I have been wanting to read this book since before it was released! Ever since reading The Flatshare last year (read my review here) I decided that Beth O'Leary was an author to watch.... and I was right! I was so excited when The Book Fairies set up a campaign around this book as I was then lucky enough to read it before hiding copies around Oxford today! Were you lucky enough to find a copy?
Blurb
Addie and her sister are about to embark on an epic road trip to a friend's wedding in the north of Scotland. The playlist is all planned and the snacks are packed.
But, not long after setting off, a car slams into the back of theirs. The driver is none other than Addie's ex, Dylan, who she's avoided since their traumatic break-up two years earlier.
Dylan and his best mate are heading to the wedding too, and they've totalled their car, so Addie has no choice but to offer them a ride. The car is soon jam-packed full of luggage and secrets, and with three hundred miles ahead of them, Dylan and Addie can't avoid confronting the very messy history of their relationship...
Will they make it to the wedding on time? And, more importantly... is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan?
My thoughts
Oh I absolutely loved this book. It was such a feel good story with just the right amounts of humour and heavy emotion. It jumps between two different timelines. In the first we are in present day, where Addie and Dylan are no longer a couple but are thrust together into a very awkward situation, cramped together in a mini driving 300miles up to a wedding in Scotland. The second timeline shows how they met and then leads up to how they end their relationship. I love the way it jumps between the different times as we already know that the relationship has run its course but we don't know why. It is alluded to throughout which leaves a sense of mystery shrouding the events and slowly reveals more as you read on.
Reading about how the couple meet and start their journey is intense, they have such a connection that you can't understand how they could have got to a point where they are so angry with each other, but this is gently uncovered. Both characters have their own demons that are broken down as the story progresses.
The cast of side characters are just fantastic, Addies sister Debs is a tonic, sassy, honest and hilarious she is Addies rock and stands by her side for everything. Marcus, Dylans best friend is a little more complex, he is comical and brings humorous moments but he has a dark undertone that always leaves you wondering what he may say or do next. Rodney is an extra body in the car but no one really knows who he is or why he is there, what is his story? Cherry the bride at the wedding is just fabulous and the reason that Addie and Dylan meet in the first place. Her plus Grace, Uncle Terry, Luke, Javier, Dylan and Addies parents, Kevin and Etienne all bring depth and complexity to the story and help us to wade through what has happened to the couple and why they are on such bad terms as we begin their journey.
“Deb is driving, Dolly Parton is playing, and Marcus is hungry; the result of these three things in combination is almost certain to be bad, so I am very much on edge.”
This story has so many elements of humour and cheekiness, I genuinely laughed aloud at numerous times! The dialogue between the characters is so entertaining and the way Beth writes just kept me enthralled throughout. She has a great ability to spin a tale and leave you feeling like you know the characters inside and out. I felt like I had been with them in the villa and then in the mini such was her power of description.
I highly recommend this book to you all, if you are wanting a hilarious yet emotional story then this is one for you.
The Road trip was published on 29 April 2021.
What do you think? Will you be adding this to your TBR? I do hope so! Let me know in the comments.
The Book Fairies are a group of people who find joy in sharing books with others, you can find out more about them in my blog post The Secret life of a book fairy.
Today you can take a road trip with The Book Fairies as they embark on a mission to share copies of Beth O’Learys latest novel around the UK!