"What Not To Do On Vacation" radiates a delightful vibe reminiscent of "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days." ❤️ It’s an endearing rom-com featuring relatable, charming characters. The story is fun, humorous, and engaging, blended with just the right amount of drama. As the three sisters embark on a journey to honor their mother’s last wishes by recreating their summer beach vacations, they soon discover that their memories don’t match reality. Uncovering secrets and confronting lies, the sisters find themselves held back from living their best lives. I appreciated how the story highlighted their relatable struggles, shaped by their past experiences. Watching their growth over the summer as they each discovered more about themselves was truly rewarding. The book is sprinkled with laugh-out-loud moments, making it an enjoyable read from start to finish. I received a complimentary
e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. Releases May 20, 2025

I had a hard time getting into What Not to do on Vacation. But, once I got through the initial slump, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Cora and Jax were my favorite because of the sarcasm and quick wit.
The only thing that I didn't understand is when it was detailed about how Cora hadn't brushed her teeth before going to the beach and that's when she had her first kiss with Jax. I didn't understand why the lack of teeth brushing was detailed for almost a page if it didn't have any affect on anything.
But, I loved the rest of the book and would gladly read a sequel if it came out.

What Not To Do On Vacation has definite How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days & Ten Things I Hate About You vibes. It’s a cute rom-com with ver likable character.

It was fun, funny, & engaging with a little bit of drama mixed in.

Three sisters meet up for a summer vacation at the family beach house following their mother’s last wishes and how they reconnect with each other.

Rachel Magee is a new author for me and I will be reading more of her stories in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In a world full of technology, this book asks whether AI through a comprehensive set of questions, find your true soulmate or is UT an act of serendipity. Cora wants to win a bet to find a relationship and Jax wants to prove to his family his stability to remain in one place and therefore he deserves the promotion in the family business. They never expected that love supersedes anything else that they both had deemed as far more important. You can be independent but that doesn't mean you have to be alone. What is great about this book is how vulnerable the characters become and how strong sisterhood is. I must admit to tearing up as Cora realizes how important family is and how creating her strife with her Dad was simply not worth it. He was already proud of her even when standing alone at her graduation. No moment is worth missing. Everything came together at the end such as Sienna and Luke but most importantly, they came together as a family. Despite past feuds,nothing is more important than love for those who surround us.

A quirky take on family. Following their mother's last wishes the three sisters set to recreate summer vacations at the beach but realize that nothing is the same as their memories. Secrets and lies are holding the sisters back from their best lives. I enjoyed that they were real people who's past helped to shape them and their issues in the present. I loved seeing the progression as the summer went on and each learned about themselves. There was quite a few laugh out loud sections that made for a enjoayable read.

I liked this a lot. It was fun. For the first half of the book, I didn’t really connect with the characters and was not invested. But in the second half, I really cared very much about the three sisters, Jax, and Luke. I’m happy with the ending and loved the epilogue. I loved that it was completely clean. It’s unclear to me whether it is a Christian genre or just a clean novel, but I do appreciate its squeakiness.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this ebook.

What Not to Do on Vacation is a cute book about sisters reconnecting at their childhood spot. We see them navigate challenges and celebrate wins while also maybe finding time for love. This was such a fun and cute book to read!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of What Not to Do on Vacation by Rachel Magee

This story made me remember all of our family vacations and had me wanting to schedule a siblings trip there!

I can relate to Savannah as she is the oldest sister and has all of these great plans for the vacation. She tries so hard to relive all of the old memories especially with their mom not alive any more. The author left me wondering throughout the story about what Savannah was struggling with and left me guessing.

The author does a great job in her descriptions of Cora and Bianca. I could almost picture them as little sisters and their different personalities.

My most favorite interactions were between Cora and Jax. There was so much sarcasm but so much compassion with both of these characters which made them endearing.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Loved this book and I am so excited I got early access to it! It made me laugh and was a great quick read. Definitely recommend.

This story is an adorable rom com! I enjoyed the characters, three sisters came together at their childhood beach house to fulfill the wish of their mother. This is just a lovely read!

I really wanted to like this book but it was too cringey for me. It was too cheesey and childish, and read like a high school drama to me personally. I think the premise was good, but i did not enjoy this book

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This book was cute, but not very realistic. If you are looking for a carefree, enjoyable read, this is your book.

I received an ARC in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own.

What Not to Do on Vacation has made Rachel Magee a must-read author for me. I enjoyed her earlier book, but this novel was even better. It will be the perfect beach read.
Sister relationships can be blessings or tensions in one’s life. Magee gives the reader three sisters who have been close, but due to parent divorce they went different ways. Oldest sister Savannah brings her two sisters together for a reunion at the summer cabin in Florida that they rented when growing up. Middle sister Cora has hardened her heart after the family split and her mother’s death and is not excited to for the reunion. Bianca is the baby of the family and shows up to the reunion announcing her engagement to a man she only knows online. While Savannah is hiding her own secret, Cora and Biance make a deal involving Cora also trying online dating.
I enjoyed that this book dealt with familial relationships and added romance for Cora. I really enjoyed Cora’s relationship with Jax and the batter between them added a romcom element.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

This is a delightful story with lovable and memorable characters. It grabbed my attention from the first page when Cora stops at a CVS to buy a toothbrush because her luggage didn’t arrive with her. She dashes through a torrential downpour into the store where inside she encounters another customer who is tall and handsome and freely gives her his opinion on what toothbrush she should buy and how many.
Cora and her two other sisters are meeting in the beach town of Sunnyside, Florida, where as kids they had many happy memories of fun vacations. Their mother’s last wish was that the three sisters would return and relive the fun memories of past beach vacations in Sunnyside. Savannah, the oldest sister comes up with the plan they should all spend a month to relive their childhood summers. Neither Cora or the youngest sister, Bianca is onboard for a whole month but eventually they all agreed and find themselves in the same house their parent’s had rented years ago, all in matching PJs thanks to Savannah.
To the objection of the two younger sisters, Savannah plans many of the same activities they did as children, however she fails to tell her sisters of a secret she is keeping to herself. When Bianca announces, she is engaged to a man who is her soul mate, chosen by a dating app; a man she has never met in person, although is moving to Idaho, Cora sets out to prove a dating app can’t possibly find your soul mate. At a little manipulation by Bianca, Cora is paired up with the toothbrush expert she met in CVS.
There are many moving parts to this charming and delightful story. I found it to be heartwarming as the sisters went from activity to activity, however, also discovering much about themselves. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

This book was quirky, funny and enjoyable! I loved the storyline and some parts really Made me giggle. Definitely a happy and cozy read. ☺️
Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this

Thank you so much for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book. I am a sucker for a good fake dating trope. This was just the right amount of funny, heartwarming, and family drama. I also loved how this was told from four different POVs, I was not expecting that. Jack had a reputation as being a heartbreak/ badass but I feel like I didn’t really see that side of him. He just seemed like more of a softie. Otherwise I don’t have a suggestions on what to add to this book. It was chefs kiss 💋

This book is 100000% perfect for a Spring Break beach read! It's such a cute and funny story with good characters.

What a cute feel good book. I enjoyed the three sisters so much since I am one of three myself and we all love going to the beach each year. It was an adorable and fast read. No spice but that's ok. It didn't need it. The romance was great and I definitely love the whole rom-com feel. I would recommend this for sure. I read it right before Christmas so that's a bit of a weird time to read a beach read but it was still great! It's going to be a hit when it comes out in June. I've never read anything by this author before but I really like her writing style. Thanks for the advanced copy!

Rachel Magee’s “What Not to Do on Vacation” is wonderful! The description of "Ten Things I Hate About You meets "Nobody Wants This" is spot on. This is a lighthearted rom-com with a blend of humor, heart, and sisterly shenanigans that will keep you hooked and rooting for the characters. This was a great book to read as a palate cleanser from all the suspenseful, anxiety inducing thrillers/fantasy I normally read.
The story revolves around the Prestly sisters, who are on a mission to relive their carefree childhood summers at the beach. Savannah, the eldest, has meticulously planned the perfect vacation to reconnect with her sisters. However, things take an unexpected turn when Bianca, the youngest, announces her engagement and challenges her perpetually single sister, Cora, to find love on a dating app.
Magee weaves a tale of fake dating, beach vibes, and family drama, all while keeping the tone light and engaging. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each bringing their own quirks and charm to the story. Cora’s skepticism about love and her hilarious interactions with the charming Jax add a delightful twist to the narrative.
The book’s strength lies in its ability to balance humor with heartfelt moments. It sweet and makes it fun. The sisterly bond is beautifully portrayed, and the beach setting adds a touch of nostalgia and warmth. The writing is witty and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the story.
“What Not to Do on Vacation” is a must-read for fans of lighthearted romance and family-centric stories. It’s a feel-good read that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommended for your first summer '25 read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was an adorable rom com! I enjoyed the characters as three sisters came together at their childhood beach house to fulfill the wish of their mother. The humor was delightful, and it had just the right amount of reflection and dealing with family drama. I could relate to each of the sisters, at different points of the story!