First stop…a rundown hostile on Venice Beach that attracts people from all over the world. Their reasons for being there are vastly different. Everyone with a story and past that lead them there. Ready to find out all the juicy details? This is the fourth John Marrs book I've read and it's, by far, my least favorite. Marrs has an amazing ability to bring his characters to life, and in most his books, the story-line is absolutely gripping. Not so with Welcome To Wherever You Are. It's very slow paced, to the point of being boring at times. The point of the novel is that everyone is hiding something and a bit like Janus presenting one face to the world and hiding the real face. Most of them are running from something or hiding from someone or something or covering something up. The unlikely character of Peyk, who is a sort of handyman, turns out to be the only one who sees people and events as they really are and it turns out he's a bit of a philosopher albeit aided by weed! The novel ends on an optimist note for some of the characters. For instance, Tommy seems to be recovering from the traumas that happened to him, Declan is finding happiness with Nicole who appears to have a better future in front of her having bought and renovated the hostel. This huge cast of characters descend on Venice Beach International Hostel. Each with their own stories to tell. Ranging from fame, domestic abuse, death, crime, obsession and just a sprinkling of love. The Vacation by John Marrs is a difficult book to write about. It’s certainly an addictive read as I was desperate to see how it ended – or more accurately – how our characters all fared.

John Marrs - Author John Marrs - Author

Originally published as Welcome to Wherever You Are, this is a re-edited release perfect for fans of T. M. Logan. In The Vacation we are introduced to eight characters who are staying at the same hostel in Venice Beach. Their stories move between the current time and the past, as the reasons behind their travels are slowly revealed. It is all a bit disjointed in the beginning, and it doesn't really come together cohesively until two thirds of the way through the book when things begin to get really interesting. So be patient. A group of strangers all arrive at a hostel on Venice Beach, all of them are running away from something. They all have secrets and want a new identity.

Advance Praise

Building and supporting a community of self-published authors dedicated to both sharing experiences and le Officially 15k Members Strong & Climbing!! The intricate character development in this book stands out as truly remarkable. Each character possesses a depth that brings them to life, making their stories and struggles palpable. From Tommy, who works at the hostel reception, to Savannah, the daughter of a TV Reverend in Alabama, and childhood friends Matty and Declan from Ireland, every character is intricately woven into the narrative. Nicole and Eric, friends and work colleagues from the UK, Ruth, the solitary traveler from Australia, and Jake, who changed his name before leaving the UK, all contribute to the rich tapestry of the story. I found it a little disconcerting that some of the timeframe changes occurred mid chapter which I wasn’t used to experiencing. Similarly on a few occasions there was some head hopping. We were in the head of one character and then privy to another’s thoughts, though thankfully for the most part it’s clear. Matty & Declan - childhood friends from Irełand. Did they choose to leave Ireland and travel around the US?

The Vacation by John Marrs | The StoryGraph The Vacation by John Marrs | The StoryGraph

The Author Resource Round Table on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/116489?group_id=26989 Originally published under the title Welcome to Wherever You Are in 2015, this book is quite different from what ‘we’ are used to read from John Marrs lately. It’s not SF, it’s not a travel guide (although it sometimes reads like on) and its not a thriller or a romance story. It has little pieces of everything and of course, the writing is such that it’s hard to put the book down. Normally I’d struggle with the coincidences we discover between our characters. And perhaps mentioning that there ARE links is a bit of a spoiler, but it’s hard not to because that’s very much the whole point of this book; as well as its strength and weakness. Here however, [the aforementioned coincides] work. Mostly. The craving for a new identity and the chance to start again is something they have in common. But the search for a fresh start isn't as easy as they'd imagined. Thank you so much to Tracy Fenton and to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.The plot is compelling and seemingly unrelated characters come together to form cleverly woven threads, you just cannot put this book down! I’ve been wanting to read a book by John Marrs for a while now and after finishing The Vacation I can tell you I’ll be reading many more! Over the course of short and sharp chapters, the reader is introduced to a whole host of characters based around a Venice Beach hostel. It takes a while to set the scene properly, there are so many characters with their own motivations and secrets which could be confusing in less skilful hands. However Marrs deftly weaves the narrative into the connections that begin to appear between these intriguing individuals with a practised and confident hand. As the book moves on, the suspense and action ramps up, full of twists and turns that keep the reader on their toes leading to an ending I felt worked perfectly for this story. The Vacation is a multilayered and exhilarating thriller that would make an excellent summer read!

The Vacation by John Marrs - Fantastic Fiction The Vacation by John Marrs - Fantastic Fiction

But for eight strangers at the beachfront hostel, there is far more on their minds than an extended vacation. Note: The Vacation was original While The Vacation is not the best book I have read by this author, it is entertaining and enjoyable.Wow there are so many unexpected surprises, twists and deranged characters. Most of these guests are running away from something in their lives. Originally published as Welcome to Wherever You Are , this is a re-edited release perfect for fans of T. M. Logan. Tommy - works in the hostel reception. He was traveling around the US with his friend before they went their separate ways. Although coping with his own troubles, he becomes someone people turn to.

The Vacation by John Marrs, Peter Noble | 2940171597849 The Vacation by John Marrs, Peter Noble | 2940171597849

Building and supporting a community of self-published authors dedicated to both sharing experiences and learning as equals. After working as a journalist for 25-years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time writer.Note: The Vacation was originally titled ‘Welcome to Wherever You Are’, this is the re-edited new release. It’s a large cast of characters but at no time did I have any difficulty keeping them and their storylines apart. And of course, how they all eventually intersect. Brilliantly done! Amazing. Bloody brilliant. Clever, twisted and dark as mighty hell." —Lisa Jewell on Keep It in the Family But for eight strangers at a beach front hostel, there is far more on their mind than an extended vacation. Feel free to invite some friends to join our Round Table community!http://www.goodreads.com/group/invite_members/26989-goodreads-authors-readers