I was so excited by the idea of this book. Sadly it just didn't make me love it.

The title is definitely why this nook will sell. All that is "Retro" sells big. However, the book just doesn't deliver. It seems to packed full - rushed in places, slightly opinionated in others. There are way too many pictures on a page and often difficult to find the corresponding paragraph of explanation. The sections were jumbled - going back and forth between states - I would have preferred a by state rather than by subject.

Cute idea and I truly wanted to love it - but I've just seen too many better.

Fun coffee table book with lots of photos and brief but entertaining write-ups on the various features. Arranged by region to make it easy to do the obvious thing with a book like this - check off the things you’ve already visited and circle the things you want to visit in the future!

After reading this book I came away feeling like it’s a book at war with itself. On one hand it’s a wonderful travel guide that takes you on a fun retro road trip to find the odd roadside attractions, signs local businesses and fun places to eat and sleep. On the other hand it’s a fun coffee table book sharing pictures of slices of America back when the different geographical regions meant something.

As a travel guide it doesn’t give enough clear information and easy access to that information with the layout. The Index is weak and an appendix or two would be wonderful to search and group.

As a coffee table book the pictures are two small and the writing too bland.

I think the subject matter would make either a great guide or coffee table book sharing pictures unfortunately this does neither.

—ARC Review from NetGalley—

I loved this book as an idea. Knowing this book was photography-based, I was looking forward to all of the old signage and imagery. Pujol’s photos are fun to see and I did recognize a lot of places and learn of new spots that looked interesting to visit someday. The photos give the a fun, retro vibe and I appreciate that little to no photoshop was done to clean them up. The old buildings remain rundown (if they are), passersby are present, power lines exist, and trashcans live on the streets and by doors. However, I do wish that some of the photos were better composed. For example, the Red Rooster Drive-In on page 22 isn’t even straightened to the skylines. Just basic changes like that could have cleaned up some of the images. Additionally, some of the photos feel like something that someone could have snapped on the iPhone rather than well lit, properly composed photos.

Layout-wise, I found the book to be way too busy. I would have rather had larger images with fewer spots explored. The description made the book seem like it was going to be heavily focused on the imagery of these places. With more images of each location, we could have more detail into the spot and Pujol could have given more backstory into each location rather than a couple basic sentences. There are many places listed that aren’t even pictured. I don’t see the point of including them without imagery. Cutting these could have lent some space to larger images of the places that were featured. Also, some of the images had the backgrounds cut out and the images placed on the page which loses any potential for the surrounding atmosphere or location of the places.

Overall, I feel like this would have been better as a series of books focusing on each part of the US in a book fewer spots features, more detailed and better composed photos of each location, and more history on those more memorable spots.

Rating: DNF

What a fun book bringing back some memories of a past life... Having left the USA quite some time ago my connection to some of the places and signs, etc made me smile all over again. Was such a fun way to remember past travels and past places. This is a book of nostalgia, a book of history really as some of these places have made the USA what it is today.

And as we love a good road trip and we have and will continue to visit the USA (to see relatives as well as finding more places to visit) this book is something I will buy to take on our travels with us fir sure. So much fun, great photos and plenty of information to lead us on a wonderful Retro Road Trip.

Thank you NetGalley and Artisan Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Okay, so "The Great American Retro Road Trip" really caught my eye, especially since I've never been to the States but will be very soon and wish to use this book as my guide. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The photos were absolutely stunning, and the writing so clear and packed with good info without being boring. Seriously, I’m definitely getting a physical copy for my coffee table.

I suspected this book would my jam and I was right. I will definitely purchase this book when it comes out to help serve as a "bible" for our retirement Route 66 and beyond road trip. There are pictures of almost every place he mentions and he gives enough information to be able to locate them on the road. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book. Loved it!

The book celebrates the unique American car and road trip culture and inspires the reader to want to get into their car, turn up the radio, and leisurely travel the highways and actively witness and experience their journey rather than simply arrive to their destination as conveniently, quickly, and mundanely as possible.

As a person who loves to road trip, this is a very useful and user friendly guide to unique and off the beaten path roadside attractions. The book is organized by geographic region and then into categories for attractions, food, lodging, and other sites. This makes the book easy to navigate and accessible for readers to relocate attractions of interest while traveling. While concise, Pujol's research is evident and I appreciated the pictures he provided of almost every attraction. That helped me want to continue and read more about different attractions. The book made me excited to look up which roadside attractions are near me in my own geographic area and which attractions might inspire my next road trip in a different part of the country.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

This was a fun travel guide with great insights into retro Americana. I loved all the pictures and I for sure want to see some of these places! I loved all the that I was introduced to so many places I never even considered.

As a family, I suppose as many growing up in the 70s, we took road trips every year. We had family across the country, so we did these long, focused drives. We have so many memories that make for a lot of nostalgic talk around the table. I really loved this book, and I wish this generation could experience the journey that was the Great American Retro Road Trip.

Thank you to Artisan Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #RolandoPujol #TheGreatAmericanRetroRoadTrip #ArtisanBooks

The Great American Retro Roadtrip by Rolando Pujol is an entertaining and whimsical journey across the USA via roadside attractions and locations both big and small. The photos are fantastic and the narrative is concise and light-hearted. I would LOVE to get my hands on a physical copy of this book! For travel enthusiasts and nostalgia lovers alike, this book is fun, fun, fun! Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this advanced reading copy.

🚗✨ Get ready to hit the open road and embrace nostalgia like never before! 🌟

Join journalist Rolando Pujol on a coast-to-coast adventure in The Great American Retro Road Trip! This captivating book celebrates the quirky roadside attractions, vintage signs, and beloved diners that define America's unique charm. From the iconic Buck Atom to the whimsical Big Idaho Potato Hotel, Rolando takes you on a journey filled with heartwarming stories and stunning photos that will ignite your wanderlust and nostalgia.

Whether you're planning your own road trip or simply looking to reminisce about the good old days, this book is a must-read! 📖❤️

👉 Dive into the nostalgia and discover the hidden gems of America! Check it out now: [Link to the book]

#Nostalgia #RoadTrip #AmericanCulture #TheGreatAmericanRetroRoadTrip #Travel #Adventure #RolandoPujol

I loved reading this! As someone who’s very interested in visiting all the parts of America, getting to see the past was so much fun! I really enjoyed the photos, as a native to Middletown NJ, getting to see the circus clown brought tears to my eyes (I moved out of state 5 years ago). This is an awesome coffee table book and worth the read

This book was so much fun to read through. I really enjoyed seeing the old photos that were included. I definitely felt all of the nostalgia for the old days. I especially enjoyed seeing the places from Oregon that were included, most of them I have already visited. There is something for everyone in this book! I really want to go on a roadtrip now! A fun read for anyone who loves history, travel, and fun roadside stops!