The family and friend vacation to Mallorca was planned long before Frannie found out Jim screwed a 23 year old intern, so they take it as last chance to see if their marriage can be reconciled. Frannie and Jim aren't the only ones with issues - their 18 year old daughter Sylvia just wants to escape an embarrassing Facebook scandal and finally lose her virginity; their son and his much older girlfriend Carmen need to ask for a cash handout, and Frannie's gay BFF Charlie and his husband need to decide if they really want to adopt a baby.

Amidst the sparkling beaches, jamon sandwiches, and family drama, will this be a vacation to remember or will these orbiting satellites end up crashing and burning?

Fantastic, absorbing, and the best summer book I've read in a long time. The Vacationers reminded me of Maggie Shipstead's Seating Arrangements with its multiple POVs and quirky characters who are both loveable and loathsome at the same time. Straub showcases the power of family (by blood or choice) over the perceived "outsider" and how the glee in the suffering in others can also help mend your interpersonal problems. Tons of fun.

The matriarch Frannie really struck home to me, especially her disgust with how her children behave even though she has unwavering love for them. How Straub depicted the handling of certain significant others who don't pass muster also rang so true for me. My only quibble was the "too-neat" ending.

Loved this book!