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whelmed_c's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It’s a fun summer book, and yes I hoped for more because I love the silly drama but it was good.
emsbooklist's review against another edition
funny
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
ashleysbookshelf13's review
5.0
☀️best vacation ever arc review☀️
5/5 stars
- dual pov
- fun and quick summer read
- character and relationship driven
- minor love triangle
- SO. MUCH. DRAMA.
- insanely addictive
- platonic, romantic, and sibling relationships
this book gave me all the feels. i got attached to these characters very quickly and easily. the entire friend group really portrayed a typical friend group so well. there was dylan being the mother of the group. adam being the grumpy friend, and kellan being the funny one. faye and lori’s friendship was obviously everything. their friendship experienced so much growth, as they themselves experienced a lot change.
lori’s character development was especially meaningful to me, since i find her to be so relatable. the way her confidence grew throughout the book and the fact that she had people supporting her while she was doing that was very comforting to see.
in some ways, i also see myself in faye. she inevitably hurts the people she cares about, but she has good intentions. she’s misunderstood, which leads to her complicating all of her relationships; whether they are platonic, romantic, or familial. watching her navigate through her struggles was oddly reassuring for me.
every character is really just the epitome of a young adult trying to figure out life as it goes. whether i would agree with their choices or not, i just know that they are relatable in some way.
the summer vibes in this book were just immaculate. there was so much happening, and it felt like the drama was never-ending in the best way. also i just have to say: kellan and faye <333. i love them so much. i had the best time ever reading best vacation ever!!
thank you to Jessica Cunsolo for this arc!!
5/5 stars
- dual pov
- fun and quick summer read
- character and relationship driven
- minor love triangle
- SO. MUCH. DRAMA.
- insanely addictive
- platonic, romantic, and sibling relationships
this book gave me all the feels. i got attached to these characters very quickly and easily. the entire friend group really portrayed a typical friend group so well. there was dylan being the mother of the group. adam being the grumpy friend, and kellan being the funny one. faye and lori’s friendship was obviously everything. their friendship experienced so much growth, as they themselves experienced a lot change.
lori’s character development was especially meaningful to me, since i find her to be so relatable. the way her confidence grew throughout the book and the fact that she had people supporting her while she was doing that was very comforting to see.
in some ways, i also see myself in faye. she inevitably hurts the people she cares about, but she has good intentions. she’s misunderstood, which leads to her complicating all of her relationships; whether they are platonic, romantic, or familial. watching her navigate through her struggles was oddly reassuring for me.
every character is really just the epitome of a young adult trying to figure out life as it goes. whether i would agree with their choices or not, i just know that they are relatable in some way.
the summer vibes in this book were just immaculate. there was so much happening, and it felt like the drama was never-ending in the best way. also i just have to say: kellan and faye <333. i love them so much. i had the best time ever reading best vacation ever!!
thank you to Jessica Cunsolo for this arc!!
miranda__'s review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.25
nelli_lakatos's review
2.0
“If you really want something, fight for it. Life’s too short to let other people make your decisions for you.”
I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read with perfect summer vibes. It wasn’t anything special but it was a great time.
I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read with perfect summer vibes. It wasn’t anything special but it was a great time.
emilylange26's review
medium-paced
2.5
This book was a cute and quick read! I started reading this on wattpad and was unable to finish. So of course, I had to purchase the paperback when it was published.
To me, a little rushed. A lot happens within a 5 day vacation. I also would have appreciated an epilogue. I loved the characters and would love to see what happened after spring break. A great book about friendship and learning about yourself. Overall, a great summer read!
To me, a little rushed. A lot happens within a 5 day vacation. I also would have appreciated an epilogue. I loved the characters and would love to see what happened after spring break. A great book about friendship and learning about yourself. Overall, a great summer read!
mellamaron's review against another edition
I listened to about 45 minutes before I couldn't take Faye's narration anymore.
This sounds like it's going to be another dramatic and low-stakes YA like those that were popular back in the 90's/00's. So probably not my thing at this time in my life.
This sounds like it's going to be another dramatic and low-stakes YA like those that were popular back in the 90's/00's. So probably not my thing at this time in my life.
julieannholland's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kclikesthings's review
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
sidneydanielle's review
4.0
there’s nothing like reading a jessica cunsolo book. her characters have so much personality & the story is just so much fun. reading her books is a always great time
i feel like i grew with these characters, lori especially. every time i feel anxiety, i think of her facing her fears & doing things anyway, learning the language of self-love, kicking ass (sometimes literally) unapologetically. it's stayed with me even after finishing it & completing another book after.
this is the kind of story i needed growing up. the antithesis of romanticizing toxicity, growing with or without those around you, standing up for yourself and learning to say sorry. playing up your strengths, people who naturally compliment them, men who respect women point blank period, making mistakes & learning to come back from them. i loved the celebration of women in the juxtaposition of lori & faye’s opposing character traits as they grow & accept themselves. this was such a refreshing read & so fun and entertaining and sweet while packing these little punches with life lessons in the fist lol.
& the female friendship and empowerment!!! i loved the cave scene where everyone was dancing and hyping each other up & naomi being a fast friend for lori. i also think naomi, anaya, kiara, and priyasha are just really cool names
jess really came through with the emotional arcs & the journey of each character, and it was lighthearted & authentic while also having a great underlying theme reflected in each character in their own way but still cohesively. the complicated emotions and relationships/dynamics the book explored were really well done faye having this brokenness inside her over adam not liking her, lori learning how to be "selfish" and prioritize herself, the difference between boundaries and comfort zone, seeing someone you care about in a different light & grieving the image you had of them before, growing with the people alongside you, the importance of accountability in friendship, how perspective impacts situations, making mistakes when you're young & learning how to come back from them --it's just a great book. it was so fun and entertaining and sweet while packing these little punches with life lessons in the fist lol.
i loved lori kicking ass with men who disrespect her. faye's vulnerability with the reader about how deeply she wants her brother to like her. dylan's friendship, and how he supported faye & then lori, & wouldn't tell faye what lori said because it was lori's to tell her, how he told faye yes, you are being a little selfish and then helped her start to grow as a person, how he was there for lori when she had no one else even though they didn't really know each other. dean supporting lori even when he was upset with her & always reminding her she gets to choose how she lives/can say yes and no. kellan protecting faye even when they were fighting. lori ripping adam a new one even after he apologized, still saying you had no right to say that to me and standing her ground, acknowledging that an apology doesn't nullify or invalidate the wrongdoing.
and finally, my two favorite quotes that also happen to represent the book's message really well:
“it’s like he wants me to stay sweet, boring, and predictable instead of trying new things and having new experiences, and he’s doing it all under the guise of caring,” (209)
"'everyone makes mistakes. you're seventeen, faye. you're going to make a shit-ton more before you figure it out, and that's okay. it's life. what matters now if how you fix it.'" (261)
i feel like i grew with these characters, lori especially. every time i feel anxiety, i think of her facing her fears & doing things anyway, learning the language of self-love, kicking ass (sometimes literally) unapologetically. it's stayed with me even after finishing it & completing another book after.
this is the kind of story i needed growing up. the antithesis of romanticizing toxicity, growing with or without those around you, standing up for yourself and learning to say sorry. playing up your strengths, people who naturally compliment them, men who respect women point blank period, making mistakes & learning to come back from them. i loved the celebration of women in the juxtaposition of lori & faye’s opposing character traits as they grow & accept themselves. this was such a refreshing read & so fun and entertaining and sweet while packing these little punches with life lessons in the fist lol.
& the female friendship and empowerment!!! i loved the cave scene where everyone was dancing and hyping each other up & naomi being a fast friend for lori. i also think naomi, anaya, kiara, and priyasha are just really cool names
jess really came through with the emotional arcs & the journey of each character, and it was lighthearted & authentic while also having a great underlying theme reflected in each character in their own way but still cohesively. the complicated emotions and relationships/dynamics the book explored were really well done
i loved
and finally, my two favorite quotes that also happen to represent the book's message really well: