Image Credit: amazon.com

“Families were nothing more than hope cast out in a wide net, everyone wanting only the best.”
― Emma Straub, The Vacationers

I’m so excited to be reviewing my first book from the 2016 Reading Challenge!

First up:

• A book you previously abandoned: The Vacationers, Emma Straub

Our family friend Lucy brought this book to my parents’ house and let me borrow it. It took me absolutely forever, but I finally finished it.

Confession: I had only gotten about 30 pages in when I abandoned it, so I literally started over, from the beginning. It was a good decision.

Once I got started, I wanted to keep reading. I kept getting interrupted, but I felt great satisfaction once I got to the end.

In total, it took me about two months to get from beginning to end.

The main reason I abandoned the book in the first place was other priorities – Our wedding, the holidays, starting school again. As I started the book over, however, I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish it. I liked the story, but some of the characters bothered me, Franny in particular, Bobby, and Carmen. I wasn’t so fond of Jim, either.

However, determined not to quit again, I kept chipping away at it.

Then, one night last week, I flew through three whole chapters. I wanted to keep reading, but I knew I needed sleep. I reluctantly set it aside with my glasses, and dreamed of Mallorca.

I finished the book, in triumph, earlier this week. It felt great.

My original issues with the characters sorted themselves out as I kept reading. They all have flaws, just like we do. I admire Straub for writing about a completely different country, and making me feel like I was there, with the Posts, the entire time. I was wrapped up in their world, for the whole thirteen days that they experienced.

It’s definitely one of those books I would recommend when you need an escape – Whether you’re traveling, or need a vacation from your everyday life – Straub’s writing transports you to Mallorca with the Posts, without hopping on a plane.

It’s not necessarily a classic novel, but I enjoyed reading it. I’m curious about her other works as well.

The ending left me as a crossroads, likely how the characters were feeling as well. I wanted to see more of them in another work, but at the same time, I felt content and found myself imagining their journeys afterward.

4 out of 5 stars.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂