This was a quick read and could be entertaining for a rainy afternoon - sort of the equivalent of a made for TV movie that you might watch if you were flipping the channels and got drawn in.

Kate and her husband and 2 kids are on vacation in France with her 3 best friends and their families. At the start of the trip Kate finds reason to suspect her husband is having an affair with one of the other women and she’s determined to figure out who before confronting him.

Ultimately from there things just get more over the top and unbelievable as it goes. I was also really annoyed by some of the storytelling choices that were made. In first person chapters from Kate’s perspective there are two different times when she finds something but we (the readers) are left in the dark - something along the lines of “couldn’t believe what I found there!” And in both cases it is EXACTLY what we would assume - so why bother with the clunky writing to hide what it was??

This was a miss for me but I did finish it because it was a quick read and I was curious to see how it ended. I wouldn’t recommend it though.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Contemporary Fiction | Adult
When four friends and their families gather to spend a week at a French villa, the planned holiday turns into a stressful nightmare of secrets and lies, when Kate discovers a text on her husband’s phone. Not only is she shocked to realize he’s having an affair, it seems it’s with one of her three best friends. Who is it? And why won’t he admit the truth? As Kate tries to figure out who it is, she discovers all of her friends have secrets, and nobody’s marriage is very solid. The children are no prizes either. And before the week is out, someone is dead. A beach read, for sure, but I must admit this U.S. release of a U.K. hit (it was first published in 2019 as The Holiday) leaves me feeling a bit sad and melancholy. Logan is mining unhappiness and dissatisfaction to create a story of anger, revenge, spitefulness and petty behaviour.
It’s a comment on modern lives, but it just feels like you’re watching a train wreck for entertainment. I quickly figured out the first plot twist based on the text, but the final resolution was a surprise to me. While none of the characters is very likeable, I did enjoy the French countryside setting, especially since I had to cancel a life trip to France in April this year. You’ll find a copy at the Grand Forks & District Public Library in the adult fiction collection. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the advance reading copy provided digitally through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51177136

This was my first TM Logan story and boy now I have to read more by this author. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The characters were so intriguing made you realize they all had lot of secrets. An unusual ending for sure as to who was sending the texts. Definitely will recommend.

like fast paced readings that captivate me from the beginning, unfortunately this book was not for me. But I must say that lasn
The author's intentions were honorable and the plot and its characters were very interesting.

Well well well, I do have to say this book took me for a wild ride. One, I wasn’t quite sure it was capable of. I went into this book thinking “374 pages of a wife trying to figure out which one of her three best friends her husband was cheating on her with” seemed pretty long. Like geez just confront your husband and get it over with! What can possibly happen in 374 pages? Quite a lot actually!

Kate, along with her three best friends from university days, Rowan, Jennifer and Izzy and their families all go away for a week vacation to a luxurious villa in France. It has been five years since their last vacation together due to kids and responsibilities, so this vacation means a lot to them and a way to reconnect their friendship. But, on the first day, Kate snoops through her husband, Sean’s, phone and it seems like he is having an illicit affair with one of her best friends. Heartbroken and devastated, Kate sets out to find the “friend” who has betrayed her. Secrets build up, the heat intensifies, and someone is willing to commit murder to make sure their secret never gets out.

There is so much going on in this story, I am kinda still blown away thinking about it. Between all the twists, different players and story lines and how they all seem separate but all interconnect at the same time really paints a vivid picture and keeps you guessing all throughout. It was impossible for me to figure out through the entire story which I found absolutely amazing because I hate figuring the story out early on. There are so many red herrings thrown out during the course of the story that is meant to cause confusion and I definitely did not see the last 10% of the book coming at all!

The characters of this story are many and each has their own individual stories interweaves between the main character, Kate’s cheating scandal and the heart of this story. Can I say I liked any of the characters? They each have their moments, although some are definitely worse than the others and OMG some of them are downright scary. I do have to say one in particular got on my last nerve. Rowan’s daughter, Odette, was a feisty spoiled rotten child and every part with her in it was like nails running down a chalkboard. Gah!

I completely devoured The Vacation in a matter of hours. T.M. Logan surely delivered on the suspense and kept me guessing all through the story. If you enjoy multi-layered stories full of thrilling suspense that will keep you guessing all the way till the end, then you definitely want to pick up a copy of this book.

This wasn't the easiest book to get into but it keeps getting better and better. Trying to unravel all the mysteries was difficult to follow along with but a lot of fun to read. I'd definitely recommend it to my friends who love mysteries and drama!

The Vacation unfolds in a beautiful setting. Four college friends -- Kate, Jennifer, Rowan, and Izzy -- are overdue for a get-together. When they score a stay at an exquisite private estate in the south of France none of them could afford independently, they decide to bring their families along for a one-week vacation of a lifetime. They have just arrived when Kate discovers damning text messages on Sean's phone that suggest he is involved in an extramarital affair, which may explain why he has been secretive of late. Worse, the sender suggests that they make decisions while they are together at the villa. Kate concludes that Sean, a network security manager with a medium-sized IT company who feels that he has not achieved the success he should have by this point in his life, is cheating on her with one of her best friends. But which one? And how should she approach the situation? Should she confront Sean immediately? She rejects that option, instead waiting and observing Sean's interactions with her friends, hoping she will be able to determine which one of them has betrayed her. After all, she has been a crime analyst with the Metropolitan Police for thirteen years, collecting and collating data, and analyzing patterns, so her investigative skills are above average.

The four friends have a lengthy history, and Kate alludes to issues they have overcome throughout the years. Rowan and her husband, Russ, have one daughter, aged five, who regularly throws tantrums that they prove unable to effectively manage. Jennifer is an overprotective mother to two sneaky and sarcastic teenage boys, Jake and Ethan, who seem to constantly be getting into trouble. They attend school with Lucy who is demonstrably upset about something, but will not share the details with her mother. Izzy is the only one of the four women who is still single and childless. However, as the story progresses, Logan reveals the reason she has never married and has been spending her time far away from home.

As the story unfolds at a steady pace, Logan reveals salient details about the group's long and somewhat troubled past. Kate harbors guilt about two traumatic events and, for that reason, among others, is reluctant to confront either of the women she suspects. Instead, she spends a great deal of time observing Sean's activities and attempting to catch him engaging in inappropriate behavior with the other woman in his life, her lack of self-esteem fueling her belief that she is inferior to and cannot compete with her friends for Sean's affection. But she does want to save their marriage and not only for the sake of Lucy and Daniel. Until they arrived at the villa, she believed they were a happy couple. Meanwhile, Sean is also experiencing guilt in the present. He is indeed keeping a secret from Kate, but are her suspicions accurate?

The estate is fraught with danger. It is surrounded by sloping vineyards and a wall, but there is also a gorge at the end of a path that leads to a rock face with pools below. A clearing at the edge of a cliff looks out over the rocky promontory and the water far below.

Logan takes full advantage of the lush setting where he places his characters as scenes play out throughout the estate. But none is as terrifying as the cliff from which the water can be seen rushing below. His characters' secrets and concealed agendas motivate them to engage in behaviors that could be either innocent or deadly, and Logan keeps readers guessing which. He deftly injects clues and revelations into the story, compelling the action forward and accelerating the suspense leading up to a major development that will keep readers frantically turning the pages to see what else will be revealed and who will survive.

Once all of the characters' secrets are revealed, Logan's protagonists, Kate and Sean, face a moral conundrum that will spur readers to question what they would do if faced with a similar choice. How far should parents go to protect their child's future?

Although the The Vacation's storyline is primarily plot, rather than character-driven, Logan has nonetheless crafted an eclectic and intriguing group of players, most of whom are thoroughly unlikable, starting with Kate and her insecurities. She is devoted to her family and career, and wants to preserve both. Rowan is a driven businesswoman on the brink of launching her public relations firm to greater success, and Russ is committed to enjoying it with her. Jennifer, the athletic beauty that Sean dated before Kate, has devoted her life to raising her two boys with Alistair, her therapist husband. Readers do not get to know Izzy as well as the others, but the teenagers in the story are each fascinating in their own right, if also repugnant. Little Daniel is innocent and endearing, and will have readers cheering for him.

The Vacation is an entertaining look at long-time friendships, the destructive power of secrets, and the lengths to which parents will go to secure their child's future.

4 super thrilling, edge-of-my-seat stars! T. M. Logan does it AGAIN! While this story didn’t necessarily rev me up quite as much as his previous novels, it was still an exciting, fast-paced thrill! It probably would’ve been bordering on a full 5 stars, but there was a section at the end that was really hard for me to read (it ended up being a fake-out, which kind of annoyed me more - why try to make me think something so upsetting?).

Still - this was another great, well-written psychological thriller. While I was able to kind of figure out some things, I didn’t 100% guess all the twists and turns. I never do with this author! Great book - Logan is definitely an instant-read author for me!

I really enjoyed this book. It was one that you wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next!

Jul 30, 2020 · edit
really liked it

4 Jaw Dropping Stars

Rowan, Jennifer, Izzy and Kate were best friends and they all were. marking their fortieth birthdays with a week together in the South of France, husbands and children included.

And this is where it all begins... They are all in France and Kate sees 3 unread messages on messenger on her husband's phone. She clicks on them and sees that the messages are from Coral Girl...
Message me later when you can X...
Need to be careful this weekend like we discussed... Remember to delete messages as soon as you read... Does K suspect anything...

Then her husband messages her back... She has no idea but I can't go on like this... We'll decide when we're in France. ...Figure out what to do...I need to tell her soon...

Coral Girl responds We talked about this...Better a secret... Husband then responds...I know I feel so bad for lying to K.

Kate then thinks that her husband is having an affair. She suspects that the other woman is one of her two friends that are on vacation with her. But which one? The stakes are far higher than she imagined.

I love this author! I read 29 seconds last year and after I read that one I was hooked and wanted to read all of the author's books.

I loved the setting in France. I felt like I was there. I love when a book takes you to another country.
The characters were all very well developed. The author brings them to life. There were unlikable characters in this one. The kids needed a lot of discipline, which they didn't had any at all. Odette was such a brat but I loved reading about her.

After the first half of the book it became a very addictive read. I was captivated in the story and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I was so intrigued. It was a big surprise with jaw dropping moments and lots of twists and turns. This was not a predictable read at all.

I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the writing style of this book. It definitely put this author on my radar and I'm excited to read his other books. The Vacation was interesting and a real puzzle to solve. The storyline was great and I loved all the characters. This had the potential to be a 5 star read but I was a little let down by the ending. I think I loved the first half so much that my expectations were really high going into the second half of the book. I still really enjoyed it and would recommend checking it out!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic book from start to finish! I was sucked in right from the start, and I could not put it down until the very last page, although the last 10% of the book was not in the same vein and the other 90%. That being said, I did not see the twist coming. This was a great read and perfect for your summer vacation. Just be extra careful who you choose to vacation with this year!

Yet another great book from T.M. Logan. At first it was a little difficult to keep all the characters straight but I quickly caught on. I was hooked from page one and breezed through the book. I found myself really really wanting to know what was going on with Sean and had suspicions at one point that it wasn't quite what Kate thought. Lots of twists and turns and such an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC copy.

I was thrilled when I heard about this latest book by TM Logan! I have loved all his other books that I have read and this book did not disappoint!

What better than a book with four best friends, a vacation, and all that sunshine and fun? I mean what could do wrong? Well, as it turns out, quite a bit! This book is full of twists and surprises that you won’t see coming! There are so many secrets, lies and betrayals among these friends and you will find yourself wondering who is being truthful, and who you can trust and believe. Not an easy task for sure! I loved reading about the dynamics among these friends and reading the story as it unfolded.

A definite must read to add to your collection!

The Perfect Vacation Turns Deadly

Kate, her husband, and two children are in France on their way to a reunion with Kate’s best friends from university. The women are turning 40 and haven’t seen each other for awhile. A week in a gorgeous villa on the Mediterranean seems like the perfect time to relax and catch up.

The problem is that Kate found a string of text messages on her husband’s phone that suggest he’s having an affair and with one of her best friends. She decides to use the week to figure out who it is, but gets more than she bargained for when things turn deadly.

This is a well done psychological thriller. The pace is good and the plot being slowly revealed by the author keeps you turning pages to discover the underlying motive. I loved the setting. The villa is so spectacular you wish you could be there. I wasn’t as crazy about the characters.

The story is told over the days of the week and moves from Kate’s POV to that of the others. This way we get lots of background information at the same time we get to know the characters which keeps it from being a recitation of facts from the past. However, I thought the women were all egocentric. Even their children were unlikable.

However, if you like psychological thrillers, the plot is worth it.

I receiver this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great! The author did a phenomenal job constructing the many characters. I will be honest, the first ten chapters or so drug a little bit for me. I was under the impression that the entire book was be Kate trying to figure out her husband's suspected affair. My goodness, was I ever wrong! This book had an ending that I never could have predicted. It kept me guessing until the very end......which ended up being the wee hours of a Monday morning because I could not put it down!

Very well done, T.M. Logan!

Great characters but the story moved excruciatingly slow. I liked the premise but with the slow pace I lost interest about halfway through.

OᐯᗴᖇᐯIᗴᗯ: Kate, Rowan, Jennifer, and Izzy plan an elaborate joint vacation for their families. Soon after they arrive, Kate sees a text message on her husband’s phone that leads her to believe he’s having an affair with one of her friends. But which one? And more than just Kate’s husband are hiding secrets.

ᗰY TᕼOᑌᘜᕼTᔕ: One misdirection after another makes this an exciting read. Every single time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong and anxious to see what the next reveal would be. I didn't see the ending coming, although I had suspicions that something was "off" with the person who ended up being the final culprit. This was my first book by T.M. Logan and I can't wait for more!

ᖇᗩTIᑎᘜ: ★★★★1/2

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley, St-Martin’s Publishing Group and T.M. Logan.
I will start by saying I am a big fan of T.M. Logan and always enjoy his novels.
The Vacation did not disappoint, lots of twists and turn, page turner, I could not put this book down.
I would not want a holiday with my friends and family to turn the way this vacation did.
I did not see that ending coming. I loved loved it.
Highly recommend.
5 stars

A dream vacation-or a perfect nightmare? The latest thriller from T.M. Logan has all the elements of a twisy, delicious summer read. Kate and her three best friends from university used to take yearly holidays together after husbands and babies arrived. Having missed out on the last few years, the group reunites celebrating turning 40. A chance to spend the week together (this time husbands and children included) at a beautiful villa in France was too good to turn down. But upon arrival, noticing her husband has been distant, Kate sees a text message on his phone and realizes he's having an affair-with one of her friends at the villa-but which friend? And why is her teenage daughter so preoccupied? These questions and more may have deadly consequences-and will be answered by picking up The Vacation! This is one not to miss-fast paced, twists and turns and great scenery-the perfect beach and summer read!

Thank you to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.