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Available
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Description
Celebrating their thirty-fifth anniversary and their daughter's high-school graduation during a two-week vacation in Mallorca, Franny and Jim Post confront old secrets, hurts, and rivalries that reveal sides of themselves they try to conceal.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Loried
I was delighted to receive an ARC of The Vacationers from LibraryThing. The book exceeded my expectations; I had thought it would be just a typical summer read. Instead, the book had much more substance and was very well-written. The author’s descriptions were wonderful; I felt I knew the
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characters in the book and enjoyed the locale as well. It was nice to have an unusual setting for the book. I think the author has great insight into human behavior, and I found it interesting that the author, who appears to be young, was able to realistically handle characters of both sexes from 18 to 60’ish. I would highly recommend the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member nivramkoorb
This is the 3rd book that I have read by Straub in the last 4 months. She writes well about the today's family filled with gays, straights, old, young etc. In this book we have 7 people coming together in Mallorca for a 2 week summer vacation at a private home. Franny and Jim are a couple from
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Brooklyn who should be celebrating their 35 anniversary. Jim, however, had a major lapse and had an affair with a 23 year old intern at the magazine where he had worked for 30 years. Her Dad was a board member and the result was his firing. Franny is furious and is dealing with it. Their daughter Sylvia is an 18 year old ready for her 1st year at Brown. She deals with the usual stuff. Bobby is the eldest son at 28 living in Miami with is 40 year old personal trainer Carmen. Finally there is Franny's life long gay friend Charles who is there with his younger husband Lawrence. Straub throws them all together like a chef making a stew. She uses 3rd person narration with each of the characters combined with witty prose so that it is a good read. There are many plot points and interactions. The characters are not all likable and the ending was a little too simple. Straub is a solid writer who can make 300 pages pass very pleasantly. Having just read 3 of her books, I will take a break from her and wait for her next. Show Less
LibraryThing member klarsenmd
When I saw this on several summer must read lists I thought I would give it a shot. All I can say is that while the writing itself was technically good, I disliked almost everything else about it. I detested almost every character in it, and I found the plot to be condescending and weak. It was
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predictable and shallow. Don't waste your time. Show Less
LibraryThing member anissaannalise
I chose this to read as a diversion during a weekend fast. It was a quick read (I got through in a less than day) and I liked the beginning and end more than the middle. Jim and Franny Post decided to vacation for two weeks in Mallorca as a last family holiday before daughter, Sylvia leaves for
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college. Their son, Bobby and girlfriend, Carmen are along for the trip as well as Franny's BFF Charles and his husband, Lawrence. The setting, a loaned house of Gemma, a friend of Charles's, is spectacular and so is Mallorca in general. Enter, Joan (pronounced Joe-aahn) to tutor Sylvia in Spanish, while they're on island and the cast is basically complete. What follows is all sorts of revelations about tension between Jim and Franny care of an affair and Jim's unplanned retirement. Sylvia's on a quest to vanquish her virginity due to a hookup between her former BFF and her crush, some tertiary angst over a drunken indescretion at a graduation party much discussed on social media. Bobby is in financial trouble and a dead end relationship with Carmen. Charles and Lawrence are anxious in varying degrees about becoming parents. Of all the characters, I liked Charles and Lawrence best. They weren't perfect but it was nice to see their beginning a family juxtaposed to the weather worn Posts family. The middle of the book felt like it lagged a bit but it's a vacation sort of book so it felt like that kind of lull. I did like the ends for everyone and it didn't bother me that it ended more hopeful than it began. In the end, the Posts left more baggage behind than they took with them so I think it was a good vacation. Show Less
LibraryThing member Narshkite
Delightful. Straub writes about people I know, and does so with grace and love while also exposing all the warts. There is an Austen-feel to her books too. She writes about human relationships and celebrates the bonds of familial love (even when your family drives you crazy), things modern
The book is not perfect, many of the characters required a bit more fleshing out for them to seem like more than plot devices, but I left this read refreshed and satisfied and happy. That is a win!
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publishers would relegate to "women's literature," while commenting slyly on issues of class, imperialism, societal strictures stemming from age, gender, sexual orientation, beauty, money, ethnicity, and other semi-immutable characteristics. The book is not perfect, many of the characters required a bit more fleshing out for them to seem like more than plot devices, but I left this read refreshed and satisfied and happy. That is a win!
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LibraryThing member karenvg3
I enjoyed this story of a family vacation packed with the ups and downs of real life and how a family deals with adversity. It was a fun light read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LibraryThing member reggieboo
Good book about family dynamics and how infifelity affects a marriage. I enjoyed the setting and the writing made me feel like was there.
LibraryThing member nomadreader
The backstory: I've previously enjoyed Emma Straub's short story collection, Other People We Married, which apparently I never reviewed, but the story "Fly Over State" remains one of my all-time favorites. Her debut novel, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, was a delightful audio experience, and I
The basics: The Post family are off to spend two weeks in Mallorca. Franny and Jim are celebrating thirty-five years of marriage, but it may be coming to an end. Jim has also lost his job. Their daughter Sylvia is off to Brown in the fall. Their son, Bobby, and his older girlfriend, Carmen, live in Miami. Franny's best friend, Charles, and his husband, Lawrence, also join them.
My thoughts: The Vacationers is one of those books that enchanted me from its opening pages. It's the perfect combination of so many factors, and reading it gave me that feeling that this book is one that will remain with me because it's so special. There's a lot of drama within its pages, but it never veers to the melodramatic, largely due to Straub's smart and witty writing. In some ways, the plot itself is rather ordinary, and perhaps that's why I was so impressed when this novel turned out to be something extraordinary, and a much richer reading experience than I anticipated.
I read The Vacationers compulsively. I loved living in the heads of each narrator. Some characters I more easily identified with, but as each took a turn telling the story from his or her point of view, none appeared stronger or weaker than the other. There are so many things I loved about The Vacationers, but they all circle back to the combination of smart, observant writing and realistically flawed, well-developed characters.
The verdict: The Vacationers is perfect summer reading for smart people. It offers an exotic location, family drama, humor and plenty of wise observations about contemporary life. In short: it's smart, funny and fun.
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was eager to see what she would do next. Once again, it's something quite different from her previously published work.The basics: The Post family are off to spend two weeks in Mallorca. Franny and Jim are celebrating thirty-five years of marriage, but it may be coming to an end. Jim has also lost his job. Their daughter Sylvia is off to Brown in the fall. Their son, Bobby, and his older girlfriend, Carmen, live in Miami. Franny's best friend, Charles, and his husband, Lawrence, also join them.
My thoughts: The Vacationers is one of those books that enchanted me from its opening pages. It's the perfect combination of so many factors, and reading it gave me that feeling that this book is one that will remain with me because it's so special. There's a lot of drama within its pages, but it never veers to the melodramatic, largely due to Straub's smart and witty writing. In some ways, the plot itself is rather ordinary, and perhaps that's why I was so impressed when this novel turned out to be something extraordinary, and a much richer reading experience than I anticipated.
I read The Vacationers compulsively. I loved living in the heads of each narrator. Some characters I more easily identified with, but as each took a turn telling the story from his or her point of view, none appeared stronger or weaker than the other. There are so many things I loved about The Vacationers, but they all circle back to the combination of smart, observant writing and realistically flawed, well-developed characters.
The verdict: The Vacationers is perfect summer reading for smart people. It offers an exotic location, family drama, humor and plenty of wise observations about contemporary life. In short: it's smart, funny and fun.
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LibraryThing member kdabra4
I read this book over the course of 24 hours. I feel like I have been on this beautiful vacation and back again, with an engaging family and their two friends. I simply adored this book. First off, what a wonderful vacation spot, Mallorca Spain. I found this lovely island on the map, and just as I
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suspected it is the actual home of Rafa Nadal, who I'm sure was the inspiration for the tennis star mentioned in the book, by a different name. Secondly, the characters were well drawn and loveable, mostly--and even the not so loveable had their bright moments too. And then, there is Straub's writing, so natural and unassuming. Even the few parts that got romantic and steamy were extremely well done and not sappy in the least. That's very high praise from someone like me who dislikes romance books with a passion! A great summertime read, I couldn't be more pleased to have won this from librarythings.com. Show Less
LibraryThing member andreago12
I liked this book. It is a light, easy read. The writing is good. It's a story of the Post family - mom, dad, just graduated 18-year old daughter, grown son during a two week summer vacation on an island in Spain. 60-year old husband Jim was forced out of his career magazine job after sleeping with
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a 23-year old assistant. Wife Franny is trying to cope with Jim's infidelity and whether to stay in their 35-year marriage, 18-year old Sylvia can't wait to leave for college in 6 weeks and get away from all those who knew her in high school. 28-year old son Bobbie joins the family on vacation with his 40-year old girlfriend, Carmen. Also joining the family is Franny's long-time friend Charlie and his husband, Lawrence. I thought the premise of the story was interesting but it wrapped up way too neatly. By the last two chapters everything works out for everyone which is not realistic but maybe with summer reads as this one is touted, they're supposed to be light reads where everything is great is in the end. I did enjoy the book and read it in a few hours. Show Less
LibraryThing member debristow
I received this book as a early reviewer giveaway. Like the title, this book is definitely one of those easy reading stories that you take with you on vacation. The story delves into the lives of a seemingly idyllic family when in all reality, they are just like any other family with their own
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secrets and less than ideal family issues. Straub tells great stories within the story that pulls the reader in and connects you to each family member. This honestly is one of those books that you throw in your bag on the way to the beach- you definitely won't be disappointed. Show Less
LibraryThing member mtrumbo
The Vacationers (Early Reviewer's) is a perfect summer read about an imperfect family with lots of literal and figurative baggage on vacation in Mallorca- light and fluffy but well written with a somewhat original setting so you don't feel too guilty. Would absolutely recommend this on any leg of
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vacation - beach, plane, or car - will make the time fly by. Show Less
LibraryThing member susan.h.schofield
I won an advanced reader copy from LibraryThing. This was a very enjoyable book - a perfect summer beach read!
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Families are the people who bring out the best and worst in you. They are the ones you cannot wait to see but also cannot wait to leave. Similarly, family vacations are something to be anticipated and dreaded. Any vacation is always worth some excitement, but even the happiest of families become
However, the troubles during the trip lie not in spending time together but rather the issues they brought with them onto the island. Old jealousies arise between spouses and best friends. Sibling rivalry heats up even after years apart. Lingering doubts about compromises and other promises become prominent. Then there are the issues behind Jim’s sudden retirement. Without the distractions of everyday life, all of the little ills and hurts that the Posts ignore throughout the year suddenly come to the fore and require action that no one is quite willing to take.
Ms. Straub presents the highs and lows of families and vacations with uncanny accuracy. While the setting may be more luxurious than what most readers may experience, all readers will recognize the functional dysfunction of the Post family. Everything is there within the microcosm of the Posts: the desire for children to find their own place outside of their parents’ shadow competing with the children’s need for parental approval no matter what their age, the jealousy that comes from a best friend who is not a spouse, the hurts and harm one selfish action can have on the family proper, and more. She also showcases the love that binds them and keeps them together. Ms. Straub reminds readers that in even the most fractured relationships, love still finds a way to take its place alongside the hurt feelings.
Yet, at no point in time does Ms. Straub ever present family relationships as easy and foregone conclusions. Everyone on the Post family trip must work towards maintaining their relationship’s happiness. Some are willing to try more than others, and some make the decision to try not at all. In this way, what occurs during the vacation is very natural and normal and quite atypical for a novel. There is a universal quality to the narrative that belies the fictional elements of the story. While a reader does not necessarily become an unobserved member of the Post family, it is all too easy for readers to substitute their own family members into the narrative, making it less fictional and a bit more uncomfortably true to life.
When not discussing the Post family issues, Ms. Straub brings to life in exacting detail the beauty of Mallorca. The house in which the Posts stay is exquisitely described, as are each excursion around the island. The food Franny serves makes a reader’s mouth water, while everything from the breeze to the heat of the sun to the sound of the pool makes a reader desperately crave his or her own Mallorca vacation. It is a truly idyllic backdrop against which the Posts’ issues are that much more mundane.
The Vacationers is all about the trials and tribulations faced by families the world over. It is about the difficulties of marriage and whether couples are willing to stick it out through the tough times. It is about the changing nature of relationships and the willingness of each partner to compromise to make the other happy. Ms. Straub perfectly captures the frustrations and joys that come with being part of a family.
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somewhat fraught with tension after a period of time together. So, when The Vacationers opens up with the Post family in the throes of preparing for their two-week Mallorca vacation, one knows that the next two weeks are going to be anything but idyllic.However, the troubles during the trip lie not in spending time together but rather the issues they brought with them onto the island. Old jealousies arise between spouses and best friends. Sibling rivalry heats up even after years apart. Lingering doubts about compromises and other promises become prominent. Then there are the issues behind Jim’s sudden retirement. Without the distractions of everyday life, all of the little ills and hurts that the Posts ignore throughout the year suddenly come to the fore and require action that no one is quite willing to take.
Ms. Straub presents the highs and lows of families and vacations with uncanny accuracy. While the setting may be more luxurious than what most readers may experience, all readers will recognize the functional dysfunction of the Post family. Everything is there within the microcosm of the Posts: the desire for children to find their own place outside of their parents’ shadow competing with the children’s need for parental approval no matter what their age, the jealousy that comes from a best friend who is not a spouse, the hurts and harm one selfish action can have on the family proper, and more. She also showcases the love that binds them and keeps them together. Ms. Straub reminds readers that in even the most fractured relationships, love still finds a way to take its place alongside the hurt feelings.
Yet, at no point in time does Ms. Straub ever present family relationships as easy and foregone conclusions. Everyone on the Post family trip must work towards maintaining their relationship’s happiness. Some are willing to try more than others, and some make the decision to try not at all. In this way, what occurs during the vacation is very natural and normal and quite atypical for a novel. There is a universal quality to the narrative that belies the fictional elements of the story. While a reader does not necessarily become an unobserved member of the Post family, it is all too easy for readers to substitute their own family members into the narrative, making it less fictional and a bit more uncomfortably true to life.
When not discussing the Post family issues, Ms. Straub brings to life in exacting detail the beauty of Mallorca. The house in which the Posts stay is exquisitely described, as are each excursion around the island. The food Franny serves makes a reader’s mouth water, while everything from the breeze to the heat of the sun to the sound of the pool makes a reader desperately crave his or her own Mallorca vacation. It is a truly idyllic backdrop against which the Posts’ issues are that much more mundane.
The Vacationers is all about the trials and tribulations faced by families the world over. It is about the difficulties of marriage and whether couples are willing to stick it out through the tough times. It is about the changing nature of relationships and the willingness of each partner to compromise to make the other happy. Ms. Straub perfectly captures the frustrations and joys that come with being part of a family.
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LibraryThing member cherybear
Yup. Love it. Love Emma Straub (when's her next one coming out?)
A New York family vacations on the island of Mallorca. From the beginning you know there are things going on beneath the surface, but Straub parcels them out bit by bit. Families, friendships, relationships are all complicated, and
A New York family vacations on the island of Mallorca. From the beginning you know there are things going on beneath the surface, but Straub parcels them out bit by bit. Families, friendships, relationships are all complicated, and
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the Posts are no exception. But the love underpinning them shines through in the end. I started to think things were wrapping up a little too neatly, but the final chapter and pages do acknowledge that there are no easy answers. Show Less
LibraryThing member muddyboy
A large group of family and friends decide to take a two week vacation to the island of Mallorca. The book is about these peoples' struggle to figure out their relationships with each other and also outsiders who enter the mix. It is a lot about what is truly important and essential to keeping our
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interpersonal connections with those we love vibrant and meaningful. What I like about the book is like in real life some relationships sustain while other do not make it. I feel the author's main strength is her accurate portrayal of how families and friends interact with each other. Nice script for a movie. Show Less
LibraryThing member kellie.herson
Great summer read -- quick, satisfying, and fun. Though at first I was not sold on some of the characters (for example, I initially felt like Franny was Hannah Horvath, all grown up), I grew to enjoy them and I ultimately appreciated the care and detail with which Straub constructed both their
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assets and their flaws. Show Less
LibraryThing member Pharis
'The Vacationers', is a nice, quick summer read. Though some aspects are understandably predictable, overall, the story moves along well and does fair justice to a family, and friends, working through their brand of dysfunction during a two week vacation. The characters and their issues are wholly
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relatable. I do feel that the transitions between present and past could use a bit of polishing, but is not enough of an issue to detract from the store. A good recommendation for a read on the beach, or by the pool. Show Less
LibraryThing member UnderMyAppleTree
The ‘vacation’ was supposed to be an idyllic get away, a time of relaxation and celebration among family and close friends, except for one problem. No one was thrilled with idea of actually going on vacation. Everyone had issues that were interfering with having a good time.
This was a typical
I liked the way the book was laid out. Each day of the vacation was a chapter and we experienced what each of the characters was doing that day. The writing was witty and humorous, and at only six and a half hours, just right length to entertain and not get bogged down in too much detail.
Audio Production:
The audio production was delightful. The narration was performed by Kristen Sieh, who kept the story moving at a brisk pace with nicely done accents and some emotional impact. There are a number of characters to remember, and once I figured out who everyone was, it was an easy listen. I don’t know if I would have appreciated the witty writing as much had I read, rather than listened to, this enjoyable performance.
This was a typical
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dysfunctional family – if it is possible to be typically dysfunctional – struggling to find answers and resolutions. Original? Not really. We’ve seen these situations before in movies and television, but I enjoyed the story anyway. None of the characters were particularly likable, but they weren’t despicable either. And watching their stories unfold was a bit like peeking into a neighbors window during an argument (not that I would ever do that), and being very glad your family didn’t behave that way. Or so you believe.I liked the way the book was laid out. Each day of the vacation was a chapter and we experienced what each of the characters was doing that day. The writing was witty and humorous, and at only six and a half hours, just right length to entertain and not get bogged down in too much detail.
Audio Production:
The audio production was delightful. The narration was performed by Kristen Sieh, who kept the story moving at a brisk pace with nicely done accents and some emotional impact. There are a number of characters to remember, and once I figured out who everyone was, it was an easy listen. I don’t know if I would have appreciated the witty writing as much had I read, rather than listened to, this enjoyable performance.
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LibraryThing member Jen71
I feel horrible for anyone who wastes the time to read this book. It was like a very slow, very bad made for Lifetime TV Movie. I, myself, felt as if I was STUCK on vacation with this family for two weeks. NO bueno.
LibraryThing member loosha
Nothing new here. Move alomg.
Movie potential due to the setting.
Movie potential due to the setting.
LibraryThing member Sharn
It's was okay just a bit boring for me and extremely predictable. Predictable drives me nuts.
LibraryThing member mcelhra
This book is the perfect summer read. And by that, I don’t mean that it’s fluffy or mindless. I mean that it’s so utterly absorbing that you won’t be able to put it down. You’ll finish it off in an afternoon by the pool easily and be basking in the afterglow on the way home. Is that too
The Vacationers could have easily been a standard “family forced to go on vacation together” beach read – either the kind with zany, madcap humor or the kind with so.much.drama. However, Emma Straub’s novel is neither. In the beginning, the characters seem like stock characters, both to the reader and even to each other – the petulant teenager, the controlling mother with high hopes for family bonding on the trip, the clueless dad, the gay best friends, etc. As the story progresses, more and more layers are revealed for each character. Even the oldest son’s girlfriend, who could have easily been a throw away character used simply to show what an ass the oldest son is, is richly developed.
I loved the way the events that happened before the vacation were revealed in little bits and pieces, intertwined with the narrative of was actually happening on the vacation. I wouldn’t call this book a comedy but there was dry wit was in abundance. Franny and Sylvia’s inner thoughts were especially funny. Remarkably, I liked every character, even though some had some major flaws. And the ending was perfection – I don’t know if I’ve ever been more satisfied at the end of a novel.
Even though summer has just started, I know that The Vacationers will be THE book I recommend to people who ask me for summer reading suggestions.
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gushy? This book deserves it!The Vacationers could have easily been a standard “family forced to go on vacation together” beach read – either the kind with zany, madcap humor or the kind with so.much.drama. However, Emma Straub’s novel is neither. In the beginning, the characters seem like stock characters, both to the reader and even to each other – the petulant teenager, the controlling mother with high hopes for family bonding on the trip, the clueless dad, the gay best friends, etc. As the story progresses, more and more layers are revealed for each character. Even the oldest son’s girlfriend, who could have easily been a throw away character used simply to show what an ass the oldest son is, is richly developed.
I loved the way the events that happened before the vacation were revealed in little bits and pieces, intertwined with the narrative of was actually happening on the vacation. I wouldn’t call this book a comedy but there was dry wit was in abundance. Franny and Sylvia’s inner thoughts were especially funny. Remarkably, I liked every character, even though some had some major flaws. And the ending was perfection – I don’t know if I’ve ever been more satisfied at the end of a novel.
Even though summer has just started, I know that The Vacationers will be THE book I recommend to people who ask me for summer reading suggestions.
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LibraryThing member agjuba
Just like it's name might imply, this was a great book to read on a vacation! The author does a great job of introducing us to each character, letting us see the world from their vantage points, and sympathizing with each of them even while exasperated by their actions. To me, the most enjoyable
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thing about the book was the way it ended on a hopeful note without resorting to sugary sweetness and cliche. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookchickdi
I loved Straub's last novel, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures , about a film star from the 1950's. She drew me into Laura's world, and I felt like I was watching a TMC movie as I was reading it.
I was hoping to be as drawn into this novel, but it didn't happen for me. I loved the setting of Mallorca,
I did like the sibling relationship between Sylvia and Bobby, who have ten years age difference between them, and the scene where they went to a disco was very well done and revealing.
Straub also had some wonderful observations, like:
"Other people's families were as mysterious as an alien species, full of secret codes and shared histories."
And Franny speaking about her friendship with Charles said:
"Friendships were tricky things, especially friendships as old as theirs... Love was a given, uncomplicated by sex or vows, but honesty was always waiting there, ready to capsize the steady boat."
And thinking about her children:
"She'd always thought that siblings were pretty much the same people in differently shaped bodies, just shaken up slightly, so that the molecules arranged themselves, but now she wasn't sure."
I think splitting the focus of the story amongst the different characters, instead of focusing on just one like in Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, may be why it didn't appeal as much to me. I didn't feel like I got a complete picture of anyone. But I am in the minority here; The Vacationers made many Best of Summer lists, including a list of rave reviews found here on Parnassus Books.
I was hoping to be as drawn into this novel, but it didn't happen for me. I loved the setting of Mallorca,
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and am really interested in taking a trip there. The problem for me was that I didn't really feel invested in the characters' lives. The character I most wanted to know about was Lawrence, and he was really more of an a tangential character.I did like the sibling relationship between Sylvia and Bobby, who have ten years age difference between them, and the scene where they went to a disco was very well done and revealing.
Straub also had some wonderful observations, like:
"Other people's families were as mysterious as an alien species, full of secret codes and shared histories."
And Franny speaking about her friendship with Charles said:
"Friendships were tricky things, especially friendships as old as theirs... Love was a given, uncomplicated by sex or vows, but honesty was always waiting there, ready to capsize the steady boat."
And thinking about her children:
"She'd always thought that siblings were pretty much the same people in differently shaped bodies, just shaken up slightly, so that the molecules arranged themselves, but now she wasn't sure."
I think splitting the focus of the story amongst the different characters, instead of focusing on just one like in Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, may be why it didn't appeal as much to me. I didn't feel like I got a complete picture of anyone. But I am in the minority here; The Vacationers made many Best of Summer lists, including a list of rave reviews found here on Parnassus Books.
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