Summer Staycation

by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

In Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s sweet summer fling of a short story, a neurodivergent heroine meets a kind out-of-towner who’s just what she needs to shake up her life—and makes her feel like she’s finally on solid ground.

If you ask Beck Penrose, Florida summers aren’t relaxing so much as roller coasters of sensory overload. But her nervous system settles down with Lucas Holiday, a travel blogger who gets her like no one else does. It’s easy to say yes to living like tourists for a weekend. But it’s harder to say goodbye when that weekend comes to an end.

Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s Summer Staycation is part of Summer Lovin’, a sweet and sultry collection of short summer romances that turn up the heat—and the heart. Read or listen to each short story in one easy, breezy sitting.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Audiobook, Short Stories, Summer, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

58 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a writer, educator, and karaoke enthusiast. Originally from South Florida, she now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband and two children. She holds an MFA in creative writing from North Carolina State University, where she now teaches First-Year Writing.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute!! Finally a novella in this collection I actually liked, I was beginning to lose hope that would happen..

Beck and Lucas were adorable together, I love how they tried doing fun stuff for the weekend, but they ended up on her couch, watching movies and ordering take-out instead. I relate to that so hard!!
My favourite part was how Lucas accepted Beck and the way her sensory issues impacted their outings, all he wanted was for her to have a good time. We all need a man like Lucas in our lives, someone who doesn't make us feel like a burden just because we are a little different.

[aira · Rating 3 out of 5]

so cute 🤭

[makenzie ⊹ ₊ (inactive) · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was gushing the ENTIRE time, and lucas, please marry me





˚₊‧꒰ა currently reading ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

⭐️ rating prediction: ★★★★★
🩰 genre: romance
🕯️ expectations: a romance novella with neurodivergent representation?? say no more 🤭
💌 publication date: may 26, 2026
☁️ current page: 2

reading this with my bestie lina 🥰

ALSO look at the cute vid i made about this book on my youtube channel 🥹
https://youtube.com/shorts/pKrcIGemvl...

[angelinabvby ۶ৎ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

this had no business being so adorable 🤭🤭🤭 🥥 🥥 🥥 🧦 🧦 🧦 🐢 🐢 🐢

💕 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 🦩
OK MERKENZIE I OWE U ONE IM FINALLY READING THIS 🦩

ALSO WATCH MERKENZIE'S BEAUTIFUL YT VID OF THIS BOOK 💕
https://youtube.com/shorts/pKrcIGemvl...

[kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

okay this was actually rlly cute?? i didnt read the blurb going into it but like 2 pages in i KNEWW that Beck had to be neurodivergent cause she speaks and thinks exactly like me LMAO
But yeah i genuinely think i would love this even more if it was a full length book

[Anila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m happy that I was able to end this series of novellas on a high note👌🏻

[labibliofille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I LOVED Summer Staycation! I'm obsessed with Beck and Lucas and I truly want a full-length novel about them.

[✮`,— maddie .ᐟ.ᐟ · Rating 3 out of 5]

╰┈➤ 3.5 stars ⭐️.ᐟ ˎ
[rounded down]

so adorable!! Love Beck, love Lucas, and how down bad he is for Beck.

[Alya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found a favourite in the collection lol 😍

My Bookstagram

[Emma.catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably one of my favourite short stories. It was super sweet and held some deep meaning. I particularly enjoyed it due to Beck’s character - a 29 year old neurodivergent who likes her feet firmly planted. As 30 year old autistic, I can completely relate.

This very enjoyable read started off with an adorable meet-cute. What starts off as a free coffee, quickly turns into a fun staycation weekend in Florida, and an instant connection. Lucas was such a thoughtful, patient, and kind MMC who quickly recognised Beck’s needs and made her feel safe and comfortable. We need more men like him in this world - he never tried to change her, rather he respected her choices and took her lead.

I was sad to say goodbye to this couple. As with many short stories, I would love to see more of them. Maybe we could get a follow up novel?

A very wholesome, fun read ☀️

4 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Mai H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

All a girl wants is for one guy to see her weird and be like, “YES”

[magui · Rating 3 out of 5]

cuteeee

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok hands down the best one in the series so far. I truly loved Beck. She’s quirky and neurodivergent with sensory issues. And Lucas, he just got it and accepted her whole heartedly. It was a sweet short story. Wish we got one more chapter bc I do feel like it ended abruptly but by far the best in the series. Low stakes, quirky and cute.

[bloomysoul · Rating 3 out of 5]

🏖️ a short and sweet summer novella with fun vacation vibes. lucas and beck were lovely to read about. overall, it was a nice, quick read, though it didn't leave a lasting impression on me 🌊˖°𓇼

btw, i saw kenzie reading this and got intrigued, so i decided to pick it up. i'm glad i did!🍹

⋆ 3 stars. ݁₊ 𓆉
31-7-2026

[Olga Rudnitska · Rating 5 out of 5]

A person who travels a lot for work meets a person who prefers to stay at home

Ideal
🔞

[mandie ੈ♡˳ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO cute I was literally smiling like an idiot the whole time I was reading this. Beck and Lucas were adorable. He was so patient with her, wanted to spend even more time with her when she felt like a burden and needed a little extra care. I loved how fun and light it felt while also representing someone who is anxious, I totally understood her. We need 100 more of these books.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my favourite of these novellas, Summer Staycation follows a neurodivergent marine biologist and a travel reporter on their meet cute at a coffee shop that leads to a weekend exploring Florida. I liked the turtle. And the rep.

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just CUTE. And I want to know what a coconut frappe tastes like.

[farhia · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

they’re so precious I could cry (I did)

[LollyDolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was cute possibly the best in the series 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Amarilis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó. Una lectura corta y dulce 💗

[Lia Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how quirky the FMC was and how the MMC just got it. It was low stakes and everything i wanted from a summer romance.

[casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

tropes
🐢 marine biologist fmc
✈️ travel blogger mmc
🤍 autistic rep
🦩 she hates summer
☀️ he loves summer

this was so sweet and i loved both beck and lucas 🥹

[Abby Kirkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

are you serious

This was actually so sweet!!!it made me feel so much!!! I want more I cannot lie!!! Best novella I’m actually annoyed it’s a novella!!!

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was cute.. when i wasn’t zoning out

[˙⋆☆ Pameee ☆⋆˙ · Rating 2 out of 5]

«𝑺𝒊 𝒂𝒍𝒈𝒐 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒐, 𝒆𝒔 𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒍𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂».

2,5 ☆ || Lindo, me gustó.

[Ally Bateman · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’re going to give your FMC all the characteristics of a person with autism, have her know that she’s autistic. Beck needed earplugs in noisy spaces, was overwhelmed by bright light and loud sounds, had sensory issues with textures, had social anxiety around responding appropriately to the situation, and hyper fixated on her areas of interest. That’s not quirky, that’s neurospicy. I’m all for representation in books, but it isn’t representation if you act like it isn’t there.

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute read

Beck’s a marine biologist who lives a predictable life.
Enter Lucas- he runs a vacation planning business and visits/stays at different places all the time.

They spend time together.

He learns she’s quirky/neurodivergent and adores her

This was fine.

They only kiss

The way it ends implies they might have a future. I wish we had more

⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd/omd
-no sex (only a kiss)
-the h feels like she might be considered weird

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun read. I liked the representation that was included in the story and the characters were easy to root for.