This book is being marketed as a romance novel, but it's really more chick-lit because the relationship isn't the main focus of the book. The trip around the world is - in fact, she doesn't even meet up with the love interest until we're well under way.

The things I liked about the book:
1. The literary premise - who wouldn't want to take a trip based on their favorite books? Sign me up, ExLibris! I wonder if this company exists in real life.
2. The descriptions of the all the destinations. Especially during the trying times we have now, it was nice to take a trip around the world from the comfort of my living room.
3. It was nice to see Romy grow and mature because of her travel. Travel definitely does that - it opens your eyes.

But, that's about it. I had a lot of problems with the characters and some of the more serious issues this book tried to tackle. This book seemed like it couldn't make up its mind on what it wanted to be - a fluffy romance novel or a serious issues novel. So it was both and I didn't think it worked very well.

Here is my biggest (fluffy) criticism: Her job was to travel the world in less than 80 days to prepare an itinerary based on Phineas Fogg's travels in Jules Verne's book. She was supposed to file reports about each destination highlighting mode of transport (without using any commercial airlines) and highlights of the city for an ExLibris client. So, isn't it odd that she herself didn't bother to see these sites and instead did research using Wikipedia? It felt like she just ran from train station to train station (with a few deviations with other means of transport along the way) and she NEVER stopped to see the sights. Yet, she wrote about them with authority. I wanted to go back a reread the beginning to be sure that the assignment was JUST for transportation because that's all she was an expert on during the trip. And since she wasn't able to use ANY commercial airlines to travel, the author expected me to believe that Romy - never having left NYC, never having tried to speak one word of ANY of the native languages in the places she traveled to - would be able to navigate using her smart phone to find alternative modes of transportation? Really? She couldn't even say thank you in French or Italian (forget Arabic, Hindi, Cantonese, etc) and yet she was able to find passage on cargo ships using the internet? This really bothered me.

Also, there are destinations on Fogg's trip that are definitely not safe for Americans to visit. For example: Yemen. There is NO way that any respectable travel agency is going to allow an American to even disembark in Yemen. And really Hong Kong - even before coronavirus - they were having serious political issues. Especially at the airport. I know this is fictional (and not take place during our current state of affairs) but thinking that any American would go to Yemen? No. Just, no.

Here's my biggest (serious) criticism: While travel can be very eye-opening and change your perspective, I had a VERY hard time believing that this character - Romy, born and bred New Yorker - has no experience dealing with racism or bigotry. While her checking her privilege is one of the outcomes of her travel, it is hard for me to imagine that she had no idea that racism was so prevalent in the world. She's from NYC. And her uncles - who raised her - are gay. She can't possibly be so stupid or have been living under a rock that she didn't know that there is so much racism, bigotry, sexism, etc. There were many instances where I wanted to be like, come on honey - you can't possibly be that naive.

I had some issue with the refugee story lines. It felt like the author wanted to throw Romy into the deep end of travel - to really dump a bucket of cold water over her head to wake her up - and highlight a serious issue in the world. The choices the author made with Romy's character made me, as the reader, confused and disappointed because how Romy handled the refugee story line felt inauthentic for the story the author was trying to tell. Romy was uncomfortable enough with just leaving home, but to throw in the worst of what's happening in the world for Romy to process and manage made the rest of the plot difficult to envision. It is clear that the author was trying to shine a spotlight on some very hard subject matter; things that are definitely happening in our world today that need attention. I appreciate the effort - it is a brave and risky choice (she definitely will alienate people with particular political views) - but it just didn't ring true for this story. And it was not something I expected in a romance novel.

The dichotomy between the most indulgent of first world privilege (an Amazing Race style travel to create an itinerary for rich people with loads of free time on their hands) and the worst that the world has to offer (human smugglers ditching a sinking refugee boat) was particularly jarring. I wish the author had picked one to focus on and not tried to cram everything into one book.

Utterly charming and escapist, this is a wonderful addition to collections where lighter women's fiction and contemporary romances are popular.

Fun book but the main character was so dull.

Romy has lived in New York her whole life. After her parents died, she lived and worked with her uncle and his partner at their bookstore. Their building has been bought by an 'evil' man and they need to find a way to make more money. Romy applies for a job where she has to travel around the world in 80 days like Phineas Fogg. However, she has competition with the 'evil' man's 'nephew', Dom.

Romy was a really boring character. I didn't understand why Dom fell in love with her. Dom was an interesting character. It was enjoyable to watch Romy's adventure in different parts of the world.

This is based on an ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was so fun traveling with Ramona around the world! This book took me to place I've never been; riding a gondola in the Alps, tunnel traveling in Paris, the sights in Hong Kong, it was such a fun journey.
The romance was not really the focus of this book but I didn't mind that at all. It was more about Ramona traveling and learning about different cultures as well as recognizing her privilege.
Overall fun book esp. if you love traveling aspects!

This was a refreshingly different romance that really made me want to travel. The descriptions of each locale helped to bring the story to life so that it wasn’t just a romance. I really hope there’s going to be Instagram accounts for Romy and Dom to coincide with the books release. I really wanted to see all the pics!
It was especially exciting seeing that Niagara Falls made it into the trip. It was nice to think of the beauty of the Niagara gorge and it made me miss my days climbing all those stairs from the river to the top.

I thought this book was pretty good! I have always enjoyed books that deal with some travel, and this one delivered! It was such a fun read to follow Romy and Dom when they traveled the world in 80 days. There were a few times when I laughed out loud.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book.

4.5 stars! This was a fun adventure. The main character was relatable and I enjoyed the travel, romance, and humor. I would certainly recommend to a friend or a patron interested in this genre.

3.5 stars

This is cute! I liked the travel descriptions and the Jules Verne vibes, but I wasn't satisfied by the enemies to lovers romance. It was just okay; I wasn't super invested in the chemistry.

Romy gets the opportunity of a lifetime- travel the world in 80 days, track her experiences, and get a job that will help save her uncles' bookshop. Only she learns that she isn't the only one vying for the job.

Predictable, but cute. I liked how the romance developed but the shining star was introduced almost halfway through the book. I didn't find myself too tied to the main character. But a good, fun, world hopping read.

What a ride!

Set as a modern day Around the World in 80 Days, this book takes us on a ride around the globe! Romy Keene dreams of a big life as a photographer, but her reality has her working in her uncles’ bookshop in NYC, and only reading about adventures in books. When a new landlord demands a higher rent that the uncles can’t afford, Romy decides to accept a strange internship with ExLibris Expeditions, a company that plans travel itineraries based on novels. Her task is to retrace the steps of Phileas Fogg’s journey in Jules Verne’s famous book, without commercial airplanes, and in less than 80 days. But once on the road, Romy learns that she’s got competition, and she may just be falling.

I loved the haters to lovers romance between Romy and Dominic! The competition and misunderstandings between them mixed so well with the romantic tension that sizzled slowly. There were many times when I wanted to smack some sense into them, for different reasons, but they both obviously had good hearts!

Though, while the romance was swoon worthy, the star of this book was definitely in the travel descriptions. There were many times when I wondered to myself if the author is herself a world traveler, or simply an incredible researcher (after reading the acknowledgments at the end, turns out she traveled the world!) The descriptions of all the different countries was so vivid that I felt like I was right there beside Romy. Together we walked the cobblestone streets of Paris, rode up and down escalators in the heat of Hong Kong with sweat dripping down our backs, got lost among the heavy crowds in rush hour traffic in Mumbai, and gorged ourselves on delicious Somalian food in Vancouver. If we can’t travel right now, this book feels like the next best thing!

The only thing missing was being able to see the instagram photos at the start of each chapter!

This book comes out August 11, 2020. Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for a review copy.

WHAT I LIKED

Full disclosure, I requested this one on Netgalley because of the cover. So cute, right? It's a modern day spin on Around the World in 80 Days, which I admittedly have never read and knew very little about. I did look up a summary to familiarize myself a little bit, when I was about halfway through this book.
Romy's gay uncles (and bookstore owners) are divine. They're such good background characters, and I love the relationship they have with her. Romy, herself, is an alright MC. We don't get a ton of her background story, just that she has recently been dumped and she works and lives in her uncles' used bookstore. She's using her journey for employment and self-exploration. There are a lot of references to Eat, Pray, Love, but that's just not my jam, so I didn't get it and had to look that up as well. Romy's trying to be more adventurous, spontaneous, and problem-solving. Her adventures are entertaining, as she experiences a lot of bumps along the way.


WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

It didn't constantly hold my attention. Some of the locations and experiences had too much explanation, and I found myself skim-reading pages, as it moved slow, despite the quick travel that was happening. The ending was also a b rushed, comparatively to the pacing of the rest of the story. This book is cute and quirky and adventurous, but not addictive. I liked it but didn't devour it. I'm always thankful for an ARC, and do recommend this to people who are looking for a low-stress read! 3.5 stars!

Romy is relatable and big-hearted. She lives with her two uncles and helps to run their quirky tea and book shop. Until a real estate developer wins the building and decides to increase their rent which is going to leave the three of them without a shop and homeless.

Romy decides to get a job to help with the money situation. The logical choice is to work in a nearby call center. But that's not what Romy does. She applies for a job at a travel agency that specializes in recreating literary journeys. Now Romy who's only been out of the country once is on a race to recreate Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne. If she can do it, she's a shoo-in for the job. If not, she and her uncles lose everything.

Of course, there's a boy. Once she's already started her journey, she realizes that she isn't the only one trying for the job. She discovers that Dominic, the possible nephew of the evil real estate developer, is trying to beat her out.

Super cute enemies to lovers. The chapters begin with descriptions of the photos that Romy takes to document her travels and I wish I could've seen them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the DRC.

This was, quite possibly, the most satisfying book I’ve read in a long time. Maybe that’s the stay-at-home order talking, but honestly? This book ticked off a lot of notches for me. Quirky characters? Check. Slow-burn romance? Check. Relatable main character? Check. Witty dialogue/narrative that doesn’t make me cringe? Check. Focus on the actual plot versus the romance? Check.

I can be really picky when it comes to books that are meant to fall in that romance/chick-lit/millennial aged realm, but this one actually works. The premise is a modern day spin off of Jules Verne’s classic, Around the World in Eighty Days. Romy works at her uncles’ bookshop and finds it in danger of being shut down when the new landlord raises the rent and demands full payment by May 1st. To try and keep that from happening Romy takes a job trial where she recreates Phileas Fogg’s journey around the world using various means of transportation (no aircrafts, thank-you-very-much). Of course she finds herself competing with the new landlord’s nephew. And of course she has never traveled outside of New York City before, has a case of anxiety, and has only what she has read about in books to essentially guide her. These are all classic setups for a romantic comedy, and in this case, they all deliver.

Romy is a relatable character, possibly because I recognize her need for organization and her de-stressing methods as things I’ve done myself. She’s not a perfect character — she has flaws, and she learns from them. I love that she’s not nearly as knowledgeable about the world as she thinks she is, and that she grows throughout her journey. I love that her background isn’t as bogged down as it could have been, and that she always jumps to the worst conclusion even when things are going well.

Her relationship with Dominic is realistic, as are her interactions with each of the secondary characters throughout the story. Things didn’t feel contrived, and they didn’t all magically, or easily, fall into place, which I also loved. There was definitely a natural feel in the flow of the story, despite the hectic pace around the world. That’s not an easy balance to maintain in a book sometimes, so I really appreciated that there was breathing room in this story.

Every snag and obstacle in the journey also felt like a natural part of the story — and I think the author did an extremely good job at bringing readers along on the journey. Even without reading the author’s note at the end (which everyone should read just to better appreciate the adventure in the story even more) you can tell a lot of research was put into the setting and misadventures.

And I really hope this book turns into an expanded universe sort of deal. I mean, the premise of ExLibris Expeditions is a total, setup, right? Because I would totally read more literary themed adventures like this. Can you imagine the possibilities? I’m so on board for more…

Jules Verne’s books extorted out the hidden hungry bookworm disguised in my regular ordinary chubby kid fur and made me explore the adventures at the places where I couldn’t imagine and helped me escape to the places where a nine years old kid could find her own happy place! So you might imagine why I clicked so quickly to request this book : A classic Jules Verne story’s remake meets romcom project.

It sounds so tempting: an adventurous vacation at the fabulous places in all around the world by a bookish introvert librarian and enemies to friends then to lovers formula, so many impressive social media sharing and slow burn, growing, entertaining romance. Yes: I’m sold!

Only thing didn’t work for me about the ARC: I couldn’t see those fabulous photos the heroine shared during her journey and I already over imagined and visualized those images and their total likes ( That means as soon as the book releases I should get the hard copy to add to my collection which will help me compare my visual images and the real images the books’ illustration team shared with us)

Let’s give you some quick summary about the story-line: Our heroine New Yorker heroine Ramona (at first I found her so flat to be New Yorker but her nature for being willing to take the risks and desire to finish the impossible task to visit the places all around the world in 80 freaking days helped me empathize with her. (her story reminded me of my days when I was in my twenties)

Yes, she dreams of travelling to Paris to attend to the photography school but she already stuck at her uncles’ quaint bookstore for procrastinating her future projects. Then evil nephew of landlord appears at the store to triple their rent amount that they cannot afford which pushes Romy/Ramona gets out of her secluded cocoon/ comfort zone to take risk and join the ExLibris Expeditions: literary journeys: in 80 days to travel around the world: which means she is gonna be female version of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise’s most popular movies character) to accomplish the impossible mission ( I can hear the famous theme music of the series/movies : this tape/disc will self-destruct in five/ ten seconds)to complete the journey just in time.

And her nemesis and charming Dominic will be more competitive to prevent her accomplish this impossible mission. Oh boy, this irritating nemesis is way too charming! How could she resist the sizzling growing chemistry. Don’t go there girl, you have too much to lose. But she already lost her way, didn’t she?

Overall: Feel-good, swoon, soft, charming, entertaining rom-com earned my 3.5 stars rounded up to 4! I got quality time and it truly fit my expectations.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this entertaining ARC with me in exchange my honest review.