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The Vacation Mysteries #2
No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding: A Novel
The second in a witty,
USA Today
bestselling series following author Eleanor Dash as she goes from wedding guest to murder mystery investigator at her best friend’s wedding on Catalina Island.
Attending your best friend’s wedding should be a piece of (wedding) cake, but not for Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series. Because murder seems to follow her every time she goes on vacation and is definitely her uninvited plus-one to the special occasion.
Emma Wood, Eleanor’s best friend since childhood, is starring in the movie adaptation of When in Rome, Eleanor’s first novel. Emma is also marrying Fred Winters, a major movie star and Emma’s co-star, who just happens to be playing Connor Smith, Eleanor’s ex and leading man of the series.
Filming wraps and they invite the whole cast and crew to their wedding at nearby Catalina Island. There may be a storm headed their way—because of course there is—but nothing will stop their nuptials . . . that is until Emma receives a note that says “Someone is going to die at the wedding.”
Eleanor is a professional at this point, and she’ll do everything she can to uncover the murderer so true love can prevail . . . before it’s too late for her and the rest of the storm-trapped wedding party.
"Evans demonstrates her talent for accents and finds voices that capture the personalities of each of the characters."— AudioFile on Every Time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.
Attending your best friend’s wedding should be a piece of (wedding) cake, but not for Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series. Because murder seems to follow her every time she goes on vacation and is definitely her uninvited plus-one to the special occasion.
Emma Wood, Eleanor’s best friend since childhood, is starring in the movie adaptation of When in Rome, Eleanor’s first novel. Emma is also marrying Fred Winters, a major movie star and Emma’s co-star, who just happens to be playing Connor Smith, Eleanor’s ex and leading man of the series.
Filming wraps and they invite the whole cast and crew to their wedding at nearby Catalina Island. There may be a storm headed their way—because of course there is—but nothing will stop their nuptials . . . that is until Emma receives a note that says “Someone is going to die at the wedding.”
Eleanor is a professional at this point, and she’ll do everything she can to uncover the murderer so true love can prevail . . . before it’s too late for her and the rest of the storm-trapped wedding party.
"Evans demonstrates her talent for accents and finds voices that capture the personalities of each of the characters."— AudioFile on Every Time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.
Audible Audio
First published May 13, 2025
634 people are currently reading
30231 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Mack
9 books1,017 followersCatherine Mack (she/her) is the pseudonym for Catherine McKenzie, the USA Today and Globe & Mail bestselling author of over a dozen novels. Her books are approaching two million copies sold worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages including French, German, Portuguese, and Polish. Television rights to Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies and its forthcoming sequels sold in a major auction to Fox TV for development into a series, with Mack writing the pilot script. A dual Canadian and US citizen, she splits her time between Canada and various warmer locations in the US.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,338 reviews
May 25, 2025
Okay, I've got to tell you about this book that completely hijacked my weekend - "No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding" is exactly the kind of ridiculous, fun mystery I live for!
Eleanor Dash is back, and if you thought her first adventure was wild, buckle up. She's heading to her best friend Emma's wedding on Catalina Island - you know, just a nice, peaceful destination wedding with a movie star groom. Spoiler alert: nothing goes according to plan.
I'm obsessed with how Eleanor basically turns a wedding into a murder investigation. Her inner commentary is hilarious - like, if Sherlock Holmes had a snarky millennial cousin who writes mystery novels, she'd be Eleanor. Those trademark footnotes are back and they're just as cheeky as ever. I legitimately snort-laughed more times than I can count.
The setup is brilliant. A storm traps everyone on the island, mysterious threats are flying around, and suddenly this picture-perfect wedding looks more like a crime scene waiting to happen. And can we talk about the drama? There's her ex at the wedding, complicated family dynamics, and a killer who's definitely not on the guest list.
What I love is how Eleanor isn't some perfect detective. She's messy, she's funny, and she's absolutely determined to figure out what's going on - even if it means creating total chaos in the process. The mystery itself is clever enough that I couldn't guess the ending, which is exactly what I want in a good whodunit.
If you're into mysteries that don't take themselves too seriously but still keep you guessing, this is absolutely your book. It's like if a cozy mystery had a wild night out with a comedy special - completely unpredictable and a total blast.
4/5 stars - Grab this for your next beach read or when you need something that'll make you laugh and keep you guessing.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for sharing this brilliant cozy mystery's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Eleanor Dash is back, and if you thought her first adventure was wild, buckle up. She's heading to her best friend Emma's wedding on Catalina Island - you know, just a nice, peaceful destination wedding with a movie star groom. Spoiler alert: nothing goes according to plan.
I'm obsessed with how Eleanor basically turns a wedding into a murder investigation. Her inner commentary is hilarious - like, if Sherlock Holmes had a snarky millennial cousin who writes mystery novels, she'd be Eleanor. Those trademark footnotes are back and they're just as cheeky as ever. I legitimately snort-laughed more times than I can count.
The setup is brilliant. A storm traps everyone on the island, mysterious threats are flying around, and suddenly this picture-perfect wedding looks more like a crime scene waiting to happen. And can we talk about the drama? There's her ex at the wedding, complicated family dynamics, and a killer who's definitely not on the guest list.
What I love is how Eleanor isn't some perfect detective. She's messy, she's funny, and she's absolutely determined to figure out what's going on - even if it means creating total chaos in the process. The mystery itself is clever enough that I couldn't guess the ending, which is exactly what I want in a good whodunit.
If you're into mysteries that don't take themselves too seriously but still keep you guessing, this is absolutely your book. It's like if a cozy mystery had a wild night out with a comedy special - completely unpredictable and a total blast.
4/5 stars - Grab this for your next beach read or when you need something that'll make you laugh and keep you guessing.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for sharing this brilliant cozy mystery's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
June 8, 2025
With an original voice, complex plot, and atmospheric setting, Catherine Mack delivered yet another home run with No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding. The second book in a series, we were gifted with even more dark humor as the laugh-out-loud-funny protagonist broke the fourth wall. A messy amateur sleuth who got just as much wrong as she did right, her first-person narration was easily the winning piece to this hilarious whodunnit. After all, I can’t begin to tell you how many times I snorted, chuckled, and giggled as I raced through these pages in one single sitting.
The plot itself was a fun locked room murder mystery complete with a slew of suspicious characters alongside oodles of secrets and lies. Delivering us straight into a dumpster fire of a wedding, there was a delightful amount of gossip-worthy drama and dysfunctional family dynamics that made the plot come alive. Was the first half somewhat of a slow burn? Well, yes… But Eleanor’s snarky banter and sweet, second-chance romance kept me enthralled. After all, this cozy mystery had it all: quirky characters, original twists, and a clever format that pulled me straight into Eleanor’s head.
The only fly in the ointment was the drawn-out dénouement which was full of what Eleanor thought could have happened. Flipping back and forth between her theories and suppositions, I had a hard time following along once we fell into the wormhole of the inevitable “what-ifs.” Don’t get me wrong, it set up what really went down with utter precision and made the truth even more shocking to this armchair sleuth reader.
All and all, I was utterly blown away yet again. Perfect for fans of Benjamin Stevenson, the metafiction vibe and dark comedy feel only sold me on this witty, fun narrator even more. On top of an unguessable plot and smile-inducing conclusion, I couldn’t put the book down and I’m now eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. I do, however, recommend reading them in order. While the author did a fine job filling in what happened in the first novel, you might struggle a bit as there are a few continuing plot lines. Besides, you won’t want to miss a minute with Eleanor. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Attending your best friend’s wedding should be a piece of (wedding) cake, but not for Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series. Because murder seems to follow her every time she goes on vacation and is definitely her uninvited plus-one to the special occasion.
Emma Wood, Eleanor’s best friend since childhood, is starring in the movie adaptation of When in Rome, Eleanor’s first novel. Emma is also marrying Fred Winters, a major movie star and Emma’s co-star, who just happens to be playing Connor Smith, Eleanor’s ex and leading man of the series.
Filming wraps and they invite the whole cast and crew to their wedding at nearby Catalina Island. There may be a storm headed their way―because of course there is―but nothing will stop their nuptials…that is until Emma receives a note that says “Someone is going to die at the wedding.”
Thank you to Catherine Mack and Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 13, 2025
Content warning: murder, mention of: knife violence
The plot itself was a fun locked room murder mystery complete with a slew of suspicious characters alongside oodles of secrets and lies. Delivering us straight into a dumpster fire of a wedding, there was a delightful amount of gossip-worthy drama and dysfunctional family dynamics that made the plot come alive. Was the first half somewhat of a slow burn? Well, yes… But Eleanor’s snarky banter and sweet, second-chance romance kept me enthralled. After all, this cozy mystery had it all: quirky characters, original twists, and a clever format that pulled me straight into Eleanor’s head.
The only fly in the ointment was the drawn-out dénouement which was full of what Eleanor thought could have happened. Flipping back and forth between her theories and suppositions, I had a hard time following along once we fell into the wormhole of the inevitable “what-ifs.” Don’t get me wrong, it set up what really went down with utter precision and made the truth even more shocking to this armchair sleuth reader.
All and all, I was utterly blown away yet again. Perfect for fans of Benjamin Stevenson, the metafiction vibe and dark comedy feel only sold me on this witty, fun narrator even more. On top of an unguessable plot and smile-inducing conclusion, I couldn’t put the book down and I’m now eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. I do, however, recommend reading them in order. While the author did a fine job filling in what happened in the first novel, you might struggle a bit as there are a few continuing plot lines. Besides, you won’t want to miss a minute with Eleanor. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Attending your best friend’s wedding should be a piece of (wedding) cake, but not for Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series. Because murder seems to follow her every time she goes on vacation and is definitely her uninvited plus-one to the special occasion.
Emma Wood, Eleanor’s best friend since childhood, is starring in the movie adaptation of When in Rome, Eleanor’s first novel. Emma is also marrying Fred Winters, a major movie star and Emma’s co-star, who just happens to be playing Connor Smith, Eleanor’s ex and leading man of the series.
Filming wraps and they invite the whole cast and crew to their wedding at nearby Catalina Island. There may be a storm headed their way―because of course there is―but nothing will stop their nuptials…that is until Emma receives a note that says “Someone is going to die at the wedding.”
Thank you to Catherine Mack and Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 13, 2025
Content warning: murder, mention of: knife violence
April 13, 2025
Book 2 in The Vacation Mysteries kicks off with a bang - another murder at an event when there shouldn't ever be one. A film is being produced about the protagonist's first book, quite similar to the actual first book in the series, and it all begins with a note predicting a future death. Toss in some Agatha Christie moments, and you've got books layered in books layered in books in this one. But it's fairly easy to stay current in the plot, as the author catches us up on pertinent info. Relationships cross lines a few times where I had to remember what actually happened in the book versus what is playing out in this sophomore effort - and not in a bad way. Editing must have fun in this one! The murder mystery is good - brings together some history we knew and history we didn't know. A bevy of film characters, each developing a motivation for wanting someone dead. But there's more than one death again, and it creates a conundrum for our interesting amateur sleuth and fiction writer protagonist. I liked this one more than the first book in the series, mostly because the characters are becoming more real and less of a caricature... I think given the plot, they have to be to stand out in a book within a book becoming a film, right?
July 10, 2025
Will write a full review in next few days as I settle back from vacation
January 5, 2025
Huge thanks to the author for sending me the E-ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I gotta admit that this was such a fun read that was packed with equal amounts of suspense & humor. And I did like this a lot more than the first one cuz it was so fast paced, and there were quite a lot of surprising reveals in the second half too!! (A few of em left me screaming what the heck!!!)
In this second installment of the cozy mystery series, we follow the mystery writer, Eleanor Dash visiting Catalina Island to celebrate the wedding of her best friend, Emma Wood, who also plays Eleanor in the movie adaptation of the said writer's first novel. As is the case with every vacation that Eleanor goes to, there's a dead body amidst this celebration too, and she has to solve the case before someone else turns up dead as well!
What can you expect
- cozy mystery
- eccentric & sarcastic FMC
- funny chapter titles
- mixed media
- narrator breaking the fourth wall
- footnotes that aren't annoying
- book adaptation inside the book
- female friendship
What I love most about this cozy mystery is the narrator talking directly to us!! It makes for a more fun experience, and it also feels like you're the Watson to the Sherlock (Eleanor) in solving this crime. And Eleanor is so good at seeing through people (most of the time), and when she does her act of deducing & reasoning as to who's the perpetrator, it's completely satisfying for us to witness as well. I gotta appreciate the author for making the footnotes as something additional to the story, and not as something you definitely gotta read cuz it only gives more info about the author's inner thoughts, so you can omit it if you don't feel like reading it! (but I did read everything & it was so much fun)
Also, I really feel like Eleanor & Oliver makes for a great pair! They complement each other so well that I liked seeing the way they worked together & did the investigation of the suspects at every step together. I hope we get to see more of that in book 3 as well (uh-oh did I spoil that for you?!! But I feel like it ain't a surprise at this point that every time Eleanor goes on vacation, someone dies😉)
Overall, it's a solid murder mystery with cozy vibes that's perfect to read during the summer, so be sure to be on the lookout for the release!!!!
I gotta admit that this was such a fun read that was packed with equal amounts of suspense & humor. And I did like this a lot more than the first one cuz it was so fast paced, and there were quite a lot of surprising reveals in the second half too!! (A few of em left me screaming what the heck!!!)
In this second installment of the cozy mystery series, we follow the mystery writer, Eleanor Dash visiting Catalina Island to celebrate the wedding of her best friend, Emma Wood, who also plays Eleanor in the movie adaptation of the said writer's first novel. As is the case with every vacation that Eleanor goes to, there's a dead body amidst this celebration too, and she has to solve the case before someone else turns up dead as well!
What can you expect
- cozy mystery
- eccentric & sarcastic FMC
- funny chapter titles
- mixed media
- narrator breaking the fourth wall
- footnotes that aren't annoying
- book adaptation inside the book
- female friendship
What I love most about this cozy mystery is the narrator talking directly to us!! It makes for a more fun experience, and it also feels like you're the Watson to the Sherlock (Eleanor) in solving this crime. And Eleanor is so good at seeing through people (most of the time), and when she does her act of deducing & reasoning as to who's the perpetrator, it's completely satisfying for us to witness as well. I gotta appreciate the author for making the footnotes as something additional to the story, and not as something you definitely gotta read cuz it only gives more info about the author's inner thoughts, so you can omit it if you don't feel like reading it! (but I did read everything & it was so much fun)
Also, I really feel like Eleanor & Oliver makes for a great pair! They complement each other so well that I liked seeing the way they worked together & did the investigation of the suspects at every step together. I hope we get to see more of that in book 3 as well (uh-oh did I spoil that for you?!! But I feel like it ain't a surprise at this point that every time Eleanor goes on vacation, someone dies😉)
Overall, it's a solid murder mystery with cozy vibes that's perfect to read during the summer, so be sure to be on the lookout for the release!!!!
June 4, 2025
A brilliantly witty sequel to 'Everytime I go on Vacation, Someone Dies'
I enjoy reading the world through Eleanor Dash's sarcastic view point, it feels like you're being let in on a secret.
This is a great, locked room style whodunnit that is easy to read.
A great summer read, for cosy mystery lovers.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Fable || Uncover || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
I enjoy reading the world through Eleanor Dash's sarcastic view point, it feels like you're being let in on a secret.
This is a great, locked room style whodunnit that is easy to read.
A great summer read, for cosy mystery lovers.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Fable || Uncover || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
June 22, 2025
I liked this sequel a bit less than the first book. I thought the Connor stuff and the supposed tension Eleanor went on about with her relationship with Oliver was overdone and boring. The POV is through Eleanor so it got very tedious after the first third of the book.
I very much liked the Agatha Christie-ness of the actual mystery. Group sequestered on an island (and who doesn't love a wedding?!), storm rolling in, bodies piling up and the solution all worked for me exceedingly well. Loved all the Christie shout-outs. I will read the next book based on that alone, and I hope there'll be less of Eleanor's self-induced relationship drama and chatter.
I very much liked the Agatha Christie-ness of the actual mystery. Group sequestered on an island (and who doesn't love a wedding?!), storm rolling in, bodies piling up and the solution all worked for me exceedingly well. Loved all the Christie shout-outs. I will read the next book based on that alone, and I hope there'll be less of Eleanor's self-induced relationship drama and chatter.
June 9, 2025
4.5/5
The sequel to Every Time I Go on Vacation, someone dies is as good as Book 1 in the series. The characters that we loved from Book 1 are back to celebrate a wedding in Catalina Island. I loved that the author kept the same unique style of story telling as book 1. If you are looking for a light, easy, laugh out loud, cozy mystery for the summer, this is the book to read.
Thank you St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The sequel to Every Time I Go on Vacation, someone dies is as good as Book 1 in the series. The characters that we loved from Book 1 are back to celebrate a wedding in Catalina Island. I loved that the author kept the same unique style of story telling as book 1. If you are looking for a light, easy, laugh out loud, cozy mystery for the summer, this is the book to read.
Thank you St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2025
Eleanor Dash is back for another crazy adventure! After closing production on the movie based on her best-selling book, the cast and crew head to the stars' Emma Wood and Fred Winters' secret wedding! With death threats arriving, her ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend in attendance, and all sorts of personality drama, will Eleanor be able to save the day?
I hadn't read the first installment in The Vacation Mysteries, so it took me a little while to get connected to the story, but overall, it was good. You do not need to have read it, but it would help to understand some of the background of the main characters. It's a funny, cozy mystery, but I felt there were a few too many misdirects and asides (footnotes in the physical copy) to push it into greatness.
Advanced Listening copy provided by Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.
I hadn't read the first installment in The Vacation Mysteries, so it took me a little while to get connected to the story, but overall, it was good. You do not need to have read it, but it would help to understand some of the background of the main characters. It's a funny, cozy mystery, but I felt there were a few too many misdirects and asides (footnotes in the physical copy) to push it into greatness.
Advanced Listening copy provided by Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2025
Guys this series is just soo much fun!! Another 4.5 no complaints. It’s hilarious, and the audiobook was such a fun listen! Cannot wait for the next book 😁 🥳 👏
June 20, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
Catherine Mack has a gift with her voice and ability to write a fun and interesting plot with twists and reveals that won’t leave you disappointed. The characters mesh really well and Inspector Tucci had be cracking up!
This sequel didn’t have that special feeling the first book did. Book one was a 5 star read for me, and this one had something missing. I don’t think the overall story was able to pull me in as much as the first book did. The ending was fun and I loved the plot twist. Overall, a quirky whodunit comedy that is fun from beginning to end.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC!
Catherine Mack has a gift with her voice and ability to write a fun and interesting plot with twists and reveals that won’t leave you disappointed. The characters mesh really well and Inspector Tucci had be cracking up!
This sequel didn’t have that special feeling the first book did. Book one was a 5 star read for me, and this one had something missing. I don’t think the overall story was able to pull me in as much as the first book did. The ending was fun and I loved the plot twist. Overall, a quirky whodunit comedy that is fun from beginning to end.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC!
June 1, 2025
if you took a shot everytime this book said “Anyway!!” or “Because, Hollywood.” you would still be not as sloppy as the plot of this book.
April 2, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 13, 2025
“No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” is the second novel in the Vacation Series collection of books by Catherine Mack.
Best selling author Eleanor Dash is attending the impromptu wedding of her best friend, Emma, to Hollywood heartthrob Fred Winters. The only guests in attendance are those who played some role, on-screen or behind the scenes, in the film adaptation of Eleanor’s novel, and as they settle in for a weekend of celebration on Catalina Island, the rest of the island shuts down because of an impending storm. But murder seems to follow Eleanor everywhere she goes and this wedding is no different as once again, Eleanor inserts herself into the investigation to try and solve the mystery before someone she loves becomes the next target.
“Wedding” is well-written, cozy, locked-room (sort of) mystery, where eccentric and brilliant author, Eleanor, is once again forced to become the crime investigator she only writes about in her books. The novel is suspenseful and creative and Eleanor is as deliriously funny as she was in the first installment, “Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies."
I highly recommend that you read “Vacation” by Catherine Mack, before reading this one. It isn’t necessary, as the plots of both novels are different, but it provides background and character development that you won’t want to miss out on.
Catherine Mack is a pseudonym for author Catherine McKenzie and, as many of you may know, I have been following this author for many years. In fact, she was one of the first authors I was invited to review for, so she has a special place in my literary heart. As Catherine Mack, she takes on an entirely new genre of books, and they’re just as entertaining and addictive as McKenzie’s domestic suspense novels.
Eleanor is a quirky delight and I love that Mack has brought her back for another adventure. Her relationship with ex, Connor, is still complicated, but I was happy to see her on-again with her boyfriend, Oliver. There are a great number of players in this novel, such as screenwriters, authors, directors, etc., but many of them were in the previous story, so it isn’t a challenge to keep pace. The ending was surprising and unexpected and the final pages hinted at yet another installment, and I can’t wait.
Expected publication date: May 13, 2025
“No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” is the second novel in the Vacation Series collection of books by Catherine Mack.
Best selling author Eleanor Dash is attending the impromptu wedding of her best friend, Emma, to Hollywood heartthrob Fred Winters. The only guests in attendance are those who played some role, on-screen or behind the scenes, in the film adaptation of Eleanor’s novel, and as they settle in for a weekend of celebration on Catalina Island, the rest of the island shuts down because of an impending storm. But murder seems to follow Eleanor everywhere she goes and this wedding is no different as once again, Eleanor inserts herself into the investigation to try and solve the mystery before someone she loves becomes the next target.
“Wedding” is well-written, cozy, locked-room (sort of) mystery, where eccentric and brilliant author, Eleanor, is once again forced to become the crime investigator she only writes about in her books. The novel is suspenseful and creative and Eleanor is as deliriously funny as she was in the first installment, “Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies."
I highly recommend that you read “Vacation” by Catherine Mack, before reading this one. It isn’t necessary, as the plots of both novels are different, but it provides background and character development that you won’t want to miss out on.
Catherine Mack is a pseudonym for author Catherine McKenzie and, as many of you may know, I have been following this author for many years. In fact, she was one of the first authors I was invited to review for, so she has a special place in my literary heart. As Catherine Mack, she takes on an entirely new genre of books, and they’re just as entertaining and addictive as McKenzie’s domestic suspense novels.
Eleanor is a quirky delight and I love that Mack has brought her back for another adventure. Her relationship with ex, Connor, is still complicated, but I was happy to see her on-again with her boyfriend, Oliver. There are a great number of players in this novel, such as screenwriters, authors, directors, etc., but many of them were in the previous story, so it isn’t a challenge to keep pace. The ending was surprising and unexpected and the final pages hinted at yet another installment, and I can’t wait.
October 19, 2024
Absolutely love this series. It's unique and fun and this book is even better than the first!
July 20, 2025
3 🌟
Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer works but I didn’t get enough of a summer feel to say it’s the best time.
I want to love this series so much. The writing style is my absolute favourite, with full fourth wall breaks, author footnotes, and hints along the way. I think with any other main character this would be a hit for me (it works so well in Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone. I think my issue with it falls in the main character herself. While I find her refreshingly real, I also find her a bit of a jerk.
The mystery felt a bit flat for me as well. Instead of shocking I found the final reveal to be a bit disappointing, like the author went for a major twist instead of something that felt more believable. The more I think on it the more I want to lower my rating.
I took away stars for just one too many Taylor Swift mentions. We get it the main character is a fan we don’t need to be reminded every other chapter.
The pace of the book was good and I’ll admit I found myself finishing it quickly which bodes well. I know I’ll pick up another in the series despite not enjoying the first two in the hopes one is a hit for me.
Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer works but I didn’t get enough of a summer feel to say it’s the best time.
I want to love this series so much. The writing style is my absolute favourite, with full fourth wall breaks, author footnotes, and hints along the way. I think with any other main character this would be a hit for me (it works so well in Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone. I think my issue with it falls in the main character herself. While I find her refreshingly real, I also find her a bit of a jerk.
The mystery felt a bit flat for me as well. Instead of shocking I found the final reveal to be a bit disappointing, like the author went for a major twist instead of something that felt more believable. The more I think on it the more I want to lower my rating.
I took away stars for just one too many Taylor Swift mentions. We get it the main character is a fan we don’t need to be reminded every other chapter.
The pace of the book was good and I’ll admit I found myself finishing it quickly which bodes well. I know I’ll pick up another in the series despite not enjoying the first two in the hopes one is a hit for me.
May 16, 2025
4.5 ⭐
This series has been a lot of fun to read so far. There's a lot of charm and wit to the writing and the characters that make the book really entertaining. It's really the perfect blend of humor, mystery and chaos. I did enjoy the mystery I wasn't able to figure out who the killer actually was till the end. I loved the fact that everyone was stranded on an island it had that classic who done it element.
My favorite element of these books is the narration, I love when a book breaks the fourth wall. When it's done right it can be really funny and it succeeds very well in this. The audiobook narrator did a very good job with the book, they made me laugh when I was meant to and also brought me to the edge of my seat when I needed to be.
Great sequel, very fast paced! A must read if you loved Every time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio copy!
*All opinions are my own!
This series has been a lot of fun to read so far. There's a lot of charm and wit to the writing and the characters that make the book really entertaining. It's really the perfect blend of humor, mystery and chaos. I did enjoy the mystery I wasn't able to figure out who the killer actually was till the end. I loved the fact that everyone was stranded on an island it had that classic who done it element.
My favorite element of these books is the narration, I love when a book breaks the fourth wall. When it's done right it can be really funny and it succeeds very well in this. The audiobook narrator did a very good job with the book, they made me laugh when I was meant to and also brought me to the edge of my seat when I needed to be.
Great sequel, very fast paced! A must read if you loved Every time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio copy!
*All opinions are my own!
May 13, 2025
No One Was Supposed To Die At This Wedding (audio) 3⭐️
Book 2 in the “Vacation” series with Eleanor Dash. I listened to the first book about a year ago and LOVED it. I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on the next book ever since. While I continue to love the unique sarcastic witty inner monologue of Eleanor, the storyline this time around never fully grabbed my attention. I highly recommend the audiobook option for the footnotes seamlessly woven in vs hard copies if you would find that distracting.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date May 13 2025
Book 2 in the “Vacation” series with Eleanor Dash. I listened to the first book about a year ago and LOVED it. I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on the next book ever since. While I continue to love the unique sarcastic witty inner monologue of Eleanor, the storyline this time around never fully grabbed my attention. I highly recommend the audiobook option for the footnotes seamlessly woven in vs hard copies if you would find that distracting.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date May 13 2025
March 2, 2025
this book is a DNF for me. It's not a style of writing i personally enjoy. However, I do think everyone should give it a try since it wasn't the plot that didn't work and others might enjoy it.
August 26, 2025
Super cute cozy mystery. The mystery itself wasn’t great, it u liked the characters and dialogue enough that I will read the other books in the series if opportunity presents itself.
December 8, 2024
Such a fun cozy twisty mystery, 2nd in a series but easily read solo. Read it on a snowy afternoon and was happily unaware of the nasty weather. A winner!
June 30, 2025
This is an enjoyable series! I love her references to Taylor Swift. I also liked this one because it was set on Catalina. 💒 🏝️ ✍🏻 🕵🏻
July 9, 2025
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book! It was a fun mystery that kept me guessing. The thing I struggled with the most was there were so many characters and I feel like I didn’t exactly know who was who for a while. This is a great book to listen to while you’re doing things around the house. Fun, not serious, and a good mystery.
I enjoyed this book! It was a fun mystery that kept me guessing. The thing I struggled with the most was there were so many characters and I feel like I didn’t exactly know who was who for a while. This is a great book to listen to while you’re doing things around the house. Fun, not serious, and a good mystery.
August 23, 2025
I need to stop reading such corny murder mysteries. This one was not as good as her initial novel, much harder to follow and was honestly a bit depressing. Wouldn’t recommend unless you must have a follow up to the previous book (titled “Every time I go on vacation, someone dies”).
May 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
👰🏼♀️ 1st person POV
👰🏼♀️ single POV
👰🏼♀️ single timeline
👰🏼♀️ island murder setting
👰🏼♀️ LOTS of characters
I really liked the idea of the footnotes, however since I read them as an e-book the notes were just thrown all together at the end of the chapter, and since I wasn’t going to flip back and forth for every note, they were kind of pointless as I didn’t even remember what they were talking about by the time I got to them.
I really enjoyed the chapter titles!!! No one ever does that in adult books 😥 and it really brought me back to reading books as a child when they pretty much always had chapter titles 🩷🩷
I really liked the tone of this book! It was sarcastic and humorous and I definitely laughed out loud more than once 🤣
I always love when a book includes multiple storytelling formats! This one is part script/part storytelling/part news reports. It makes the story so much more enjoyable to read! It also makes me feel like the author went above and beyond to come up with all these little fun side-details.
The tough thing about having a lot of characters is that sometimes I get confused about who is who, and unfortunately that was the case for this one.
I know they always say “don’t judge a book based off its cover” but I do 🤪🤪 and this cover drew me right in!
I absolutely loved the descriptions in here!! I could literally taste the food and see the scene everything was painted so perfectly 🩷
Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press and Catherine Mack for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 🩷💜
Read if you like:
👰🏼♀️ 1st person POV
👰🏼♀️ single POV
👰🏼♀️ single timeline
👰🏼♀️ island murder setting
👰🏼♀️ LOTS of characters
I really liked the idea of the footnotes, however since I read them as an e-book the notes were just thrown all together at the end of the chapter, and since I wasn’t going to flip back and forth for every note, they were kind of pointless as I didn’t even remember what they were talking about by the time I got to them.
I really enjoyed the chapter titles!!! No one ever does that in adult books 😥 and it really brought me back to reading books as a child when they pretty much always had chapter titles 🩷🩷
I really liked the tone of this book! It was sarcastic and humorous and I definitely laughed out loud more than once 🤣
I always love when a book includes multiple storytelling formats! This one is part script/part storytelling/part news reports. It makes the story so much more enjoyable to read! It also makes me feel like the author went above and beyond to come up with all these little fun side-details.
The tough thing about having a lot of characters is that sometimes I get confused about who is who, and unfortunately that was the case for this one.
I know they always say “don’t judge a book based off its cover” but I do 🤪🤪 and this cover drew me right in!
I absolutely loved the descriptions in here!! I could literally taste the food and see the scene everything was painted so perfectly 🩷
Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press and Catherine Mack for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 🩷💜
May 9, 2025
No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack
Eleanor, Eleanor, Eleanor... she’s quirky, awkward, unlucky, and honestly, a bit of a hot mess, but in the best way. She’s also deeply flawed, which makes her oddly relatable. I mean, I can definitely connect with her mistakes and anxieties, but thankfully, I don’t stumble upon dead bodies as often as she does. 😂
This is the second book in The Vacation Mysteries series. I read the first one last year and was really happy to get an ARC of this follow-up. Technically, you could read this one without the first, but I highly recommend starting at the beginning. The first book lays out the character backstories and dynamics really well. Without that context, the second book’s short intros to everyone might feel a bit overwhelming.
This one gives you everything you want in a cozy murder mystery: secrets, twists, and a wild ride through a destination wedding gone wrong. Eleanor narrates the story with an erratic energy that makes it feel like you're listening to someone caffeinated to the max (or, as I joked, a bit coked up) explain their chaotic day and it's a blast.
I would have rated this a solid 4/5, but I had a few personal issues about this book. The footnotes, while optional and gives character to the story, were hard to navigate on Kindle, and I eventually opted out of reading them. They worked better in the physical copy, but still disrupted the flow a bit.
Overall, though, this is a really fun read. The quirky murder mystery vibe is strong, and Eleanor's chaotic energy keeps you entertained from start to finish. I’ll definitely keep following this series, I want to see how many more murders Eleanor can stumble into.
Recommended for readers who enjoy lighthearted mysteries with an offbeat, unreliable narrator and lots of twists.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the ARC!
Eleanor, Eleanor, Eleanor... she’s quirky, awkward, unlucky, and honestly, a bit of a hot mess, but in the best way. She’s also deeply flawed, which makes her oddly relatable. I mean, I can definitely connect with her mistakes and anxieties, but thankfully, I don’t stumble upon dead bodies as often as she does. 😂
This is the second book in The Vacation Mysteries series. I read the first one last year and was really happy to get an ARC of this follow-up. Technically, you could read this one without the first, but I highly recommend starting at the beginning. The first book lays out the character backstories and dynamics really well. Without that context, the second book’s short intros to everyone might feel a bit overwhelming.
This one gives you everything you want in a cozy murder mystery: secrets, twists, and a wild ride through a destination wedding gone wrong. Eleanor narrates the story with an erratic energy that makes it feel like you're listening to someone caffeinated to the max (or, as I joked, a bit coked up) explain their chaotic day and it's a blast.
I would have rated this a solid 4/5, but I had a few personal issues about this book. The footnotes, while optional and gives character to the story, were hard to navigate on Kindle, and I eventually opted out of reading them. They worked better in the physical copy, but still disrupted the flow a bit.
Overall, though, this is a really fun read. The quirky murder mystery vibe is strong, and Eleanor's chaotic energy keeps you entertained from start to finish. I’ll definitely keep following this series, I want to see how many more murders Eleanor can stumble into.
Recommended for readers who enjoy lighthearted mysteries with an offbeat, unreliable narrator and lots of twists.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the ARC!
June 2, 2025
Catherine Mack has once again given us another fantastic mystery! I just love the writing style and how much this managed to be comedic while being about murder. The entire story was just so brilliantly done, and it’s such a fresh take on a murder mystery that you just can’t help but to fall in love with it. I’m already itching for This Weekend Isn’t Going to End Well for Anyone, and I really hope we hear more about it soon!
July 8, 2025
*4.5 stars
This was a fun one yet again! I found this book a bit slower than the first one and it felt like not a ton would happen for some periods, but I still had a really great time with it. The characters and all their dialogue is super fun and the mystery was intriguing. Very much looking forward to the rest of this series, especially now that we know it's going to be six books long!
This was a fun one yet again! I found this book a bit slower than the first one and it felt like not a ton would happen for some periods, but I still had a really great time with it. The characters and all their dialogue is super fun and the mystery was intriguing. Very much looking forward to the rest of this series, especially now that we know it's going to be six books long!
September 28, 2025
This was a fun cosy mystery which worked well as an audiobook.
July 19, 2025
3.5, trochę słabsze niż 1 tom, ale nadal zabawne i przyjemne do posłuchania! autorka ma naprawdę ciekawy styl i z niecierpliwością będę czekać na tom 3! i nie, nie zgadłam kto za tym stoi😮💨😮💨😮💨 zobaczymy jak będzie z następnym tomem, nie?!😅
May 29, 2025
Eleanor’s book, When In Rome, has been made into a movie. No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding follows the movie cast as they gather for the wedding of the two lead actors on Catalina Island. They are stuck on the island for a weekend when a storm moves in and a body is found.
I liked having Eleanor, Harper, Oliver and even Conner back together in the same place, but we didn’t get as much personal life development during this book as we did in the first one. Breaking of the 4th Wall and Eleanor talking directly to the reader was still fun for me. Reading this physically did make reading the footnotes a bit clunky, so I switched to the audio and that might have been my biggest problem. Something about the way Elizabeth Evans narrates this series really grates on me. Her voices have a snooty air to them. The audiobook does make following the footnotes easier because she reads them throughout. I’m not sure if I’ll continue in this series. I’ll probably wait for reviews on the third book before deciding.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I liked having Eleanor, Harper, Oliver and even Conner back together in the same place, but we didn’t get as much personal life development during this book as we did in the first one. Breaking of the 4th Wall and Eleanor talking directly to the reader was still fun for me. Reading this physically did make reading the footnotes a bit clunky, so I switched to the audio and that might have been my biggest problem. Something about the way Elizabeth Evans narrates this series really grates on me. Her voices have a snooty air to them. The audiobook does make following the footnotes easier because she reads them throughout. I’m not sure if I’ll continue in this series. I’ll probably wait for reviews on the third book before deciding.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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