This is not my normal genre but I really enjoyed it. It was a quick easy read, heartwarming, cozy full of great likeable characters with the backdrop of wonderful settings.

The Coach Trip is a funny and fluffy read which I quite enjoyed as it is not my usual genre. I liked the characters and I liked the settings and it was quite a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

3.5 stars

As a long-time fan of Imogen Clark’s writing, I was keen to read this new novel from her under the pen name Izzy Bromley. The genre is different — lighter and fluffier — and if I’m honest, not my usual fare. But I was drawn to this because of the elderly characters. As an older reader, I appreciate stories that feature protagonists I can relate to.

Plus it’s an intriguing premise.

When 29 year-old Em messes up her diary and double commits to her grandma and best friend Mel, they all find themselves on an old folks’ coach trip up the north coast of England to Edinburgh. The narrative is character rather than plot driven. Although there are some adventures along the way, the focus is very much on the generation gap and examining the pre-conceived notions the two groups have of each other.

As expected, the writing is flawless. An engrossing, easy read. I especially appreciated the detailed descriptions of places like York, Durham and Holy Island, which really brought the tale to life. And I liked how the characters ultimately showed traits that surprised both themselves and each other.

What I found slightly depressing, though, was the stereotyping of the seniors as a bunch of old fogeys. I couldn’t relate to any of them! This is not how I see myself or how wish to be seen by others. And I don’t think I’m atypical of this generation. The two “youngsters” Em and Mel also seemed ridiculously immature for their age.

That said, this was still an entertaining read overall. Although I personally prefer something deeper and with a bit of bite, I can see this finding its audience. All credit to Imogen for trying her hand at something different.

I thought that this had its cute moments. I enjoyed the stops they made on their trip, and the bits of history that were told about each place. I liked the funny banter between characters. I was happy that by the end they all seemed to understand and appreciate one another more than when they started out. I did rate this 3.5 stars.

I was not a fan on Mel’s terrible attitude and all out rudeness. She began with a bad attitude.

It was a good lesson in always being kind because you never know what another person is going through.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this arc.

This was such a lovely book, a story of unlikely friendships.
Emma and Mel are best friends and flatmates. Emma needs to make it up to Mel for ruining her Valentine's day, so she proposes a trip up to Edinburgh. Emma's Grandad has recently passed away and her Grandmother wants to take a trip to scatter his ashes. Unfortunately Emma agrees to both of these and ends up with a dilemma, who to go with.
She decides to run they idea by Mel that they can accompany her Gran on her coach trip to Edinburgh.
Things don't run as smoothly as they could but what ensues is a lovely adventure and the making of new friends.

I found this book funny in a light-hearted way. Two young women, Mel and Emma, end up on a coach trip with pensioners going to Edinburgh. A fun read.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a story of prejudices and misconceptions on either side of the generation gap. All of the characters are well drawn and have interesting stories to tell. There are some sad tales but also uplifting ones. An easy read that’s a bit different. Recommended

I loved this one, it was a light-hearted, fun read. Two young girls decide to go on a coach trip with a relative thinking that it wouldn’t b full of pensioners. But, of course it was. But, as it turned out they had a fun time and made a lot of friends. This book can make the reader realise how important it is to try new things and just go with the flow. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Having watched many an episode of coach trip and personally visited the place featured in this book I was eager to get reading. A nice sedate journey up the east coast of England with a lovely bunch of people. Each character grew on me as the story progressed and the locations were well described. There was enough happening to keep you interested. I highly recommend this book as an escape or holiday read.

I really enjoyed reading this uplifting tale of new opportunities and making the most of life. Full of laughter and tears, this is a touching story about bridging the age gap.. It's never too late to have an adventure and make friends.

well, i really wanted to enjoy this book more than i did. i tried so hard. i read the entire thing and it just still wasn't for me. tragic, but it happens! so. that's that. thank you so much, netgalley! you're the bees knees!!!

Free courtesy of Netgalley

It all starts when Emma forgets to give her flatmate a letter from her boyfriend, inviting her to a special Valentine's meal. So to make it up to Mel, she promises to take her to Edinburgh for her birthday but she also agrees to go with her grandma on a coach trip that she was going with her grandfather before he died. They are going to scatter his ashes. But there is a huge problem it is the same time as Mel's birthday. So having to let Mel down again, she is gutted but Mel decides to go on the coach trip as well as it ends in Edinburgh. Little did she know it would be all Old people who she has no patience with.

This is a story about the generational gap and how both sides can get closer together when they learn to appreciate each other.

I really loved this book, it was very heartwarming, funny and made you cry in places too. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story with old people 😉

This is a very easy read and light hearted. It would be good for a book club and I'm sure would raise many areas of discussion. This isn't my preferred style of read and not something that I would choose but enjoyable none the less.

Emma messes up constantly. Her latest mistake ends up with her trying to please her best friend whilst on a mostly geriatric coach trip with her Grandma to scatter Grandpa's ashes. What follows is a series of funny mishaps and some fairly emotional fall outs and reconciliations.

This should have been a really enjoyable book - and there were some very funny bits. Unfortunately I couldn't stand Emma and her character drove me nuts. I'd have cut her out of my life years ago. Spoiled my enjoyment somewhat!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The blurb suggested that this is a very ordinary tale of two young gals caught on a road trip with septuagenarian’s. Yeah one would think, so ordinary. What could possibly happen to fill a whole book of 300 odd pages? Quite a lot it would seem when the narrator is Izzy Bromley. Bromley loves to tell heart-warming and uplifting tales and that is exactly what The Coach Trip turns out to be.

Its narrated in first person POV by Emma. Emma and Mel have been best mates since school. Despite having very different dispositions they get on very well and share an apartment. Em is lackadaisical and quiet natured in contrast to Mel who is a good organiser and often brutally forthright. Em constantly forgets even important things. So it’s not surprising that when she was roped in by Mel’s boyfriend to make Valentine’s day special she forgot the only thing he had entrusted her to do. Maybe he could have made an effort and done it himself or differently. Anyways…...

Mel is now upset with Em. Cue Em with a promise to make it up to her for her upcoming birthday. What are the chances of Em muddling things yet again? This time they end up going on a road trip with septuagenarians. They prove to be every bit a crusty strange lot to the young gals. This is a group of 20 folks, a driver and tour operator stuck with each other for the entire week. What follows is a poignant evocative awakening for everyone.

Each of the elderly folk had lived life and were defined by it. In contrast Em and Mel still had a lot of living to do. Bromley skilfully evokes our sympathies as their lives unravel on the road trip. Pretty soon I am empathising with all the passengers. Yeah this could have been a very ordinary and boring book if it hadn’t been for Bromley’s exceptional flair for making the ordinary captivating. She goes on to embroider a vivid picture of their lives that kept my attention. The pages kept flicking as I was eager to know what happened to each of the passengers. Her intuition and insight into people is telling.

This charming book touched me. I was moved by the people stories that poured out of these pages. Though not a tear jerker, there were times when I was devastated. And then again, I was also inspired by their courage and resolve. There were moments of surprise, who could possibly have guessed Mel’s full name and comedic moments. The ending left a very pleasant feeling and made it all so real.

There are moments when one is on holiday or when one wants to forget the world. At such times it’s comforting to be able to curl up to an uplifting and cosy novel. The coach trip is just such a novel.

I must say I wasn't sure how I'd get on with this book as my hackles were raised at the beginning with generalisations across certain age groups. I am in the older age group depicted and nowhere near as doddery as this group was portrayed nor is anyone I know as bad as this group were. I can't comment on the younger generation but the two girls Emma and Mel did seem to be more like late teens than late twenties but there you are, generalisations. That aside I did warm to the book and particularly Emma the main female character although I didn't take to Mel her friend who stayed true to type. The book is a very light read and fun but with an underlying message of tolerance and taking chances. Heartwarming with some lovely touches.

This is one of those stories that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling at the end.
The beginning is not hopeful. Two young women both 29 going on 18 (not fair to many
sensible 18 year olds) are joining a coach trip just to accompany Granny. The trip is
interesting and covers York, Holy Island and Edinburgh. Everyone in the group is over
sixty and from the word go there is bickering and sniggering at the old fogeys. It
goes the other way too with some of the older folk just waiting to pounce on the
two younger women.

A sudden near death experience changes the tenor of the tour. A missing man adds to
the tension. It makes the trippers realize that people may actually have a very valid
reason for their fears and foibles, that one must not be so quick to judge one's fellow
travellers. The young folk may noteven be able to imagine the pain which hides behind
brittle and irritating facades. The story taught one tolerance, patience and human
emotions.

The reunion after one year at the very end was poignant. How many of us think we can
get in touch with someone, maybe tomorrow or day after and days slide into oblivion.

Very well written.

I really enjoyed this.
A slightly different take on the fish out of water tale. 2 twenty somethings on a coach trip with more mature passengers.
Emma messes up Valentine's Day for her friend Mel and tries to make it up for her birthday, but this birthday is the same time as she had already promised to goon a coach trip with her recently bereaved granny.
Cue lots of generational misunderstandings.
An enjoyable read with some characters that you will take to your heart

This was a nice easy heartfelt read. At first I wasn't enjoying it as it came across immature and judgemental but I soon started to enjoy it, and I guess it's what everyday life can be like.

A quick and easy holiday read. At the start I found the characters Mel.and Emma quite immature and selfish, judgemental toward the older passengers on the coach. The ending was a bit rushed but I did like the poignant threads that weaved in and out of the story.