I absolutely loved this book. It is a perfect summer or vacation read that just put a constant smile on my face. It was the perfect blend of women's fiction and romance, and is just an overall feel good story.

This is the perfect summer read that follows three sisters on their journey to reconnect and keep their family together. This gives all the perfect beach vibes and I could just picture it so well. I absolutely loved the idea of the bucket list and the sentiment behind why they did each task. There is definitely tons of sister drama and arguments but they definitely have some good times and I enjoyed reading it so much. I like watching all the romances play out and think that they all ended exactly where they needed to. I would definitely say if you’re looking for your next summer (beach) read with some great characters, growth, and a bit of romance this is the book for you!!!

Savannah has planned the most amazing summer trip to reconnect with her sisters Bianca and Cora. This month-long vacation will take place at the beach house their parents rented each summer during their youth. The itinerary for the trip features all of their favorite activities from the past. Savannah also has an important secret she hasn't shared with her sisters.

Talking about secrets, Bianca has one of her own to reveal - she is getting married! Her sisters, however, are not thrilled when they figure out she met her fiance a few months ago on a dating app and has never even met him in person. Being the youngest of the family, she is never being taken seriously in her decisions. To prove this decision is sound, she offers up a bet to match up Cora with her soul-mate via the app.

Cora is the most closed-off for her sisters and the most removed from her family. But to protect her sister, she goes along with the plan to prove that you cannot fall in love that quickly, especially to a person that you meet on a dating app. When she gets matched with the town playboy, she knows her assignment is going to be easy. But not as easy as she thinks it will be, with her heart on the line.

I really enjoyed reading about what felt like a real family - the ups, downs and everything in between for these sisters. The way that they are all so different but come together is not a novel theme, but it was so well done. I also enjoyed the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days approach for the Cora and Jax romance. This book had me laughing one minute and then feeling sentimental the next. And for a person who isn't heavy into sexier books, this one was nice and tame. The perfect rom-com/touching read.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley, and Rachel Magee for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Savannah, Cora and Bianca are going to spend a whole month at the beach together. Oldest sister Savannah has even managed to book the same beach house where they stayed every summer when they were growing up. And she has a list of things to do to re-create those good old days. Now the sisters have grown distant, and she hopes that she can use this time to rekindle their sisterly closeness.

And she has a secret she needs to share. Sometime. When the time is right.

Youngest sister Bianca has a secret to share too. But she tells her sisters right away. She’s getting married to the perfect guy, whom she’s been video calling for a couple of months. A great AI-enabled website matched them. Bianca doesn’t get the happy response she’d have liked from her older sisters, though. They’re skeptical and worried she’s just doing something else that won’t last, like her past schooling and job attempts.

Cora, for her part, is fine with spending time on vacation, though she’s not sure how it’s going to go being with her sisters for a whole month. Bianca is still Bianca, and Savannah is trying too hard. But she’s genuinely concerned about this impulsive engagement of Bianca’s, so she makes a bet with her. Bianca will set her up with someone on the same website, and Cora will give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, Bianca will reconsider her engagement.

Cora’s not too worried about this bet; she knows there’s no soulmate out there, and any man she’s paired with will end up walking away. She just has to endure a few dates for the sake of her sister. And when she’s paired up with the playboy of the small beach town they’re in, she’s extra confident she’ll win.

Of course, things don’t go quite as she expected, and the town playboy ends up being a lot more interesting and complex underneath his façade. And he doesn’t cut and run, so she’s in a sticky spot. What’s she going to do?

What Not to Do on Vacation is a pretty typical summer romance, an easy read to enjoy as you relax somewhere (or imagine yourself relaxing somewhere nice). The whole thing was pretty predictable, which isn’t of course unexpected in itself. I’m perfectly happy to read a fun, cute, predictable romance. This one was cute but nothing extraordinary. What is particularly nice, though, is that it is completely clean reading. No content to be concerned about. So I can definitely recommend this for any reader.

I enjoyed What Not to Do on Vacation! It flowed nicely. The cover is what drew me in to read this book. I’m a sucker for an appealing cover. I would recommend this book to others!

✅ Things I liked:
- I enjoyed the story of the 3 sisters and how different each of them were.
- I liked two of the romance stories were centered around an online connection because that’s how I met my husband!
- Clean romance and easy read.

Overall, I liked this! It moved rather quickly in the beginning, but started to slow down a little midway through. Still, I really liked Rachel’s books because they’re a clean romance with likable characters and easy to read.

I really liked the cover of the book, and the title was catchy. I felt that the author did a good job of describing the location and backstory between characters. I really wanted to like the story, but I struggled with too many storylines running parallel. I also thought that too much emphasis was placed on location and felt that the characters needed more development. Cora, the female main character, was a bit too stubborn to be likable, and I found myself more annoyed than entertained. With this novel, you get two love stories in one, but it felt like one too many. Thank you to Rachel Magee, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Three Sisters return to their childhood beach vacation home to fulfill their mother's dying wish in this clean rom-com. Bianca, the youngest sister has a secret fiancé. Savannah, the oldest, has a secret health issue. And Cora, the middle sibling, is burned out on love and has distanced herself from her family in a way to protect her heart from further loss. This is a story of sisters, family, love and loss.

Summer Romance and lovely Beach scenes. From the first page I was captivated by the story and the sisters. Who knew that losing your luggage and stopping at a drugstore during a torrential rain storm to get a toothbrush could lead to love? Each sister has her own lovely qualities and it's hard to pick a favorite although I lean towards Cora since I find her very relatable.

This summer romance with lovely beach scenes is told through multiple POVs. It's full of laughter, family drama and love.

The book will leave you wanting to be at the beach, wanting to call your sister ,and wanting the carefree days of a summer afternoon


This book has all the feels and is something I may read every summer, or in the winter when I need to be transported to the beach.

This is my first time reading this author. I look forward to reading other books by her. Thanks Net Galley for the ARC . Opinions are my own

Rachel Magee delivers a delightful summer read that combines family dynamics, romantic comedy, and beach house nostalgia in a modern reimagining of The Taming of the Shrew!

The three Prestly sisters agree to meet up in their childhood beach house rental for a month-long vacation complete with a carefully crafted bucket list of coastal activities. Their reconnection in such a tight space full of nostalgia ends up forcing the sister to face past resentments and old wounds. Each of the three sisters gets their own POV, and they were very distinct and their conflict was incredibly relatable. There is also fun romance sub-plots (including by favorite, fake dating) that I very much enjoyed, but I was happy those threads didn't overshadow the sisters' relationships.

Magee's writing is fantastic, and she delivers on high humor, an escapist beach setting/fun adventures, and low-spice romance. While there are some heavier topics explored, the tone maintained levity/humor that I appreciate in a rom-com beach read. I did a tandem read, listening to the audiobook while reading my physical copy, and I *adored* narrator Karissa Vacker's performance! I love her work on thriller audiobooks, and this was my first rom-com by her and she did a fantastic job with distinguishing between the sisters' POVs, and I loved her portrayal of Jax (reformed playboy with a heart of gold) and Bianca's (the sister who has sworn off love/romance) adventures.

Comparable authors: Melissa Ferguson, Emma St. Claire, and Katherine Center
Recommend for: Readers who love low-spice rom-coms with humor, family drama, and beachside settings.

What Not to Do on Vacation was a breezy hammock read -- quick to pick up, hard to put down, and swinging between characters with just the right rhythm. It was the perfect start to my summer reading. Would love to see these characters in a series.

Savannah plans a nostalgic beach getaway to reunite the Prestly sisters, hiding a personal secret while determined to make everything perfect. Youngest sister Bianca hijacks the trip with news of her sudden engagement and a bold bet: if Cora, the skeptic, can’t find love on a dating app, she'll cancel the wedding. But as Cora sets out to prove love is a myth, an unexpected connection with a charming match threatens to unravel everyone’s carefully laid plans.

This book makes for a solid beach read: light, engaging, and full of sisterly chaos. Cora really grew on me as the story progressed, while Bianca's whirlwind engagement felt doomed from the start, and Savannah's secret was painfully obvious, but still added emotional weight. There was some weird, underexplored, parental drama that never got fully resolved, which felt like a missed opportunity. The ending wrapped things up in a pretty standard way, with no surprising twists, but the dynamics between the sisters carried the story and made it worth the read.

What Not to Do on Vacation is a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud story about sisterhood, self-discovery, and unexpected detours—both literal and emotional. Set against the backdrop of a vacation gone sideways, it delivers wit, warmth, and just the right dose of depth.

Right away, I was hooked by Cora's voice—humorous, sarcastic, and straight to the point. She had me laughing out loud and completely invested. The sister dynamics were a joy to read—funny, real, full of squabbles, and deeply relatable. Their banter alone was worth the read.

I’ll admit, I approached this book a bit cautiously. With stories like this, I often expect them to fall short—maybe too shallow or overly predictable. So even as I enjoyed it, I kept waiting for something to roll my eyes at. But it never came. And honestly? That annoyed me in the best way. 😂

The book is clean, intelligent, and layered with emotional insight. I wasn’t planning to read it initially, but the publisher’s name caught my attention—and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. It blew past my expectations.

The writing? Smart and honest. The story structure and pacing? Spot-on. The characters? Vibrant, distinct, and memorable—especially Cora.

In short: this book is a gem. I went in looking for a flaw. I came out with a favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book! It's described as 10 Things I Hate About You meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and it absolutely is.

This book is emotional, fun, romantic, realistic, and the banter is the best. If you have sisters, you will understand the family dynamics and relationships. The author created a world within this book where you feel like you are one of the cast and they're your friends. I was laughing throughout and really appreciated how each relationship came together and ended up. I also love that this was a clean romance novel - refreshing change.

Great summer read! I loved this book about 3 sisters (being one of three sisters myself!) This book reminded me so much of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. And I love a good 90’s-2000’s rom-com! This story is told from the point of view of 3 sisters and 1 guy. Savannah, Cora and Bianca are visiting the beach town their family used to vacation when they were growing up and when their parents were together and happy. Savannah wants to recreate everything (down to the chore chart) that they did as kids because “it’s tradition”! She’s also is trying to make everything seem normal and nostalgic because some medical things that are happening in her life (that she isn’t ready to tell her sisters about yet) will make life seem not normal anymore. Cora, the middle, is reluctant to be there, and has not been close to her sisters in a while. She’s had her heart broken in so many ways (parents, ex-fiancé, etc) that she has closed herself off from everyone which means this vacation is not where she wants to be. Bianca, the youngest, is trying to prove to her sisters she has grown up and has plans for the future and drops the bombshell that she is getting married… to a guy she met on a dating app… run by AI that guarantees to make the perfect love match. When her sisters tell her how ridiculous her engagement is, they make a bet that if Bianca can make a profile for Cora and she can find love on the app then they won’t bother her with her engagement. Let the dating and summer at the beach begin!

This book is funny, sweet, and I enjoyed it as a light summer read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"What Not to Do on Vacation" by Rachel Magee was exactly the delightful escape I needed, earning a solid 4 stars from me! Right from the start, the beach setting completely drew me in – it's the perfect backdrop for this cozy and adventurous romantic comedy.

What truly made this book shine were the lovable characters. You'll find yourself easily rooting for them, and the sister bonding aspect was a real highlight, adding a lovely layer of warmth and genuine connection to the story. With multiple POVs, you get a great sense of everyone's perspective, which keeps things fresh and engaging.

This is definitely an entertaining and clean beach read that delivers on its promise of fun. I appreciated the playful banter and the charming dynamics. Overall, a fantastic pick for a lighthearted and thoroughly enjoyable read!

*What Not to Do on Vacation* was the perfect lighthearted rom-com escape! It delivered exactly the kind of fun, feel good, mood boosting vibes I was looking for.

The banter between the sisters was hilarious (and so realistic 🤣) and the beachy setting made this an ideal summer read! The humor and heart definitely kept me hooked. It’s high on charm, like a warm hug in book form, with a good amount of vulnerability sprinkled in.

Thank you to Rachel Magee, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!

I love a book about sisters, and even more when it takes place on the beach. While I didn't love this one, it was still cute.

This is a great summer read filled with fun, humour and a healthy dose of family drama. It is the story of sisters -Savannah, Cora and Bianca- who are reliving their childhood summers in Sunnyside, Florida.

I alternated between reading and listening. Narrated by Karissa Vacker, her voice was smooth and engaging. She kept up with the tempo of the plot and her imitations of the characters were spot on.

This book is about sisterhood, family, friendship and discovering yourself again. It did not sugarcoat the characters’ vulnerabilities but rather celebrated this as part of human frailties and nature.

Told from the points of view of almost all the characters, the banter, dialogue and shenanigans were hilarious. I loved all the characters but for Lord Farquaad (for obvious reasons).

If you are looking for a summer read with beach vibes, relatable characters and some shenanigans then you will enjoy this.

This book was just so fun. The characters were funny. The storyline was filled with drama, but easy to follow. Between the family drama and humor, it is a perfect beach read.

From the first page I was hooked. With multiple POVs, you gain an understanding of the sisters’ personalities, separate battles, and see as they gain an understanding of each other. And I really enjoyed how it wrapped up.

And then the romance? The banter and flirting was classic, sweet, clean, and funny. From the beginning to the end of it, I just loved it.

So glad I helped start my summer with this one. So cute and sweet! And cheers to summer break!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from @rachelmageeauthor @tnzfiction and @uplitreads through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

Thank you to @uplitreads @netgalley @thomasnelson and @rachelmageeauthor for my #gifted eARC and physical copy of What Not To Do On Vacation 😍

“𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒’𝓈 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑜𝒾𝓃𝓉𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉𝓈.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨ (4.25 stars)

Happy pub week to What Not To Do On Vacation!

I adored this beachy, Taming of The Shrew/Ten Things I Hate About You glow up! It was heartwarming and predictable, but also fresh. I loved the beautiful sisterly bond between Savannah, Cora, and Bianca, and how the summer in Sunnyside not only strengthened their relationship, but allowed them to all grow and flourish individually, too.

The romances between Cora and Jax, and Bianca and Luke, were sweet too. Seeing how devoted and adoring Chris and the little girls were to Savannah also tugged at my heartstrings and made me happy.

My thought, was watching Cora’s walks come down as she fell in love with Jax. Their banter was fun, and I loved their dates too!

If you have the chance to listen to this one, do it!! Narrator @karissavacker is phenomenal and truly brings this entire story and its characters to life in such a beautiful way!! She is one of my favorite narrators dnd I can’t wait to listen to more of her work 😍 Great job, Karissa!!