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Here Today, Gone to Maui
From the author of the "delightful"( Booklist ) Getting Warmer , a comedy about what happens when the best lei'd plans go awry.
When Jane Shea's boyfriend, Jimmy, invites her to spend a week at a swanky resort in Maui, she's thrilled-of course-but nervous, too. She worries about missing their flight. She worries about losing her luggage. It never even occurs to her that she might misplace Jimmy.
But paradise has a way of attracting trouble, and Jane hasn't even managed to learn the hula or paddle under a waterfall before Jimmy disappears. When the police suggest that Jimmy has drowned, Jane thinks things can't get any worse-but her troubles have just begun. This is one vacation the guidebooks never prepared her for.
When Jane Shea's boyfriend, Jimmy, invites her to spend a week at a swanky resort in Maui, she's thrilled-of course-but nervous, too. She worries about missing their flight. She worries about losing her luggage. It never even occurs to her that she might misplace Jimmy.
But paradise has a way of attracting trouble, and Jane hasn't even managed to learn the hula or paddle under a waterfall before Jimmy disappears. When the police suggest that Jimmy has drowned, Jane thinks things can't get any worse-but her troubles have just begun. This is one vacation the guidebooks never prepared her for.
295 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2008
12 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Carol Snow
44 books266 followersCarol Snow is an American author of contemporary fiction and young adult literature. After graduating from Brown University, she spent many years working as a freelance writer and editor. For a time, she wrote essays about motherhood for Salon magazine but wisely stopped before her children were old enough to read.
Eventually, Snow turned her attention to crafting heartfelt stories with wider appeal, and in 2006, Berkley/Penguin published her first novel, Been There, Done That, a Target Bookmarked Breakout selection that Publisher’s Weekly called “humorous, wise . . . romance with a bit of social commentary.” Since then, she has written five more books for adults, Getting Warmer (2007); Here Today, Gone to Maui (2009); Just Like Me, Only Better (2010); and What Came First (2011), which Amazon UK chose as a best book of the month. Her next title, The Girl on the Beach, a psychological thriller, is slated for June 2026 publication.
Snow has also written four young adult novels: Switch (2008), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers; Snap (2009); Bubble World (2013); and The Last Place on Earth (2016). Both Switch and Bubble World were featured as Scholastic Book Club selections for middle grade and high school readers. Foreign rights to Snow's books have sold to publishers in Germany, Norway, Poland, Indonesia, and Hungary.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. As an adult, Carol Snow has lived all over the US as well as in London, England, and Strasbourg, France. She holds a BA in psychology from Brown University and a MAT 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.
Carol Snow currently splits her time between Cape Cod and Southern California. In her free time, she hangs out with her family, reads (of course), cooks, paints, travels, and talks to her cats. Despite Google's claims to the contrary, she is not and has never been a poet.
Eventually, Snow turned her attention to crafting heartfelt stories with wider appeal, and in 2006, Berkley/Penguin published her first novel, Been There, Done That, a Target Bookmarked Breakout selection that Publisher’s Weekly called “humorous, wise . . . romance with a bit of social commentary.” Since then, she has written five more books for adults, Getting Warmer (2007); Here Today, Gone to Maui (2009); Just Like Me, Only Better (2010); and What Came First (2011), which Amazon UK chose as a best book of the month. Her next title, The Girl on the Beach, a psychological thriller, is slated for June 2026 publication.
Snow has also written four young adult novels: Switch (2008), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers; Snap (2009); Bubble World (2013); and The Last Place on Earth (2016). Both Switch and Bubble World were featured as Scholastic Book Club selections for middle grade and high school readers. Foreign rights to Snow's books have sold to publishers in Germany, Norway, Poland, Indonesia, and Hungary.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. As an adult, Carol Snow has lived all over the US as well as in London, England, and Strasbourg, France. She holds a BA in psychology from Brown University and a MAT 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.
Carol Snow currently splits her time between Cape Cod and Southern California. In her free time, she hangs out with her family, reads (of course), cooks, paints, travels, and talks to her cats. Despite Google's claims to the contrary, she is not and has never been a poet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 24, 2010
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.
April 24, 2019
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.
March 27, 2013
Cute story. Great beach read.
I figured out the plot twists a little earlier then maybe I should have but overall it was enjoyable.
I figured out the plot twists a little earlier then maybe I should have but overall it was enjoyable.
August 20, 2017
Perfect read while relaxing on the beaches of Maui!
February 2, 2025
This book was a book for me but I gave it a 4 stars.
June 28, 2025
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.)
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.)
January 9, 2024
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
February 26, 2022
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.
July 9, 2018
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.
June 21, 2020
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.
July 8, 2017
A cheesy novel set in Hawaii, which I read to get in the mood for my upcoming trip there.
August 3, 2017
Total beach read, very lite reading! I love Maui, so it was fun to read the descriptions.
September 27, 2018
Light reading, fun story, a good beach-vacation book.
December 24, 2018
Fun read
December 17, 2019
Great entertaining beach read! Of course, I also love Maui and relived my travels through this book!
February 20, 2022
very cute story
would recommend
would recommend
March 7, 2022
Tragedia takie 1,5 gwiazdki. Nudna. Trochę czasem vibe jak oszust z tindera na papierze
June 6, 2022
3.75/5 (???)
July 4, 2022
Bardzo miłe zaskoczenie - lekka i zabawna lektura na lato:)
November 20, 2022
Książka zdecydowanie nie w moim guście. Najgorsza komedia powiązana z romansem jaką kiedykolwiek przeczytałam!
January 6, 2023
szosta, a zarazem pierwsza najgorsza ksiazka tego roku:/
May 7, 2023
Fun, fast weekend read :)
Read
August 27, 2023I 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
Read
November 4, 2023 2023 Challenge - #7
October 7, 2025
Read this one with a group of friends on a cruise to Hawaii. It was fun talking about it at dinners.
June 7, 2024
Cute
July 13, 2018
Very predictable and kind of a stupid plot. But for an easy quick read it was enjoyable.
August 14, 2017
Such a fun read, great twists.
August 24, 2010
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews