Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the E-ARC. Even though this was a fast read it was not something that had depth or showed any growth. The FMC was totally annoying to be honest and I thought she would change but it did not. The set up for this book was really good but the story line and the characters fell short for me.

I found the characters to be very unlikeable. I liked the idea behind the book, but I didn't enjoy the story.

Thank you for the ARC for my honest review

I wanted to like this book. I found the premise to be sort of funny but I quickly realized that the FMC needed to be in the psych ward. She a horrible person, mentally unstable, and completely self destructive.

I sincerely do not understand what the author was going with for this story? Like there was no growth or development, she was horrible to the very end, treating her friends, partners, and people she didn't even know with a horrid attitude, and self obsessive mind set. She played the victim in ever situation despite being wrong every single time.

Grace 100% needed to be admitted and she honestly didn't deserve the friends and man that she ended up with in the end. I rated this a 1.75, cause some of the jokes were funny I guess.

This is a college age romantic comedy that features friendships, life lessons, and coming of age self-discovery. It's relatable in some ways and over the top in others. The writing style is witty and fast-paced, and the characters are somewhat immature, but they do experience growth as the story continues. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator's voice and the light easy tone to the book.

After Grace is dumped by her boyfriend, she’s desperate to find a way to get him back and salvage their relationship. When she learns he’s going to be working on a film set in Cancun, Grace tricks her best friends into taking a vacation there in an attempt to remind her ex what he’s missing. However, she ends up meeting Daniel, a super sexy, respectful guy who makes her forget her ex ever existed. Will her growing attraction sizzle out once the vacation is over, or will she end up going back to her ex?

The Breakup Vacation had several deep topics, such as race and the pressure women face in heterosexual relationships. Unfortunately, the toxic friendships, over mentioning of “boob punches”, and rampant alcohol abuse just really dragged the book down for me. It would go from serious topics to screaming, drunken antics or one of Grace’s best friends being insufferable. I think this romance could’ve been more successful if the author didn’t lean so far into the comedic relief to the point it was cringey. There were several moments that were great, and I did love Grace discovering how her relationship with Josh wasn’t healthy, and that she deserved much more. Overall, this was a little disappointing but definitely not the worst thing I’ve ever read.

Thank you to NetGalley, MTV Books, and the author for providing an early copy. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, MTV Books for the ARC of The Breakup Vacation by Anna Garcia.

I was drawn in by the cover and the synopsis of the book, however, I’d have to say that’s probably where the interest ended. I was a bit disappointed in this book as it sounded like it would be a fun read with good basis in friendship and relationships. But rather I found the characters to be a bit flat. Grace, Tiff and Camille didn’t feel well developed enough nor did they feel like 3 friends who would really be taking a trip to Cancun together. The depth felt lacking. Then Grace flipping from Josh to Daniel but still saying how in love she was with Josh, just felt shallow to me. Overall, I thought the premise was good one and would have loved to see the characters be a bit more developed. The book felt rushed, though I struggled to get through it. This would be good for someone who doesn’t mind undeveloped characters and steamy scenes.

This book was not good at all. I read about half of it and cold not stand it anymore. This was a romance book written by someone who does not know how to write romance. This book felt so childish. I did not like this.

I really wanted to like this one but it was just okay for me. The characters were very juvenile and one-dimensional and Grace, the main character, actually made me cringe with her immaturity. I honestly started to wonder what Daniel saw in her. He seemed like the only sane one in the book. I did like the close friendship of the three girls in the book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this one with its cute eye catching cover and fun description. It was just OK for me though. The characters were very juvenile and one dimensional and Grace, the main character, actually made me cringe with her stalkerish attitude, her possessiveness over a six month relationship, and her immature drunken decision making. I honestly stared to wonder what Daniel saw in her. He seemed like the only sane one in the book despite some of his cheesy lines. I did like the close friendship of the three girls in the book and they honestly did try to hold her back from being so immature. Overall just not for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know who this book is for, honestly. It has the spice of an adult romance but the plot points of a young/new adult novel?

I’m fine with stories that have unlikeable characters but I found myself not wanting to keep reading because every new one we met were so two-dimensional. I thought maybe it would get better at some point, as it was a romance, but the romance never came, and the plot felt stagnant the whole time.

I regret pushing myself to finish the book since it put me in such a slump.

The last three chapters of this book were really good. The beginning felt very whiny and toxic. I didn't like Tif, she was so mean to Grace throughout the whole book. I want a lot more of Daniel and Grace.

When looking for my next read, everything about this book appealed to me:
Colorful, eye-catching cover ✅
Intriguing title ✅
Fun description ✅

I thought this would be the perfect rom-com to read after reading several emotional historical fiction books. Grace's boyfriend recently dumped her,. Heartbroken, her two best friends, Tiff and Camille, think a vacation full of sunshine and alcohol is just the remedy that Grace needs to get over Josh. Little do they know, though, that Grace suggested they go to Cancun because Josh will be there for work. Grace believes that Josh just needs to see what he lost, and he will be begging to get back together with her,. On her first night, she meets the attractive Daniel, whose kiss is full of fireworks that Josh's was definitely lacking, leaving Grace questioning her original plan.

As promising as the premise was, this book just missed the mark.

1) Cover: As I mentioned, I absolutely adored the cover. It makes me want to book a beach vacation immediately. However, the illustrations of the characters do not match the descriptions in the book. The main character, Grace, is a full figured female, but when looking at the cover, all three women are stick-thin. I understand that illustrations will not always match book descriptions, but I could not help but wonder if this was intentionally done out of fear that a full-figured person would prevent readers from picking up the book.

2) Alcohol Consumption: I was consistently distracted by the copious amounts of alcohol consumed in the book. I understand that college students on vacation in Cancun are going to drink, but the characters were drinking at alarming rates. On their final night in Cancun, for example, they drank two bottles of tequila between the three of them. I felt it was frankly irresponsible to depict such unhealthy alcohol consumption since the target audience is teens / young adults.

As disappointing of a read this was for me, the author did do a few things correctly that brought this rating to 2 stars instead of 1. The author broached the topic of consent well, pointing out that body language is an indicator of consent. . Grace's own realizations of what consent does and does not look like felt extremely realistic and will leave an impression on teen / young adult readers. I also really loved how each chapter featured a quote from a movie - I looked forward to reading the quote and figuring out why that particular quote was selected as I read the chapter.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Found the quirks of the main character to be a little too much. Spicy scenes were amazing. Also just generally related to what the main character was going through with her past relationship

The Break-Up Vacation had a promising premise but didn’t quite deliver for me. I most enjoyed it when Grace was with her friends and not when she was with the boys. Grace spends time reflecting on her experience being mixed and how this impacts the way she moves through the world. I almost wish there had been more of a focus on this. There are some hilarious discussions between the friend group and I enjoyed the witty banter between them. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like either of the guys that Grace found herself caught between and Grace makes some cringey choices.

I think if you’re looking for an escape with messy characters who make questionable decisions, this might be the book you’re looking for. I have enjoyed other books from Gracia (Boys I Know) and while this one wasn't my cup of tea, I still look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Thank you to Anna Gracia, MTV Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First the cute cover turns disappointing as the characters look nothing like they are described in the book. Secondly, the description turns disappointing when you realize this isn’t funny, heartfelt and its main character is hardly likable. Josh asks for some space from Grace breaking up with her. Because we never see them together I don’t have a clue why she is obsessed with getting him back. But she convinces her two friends to go with her to follow him to Cancun where his new gal pal gets him a job on her dads movie. The humor is Grace always hitting one friend in the breast for no apparent reason. Grace is supposed to be a feminist but puts women down right and left. And of course while she is wanting Josh back it doesn’t stop her from making the moves on new guy Daniel. And for a book that is pushing that it is multicultural I thought there is a lot of stereotyping for Asians and French. Grace and friends are seniors in college and only 21 so I am probably not the demographic for this story. All in all this book wasn’t for me.

When you're rooting more for the "villain" of the story that the main character something is wrong. I spent the whole book really wanting to like the main character and I just could not.

A silly slightly melodramatic take on a girl's trip to get over an ex, with the secret that our lead Grace convinced her friends to go on this trip to this place to get her ex back. Cue hot vacation guy who also treats her like a full-on human being and Grace has a lot of revelations on this trip. Many of them involving alcohol, but it feels accurate to this kind of trip.

Grace is a product of a lot of terrible socialization both culturally and as a woman. She's at once in line with expectations and outside of them, and her struggles to be true to her identities come through with both sincerity and sarcasm depending on who she is talking to. It's also sad how real the depiction is of someone awesome who makes themselves smaller to fit into a box a crap guy wants to shove them into. We, the reader, immediately see what a sleazy waste her ex is, but when he's been the voice in her head shoving her down it's harder for her to see it. It hurts to read but makes it feel fun and triumphant when she moves forward. Not on, because it's not about hot vacation guy, just forward.

I'm very worried I may be the Tiff of my friend groups as I am loud, bossy, and always organizing everything. I also might say things I shouldn't when I think they're being shared in service to protecting my friend. Now if I was only as rich as her, life would be great.

Is this genre-rocking? No. But it's fun. It's a beach read with enough depth to make you feel good by the end, and hopeful that Grace escaped into a better life.

Also, Caity totally sucks. She's the one who is not a girl's girl and it's just fine that Grace recognized it and was frustrated by it.

This is a no for me. The premise has promise, but the execution needs a lot more work.

I think this is supposed to be a rom-com, but I’m missing both the romance and the comedy. This author definitely is not for me.

The Breakup Vacation-a standalone

By Anna Gracia - never read author

Rating: 3/5  ⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 320 eBook

Setting: Cancun, Mexico

Publication 3/5/24,  Read 3/5/24

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/MTV Books for this ARC 💚 ! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

What to Expect:   
☑️Multicultural Interests
☑️New Adult
☑️Romance
☑️Spring Break
☑️Female friendship

Summary: Grace will be a senior in college this fall so she and her boyfriend Josh plan a trip to Los Angeles. Unexpectedly, Josh breaks up w/ Grace, so her BFFs Tiff and Camille take her on a post break-up vacation to Cancun. Little do they know, Josh is in Mexico hanging out with a new girl. Grace vows to get him back "by any means necessary," including lying to her friends.

The characters:
 
Grace-21, broken hearted so I will forgive the stalking and mean girl stuff. I thought about myself in college senior year with a boyfriend who I broke up with. It was messy! She's searching for identity being biracial and about to start "real life." I was a wreck too at that age, and so worried about adulting.

Josh- the ex bf is terrible, but again I didn't meet many "nice" guys in college. They drank, acted stupid, and tried to get you in b-d. He was unlikeable, misogynic, and treated Grace badly-the typical alpha male wannabe.

Tiff- the spoiled rich girl, very privileged, and says inappropriate things to people.

Camille-the French girl, hardly any personality

Daniel-probably the most likeable character, but he felt like a side, not the main. I wish he and Grace had more of a romance rather than a hook up.

My Thoughts: I thought they all were just your typical college kids. I've experienced them all in college myself. I'm much older now and been out of school for over twenty years, so my perspective is understanding and allowing them to make mistakes. It took me a long time to find myself after college, so I empathize with Grace's plight.

Grace drove me INSANE but in a good way. I had a soft spot for her - that feeling of not wanting to give up on a relationship and admit that it is really all over,,, and then enters Daniel… I loved the back and forth banter. Grace had to grow up. And Tiff and Camille let her know it. It felt like I was right in their friend group on this vacation. The flow of the book was quick and fun.