I loved this book! I remember reading When We Collided a few years ago and really enjoying it, and I feel as though Emery Lord is a veteran in the YA romance genre, so I knew to expect good things from Open Road Summer, which feels like such a popular book, and it was just what I needed. The roadtrip, on-tour setting was so fun, and was the perfect structure to see this summer romance play out. I felt that the relationships in this were really strong, from Dee and Reagan's friendship to Reagan's romance with Matt. I liked that the whole fake-dating storyline didn't take over the narrative, and instead Lord let the genuine connection between Reagan and Matt take lead. Yes, this book was full of cliches, like troubled families and first heartbreak, and while it might not have done anything groundbreaking, I absolutely flew through this book and couldn't put it down.

I no longer have an interest in reviewing this title but would like to thank the publisher and author for the opportunity, it is now far past the publication and archive date. I have awarded 3 stars to keep this review neutral.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Open Road Summer was such a cute read with a strong friendship at its core between Reagan and Dee. Any story that involves young pop stars or celebrities I instantly put on my TBR because I think it's so fascinating how fame can affect a teenager. This book definitely shows the disastrous side of having an online following and what that can do to your reputation, but also emphasises that as long as you know yourself, and the people around you know who you truly are, then you can overcome anything.

I loved the banter, love-hate-ish romance between Reagan and Matt, brought into the plot for one of my all time favourite tropes: fake dating. Their chemistry was immediate and who can't help but fall in love with a guy who writes you a song? There's a lot to unpack there, though, with Matt's large family and Reagan's past relationships that make their journey together so much more than just a summer fling because they're both there. It was great that this book managed to bring a darkness to a world that can seem so glittery on the outside.

Dee was the cutest pop star ever, like a young Taylor Swift, I wish I could listen to her music in real life. Watching her let go of her persona and be a normal girl going through heartbreak was one of my favourite parts of the book, because Reagan was always there to pick up the pieces.

If you're looking for the next book that feels like driving with the windows down with your best friend, wishing summer would last forever, then this one belongs on your TBR, for sure.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After my first of Emery's books, When We Collided, I was extremely apprehensive about reading any more. I had hated that book, but decided to give her work another go, and this was the first one I could get a copy of. Open Road Summer is a road trip book, where Reagan decides to go on a trip across the country after breaking up with her boyfriend. Her best friend, Lilah/Dee, just so happens to be a superstar ready to jet off on her 24 date tour - this is the perfect chance of Reagan to get back to herself, and get closer to her friend. The opening act who has just joined the tour is Matt Finch, and despite all her best intentions, Reagan can't seem to keep away from him.

I loved how friendship focused this book was. Yes, there was romance, which I loved, but it mainly followed Reagan and Dee becoming best friends again, sharing everything like they used to, and not letting outside influences or issues get in the way of them. The banter between the two was fantastic, and it is definitely a case of friendship done right. Reagan is a bit reliant on Dee, and reluctant to make new friends, but their friendship is so good, that it's understandable why she doesn't feel the need for more.

Matt is a really good love interest. Yeah, he's a star, and has been for most of his life, but he's far from perfect, and with Reagan, who doesn't care one jot about 'Matt Finch - the star', he can be himself. It was a slow building romance, especially as the Reagan/Dee story line took more of the plot. I felt like the chemistry was real, and the only bit I didn't like was when Reagan was getting jealous and starting to be a bit bitchy about other girls looking at/talking to Matt - that's why I've only rated this a 4. All in all, this book has redeemed Emery's writing and books for me, and I'm willing to try more of them in future.

Boy band romance with typical angsty teenage protagonist. However I preferred Emery's other titles.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free ecopy for review.

A story about best friends and road trips will always be a hit with me, and Open Road Summer was no different! After a tough few months, Reagan wants to leave her old life and troubles behind when she accompanies her best friend on tour. This girls-only bonding time is ruined soon by the arrival of another country singer, Matt Finch, who joins the tour to squish rumours spreading about Lilah’s hometown boyfriend. Much like Lord’s other novels, this was full of heartfelt emotions and tough situations. Poor Reagan, she has had a heck of a life! She wants to move past her troublesome ex-boyfriend and the police record that he dragged her into, and by having some quality time with her bestie and maybe even snuggling up with Matt, she can grow as a person and better her photography skills. I did like this, it wasn’t the tale of best friendship I thought it was going to be but rather a story of personal growth and growing up.

*I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

It was nice to have a novel from the perspective of the side-kick as opposed to the whole 'famous chosen one' type thing, but Reagan was such a bloody slut-shaming cow that it made it really hard to like her. The whole TSwift vibe was a bit gross and honestly Reagan didn't deserve a sweetheart like Matt. This was an okay read but overall slightly problematic on a few levels.

Thank you to netgalley and Bloomsbury for sending a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Content warnings: slut shaming, nude leaks, alcohol abuse, emotional & physical domestic abuse.

Reagan is so ready to spend her summer with her superstar best friend on her sell-out tour after breaking up with her boyfriend. They want a drama free summer but that just isn't going to happen when pictures of Dee's secret boyfriend are leaked and then teen heartthrob turned solo artist Matt Finch joins them on the road. And Reagan is immediately interested.

This book was a whole "yikes" to be honest. I've read Emery Lord before and thought I could trust her but this book was a mess. I read her 2017 release, The Names They Gave Us, and really enjoyed it so I can tell her writing has vastly improved in 3 years. I did read reviews just before I started reading this so was a little prepared.

My biggest problem with this book was the main character. She was such a "try hard". She's one of those girls who is like "I'm not like other girls," "I don't have many girl friends" etc etc. She was really just so unlikeable and behaved like such a trashfire. The way she acted with any girl who wasn't her best friend was absolutely ridiculous. She disliked any girl just looking at them simply because they were a girl. If Dee had not existed I would not have liked this book at all. Dee grounded Reagan, she was less of a "tough girl" around her and was just a good friend. I really wish Dee had called Reagan out for being such a jerk because I really think she would've listened to her. I'm aware this book was written 3 years ago, but that's still far too recent for a character like this to exist in my eyes. I just feel like this is 100% unnecessary in books, especially ones that are promoted to impressionable teen girls.

Despite my dislike of the main character I still read this quickly as it was addictive to read. Maybe because it felt like I was reading a Taylor Swift and Jonas Brothers fanfiction. Dee definitely read like Taylor Swift and Matt 100% reminded me of Joe Jonas. This read like one of the fics I read on Jonas Brothers Fanfiction Archive when my faves hadn't been updated yet. Actually, that's I lie when I read JBFA I hated T Swift.

I didn't absolutely hate this book, but I did hate the main character. Lord's writing is still enthralling and I'm eventually going to read more of her stuff but I wish I hadn't read this.

I really thought I was going to love this book: I adore Hollywood settings and found it fascinating that the POV was a friend instead of the famous person. However the characters just really made it hard for me to connect- in a world full of hate towards women we don't need main female characters to also be putting down other women. The slut-shaming simply made me uncomfortable and unfortunately clouded my judgement of this fun novel.

Seventeen year old Reagan O'Neill is embarking on a summer of tour buses, plush hotel suites and watching from the wings as best friend and America's country music darling Lilah Montgomery completes the leg of her Southern tour. Behind the stage presence, Dee is heartbroken and nursing the breakup of her teenage sweetheart. Although the narrative follows Reagan's journey, best friend and superstar Dee is a wonderful secondary character, reminiscent of Taylor Swift's beginnings as a country music darling.

For Reagan, the summer long tour is an opportunity to mend, having escaped an abusive relationship, her alcoholism and underage drink driving charges. Her once single, now remarried father is repairing their parental relationship while maintaining his sobriety with the support of his new wife. When vicious rumours begin to surface surrounding Dee's private life and wholesome image, long time friend and fellow musician Matt Finch joins the tour creating a media distraction. With his boyish good looks and southern charm, the last thing Reagan needs is another distraction.

Reagan portrays a tough girl image, confident and often shallow. Beneath the surface lies an insecure young woman who is beginning to piece her life back together for her father she feels abandoned by, for her friend Dee but most importantly, for herself. The issue I found with Reagan is her assumptions and judgement of other females around her, especially in regards to Matt, after joining the tour.

Matt is lovely and clearly attracted to Reagan, she challenges him, frustrates him and the two share wonderful banter and chemistry. As a performer, Matt is also a heartthrob for teens and the young female audience, to which Reagan takes issue. Wearing slim, short, revealing clothing or heavy makeup does not equate to being sexually promiscuous. Even if a character chose to engage in sex with multiple partners, that's great as long as they're being safe and the sex is consensual.

Apart from the slut shaming not being addressed, it was a fun, wonderfully written, summer read with a loving friendship, swoony romance and beautiful moments of imperfections that make life perfect.

3.5 Stars
I've been DYING to read this book ever since it came out years ago, and when I saw it come up on Netgalley I think my eyes just about popped out.
Open Road Summer was exactly what you expect when you think of the Young Adult contemporary genre. It's cute, the language is simple, friendship plays a major factor and you can always expect a happily ever after!
Plus, if you're a road-trip book kind of gal, this is your book.
All in all, I don't really have any complaints with this story but I think I was looking for something more. Yeah I thought it was cute, and it's one of those books that eases you out of a book slump, but it wasn't something that made me go WHOAH HOLD THEM PENGUINS. Y'know?
In saying that, if you need a new contemporary to read I would definitely consider this one!

Open Road Summer - Emery Lord

With the weather as hot as it is in the UK at the moment, I wanted a jolly good road trip book and by God, this ticked every box.

After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own.
Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence.
This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.

This is a road trip story with a difference, firstly, the road trip is more of a nation wide tour of America that Lilah (or Dee to her friends) is contractually obliged to go on seeing as she is one of music's rising stars. She is joined by her bff Reagan and then a little later, another of her friends who becomes her opening act, Matt. All three of them are fighting their own demons and together they help each other grow. I love this kind of book! They're fun and they're fluffy and with this being Emery Lord, you have her incredible narration alongside what is effectively the dream road trip. It was a PLEASURE to read!

I first came into contact with Emery Lord a year or so ago when I read her book When We Collided and honestly, I was blown away by how it made me feel all the things, which is why I proceeded to collect all the other books of hers I could find and then didn't get around to reading them until I spotted this up for grabs on NetGalley. Whereas her When We Collided hit me right in the solar plexus, this just made me feel all warm and fuzzy - its fun, its light, its romantic. It was everything I needed.

While there are some aspects of this book that are a little tropey, overall it is a thoroughly enjoyable and quick read and I promise to make it my mission to read ALL the Emery Lord before the year is out! (I have like five months, that's totally doable, right?)

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book. Anything by Emery Lord is a true honour to review because I simply love her books. Anyways, this book follows Reagan and her best friend Lilah Montgomery. They’ve known each other since childhood but Lilah is now a super famous country singer. Reagan needing a break from life joins Lilah on her tour around America and fun ensues. Girl talk and vegging out in the tour bus is what Reagan has in mind but when Matt Finch is Lilah’s supporting act, you can guess what happens in this cute YA contemporary.
It’s summer right now and this read was definitely one that I needed. It’s light, cute and has such a fun feel.

Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

This book surprised me, this was a bit of a longer read but I loved the characters and didn't want it to end. It had lots of layers to the story and just when I thought I had it figured out something else would be uncovered. Dee (or Lilah as is her stage name) and Reagan were the definition of BFFs and it was great seeing just how much their friendship meant to each other. Matt was a great addition to the duo and it was great how his storyline intertwined with Dee and Reagan's. It was also great in showing that no matter what your background is we all go through struggles and moments of change that we don't like but have to go through. This book reminded me of early Taylor Swift songs and a long summer road trip which was a perfect escape from the wet Winter weather we have been enduring lately!

This was such a brilliant book. I read it in one sitting and missed so many texts, people started to worry. The romance is a slow burn, but the characters are beautifully deep that you don’t mind the narrative taking its time.
There are some bitter sweet sub plots that had me choking up near the end. They hit the very core.

Emery Lord’s book always do something to me, and this is my favourite of her’s that I have read. The main character was flawed and complicated, the best friend was pure and good-hearted and the love interest was literal swoon worthy and all that I would want in a guy. Lol at me saying that, I’m cringing at myself don’t you worry. But it made me feel things. Made me feel things for old love, new love and barriers being broken. It reminded me of the beauty of being vulnerable, of the fact that however much you plan, your future is unknown, and the fact you don’t know the future, shouldn’t hold you back from going after something you want! This was such a lovely, summer read but that made me feel all types of emotions and really contemplate life.

While it was a little too saccharine sweet for my tastes, I can't deny that it was seriously fun to read this in the blazing sunshine. It made me nostalgic for summer even though I'm sitting in the middle of it.

I think Dee Montgomery is one of my new favourite characters. Though Reagan is the protagonist and she was great as well, Dee was just a beautifully layered character, with her showbiz persona of Lilah and her true self Dee, she brought a fantastic insight into how a showbiz persona can be both honest and different. Because Lilah was Dee in the end. The girl she showed to the public may have been a bit more polished and presented, but she was still completely recognisable as Reagan's best friend Dee.

I love a good friendship story and Dee and Reagan's friendship made a really good one. It was good to see a friendship surviving the pressures of stardom and a boy coming in who wasn't in any way for the girls to fight over, which I thought might happen when he was first introduced.

Dee and Reagan have such different stories as well. Their former relationships are full of heartbreak and upset, but they still face the same dilemma in the end. The question of whether it's worth it to put your heart out there.

A good book for anyone who's a fan of strong friendships and a little bit of romance.