Honestly, I don't think that this book could have come at a better time! After reading several rather dark psychological thrillers in a row, I was ready for something a little calmer and, whilst 'The Road Trip' was certainly calm, I felt spoiled (in a good way) when I realised that it was also a breath of fresh air to read. What more could you want?

With Maddy feeling like the hired help in her marriage, and Leanne still living with her mum even though she has hit her thirties, their lottery win ended up being the key to their well deserved freedom. In no time at all, Leanne and Maddy had decided that they were going to embark on a road trip, doing things that they wouldn't normally do as the world was now their oyster. Even though I had everything crossed that their road trip was going to be plain sailing, I never expected it to turn out the way that it did. Pleasantly surprised, that's for sure!

Maddy and Leanne couldn't be more different if they tried, yet the fact that their personalities were chalk and cheese ended up being the glue to their strong friendship - believe it or not! Leanne's bonkers personality had me in hysterics, whilst Maddy's personality kept Leanne on the straight and narrow. Although saying that, it would have been hilarious to read about what Leanne got up to if Maddy hadn't been her voice of reason.

'The Road Trip' is jam-packed with surprises, hilarious one liners, multiple bonkers characters, and of course a dog who attempted to steal the show. The highlight of the book for me, was how the author cemented the 'strong woman' vibe, highlighting just how important sisterhood relationships are. The fact that Maddy never gave up, even when her husband did, really did make me think that there is no set time for dreams to come true - you just have to go out and make them come true, even if people disagree with your choices. It's your life, right?

Definitely a breath of fresh air novel which made me giggle more than once - I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Maddy and Leanne's antics, and I hope we get to catch up with them again in the future.

4 Road Trippin’ Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Ever wonder what you would do if you won the lottery? The one thing I would do for sure is hire someone to cook and clean for me... when best friends Maddy and Leanne win the lottery they decide to take a dream road trip across Europe... once again I found myself vacationing vicariously through the characters in my books... it really is much cheaper...and unless I win the lottery I probably will not be taking a trip around Europe any time soon!

Maddy and Leanne are both running from something and trying to find something...Maddy wants to get away from her tired marriage and find a man in Paris she had a fling with over 20 years ago... Maddy as a character was tough to sympathize with... if we were friends I would tell her this* quit complaining about your marriage, do something about it! Either leave or fix it, but having an affair with a man you haven’t seen in 20 years, not going to help anything! So please quit the whining!* clearly she needed a friend like me to straighten her out... leeAnne was trying to get away from a disapproving mother and find herself and her father.... I had much more sympathy for Leanne and I can’t believe she never lost it with her friend Maddy....

The road trip itself was a lot of fun! There were some over the top moments, but they made me laugh.... The descriptions of the cities throughout this book were so well painted, I felt as though I was there.... at the end of the book we find out there is a sequel, and I’m assuming some loose ends will be tied up.... also I cannot wait to see where they go next!

Recommend as a perfect summer getaway read... you too can vacation through Europe from the comfort of the couch or while sitting by your pool🚗
*** many thanks too Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

This a fun read and I really enjoyed the sparky relationship between the two women. It was also great to travel through England and France to get to Nice. It's a lovely summery read full of missed opportunities and possibilities for love. Fab-u-lous!!!

This is a fun summer exploration read. Mandy and Leanne set off on a road trip though Europe after a win on the lottery. Things don't go to plan on the way and they have many problems but there's fun too, lots of great characters but it got a little dreary in areas....

I found this book to be a very simple and easy read. The plot is simple but not very deep and meaningful. At times the dialog was fairly stilted and didn’t really flow and some scenes were unnecessarily long, but otherwise, a good story.

Lovely refreshing summer read. Maddy and Leanne head off on a road trip after their syndicate won the lottery. You will follow these women as they drive to Europe. It’s not all plain sailing, ups and downs along the way. Meeting lots of very different characters along the way. I did enjoy it very much but felt at times my enthusiasm weaned a bit. For that reason it lost a star. The type of book you read and wish it was you.

Very good summer read. Maddy and Leanne might be friends but they aren't BEST friends. SO, when they win the lottery and decide to tour Europe together, they have some things to work through. You might not agree with Maddy's determination to find her old lover as a tonic to her sagging marriage to Erik but it adds some spark to the plot. Leanne is looking for her father- a more serious quest but she's not an entirely serious person. This has some twists, some implausible situations, and an ending that will leaving you wanting more. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

You must take this road trip with Maddy and Leanne, as they win the lottery and decide to take off from Ireland to France, Maddy to find a lost live, and Leanne to search for her father. Their antics along the way are quite funny, as they turn their adventures into a blog which attracts followers living vicariously through these two women. Another great vacation or beach read.

They say that money can't buy you happiness and there is no doubt about, but it can open doors to certain opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. It can give you the chance to escape from things and put your needs first instead of those of others.
This story is about friendship, love lost and found, about living the dream or waking up.
Some parts were totally over the top that they were funny, others were heartbreakingly sad.
When I reached the last chapter, I was afraid that I would not get all my questions answered. I was very relieved to see that I will have my answers in the next book. I can't wait to read what happens next.
Overall it is a trip down a bumpy road that (hopefully) will be evened in the sequel in order to lead to happy ending for all the characters.
Thank you, Susanne O'Leary, Bookouture and Netgalley

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Bookouture for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Kim from Bookouture for organising the Blog Tour!

My first book by this author. The book is set initially in Ireland, but then travels across Europe. Maddy and Leanne are work friends and when the work syndicate wins the lottery and they both get their share, life changes for both women. They both couldn’t be more different – Maddy is married but is sick of washing her husband’s Y-fronts and listening to his golf antics, and Leanne has had enough of living with her overbearing mother. They decide to use their money and head off on the road trip of a lifetime across Europe to the French Riviera. They both have their own individual reasons for going, and it’s great to join the women on their quest to find the answer to what if things had been done differently years before.

Maddy is obviously the sensible one of the two women. Wife and mother to grown up children, Maddy is finding life very lonely, especially as her husband has become obsessed with playing golf. When she wins the lottery she decides not to share it with him – not yet anyway! To be honest you can’t blame her. It was great to see her going on a spending spree, buying clothes which she wouldn’t normally have bought. I have to admit I was a little bit jealous at this point! Leanne was the more impulsive of the two. Whilst she also wanted to keep her money secret, she was less careful with her spending than Maddy was and I loved it when Leanne turned up in a flashy convertible!

The tales of the two women were heart-warming and entertaining. The story was at times a little bit far-fetched, but for the majority it was a light-hearted and enjoyable read! The descriptions of the places they visited were definitely a joy to read, particularly while they were travelling through England, most of which I knew well. This was definitely a good humoured and delightful story which would make a perfect holiday read!

Maddie and Leanne decide to take a trip to Europe after winning some money in the lottery. Maddie's husband is off at a golf tournament, and Leanne's clingy mother has to let her go. A lot of fun adventures, and a few sad stories too. Was really starting to get to the end build up though, and then it basically has a "to be continued" section for the upcoming book. Do not mind another book, but prefer to have more closure with each one. Other than that, would highly recommend this book. Fun read for the summer.

Review: This is a fun easy read great for a quick relaxing weekend read. Has you laughing, crying and hiding behind you face nearly all at the same time. A good book

The Road Trip is the first book I’ve read by Susanne O’Leary and I loved it. I read the majority on a three hour train ride as I found I just couldn’t put it down.

Warm, fun and a great light-hearted summer read this book will appeal to many. I adored both of the main characters. Practical Maddy, the sensible French teacher, mother and wife and Leanne, the wild one.

Tho book has a great story that flows well from chapter to chapter and you feel almost as if you’re on the trip with them. I can highly recommend this book as a fabulous summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

A fun read, light hearted and quite relatable! Recommended read. Thank you for providing me with a copy of the book

Solid chick lit…doesn’t take itself too seriously! You’ll laugh, cry, and say “Oh! No!” Definitely a fun weekend read :c)

Maddy and Leanne's story was so much fun and I loved every minute of their adventure. I hadn't read anything by this author before but I am definitely looking forward to reading more now. It was so entertaining to see the girls travelling and the surprises and twists on the way were brilliant.

Highly recommend.

Maddy and Leanne, both school teachers win a windfall of money in a lottery. The catch, they don’t tell anyone, but go on a whirlwind adventure. This is an adventure every woman could only dream to go on.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Totally fun this read! Light and fluffy and just what I needed when I read it. A tonic for the mind as you get to travel from Ireland via Wales and England to the Netherlands, then Belgium and down through France with some of the most mad cap characters I've ever met. There is a reason why they're off on this journey and not just to do with the lottery but for me the main attraction of the book was to see and experience the journey with them. Some places they barely brush but it's the fun in the car, the conversations, the idea of meeting nice French men. Oh and the perfumes! They pick some lovely places to stay - all real - that I am definitely going to put on my next holiday to France.

A giggle and a click of a prosecco glass this novel. It made me chuckle and wonder where I would go if I won the lottery. Definitely a road trip of some sorts. But for the price of a book, you get to go on this fun jaunt first.

Maddy and Leanne are teachers who come suddenly wealthy on some lottery tickets. Leanne is searching for her long lost dad and Maddy unhappy with her life is wanting to search for her first love. With their earnings they decide to go traveling from England to Europe and specifically France. Leanne looks for her dad a business man/perfume maker and Maddy searches through France for her old love Ludo. Lots of mishaps while traveling provide laughs and the ending leaves us wanting to read the next book.

By chapter 5 I realised this book was not for me, and the character of Leanne madeit impossible to even try to read anymore