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.

Listen. I'm not usually one who enjoys a book with a large cast of characters but I am a sucker for a book about characters whose POVs cannot be trusted. John Marrs has brilliantly combined both into a tale about secrets and the lengths people will go to keep them from ever rising to the surface. While I don't think it's the best John Marrs book I've read, it kept me entertained throughout.

This novel is set in Venice Beach, Los Angeles at a beachfront hostel where the lives of eight strangers converge. None of them are there just for a vacation as they are all running from something.

As the story moves along, different pieces fall into place and you’re able to start connecting dots. The characters are linked in some form or other and you eventually learn that some of them just didn’t meet by chance. The story is well written and drops hints and makes connections all the way through which was great. It was like a jigsaw puzzle and by the end all the pieces were in place.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #TheVacation

I have heard so much about John Marrs stories and I was really intrigued by the idea behind this one. I liked that this book has short chapters making it quick to get through. Though there are a lot of different characters with back stories that I felt like
I was thrown around a lot in this story. I can say it didn’t fully turn me off and there was enough of a mystery to keep me going until the end but it was a long process and sometimes I felt like the story took too long to get answers.

Loved this book! John Marrs is one of the best of his kind! I devour every one of books so quickly and can not wait for the next release!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read such a great book!

Wow, I absolutely loved this book on so many levels! At first I didn't know it was a rewrite and I'm not sure how it differed from the original but whatever got changed was good because the only thing I could say I didn't like about reading this, was that thanks to my own drama filled life I wasn't able to read it as quickly as I would have liked.
It starts a little slow because there's a lot of background information going on for all the characters and it does go back and forth in timelines but the way it all comes together is so incredible and when you least expect it - POOF - mind blown, jaw dropped! It's just a great story told really well. Like every good book there are characters that you love and characters that you don't, you find them here too. I was so taken in by each one of them and their own personal stories and how they all come together. There are lessons here and not just the "watch your back" , "be careful who you trust" thriller lessons, but true real life lessons - you just never know why someone is who they are or the journey they've been on and why.
This was my second John Maars book and I'm on the hunt for more! It deserves every one of the five stars I'm giving it and more

This book was just “meh” for me. I felt like I was reading it because I had to finish it instead of reading it because I wanted to finish it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.

I enjoyed the diverse characters in The Vacation by John Marrs. I liked the way that so many of them were connected in the past and how all the secrets came out.

Lots of twists and turns in this book about so many different types of characters. All about the nomadic lifestyle of several characters with sordid back stories. Kept my attention and kept me guessing throughout the book.

A thriller set in a rundown backpackers hostel in California.
There are so many unexpected surprises, twists and my favourite type of characters, deranged.
The plot is compelling and all the unrelated characters come together so nicely.
A John Marrs book is always worth the read and ride.

Thank you Netgalley. I love John Marrs and this was yet another show stopper! The storyline was great and the characters were well developed. I did not see the twists and turns coming and it was awesome!

John Marrs is the best author at twisty, unpredictable, insane thrillers. His books must have drugs in them because I can’t stop once I start .

yes, yes, yes! John Marrs did it again! This was an automatic must read for me and it did not disappoint!

I loved reading this book on vacation as you start coming up with fun back stories of strangers. This book took it one step further. You meet a lot of different characters all with different backgrounds and the author does an amazing job making you feel a certain way about them. I loved that you got flashbacks of their past lives to give context to the future situations but as the book continues, the flashbacks leave you in shock in awe. At first it is confusing to learn all these new characters but at the end, it all comes together. At one point in the book, I felt everything made sense but I still had an hour left. I couldn't put it down and after finishing, it still is making analyze it.

This is a complex character driven thriller that took a while to get going. Told from alternating characters viewpoints and vacillating between past and present, it took this one a while to get going for me, but once it did I was eager to see where it would take me.

The characters were interesting and their backstories so completely different that it was impossible for me to figure out how these various plot lines would all tie together. But therein lies Marr’s brilliance as a thriller writer. He goes places my brain can’t begin to conceive of. He is a master at creating great twists and portraying the complex coincidences of fate.

I liked the idea that these characters want to escape from their pasts but it turns out they can’t because the events that shape you are carried inside you. Not my favorite book by Marrs, but still a solid read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @hanoversquqrepress for an arc of this book.