I really liked the cover of the book, and the title was catchy. I felt that the author did a good job of describing the location and backstory between characters. I really wanted to like the story, but I struggled with too many storylines running parallel. I also thought that too much emphasis was placed on location and felt that the characters needed more development. Cora, the female main character, was a bit too stubborn to be likable, and I found myself more annoyed than entertained. With this novel, you get two love stories in one, but it felt like one too many. Thank you to Rachel Magee, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Three Sisters return to their childhood beach vacation home to fulfill their mother's dying wish in this clean rom-com. Bianca, the youngest sister has a secret fiancé. Savannah, the oldest, has a secret health issue. And Cora, the middle sibling, is burned out on love and has distanced herself from her family in a way to protect her heart from further loss. This is a story of sisters, family, love and loss.

Summer Romance and lovely Beach scenes. From the first page I was captivated by the story and the sisters. Who knew that losing your luggage and stopping at a drugstore during a torrential rain storm to get a toothbrush could lead to love? Each sister has her own lovely qualities and it's hard to pick a favorite although I lean towards Cora since I find her very relatable.

This summer romance with lovely beach scenes is told through multiple POVs. It's full of laughter, family drama and love.

The book will leave you wanting to be at the beach, wanting to call your sister ,and wanting the carefree days of a summer afternoon


This book has all the feels and is something I may read every summer, or in the winter when I need to be transported to the beach.

This is my first time reading this author. I look forward to reading other books by her. Thanks Net Galley for the ARC . Opinions are my own

Rachel Magee delivers a delightful summer read that combines family dynamics, romantic comedy, and beach house nostalgia in a modern reimagining of The Taming of the Shrew!

The three Prestly sisters agree to meet up in their childhood beach house rental for a month-long vacation complete with a carefully crafted bucket list of coastal activities. Their reconnection in such a tight space full of nostalgia ends up forcing the sister to face past resentments and old wounds. Each of the three sisters gets their own POV, and they were very distinct and their conflict was incredibly relatable. There is also fun romance sub-plots (including by favorite, fake dating) that I very much enjoyed, but I was happy those threads didn't overshadow the sisters' relationships.

Magee's writing is fantastic, and she delivers on high humor, an escapist beach setting/fun adventures, and low-spice romance. While there are some heavier topics explored, the tone maintained levity/humor that I appreciate in a rom-com beach read. I did a tandem read, listening to the audiobook while reading my physical copy, and I *adored* narrator Karissa Vacker's performance! I love her work on thriller audiobooks, and this was my first rom-com by her and she did a fantastic job with distinguishing between the sisters' POVs, and I loved her portrayal of Jax (reformed playboy with a heart of gold) and Bianca's (the sister who has sworn off love/romance) adventures.

Comparable authors: Melissa Ferguson, Emma St. Claire, and Katherine Center
Recommend for: Readers who love low-spice rom-coms with humor, family drama, and beachside settings.

What Not to Do on Vacation was a breezy hammock read -- quick to pick up, hard to put down, and swinging between characters with just the right rhythm. It was the perfect start to my summer reading. Would love to see these characters in a series.

Savannah plans a nostalgic beach getaway to reunite the Prestly sisters, hiding a personal secret while determined to make everything perfect. Youngest sister Bianca hijacks the trip with news of her sudden engagement and a bold bet: if Cora, the skeptic, can’t find love on a dating app, she'll cancel the wedding. But as Cora sets out to prove love is a myth, an unexpected connection with a charming match threatens to unravel everyone’s carefully laid plans.

This book makes for a solid beach read: light, engaging, and full of sisterly chaos. Cora really grew on me as the story progressed, while Bianca's whirlwind engagement felt doomed from the start, and Savannah's secret was painfully obvious, but still added emotional weight. There was some weird, underexplored, parental drama that never got fully resolved, which felt like a missed opportunity. The ending wrapped things up in a pretty standard way, with no surprising twists, but the dynamics between the sisters carried the story and made it worth the read.

What Not to Do on Vacation is a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud story about sisterhood, self-discovery, and unexpected detours—both literal and emotional. Set against the backdrop of a vacation gone sideways, it delivers wit, warmth, and just the right dose of depth.

Right away, I was hooked by Cora's voice—humorous, sarcastic, and straight to the point. She had me laughing out loud and completely invested. The sister dynamics were a joy to read—funny, real, full of squabbles, and deeply relatable. Their banter alone was worth the read.

I’ll admit, I approached this book a bit cautiously. With stories like this, I often expect them to fall short—maybe too shallow or overly predictable. So even as I enjoyed it, I kept waiting for something to roll my eyes at. But it never came. And honestly? That annoyed me in the best way. 😂

The book is clean, intelligent, and layered with emotional insight. I wasn’t planning to read it initially, but the publisher’s name caught my attention—and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. It blew past my expectations.

The writing? Smart and honest. The story structure and pacing? Spot-on. The characters? Vibrant, distinct, and memorable—especially Cora.

In short: this book is a gem. I went in looking for a flaw. I came out with a favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book! It's described as 10 Things I Hate About You meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and it absolutely is.

This book is emotional, fun, romantic, realistic, and the banter is the best. If you have sisters, you will understand the family dynamics and relationships. The author created a world within this book where you feel like you are one of the cast and they're your friends. I was laughing throughout and really appreciated how each relationship came together and ended up. I also love that this was a clean romance novel - refreshing change.

Great summer read! I loved this book about 3 sisters (being one of three sisters myself!) This book reminded me so much of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. And I love a good 90’s-2000’s rom-com! This story is told from the point of view of 3 sisters and 1 guy. Savannah, Cora and Bianca are visiting the beach town their family used to vacation when they were growing up and when their parents were together and happy. Savannah wants to recreate everything (down to the chore chart) that they did as kids because “it’s tradition”! She’s also is trying to make everything seem normal and nostalgic because some medical things that are happening in her life (that she isn’t ready to tell her sisters about yet) will make life seem not normal anymore. Cora, the middle, is reluctant to be there, and has not been close to her sisters in a while. She’s had her heart broken in so many ways (parents, ex-fiancé, etc) that she has closed herself off from everyone which means this vacation is not where she wants to be. Bianca, the youngest, is trying to prove to her sisters she has grown up and has plans for the future and drops the bombshell that she is getting married… to a guy she met on a dating app… run by AI that guarantees to make the perfect love match. When her sisters tell her how ridiculous her engagement is, they make a bet that if Bianca can make a profile for Cora and she can find love on the app then they won’t bother her with her engagement. Let the dating and summer at the beach begin!

This book is funny, sweet, and I enjoyed it as a light summer read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"What Not to Do on Vacation" by Rachel Magee was exactly the delightful escape I needed, earning a solid 4 stars from me! Right from the start, the beach setting completely drew me in – it's the perfect backdrop for this cozy and adventurous romantic comedy.

What truly made this book shine were the lovable characters. You'll find yourself easily rooting for them, and the sister bonding aspect was a real highlight, adding a lovely layer of warmth and genuine connection to the story. With multiple POVs, you get a great sense of everyone's perspective, which keeps things fresh and engaging.

This is definitely an entertaining and clean beach read that delivers on its promise of fun. I appreciated the playful banter and the charming dynamics. Overall, a fantastic pick for a lighthearted and thoroughly enjoyable read!

*What Not to Do on Vacation* was the perfect lighthearted rom-com escape! It delivered exactly the kind of fun, feel good, mood boosting vibes I was looking for.

The banter between the sisters was hilarious (and so realistic 🤣) and the beachy setting made this an ideal summer read! The humor and heart definitely kept me hooked. It’s high on charm, like a warm hug in book form, with a good amount of vulnerability sprinkled in.

Thank you to Rachel Magee, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!

I love a book about sisters, and even more when it takes place on the beach. While I didn't love this one, it was still cute.

This is a great summer read filled with fun, humour and a healthy dose of family drama. It is the story of sisters -Savannah, Cora and Bianca- who are reliving their childhood summers in Sunnyside, Florida.

I alternated between reading and listening. Narrated by Karissa Vacker, her voice was smooth and engaging. She kept up with the tempo of the plot and her imitations of the characters were spot on.

This book is about sisterhood, family, friendship and discovering yourself again. It did not sugarcoat the characters’ vulnerabilities but rather celebrated this as part of human frailties and nature.

Told from the points of view of almost all the characters, the banter, dialogue and shenanigans were hilarious. I loved all the characters but for Lord Farquaad (for obvious reasons).

If you are looking for a summer read with beach vibes, relatable characters and some shenanigans then you will enjoy this.

This book was just so fun. The characters were funny. The storyline was filled with drama, but easy to follow. Between the family drama and humor, it is a perfect beach read.

From the first page I was hooked. With multiple POVs, you gain an understanding of the sisters’ personalities, separate battles, and see as they gain an understanding of each other. And I really enjoyed how it wrapped up.

And then the romance? The banter and flirting was classic, sweet, clean, and funny. From the beginning to the end of it, I just loved it.

So glad I helped start my summer with this one. So cute and sweet! And cheers to summer break!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from @rachelmageeauthor @tnzfiction and @uplitreads through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

Thank you to @uplitreads @netgalley @thomasnelson and @rachelmageeauthor for my #gifted eARC and physical copy of What Not To Do On Vacation 😍

“𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒’𝓈 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑜𝒾𝓃𝓉𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉𝓈.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨ (4.25 stars)

Happy pub week to What Not To Do On Vacation!

I adored this beachy, Taming of The Shrew/Ten Things I Hate About You glow up! It was heartwarming and predictable, but also fresh. I loved the beautiful sisterly bond between Savannah, Cora, and Bianca, and how the summer in Sunnyside not only strengthened their relationship, but allowed them to all grow and flourish individually, too.

The romances between Cora and Jax, and Bianca and Luke, were sweet too. Seeing how devoted and adoring Chris and the little girls were to Savannah also tugged at my heartstrings and made me happy.

My thought, was watching Cora’s walks come down as she fell in love with Jax. Their banter was fun, and I loved their dates too!

If you have the chance to listen to this one, do it!! Narrator @karissavacker is phenomenal and truly brings this entire story and its characters to life in such a beautiful way!! She is one of my favorite narrators dnd I can’t wait to listen to more of her work 😍 Great job, Karissa!!

I was drawn into this fun beach read right away. Three sisters head to a small Florida Panhandle beach town where they vacationed as kids to fulfill their mom's wish before she passed away. This is an opportunity to bond and revisit happier times. But things don't go smoothly. The oldest steps into her mom's role with a bucket list of activities, the middle one is independent, strong, and determined to do what she wants mostly, and the youngest doesn't remember all of the memories. As girls are want to do, there are spats, dating app conniving, setbacks but there are also some happy times, remembrances, and laughter. Funny moments, new beginnings, healing, and what is important to keep the family together win out. Great characters, beach setting, and sweet romance make this a winner for me.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts..

Ahhh, what a feel good read!! What Not To Do on Vacation is filled with characters that make you love them right away. Cora is one of my favorite characters of the year, she just spoke to me. Sister relationships are one of my favorite things to read about and this one was so well done. The sisters were all so different and it was so relatable. This is the perfect beach read. Thank you to @uplitreads for having me on this tour!

4.5 ⭐️Family & Love !

🌷Will you get romance? Yes! But you will also get 3 sisters working each through their life and their relationship together.

🌷You get a view of every character in a natural way and get to see them grow and learn what it that they really want out of life, the things that truly matter, and how to forgive the past.

🌷All of it through quick dialogues, funny and endearing moments.

🌷Spice:0

🌷Language:0

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What Not To Do On Vacation by Rachel Magee has all the makings of the perfect beach read — heartfelt family drama, a touch of romance, and a cast of genuinely likeable characters. At its heart, this story is about sisterhood, healing, and rediscovering connection after loss.

Following the death of their beloved mother — the emotional anchor of the family — three sisters return to their family’s beach house as part of their mother’s final wish. What begins as a reluctant reunion slowly turns into a journey of reflection, reconnection, and growth. As old wounds surface and buried emotions rise, each sister is forced to confront the ways their relationships have shifted and how they want to move forward.

Rachel Magee masterfully balances emotional depth with light-hearted moments, creating a narrative that feels both realistic and comforting. The beach house setting adds a nostalgic and peaceful backdrop to the sisters' personal transformations, and the romantic elements are sweet without overpowering the core story.

This is a warm, engaging novel perfect for fans of contemporary women’s fiction or anyone looking for a story about family, forgiveness, and fresh starts. Bring it with you on vacation — just make sure you don’t make the same mistakes the characters do!

Title: What Not To Do On Vacation
By: Rachel Magee
Pub. Day: May 20, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Clean Romance

Trigger Warnings:
Loss of a parent, Cancer

Summary/Review:
Cora, Savannah, and Bianca grew up the best of friends as tight knit sisters, until their parents divorced and they were separated. To honor their later mothers, the sisters decide to reunite by spending a month together at their favorite family beach vacation spot on the coast. Wow, what a long month it is filled with sister drama, romance, and hidden secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic comedy. This narrative is overflowing with laughter, tugged at my heartstrings, and even left me a little misty eyed. Reading this story with a humorous and charming edge brought my sisters to mind, and gave me a quiet ache for some time spent together again. I highly recommend this clean romantic comedy! It will hit you with all the feels.

Thank you to Rachel Magee, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

#RachelMagee
#ThomasNelsonFiction
#WhatNotToDoOnVacation
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley
#ReluctantReaderReads

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was a pleasure to read! The storyline kept me hooked the entire way through, with a perfect balance of pacing and character development. It was funny and sweet. The characters were believable and easy to connect with. I will be telling my friends to read this!