3.5 Stars

'Lately it occurs to me....what a long, strange trip it's been'

This was definitely a long, strange trip... not bad, but not a story that I was mesmerized by, either.

My father. used to say,. 'If you can't say anything nice, just don't say anything at all.' That pretty much sums it up for me.


Pub Date: 02 Sep 2025


Many thanks for the opportunity to read 'Trip' by Amie Barrodale

Wow what a strange, compelling book. It made me think of George Saunders in the best way. TRIP is a book to be studied and will surely kickstart Amie Barrodale’s career into high gear.

This book was a bit of a mixed experience for me. It definitely had some interesting elements, but it didn't fully hit. There were a few wacky elements that gave it a more unique edge that I usually love, but I still struggled to stay engaged. It felt like a bit of a slog to get through at times.

I really liked the way autism was represented in the story. It felt well thought out and integrated into the book, not treated like a gimmick or a lazy plot device, but naturally woven in as a part of everyone's lives. The author seems to have done her research which really added some depth and created some tender moments and good discussion.

Some of the storylines felt a little unclear. I found the mother’s story kinda confusing at points, and the father’s part felt underdeveloped. We didn’t spend much time with him so I struggled to connect, which added to the reason why I didn't love the ending.

I wasnt entirely satisfy bu the ending as I didnt really emotionally connect with the characters, but I did like that it felt hopeful and brought some things to a gentle close. It wasn’t a bad read by any means, it just wasn't entirely for me :(