Cure that Vacay FOMO with These 9 Books about Disastrous Getaways

August 12 2020
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Let’s be real here—vacations rarely go as planned. Sometimes, you luck out, and it’s better than you dreamed. But, more often than not, there are unexpected road bumps and challenges that pop up and get in the way, such as canceled flights or a major blowup between travel partners. And while most of us aren’t traveling now because of Covid-19 restrictions, we can still enjoy some vacation drama with these excellent reads about holidays gone wrong. So, if you’re looking to laugh, cry, or spend all night reading on the edge of your seat, here are some vacation fiction tales for you.

This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.

The Unhoneymooners
by Christina Lauren

An all-expenses-paid tropical vacation sounds great, right? Warm sand, delicious drinks, nothing but rest and relaxation. Well, what if you had to take that break with someone you can’t stand? Olive finds herself in that situation and takes it as just more proof of how unlucky she is. Sure, she’s fortunate in that she narrowly avoided the food poisoning that took down nearly everyone in her sister’s wedding and thus gets to go on the honeymoon. But, unfortunately, she has to go with her nemesis, Ethan, her new brother-in-law’s best man. Though they vow to stay out of each other’s way, circumstances keep bringing them back together, and romance blooms. Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings—the writing duo with the pen name Christina Lauren—are masters of witty banter and nail-biting drama, and it doesn’t get much better than The Unhoneymooners. If you’re looking for a rom-com to sweep you away into an unlikely vacation going so wrong it’s right, this is the one for you.

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The Unhoneymooners
Christina Lauren

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews * Publishers Weekly * Library Journal

Named a “Must-Read” by TODAY, Us Weekly, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Goodreads, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, Southern Living, Book Riot, Woman’s Day, The Toronto Star, and more!

For two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime—maybe even love—in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies.

Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin: from inexplicable mishaps to a recent layoff, her life seems to be almost comically jinxed. By contrast, her sister Ami is an eternal champion . . . she even managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a slew of contests. Unfortunately for Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas.

Olive braces herself for wedding hell, determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there’s a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo.

Agreeing to a temporary truce, the pair head for Maui. After all, ten days of bliss is worth having to assume the role of loving newlyweds, right? But the weird thing is . . . Olive doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, the more she pretends to be the luckiest woman alive, the more it feels like she might be.

With Christina Lauren’s “uniquely hilarious and touching voice” (Entertainment Weekly), The Unhoneymooners is a romance for anyone who has ever felt unlucky in love.

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Big Summer
by Jennifer Weiner

High school is just the worst. You are still finding yourself and even your friends want to tear you down. Daphne Berg suffered humiliation and cruel comments about her weight from Drue, a queen bee who was supposed to be her friend. But Daphne takes the moment in stride and spends the next six years becoming a body-positive social media influencer. At first, she’s surprised and hesitant when Drue reaches out and asks her to be in her wedding party as maid-of-honor, but the temptation of cute guys and scenic views tips the scales. And while Drue is her same faux-charming self, Daphne is still somehow having a great time until…well, no spoilers, but something very unexpected happens. While Big Summer delves into some dark territory, the story is also empowering, sweet, and fun, with a sharp eye toward social media and female friendships, as well as a splash of summer romance.

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Big Summer
Jennifer Weiner

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“Sexy and satisfying, Big Summer is the perfect quarantine read.” —USA TODAY

“The beach read to end all beach reads.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Big fun, and then some. It’s empowering and surprising—a reminder to put down the phone and enjoy each moment for what it is.” —The Washington Post

A deliciously funny, remarkably poignant, and simply unputdownable novel about the power of friendship, the lure of frenemies, and the importance of making peace with yourself through all life’s ups and down. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Good in Bed and Best Friends Forever, Big Summer is the perfect escape with one of the most lovable heroines to come to the page in years.

Six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask. Daphne hasn’t spoken one word to Drue in all this time—she doesn’t even hate-follow her ex-best friend on social media—so when Drue asks if she will be her maid-of-honor at the society wedding of the summer, Daphne is rightfully speechless.

Drue was always the one who had everything—except the ability to hold onto friends. Meanwhile, Daphne’s no longer the same self-effacing sidekick she was back in high school. She’s built a life that she loves, including a growing career as a plus-size Instagram influencer. Letting glamorous, seductive Drue back into her life is risky, but it comes with an invitation to spend a weekend in a waterfront Cape Cod mansion. When Drue begs and pleads and dangles the prospect of cute single guys, Daphne finds herself powerless as ever to resist her friend’s siren song.

A sparkling novel about the complexities of female relationships, the pitfalls of living out loud and online, and the resilience of the human heart, Big Summer is a witty, moving story about family, friendship, and figuring out what matters most.

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What You Don’t Know About Charlie Outlaw
by Leah Stewart

Rising star actor Charlie Outlaw could have easily avoided disaster by thinking through his response to a reporter’s question about his longtime girlfriend, Josie, and fellow actor, being the love of his life. But one moment of foot in mouth leads to an epic breakup that sends Charlie to a tropical island, far from the eyes of the paparazzi. Charlie’s secluded vacation quickly turns dangerous, as he ends up kidnapped. Josie, with her star power dwindling, is looking for a boyfriend to replace Charlie…until she becomes worried that he’s not returning her texts. It’s up to Josie to save Charlie from himself, and his incompetent kidnappers, and find her own inner strength along the way. A comedy of errors and hurt feelings, What You Don't Know About Charlie Outlaw is as much heart and insight into acting as it is a funny romp on a tropical island.

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What You Don’t Know About Charlie Outlaw
Leah Stewart

Rising star actor Charlie Outlaw could have easily avoided disaster by thinking through his response to a reporter’s question about his longtime girlfriend, Josie, and fellow actor, being the love of his life. But one moment of foot in mouth leads to an epic breakup that sends Charlie to a tropical island, far from the eyes of the paparazzi. Charlie’s secluded vacation quickly turns dangerous, as he ends up kidnapped. Josie, with her star power dwindling, is looking for a boyfriend to replace Charlie…until she becomes worried that he’s not returning her texts. It’s up to Josie to save Charlie from himself, and his incompetent kidnappers, and find her own inner strength along the way. A comedy of errors and hurt feelings, What You Don't Know About Charlie Outlaw is as much heart and insight into acting as it is a funny romp on a tropical island.

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The Vacationers
by Emma Straub

Sunny, beautiful Mallorca, the perfect summer getaway. Or it would be, if there weren’t family and love drama to deal with along the way. The Post family’s island vacation is not as cheerful and relaxing as they’d hoped. Franny has just discovered that her husband, Jim, was having an affair with an intern, and was fired from his magazine job because of it; their daughter, Sylvia, was just cheated on by her boyfriend and is soon set to go off to college; and their son, Bobby, is cavorting with a trainer ten years his senior and not the type of woman his mother approves of. Meanwhile, family friends Charles and Lawrence are in the middle of their own argument about adopting a child. Filled with emotional insight and nuanced character studies, The Vacationers is the kind of vacation we’ve probably all had at one point or another: awkward, claustrophobic, and filled with unexpected drama that makes us wish we had stayed home.

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The Vacationers
Emma Straub

Let’s say that Schitt’s Creek takes place over two weeks, on an isolated island, where you’re surrounded by your best frenemies and the closest members of your estranged family. Mix all that together, shake well, and you get The Vacationers. With punchy drama and steamy affairs, this book is a wonderfully lighthearted (but still memorable!) read that will absolutely scratch your itch for reading about the ridiculous nouveau riche.

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Tomorrow There Will Be Sun
by Dana Reinhardt

Family vacations can make the people we know and love feel like strangers. Whether it’s the new setting, the stress of being away from home, or just the sense of freedom inciting us to finally air our dirty laundry, family vacations often seem to contain some drama. In Tomorrow There Will Be Sun, Jenna plans a group vacation to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate her husband Peter’s 50th birthday, but things start falling apart right when they get there. Her husband is taking a lot of strange phone calls, her daughter, Clementine, has been keeping secrets, and Peter’s business partner, Solly, brought his family along, including his second wife, Ingrid, who Jenna can’t stand. As the story progresses, Jenna gets more and more wrapped up in the goings-on of everyone else, and stalls working on her novel. Tomorrow There Will Be Sun is seated firmly in the everyday dramas that drive us, and derail us, with an ending that will let you come to your own conclusions.

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Tomorrow There Will Be Sun
Dana Reinhardt

Family vacations can make the people we know and love feel like strangers. Whether it’s the new setting, the stress of being away from home, or just the sense of freedom inciting us to finally air our dirty laundry, family vacations often seem to contain some drama. In Tomorrow There Will Be Sun, Jenna plans a group vacation to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate her husband Peter’s 50th birthday, but things start falling apart right when they get there. Her husband is taking a lot of strange phone calls, her daughter, Clementine, has been keeping secrets, and Peter’s business partner, Solly, brought his family along, including his second wife, Ingrid, who Jenna can’t stand. As the story progresses, Jenna gets more and more wrapped up in the goings-on of everyone else, and stalls working on her novel. Tomorrow There Will Be Sun is seated firmly in the everyday dramas that drive us, and derail us, with an ending that will let you come to your own conclusions.

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Lake Life
by David James Poissant

As much as we wish vacations could be full reprieves from all the bad things in the world, tragedy sometimes strikes when we’re on holiday. In Lake Life, that tragedy is the drowning of a child at the North Carolina lake where the Starlings usually vacation. With the added stress of this being the last summer in the family’s vacation home, one of the sons who failed to save the child begins to open up about some painful topics. On this emotionally vulnerable, surprisingly dark trip, all gets drudged up, including infidelity, marriages on the rocks, alcoholism, rampant drug use, family secrets, suicide attempts, and more. David James Poissant’s characters aren’t exactly likable, but they feel real, and the drama of their lives is as enthralling as it is depressing. If you’re looking for a book that creates the kind of human spectacle that is raw and all-consuming, this novel will more than satisfy.

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Lake Life
David James Poissant

From the award-winning author of the acclaimed story collection The Heaven of Animals, called “a wise debut…beautiful [stories] with a rogue touch” (The New York Times Book Review), comes a sweeping, domestic novel about a family that reunites at their North Carolina lake house for one last vacation before the home is sold—and the long-buried secrets that are finally revealed.

The Starling family is scattered across the country. Parents Richard and Lisa live in Ithaca, New York, and work at Cornell University. Their son Michael, a salesperson, lives in Dallas with his elementary school teacher wife, Diane. Michael’s brother, Thad, an aspiring poet, makes his home in New York City with his famous painter boyfriend, Jake. For years they’ve traveled to North Carolina to share a summer vacation at the family lake house.

That tradition is coming to an end, as Richard and Lisa have decided to sell the treasured summer home and retire to Florida. Before they do, the family will spend one last weekend at the lake. But what should to be a joyous farewell takes a nightmarish turn when the family witnesses a tragedy that triggers a series of dramatic revelations among the Starlings—alcoholism, infidelity, pregnancy, and a secret the parents have kept from their sons for over thirty years. As the weekend unfolds, relationships fray, bonds are tested, and the Starlings are forced to reckon with who they are and what they want from this life.

Set in today’s America, Lake Life is a beautifully rendered, emotionally compelling novel in the tradition of Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections, Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge, and Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth.

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The Woman in Cabin 10
by Ruth Ware

Journalist Lo Blacklock is already having a pretty bad year. Her apartment was broken into, leaving her feeling, understandably, anxious and frightened. An assignment on a luxurious cruise ship sounds like exactly what she needs—the sun, the sea, delicious meals, and all miles away from where the home invasion happened. But then she hears the woman in the cabin next door go overboard…or so she thinks. See, there was supposedly no one in Cabin 10 and none of the passengers are missing, so Lo’s concerns are dismissed. But she isn’t convinced, and her snooping will take her down a dark rabbit hole of intrigue, murder, and greed. Ruth Ware is a master of suspense and The Woman in Cabin 10 shows why. Lo is sympathetic, whip-smart, and courageous, making the book hard to put down. Even if you’re not prone to seasickness, you might still feel a little queasy getting on a boat after reading this thriller.

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The Woman in Cabin 10
Ruth Ware

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The River at Night
by Erica Ferencik

There’s nothing quite like a girls’ trip! Hanging out with your friends, swapping stories, and rekindling the fires of friendship. Wini desperately needs one. Dealing with the death of her brother, the end of her marriage, and her insufferably terrible job, she jumps at the chance to hike and raft with her three closest friends in Maine’s remote Allagash Wilderness, which offers up the perfect opportunity for her to become reinvigorated. Unfortunately, that’s not how it pans out. First, they get stranded before finding another group out in the wilderness, a group whose intentions are less than helpful. Now Wini and her friends have to run for their lives, navigating the forest, outsmarting their pursuers, and battling the elements. The River at Night is a slow burn, and once the thriller action starts, it’s hard to look away. You’ll root for the friends to escape, and be surprised by the dark twists. You might never look at camping the same way again!

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The River at Night
Erica Ferencik

A “raw, relentless, and heart-poundingly real” (Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author) thriller set against the harsh beauty of the Maine wilderness, The River at Night charts the journey of four friends as they fight to survive the aftermath of a white water rafting accident.

Winifred Allen needs a vacation.

Stifled by a soul-crushing job, devastated by the death of her beloved brother, and lonely after the end of a fifteen-year marriage, Wini is feeling vulnerable. So when her three best friends insist on a high-octane getaway for their annual girls’ trip, she signs on, despite her misgivings.

What starts out as an invigorating hiking and rafting excursion in the remote Allagash Wilderness soon becomes an all-too-real nightmare; a freak accident leaves the women stranded, separating them from their raft and everything they need to survive. When night descends, a fire on the mountainside lures them to a ramshackle camp that appears to be their lifeline. But as Wini and her friends grasp the true intent of their supposed saviors, long buried secrets emerge and lifelong allegiances are put to the test. To survive, Wini must reach beyond the world she knows to harness an inner strength she never knew she possessed.

With intimately observed characters and visceral prose, The River at Night “will leave you gasping, your heart racing, eyes peering over your shoulder to see what follows from behind” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author). This is a dark exploration of creatures—both friend and foe—that you won’t soon forget.

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Gerald’s Game
by Stephen King

Jessie’s romantic getaway to a remote cabin in Maine very quickly turns into a trip to hell. When her husband ignores her clearly stated desire to stop their bedtime antics after he handcuffs her to the bed, she kicks him in the chest, causing him to have a fatal heart attack. This leaves her trapped, unable to call for help or escape, and she soon begins hallucinating figures. At least, they would be hallucinations, if one of them didn’t post a very real threat. In this nail-biting thriller full of desperation, Stephen King has crafted a nightmarish story so intense, you’ll feel cagey for days after. I had to put it down several times to catch my breath as Jessie continued to devolve into insanity, before immediately picking it back up to see what happened next. Few vacations are as terrible or as terrifying as Gerald’s Game—and hopefully yours never even get close.

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Gerald’s Game
Stephen King

Now a Netflix movie directed by Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Hush) and starring Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood.

Master storyteller Stephen King presents this classic, terrifying #1 New York Times bestseller. When a game of seduction between a husband and wife ends in death, the nightmare has only begun…

“And now the voice which spoke belonged to no one but herself. Oh my God, it said. Oh my God, I am all alone out here. I am all alone.

Once again, Jessie Burlingame has been talked into submitting to her husband Gerald’s kinky sex games—something that she’s frankly had enough of, and they never held much charm for her to begin with. So much for a “romantic getaway” at their secluded summer home. After Jessie is handcuffed to the bedposts—and Gerald crosses a line with his wife—the day ends with deadly consequences. Now Jessie is utterly trapped in an isolated lakeside house that has become her prison—and comes face-to-face with her deepest, darkest fears and memories. Her only company is that of the various voices filling her mind…as well as the shadows of nightfall that may conceal an imagined or very real threat right there with her…

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