Winnie Wright is in over her head. She is the guardian of her granddaughter Adalia, but ever since her son Stephen died she is no longer capable of love and affection.
I thought she was very well depicted, the detachment and grief she felt was easy to acknowledge and understand. Yet when calling Adalia ‘child’ it made me angry.
The twists and turns of this road movie were sometimes a bit dramatic, but there were also lots of scenes with me laughing out loud. Yeah, the messiness of life, don’t we know it...

After the tragic loss of both parents at a young age, six-year-old Adalia Wright now lives with her paternal grandparents, along with her grandmother Winnie’s elderly siblings. Grief shows up in unusual ways for Adalia: instead of picture books, she devours National Geographic issues about Aboriginal and Aztec death rituals. She has even mummified the family cat using vegetable oil and towels—and buried her friend’s dolls in the backyard. Exceptionally gifted and deeply wounded, Adalia’s behavior leaves the household overwhelmed and unsure how best to help her heal.
Grandmother Winnie convinced that Adalia would thrive with her maternal grandparents in Iowa—where cousins and a fresh start await—persuades her husband and siblings that a change is necessary. They pile into a borrowed, rickety church van and set off on a two-day journey. Along the way, a series of peculiar mishaps leads them to collect an unlikely trio of fellow travelers: a socially awkward woman, a three-legged rescue dog, and even a hedgehog. The already cramped van becomes a rolling patchwork of personalities, chaos, and unexpected companionship.
As the miles pass and challenges mount, Winnie begins to question whether sending Adalia away is truly the right choice. Through humor, heart, and a cascade of unpredictable moments, this delightful story reminds us that family isn’t only the one we’re born into—it’s also the one we build, nurture, and gather along the way.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

Six-year-old Adalia seems happy enough living with her grandparents and her great-aunt and uncle, but when the precocious child starts trying to mummify the (living) family cat, her grandmother Winnie decides it's time she go to live with her other set of grandparents, where she will have more cousins around her. What follows is a Murphys-law road trip, where everything seems to go wrong. Touching story, with endearing characters.

A Perfectly Reasonable Plan by Holly Varni
Contemporary fiction

When I saw this book I knew I had to have it. I was happy when I saw that this author had written another book
I love how she writes about life in general. Most especially from an older person's point of view.
I loved Winnie. She was a cool character in my opinion. She was grieving her son. I can understand that.. It's no fun to go through that. I miss my mom dailey but I didn't let it make me bitter.
Adalia is a smart kid but she sorta got on my nerves about one thing mostly. Otherwise I pretty much liked her.
Adalia is grieving her parents too and I didn't really care for how the author has shown us in how she deals with her grief.
I really enjoyed the road trip. That part made me laugh and smile but not all of it.
I couldn't put this book down until I finished it.
Winnie 's story is mostly delightful but there are a few places that will make you hold your breath and have you rooting for the characters.
The cover on the book is so very cute lol even the cover gives the story away lol
Nothing in life is as it seems. It's what makes it interesting!
I'm giving this beautiful heartfelt story 5 stars for a job well done!
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Winnie Wright is raising her precocious six-year-old granddaughter, Adalia, after a car accident killed her parents. Winnie, along with her husband, Abe, her sister, Celeste, and her brother Sebastian, are all living in one house and taking care of Adalia. When Winnie's patience with Adalia is tapped out, Winnie decides the child should spend time with her maternal grandparents in Iowa. And so the road trip from small town Sweet Thyme, Minnesota to Iowa begins with the four adults and the energetic child. This sweet character-driven novel is a delightful read The adults have lots of personality quirks, especially Celeste who is determined to get her name in the local newspaper, and the child is full of energy. The story, focuses on grief and love and it is highly recommended for readers who enjoy road trip novels. It is also a recommended purchase for public libraries.