What Not to Do on Vacation by Rachel Magee was such a fun read. I loved it from the beginning to the end.

WHAT NOT TO DO ON VACATION by RACHEL MAGEE is a delightful read, with unforgettable characters, witty dialogue and a charming story line,
The Prestly sisters have drifted apart and Savannah has arranged for the three of them to spend some quality time together at Sunnyside in the beach cottage where they used to spend summers with their parents when they were growing up. She has her work cut out with independent Cora, who has her own ideas and tends to keep people away, and her youngest sister, Bianca, to whom she has been a mother since their mom died, and who makes an anouncement on her arrival which shocks her two older sisters. Add to that Savannah’s secret, a dating app, Jax Verona,who has a dangerous reputation, local boy Luke, and gym-qrat Zander, as well as an exhausting bucket list and fake dates, - what more do you want in an entertaining story?!
I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a romcom with a deeper meaning.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

What Not to Do on Vacation by Rachel Magee was a fun, encouraging story about love, family, and reconnection. I loved her characters and could relate to the three sisters in this story. This book is encouraging and humorous, while dealing with serious issues relevant to the readers right now. I give this book 5 stars. I received a complimentary review copy of this book from NetGalley.

"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 enjoyed this book from the first time that I picked it up to read! I especially liked the differing viewpoints of each chapter and thought it was easy to follow. I liked how each character had they own story arc yet they all blended together well. This would be the perfect book for your next summer read!

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

Can I start my review with a giggle? I loved this one! The title alone grabbed me and the book held on! Loved it!

**Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!**

I LOVED this book!! Oh my word, it was so cute. It had the most adorable romance with no spice, the book was clean, the summer themes were amazing, and the plot was so good!

This book definitely compares to 10 Things I Hate About You and How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days. The banter, the playfulness, the bets, everything! Ugh, it was so cute!! I had a giant grin on my face as I read, and I couldn't put it down.

The writing was really well done, but I will say there are a lot of POVs (4), which can get confusing. For the most part, though, the characters were distinct enough for me to tell whose POV it was.

Like I said, the book was super clean, which was awesome! I truly just had such a fun time reading this. It's the perfect summer book (and winter too- I finished in February!) full of cute romance and sisterly love.

omg what a fun read! i was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. I wish I could reread the book for the first time again! i received a complimentary copy for this book & all opinions are my own.

This was a great story about families and even though we’re apart we come together when we’re needed. Along the way there’s a bet, a dating app and lots of summer memories.

What Not to Do on Vacation by Rachel Magee

Sisters Cora, Bianca and Savannah are spending a month at the beach at their family’s traditional vacation spot to honor their mother’s last wish. Oldest sister Savannah has planned lots of summer bucket list activities, but the one activity not listed is to prevent youngest sister Bianca out of her plan to marry her fiancé whom she met online but has never met in person. Of course, the plot becomes knottier, but I don’t want to spoil the story.

This story has lots of witty banter, some family and relationship drama, and lots of laughs plus a great setting. Never mind that it isn’t unpredictable. It is a great beach read and has a happy ending with an important lesson that all the sisters learn.

I enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend who enjoys a clean and witty romcom. I am grateful to the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Fast good summer read. Likeable sisters in a easy to read and love story. Siblings move apart and live separate lives but revert to childhood habits. Love how the author brought them together. Recommend.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #WhatNottoDoonVacation

This book is everything I love in a feel-good, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy—with bonus sisterly banter, beach vibes, and an online fake dating setup that totally stole my heart.

This story gave me all the nostalgic rom-com feels—think "10 Things I Hate About You" meets "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" with a splash of "Failure to Launch". Savannah is the oldest, and acts as the mother of the group. Her over-the-top mission to reconnect her sisters is both hilarious and heartwarming, but she's hiding a pretty big secret. Cora, the middle sister, is sassy, cynical, and afraid of love. She is a tough-as-nails skeptic who "accidentally" gets tangled in her own fake dating web (and she is now one of my favorite rom-com leads). Bianca is the baby sister, and lives and loves freely. Bianca's wild matchmaking bet between her and her sisters? Absolute gold. And don’t even get me started on her love interest, Zander aka Lord Farquaad. Cora's love interest on the other hand. M-MMM-MMM! Jax is swoony, charming, and totally unexpected in the best way.

This book nails that slow-burn tension while keeping things sweet and clean (a true low-spice rom-com win!). The humor is witty, the sisterly banter is on point, and the beach-town setting makes you want to pack a bag and escape to Sunnyside immediately.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Do you love happy books?
Do you love clean books?
Do you love to have fun?

Then this is your next read! Come hang out with the Prestly sisters for a month on their (re-reunion?) month vacation, in hopes of recreating their happy childhood memories. Ten or more years have passed and their lives have gone in different directions: motherhood, careers (or lack there of), and relationships.
The. biggest surprise of all is that the youngest, Bianca has decided to marry a guy she has met on an APP a few weeks ago and move to Idaho. Cora and Savannah cannot sit and watch their younger sister do something so impulsive. So the sisters have a bet. If Cora finds love on the same APP Bianca will rethink her quick nuptials.
Meanwhile, a local heartbreaker needs to fall in love so he can become the SVP of his family's business (Of course!!) I know it sounds like another shallow hallmark, but this story is engaging, fun and flirty!!

I loved how this book took us on the hilarious and fun dates. Starting off with the "meet cute" in the CVS oral hygiene aisle. As much as Cora tried to put up her walls again love, our heartbreak heart throb was determined to tear them down.
. If I could marry a book character, he would be the one! These characters were the most "real" characters I have seen in a rom com recently. There was a sweetness and charm to the characters. There was no cheese or formulaic plot like all Hallmark movies. There were many humorous moments but none cringey.
If anything you will read the book hungry books the food in this book was chefs kiss delicious---made me want a blueberry pie.
I had read one book by Rachel Magee which was decent, but wow her writing has grown and she has found her lane . I am already excited to see what she puts out next.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Publishing and Rachel Magee for allowing me to review this advanced copy of What Not To Do On Vacation. I was not paid in exchange for my honest review.

A perfect Summer read!

I loved this book. I won't lie, I knew how it was going to end, but I still loved every minute of it. This book tugged on the heartstrings because I also have two sisters, and one of them had a heart issue. I'm pretty sure the first few pages had me crying because I realized I can't relive childhood memories or take a trip with them. I enjoyed how these sisters were different, and all had things to figure out. I like the "fighting" and rivalry because that's what sisters do. I enjoyed that this took place at a beach house. It was also told from different points of view and wasn't confusing at all. In fact, it helped understand each character more. I wouldn't be opposed to a sequel....

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.