From the first chapter, I was hooked and the pace didn’t let up. What was meant to be a fun and relaxing way to spend thanksgiving with family and close friends quickly unravelled to expose a plethora of secrets and resentments.

Rose had been worried about going to Jamaica with her two children, but her husband Brandon assured her it would be just the break they needed. And it seemed as though he was right, until midway through the holiday, after an evening of rum cocktails under a balmy breeze, Rose went to check on her sleeping kids. Jackson was snoring softly, his arm over his head when she checked on Lily, only to find the curtain billowing across the little girl’s bed.

It shouldn’t have been billowing though; the window had been shut last time she checked … but now it was open and Lily’s bed was empty. The nightmare scenario that had usurped her thoughts prior to them arriving in Jamaica had suddenly become a reality. Her three-year-old daughter was gone, just like those other little girls she’d spent hours reading about. Lily was missing. (It would be impossible not to draw comparisons here with the true story of Madeleine McCann, which made what happened all the more heartbreakingly believable)

After raising the alarm, Rose, Brandon and the others scoured the villa but there was no sign of her. When the police finally arrived, they assumed a ransom call would soon follow. It didn’t.

Accusations of lazy policing followed as there was no news of Lily’s whereabouts. Scrawlings on the wall outside Lily’s room suggested she’d been kidnapped, so why weren’t the police pulling out all of the stops to find her? Of course, Rose’s thoughts were blinded by fear for Lily’s wellbeing, so maybe blaming the police for inaction was understandable. Yet, the others in her party seemed to be doing the same. It made me wonder if that would prove to be a convenient smokescreen for someone)

When the police did find clues to what might have happened that night, they gathered all the adults together before sharing their information, watching each of them keenly for a reaction. It was voyeuristically addictive and had me biting my nails.

The story is told across multiple viewpoints – each of the adults had their own chapters – and from both the run-up to Lily’s disappearance and the investigation thereafter. This constant swapping kept the pace up; just as I thought I might read just one more chapter, the next viewpoint character’s chapter became more compelling. Inevitably, as each character’s backstory became known, so did they seem to have a motive. But surely none of them could have harmed Lily? Or could they?

As my suspicions bounced from one character to another, so did doubts form in their minds as they started to suspect each other. Though, mainly thanks to some clever manipulation, they soon began to question one of their group more than any other.

Jeez, writing this review without giving any spoilers is super hard 😉

Just when I thought I couldn’t be more on the side of the family, in came a curveball that had me praying for the police to turn up with all the answers. Was it too late? Would the truth be covered up forever? Oh my, the ending was frantic and sublime in equal measures. The clues were all there, but the way in which the author delivered those crumbs meant it was easy to miss them.

The Vacation was a book in which everyone came under suspicion. Full of page-turning suspense and very cleverly executed, this has to be one of my favourite book of the year so far.

Wow what an addictive family thriller! Told over different timelines, from the perspectives of members of the family, you are drawn into the family secrets and lies. Which must not be revealed at any cost. Everyone seems to be hiding something. Everyone seems to be on edge.

The Vacation is set in hot and sticky Jamaica right up in the hills where tourists might not be safe. The family are staying in a villa for Thanksgiving when one night little 3 year old Lily disappears from her bed while the adults are drinking by the pool. It reminds me of the now famous Madeleine McCann case. As the police start uncovering clues, they start to point to various family members.

I love how it keeps you gripped, I was desperate to find out what happened to Lily and had to keep reading to the very end! The book builds up to the final scene throughout the book, so you are kept on tenterhooks until the very end…..which I didn’t see coming!!

Highly recommended and deserves 5 out of 5 stars!

Conozcamos a tres matrimonios que han decidido pasar unos días previos a Acción de Gracias en Jamaica, donde vive y trabaja uno de ellos.
Alquilan tres casitas en una especie de complejo residencial, en el que todo parece ir bien hasta que. Lily, la hija de tres años del matrimonio formado por Rose y Brandon, desaparece.
Con la desaparición comienza un "turmoil" de reproches, escepticismos y miradas aviesas entre los tres matrimonios, cosa que no hace más que complicarse con la entrada en escena de la policía de Jamaica, que no parecen precisamente sabuesos (aunque es cierto que resuelven el enigma).
LA TRAMA: nada novedoso, niña es secuestrada y todos parecen tener algo que ver, de alguna u otra forma, con el secuestro.
LO MEJOR: está muy bien desarrollado. Pocos personajes, bien definidos y dejando claro desde el principio quién es quién. Las sorpresas, poco a poco y con sutileza. Y muy bien resuelto.
LO PEOR: la resolución un poco cogida con pinzas, pero no obsta en absoluto a la puntuación de cinco estrellas.

I am MM Chouinard’s number one fan for a fact! This was a stand alone, rather than my favourite series - but it was still well written, full of twists and pure indulgence.
The only thing I can say negatively is that it was a bit tough to get into. I put it down and picked it up quite a few times!
Still top notch reading though!

Loved the book that began with a missing child and a hint of all not being well with the family and the suspense never let up. It was as if the author knew what I wanted and delivered it with a bang in a neat package.

A suspenseful book which was set in a family drama where the equations and things in the background kept constantly changing. It took me some time to plot the characters in my mind. But it all soon fell into place.

I loved how the author M. M. Chouinard kept pulling and pushing them to reveal their shades. It was a synchronized dance to make the scenes fit in seamlessly.

Extremely swift in its pace or it could be me who wanted to get to the end to know what happened to the missing child that I raced through the book. I loved how my need-to-know-instantly built up in me. My heart raced; I felt alive. Who wouldn’t love this rush?

Needless to say, I enjoyed this book immensely as it clicked all the points I loved in a book. Family and masks, the hidden sins and pretense, the author and her precision. They all went together beautifully.

The Vacation by M.M. Chouinard is a fast-paced and addictive read. Admittedly, I was initially drawn in by the idea of a tantalizing Jamaican holiday, but trust me when I say that this vacation is straight out of a nightmare. I was gripped from the very start.

Three couples, along with their children, have decided to spend their Thanksgiving holiday in Jamaica, despite an awareness of the potential dangers. When three year old Lily is taken from her bed one night in the isolated villa, it quickly becomes apparent that one of the adults in the party knows far more than they are telling. Each has something to hide, but just how far will one of them go to protect their darkest secret?

This is a compelling premise, guaranteed to tap into any parent's worst fear. The short, concise chapters virtually propelled me through the pages. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

There is a whirlwind of emotions on almost every page of this book. Three couples are holidaying together in Jamaica. They have gone out for a meal and a drink, while the children of two of the couples sleep in their nearby accommodation. They had taken turns in going and checking on the children while they slept, and all was well. When Rose’s goes she couldn’t make sense of what she saw, her three-year-old daughter had vanished, and the window was wide open. No matter how many times she searched the room, she couldn’t find her hidden. Someone had taken her.

The police arrive, but over the next few days, the pace of the investigation had Rose reeling. The longer her daughter was missing, the less chance that the outcome would be good. Rose took things into her own hands to try and speed the investigation up. The dynamic of the couples began to change, while a tsunami of feelings fester and wouldn’t be calmed.

What a story, it makes you think if we ever really know someone. Here is one of those stories where you want to know what has happened but turn each page tentatively because you are frightened to know the truth. I liked how the characters developed and more of who they were becoming more transparent. It isn’t an easy read by any means, it is so very tense, and I wanted each page to give me that overwhelming rush of everything being alright.

It is readable easily in a day. I couldn’t stop until I knew the ending. Extremely well written. I couldn’t put it down.

I thoroughly enjoy M.M. Chouinard’s Detective Jo Fournier series so I was delighted to discover she was releasing this standalone thriller, The Vacation. Although I can't get enough of Jo Fournier, it was great to see what M.M. Chouinard can turn out in addition to that series and she really knocks it out of the park!

In The Vacation Brandon Martin makes an announcement to Rose, his wife that they will be travelling to Jamaica for Thanksgiving. His sister, Bree and her husband, Leo who live there, have invited them and their friends, Mateo and Anabelle, to their rented holiday villa. Rose isn't overkeen to go but Brandon has decided they will be accepting the invitation regardless. So the Martins along with their children, Lily and Jackson, arrive in Jamaica, as do Anabelle and Mateo with their two young boys, Michael and Marcus for what should be a fantastic break. However, each of the adults has their secrets or a hidden agenda stored in their luggage, and then little Lily vanishes...

Michelle M. Chouinard’s overall style wowed me again as did the wonderfully thrilling plot in this tale of secrets, suspicion and emotion. I really appreciated Chouinard's ability to not only draw me into the dark story immediately but also keep me enthralled until the very last page. The level of tension that built throughout the story was noteworthy.

For me, The Vacation has it all - a plot brimming with mystery, suspense with many twists, as well as family dynamics, characters that are real and believable and an amazing ending. Michelle M. Chouinard has become one of my favourite authors and I can’t wait to see what's next from her.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Vacation' by M.M. Chouinard.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for M.M. Chouinard, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 27th May 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching beaitiful cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of The Guest List, One by One and The Sister-in-Law'. I am a fan of 'The Guest List' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 66 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Jamaica 🇯🇲

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Rose, Bree and Anabelle. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

OMG!!!! Absolutely shocked!!! Fairplay I was not expecting that ending or any of them twists!!! Love, love, LOVED IT!!!

A fantastically written psychological thriller with vivid descriptions which really put you in the picture. The cover, title and synopsis work perfectly with the storyline.

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

The storyline is petrifyingly realistic and is every mothers worst nightmare!!! A holiday from absolute hell. I was gripped from the first sentence and completely hooked and absorbed until the explosive ending!!! Absolutely packed with love, loss, secrets, friendships, deceit, crime, lies, twists and turns, everything and more that you look for in a psychological crime thriller. I could not put this book down and it kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails and with my heart in my throat throughout!!! I won't lie it also brought tears to my eyes on several occasions. An absolutely addictive page turner!! I love how everything is explained and wrapped up perfectly by the end, nothing worse than loose ends.

The characters were realistic, well defined and strong. I really connected with the majority of the main characters which is rare for me, I usually just connect with one or maybe a couple but I seemed to really 'bond' with most of them. I really felt for Rose from her fears from the first chapter to everything she went through, I can't go into more detail as not to spoil it. I wasn't sure about Bree for a while but once I got to know her more I bonded with her more. Anabelle is also a very strong character who will stay with me for a while.

Well done M. M. Chouinard on an absolutely huge success and welcome to my favourite author list. I cannot wait to read more of your novels as if they are half as good as this one then they will still be amazing!!

Overall an absolutely addictive and explosive page turning psychological thriller

Genres covered in this book include Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense and Psychological Thriller amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Shalini Boland, Lisa Gardner and just anyone looking for an explosive page turner!!!


331 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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The Vacation by M.M. Chouinard is a thriller that is for those that like to read and book and at the end ask themselves “What the heck did I just read??” As a reader that likes to guess how things will go along the way I love to find books that even I can’t imagine a scenario that comes close to what the author has come up with and this was one of those.

The story is set in Jamaica as three different couples get together with their families for the Thanksgiving holiday. Everyone has come together in a huge rented villa and the children have been put to bed for the night with the adults having a few cocktails while playing games. The adults have taken turns checking on the children through the night but at the latest check three year old Lily has disappeared. With other children missing from the island a ransom note or call is expected but when it doesn’t come police begin to suspect one of the vacationing party.

This book is one that could have those attention grabbing taglines because it really was one twisty thrill ride. The story was told from multiple points of view from unreliable characters that will make you question every move. It also has flashbacks to build the story of all involved but despite different POVs and timelines it was easy to follow and an incredibly addictive story that I never wanted to put down with an ending that was hard to imagine even after it came.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Wonderful. Suspenseful. Packed with twists. I was enthralled. Absorbed
Blown away. Loved loved loved this one. A stunner of a read.

Three couples enjoying a getaway to Jamaica when one of their children goes missing. Was it a kidnap of a coverup?
Can the secrets and lies unfold to find the truth.
I love the Detective Jo Fournier books and was excited to see a stand-alone and it does not disappoint. There are characters you will like and those you really dislike!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review,

I definitely regret not picking up a book by this author before now, after reading this book. It has been an addictive, compelling and unpredictable read.

At first, the number of characters and the flipping back and fore overwhelmed me a bit. However, the writer’s talent is such that I quickly realised both these features were integral to the story and I started to really appreciate the way this allows the story to develop fully and peak your interest.

The characters are all seemingly respectable and family-orientated people at first, and then slowly but surely their characters develop and the high esteem in which we hold them, and they hold each other, disintegrates.

The twists and turns provide hints towards the true story but I loved the way this has kept me guessing until the end! I will definitely be looking to read more by this author.

I wanted to love this book but sadly, the ending ruined it for me. The writing is great. The short chapters made it easy to get sucked in and read ''just one more'' which made this a quick read for me. The characters were interesting and all the little things left unsaid that made me curious are great as well.
I'm giving this book 2 stars because, while the above is all true, the ending was not worth all the fuss, energy, and interests that led to it.
I don't want to give spoilers so I will tread lightly and only say that logically it made no sense to me how this was the climax we were leading to all along. I was deeply invested and left disappointed.

The author had me from “Jamaican holiday” but kept me for a thrilling story that kept me guessing right up to the very end.
I love this author’s writing style. It’s easy to read with just enough detail to make things interesting without lots of exposition.
In other words, her books are full of “doing” and not just “telling.”
There are also great layers to the stories, with overlapping motivations, ulterior goals, and a lot going on – but it’s never confusing. This is just a great story with interesting characters told in a forthright manner.
The plot is carried from the points of view of three women, Rose, Bree, and Anabelle, as they plan and embark on a tropical vacation with their families. There are also chapters entitled “now” interspersed throughout.
Without giving the plot away, everything hinges on one event, with the ladies’ perspective occurring prior and the “now” chapters occurring in the “present” time. Everything moves seamlessly between the chapters, and nothing is ever jarring as it switches. In the latter part, some backstory is filled in via “news articles.” That was effective.
I almost instantly empathized with Rose. It seems that sometimes “overprotective moms” get a bad rap, but mom instincts cannot be denied. I liked her even more as her backstory came out (more on that in a second).
Annabelle was less clear to me. I thought out of all of the women, she was the least fleshed out. Bree was more so, but still not as clear as Rose. It also took me a few chapters to fully grasp how all three couples were connected.
Once the connections were made, however, it was interesting to watch the dynamics. The author did a great job of dropping hints throughout. Some of them were such that they only became clear when later revelations occurred.
As I mentioned earlier, the plot kept me guessing. There were a few red herrings thrown in that were natural – not just there to distract but made perfect sense in the context of the story. And the climax was not what I thought at all. I didn’t guess that part accurately.
I also liked how just when you thought the book was over, there was one more chapter…and then one more…and then one more. It was a great way to wrap up the book even after the main thrust of the story was complete.
And a word about Rose’s background. Being a Bay Area girl myself. I have many fond memories of days spent at Children’s Fairyland and Lake Merritt. So, that part of Rose’s history made me able to relate to her – not through her actions, but as I could see the location in my mind.
There’s also a mention of the Polly Klaas foundation. I was in college by then, but both Michaela Garecht and Polly Klaas were high profile missing children cases when I was a teenager. Even though it wasn’t a pivotal part of the story (for the most part) it still made it feel personal to me because I remember the times.
Even if you don’t have that frame of reference, this is an excellent book that will lull you in with an idyllic tropical vacation before pulling the rug out from underneath you. Great beach read.

The opening chapter of this chilling thriller will feel very disturbing to readers who recognise similarities to a very well known disappearing child case. The terror of a parent realising that their child isn’t where they left them (especially if that place is the bed where they left them asleep!) is an emotion all parents will recognise. So The Vacation got off to the perfect start for me-even if it didn’t for Brandon and Rose, parents of the missing Lily!

This is a compelling book, delivering a cast of complex characters who all have their own problems and agendas that they have packed in their suitcases alongside their sun lotion! Three couples all sharing a holiday complex for a family and friends get together but are any of them responsible for the disappearance of little Lily? And if so why? But more importantly…where is she? I had no idea where the storyline was heading and so there were quite a few shocks in store for me as I’m sure there will be for other readers too.

The Vacation is beautifully descriptive and the heady atmosphere paradise sits cleverly at odds with the seedy side of this stunning Caribbean holiday island. I almost felt like I was there alongside them all as the search for Lily reached its dramatic conclusion. Nearly all of the characters are unlikeable, hiding behind their partners and hoping to avoid drawing attention to the secret and lies that they have also brought with them. I did not see the direction I was being sent into until it was too late.

A gripping and emotional read!

Initially, I was grabbed into the plot line, wondering how and who abducted a little girl from her bed whilst on a holiday with her family in Jamaica. However, the book started to drag and with every character becoming a potential suspect at some point, I found it dull and a little unbelievable. I found there were some aspects of the story which were also irrelevant, so I was left feeling a little disappointed. The book did not engage me fully, but it was an easy read and I'm sure others would enjoy it.

EXCERPT: Please, God. Please let Lily be safe. Please bring her back to us. Please forgive me - please don't make her pay the cost for my demons.

She repeats the prayers in a mantra designed to atone, and to break a cycle of obsessive thinking. How many times has her therapist told her to chase away anxiety with reason and facts? God doesn't work that way, she tells herself. This isn't because of you.

But how can it not be? It's too much. It's too coincidental.

Stop.

She short-circuits the cycle of thoughts and returns to the prayer.

But Brandon was right -

Stop.

This isn't her fault. It can't be, it just can't.

Unless it is.

ABOUT 'THE VACATION': One of them is missing… One of them did it…

The Thanksgiving retreat was meant to be a time for them to get away from it all, miles from the secrets that threaten to tear their family apart. But they’re each hiding something:

Rose hopes the pretty house overlooking the sea is just the break her family needs. But as she gazes at the water and remembers her own childhood, she is utterly terrified.

Brandon knows his wife Rose has barely forgiven him for his affair. He’s started drinking again, a road that led him to disaster once before.

Brianna, Rose’s sister-in-law, is recovering from her fifth miscarriage, and when she looks at her adorable niece, she can’t help but see the daughter she deserves.

Then three-year-old Lily disappears from her bed in the villa. Isolated in what should have been paradise, it quickly becomes clear that one of them took her.

As one by one their secrets are uncovered, who will be destroyed next?

MY THOUGHTS: I not only found it impossible to connect with any of these characters, I found it difficult to tell them apart. They were all interchangeable and unremarkable. None of them were particularly likeable or memorable.

A child going missing from it's bed is every parent's nightmare. Was Lily abducted? Did she wander off? The Vacation ought to have been taut and suspenseful. I didn't feel that. The writing felt flat, the plot predictable. None of the twists surprised me, and I figured out both the who and the why well before the end.

A lot of what occurs in The Vacation I found improbable and contrived, which is a pity. There was so much scope to develop this into a tense and chilling psychological thriller. But it was very wide of the mark for me. Even the ending was 'meh.'

I am aware that I am very much out on a limb with my feelings about The Vacation. This book currently has an average rating of 4 stars. So if you enjoyed the excerpt from The Vacation, and the plot outline appeals, please do go ahead and read it. Just because this wasn't for me, doesn't mean that you won't enjoy it.

⭐⭐.2

#TheVacation #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: M.M. Chouinard writes crime fiction (including suspense, procedurals, and cozies), and women's fiction. M.M. Chouinard's first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millenium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity's sake, she released them.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Vacation by M.M. Chouinard for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram, and my webpage.

I would imagine that most parents at some time in their lives have experienced every parent's worst nightmare, the heart stopping moment when you are out somewhere and lose sight of one of your children. The overpowering emotions, fear, terror and panic as you frantically search from them, constantly calling their name. Then the immense feeling of relief when you find them again and wrap them in your arms, swearing never to let them out of your sight ever again. Now, imagine knowing that you had put your child safely into their bed and that they were sound asleep when you left them and yet when you return to check that they are ok, you discover that the bedroom.window that you were absolutely certain was closed, is open and your child has gone, vanished without a trace.

The chapters of this intense, addictive story are set in the duel timelines of before and after Lily's disappearance,slip back and forth in time and are narrated from the perspectives of three, diverse, vivid female characters. There is Rose who is married to Brandon and they have two young children called Lily and Jackson, Annabel and Mateo who have two young boys called Michael and Marcus. Then there is Brandon's step sister Bree who is married to Leo, they don't have any children despite spending a lot of money on fertility treatment. Three couples who have been friends for a long time and from the outside appear to be a very tight group. But feelings of jealousy, resentment and greed are bubbling away below the surface and after young Lily disappears from her bed whilst the adults are partying, cracks appear in the foundations of the group's relationships. A black cloud hangs over their villa in paradise, secrets and lies start seeping through the crevices, mistrust permeates the atmosphere and accusations start flying. Unbeknownst to the others, one of them is a master manipulator who knows exactly what happened to little Lily on that fateful night and is prepared to do everything in their power to prevent their dark secret from being uncovered including gaslighting and emotional blackmail.

Omg, wow....just wow and wow again, I really really loved this incredible, page turner that had me hooked in and glued to my kindle from the first page. It's a emotionally charged,character driven, perfectly paced story that has a cast of realistic,diverse characters, some likeable,some not so likeable and some genuinely unexpected twists and turns. I would love to watch a film or tv adaptation of this unputdownable thriller and if I could, I would give it many more than five stars. Very very highly recommended and definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year.

This book is a page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat. Riveting story, and overall one I'd definitely recommend. Will definitely check out more of Chouinard's books. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.