In "The Vacation" by John Marrs, a mesmerizing tale of escape and redemption unfolds as eight strangers find themselves entangled in a web of fate, deception, and the relentless pursuit of a new beginning. Set against the backdrop of a Los Angeles backpacking hostel and spanning across the globe, Marrs crafts a thrilling narrative that explores the lengths people will go to escape their past and the inexorable ties that bind them.

The story introduces us to a diverse group of individuals, each carrying their own secrets, regrets, and yearnings for a fresh start. United by their shared desire to reinvent themselves, these strangers embark on a journey to foreign lands in search of a new identity and a chance to leave behind their haunting pasts. From Los Angeles to far-flung destinations, Marrs takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of emotions and unexpected twists as the characters grapple with their inner demons and the ever-encroaching specter of their history.

The allure of a clean slate is palpable as the characters attempt to distance themselves from their previous lives. However, as they soon discover, evading the past is not as simple as changing locations. Marrs masterfully weaves a narrative that underscores the universal truth that no matter where you go, the past has a way of catching up with you when you least expect it. Coincidences, chance encounters, and the unrelenting force of destiny all conspire to challenge the characters' pursuit of a fresh start.

The backdrop of a backpacking hostel adds an air of authenticity to the narrative, capturing the sense of camaraderie, curiosity, and shared aspirations that often come with such travel experiences. As the characters navigate foreign landscapes and forge unexpected connections with one another, Marrs delves into the complex dynamics of human relationships, trust, and the capacity for change.

The story delves into the human desire for reinvention, the consequences of unburdening oneself from the past, and the relentless pursuit of a new identity. John Marrs crafts a suspenseful and thought-provoking narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish, reminding us that while we may try to run from our past, true liberation can only be found through confronting our inner demons and embracing our own stories.

If we’ve been friends long enough you know how much I love and respect, John Marrs.

Marrs, is this magical, mythical creature that is a true unicorn in the thriller world.

My palms still get sweaty as I try to find my kahunas to hit the request button on any of his books. As soon as I saw The Vacation, pop up, I knew I wouldn’t be able to wait and hit request.

The good ole folks at HTP, made me sweat this one out and then finally it happened…

As I threw glitter in my wake and sang my favorite show tune, my good mood was evident, and why should it not be? I have the book of the year in my possession.

I turned my phone to “do not disturb” and headed to my secret hiding spot (bathroom). “I’ll be back in a few hours, my little shmunkins” I yelled to my fur babies.

There I was, alone with my book. Or so I thought, as I plunged deeper and deeper into the pages, the characters came to life and enveloped me all around. I was right there, in the middle of all the chaos.

This book is twisted, juicy and quite honestly, mesmerizing!!! Every expectation I had was topped. Flipping the page became an obsession, I just had to know what was coming next.

The Vacation, easily became my favorite book of this year.

5 stars!

Teaser :

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…

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I was super excited to get this but between alllll of the characters and also the format in which I was trying to read on my kindle, it was too much for me unfortunately. I have heard nothing but great reviews about John Marrs so I was excited to read this, but it just wasn’t for me.

DNF. I've gotten to where I'm able to tell if a book will work out for me or not pretty early on. Unfortunately, this is one that I feel like won't work for me; however, I can see it working for others. Just a few chapters in, there was already too many characters with too many different stories to keep up with. I was already confused early on and could only see that confusion increasing with time. I really like the premise of this book - it just didn't work out for me.

I was really excited to get the ARC for this from NetGalley and Harley Quinn books as I have been seeing the authors other books everywhere, and wanted to read one.

In the beginning it was a little slow and hard to follow with so many characters and storylines. It picked up about halfway through, and I really got into it. The twists and turns were great. I liked that each character came from a different background and they all had something they were lying about or running from. I also like the Hostel setting. This was an overall good read, and I will be checking out some of his other books , thank you Harlequin and NetGalley for the chance to read and review

This was my first John Marrs novel and it won’t be my last. The book was fast paced, with short chapters, and an interesting story line for each character. There were many characters in the novel, which was overwhelming at first, but added to the the plot nicely. Each character had a distinct personality and was complex in their own way.

The Vacation is about individuals who all end up staying at a hostel in L.A., and the people and stories that led them there. Everyone there has a secret and some of them are deadly.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #TheVacation by #JohnMarrs - 4 stars

The Vacation by John Marrs was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed following along with the stories of the characters and all the twists and turns that came. The storyline of the hostel and it's journey was definitely one to check out!

I've really enjoyed John Marrs in the past, so I was very excited to get to read his latest book. I was not let down! It was wonderful! Yes, there were a lot of characters and had to write them all down to start to keep track of who was who but overall, 4 stars definitely. If it weren't for the confusion of keeping everyone straight, it would be the 5 stars. The hostel venue, so to speak, was a change in scenery for what I've been reading lately and a very pleasant one. Overall, great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I just finished reading "The Vacation" by John Marrs. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the advancec copy in return for an honest revew. Here are my thoughts.

First of all, John Marrs has done it again. He has written a story which in some ways is a departure from his previous works but still manages to employ techniques of his past books. He manages to create characters each with very sad and problematic pasts who converge in a hostel in Los Angeles. These characters and their backstories, which are all very interesting ans compelling, all manage to converge in a way that is authentic and enthralling. I loved all the characters and their backstories. I loved the way the book evolved with small snippets being added about the characters and clues as to how their lives would end up. I loved the twists and turns throughout the book which kept me reading hopelessly even though the sun was shining outside and I was inside. I wasn't sure how the book would end and there were parts that grossed me out, but...overall it was a big hit for me.

I have to admit though, I put my tablet down for a couple of weeks. I wasn't thoroughly on board with this book at first. I actually put the tablet down and read another John Marrs book and it was awesome. So awesome that I thought...I should go and read The Vacation and I am so glad I did. Sometimes you just need to read on a bit more before it gets super good that you can't put it down.

So , if the reader finds themselves thinking...Umm...No... KEEP READING. It gets really good the more you find out about the backstories of the characters.

All in all, an excellent book by John Marrs which is extremely well written (except for some gross parts towards the end) and has a satisfying, surprising and great ending.

Happy Reading everyone!

I had a hard time getting into this book. There were a lot of characters and I couldn't keep track of who was who. I would need to reread chapters to figure out what was going on.

I have loved all John marrs books I’ve read and this did not disappoint . I loved the multiple pov and the back in forth from current time to the past . There were a lot of characters to keep track of but I found it flowed well . The epilogue was good but i found myself wanting to know more ! Really enjoyed this read.

Thank you Harlequin trade publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review .

4.5

Nobody writes multiple characters lives and secrets like John Marrs. I usually stray away from books who have multiple protagonists, but Marr’s makes you feel connected to each of the 7 characters in The Vacation. I also love the twists that Marr’s throws in about 80 percent of the way through. I can never predict what is going to happen next, which I appreciate in a thriller.

The Venice International Hostel is a safe haven for the misfits and outlaws of society. Although decrepit, stained, and falling apart it provides safety, community, and shelter for its inhabitants. But each guest is hiding a troubling secret and will do anything to protect them, until they all come to a head and everyone must face the consequences.

Expect murder, heists, stalking, and massive inheritances.

Although tamer than much of Marr’s past books, I found it so entertaining and could not put it down.

Thank you Hanover Press for the re-release ARC!

Thank you so much for sending me a copy to read in exchange for my honest opinion. I had a difficult time getting into this book. There were so many storylines and characters and I found it hard to keep up with each character and their storyline. Also, the back and forth of times was a lot. I did like how the characters intertwine eventually. It started slow, but definitely picked up. Although this book was not my favorite, I would really like to read other books by this author.

I enjoyed everything about this book from the unique world of hostel living to the r characters and their back stories. I found myself involved in all the intersecting storylines. I couldn’t put this book down!

This was my first John Marrs book and will not be my last. I was so impressed with the character development and plot twists throughout the book. There were quite a few characters at the beginning that I was trying to connect and see how it would all play out, but loved it!

I'm a huge fan of John Marrs. THE VACATION was slow to start and I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue. I am glad that did because the last half of the book was really great. Thank you for gifted copy.

Just when I think, wow, he has another one, he can't quite possibly do it again, can he? And he does. Every time. Just when I thought I knew what was happening here, I was so wrong! Domestic thriller at its best.

I just reviewed The Vacation by John Marrs. #TheVacation #NetGalley

It's likely that this is not a new story but simply a retelling not his best.. just a one time read.

Not my favorite Marrs book but a good one nonetheless. It was a great summer read.

I loved the typical John Marrs hallmarks- short chapters, character storylines intersecting, dark themes, a few people getting a happily ever after, and LGBTQ representation. The hostel was an interesting setting and makes me never want to stay in one again!

I didn't quite love the American setting- it felt a bit like an outsider writing it. Overall it was fast paced, had plenty of twists, and the characters were humanized and well developed.

I just couldn’t get into this book. I was expecting a good beach read in a glamorous setting, as the cover and title seemed to imply, but this wasn’t that. Just too many characters and plot lines to keep track of. Sorry to say, but this was a miss for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.