Every summer, Ada accompanies her mother back to her native country. Turkey to vacation in a seaside village with Ada's grandmother. When Ada is nineteen years old, she discovers that her mother had a youthful relationship with a local named Levant. Ada initially tries to reunite her mother with Levant but when he shows no interest in this, Ada decides to pursue him for herself. When some of the villagers find out about the relationship and then Ada's boyfriend surprises her by arriving from California, things become complicated.
The narration of this book was well-done. The accents were good making the book very engaging. The plot itself was lacking as well as good character development. The book moved fairly slow and was pretty much solely focused on Ada's pursuit of Levant. Ada was a very immature young woman who seemed to act on impulse in several different instances with total disregard for the potential consequences. She was an unlikable character but I think the author did a good job of portraying her immaturity and this was an intentional feature of this book. I liked that Levant reacted with more maturity at first but was disappointed in the outcome of the relationship. The book ending was not satisfying but a story like this cannot have a happy ending.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio

2.5/5

On paper, Holiday Country has so many elements that I typically really love:
- literary fiction
- new adult coming of age
- complicated mother-daughter relationships
- beautiful language
- a protagonist who is struggling with geographical/cultural belonging

What didn’t quite work for me:
- I really struggled with the protagonist. She is fairly unlikeable. And don’t get me wrong, I love an unlikeable female protagonist, especially if she’s intentionally crafted by the author to be that way. But Ada is just so immature and selfish. There’s also a complete lack of perspective that I found frustrating. I think if the book had been written in 3rd person instead of in 1st person, or if the story had been told by an older Ada reflecting on her youth, then it might have worked a bit better.
- The book is set in a Turkish town on the Aegean coast, and I kept waiting for the author to describe the setting in a more captivating way. Atrek clearly has a lovely grasp of language, and I would have loved to have seen her create a richer, more developed setting.
- The pacing was inconsistent. There was a lot of exposition, and I’m not quite sure what purpose that served.
- There were a bunch of interesting themes (long-distance summer friendships, generational trauma, fate vs. free will) that were introduced but not really explored. I think if Atrek had spent more time weaving these themes throughout the story, it could have been a truly excellent novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢 𝐀𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐤
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐀𝐲𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Flatiron, Booksparks, and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copies of Holiday Country!

I always find coming of age novels to be some of my favorites, and this one was no different. Holiday Country was so beautifully written and is a must read for anyone who loves character driven novels.

Ada loves spending summers away from California and off the Aegean coast of Turkey with her mother and grandmother, but always feels as though she is caught between two cultures. At the age of 19, she meets Levent, a man from her mother’s past, and she can’t help but imagine how life would have been different for her and her mother. Soon, Ada starts feeling an attraction to Levent, who is twice her age. Does the future she’s fighting belong to Ada or her mother?

The focus on the complexities of mother/daughter relationships was so well done, and I loved how Turkish culture was integrated into the storyline. Overall, I found this book to be just a beautiful coming of age novel and one I would definitely recommend!

🎧I mostly listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ayse Babahan and I loved how she brought the story to life. I found her narration to be so dynamic and thought she was the perfect choice for Holiday Country!

Posted on Goodreads on January 9, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around mid-January, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on January 9, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This is a story about three generations of women. Every summer Ada visits Turkey, her mother's homeland with her mother and they stay with her grandmother. All thee women seem unsettled, her grandmother is hurt that her daughter left, Ada's mother seems unhappy with her life choices and Ada - and Ada seems unsatisfied with her life in California for reasons unknown to the reader.

I wanted to like this book, I have a daughter almost the same age but every character was so unlikeable and the situations that Ada put herself in were just cringey. There were a few sections that I enjoyed and I did think the writing was well done, but the story was just not for me.

2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC to review

Thank you Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy. Holiday Country will be out on January 9, 2024.

Holiday Country is an impressive debut by İnci Atrek. The writing, character development, and overall story read like a novel from a seasoned author. This multi-generational story tackles themes of belonging, identity, and family and engages the reader in a story that spans the Aegean Region in Turkey.

Though the writing was beautiful and descriptive, I found the main character’s unraveling confusing and disappointing in the end. I also felt like the story only picked up towards the last quarter or so and it sort of dragged at the beginning with such a focus on the intricacies of life in Turkey.

That being said, the narration was great. It was super easy to envision all of the characters as the narrator swapped different voices and personas. The story, however, was not moving, captivating, nor memorable for me. 2.5/5 stars rounded up to 3.

Review will be posted to my IG in the coming days.

4.5 rounded up to 5

Thank you Flatiron, BookSparks and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies.

Holiday Country is a poignant, lyrical, debut coming-of-age novel about Ada, a California-born teen who summers with her mom and grandma in Ayvalik, a small town off the Aegean coast of Turkey. During her nineteenth year and fifteenth trip to Turkey, Ada finds herself falling for someone from her mother's past - a man twice her age. Ada grapples with what it means to become an adult, the changing dynamics within her family, and feeling caught between cultures as an American of Turkish heritage. Exploring themes of womanhood, identity, belonging, and tumultuous mother daughter relationships, Holiday Country is going to tick all the boxes for many readers. The author writes from years of experience in Turkey and along the Aegean coast. Her descriptions are lush and vibrant, painting picturesque settings through her evocative use of words. I listened to the majority of this via audiobook, and the narration is just fantastic! Narrator Ayse Babahan was the perfect choice, and really does this story justice.

I highly recommend for fans of character driven & literary fiction novels.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was definitely a slow burn, but the writing was captivating. The main character was rather annoying but authentic at the same time. It was interesting to listen to. The narrator did a good job as well.

“To really understand someone’s secret you have to watch them tell it.”

2 out of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book, I really did. But it just wasn’t for me. I found the main character, Ada, to be spoiled, unlikeable, and frankly a bit unhinged. There was very little that happened and what did was never really moving the plot forward. The book was slow and once things started moving forward they were essentially over before they began.

Maybe others will enjoy this book more than I did. It is more character driven and I would hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who prefers a plot driven novel.

I received Holiday Country as an ALC and unfortunately it fell flat. The book lacked a compelling storyline and I felt like the plot remained stagnant until the final chapters, leaving me feeling unengaged and disappointed. The narrator was great and I was able to at least finish the book, but without any significant developments (until the end), it made it difficult for me to stay invested in the story. Please take this with a grain of salt as we all read different books and although it was a miss for me, there are a ton of other who loved it!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC and the chance to review it honestly.

Happy reading!

This debut had an interesting premise, great characters and a fascinating setting but I struggled to really get into it. 100% this was just not the right book at the right time for me and I ended up DNFing for now. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I will definitely be giving it a second chance at a later time and keeping an eye out for more from this promising new author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! Holiday Country is a stunning debut that convenes on the summer holiday of Ada with her mother and grandmother in Turkey. As Ada herself is Turkish-American, much of the story professes a deep desire for belonging, for the concept of a centralized, undebatable home. But still, the circumstance of Ada's US residence serves as nothing but an impediment when affixing herself to her culture. The memories of every summer in Turkey may remain, but the words don't come out right when she sings in Turkish; there's a dissonance that she simply can't correct. And this constant sense of urgency in Ada for cultural affinity and stability in a single place projects into her perception of her mother. As Ada learns more of her mother's past from her grandmother, the image of both mother-daughter relationships across the generations begin to clarify.

Atrek strings this story together with vibrant characters and gorgeous writing that is so very nostalgic. It's evident from the intimate details of Turkey and Istanbul, the feelings of warmth and community, that Atrek is dearly intentional in the stories she tells. Ada as a main character was challenging to read at times but that feels to be expected since she's 19 years old. I think her being incredibly flawed and acting horrendously at times made her all the more believable as a young adult. Each character felt just as real, which is something I truly admire about Atrek's creativity and commitment as a writer.

There was a very beautiful excerpt at the end of one of the later chapters that I felt encapsulated so much of the story. In Chapter 18, Ada thinks:
"As we kiss, my mother's voice in my head: I know something you don't know. As he turned me over, my own voice in my head: Please, oh please. Continue mistaking me for someone else forever."

3.5⭐️

I found this story to be well-written if a bit underwhelming. The characters were difficult to relate to, and Ada’s motivations were frustrating at best. There was just enough going for it to hold my interest to the end.

Ayse Babahan did a nice job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you İnci Atrek, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
I’ll start with what I liked here. The narrator described the Turkish setting so well. It was lush and vivid and instantly transported me there. I also really liked the audio performance. I think the audio really helped the story. However, I found this one to be slow and kind of boring. I wish there had been more going on here. But I hope it gets into the hands of the readers that like these kinds of stories.

"Holiday Country" is set in a small town in Turkey on the coast of the Aegean Sea. It's about a 19 year old young woman named Ada, visiting her grandmother with her mother. They go every summer to spend the summer holiday. Ada's mother is from Turkey, her father was from France, and they raised her in America.

The story is extremely slow moving. The plot is quite minimal, sort of a coming of age piece, but more about the relations between mothers and daughters.

I appreciated the descriptive detail of the setting, but too much time was spent on this and not enough in developing the plot.

Ayse Babahan was the narrator of this audiobook. She had a strong accent, which I'm guessing is Turkish. The voices were not all different enough for me to tell apart all the time.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I have to approach this review differently from most other reviews. I also need to begin by acknowledging that İnci Atrek is a very talented author and created characters that are extremely honest portrayals of humanity. The characters in "Holiday Country" are raw and flawed in ways that are powerful, familiar, and visceral. I think the honesty of these characters is what caused me to have such a strong reaction to this book.

The protagonist of "Holiday Country" is a young woman Ada who has a very complex relationship with Turkey, her mother's home country, her place within Turkey, and her identity as a Turkish-American. She spends each summer living with her mother, and grandmother, in a small bungalow by the sea where she spends herself torn between summer Ada and American Ada. She never feels like she (or even her mother tbh) can fully fit in, and she is resentful for it towards anyone close enough to feel her ire. So resentful in fact, that she is emotionally vengeful towards anything that makes her feel out of place, including her mother. The way Ada regards her mother is despicable, and she spends so much of the narration criticizing her mother's decisions, lost beauty, Turkish, English, relationship with her own mother, and really anything else Ada can observe of her mother is fodder for further criticism.

I hated Ada for these qualities. I hated her for her vitriol and immaturity in the way she dealt with everything in her life. She couldn't even handle not knowing a popular Turkish song without throwing a several-day-long fit - not joking. No matter how much Ada bothered me, however, I can acknowledge that my reaction to the protagonist is further proof of İnci Atrek excellent character-building.

As a daughter of immigrants to the US myself, I picked up this book thinking I may be able to relate to Ada, and evidently, I cannot - at all. I think that the feelings of dual isolation that comes with dual citizenship is realistic and I commend the candor that goes into crafting a character such as this one. Despite hating every second of this book, it is so well written that I can't help but give it 4 stars. It's a great book.

Upon reflection, my reaction to this story reminds me very much of my reaction to reading "The Joy Luck Club" as a young teen. It explores the themes of immigration, intergenerational cultural dissonance, complexities of the grandmother-to-mother-to-daughter relationships, and womanhood is a similar fashion. It holds a mirror up to some of the ugliest parts of each of these themes that I believe could be extremely cathartic for some readers. I may even recommend it to my own mother and sister- hell maybe they'll find it as insightful and as reprehensible as I did.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, İnci Atrek, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

1.5 stars rounded up, only because the author had lovely descriptive writing about the Turkish beach town where the novel was set.

Otherwise, this was a slow book with limited story-line about a college student who has a very brief summer affair with a much older man with whom her mother also had a dalliance when she was younger. Somehow this was all very boring, and I did not connect to any of the characters at all. The other reviewer who described this book as a "Total snoozefest" was spot on.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook for me to review.

“Holiday Country” by İnci Atrek unfolds as a coming-of-age tale in the enchanting backdrop of a Turkish seaside town, where Ada, accompanied by her mother and grandmother, grapples with her sense of belonging. The vivid descriptions of Turkish culture and the stunning geography of the Aegean coast create a rich tapestry, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the setting.

Ada’s struggle with her identity, marked by ridicule from local children and a distinct Turkish-American accent, adds depth to the narrative. As she encounters Levent, a mysterious figure from her mother’s past, the story takes an unexpected turn, exploring the complexities of romance across generations. The theme of love and longing resonates throughout.

While the novel beautifully captures the essence of being of two worlds, I found the character development lacking, hindering my connection with Ada and her family. The book felt a little long and I struggled to remain engaged. On a positive note, Ayse Babahan’s expressive narration in the audiobook version was a notable highlight, enhancing the overall experience.

In summary, “Holiday Country” offers a rapturous meditation on the limitations and freedom of a life in translation, the intricacies of a multi-generational love triangle, and the enduring question of where one truly belongs. İnci Atrek’s storytelling shines through, even as the narrative falls a bit short for readers seeking deeper character connections and a more concise pace.

I received an ARC of this audiobook from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Every summer Ada and her mother head to Turkey, where her mother grew up to stay with her grandmother. I walked away feeling meh. To me this wasn’t memorable. I didn’t love the relationships between Ada and anyone. The plot was OK. I usually really enjoy coming of age stories, just not sure Ada grew and changed by the end. Learning about the Turkish culture is what save this book for me. I love the descriptions of the scenery and the food. The writing was good, and the plot was easy to follow. It just didn't pull me in. This is one I could have put down part way through and been OK to walk away. This is a story about mother, daughter relationships and how they affect life and decisions generation to generation.

This book takes place during the long, slow days of a summer break, and that’s exactly how it feels. We spend lots of time with our main character as she navigates her search for belonging, trying to stay connected to her mother’s home country while also worrying about her life back home and if she even wants to return. Complicated characters make lots of mistakes but you can always feel how much they care for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy! :-)

I genuinely enjoyed this coming-of-age audiobook and its protagonist, Ada, who is searching for her place in the world as she travels between her home in California and a seaside village in Turkey where he grandmother resides. Her mother was raised here and Ada makes yearly trips to this town and has long established friendships and adventures, but this year she seems to be seeking a bigger life (and purpose and love) -- either there or beyond. She is also reconciling her relationship(s) with her mother and maternal grandmother, the former who she sees as too passive in her own life and the latter who is an obviously strong and opinionated personality and tends to rule the dynamics within their shared relationship. Ada is also reflecting on the viability of her relationship with Ian, her college boyfriend, who is very goal-directed and back in the states. And then there is the mysterious Levant, a much-older man who has a past history with both Ada's mother and grandmother, and who Ada begins to see as symbolic in regard to the person she is becoming. The story is layered and very well-written. This debut novel is also a tribute to Turkey and I could feel the author's love (and see the world through her eyes) which was a genuine pleasure to experience. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading more by Inci Atrek - a very talented writer. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to listen to this novel and to post an honest impression and review.