Vacation Self

Big Fan #3

by Alexandra Romanoff

In the long-awaited third book in the Big Fan series, love comes for Mischief band member Ramsey, a reformed rake, and Maggie, an overworked florist.

This is Maggie’s first real vacation in years. She’s checking into a tucked-away Vermont enclave, and for once, she isn’t compulsively responding to work emails or taking on a last-minute floral job. All she wants is time to herself.

But what she gets is a run-in with Jake Ramsey, a onetime hard-partying pop star in recovery who's spiraling about his own life in the aftermath of his best friend Charlie’s wedding.

Are Maggie and Jake providing each other with much-needed distraction—or are they showing each other a way out of the woods?

Genres: Romance

208 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 25, 2026

Reviews

[char !! · Rating 4 out of 5]

edit: just saw this is up on netgalley god im about to be so insufferable until i get that arccccc



i'm seated. this book isn't even released until august 2026 but im simply too seated.

this is the big fan sequel we needed sorry square waves

[Amy Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never want to leave this literary universe behind. The world of Big Fan is so brilliantly fun and smart and hot and I loved seeing another side of Jake/Ramsey and meeting Maggie. As always, the plot and chemistry and character growth is so well done even in a short novella, but I would also love to have a full length book to delve into these characters - I did NOT want it to be over.

Thanks to 831 Stories and Edelweiss for the ARC.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to alexandra romanoff, 831 stories and netgalley for this e-arc !

It was okay and was really cute sometimes. In this third installment, we follow another member of the fictional band mischief finding himself and finding love with an age appropriate woman (which I really appreciate, I really don’t like age gap romances).

I found it okay, not ground breaking but I had a good time reading it, I did read it in one seating.
The problem in this one for me it that we rely to much on the presence of other characters from past books (Charlie & Maya) and even though Big Fan is my favorite of this series, they don’t appear for the reasons we liked them for in this book and their presence was a bit forced in my opinion. And they appear so much, they kind of take the spotlight away from the main characters. We don’t really get to know Jake for who he is without Charlie and mischief being mentioned all the time. And okay I get that this is the point since he’s in recovery and mischief being the reason of his addiction and recovery it makes sense that it’s being mentioned so much, but I found that it was overkill.

Also the romance didn’t make much sense to me, I found that they didn’t really knew each other, their conversation weren’t deep enough to form a real connection ? I didn’t really connect with them in that way, and found the plot a washed up version of Big Fan (fundraiser and all).

I still had a good time though !

[kailin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★
i really love a romance where our characters realize they’re allowed to want more out of their lives and to watch them make changes that lead to the fuller life they’ve been dreaming of. i loved big fan, so i’m happy to be back in the world of mischief.

vacation self follows maggie as she spends a week on vacation (ofc) where her only plans are to do whatever she wants and avoid anything and everything related to her job. almost immediately, she runs into former mischief member, jake ramsey. as the week progresses, their paths continue to cross. their natural chemistry keeps building until their connection is undeniable. i really loved these two and hope for more from the men of mischief!

thank you to alexandra romanoff, 831 stories and netgalley for this e-arc 🖤

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this! It’s the first I’ve read in the Big Fan series because I got an ARC from NetGalley (thanks to them and the publishers!) Definitely short so everything happens fast, but it was written really well. It was a nice change of pace to read about a couple in their 30s/40s vs youngsters all the time lol. I could have spent more time with this couple.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

EEK by far my faves out of the 831 stories collection! alexandra romanoff, the woman you are! this trilogy is a cut above.
—
also HELLO ADAPTATION IN THE WORKS!
—
thanks to netgalley for the arc <3

[mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this ARC via NetGalley and my goodness am I glad I did. This book is perfectly portioned and was a delight to read across two evenings. It dealt with age, and want, and sobriety with a gentleness that often takes authors 400 pages.

[Sabrina Lemus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short and sweet. It was instalove and done well. Maggie and Jake met while on vacation and find themselves falling for each other during their trip.
This was refreshing to read, we get a romance for a 40 year old with an identity crisis and we need more books like this.

I would recommend to anyone who wants a fall vacation book and who enjoys spice in their romances. I will read the other books in this universe.

Thank you NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[QuirkyTofurkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems impossible for me to rate an Alexandra Romanoff story less than four stars. While I felt a little less connected to these particular characters than I usually do in an 831 Stories book, I still squealed and kicked my feet through this whirlwind romance.

For perhaps the first time, I found myself wishing the story had been longer. The shift from physical attraction to emotional connection happened so quickly that it gave the romance a breathless, almost dizzying pace. I wanted just a little more time to live in those feelings as they grew. On more than one occasion, I wondered if this is what it feels like to have a manic episode.

But as with all 831 Stories books, this story is absolutely brimming with heart. That warmth, sincerity, and emotional tenderness keeps me coming back for more.

Also, in my heart of hearts, Mischief is a real band.

Thank you to NetGalley, 831 Stories, and Alexandra Romanoff for the advanced reader copy. This review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to 831 stories and NetGalley for the ARC

Maggie is burnt out; she needs a break. She decides to take a Vermont getaway to attempt to find her spark again. Meeting former Mischief member Ramsey while checking in was not part of the plan.

I love Alexandra Romanoff's series, so I was so excited to read this, and it did not disappoint! I love all the Big Fan books.

I love this is about two 40+ year people who have been through some stuff and figured out some stuff. They are honest about their past and vocal about their needs. I'd even say the third act "parting" (I don't consider it a breakup, really), it's Maggie telling Jake what her expectations are for a relationship. It's not dramatic, and he hears her.

I love Jake; his sobriety lives with him, and he has to manage it through moments in the book. I thought the care around it was so lovely. I love that he likes Maggie because she is direct, and she makes a lot of the romantic moves. She's "full throttle", and he's into it :) I also love that his life changes were accelerated by Maggie, but she wasn't the origin. Changing your life after a vacation romance would be a lot; the book really establishes that Jake already knew he was dissatisfied at this stage in his life.

There are a couple of spicy scenes. I thought they were all well done. I kind of like that Maggie is really forward on that front, I think the age of our protagonists really shows in these scenes - in a good way! I have to say I laughed at the conclusion of the hot tub scene. It's great, I love spicy scenes that are also silly, showing your characters having fun!

Anyway, as I always say, I could have read a full book of these characters; I had so much fun <3

[Annie Tate Cockrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun!! We follow Ramsey (of Mischief boyband fame) and Maggie (a sweet florist who's lost herself in her work) as they fall in love in rural Vermont. They're both in their early 40s (yall know I love that!) and because of that they each have a past (ie ways they're changing / growing). Their story is certainly sweet!

The 831 universe is becoming a whole network of characters and bands and sports teams and farms and movies that take seed within each individual book but then expand to exist within the other books under the 831 umbrella. I like it when one of the books cheekily mentions something that ties us back to another book - it's charming and makes me feel like I'm in on something. I worry that Vacation Self relies a little heavily on that, especially in the beginning. There is a particular section where I borderline had whiplash at all of the tie ins. There is an obvious link between Vacation Self and Big Fan because both of the male leads were in the same boyband and continue to be friends, but off of the top of my head I can think of three other books that are tied back in (all within a few pages as well). It's charming certainly but at the same time feels a little like overkill when it's so much. I also think that Charlie and Maya (from Big Fan) are relied on a a little heavily in Vacation Self and that makes it harder to connect with Maggie and Ramsey and lose ourselves in that story.

I still had fun though!

Out 8/25 !

[Victoria Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Love. Love. Love.

So real and raw and messy and just wow. This was such a refreshing read. There was so much packed into this story that was just plain real life (which isn't that common to find in books - especially romance stories). There was no sugar coating for anything and there was no nonsense. Immediately obsessed.

The chemistry between the two mc's was great from the first meeting and i love that even in such a short amount of time, there is enough depth in the story to truly feel like you know these characters and to be completely immersed into their story. I love romance stories where the two mc's are slightly older, especially when their story arc is them realising they want other things in life than what they've been living and consuming. This is so freeing about because it's like 'hell yeah!' - make the change you want! So liberating to read about because for a minute it's also like ... oh ...I forget that we have free will and can literally uproot our life and career if we want. Alexandra wrote about this topic with such grace that it was just nothing short of amazing to read about.

Absolutely loved this book and will be recommending!

Thankyou so much to Alexandra, 831 Stories and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Beth Gerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Vacation Self and would have happily read a full-length version of this story. The novella format worked, but the characters and setting were rich enough that I wanted more time with them.

One of the biggest strengths for me is Romanoff's writing style. The setting is described so vividly and warmly that it feels immersive. Every interaction and conversation feels intentional and natural. There’s a maturity to the romance that can sometimes be missing from the genre. The relationship itself was especially refreshing because miscommunication is not used as a crutch. They acknowledge awkwardness, insecurities, and uncertainty in realistic ways, which made the connection feel grounded and believable. I also always appreciate a female lead that is fully successful and interesting in her own right. Both characters have complete lives outside of the relationship, which made the romance feel additive rather than all-consuming.

This was thoughtful, cozy, emotionally mature, and incredibly easy to sink into. Definitely one of those novellas that leaves you wishing it were 300 pages longer.

I received an ARC from NetGalley

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to see a third 831 novel from Alexandra Romanoff following the former Mischief band members. Maggie quit her finance job to be a florist but lately finds that it’s all business and no creativity. She escapes New York City for a week in Vermont, hoping to reset, and immediately connects with Jake (Ramsey in his boy band days). Jake’s a recovering alcoholic with a stream of too-young ex-girlfriends, a need to stay busy and absolutely nothing that he has to be doing but he has an immediate connection with Maggie.

I loved how these two were actually 40-something complete with gray hair and relatable midlife crisis moments. It’s so refreshing to see authors writing characters who aren’t just 25 and single in the city. I loved their story and as always, my only complaint is that the 831 books are too short but they’re also the perfect snack between longer, heavier novels. Thanks to Netgalley and 831 for the ARC.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved Big Fan and this was another delightful instalment. After a wild 20s as a boybander, 42-year old Jake has been sober for over a decade, but copes by living a peripatetic existence and dating women in their 20s. He's scared taking the next step: staying put and putting himself out there to find a lasting love because, he recognises his life would be unattractive to women his age. Meanwhile 40-year old Maggie is at another crossroads with her floristry business that she started after ditching her corporate finance career.

I loved Jake and Maggie's chemistry and their mature communication. It was so refreshing to see how their encounter made them grow from the experience, especially Jake. It was also lovely to see Maya and Charlie appear (but, if I'm being honest Maya being pregnant was so disappointing. WHY can't we have romances without kids?!!!! Jake reflects how Charlie was ambivalent about kids until he met Maya *eyeroll*.)

A reflective romance with satisfyingly sweet character growth.

[Megan Heginbottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this was available as an ARC i immediately knew I had to request it. I’ve enjoyed almost all the 831 Stories books I’ve read, but Romanoff is honestly my favorite.

This book was so well done. We dive back into the Big Fan universe (with multiple cameos from Charlie & Maya!) — and now I’m itching to reread Big Fan #1.

Vacation Self follows Ramsey (Jake) and Maggie, a New York City florist, on a week long vacation in Vermont. Jake is there escaping to his cabin in the woods to hide himself in endless hobbies and Maggie is there to escape the burnout she feels from turning her hobby into a career. A connection that propels them both towards a better version of themselves. Can it survive in the real world or is it just for vacation?

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jazmyne Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. I read the first two books in this series so I was really excited to read this third one and it didn’t disappoint. This was a slow burn story of two people in their 40s trying to find themselves, figure their life out but also finding love in each other at the same time. In the short time they meet both characters gently push each other to grow as individuals as well. I loved the story around alcoholism because it doesn’t go into the process of trying rid the main male character of an addiction but the aftermath of continuing the fight after being sober of so many years. It was reminder that no matter what age you are we continue to grow. My only gripe is that I wish it was long enough. I wanted to live with these characters a little while longer.

Thank you 831 stories for allowing me to read this early!

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

These books are super short and so easy to get through in one sitting for me.

This follows our FMC on a cozy cabin trip where she meets a pop star, starting up a relationship.

I think these being so short is what makes it hard for me to get really truly invested in these characters. But I did have fun with this. I do feel like that's what they're made for, they're sweet and easy.

This one definitely has tie-ins to other books in this series/by this publisher, so if you've read any others, you may recognize some names.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[anj (acozyday) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cozy, easy read. Since it's a novella, so it really does feel so short and as a result, it feels a bit too insta-lovey. Like, they looked at each other and all of a sudden they built a connection. For someone who likes pinning and yearn and a bit of a slow burn, this wasn't my favorite bc of purely how short it was but that said, what I liked is that it was written so well, the characters are in their 40s and therefore it felt like a mature love story (which I appreciate as a fellow 40 year old!) and the characters were lovely. If you want a quick, warm, easy escape - this is your book!

[Daria · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

Not really a fan of this one. I know 831 Stories romances tend to be quick and fun reads so they often skip a lot of the build up that you might find in a longer novel, but I think in Vacation Self the story really suffered because of this.

I never bought the instant spark the two love interests felt when first meeting each other and then the minimal time they spent getting to know each other did not help the situation. Also, the two main characters themselves seemed very one-note.

Ultimately, there just wasn't enough to make me emotionally invested in either the relationship or the characters. By the end, everything still felt very surface-level and rushed.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, wonderfully warm read. It moves at a steady pace and never feels too slow. However, it is a slow story, it unfurls like a flower opening up in spring. Fitting because it is about a florist and a former pop star who now leads a slower life. I felt that their relationship dynamic could be best described as “charmed”

I’m always happy to read works published through 831 stories. I think this is actually my favorite from this author. I usually don’t like a celebrity main character, but the later in life love story paired with his personal abhorrence of that which comes with fame is refreshing and put this novella right up my alley.

Thank you #NetGalley for the digital ARC.

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read every book in the Big Fan series so far, and this one is my favorite. I really loved the juxtaposition of the luxurious resort setting with the tender, grounded love story that blossoms between the two main characters.

Both characters felt a little sad and lost in their own ways, but it was beautiful to watch them help each other find light again and keep moving forward. Their connection felt genuine and heartfelt, which made the story even more impactful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Thank you netgalley and 831 stories for the e-arc!

I haven’t read the other books in the Big Fan series… but oh my gosh, I am immediately picking them up after this. I loved that both main characters understood that fear was holding them back from more than just romance, but for happiness in their life.

The romance between Jake and Maggie was absolutely so sweet. I was so happy with how the whole story ended up playing out.

This is a must read for any romance fans!

[Contessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This was a fun refreshing read. The fmc is 40 and knows what she wants. There was great character development going on with the main couple which felt really sincere.

I just wasn’t as enthralled and obsessed with Jake and Maggie like I was with our book two couple in Square Waves.

Still so happy Alexandra wrote another book in the big fans series. I would definitely read a full book by her.

Thanks to NetGalley and 831 for the ARC. My first one ever!

[Kati Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am such a fangirl of 831 Stories and what they’re doing for the romance genre. I know novellas are their jam, but I do find myself wanting more- deeper plots and character development. In saying that, this was a delight…especially in terms of a “vacation”
setting that isn’t a tropical island- send me to The Cabins any day. Also main characters in their early 40s- yes please!

I would definitely recommend reading Big Fan first for context and character introductions.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Author, 831 Stories and Netgalley for this advance reader copy.

4.5 stars

Bottom line, I loved this story. This felt like a complete story while I still wanted more, which is perfect for a novella. I LOVED this author's novella Big Fan and while that one is still my favorite this is a close second!

This is the story of florist (formerly in finance) taking a break from her busy job to take a vacation in Vermont and reevaluate her life and career etc. On her first night at her hotel she meets teh hero who is a former rock star who lives in the area to get away from the hustle of New York. What follows is a vacation romance that turns into something more serious. I loved their interactions and their banter was top notch.

This was a perfect story for a novella and did not feel we were rushing. I would have happily read a full length novel with these two and will look forward to this author's next book!

[Dayvn Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and 831 stories for an e-arc. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to like this one this much. I haven’t read the other two books in this small series but I definitely will!! Jake and Maggie had such great chemistry for the first few chapters and the story while short was fleshed out really well and flowed perfectly. I really enjoyed it as a palette cleanser!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This world is so fun! This story focuses on Jake Ramsey, a former member of the popular boy band Mischief, now forty-something and sober for over one decade. Jake is finally ready to have a meaningful relationship and when he meets Maggie - she is everything he hoped for.
I loved Maggie and Jake, their connection, their care, their growth.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Vacation Self thanks to the publisher through NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily.

Short, sweet romance that give the MMC a chance at redemption. I enjoyed the banter and the characters relationship in general. The pacing was great until the end which seemed to wrap up a little too quickly. Still worth the read!

[mh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5. I liked this one. Wasn’t so sure the first half but the two characters really grew on me. There was a lot of depth in this one and there was good chemistry between the two leads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my arc.