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Puhkus
Seitse päeva. Neli sõpra. Üks mõrvar.
See pidi olema täiuslik puhkus paradiisis – neli sõpra koos peredega nädal aega Lõuna-Prantsusmaa luksuslikus villas kesk päikeselõõska ja viinamägesid.
Naised on olnud sõbrad ülikoolist saadik ja lühikesi suviseid väljasõite on nad teinud aastaid. Nüüd otsustati kaasata ka abikaasad ja lapsed, aeg maha võtta ja nautida kõike, mida suvine Prantsusmaa pakub.
Kuid Kate’il on saladus: ta teab, et tema abikaasal on afäär. Ja ta kahtlustab, et naine on üks tema sõbrannade seast, kes on valmis ohverdama aastatepikkuse sõpruse ja lõhkuma tema perekonna. Aga kes? Kui Kate Vahemere-äärses leitsakus tõele lähemale liigub, saab ta aru, et panused on kõrgemad, kui ta on iial arvanud… või kartnud.
Sest see keegi on valmis tapma selleks, et saladus välja ei tuleks. Ja ühel hetkel asendub nii selges taevas sirav päike tormipilvedega, kuni kärgatab kõu.
T. M. Logan on mitme põnevusromaani autor. «Puhkust» peetakse tänu ootamatutele pööretele ja hullumeelsele tempole tema seni parimaks raamatuks.
Enesekindel, mõjuv ja hüpnootiline, lõppu naljalt ära ei arva. – Lee Child
Haarav, ülimalt pingeline põnevik. – Louise Jensen
Järjekordne suurepärane lugemiselamus T. M. Loganilt. Mulle meeldis intriig – puhkus sõpradega omandas hoopis uue tähenduse. – B. A. Paris
Pärast selle põneviku lugemist tundub, et isegi rannarätikud hauvad mõrvaplaani. – Cosmopolitan
Taas üks närvesööv raamat psühholoogiliste põnevike meistrilt. – Chris Whitaker
Pange ühte patta Agatha Christie ja «Aasta Provence’is» ning tulemuseks on geniaalne põnevik. Braavo! – Deborah O’Connor
Seni Logani parim romaan… algusest kuni erakordse lõpuni täiuslik. – Diane Jeffrey
See pidi olema täiuslik puhkus paradiisis – neli sõpra koos peredega nädal aega Lõuna-Prantsusmaa luksuslikus villas kesk päikeselõõska ja viinamägesid.
Naised on olnud sõbrad ülikoolist saadik ja lühikesi suviseid väljasõite on nad teinud aastaid. Nüüd otsustati kaasata ka abikaasad ja lapsed, aeg maha võtta ja nautida kõike, mida suvine Prantsusmaa pakub.
Kuid Kate’il on saladus: ta teab, et tema abikaasal on afäär. Ja ta kahtlustab, et naine on üks tema sõbrannade seast, kes on valmis ohverdama aastatepikkuse sõpruse ja lõhkuma tema perekonna. Aga kes? Kui Kate Vahemere-äärses leitsakus tõele lähemale liigub, saab ta aru, et panused on kõrgemad, kui ta on iial arvanud… või kartnud.
Sest see keegi on valmis tapma selleks, et saladus välja ei tuleks. Ja ühel hetkel asendub nii selges taevas sirav päike tormipilvedega, kuni kärgatab kõu.
T. M. Logan on mitme põnevusromaani autor. «Puhkust» peetakse tänu ootamatutele pööretele ja hullumeelsele tempole tema seni parimaks raamatuks.
Enesekindel, mõjuv ja hüpnootiline, lõppu naljalt ära ei arva. – Lee Child
Haarav, ülimalt pingeline põnevik. – Louise Jensen
Järjekordne suurepärane lugemiselamus T. M. Loganilt. Mulle meeldis intriig – puhkus sõpradega omandas hoopis uue tähenduse. – B. A. Paris
Pärast selle põneviku lugemist tundub, et isegi rannarätikud hauvad mõrvaplaani. – Cosmopolitan
Taas üks närvesööv raamat psühholoogiliste põnevike meistrilt. – Chris Whitaker
Pange ühte patta Agatha Christie ja «Aasta Provence’is» ning tulemuseks on geniaalne põnevik. Braavo! – Deborah O’Connor
Seni Logani parim romaan… algusest kuni erakordse lõpuni täiuslik. – Diane Jeffrey
444 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2019
4973 people are currently reading
40491 people want to read
About the author
T.M. Logan
23 books3,765 followersTim’s thrillers have sold more than three million copies in the UK and are published in translation in 22 other countries including Italy, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, South Korea, Romania and the Netherlands.
His 2025 novel, THE DAUGHTER, opens as Lauren arrives to pick up her daughter from university at the end of her first term – only to find a stranger answering the door. Evie’s not there, has not been there for weeks, in fact she's vanished without trace. With her young son in tow, Lauren sets off on a desperate search into the dark heart of London to find Evie before she’s lost forever…
His previous novel, THE DREAM HOME, is about a family who move into a rambling Victorian house hoping it will be their 'forever home'. But it's not long before they start to uncover secrets contained within those walls, including a hidden room on the top floor. And by the time they realise the past is better left buried, it's already too late...
THE HOLIDAY was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and spent ten weeks in the Sunday Times paperback top ten. It has since won a Nielsen Bestseller Award and been made into a four-part TV drama starring Jill Halfpenny (currently available on Netflix UK).
THE CATCH, about a father convinced his daughter is about to marry a man with terrible secrets, has also been made into a TV drama starring Jason Watkins, Poppy Gilbert, Aneurin Barnard and Cathy Belton (also on Netflix UK).
His other books are THE MOTHER, THE CURFEW, TRUST ME, LIES and 29 SECONDS.
Tim was born in Berkshire and studied in London and Cardiff before becoming a national newspaper journalist. He lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and two children, and writes in a cabin in the corner of his garden.
For exclusive writing and new releases from TM Logan, sign up to the Readers’ Club: www.bit.ly/TMLogan.
His 2025 novel, THE DAUGHTER, opens as Lauren arrives to pick up her daughter from university at the end of her first term – only to find a stranger answering the door. Evie’s not there, has not been there for weeks, in fact she's vanished without trace. With her young son in tow, Lauren sets off on a desperate search into the dark heart of London to find Evie before she’s lost forever…
His previous novel, THE DREAM HOME, is about a family who move into a rambling Victorian house hoping it will be their 'forever home'. But it's not long before they start to uncover secrets contained within those walls, including a hidden room on the top floor. And by the time they realise the past is better left buried, it's already too late...
THE HOLIDAY was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and spent ten weeks in the Sunday Times paperback top ten. It has since won a Nielsen Bestseller Award and been made into a four-part TV drama starring Jill Halfpenny (currently available on Netflix UK).
THE CATCH, about a father convinced his daughter is about to marry a man with terrible secrets, has also been made into a TV drama starring Jason Watkins, Poppy Gilbert, Aneurin Barnard and Cathy Belton (also on Netflix UK).
His other books are THE MOTHER, THE CURFEW, TRUST ME, LIES and 29 SECONDS.
Tim was born in Berkshire and studied in London and Cardiff before becoming a national newspaper journalist. He lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and two children, and writes in a cabin in the corner of his garden.
For exclusive writing and new releases from TM Logan, sign up to the Readers’ Club: www.bit.ly/TMLogan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,457 reviews
July 3, 2022
Well, truly I hate the guts of the characters. I didn’t care what will happen to them! I didn’t care one of them die, hurt, get abused, terrorized, kidnapped, wounded etc. But I have to admit they’re the ensemble to get awarded as the worst unlikeable characters, have no idea why they’re created!
If I would be the author of this book, at the first chapter I would have killed them at a bloody massacre ( So bloody that Tarantino movies look like Disney movies if you compare it with my harsh, vulgar, violent opening) So thanks God, I didn’t write this. So so so so much better author wrote this book. Why is he so much better? Because even though I was out of my patience and I fantasized million ways to kill those characters, he gave me the reason to keep on reading with his great written plot, meticulously developed story progression and satisfying pacing. Actually if some pages of the book could have been emitted, it would have been more helpful to be hooked on the story. But the second half was surprisingly twisty, entertaining, exciting.
So Kate decides to go to a vacation to France with her longtime friends, including husbands, kids. She thinks her husband is cheating on her with one of her the very same friends she goes to the trip. She starts to conduct her own investigation to find out the identity of this shameless bitch is and she plans to scratch her face with sharp nails and then jump on her to punch till she gets unconscious.
Oh sorry, I confused her plan with regular Jerry Springer show scripted episode.
But as soon as she opens the box of secrets, she realizes she finds out more than she can handle. So much lies, secrets, schemes, twists, you feel like all those scumbag characters are worse than day time soap opera actors who are stabbing each other behind their backs.
The conclusion of the story is good but it could be better. There are still so much blanks needed to be filled. And I still have so much questions but I cannot talk about them without giving spoilers so I already put duct tapes on my mouth but funnily my hands still work but don’t worry my best friend Ashley watches my computer screen like a hawk and if I try to write anything inappropriate she’ll hit my hand with ruler.
So let’s round up my 3.5 stars to 4 because I enjoyed the writing and gripping story-telling but I wished I chose some better book of the author because his previous books stayed at my tbr so long that they might feel like they stayed at the purgatory so long. (Just like some of my long time requested books at NetGalley. They are not rejected but they are also not approved. They directly go to the archive cemetery.)
This is one of my good thriller reads but not one of the best and memorable reads. I recommend you to take it when you go to the holiday with your friends so you may give them dubious and disgusted looks during your vacation and learn the lesson of your life about how to lose your friends and alienate people!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for sharing this page turner ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.
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If I would be the author of this book, at the first chapter I would have killed them at a bloody massacre ( So bloody that Tarantino movies look like Disney movies if you compare it with my harsh, vulgar, violent opening) So thanks God, I didn’t write this. So so so so much better author wrote this book. Why is he so much better? Because even though I was out of my patience and I fantasized million ways to kill those characters, he gave me the reason to keep on reading with his great written plot, meticulously developed story progression and satisfying pacing. Actually if some pages of the book could have been emitted, it would have been more helpful to be hooked on the story. But the second half was surprisingly twisty, entertaining, exciting.
So Kate decides to go to a vacation to France with her longtime friends, including husbands, kids. She thinks her husband is cheating on her with one of her the very same friends she goes to the trip. She starts to conduct her own investigation to find out the identity of this shameless bitch is and she plans to scratch her face with sharp nails and then jump on her to punch till she gets unconscious.
Oh sorry, I confused her plan with regular Jerry Springer show scripted episode.
But as soon as she opens the box of secrets, she realizes she finds out more than she can handle. So much lies, secrets, schemes, twists, you feel like all those scumbag characters are worse than day time soap opera actors who are stabbing each other behind their backs.
The conclusion of the story is good but it could be better. There are still so much blanks needed to be filled. And I still have so much questions but I cannot talk about them without giving spoilers so I already put duct tapes on my mouth but funnily my hands still work but don’t worry my best friend Ashley watches my computer screen like a hawk and if I try to write anything inappropriate she’ll hit my hand with ruler.
So let’s round up my 3.5 stars to 4 because I enjoyed the writing and gripping story-telling but I wished I chose some better book of the author because his previous books stayed at my tbr so long that they might feel like they stayed at the purgatory so long. (Just like some of my long time requested books at NetGalley. They are not rejected but they are also not approved. They directly go to the archive cemetery.)
This is one of my good thriller reads but not one of the best and memorable reads. I recommend you to take it when you go to the holiday with your friends so you may give them dubious and disgusted looks during your vacation and learn the lesson of your life about how to lose your friends and alienate people!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for sharing this page turner ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.
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September 2, 2020
4 Jaw Dropping Stars
Rowan, Jennifer, Izzy and Kate were best friends and they all were. marking their fortieth birthdays with a week together in the South of France, husbands and children included.
And this is where it all begins... They are all in France and Kate sees 3 unread messages on messenger on her husband's phone. She clicks on them and sees that the messages are from Coral Girl...
Message me later when you can X...
Need to be careful this weekend like we discussed... Remember to delete messages as soon as you read... Does K suspect anything...
Then her husband messages her back... She has no idea but I can't go on like this... We'll decide when we're in France. ...Figure out what to do...I need to tell her soon...
Coral Girl responds We talked about this...Better a secret... Husband then responds...I know I feel so bad for lying to K.
Kate then thinks that her husband is having an affair. She suspects that the other woman is one of her two friends that are on vacation with her. But which one? The stakes are far higher than she imagined.
I love this author! I read 29 seconds last year and after I read that one I was hooked and wanted to read all of the author's books.
I loved the setting in France. I felt like I was there. I love when a book takes you to another country.
The characters were all very well developed. The author brings them to life. There were unlikable characters in this one. The kids needed a lot of discipline, which they didn't had any at all. Odette was such a brat but I loved reading about her.
After the first half of the book it became a very addictive read. I was captivated in the story and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I was so intrigued. It was a big surprise with jaw dropping moments and lots of twists and turns. This was not a predictable read at all.
I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rowan, Jennifer, Izzy and Kate were best friends and they all were. marking their fortieth birthdays with a week together in the South of France, husbands and children included.
And this is where it all begins... They are all in France and Kate sees 3 unread messages on messenger on her husband's phone. She clicks on them and sees that the messages are from Coral Girl...
Message me later when you can X...
Need to be careful this weekend like we discussed... Remember to delete messages as soon as you read... Does K suspect anything...
Then her husband messages her back... She has no idea but I can't go on like this... We'll decide when we're in France. ...Figure out what to do...I need to tell her soon...
Coral Girl responds We talked about this...Better a secret... Husband then responds...I know I feel so bad for lying to K.
Kate then thinks that her husband is having an affair. She suspects that the other woman is one of her two friends that are on vacation with her. But which one? The stakes are far higher than she imagined.
I love this author! I read 29 seconds last year and after I read that one I was hooked and wanted to read all of the author's books.
I loved the setting in France. I felt like I was there. I love when a book takes you to another country.
The characters were all very well developed. The author brings them to life. There were unlikable characters in this one. The kids needed a lot of discipline, which they didn't had any at all. Odette was such a brat but I loved reading about her.
After the first half of the book it became a very addictive read. I was captivated in the story and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I was so intrigued. It was a big surprise with jaw dropping moments and lots of twists and turns. This was not a predictable read at all.
I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2021
The year that four best friends turn 40 they travel to France with their families to stay at a luxurious villa together. Kate is on edge though because her husband Sean has been acting distracted, uninterested in her, and she suspects that he is having an affair. When she checks his messages on his phone she realizes that he must be having an affair with one of her three best friends. This week long vacation just goes downhill from there, as Kate frets about what to do, how to save her family, and how to find out which woman is cheating with her husband.
So many secrets and Kate has them, too. She has wronged, intentionally or knowingly, all three of her friends at one point or another. Any of them would have a reason to hurt Kate if they decided to do so. And it's beginning to look like someone might be willing to kill to keep the affair a secret. Too many things are going wrong, too many people, including the husbands and children, are acting strange. Just what is going on?
There is something that I didn't enjoy about the story and that is when Kate would be on the verge of learning something important from someone, so many times, as the person was on the verge of blurting out what was going on, spilling their guts, telling on someone, a catastrophe, big or small would occur in mid sentence and off everyone would go, sentence unfinished. I was okay with it a few times but it seemed to happen way too often within about a five day period. But otherwise, I enjoyed the story even if I didn't really like the characters. I even would get a chuckle because of the little five year old red headed brat that would act out...I would not have wanted to be around that kid in person but from this side of the page her tantrums made me laugh.
That little girl highlights a problem with this group though...that the parents don't seem to have control of their children and have no idea what their children are up to. The entire group is pretty messed up, no wonder so many "things" happen to them. While the parents are dealing badly with what is going on between them, the teenagers have their own problems that may outweigh those of the parents.
Published July 21st 2020
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
So many secrets and Kate has them, too. She has wronged, intentionally or knowingly, all three of her friends at one point or another. Any of them would have a reason to hurt Kate if they decided to do so. And it's beginning to look like someone might be willing to kill to keep the affair a secret. Too many things are going wrong, too many people, including the husbands and children, are acting strange. Just what is going on?
There is something that I didn't enjoy about the story and that is when Kate would be on the verge of learning something important from someone, so many times, as the person was on the verge of blurting out what was going on, spilling their guts, telling on someone, a catastrophe, big or small would occur in mid sentence and off everyone would go, sentence unfinished. I was okay with it a few times but it seemed to happen way too often within about a five day period. But otherwise, I enjoyed the story even if I didn't really like the characters. I even would get a chuckle because of the little five year old red headed brat that would act out...I would not have wanted to be around that kid in person but from this side of the page her tantrums made me laugh.
That little girl highlights a problem with this group though...that the parents don't seem to have control of their children and have no idea what their children are up to. The entire group is pretty messed up, no wonder so many "things" happen to them. While the parents are dealing badly with what is going on between them, the teenagers have their own problems that may outweigh those of the parents.
Published July 21st 2020
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
September 11, 2020
Kate, Jennifer, Izzy and Rowan have been friends since their university days. Now years later with families of their own, they decide to include husband s and children in their “girls” vacation. Maybe that wasn’t the best idea ladies! You know...worlds colliding and all that!🙄
Upon arrival Kate spies a text in her husband's phone. And surprise of surprises, it’s from another woman! The obvious conclusion is an affair. So why does this mystery text sound familiar? Kate has a sneaking suspicion it has come from one of her dear friends here on their vacation retreat!
Great premise! Unfortunately, it just didn’t grab me. This may be one of those it’s me and not the book situations. 🤷🏻♀️ But the story-line just went in one direction and my attention in another.
There are many fabulous five star reviews for this book, but I just couldn’t get there..
A buddy read with Susanne that left us both a bit underwhelmed.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC to read and review.
Upon arrival Kate spies a text in her husband's phone. And surprise of surprises, it’s from another woman! The obvious conclusion is an affair. So why does this mystery text sound familiar? Kate has a sneaking suspicion it has come from one of her dear friends here on their vacation retreat!
Great premise! Unfortunately, it just didn’t grab me. This may be one of those it’s me and not the book situations. 🤷🏻♀️ But the story-line just went in one direction and my attention in another.
There are many fabulous five star reviews for this book, but I just couldn’t get there..
A buddy read with Susanne that left us both a bit underwhelmed.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC to read and review.
August 4, 2020
A Vacation to Boringville!!
(Warning! This is a 2.5 Star minority report among many 5/4 Star reviews)
The reader is whisked off to France, with a beautiful house and surrounding vineyards where four best friends and their families will be spending a long overdue vacation together. The four women have been friends since their first days at university.
One woman has recently noticed her husband becoming distant. Little changes here and there, such as him working out at the gym more often. She has high hopes that this vacation will set things right again. That hope dissolves on the day of their arrival, when she finds mysterious texts on his phone with another woman called Coragirl. Her heart plummets as she reads the last text "we'll talk about it in France". With no one else with them besides their children and husbands, this can only mean one thing. Coragirl is one of her best friends.
Instead of immediately confronting her husband she spends the rest of the vacation looking for clues and analyzing everyone else to figure out who it is. She wants all the information she can get before facing her husband directly. Meanwhile she is so fixated on her marriage that she misses important things going on in the lives of other members of her family, her children. With so many secrets and inner turmoil going on mere confrontation is the least of problems the group will encounter!
The synopsis of this book certainly sounded intriguing! Unfortunately, the plot itself was often arduous. Then when dramatic scenes did occur, they had an amateur tone, especially in the middle of the book. It took a long time to get anywhere with the plot. Which generally occurred at the very end. By then I found it all to be silly and no longer cared. Mostly I was glad the book was over. Many fellow readers have given this book 4 stars. I recognize I am in the minority. So, to each his own! This one was simply not for me!
*Thank you to St. Martin's Press (Macmillan) via Edelweiss+ for providing me with the digital review copy.
(Warning! This is a 2.5 Star minority report among many 5/4 Star reviews)
The reader is whisked off to France, with a beautiful house and surrounding vineyards where four best friends and their families will be spending a long overdue vacation together. The four women have been friends since their first days at university.
One woman has recently noticed her husband becoming distant. Little changes here and there, such as him working out at the gym more often. She has high hopes that this vacation will set things right again. That hope dissolves on the day of their arrival, when she finds mysterious texts on his phone with another woman called Coragirl. Her heart plummets as she reads the last text "we'll talk about it in France". With no one else with them besides their children and husbands, this can only mean one thing. Coragirl is one of her best friends.
Instead of immediately confronting her husband she spends the rest of the vacation looking for clues and analyzing everyone else to figure out who it is. She wants all the information she can get before facing her husband directly. Meanwhile she is so fixated on her marriage that she misses important things going on in the lives of other members of her family, her children. With so many secrets and inner turmoil going on mere confrontation is the least of problems the group will encounter!
The synopsis of this book certainly sounded intriguing! Unfortunately, the plot itself was often arduous. Then when dramatic scenes did occur, they had an amateur tone, especially in the middle of the book. It took a long time to get anywhere with the plot. Which generally occurred at the very end. By then I found it all to be silly and no longer cared. Mostly I was glad the book was over. Many fellow readers have given this book 4 stars. I recognize I am in the minority. So, to each his own! This one was simply not for me!
*Thank you to St. Martin's Press (Macmillan) via Edelweiss+ for providing me with the digital review copy.
February 23, 2020
A slow-burn of a mystery involving 4 best friends vacationing together.
I had high expectations for this one after enjoying Lies (2017) by this author. I really wanted this one to be a winner. The beginning was intriguing as one of the wives suspects her husband of having an affair with one of the "friends".
The second half involves the couples teenagers and this story line totally lost my interest. These are not the kind of people I would call friends and certainly not a dream vacation. I was frustrated with the pace and it didn't pick up until the last chapters. I was expecting more tension and thrills throughout the novel.
I am in the minority on my opinion, so check out the five star reviews and this may be a more exciting read for you. I saw that it was published in 2019 as The Holiday and will be released in July 2020 as The Vacation.
Thanks to NG / SM for my review copy.
I had high expectations for this one after enjoying Lies (2017) by this author. I really wanted this one to be a winner. The beginning was intriguing as one of the wives suspects her husband of having an affair with one of the "friends".
The second half involves the couples teenagers and this story line totally lost my interest. These are not the kind of people I would call friends and certainly not a dream vacation. I was frustrated with the pace and it didn't pick up until the last chapters. I was expecting more tension and thrills throughout the novel.
I am in the minority on my opinion, so check out the five star reviews and this may be a more exciting read for you. I saw that it was published in 2019 as The Holiday and will be released in July 2020 as The Vacation.
Thanks to NG / SM for my review copy.
October 10, 2022
A reunion/holiday, four one-time best friends, three of their husbands and five children; Kate finds a text that clearly looks like her husband is having an affair with one her friends and will be announcing it on this holiday in France. Thus follows a superbly crafter paranoid investigation of her friends alongside an escalating mess of secrets amongst the older children! Happy holiday!
A near expert character study on how a partner has to second guess everything when they 'know' their partner is cheating on them, and how that paranoia can colour your interpretations of anything you see! I picked this book up because I had nothing to read before a journey on public transport, and what a gem I found. One of the most top quality engrossing mysteries I've read in years! 9 out of 12, Four Star read :)
2022 read
A near expert character study on how a partner has to second guess everything when they 'know' their partner is cheating on them, and how that paranoia can colour your interpretations of anything you see! I picked this book up because I had nothing to read before a journey on public transport, and what a gem I found. One of the most top quality engrossing mysteries I've read in years! 9 out of 12, Four Star read :)
2022 read
July 22, 2020
The book begins with this epigraph: It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.” William Blake
Three Families
Seven Days
TOO MANY SECRETS TO COUNT!!
It’s supposed to be the perfect vacation, until Kate comes across a thread of text messages between her husband, Sean and CoralGirl.
The texts suggest an affair and a plan to figure out “what to do” while they are both in France...which means that the woman involved is also on this trip, and that means it’s one of her best friends..
But which one?
Rowan..who has always been more clever than Kate?
Jennifer, who has always been prettier?
Or Izzy, the funnier one, who always makes Sean laugh?
(I suspected each woman at one time or another!)
Kate has caused each of these women PAIN, at some point in their friendship.
What kind of pain, gets revealed, a little bit at a time...
But, Kate thought these bygones had all been put to rest.
Turns out that somebody has a secret that they would KILL for, and
not everyone will survive (not a spoiler, revealed right after the epigraph)
I was engaged from the VERY first page and read this book in ONE DAY!
the REVEAL surprised me, and was actually plausible...at the 90% point.
The last 10%-not as much-but still fun!
Overall, it was entertaining and unputdownable for me!
Thank You to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M Logan for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review!
This book is published under the title “The Holiday” in the UK and available now!
Published under the title “The Vacation” in the U.S. and is Available NOW!
I have enjoyed all three of this author’s titles, and look forward to seeing what he comes up with next!
Three Families
Seven Days
TOO MANY SECRETS TO COUNT!!
It’s supposed to be the perfect vacation, until Kate comes across a thread of text messages between her husband, Sean and CoralGirl.
The texts suggest an affair and a plan to figure out “what to do” while they are both in France...which means that the woman involved is also on this trip, and that means it’s one of her best friends..
But which one?
Rowan..who has always been more clever than Kate?
Jennifer, who has always been prettier?
Or Izzy, the funnier one, who always makes Sean laugh?
(I suspected each woman at one time or another!)
Kate has caused each of these women PAIN, at some point in their friendship.
What kind of pain, gets revealed, a little bit at a time...
But, Kate thought these bygones had all been put to rest.
Turns out that somebody has a secret that they would KILL for, and
not everyone will survive (not a spoiler, revealed right after the epigraph)
I was engaged from the VERY first page and read this book in ONE DAY!
the REVEAL surprised me, and was actually plausible...at the 90% point.
The last 10%-not as much-but still fun!
Overall, it was entertaining and unputdownable for me!
Thank You to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M Logan for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review!
This book is published under the title “The Holiday” in the UK and available now!
Published under the title “The Vacation” in the U.S. and is Available NOW!
I have enjoyed all three of this author’s titles, and look forward to seeing what he comes up with next!
July 24, 2020
Perfect friendships. Perfect families. The Perfect vacation...a perfect mess!
Kate, Izzy, Jennifer and Rowan have been friends forever. They decide to take their families and vacation together at a luxurious villa in France. Sounds wonderful right? Beautiful location, good friends, good food, relaxing times -- except it is not for Kate who believes her husband is having an affair with one of her friends!
So instead of a perfect holiday, this trip becomes a nightmare. Think you have everything figured out? Think again! Go into this one as blind as possible. Kate was on a mission to learn the truth, but will it be the truth she is looking for? What if you think you know the truth and the truth comes back to bite you? Will knowing the truth set her free or cause even more pain?
This was a fast read that will irritate you at times, has characters that are not all that likable, have secrets, have serious flaws, and have an annoying child or two. Ever hear the adage "With friends like these."? Vacationing together can either make or break a relationship...what will happen here?
A fast read that had me asking all kinds of questions, coming up with all kinds of theories and not figuring a single thing out. I really enjoy when I can’t figure things out. Entertaining, frustrating at times, with several twists and turns, but everything comes together in the end!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kate, Izzy, Jennifer and Rowan have been friends forever. They decide to take their families and vacation together at a luxurious villa in France. Sounds wonderful right? Beautiful location, good friends, good food, relaxing times -- except it is not for Kate who believes her husband is having an affair with one of her friends!
So instead of a perfect holiday, this trip becomes a nightmare. Think you have everything figured out? Think again! Go into this one as blind as possible. Kate was on a mission to learn the truth, but will it be the truth she is looking for? What if you think you know the truth and the truth comes back to bite you? Will knowing the truth set her free or cause even more pain?
This was a fast read that will irritate you at times, has characters that are not all that likable, have secrets, have serious flaws, and have an annoying child or two. Ever hear the adage "With friends like these."? Vacationing together can either make or break a relationship...what will happen here?
A fast read that had me asking all kinds of questions, coming up with all kinds of theories and not figuring a single thing out. I really enjoy when I can’t figure things out. Entertaining, frustrating at times, with several twists and turns, but everything comes together in the end!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 2, 2019
A great setting is key for all perfect mystery novels, this riveting thriller has that in abundance.
As this secluded but familiar setting is the perfect modern take on a genre, as Kate and her friends and families week long holiday to the south of France is about to turn into a trip from hell.
For university friends Kate, Rowan, Izzy and Jennifer reunite to celebrate turning 40 this year, this novel introduces an interesting dynamic of people who’ve got a tight bond but slightly different lifestyles now.
With Kate it’s her sixteen year old daughter Lucy transitioning into adulthood, whilst Izzy is the single one of the group - there’s a nice blend of characters.
But when Katy discovers some anonymous messages on her husband’s phone, she starts to wonder if he is having an affair.
‘Does K Suspect Anything?’
‘We’ll Decide When We’re in France’
Which one of her long trusting friends could be behind the texts?
I loved how everyone was a suspect as little hints are dropped through the book, Lucy wanting definitive proof and cast a suspicious eye on all her friends.
The story is littered with plenty of red herrings and great chapter cliffhangers that makes this addictive reading.
I’m glad that even the tiny misdirects were resolved during the conclusion.
This perfect summer thriller really slowly racks the tension as each day passes on their week long stay!
As this secluded but familiar setting is the perfect modern take on a genre, as Kate and her friends and families week long holiday to the south of France is about to turn into a trip from hell.
For university friends Kate, Rowan, Izzy and Jennifer reunite to celebrate turning 40 this year, this novel introduces an interesting dynamic of people who’ve got a tight bond but slightly different lifestyles now.
With Kate it’s her sixteen year old daughter Lucy transitioning into adulthood, whilst Izzy is the single one of the group - there’s a nice blend of characters.
But when Katy discovers some anonymous messages on her husband’s phone, she starts to wonder if he is having an affair.
‘Does K Suspect Anything?’
‘We’ll Decide When We’re in France’
Which one of her long trusting friends could be behind the texts?
I loved how everyone was a suspect as little hints are dropped through the book, Lucy wanting definitive proof and cast a suspicious eye on all her friends.
The story is littered with plenty of red herrings and great chapter cliffhangers that makes this addictive reading.
I’m glad that even the tiny misdirects were resolved during the conclusion.
This perfect summer thriller really slowly racks the tension as each day passes on their week long stay!
July 1, 2020
It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. -- William Blake
I liked this one, y'all.
The misdirection was flawless.
I suspected every character at some point throughout the story.
Told primarily through Kate's point of view (though there are occasionally chapters from a few of the other characters), The Vacation is a slow-burning, captivating domestic thriller. That is, until the final twenty percent of the book...then the shocks come in a fast and furious manner.
So many puzzle pieces...and I just simply wasn't able to put them together. T.M. Logan clearly deserves some kudos. This is only my second of his books, but I definitely preferred this to 29 Seconds.
My only gripe, and it's a relatively small one...I was hoping for more tension and build-up as the story progressed. Regardless, the story was compelling and kept me engaged throughout.
Recommended!
Available July 21, 2020, in the United States
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advance copy.
I liked this one, y'all.
The misdirection was flawless.
I suspected every character at some point throughout the story.
Told primarily through Kate's point of view (though there are occasionally chapters from a few of the other characters), The Vacation is a slow-burning, captivating domestic thriller. That is, until the final twenty percent of the book...then the shocks come in a fast and furious manner.
So many puzzle pieces...and I just simply wasn't able to put them together. T.M. Logan clearly deserves some kudos. This is only my second of his books, but I definitely preferred this to 29 Seconds.
My only gripe, and it's a relatively small one...I was hoping for more tension and build-up as the story progressed. Regardless, the story was compelling and kept me engaged throughout.
Recommended!
Available July 21, 2020, in the United States
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advance copy.
December 29, 2021
The best thing was a vicarious holiday in la belle France. Seven mostly unlikeable adults, five kids amongst whom there’s an obnoxious five year old and one teen (at least) who should be locked up. The mostly narrator Kate would put a dampener on anything, what miserable baggage. Glad I wasn’t on holiday with her, or any of them tbh. The plot contrivances are well, contrived. What’s the word I’m delving for to sum this up? Oh yes, underwhelmed. That’ll do. Finally, the wrong person died. Over and out.
May 10, 2020
Apparently this author thinks women = paranoid schizophrenics. They all acted mental but we, the reader, are supposed to just accept it as natural. The MC sees one small text on her husband's phone and suddenly goes psychotic towards him AND her three best friends, thinking he could be having an affair with any of them. She literally hides in bushes taking pictures of them.
But the men are ALL heros. Even the character who's 40 years old and watching a 16 year old girl in the pool, noticing her bikini top can hardly contain what's inside. Here's a direct quote... " Untouched by cellulite, by age, by wrinkles and lines and all the other stuff that ruined women in the end." That's horrible.
The book takes place in France. Great! Too bad the author forgot to include any kind of descriptive settings to reinforce that. It could have taken place anywhere. Also sexist is that the couples are literally staying in a house on a vineyard but none of the men drink wine. Only beer, whiskey or tequila. How masculine of them!.....eye roll.
The writing is SO-SO. I've seen a lot worse. Here's another quote " Pulling on my thin summer dressing gown, I padded out of our bedroom, marble tiles cool against the soles of my bare feet." It's not a bad sentence but how many times have you read a book that said the same thing?? Nothing original here.
But the men are ALL heros. Even the character who's 40 years old and watching a 16 year old girl in the pool, noticing her bikini top can hardly contain what's inside. Here's a direct quote... " Untouched by cellulite, by age, by wrinkles and lines and all the other stuff that ruined women in the end." That's horrible.
The book takes place in France. Great! Too bad the author forgot to include any kind of descriptive settings to reinforce that. It could have taken place anywhere. Also sexist is that the couples are literally staying in a house on a vineyard but none of the men drink wine. Only beer, whiskey or tequila. How masculine of them!.....eye roll.
The writing is SO-SO. I've seen a lot worse. Here's another quote " Pulling on my thin summer dressing gown, I padded out of our bedroom, marble tiles cool against the soles of my bare feet." It's not a bad sentence but how many times have you read a book that said the same thing?? Nothing original here.
August 30, 2020
In fairness to the author I’ll first say that I am definitely an outlier on this book. Many others have read and enjoyed it, however for me it was very mediocre.
As you’ve read from the blurb 4 college friends decide to take a trip to France, including their husbands and kids. The decision is helped along by the fact that one of them, Rowan, has been able to secure a beautiful vacation spot for them. What could be more perfect than a vacation to a vineyard with a beautiful pool with luxurious accommodations. Apparently what sounds perfect on paper doesn’t always pan out.
First off I completely disliked the main protagonist, Kate. She starts off the trip already completely unnerved and distrusting everyone because she feels as though her husband is having an affair. She is sure it is one of the three women that are along on this trip. She only has this assumption because she has seen some messages on her husband Sean’s cell phone that sound to her like they are from another woman and sound intimate. Rather than asking her husband of 25 years flat out, or questioning her friends, she goes about the entire vacation ruminating and talking about her assumptions. It got incredibly tiresome.
There really isn’t one likable person in this entire novel. There are three teenagers that all seem to have secrets and mental health issues. To say that these three come up with dangerous, even life-threatening ideas is to put it mildly. There is Daniel, Lucy’s younger brother, who seems to be an innocent in most things. But then there is spoiled, whiny and completely annoying Odette, who seems to be lacking any kind of parental control.
I felt as though I was just trudging through the story hoping for a satisfying ending. The last 25% of the book was redeeming enough that I knocked this up to three stars.
In a well written novel I usually enjoy descriptive writing. But when it comes to lines and lines of describing the weather and how hot and humid it was, it got repetitive. Here’s an example “the sun was already fierce, the air heavy with humidity and the damp, claustrophobic heat of impending thunder. And yet the sky was still a perfect azure blue, no clouds in sight and not a breath of wind.The only sound was a pair of swallows whirling high above me calling to each other as they turned and chased in an endless dance”. I felt as though some of the lengthy descriptions were just to fill pages and didn’t add to the story.
The ending wrapped things up pretty well but did little to change my mind about the entirety of the book.
I would recommend going into this book blind, you may find it an enjoyable read.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
As you’ve read from the blurb 4 college friends decide to take a trip to France, including their husbands and kids. The decision is helped along by the fact that one of them, Rowan, has been able to secure a beautiful vacation spot for them. What could be more perfect than a vacation to a vineyard with a beautiful pool with luxurious accommodations. Apparently what sounds perfect on paper doesn’t always pan out.
First off I completely disliked the main protagonist, Kate. She starts off the trip already completely unnerved and distrusting everyone because she feels as though her husband is having an affair. She is sure it is one of the three women that are along on this trip. She only has this assumption because she has seen some messages on her husband Sean’s cell phone that sound to her like they are from another woman and sound intimate. Rather than asking her husband of 25 years flat out, or questioning her friends, she goes about the entire vacation ruminating and talking about her assumptions. It got incredibly tiresome.
There really isn’t one likable person in this entire novel. There are three teenagers that all seem to have secrets and mental health issues. To say that these three come up with dangerous, even life-threatening ideas is to put it mildly. There is Daniel, Lucy’s younger brother, who seems to be an innocent in most things. But then there is spoiled, whiny and completely annoying Odette, who seems to be lacking any kind of parental control.
I felt as though I was just trudging through the story hoping for a satisfying ending. The last 25% of the book was redeeming enough that I knocked this up to three stars.
In a well written novel I usually enjoy descriptive writing. But when it comes to lines and lines of describing the weather and how hot and humid it was, it got repetitive. Here’s an example “the sun was already fierce, the air heavy with humidity and the damp, claustrophobic heat of impending thunder. And yet the sky was still a perfect azure blue, no clouds in sight and not a breath of wind.The only sound was a pair of swallows whirling high above me calling to each other as they turned and chased in an endless dance”. I felt as though some of the lengthy descriptions were just to fill pages and didn’t add to the story.
The ending wrapped things up pretty well but did little to change my mind about the entirety of the book.
I would recommend going into this book blind, you may find it an enjoyable read.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
March 28, 2020
Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.
Eh, meh. I like my fiction to ring a mite truer than this did. It felt contrived and full of unnecessary subterfuge. It may work for some families to vacation together, kids and "baggage" included. If you are planning such a thing, you might want to reconsider, assuming you want to keep these friends of yours. I thoroughly enjoyed this author's Lies, but this one just didn't track for me.
Eh, meh. I like my fiction to ring a mite truer than this did. It felt contrived and full of unnecessary subterfuge. It may work for some families to vacation together, kids and "baggage" included. If you are planning such a thing, you might want to reconsider, assuming you want to keep these friends of yours. I thoroughly enjoyed this author's Lies, but this one just didn't track for me.
September 6, 2020
Say It Isn’t So!
If Only the Couples in “The Vacation” by T.M. Logan had Communicated with Each Other.
Doing so would have saved a whole lot of angst, and it would have saved me from reading an entire novel.
Can you say RUH ROH?!
I Can.
Oh Well.
In case it’s not obvious, “The Vacation” just wasn’t for me. I’ve read quite a few of T.M. Logan’s novels and I’ve really liked them, however, the premise of this one simply fell flat. As this book has received high marks, I might just be the wrong reader for this novel.
A buddy read with Kaceey.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M. Logan for the arc.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 9.6.20
If Only the Couples in “The Vacation” by T.M. Logan had Communicated with Each Other.
Doing so would have saved a whole lot of angst, and it would have saved me from reading an entire novel.
Can you say RUH ROH?!
I Can.
Oh Well.
In case it’s not obvious, “The Vacation” just wasn’t for me. I’ve read quite a few of T.M. Logan’s novels and I’ve really liked them, however, the premise of this one simply fell flat. As this book has received high marks, I might just be the wrong reader for this novel.
A buddy read with Kaceey.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M. Logan for the arc.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 9.6.20
July 11, 2020
3.5 stars
I have read three books by this author and I would give this one the slight edge for being my favorite. I was immediately hooked by the premise and it was shaping up to be a quick read. But at some point in the second half, the story petered out. However, the story does go in a rather unexpected direction so points for that at least.
Kate has been friends with 3 other women since college. Now that most of them are busy with careers and family life, it's difficult for them to find the time to hang out with each other. For the first time in years though they are going on a vacation together and this time they are bringing their husbands and kids with them. Staying at a luxurious villa in the South of France sure sounds like a fun time, right? Well, not so much for Kate as she suspects her husband is having an affair with one of her 3 friends. Yikes. Looks like she will have to put on her detective hat to figure out which one is sleeping with him.
I love how the premise has a soap opera type quality to it but the book also has thriller elements as well. I was thoroughly enjoying what was basically an escapism type read, meaning the story wasn't heavy and I was quickly flipping the pages to find out more. And so I was bummed out when the story started shifting to other characters because it slowed down the pace. It doesn't help that almost every character in the story is unlikable and even annoying. (That's actually a problem I keep running into with this author.) Yes, eventually you see how everything ties together but I wish my interest level in the story could have remained high throughout instead of taking a tumble in the second half with a slight rebound at the end.
If you have enjoyed other books by this author, do check this one out. Even though I had some issues with the book, it still overall was a good read.
I won a free advance copy of this book in a giveaway by St. Martin's Press and Booked Up All Night but was not obligated to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I have read three books by this author and I would give this one the slight edge for being my favorite. I was immediately hooked by the premise and it was shaping up to be a quick read. But at some point in the second half, the story petered out. However, the story does go in a rather unexpected direction so points for that at least.
Kate has been friends with 3 other women since college. Now that most of them are busy with careers and family life, it's difficult for them to find the time to hang out with each other. For the first time in years though they are going on a vacation together and this time they are bringing their husbands and kids with them. Staying at a luxurious villa in the South of France sure sounds like a fun time, right? Well, not so much for Kate as she suspects her husband is having an affair with one of her 3 friends. Yikes. Looks like she will have to put on her detective hat to figure out which one is sleeping with him.
I love how the premise has a soap opera type quality to it but the book also has thriller elements as well. I was thoroughly enjoying what was basically an escapism type read, meaning the story wasn't heavy and I was quickly flipping the pages to find out more. And so I was bummed out when the story started shifting to other characters because it slowed down the pace. It doesn't help that almost every character in the story is unlikable and even annoying. (That's actually a problem I keep running into with this author.) Yes, eventually you see how everything ties together but I wish my interest level in the story could have remained high throughout instead of taking a tumble in the second half with a slight rebound at the end.
If you have enjoyed other books by this author, do check this one out. Even though I had some issues with the book, it still overall was a good read.
I won a free advance copy of this book in a giveaway by St. Martin's Press and Booked Up All Night but was not obligated to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
July 21, 2020
4.5 stars - rounded up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOWZA! This was quite the spectacular read, friends!
The Vacation was a slow burn, yet electrifying thriller that has all of the devilishly good elements I look for in a book!
Kate, her three best girlfriends from college and their families all meet for a holiday at a fabulous Mediterranean villa in France. After reading some text messages on her husband’s phone prior to the trip, it’s discovered that he is having an affair - she suspects that it’s one of her friends going on this very same France vacation. Some friend, right? Well..........
While I pretty much detested every single character in this book (some waaaaay more than others), I simply couldn’t put it down! So full of lies, secrets and drama - I loved every minute of it! As the book moves along, I enjoyed watching everything crumble and couldn’t look away!
This is my 2nd book by Logan. If all of his books have this many twists, surprises and shockers, then I can’t wait to read them ALL!
One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year and recommend 100%!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M. Logan for my advanced copy to read and review.
WOWZA! This was quite the spectacular read, friends!
The Vacation was a slow burn, yet electrifying thriller that has all of the devilishly good elements I look for in a book!
Kate, her three best girlfriends from college and their families all meet for a holiday at a fabulous Mediterranean villa in France. After reading some text messages on her husband’s phone prior to the trip, it’s discovered that he is having an affair - she suspects that it’s one of her friends going on this very same France vacation. Some friend, right? Well..........
While I pretty much detested every single character in this book (some waaaaay more than others), I simply couldn’t put it down! So full of lies, secrets and drama - I loved every minute of it! As the book moves along, I enjoyed watching everything crumble and couldn’t look away!
This is my 2nd book by Logan. If all of his books have this many twists, surprises and shockers, then I can’t wait to read them ALL!
One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year and recommend 100%!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M. Logan for my advanced copy to read and review.
July 22, 2020
The setting is France and Kate is minutes away from meeting her three college friends for a long overdue joint vacation with them and their families. They were the best of friends and roommates in college and spent vacations together every year until they drifted away from the tradition five years ago. She’s looking forward to it, her husband Sean, teenaged daughter Lucy and 10-year old son Daniel all in tow. Soon after their arrival, Kate notices her husband being overly protective of his phone. When he’s otherwise occupied, she checks it and finds a cryptic message that leads her to believe he’s involved with another woman...and it has to be one of her friends based on what’s said. Is it Rowan, the wealthy host of the fabulous vacation villa who owns her own business, or Jennifer the full time helicopter mother of two teen-aged sons or Izzy the single one who is constantly moving around the globe?
This would have driven me crazy and it was doing the same to Kate since she opted not to confront Sean. The vacation devolves into suspicion and intense scrutiny of every move her friends make, especially when interacting with Sean as she tries to figure out the who. I could identify with Kate’s paranoia and it gets even more complicated by her daughter’s odd behavior where she’s clearly weighed down by something. Everything takes on more meaning and suspicion shifts to all of the friends at some point.
The psychological aspect of this story was off the charts. It had a wonderful start, pulling me in immediately. However, I got bogged down in the middle as too many scenarios had my brain spinning. Fortunately, the last half took a turn and was impossible to put down. The ending was exciting and there’s a sweet little twist at the end. I enjoyed the story despite that slow down in the middle. That’s two books by this author that provided compelling reading experiences and he’s now an auto read. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
This would have driven me crazy and it was doing the same to Kate since she opted not to confront Sean. The vacation devolves into suspicion and intense scrutiny of every move her friends make, especially when interacting with Sean as she tries to figure out the who. I could identify with Kate’s paranoia and it gets even more complicated by her daughter’s odd behavior where she’s clearly weighed down by something. Everything takes on more meaning and suspicion shifts to all of the friends at some point.
The psychological aspect of this story was off the charts. It had a wonderful start, pulling me in immediately. However, I got bogged down in the middle as too many scenarios had my brain spinning. Fortunately, the last half took a turn and was impossible to put down. The ending was exciting and there’s a sweet little twist at the end. I enjoyed the story despite that slow down in the middle. That’s two books by this author that provided compelling reading experiences and he’s now an auto read. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
June 20, 2020
No postcards necessary.
This is the vacation from Hell and all the demons are wearing bathing suits and sun block.
Must have been too much champagne on a girls' night out when these four former college friends planned a week together in the South of France. While clinking glasses, they all masterminded a plan including husbands and kiddies. One five year old kiddie, one ten, and the rest restless teenagers packed with problems. Green with envy, right?
The caravan of vacationers begin to arrive within hours of each other. The villa is stunning, luxurious, and spacious. All gravitate towards the immense pool. But Kate has been sidelined. She came across some highly suspicious texts from a Coralgirl on her husband Sean's phone. It appears that the contents indicate meeting within the villa and Kate's name is mentioned. Like an elevator crashing to the bottom floor, Kate realizes her husband is having an affair with one of her friends.
But which one? And does she confront him full-on or play the part of a sleuth?
In the meantime, we are given little snippets into the backgrounds of Izzy, Jennifer, and Rowan. What a fine kettle of fish, Folks. There's not a likeable or tolerable member in this crowd. The five year old, Odette, will get on your last nerve. Spoiled like sirloin left out in the sun for days. And the teenagers must have attended Al Capone High School. The husbands aren't up for Daddy of the Year either. We'll be faced with varying parenting styles. A delightful bunch.
The Vacation started out with great promise, but as we waded into the deeper end of the pool, it became a bit much. Logan doesn't have us invested in any one of these misfits. Perhaps it's Birds of A Feather here. It didn't set my canoe on smooth waters at all. The Vacation has received mixed reviews with many 4 and 5 star ratings. Keep that in mind and take it out for a spin to see what you think. You may well have a far different experience than I had.
I received a copy of The Vacation through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to T.M. Logan for the opportunity.
This is the vacation from Hell and all the demons are wearing bathing suits and sun block.
Must have been too much champagne on a girls' night out when these four former college friends planned a week together in the South of France. While clinking glasses, they all masterminded a plan including husbands and kiddies. One five year old kiddie, one ten, and the rest restless teenagers packed with problems. Green with envy, right?
The caravan of vacationers begin to arrive within hours of each other. The villa is stunning, luxurious, and spacious. All gravitate towards the immense pool. But Kate has been sidelined. She came across some highly suspicious texts from a Coralgirl on her husband Sean's phone. It appears that the contents indicate meeting within the villa and Kate's name is mentioned. Like an elevator crashing to the bottom floor, Kate realizes her husband is having an affair with one of her friends.
But which one? And does she confront him full-on or play the part of a sleuth?
In the meantime, we are given little snippets into the backgrounds of Izzy, Jennifer, and Rowan. What a fine kettle of fish, Folks. There's not a likeable or tolerable member in this crowd. The five year old, Odette, will get on your last nerve. Spoiled like sirloin left out in the sun for days. And the teenagers must have attended Al Capone High School. The husbands aren't up for Daddy of the Year either. We'll be faced with varying parenting styles. A delightful bunch.
The Vacation started out with great promise, but as we waded into the deeper end of the pool, it became a bit much. Logan doesn't have us invested in any one of these misfits. Perhaps it's Birds of A Feather here. It didn't set my canoe on smooth waters at all. The Vacation has received mixed reviews with many 4 and 5 star ratings. Keep that in mind and take it out for a spin to see what you think. You may well have a far different experience than I had.
I received a copy of The Vacation through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to T.M. Logan for the opportunity.
April 30, 2019
The Holiday by T.M. Logan is a thriller about four women who were friends from college and decide to go on holiday to France together with their families.
Kate suspects that her husband is having an affair with one of her friends and plans to find out which one by spying on them.
A book about secrets and lies and dysfunctional families.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Kate suspects that her husband is having an affair with one of her friends and plans to find out which one by spying on them.
A book about secrets and lies and dysfunctional families.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2020
Watching my husband mowing the lawn was more interesting than this book.
June 9, 2020
Nothing like going on a vacation with friends to find out how compatible you really are. A week of everyone’s spouses and kids can be a little too much, especially with different parenting styles and marital secrets. Add on top of all that, the idea of discovering your husband may just be having an affair with one of the other women. That’s the situation that Kate finds herself in. As a celebration of the wives, old school chums, all turning 40, they gather at a lovely villa in southern France.
I can’t say I really liked any of the characters. Their faults seemed to outweigh their good qualities. Not folks I would want to vacation with!
Everyone has secrets, even the teenagers. The book moves briskly, with short chapters. And I desperately wanted to know how it would play out. Who exactly was Sean having an affair with? I was as bad as Kate, bouncing from one woman to the next. I thought I had sussed out what the teenagers’ secret was, but I had it only partially right
This would be a good beach read. No in depth characters to analyze, but a fun plot. And the ending is not believable, but it was still fun.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
I can’t say I really liked any of the characters. Their faults seemed to outweigh their good qualities. Not folks I would want to vacation with!
Everyone has secrets, even the teenagers. The book moves briskly, with short chapters. And I desperately wanted to know how it would play out. Who exactly was Sean having an affair with? I was as bad as Kate, bouncing from one woman to the next. I thought I had sussed out what the teenagers’ secret was, but I had it only partially right
This would be a good beach read. No in depth characters to analyze, but a fun plot. And the ending is not believable, but it was still fun.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
September 3, 2020
“It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. —William Blake”
― T.M. Logan, The Holiday
Oh no!
Sorry, sorry, sorry. But..I am in the minority. GR friends..what did I miss?
This book exhausted me and not in a good way. It also, inexplicably, had everything I dislike in a book while having very little I like.
I should also mention I paid full price for it. And that I have been WAITING AND WAITING to read it. This was a must read for me. But it is one of my biggest let down of the year.
Why?
The..characters..I just..nobody seemed real. None of them. At all.
The story. It is deceiving. It is not really about what it says it is about. Or for a short time it is. Friends on vacation. Kate, one of the friends, finds hubs is cheating with one of her friends who is also on the vacation..but which one?
To me, it did not matter because the women seemed bland and almost were interchangeable. But, more than that, the book is REALLY more about the kids. This a a plot devise I LOATHE. I really find no joy in reading about sibling arguments when I think I am getting a mystery set in an exotic local about friends. I was REALLY let down. Pissed even.
You can tell as well, in first few pages the kids story will dominate. Completely. And it did.
Kate goes back and forth wondering which friend betrayed her. Now we come to the biggest let down for me and
SPOILERS:
I KNEW..I knew from almost page one..none of them did. I could easily tell from the way the letter was written it was going to be a misunderstanding. So that immediately took the need to know away for me.
Ending..unrealistic? Try impossible . I am sorry. I know many loved this. I disliked it and felt cheated. Do not recommend.
― T.M. Logan, The Holiday
Oh no!
Sorry, sorry, sorry. But..I am in the minority. GR friends..what did I miss?
This book exhausted me and not in a good way. It also, inexplicably, had everything I dislike in a book while having very little I like.
I should also mention I paid full price for it. And that I have been WAITING AND WAITING to read it. This was a must read for me. But it is one of my biggest let down of the year.
Why?
The..characters..I just..nobody seemed real. None of them. At all.
The story. It is deceiving. It is not really about what it says it is about. Or for a short time it is. Friends on vacation. Kate, one of the friends, finds hubs is cheating with one of her friends who is also on the vacation..but which one?
To me, it did not matter because the women seemed bland and almost were interchangeable. But, more than that, the book is REALLY more about the kids. This a a plot devise I LOATHE. I really find no joy in reading about sibling arguments when I think I am getting a mystery set in an exotic local about friends. I was REALLY let down. Pissed even.
You can tell as well, in first few pages the kids story will dominate. Completely. And it did.
Kate goes back and forth wondering which friend betrayed her. Now we come to the biggest let down for me and
SPOILERS:
I KNEW..I knew from almost page one..none of them did. I could easily tell from the way the letter was written it was going to be a misunderstanding. So that immediately took the need to know away for me.
Ending..unrealistic? Try impossible . I am sorry. I know many loved this. I disliked it and felt cheated. Do not recommend.
September 19, 2019
This book was intense, I listened to it on Audio and speed through it in one day. Its a family drama, centered around 4 woman who have been friends for over half their life. They book a holiday in the south of France, bring their husbands and children together for a week in the Sun.
Kate suspects her husband is having an affair and thinks one of her "trusted" friends has betrayed her and is having an affair with her husband. She decides to use this holiday as an opportunity to expose the truth.... but Kate and her friends uncover more than they expected.... this book is full of lies, betrayal, secrets and murder.
I found the first 70% of the book a bit long and drawn out tbh. The reveal is interesting and there were a few gasps. Although, I found most of the characters I didn't like so I didn't care too much when all was revealed.
This one is ok. I give it 2.5 stars
Kate suspects her husband is having an affair and thinks one of her "trusted" friends has betrayed her and is having an affair with her husband. She decides to use this holiday as an opportunity to expose the truth.... but Kate and her friends uncover more than they expected.... this book is full of lies, betrayal, secrets and murder.
I found the first 70% of the book a bit long and drawn out tbh. The reveal is interesting and there were a few gasps. Although, I found most of the characters I didn't like so I didn't care too much when all was revealed.
This one is ok. I give it 2.5 stars
September 11, 2020
The Vacation by T.M. Logan is my favorite type of novel: one that surprises me, not just at the end, but throughout the entire book. Kate and her three college friends have been meeting every year since they left school. This year, they decided to include their families: Kate is there with her husband Sean and their two children, Jennifer and her spouse and two teenage boys, Rowan, her husband and young daughter, and Izzy, a single woman. They will all be spending this vacation at a luxurious villa in the South of France. Trouble starts on the first day, when Kate discovers on Sean’s phone that he has been having an affair, and worse, with one of her college pals. All the children appear to have problems and secrets of their own, and the girlfriends are definitely going behind Kate’s back. Who is having an affair with Sean? Nothing, and I mean nothing, is as it seems. The week will end in tragedy and you must read The Vacation to solve all the mysteries. This is a vacation from hell. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2024
I found this to be a run of the mill, messy, twisty and fractured friendship heavy thriller. All unlikeable characters, including the female protagonist who happened to be a crime scene analyst. I thought her skill in this area would help her more than it did throughout the majority of the story.
A group of women, all friends since college are turning 40 this year, and what better than to bring all their families together to France for a luxurious holiday, in the holiday home of the wealthy one, Rowan.
Things go awry instantly as phone messages are intercepted by Kate implying her husband is having an affair, leading her to suspect and cross off her loving friends as being the other woman. She's quiet about this entirely, not voicing her opinions to her husband, which I always find fishy but of course, suiting the narrative and adding to the tension.
So many aspects add fuel to the fire here, lots of children with many different issues, secrets and needs, while the adults having opinions of their friend's offspring and being quiet about this. Sullen, rude and a mentally unwell teenagers create another good hook. Interestingly, Borderline Personality Disorder is mentioned in what appears to be in the right context, I'd have liked this to have been fleshed out more strongly considering the character was quite pivotal.
Who wants to say aloud how bad each of these children are, or the lack of good parenting resulting in this? Kate seems to be particularly diplomatic at each and every step as she deals with side issues relating to her blossoming teenage daughter, seemingly at ease in not dwelling on the affair she thinks her husband is having. It just seemed a little neat. A good portrayal of the lengths parents will go to to protect their children is very apparent at every stage, which adds to the tension for the reader, and for the adults.
Each adult always on their phone, ignoring their children and getting drunk in the sun. It's obvious the friendships are deigned to be genuine by all involved, but put them all together with nowhere to hide and lots of grog...
The author succeeds in using the unlikability and faults of each character to add fuel to the fire of misdirection causing the reader to be unsure of where they are.
I enjoyed this enough, and the audio narration was great. In the end I was left wondering about the fate of one character, who seemed to be forgotten.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public library, admittedly speeding it up toward the end to get to the end.
A group of women, all friends since college are turning 40 this year, and what better than to bring all their families together to France for a luxurious holiday, in the holiday home of the wealthy one, Rowan.
Things go awry instantly as phone messages are intercepted by Kate implying her husband is having an affair, leading her to suspect and cross off her loving friends as being the other woman. She's quiet about this entirely, not voicing her opinions to her husband, which I always find fishy but of course, suiting the narrative and adding to the tension.
So many aspects add fuel to the fire here, lots of children with many different issues, secrets and needs, while the adults having opinions of their friend's offspring and being quiet about this. Sullen, rude and a mentally unwell teenagers create another good hook. Interestingly, Borderline Personality Disorder is mentioned in what appears to be in the right context, I'd have liked this to have been fleshed out more strongly considering the character was quite pivotal.
Who wants to say aloud how bad each of these children are, or the lack of good parenting resulting in this? Kate seems to be particularly diplomatic at each and every step as she deals with side issues relating to her blossoming teenage daughter, seemingly at ease in not dwelling on the affair she thinks her husband is having. It just seemed a little neat. A good portrayal of the lengths parents will go to to protect their children is very apparent at every stage, which adds to the tension for the reader, and for the adults.
Each adult always on their phone, ignoring their children and getting drunk in the sun. It's obvious the friendships are deigned to be genuine by all involved, but put them all together with nowhere to hide and lots of grog...
The author succeeds in using the unlikability and faults of each character to add fuel to the fire of misdirection causing the reader to be unsure of where they are.
I enjoyed this enough, and the audio narration was great. In the end I was left wondering about the fate of one character, who seemed to be forgotten.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public library, admittedly speeding it up toward the end to get to the end.
July 21, 2020
4 vacation getaway stars
I loved the setting in this one, a tucked away gorgeous home in the south of France during a week in the summer. The four women are college friends and have gathered with their families for a vacation. However, this group is a rather unlikeable lot and not very well behaved!
We have Kate, the main narrator, and she has some serious suspicions that her husband is having an affair – he’s been working out more lately, spending more time away, and she just read some damning texts on his phone. The worst part? It seems the woman is one of her college friends here on the vacation! Kate is on the trip with husband Sean and their two children.
Jennifer is the gorgeous American with blonde hair and just happens to be Sean’s first girlfriend. Jennifer has brought her husband and her two rambunctious teen boys with her.
Rowan is the hostess and she’s the one who secured the luxury villa for the group. She’s about to sell her company and wants everything to go just right. Rowan is married and has a precocious daughter Odette.
The final woman in the mix is Izzy, a woman who never married and doesn’t have children. She endured a tragedy and has spent the last few decades traveling the world.
As you can tell, there are a mix of ages with the kids and they manage to get into a bit of trouble all on their own. Throw in all the secrets with the adults and things get explosive at times.
This one had some major twists at the end and I ended up really liking it. The first half seemed a bit slow and several times I really wanted conversations to happen between characters! I found this one to be a great summer read.
Thank you to T.M. Logan, BookedUpAllNightReads, and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy of this one to read. You can get your copy now!
I loved the setting in this one, a tucked away gorgeous home in the south of France during a week in the summer. The four women are college friends and have gathered with their families for a vacation. However, this group is a rather unlikeable lot and not very well behaved!
We have Kate, the main narrator, and she has some serious suspicions that her husband is having an affair – he’s been working out more lately, spending more time away, and she just read some damning texts on his phone. The worst part? It seems the woman is one of her college friends here on the vacation! Kate is on the trip with husband Sean and their two children.
Jennifer is the gorgeous American with blonde hair and just happens to be Sean’s first girlfriend. Jennifer has brought her husband and her two rambunctious teen boys with her.
Rowan is the hostess and she’s the one who secured the luxury villa for the group. She’s about to sell her company and wants everything to go just right. Rowan is married and has a precocious daughter Odette.
The final woman in the mix is Izzy, a woman who never married and doesn’t have children. She endured a tragedy and has spent the last few decades traveling the world.
As you can tell, there are a mix of ages with the kids and they manage to get into a bit of trouble all on their own. Throw in all the secrets with the adults and things get explosive at times.
This one had some major twists at the end and I ended up really liking it. The first half seemed a bit slow and several times I really wanted conversations to happen between characters! I found this one to be a great summer read.
Thank you to T.M. Logan, BookedUpAllNightReads, and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy of this one to read. You can get your copy now!
February 22, 2020
THE VACATION is the story of a woman who goes on vacation with her husband and children, along with her three best friends and their husbands and children. She soon realizes that one of them seems to be having an affair with her husband.
I really debated between 3 and 4 stars, and settled at a 3.5. I wanted to find out who was doing what with who, and for the most part, found the writing to be mostly gripping and leaving enough hanging to force me into the next chapter, but I had two minor issues: 1) The ending seems implausible given the nature, and 2) the main character could have come to the conclusion before things got so far out of hand if she really wanted to. I looked back on my reviews for T.M. Logan’s other books, and I said the same thing about his novel, LIES (good book, but would’ve been resolved faster in real life). However, his next novel, 29 SECONDS, was an amazing and suspenseful read that kept me hooked. This one is somewhere in between...mostly gripping with a multitude of climax scenarios for the reader to guess, but just falls a bit short. I still look forward to more from this author.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, author T.M. Logan, and NetGalley for an ARC.
I really debated between 3 and 4 stars, and settled at a 3.5. I wanted to find out who was doing what with who, and for the most part, found the writing to be mostly gripping and leaving enough hanging to force me into the next chapter, but I had two minor issues: 1) The ending seems implausible given the nature, and 2) the main character could have come to the conclusion before things got so far out of hand if she really wanted to. I looked back on my reviews for T.M. Logan’s other books, and I said the same thing about his novel, LIES (good book, but would’ve been resolved faster in real life). However, his next novel, 29 SECONDS, was an amazing and suspenseful read that kept me hooked. This one is somewhere in between...mostly gripping with a multitude of climax scenarios for the reader to guess, but just falls a bit short. I still look forward to more from this author.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, author T.M. Logan, and NetGalley for an ARC.
February 9, 2020
Seven days. Three families. One killer.
It was supposed to be the perfect holiday, dreamed up by Kate as the ideal way to turn 40. Four best friends and their husbands and children in a luxurious villa. While they are there, Kate suspects that her husband is having an affair, and that the other woman is one of her best friends.
Started OK and held my attention but fell flat in the middle for me. Most of the characters needed to be slapped. Especially all of the children. The story then quickly unraveled in the final chapters, which felt rushed for me. The predictable twist is there and you know it is coming. Not a bad read, but could have been so much better.
It was supposed to be the perfect holiday, dreamed up by Kate as the ideal way to turn 40. Four best friends and their husbands and children in a luxurious villa. While they are there, Kate suspects that her husband is having an affair, and that the other woman is one of her best friends.
Started OK and held my attention but fell flat in the middle for me. Most of the characters needed to be slapped. Especially all of the children. The story then quickly unraveled in the final chapters, which felt rushed for me. The predictable twist is there and you know it is coming. Not a bad read, but could have been so much better.
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