Maybe I’m just not the right demographic for this book (read: I’m too old!)
I felt as though the whole story was just a series of drunken and/or very bad decisions. I also didn’t appreciate all of the stereotypes mentioned regarding Asian women, as Grace and her friends’ actions seemed to only reinforce them.
Grace and her willingness to accept whatever scraps Josh threw her way just made me so upset; it was unbecoming and such a terrible message for women everywhere.

I am not a prude by any means and enjoy a good spicy book as much as the next romance reader, but something about this was so... raunchy... and off-putting. I could not vibe with the characters, especially the lead, which made it hard to want her to succeed. Not something I'd recommend or pick up again.

Readers are taken on a sun-soaked journey to Cancun and experience a story of love, friendship, and self-discovery. “The Breakup Vacation” is Anna Gracia's debut novel and perfectly captures the messiness of the early twenties, the power of girlfriends, and the allure of romance. Pack your bags and head for turquoise waters and swaying palm trees.

Meet Grace. She’s a theatre major who faces heartbreak when her boyfriend unexpectedly dumps her. Left with a broken heart and an empty schedule, she turns to her best friends for support. They concoct a post-breakup beach vacation in Cancun, hoping it will help Grace move on. But there's a twist: her ex is also in Cancun, along with his possibly-new girlfriend. Grace is determined to win him back, but is it really the best option?

The premise of a breakup vacation is enticing. Who hasn't dreamed of escaping heartache on a sun-drenched beach? Gracia sets the stage beautifully, promising a mix of romance, drama, and self-discovery.

Grace and her best friends form a tight-knit trio. Their friendship is the heart of the story and their banter feels authentic. Grace's vulnerability and determination resonate, while her best friends forever provide comic relief. The ex-boyfriend is your typical college bro, and the soccer player from Hawaii adds a dash of intrigue.

Gracia's writing is breezy and conversational. She captures the carefree vibe of a beach vacation, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the setting. The pacing keeps the pages turning, and the banter between characters adds levity.

“The Breakup Vacation” explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the unpredictability of love. As Grace grapples with conflicting emotions, readers witness her growth and resilience.

While the love triangle is predictable, Gracia throws in unexpected twists. The lush descriptions of Cancun's beaches and vibrant nightlife create an immersive experience.

The novel evokes mixed emotions. Grace's rollercoaster of feelings, yet is authentic. The chemistry sizzles, but the emotional depth could have been deeper. The characters lack depth beyond their surface traits. The ex-boyfriend’s unworthiness becomes evident, but Grace's attraction to him remains puzzling. Yet while the soccer player from Hawaii is charming, he lacks backstory. I felt the love triangle lacks the emotional stakes needed to fully invest readers.

“The Breakup Vacation” is everything you want from a beach read: light, entertaining, and perfect for lazy afternoons. While it doesn't break new ground, it does celebrate friendship, forgiveness, and the possibility of unexpected romance. Dive in, soak up the sun, and let the waves of Cancun carry you away.

Thank you to NetGalley, MTV Books, and Simon & Schuster Canada for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Grace is about to be a college senior, studying to be an actress, who has recently been dumped by her film loving boyfriend Josh. They are still seeing each other, sleeping together, have feelings, and everything they were doing before except Josh doesn't have time to be a "good boyfriend."

When Grace's two best friend's suggest a girls vacation to help her move on from Josh, Grace agrees and suggests they do Cancun, not telling them Josh will also be in Cancun and she plans to use the vacation to win him back. She definitely has her hands full trying to hang out with her friends without them catching her sneaking around behind their backs to see Josh, especially when she meets a hot local name Daniel who sweeps her off her feet.

This book had so many high points and so many low points. I loved the dynamic between the 3 friends, they were so supportive of each other and very distinct. The exploration of culture, being biracial, and representation was lovely to see. The banter between Daniel and Grace was so fun and had me smiling. What did not work for me was the characters did not feel their age, the 3 girls especially Grace felt so petulant and childish it was hard to get through the book at moments. Josh was so trash, and I know that was the point but seeing Grace excuse his behavior time and time again was exhausting. The ideas were there, the execution needed work but I did have a good time.

The book started out very interesting as I enjoy books about people who want to be actors, directors etc and I found the first chapter to be funny with an engaging writing style.

Unfortunately, the rest of the story was not for me. Once on the vacation it seemed there was less of a story and I wasn’t vibing with the characters. The main character especially.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get through this one. The main character was insufferable and made it hard to root for her success.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book at me right at the start. I always love a good rom com and this one had all the perfect ingredients with a side of messiness for spice! Perfect girls trip type beach read to get you through the winter and to look forward to the warm summer months!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

I really wanted to enjoy the story about Grace and her friends on their trip to Cancun but it just wasn't for me. I can appricate others really enjoying the story but I wasn't able to connect with the characters. I also couldn't understand Josh's appeal and why Grace would plan an amazing vacation for her and her friends (using her friend's mom credit card, no less) and deceiving them to win back a guy who doesn't give her a second thought.

I was so intrigude by this book and the cover especially really grabbed my attention when I was browsing through netgalley so thank you to the publsiher and Anna Gracia for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review! First thoughts: this book was really cute. I really enjoyed the whole plot and the girls friendship but I found that the characters were somewhat juvenile at times. I think that this book appeals more-so to a younger audience than myself so I won't fault it for that but I did find myself questioning some of Grace's decisions throughout. Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Canada, and MTV Books for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It's the summer before senior year of college, and Grace is hung up on her ex, Josh. He dumped her, but he's still receiving the "benefits," and Grace is convinced that she can win him back. When he goes to Cancun for the summer, she convinces her friends that they should go on a girls' trip to Cancun too, not filling them in on her plan (they hate Josh, as great friends would). What she doesn't plan on is meeting Daniel - sexy, kind, and with a chemistry that just clicks. It feels like more than a vacation fling, but with the Josh drama, that's all it can be, right?

This book is messy and chaotic and I know that some reviews bashed this book for that reason, but to me, that's what made it so great! There was a bunch of dialogue about being mixed race/appearing racially ambigious, which was really cool to read in fiction.

Keep in mind that this book is under MTV Entertainment! If you want a clean and tidy romantic comedy, this isn't it! It's messy and dramatic and raunchy, but if you like that, you'll have a great time!

CW: sexual activity, cursing, alcohol use