Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

There were aspects of this book I liked, but overall too many cliches & too spicy for me personally.

Beau was a classic man written by a woman & I ate it up. However he “growled” way too many times, felt a little overdone to me. There was a thread of miscommunication woven throughout, and while I understand why it was there & it served the plot it’s just not my favorite trope.

I thought handling grief and how it brings people together & the blessing of found family was great.

Overall not my cup of tea, but could be enjoyable for you if it is yours!

Loved the concept of this storyline. Secrets and soul searching while on a road trip across the US, I was hooked right away! The writing is excellent, and the characters are well crafted. I think this will be a popular book for discussions and clubs. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks @netgalley @amazonpublishing @marawilliamswrites for the chance to read The Truth Is in the Detours. It releases on August 12, 2025.

Are you looking for a swoon-worthy romance that includes a road trip across scenic California and ALL the secrets? Well, do I have a book for you! Mara's debut has beautiful writing at the line level with an emotional wallop.

Ophelia is preparing her late father's house for sale when she finds a blindsiding document. The mother Ophelia thought died thirty years ago isn’t dead after all—she abandoned her. Her neighbor (and former childhood friend) Beau's current project is set to take him across the West Coast. Ophelia has a brilliant idea: she'll help Beau with his book and he'll help her unravel the truth of her mother's disappearance. Mile by mile, they grow close again, but are there still secrets between them? Can they trust each other enough to find a way back to each other?

Steam: 🔥🔥
Tropes: frenemies to lovers, family secrets, road trip, only one tent

Again, I'm going to express that I didn't like the way the book was written because I like past tense better but this story has heart so I kept with it.
Lol lol lol this book was too cute and some scenes were hilarious as Beau and Opheliah find their way to the truths.
I love road trips especially in books. I can go places and use my imagination without having to go there lol..
Some scenes had me doubled over laughing. I won't say what they are. I don't want to give them away.
I didn't want to put this book down because that meant that I had to say goodbye to Beau and Opheliah. They cracked me up!
I think it was the title to be honest that made pick up this adventure.
I wasn't going to finish it because of the way it was written but now I'm so glad I did!! Lol!
I will say that people sometimes do what they do to protect the ones they love even if it's wrong. "Eventually lies will bite you in the ass" Jeremiah says.
I'm giving this book 5 stars simply for the adventure this book offered and the lessons that were in it.
I recommend this beautiful story of may e renewed friendships and 2nd chances? You'll just have to pick this one up and read it!
My thanks for a copy of this adventure lol I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

There are elements to like here for fans of the Emily Henry formula (it reads like a combo of Beach Read and Great Big Beautiful Life), though with less skillful pacing and occasionally stilted dialogue. I didn't feel as though the interpersonal frustrations and miscommunications between the main characters were adequately addressed, so the relationship never felt earned. The premise (a road-trip to interview liars, helmed by a history professor who apparently crowdsourced interviewees from the internet) also felt contrived and was executed unrealistically.

This book is STUNNING! Atmospheric, romantic, heartfelt; it was everything I want in a childhood friends to estranged ex-friends to lovers road trip romance. The insights in the book were also so deep and sharp that I felt like I learned something about myself from reading, while being whisked along on a magical journey. Ophelia is one of my favorite main characters I've ever read and her chemistry with Beau was absolutely sizzling. Plus, an only one tent scene??? If I could give it a million stars, I would.