Old people got game as our kids might say!

Tanner's life is in the dumps. Due to a soccer injury, her playing days are over, so she spends her life in sweats, playing video games. Tanner wants to earn a bit of money so she can go back to college. Louise Wilt, an octogenarian, took a slight fall and her daughter now insists she needs a full-time caregiver, and a driver. Enter Tanner who just wants Louise to leave her alone. The feeling is mutual.

Louise does have a few quirks, including a garden shed locked up tight. She needs a driver - that means Tanner has to take her where she wants to go. Tanner sees a breaking news story about an unsolved jewel heist from several years ago. The computer-aged picture looks remarkably like Louise. Hmmmm!

Tanner, awakened one night by sirens and Louise, with packed bag in hand, insists they have to take a road trip right now. So Tanner drives the "getaway" car and they head for California, reminiscent of Thelma and Louise.

Louise is one sharp cookie, always ahead of the FBI, ahead of the local police, and ahead of the reporters who feel sure they will be the ones to break the story of the missing Kinsey diamond. Tanner, by turns baffled and amazed by this old lady, takes a long look at her own life.

I have been a fan of Colleen Oakley's novels, ever since I included Close Enough to Touch as one of my 2017 top picks at Chick Lit Central. Her latest novel, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, is delightful from start to finish, and I can't wait for readers to get their hands on this one in late March!

Tanner was incredibly relatable, even though we're about twenty-five years apart in age. I love how snarky Louise was, and the banter between her and Tanner was great throughout. There were lots of surprises in the story that kept me turning the pages even quicker to find out what else was in store. Many laugh-out-loud lines and moments, as well. Also, a hot love interest made things even more fun and interesting. ;) The road trip felt like quite an adventure, especially since they were on the run. I also loved the text messages between Louise's kids. Their sibling dynamic was so entertaining.

There was one question that didn't seem to get an answer, but I hope that was fixed for the final publication. Clearly, it had no impact on how much I loved this novel.

Overall, fantastic in every single way. Bravo to Colleen!

Movie casting suggestions:
Tanner: Haley Lu Richardson (after seeing her in White Lotus, I can't picture anyone else)
Louise: Shirley MacLaine
August: Felix Mallard
Jules: Elizabeth Banks
Charlie: Glenn Howerton
Lucy: Amanda Schull
Lorna: Liza Lapira
Candace: Nicholle Tom

This book definitely had some hallmarky and predictability to it, but it was a very pleasant & Quick read

This one started out slow but then picked up the pace. There’s a little something for everyone in this.

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. I heard about this book from Anne Bogel and was excited about the similarities to Thelma and Louise. Tanner, a college soccer player who recently suffered a career-ending knee injury, comes to live with and drive Louise, an older woman with hip issues and early-stage Parkinson's, to her different appointments. I really liked the development of their relationship and how that contributed to their emotional healing. There's a sudden road trip from Atlanta to CA, lots of secrets, and running from law enforcement, as you would expect for the comparison to T&L. It was a fun, twisty story, even if some of the twists were really unbelievable. 3 stars.

Wow - did this book really take me on a wild ride!

83 year old Louise has recently fallen and broken a hip - her children decide she needs a caregiver and hire 23 year old Tanner to watch over her. Tanner is smarting from an injury to her leg that ends her soccer goals and has moved back home to her parent's basement.

Oh my goodness, this book way exceeded my expectations and the storyline is awesome! The characters are great - the descriptions are so vivid and there are so many twists and turns - but keep up because it's a fun story!

I won a temporary, digital ARC on a contest from Colleen Oakely - thank you to NetGalley for honoring my request after it was denied originally - for my review.

This was such a great book. Tanner is a 21-year old woman just starting her adult life which has been sidetracked after she looses her scholarship and has to move back in with her parents … until her mother kicks her out. With no money and limited options she ends up moving in with an elderly woman who needs a live-in caregiver. For the most part it is a good gig, drive the old lady around to her appointments and spend the afternoon doing what she loves – playing video games. However, Tanner starts to notice her new roommate Mrs. Wilt might not be the sweet old lady she has been lead to believe as evident by her photo showing up on the 5 o’clock news as a wanted felon!

Gosh I loved this book, the contrast between Tanner who is young and naive and Mrs. Wilt who has lead quite the life and sees the world through a different lens made this book hard to put down. They are a very unlikely paring and as expected it took a while for them to find common ground but I loved to see the friendship build between the two women throughout the book.

There are so many layers to this book and Colleen Oakley did a beautiful job of intertwining them. The main story line follows Tanner and Louise, first as they settle into their joint living arrangement. I love Mrs. Wilt and her shoot from the hip honestly and quick witty comebacks which made me laugh out loud on several occasions. As we learn more about Mrs. Wilt it really shines a light on just how much life people in their later stage of life have lived and just how many memories and stories they have to share. Towards the end of the book there are a couple of tender moments that really shows us the bond between the two women and it truly tugs are the heart strings. There are several side characters in this book, while we don’t learn a lot about them they do provide just enough interest and colour to the story as the majority of the book centres around Tanner and Louise.

I’ve had another book by this author on my bookshelf for a while and after having read The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise I will definitely be picking it up sooner rather than later. This book was very enjoyable and the perfect palate cleanser as I’ve been reading mostly contemporary romance lately.

Sometimes, I just need something light and humorous. If one of the main characters is older, all the better. This one fits the bill. Louise is 84, recovering from a broken hip, when her children convince her to get a live-in caretaker. Tanner is not the typical caregiver. She’s 21, also recovering from a physical injury and angry that her parents have told her to find somewhere else to live. She only wants to spend her days playing video games. What Tanner doesn’t know is that Louise has a past. And that past is catching up with her. Soon, they’ve embarked on a road trip. But not one Louise has told her three children about, so police and then the FBI get involved.
It’s a character rich story and I came to care about both women. They are angry, private women on the opposite end of the age spectrum, so there are numerous misunderstandings. The story volleys between both of their POVs. Louise reminds me of my mother - God forbid anything come between her and a hair appointment. As time goes on, they start to find more in common. The writing is descriptive without being overly flowery. It’s easy to see each scene play out.
Favorite line (of many):
“Angry women don’t bother me. It’s the ones who aren’t furious that I worry about.”
“What?” Tanner asked, confused. “Why?”
“Means they aren’t paying attention.”

The interludes with the children interacting with the police/FBI are wonderful. The humor ranges from dry and acerbic to laugh out loud funny. The ending was flat out perfect. I didn’t see that coming! I can only hope this gets picked up for either a movie or a mini-series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book.

This was a very slow read for me. I wanted to like it; the writing was okay but the story lagged in bits. Plot not original and it didn't keep my attention to keep reading at big intervels.

Tanner thinks she has landed the dream job, taking care of, Louise, an elderly woman. Tanner settles into her new life until Louise, comes into her room and tells her to pack. Louise is going on the run. The two women have nothing in common but soon become allies. They go on an exciting and sometimes humorous road trip. I liked both the characters and enjoyed the story, you can’t help rooting for the two women. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

My first book of the year was finished in one day and was a 5 star read. I have rated every book I've read by Colleen Oakley 5 stars!⁣ This book is about Tanner, who is 21 and living at home after an injury caused her to lose her soccer scholarship. She moves in with Louise, who is 84 and needs help around the house after breaking her hip. When Louise recruits Tanner to drive her out of town, they are suddenly on the run - but from what? ⁣ This was a fun and funny road trip story with great twists and surprises along the way. Tanner and Louise's friendship was such fun to experience! I loved the characters and the whole story as it was revealed along the way.

THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER AND LOUISE is a cross-country road trip unlike any other that pays homage to the infamous Thelma & Louise.

After an injury derails Tanner’s collegiate soccer career she is reluctantly hired to move in as a caretaker for Octogenarian Louise. Needless to say, the two don’t hit it off. When Louise’s secrets from the past threaten to catch up with her, the two embark on an unforgettable road trip to California.

The story shines in its portrayal of intergenerational friendships and the unexpected paths life can take when we are open to new experiences. Tanner and Louise were an unexpected dynamic duo and I adored watching their friendship evolve. With a zany personality and a plethora of well-kept secrets, Louise is a character I won’t soon forget.

Colleen Oakley has written a charming story woven with a fun mystery element. This story felt fresh, snappy, and a bit suspenseful. Pick up THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER AND LOUISE if you enjoy characters who play by their own rules, a daily 4pm (sharp) happy hour, and unconventional friendships.

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: March 28, 2023

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks in advance of publication date.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley

Oil and water, that is Tanner and Louise. Eighty three year old Louise broke her hip and now that she is home from the hospital and rehab her daughter won't mind her own business and has made Louise get a live-in caregiver. Louise cherishes her alone time and not having a person in her house that can act as a nosy spy/tattletale for her daughter.

Tanner was flying high mostly. And then a disaster led to more disasters and now her only desire is to play her favorite video games all the time. But her mom has kicked her out of the basement and she had to get a job watching over a cranky woman old enough to be her great grandmother.

The two eventually fall into mutual ignore-ment, with set times for Tanner to use the only TV for her gaming and set times for Louise to have the TV for news and favorite shows. They barely have to speak to each other which suits both of them just fine. So things are working out as best that they can when...ROAD TRIP!!! What the heck! Tanner is going to bow out but the bribe is too good and she knows that Louise really does need her. Louise knows she is good for Tanner whether Tanner likes it or not. Plus there is some emergency that Louise won't disclose. So off they go!

I can handle these two. For all their tough veneers, Tanner (I need nobody) and Louise (prim and proper with a fierce bite) are a nice combination of vulnerable and capable of adapting to what comes their way. Both of them are really good with the zingers and now Louise doesn't have to be lonely on her road trip while Tanner is actually growing in confidence in this extremely odd employment opportunity. Sometimes I want to pinch both their cheeks which would not go over well with either of them but they are just so cute, each in their own ways. For me, this is a feel good story, finding the help you didn't want to admit you needed, in the least likely place.

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

It would be hard to find a more unlikely pair then Tanner and Louise. Tanner has recently been kicked out of her parents house. A year after an awful injury that left her unable to play college soccer she is lost and looking for a new path. Louise took one wrong step and broke her hip, now her daughters think she needs around the clock care. What starts as a business arrangement of convenience quickly turns into a friendship for the ages when Louise's past catches up with her. You will laugh and cry as you follow Tanner and Louise across the country as they try to stay one step ahead of their pasts.

This was a cute feel good book. It was a fun quick read but not something that will really stay with me. It will be great for readers who like Richard Osman for Fredrik Backman.

This book started out slow for me, but I'm so glad that I kept going because I loved this book! Tanner and Louise were such fun, quirky characters. Tanner is a college student who had an accident and can no longer play soccer. She lost her scholarship and is feeling lost and angry at everyone. She takes a job as a caretaker for Louise. Louise needs help driving to her appointments, but is not happy about needing Tanner's help. The two don't get along at first. Then one day Tanner sees Louise's picture on the news as a suspect in a years old jewelry heist. That night they hear sirens and Louise convinces Tanner to leave with her so she can drive her to California. The two set off on a cross-country trip and find themselves along the way.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise
By Colleen Oakley

This is not my typical go-to type of book but I loved it! Tanner loves soccer and would be getting a scholarship due to her soccer skills until she fell off a balcony. After surgery her leg would never be soccer worthy. She is angry, bitter, and takes it out on everyone. Her mom had enough and said to get out!

Louise fell and now nursing her repaired hip from a fall. She's in her eighties but normally takes care of herself but her daughter demanded that she have a person stay with her. That person could drive her places, be there in case she falls again.
It's a rocky start and it's funny how the generations differ but somehow the same!

Tanner gets suspicious of several things. One is a composite drawing of a jewel thief aged to what they might look like now. Tanner thinks it looks like Louise. Then Louise comes in her room in the middle of the night and has her pack, they leave to go when sirens are coming down their street.

The adventure begins! It is one wild ride too! The people, places, and situations they get into! Oh my! Louise has a dry wit that had me giggling. Everyone is after them! Great fun! Love the ending!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this awesome book!

I loved this book, and couldn't put it down!

I have no idea if I would place it in an adventure, mystery, realistic, or humor genre, but I think fans of all of those would enjoy this read. I'm enjoying the multigenerational relationships (think, 100 Years of Lenni & Margot), and felt a great connection to both characters even though my age is somewhere in between theirs.

Old fashioned crimes, meet new-age problems in this book about friendship, resiliency, and following your gut despite the risks.

What a delightful book! I loved the story and was often surprised (in a good way) by the story line. I loved the arc of Tanner and Louise's relationship. I loved the dialogue. This was my first Colleen Oakley book but won't be the last. The book made me smile many times - highly recommend!

This was such a fun book! It made and laugh and smile!! This is something I look for in my books so I appreciated it! If you are looking for an entertaining read, I highly recommend adding THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER & LOUISE to your list.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub date.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my ARC!!