I was very happy to read a new Lucy Keating book again after quite a few years. I didn't feel like this book had all of the quirkiness, uniqueness, humor and charm of her other books, but it was still an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the setting and Charlie's interests and ambitions. I enjoyed the romance, it was fun to watch it unfold. I don't know that this book will be something I really remember, but it was enjoyable and likable.

Ride With Me is the coming of age story of Charlie - a teenage girl trying to find her niche in the world. She drives for a ride share service (think lyft or uber) to make money so she can go on a cross country summer trip. And ultimately so she can escape the trappings of her small town life. Charlie is obsessed with leaving her small town behind and making something of her life. She's convinced that all those she's leaving behind (her parents, friends, neighbors) are "stuck" and are only staying because they have no other options.

When Charlie meets Andre, she begins to question if her small town isn't so much "confining" as it is "defining" who she is as a person...that the roots we plant can help us flourish, not hold us back. Andre helps Charlie see that in her desperation to move forward, she's been missing out on so many amazing things already surrounding her. In turn, Charlie helps Andre realize there is more to life than what meets the eye.

I liked that Charlie was an independent, well spoken, intelligent, and goal driven teenage girl. She wasn't depicted as "boy-crazy" or willing to do anything to fit in or be liked. She had a plan for her life and was working hard to see it come to fruition. I also appreciated that this felt like an appropriate "romance" for the YA level. The emotions and relationships were not too mature or advanced - it was a book I'd be comfortable with my middle schooler reading. The frequent depiction of underage drinking did give me pause... but I know that's sadly reality these days and it wasn't really glorified so much as it was exhibited.

Ride With Me is a romance, but it's so much more than just falling in love with a boy, it's about falling in love with yourself, your family, and your roots.

Thank you to Clarion Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Really cute and delightful romance with a rich setting! Great story about a small town and the people who live there- those who leave, those who stay, and those who come. I fell in love with the setting. I loved Charlie, her parents, and Andre; but I wish some of the other secondary characters had been more developed.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Content: mild swearing 12+

This is just a cute, benign, clean little romance and coming of age story. It was fun to read, but it's not one that's going to stick to my literary ribs.

Read it. That's all I have to say!

Just kidding, but it is genuinely that good. I loved how real Charlie, Andre, Tessa, Sydney, and Charlie and Andre's parents were! And all of the side characters? The little ones that were primarily mentioned when Charlie was carting them back and forth to their destinations? OH MY GOODNESS. I did not expect to love each and every little side character so much. They all have their own very distinct personalities.

It was amazing to go with Charlie and crew as they go through their own struggles and make mistakes, only to learn from those mistakes and repair broken relationships along the way.

This is one of my favorite reads for this year! :)