THE VACATIONERS

by Emma Straub
I was hoping The Vacationers would be a fun and easy beach read based on its cover and title. (What’s that saying again?) Sadly, I was disappointed. Although set in picturesque Mallorca, the book is depressing and at times, dull. Franny and Jim have planned a vacation to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary, as well as their daughter’s high school graduation. Their older son and his girlfriend (who no one likes) come along, as well as Franny’s best friend and his much younger husband. It’s a motley crew and I’m sure a more charming or engaging story could have been written. But between marital distress, secret debts coming to light and literally every character’s seeming unhappiness with their life and themselves, it was just a bummer from beginning to end. (Lily)