This book. What an absolute delight!

Tanner and Louise, while such polar opposites, take us on an adventure in a way that’s both wildly entertaining and heartwarming.

The things an 84 year-old and a 21 year-old have in common are very slim on the surface, but as the miles stretch before them, this unlikely duo create such a fun experience filled with life lessons and moments of pure hilarity.

I loved this - from the beginning I was expecting a fun ride and I wasn't disappointed. The unlikely relationship between Louise and Tanner that started out bumpy and developed into something deep. Their time "on the run" was fun, funny and endearing. Highly recommend.

An Unlikely Friendship on the Run

What do you get when you throw together an 84-year-old woman with a bad hip and a 21-year-old with a bad limp? You get an unexpected, utterly delightful thrilling road trip that blossoms into a heartwarming friendship both women desperately need.

Louise isn’t your average cranky older lady—she is not to be underestimated. She has secrets and they just might be catching up to her. Tanner is convinced her best days are long gone. A dream-ending injury has left her drifting, aimless, and now stuck as Louise’s live-in driver. But when Louise suddenly insists they must leave town immediately, Tanner finds herself tangled up in something bigger than she signed up for.

A Mystery Wrapped in Wit and Wisdom

Sure, this has that unlikely friends trope (which I’m a sucker for), but it’s also a crime story that had me asking many questions as to how Louise is involved, building plenty of suspense that kept me clicking the pages.

The story isn’t just a fun, quirky ride. Oakley weaves themes of aging, friendship, abusive relationships, morality, and what it means to be a woman—both in the 1960s and ’70s and today.

The Big Reveal: A Perfect Blend of Humor, Heart, and Suspense

When Louise’s past was revealed, I was pleasantly surprised. Oakley deserves credit for crafting an unpredictable and refreshing twist that stands out in the genre.

Oakley has created a suspenseful yet comical story —one that had me on the edge of my seat while laughing out loud.

The witty dialogue? Spot on. Not over-the-top to the point of being grating, but just enough to make you laugh out loud.

This book keeps you guessing, laughing, and rooting for two women who are more alike than first realized.

So grab a copy, buckle up, and join the ride!

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I also borrowed the audiobook from the library and highly recommend listening to it as well.

This delightful, intelligent, charming, laugh out loud caper grabbed me from the first few pages. This deft take on “Thelma and Louise” begins with 21 year old injured and angry Tanner squaring off against 84 year old injured and feisty Louise. Amazingly enough I identified with both of the characters - having lived with my grandmother briefly after college and now a senior citizen recovering from a broken leg and kneecap. We were admonished not to quote directly from the book until final editing was done, but that hasn’t stopped me from reading passages aloud to others. I am definitely buying this book for friends. I hope it’s published before Christmas!

I was looking for a humorous, lighthearted read, and I found just that in The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise. The story follows an unlikely pair: Tanner, a young woman hired to assist 84-year-old Louise with errands and driving her to appointments. What starts as a simple caregiving job quickly turns into a cross-country getaway as secrets from Louise’s past come to light.

Louise isn’t quite the sweet, innocent elderly woman her family believes her to be, and the gradual reveal of her true identity kept me hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed how the story unfolded and appreciated the growing friendship between Tanner and Louise. Their dynamic was both heartwarming and funny, adding depth to the lighthearted tone.

One detail, however, took me out of the story momentarily. Toward the end, there’s a scene where Tanner kicks in a connecting door between hotel rooms. It didn’t feel realistic, as such doors are generally very sturdy. While that moment stretched believability, it didn’t detract too much from my overall enjoyment.

In the end, this was an entertaining, quick, and binge-worthy read that delivered exactly the kind of lighthearted escape I was looking for.

I loved this fun adventure, mystery and the developing friendship of the two women. I highly recommend it. The characters are well developed and their banter and antics will keep you engrossed and wondering what will happen next. Tanner is 21, angry and adrift since she lost her soccer scholarship due to her leg injury. Louise is 84, smart, spunky, quirky, and has a mysterious past that even her family doesn't know about. Her daily routine includes a crossword puzzle and 4 pm vodka happy hour. After Louise breaks her hip, her daughter hires Tanner as caregiver. Their adventure begins when Louise wakes Tanner in the middle of the night to drive her from Atlanta to California to help a friend. Tanner only agrees when Louise offers to pay her. They have challenges and scares on the trip as they try to outrun the FBI. Was Louise the woman on the news who masterminded a 3-million-dollar jewelry heist forty years ago? In spite of their sixty-year age difference, the unlikely pair learn lessons from each other and develop a caring friendship. I laughed a lot at their misadventures, and I enjoyed this delightful book. 5* rated

This modern-day Thelma and Louise —minus the violence but plus the hunk—buddy story of a college dropout with a grudge and an 84-year-old woman with a gun— on the run from a decades-long cold case has a lot of things going for it—well-developed characters, plot twists, witty dialog, and a lot of heart. I was really enjoying the read until I came to a plot element/explanation that for spoiler reasons, I cannot reveal. But suffice it to say, it was too similar to the one used in a well-known jewel heist book written for younger readers for me to ignore. It made it hard for me to enjoy the rest of the book, although I did care about the characters and I thought the backstory and reveals tied things up nicely. The ending was a nice surprise, too which makes me wonder if there is a sequel in the works. Oh and one more thing I wondered about—Does anybody know the statute of limitations on grand theft in Georgia?

i fell in love with colleen oakley's writing after i read You Were There Too years ago. that book had me SOBBING. like "cry so hard you get a headache" type of cry. and honestly thats the best compliment i could give a book and an author. i mean to be able to craft a story where someone connects so deeply with the characters that it elicits that type of reaction out of someone. but anyways! back to this story. this was so heartwarming and felt like a big hug. there was a little bit of everything. there was an unlikely friendship, a heist and even a romance. recommend for anyone looking for a sweet bookclub book.

After Tanner sustains an injury effectively ending her sports career, she finds herself in need of purpose. She begrudgingly takes a job as a caretaker for an elderly neighbor, who also is not thrilled with this arrangement. Something from Louise's past is unearthed, and the two unexpectedly take off on a cross country roadtrip.

Despite the Odd Couple nature of their friendship, they experience adventures and come to value what each has to offer. I love the way she explores the multi-generational friendship between these two, and how they become like family to each other (is this a new trope - enemies to found family?). The dialogue and situations they find themselves in at times is laugh out loud funny.

Overall, this is a a heart warming book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley is a delightful dramedy that explores the unexpected bond between a feisty octogenarian and a lost twenty-something. Tanner, struggling after losing her soccer scholarship, is forced to assist Louise, who is recovering from a fall but fiercely resists being treated like a child. Their reluctant partnership leads to a surprising cross-country adventure that unveils secrets and deepens their connection. Oakley masterfully balances humor with heartfelt moments, making this a must-read for those who appreciate character-driven narratives​.

I found this book enjoyable and a fun read. Hoffman has written a contemporary story that incorporates current technology. The two main characters are over 60 years apart in age, yet each character grew during their time together and became friends. It reaffirms the idea that people of different generations can develop bonds with each other.

This was a really whimsical book and although pretty far fetched, was a fun, light read and I would recommend it for a break from reality!

Great read. I was not expecting to enjoy this book. With characters like an elderly lady and a confused 20-year old, I was not expecting much. Boy, was I wrong - fun, memorable road trip adventure with two (maybe more!) mismatched characters. I highly recommend this book.

(Read and reviewed as BookBrowse member in 2022.)

The perfect oddball couple. A teenager and an octogenarian. A sweet tale of two people that don't understand each other forced to work together and figure out they aren't what they thought they were.

I loved both Tanner and Louise and how they came to understand the other. A little bit heartwarming and a little bit heartbreaking, but always entertaining. It is both goofy and a little nuts as these two work to solve their mistakes.

There is never any doubt where this one is headed but it is the journey where Tanner and Louise connect and understand each other that is the gem of this story. Part hijinks. part humor and a whole lot of touching moments made me love these characters. Flaws and all.

This was a heart warming and funny book. I love a good road trip book and the running from the law part added an extra bit of fun. I loved the back and forth between Tanner and Louise. This book made me smile.

This story is the MOST fun! Tanner, a young college student comes to care for Louise who, according to her, does NOT need care. Their ensuing adventure is hilarious and lovely all at the same time. I loved this story!

4 stars, I really enjoyed this very charming and quirky novel. I loved both the MC's a lot - their bond was so sweet and heart-warming. Nothing is quite what it seems on the surface & their road trip was a real hoot . My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary advanced digital review copy. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I liked following the adventures of Tanner and Louise, and their friendship story. We love a grumpy old person who befriends a quiet young adult. This read was cute, but lacked a lot of emotional depth where I think that would’ve worked better for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise was an incredibly fun story to read. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters, 21 year old Tanner and 83 year old Louise, and seeing what adventures they embark on.

**Thanks to NetGally and the publisher for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to provide feedback about this book.

This book was the most heartwarming. I love a stand-in grandparent, I love a road trip, and I love a friendship version of opposites attract! Tanner and Louise's banter was incredible--neither one of them wanted to be stuck with the other, but eventually they learned to admit they needed help. I was cracking up at the conclusions Tanner jumped to and at the truth of Louise's background. Oakley does a great job of balancing humor with a deeper lesson.