A doting father. A dead mother. Ophelia’s childhood was as good as her father could make it, and her mother’s absence was partially filled with the love of the family next door. Of course, the family next door came with a built-in childhood best friend, Beau, who grew up to be her teenage nemesis. But when Ophelia's father dies unexpectedly, she must sort – and sell – her childhood home alone. Then Beau arrives at her door in the moments after she discovers a document that reveals her mother did not, in fact, die when Ophelia was four. Before either of them realizes what is happening, they’re together on a road trip, ostensibly doing research for Beau’s new book, but also tracking down the truth of her mother’s abandonment.

This is a feel-good book with its share of misunderstandings, sacrificial choices, and hard truths – the very definition of uplit, one of my favorite genres to read lately. There aren’t a lot of surprises, but that was okay by me. I was happy to just enjoy the ride with Ophelia and Beau.

Published on August 12th, this book is narrated by Barrie Kealoha, who did a wonderful job capturing Ophelia’s personality.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio, NetGalley, and author Mara Williams for the complimentary advance copy! It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

I love a good road trip book, and this was a layered, complicated, but fun journey.

Childhood friends Ophelia and Beau turned into adversaries in high school and eventually went their separate ways. When Ophelia’s father passes away, she learns shocking truths about her mother; it also brings Beau back into her life.

They set out on a road trip together; Ophelia to find answers about her mom and Beau to do research for his current work project. But along the way, through detours, stops, and starts, they slowly untangle and unravel all the hurts, lies, and feelings that have kept them apart for all these years.

I enjoyed my time with Ophelia and Beau. There’s a bit of grumpy/sunshine going on here, and they just had so much history that they wade through. They both are dealing with some heavy stuff, but I love how they supported one another - especially Ophelia, who had already felt abandoned; she was such a generous and endearing character.

With compelling characters, a swoony friends-to-lovers romance, and themes that add depth and emotion, this book is a must-read.

🎧 I loved having the audiobook for when I didn’t want to set the book down. Barrie Kealoha did a great job narrating, adding special touches to these characters, bringing out the emotions, and all the feels.


Thank you @brilliancepublishing for the gifted audiobook via #netgalley.

Mara Williams brings charm, humor, and just the right touch of spice to The Truth Is in the Detours. At its heart, this is a story about friendship, family, and the unexpected turns life can take when long-buried truths finally come to light. The plot follows two friends on a journey to track down her mother—a woman she believed was dead her entire life—and that search becomes both a literal and emotional road trip full of revelations.

What makes this book so engaging is the balance Williams strikes between lighthearted fun and heartfelt depth. There are plenty of funny, witty moments between the characters that make their bond feel genuine and relatable, and that humor helps carry the story even through its more emotional revelations. Alongside the laughs, there’s also a touch of romance that adds warmth and spice to the narrative, perfectly complementing the friendship and family themes.

Williams writes with a vivid, detailed style that keeps the pace moving and makes it easy to picture every scene as it unfolds. The story flows so naturally that it’s hard to put the book down—you’re always eager to see what the next “detour” will reveal.

Overall, The Truth Is in the Detours is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and romance, making it a great choice for readers who enjoy uplifting stories with a little heat and a lot of heart.

*Thanks to Brilliance Publishing/ Lake Union Publishing for early copy for review*

3.5 rated up

This has so many elements to be my perfect romance. Later in life friends to lovers. Grumpy/Sunshine pairing. He fell first. The biggest thing is that it features a roadtrip of self discovery. On this road trip Beaunis working on an academic book of people keeping secrets and Ophelia is uncovering a secret she found from cleaning out her recently deceased father's house. This type of dynamic should be perfect for me, however, I don't think it delivered what I wanted. I wanted literary fiction with romance, but this is a romance novel. Wanting more from it was my own fault. This want tainted my enjoyment and left me with the rating that I have.

While reading I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job bringing a voice to all the characters

The Truth is in the Details is Mara Williams debut novel and what an honor it is to be one of the first to read her work! I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this story as the main character, Ophelia Dahl, learns an unsettling truth about her own life upon her father's untimely passing. Through grief and confusion, she partners with childhood friend turned adolescent nemesis, Beau Augustin, as they seek to uncover truths long buried in secrecy while finding their way back to each other. I personally had some issues with the miscommunication trope and felt like there was a lack of true chemistry between the leads, yet I was invested in learning the long-hidden truth Ophelia sought. It is my hope that this story will get into the hands of the right readers and be an encouragement to those who might be struggling with the burden of their own and/or others' secrets.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Audio, and Mara Williams for an advanced listener copy.

Not sure how I feel about this one, it was emotional and full of family drama but I was also here for the forced proximity, road trip vibes and the he fell first and hardest, high school romance, friends to lovers, second chance vibes. It was great on audio narrated by Barrie Keahola (a new to me narrator). Highly recommended for fans of authors like Kate Clayborn. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

TW: parent with bipolar disorder, death of a parent, family secrets, infidelity

This beautiful romance is a road trip for answers, back to friendship, and to find true love. Beau and Ophelia were childhood friends that parted ways and are pulled back together to take a revealing journey of truths. I love the writing style, the banter, the hilarious situations, and the oh so hot chemistry. I think I may have a little crush on Beau and Ophelia and I must surely be kindred spirits. There are some heavier topics in the novel, but they are handled with care and sensitivity. The audiobook is a fantastic way to enjoy this sparkling love story and gorgeous life story.

Loved the audio version of this book. The narrator did such a masterful job of bringing all the characters to life and I especially appreciated the care with which she honored the Hawaiian characters. Excellent job!

I don't read a ton of romance, but decided to give this one a try. This was cute and touching, while also being heartbreaking at times.

I love second chance love stories and I really don’t like friends to lovers stories. This was kind of both but the fact that Beau and Ophelia never truly had a romantic relationship and were estranged at the beginning of this story made it work for me. There was tension as they begin to connect and plenty of snark to keep it interesting and not full of secret pining like I usually see in friends to lovers.

The mystery of Ophelia’s mom and the social science experiment/research of deceptive people definitely kept me interested. I found both of those concepts fresh and well done. I also thought the growth Ophelia goes through as she learns the truth and also struggles through past hurts and her relationship with Beau was a great story. The pacing was right and I enjoyed the narrator’s performance.

I do wish it wasn’t open door. I think it could have easily been done without the spice. While I found the spice to be skippable (I think both scenes were mostly contained within its own chapter), I can’t recommend to all readers because not everyone is okay with skipping. If you are an open door reader or don’t mind skipping, I enjoyed this and I would read another book by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted audiobook. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: 2 open door scenes; some strong language

Thank you to Brilliance Audio for the gifted audiobook!

The Truth is in the Detours is a heartfelt, character-driven roadtrip romance with amazing banter and A+ chemistry. I’d recommend it without reservation to fans of Emily Henry and Clare Gilmore — if you love their work, don’t miss this one. It’s out 8/12 and I’ve already preordered a shelf trophy because I just love it so much!

Read for:
Childhood best friends to lovers
Road trip romance
Healing journeys
Divorced hero
A+ banter

Beau and Ophelia grew up as best friends, living next door to each other, until a falling out just before college. Years later, Beau is a nerdy academic planning a Pacific Coast road trip to conduct interviews for his new book about the deep secrets and lies people tell and why. Ophelia, back home packing up her childhood house after her father’s death, discovers a devastating secret he kept from her. Desperate to get AWAY, she offers to join Beau as his research assistant.

I couldn’t put this book down. The roadtrip is filled with the chaotic misadventures and LOL shenanigans you’d expect from a romcom, but it turns into a deeply personal journey for both of them. Beau and Ophelia feel so real — they’re just flawed humans figuring out how to handle what life’s thrown at them. Plus, there’s banter for dayssss, and their chemistry is OFF. THE. CHARTS.

One last thing — this book had the perfect mix of emotion and angst. I'm not in the right headspace these days for high-angst drama, but I still want to feel emotionally moved. TTIITD checked both boxes!

Audio: The audiobook is narrated by Barrie Kealoha and I’m going to be straight with you, I can’t remember a single thing about the performance. It held my attention so fiercely that I was fully engrossed in the story and not the performance… which is very high praise! Definitely check it out!

Full of secrets, slow-burn romance, and second chances.

After losing her father unexpectedly, she uncovers a devastating truth: her mother—long believed to be dead—is actually alive. Searching for answers, she reconnects with Beau, her childhood friend and neighbor. They haven’t spoken in years, but the bond between them still lingers, filled with unspoken feelings and buried longing.

He’s always loved her, quietly and completely, and she’s finally ready to face what her heart has always known. As they travel together for Beau’s research on people who’ve lived with lies, their own truths start to rise to the surface.

This book is a beautiful journey—one of healing, honesty, and the kind of love that grows over a lifetime. I really enjoyed this love story, especially the friends-to-lovers thread that tugged at my heart.

This was such an intriguing premise—Sophie can see how many days people have left to live, and when her first love Adam shows back up with only 24 days remaining, everything changes. The story blends grief, fate, and second chances in a way that’s both emotional and thought-provoking.

The narration was strong and kept me engaged, and I flew through the audiobook. I really wanted to love this more, but something felt like it was missing. Maybe it was the emotional depth or how little we really got to know Adam. The core concept was fascinating, but I found myself wanting more explanation, more exploration—especially around Sophie’s “gift” and the countdowns.

Still, it’s a lovely, bittersweet story about love, hope, and fighting for the people who matter. I’ll be recommending it to others who enjoy speculative romance with a twist.

When Ophelia's dad dies, she inherits his house and, along with the house, a lifetime of memories and secrets. Thirty years ago, Ophelia's mom died in a car accident- or so she thought. When Ophelia finds court documents proving that her mother is alive and out there somewhere, she determines to find answers. Why did she abandon her, and why did her dad take that secret to his grave.

Ophelia accompanies Beau, her childhood friend turned enemy, on a road trip to help him conduct research for his next book. The topic? Family deceptions. Along the way, truths about their pasts are revealed,

This book was a delightful read! It was a good mix of a romance novel and a "finding yourself" story, both of which fall into my favorite types of stories. I enjoyed both the writing and the narration, and I have already added Williams's next novel on my to-be-read list.

**A Delightful Road Trip of Secrets, Reconciliation, and Unexpected Love** The Truth is in the Details by Mara Williams is a charming and engaging journey—both literally and emotionally—that had me hooked from start to finish. Ophelia Dahl’s world turns upside down when she uncovers a startling secret about her mother’s supposed death, igniting a cross-country adventure filled with twists, surprises, and heartfelt moments. The road trip trope has never been more entertaining. Ophelia and Beau’s chemistry is wonderfully complicated—once childhood friends, then rivals, and now reluctant partners in uncovering a lifetime’s worth of lies. Williams deftly balances humor, tension, and genuine emotion, making for a story that’s both lighthearted and deeply moving. Their quirky banter and shared vulnerabilities make Mile after mile a delightful read. The mysteries unravel slowly, revealing secrets that challenge what Ophelia believed her whole life, and Beau’s own motives add an intriguing layer of depth. The scenic West Coast setting is almost a character itself, adding a sense of freedom and discovery. If you’re craving a road trip story that’s as about emotional journeys as it is about Miles traveled, The Truth is in the Details is a wonderful read—full of surprises and the kind of bond that only the open road can nurture.

I enjoyed this book. It's a bit of romance, but contains some tough topics such as parent death, parent abandonment, found family. It's more of a journey of Ophelia navigating her past, her way and herself.

The romance part was a little tough. I am not the biggest fan of miscommunication tropes, and I wish I felt more of "feeling" between Beau and Ophelia. Looking for the lead up... reflecting on their past more? I loved the banter between them though!

Overall, it was a good read, paced, and I enjoyed the. narrator.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader copy

Thank You NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the Audio Arc of The Truth is in the Detours I thoroughly enjoyed the writing still of the Author Mara Williams and will definitely read more of her books. Barrie Kealoha did a phenomenal job bringing each character to life and giving then the shine they deserved. There is a wide range of emotions in this book from anger to love and she made sure you felt it.

Now on to the actual story. Beau is a History Professor and Ophelia is a freelance virtual assistant and grew up neighbors and best friends till college split them up. Both main character are dealing with their own for of deceit and betrayal in their lives and are looking for the answers. Ophelia offers to go along with Beau as he writes his third book on Secrets after her father has passed away and she finds proof her mother was never dead. Beau is also looking for a way to come to the terms of his divorce and failed marriage. During the trip the tension between them becomes unbearable and a kiss starts the chain reaction. There is a happy ever after and I was swooning for it the whole time.

I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did.
The characters were realistic and human, flawed and funny.
I do love me some childhood friends who fell apart to lovers type of story. And although the third act breakup and miscommunication is hard to pass when we’re talking about 34 year olds,

Great narrator, especially good voice for the Beau parts.

There was a lot to love about this one - - friends/enemies to lovers, some forced proximity, great banter & chemistry plus an eventful road trip with some planned and unplanned detours along the way. I loved Ophelia and Beau’s shared history. They were both fantastic characters and Barrie Kealoha was spot on as the narrator. Ophelia was relatable for me - - an only child who had put up some walls to protect herself. I was rooting for her to find answers and happiness both personally and professionally. Absolutely loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

One of my favorite romance tropes is a travel slow burn with plenty of drama and that’s what this book is.

Ophelia has recently lost her beloved dad. In the process of going through his home she finds that the mother she thought died when she was a child had not died at all. Enter her childhood bestie and former teen nemesis, Beau. Beau is going through a divorce and working on a project that has him taking a roadtrip to interview people. They go on the trip together and end up healing parts of their past they never thought they’d address again.