The Vacation Rental

A Novel

By: Katie Sise

Narrated by: Michelle Price, Anne Marie Lewis

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

A summer getaway triggers a psychological game of cat and mouse in a novel about the frightening damages of love, family, and obsession by the bestselling author of Open House and We Were Mothers.

When Georgia rents her country home for the month of August, it’s off to the relaxing Connecticut shore for her; her husband, Tom; and their young daughter. It’s just what they need to ease family tensions and reconnect. All that’s left to do is leave behind their house keys—to a stranger.

For Anna, Georgia and Tom’s house in the cool woodlands is a dream break from the oppressive heat of a New York City summer—and from an increasingly ill-fated relationship with her lover. A month apart and Anna can clear her head and reassess her future. She’s found the perfect place to do it.

As the weeks wear on, Georgia and Anna discover that the pleasures of escape are as difficult to trust in as the comforts of home. And neither one can shake the feeling that something is about to go terribly wrong.

©2024 Katie Sise (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“With superb plotting and finely crafted characters, The Vacation Rental surprised me at every turn! An insightful thriller about family secrets and long-held grudges, written by a truly talented author.”—Wendy Walker, bestselling author of What Remains

Ok but really slow

I did like the overall story but all of it unfolded too slowly. Repetition is my pet peeve. It’s so unnecessary. I feel it insults the listener/reader like they somehow didn’t get it the first 10-15 times. If it’s absolutely necessary then rephrasing or reframing absolutely should be done. With that being said I was interested enough to not DNF which I normally would do. I liked the character development. I loved the scheming. Uncovering the why’s added a bit of intensity. Emotions definitely came across.

Narration was really good for most of it. Anna’s voice was excellently conveyed in emotional range as well as inner voice. Georgia was at times hit or miss. It may have been the author’s plan to have her come across as submissive and timid but it sounded weak, which Georgia clearly is not. Several times Millie’s voice really was off. I think if it doesn’t sound masterful then the narrators own voice is such a better sound.

Didn't care for the characters

I'm sort of torn. It was a good book and kept my interest pretty good but also seemed drug out. I wasn't crazy about any of the characters and Millie acted like a 4 yr old until the very end, her parents also treated her like she was 4. They just all fell flat for me in personality. I gave it 4 stars because it was a good plot and written good.

The audiobook was ok. The narrator was good but I didn't like the characters' voices. I think because it sounded just like the characters would in real life.

Unexpected

I really liked this book it’s really insightful for fiction and I’m pleased I took a chance on this one I was worried about it at first but eventually I was drawn into the story. .

A Surprising Jewel

When I started this book, I groaned. I thought I had picked another chick book. It was about two women: Anna, a single photographer living in New York City having an affair with a married man, and Georgia is married, and lives in a suburb (the house she grew up in) with her husband and 11-year-old daughter. I was about to stop listening to the book (on Audible) and the two lives became entangled.

Anna rents Georgia's house for a month in August white Georgia goes to the beach. Then you find out that the women had grown up together and something had happened in their past. Whew. The action starts there, never stops, and ends where I never thought it would.

Anyone interested in a great mystery should read this. If you listen to Audible, the readers are great.