4★
“I returned home from a business trip to discover the man I was married to had changed. It wasn’t a vague thing – there was a stranger in my bed. When pressed to define his problem, he relented, saying, ‘I just can’t stand the thought of sleeping with only one woman for the rest of my life.’ And that was that.”

Well, that’s interesting. Because the book dedication says: “For my husband, like, der” (which Americans would say, “like, duh”). Husband, eh?

Fun read and not like the gushy, blubbery Eat, Pray, Love. None of that meditation magic to stop the tears. Jobbins is made of stronger stuff, although she sheds a few tears here and there and blows her top more than once. And it IS all about her, of course, “like, der”, as she would have said.

The reason I read it is because of a couple of people who praised it: Mark Colvin (whom I loved) and Amanda Keller, who’s a bright funny girl herself. Then I googled the author and realised she moves in some interesting circles (film maker, screenwriter), so that was intriguing. And she does indeed cross paths with many interesting people, some famous (first names only, but “Mark” in London is Colvin) and some real down-home, genuine local characters.

After her husband decides to find himself by looking in different beds, she gradually pieces her life back together, although they stay married and best friends (mostly). He is “Pig” to her “Piggy”, and that’s how she always refers to him.

She decides she will do a Thelma and Louise, sort of, and travel across America, changing the scenery and refreshing her spirit. She hasn’t got much money, but what the heck? Her mother worries, but encourages, but worries, and . . . well, she’s a mother, and so it goes.

At one point in her travels, the author writes:

“‘Awesome,’ I said on entering the elegant Beaux Art lobby with its old world nymphs and vaulted grandeur. ‘It’s my mother made of marble and mortar.’

Aunty Sue to the rescue! She’s mid-generation, close enough in age to the author that she’s a lot of fun while adding an air of stability to the adventure. She offers to meet the author on the east coast and drive back with her on the way home. Whew - that will defray a lot of the cost.

Her family tends to hang on to the exes, and an ex-brother-in-law lives in L.A. so she starts off staying with him. L.A. she describes:

“The city is huge, monstrous, half the population of Australia living on a dot, and everyone’s here for glory. Wealth, beauty, brains: they’re all available for a price. Sure, that price seems to be your soul, but since it’s the richest city in America, you’ll probably get good money for it.

Now all Jobbins needs to do is find a car, and she grabs a classic 1989 red Chevy Camaro for $3600 US, just over her Aussie $5000 limit. If Aussie readers are not familiar with the Camaro, it’s a muscle car, think hoon, think head-turner, think less-than-subtle. She names it Betty. I’m not a fan of naming vehicles after women, but I do like her red Chevy, so I’ll forgive her.

She has a colourful time crossing the country and I enjoyed the whole ride. Yes, she does a bit of reflective navel-gazing (and if there were sailors, she’d do naval-gazing as well, as she likes the fellas). She’s a dreadful flirt, by which I mean incorrigible, not unsuccessful, and she was adventurous enough to talk to strangers everywhere and stay in out-of-the-way places . . . mainly because she had no money.

She hits the Grand Canyon, hikes, admires the scenery across the country, finds people to show us around and generally tells a good story. I found it fun, but then I’ve travelled many of the places she did, so it was kind of reminiscing for me, I suppose. Eventually, she ends up on the east coast, meets up with Sue, gets down to Washington DC, but Sue has to return urgently to Australia, so it’s off to England instead, since her flight allowed her another leg on her trip.

We learn about her childhood with an alcoholic father and her medical dramas trying to fall pregnant. There’s enough detail that we understand why she’s feeling chaotic but there’s so much fun and joy in the trip, that it's easy to admire how she’s decided to meet life head-on.

Alone, her mind starts to wander.

“Driving through the Badlands of middle America, I discovered the creative mind is like a cattle dog – you have to work it or you’ll come home and find it’s eaten the couch.”

She’s delighted to discover NPR (National Public Radio) which is a bit like Australia’s ABC and SBS. Keeps her mind going. She stays with more old friends, makes new friends, and one follows her back to the States and he and another new American friend drive back across country with her in a funny, awkward Three Amigos fashion. She needs them to be able to afford to get back to California.

She tells a good story, says and does things that would drive me nuts if I were one of the fellows she’s travelling with, but she obviously makes up for it with wit and a good sense of humour. They’re broke so they camp – on a building site, in stunning national parks – wherever they can.

Lots of funny anecdotes, which she’s probably been dining out on for years. If you’re an American, you’ll recognise your country and if you’re an Aussie you’ll recognise the traveller. In fact, if you’re English, you’ll be familiar with her time there and one of her ‘new friends’.

Most enjoyable! Thanks to NetGalley and Affirm Press for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.

From the first page to the last, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I became involved with all the characters, and loved the landscapes and the side characaters that the author introduced me too.

I love that so many scenes in this book struck a chord with me. When a modified Jane Austin quote was slipped in, I knew it was my kind of book. When I recognised so many of the music and the books used as a backdrop to the journey, I had to pause for a minute and make a list to follow up later, thereby making my ever growing "to read" list even longer. As a fellow Australia, I found it refreshing to see America through the eyes of a fellow countrywoman. It was my kind of language, and I have to say, that I saw so much of myself in the author too. It takes a bucketload of honesty to look back and write out part of your story for public consumption, so kudos to her for putting it all out there.

This is wonderful book. It's a story about moving on from heartbreak which I know is a very depressing subject but the author seems to imbue it with a sort of je ne sais quoi. It it an uplifting story, that just so happens to be mostly true, which in my opinion makes it all the better. I feel like this is a book that has all the makings of a classic, and could even see it being made into a movie.

It's honest, there are laugh out loud moments, a side of heartbreak and it's just so honest and bare. I really enjoyed reading this book - I even feel like I've walked away with a host of things I'd love to read up on some more, so thanks for expanding my mind in multiple ways Sheridan!

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review (less)

Not my usual read, but a delightful journey through chaos, confusion and heartbreak that will tough the hearts of many. This was my first read by Ms Jobbins and I was suitably impressed.

A mostly enjoyable read, especially for those of us who know both Australia (and Australians) and America (and Americans) well! Relationship breakup followed by crazy road trip. Honest and easy to read, although too long and somewhat repetitive. Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advance Reader copy.

Sheridan Jobbins has described her road trip across the USA after her marriage ended and incorporated a love story of how she met her second husband. At various times some 'fun facts' are included as they meander their way through America. As such it is rather an odd mixture told in a light, entertaining and witty way. Jobbins is pretty hard on herself and at times I felt quite uncomfortable as it exposed her vulnerabilities - a bit like reading someone's very private diary. At other times it felt too self-indulgent and in need of a good edit. She wrote it as a tribute to her husband and maybe that it part of the problem as there is little in it for the reader to identify with as Jobbins portrays herself as quite a unique person.

What an emotional journey this book took me on! I loved every word of it! This love story is one of the best I have read in a long time! You get really invested in the characters and storyline, was a struggle to put the book down! This book really drew on my heartstrings and had an identifiable feel to the story which made the pull even stronger! I highly recommend this book!

I usually enjoy this style of book but i didn't enjoy this one.

In exchange for a fair and honest review, I was given this ARC. As an American (by birth) and an Australian (by choice) I found so much in this book that spoke to me. Brilliantly clever author and so well written! A couple of years ago my husband and I made a similar trip. Sheridan has captured so much of the fabric that makes up America. All the quirks and idiosyncrasies and so many of the fabulous places that speak to travellers. There were places that she spoke about that I have not seen so another road trip seems on the cards for me. What a wonderful way for her to heal and fantastic that she found a new love. Whether you are Aussie or Yank, this story will grab you and take you for a ride in Betty.

This book is the first book for this author. However, I do hope she will write again and again and again.
Such wonderful cocktail of humor, life wisdom, silliness, bitchiness and adultingsuckness

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This book seemed a bit long winded and went over and over again the same things. There were some parts that I did enjoy. I think the author was extremely lucky to have people when and where she needed them for moral support, even when she was having down-on-her-luck, hard-done-by days.

This book will resonate with anyone who's life has ever stopped going to plan!
Part travel diary, part escape fantasy - I was torn between envy at Sheridan's daring to embark on such a grand adventure & the occasional desire to pull my hair out at her antics! In short, this felt like the tale of a well loved friend - one who I was cheering on all the way.

Your heart is broken, your marriage is in disarray, your life is in chaos and years of self-doubt come crashing down all at once, what do you do?
Well for Sheridan Jobbins in this slightly fictionalised memoir, her solution after a glorious scene of smashing the crockery is to go on a journey across the United States of America in a car called Betty. What is really nice is that you are invited as the backseat passenger as Jobbins looks for the reasons as how it all came to this point. Now there are many memoirs as to how men and women find their way of out a state of depression. For some they tell you about their descent into a world of drugs and alcohol and then crawling out the other side. This is not that kind of book and it is not ‘woe is me, look how much despair I am in and here is the magical cure’ kind of read. What we have is a really honest journey of the difficulty in moving forward and that there is no easy path, no magic words that will provide an easy answer when your life goes haywire.
Jobbins has such a deft touch with her writing as she brings humour, sarcasm, insight and humility in a memoir that resonates with hope. The writing is raw, truthful and as a writer Jobbins engages you in a conversation, making it easy to slip into the pages and lose yourself. Her descriptions really take you to the place ‘The day had turned white hot and airless. Even the trees were holding their breath.’ There are countless of other great moments beautifully captured.
The people come into Jobbins travel really bring texture to the story from Mavis the well-heeled woman in her early hundreds, to be given a guided tour by the local police officer and a bunch of 9 year olds enamoured with Betty the Camaro over a Ferrari.
I really loved was when Jobbins would describe how her and Scott would record the sounds of their journey. The Crockery Quilt, a patchwork of plates, cups and saucers that she collects that bring her back memories of place is a wonderful touch and in some ways reflects Jobbins experiences.
There are moments when Jobbins shares her insights as tries to unravel all that had come before that ‘Maturity doesn’t mean setting yourself, or hardening the resolution of who you are. It can also be a wild abandonment of constraint, a surrender to change.’
I laughed, empathised, I could hear the sounds of the diners they stopped in, took in the grand sweeping vistas and camped out under the stars. This is a wonderful book, beautifully written and that takes you a journey of personal discovery. Reminding you that life is to be lived and the biggest risk you take is on living the life you want.
Thanks to Hachette Australia and New Zealand for the read.

I'm not usually a bio reader, but when this one crossed my path it piqued my interest. I'm so glad I gave it a go. I was really drawn into Sheridan Jobbins' story of discovery. After a break up she sets off to have an adventure. Sort of an Eat, Pray, Love, but a lot more relatable. I didn't know I could identify with a story so much, but this one definitely hit it. I loved that it wasn't a perfect story. There were bumps in the (literal) road, and the reader is taken through a series of trying times until the end. Once again, an entertaining, relatable read.

In Wish You Were Here, Sheridan Jobbins gives her account of how she dealt with the breakup of her marriage. After shattering all of her crockery, Jobbins decides to shatter her old life and set out on an adventure; a Thelma and Louise-inspired trek across the USA in a vintage Chevy Camaro.

Pretty much everything that you could imagine going wrong does go wrong for Sheridan, as she blunders her way along Route 66 and around the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and other sights. She finally gets to the Atlantic coast, whereupon she takes off for the UK.

There she meets Simon, a student of philosophy, and strikes up a passionate relationship that is over all too soon as Sheridan heads back to the USA to complete her return journey. Unexpectedly, Simon follows her under the impression that she's invited him to join her. Thrown together as virtual strangers, Sheridan's and Simon's relationship is sorely tested as they make their way back to San Francisco.

Jobbins' writing is somewhat bathetic at times but she cuts through that with lashings of sardonic wit. She's pretty honest about herself, willing to show sides of her personality that are difficult to admire, possibly even dumb. (Seriously, what woman of her age has never heard of panty liners?). But underlying all this bravado, tempestuousness and naivety is a sad reality of lost children, failed IVF treatments and a marriage that cracked under the strain; this never quite goes away, and makes the reader hope for a better future for the writer and her companion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of this book. I really liked this book. It was warm, funny and uplifting. This book made me want to travel! I loved the description of America. This book is quite inspiring!

I manged to finish reading Wish You Were Here in one go, a feat because I have enjoyed every bit of it. I like the book for its honesty, I am sure that this book was a cathartic experience for the author. Reading it affirms a lot of things for me, even though I am not in the same boat as her, the doubts are fairly similar.

In the end, I enjoyed this book because it is honest and terribly funny. It is well written. Done in the first person point of view, it shares a lot of insight and the journey towards self- acceptance is touching. 

Definitely recommend it for the laughs.