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The Road Trip
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2021)Two exes reach a new level of awkward when forced to take a road trip together in this endearing and humorous novel by the author of the international bestseller The Flatshare.
What if the end of the road is just the beginning?
Four years ago, Dylan and Addie fell in love under the Provence sun. Wealthy Oxford student Dylan was staying at his friend Cherry's enormous French villa; wild child Addie was spending her summer as the on-site caretaker. Two years ago, their relationship officially ended. They haven't spoken since.
Today, Dylan's and Addie's lives collide again. It's the day before Cherry's wedding, and Addie and Dylan crash cars at the start of the journey there. The car Dylan was driving is wrecked, and the wedding is in rural Scotland--he'll never get there on time by public transport.
So, along with Dylan's best friend, Addie's sister, and a random guy on Facebook who needed a ride, they squeeze into a space-challenged Mini and set off across Britain. Cramped into the same space, Dylan and Addie are forced to confront the choices they made that tore them apart--and ask themselves whether that final decision was the right one after all.
What if the end of the road is just the beginning?
Four years ago, Dylan and Addie fell in love under the Provence sun. Wealthy Oxford student Dylan was staying at his friend Cherry's enormous French villa; wild child Addie was spending her summer as the on-site caretaker. Two years ago, their relationship officially ended. They haven't spoken since.
Today, Dylan's and Addie's lives collide again. It's the day before Cherry's wedding, and Addie and Dylan crash cars at the start of the journey there. The car Dylan was driving is wrecked, and the wedding is in rural Scotland--he'll never get there on time by public transport.
So, along with Dylan's best friend, Addie's sister, and a random guy on Facebook who needed a ride, they squeeze into a space-challenged Mini and set off across Britain. Cramped into the same space, Dylan and Addie are forced to confront the choices they made that tore them apart--and ask themselves whether that final decision was the right one after all.
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2021
About the author
Beth O'Leary
20 books15k followersBeth studied English at university before going into children’s publishing. She lives as close to the countryside as she can get while still being within reach of London, and wrote her first novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from work.
You’ll usually find her curled up with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).
You’ll usually find her curled up with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,602 reviews
August 3, 2022
Wow! A trip to a wedding trapped in a car with your over protective sister, a random guy you found on Facebook, your ex who broke your heart into pieces and his bestie who did everything in his power to force two of you break up!
Good luck Addie!
Did you like the idea of ex lovers- new enemies’ longest road trip with one of the most disturbing chaperones! Oh, this is just the beginning! Things will get messier! I can guarantee that!
This will be longest trip of yours filled with grudge, resentment, unfinished businesses, unresolved issues, bottled up anger, frustration!
Addie and Dylan hasn’t seen each other for two long years after their tragic breakup and when Dylan drives to Scotland where the we’d takes places, he realizes her car is in front of him: oh boy, he can see her waving hand! Of course he gets panicked to see her after long time, accidentally crushing his car into hers( correction his grumpy bestie Marcus’ Mercedes he’s driving and the car Addie is driving belongs to her sister)
Miraculously Addie’s sister Deb’s car survives with a few scratches as boys’ car is totaled! It seems like Addie has every right to leave them in the middle of the road and drive off! We don’t know the whole story about their break up but as we get snippets of Dylan’s shy and guilty looks and Addie’s efforts not to have eye contact with him and the little information we get : he left her as she was crying out her eyes, we can sense he might have done something so bad!
Unfortunately Addie is bigger person and she doesn’t leave them at the road! They’re jammed in her sister’s portable car. And the bestie Marcus acts like Addie is the one to blame!
What’s his deal with her anyways?
And Rodney, the random guy they met who is also invited to the wedding acts suspicious! Deb seems so furious at both Dylan and Marcus, Addie is still heartbroken and Dylan acts like he wants to earn his forgiveness as Marcus gives killing daggers to Addie!
They already survived from a dangerous car crash but this is not the only problem they have to deal at their long trip which seems like will never end!
We’re going back and forth between Addie and Dylan’s first meeting where she works as caretaker at their villa. As we learn more about relationship dynamics, Marcus’ efforts to sabotage their relationship, Addie and Dylan’s own problems, insecurities about themselves, brassy Deb’s interventions, we finally found out what happened between them!
Well, I already talked too much! I can honestly say I’m not a big fan of Flatshare! Switch was light, soft and more likable book but in my opinion this one is truly the best, more genuine, realistic book the author wrote. Both characters are broken, flawed, dealing with their insecurities, their own traumas. You criticize and get angry at them but you can also easily empathize with them by understanding the real reasons beyond their wrongdoings and misunderstandings.
The conclusion of the story was angsty, emotional, powerful! It started as like soft, laugh out loud, entertaining comedy but it turned into something intense, tear jerker, heartfelt read which earned my five blazing, second chances, romantic stars!
This was truly impressive and I’m so happy I devoured it at Valentine’s Day!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing For sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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Good luck Addie!
Did you like the idea of ex lovers- new enemies’ longest road trip with one of the most disturbing chaperones! Oh, this is just the beginning! Things will get messier! I can guarantee that!
This will be longest trip of yours filled with grudge, resentment, unfinished businesses, unresolved issues, bottled up anger, frustration!
Addie and Dylan hasn’t seen each other for two long years after their tragic breakup and when Dylan drives to Scotland where the we’d takes places, he realizes her car is in front of him: oh boy, he can see her waving hand! Of course he gets panicked to see her after long time, accidentally crushing his car into hers( correction his grumpy bestie Marcus’ Mercedes he’s driving and the car Addie is driving belongs to her sister)
Miraculously Addie’s sister Deb’s car survives with a few scratches as boys’ car is totaled! It seems like Addie has every right to leave them in the middle of the road and drive off! We don’t know the whole story about their break up but as we get snippets of Dylan’s shy and guilty looks and Addie’s efforts not to have eye contact with him and the little information we get : he left her as she was crying out her eyes, we can sense he might have done something so bad!
Unfortunately Addie is bigger person and she doesn’t leave them at the road! They’re jammed in her sister’s portable car. And the bestie Marcus acts like Addie is the one to blame!
What’s his deal with her anyways?
And Rodney, the random guy they met who is also invited to the wedding acts suspicious! Deb seems so furious at both Dylan and Marcus, Addie is still heartbroken and Dylan acts like he wants to earn his forgiveness as Marcus gives killing daggers to Addie!
They already survived from a dangerous car crash but this is not the only problem they have to deal at their long trip which seems like will never end!
We’re going back and forth between Addie and Dylan’s first meeting where she works as caretaker at their villa. As we learn more about relationship dynamics, Marcus’ efforts to sabotage their relationship, Addie and Dylan’s own problems, insecurities about themselves, brassy Deb’s interventions, we finally found out what happened between them!
Well, I already talked too much! I can honestly say I’m not a big fan of Flatshare! Switch was light, soft and more likable book but in my opinion this one is truly the best, more genuine, realistic book the author wrote. Both characters are broken, flawed, dealing with their insecurities, their own traumas. You criticize and get angry at them but you can also easily empathize with them by understanding the real reasons beyond their wrongdoings and misunderstandings.
The conclusion of the story was angsty, emotional, powerful! It started as like soft, laugh out loud, entertaining comedy but it turned into something intense, tear jerker, heartfelt read which earned my five blazing, second chances, romantic stars!
This was truly impressive and I’m so happy I devoured it at Valentine’s Day!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing For sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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January 2, 2024
This is a Romance/Women's Fiction/Chick-Lit. I have loved the other two books I read by Beth O'Leary, so I had high hopes for this one. I am sad to say I really did not enjoy this book, but I did finish the book. If I did not have an ARC of this book I would have DNF this book. I was bored while reading most of this book, but there was a few funny parts that made me laugh. I have to say the jumps in the time lines in this book drove me crazy, and I also felt that some of the jumps from Now time period to the then time period was at weird times. I also got confessed on which if it was now or then at times. I also did not find myself caring about any of the characters. Some of the storyline I found ok, and I found myself wanting to know why or what happen by the end. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Quercus) or author (Beth O'Leary) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
June 17, 2021
forced proximity + second chance = a great trope combination
although i loved the usage of these tropes for flirtatiousness, this is definitely much heavier than the authors previous books. there are a lot of attempts at making it lighthearted and fun, but wow. theres quite a bit of serious content to unpack with this story. i didnt find that to be a bad thing, but i think its good to note for readers going into this expecting it to be similar a similar tone as ‘the switch.’
but i did enjoy the story overall. i found myself looking forward to both the past and present chapters, which doesnt happen a lot for me. and while the characters didnt always make the best decisions, it was rewarding to see them finally come together and communicate and learn from their past mistakes. i think they are a good example at how people arent perfect but still worth the effort.
so maybe not the best feel good beach read out there, but a pretty realistic romance with all the ups and downs.
↠ 3.5 stars
although i loved the usage of these tropes for flirtatiousness, this is definitely much heavier than the authors previous books. there are a lot of attempts at making it lighthearted and fun, but wow. theres quite a bit of serious content to unpack with this story. i didnt find that to be a bad thing, but i think its good to note for readers going into this expecting it to be similar a similar tone as ‘the switch.’
but i did enjoy the story overall. i found myself looking forward to both the past and present chapters, which doesnt happen a lot for me. and while the characters didnt always make the best decisions, it was rewarding to see them finally come together and communicate and learn from their past mistakes. i think they are a good example at how people arent perfect but still worth the effort.
so maybe not the best feel good beach read out there, but a pretty realistic romance with all the ups and downs.
↠ 3.5 stars
June 2, 2021
*Now available*
2.5 Stars ☹
Two sisters (Addie and Deb), one ex (Dylan), one toxic best friend (Marcus) and a random (Rodney) all squash into a mini for the road trip from hell...Will they make it to their friend's wedding in time? Will Addie and Dylan confront their past mistakes? What can possibly go wrong?!
This dual timeline, second chance romance was one of my most anticipated books of the summer, but it didn't really deliver. Vastly different from Beth O'Leary's other books, which I loved, it wasn't the feel good, heart-warming book I was expecting, but more like a bunch of rich, entitled, toxic people making terrible life choices!
Whilst I loved the first 20% or so, it gradually became less fun as the book went on. I enjoyed the start, where the characters crashed, and end up piling into the mini together for the epic journey from Brighton to Scotland! My friend had one of the old style minis, and it was a squash fitting four of us in for a short journey to college, so I laughed at the image of five of them plus luggage travelling all that way! They had some mishaps, which were quite funny. I also liked the flashbacks to when Addie and Dylan first met on holiday at the villa, it was cute, if a little insta-love, but I can kind of forgive insta-love if it's set on holiday..sort of?! After all, I met my husband abroad, but the difference there was that we got to know each other over a few months, and definitely didn't say the love word until we got back home, let alone after a few weeks like this couple! Holiday romances are great, but until you see how you slot into each other's lives back home, then they're not real 🤷♀️
Once these characters arrived home, the past chapters began to annoy me. There was no relationship development, no communication about anything real, and Dylan's friend Marcus took over the story too much. Speaking of Marcus, I hated him. I don't think I was meant to like him, but I really hated him, and how he overshadowed the story! It ruined it for me! He was one of the most selfish, toxic characters I've ever read about. In fact, I would say that Addie was the only character I liked in this book! Deb was fun, and I loved their sisterly relationship, but she was a little ridiculous. Rodney started off harmless enough, but then
Now for Dylan, Addie's ex. He was so unlikeable! So entitled, so dysfunctional, so pathetic, so not sexy, and I detested his poetry which was randomly inserted throughout the book! Apart from the initial get together, I couldn't really see what Addie saw in him? They had no chemistry in the present timeline, apart from some initial yearning, and to be honest, I didn't really want Addie to give him a second chance! When I found out the horrible reason for their split, I was disgusted, and yet this awful thing that happened was almost glossed over, and not looked at in any depth, which I did not like at all! Addie deserved better in both timelines, and I wanted her to get the hell away from all of those toxic people! Oh and her ex's father was a homophobic piece of work too!
Kudos to the author for the different approach, and also for the discussion about depression and therapy. mental illness can affect anyone, from all walks of life.
However although I would recommend
and absolutely loved
, unfortunately this one was a bit of a miss for me!
Many thanks to Edelweiss and Berkley for the DRC, in exchange for an honest review
2.5 Stars ☹
Two sisters (Addie and Deb), one ex (Dylan), one toxic best friend (Marcus) and a random (Rodney) all squash into a mini for the road trip from hell...Will they make it to their friend's wedding in time? Will Addie and Dylan confront their past mistakes? What can possibly go wrong?!
This dual timeline, second chance romance was one of my most anticipated books of the summer, but it didn't really deliver. Vastly different from Beth O'Leary's other books, which I loved, it wasn't the feel good, heart-warming book I was expecting, but more like a bunch of rich, entitled, toxic people making terrible life choices!
Whilst I loved the first 20% or so, it gradually became less fun as the book went on. I enjoyed the start, where the characters crashed, and end up piling into the mini together for the epic journey from Brighton to Scotland! My friend had one of the old style minis, and it was a squash fitting four of us in for a short journey to college, so I laughed at the image of five of them plus luggage travelling all that way! They had some mishaps, which were quite funny. I also liked the flashbacks to when Addie and Dylan first met on holiday at the villa, it was cute, if a little insta-love, but I can kind of forgive insta-love if it's set on holiday..sort of?! After all, I met my husband abroad, but the difference there was that we got to know each other over a few months, and definitely didn't say the love word until we got back home, let alone after a few weeks like this couple! Holiday romances are great, but until you see how you slot into each other's lives back home, then they're not real 🤷♀️
Once these characters arrived home, the past chapters began to annoy me. There was no relationship development, no communication about anything real, and Dylan's friend Marcus took over the story too much. Speaking of Marcus, I hated him. I don't think I was meant to like him, but I really hated him, and how he overshadowed the story! It ruined it for me! He was one of the most selfish, toxic characters I've ever read about. In fact, I would say that Addie was the only character I liked in this book! Deb was fun, and I loved their sisterly relationship, but she was a little ridiculous. Rodney started off harmless enough, but then
Now for Dylan, Addie's ex. He was so unlikeable! So entitled, so dysfunctional, so pathetic, so not sexy, and I detested his poetry which was randomly inserted throughout the book! Apart from the initial get together, I couldn't really see what Addie saw in him? They had no chemistry in the present timeline, apart from some initial yearning, and to be honest, I didn't really want Addie to give him a second chance! When I found out the horrible reason for their split, I was disgusted, and yet this awful thing that happened was almost glossed over, and not looked at in any depth, which I did not like at all! Addie deserved better in both timelines, and I wanted her to get the hell away from all of those toxic people! Oh and her ex's father was a homophobic piece of work too!
Kudos to the author for the different approach, and also for the discussion about depression and therapy. mental illness can affect anyone, from all walks of life.
However although I would recommend
and absolutely loved
, unfortunately this one was a bit of a miss for me!Many thanks to Edelweiss and Berkley for the DRC, in exchange for an honest review
Read
December 13, 2021hell no
April 22, 2021
Unlike her previous two novels, Beth O' Leary's latest doesn't have quite the same feel good warm vibes but it charts her development as an author as we have more complicated flawed characters with mental health issues, dysfunctional families and toxic behaviours which makes for more uncomfortable but a more rewarding reading experience. Additionally, the main protagonists are young, as a consequence perhaps not as resilient, with a more hazy sense of identity and make major errors of judgement. Addie Gilbert is 21 years old when she meets the privileged, poetry writing Dylan Abbot, at a crossroads in his life after Cambridge University, searching for a friend, Grace. Addie, along with her half sister Deb, is working as a caretaker for wealthy friend Cherry's family’s Villa Cerise in Provence when she and Dylan fall hard for each other.
However, there is a serpent in paradise in the form of Dylan's childhood best friend, Marcus, who is virtually family, with the nature of his arrival at the Villa speaking volumes about his character. Dylan's unpleasant and overbearing father is putting pressure on him to join the family business, something he is reluctant to do. The novel opens with Addie and Debs, along with the geeky Rodney, on a road trip from Chichester to Scotland to the lavish wedding of Cherry and Krish. Addie and Dylan have not seen each other for 2 years since their relationship fell apart, though the two have never forgotten each other. Addie and Deb offer Dylan and Marcus a lift to the wedding with them through gritted teeth when Marcus's car is wrecked, the 5 of them packed like sardines in the Mini Cooper on a hot and sweltering day. The scene is set for tensions, longings and conflict as unresolved feelings spill over in a narrative that shifts from the past to the present, revealing the disastrous set of events that led to their break up.
O'Leary expertly writes of the opportunity of a second chance romance with verve and wit, where having a privileged background cannot insulate you from dysfunctional families or from mental health issues, such as depression. Both Addie and Dylan are no longer the same people they used to be, they have had to grow up the hard way, with Dylan having undergone therapy and having to address the issues that arose with having Marcus as a best friend. I am sure, like me, most people have encountered toxic people within their professional, friends and family circles, they are usually emotionally damaged individuals, and Marcus is not the only such character in this novel. Not everyone who is a fan of the author will love this as much her other books, but I enjoyed seeing her create and develop significantly more complex characters and their issues. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
However, there is a serpent in paradise in the form of Dylan's childhood best friend, Marcus, who is virtually family, with the nature of his arrival at the Villa speaking volumes about his character. Dylan's unpleasant and overbearing father is putting pressure on him to join the family business, something he is reluctant to do. The novel opens with Addie and Debs, along with the geeky Rodney, on a road trip from Chichester to Scotland to the lavish wedding of Cherry and Krish. Addie and Dylan have not seen each other for 2 years since their relationship fell apart, though the two have never forgotten each other. Addie and Deb offer Dylan and Marcus a lift to the wedding with them through gritted teeth when Marcus's car is wrecked, the 5 of them packed like sardines in the Mini Cooper on a hot and sweltering day. The scene is set for tensions, longings and conflict as unresolved feelings spill over in a narrative that shifts from the past to the present, revealing the disastrous set of events that led to their break up.
O'Leary expertly writes of the opportunity of a second chance romance with verve and wit, where having a privileged background cannot insulate you from dysfunctional families or from mental health issues, such as depression. Both Addie and Dylan are no longer the same people they used to be, they have had to grow up the hard way, with Dylan having undergone therapy and having to address the issues that arose with having Marcus as a best friend. I am sure, like me, most people have encountered toxic people within their professional, friends and family circles, they are usually emotionally damaged individuals, and Marcus is not the only such character in this novel. Not everyone who is a fan of the author will love this as much her other books, but I enjoyed seeing her create and develop significantly more complex characters and their issues. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
Shelved as 'd-n-f'
May 7, 2022DNF at 70%
Dylan, Addie and marcus are annoying af
Dylan, Addie and marcus are annoying af
September 3, 2021
While I would happily FLATSHARE with Tiffy, or SWITCH lives for the summer with Eileen or Leena, I cannot say that I would want to take a road trip with this bunch!
I liked Addie and her sister, Deb and I could probably sing along with them in the MINI COOPER and tolerate the “random wedding guest” Rodney, who was along for the ride.
But, there is no way, that I could spend that much time with Dylan’s best mate, Marcus, who was driving in the BMW with him.
This is a SECOND CHANCE romance for Addie and Dylan, told in the alternating timelines of THEN and NOW...
THEN explores the things that brought Addie and Dylan together, and what drove them apart.
NOW is two years later-each is headed to their mutual friend Cherry’s wedding in Scotland, and all five wedding guests become forced to squeeze into the Mini Cooper, when it is the only car that survives after the two collide!
Each timeline is told through both Addie and Dylan’s POV.
But, this road trip was stuck in the SLOW lane for quite awhile.
It didn’t pick up speed until the second half, and a revelation at the BUDGET TRAVEL!
Things became more interesting from there.
I just didn’t find the characters or conversations in this book to be as charming as those in Beth O’Leary’s first two books-(both solid 5 ⭐️ reads for me) perhaps because these characters are so much younger than I and things just weren’t resonating.
LOVE IS BLIND❤️
In romances, you have to enjoy the journey and want to root for the characters to get together-in this case-for a second time.
I wanted Addie to be happy but I wasn’t sure if I wanted it to be with Dylan.
I do however think I want a Mini Cooper! 🚗
And, Beth O’Leary’s next book-which I hope she is already writing! 📝
She remains a favorite in this genre and an AUTO REQUEST author for me!
Available in the US on June 1, 2021
Thank You to Berkley books for providing a gifted copy.
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
I liked Addie and her sister, Deb and I could probably sing along with them in the MINI COOPER and tolerate the “random wedding guest” Rodney, who was along for the ride.
But, there is no way, that I could spend that much time with Dylan’s best mate, Marcus, who was driving in the BMW with him.
This is a SECOND CHANCE romance for Addie and Dylan, told in the alternating timelines of THEN and NOW...
THEN explores the things that brought Addie and Dylan together, and what drove them apart.
NOW is two years later-each is headed to their mutual friend Cherry’s wedding in Scotland, and all five wedding guests become forced to squeeze into the Mini Cooper, when it is the only car that survives after the two collide!
Each timeline is told through both Addie and Dylan’s POV.
But, this road trip was stuck in the SLOW lane for quite awhile.
It didn’t pick up speed until the second half, and a revelation at the BUDGET TRAVEL!
Things became more interesting from there.
I just didn’t find the characters or conversations in this book to be as charming as those in Beth O’Leary’s first two books-(both solid 5 ⭐️ reads for me) perhaps because these characters are so much younger than I and things just weren’t resonating.
LOVE IS BLIND❤️
In romances, you have to enjoy the journey and want to root for the characters to get together-in this case-for a second time.
I wanted Addie to be happy but I wasn’t sure if I wanted it to be with Dylan.
I do however think I want a Mini Cooper! 🚗
And, Beth O’Leary’s next book-which I hope she is already writing! 📝
She remains a favorite in this genre and an AUTO REQUEST author for me!
Available in the US on June 1, 2021
Thank You to Berkley books for providing a gifted copy.
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
April 25, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cue the popular Tik Tok/reels song: “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no.” I recently finished The Soulmate Equation and really liked it and wanted another lighter, fast read to combat work chaos/stress, so I decided to start The Road Trip. I haven’t read The Flatshare or The Switch but I have the latter and have heard good things in general. I know this was a highly anticipated read, and was excited to dive in.
This book is written in alternating “now”/”then” timelines. Now, exes Addie and Dylan are trapped on a road trip together to a friend’s wedding. Then, Addie and Dylan are meeting and falling in love. The first 20% was exactly what I hoped - light, fun, takes place at a villa in France (I want to go to there!). I became concerned around ~20% by the lack of character development -- were we supposed to be rooting for these characters? We don’t know them at all. Why is Dylan so pathetic? How on earth is he a POET? Oh my god, there is nothing less sexy than Dylan randomly reciting poetry. Wait, they’re suddenly IN LOVE? But...there was no development of their relationship whatsoever? What?? It was at this point I should have DNFed, but I am stupid and thought it would turn around. It did not.
Here are a few of the many things that I hated about this book:
- The love story. Seems to me that Addie and Dylan clearly don’t know or like each other yet we are told they are in love. They are apparently deeply attracted to one another, as we are told over and over and over, yet there isn’t actual chemistry in the book, we are just told there is.
- These characters are all the absolute worst. There is literally no character development for anyone. Marcus is one of the most unlikable characters I have ever read in a book. Dylan is the most annoying and I have absolutely no idea why we should be rooting for him and Addie to be together. They’re all so unlikeable, except for Deb.
- The Rodney storyline was strange and went nowhere.
However, this is what really pushed me over the edge: In the “now” timeline, we know that Dylan dumped Addie but there’s a layered “secretive” aspect to it and we are waiting for it to be revealed. I kept reading because I wanted to know what this big “secret” was. It was revealed ~80% and it was horrible and SO not worth it. I didn’t like the book up to this point, but the reveal turned this book from a 2.5 stars to a ZERO star read for me. It was extremely problematic and not handled well at all. I already wasn’t rooting for Addie and Dylan at all, but I became furious upon the reveal and was internally SCREAMING as I finished the last part of the book. It was unforgivable. These people SHOULD NOT BE TOGETHER. They are HORRIBLE, pathetic people and I hate them. I hate them. I HATE THEM. I HATE Dylan. He doesn't deserve Addie and there is absolutely no explicable reason why Addie would forgive him. I HATE THIS BOOK. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
So like, you’ve been warned.
Cue the popular Tik Tok/reels song: “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no.” I recently finished The Soulmate Equation and really liked it and wanted another lighter, fast read to combat work chaos/stress, so I decided to start The Road Trip. I haven’t read The Flatshare or The Switch but I have the latter and have heard good things in general. I know this was a highly anticipated read, and was excited to dive in.
This book is written in alternating “now”/”then” timelines. Now, exes Addie and Dylan are trapped on a road trip together to a friend’s wedding. Then, Addie and Dylan are meeting and falling in love. The first 20% was exactly what I hoped - light, fun, takes place at a villa in France (I want to go to there!). I became concerned around ~20% by the lack of character development -- were we supposed to be rooting for these characters? We don’t know them at all. Why is Dylan so pathetic? How on earth is he a POET? Oh my god, there is nothing less sexy than Dylan randomly reciting poetry. Wait, they’re suddenly IN LOVE? But...there was no development of their relationship whatsoever? What?? It was at this point I should have DNFed, but I am stupid and thought it would turn around. It did not.
Here are a few of the many things that I hated about this book:
- The love story. Seems to me that Addie and Dylan clearly don’t know or like each other yet we are told they are in love. They are apparently deeply attracted to one another, as we are told over and over and over, yet there isn’t actual chemistry in the book, we are just told there is.
- These characters are all the absolute worst. There is literally no character development for anyone. Marcus is one of the most unlikable characters I have ever read in a book. Dylan is the most annoying and I have absolutely no idea why we should be rooting for him and Addie to be together. They’re all so unlikeable, except for Deb.
- The Rodney storyline was strange and went nowhere.
However, this is what really pushed me over the edge: In the “now” timeline, we know that Dylan dumped Addie but there’s a layered “secretive” aspect to it and we are waiting for it to be revealed. I kept reading because I wanted to know what this big “secret” was. It was revealed ~80% and it was horrible and SO not worth it. I didn’t like the book up to this point, but the reveal turned this book from a 2.5 stars to a ZERO star read for me. It was extremely problematic and not handled well at all. I already wasn’t rooting for Addie and Dylan at all, but I became furious upon the reveal and was internally SCREAMING as I finished the last part of the book. It was unforgivable. These people SHOULD NOT BE TOGETHER. They are HORRIBLE, pathetic people and I hate them. I hate them. I HATE THEM. I HATE Dylan. He doesn't deserve Addie and there is absolutely no explicable reason why Addie would forgive him. I HATE THIS BOOK. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
So like, you’ve been warned.
September 27, 2021
Is this the same author that gave us The Flatshare and The Switch?
It didn't feel that way to me.
Dylan and Marcus are driving towards their friend Cherry's wedding in Scotland when they hit the car in front. Of course, the car in front is driven by Dylan's ex-girlfriend, Addie.
Addie is also going to the wedding. Her sister, Beth is in the passenger seat and Rodney, a guy from the Facebook wedding group is in the back.
When Dylan's car ceases to work, Addie can't leave Dylan stranded. So both Dylan and Marcus join them in Addie's car. What follows is an uncomfortable trip for most of them.
I had 3 issues with The Road Trip.
First one: Connecting with the characters. I didn't like Dylan and hated his best friend, Marcus. Addie was not so bad but If I have to pick a favorite character, it would be Beth, Addie's sister. Beth was there for Addie every time she needed her. She also gave good advice and inserted humor into the story.
The second problem: Addie's reactions. It felt like Addie was in love with Dylan just a few hours after meeting Dylan. Then, in the present, just a few hours into the drive she was forgetting and sweeping under the rug all the bad times Dylan and Marcus have caused her.
Third, I didn't understand the necessity to include Rodneys's drama into the storyline. It felt it came out of nowhere and it didn't contribute to anything.
I felt disappointed that I didn't like it when I have loved her other books.
Sigh, Hopefully, I can connect with the next book.
Cliffhanger: No
2/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
It didn't feel that way to me.
Dylan and Marcus are driving towards their friend Cherry's wedding in Scotland when they hit the car in front. Of course, the car in front is driven by Dylan's ex-girlfriend, Addie.
Addie is also going to the wedding. Her sister, Beth is in the passenger seat and Rodney, a guy from the Facebook wedding group is in the back.
When Dylan's car ceases to work, Addie can't leave Dylan stranded. So both Dylan and Marcus join them in Addie's car. What follows is an uncomfortable trip for most of them.
I had 3 issues with The Road Trip.
First one: Connecting with the characters. I didn't like Dylan and hated his best friend, Marcus. Addie was not so bad but If I have to pick a favorite character, it would be Beth, Addie's sister. Beth was there for Addie every time she needed her. She also gave good advice and inserted humor into the story.
The second problem: Addie's reactions. It felt like Addie was in love with Dylan just a few hours after meeting Dylan. Then, in the present, just a few hours into the drive she was forgetting and sweeping under the rug all the bad times Dylan and Marcus have caused her.
Third, I didn't understand the necessity to include Rodneys's drama into the storyline. It felt it came out of nowhere and it didn't contribute to anything.
I felt disappointed that I didn't like it when I have loved her other books.
Sigh, Hopefully, I can connect with the next book.
Cliffhanger: No
2/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
March 13, 2021
Two exes forced to take a road trip together? What’s not to love? More than I’d hoped, unfortunately.
Addie and her sister, Deb, are on their way to Scotland for their best friend’s wedding. They are all set to have a fantastic road trip with awesome music and delicious snacks...and an odd man named Rodney in the backseat. That is, until they are rear ended by Addie’s ex, Dylan. He and his best friend, Marcus, are also going to the wedding. Addie hasn’t set sight on him since their breakup two years prior.
Marcus’s car is totaled, so against their better judgement, Addie and Deb agree to let Dylan and Marcus ride with them.
That’s 5 people + luggage in a Mini Cooper, in case you need a fun visual.
With hours of driving and plenty of mishaps on the journey, Addie and Dylan will ultimately have time to reflect on their past relationship. After all of the hurt, is there a chance to rekindle what was lost?
I am a HUGE Beth O’Leary fan, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters in The Switch and The Flatshare. Regrettably, I didn’t really fall in love with the characters in this one. I cared for Addie, and even Dylan on some levels, and Deb was a hoot...but they don’t light a candle to the characters in O’Leary’s previous gems. Dylan’s friend, Marcus, was heinous and ridiculously immature. I wish his character could’ve taken a back seat...in the story.
The main thing that prevented me from loving it more was the lack of charm. I expected so much more, and maybe that is on me having already read the aforementioned books which were OOZING with charm and good vibes. While there were some cute moments and laughs sprinkled in, they weren’t consistent throughout the journey.
Having said that, I still recommend it to fans of the author (I will always be a fan, and am already looking forward to her next book). I would also recommend this to those who haven’t had the chance to read her books yet - with the caveat that they will hopefully love her backlog even more.
Enjoyable, but didn’t reach my admittedly high expectations. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published in the U.S by Berkley on 6/1/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Addie and her sister, Deb, are on their way to Scotland for their best friend’s wedding. They are all set to have a fantastic road trip with awesome music and delicious snacks...and an odd man named Rodney in the backseat. That is, until they are rear ended by Addie’s ex, Dylan. He and his best friend, Marcus, are also going to the wedding. Addie hasn’t set sight on him since their breakup two years prior.
Marcus’s car is totaled, so against their better judgement, Addie and Deb agree to let Dylan and Marcus ride with them.
That’s 5 people + luggage in a Mini Cooper, in case you need a fun visual.
With hours of driving and plenty of mishaps on the journey, Addie and Dylan will ultimately have time to reflect on their past relationship. After all of the hurt, is there a chance to rekindle what was lost?
I am a HUGE Beth O’Leary fan, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters in The Switch and The Flatshare. Regrettably, I didn’t really fall in love with the characters in this one. I cared for Addie, and even Dylan on some levels, and Deb was a hoot...but they don’t light a candle to the characters in O’Leary’s previous gems. Dylan’s friend, Marcus, was heinous and ridiculously immature. I wish his character could’ve taken a back seat...in the story.
The main thing that prevented me from loving it more was the lack of charm. I expected so much more, and maybe that is on me having already read the aforementioned books which were OOZING with charm and good vibes. While there were some cute moments and laughs sprinkled in, they weren’t consistent throughout the journey.
Having said that, I still recommend it to fans of the author (I will always be a fan, and am already looking forward to her next book). I would also recommend this to those who haven’t had the chance to read her books yet - with the caveat that they will hopefully love her backlog even more.
Enjoyable, but didn’t reach my admittedly high expectations. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published in the U.S by Berkley on 6/1/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
May 28, 2023
4.5 stars
The consensus seems to be that The Road Trip is Beth O’Leary’s least well-liked novel. But I loved it. I wish everyone shared my sentiment.
In fairness, I may only love it because I’ve never read O’Leary and I’ve no knowledge of her other work. Without having another book to compare it to, it pales beside nothing.
Or not. I may just love it because it’s fantastic.
And yes, it’s another road trip story, as seems to be the rage these days. This time involving two exes, Dylan and Addie, who are forced to share a car while on their way to a mutual friend’s wedding. Also along for the ride are Addie’s sister, Dylan’s toxic best friend, and a random guy who no one really knows much about other than his name, which is Rodney.
Being a romance novel, the whole point of the story is to find out whether Dylan and Addie will reunite. Or did they, in fact, make the right decision to split two years ago?
This small group of former lovers, a sister, a friend, and a stranger made me feel all the feels – joy, sadness, anger, and frustration. There’s such depth to their narratives, depth to their emotions, and complexity in the tangled, intricate mess of their lives. I laughed at their mischief and gasped twice at jaw-dropping revelations.
I now want to read all the Beth O’Leary books. Every. Single. One.
My sincerest appreciation to Beth O’Leary, Berkley, and Edelweiss+ for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
The consensus seems to be that The Road Trip is Beth O’Leary’s least well-liked novel. But I loved it. I wish everyone shared my sentiment.
In fairness, I may only love it because I’ve never read O’Leary and I’ve no knowledge of her other work. Without having another book to compare it to, it pales beside nothing.
Or not. I may just love it because it’s fantastic.
And yes, it’s another road trip story, as seems to be the rage these days. This time involving two exes, Dylan and Addie, who are forced to share a car while on their way to a mutual friend’s wedding. Also along for the ride are Addie’s sister, Dylan’s toxic best friend, and a random guy who no one really knows much about other than his name, which is Rodney.
Being a romance novel, the whole point of the story is to find out whether Dylan and Addie will reunite. Or did they, in fact, make the right decision to split two years ago?
This small group of former lovers, a sister, a friend, and a stranger made me feel all the feels – joy, sadness, anger, and frustration. There’s such depth to their narratives, depth to their emotions, and complexity in the tangled, intricate mess of their lives. I laughed at their mischief and gasped twice at jaw-dropping revelations.
I now want to read all the Beth O’Leary books. Every. Single. One.
My sincerest appreciation to Beth O’Leary, Berkley, and Edelweiss+ for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
August 21, 2022
4 Stars
Trigger Warnings: Sexual Assault, Alcohol/Drug Abuse, Homophobia, Mental Illness, Manipulative Behaviour, Eating Disorders
What an absolute whirlwind of a book! A very basic synopsis of this is that Dylan and Addie broke up and now they are in a very small car together on their way to a wedding. This is the story between past and present the highs and the lows of the relationship.
This for me was one of Beth O'Leary more raw and vulnerable books. It's really strange, because I found parts of this book to be so much fun and hilarious but there were also a lot of dark moments and it really made me feel a lot for them all individually.
The characters really sold this book, they were the type of characters you really root for, and it was incredible to see that journey between them. Sometimes when I read certain books and it involves romance, there are often times when it doesn't feel believable, but this was definitely an all encompassing love that some people can only dream for. It was a love that I genuinely believed and enjoyed reading about.
Topics discussed in this really hit a chord with me, there were relationships that were very very toxic and knowing when to walk away from them, this was both friendships and family, and it genuinely broke my heart on many many occasions on how vulnerable a lot of the characters were and that sense of hopelessness.
I've been going backwards and forwards with what to rate this, and this is a time when I would beg for half stars, the only reason why this isn't a 5 star read for me is I think, and this is just a personal opinion... I wanted something more from the ending maybe? I think there was a part and once people read it they'll get what I mean, but I just wish a character had spoken up. There was SUCH a good moment that I was amazed at, and then something else that made me be a bit like oh...
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I had been desperate to read this from the moment I knew there was a new book and I'm so happy it surpassed my expectations! Lots of fun, heartwarming, heart wrenching and all the feels moments! Truly recommend this!
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21..08.22
This is my least favourites of Beth O'Learys books, but it's still a great one! I think the relationships in this are super complex and really make you think, it looks at mens mental health, toxic relationships and you see people be so emotional and not hide how they actually feel (this is towards the end but still!) I always love what Beth O'Leary does with her books, always brings something new and I always love it!
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09.12.2020
I’ve just seen the synopsis, I am ready for this.
————
I have no idea what this is about... I see Beth O’Leary it is now an auto buy.
Trigger Warnings: Sexual Assault, Alcohol/Drug Abuse, Homophobia, Mental Illness, Manipulative Behaviour, Eating Disorders
What an absolute whirlwind of a book! A very basic synopsis of this is that Dylan and Addie broke up and now they are in a very small car together on their way to a wedding. This is the story between past and present the highs and the lows of the relationship.
This for me was one of Beth O'Leary more raw and vulnerable books. It's really strange, because I found parts of this book to be so much fun and hilarious but there were also a lot of dark moments and it really made me feel a lot for them all individually.
The characters really sold this book, they were the type of characters you really root for, and it was incredible to see that journey between them. Sometimes when I read certain books and it involves romance, there are often times when it doesn't feel believable, but this was definitely an all encompassing love that some people can only dream for. It was a love that I genuinely believed and enjoyed reading about.
Topics discussed in this really hit a chord with me, there were relationships that were very very toxic and knowing when to walk away from them, this was both friendships and family, and it genuinely broke my heart on many many occasions on how vulnerable a lot of the characters were and that sense of hopelessness.
I've been going backwards and forwards with what to rate this, and this is a time when I would beg for half stars, the only reason why this isn't a 5 star read for me is I think, and this is just a personal opinion... I wanted something more from the ending maybe? I think there was a part and once people read it they'll get what I mean, but I just wish a character had spoken up. There was SUCH a good moment that I was amazed at, and then something else that made me be a bit like oh...
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I had been desperate to read this from the moment I knew there was a new book and I'm so happy it surpassed my expectations! Lots of fun, heartwarming, heart wrenching and all the feels moments! Truly recommend this!
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21..08.22
This is my least favourites of Beth O'Learys books, but it's still a great one! I think the relationships in this are super complex and really make you think, it looks at mens mental health, toxic relationships and you see people be so emotional and not hide how they actually feel (this is towards the end but still!) I always love what Beth O'Leary does with her books, always brings something new and I always love it!
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09.12.2020
I’ve just seen the synopsis, I am ready for this.
————
I have no idea what this is about... I see Beth O’Leary it is now an auto buy.
September 20, 2023
The Road Trip is the author’s third book. It was a bit surprising that The Road Trip had a bit more grit compared to her earlier work. More depths. And also more emotions and carried a bigger punch.
The novel is split into two different timelines. And although I’m not usually a big fan of this kind of method, I loved how the author combined the two timelines. The back and forth allowed for a slow revelation that was actually quite powerful.
The present confronted the two exes, forced them into a small space for hours on time. And over the duration of the road trip small titbits of the past were revealed, and the dynamic between the different characters became apparent. The past told how they met in France and fell in love, which was one of my favourite parts, it also gave me the biggest case of wanderlust.
The road trip had some wonderful laugh out loud moments. It’s just such an iconic situation, to squeeze five people into a very small car and send them on a road trip. Hilarity ensues.
BUT there were also moments when my heart ached for them. Both, the past and the present had moments I adored, and also moments that broke my heart.
The characters, as expected in a Beth O’Leary book, were funny and genuine. People I would have loved calling my friends. Even Marcus grew on me, although he has still much work to do. I adored Addie and Dylan, which isn’t really surprising. But Addie’s sister was probably my most favourite character of all.
Overall, this book was another successful novel by Beth O’Leary. And I already can’t wait to read her next one.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
The novel is split into two different timelines. And although I’m not usually a big fan of this kind of method, I loved how the author combined the two timelines. The back and forth allowed for a slow revelation that was actually quite powerful.
The present confronted the two exes, forced them into a small space for hours on time. And over the duration of the road trip small titbits of the past were revealed, and the dynamic between the different characters became apparent. The past told how they met in France and fell in love, which was one of my favourite parts, it also gave me the biggest case of wanderlust.
The road trip had some wonderful laugh out loud moments. It’s just such an iconic situation, to squeeze five people into a very small car and send them on a road trip. Hilarity ensues.
BUT there were also moments when my heart ached for them. Both, the past and the present had moments I adored, and also moments that broke my heart.
The characters, as expected in a Beth O’Leary book, were funny and genuine. People I would have loved calling my friends. Even Marcus grew on me, although he has still much work to do. I adored Addie and Dylan, which isn’t really surprising. But Addie’s sister was probably my most favourite character of all.
Overall, this book was another successful novel by Beth O’Leary. And I already can’t wait to read her next one.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
May 26, 2021
3.5 stars
This is the third book I've read by Beth O'Leary and what I love about her stories is that none of them are the same. They all have such different feelings to them. The Road Trip is a second chance romance/road trip story that is told in dual perspectives with chapters from both the past and the present.
When Dylan and Addie meet, it seems like the typical rich guy, average girl relationship. Addie is working for the summer in the place that Dylan's family rents out. They spend the summer together, falling in love. I really enjoyed this part of the book. The scenes from when they first met and fell in love where my favorite. I felt it was genuine and pure and they were really great for each other.
Then comes the part where things start to fall apart. I guess my biggest issue with this and parts of the present were Marcus. I didn't like him, I didn't understand why he did what he did (the excuse he gave... hmmmm) and I felt like he didn't deserve a second chance. You can forgive people without letting them be involved in your life if they're toxic and that he was. Also, the Rodney part was truly bizarre and didn't work for me.
The road trip aspect was interesting as we learned what happened in the past to tear them apart and we got a little tiny glimpse of them coming back together. I liked both Addie and Dylan, but I can't say I adored either of them. I did love Deb (Addie's sister) and Kevin. I cracked up anytime they showed up.
The Road Trip covered some heavy topics, but also had some fun parts. Even though it wasn't my favorite by O'Leary and I did have a few issues, overall it was an enjoyable read.
This is the third book I've read by Beth O'Leary and what I love about her stories is that none of them are the same. They all have such different feelings to them. The Road Trip is a second chance romance/road trip story that is told in dual perspectives with chapters from both the past and the present.
When Dylan and Addie meet, it seems like the typical rich guy, average girl relationship. Addie is working for the summer in the place that Dylan's family rents out. They spend the summer together, falling in love. I really enjoyed this part of the book. The scenes from when they first met and fell in love where my favorite. I felt it was genuine and pure and they were really great for each other.
Then comes the part where things start to fall apart. I guess my biggest issue with this and parts of the present were Marcus. I didn't like him, I didn't understand why he did what he did (the excuse he gave... hmmmm) and I felt like he didn't deserve a second chance. You can forgive people without letting them be involved in your life if they're toxic and that he was. Also, the Rodney part was truly bizarre and didn't work for me.
The road trip aspect was interesting as we learned what happened in the past to tear them apart and we got a little tiny glimpse of them coming back together. I liked both Addie and Dylan, but I can't say I adored either of them. I did love Deb (Addie's sister) and Kevin. I cracked up anytime they showed up.
The Road Trip covered some heavy topics, but also had some fun parts. Even though it wasn't my favorite by O'Leary and I did have a few issues, overall it was an enjoyable read.
March 17, 2021
Addie and Deb Gilbert with misfit Rodney are in Deb’s mini en route from Chichester to Scotland for friend Cherry’s posh wedding to Krish. When bang, out of nowhere seemingly, their stationary car is smashed into by a large Mercedes. Out of which climb Marcus and Dylan ..... the latter is Addie’s ex, they are also en route, same destination. The merc is undrivable, the mini isn’t, so of course they squeeze in uncomfortably for what proves to be a very eventful journey. The story is told Then and Now by Addie and Dylan.
Beth O’Leary nails this genre in my opinion and she’s an automatic pick for me as her books are fun, well written with good moments of laughter but always with something thought provoking too. This is a novel about firmly grasping second chances, the chemistry between Dylan and Addie despite the tampering of outside forces always feels right. During their time apart they mature and possibly for the better now. The journey north is entertaining, the repartee is whip-smart and some events make Rodney blush and hastily pass round the flapjack! The car journey is like a rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs, they’re all watching each other’s every move and the dynamics are fascinating. There’s tension and awkwardness with other undercurrents which adds to the atmosphere with fractured families and friend adding to it. There’s a good mix of characters from wince inducing Uncle Terry to Rodney’s strangeness, some to heartily dislike such as Dylan’s father and I’d have to sit on my hands so as not to strangle Marcus on the road trip! He’s entitled, opinionated and not above sabotaging things. Deb is great as is Addie and Dylan is likeable with his love of poetry, his blustery awkwardness and loyalty to Marcus even when he doesn’t deserve it. The alternating point of view is good and seeing their similar thought processes even when things aren’t going well is interesting. I love the ending - who wouldn’t??!!
Overall, this is good escapist reading, giving some laughs, plenty of emotions, there’s misunderstanding and misdirection along with resentment and jealousy providing a good mix to entertain the reader!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Beth O’Leary nails this genre in my opinion and she’s an automatic pick for me as her books are fun, well written with good moments of laughter but always with something thought provoking too. This is a novel about firmly grasping second chances, the chemistry between Dylan and Addie despite the tampering of outside forces always feels right. During their time apart they mature and possibly for the better now. The journey north is entertaining, the repartee is whip-smart and some events make Rodney blush and hastily pass round the flapjack! The car journey is like a rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs, they’re all watching each other’s every move and the dynamics are fascinating. There’s tension and awkwardness with other undercurrents which adds to the atmosphere with fractured families and friend adding to it. There’s a good mix of characters from wince inducing Uncle Terry to Rodney’s strangeness, some to heartily dislike such as Dylan’s father and I’d have to sit on my hands so as not to strangle Marcus on the road trip! He’s entitled, opinionated and not above sabotaging things. Deb is great as is Addie and Dylan is likeable with his love of poetry, his blustery awkwardness and loyalty to Marcus even when he doesn’t deserve it. The alternating point of view is good and seeing their similar thought processes even when things aren’t going well is interesting. I love the ending - who wouldn’t??!!
Overall, this is good escapist reading, giving some laughs, plenty of emotions, there’s misunderstanding and misdirection along with resentment and jealousy providing a good mix to entertain the reader!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 30, 2021
3.5 stars. This is a rough one for me to review, if I'm being honest. This was quite possibly my most anticipated read of 2021 so I went into it with pretty high expectations, and while I did end up enjoying it, it definitely wasn't the book that I was expecting. Based on the blurb and the cover and Beth's previous two books, I expected this to be a fun, light-hearted, road-trip romance. While this did feature some of those elements, this book was anything but light-hearted. It deals very heavily with depression and sexual assault, and I definitely think that if you want to read this one you should proceed with caution. With that being said, even though this wasn't the book I was expecting, I did still end up enjoying it (I would read Beth O'Leary's grocery lists, tbh), and I would definitely recommend checking it out if you go in with the proper mind-set and don't go in expecting a rom-com lol
CW: sexual assault, alcoholism, emotional manipulation, slut shaming, depression, toxic parents, casual fatphobia (from side-characters)
CW: sexual assault, alcoholism, emotional manipulation, slut shaming, depression, toxic parents, casual fatphobia (from side-characters)
June 20, 2021
3.5 stars
TW: alcoholism and drug abuse; sexual assault; emotional abuse from parents; stalking
As you can likely tell from the TW list, this book had way more heavy content than I was expecting from a second chance romance. The book is told from both POVs in both the present and past that leads us through the relationship, how it fell apart, and how they got to present day. The problem I ran into was there weren’t enough good times in the past to get me to believe that these two would continue to be so drawn to each other. They have a fun fling turned relationship in the summer when they first meet, but there are glaring red flags even back then and throughout their relationship we mostly see what is keeping them apart rather than what is keeping them together. I still pulled for them ultimately, but less so than if we had more of an established healthier dynamic at some point in the beginning.
This book will definitely still be good for readers who enjoy harder hitting topics in their romance but less so for romance readers looking for pure fluffy escapism. As a lover of both varieties, this still ultimately worked for me overall.
TW: alcoholism and drug abuse; sexual assault; emotional abuse from parents; stalking
As you can likely tell from the TW list, this book had way more heavy content than I was expecting from a second chance romance. The book is told from both POVs in both the present and past that leads us through the relationship, how it fell apart, and how they got to present day. The problem I ran into was there weren’t enough good times in the past to get me to believe that these two would continue to be so drawn to each other. They have a fun fling turned relationship in the summer when they first meet, but there are glaring red flags even back then and throughout their relationship we mostly see what is keeping them apart rather than what is keeping them together. I still pulled for them ultimately, but less so than if we had more of an established healthier dynamic at some point in the beginning.
This book will definitely still be good for readers who enjoy harder hitting topics in their romance but less so for romance readers looking for pure fluffy escapism. As a lover of both varieties, this still ultimately worked for me overall.
December 3, 2021
I probably (definitely) should’ve read the reviews for this before reading. I expected a fun road trip romance set in Scotland been exes and instead got a frustrating book about a guy and his toxic, jealous best friend, with barely any present day romance in sight.
July 31, 2021
2.5 stars
TW sexual assault.
Another super fun, rom-com cover with a super serious romance on the inside. I went into this one with not that high expectations (I haven't heard the best things about this one) and got just an okay story. The Road Trip is about Dylan and Addie, who broke up two years ago and haven't seen each other since. They get into a car accident and end up having to drive to a wedding in Scotland together with a bunch of their friends. This flashes between the present road trip and their past of them meeting, falling in love, and breaking up. With stories like that, I hate when the author waits until near the end to tell us why the couple broke up. That's what this story did. And wow was it a moment that really made me hate Dylan and his best friend. To me, Marcus is a nonredeemable character and I had zero sympathy for him. I hated how Dylan would put Marcus first and how Dylan completely betrayed Addie when she needed him the most. With the flashbacks, I didn't really love them and didn't really see Addie and Dylan's romance as something all-consuming that would make them not be able to ever move on and need to reconnect when they see each other again. The side characters were fine, but they felt very exaggerated and out there. Sure some parts were funny, but then others felt like they were trying too hard to be funny. I feel like they took away from the main romance and I would have liked more focus on that to believe their love in the past and their love now. And my dislike for Marcus and his excuses for how he acted really overshadowed this story.
TW sexual assault.
Another super fun, rom-com cover with a super serious romance on the inside. I went into this one with not that high expectations (I haven't heard the best things about this one) and got just an okay story. The Road Trip is about Dylan and Addie, who broke up two years ago and haven't seen each other since. They get into a car accident and end up having to drive to a wedding in Scotland together with a bunch of their friends. This flashes between the present road trip and their past of them meeting, falling in love, and breaking up. With stories like that, I hate when the author waits until near the end to tell us why the couple broke up. That's what this story did. And wow was it a moment that really made me hate Dylan and his best friend. To me, Marcus is a nonredeemable character and I had zero sympathy for him. I hated how Dylan would put Marcus first and how Dylan completely betrayed Addie when she needed him the most. With the flashbacks, I didn't really love them and didn't really see Addie and Dylan's romance as something all-consuming that would make them not be able to ever move on and need to reconnect when they see each other again. The side characters were fine, but they felt very exaggerated and out there. Sure some parts were funny, but then others felt like they were trying too hard to be funny. I feel like they took away from the main romance and I would have liked more focus on that to believe their love in the past and their love now. And my dislike for Marcus and his excuses for how he acted really overshadowed this story.
August 25, 2022
=》Okay, I hated it. This book is completely nonsense and boring.
I did read "The Flatshare" by Beth O'Leary a couple of months ago and really really enjoyed that book. So, when I learnt about the newlyreleased book by the same author, I was really excited to read this book. The premise of "The Road Trip" also felt so good to me. But now, I'm extremely disappointed.
Though the plot seemed fascinating at first but the execution of the story is quite bad. Didn't care for any of the characters. The main characters are under-developed , I couldn't connect with them. The side and supporting characters are also flat and cliche. I was really bored while reading it and had to struggle a lot to finish it. I don't know why I even bother to finish this nonsense , should had dnf'ed it.
Here, we are following our two main characters in two different time line. The jump between the two time periods are weird and drove me literally crazy. Most of the time I was struggling to figure out which is "Now" and which is "Then". Even at times, I was confused between the arcs of the two main characters. Just think about it. How would you feel when you can't even tell the difference between the arcs of the two mcs!! It was a disaster for me. The romance is horrible.
The writing is really bad too. The author has tried to add humor in this book but that effort backfired (at least in my case). The jokes are pretty weird and dull. In a word, I didn't like anything about this book.
This was my third read in the month of June. So far, I have read 3 books in this month and 2 of them were disasters for me. One of them I gave two stars and this one I'm giving just a single star. What the hell is happening? I'm sad...😥😥
I did read "The Flatshare" by Beth O'Leary a couple of months ago and really really enjoyed that book. So, when I learnt about the newlyreleased book by the same author, I was really excited to read this book. The premise of "The Road Trip" also felt so good to me. But now, I'm extremely disappointed.
Though the plot seemed fascinating at first but the execution of the story is quite bad. Didn't care for any of the characters. The main characters are under-developed , I couldn't connect with them. The side and supporting characters are also flat and cliche. I was really bored while reading it and had to struggle a lot to finish it. I don't know why I even bother to finish this nonsense , should had dnf'ed it.
Here, we are following our two main characters in two different time line. The jump between the two time periods are weird and drove me literally crazy. Most of the time I was struggling to figure out which is "Now" and which is "Then". Even at times, I was confused between the arcs of the two main characters. Just think about it. How would you feel when you can't even tell the difference between the arcs of the two mcs!! It was a disaster for me. The romance is horrible.
The writing is really bad too. The author has tried to add humor in this book but that effort backfired (at least in my case). The jokes are pretty weird and dull. In a word, I didn't like anything about this book.
This was my third read in the month of June. So far, I have read 3 books in this month and 2 of them were disasters for me. One of them I gave two stars and this one I'm giving just a single star. What the hell is happening? I'm sad...😥😥
May 30, 2021
I loved both The Flatshare and The Switch, but this one disappointingly fell a bit short for me. It lacked the lighthearted humor of those first two for the most part. Towards the end, there were some humorous moments, but it wasn't enough to make up for the journey to get there.
The Road Trip is, at its core, the story of Addie and Dylan's relationship. Told from the present-day when they are unexpectedly crammed in a car together with three other people on their way to a mutual friend's wedding and from the past with the origins of their relationship and its ultimate demise.
I'm not a fan of stories where pretty much all of the characters know something that the reader doesn't, and those hidden things aren't revealed until very late in the book, yet all throughout people keep hinting about them and alluding to them but not coming right out and saying what happened. I kept wanting to skip ahead and see what the big issue was that caused such a problem and why the dynamics of all of the friendships and other relationships were so strained and strange. Honestly, I didn't care for Dylan at all until nearly the end, and I got pretty angry about his treatment of Addie throughout the book and the constant acting like everything wrong was her fault. There were just many maudlin and depressing elements of this novel which, in a way, created some depth, but also just gave me a dejected feeling because I saw how hard Addie was trying to make things work and how she was basically thwarted at every turn.
I just needed a LOT more humor and light hearted moments (like with Rodney and the truck driver) to balance out the heavier issues. I will definitely keep reading books by this author, but I need more fun and less depression.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The Road Trip is, at its core, the story of Addie and Dylan's relationship. Told from the present-day when they are unexpectedly crammed in a car together with three other people on their way to a mutual friend's wedding and from the past with the origins of their relationship and its ultimate demise.
I'm not a fan of stories where pretty much all of the characters know something that the reader doesn't, and those hidden things aren't revealed until very late in the book, yet all throughout people keep hinting about them and alluding to them but not coming right out and saying what happened. I kept wanting to skip ahead and see what the big issue was that caused such a problem and why the dynamics of all of the friendships and other relationships were so strained and strange. Honestly, I didn't care for Dylan at all until nearly the end, and I got pretty angry about his treatment of Addie throughout the book and the constant acting like everything wrong was her fault. There were just many maudlin and depressing elements of this novel which, in a way, created some depth, but also just gave me a dejected feeling because I saw how hard Addie was trying to make things work and how she was basically thwarted at every turn.
I just needed a LOT more humor and light hearted moments (like with Rodney and the truck driver) to balance out the heavier issues. I will definitely keep reading books by this author, but I need more fun and less depression.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
April 11, 2021
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this would be 3 stars but now that I'm thinking about writing the review, it's definitely 2.5 stars.
TW: sexual assault, alcoholism, stalking
When a book is heavily focused on two characters and the relationship between them, it's really important to connect with said characters. If that doesn't happen, the book will feel like a chore to get through, and unfortunately that was the case for me here.
The book switches between two timelines. We get to see how Addie and Dylan meet in the past and how their relationship starts and ends. In the present, we follow them, and three others as they take an unplanned road trip together to get to their mutual friend's wedding. I wasn't particularly interested or invested in either timeline.
In the present, nothing really happens. There's a lot of pining from Addie and Dylan, but they don't do anything interesting. Fortunately, these segments were saved by Deb being awesome, Marcus being interesting, and Rodney being a cute marshmallow. Unfortunately, due to the last 30% of the book, most of these positive moments no longer seem so fun in hindsight. I do think I would've been much more invested in this book if the focus had been on Marcus instead. He was one of the more fascinating characters, and I would've loved to do a deep dive into his psyche instead of spending all this time in Addie and Dylan's heads.
As for the past timeline, I found the start of Addie and Dylan's relationship more reminiscent of something I'd expect from a young adult book. It was very instalove--they're both ready to say their "I love you"s after only knowing each other for a week. In fact, after this realization come other ones, like how Addie hasn't even heard Dylan's poetry yet, and how they don't know anything about each other's families. It makes the entire setup fairly unbelievable, and this continues even as the relationship progresses. The breakup was maybe the part that felt most real, even though it took 70% to get to the crux of the matter. And even before that point, but especially after that, I just couldn't root for them to get back together. I didn't feel like they had chemistry, their relationship felt immature, and I was annoyed at all the miscommunication. The main issue of the story is apparently that Dylan isn't a mind reader, but that Addie and Marcus both wanted him to "just know" things. It was also frustrating that Dylan felt much more developed as a character than Addie. Even though we don't see it on page, we're told that he has grown as a person. There is a lot of focus on his family issues, his friends, and of course his relationship with Marcus. Meanwhile, even though Dylan moves to Addie's hometown, we never see much of her life or friends. We also don't get any indications that she had grown since they broke up, other than Dylan saying she seems different.
Honestly, for most of this, I thought a romance between Addie and Marcus would be far more believable.
As with The Flatshare, the author does bring up some serious issues like sexual assault, alcoholism and stalking. However, none of these are tackled with any depth. The effects are glossed over and in some cases, even made humorous.
I thought this would be 3 stars but now that I'm thinking about writing the review, it's definitely 2.5 stars.
TW: sexual assault, alcoholism, stalking
When a book is heavily focused on two characters and the relationship between them, it's really important to connect with said characters. If that doesn't happen, the book will feel like a chore to get through, and unfortunately that was the case for me here.
The book switches between two timelines. We get to see how Addie and Dylan meet in the past and how their relationship starts and ends. In the present, we follow them, and three others as they take an unplanned road trip together to get to their mutual friend's wedding. I wasn't particularly interested or invested in either timeline.
In the present, nothing really happens. There's a lot of pining from Addie and Dylan, but they don't do anything interesting. Fortunately, these segments were saved by Deb being awesome, Marcus being interesting, and Rodney being a cute marshmallow. Unfortunately, due to the last 30% of the book, most of these positive moments no longer seem so fun in hindsight. I do think I would've been much more invested in this book if the focus had been on Marcus instead. He was one of the more fascinating characters, and I would've loved to do a deep dive into his psyche instead of spending all this time in Addie and Dylan's heads.
As for the past timeline, I found the start of Addie and Dylan's relationship more reminiscent of something I'd expect from a young adult book. It was very instalove--they're both ready to say their "I love you"s after only knowing each other for a week. In fact, after this realization come other ones, like how Addie hasn't even heard Dylan's poetry yet, and how they don't know anything about each other's families. It makes the entire setup fairly unbelievable, and this continues even as the relationship progresses. The breakup was maybe the part that felt most real, even though it took 70% to get to the crux of the matter. And even before that point, but especially after that, I just couldn't root for them to get back together. I didn't feel like they had chemistry, their relationship felt immature, and I was annoyed at all the miscommunication. The main issue of the story is apparently that Dylan isn't a mind reader, but that Addie and Marcus both wanted him to "just know" things. It was also frustrating that Dylan felt much more developed as a character than Addie. Even though we don't see it on page, we're told that he has grown as a person. There is a lot of focus on his family issues, his friends, and of course his relationship with Marcus. Meanwhile, even though Dylan moves to Addie's hometown, we never see much of her life or friends. We also don't get any indications that she had grown since they broke up, other than Dylan saying she seems different.
Honestly, for most of this, I thought a romance between Addie and Marcus would be far more believable.
As with The Flatshare, the author does bring up some serious issues like sexual assault, alcoholism and stalking. However, none of these are tackled with any depth. The effects are glossed over and in some cases, even made humorous.
June 15, 2021
3.5 stars.
Can forced proximity help a former couple recapture the magic or will it just make things worse? This is the question addressed in Beth O'Leary's new book, The Road Trip .
Dylan and Addie were in love. It was an intense relationship, but Dylan’s indecisiveness about his future and his constantly choosing his longtime best friend Marcus, who had wanted nothing more than to break them up from the start, dooms them. But when a betrayal occurs, it shatters everything.
Two years later, they know they’ll see each other at their mutual friend Cherry’s wedding. They've not spoken since the day their relationship ended. But the last thing they’re prepared for is when Dylan accidentally rear-ends the car Addie and her sister are driving to the wedding.
While the logical choice would be to let Dylan and Marcus fend for themselves, they’ll never make it to the wedding on time. So instead Addie and Deb invite them to drive with them to Scotland. In a Mini. Along with another random wedding guest, Rodney. What could go wrong?
Of course, hijinks ensue. And amidst crises and traffic and arguments about the trip playlist, Dylan and Addie realize their feelings for each other haven’t changed no matter how they try to fight them. But are feelings enough to overcome the hurt and guilt and betrayal? Have they changed that much?
The story alternates between present and past, tracing the trajectory of their relationship and what brought them to this point.
I’ve loved Beth O’Leary’s previous books, The Flat Share and The Switch , so much, so I had high hopes for The Road Trip as well. I loved Dylan and Addie and their story, but much like the trip itself, the book took a long while to get going. And honestly, Marcus was one of the most ridiculously insufferable characters and he took up far too much space in the story. But in the end, I still got teary. Lol.
NetGalley and Berkely provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The Road Trip publishes 6/1.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Can forced proximity help a former couple recapture the magic or will it just make things worse? This is the question addressed in Beth O'Leary's new book, The Road Trip .
Dylan and Addie were in love. It was an intense relationship, but Dylan’s indecisiveness about his future and his constantly choosing his longtime best friend Marcus, who had wanted nothing more than to break them up from the start, dooms them. But when a betrayal occurs, it shatters everything.
Two years later, they know they’ll see each other at their mutual friend Cherry’s wedding. They've not spoken since the day their relationship ended. But the last thing they’re prepared for is when Dylan accidentally rear-ends the car Addie and her sister are driving to the wedding.
While the logical choice would be to let Dylan and Marcus fend for themselves, they’ll never make it to the wedding on time. So instead Addie and Deb invite them to drive with them to Scotland. In a Mini. Along with another random wedding guest, Rodney. What could go wrong?
Of course, hijinks ensue. And amidst crises and traffic and arguments about the trip playlist, Dylan and Addie realize their feelings for each other haven’t changed no matter how they try to fight them. But are feelings enough to overcome the hurt and guilt and betrayal? Have they changed that much?
The story alternates between present and past, tracing the trajectory of their relationship and what brought them to this point.
I’ve loved Beth O’Leary’s previous books, The Flat Share and The Switch , so much, so I had high hopes for The Road Trip as well. I loved Dylan and Addie and their story, but much like the trip itself, the book took a long while to get going. And honestly, Marcus was one of the most ridiculously insufferable characters and he took up far too much space in the story. But in the end, I still got teary. Lol.
NetGalley and Berkely provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The Road Trip publishes 6/1.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
May 12, 2021
Can I just say YOU HAD ME AT ROAD TRIP?!?!?!?!?! I mean c’mon . . . .
And the playlist for this one was nuttin’ but winner winner chicken dinner. Old faves . . . .
To new faves . . . .
I was truly having a Veruca Salt moment while attempting to score an early copy of this one.
Now that I’ve read it I have to confess that it wasn’t as good as The Flatshare or The Switch . . . . .
But good grief. What author out there can bat 1,000???? I will fully take the blame this time because I truly did enjoy the shenanigans and LOL-able road trip parts. Unfortunately one of the travelers was a Grade-A douche and even his minor redemption arc towards the end couldn’t save him from my wrath. While I was sympathetic to Dylan, I would never choose him to be a book boyfriend either. Not to mention the driving force behind the “then” segments. I’ve made my opinion perfectly clear on how I feel about that subject matter being turned into a tired trope . . . .
No, it was definitely the stank eye . . . and also the way my face looks.
And the happily for now? Well, in the immortal words of Ms. Swift above, if I were Addie I would only be able to say . . . .
I think their problems were maybe just a weeeeeeee too big to simply forget about and attempt a do-over.
But hey 3 Stars still ain’t bad and I’m definitely gonna be begging for whatever Beth O’Leary releases next.
ARC received from Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
ORIGINAL "REVIEW:"
Come on, give it to me : )
And the playlist for this one was nuttin’ but winner winner chicken dinner. Old faves . . . .
To new faves . . . .
I was truly having a Veruca Salt moment while attempting to score an early copy of this one.
Now that I’ve read it I have to confess that it wasn’t as good as The Flatshare or The Switch . . . . .
But good grief. What author out there can bat 1,000???? I will fully take the blame this time because I truly did enjoy the shenanigans and LOL-able road trip parts. Unfortunately one of the travelers was a Grade-A douche and even his minor redemption arc towards the end couldn’t save him from my wrath. While I was sympathetic to Dylan, I would never choose him to be a book boyfriend either. Not to mention the driving force behind the “then” segments. I’ve made my opinion perfectly clear on how I feel about that subject matter being turned into a tired trope . . . .
No, it was definitely the stank eye . . . and also the way my face looks.
And the happily for now? Well, in the immortal words of Ms. Swift above, if I were Addie I would only be able to say . . . .
I think their problems were maybe just a weeeeeeee too big to simply forget about and attempt a do-over.
But hey 3 Stars still ain’t bad and I’m definitely gonna be begging for whatever Beth O’Leary releases next.
ARC received from Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
ORIGINAL "REVIEW:"
Come on, give it to me : )
April 30, 2021
This is one of those rare romantic comedies that is actually funny rather than merely light and fun. The characters and their backstories are as complex as are their relationships, which makes this a wonderful romance.
Addie and her sister, Deb, are on their way to a wedding when they’re rear-ended—by Addie’s ex-boyfriend and his best friend, Marcus, the man who worked as hard as he could to drive a wedge between Addie and Dylan. Deb suggests they ride the rest of the way together in the one car that still works. It’s a mini, and since they have already been transporting another invitee to the wedding, it’s a tight fit. As you might imagine, things do not get easier from there.
I really enjoyed this. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES APRIL 29, 2021.
Addie and her sister, Deb, are on their way to a wedding when they’re rear-ended—by Addie’s ex-boyfriend and his best friend, Marcus, the man who worked as hard as he could to drive a wedge between Addie and Dylan. Deb suggests they ride the rest of the way together in the one car that still works. It’s a mini, and since they have already been transporting another invitee to the wedding, it’s a tight fit. As you might imagine, things do not get easier from there.
I really enjoyed this. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES APRIL 29, 2021.
January 30, 2022
Well what a dysfunctional group this was, I wanted to like it but it didn’t tickle my funny bone at all it was a real slow paced first half I nearly DNF but I did somehow.
A group of friends & one hang ones are invited to a wedding in Rural Scotland when Dylan crashes his car all five go in a Mini Cooper & then the fun starts, Dylan & Addie had a breakup 2 years earlier but will they find love again?
I must say I didn’t like Dylan or Rodney who tagged on for the ride, I like Addie & her over protective sister Deb the timelines were in the then & now in the point of view of Dylan & Addie I didn’t enjoy this as much as The Switch ,the characters of Lena & Eileen were more fun characters thus the 3star rating,
A group of friends & one hang ones are invited to a wedding in Rural Scotland when Dylan crashes his car all five go in a Mini Cooper & then the fun starts, Dylan & Addie had a breakup 2 years earlier but will they find love again?
I must say I didn’t like Dylan or Rodney who tagged on for the ride, I like Addie & her over protective sister Deb the timelines were in the then & now in the point of view of Dylan & Addie I didn’t enjoy this as much as The Switch ,the characters of Lena & Eileen were more fun characters thus the 3star rating,
Shelved as 'dnf'
December 2, 2022DNF @ page 78
I loved The Flatshare and The Switch. But this just doesn’t compare to them at all.
A tonne of insta lust and very little else, not my thing.
I’ll pass.
I loved The Flatshare and The Switch. But this just doesn’t compare to them at all.
A tonne of insta lust and very little else, not my thing.
I’ll pass.
July 10, 2023
Not so much a road trip as a total disaster. How many things can go wrong in a day's drive from the south to the north of England? The answer is plenty beginning immediately with a crash which means five adults and their baggage squeeze into one Mini - I am not sure how they all got in and I am very sure it would be very uncomfortable.
Even more uncomfortable is that Addie and Dylan are meeting for the first time since they broke up and feelings start to run high. Worse, Marcus is there and he appears to have been at least partly responsible for the break up. Add to the party Deb who has left her baby with her mum and is missing him terribly, and Rodney who is a complete stranger and rather odd.
The book alternates the present day with chapters on the past and the love affair between Addie and Dylan. Everything builds towards a will they /won't they get together again. There is a lot of humour, some excellent character development and a few tears. A very enjoyable, fun read. 4 stars.
Even more uncomfortable is that Addie and Dylan are meeting for the first time since they broke up and feelings start to run high. Worse, Marcus is there and he appears to have been at least partly responsible for the break up. Add to the party Deb who has left her baby with her mum and is missing him terribly, and Rodney who is a complete stranger and rather odd.
The book alternates the present day with chapters on the past and the love affair between Addie and Dylan. Everything builds towards a will they /won't they get together again. There is a lot of humour, some excellent character development and a few tears. A very enjoyable, fun read. 4 stars.
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