The Breakup Vacation centers around Grace, who is looking forward to a trip to Los Angeles with her boyfriend, Josh. However, when Josh unexpectedly breaks up with her, Grace's plans are shattered. Her friends, Tiff and Camille, take her on a beach vacation to Cancun to help her move on. Unbeknownst to them, Josh is also in Cancun with his new girlfriend. Determined to win Josh back, Grace's plans are complicated when she meets Daniel, a charming soccer player from Hawaii.

While the premise is promising, the execution leaves much to be desired. The characters, particularly Grace, often come across as immature and one-dimensional. Grace's obsession with Josh and her manipulative behavior towards her friends can be frustrating for readers. The supporting characters, Tiff and Camille, are also portrayed with stereotypical traits that lack depth. The setting of Cancun, which could have added a vibrant backdrop to the story, is underutilized. The descriptions of the locale are sparse, and the focus remains on the characters' interactions, which often involve excessive drinking and shallow conversations. The romance between Grace and Daniel feels rushed and lacks the emotional depth needed to make it believable. Despite these shortcomings, the book does have moments of humor and light-heartedness that can be enjoyable. Overall, The Breakup Vacation has potential but falls short in character development and plot execution.

Based upon the cover and the description, I went into this thinking it would be a fun rom-com. I was sorely disappointed.

The premise of the story is/was that after a breakup, Grace and her friends go to Cancun (this is a total trick to stalk Josh), meet a hot guy and fun ensues. However, we were left short. It's Grace whines, Tiff is just rich (really, I didn't get much out of her) and Camille is the French friend. They drink endlessly and Grace pines away for Josh.
From the moment I met Grace I didn't like her. I couldn't connect with her and she just acted like a spoiled brat. Also, her hatred of Caity was way too much. The girl on girl hate was excruciating. Wow. She also had no character growth. Yes, she realized that her friends and new love interest were mad, she apologized and that was it. It was a handful of apologies and she's back in everyone's good graces. No transformation whatsoever.
Also, what I really didn't like was the lack of details. I wanted to be on vacation in Cancun, but we didn't get that feel from the book. We got tequila.

As the book progressed, I still didn't feel any love towards Grace. Daniel was okay, but why he was so obsessed with Grace was beyond me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I absolutely loved this book. The way the character development continued to evolve throughout the story was perfect! Once I started reading this book I literally could not put it down (I tried i really did). I can't wait till I can read more from this author

This story had potential but just didn't live up to it. I had a hard time believing or understanding Grace and found the book not satisfying at all.

Summery and funny, this romance serves up everything you could hope it would. It was exactly the good time I was looking for

This main character was so insufferable that I could not continue on with the book. Especially after she said she would get her friends drunk enough to then ditch them. I'd like to hope that there was character growth somewhere in this book, but I was not rooting for her at all.

2.5 stars ⭐️ imo this had so much potential based off the blurb but it was not at all what i was expecting. I did not like any of the characters if im being honest. The FMC, grace, was so annoying and very much so “im not like other girls” in the worst way possible. She is NAWT a girls girl, she actually might be a girls hater. Anyways shes also a terrible friend and goes thru great lengths to lie to them for the SMALLEST glimpse from her ex piece of shit boyfriend/fuckbuddy. Also i too would be pissed if my friend literally planned this whole trip and marketed it to us as a girl’s trip for one of the roommates going away trip but actually was planning to plot to get her ex bf the whole time, esp if i was paying for the whole thing. Also the rich friend?? We get it, you’re rich, if u had a problem paying for everything then don’t, stop reminding everyone every 3 breaths you paid for this and that. Also the boy from the vacation? Too much too soon, idc how hot u are (except if u are a HAWT professional athlete who could bankroll me for the rest of my life), he was talking fake cRAZY for someone she just met, id be weirded out. Also i cant recall completely but he’s biracial (hispanic and taiwanese i think?), but born in america i think? Idk him tossing random spanish phrases threw me off. I also (im fully chinese so idk how relevant my opinion is) didn’t love the way she portrayed grace’s internal battles with her being wasian. Like at some points she played along w the stereotypes and other times she was like oh im not white enough or asian enough. She also had no growth in her thoughts of that in the book at all imo until the end when she got closer w vacation boy bc he was like so sure of himself??? Idk anyways 2.5 bc it was an easy read but i didnt like any of them and hope to never befriend any of them irl.

I love a break-up plot and girl's trips, but this book fell a little flat. The main character was hard to like and her poor decision making made her had to believe.

I would like to thank MTV Books, Netgalley, and the author for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Grace is heartbroken over her breakup with Josh the summer before their senior year of college. To help cheer her up and get her mind off Josh, her friends decide to go on a girls trip and Grace volunteers to plan it. Well, she chooses Cancun because that's where Josh is while he's working on a movie, but she doesn't tell her friends. She hatches a plan to reunite with Josh, without her friends knowing. The lies that she has to tell start to catch up with her and eventually her plan blows up in her face, her friends are understandably disgusted and Grace has to decide what really matters.

This book was not good, it is full of toxic relationships and lack of self-worth. The characters are shallow and mostly dislikable and I couldn't root for Grace at all.

This book was incredibly steamy, which is what I would say it primarily has going for it. I was constantly irritated by the immaturity and poor decision-making of the main character. I would recommend if you’re looking for something spicy, silly and messy.

This FMC was ick. Why did I hate her so much?
Also, this book was so unrealistic.
I do think this author has potential though!!

2.5 stars rounded down. This was a miss for me. I liked the idea of three best friends going on a trip together post breakup, and trying to get over lost love and maybe have a rebound fling, but Grace is selfish throughout the entire book, Camille is a stereotypical French girl, and Tiff is very childish. I had a huge problem with Tiff constantly punching her friends in the boob, and then when it happens to her saying “ouch, that hurts, why do you let me do that?”. As if her friends have a choice and are allowing themselves to be physically assaulted by someone that’s supposed to be their best friend, and it happened so many times. Daniel is a jerk, Josh is a jerk, and there’s no real substance to Grace’s character other than she’s biracial, wants to be an actress, and “isn’t like other girls”. Far too many things happened as a coincidence, like seeing Daniel random places, Camille is besties with the famous actress that Grace is obsessed with, that actress just so happens to be in Cancun working on a movie with *gasp* Josh, and they get invited to a party where Daniel and Josh run into each other. One thing I did like is all of the quippy names that Grace had for Josh’s new “girlfriend”, and that they were always different. I also liked that she wasn’t only saying those things as a mean girl because of a boy, but because that girl was super over the top in so many things. The setting was also fun, and it was funny revisiting some of those crazy mistakes and college party nights. Other than that, this one just wasn’t for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and MTV Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

🌟🌟🌟½

*The Breakup Vacation* by Anna Gracia is a lighthearted romantic comedy that explores love, healing, and self-discovery amidst the backdrop of a picturesque getaway. Gracia’s writing is fun and breezy, making it an easy read that transports you to beautiful locales.

The premise is intriguing, with the protagonist embarking on a vacation intended to help her move on from a recent breakup. The humor is delightful, and there are several laugh-out-loud moments that keep the tone playful. The romantic subplot unfolds in a charming way, offering some delightful surprises along the journey.

However, while the main character is relatable, some supporting characters felt a bit underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more depth and backstory. The pacing occasionally lags in the middle, which detracted from the overall momentum of the story.

Overall, *The Breakup Vacation* is an enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of light romances and vacation-themed stories. It’s perfect for those looking for a quick escape with some laughs and heartfelt moments. I look forward to seeing how Gracia’s writing evolves in future works!

Thanks to Netgalley and MTV Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Breakup Vacation is the first book I’ve read by Anna Garcia. I will admit I was lured by the plot description (a rom com with mixed characters like me!) and the beautiful cover (that didn’t reflect any of the actual characters).

Unfortunately this is filled with cringey one-dimensional characters which sound like they were written by someone who has only seen adult women on MTV reality shows or possibly even AI. I like MTV and reality shows, but this just wasn’t a hit for me in the beginning of the book.

Grace, Tiff and Camille are supposed to be friends but they are horrible to each other when they are fighting. When Grace is dumped by her mediocre boyfriend that she’s inexplicably still pining over, she tricks her friends into taking a trip to Cancun at the same time so she can keep hooking up with him. I get that she isn’t over the guy but he’s so obviously a commitment-phobe boring dude, I’m thinking why does she bother pining over this dude? You deserve better, Grace.

I also dislike the misogynistic ways she talks about her so called rival, Caity who happens to be hanging out with ex.

I wish there would have been more descriptions of Cancun and the scenery, as there wasn’t much to give life to the area.

I liked Daniel, the hot mixed soccer player a lot and how they started to connect. I just wish Grace and Daniel had met earlier in the story as it seemed like most of the time it revolved around her crappy ex.

I would say this was an okay story but would have benefitted from some heavy developmental editing.

Hard pass. The main character wasn’t likable in the slightest and made it unenjoyable, lowkey stalking your ex and trying to break into his house after a breakup is next level

Keeping this short because I don’t want to waste anymore time on it. This was the first book in a LONG time that I wanted to DNF. It was…not good y’all. Main character sucked so bad and her friend Tiff was the most annoying person. I did like Camille but that’s about it. Grace’s ex Josh also sucked so bad and meeting Daniel seemed so unlikely. Everyone was so immature and annoying and I couldn’t wait for this to be over.

I struggled with this book. The characters were one dimensional and it look me forever to finish it because there wasn’t much keeping me invested in the characters or the story. The description and cover was so promising so, it was a bummer.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

REVIEW: The Breakup Vacation by Anna Gracia

"The Breakup Vacation" by Anna Gracia attempts to blend romance and self-discovery but ultimately falls short of its potential. The premise of a post-breakup trip sounds promising, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

The protagonist's journey needs more depth, with her character development feeling rushed and unconvincing. While Gracia's writing style is easy to read, the plot often veers into predictable territory, relying on clichés rather than presenting fresh takes on the genre.

The tropical setting provides some escapism but insufficiently compensates for the shallow relationships and contrived conflicts that populate the story. Secondary characters feel one-dimensional, mainly as plot devices rather than fully realized individuals.

While some readers might enjoy this as a light beach read, those seeking more substance in their romance novels may find "The Breakup Vacation" disappointing. The book had the potential to explore themes of self-discovery and healing, but it ultimately settles for a superficial treatment of these ideas.

Thank you, Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | MTV Books, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

The Breakup Vacation by Anna Garcia. Pub Date: March 5, 2024. Rating: 2 stars. Honestly, this book was cringe in all the wrong ways. Grace is recently dumped by her hookup partner, Josh. She is devastated but learns he is going to Cancun. She rounds up a group of friends to travel with her to Cancun to "win him back." While at Cancun, she tries to plan random moments to run into him. Honestly, Grace was insecure and it was really disappointing how she had no self confidence to be independent of Josh. This book was definitely not a favorite. Thanks to #netgalley and #simonandschusterchildrenspublishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

It’s a perfect pick for anyone looking for a sweet, feel-good story with a touch of humor. The writing was interesting and the characters likable!