Highly recommend, especially if you are in a reading slump
I have been in a reading funk. I have started so many books, and put them aside. I started The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, put it aside, but couldn't stop thinking about the characters, kept going back, reading a little more, set aside, then ponder the characters, and then finally read the last 50 at one sitting. I highly recommend this book. Fun, shades of gray characters, interesting plot twists, great to read, especially if you are in a reading slump.

Thank you to Bookbrowse for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty-one year old Tanner doesn't want to do much but sleep and play video. In the past, she had great plans but an accident caused her to lose her scholarship and she had to come home. She is so upset with the changes in her life that she doesn't exert any energy trying to find a job or planning to go back to school. Her parents try to help her by getting her a job as a live in caretaker for an 84 year old woman who has broken her hip. Louise feels that she's capable of taking care of herself but her daughter insists that she needs a live-in caretaker. The initial meetings between Tanner and Louise don't give either of them fonder feelings about each other. In the beginning, they totally ignore each other. Tanner plays video games while Louise entertains herself and insists on her two fingers of vodka every afternoon. Soon Tanner begins to notice some strange things at the house. When she sees a news report of police looking into jewel heist forty years earlier, she's shocked to see that one of the thieves looks just like Louise. Things get even stranger when Louise goes to Tanner's room in the middle of the night and tells her that she will pay Tanner for taking her to California but they have to leave right now.. Even though Tanner has no idea what's going on, she leaves with Louise. She has no idea why they are leaving in the middle of the night but suspects that it has something to do with the jewelry heist years ago.

The road trip is their chance of getting to know each other. Gradually their negative feeling disappear and they realize that there are in this together. The banter between the two main characters is often very humorous with some laugh out loud moments. Louise is a feisty 84 year and her character provided the most laughs for me.

This charming and unique story of a developing friendship between two very different characters is heartfelt and humorous. Their road trip across the country is full of problems - like finding parts for the vintage Jaguar that they are driving but the more time they spend together, the more they learn to like and respect each other.

This is my favorite book by this author. It's a quick read with a bit of mystery, a bit of romance and two very real and lovable main characters that I won't soon forget.

Thanks to BookBrowse for a copy of this book to read and request.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for this ARC of The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise. This is my second Colleen Oakley read and once again, I find myself seeking anything and everything Colleen Oakley!
.
Tanner and Louise is a character-driven story about what it means to be a friend, how to move on from hard things in life, and the power of women sticking together. The characters flew off the page - I so loved Tanner and Louise and together they were hilarious. Colleen Oakley does a really great job at weaving humor in with more serious topics and her language is so reflective. All of these factors hooked me from start to finish. I have also noticed that Oakley writes with an air of mystery; the reader will not know all the components of the story til the very hand, and that is what makes her books page-turners.
.
For all the quirky humor, lovable characters, and strong females, pick this one up! This pubs on March 28, 2023!

A Book With Heart
I will take Tanner and Louise over Thelma and Louise any day! I so enjoyed this novel. The characters were engaging and realistic and the plot was fast paced and linear with just enough explanation to fill in gaps in the story. The original way the author noted her timeline on chapter headings was unique and helpful. I love a book where characters evolve, I love a book with unusual friendships, I love a book with surprises: The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise had it all! As I mature, it is refreshing to find senior characters that still have sass and vigor. I will be recommending this book to my book club, I think it will lead to a great discussion.

Oakley is the type of author that tells a story in such a manner you simply cannot stop reading. I ended up reading this in one sitting because it was wildly good!

The characterization of these two crazy characters is a delight. Louise is one you want to hate but she grows on you with every turn of the page. Tanner is angry and afloat in the world. Together they are on a crazy journey!

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise is a fun and fabulous tale. Oakley has a wonderful imagination and weaves us into this storyline that is a hoot to read! If you want to be wowed and delighted, this book is a definitely trip! That ending totally seals the deal!

I love a book where the character(s) evolve: overcome/work through issues and grow as a result. Then, it's icing on the cake if the main characters (an elderly woman recovering from a broken pelvis and a barely 20 something struggling with forced life changes) are like oil and water (but in a symbiotic relationshi!) hiding their own secrets, fighting their own demons and then embarking on a forced road trip under the threat of legal repercussions.
It was definitely a quick read mainly because it was hard to put down.
Humor was sprinkled throughout: the conversations between the children of the elderly character and the FBI reminded me of a Greek chorus. Also, when explaining her type of emotional support to the 20 something (who felt it was lacking), her response was, "Watch Oprah if you want inspiring, I just tell the truth!" (p. 2269)
It would be a good book for a book club discussion.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise
I had the pleasure of reading an e-galley of this quirky, yet heartwarming tale and what a delight! Tanner and Louise are such an unlikely pair who end up on a mapcap adventure together. As the story unfolds the reader soon finds out all is not what it seems. This is a quick moving mystery tale with a good dose of humor, a little romance, and some nuggets of wisdom thrown in. The overall theme of friendship ties it all together nicely. The character development would make this a great book club read. Truly a pleasurable read!

Thank you to BookBrowse.com, NetGalley, Colleen Oakley, and Berkley for granting me a copy of this novel to read and review.

I expected this book to follow what seems to be a standard plot in a number of books I’ve read lately - an older person meets a younger person and both of them learn and grow from the experience. While I was correct about this underlying theme, the storyline was more like a road trip movie. Driving cross country, running from the FBI, dealing with gangsters – all these were unexpected and kept me entertained. The twist at the end was a pleasant surprise, too, as we finally learned the whole story that set off this adventure in the first place. Overall, an enjoyable light read.

Funny story of Tanner who is angry with everyone. She is coerced into living and driving for 84 year old Louise. The adventure begins in the middle of the night when they set off for California in a Jaguar. Delightful characters .

While I would classify this as a light read, it's also fun and engaging. And once you've finished, you realize that the author has given us a moral lesson (or two).

Tanner and Louise are thrown together through circumstances -- Tanner is 21 and has lost her focus while Louise at 84 prefers to keep her independence despite some health issues. When Jules, Louise's eldest daughter, decides that Louise needs a caretaker, Tanner is hired -- much to the regret of both Tanner and Louise.

While the book centers on the relationship between these two strong-willed women and what happens to them (sorry, no spoilers here), I found that I had to suspend belief (a lot) regarding the storyline. Once I did that, it was easy to settle in for a good story. Tanner and Louise grew on me as characters, and I miss them already.

I would like to thank #NetGalley and #BerkleyPublishingGroup for this ARC of #TheMostlyTrueStoryofTannerLouise.

This novel grabbed me at the beginning - a smart, crotchety senior is pressured to allow a troubled girl into her life as an aide, driving her about and living in her home. For the most part it was a light, easy read, if somewhat predictable. However, the last few chapters took the story in all kinds of "topical" surprising directions, and they all felt forced and jarring to me. The "real story" could have been any one of the secrets revealed but the author threw in so many twists and turns that none of them landed.

If you are ready for a fun adventure in reading this book is a must read. You will be getting to know the two female characters and their back stories. Their adventures, the subtle and not so subtle mentoring going on, the miscommunications and the power of building confidence just shine in the dialog.

The outcomes are predictable and the plot is easy to figure out; nonetheless, it's a perfect read when you just want a good laugh and a well-told story!

As with all good stories, it even has a moral or two to share! Enjoy.

I loved The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley!
According to Louise, 90% of a crime caper is the setup and the best ones contain misdirection and cleverness. Criminals only succeed if they are intelligent and have patience. This book is the perfect crime caper with intelligent and patient characters.
Tanner, age 21, needs a place to live and Louise’s children don’t think she is fit at 84 to live alone. In exchange for a room, Tanner drives Louise to her appointments and is just there. Each have their preconceived opinions of the other. Then, Louise receives a life-changing letter form George and Tanner sees a woman on a TV wanted poster that looks just like Louise. Is this the beginning of an adventure, or just the beginning of the setup? Among those added along the way are a good- looking man, an FBI agent, a priest, a mob criminal, and a bar tender each adding another layer to the cleverness of the caper.
On the surface this book is funny, tender, exciting, and clever. But there is a lot to unpack with each character and in each leg of the journey. I didn’t want it to end.

This book was an easy read but not truly simplistic. Tanner and Louise are quirky, endearing and lovable characters. You have a twenty-one year old self-doubting woman trying to find her footing in life (Tanner) and a wise-cracking eighty-three year old, who is self-assured and breaks all kinds of rules in the name of doing the right thing (Louise).
Colleen Oakley brings you on an unconventional road trip filled with laugh-out loud antics between two characters sixty-something years apart and a cast of friends along the way. The author explores the friendship that woman have with other woman; assumptions of people based on observations only; relationships between aging parent and their children and how we all have a degree of self doubt no matter life experiences or our age.
Tanner is the driver and Louise is the passenger in an odd-ball journey from Florida to California in which you meet well-meant characters along the way. i would absolutely recommend this book for all ages. Tanner and Louise’s journey would make a fantastic book club read.

Colleen Oakley is always an instant purchase for me, so I was thrilled to get The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise. The two strong female leads were an instant draw for me. I inhaled this one. Coming of age, mystery, some romance, it's just so much fun!

This book was what I would consider “light” reading, which genre may have a place in one’s library but is not very demanding of the reader. I like stories with strong female characters or ones who strengthen as the story advances, and this book had several such endearing ones. It was entertaining to see them play off against each other, but was almost undone by the somewhat offensive characterization of the very hot young man to whom very little other than his stunning sexiness was attributed. It was a simple mystery, a running from the law story, and certainly a tale of coming of age although at a later age than usual. I read it on a long plane ride and it kept me engaged and guessing all through the story. I liked that clues were planted inconspicuously and then became relevant and important to the conclusion. I may not be the target audience for books like this as I usually go for more atmospheric novels with deeper character development which evokes empathy and a tear or two.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise

Review by Deborah Cherniss, 10/7/22

Driven to Distraction

What an engaging book! An improbable pair of women, at different stages of life, but both dealing with physical frailties and past mistakes, go on a sudden, urgent road trip across America, learning from each other.

The author brings to life both the pathos of the young woman whose accidental injury ends her soccer scholarship and her dreams of a professional soccer career, and the feistiness of the elderly woman, recovering from a broken hip and dealing with the physical and mental deterioration of Parkinson’s Disease.

Both have distanced themselves emotionally and hurt loved ones. Both have secrets they won’t share. And both come to trust and care about each other as they try to right their wrongs.

The writing is brisk and humorous, capturing both old and young voices and propelling the main characters, Tanner (21) and Louise (84) to an unexpected but satisfying ending.

Note: Though the book begins with an epigraph from the movie, “Thelma and Louise,” one need not be familiar with that story to enjoy this one.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise is a fun story with some surprising twists that I didn't see coming. It has a bit of everything, including self discovery, adventure, and romance. I very much enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining escapist read.

This book is more than just a "coming" of age story; it is also a "becoming" of who I am, or was, story (if there is such a thing), or a rebirth. When Tanner, an unsettled college drop-out, has repeated issues with her parents, she is told to leave and find her way. They help her along by connecting her with a senior who needs a caretaker. Tanner reluctantly agrees to take on the job. When Louise, a senior with issues, interviews her and somewhat reluctantly agrees to hire her. Tanner shows up for work, the sparks fly, aggravation mounts, and discovery happens. All of this leads to mystery, an adventurous get-away, pursuit by the FBI, guns, flight, and yes, even some romance along the way. What I found most intriguing is that the main protagonist is an elderly, mobility challenged woman. It is not often that you see a senior in that role. She is the mystery, and it makes for a great read. I was reluctant to put the book down. This is the first Colleen Oakley novel that I have read and I see that I may have missed some excellent opportunities that I will now seek.

Two unlikely fugitives on the run in this fun coming of age story. Full of fun characters and situations I found myself rooting for these two completely different woman hoping they would get away with everything.