Every Beautiful Mile
by Ashley Manley
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Pub Date May 09 2024 | Archive Date May 11 2024
ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Wildflower Books LLC
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Description
A widowed bartender, a summer road trip, the detour she never expected.
Penelope ‘Nel’ Crawford is stuck. At least that’s what her family tells her. A year after losing her husband of seventeen years, she’s still so deep in her grief that she’s barely hanging on, let alone living. She hardly recognizes her teenage kids and finds no joy in doing the things she once loved.
Her solution? An attempt to heal herself and the relationship with her kids with a summer road trip. From one destination to the next, Nel not only has to navigate life on the road, but the trials and tribulations of motherhood after loss.
When a detour leads her to a flirtatious restaurant owner she’s been emailing off and on for months, she starts to remember that life—no matter how unpredictable—is made for living. And the heart, even if broken, finds ways to love again.
Every Beautiful Mile will make readers laugh, cry, and remind them of the healing powers of nature, family, and love itself.
**this book contains some explicit language and open door spice**
A Note From the Publisher
Thanks so much for reading, guys! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you see an error in your copy...these books take a village! xo, Ashley
Featured Reviews
Such a nice read. It was a good paced book. The story had a beautiful theme to it. The characters were also very enjoyable. This was my first read by this author also. I suggest it overall.
The title of this book is accurate because it really is beautiful, I had a lump in my throat for most of it. Nel a mother of two unexpectedly loses her husband, while going through the RV her husband was renovating before he died she finds the itinerary for a road trip he wanted to take with the family so she finishes renovating the RV, loads up the kids and they plan a 10 week road trip over the summer holidays following their late husband/dads itinerary.
I didn’t think this book would hit me as much as it did but at the end of 2020 I lost my dad. My sister, mum and I do everything we can to keep his memory alive and live for him so this book really spoke to me, especially reading it from a mother who lost her husbands POV because it felt like I was reading a journal my mum had written.
A beautiful story of love after loss, family, healing, grieving and hope. So beautifully written, I felt every bit of emotion on these pages and throughly enjoyed this book. I have been reading a lot of thrillers lately so this was an unexpected and not unwelcome delight.
I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book for my review, it was sensational.
Embark on Penelope's remarkable journey as she navigates the twists and turns of life's unexpected detours. After losing her soulmate, she's determined to uncover peace, rediscover joy, and perhaps even stumble upon love once more. With unwavering support from her parent and vulnerable conversations with her children, Penelope sets off on a new adventure, eager to explore life beyond loss.
In this poignant yet uplifting tale, Penelope confronts the spectrum of human experience—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Through laughter and tears, she discovers the profound beauty in creating connections both old and new. From heartwarming moments with her children to the budding romance with Ethan, Penelope learns to embrace the coexistence of emotions that come with rebuilding her life.
This book is a delightful journey filled with raw beauty and deep insights into life after loss, exploring the roles of wife, mother, and daughter with heartfelt honesty. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, with moments that will have you both giggling and reaching for the tissues. From heartwarming scenes with her kids to the sweet trials and tribulations of her encounters with Ethan, it's a perfect blend of laughter and tears. This will be in a re-read rotation.
“The ones that cut right through you and carve you into who you are supposed to be. ….What they leave behind are the ruggedly beautiful remains that remind us forever of their existence.” …”The rivers that run through us.” *Chills*
I really appreciate this novel more than I can put into words. It made me laugh, cry.. as I had to reread passages I thought were so beautifully written they needed a pause of appreciation.
I loved to see Nel’s personal growth throughout the novel and how she found herself again after her world was shattered. The way she reconnected with her kids and got to know them again was beautiful. Life can still go on after loss, but that loss is never forgotten and paves a path for a new beginning. Nel’s sarcastic wit had me cheering her on the whole time.
If I could give more stars to this author and her work, I would. I cannot wait to read what else Ashley Manley puts out into the world. Highly recommend!
With every beautiful mile we got to see a broken woman come back to life. This book was everything I needed after reading the past few rom coms. From the first page I cried. All throughout the book I cried, for lost lost and happy tears for the love she found for herself, her kids and letting the guilt go to start her next chapter. There were highs and lows for Penelope taking back her life and starting anew. The description of all the stops with her kids were breathtaking. Her first meeting of Ethan was perfect. She had started to get her light back. Ethan had a large part in her finding a new life and confidence. He had strong silent type written all over him. He was there pushing her to embrace the feeling of wanting more. This book was a pleasure to read.. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I'm not sure I have the words, but I'll try and find them anyway.
Every beautiful mile truly was breathtakingly beautiful. I didn't want it to end. I really loved everything about it.
A story about love and loss and finding yourself. Creating a life and happiness you never dreamed would be possible again. Reminding you the importance and life and living, most importantly making memories to last with your children. I definitely feel like every Beautiful mile had a virgin river vibe to it, I loved it.
I need more of Ethan & Nel 😩 I adore them. I can't wait to read more of Ashley's work!
As soon as you are able to get your hands on this book please do, you won't be disappointed ✨️🩷
I loved this book! After recently reviewing a book that was represented as women’s fiction/romance and instead delivered a heavy dose of violence, Every Beautiful Mile was a much-needed breath of fresh air. The characters are relatable and appealing, the prose is well-crafted and evocative, and the serious topics of grief and loss are tempered by a light touch of humor. This is a story that was so entertaining and engaging that I read it quickly and did not want it to end.
Penelope (aka Nel) Crawford’s world is turned upside down when her husband of seventeen years dies in a plane crash. Struggling with overwhelming grief and denial, she goes through the motions of parenting her two teenage children and working in her parents’ restaurant as a bartender. In a desperate attempt to heal and reestablish her connection with her kids, Nel embarks on a cross-country trip in a restored vintage RV camper inspired by her deceased husband’s plans for a family vacation. What ensues is both heart-breaking, frustrating, fun, and fulfilling. The storyline underscores the resiliency of the human spirit to move forward embracing life and love while honoring the past.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
This was such a beautiful and moving love story. The book is about a single mom of teenage kids whose.husband passed a way in a tragic plane crash. Her journey through grief has been difficult and filled with denial. When she is pushed into doing something out of her comfort zone and goes on a road trip with her kids. I love that this story focuses on a woman in her 40s who is figuring out who she is without the love of her life. The healing in this story was not only for her but also for kids. Her romance with Eric was sweet and fun but still felt secondary to the importance of her growth. I loved this book and highly recommend it!
Wow - just WOW.
And a debut author, are you kidding me? This has easily landed in my best of 2024 list - what an incredible read. I feel so lucky to have been given the chance to read and rate this beautiful read. I will for sure be buying a hard copy for my library! Well done!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wildflower Books LLC for this delight!
I absolutely adored this book. It honestly left me feeling like it broke me and put me back together!
I loved Nel, she was so relatable and such a loveable character with her unfiltered opinions and confessions, and her ability to feel so completely.
I knew I was going to love Ethan straight away, but Nel bringing him to his knees and changing his ways was the best to read.
Being British and having not seen any of America it felt like I was on their road trip with them, I loved Marin’s wild ways and Finn’s grumpiness! The whole family was just so loveable!
If I could read this book for the first time again I absolutely would!
Thank you so much for the chance to read it!
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🌶️🌶️
What a fantastic read! I loved everything about this book from the writing to the settings to the character developement. The insightful writing was so, so good and made me fall in love with the characters and their growth. Even the occasional naughty word didn't detract from the story but with all the other descriptors and settings made this a book I will remember! I laughed out loud, cried, and felt my heart grow with every mile these characters traveled. This book touched on profound loss (a spouse/parent) and the journey this family takes to heal, grow, and find a way to carry on - not forgetting, but forging on to a different yet still beautiful, fulfilling life. After all, it's what the journey is all about. I can't recommend this book enough and hope that there will be more books from this Author. And selfishly hope we get to learn more about Nel's life journey in this future. I'm so appreciative of receiving an ARC of this wonderful, heartfelt book in exchange for my review. Many thanks to the Author, publisher, and NetGalley for a read I will not forget.
**Spoiler Free Review** This story is so beautiful and moving and puts me in mind of P.S. I Love You. Nel, a widow, decides to go on a trip and take a journey to heal from her grief. She has two teenage children who felt so real and raw throughout this story. On a personal note-- The idea of packing my kids in an RV and doing a cross country drive is actually one I've had for a while. I love the descriptions of the many adventures this family goes on and the the internal exploration Nel has as she grapples with a life without her husband... Was truly wonderful! I loved this book!
What can I say about this book....other than it will be one of my favorite reads of 2024. I can't wait to see what Ms. Manley writes next. This book will hit you with all the feels and reel you in to Nel's story as she discovers herself, her kids and her next path after losing her husband in a plane crash. You will feel her struggles and her triumphs in this excellent book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher; I am so glad I hit request on this one!
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