Parts of this book resonated so much with me as a divorcee in my 30’s and it was honestly hilarious in places seeing it from the outside. I really liked the MC and the love interest their love hate relationship kept me amused the whole way through. Solid 4 star read

I loved this book and the references to harry potter!
Really well written, a good romance and definitely a recommended read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All these summery books are making me want to gin on vacay!!
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great summer read, perfect for reading round the pool.
The book was a very easy read and easy to get absorber into
The book was humorous in parts and followed the true pattern of an enemies to lovers story!
There were some sex scenes in this book, which anyone who knows me, thinks I find cringey as hell! But they were easy enough to skip over. (Sorry Jo!)
This book is a great holiday read and highly recommended
There are some trigger warnings of grief, cancer and anxiety in this book.

Jo Watson's "What Happens on Vacation," follows the charming exploits of Margaret and Jagger, two journalists whose lives take an unexpected turn on the bright shores of Zanzibar. The book combines humour, love, and surprising twists. A great little read.

A perfect pick me up read. Quick and very satisfying. I love these books which make you forget the winter outside. I always enjoy Jo's books. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

It was beautiful and wonderful and sweet. Charming and fun. It’s a quick read that gives all the light, fuzzy, happy vibes and can work as a pick me up read.

Jagger and Margaret are rival colleagues with nothing in common, as far as she knows. Until a workplace-sponsored holiday to Zanzibar throws them into spending time together.
‘What Happens on Vacation’ is absolutely absorbing, as all Jo Watson books are. Margaret felt like a completely real, whole person whilst I was reading. It’s a book full of passion, about learning to love despite your fears. I found the story about Margaret’s grief for her dad to be well written and moving.
Personally, I felt like Jagger was a little too mean at the start; the ‘he teases her because he likes her’ is a trope that I’m not really a fan of generally, although this book handled it quite well.
Overall, a great, fun book that I highly recommend!

Margaret, a dedicated journalist, reluctantly shares a desk with Jagger, whose lighthearted writing style contrasts sharply with her seriousness. As they face off in an office quiz for a chance to win a luxury holiday in Zanzibar, Margaret's determination clashes with Jagger's affable nature. Despite their differences, their unexpected tie for first place sets the stage for a humorous and touching love story. This book weaves a tale of love, hate, letting go, and mourning loss, promising a journey filled with laughter, smiles, and tears.

Brilliant escapist rom-com from Jo Watson, just as I have come to expect from her.

Margaret finds everything Jagger does is rather annoying, and moans about him constantly.

But yet when they end up on a holiday to Zanzibar together along with a parent each, things start to take a different turn.

And it where the book goes from enjoyable to fabulous, as I loved seeing the dynamics between Margaret and Jagger change.

Over the course of a week, there is a whirlwind of romance, and a whole lot more.

Its' just a highly enjoyable book that i was thoroughly entertained by.

Thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What Happens on Vacation by Jo Watson

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Headline Eternal and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Journalist Margaret loves her job, writing important stories about the impact of government decisions on day-to-day lives for a respected newspaper in Johannesburg. There’s only one her co-worker, Jagger Villain. Is that even his real name? she often wonders. Jagger spends his days writing fluff pieces on everything from the worst-rated barber in Johannesburg to speed dating to male sex toys. To make matters worse, they share a cubicle and a desk, and every day he finds new ways to drive her to distraction. She needs a vacation!

Thankfully the upcoming company quiz night has the perfect first a deluxe trip to a resort in Zanzibar. It will be the perfect escape for Margaret and her mother after a difficult year dealing with the death of her father and divorce. Margaret’s never met a quiz night she can’t win, but then she’s never competed against Jagger. That’s when the unthinkable happens. They tie. They both win. They both get to go to Zanzibar.

It’s bad enough that Margaret has to be on the same island as Jagger, but at least she has her widowed mother with her to help her avoid her co-worker and whoever he brings. However, Jagger’s plus one isn’t what she expected. It’s not some girl of the moment, it's his father, which shakes up her opinion of him . . . at least a bit. And that’s when the entire situation goes from farce to horror their parents fall in love and decide to get married.

Suddenly Margaret and Jagger go from co-workers who dislike each other (but also ‘accidentally’ had sex one night,) to step siblings who dislike each other (but also ‘accidentally’ had sex one night!). But maybe they don’t dislike each other as much as they initially thought they did?

My Opinion

I have been waiting to start this book for a while now, I have been putting it off for fear that it did not live up to my expectations - having read it I am not sure what I was waiting for. This is a highly entertaining read, that will leave you giggling away. From the opening pages this book will grab you and you will find it difficult to put down. With some great characters, this was a joy to read.

Rating 4/5

A totally joyous and hilarious book that takes you on a vacation that you can not forget! Get the sunglasses and suncream out and sit and revel in this blitz of a tale.

I really wanted to love this one, it has some of my favourite tropes of all time, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy vs sunshine, and forced proximity, but unfortunately I had a hard time connecting with it. It was quite slow to start so it took me a while to get into it and I think because of this, it lost my interest a bit. I sadly didn’t really love the FMC, Margaret. She was quite judgmental and unnecessary mean, especially towards Jagger who I loved. Give me a charming, patient love interest and I’m going to be sold but he wasn’t enough to make me love this book. That being said, I did really enjoy Jo’s writing style and I would definitely give her work a go again in the future in the hopes that I’d connect better to the characters!

Really enjoyed this romance, always enjoy an enemies to lovers trope! There are some very spicy scenes so be warned! 🌶️ I would recommend to any romance fans out there.

Another good read
Perfect book to curl up with and to get lost in
Will have you hooked from the first page
Thanks NetGalley

Jo Watson is a gem and one of my favourite authors. Every book gets better and better and I have adored this one.

Margaret has been a character I have loved from the beginning. I have adored the journey through this one with her.

This has been cute and fun to read. I love how Watson can always play with my emotions and take me on a journey with the characters.

You can’t help but fall in love as you read this one. This has been delightful and fun to read. I loved the enemies to lovers and found myself unwilling to put this down.

What Happens on Vacation is a delightful and entertaining read. I have been completely unwilling to put this down. The connection and chemistry oozes from the pages and there are plenty of laugh out loud moments.

This is one of the best books I’ve read by this author. I have no hesitation in recommending this one to everyone.

Thank you @headlineeternal for my copy and spot on this o

This was a brilliant enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance. I absolutely loved this and think this is an ideal summer read.

This was a slow burn and with fantastic witty humour and banter throughout. There was a couple of moments that I was crying with laughter.

There were also moments that were heartwarming and emotional that made you feel really connected to the characters.

I liked both the main characters. I really liked the fact that Margaret was a plus size representation. I also liked the the side characters especially Leighton and the friendship that he and Margaret had.

I adored the setting of Zanzibar and the vivid descriptions, it made me want to go there.

Overall it was an easy read and I thought it as well written and it made me laugh and cry. I will definitely be reading more by the author.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the eArc and #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Found the main character to be rather insufferable, full of herself, and unsympathetic from the get-go. From that unfavourable first impression, it was very hard to get into the story and root for her. Really found Margaret unlikable, snobbish, and Jagger was the only thing on her mind/in her POV and the constant rebuttal that she does not think of him grew tiring and insufferable after barely a few pages. The animosity felt forced, like a plot device rather than something organic to the characters, so this was not an engaging read for me, sadly. I have loved Jo Watson books previously but this one didn't sound like her and just didn't have the 'heart' for me

I really enjoyed this book it was both funny and thought provoking. At times it had me laughing out loud and at others it had me questioning things within myself

I really enjoyed this one! It ticked all the boxes - light-hearted, easy to read, office and enemies to lovers romance. What more could you want?

I was in a slump when I picked this up, hoping it would do the trick to dig me out. I really enjoyed this one! It ticked all the boxes - light-hearted, easy to read, office and enemies to lovers romance. What more could you want? er. And the throwbacks to my own black eyeliner-fueled emo days were just perfect,

Long story short, it's entertaining, it's well-written, it's a little bit spicy... it's a 4/5 from me! this one was right up my street.

A really fresh setting, a strong protagonist and lots of laughs, What Happens on Vacation is an ideal holiday read, although a little slow to get into at first. Worth persevering!