I couldn’t make it through this one. The main characters were not well done. I really couldn’t stand the Kaylee. Her and dean also had zero chemistry. This one was a miss for me.

A cute, summery, beachy romance with relatable teens and a simple storyline full of moments of growth and self-discovery, Never Vacation with Your Ex is an engaging part of Viking’s Spring 2023 releases. It’s perfect timing that this book is coming out in April, ready for teens to grab before they finish up school and head into summer vacation. Kaylee and Dean are two of the more down-to-Earth characters and their story is incredible accessible and relatable for this age bracket. There’s romance without being too graphic. it remains sweet throughout with the focus not solely being on the love story, but with friendships and familial relationships intertwined for an excellent balance.

Though I’m definitely too mature for this particular book (I didn’t personally find myself connecting with the characters on any real level), I did enjoy the story itself as a whole. Kaylee and Dean are both trying to understand themselves as individuals, as friends, and potentially as more than friends. They’re not letting any feelings that they have for one another get in the way of their dreams and aspirations. They’re learning to balance the expectations of others and their own true wants and desires for life, knowing that on the cusp of adulthood, they are on a precipice, about to embark on the next phase. It’s refreshing to see these two characters who understand that there is more to life than their feelings for one another. Life is complex and multi-faceted and within them, many feelings can exist and compete with one another. This is a true depiction of teenage-dom that I think many readers will enjoy.

Gah once again Emily and Austin make me feel EVERYTHING. I loved this second chance, friends to lovers to exes to tentative friends to lovers again story so much. Also worth noting that I am a HUGE beach volleyball fan, so I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. Kaylee, our narrator, was a little difficult for me to identify with simply because I’m not nor have I ever been a social media influencer or tried to pursue a sport as a career 😂 her perfectionist tendencies, and her to desire to be ON all the time and never let anyone see her weak emotionally or otherwise was hella relatable though. Even at 31, it’s something I still greatly struggle with. And I absolutely adored Dean. How unapologetically himself he was, and how he refused to sugarcoat his feelings around Kaylee or anyone else. He was wide open, free-spirited, and so damn sweet. This was a slooooooooow burn, and I’m not mad at it. It was soft and sweet, but had a little steam. The dancing scene? Swoooooon.

I could gush about this story for days, but y’all don’t want to read my love letters to Emily and Austin, so I’ll leave you with this: read this book.

I’m such a sucker for this duo’s books. And a YA book involving volleyball makes it even better. I loved the both main characters so much

Fantastic! Never vacation with your ex...or his parents...or his little sister! Things get dicey. This was a cute read by a new-to-me author. Well done!

This was another really fun romcom from the Wibbrokas! I loved the premise for this, and watching the characters slowly grow back together was a delight. A perfect summer read!

I really enjoy YA reads, especially when I can recommend them to my students. These authors write such great stories.

I could have used ,more romance in this one, but I still liked it. What an awkward situation to be in! Second chance, young love, families involvement, a good read! Plus vacation vibes!

I was intrigued by this book from the very beginning I mean childhood, best friends, that are also recently exs, now stuck on joint family vacation together, come on that’s interesting.
I’m honestly surprised the ratings on the book are the so low I thought the premise of the book was fun and it was executed well I didn’t feel like a dragged. It was a really cute YA summer read.
Kaylee was a cute and relatable character. I also played volleyball and high school and still do, definitely not up to their standards, but I feel like I connected in a small way to them through that. While Kaylee definitely made questionable choices, I feel like her overthinking mind was behind all of it, I will say her character development, especially throughout the story was done really well.
I honestly really enjoyed the lightness of this book, it was very YA in the sense that teenagers acted like how you would expect teenagers too. I found this book refreshing, fun, lighthearted, enjoyable and I feel like it delivered exactly what I was hoping.
If you’re looking for a book, that’s going to be wrapped in emotions and drama filled; this is not your book. However, if you’re looking for one with a really fun premise, lighthearted, enjoyable characters, and a fun summery feel this is the perfect book for you and I would definitely recommend!

*Thank you Penguin Teen, author and team for an eARC is exchange for an honest review. All thoughts above are my own*

In case it wasn't obvious, #NeverVacationWithYourEx 👀

Thank you @prhaudio for this ALC!

𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙞 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬: This was a fun, sweet little #yaromance! This book made me wish for summer sun and beach trips as we followed volleyball player Kaylee on her families summer vacation...that they happen to go on with her ex boyfriends family. No big deal right?! While Kaylee was not my favorite FMC by any means, I did enjoy her growth. Overall, this is a cute, lighthearted read that will have you dreaming of warm days and sunshine.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• ya books
• second chance romance
• friends to lovers
• family drama
• character development

I DNF’ed this book around 30%.

The main reason? The FMC was incredibly annoying. Her POV was so unbearable I couldn’t continue. She was a privileged, talented, pretty girl and all she did was whine and complain. I had no sympathy for her when she had to vacation with her ex - it was completely her fault. And I kind of hope they don’t end up together in the end.

*Thank you Penguin Randomhouse for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

I loved Emily and Austin's What's Not to Love so when this showed up, I was super excited to get my hands on it. This story follows Kaylee and Dean whose two families vacation together every year... even the summer following their not so easy break up.

Although I couldn't help but wish these characters were just a tad older because the idea of a two month relationship being a long time gave me a little chuckle, I can't help but applaud Emily and Austin once again for making teen characters feel three dimensional and relatable even to someone not in that age category while also not making them feel like they were adults in teen bodies.

I loved the family dynamics taking place in this book. The romance was fun and cute while also handling those big "who am I" questions we all felt at the end of high school when the schools are telling us we should know what we want to do with our lives. Absolutely loved this one.

I land right in the middle on this YA novel. I really liked the main character Kaylee and her determination when it comes to volleyball. It almost felt like the main issue here was more about how Kaylee views herself and her striving for perfection than any relationship issues, but that didn't necessarily bother me. Kaylee's growth throughout the book was explained very well. However, I also liked her ex Dean. I did like their second chance romance and the issues they had when they broke up felt authentic as did their reunion.

However, I could not STAND the parents in this book. There is just no way any normal parents would act like this over a high school romance. It nearly ruined the book for me but I pushed through and just kind of ignored their comments.

Overall, I thought this was fine. I will give this author duo another chance because I've heard a lot of people say they like their other books more.

"Never Vacation with Your Ex" by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka is a hilarious and heartfelt romantic comedy that had me laughing and rooting for the characters' journey. This novel is a delightful blend of humor, second chances, and the complexities of past relationships.

Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka's writing style is witty and engaging, immersing readers in a world of humorous situations and endearing interactions. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and their attempts to navigate the awkwardness of their shared vacation create a dynamic that is both entertaining and heartwarming.

At the heart of the narrative is a lighthearted exploration of love, forgiveness, and the unexpected twists that life can take. The authors skillfully navigate the challenges and joys that come with rekindling a connection with an ex-partner.

"Never Vacation with Your Ex" successfully balances humor with moments of genuine emotion, resulting in a narrative that is both laugh-out-loud funny and emotionally resonant. The themes of growth, self-discovery, and the power of second chances add depth to the story.

In conclusion, "Never Vacation with Your Ex" is a delightful and entertaining read that delivers a perfect mix of laughter and romance. If you're looking for a book that offers a feel-good escape with characters you can't help but adore, this novel is a fantastic choice that will leave you with a smile on your face.

I've really enjoyed Emily and Austin's books that I've read in the [ast but this one just wasn't for me. Friends to Lovers to Exes to Enemies to Lovers..... like that sounds really fun and exciting but it just didn't deliver. I couldn't stand either of the characters. Kaylee was just, a lot. I didn't like her at all if I'm honest and maybe that's part of why I couldn't get into the story because of my sour connection and mood to Kaylee. If she had a bit more.... depth maybe, maybe some better qualities or something, I feel like it could've been a better story.

I am constantly searching for YA romance to pass on to students. They love it much more than I anticipated! And while my shelves are full of fantasy and dystopia, it's lacking in romance.

So, I was super excited about Never Vacation with Your Ex. It seemed like the perfect summer rec to give my students all year long. I was disappointed with the results, although I think I would still recommend it to students. Here's what I thought:

LIKED:
- the family vacation concept. three weeks in Malibu??? sign me up please!
- the volleyball aspect. i liked seeing a girl that's athletic and takes her sport seriously, while also using social media and seeing the struggles that brings.
- dean and kaylee's chemistry WAS off the charts and fun to watch. dean was so cute! i loved seeing his confidence and desire to win kaylee back.

DISLIKED:
- um. kaylee? she was so childish and immature. i think this book would've been structured better if dean had done SOMETHING to make kaylee break up with him. but he was pretty perfect, so it just made kaylee look selfish and stupid. her character grated on me and I felt she didn't deserve dean.
- the parents were clueless and their dynamic irritated me sometimes. the way they openly talked about dean and kaylee's relationship was annoying.
- overall, the concept of the book was irritating. kaylee's idea to "help dean" was stupid. the third act breakup was stupid. it just all felt INCREDIBLY immature. BUT, that is teenagers. so, at the end of the day. i would recommend to a student because i think they'd still eat it up. i ate up worse writing in high school.

Are these authors capable of writing a story with a likable MC?
I think their books are not for me.
I just can’t get past the privileged and selfish white girls they love to write.

This one by far was the worst. I made it through 12% of the book before I said forget it. I don’t recommend this at all.

Kaylee was a bit much from being a serial cheater to deciding to date her best friend and then dumping him it was very much ugh.

To think that he would want to be with her let alone her friend afterwards showed how selfish she was. I wasn''t much of a fan of this book or maybe it was just Kaylee I wasn't a fan of

this book was a cute and easy read to get into for the spring /summer time! I found the MC to be really relatable. Especially to those in similar situations who struggle with portraying a perfect image and the pressures that teens can face at that age. I just felt like something was missing between the two love interests and I wanted more on their background/ dating history together.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This was very cute! I love these authors and appreciate this novel for what it was, unfortunately YA isn’t my thing. I’m looking forward to their next adult novel, but this is excellent for any YA fan!

Shame on me for not looking into this one further before requesting it. That being said it was entirely too angsty and unbelievable for me. 2 months and you're saying I love you? What? Nope.