Eleanor is the author of a series of books about murder that happens on trips abroad. While on a book tour, she finds herself involved in a real-life situation where someone is trying to kill of the man behind the hero of her books.

This is a funny story with quirky characters and a wonderful sense of place. A light summer read.

Thank You NetGalley for this audiobook ARC.

A bestselling author goes on an exotic vacation with her sister, friends, and some ex loves. One by one people start dying. The star author tries to solve it. It seems to be related to her writing another novel.

This is my first time reading this author. As I listened to the book, I thought this book was part of a series. I did some research and it's not. A bit confusing. I just could not get into this book. I didn't like the characters and didn't care what happened to them. The book is a bit confusing as it seems to jump around to much making the story incongruent. The story line was not interesting and repetitive. I wanted to give an honest review so I listened to the whole thing instead of DNF. I did like the narrator and the chapters were short.

This book was not for me, but I'm sure someone else may. Maybe it would be better if read vs. listening. If you like murder mysteries, vacation, exotic places, famous authors, fan club, and relationships.

4.5 stars
This book was really fun! It was a cozy mystery, but it was really funny and broke the fourth wall. It really felt like someone was telling me an adventure they had in Italy.
Our main character Eleanor went to Italy 10 years ago, met Connor, and helped him solve a string of bank robberies. Eleanor then went home and wrote a book about her trip. It turned into a best selling 10 book series. She left Connor's name in, so he is basically blackmailing her to give her royalties. Eleanor, her sister Harper, Connor, Eleanor's ex Oliver, 2 other authors and a few others go on this promotional tour of Italy and someone starts making attempts on Connor and Eleanor's life. Almost everyone has motive, but who is really trying to kill them?
I really loved the writing style of this book. I listened to the audiobooks, but there were a lot of references to footnotes where the fourth wall was broken and it was very humorous. It was super easy to listen to and follow along with.
The characters were really fun, there were a lot of them and there were one or two I got mixed up with each other, but overall they each had their own personalities and made a great team of suspects. There were a lot of secrets we learn about a lot of them and it just makes the suspicion run deeper.
The plot was obviously great, I love travel books and this trip to Italy was a whirlwind. The plot was so fast. Something was always happening. So many things happened in a way that made a lot of sense. The ending was very twisty and not what I was expecting.
The audiobook narrator was fantastic. She made the story absolutely come to life and made me feel like I was a part of the story.

Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies was my first read/listen from Catherine Mack. The narration was well done. The pacing and variety of voices added to the story. The Italian setting was a nice departure from most other novels. The mystery was woven throughout and kept you guessing until the end, although it was not a typical mystery novel. I really enjoyed the wit and humour that was also woven throughout and I feel like this novel was written as the author would have told it if you had coffee with her. The author seems to carry on a dialogue with the reader throughout that was very unique (sharing her inner thoughts). It was fast paced but, I did find some of the details confusing as there were so many characters and relationships between them. Catherine Mack also wove in many pop culture references that made it modern and light. I look forward to the next book that Catherine Mack writes!

Thank you Net Galley, MacMillan Audio and Catherine Mack for the opportunity to preview this audiobook and the opinions shared are my own.

#NetGalley #CatherineMack #MacMillan Audio #EveryTimeIGoonVacationSomeoneDies

A very fun and cozy mystery! I loved the Italian setting and the cast of characters were charming (even the villans!). I enjoyed how this novel was ultimately teased out and I only figured things out right at the ending. I did a simultaneous listen to the audio as I was reading a physical copy and I preferred the audio. This was due to the footnotes added throughout. I found they were easier to follow in audio format.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Everything about it was perfection. The setting was described beautifully, I had a great understanding of the characters (and their flaws), and the plot kept me hooked throughout wondering what would happen next! I would recommend this book to all of my followers. 5/5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook. This is a book I would recommend you follow along to audio with the written book or read the hard copy of the book. The story is an author telling a story about her travel to Italy on a book tour where murders occur. The story jumps from the story to footnotes by the author. It took quite a while to switch my brain back and forth between the facts of the story and the author's footnotes. The back and forth was confusing for the first part but it was a different storyline with humor and murder. This is a debut for author Catherine Mack and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Full transparency, I requested this book because Elizabeth Evans narrates it and I love her from all her work in the SJM world. I looked at close to nothing on the cover or the description; I saw Elizabeth Evans and Italy and decided that was enough, I was all in.

Honestly, this was absolutely hilarious. Eleanor’s inner monologues (and Taylor Swift references) had me cackling. And Evans delivers them in all of their intended glory. A murder mystery is rarely described as hilarious, I realize that, but I can't think of a better word. It was quirky and fun and keeps you guessing through and through. I can't wait for the next one!

Cure your wanderlust and book slump all in one with this gem! I promise, it won’t disappoint.

Title: Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack
Publication Date- 04/30/24
Publisher- Macmillan
Overall Rating- 4.5 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audio review: The narration was great, engaging and well performed. If you do audio that’s a great way to intake this book.

Review: What an exciting start to a new mystery series. I LOVED this book. We follow a group of individuals who are on a writer tour/ vacation in Rome. One of my favorite elements of the book was being in Rome and actually feeling like I was on vacation. I loved fictionally exploring a real vacation spot, it really made the book even more entertaining. We meet an interesting cast of characters that are fully flushed out and well developed. They all have intricate relationships with each other meanwhile trying to “solve,” a “potential,” murder. It’s set up in a way where you are trying to discover who is trying to kill one of the main characters and in a way that’s like a “whodunit.” You are aware that it is likely someone in the core group you are following which leads to increased suspension and tension.

The only reason this is a 4.5 and not a 5 is that I didn’t love the plot device that was used to explain the mystery. It’s really a personal preference but also felt a little too convenient. Other than that I have no complaints. The MC is quirky and funny. I felt pretty stressed the week I read this and it was able to get me out of that headspace and enjoy my time which can be hard to do.

I really enjoyed the writing. One thing I will note is that it is very “meta,” and some people may not like that. There is a lot of discussion and references to pop culture, authorship, publishing, books, being a reader and more. I ate that up.

I can’t wait for the next installment in the series, I am likely to read this book again just because it is so fun. I very much recommend.

🍋 Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies - Catherine Mack

4.5 ⭐️ - Hilarious footnotes. Beautiful Italian setting. Mystery. Romance. Need I say more? This book (series!) has it all and I literally cannot wait to read what’s coming next. I was lucky enough to be a Bookface Lady on tour for this one and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself!

The way this book is written will have you captured from the very first chapter! I loved all the characters (there’s a lot!) and each of their unique personality and quirks. The footnotes of this story add so much to the depth of the characters and our interactions with them. The chapters dedicated to helping the reader solve the mystery are the perfect “recap” you’re always looking for in a murder novel. I loved this book. I am NOT a series girl but I cannot wait for this to continue. What a fun, summery, funny way to solve a true whodunit murder mystery. Here’s to book 2. I obviously recommend this - physical or audio!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.


Review to come shortly.

Synopsis: Eleanor Dash became a best selling mystery author after writing a fictionalized version of her own adventure with then boyfriend, Connor. Now, ten years and several books later, she just wants to be done with the series. What better way to do that than to kill off Connor (in the book only of course). But in the middle of a book tour in Italy, it seems that someone may be trying to beat her too it, only this threat to Connor’s life is very real.

Thoughts: This was such a fresh, modern take on a cozy mystery! It was a light, fun, laugh out loud adventure with a very serious mystery plot built in. The pacing was great, and I was honestly shocked by the twists. The narrator did a lot of fourth wall breaking, which really worked for me in this one. I definitely recommend and will be awaiting the next book in the series! A note on the audio: I did love the audio narrator, but I ended up also checking out the ebook copy because there are footnotes featured that work better in print in my opinion. That being said, the audio is still very entertaining and a valid way to read this one!

Read this if you like:
🍝 Italy
🍝 cozy mysteries
🍝 fourth wall breaking
🍝 light romance
🍝 humor

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Catherine Mack for advanced access to Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies.
The narrator was AWESOME! Loved the different accents/voices for each character, It made it easy to know who was saying what!

This was such a fun and unique murder mystery, that had a little bit of romance thrown in there,
Eleanor Dash is a best selling author who writes murder mysteries. Her ex, Connor, blackmails her into giving him 20% of the profits for years. She has a plan to kill him off....in her latest mystery. There is a lot going on in this book, and I loved it all!

Publication date is April 30, 2024! I highly recommend this book, especially the audio version! :)

What a fun little read about an author named Eleanor Dash who goes on tour in Italy and while there wants to figure out how to kill off one of the characters in her book, Connor Smith. Funny & ironic thing is, she has an man who she became involved with in real life by the same name many years previously and she wants to get rid of him, too but just can't seem to do it. Then she learns that someone is trying to kill him, so she wants to figure out who. Hilariously as her trip goes, she ends up with her ex, Oliver and a host of fans. Things get more and more complicated as bodies begin to show up.

I just happen to be on vacation in Florida at Miramar Beach, and even though the weather her was bad yesterday with an alarm on our phones to take cover in a basement as we were under a severe tornado warning, I still loved reading this one today from my balcony because it was nice and sunny but still very windy and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

I had both the narrated audiobook and the ebook (unfinished copy), and I thought the narrator, Elizabeth Evans (no relation to me!) was excellent and definitely helped keep my interest in the plot. I am not sure I would've given the book 4 stars without listening to the narrator.

I'm usually not a fan of cozy mysteries, but I really enjoyed this one. I guess because it felt like more than just a simple mystery. I liked the locale, the characters, and I'm a huge fan of a locked door mystery and that was the feel of this one to me. I think I changed who I thought was the bad guy 2 or 3 times. This was an entirely enjoyable listen. I loved the narrator.

I really enjoyed this novel! It was funny and witty and had charm! I had a lot of fun reading this. A little bit of romance mixed with mystery and murder. This would be a great beach mystery! The narration was great.

This is a cute, funny, cozy mystery set in Italy. It's a light and easy read that I think would be wonderful at the beach or poolside. I absolutely loved that this was a book about books, and that the narrator broke the fourth wall and spoke to the reader directly. I didn't really enjoy the characters in this book. Overall, it's an entertaining, fast paced book that's perfect for spring and summer. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator was great! She was funny and sassy at all the right moments.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Listening to Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is like sitting poolside with an old friend telling you about her wild adventures. Funny and quick, the writing pulls you along with a smile on your face. The narration is wonderful -- just the perfect amount of snark to elicit snickering instead of wincing. I'd travel with Eleanor and Company any day of the week.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my ALC of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies in exchange for my honest review.

Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies…
Eleanor Dash is the bestselling author of a ten-year-running vacation mystery series, but she has plans to kill off her main character to end the series for good. That character is based on none other than her ex, Connor Smith, who has been blackmailing her. When Connor comes to her and insists that someone is trying to kill him in real life, Eleanor works through her theories with her audience as she attempts to outline her next book.

ETIGOVSD is a light and cozy mystery, with a bit of romance, that serves up underhanded jabs at the genre, while breaking the fourth wall. With several suspects at your disposable, coupled with the breathtaking scenery of Italy, this makes for the perfect summer listen/read. I feel like the authors in the book were very comparable to those in real life; cue the not-so-talented-influencer-author stealing ideas and passing them off as her own, and the nose-up-turned vibes of more seasoned authors, believing that there is no more room for new talent.

Eleanor is an unreliable, but quirky and loveable narrator; she shares her feelings and anecdotes with readers via footnotes (which I loved). She is hilarious and had me laughing out loud along with her. Her thoughts and opinions about the “Book Face Ladies” and other social media sensations were spot on!

This book was made to be an audiobook; Elizabeth Evans perfectly captures Eleanor’s tone, making this a fun and fast listen. Having the ARC to reference along with the ALC helped me with sorting the characters, but on the flipside the audio was more engaging. I could feel myself emersed in the picturesque setting and loved the additions of Italy-specifics, like no Diet Coke LOL.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series and could totally see this transformed into an HBO mini-series!