I really enjoy John Marrs books, and THE VACATION was no exception. A group of people end up at a hostel in Venice Beach. Each has their own secret to keep, and their stories are entwined in sometimes shocking ways.

I struggled a bit because there were so many characters involved, and it was hard to keep them all straight. The first half of THE VACATION is pretty dense, and it was slow going for me, despite the short chapters which move between characters. Once I got past this, however, the reveals began coming and they were twisty and satisfying.

I can definitely see how Marrs’ writing style has changed since he wrote this one, which I understand is one of his earliest books previously titled “Welcome to Wherever You Are.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of THE VACATION in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my copy of John Marrs' The Vacation.

I was pretty excited to be approved for this since I have found myself enjoying John Marrs' works but this one didn't hit like his previous works. It is definitely full of mysteries but some of it just felt a little too forced. As per usual it has multiple POVs, but some of the storylines felt a little dull.

We have the Nicole and Eric storyline which I found to be really interesting especially when things start to unfold. Tommy's, although sad, felt a little dull until Jake's storyline intertwined with it. Matty and Declan felt a little off but not gonna lie it made me sob. Ruth's storyline is definitely a John Marrs' signature. Savannah's storyline was definitely the most interesting for me, especially her past and the growth she has gone through. It was definitely a slow start that I kind of struggled to get into it but it does pick up at around page 60-ish, I think. Then each story gets wrapped up but I felt like there's just a missing piece in the end that left me unsatisfied.

I would still recommend it if you enjoy multiple POVs with crazy storylines.

DNF
The book was long, seemed to drag on, and did not keep my attention. I got halfway through and couldn’t keep going. I really wanted to love this because I love the author.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝕒𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟
𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘀
Thriller
497 pages

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs

Tommy decides to backpack around the world after being in a horrendous car accident.

When he arrived at a hostel, his life interacted with many others as all their issues worked to the surface.

Mʸ ᵀᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs

The ending was full of surprises that knocked my socks off. The story to get there was a little confusing due to the many POVs and the past and present fluctuations. I found myself mixing up characters at times. That is why I gave it four stars.

The characters were definitively flawed; some were working to be better, and others were heading the opposite way.

The story deals with many issues: sudden death, expected death, unplanned pregnancy, an abusive father, social awkwardness, trust issues, family problems, and murder. There is so much that comes out in this plot. It is a lot to take in.

For me, it comes down to the ending. So much happened that I didn’t expect. That is what I love about The Vacation: the unexpected zingers that finish the story.

💕Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

John Marrs is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors who never fails to deliver a perfectly executed plot through multiple points of views that interweave into an intricate story that keeps you on the edge of your seat through twists and turns. Multi-deminsional, suspenseful, and the perfect thriller that kept the pages turning. I cannot express how much I loved this book, the characters, and the plot. I have been hooked on John Marrs since reading "The One" and "The Marriage Act" and it seems that he has continued to perfect his craft. I cannot wait to purchase this book and add it to my collection and I highly recommend this book for book clubs as you will want to and need to discus.

“Empty bottles of Budweiser and paper plates stained with remnants of spaghetti bolognese littered the corridors as Tommy made his way from his dormitory to the hostel reception desk.” Here are reasons to read the thriller book:

8 Strangers- This book takes place in a hostel where 8 strangers find themselves, and their paths cross.
New Start - Some are coming for a new start, some are looking for something, and some are running from something
Past - but one thing is for sure, their past will catch up with them all.


So one thing I can say for John Marrs, is he has a way of twisting and revealing the story in a way you don’t expect. And that does happen here. However, there were so many characters that I got a little confused. Also, I feel like some of the story lines were only existing to connect some others to what was happening. This to me was not a fast read. And while I did like how the story did end up overlapping, I also felt like I didn’t connect with any of the characters at all.

In John Marrs’ The Vacation, we follow multiple people whose lives intersect at Venice Beach International Hostel in Los Angeles. There's Tommy who works has been working at the hostel, Savannah who has been staying there for years running from her past in Alabama, Eric and Nicole from England who are on an American adventure, Jake who is finding himself again, and Matty and Declan who are runaways from Ireland. They all have their own problems and their own secrets.
I really struggled with the first half of this book. I felt that it was very slow paced and I often asked myself what the point of this book was.
The second half was its redemption point. I felt more connected to the characters and the tragic situations they were in. It all felt much more thrilling and scary.
My biggest gripe would be with one of the characters. One in particular did not feel realistic. He seemed to know everything about all of the characters. I felt like he was just used to help the story along.
Overall I would say I'm happy I stuck with the book and enjoyed it.

Oof, this book is a doozy.. not in a good way.

It's over written and cringey, and parts of it are a little silly. A bunch of vacationers at a hostel in Venice Beach meet, and their lives intertwine in different ways. There was too much back and forth, and it felt like an unaware soap opera.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for letting me get my hands on this ARC!

It was so easy to get wrapped up in the complications of each character that you come across in this novel. There literally is a character for everyone in this book.

When the stories begin to unfold completely, you will not be able to put this book down. I was SHOCKED by literally every twist in this book. Part of the ending even made me sob.

Do yourself a favor and immediately purchase.

The Venice Beach International Hostel is a cheap haven for people from all walks of life. They all seem to be running from someone or something, and would go to great lengths to safeguard their secrets.

When I got the NetGalley approval for The Vacation, I legitimately squealed in delight. I couldn’t wait to jump back into John Marrs’ twisted little world with both feet. The first 40% of the book was light on twists and heavy on character development. While I appreciate well fleshed out characters, the plot suffered a bit and felt slow-moving. However, the remainder of the book made up for this and then some. The character’s individual storylines were super juicy and entertaining, and the twists were phenomenal! There were several occasions where I needed to stop and regroup after a twist was revealed because I couldn’t believe what I had just read. I highly recommend adding this one to your 2024 TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A copy of this review will be posted on my Instagram account (whats.amy.reading) the week of November 20.

This was just an okay read. I didn’t really connect with the plot or the characters so it ended up being a fairly “blah” reading experience.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60322612

What a fun book full of twists! In Marrs' latest, we follow a series of characters living in a Hostel in Venice Beach. Although there were a lot of "main" characters, it was really easy to keep track of who was who and the background for each. Kudos to the author for this! Past and present timelines were also seamlessly woven throughout the book. This one is going to stick with me for awhile because each of the character's stories were so vivid and unique. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book! Truly loved it!

In this book a group of strangers come together at an L.A. hostel, become friends and share their lives for a short time. Through frequent, short flashbacks we learn what has brought each of them to the Venice Beach International Hostel and how it changes their lives. Overall, I think the book was enjoyable but I also feel there were a few too many characters with too many storylines.

8 backpackers trekking across America find themselves in an LA hostel where the only thing they really have in common is they’re all running from something. Secrets, murder, identity changes will come to a head at this hostel for all of them.

WOWWW. wow. one more.. WOW. John Marrs does it again. The vacation was gripping from the jump. I’ll be honest, at first I wasn’t sure how I’d manage to keep up with 8 different characters and POV’s but Marrs certainly made it easy. Usually in a book like this for at least one POV i’m in my head like “okay.. moving on… back to this one please..” and I honestly enjoyed every single POV. Some of the things weren’t a “shock” but a lot of it was and I was left waiting for my next chance to even just get a chapter in. I haven’t found a John Marrs book I don’t like so with that being said.. excuse me while I go add the rest of his books to my TBR that I haven’t already read. You should too. 4.5⭐️

In John Marr's latest enthralling thriller, the backdrop is a weathered coastal hostel in California, providing sanctuary for an intriguing cast of characters—Tommy, Savannah, Peyk, and Ron. Each character grapples with their enigmatic past, seeking redemption within the hostel's confines, which serve as a refuge from the secrets that haunt them. As their lives and narratives intertwine, a common thread emerges: the desperate motive to shield their true selves from prying eyes. The looming question persists—whom can they trust?

Marrs, a maestro of suspense, once again weaves a captivating tale that keeps readers guessing until the final revelation. Despite the overall solid narrative and engaging plot, I found myself challenged by the storyline's intricacies, necessitating frequent pauses and restarts. The presence of a multitude of charismatic characters, each navigating their own complex timelines, added to the complexity of the narrative, oscillating between past and present.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, with well-developed characters and a unique, compelling storyline. However, the intricate web of character backgrounds posed a challenge for me to maintain cohesion during reading intervals. The initial third of the book primarily focuses on character development, delaying my complete immersion into the evolving events. While this may not rank as my preferred thriller within Marrs' repertoire, it undeniably upholds his standard of excellence.

In essence, Marrs showcases his undeniable talent in crafting a narrative that, while demanding for me to follow, possesses its own merit. Despite not claiming the top spot in my list of favorites by this author, the story undeniably stands on its own and promises satisfaction for a broad audience. Marrs' undeniable skill as an author leaves me eagerly anticipating the release of his future literary works, confident that each will offer a unique and captivating experience.

I picked this one up because I enjoyed The Marriage Act by this author that was published this year. I didn’t realize when I grabbed this one that it was a republished book and was originally published in 2015. As I read, I realized how far this author has developed over the years. While The Marriage Act had several points of view, this one had eight, and on top of that each of the eight had past and present timelines. To say I struggled keeping everything straight was an understatement. This was simply too much going on for me and it wasn’t worth it for me to push through. I found the writing lacked the fineness in his recent releases, which makes sense because this one was of his first books. While I do with this one all the success, it simply wasn’t for me.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

John Marrs does it again. He is one of my favorite authors and ‘The Vacation’ didn’t disappoint! I loved the little twists and turns throughout the book that kept me engaged and on my toes!

In this story John Marrs, like he often does in his books, takes a look at human behavior. Some people wi go to serious lengths to keep hidden what they don’t want people to know.

THE VACATION has eight strangers who are all at hotel running away from their own demons. This story takes the reader through the past and present of each person so you’re able to get a full understanding of each persons story.

This was a really layered and complex story with eight characters but it was done really well. There was so much character development and the story itself was so different.

I recommend this to all thriller lovers!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this amazing ARC!

John Marr’s next thriller takes place in a rundown hostel hotel on the coast of California. Tommy, Savannah, Peyk, and Ron are just a few of the charasmatic characters who all have secrets of their own and are trying to find their path ahead after troubled pasts. The hostel is their escape from the secrets that tie them to their pasts. As their lives and stories entertwine each of them has a motive to keep anyone from finding out who they really are. Who can they trust?

John Marrs once again delivers a spell binding thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. This was a solid read and I enjoyed the plot; however, the story line was difficult for me to follow as I continuously had to stop and start. There were quite a few characters who each had their own stories that would jump around often between past and present. The plot flowed well and each character was unique and well developed, it was just a challenge for me to keep them all together in my reading intervals. It took me a while to get fully immersed in the story line as the first third of the book was mostly character development. This was not my favorite thriller by this author, but his books have never been a disappointment to me. While it may not be my favorite, the story certainly holds its own and will be enjoyed by many. Marrs is a very talented author and I look forward to many more books by him.

I received a copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I struggled to get into this book. I felt like there were too many characters to keep track of, and I didn’t like how we changed so much from present to past.