This is my second John Marrs thriller book, the first being The One. I understand why Marrs is so popular, his writing style is very easy to read, he puts the twists in all the right places, and the most coveted short chapters that I personally think is essential to thriller books.
The Vacation is a well thought out thriller, told around a hostel in Venice Beach, Hollywood, California. its in the hostel that these lost souls end up, and they make friends with each other, finding solace in each other, love, friendship and acceptance.
There are 5 main characters, most of whom are British travellers and they will make you laugh, cry and shock you.
Its an easily binge-able book, but for me it wasn't groundbreaking. There was one twist that I didn't see coming, but the rest were predictable. But Im not slating this book. It was a good solid thriller mystery. Extremely well written and quick and easy to finish. So although I've given this 4 stars, I certainly would recommend you pick it up, its just I'm not a massive John Marrs fan.

Just when you think you have this one figured out-you don’t!

Eight strangers are thrown together by fate when they stay at a run-down old hostel in LA and their lives entwine.

Each of the characters have their own complex back-story and they are masterfully crafted together to create this absolutely mind-blowing read with a huge amount of twists which you cannot see coming! This author never disappoints!

Phenomenal read as always. Well paced plot, believable characters. What a read! Always highly recommended.

It took me a while to get into this book but once I did wow! What a thrilling read. I would highly recommend this book.

Couldnt really get into this book. Not to sure why but I just wasn't feeling it and so didn't actually finish reading it.

I have read quite a few of John Mars’ books so was excited to read this one and I have to admit I wasn’t disappointed!!

The book takes place in a hostel based in Los Angeles, Venice Beach. We gradually get to know all the different characters staying at the hostel and what has led them there. As always ever character has a complex story with plenty of twists and secrets a long the way.

It did take me a little while to get in to all the different characters and remember who was who but soon I was racing through the pages to see what happened to each and every one of them.

Definitely a book not to be missed !!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

This was a very disturbing but good read.

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and could not get enough of.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension -  impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended!

Gripping, twisty, and escapist fiction at its best. John Marrs packs a punch with this sun-scorched tale that will stay with you long after you reach the final page. A great all-rounder thriller.

With sadness I have to admit this is my first book by John Marrs I haven't finished. I got as far as 50 percent but it was a hard work for me. I just couldn't get into the story at all

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not my favourite book from this author, but an enjoyable one. A slowly unravelling secret-filled read, full of well-written complex characters, and plenty of scandalous secrets. Proves you never really know a person.

John Marrs is fast becoming one of my all time favourite authors.

This is another great read from this exceptional author and it wasn't until the end that I released it was an update of a previous book that I hadn't been able to get hold of (& explains why I couldn't!)

I did struggle a bit the first few chapters...as there are just so many characters. A couple of times I had to flick back to find out who Matty or Jake or Eric was as there were so many male characters. However after a few chapters everyone settled into their own story and I understood who everyone was and what their purpose was.

From that point onwards I did not want to put it down...was completely gripped. Loved the storyline, the setting and all the characters were so interesting.

The only character I would change was Ruth. I think having her as unattractive and dumpy was too easy given her storyline. What would have been interesting is if she was drop dead gorgeous with such a difficult personality. Its too much of a stereotype that she was as described in the book..literally a lump of undetermined gender. It would have been much braver and thwarted boring stereotypes to have her as gorgeous and flawed.
I think Marrs is a better writer than that and was disappointed that he brought into those familiar tropes.

I also don't think Tommy should have forgiven those that wronged him... certain people in Tommy's storyline got off easy and just because they are blood doesn't mean they should be forgiven. Cannot say too much more because don't want to give any obvious spoilers but I felt quite strongly about that.

I would be interested in others thoughts on Peyk...as I do not know what to make of him at all.

I adored how the stories all interwove and as I have said repeatedly in this review think John Marrs is exceptionally talented. The way he writes and the way his stories flow really speak to me and I find myself not being able to let go of his stories...thinking about these characters long after I have finished. I even read the epilogue twice!

Highly recommended.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in a hostel at Venice Beach, California the book follows the stories of different people in the hostel and what brought them to this point in life. In a place full of open books with people who share everything, turns out they all have a secret they’d like to keep to themselves. 🌅

I loved the concept of this book - the people you meet in hostels are always so different from each other so I was drawn in by the idea of learning what brought everyone to the same place at the same point in time. John Marrs has such a talent whereby he can write 8 different characters but still have you invested in every single one of them. This book just didn’t have me hooked for some reason and it could be due to my expectations being so high from reading ‘The One’ and ‘The Passengers’. As the story unfolds you begin to see how all the characters are connected and how all the loose ends tie in! Needless to say, it’s John Marrs, so it’s still a good book just not up there with my favourites. 🇺🇸

Just a heads up to those that have read a lot of his work - this is a re-edited version of ‘Welcome to Wherever You Are’. 📖

John Marrs can do no wrong!!! what a excellent thrilling book. I really enjoyed it, and all the characters in the book are very well written. The plot is exciting and fast moving. I can't wait for me from this brilliant writer.

Another fantastic book by John Marrs. This one kept me turning the pages throughout and I loved how all of the characters stories intertwined and how everything came together. I also found the setting of the hostel new and refreshing and I liked the majority of the main characters. The characterisations were great and I loved all of the twists and turns. Some parts were a little far fetched at I found that there were a few too many events going off at once in some parts however all in all a fantastic read.

I absolutely love John Marrs and The Vacation certainly didn't disappoint.

This book follows the story of several characters who end up at the same hostel in Venice Beach. Each one escaping their old lives for different reasons...I was hooked as their deep secrets and pasts were slowly revealed.

Invested in each character, I couldn't put this book down. I thoroughly recommend.

This was different to the other books I’ve read by John Marrs as it didn’t have the sci fi twist, however I really enjoyed this one nonetheless.

Set in a youth hostel in Venice beach this ties together the characters of Tommy, Nicole, Eric, Savannah, Ruth, Matty, Declan and Jake.

They all appear to be running from something in their past or towards a better future.

I wondered how this would come together and Marrs does so in spectacular fashion.

Although some characters have awful flaws, some are more likeable than others and done really surprise you with their actions.

Some great twists and connections between characters and a fantastic ending.

A suspenseful thriller set in a backpackers hostel in Venice Beach, California. I have enjoyed John Marrs other books and this is an earlier one, retitled and edited. Too many coincidences in the story and multiple characters left me feeling disatisfied. It is a fast read and new readers to the author will enjoy it.

This book was released under another name then re released and some changes made I believe. I did own the other copy but I have yet to read it.

This story follows the lives of many people in a Venice beach hostel. Many of them have secrets, things they're running from or just reasons they wanted to escape and get away to see the world. This story is filled with twists and turns and with very short chapters that will keep you hooked the entire time. John Marrs has now become an autobuy author for me and I can't wait to read more of his work and see what he also puts out in the future.

Wow this book instantly captured me, the first page and first chapter, I knew I would be lost in this book all day. One third of the way through and I stopped to tell my friend what was happening. Without waiting for a reply, I went straight back into the book immersing myself in the story. I loved the way the author introduces the characters and how their lives impact the storyline. Great read and loved the ending too. Good book.

I was over the moon to be approved for a prerelease of this book, I love John Marrs’ books! I didn’t even know it was an updated version of Welcome to Wherever you are - which I hadn’t read yet!

~

5 ⭐️ review -

The story follows the lives of 8 strangers based within a Hostel in LA, each with a deep story and dark past. Tommy, Jake, Savannah, Eric, Nicole, Ruth, Matty and Declan each have their own reasons how they ended up there, all with a twisted tale including death, trauma and obsession. All their stories unfold, interlock and create an exciting dark adventure where their pasts are only a piece of what’s to come…

LOVED this book! Love John Marrs books, my favourite ever being The One. I was gripped from the beginning and enjoyed learning more about every character. I found all of theirs backstories enthralling and I could hardly put it down. Incredible writing, connecting all their stories and genius plot twists. It was a thrill to read and I loved it, fantastically written. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a clever twisty book with extensive deep-seated characters. There were so many cleverly written characters, where most would produce superficial insincere characteristics and histories, but within these pages it felt like you knew them personally.

An incredible read, highly recommended to all! This book got me out of such a reading slump!