A special thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advance copy of The Vacation by John Marrs in exchange for my honest review.

I have loved every John Marrs book I’ve ever read, so I went into this one thinking it’d be an immediate hit - unfortunately it didn’t give me the 5-star vibes his other titles have given me, but once we got about halfway and I felt solid in who was who and what stories were ramping up, I thought it was much better. That being said, that’s a bit too much of a slow burn for me for a thriller. One of Marrs’ specialties is having a ton of characters and then intertwining plot points before coming to huge reveals, and this one definitely follows suit, but I had a really tough time distinguishing these characters and really having any memorable characteristics (aside from
Savannah - I liked her trajectory the most, and my daughter’s name is also Savannah, so I remembered her more I think!). Overall, I definitely think this is my least successful work from this author, but I would absolutely read more because of the short chapter format and the ability to throw in some fun twists at the end.

A special thank you again to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC - this printing of The Vacation is out today for purchase!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of ""The Vacation" by John Marrs. This was my first read by this author and I had heard positive reviews on other books so I was excited to give this a try. I found myself pick up and put down this book but never gave up. I like the various timelines but I struggled to make a connection with the story. It was an ok read, but not one I will revisit.

Want to start off by saying I am a big fan of John Marrs especially is sci fi thriller books. However I was not a fan of this book. I only really felt intrigued by 2 characters stories (the father and daughter) and honestly felt lost with the rest. He typically does a great job with having multiple characters and the constant switching between stories but not in this one. Still a fan of John Marrs overall and will continue reading his work. Thank you NetGalley, John Marrs, and publisher for the released ARC.

The Vacation by John Marrs has a very slow build, with multiple characters and extremely short, sometimes ungratifying, chapters. The first 60% of this book was a chore to read and felt like I was doing homework. After that 60% mark however, the action picks up the pace and I suddenly found myself not just wondering about the characters and what would happen to them, but I was finally enjoying the story(ies). There are some twists toward the end and the scenarios of each group of characters are nicely resolved.
The Vacation is touted as newly edited and republished. Yet there were still some mistakes. I usually enjoy books by John Marrs, this just wasn't one of my favorites.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Marrs for the opportunity to read The Vacation. In the end, it is a good book.

It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I did, I enjoyed it. It felt very long, but it’s understandable given all the different characters in the story. I was entertained by all the twists that unraveled and how the ending played out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Marrs is a must-read author for me but I had not read the version of this book that was previously published. It was a pretty quick and entertaining read- a lot of characters whose lives intersect while staying at a CA hostel. Some silly plotlines but overall a solid read.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At a hostel in Venice Beach, 8 young people, all running from their old lives, meet and form relationships, but it will turnout that some of them have connections from the past and not positive ones.

When I started reading this I really didn’t know where it could be going and whether I really wanted to be along for that ride. I don’t do well with books where lots of characters are introduced in a short period of time and that is exactly what happened here, but as the backstories started coming out, I started getting more interested and this mostly kept my interest. I thought it was a little long, but overall, a well written book that came together better than I expected, if a bit far fetched, though I shouldn’t have doubted John Marrs because his books are always good.

This was the first book I've read from John Marrs, and I was impressed by the amount of twists and turns that this book provided. I had seen many posts about this book so I was interested. It is a longer book , so at times I found myself wishing it would pick up the pace. Overall, I think the writing is fantastic. I look forward to reading more books from this author. 4/5 stars!

The Vacation is a rebranded and retitled previously published book by John Marrs. I much prefer the shorter title. This book is a very slow burn that twists and weaves the stories of a group of people staying at a beach hostel in California. The first hundred pages or so were tough going for me, but when the threads of storylines began to intersect and I could puzzle out a few connections I blew through to the end. I feel like the type of person who will love this book is the kind of person who loves a mystery. Finding out how all of these characters touch each other's lives will keep you guessing and give you dread about the pages ahead. Even the things I puzzled out didn't give me comfort, as they foreshadowed a tricky or horrible end for one or several characters. John Marrs writes a complicated tale well.

I had no idea this was a rewrite when I was given an ARC, and to be honest, I cannot believe that this is his second pass on this story. The premise of this thriller sets you up for some great twists and turns, but the deus ex machina of it all really just doesn't hit that the author wants it to. There are so many characters that it gets pretty convoluted, and it all leads up to the biggest coincidences that I have ever read. None of the characters are particularly likeable either, so all of the big twists did not hit me as hard as other readers.

I have heard great things about Marrs, but this just did not do it for me. Could really have done without the weird racist preacher plotline. I just didn't see the motivations there are believable in 2023. Perhaps the author would be better off with a clean slate.

4.5 ⭐️’s
What happens when a mishmash of travelers intermix in a rundown hostel on Venice Beach? Marrs does a wonderful job with this story, keeping the reader engaged as he introduces a whole cast of eclectic characters. Characters that are all running from something or have something to hide. Even with the large number of characters, the writing style makes it easy to follow and the pages turning. Don’t look for the big ending twist, but rather many great twists throughout. Most you won’t see coming!! The back stories are intriguing and the way Marrs connects the storylines is brilliant! A very fun read that I highly recommend! Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was my first read of John Marrs and while a bit on the longer side, the first half was the set up and the second half was bringing it all together into a thrilling and suspenseful wild ride! There were multiple POVs in this one which can be a lot when listening to the audio, but once I followed along with the physical copy I was fine. I really enjoyed this one, just keep in mind it is on the slower burn side. Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the digital copy to review.

4 stars!

Simply a very enjoyable thriller with lots of suspense and mystery!

This is my second book from John Mars and I wasn't disappointed. I am however, not a big fan of too many POVs, as I have a hard time keeping track. There were a lot of cliffhangers, which contributed to the book being fast paced and a quick read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

If you know me, you know I like suspenseful mysteries that are not overly violent/gory, so The Vacation was the perfect blend of mystery and suspense for me!

This was my first John Marrs book, but it won’t be my last. I know he is a favorite author of many readers. I did find that there were a lot of characters in this novel (and I read on my kindle so I can’t easily flip back), but it was suspenseful, which is something I love for my late night reading!

Thank you for my ePub and for making me part of the tour!

Embark on a thrilling journey with John Marrs' latest masterpiece, "The Vacation," as he skillfully unfolds a gripping tale within the gritty confines of a Venice Beach backpackers hostel. Marrs' storytelling prowess shines through in this substantial yet remarkably quick read, characterized by its brisk, dynamic chapters and a captivating array of characters from diverse walks of life.

The narrative delves into the intricate web of the backpackers' lives, unraveling their pasts, complex relationships, and innermost secrets. Marrs seamlessly weaves together seemingly disparate characters, each harboring their own motives and demons, creating an enthralling plot filled with unexpected twists and eccentric personalities. As the guests navigate the hostel, it becomes apparent that they are all fleeing from something in their tumultuous pasts.

With "The Vacation," Marrs proves once again that he is a master of suspense and unpredictability. The re-edited release, formerly known as 'Welcome to Wherever You Are,' adds a layer of refinement to an already stellar narrative. If you're ready for an exhilarating rollercoaster of surprises and a glimpse into the hidden depths of characters, John Marrs delivers an unforgettable experience that solidifies his position as a go-to author for those who crave an adrenaline-fueled literary escape.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

A random group of people reside at a hostel in the Los Angeles area. They seemingly have little in common until their various secrets start to reveal themselves.

I usually try to read at least a third of a book before deciding to abandon it. It was a struggle with this title due to the plodding pace and surplus of of dysfunctional, and sometimes devious, residents. I kept reading in the hope that the disconnected stories would start to make sense. In the end, they did, but almost none of it was believable, so I felt like I'd wasted entirely too much of my life reading this book. Three stars were given because the writing was pretty good -- just the plot and the characters left a lot to be desired.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I chose this book because of the author and because I wanted to learn something about an experience I’d never had.

Inspired by a backpacking trip in 1992, John Marrs bases some of the characters on those he met that memorable summer. He’s captured the essence of these diverse hostelers and backpackers and placed them in a fictional Venice Beach International Hostel, one much like a conglomeration of those he stayed in that summer.

This book will be frustrating at first. You have been warned. Give the author time to set the stage for 8 different characters, the concierge and the owner of the hostel. Then, be patient and look for clues for POV changes and time shifts.

Nicole, Savannah, Matty, Declan, Eric, Ruth, Jane and John are all running from something when they check into the seedy hostel. They each have secrets and will do anything to keep them hidden. Depending on where they’ve come from and where they’re going, this hostel can be a godsend or a horrid experience. Some spend their vacation in a weed-induced paradise and some start their vacation with roaches and people literally falling through the ceiling. The hostel is almost a character unto itself.

While I may have been tempted to set the book down multiple times with no intention of picking it up again, the fantastic characterization kept me coming back. I came for the armchair travel experience and stayed for the nosey peek into the lives of this motley crew.

If you love a slow-burn, 5-star character-focused novel, you’ll appreciate this twisty tale. It isn’t my favourite of this author's, but I appreciated the examination of our human nature and what we’ll do to keep our secrets hidden. For those looking for something different, this will fit the bill.

I was gifted this late access/post-publication ARC by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This is my fourth John Marrs book, and I love his style of storytelling. If you are not used to his writing style, you might be disappointed because this does not read like a traditional thriller. I personally love that about Marrs' writing and books, but I can see where some might get confused. This one has a lot of POVs, which is not always my favorite because it makes things get a bit muddled and confusing. However, I did enjoy the different story lines and how they weave together, and the twists and turns throughout the book. Ultimately, this one was not my favorite from Marrs, but I would still recommend it. I gave it a 3.75 star rating but rounded up for the review.

This is a fun book about the adventures of eight strangers who end up traveling to the same hostel in Los Angeles. They all are running from (or running to) something, and they all have secrets in their past. I really enjoyed their interconnected relationships and how each character was trying to overcome their own personal demons.

However, I do not feel that this is a thriller, or even a psychological thriller. That's not to say there aren't tense moments, but it doesn't carry through the entire book. The suspense is not what is driving the story - this is a character-driven story. If classified as general fiction, this book is 4 or 4.5 stars, but if classified as a thriller, I can't give it any higher than 3.5 stars. I did enjoy it, but I think this shouldn't be advertised as a thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

I was super excited to join the blog tour of The Vacation by John Marrs. I’ve been hearing so much about Marrs, but have been struggling to get copies of his previous novels. I have only read The One by him and I loved it, so jumped right in once I got my advanced copy!

The Vacation starts off very slow. Each short chapter follows a character in present day, but then would jump back in their past. I was getting super confused on who was who and how the characters were connected.

The novel finally clicked for me around 70% (which is way too long, I probably would of given up earlier). I finally figured out the characters and why their backstories were so important. I was hooked for the last part of the book and was shocked by some of the events.

3 calculators out of a potential 5. I really want to read more of Marrs novels. Even though this may of seemed like a miss, I still enjoyed it and appreciated how he was able to weave the stories together.

Thank you to Netgallery and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.