The story of Nick and Brit, who meet on a holiday that doesn't to to plan. Is it just a holiday romance or could it lead to more? A great read.

If you enjoy a road trip romance where everything goes wrong except for falling in love pick this up! The romance was cute and though it took me time to warm up, by the time the couple got together I was ready for it! Both characters had their own big recent struggles and journeys and they both had a lot of support and kindness toward each other.

I really enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine, dual POV, strangers to lovers road trip romance that sees runaway bride and social media influencer Brit stranded with a grief-stricken Nick when their cruise ship leaves port without them.

This book did a great job balancing some lighter moments with heavier topics. Brit is a fun person (often called 'too much' by both her ex and her parents) while Nick takes life too seriously after losing his brother to a tragic illness.

Tasked with a bucket list from his dead brother, Brit helps Nick learn how to smile more and enjoy life while they travel back home together experiencing lots of funny bumps along the way. Reality comes crashing in when they get home though and there doesn't seem like these opposites can find a way to make a life together.

Spicy and heartfelt, this was a fun read and great on audio too. I'm so excited for Lauren H. Mae's first traditionally published book! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

TW: death of a sibling, gaslighting, alcoholic parent

I really enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine, dual POV, strangers to lovers road trip romance that sees runaway bride and social media influencer Brit stranded with a grief-stricken Nick when their cruise ship leaves port without them.

This book did a great job balancing some lighter moments with heavier topics. Brit is a fun person (often called 'too much' by both her ex and her parents) while Nick takes life too seriously after losing his brother to a tragic illness.

Tasked with a bucket list from his dead brother, Brit helps Nick learn how to smile more and enjoy life while they travel back home together experiencing lots of funny bumps along the way. Reality comes crashing in when they get home though and there doesn't seem like these opposites can find a way to make a life together.

Spicy and heartfelt, this was a fun read and great on audio too. I'm so excited for Lauren H. Mae's first traditionally published book! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

TW: death of a sibling, gaslighting, alcoholic parent

I absolutely adored this book!⁣
I felt Brit to be so relatable and absolutely adored her! Always wondering if you’re too much, too loud, not sure where you fit in. Loving to live in the present and enjoying moments. Wearing vibrant colors and having fun hair. Wanting to be a mermaid. I have never related more to a character in my life and I just loved her and wanted to hug her and be her friend.⁣
Nick, ugh I wanted to hug him too, but I’m so glad he met Brit. He was such a kind, thoughtful man just trapped in trying to be everything for everyone and giving more than he had left to give. He was such a caregiver but he needed someone like Brit.⁣
⁣
The chaos of their adventure had me laughing at times, my heart breaking for them at times, and just swooning sometimes too. I adored their journey and them as individuals. ⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
🔥🔥⁣
“Mm-hmm. And I am. I love you so much. Like, stare at you while you’re sleeping—text you a hundred times a day—miss you even when you’re right beside me love.” I bit my bottom lip. “It might get weird.”

A light hearted romance with funny situations and relatable characters.
I was so excited when I got approved for this on #netgalley I couldn't wait to read it, so thank you @netgalley
As soon as I started reading I just knew I was going to cry - which I did but in a good way.

Nick is just cute and the perfect gentleman. Watching him come to life, grieve for his brother and care for his family was incredibly sweet.
Brit is eccentric and loveable how she grew in confidence and started over after a toxic relationship was inspiring.
The journey they must go on in this book is an emotional roller coaster that I didn't want to get off. I don't kown how I would have coped being stranded as they were - it's my worst nightmare. I wouldn't have been opposed if I was with Nick though🤣
This book is perfect for people that are fans of grumpy/sunshine or slow burn tropes. It's the perfect summer read.

I definitely want to read more from Lauren Mae

Nick is on a quest for his brother Alex and Brit is on the honeymoon that didn't happen from the wedding that did not happen. The two meet after missing their cruise ship and getting stranded in Costa Rica. They become unlikely travel companions as they navigate their way home and we get the pleasure of watching it happen. From being grumpy to adventurous the two travel together and become what the other was missing. The characters were believable and well developed you could feel the emotions from the positivity of Brit to the overwhelming feeling of Nick. I enjoyed watching Brit bring Nick out of his shell and help him to understand the quest from his brother. I liked the book and the plot, it is perfect for the beach, pool or a light weekend read.

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publisher for the opportunity.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Headline Books.

Wish Lists and Road Trips is one of the most sweet, adorable and funny reads I've read in a long time. We follow Brit and Nick who are strangers and both end up stranded in Costa Rika after missing their Cruise. The pair embark on an adventure of mishaps and bad luck together and become closer and closer. I loved both of these characters and was routing for them after the first few chapters. Brit is a rich girl who's walked out on her wedding and wanting to set up her own business and break free of the constraints and disappointment of her parents. She is against the clock to get hime and snap up her dream investment. Nick is there on a promise to his dead brother and feels guilt at any kind of fun or enjoyment and desperately needs to get back home for his family and family business, which depends on him. I loved how fate seemed to steer these two together with lots of humps in the road along the way. My heart was so warmed and charmed by this pair of misfits and loved their journey from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this grumpy x sunshine romance! Their interactions were great and made me smile a lot.

Brit Donovan and Nick Callaway miss boarding their cruise ship in Costa Rica. The cruise company arranges a flight to the USA sending them to Dallas. She is trying to get Boston and he to Pittsburgh but with a major storm it isn’t going to be easy. Brit went on the cruise after calling off her wedding to the person her parents adore, who is cheating on her. She has a plan to move forward in her life but must get home to bid on her future building for her future home and business. Brit seems flighty and impulsive but of course is caring and kind.

Nick is the ultimate teddy bear, carrying the family business and burdens on his shoulders. He’s been overlooked and hurt by his family who always favored his older brother Alex, who had a life long heart condition. He was on the cruise to fulfill a wish list for Alex who died only two months earlier.

Nick can’t help but be dazzled by Brit’s colorful hair and personality. And Brit desperately wants to stand on her own but loves that Nick is always there for her. This adventure takes place over a few day on ship, plane, car, train and bus. And of course they’re bound to get snowed in somewhere where there is only one room left with one bed.

Fate keeps these two together allowing them time to share hopes and dreams. There are obstacles but you can’t help but root for their HEA. Thank you to Headline, Headline Eternal and NetGalley for the ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review.

Wish Lists & Road Trips

I really enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, road trip romance. It was the perfect blend of steam, banter, travel and misfortunate events!

Brit and Nick meet after having both missed their cruise ship back to the U.S. The pair embark on a wild journey to get home, with so many twists and turns along the way. The chemistry between them is raw and beautiful. They are both struggling in different ways and find peace and comfort in each other.

Brit is recovering from a bad breakup after cancelling her wedding and just wants to prove everyone that she is capable of being on her own. Nick is on a mission to fulfill his brothers dying wish with a list of places to spread his ashes. This book was surprisingly heartfelt and emotional.

It took me a while to warm up to our main characters. Brit is 25 years old and at times feels a bit immature. She’s just learning how to stand up for herself and what she wants. Nick is 29 and feels a bit condescending when he comments on how young she is. She’s only 4 years younger??? They are the epitome of grumpy/sunshine.

Don’t let the cover fool you, there are a few open door scenes with moderate details! Trigger warnings include: infidelity, loss of a sibling, death, grief, sexual content, alcoholism, toxic relationship, emotional abuse.

Thank you to the author and Heartline Eternal for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved both of the MC. They complimented each other so well and their interactions made laugh and smile frequently throughout their story. I LOVED Brit and her personality she was cute, fun and relatable. This book gave all the right amounts of humor, adventure, romance, spice and heartfelt moments a reader could ask for! I also really enjoyed the epilogue and seeing what both Nick and Brit were up to after their wild road trip ended. I will definitely be reading more from Mae and you should too!

Thank you to Lauren H. Mae for the ebook ARC of this absolute delight.

First of all, if you haven’t read anything by this author your, you are absolutely missing out. I can’t even explain how much I love the characters she creates and her writing.

This book is about a woman who has just called off her wedding and gone on the honeymoon to escape her overbearing family and prove to herself that she can do things on her own and a guy who is going on a cross-county trip to carry out his deceased brother’s final wishes.

They are unlikely travel partners, but chaos throws them together and so many shenanigans ensue. Everything that can go wrong on a road trip absolutely goes wrong, and it’s equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious what the characters go through together.

This story is about grief, starting over, finding yourself, and so much more. I laughed, I cried, I smiled. I hugged my Kindle when I finished.

Today is pub day and I cannot wait for you to get your hands on this one!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I found the pacing of this book in the begging a bit slow but after every hiccup they run into, I get more invested. Nick and Brit are two strangers who got stranded in Costa Rica after missing their cruise’s departure time. They agreed to travel together and find their way home since it would be more convenient and faster; and in Nick’s mind: safer for Brit since it seemed like this is the first time she’s ever traveled alone. He was right. But Brit hates that he was right. Anyways, after when it seems like they were a step closer into finally getting home, they stumble another obstacle after obstacle. Literally traveling every way possible by now: by water, plane, land, and even train. Nick pretends to be annoyed by Brit’s sunshine to his midnight rain, but what he doesn’t know is that he’s head over heels slowly falling in love with her. Brit also helps Nick process his grief as he attempts to finish the last two things in the list his late brother wishes for him to do. Nick also helps Brit navigate her newfound independence throughout the trip. And of course, she too falls in love with him.

This was more emotional than I was expecting and it really felt like I went on the emotional journey with them whilst enjoying the plot twists and adventures of their physical journey

I love a book with a good road trip in it (mainly for the forced proximity between the MCs) and this was so fun, it took me a while to warm up into it, just as things seemed straight forward and we were only really seeing the characters at surface level stuff. But the further they got into their journey, the more plot twists that kept coming, and the more we got to know the characters and they were opening up the more I enjoyed it

- forced proximity
- strangers to lovers
- road trip
- 1st person, duel pov

A beautifully well written book about grief, letting go and accepting yourself instead of trying to be someone else.

I absolutely love this road trip romance story, I can feel the chemistry between the main characters – Nick and Brit. I love their bantering and their opposite personality makes this story even more interesting.

Not just a cute and funny rom-com, this book also has some emotional parts that really touched my feelings. Both characters has their own kind of grief to process and I love seeing them helping one another.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and entertaining light hearted contemporary romance with great plots and loveable characters!
I’m looking forward to read more books from this author in the future!

If you’re looking for a cute and emotional love story with forced proximity, opposites attract and grumpy x sunshine tropes – you’ll have to pick this one up for sure!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Infidelity, grief, alcoholism and medical trauma

For two different reasons, Brit and Nick end up missing their cruise ship. They end up journeying back to New York together with lots of mishaps, laughs and a little bit of spice🌶️. From first appearances, Brit is a bubbly ray of sunshine which is different than the reality. Behind the smiles,

she is under pressure from her controlling parents and has just walked out on a relationship which was far from perfect. Nick on the other hand is grumpy and seems closed off. In truth he is grieving the recent loss of his brother and having the pressure of his family business, his unwell mother and a father that relies on him far too much.

I loved how much the chemistry built between them and you could feel the sexual tension getting towards breaking point. I loved that there is the dual POV between the MCs as it really gives you the reality on how they are honestly feeling with their different difficult situations. The forced proximity really worked well in this book as sometimes it’s either very hit or miss. Having Annie as a character was such a delight and even though she featured a little bit, she gave such good advice and helped Brit out a lot to help move the story on. This book I enjoyed so much and I managed to binge read as I didn’t want to put it down !

This was so good!

We follow Brit and Nick, who meet after they both miss their cruise ship.
Now they are both stuck in Costa Rica and then become travel buddies as they attempt to make their way back home. Of course, they run up against many obstacles.

I fell in love with these characters and all of their quirks. I felt so many emotions while reading this. I even had tears in my eyes at one point! I highly recommend giving this book a try!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing this arc.

Brig and Nick meet when they both miss their cruise ship in Costa Rica and end up on an adventure to get back home. Both have very different reasons for being in the trip, so what will happen when it's time for them to return to real life?
A great read.

Wish Lists and Road Trips by Lauren H. Mae

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Headline Eternal and Netgalley.

Blurb

Two stranded travellers. One unexpected journey.

Makeup artist Brit Donovan wants one thing: to prove to her overbearing family that she can be independent. After breaking off her engagement to her cheating ex, she sets off on her honeymoon cruise alone to recharge before opening her own studio.

Nick Callaway isn't on a pleasure trip. Armed with his brother's ashes and a list of places, he's on a mission to fulfill a dying wish. Burdened with survivor's guilt and on a countdown to get home in time to help his family's company, the only thing he wants is to get this trip over with.

When they're both stranded in Costa Rica after missing their cruise ship, Nick and Brit team up to make their way back to the US. Complete opposites, their initial frustration - heightened by the obstacles of grounded flights and delayed trains - gives way to a searing attraction, and the feeling this may be a journey that neither will want to end.

My Opinion

I love a road trip, so the title and cover drew me in with a little help from the blurb. Nick and Brit have both managed to miss the cruise ship and so must make their own way home. Their journey together is anything but straight forward but was very enjoyable to read about.

Whilst reading this, you will feel the chemistry between Nick and Brit and can't help but root for them. This was such a sweet read with some emotional parts. For me, Lauren H. Mae was a new author and so this was a great introduction to her writing and I am sure I will be back for more.

Rating: 4/5