Vacation Self

Big Fan #3

by Alexandra Romanoff

In the third book in the Big Fan series, love comes for Mischief band member Ramsey, a reformed rake.

This is Maggie’s first real vacation in years. She’s checking into a tucked-away Vermont enclave that lists its lack of TVs as an amenity, and for once, she isn’t going to compulsively respond to work emails or drive back early to take on a last-minute florist job. All she wants is time to herself.

But what she gets is a run-in with Ramsey, a notoriously hard-partying pop star who retreated to the woods as part of his recovery and is now spiraling about his own life in the aftermath of his best friend’s wedding. Are these two providing much-needed distraction to one another—or a disruption to each of their carefully mapped out plans for introspection?

Genres: Romance

224 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 25, 2026

Reviews

[char !!]

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.

[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 🖤

[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 !

[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.

[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!

[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!!

[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.

[Dipali · Rating 3 out of 5]

** A copy of Vacation Self was provided by the publisher and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review **

3.5

I love the Big Fan/ Mischief world! More, please!