Good and quick read, about second chances at love, which are my favorite. The first half of the book was great but I did lose focus as I went along reading. Not sure what it was, maybe the back and forth of timelines.

I adored The Flatshare from O'Leary, but I don't think I was in the right headspace to love The Road Trip as much. I may try and read it again at a later point, but for now its a DNF. I'm very glad I read reviews with CW before I spent too much time reading it.

I was so excited to receive this e-ARC from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing so thank you to them and Beth O’Leary!

I am a huge fan of The Flatshare and I enjoyed The Switch, so I was looking forward to reading The Road Trip.

You begin by meeting these characters and you can immediately tell that they are history that is dark, so you think “what the heck is with these two?” And then you find out. This is told in a “then and now” perspective to find out how Dylan and Addie met, what went wrong, and how they’ve managed to end up back together now.

Just imagine, sitting in an 8 hour car ride with your ex to get to the wedding of a mutual friend. Oh yeah, and his toxic af friend is with him. Will the forced proximity help them work through their abrupt end? I guess you’ll have to see!

I love a “then and now” story, so I definitely enjoyed reading this one. I personally was more attracted to the “then” part, but I really enjoyed this one!!!

(But not Marcus, I will never enjoy Marcus)

Beth O’Leary writes the feeling of longing so well and I felt my heart ache and get put back together over and over again. The Road Trip publishes on 06/01/21 so be sure to pick up your copy then!

Romance | 16-Adult
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Gosh I love road trips, and road trip novels (especially when you can’t really travel) are almost as good. Calling a book The Road Trip makes it irresistible, which is why I requested an advance reading copy of this well-known British novelist’s latest work. Two sisters, Deb and Addie, are headed to their best friend’s wedding in Scotland, with Rodney, another guest they don’t really know, in the back seat. But just as they hit the road, a collision. And in that car is Dylan, Addie’s ex-boyfriend, and his ubiquitous and toxic best friend Marcus. Addie’s car survives, and in a generous moment, she agrees to make room in the car for the two men, creating the plot – can these two exes make up, in the confines of a Mini? Awkward doesn’t begin to describe it! Through flashbacks going back just two years, we witness Dylan and Addie’s summer fling in a French vineyard, and learn why they broke up, not to mention Rodney’s own interesting backstory. While the book deals with a lot of serious issues, from sexual assault to addiction, it’s still more light than serious. There are a lot of funny moments and unlikely situations that make this a surefire rom-com for the big screen. And with an almost-kidnapping plot twist, it might be best described as a farce, or at least a screwball comedy. Enjoyable, funny, but definitely aimed at the new adult hardcore romance fan. I grew a bit tired of the romantic back and forth, and found the more serious parts needed a touch more attention. Overall though I did enjoy the story. My thanks to Berkley Books for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. It’s available as an ebook from the Grand Forks & District Public Library’s online collection.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56293873

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Second chance romance, forced proximity, discussions about mental health/addiction/boundaries. This has heavier topics than her previous books, but I found it well done. Beth O'Leary is excellent at dual narrators and a dual timeline and I loved both Addie and Dylan and enjoyed finding out how they fell in love and what went wrong, and if they could make it work again. I now have a strong desire to spend time in a villa in France! The side characters added interest, even if Marcus was the worst, and figuring out Rodney's connection to the group added a little zany side-quest that brightened things up.

I thoroughly enjoyed the two other novels I have read by this author, so I was excited to read this. Unfortunately, this novel paled in comparison to her other works.

The story was boring. It did not hold my attention. It took too long to get to a story. The switch backs in the time was choppy. The characters were flat.

I wanted to like this one, but it didn’t work out.

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.

This is one of those books that when finished the reader thinks "That would make a great movie". The "then and now" format works well--going back and forth through time and introducing us to the many characters and their relationships so everything makes sense in the now sections. I did find myself chuckling and (sometimes laughing out loud to my husband's amusement) and the story never slowed--whether in the past or the present. The characters are likeable--even the "bad" ones and the situations are hilarious and who wouldn't love a story that ends with a wedding in a castle? Enjoy!

The Road trip is an adult contemporary romance by Beth O'Leary. Unfortunately, the Road trip was not for me. I hate to start out reviews like that, but every once in a while I read a book that didn't work out for me for one reason or another. That is not to say that you will not enjoy the book. If this sounds like a story that is right up your alley, then by all means, read it! All readers have different tastes.

In The Road Trip we meet our main characters, Addie and Dylan. Addie and Dylan are exes and they run into each other on the road to their mutual friends wedding. The book is told in dual timelines, alternating back and forth between the present, where Addie and Dylan very obviously do not get along, and the past where we get to learn about how they met and started dating. I really like the premise of this story telling method, and I would love to read more books from this author because the writing was great. My issue was the characters. I didn't care about any of them, to the point of annoyance. I was annoyed by Addie and Dylan and I just couldn't connect with or get into their love story. I didn't care at all if they got back together, which is a problem if you are trying to enjoy a romance.

But if you are into hate to love, second chances romances that might be on the more realistic side (rather than the happy go lucky side) you might enjoy The Road Trip.

QOTD: what’s a book you have TBR that you KNOW you’re going to love?

Idk why it took me so long to read @betholearyauthor’s The Road Trip, because I knew as soon as I heard about it that I’d love it. Beth had a real knack for writing characters (main and especially supporting) that you really invest in.

The Road Trip takes you on a literal (though accidental) journey with Addie and Dylan (once dated and since estranged), a best friend, a sister and another questionable character 👀 on their way to a wedding.

I mentioned before that there was definitely more steam to this one than her others so far, but the characters were also much less likeable. This worked for me, though, as I love a morally grey character. It was like a coming of age story for a handful of people wrapped up in one story, and there was closure for each of them by the end IMO.

The only real issue that I had was buying into the emotional chemistry between Dylan and Addie in the “before” timeline (dual timelines btw 😅). I totally got the physical attraction, but I think it was tough for me as the reader, to understand why else they loved each other 🤔 but it didn’t bother me enough to keep me from loving the read

Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced look at this one, out now!! (Pub date: June 1, 2021)

⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, substance and alcohol abuse and depression

#betholeary #theroadtrip #berkleypublishing #netgalley #netgalleyreads #summerread #summerreading #poolside #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramming #booksgram #bookgram #bookish #booknerd #booknerds #booknerdigan #booknerdigans #instabooks #bookreview #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookcorner #readingcorner #bookthoughts #bookblurb #currentread #currentlyreading #bookrecommendations

Having loved The Flatshare I was excited to read this one. Gone was the typically romcom vibes. This one had a lot of darker themes. It starts with Dylan in the car with his friend Marcus, however when he recognizes the person in the car in front of him he is distracted. He ends up hitting the car, and gets confirmation that the driver is his ex Addie.

Since they are heading to the same wedding for a mutual friend Addie grudgingly agrees to let them ride with her, her sister, and a stranger Rodney......in a Mini Cooper. If you have ever ridden in a Mini you know that is a tight fit for 5 adults.

While the beginning of their story was sweet having met while he was on vacation and she was working as the caretaker it quickly gets creepy. With Dylan's creepy Uncle Terry showing up unannounced and then Marcus. The friendship between Dylan and Marcus is toxic. Marcus gets into Dylan's head, and is always causing doubt.

All the relationships were toxic, and didn't communicate. The numerous issues on the road trip started to become a little much and not believable. Also Addie forgave Dylan a little too quickly in my opinion, even though he didn't change much since the break-up. Marcus was the biggest a-hole of them all and while therapy was discussed he hadn't changed much. There was also a twist at the end that I didn't feel was handled well.

Overall this one had way too many issues for me. While I appreciated that therapy was discussed I saw little change or remorse from Dylan and Marcus.

DNF @ 40%

This book has such a great premise, but it is very slow paced. I wanted to love this book and kept reading a bit longer just to see if it would pick up. I have enjoyed the author's previous books, but this one is not for me.

Right from the beginning this book is filled with SO MUCH TENSION, I loved it - I mean, I felt the windows were fogged up in it constantly. The plot itself, a road trip of unlikely characters stuck together trying to make it to a mutual friend's wedding, was amazing. Then throw in ex-lovers, so much unspoken anger, a sister who has to pump breastmilk, an annoyingly rich friend who mostly everyone dislikes and then a weirdo that somehow ended up in the car - I loved this book. O'Leary flashed backs perfectly and keeps the car moving, despite all the tension and a breakdown and more. She isn't just giving you a romance, but a book that shows characters trying to change for the better and really struggling with what their heart is telling them to do, along with their head. Couldn't put this down.

I loved this book. The story is told through alternating time periods “now” and “then” as a group of friends, including two exes, heads off in a packed car to attend a wedding in Scotland. The "now" is the current road trip and the "then" is about how they met years before. I enjoyed the characters and relationships. This story really gets into the complexities of friendship, along with the main storyline, which is essentially: what if you meet "the one" at a moment in your life when you’re a bit of a mess and you screw it all up. Have you missed your chance forever? Are you doomed to be haunted by what might have been? This is the third book I've read by Beth O'Leary, and I've enjoyed them all.

DNF @ 22 %. Unfortunately, this book isn't working for me. I don't care for the characters, and the plot just isn't drawing me in.

What a great summer read! I love how The Road Trip is the perfect blend of fun and romance alongside the depth of the hard parts of life. I enjoyed how all the characters (not just Dylan and Addie, but also Deb and Marcus) grew throughout the novel, both in the present and in the past. The theme of reconciliation is just icing on the cake too! There is a funny subplot regarding Rodney (the random Facebook guy) that added the right amount of humor. Loved this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ebook review copy. All opinions are my own.

Once again, O'Leary hits it out of the park with a fun, biting, and witty sojourn into the lives of some hilarious folks. I highly recommend this for a relaxed and enjoyable read!

I absolutely adored The Flatshare, so I went into The Road Trip with pretty high expectations. I'm glad to say, it met all of them!

This book has so many things I love - dual timelines, multiple points of view, second chance romance *chef's kiss* a lovely combination! The characters are flawed and realistic, which I also loved (even when I hated them a little). I love the way O'Leary takes a genre that oftentimes is light and fluffy, and infuses it with some heavier themes. She does it brilliantly, without taking away from the joy of the overall plot.

Definitely a lovely summer read, it's a very fun book that doesn't shy away from the realities of dating and relationships of all kinds. 4 ⭐ from me for The Road Trip!

For those that are familiar with O'learys work don't let this cute cover fool you. This is such a different read compared to her previous work. This book has a lot more bite and grit to it, unlike her other feel-good warm novels. It worked for me, I enjoyed both the plot and story a lot!

Alrighty, so..you're in a car with your sister headed out to a friend's wedding, there's a car incident that occurs and life unexpectedly knocks on your door and throws a wrench in your plans. The kicker? That other car just so happens to be your ex-boyfriend (whom you haven't seen in nearly 2 years) and his best friend because they're attending the same wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

Though there are some mixed reviews, that is really with any book. One thing I love in a novel is when there are both dual narratives/timelines and this had both! It was nice to get both parties perspectives and was easy to follow.
The character development was wh bffell executed for most of the gang. There was one extremely toxic character but that only shook things up.
It's funny, it's sad, it's happy and imperfect all wrapped up into one, becoming full circle. I recommend The Road Trip and will be curious to hear others thoughts! It would make a fine summer read.

I absolutely loved last years, The Switch so I was super excited to read The Road Trip. Unfortunately, it just didn’t live up to my expectations. I wasn’t invested in the characters and I found myself forcing myself to finish. While this book wasn’t for me, I think many other people would love it!