Reviews

The Breakup Vacation by Anna Gracia

danifaulhaber's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

steph1101's review

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3.0

Probably would have enjoyed this one more 5 years ago. Now that I am less than a year to 30 *gags*, I find myself being more annoyed at the characters naivety than enjoying it. Grace, Tiff, and Camille - a girl gang - who take a girls trip to Cancun to help Grace mend her broken heart following the split with her boyfriend, Josh. Grace suggests Cancun knowing he will be there so she can try and win him back. Things get complicated (and frustrating as a reader towards the main character Grace) as she starts to get interested in a local man and keep up her long string of lies. I never really found myself invested in the main character or her relationships - whether it be romantic or platonic.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to advanced read this rom com! Out March 5th, 2024

thebookishnarwhal's review against another edition

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4.0

Readers are taken on a sun-soaked journey to Cancun and experience a story of love, friendship, and self-discovery. “The Breakup Vacation” is Anna Gracia's debut novel and perfectly captures the messiness of the early twenties, the power of girlfriends, and the allure of romance. Pack your bags and head for turquoise waters and swaying palm trees.

Meet Grace. She’s a theatre major who faces heartbreak when her boyfriend unexpectedly dumps her. Left with a broken heart and an empty schedule, she turns to her best friends for support. They concoct a post-breakup beach vacation in Cancun, hoping it will help Grace move on. But there's a twist: her ex is also in Cancun, along with his possibly-new girlfriend. Grace is determined to win him back, but is it really the best option?

The premise of a breakup vacation is enticing. Who hasn't dreamed of escaping heartache on a sun-drenched beach? Gracia sets the stage beautifully, promising a mix of romance, drama, and self-discovery.

Grace and her best friends form a tight-knit trio. Their friendship is the heart of the story and their banter feels authentic. Grace's vulnerability and determination resonate, while her best friends forever provide comic relief. The ex-boyfriend is your typical college bro, and the soccer player from Hawaii adds a dash of intrigue.

Gracia's writing is breezy and conversational. She captures the carefree vibe of a beach vacation, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the setting. The pacing keeps the pages turning, and the banter between characters adds levity.

“The Breakup Vacation” explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the unpredictability of love. As Grace grapples with conflicting emotions, readers witness her growth and resilience.

While the love triangle is predictable, Gracia throws in unexpected twists. The lush descriptions of Cancun's beaches and vibrant nightlife create an immersive experience.

The novel evokes mixed emotions. Grace's rollercoaster of feelings, yet is authentic. The chemistry sizzles, but the emotional depth could have been deeper. The characters lack depth beyond their surface traits. The ex-boyfriend’s unworthiness becomes evident, but Grace's attraction to him remains puzzling. Yet while the soccer player from Hawaii is charming, he lacks backstory. I felt the love triangle lacks the emotional stakes needed to fully invest readers.

“The Breakup Vacation” is everything you want from a beach read: light, entertaining, and perfect for lazy afternoons. While it doesn't break new ground, it does celebrate friendship, forgiveness, and the possibility of unexpected romance. Dive in, soak up the sun, and let the waves of Cancun carry you away.

Thank you to NetGalley, MTV Books, and Simon & Schuster Canada for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

namsmommy09's review against another edition

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3.5

This was a pretty good book. There were a few pretty *steamy* scenes that I wish I wasn't at work listening to (in my earbuds!) I'm sure my blush was visible to all my coworkers! I loved the character development but wasn't too keen on how the main character was so connected to her ex and that toxic relationship. She learned though. 

stuck123's review

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3.0

I was expecting a lot more from this one and just didn't get it. I think this needed some more editing and could have been done with some heavy developmental editing. Here are some of the major things I noticed:
- I honestly didn't really see the romance in this one...like she and her bf break up so she plans this elaborate trip to get him back or some shit?
- I didn't like the FMC or the MMC lmao
-The characters lacked depth and I seriously think all they did was get drunk
-This one was very stereotype-heavy
-The plot lacked description in general but especially with their Cancun trip

Overall, I don't usually enjoy rom-coms which is what this was marketed as (I got this on Netgalley MONTHS ago) and the plot sounded interesting at the time. I honestly don't even enjoy contemporary romance that much. Since I don't read either often, it doesn't take a ton for me to be like oh that's a 5 star considering I don't have much to go off of. This one had so much potential to be fun but it needs a decent amount of work.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

awesomeeallyson's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I’m only here for Daniel & Camille. Josh, Tiff and Grace and awful human beings. They’re all self-centered, entitled, hypocrites. Strong way to start a review. Why is Grace tricking her friends to follow some jerkhole ex around the continent? Why does anyone in this book tolerate anyone else? Why did Daniel keep talking to Grace? Camille deserves better friends. I truly only kept reading this train-wreck of a book because Daniel was such an amazing character. He’s witty, patient, hot, funny. His scenes alone are the only reason this book is being rated above 3 stars.

Okay, I am being kind of harsh. The writing was good! And as much as I hated the plot, it was like a train-wreck I couldn’t look away from. I guess I approve of the ending, but I stand by the fact that Daniel should be with anyone besides Grace. The only real complaint I have, in case I haven’t made it obvious, is that the main characters are really unlikable. That usually makes a book hard to read, but for some reason I kept going. That’s a testament to the skill Anna Gracia has. Overall I enjoyed the journey, even if I was rolling my eyes the entire time. I’ll def be checking out other books by Gracia. 

sfp's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

kerif's review

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  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

brendalovesbooks's review

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I just don't like this at all. I can't relate to any of the characters. DNF at 18%.

meganreadsandreads's review

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fast-paced

1.5