologetically in love with Jubilee and pursues her with the utmost persistence yet respect. Jubilee is the enjoyable, fun-loving but determined female lead I love to see. Both our characters really flourished with the other and we were truly able to see them become better versions of themselves as a result of the influence of the other.

It may have been a bit disconcerting to think about cruise ships given current circumstances but I loved watching them voyage across the Mediterranean from Montenegro and Malta to Rome and Barcelona. My biggest complaint is that it triggered my wanderlust for places I still can't go to. Jokes aside, I loved the vibrant descriptions of all the destinations and the various backdrops in this book themselves deserve a 5 star rating.

The reconciliation was slightly dragged out, more than necessary in my opinion but didn't detract too much from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Cannot wait for this to be released so I can get my hands on a physical copy because this cover is 🔥😍

**Thank you to NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are subjective but my own.**

I just more Jubliee and Blake. They were a cute couple. Love the whole thing.

I've just learned the meaning of the word cinnamon roll..and I am certain Blake fits that description.

He is such as genuine person who's never reached out of his bubble. never tried anything different until being left at the alter rocked his world.

Jubilee is trying her hardest to believe in herself as a singer and individual

Blake and Jubilee start to become friends then more and it's exactly what I want to see.

The big questions are:
Can they make it in the real world? .They live a different life, From different backgrounds.
Of course, as every romance should end there is a happy ending.
Loved the whole thing and I just want to read more about them. They are my relationship goals for sure.

This is an ultimate vacation read for me!

Who wouldn't want to spend their time on a Mediterranean cruise, especially at a time like this?? We all need a getaway and books are the best way for that, and this book right here is perfect if you love adventures to new cities and love that has no bounds!

I definitely felt the ocean breeze with this book and I love the characters so much. Jubilee just has the most personality and pizzazz and everything about her screams fun character, then the juxtaposition with Blake, calm and collected, awkward at times and her perfect compliment. Yes, please!

Also the cover?? I've already raved about it everywhere I went but I just love it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory editing for the earc in return for an honest review.

I received an ARC in trade for an honest review.

For Vacation Only by Mila Nick is a quick easy romance that is well written and perfect for a day at the beach during hot girl summer!

The plot was not my taste, but I can see how many readers would enjoy it. I liked the first 30% of the book, but once Jubilee and Black started really hanging out, I began to lose interest. Their relationship was too intsa-love for my personal taste. The majority of the book occurs during a two-week cruise. Jubilee works on the cruise as a singer, and Blake is a guest after being left at the altar. Both characters got dumped by their significant others, making me see their relationship as more of a rebound than a long-standing relationship. I would have preferred if the characters met on the cruise, and then we saw their relationship develop more in the real world than in the cruise ship bubble.

Blake, being a white rich man, has a lot of inherent privileges that he does not recognize. Jubilee does call him out on this privilege multiple times and accuses him of throwing money at his problem. While Blake does eventually acknowledge this, it doesn't seem like Blake grows and understands this privilege to me as the reader.

I did enjoy the touring aspect of this book. It was interesting to see Blake and Jubilee travel to different European ports. I also like Jubilee is a person of color and discusses how that affects her life and her relationship with Blake and his family. The book was also very well written. I do plan on reading some of this author's other works with hopefully different romance tropes!

I would rate this book 3.5 stars and if you like the insta-love romance trope, definitely check this book out!

This book is really a beach read - or deck read, if you wish. A Mediterranean cruise, 2 loveable, humble people thrown together for 2 weeks, visiting beautiful cities, navigating their own confusing feelings, what's not to love? It is a bright, summer day breeze of a novel. The characters were a tiny bit too predictable, the story line a tiny bit too cheesy for my taste, but it is still a lovely light reading when you do not want to have a care in the world.

I loved the plot and the ship life - and Dawson (obviously). It is a highly enjoyable read, it makes you wish jumping aboard:-)

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing Co-op and Mila Nicks for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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Q: Have you ever been on a cruise ship?
A: ABSOLUTELY NOT. You will never catch me in open ocean water, giant ship or not. I do think they’re well worth the money, though! My guy and I have our first big roadtrip in two weeks. We’re driving 12 hours west to spend five days hiking in South Dakota and I’m SO EXCITED.
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Two books back to back set in paradise, I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something! While my last book, The Layover, was about flight attendants, For Vacation Only takes us into the world of cruising. When mega rich Blake Mulligan gets left at the altar, he decides to take his friend’s advice and go on what should’ve been his honeymoon. Two weeks exploring new ports, drinking fancy cocktails and ignoring his phone, what could go wrong? Jubilee Collazo is aboard the ship as a singer for the entertainment nights and instantly catches Blake’s attention. Between her lilac curls and angelic voice, he’s quickly drawn in and realizes she is so much more. When Jubilee agrees to be his unofficial tour guide their chemistry is soon off the charts, but what happens when the vacation is over?
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This was such a fun and light read, perfect as your poolside companion! Watching (reading) Blake open up and become a better version of himself through Jubilee was sweet and they really fit together well. Their relationship has a hint of insta-love while still giving you a slow burn feel and the steam is tasteful but still a little saucy for those who like a little bedroom action with their romances! Jubilee was a gem and her free-spirit personality was the perfect balance to Blake’s buttoned up vibe and they were both extremely likeable characters. The pacing was fast and I wasn’t always sure what the time line was, like what day of the week/of the cruise it was, but that didn’t cause any issues on the comprehension side of things!

The best things about For Vacation Only, are Blake, Jubilee, their relationship, touring the European stops on the cruise, and the cover. Those are some great best things to have in romance. There were some other things that were less great, but nothing I really hated.

Blake’s wedding day starts with his fiancé running off with another man and leaving him a note on a place card. He is irritated and embarrassed, but not devastated. His friends take him out, get him drunk, and then encourage him to take his honeymoon Mediterranean cruise by himself. Blake wants a little time to hide from the world, so he goes.

Jubilee, one of the singers in the cruise’s stage show, has just been dumped by her sort of boyfriend who takes us with her nemesis. She’s also struggling with anxiety and stage fright as she has her very first solo. Blake first hears her sing in rehearsal and then on stage and is blown away. When she first sees him in the lounge bar, she sees Clark Kent, with toilet paper stuck to his shoe. Eventually, she agrees to be his tour guide for the port stops. The relationship they develop is lovely.

Blake is waking up and growing up. Coming from a very wealthy family with a lot of expectations, he has largely shut himself down and done what is expected of him. With Jubilee, he starts going off script and discovers there are things he wants for himself. Jubilee has her own growth arc, but Blake’s is the bigger arc, and it’s surprisingly satisfying for a rich white man arc.

I didn’t love the evil ex side stories. The evil ex can easily slide into misogyny, and while I don’t think it did here, the exes got a lot more pages than I wanted to read. Blake and Jubilee had plenty of internal obstacles – class, wealth, meeting on a cruise ship, she has dreams of being a singer, he’s figuring out how to be his own person. All of that was plenty of conflict. More importantly, the evil exes were boring, barely fleshed out caricatures.

For Vacation Only was a mostly enjoyable couple of hours. It will get you dreaming about visiting the Mediterranean.

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Cute story with great characters. Jubilee is the absolute best, and Blake is the stuff of dreams. The way their relationship developed was entertaining and satisfying. Overall it was a solid effort; the writing itself left me a little underwhelmed but the story was very cute.

• The cover is one of the prettiest I have ever seen. Well done, there! It totally made me want to read it AND kinda wish I could frame a print of it and hang it somewhere.
• I love the “Left at the altar and goes on the honeymoon alone” trope. (Is that a trope? Idk but I love it.) It can be really fun and unpredictable.
• For having been born and raised in great wealth and enjoying existence as a perfect physical male specimen, Blake is extremely down to earth and genuinely kind. Love me a good cinnamon roll.
• Jubilee is awesome and impossible not to root for.
• Interracial *and* socioeconomic class-crossing relationship! So here for more diversity and representation. 👏🏼

Writing: C
Story: B+
Characters: A
Stars: 3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC

For Vacation Only by Mila Nicks follows Blake Mulligan right after he gets left at the altar. Following this betrayal, Blake breaks free of his ‘predictable’ reputation by going on the honeymoon cruise anyway—without his snobby, socialite fiancée. For the next fourteen days he hopes to escape reality and pretend he hasn’t suffered the humiliation of a lifetime. The last thing he expects is to meet beautiful songstress Jubilee Collazo with her honey-sweet voice.

This book was a quick and light read that was perfect for the summertime. I don't think this book is particularly memorable and it felt a little too insta-lovey for me to get too invested in the main romance. Also I feel like the problems keeping the pair apart were wrapped up a little too quickly and easily. Overall, this was a fast read that I read in one sitting and would recommend for the summertime.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review will be posted on blog (allinwitha.com), instagram (allinwitha) and on Amazon on 6/12. Already posted on Goodreads.

Rating: 3.5/5

Looking for a fun gateway book? Likes: vacation vibes in the Mediterranean, upstairs/downstairs, slow burn, mildly corn and a strong heroine? This might be the book for you!

I enjoyed seeing Jubilee and Blake’s relationship flourish while getting to explore different parts of their travels. The characters were genuine and a delightful form of quirky. The family issues presented were realistic and not contrived. Insta-love while not my jam for everyday, worked for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. I never expected to love this book as much as I did but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This cute and romantic travel romance is a book I'll be recommending to people for a while. I loved watching Blake and Jubilee fall in love with each other. This was my first time reading a book by Mila Nicks but I definitely will be back to read more because I love the characters that she creates. I especially loved Blake because he was a complete cinnamon roll love interest. He looked at Jubilee like she hung the moon and stars. Like she was the moon and the stars! I love male love interests that adore the women that they love and it was great to see this in this well-written story.

This was a fun getaway read! I really felt like I was exploring the various European cities with Blake and Jubliee, it was escapism at its finest! While I am not a fan of family issues in books, the ones presented here felt realistic and fitting, so I can’t complain.

Similarly, Jubilee and Blake felt like real people, with genuine responses to the challenges they faced and how they lived life. It was so amazing to watch them grow together and become better people because of it. They are also both genuinely likeable characters on their own, with Jubilee as this quirky, free-spirit who shines so bright and Blake as a true Clark Kent with the good looks and a dash of awkwardness and bashfulness to spare.

Their romance did feel a bit like insta-love, but in a truly well done way that I could still enjoy, especially because they truly did strangers to lovers well. Overall it was a fun summer read and has me thinking about new colors I should dye my hair and places I should add to my travel bucket list!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!