The Road Trip

This book is such a lovely book about love, friendship, identity, and acceptance. Honestly, it surprised me. I expected just a fun romp of a road trip where two exes hash out their issues, but it is so much more than that.

In this story, exes Addie and Dylan find themselves traveling to a wedding together in a Mini with three other people. To say this situation is not ideal is definitely an understatement. Their relationship ended almost two years prior to this road trip in such a way that has left them both wounded. Add to that tension the fact that the man largely responsible for their break up is in the car also and it is a recipe for disaster.

The cast of characters in this book is highly entertaining. Addie and Dylan are both charming and lovable protagonists. Neither is a villain in their break up, which makes it much easier to like them. Addie's sister, Deb, is refreshingly independent and confident. Even the troublemaker, Marcus, has likable qualities at times, though he is largely self-absorbed and rude most of the time. Then there is the random wedding guest that hitched a ride, Rodney. He adds a good bit of goofy humor to the story.

The main road trip plot line is engaging and fun, even with the mishaps along the way. The characters are not having fun, of course, but the reader can laugh at their expense at times. Although there are adventures and light-hearted moments, there also very serious and somewhat therapeutic moments as well. Several of the individuals in the car have issues to resolve, and the close proximity forces them to do so whether they want to or not. The book touches on some serious topics along the way, such as depression, homophobia, alcoholism, and sexual assault , so the reader should be aware of that.

The romance in this book is probably one of the best I have read in a while. It is not pretty at times, but it feels quite authentic and believable. The main obstacle in the relationship is another person, but not in the usual manner. I like that it is not typical of all the other romances I have read lately. It feels fresh and different.

Overall, I am very happy with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience and would love to read it again in the future. Well done, Beth O'Leary! I look forward to reading more!