✨Arc Review✨

Thank you to the author Suleena Bibra And Netgallery for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A charming, clever romance with reality-TV sparkle and heart

The Road to Gretna is the perfect blend of sharp wit, slow-burn romance, and delightful absurdity—in the best way possible. Suleena Bibra has created a world where The Amazing Race, Love Island, and Pride and Prejudice somehow collide, and the result is an absolute joy.

Naomi is refreshingly independent, clever, and flawed in a way that feels real. Nate is the kind of hero who grows on you steadily—honorable, a little infuriating, and surprisingly vulnerable. Watching them navigate Regency roleplay, meddling family expectations, and a growing attraction (all under the scrutiny of reality TV cameras) is both hilarious and heartwarming.

If you're a fan of rom-coms with strong character development, a multicultural lens, and a premise that dares to be different, this one’s for you. The Road to Gretna is escapism at its finest—smart, sweet, and satisfying.

This book had some fun characters, but unfortunately I felt like I was being told everything instead of shown anything. There was so much potential here, but it was not for me.

Who knew a reality show and the regency area would make such a good pair! I really enjoyed this book, though the ending felt a little rushed. I can look past that with how well the yearning was throughout the rest of the book. I'm a sucker for a man that pines for his girl!

Welcome back to Regency England, where our couples will have to fight with tooth and nail (and corsets) to be the first ones to reach Gretna and get married!

The idea of a book set in a reality TV show was immediately appealing to me when I first read of this book and, if I know one thing, is that I definitely would watch something like this if it was on TV. I loved Naomi as our FMC and how adamant she was in making a name for herself and not as 'X's daughter'.

However, while the concept was interesting, this book was unfortunately not for me. It was definitely an entertaining read and it made me laugh out loud in several occasions but the instalust/love between our two main characters and how quickly they both threw caution to the wind put me out of the story.

All in all, a book that was not for me because of my own particular tastes but that I know for a fact many readers will enjoy and become obsessed with.

This was a cute story! I did liked the mix plot of reality show with romance. I loved a lot the setting and their dynamic

Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.8/5)
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

Plot:
I read The Road to Gretna right in the heart of summer — and it proved to be the perfect seasonal read. The vibrant setting of London and Scotland, one of my favorite cities, added a charming backdrop to the story. I particularly appreciated the premise of a reality TV show competition, a concept that strikes the right balance between playful improbability and captivating entertainment. The novel felt like a delightful mix of Peking Express and Love Island — a blend of adventure, unexpected pairings, and romance that doesn’t necessarily mirror real life, but fully embraces its escapist potential.

Characters:
While some of the secondary characters faded a little too much into the background, I found Aoki absolutely endearing — a standout personality who brought sass to the narrative. Nate and Naomi added a touch of humor and energy to the story. However, I did feel that Nate’s hesitance to speak his mind often led to misunderstandings, which, although a common trope, bordered on frustrating at times. A bit more directness could have deepened the emotional connection.

The Twist:
I saw it coming — and yet, its dramatic flair made it amusing rather than shocking. It was over-the-top in a way that almost pokes fun at its own genre, which I found entertaining. I might have wished for more tension, deeper conflicts, or perhaps even a stronger exploration of rival love interests to really heighten the stakes. Also… did I miss it, or was it ever revealed who actually won the show? That loose end left me slightly puzzled.

Final Thoughts:
Despite minor frustrations, The Road to Gretna delivered an enjoyable reading experience, balancing light-hearted romance with reality TV antics. I’m genuinely curious to see what comes next in this universe — and I do hope the next book will be about Zara in Spain. I’ll be keeping an eye out for it!

This was a cute story. I would watch the reality TV show that exists in this book. The two main characters were fun to follow.

A girl whose previous relationships have left much to be desired finally attempts to find true love. A perfect little romance book that I adore.

This book was so fun! Naomi is trying to get some space from her overbearing father, and agrees to go on a Regency-era reality show. But Nate, her father's employee, ends up on the show too in an effort to get her to come home. This dual POV was funny all the way though. I loved the premise of the reality show, and both Nate and Naomi learning how to stand their ground and what is really important to them in life.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a huge fan of The Amazing Race, I was so exited to see that as inspiration in part for the plot. This was a fun book for sure!

Amazing book loved the characters abd plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. Ii loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

Synopsis: When Naomi Richmond's business tycoon father sends his vice president Nate Williams to England to bring her home to the USA, it sends Naomi running in the other direction, straight into a dating reality TV show. To Naomi's horror, Nate enters as a contestant too and they're quickly paired together. With cameras rolling and the ever present shadow of Naomi's father looming over them, can Naomi and Nate admit to their feelings for each other?

Review: This was such a fun romcom! I loved the concept of a Regency style dating show with challenges along the way. I had hoped for more yearning and jealousy rather than instalove and was a little conflicted by their hot and cold relationship, but liked seeing their growth as individuals.

With thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this is such a fun and quirky read. i love how original this premise is and ive never seen this take on the reality show romcom done. the cover is also really cool.
Naomi wants to make her own path away from her controlling father or his shadow. shes now in London away from him thank god and is trying to make a job for herself in her own right. when she is given the chance to be a contestant on a reality tv show set in the world of period England she jumps at the chance. oh, that is until she sees who is going to be on the show with her. none other than Nate the man who seems to either look through her or down on her...and yeh, her fathers employee.
Nate is there. yep he is there. but for one reason only and thats to convince his employers daughter to get herself home. but he finds himself on the show as this is the only way to keep an eye on her.
so lets mix up some period England his japes, romantic challenges and the like and make it all on camera and you've got a sparkling fun story that had me as enchanted as the time the contestants are taken back to.
but there is more here. way more. and these two have to pend time together which means they might just have to face their true feelings. it was never really about not liking each other was it?

This was a good read! The reality tv aspect was fun and unique with the theme. Naomi was likable as was her friend group (we’re getting stories about them next, right??).

Naomi’s journey was relatable in wanting to be independent of her parents; though sometimes eyebrow raising because of how privileged she is for her life and lifestyle. Nate was sweet but I didn’t really feel the connection between the two. I also felt like the age gap wasn’t really necessary (but I’m glad it wasn’t brought up too much).

I’m happy about the happy ending though the resolution felt a bit rushed, like we got a summary of what happened after the reality show.

Overall though I enjoyed this read and can’t wait to read more by Suleena Bibra!

Naomi Patel, una joven publicista estadounidense decidida a forjar su propio camino lejos de la sombra de su poderoso padre, vive en Londres tratando de lanzar su carrera por méritos propios. Cuando su mejor amiga le ofrece la oportunidad de unirse como concursante en un reality show ambientado en la Inglaterra de época, Naomi lo considera una plataforma inesperada para ganar visibilidad profesional... hasta que descubre que uno de los participantes es Nate Williams, el ambicioso y encantador ejecutivo que trabaja para su padre y que siempre la ha tratado como una niña caprichosa.

Nate, enviado por el señor Richmond para convencerla de regresar a casa, termina inscrito en el show para vigilarla de cerca. En medio de bailes, desafíos románticos y cámaras siempre encendidas, Naomi y Nate se ven forzados a convivir como pareja dentro del programa. Lo que comienza como una estrategia para proteger reputaciones pronto se transforma en una batalla entre orgullo, deseo y sentimientos no confesados.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest