Vacation Wars Summary, Characters and Themes
Vacation Wars by Meghan Quinn is a sun-drenched, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy set against the stunning backdrop of Santorini.
It tells the story of Tessa, a quiet, number-loving introvert, who gets swept into chaos when her childhood crush, Myles, reappears at her twin sister’s wedding trip. Armed with meddling friends, old insecurities, and a “Vacation Wars” pact, Tessa must navigate prank wars, emotional baggage, and unexpected sparks. With humor, heart, and a touch of mischief, Quinn delivers a story about stepping out of the shadows, embracing vulnerability, and finding a love that’s both real and lasting.
Summary
Tessa Collins has always been the quiet twin, the planner, the dependable one who thrives on structure and numbers.
For years, she’s happily lived in the background, especially next to her vibrant and outspoken sister, Roxane.
But when Roxane announces her wedding at their childhood vacation spot — the gorgeous Anissa’s Palace Beach Resort in Santorini — Tessa’s well-ordered life is thrown off balance.
Why?
Because the boy she once secretly loved, Myles Papadakis, is back.
Seven years ago, Myles was the sun-soaked dream boy of Tessa’s teenage summers.
They shared awkward glances, brief conversations, and one magical, unforgettable moment — a kiss on the cheek — before life pulled them apart.
Now, Myles is no longer just a charming memory; he’s a handsome, confident man working at his father’s resort.
The sight of him sends Tessa straight into panic mode — especially since Roxane and her mischievous friends are determined to push her toward a summer romance.
Cue “Vacation Wars.”
Years ago, Tessa and her friends jokingly made a pact: if she was still single at 30, they could intervene in her love life.
Tessa, now dangerously close to that milestone, is horrified to learn that they plan to make good on their promise — matchmaking schemes, “magical” love perfume attacks, and all.
Determined not to be manipulated, Tessa vows to fight back with pranks of her own.
Despite her resistance, Tessa can’t deny the pull she feels toward Myles.
Their interactions, initially filled with awkwardness and banter, slowly bloom into deeper conversations and shared vulnerabilities.
Myles, too, carries emotional scars — a painful family history involving his parents’ bitter divorce and the guilt of leaving Santorini to forge a life of his own in New York.
Working at the resort again is his attempt to reconnect with his roots, but it’s clear he’s battling just as many ghosts as Tessa is.
As the vacation unfolds, Tessa and Myles find themselves thrown together — in beach games, sunset dinners, and unexpected moments of tenderness.
Every encounter peels back their carefully built defenses.
Myles reveals that he had noticed Tessa for years, admiring her quiet strength and intelligence from afar.
Meanwhile, Tessa struggles with her self-worth, battling fears that she’s not exciting or daring enough to deserve a man like him.
When romance finally sparks — a passionate kiss under the Greek stars — it feels like destiny.
But old insecurities creep back in.
A misunderstanding, fueled by eavesdropping and half-truths, convinces Tessa that Myles sees her as just a summer fling.
Devastated, she withdraws, determined to protect her heart.
Myles, unwilling to lose her, stages a grand romantic gesture: recreating the highlights of their childhood summers — kite flying, beach races, dancing by the bonfire — to prove that his feelings run deep and true.
His confession is raw, honest, and exactly what Tessa needs to believe that real love doesn’t demand perfection; it simply asks for courage.
Meanwhile, Roxane and Tessa repair their bond, as Roxane realizes her attempts to control her sister stemmed from her own fears of growing up and growing apart.
Even Myles and his father begin mending their fractured relationship, setting the stage for healing on all fronts.
In the end, Tessa chooses love — not because she needs Myles to complete her, but because she realizes she’s already complete and worthy of happiness.
The story closes with the pair planning a future together, balancing dreams, family, and love under the endless Santorini sky.
The epilogue gives a peek into their blossoming life post-vacation — a new chapter built not on childhood dreams but on real, hard-won love.
Characters
Tessa
Tessa begins the novel as a shy, introverted woman who tends to hide behind her outgoing twin sister, Roxane. She is uncomfortable with vulnerability, especially when it comes to romance, due to past experiences of feeling overlooked and unworthy of love.
As the story progresses, Tessa is forced to step out of her comfort zone due to the relentless antics of her friends and the rekindled spark with Myles. Over the course of the novel, Tessa’s character arc centers on her journey of self-acceptance.
She learns to confront her insecurities, accept her worth, and realize that she deserves a love that is deep and genuine. By the end of the novel, Tessa has evolved from a cautious, self-doubting woman to someone who embraces love on her own terms, unafraid to pursue her own happiness and embrace her feelings for Myles.
Myles
Myles is a complex character caught between his loyalty to his family and his desire to carve out his own path. At the beginning of the novel, he is distant and reluctant to reconnect with his father, Baba, due to the emotional scars left by his parents’ painful divorce.
He initially keeps his feelings for Tessa hidden, afraid of rejection and uncertain of how to navigate his emotional turmoil. However, over the course of the story, Myles undergoes significant growth, moving past his emotional baggage and learning to forgive his father.
His relationship with Tessa becomes a catalyst for him to embrace vulnerability and open himself to the possibility of love. Myles’ ultimate growth is centered on his ability to choose love and reconciliation, both with his family and with Tessa, despite the fears of getting hurt that once held him back.
Roxane
Roxane, Tessa’s twin sister, plays a significant role in the narrative, not only as Tessa’s supportive sibling but also as a character grappling with her own insecurities. Outwardly confident and assertive, Roxane often oversteps boundaries, particularly when it comes to Tessa’s romantic life.
Her behavior is driven by her own fears—mainly her anxiety about losing Tessa as she moves toward marriage. Throughout the story, Roxane learns the importance of respecting her sister’s autonomy and recognizes that true love involves trust and vulnerability.
Her arc involves learning to balance her desire to protect her sister with understanding that Tessa must find her own path. By the end, Roxane matures emotionally, embracing the idea that strength is not just about being loud and in control but about showing trust and emotional openness.
Clea & Lois
Clea and Lois provide the comedic relief and emotional support throughout the novel. Clea is carefree, spontaneous, and embraces a wild, adventurous lifestyle, while Lois is more domestic but harbors her own desire for freedom and adventure.
Despite their differences, both characters share a deep bond with Tessa and play crucial roles in pushing her toward growth. Their personal arcs, while more subtle, emphasize the importance of friendship and supporting each other through different life stages.
Clea and Lois symbolize the varied paths that adulthood can take, and their arcs remind readers that personal growth can look different depending on one’s choices, but the value of friendship and support is universal.
Baba (Myles’ Father)
Baba is a stern, proud man whose life has been deeply affected by his divorce. His relationship with Myles is strained, filled with unspoken resentment and emotional distance.
Baba’s character arc is one of healing, as he slowly learns to forgive his past and embrace the changes in his son’s life. His growth mirrors Myles’ own journey, and the father-son reconciliation is a key moment in the story.
Baba’s eventual acceptance of Myles’ decisions and the rekindling of their bond represent the theme of family forgiveness that runs throughout the novel.
Themes
Overcoming Insecurities and Finding Love
A central theme of Vacation Wars is Tessa’s journey towards self-worth and personal growth. Initially, Tessa is portrayed as a quiet, introverted woman who often hides behind her more extroverted twin sister, Roxane.
She struggles with deep-seated insecurities stemming from past rejections and her perception that she isn’t worthy of love. Throughout the novel, Tessa faces her self-doubts head-on, and her interactions with Myles push her out of her comfort zone.
She gradually learns to recognize her own worth—not as someone who fits into others’ expectations, but as someone deserving of genuine love and affection. This theme resonates strongly as it emphasizes that emotional growth is necessary for establishing a healthy relationship.
As Tessa grows, so does her understanding of love, ultimately leading her to accept not only Myles’ affection but her own worthiness of it.
Reconciliation and the Healing Power of Family Bonds
Another significant theme explored in the novel is the power of family reconciliation and the healing process that comes from mending broken relationships. Both Tessa and Myles struggle with their familial ties.
Tessa’s relationship with her twin sister is complicated by years of rivalry, while Myles grapples with his strained relationship with his father, who is hurt by Myles’ decision to move to New York after their parents’ divorce. These emotional fractures shape their perceptions of love and commitment.
Throughout the story, both characters are forced to confront and navigate these wounds. Myles’ journey of reconciliation with his father, in particular, reflects a larger theme of healing generational pain, where understanding and forgiveness are critical to moving forward.
By the end of the novel, these family dynamics evolve, showing how emotional growth and mutual understanding can mend even the most broken bonds.
The Struggle for Autonomy and Respecting Boundaries in Friendships
The theme of autonomy and boundaries in relationships—especially friendships—is explored through the dynamic between Tessa and her friends, particularly Roxane. Roxane’s overbearing attempts to control Tessa’s love life, pushing her into situations she isn’t ready for, highlight the tension between well-meaning friendship and respecting personal boundaries.
Tessa’s resistance to these outside pressures illustrates her growth as an independent individual. Throughout the narrative, she learns to assert herself, resisting the constant nudges from her friends and sister to act according to their desires.
This struggle speaks to the larger challenge of maintaining one’s identity while navigating social pressures. It underscores the importance of establishing and respecting personal boundaries within relationships.
Tessa’s arc is a testament to the necessity of self-empowerment and the ability to draw a line between caring friendships and suffocating interference.
Risking Emotional Exposure for Real Connection
Vacation Wars delves deeply into the complexities of love, particularly the vulnerability required to experience it fully. Both Tessa and Myles fear emotional exposure due to their past experiences with rejection and heartbreak.
Tessa, in particular, is afraid to embrace love, believing she isn’t worthy of it, and fearing that opening up will only lead to pain. Myles, too, carries emotional scars, particularly regarding his family, and initially, he hesitates to rekindle his feelings for Tessa out of fear of being hurt again.
However, the narrative pushes both characters to confront their emotional walls. Through a series of miscommunications, pranks, and moments of intense emotional connection, they learn that love is not about perfection but about vulnerability.
The theme underscores that true love requires emotional risk, and only by exposing one’s deepest fears and desires can a genuine, lasting connection be formed.