Going into this book I was really excited. A coming-of-age, a controversial relationship, the struggle of being stuck between two cultures, and the beautiful Turkish seaside are all elements of books that I love. Somehow, in Holiday Coutry it does not work at all.

The best part of this book is the descriptive prose. I could vividly imagine the small town along the Aegean Sea. I could feel the sticker summer heat and smell the harbor. The setting definitely came to life in a very visceral way. 

I also appreciate the discussion of being trapped between two cultures. Ada is too American to be Turkish and too Turkish to be American. It makes sense that she finds herself so anxious to fit in in her mother’s homeland. 

That said, the MC, ADA, is absolutely detestable. It isn’t just that she makes bad decisions. It’s that she ms intentionally cruel for no reason at all. I never come to understand her reasoning for doing the things she does. It seems like she just wants to be a jerk to everyone who cares about her. 

Secondly, the illicit romance in this is completely unbelievable. There is zero chemistry between the two characters and it was about as exciting as watching paint dry. iIt was red flag after red flag so obvious that our MC must've has to blindfold herself to not notice them. 

All in all, this book was just not for me. I gave it three stars because the writing is technically proficient and the prose is beautiful, but I struggle to imagine most people enjoying it.