Sadly I will have to DNF this book, I was ready for a cute coming of age story but I did not feel any connection with the characters. Also all the cliché put me off, together with the moments of "suspension of disbelief" needed in order to get the story started.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Tracking down an estranged brother right before college! I really enjoyed my time with Jack and really all the characters in this story. It was such an interesting storyline and I found I always wanted to know more about Jack and his potential brother.

I really enjoyed this one! The writing was great and interesting. The characters drew me in as soon as I started reading!

Where the Road Leads Us is an incredibly well-written coming of age story. I fell in love with the dynamic of the main characters. Jack and Hallie know each other in passing since they were former high school classmates. In this turn of fate, they cross paths again in a rideshare. Their driver, Jack, and Hallie then engage in the most hysterical adventure riddled with things going wrong at every turn. This is a story of friendship, love, and trust - I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend!

A book that's about family, has a road trip and lots of emotions. How can I ever not like something like this? I absolutely loved this book! There were several moments that I teared up and when the book ended, I felt happy but also sad? It was a beautiful experience! The characters are deeply layered and flawed people who make mistakes but are also ready to do anything to rectify them. The themes of brotherhood, loss of a parent and grief, and love and friendship were beautiful to read!!

This book is filled to the brim with emotion and kept me engaged the whole time. It's a very well-crafted book and one of my favorites from this year so far.

As always, Robin does not disappoint. The character development was strong. She delves in to her story and makes the reader connect to her plot, the conflict is great and the conclusion makes a person gain something in the end.

An amazing story of teenagers growing in the people that they need to be to succeed, Where The Road Leads Us quickly became one of my new favourites. With an eccentric storyline and vibrant characters, I’m sure anyone who gives this book a chance will feel the same as I do, and need a physical copy for their collection.

Following two teenagers, Jack and Hallie, they have very different lives. We see them meet and go on the adventure of a lifetime to really find out who they are and what they really want inside, blossoming along the way and getting tangled in a little romance too. What more could you ask for?

Jack, a lonely boy missing his brother and his parents, and following his father’s footsteps because he feels like he has to. Going on a road trip to find his missing brother because he just needs someone to talk to about life. And Hallie, a girl with an illness that’s put her family in debt, forcing everyone to work more to keep up with her meds, because they love her and want her healthy. But she’s been too scared to really live her life. So she goes on an adventure that doesn’t end up being anything like she expected.

Though I’m usually into more paranormal types of fiction books, it’s really nice to take a break once in a while and read something like this and really fall in love with not only the characters but the story itself. I couldn’t ask for more, to be honest, and I think it’s a perfect read for anyone looking for a feel good book, aged sixteen ad up. Definitely check it out if you get the chance! I’m obsessed for sure.

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I'm so excited to be on the tour for Where the Road Leads Us by @robinreul! In Where the Road Leads Us, two teens at a crossroads in their personal lives find themselves on an unexpected road trip to take charge of their destinies. Out now from Sourcebooks Fire!

I absolutely adored this book. It was very intimate, following two teens are they pour out their hearts to each other at incredibly vulnerable times. They reminded me I’m still struggling with a lot of the same questions I had in high school, and maybe that would never go away, but that’s ok. The book was so beautiful and human, full of color just like the cover. 🚋

The story takes place over one life-changing night, where Jack and Hallie take a deep breath and leap. They’re both at a crossroads with decisions and huge life changes ahead — some good, some bad. And they both feel so trapped by expectations and the fates that have been designed for them. Jack’s mostly-absent-mother has his future all plotted out, including internships and college. And Hallie’s parents keep her cocooned ever since she had cancer. She has a friend she desperately needs to visit before it’s too late. Jack has an estranged brother he wants to find before his future is cemented by someone else. They both end up on a roadtrip that will change everything.

- It really made me think! I loved the emphasis on being true to yourself and it was so easy to underline a ton of important quotes.
- The road trip had its serious moments but also super quirky ones. Like the driver they hire switches accents whenever he talks, their car gets stolen, there’s dramatic complications, phones dying at the wrong moments, and some hilarious quips. It definitely reminded me of John Green style books!
- Jack and Hallie don’t have an insta-love arc, they just BOND. It’s such a fantastic opportunity for both of them, because they have a lot of stuff to work through, and unloading on a stranger is just what they needed. Someone who won’t judge. Someone who is keen to see them without a past to cloud things.
- I liked Jack and Hallie! Jack is a walking human google and always busting out with cool facts, and Hallie is so honest in this really kind way. You easily want the best for these soft kids.
“If you hide away what you think and feel and are just who others want you to be, it’s not the real you anyway.”

It’s a story about not just finding your truth, but having the bravery to live it as well. There’s heartache, friendship, and the gentle reminder you deserve to be happy.

What an absolutely beautiful story. I don’t tend to read many YA books, but I am SO happy I saw this on bookstagram and decided to request it. I loved this so so much and I’ll be recommending it to everyone!

I was initially drawn to the book because it was a story of unlikely friendship, but ultimately had a hard time connecting with both of the main characters. It also took me a while to get into the story itself, and understand each character's motivations.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

WHERE THE ROAD LEADS US by Robin Reul is described as a "feel-good story with depth" by Kirkus Reviews and I totally agree. The main characters, 18 year old Jack and younger teen Hallie, are dealing with grief and end up on a road trip together in northern California. Jack’s father died recently and his Mom is often absent due to her work so no one misses him when he sets out to find his estranged older brother. Hallie, a cancer patient, is determined to join an online acquaintance to share his last moments. The two paths cross and these young people help each other to cope and to stretch beyond their comfort zones. Reul (My Kind of Crazy) explores themes of friendship, and family dynamics with honest conversations and humor (not to mention car theft and dog-napping) over the course of a day or two – readers will find the trip (told in alternating chapters) to be ending too quickly and hope for more.

trigger warning: drug abuse/overdose, death of a family member, cancer, assisted suicide,

Hallie has an online friend who is dying so she decides to finally visit and meet him for the first time before he dies. Jack is leaving for college but first he wants to find his estranged brother and get some closure. Hallie and Jack end up in the same rideshare to the bus terminal without knowing how this journey will change their lives.

The book is written in Hallie and Jack's perspectives. I really loved the dynamic between these two. They are both dealing with their own issues and not really sure how to handle them. I liked that by helping each other they also find ways to understand themselves. I loved how their bond started and developed throughout their trip. Their relationship is so precious and intimate, and I appreciated that the romance in this book is very subtle. Of course I have to mention their rideshare driver Oscar because he makes the story even more entertaining. I wished there was more about him though. I liked how the ending is pretty much like Jack's wip "Choose Your Own Adventure" novel.

The premise of the story gives us an impression of a heavy and very emotional read and while there are some serious themes and poignant scenes, I still thought that this was a lighthearted yet very insightful read. The author created a well-balanced and thought-provoking story with outstanding characters. This is definitely one of my all-time favorite road trip stories.

disclaimer: Thanks to the author for providing an e-arc via NetGalley. This did not affect my overall opinion of the book.

4/5⭐️ to Where the Road Leads Us by Robin Reul! Thank you very much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the egalley to review!

This is a dual perspective story that follows two teens, Jack and Hallie, who are strangers but both coming to grips with tragic circumstance. They start out as strangers, but through an impromptu trip to San Francisco Jack and Hallie open up to one another about their stories and help each other find answers & healing. Where The Road Leads Us is a beautifully emotional road trip story that explores family, loss, relationships, healing, and figuring out your future. I felt the story balanced so well the heaviness & seriousness of cancer, death, addiction, and loss with fun, sweet moments like an accidental carnapping and Jack geeking out over something he loves. I seriously loved Jack and Hallie’s relationship, how close they got and how they were able to help each other. It wasn’t totally romantic in the typical YA sense, but their bond was quite precious. One of my absolute favourite sections of the book was the car trip up to San Fran...not only did we have one of my favourite side characters, but it was just so funny (kind of in a comedy of errors type way?! In all of this, I felt the characterization was very well done, as well as the character arcs for Jack & Hannah. The writing itself was enjoyable, helped me visualize the events that were happening, and really conveyed the emotions the author wanted us to feel as the reader. Though it may not be the most unique YA story, I do believe all the different elements of characters, plot, pacing, hurt, and humour all commingled into a most wonderful story! It hit shelves last month, so I definitely recommend checking it out this summer! Do check out the trigger warnings for this book, first though!

I very much tend to avoid books about grief, sure, I'm happy to read the darkest of thrillers, but sometimes a contemporary book dealing with emotions can be a little too much. Needless to say I was slightly hesitant in requesting this, as I wasn't sure that I would enjoy it. I am glad that I took a risk on WHERE THE ROAD LEADS US -- it was an absolute delight.

I have seen many reviews in which the synopsis suggests that this book is darker and heavier than it really is, and it is the synopsis that initially had me second guessing if this might be too heavy for me to enjoy. I am glad that I came across one review that suggested that the book was much lighter than the blurb would imply.

I love that this story is the journey of two separate people, told in a dual narrative, rather than being the romance heavy novel I was expecting. It was a refreshing change.

I was absolutely eager to get my hands on this book and when I was able to get an early e-ARC to be a part of the blog tour (read my post here), I was so stoked. Robin and I were debut authors together at the Ontario Teen Book Fest and she’s been a wonderful friend since then. I adored her debut novel and I couldn’t wait until her second novel and it was absolutely worth the wait. Though Robin has only written two books at this point, she has shown that she is incredibly talented at capturing human emotion, especially in young people like teenagers. Whether its because she is a mom to her own teenagers/young adults or whether she just has a tap into that emotional side, her book leaves you feeling SO much. I loved both Jack and Hallie, with a special love toward Hallie, and I loved them from the moment they graced the pages because they felt so genuine and so real. I also have a deep love for any book that takes place in California, because I know it so well, and I love recognizing the places that Robin talks about in Los Angeles and San Francisco. It feels almost like the places that Jack and Hallie go are characters in themselves and I truly enjoy when that happens. I think Robin does a wonderful job of tackling the emotions that come with family and love and life and the future and all of that. I felt every emotion of that book and I was hooked from beginning to end. Robin writes realistic, genuine, emotional, beautiful and, most of all, hopeful stories and I am already counting down the days until she gives us book three.

This was a sweet YA version of The Sun Is Also a Star meets the Hangover (all kinds of crazy things happening in one night). The author crafted an engaging story, mainly told over one night and one impromptu road trip. I personally could have used more romance in this, but for many readers this will be just enough. Older teens would really enjoy this story!

“Sometimes the best plan is having no plan.”

I think Where the Road Leads Us was the perfect contemporary, find-yourself YA novel. Both Hallie and Jack are at a point in life where everything seems uncertain in a way, they both have decisions to make that could in a way pave out the rest of their life for them. One night, something just pushes them to take a jump and they do and so begins this wonderful road trip.

Jack recently lost his dad, his mom isn’t very involved in his life but has already decided the future for him and he has an estranged brother. When he goes to his dad’s study one day and finds something, it motivates him to take a leap and sought out his brother. Hallie’s running out of time to meet a friend and would do anything to get there in time. Both of them end up on the same ride to catch their bus, by a kick of fate.

While the book had its serious moments that REALLY make you think, there’s also some funny and hilarious moments that make you wish you were on this road trip with them too. There was a little bit of romance in the book and while romance is my thing and I need every book I read to have it, I’m so glad this book didn’t focus on that aspect. Both Jack and Hallie have been through so many things in life, they don’t need an additional and instant “I liked you the moment I saw you” kind of relationship which happens so often. Throughout the course of the trip, they form a bond with each other and slowly develop.

The writing was so good. I think the author’s writing style really impacts whether I like a book or enjoy it and I think I already loved the storyline and the writing just appealed to it even more. I loved the scenarios Robin wrote and the characters too. I loved Jack and Hallie both so much as people. And not in the way I usually like all the male characters in a book, in the “I wish I had a fictional boyfriend like him” kind of way but more of the way that I loved his personality, he was quirky, basically a human google and so fun to be around and Hallie was so nice and caring for the people she loved. (I mean she travelled states to see a friend before she ran out of time to.)