Eight strangers, eight stories, and eight different pasts they all long to forget.

John Marrs latest reworked novel centers on a rundown Venice Beach vacation hostel travelers from all over the world are seeking an escape--and that escape isn't just a vacation for some. From a backpacker looking to hide from the world to childhood friends from Ireland, Marrs weaves a distinct cast of characters that inevitably comes together in a tapestry of lies, deceit, and certainly some didn't-see-it-coming plot twists.

Fast-paced against an interesting setting, "The Vacation" is complex but digestible-enough for readers to keep track of; and yet, it's far from my favorite Marrs novel. I felt that I had to suspend more belief here than in "The One" or "The Passengers," but still enjoyed the wild ride nonetheless. Definitely a good travel read!

I was very excited when I got approved for this book, as I really enjoyed “The One” by this author in the past. The first page of the book explained that it is a reprint of a previous book with a different name, which I thought was odd, but nothing more.
Unfortunately, this reads nothing like The One and actually feels very immature in its style. In the first few pages “The Vacation” makes derogatory comments about women in more than 3 different scenes, all while also having no character building other than calling people good looking or ugly.
I abandoned this book at around 10%, as I kept cringing at it. I’m not its intended audience, and I hope it finds the correct target group.


Thank you ti NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I made it 9% into this book. I have decided it just isn't for me. I'm not really invested in the story. I really am upset by this because I've been looking forward to reading a John Marrs book. This one just isn't for me. I do plan on picking out another book from him though. I wish this one interested me more.

I’m a big fan of John Marrs’ psychological thrillers, I’ve read nearly all of them and have recommended most of them on my blog.

The Vacation, unfortunately isn’t one I can get excited about, I think the concept is good eight strangers in a hostel, all of them running from something, all of them have secrets, there a lot of characters to keep track of, which in turn means it takes much longer to pick up pace. The story isn’t to easiest to follow and I found it a bit of a struggle to stay interested.

Ambitious, detailed, complex, but I can’t help thinking I could have loved it had it had half as many characters and strands.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing

First I would like to say thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really like John Marrs! This is the second book of his I have read and it didn't disappoint. The story follows roughly 5 to 6 people who are all staying in the LA hostel. Everyone is trying to escape something and or someone. There are many chapters but they are short and within the chapters there are present and past timelines so you learn the characters in the "now' and the "then". I don't want to give anything away but I really liked it. It was entertaining. I will read more of his books.

John Marrs does it again. He is a master at twists and turns and keeping you guessing. I loved this book and finished it in one setting. The book is about eight strangers staying at the same hostel in Venice; all who have secrets they are trying to keep hidden. The character development in the book is phenomenal making the characters really come to life. John Marrs's books are very unique and he has a special talent at story telling. I can't get enough of his books! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

Another exciting thriller from this author. I’ve read several books from this author and I haven’t been disappointed. The plot and the story is amazing. The characters are as always are great. Perfectly told thriller story. This story is an awesome addition to the thriller genre.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

John Marrs has become a go-to author for me. I found myself drawn to all of the characters and their stories. Marrs is a mastermind of thriller writing!

Wow, what a ride! Well deserved 4.5 stars, round up to 5. Quite enjoyed this book.
It took me a while to get into it, and for the first quarter of it I didn't even think I'd finish it... But then... it just swept me off my feet! Unputdownable roller coaster, where everything you know turns out to be nothing like you could have possibly imagined!
A group of random strangers find themselves in a hostel. 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.
Skillfully twisted story, well thought through characters, emotional and intellectual journey that brings a reader somewhere, wherever they are.

This book is wonderfully written. The character development is impressive. They are full of life and you feel all that they feel. You empathize with them even when they aren't doing the right thing. There are twists and turns throughout the book, and some that you don't see coming. This book is unputdownable. I definitely recommend this book!

Eric and Nicole are friends who are after the true American experience but are in Venice Beach for a specific reason. Savannah found herself at the hostel after fleeing from her family. Ruth from Australia is unlucky in love and hoping her stay at the hostel will change her fate. Matty and Daniel are backpackers from Ireland who are trying to forget something that happened. Jake transformed himself into a different person and is hiding from his past. Each of the strangers that we meet are either running away from something, running towards something or they have a secret they don’t want revealed. As the strangers interact and spend time together their secrets start to come to the surface.

This is definitely a 5 star read. I recommend it especially if you like thrillers!

THIS WAS A WILD RIDE! The main story is set in a backpacking hostel in California where multiple different characters collide. They are all running from something, and they all have secrets they would do just about anything to keep. Now dont let a large cast of characters drive you away - at no time did I loose track of who was who and what their backstory was. The author does a GREAT job of going back and forth, back and forth, without loosing the reader or confusing them. At almost 500 pages it’s not a quick read, but it is worth reading slowly. I think this would make an amazing Netflix series!!

A derelict hostel in Venice Beach is the setting for most of The Vacation. The book follows the lives -past and present- of a slew of quirky characters who have found themselves residing at the hostel. The stories of the residents unfold and then wind together, creating a fun and thrilling web of stories. A great, easy read with twists around every corner that burns relatively slowly but keeps the reader committed.

It took me a long time to figure out what to write for this book. I had a really hard time getting into it. There were a lot of characters and there was a very long buildup of the story bouncing between characters and timeline. I gave up on the book several times but I did come back to it and didn’t mind the ending but the beginning was just too hard for me to get into unfortunately. I do normally really like this author so that’s why I came back to the book.

This is my first John Marrs novel and I don’t know what I was expecting but this was not it. The book had many different story lines going on at the same time, with a large cast of characters. It is one of those books I enjoyed more reflecting back on it than I did while I was actually reading it. It is the te-release of an older novel and I would definitely read something by this author again. 3.5 stars rounded up.

I found this book very confusing. There were so many characters that seemed pretty nonsensical. It was very hard to keep track of people and story lines. It did not capture me or make me want to keep reading at any point.

One of Marrs' greatest strengths lies in his ability to craft suspenseful and unpredictable plots. "The Vacation" is no exception, as Marrs expertly weaves together multiple storylines, building tension with each revelation. From unexpected alliances to shocking betrayals, the novel keeps readers guessing until the very end, refusing to let go until the final page is turned.

Moreover, Marrs' prose is sharp and evocative, transporting readers to the sun-soaked streets of Venice Beach with vivid imagery and immersive descriptions. The setting itself becomes a character in its own right, adding depth and atmosphere to the narrative.

Highly recommend!

This was a very interesting book. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I thought it was a thriller but it didn’t really give me the “thriller vibes”. I was a little disappointed in the plot line but I had to keep reading to know what was going to happen! Regardless, thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This was my first John Marrs book and I had high hopes. Unfortunately, this was not for me. With an astounding eight main characters, this started off intensely confusing and off putting. While the story picked up, I wasn’t able to really engage with the story.

I love John Marrs, but this one was not a favorite. It was fast paced, but I didn't love any of the characters. I'll continue reading his books though.