AIR-CONDITIONED BUS TOURS

A backpacking globetrotter seriously rethinks his decision to partake in a family cruise in Swanson’s comic novel.

Garrulous, perpetually single Darren Dallavalle is an insatiable traveler—his wanderlust takes him to far-flung locations, like his latest excursion to Sub-Saharan Africa. Darren’s snarky cousin Ryan informs him that their single, uber-wealthy uncle, Jorge Da Silva, a recent heart attack survivor, has lobbied all of the cousins to take “one final trip with him before he goes to meet his maker.” This epic, bucket-list vacation is an all-expenses-paid, five-star cruise aboard a luxury liner—with the condition that everyone invited attend or forfeit their inheritance to his estate. Despite his reservations—the trip isn’t really the type of spontaneous adventure he typically craves—Darren eventually accepts the offer and instantly dreads the nightmarish consequences. The author flexes his characterization muscle with his creation of an energetic clan of relatives; after several chapters of build-up, the “great Da Silva Nieces & Nephews European River Cruise of 2018” launches. The journey reunites Darren with his somewhat estranged family members, who surprisingly end up gelling as a group, despite Ryan’s mean-spiritedness. As Swanson fills in the quirky details of each family member, uncle Jorge emerges with the most resonant backstory, though the entire cast grows more engaging as the cruise progresses. The story has some minor problems: Darren’s chatty, neurotic, internal monologue-style commentary can become tedious, and the overuse of italics, which appear on virtually every page, is distracting. Thankfully, the author knows how to spin an addictive yarn, which more than makes up for these flaws. Swanson’s satirical, hyperactive prose will keep readers on their toes, and vacationers and readers with challenging relatives will find much to relate to in this funny and surprisingly thoughtful novel.

A humorous, heartwarming cautionary tale about vacationing with family.