how to discover the place where you were always meant to be?
well, what a lovely read. i do love books like this. they are on of my favourite kind. where you are taken to a community and just sit amongst them, take a seat, take a nap, hear the carrying on of their lives, be involve or don't. you just snuggle in and become part of their world.
this book was heart felt and heart warming. it had a great story with great characters. we get the romance yes but we also get so much more than that too. from our main characters and from the side ones the details in this book to humans, choices, feelings and life happenings is on point.
i felt fully immersed in this world and love how i gathered so much information on our characters i felt i could picture them going about their days, like i knew them.
that title The Side Road gives a new means once you've read this and it take a notch and a seat in my soul. it fits somehow perfectly, without saying much at all it actually says it all perfectly.
the book is taken place in a small town. here we get to know the community who are all dealing with their own things. and there is an arc and woven mystery mixed in there too.
are two main characters are our motorcycle man Oliver and our knitter and knitting shop own Mia. we also have the community and other members that weave and interact throughout. we have a few things to be faced from the past. a few past people that should be long forgotten and don't deserve the memory bank grrr. we also have a moody almost teenager and other things going on. its a proper collection of community life.
the side road... i think maybe we all might need one of these. the ones that take us to these hidden places? place to settle? perhaps not the "main" road we thought we should be on, would be on. perhaps a side road is a different way, but a way to our true destination anyway. one we find ourselves. one we make ourselves. or one who when we go down it, finds us. perhaps we might have veered off, thought, oh no where have i gone, got lose, gone wrong? and in some back side roads lead to those horror stories. but what if a side road can lead to the road, your road. and if its place like this? yes please.
a gorgeous book. that i think i overthought far too much from, ha. but i actually love a book that does that for me. so i apologise to the author if i made it more complex and overthinking certain themes. but hey-ho, for me that where it hit, and i love that it did so. it made it a very special read indeed.
how to discover the place where you were always meant to be?
well,perhaps take The Side Road.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Side Road is a heartfelt, funny, and tender romance that beautifully blends second chances, small-town charm, and the courage to move beyond past fears. Sarah Lahey crafts a story that feels both cozy and poignant, with characters you can’t help but root for.

Oliver, a former MotoGP racer adjusting to single parenthood, and Mia, a newcomer seeking a fresh start, are an unlikely pair whose chemistry grows in such an authentic, slow-burn way. Their romance is full of warmth and vulnerability, with just enough humor to keep the story light even as it explores deeper themes of grief, trust, and starting over. I especially loved the touches of small-town life—the knitting circle gossip, the eccentric relatives, and the way everyday moments (like raising an almost-teenager or walking a rescue dog) became just as moving as the bigger twists.

Lahey also weaves in intrigue with the mystery of the missing money, adding layers to what might otherwise be a straightforward love story. The wine country backdrop, vintage motorbikes, and vibrant community made the setting feel alive, like another character in the book.

This novel is a warm hug of a read, perfect for fans of character-driven romances with humor, heart, and just enough mystery to keep you turning the pages. A true celebration of love, healing, and the winding paths that bring us home.

A lovely little romantic mystery. This book felt like sitting down with a fluffy blanket and a cup of tea in the best way. A really good book for romance and mystery lovers for this coming pumpkin spice season. Also snood is adorable.

The Side Road by Sarah Lahey is a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are well developed and I connected with them easily. I will recommend this book to my friends for a fun romp through a small town in Australia.

The Side Road - Sarah Lahey
This is a pretty straightforward uplifting romance novel with a nice plot.
Set in a small town in Australia, where everyone seems to know each other and have a pretty close knit community. When a new man, Oliver arrives in town, he is quickly drawn to Mia. Mia, who is happily single is not interested, but soon falls for his charms.
We watch their connection grow, meet her friends, the locals, get involved with their hobbies, day to day lives and see how they deal with issues that crop up.

It is a cute love story with very lovable and relatable characters. It is funny, sad, charming but overall, it's a story you won't want to tear yourself away from.
Yes. I would recommend this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you to ##netgalley, #crossoverpress and of course the author, #SarahLahey for allowing me to access this book #TheSideRoad. Published 30th August 2025.

This review will also be shared on my Fable and Tiktok accounts both can be found on my profile here or by searching @myscottishbooktok.