Venice Beach, Los Angeles.
A hostel.
Eight strangers.
All of them are running away from something.


This is my second time reading this book ( I read it under the previous title ), and I have definitely enjoyed it more the second time around.
Multiple perspectives are not my favourite type of narration, but because I read it before, the multitude of characters didn't bother me.
It was a bit of a slow-burner, but the chapters were short and snappy and kept me invested in the story.
I loved how the seemingly unrelated paths come together at the end; it shows how skilful the author is.
While it is not my favourite John Marrs' book, it definitely is a good and entertaining read. On a side note, I think the previous title works better.

I totally and utterly just loved this book. Every single chapter was brilliant. I loved the way the author wrote this book and all the different characters. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. In my opinion it deserves more than 5 stars. Simply awesome.

Unfortunately I really struggled to get into this novel and after a few chapters gave up. It's well written but the style of writing was just not for me.

Each chapter would start of in the here and now but then a few paragraphs in would jump into the past. It was jarring because just as the story started to flow the author would change it up. I think the editor needs to relook at the way the novel has been put together and maybe consider making it more traditional.

Thank you to the publishing house and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review. I love John Marrs, such an incredibly talented author. This book is a brilliant read, flitting between the view points of various characters and very cleverly linked in one way or another with everything coming together at the end. I can’t wait for JM’s next book.

Was so happy to get this book from netgalley as im a big fan of John marrs and couldn't wait to read this. The waiting did not disappoint at all. John marrs again wrote an outstanding book. I found it so hard to put it down and could of happily shut out the real world to just read this continuously. A must read.

Thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Vacation’ by John Marrs. At the beginning a diverse group of people stay at a rundown hostel in Venice Beach, LA. Their own individual stories are revealed through flashbacks in their own narratives. As the plot progresses some unexpected secrets and connections are revealed….
A fantastic book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

At a Venice Beach Hostel eight strangers are all running from something and more than one may be willing to kill keep their secrets hidden.

This was a really gripping novel as all the characters were hiding something it was tense until the truth was finally revealed; the setting and the interlocking stories was brilliant and it was a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

In this novel we are introduced to eight different characters (as well as a few side characters) all staying at a hostel in Venice Beach, LA. It takes a little while to get to know each character but it soon becomes apparent that they are all at the hostel as they are all running from something in their past.

The chapters are short and punchy which gives the novel a feeling of being fast paced. However John Marrs is skillfully building back stories for each character and we hop from one to another. Each chapter seems to leave on a bit of a cliffhanger so you find yourself saying "just one more chapter"

As you would expect from this author there a fair few twists and turns and several jaw dropping moments for me. I did wonder how each characters journey would interact with the others but the threads are woven seemlessly together to satisfying conclusions.

After I finished this book I discovered it was a re-release/re-edit of "Welcome to Wherever You Are" which I had not previously read.

Welcome to the Venice Beach International hostel, LA, a temporary home/pit stop for travellers and tourists alike all wishing to experience a slice of the laid back Californian lifestyle for themselves. Everyone has their own reasons for finding themselves in this part of the world, living under the same roof but what really draws this bunch of strangers together, happy and content to slum it in less than salubrious surroundings? Is it the possibility of glimpsing a Hollywood A lister or a chance to reinvent oneself or is it simply a means to an end? John Marrs answers all these questions in this highly entertaining novel which if you’re an avid people watcher will be right up your street.

Straightaway the author introduces you to a diverse group of characters, a wonderful eclectic mix of crazy, lost, pleasure seeking, law breaking, soul searching strangers all passing through the doors of this hostel on the way (hopefully!) to bigger and better things. Join Tommy, Savannah and the rest of the gang in the first part of the novel where the author concentrates on fleshing out each individual character. He relays their present day circumstances against the backdrop of their pasts in glorious technicolour detail giving you an in depth sense of who they are and what makes them tick. There are only few who aren’t afforded the same treatment, gracing these pages with a more fleeting presence but they still slot nicely into the overall framework. Some readers may find the time hopping within each chapter mildly confusing given there are plenty of characters to grapple with but it didn’t bother me. I liked this approach as well as the short, sharp punchy nature of each chapter, leaving you wanting more. I felt like a fly on the wall in this soap opera-esque novel with everyone hanging their dirty laundry out to dry in the Californian sunshine; some of the best and worst of humanity is on full display! Many of these characters are highly resourceful, some are quiet and reserved, some are lively and outgoing and some are just plain strange but they are all engaging and fascinating. Having reached a crucial tipping point in their lives they are all looking for an escape route from their realities and all are hiding secrets of some kind, some of which are darker than others. A word of warning: maybe it’s the quiet ones you need to keep a close eye on! It would seem every waif and stray who is ‘on the run’ is attracted to the bleakness of this dilapidated hostel, either seeking anonymity and/or a chance to start afresh but in their pursuit of happiness or new beginnings and a desire for change as they form friendships and allegiances with one another it’s surprising to discover how connected these strangers really are. It feels wrong to try and pick out a favourite character from a bunch that are fabulous in their own unique way but Tommy who hogs much of the limelight is worth a mention as too are Irish friends Matty and Declan who (initially) had me in fits of giggles.

Part two is where these connections are made and the pace steps up a gear, although it’s never tense nor nerve wracking. The Vacation isn’t that type of book. Instead as the connections are revealed they are either surprising, dramatic, tragicomic or a mixture of all three. Whilst it’s not in the same vein as his other thrillers (I think the term only loosely applies here) the twists and turns John Marrs is so adept at engineering are still very much in evidence. How he pulls all the threads together is clever and unexpected. I loved that there are a multitude of different endings for these characters ranging from the hopeful to the rewarding to the sad and tragic and I had to laugh at the ways in which some of these characters ‘move on’ from their time at the hostel. They are inspired, brilliant and gratifying. Karma is definitely at play here!

When I picked up The Vacation I’d just finished reading a very dark, gritty, sleazy and violent thriller so the more lighthearted vibe of this novel was most welcome, although not everything that happens within the walls of the Venice Beach International hostel is strictly above board or legal!! I regard myself as a huge fan of John Marrs having read all his books bar this one which was originally published as Welcome to Wherever You Are so although I wouldn’t consider this to be the author’s finest work it is still immensely enjoyable and entertaining and very digestible. The Vacation is the ideal holiday read for anyone wishing to indulge their people watching tendencies; the perfect accompaniment as you let your eyes wander around the hotel pool (if you’re brave/lucky enough to escape these shores for sunnier climes) allowing your curiosity and imagination to run riot. Definitely one worth packing in your suitcase!

My thanks as always to the publisher Pan and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Hoping to get to this one soon, unfortunately circumstances have curtailed my reading lately, but will add my review to all relevant sites ASAP.

I love all John Marrs books and this one did not disappoint.

This was set in a hostel in Venice Beach in La and we meet all the people staying there all with their own stories which cross with each other.

Lots of twists and turns.

a great read

A brilliantly written gripping page turner, packed with twists and double bluffs. Set primarily in beautiful Venice Beach Los Angeles at an international youth hostel, we follow the stories of several guests from a variety of backgrounds who all happen to meet through staying at the hostel. The compelling narrative with short punchy chapters switches between characters and across timelines, uncovering clever and sometimes sinister details from their pasts and revealing surprising connections. A great read. Highly recommended.

I loved everything about this book. The setting - the glamour of California beaches with the seedy accommodation, the array of diverse characters and the plot! A great psychological thriller with a ton of twists and turns. A great read.

This book just really wasn’t for me. I kind of found it boring. I’m not sure why because most of the authors other books i absolutely loved.

I really struggled to get in to the book, I kept going with the hope that it would get better but to be honest it did but only slightly. I couldn’t connect with the story and I felt like it just went on and on. I LOVE John Marrs’ writing, the way he writes is just brilliant but this one was so flat. I honestly felt like I wasted my time reading this and I rushed through it just to get it finished. There were many times that I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish it.

I felt this was all over the place and I couldn’t quite keep up with it. Yeah there is some twists in there which was a nice little surprise but it’s still not what I was hoping for. I’m gutted to say that it was a big no from me. 😒

This is a re-release of ‘Welcome to Wherever You Are’. A psychological thriller told from numerous viewpoints. It was a bit of a slow burner to start but soon picked up the pace and it had some great twists! Would definitely recommend reading. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I found this book quite difficult to get into at first, i admit it took me a good few tries to pick it up and even then I found myself a little uninterested in the story in the beginning. It lacks a good pace and hook, and I felt I wasn't itching to read the next chapter as I normally would with thrillers.

That being said, I really enjoyed how all the characters came together nicley, and the twist were cleverly done.

The Vacation by John Marrs
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John Marrs has been a firm favourite of mine for a while now so as soon as I saw this on NetGalley I knew I needed to request it. This book is a re-worked version of Marrs’ previously self-published book ‘Welcome to Wherever You Are’.
The book is set in a backpackers hostel in America and the reader meets many characters who are staying there, their lives interweaving. Marrs’ characterisation throughout this story is stunning and you really get to know characters on an individual level. The way he links the characters together is excellent. However, that is where the praise stops for me. The book lacked momentum and awe that I have come to love from this author. I had to work hard to get to the end of this story. Part of me wishes Marrs had left this one in the past.
Thank you to Netgalley, John Marrs and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

This is a revised book for Who Ever You Are.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book but John has edited and put extras in this new addition just to make it better.

The book is based at a hostel in Venice Beach, Los Angeles and tells the story of 8 of the guests who are staying there. Each chapter concerns itself with each of the characters and what they are doing currently at the hostel as well as flashbacks to their past and how they ended up here. Some are looking for something, others running away, others thinking they are beginning a new life.

The chapters are relatively short and fast paced, constantly found myself saying "just one more chapter". I found all the characters interesting and I wanted to know more about each of them and I enjoyed the interactions between the guests. The twists and turns kept it completely addictive and some of them genuinely surprised me (in a good way!). My only disappointment was that it ended, I want to know more about what everyone is doing now!

#netgalley #johnmarrsauthor #johnmarrs #thevacation

Also posted on Goodreads but unable to link to netgalley account.