Hawajskie alibi

by Carol Snow

Kiedy nowy chłopak Jane zaprasza ją na tydzień do luksusowego hotelu na Hawajach, dziewczyna jest w siódmym niebie. Strasznie się denerwuje, czy zdąży na samolot, czy nie zgubi bagażu – ale w życiu nie podejrzewa, że może zgubić chłopaka.

Wakacje zapowiadają się rajsko - ale raj przyciąga kłopoty. Jimmy idzie nurkować i nie wraca. Policja podejrzewa, że utonął, a dla Jane oznacza to kłopoty – i to zupełnie inne, niż sobie można wyobrazić.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Book Club, Contemporary, Summer Reads

293 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2008

About the author

Called “an author to watch” by Booklist, Carol Snow is an American author of contemporary women’s fiction and young adult literature. After graduating from Brown University with a degree in psychology, she spent many years writing literary short stories before accepting that she couldn't go more than a few hundred words without cracking a joke. She eventually turned her attention to crafting humorous, heartfelt stories with a wider commercial appeal, and In 2006, Berkley/Penguin published her first novel, Been There, Done That, which Publisher's Weekly called “humorous, wise . . . romance with a bit of social commentary.” Since then, she has written four more books for adults, Getting Warmer (2007), Here Today, Gone to Maui (2009), Just Like Me, Only Better (2010), and the upcoming What Came First (2011), about which Laura Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Veil of Roses, said, “Carol Snow mixes her trademark humor with tenderness and understanding in this good-mom/bad-mom tale of unexpected twists and turns.” Carol has also written two young adult books for HarperCollins, Switch (2008), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and Snap (2009). Foreign rights to her books have sold to publishers in Germany, Norway, and Romania.

Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. In addition to her psychology degree from Brown University, she holds an M.A.T. in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.

Since leaving New Jersey, Carol has lived all over the place: Rhode Island, London, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Utah, Arizona, and, now, Southern California, where she shares a cat-fur-coated house with her husband and their two children.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great vacation read. A little suspense, not too complicated, easy to remember the characters. The best part was that it inspired me to make mai tais.

[Cherihy808 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 stars. My favorite part of this book is that it took place in Maui. I’ve been there 4x and dream of living there someday! I really enjoyed reading and imagining the characters in so many of the places that I’ve been to when i was in Maui. As far as the storyline goes, it is a great idea for a novel but I think the writing was kinda cheesy at times and I absolutely hated the character Tiara. Overall, it was an easy read and if you love Maui, it would be a good beach read to take with you on a trip.

[Season · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. Great beach read.

I figured out the plot twists a little earlier then maybe I should have but overall it was enjoyable.

[Karen Walkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect read while relaxing on the beaches of Maui!

[Christina Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a book for me but I gave it a 4 stars.

[Midnite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I bought Here Today, Gone to Maui soon after I read Carol Snow's other books, Just Like Me, Only Better and Been There, Done That. So, over 10 years ago. I'm not sure why it took me so long to read it since I really enjoyed her other books, but waiting was definitely a mistake.

The world has changed so much since Here Today, Gone to Maui was published. On one hand, it was great to read something that was so far removed from real world 2025. At the same time, the book felt dated. Not only because MySpace was mentioned, but because Jane seemed kind of pathetic in a way I no longer want my fictional heroines to be in 2025. Her boyfriend was such a loser; there's just no excuse for settling for someone like him these days. Good looks and charm no longer cut it. Everything is so uncertain, it's kind of hard to read about someone who dates a guy like Jimmy because he's beautiful.

There were some moments that made me laugh and wish Jane was that funny throughout the entire book. I would recommend reading only if you've read Carol Snow's other books already. Otherwise, I'd read Just Like Me, Only Better instead. (Of course, that one may feel dated now, too. I haven't read it in a long time, but remember really liking it.)

[Peotreaa ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nudziłam się przy niej, przez liczbę stron myślałam że szybko ją przeczytam ale jednak tak się nie stało. Ciągła się i ciągła. Natomiast fabuła była bardzo eee abstrakcyjna?XD No bo jakby para jedzie ze sobą na wakacje i nagle mężczyzna znika w tajemniczych okolicznościach, każdy myśli że nie żyje ale jednak puenta pod koniec jest zupełnie inna. To zakończenie zrobiło z tej książki nieudaną komedie XD

[MeskaKsiazka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Książka nie jest zła, lecz przez swoje niedoskonałości bardzo traci. Zbyt długie rozwinięcie i budowanie fabuły, kiedy została ona wreszcie skumulowana poczułem się jak w literackiej wersji "Pamiętników z wakacji" i "Dlaczego ja?". Zachowania bohaterów (także głównej bohaterki) w niektórych momentach historii były nielogiczne i pozbawione prawdopodobieństwa że kiedyś faktycznie mogą się wydarzyć.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fun, light, beach read. The main character was smart and a bit dull, but that's what made her fall for such a horrible guy. I enjoyed each twist of her horrible vacation, and I also enjoyed how she grew. The supporting characters were fun and interesting, too.

[Gena Lott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good twist in the middle was the only thing that kept me reading this book that was pretty ho-hum at the beginning. The ending is pretty obvious, but it turned out to be a kind of fun story and it takes place in a wonderful location.

[Gloria · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cheesy novel set in Hawaii, which I read to get in the mood for my upcoming trip there.

[Amy Brown (amylikestoreadalot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Total beach read, very lite reading! I love Maui, so it was fun to read the descriptions.

[Alejandra Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light reading, fun story, a good beach-vacation book.

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

[Deb Berke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great entertaining beach read! Of course, I also love Maui and relived my travels through this book!

[Georgine · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute story
would recommend

[Oliwia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tragedia takie 1,5 gwiazdki. Nudna. Trochę czasem vibe jak oszust z tindera na papierze

[piccolova · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 (???)

[Pat.bookowelove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo miłe zaskoczenie - lekka i zabawna lektura na lato:)

[Peotrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Książka zdecydowanie nie w moim guście. Najgorsza komedia powiązana z romansem jaką kiedykolwiek przeczytałam!

[elenart · Rating 2 out of 5]

szosta, a zarazem pierwsza najgorsza ksiazka tego roku:/

[Christine Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fast weekend read :)

[Margrethe Førland]

I did like it! Definitely cheesy, but okay overal! But it did seem somewhat … unfinished. So it should’ve been more fleshed out story/character wise

[Pat Zozaya]

2023 Challenge - #7

[Małgorzata Tarwacka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐

[Janet Chiero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one with a group of friends on a cruise to Hawaii. It was fun talking about it at dinners.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Jessica Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable and kind of a stupid plot. But for an easy quick read it was enjoyable.

[Tiffany Troyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read, great twists.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane O’Shea is thrilled to be going on vacation to Maui with her boyfriend Jimmy. Jimmy’s always been a little unreliable and maybe a little flaky, but Jane knows a week’s vacation in Maui is just what Jimmy needs to realize they can have a future together. Neat-freak Jane and laid-back Jimmy and a week in paradise; what could go wrong?

Well, Jimmy disappears while scuba diving one day. Is he missing? Dead? While searching his luggage for contact numbers to notify his family, Jane finds an engagement ring.

If you’ve ever gone on vacation with a significant other or even a close friend, you know that travel brings out the best and worst in people. Jane has Jimmy pick her up 3 hours before the flight leaves, just in case. When she unpacks, she marks off each item as she puts it in a drawer, while Jimmy has a duffel bag by his side of the bed. Jane has planned the entire week and has penciled in “relaxing by the pool.” Readers can eagerly anticipate Jane’s carefully made plans going awry even before Jimmy disappears.

At first read, Here Today, Gone to Maui easily follows the usual formula: woman-with-low-self-esteem-loves-an-ambition-less-hunk-who-can’t-commit. But as the book progresses and we find out more about Jane and Jimmy, author Carol Snow gives us a amusing journey through Jane’s past romantic choices.

While in tropical Kaanapali, Jane’s obsessively ordered life breaks apart, as she loses her boyfriend (and potential fiancé), her inhibitions, her patience and her job in one week-long disastrous trip.

While clichéd in some parts, Here Today, Gone to Maui is perfect summer reading, especially given its location. (As a former island resident, I am impressed by Carol Snow’s research and accuracy.) Just as I thought I knew exactly how a scene in the book would conclude, I would get a pleasant surprise that actually fit the characters better. Some parts were even laugh-out-loud funny and Jane is a realistic, appealing modern woman.