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Here Today, Gone to Maui
From the author of the "delightful"( Booklist ) Getting Warmer , a comedy about what happens when the best lei'd plans go awry.
When Jane Shea's boyfriend, Jimmy, invites her to spend a week at a swanky resort in Maui, she's thrilled-of course-but nervous, too. She worries about missing their flight. She worries about losing her luggage. It never even occurs to her that she might misplace Jimmy.
But paradise has a way of attracting trouble, and Jane hasn't even managed to learn the hula or paddle under a waterfall before Jimmy disappears. When the police suggest that Jimmy has drowned, Jane thinks things can't get any worse-but her troubles have just begun. This is one vacation the guidebooks never prepared her for.
When Jane Shea's boyfriend, Jimmy, invites her to spend a week at a swanky resort in Maui, she's thrilled-of course-but nervous, too. She worries about missing their flight. She worries about losing her luggage. It never even occurs to her that she might misplace Jimmy.
But paradise has a way of attracting trouble, and Jane hasn't even managed to learn the hula or paddle under a waterfall before Jimmy disappears. When the police suggest that Jimmy has drowned, Jane thinks things can't get any worse-but her troubles have just begun. This is one vacation the guidebooks never prepared her for.
295 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2008
12 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Carol Snow
38Ìýbooks226ÌýfollowersCalled “an author to watchâ€� by Booklist, Carol Snow is an American author of contemporary women’s fiction and young adult literature. After graduating from Brown University with a degree in psychology, she spent many years writing literary short stories before accepting that she couldn't go more than a few hundred words without cracking a joke. She eventually turned her attention to crafting humorous, heartfelt stories with a wider commercial appeal, and In 2006, Berkley/Penguin published her first novel, Been There, Done That, which Publisher's Weekly called “humorous, wise . . . romance with a bit of social commentary.â€� Since then, she has written four more books for adults, Getting Warmer (2007), Here Today, Gone to Maui (2009), Just Like Me, Only Better (2010), and the upcoming What Came First (2011), about which Laura Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Veil of Roses, said, “Carol Snow mixes her trademark humor with tenderness and understanding in this good-mom/bad-mom tale of unexpected twists and turns.â€� Carol has also written two young adult books for HarperCollins, Switch (2008), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and Snap (2009). Foreign rights to her books have sold to publishers in Germany, Norway, and Romania.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. In addition to her psychology degree from Brown University, she holds an M.A.T. in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.
Since leaving New Jersey, Carol has lived all over the place: Rhode Island, London, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Utah, Arizona, and, now, Southern California, where she shares a cat-fur-coated house with her husband and their two children.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. In addition to her psychology degree from Brown University, she holds an M.A.T. in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.
Since leaving New Jersey, Carol has lived all over the place: Rhode Island, London, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Utah, Arizona, and, now, Southern California, where she shares a cat-fur-coated house with her husband and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
August 24, 2010
This was a great vacation read. A little suspense, not too complicated, easy to remember the characters. The best part was that it inspired me to make mai tais.
April 24, 2019
3-3.5 stars. My favorite part of this book is that it took place in Maui. I’ve been there 4x and dream of living there someday! I really enjoyed reading and imagining the characters in so many of the places that I’ve been to when i was in Maui. As far as the storyline goes, it is a great idea for a novel but I think the writing was kinda cheesy at times and I absolutely hated the character Tiara. Overall, it was an easy read and if you love Maui, it would be a good beach read to take with you on a trip.
March 27, 2013
Cute story. Great beach read.
I figured out the plot twists a little earlier then maybe I should have but overall it was enjoyable.
I figured out the plot twists a little earlier then maybe I should have but overall it was enjoyable.
August 20, 2017
Perfect read while relaxing on the beaches of Maui!
February 2, 2025
This book was a book for me but I gave it a 4 stars.
January 9, 2024
Nudziłam się przy niej, przez liczbę stron myślałam że szybko ją przeczytam ale jednak tak się nie stało. Ciągła się i ciągła. Natomiast fabuła była bardzo eee abstrakcyjna?XD No bo jakby para jedzie ze sobą na wakacje i nagle mężczyzna znika w tajemniczych okolicznościach, każdy myśli że nie żyje ale jednak puenta pod koniec jest zupełnie inna. To zakończenie zrobiło z tej książki nieudaną komedie XD
February 26, 2022
Książka nie jest zła, lecz przez swoje niedoskonałości bardzo traci. Zbyt długie rozwinięcie i budowanie fabuły, kiedy została ona wreszcie skumulowana poczułem się jak w literackiej wersji "Pamiętników z wakacji" i "Dlaczego ja?". Zachowania bohaterów (także głównej bohaterki) w niektórych momentach historii były nielogiczne i pozbawione prawdopodobieństwa że kiedyś faktycznie mogą się wydarzyć.
July 9, 2018
I enjoyed this fun, light, beach read. The main character was smart and a bit dull, but that's what made her fall for such a horrible guy. I enjoyed each twist of her horrible vacation, and I also enjoyed how she grew. The supporting characters were fun and interesting, too.
June 21, 2020
A good twist in the middle was the only thing that kept me reading this book that was pretty ho-hum at the beginning. The ending is pretty obvious, but it turned out to be a kind of fun story and it takes place in a wonderful location.
July 8, 2017
A cheesy novel set in Hawaii, which I read to get in the mood for my upcoming trip there.
August 3, 2017
Total beach read, very lite reading! I love Maui, so it was fun to read the descriptions.
September 27, 2018
Light reading, fun story, a good beach-vacation book.
December 24, 2018
Fun read
December 17, 2019
Great entertaining beach read! Of course, I also love Maui and relived my travels through this book!
February 20, 2022
very cute story
would recommend
would recommend
March 7, 2022
Tragedia takie 1,5 gwiazdki. Nudna. TrochÄ™ czasem vibe jak oszust z tindera na papierze
June 6, 2022
3.75/5 (???)
July 4, 2022
Bardzo miłe zaskoczenie - lekka i zabawna lektura na lato:)
November 20, 2022
Książka zdecydowanie nie w moim guście. Najgorsza komedia powiązana z romansem jaką kiedykolwiek przeczytałam!
January 6, 2023
szosta, a zarazem pierwsza najgorsza ksiazka tego roku:/
May 7, 2023
Fun, fast weekend read :)
Read
August 27, 2023I did like it! Definitely cheesy, but okay overal! But it did seem somewhat � unfinished. So it should’ve been more fleshed out story/character wise
Read
November 4, 2023 2023 Challenge - #7
June 7, 2024
Cute
July 13, 2018
Very predictable and kind of a stupid plot. But for an easy quick read it was enjoyable.
August 14, 2017
Such a fun read, great twists.
August 24, 2010
Jane O’Shea is thrilled to be going on vacation to Maui with her boyfriend Jimmy. Jimmy’s always been a little unreliable and maybe a little flaky, but Jane knows a week’s vacation in Maui is just what Jimmy needs to realize they can have a future together. Neat-freak Jane and laid-back Jimmy and a week in paradise; what could go wrong?
Well, Jimmy disappears while scuba diving one day. Is he missing? Dead? While searching his luggage for contact numbers to notify his family, Jane finds an engagement ring.
If you’ve ever gone on vacation with a significant other or even a close friend, you know that travel brings out the best and worst in people. Jane has Jimmy pick her up 3 hours before the flight leaves, just in case. When she unpacks, she marks off each item as she puts it in a drawer, while Jimmy has a duffel bag by his side of the bed. Jane has planned the entire week and has penciled in “relaxing by the pool.� Readers can eagerly anticipate Jane’s carefully made plans going awry even before Jimmy disappears.
At first read, Here Today, Gone to Maui easily follows the usual formula: woman-with-low-self-esteem-loves-an-ambition-less-hunk-who-can’t-commit. But as the book progresses and we find out more about Jane and Jimmy, author Carol Snow gives us a amusing journey through Jane’s past romantic choices.
While in tropical Kaanapali, Jane’s obsessively ordered life breaks apart, as she loses her boyfriend (and potential fiancé), her inhibitions, her patience and her job in one week-long disastrous trip.
While clichéd in some parts, Here Today, Gone to Maui is perfect summer reading, especially given its location. (As a former island resident, I am impressed by Carol Snow’s research and accuracy.) Just as I thought I knew exactly how a scene in the book would conclude, I would get a pleasant surprise that actually fit the characters better. Some parts were even laugh-out-loud funny and Jane is a realistic, appealing modern woman.
Well, Jimmy disappears while scuba diving one day. Is he missing? Dead? While searching his luggage for contact numbers to notify his family, Jane finds an engagement ring.
If you’ve ever gone on vacation with a significant other or even a close friend, you know that travel brings out the best and worst in people. Jane has Jimmy pick her up 3 hours before the flight leaves, just in case. When she unpacks, she marks off each item as she puts it in a drawer, while Jimmy has a duffel bag by his side of the bed. Jane has planned the entire week and has penciled in “relaxing by the pool.� Readers can eagerly anticipate Jane’s carefully made plans going awry even before Jimmy disappears.
At first read, Here Today, Gone to Maui easily follows the usual formula: woman-with-low-self-esteem-loves-an-ambition-less-hunk-who-can’t-commit. But as the book progresses and we find out more about Jane and Jimmy, author Carol Snow gives us a amusing journey through Jane’s past romantic choices.
While in tropical Kaanapali, Jane’s obsessively ordered life breaks apart, as she loses her boyfriend (and potential fiancé), her inhibitions, her patience and her job in one week-long disastrous trip.
While clichéd in some parts, Here Today, Gone to Maui is perfect summer reading, especially given its location. (As a former island resident, I am impressed by Carol Snow’s research and accuracy.) Just as I thought I knew exactly how a scene in the book would conclude, I would get a pleasant surprise that actually fit the characters better. Some parts were even laugh-out-loud funny and Jane is a realistic, appealing modern woman.
September 23, 2013
Reviewed by Lissa Staley
Posted December 15, 2008
Romance Contemporary | Romance Chick-Lit
Jane Shea is a list maker, a planner, a worrier. She's excited about her week-long trip to Maui with her boyfriend, Jimmy, but she worries that they will miss their plane, or lose their luggage, or get sunburned. Jane thinks it's a good sign when Jimmy surprises her by being early to pick her up for the airport, but once they arrive in Hawaii, their trip doesn't go as smoothly.
First, the fancy oceanfront hotel lost their reservation and they end up in a rundown motel's one-room efficiency with a view of the parking lot. Then, Jimmy's credit card is declined and he is increasingly distant and upset. The worst part is when they go down to the beach for some fun in the waves; Jimmy goes into the water to scuba dive and never comes back out.
Suddenly, Jane's plans for a relaxing week are revised to include a search team and a police detective, plus another woman from Jimmy's life and a mysterious man. In all her planning, Jane didn't worry that her boring life could be turned completely upside down by one little trip to Maui!
This new novel from Carol Snow is smartly written, with appealing characters and a plot just wacky enough to be plausible. The perpetually nervous Jane remains sympathetic and relatable throughout her adventures on the island. The "other woman" character is rather outrageously depicted, but this is perfect, since she's described only from Jane's perspective. Although the plot is not fast- paced, the story left me guessing until the end and the romance was slow, sweet and satisfying. I've enjoyed Ms. Snow's previous novels, but this is my new favorite!
Posted December 15, 2008
Romance Contemporary | Romance Chick-Lit
Jane Shea is a list maker, a planner, a worrier. She's excited about her week-long trip to Maui with her boyfriend, Jimmy, but she worries that they will miss their plane, or lose their luggage, or get sunburned. Jane thinks it's a good sign when Jimmy surprises her by being early to pick her up for the airport, but once they arrive in Hawaii, their trip doesn't go as smoothly.
First, the fancy oceanfront hotel lost their reservation and they end up in a rundown motel's one-room efficiency with a view of the parking lot. Then, Jimmy's credit card is declined and he is increasingly distant and upset. The worst part is when they go down to the beach for some fun in the waves; Jimmy goes into the water to scuba dive and never comes back out.
Suddenly, Jane's plans for a relaxing week are revised to include a search team and a police detective, plus another woman from Jimmy's life and a mysterious man. In all her planning, Jane didn't worry that her boring life could be turned completely upside down by one little trip to Maui!
This new novel from Carol Snow is smartly written, with appealing characters and a plot just wacky enough to be plausible. The perpetually nervous Jane remains sympathetic and relatable throughout her adventures on the island. The "other woman" character is rather outrageously depicted, but this is perfect, since she's described only from Jane's perspective. Although the plot is not fast- paced, the story left me guessing until the end and the romance was slow, sweet and satisfying. I've enjoyed Ms. Snow's previous novels, but this is my new favorite!
October 29, 2010
Jane Shea likes lists. She likes plans, and organization, and orderliness. So when her boyfriend invites her to vacation in Maui with him, Jane is cautiously optimistic. She wants to have a good time but is afraid something is going to go wrong - a freak snowstorm will come to L.A. and ground the plane, or the airline will lose their luggage, or worse, Jimmy will never show up to pick her up.
When the worst that happens is the hotel losing their reservation, Jane thinks she can finally relax. The something bad she's been bracing herself for finally happened, but in paradise, where hotels are as plentiful as sand, losing their reservation isn't that bad. Then Jimmy goes out diving one morning and never returns, and Jane realizes that despite all that she prepared herself to go wrong, she never could have prepared herself for this.
This is easily Carol Snow's best book to date � and that's saying a lot because all of her previous books have been wonderful. The minute I received this, I curled up on the couch to begin reading. Twenty-four hours later, I was finished and wanting more. I loved everything about Here Today, Gone to Maui. I liked Jane and how uptight and neurotic she is. I loved the twists and turns concerning Jimmy's whereabouts. The only thing I didn't like about this book is how long I will have to wait for another Carol Snow book. Snow is definitely one of my auto-buy authors - I know that I'll be in for a good story, realistic characters, and a fun time all around.
Originally posted on curledup.com
When the worst that happens is the hotel losing their reservation, Jane thinks she can finally relax. The something bad she's been bracing herself for finally happened, but in paradise, where hotels are as plentiful as sand, losing their reservation isn't that bad. Then Jimmy goes out diving one morning and never returns, and Jane realizes that despite all that she prepared herself to go wrong, she never could have prepared herself for this.
This is easily Carol Snow's best book to date � and that's saying a lot because all of her previous books have been wonderful. The minute I received this, I curled up on the couch to begin reading. Twenty-four hours later, I was finished and wanting more. I loved everything about Here Today, Gone to Maui. I liked Jane and how uptight and neurotic she is. I loved the twists and turns concerning Jimmy's whereabouts. The only thing I didn't like about this book is how long I will have to wait for another Carol Snow book. Snow is definitely one of my auto-buy authors - I know that I'll be in for a good story, realistic characters, and a fun time all around.
Originally posted on curledup.com
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