Quick Synopsis:
This is a tale of eight lonely people desperate to leave their past behind. The strangers’ stories connect through their stay in a sad hostel set against the picturesque backdrop of Venice Beach.

The story's narration style makes this novel incredibly difficult to explain. There are eight characters, and Marrs tells the story from all viewpoints. Additionally, The Vacation sprinkles in a dual timeline for each character, alternating between past and present to help the reader fully understand what each character escaped. It sounds complicated, and it is at first, but once I got to know the characters’ pasts, I was fully invested in getting to the end.

Characters:
The way Marrs unwinds characters’ backstories is so compelling. Often, with Marrs’ writing, I find that despite hating the characters, Marrs’ characterizations capture my interest so quickly that I’m furiously turning pages to see if the characters meet demise or success. This was definitely the case with Nicole and Eric and Ruth.

Storyline/Pacing:
The Vacation was not what I would call a suspense novel. That said, it was an enjoyable, quick read.

Author:
Marrs always excels at intermingling backstories and viewpoints in intriguing ways that leave me thinking about the novel many weeks after finishing it.

Overall:
I am a John Marrs fan. Every novel I’ve read by him has offered a mind-bending plot easily recommendable to all I know. This was not my favorite of his, but it is still twisted and worth a read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the Digital Review Copy of The Vacation. All opinions are my own.

I will admit that as much as I have loved other John Marrs' books, I was considering putting this one down about 25% in. I am very glad I stuck it out though, because I think that the last 20% of the book made all the confusion at the beginning worth it!

I was really happy to be approved for this book. I have had multiple John Marrs books on my TBR for a while now. I was a bit confused by all the characters in this at first. There was a lot of back story and setting up to keep track of. I got comfortable with all the moving parts just in time for the first twist. This book has tons of twists!! Is this what I've been missing in John Marrs' books? This was not what I expected but I'm happy with how it all came together in the end. This was quite a ride. 😊 Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC!!

I loved the setting of The Vacation by John Marrs. Having been to Venice Beach, Los Angeles, I could completely envision the area. The story was a little different than what he usually writes, it was published back on April 29, 2015. Perhaps it was one of his first books, it didn’t feel like the books he usually writes but I digress!

This book involves eight people at a rundown hostel, each running from something and harboring secrets. Their stories go from the present day to the past so we can get a full glimpse of each person and their history, gaining perspective and understanding for each.

Synopsis:

Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth. Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood. But for eight strangers at a beach-front hostel, there is far more on their minds than an extended vacation. All of them are running from something. And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep…

I liked the short chapters and even though there was a large cast of characters to follow, it wasn’t confusing because they had their own story and personality. A good, solid read.

3.5 stars rounded up. Kept me interested once I got the characters straight. Twisty.

Eight characters are staying at a hostel in Venice Beach, California. Each has their own reason for being there, and the interplay and connections between them is surprising and occasionally shocking. They all have things in their pasts that they are running from. Some are hiding their true identities, some are hiding parts of themselves, some are hiding things they have done. When it all comes to light, who will come out unscathed in the end?

There are lots and lots of twists and turns in this plot. Some things I figured out and some I didn't. I was really shocked by some of the turns of event in the story. Other things, while occasionally a bit implausible, were at least entertaining if I just went with it rather than trying to overanalyze whether they were realistic or not.

This is a reworking/re-release of an older novel of this author's, and while it wasn't the favorite of his that I've read, I did enjoy my time with these characters once I worked out who was who and could keep their various stories straight. It's a fast paced read that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

Definitely a fun read! It was slow to start as it's building the back stories for all the eight characters. The action really takes off around the 50% mark - so be patient and hold on for the ride. I love the premise of the run down hostel and all the travelers checking in from all over the globe. Everyone has a deep dark past with lots of secrets. There was plot twist after twist. The story telling in this one was definitely fun in the end. Reminded me of the author's other book The One.

I didn't realize this was a re-release until after I had finished it, but it was new to me. I have enjoyed se4veral of John Marrs' books so I was happy to pick this one up.

Description:
How far would you run to escape your past?

For eight strangers in a Los Angeles backpacking hostel, even the other side of the world isn’t far enough.

The craving for a new identity and the chance to start again is something they have in common. But the search for a fresh start isn't as easy as they'd imagined.

And they soon discover that it doesn't matter where you are or who you are - if you can't lay the past to rest, coincidence, fate and deception have a way of catching up with you when you least expect it.

My Thoughts:
I've never had a backpacking experience nor stayed in a hostel so the concept was intriguing. The guests at the hostel as well as the employees all seem to be escaping from something and all have their own secrets they want to protect. It was fun delving into these seemingly unrelated lives and finding how their stories developed. The connections provided some surprise twists that were unexpected. Some of the stories are disturbing and all are interesting. There are eight main characters whose stories unfold during the book and the characters were well developed. Overall it was a fun read and kept my attention.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Vacation by John Marrs.
How far would you run to escape your past?
Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth. Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood. But for eight strangers at a beach-front hostel, there is far more on their minds than an extended vacation. All of them are running from something. And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep…
I did enjoy this book. I love this author. Did not expect that. 5*.

The Vacation by John Marrs is an addictive thriller set in a rundown backpackers hostel in Venice Beach, LA. Relationships form, and dark secrets are revealed. They all have their own reasons to be there, each journey leads them somewhere. Wherever they eventually arrive will be a point of no return, yet it will be a start for a new journey. Bottom line, John Marrs is an amazing author, with incredible talent, and I'll definitely be reading his future works. I suggest you do the same.

Title: The Vacation
Author: John Marrs
New Edition Pub Date: December 19, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.5 Rounded Up)

This was my first and won’t be my last read by John Marrs! This book follows several different people from all over the world who end up at a run down hostel in Venice Beach, California. All are looking for an escape from their own lives and they all have secrets they are hiding.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to love this book because there are many characters and it takes several chapters to introduce them all. However, this character building is necessary to the story, since as we get to know them better, connections begin to unfold and secrets are revealed….. And once this starts to happen, the twists just keep coming! I literally could not put this book down because there are twists at the end of almost every chapter that I never saw coming.

The story also goes back and forth between the past and present lives of the characters and is done in such a clever way that I felt like I was putting together a puzzle. If you want a different type of read that will keep you in suspense and guessing about how every character’s story will end, then definitely give this book a try!

Thank you to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the ARC of this updated edition of this book.

Complex, Interwoven Thriller With Numerous Characters And Flashbacks. Hell, the one thing to knock this book on is just how sudden the flashbacks and returns can be. Other than that, this is one of those twisty, complex, interwoven tales more about the people that find themselves at a particular hostel at a particular moment than any titular "vacation" - though, as you'll come to see, every single one of them is truly on a "vacation" of sorts, so the title *does* work. I simply think the original title of "Welcome To Wherever You Are" may have actually been a more apt title for the tale.

If you want a single, simple plotline with a one or two true main characters and maybe a supporting cast... this isn't that kind of tale. If you want a tale where there are definitive answers and everything is black and white... this isn't that kind of tale. If you want an absolute mind fuck of a tale that makes you question your sense of reality... this isn't that kind of tale, either.

Instead, this truly is one of those more interesting in between tales that shows a more accurate depiction of humanity and how we're all flawed and we all have our own stories both before and after any given encounter, this simply happens to be the tales of those people who wind up being in the same Los Angeles area hostel at the same moment in time at the particular moment of the story here. If you're looking for *that* kind of tale... congratulations. You've found one of the better examples of it I've ever come across in my own reading.

Very much recommended.

This is the second book I’ve read by John and I loved it! I really enjoy his writing. I loved getting to know each character. I loved all the twists. It kept me guessing and I just couldn’t put the book down. I love when thrillers have me in the edge of my seat and this book certainly did that! Thank you, NetGalley, John and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

Going on vacation you never know who you are going to meet or whose paths you might cross. They say it is a small world, but when you’re running from your past you sometimes don’t realize how small that world can get. This is a fantastic novel. Each character has something to hide, and all is reviled in perfect order. Readers will enjoy getting lost in all the drama as it unfolds through both the present and past. Nothing is as it seems, and secrets can’t stay buried forever.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

3.5 stars for The Vacation.

I really enjoyed The Vacation by John Marrs. The Vacation is the story of many young adults staying in a hostel in Venice Beach, California. The dynamic between the guests was fun and it was interesting to learn all their backstories and what took them to Venice Beach.

There were definitely some storylines that I preferred over others, but overall it was a fun and quick read.

The story was mysterious, thrilling, and shocking at times.

John Marrs is out here proving yet again that he is a master at his craft. Riveting and unputdownable!

I have to say this was my first time reading anything of John Marrs. However he did not disappoint. I loved this one!

“The Vacation,” previously published as “Welcome to Wherever You Are,” is a novel by John Marrs that takes readers on a winding journey through the lives of an eclectic group of characters. Spanning over 500 pages, this ambitious narrative weaves through a complex maze of twists, turns, and flashbacks, making it a challenging yet ultimately rewarding read.

Set against the backdrop of a shabby backpacker’s hostel in Venice Beach, California, the novel’s vivid setting resonates particularly with those who have experienced the unique vibe of Venice Beach and Santa Monica. Marrs excels in creating a rich tapestry of characters, each with their own checkered pasts and intriguing stories. The book adopts a vignette-style approach, focusing on different characters in separate storylines. While some narratives and characters are more engaging than others, the overall journey through their lives is a fascinating one.

Marrs introduces his characters gradually, dedicating several chapters to each before bringing in new ones. This methodical approach helps in managing the large cast, though it still requires some concentration from the reader to keep track of the various storylines. The narrative is structured with chapters alternating between different characters’ perspectives, often delving into their pasts. These flashbacks are generally well signposted, though at times, they delve into unnecessary detail that doesn’t always serve the main storyline.

“The Vacation” may not satisfy those looking for a fast-paced thriller, as its pace is more deliberate, focusing on character development rather than edge-of-your-seat suspense. It’s more of a character study, rich in detail and exploration of personal histories and interactions.

In conclusion, “The Vacation” is a novel for those who enjoy deep dives into characters’ lives and don’t mind a slower pace. Marrs’ skillful storytelling and the vivid setting make it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate a complex, character-driven narrative.

John Marrs never disappoints. His style of introducing each character and making them a fully formed person before diving into the drama or connecting the stories is a great way to pique interest and keep it. The twists and turns were well timed and shocking, but realistic enough to keep you immersed in the world he creates. The creation and building of The Vacation world took a bit to get into, but the payoff was worth it by getting to know these characters so intimately. The Vacation is a non-stop thriller and also a stunning story of self discovery and growth, while also leaving you guessing until the last minute.

Well, I started this book and already know I'm going to enjoy it, but I've decided to hold off until the summer so that it fits the vacation scene a little better. Still super excited to get into it though, and so far after the first couple chapters, I'm already hooked! Feeling like a 4 star so far, but will update my review once I finish

This book was impossible to put down! The diversity, backgrounds, and secrets of the people at hostel made them extremely fascinating. The most exciting aspect of the novel was that nothing is as it seems. I loved it so much that I felt sad for it to end.