I enjoyed this quite a bit. The characters all seemed realistic and believable, and I became invested in nearly all of their stories. It was cool to see how some of them intertwined. It kept me constantly guessing and the way the chapters ended in crucial spots made it hard to put the book down!

I was super bored with this one. Felt like the characters made terrible decisions and I just didn't like reading this as a pastime.

All of this author’s books are so layered and complex. This one has many characters and it’s all centered around a hostel in Los Angeles. As their stories unfold, you don’t really know who is good or bad. Definitely recommend this one!

John Marrs has a talent for crafting intricate and suspenseful narratives. With its well-developed characters, engaging plot, and thought-provoking themes, the novel is a must-read for fans of the genre. It is a book that not only entertains but also offers a deep dive into the darker aspects of human nature.

There are a LOT of characters to keep up with in The Vacation, and shifting timelines to boot. Continues to get grimmer and darker as it goes on.

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

Really enjoyed this one. It was my first book from John Marrs and I’m looking forward to reading others!

This was my first John Marrs book. I thought it was really good. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed this and I look forward to reading more of his books.

John Marrs doesn’t disappoint. It is a solid read with a lot of characters intertwined by the end. It took me a little while to wrap my head around it all but it was worth reading. I have been a fan since The One and continue to be one. Try to guess how it all works out before you get to the end!

Read this one with my bookclub for our May selection and while it was very different from Marrs' other work that I was familiar with, I really enjoyed my time with it. He writes such distinct and complex characters and throughout I found myself frequently questioning how he would possibly tie the story lines together, but in his typical fashion he did so seamlessly. Definitely recommend this one if you're a fan of Marrs' writing and enjoy multiple POV character driven stories with a beachy hostel setting.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my review copy!

I've been very hit or miss with this author, but I thought I'd give him another go! Sadly, I couldn't get into this book enough to finish it so I'm opting out of it for the time being and hope to return to it down the road!

"The Vacation" by John Marrs is a gripping and thrilling novel that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue. The story follows a group of strangers who are chosen to participate in a luxury vacation that quickly turns into a nightmare. As secrets are revealed and tensions rise, the characters must navigate a dangerous game of survival. Marrs' writing is sharp and engaging, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Overall, "The Vacation" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

This book was almost a DNF. It took everything in me to finish because I don’t like to leave books unfinished. There was way too much going on. It follows 8 people staying in a hostel, and it switches between all of their storylines. Not only each of their storylines but also different timelines within there. This book was way too confusing with everything going on.

This book was written in such a clever format that made it hard to put down because you knew your questions would soon be answered. So many characters and stories of lies, deception and revenge but easy to follow. So many unexpected twists. One of my favorite books so far!

***How far would you run to escape your past?

Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth. Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood. But for eight strangers at a beach-front hostel, there is far more on their minds than an extended vacation. All of them are running from something. And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep…***

Thank you netGalley for an ARC!

WOW John Marrs is such an amazing writer, So many twists for these characters that left me with my mouth open in shock!!
There are quite a few characters to get to know and remember which i found difficult at the start of the book, but the more you get to know their crazy back stories and why they're at the hostel the more I didn't want to stop reading!
Ruth's story was particularly insane! Eric and Nicole's story I didn't see coming! Unfortunately not every character has a happy ending but then not all of them deserved it!!

I have read 2 others by Marrs - The Passengers and the One and I have highly enjoyed them, I will definitely be reading his other books soon. They are fast paced. crazy and so well thought out!

The book seemed very convoluted, much unlike most of his other work. This one is not my favorite, although the plot was interesting.

3.50 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my second book by John Marrs and I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one. This could be due to the book following 8 separate characters. Each character had a separate story line that by the end of the book connected or intertwined with each other. The timeline also gets changed frequently too.

Layered and twisty, with intricate character development and overlapping twists. Couldn’t put it down!

I really enjoy books by John Marrs. Unfortunately this one didn’t hold my attention as much. Some parts were better than others, maybe it was too much of the jumping around timelines wise. I would recommend this to anyone that’ enjoys a more slower paced build up. Don’t get me wrong his writing is phenomenal just not my favorite on this book.

#netgalley #thevacation

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mildly entertaining story with The Beach as its inspiration - loosely. Here we follow the stories of multiple people staying at a sketchy hostel near LA. A lot of this is completely unbelievable, but it passed the time.