This book was absolutely stunning and such a wonderful read that made me so happy and also tore my heart to pieces at times.

The characters were so well written and I loved reading both Jack and Hallie's perspectives throughout the book as their journeys came together and then separated. I just felt everything with them as they went through so much in such a short period of time and it was just so wonderful to watch them both grow on their road trip to San Francisco. Another character I particularly enjoyed was Oscar and I loved how he came back into the book and we were able to see how his arc ended as well because I had become quite invested in his story.

The plot was amazing and I just adored how it followed Jack and Hallie over the course of 24 hours and them both after a time jump so we were able to see what happened based on the decision they had made. I laughed and I cried and now I really want to go to San Fransisco and do a spontaneous road trip! The ending was perfect for the book, even if I had wanted a slightly different ending for the characters it felt right for the book and I desperately want a sequel now to see how Jack and Hallie's stories continue to intertwine with each other and see where they end up. I just adored the story of this book so much!

The writing was wonderful and beautiful and just such a delight to read. As I've said I adored the characters and the plot and I was just so absorbed by this book completely and I felt like I was living the experience with the characters. I cannot wait to see what else Robin Ruel comes out with because I know that it is going to be absolutely amazing!

Robin Reul’s “Where the Road Leads Us” takes the reader on an emotional journey with the two main characters and narrators, Jack and Hallie. Both are at a crossroads in their young lives. Jack, mourning the death of his father and the disintegration of his immediate family, must decide if he will follow his father’s dream for him or pursue his own creative path. On graduation day, he decides to ditch a lame party and search for his brother in San Francisco. In comes Hallie, the other passenger in a ride-share. who is on her own desperate road trip to see a friend in Oregon, and time is of the essence. She, too, is uncertain about her future and is keeping secrets from her family.

Soon Jack and Hallie embark on this journey with their ride-share driver Oscar, an aspiring actor and comic-relief provider. . Their journey has many unexpected twists and turns; some that are quite humorous. In the end, the reader hopes for two things: 1. That Jack and Hallie find happiness; and 2. That Jack and Hallie’s story doesn’t end.

This is a great novel that shows how being spontaneous can ultimately help a person find his or her true fate. It is a great travel book but also a great dive into what it means to be true to one’s self. Both teens and adults would enjoy the characters and their stories.

When I started reading Where the Road Leads Us, I was expecting a very heartbreaking and difficult-to-read book. What I discovered instead was a fun read, with lots of profound messages, much the same as Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan. They both feature a road trip where all the characters have a different purpose but have gathered in the same car for the ride. While in Unpregnant it was with the purpose of ending an unwanted pregnancy for one girl and meeting a distant father for the other one, in Where the Road Leads Us, we have three characters who at first seem, total strangers, each with their own goal.

Hallie is a cancer survivor who wants to leave Los Angeles to visit a friend she met online who is ending his own life via assisted suicide since he is in a lot of pain and his cancer is incurable. She buys the bus tickets with money she steals from her parents since she thinks they would not approve of her leaving on her own to meet a boy she met online for such a tragic meeting, but the wildfires are making all the buses late and she is stuck.

Jack was just dumped by his girlfriend on graduation day which is also his birthday so he is naturally very upset and leaves a party with a car-sharing service to hang out at a nearby bus station to lose some time because his car is stuck by other party attendants. In the car, he meets Hallie who is going in the same direction, and their car driver Oscar, who also wants to leave LA to stop his ex-girlfriend's wedding and maybe switch places with the groom if all goes according to his plan. Earlier in the day, Jack discovers a letter from his departed father to his estranged brother that he never managed to send before he died. So when the buses don't arrive for Hallie, he makes up his mind for the three of them to use Oscar's car and go together since they have the same destination or general direction anyway.

Now of course there are lots of misfortunes and adventures on the way, but the story didn't feel cliche at all and despite the serious topics it delves into like cancer, death of a family member, overdose, assisted suicide, it manages to somehow be a fun read at the same time as being profound and meaningful.

"I'd always wondered what happened to her in the same way you wonder about a canceled TV series that abruptly ends without resolution. Eventually you make peace with the fact that just because you want answers it doesn't mean you're gonna get them, and after a while you forget about it and move on."

It's a very good coming-of-age story, and probably one of the best I read so far in 2021.

A beautiful story about two teens at a crossroads in their personal lives find themselves on an unexpected road trip to take charge of their destinies.

> I really enjoyed this beautiful and enjoyable contemporary story about friendship, truth and life. It’s an emotional and hilarious journey about trying to overcome trauma and carving out unexpected paths in life. The plot and premise is great and writing is exceptional.

Jack and Hallie are fabulous! Sounds like a cliche but I felt completely invested in their stories from the very beginning.

The book comes out in May, so do take time to pre-order it. You won’t want to miss out on this brilliant tale about two strangers that become important pieces in the others story.

4.6 starlights for this gorgeous YA contemporary 💛✨✨✨✨

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! I know I say this a lot, but the first thing that caught my eye for this book was the cover. It’s just so visually striking. Makes you interested in reading more for sure!

I thought this was going to be a bit romance heavy, it definitely wasn’t. It's more about Jack and Hallie as individuals, going on this journey to figure out what direction they want to take in life. It’s not your typical romance plot; well, outside of the fact that they’re randomly thrown together and of course have chemistry. There are twists and turns that make the plot exciting and really propel you forward.

Jack and Hallie are really fleshed out characters and I really enjoyed the chemistry they had on the page. However, I do wish some of the side characters were fleshed out a bit more. We get secondhand knowledge about a lot of them, especially Jack’s brother, but not enough to really bring them to life.

There are also a lot of issues dealt with in this book. Which means that some of them are brushed to the side a bit, particularly with Hallie. At the end of the book, we don’t get much of the end of her story, outside of what we get from Jack. I kind of wish we had gotten a chapter or two more from her, just to round out her story.

All in all, this was a fun road trip kind of book, filled with plenty of shenanigans and adventures. If you want a not-so-typical romance book, this one is definitely for you!

While, thanks to a million university papers, I have not finished the novel yet. Let me just say this! Robin Ruel doesn’t disappoint! I am in love with the characters she has created and love being able to go on this journey with them!

This book had a lot of heart. That was my first thought while reading it. As well, it contains moments of full-belly laughter, true charismatic characters, and one emotional adventure.

While this was an emotional story for many reasons, I'm happy to report that it was told in a humorous and easy way so as to keep the overall mood a little lighter. Don't get me wrong. I love a good tear-jerker, but I was hoping this book would be a little lighter, and it was. It blended the seriousness of our characters' goals for the trip with the craziness of this "I'm getting in a car with a nearly complete stranger" road trip. I really appreciated that balance.

Now, I want to point out how great the emotional moments were. They not only helped the characters develop and work through some of their issues, but they also lent some insights to me as the reader. There are lots of lessons that can be learned through this book and I was happy the emotional and serious moments allowed me to digest these lessons. They also made this book into more than "just another road trip novel."

Now, I don't think this took away from the story per say, but I would have liked some romance. I'm a hopeless romantic at heart so when someone sticks two people in a car for a road trip, I kinda expect for something to happy. Alas, nothing did. I know the point of this book wasn't for these two characters to fall in love, and I respect that, I just always kinda wish for someone to fall in love.

Overall, this was a well-balanced and easy-to-read book for every season of life. Also, as if the synopsis wasn't enticing enough, check out that cover!! Wow!!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for access to this arc.

Both Hallie and Jack are dealing with long standing issues. Jack’s father died suddenly and Jack is still grieving for that as well as for the loss of his brother whom his parents sent to another rehab facility after Jack found Alex overdosing. Jack’s had no contact with his brother, who didn’t even come to their dad’s funeral, since. Hallie dropped out of their high school two years before and tells Jack it’s because of her diagnosis and treatment for cancer. Her friend in Oregon has terminal cancer and, because of rapidly failing health, has decided to end his life on his own terms hence the need for speed for her to get there.

In the cocoon of space and time during the trip and once they reach San Francisco – where Jack has discovered Alex is living and Hallie can hopefully catch a bus since the ones in LA were delayed due to summer wildfires – Jack and Hallie are totally honest with each other about all this and about how they’re groping for what they want to do with their lives. Hallie isn’t even sure she’ll have much of a future while Jack is questioning the path that his parents had laid out for him.

A lot of this section is nice but standard coming of age questioning. While the angst isn’t loaded on I did wonder at a turn that Hallie’s story arc takes and how little it appears to affect her. I also wasn’t that surprised at how Jack’s quest turns out. It’s realistic but not anything new. The fallout each faces once they get home is fairly light considering how the weekend and their choices would probably appear to their parents – regardless of the fact that Jack and Hallie are both eighteen. Jack’s counseling and treatment for depression also appears to fizzle out.

The story didn’t go down some paths I thought it would. Neither were all the threads tied up or finished off at the end. Jack and Hallie come to some realizations about their lives and – thank goodness – end up talking with their parents about their fears, worries, and wishes. Their relationship ends not with a romance but with friendship that maybe, at some point in the future, might lead to more. But they both grow as people as they work out what they want for their futures. Still the story will probably seem a bit predictable for some readers. C+

Rating: 4/5 stars

I like this book and enjoyed the majority of the book, but I didn’t love it. This book was not how I expected it to be. Based on the synopsis, I thought it would be an emotional roller coaster ride. Although it did have that emotional aspect, I felt that this book was light-hearted than anticipated. The book made me laugh and smile. I appreciate the way the heartfelt and emotional moments were crafted in this book. Despite the ending being rushed, I thought a good chunk of the book was paced well enough.

I'm a big fan of road trip stories. I love it when the characters go on a road trip and see the adventures they go on. I thought this book did a good job in setting the atmosphere on the road trip and even before the road trip happened.

The characters were developed well. I wasn’t attached to the characters, but I enjoyed their character arcs. I love the dynamic between Jack and Hallie, I would love to read more about what happens after the road trip. The author did a good job in jumping between Jack and Hallie’s perspectives. I feel skeptical reading with multiple POVs, however, the author did a good job in making a distinction between their perspective without having me look back at who’s perspective it was.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a road trip, coming of age story.

Cw: death of a parent, death of a friend, cancer, addiction, drug abuse, and depression.

'Where the Road Leads Us' by Robin Reul is a dual narrative about a pair of teens who find themselves at a different, but equally life-altering crossroads.

Jack is pretty much the golden boy. He's such an over-achiever that he's stacking self-taught AP studies on top of those he's been scheduled for in school. Here, literally getting ready to pack up and leave for college, life throws him a curveball.

Reeling from the unexpected, Jack finds himself rethinking everything. Before he follows that pre-designated path.. he wants to locate his estranged brother and set some things to rest.

Hallie seems more free-spirited. Life has been kicking her while she's down for awhile and it's forced her to adopt a sort of 'roll with the punches' approach. When she gets some upsetting news about a friend, she makes a spur of the moment decision to go see him while she can.

Generally speaking, this is a sweet, quirky novel. Though there are some heavy topics being dealt with, the story is never really sad. There's a concerted effort both between the characters and clearly by the author to sort of recalibrate the emotional perspective whenever something potentially negative occurs in the story.. which supports the whole 'bright side' theme.

Jack and Hallie have a really cute, warm dynamic and their rideshare driver turned newfound friend actually adds to that feeling within the story. Though some of the dynamics that pop-up between side characters throughout the book are a little clunky, 'the trifecta' as I like to call them, doesn't suffer from it at all.

Their adventures as they travel together are a bit wild and some might even feel they're unrealistic, but as someone who's made road trips with similarly strange incidents littering the way, it just made me laugh and keep reading.

I enjoyed the way Jack and Hallie tended to be each other's true North. Whenever one of them would get lost along the way, sort of faltering with their personal struggle.. the other would be there to right them and keep them going.

This is a story full of hope.. and with the last year we've all had, I don't think we can have too much of that. If you're looking for a light read, that still has some emotional depth as the characters deal with their traumas, this might be the book for you.

Mild caution for triggers regarding loss of loved ones and severe illnesses.

Where the Road Leads Us by Robin Reul is a heartfelt YA novel about the unexpected paths our lives can take when we least expect it. Los Angeles teens Jack and Hallie are both recent graduates with big decisions about their futures on the horizon who find themselves in the back of the same rideshare one midnight without a solid plan of where to go. Jack is grieving his father and following a new lead to find his estranged brother, while Hallie is racing against time to meet a friend and struggling to decide when she should share some news with her family that will test them all.

This novel starts like a typical rom-com or buddy/road trip situation, but quickly gets deeper as Jack and Hallie are forced to confront issues from their pasts and their futures. Teens will relate to the stress of college applications and high-school relationships, but will also appreciate the discussions of mental health and family drama. Jack and Hallie's interactions (as well as their ending) are sweet and genuine. Their rideshare driver, Oscar, on a quest to break up the wedding of his ex, provides comic relief and sage wisdom. While it is not the most original or experimental YA novel, Where the Road Leads Us strikes a balance that is both fun and thought-provoking that will appeal to to fans of Morgan Matson and Nicola Yoon.

"There's something freeing in talking to people you know you're probably never going to see again. There's no expectation or judgement... Everyone accepts each other for who they are, and it's enough."

When I picked up Where the Road Leads Us I had no idea how much I was going to love it. It sounded like an interesting read and I was excited for it, but it definitely went way beyond that! I would like for everyone to meet Jack, Hallie and Oscar, three unlikely characters that end up taking an emotional road trip together. And what a road trip, I cannot even begin how crazy and life-changing it was. What started off as a hitch ride quickly turned into an incredible adventure.

During that road trip several unfortunate events happened, but what stood out to me the most was how even though they were so very different, they managed to help each other out and made this journey of self reflection. There was a lot of humor involved as well, I think one of my favorite parts was when someone stole their car, I couldn't stop laughing! I absolutely loved Hallie and Jack (they are the main characters of this story), but somehow I also viewed Oscar as an MC since he is there for the most part and quite sincerely, I cannot imagine this story without him.

Where the Road Leads Us was such an amazing read for me, it was heartwarming, emotional and amusing, I could hardly put it down. And despite having some tough subjects, it was also a light read that I think many people would enjoy. All in all, I really liked it and I highly recommend it!!

TW: loss, depression, desease,drug addiction.

Absolutely loved this story! Characters were amazing and well developed and loved how they interacted with each other.

Jack is on the verge for leaving for college, but before he does, he wants to track down his estranged brother, Alex and find some closure in the wake of their father's death. Meanwhile, Hallie has just found out some upsetting news about a friend in Oregon, and she has a small window to go see him before it's too late.

Jack and Hallie are practically strangers. They shared a class together years ago and haven't seen each other since, though they have more in common than they'd ever imagine. And when fate puts them into the same rideshare to the bus terminal, it kicks off an unconventional and hilarious adventure that may lead them to their own true selves…and maybe to each other.

Jake and Hallie’s story is bizarre, unexpected, and utterly delightful. Reul beautifully intertwines their narratives as well as the parallels between their individual emotional journeys. Though I expected this to be quite heavy, given the subjects, I laughed out loud several times at the absurdity of their situations as well as the characters’ responses. Cue the Pokémon theme song (if you know, you know). Reul also does a great job of subverting the manic pixie dream girl trope. Though Hallie looks like she walked out of 500 Days of Summer, she’s complex and layered and has her own emotional path outside of furthering Jake’s narrative. I would recommend this book to any fans of contemporary YA, but especially fans of An Abundance of Katherines or It’s Kind of A Funny Story.

Content Warnings: addiction, terminal illness, suicide, anxiety,
(3.5 stars)

Where The Road Leads Us is a YA road trip style novel that steers into coming of age territory. It alternates POV between two 18 year old Los Angeles teens, Jack and Hallie and what happens when they each decide to take a few risks and start living on their own terms.

Jack is reeling from the death of his father, the loss of his estranged drug addict brother, a fresh break-up with his girlfriend and the sudden jitters that come with moving across the country to attend college. After finding a letter his father wrote before his death Jack decides to drop all of his plans and go to San Francisco in hopes of finding his brother. But as fires rage in Southern California his trip gets sidetracked repeatedly and he finds himself teaming up with former classmate Hallie.

Hallie is a cancer survivor who has been playing it safe at home, took her GED for any early graduation and is facing an uncertain future. The only thing she is sure of is that she needs to see her online friend Owen before he ends his life as his cancer has become terminal. But the buses that would take her to Oregon are delayed and the opportunity to join Jack in a ride-share is suddenly on the table.

Jack and Hallie will build an intimate friendship over the next 24 hours and share thoughts and pieces of their pasts that they’ve never admitted to anyone. Both Jack and Hallie have faced a lot of loss and disappointments and each are trying to manage their own issues with expectations and what the future holds. Despite the heavy subject matter Robin Reul inserts a lot of humor and slices of life into both of their journeys. These are both bright and witty teens and the story isn't bogged down with Insta-love or longing glances. The plot is fast paced enough to keep anyone’s interest without feeling rushed.

I think readers of all ages will enjoy this contemporary YA novel that includes heavy subject matter like death of a parent, drug addiction/overdose, cancer and end of life/assisted suicide but handles them all in a respectful manner that is not overly depressing or preachy and instead is realistic and ultimately hopeful.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My copy was provided for review purposes by NetGalley and the publisher

I thoroughly enjoyed this title! It felt like a cross between an indie movie and a Pixar movie because it had the fun road trip hijinks and heavy emotional, coming-of-age elements. There was a nice balance between the two that made it a compelling read while keeping a good pace.

The one thing I didn't necessarily love was that there were two points of view, but Jack felt like the main character, and Hallie was only a side character. Even in Hallie's chapters, it felt as if Jack was the focus and got more character development and a nuanced backstory. Still, a very solid and fun contemporary read! I will be recommending this title for purchase at the library.

I enjoyed this book but there was something holding me back from loving it. I liked the journey the two characters took and really enjoyed their development. There were some laugh out loud moments (especially with Oscar and Princess) and some very heartfelt moments too. I thought the end was a bit rushed and wanted just a little more detail. But overall, this was an enjoyable YA novel.

Where The Road Leads Us is a heartwarming YA story about destiny and discovering who and what you aspire to be in life with it all packed into a one-day road trip between two strangers who know each other better than they think.

Jack and Hallie are near strangers to each other, but they are two people from very same, but different worlds. Both are seniors at the same high school, but nothing could be more different than their personalities, interests, and especially their backstories. On one hand, Jack practically has his future lined up for him with a summer internship in New York and being accepted to Columbia University in the coming Fall means his career in medicine is just about to get started. Before this happens, Jack wants to find his older brother, Alex, and make amends among their late father’s passing. On the other hand, Hallie receives some devastating news about a friend who lives in Oregon, and an opportunity arises to see him before his time runs out.

However, Jack and Hallie do share an ounce of common ground together: They took a class together a few years back and have not shared or heard a word of each other since. Although seemingly different, both have more in common than they could have ever imagined. Seeking out to see someone they care deeply about, Jack and Hallie end up in the same rideshare to the nearest bus terminal, but is this just mere coincidence or is a hand of Fate playing a role in their lives? With fires raging across Los Angeles and Southern California, Jack and Hallie have no other choice but to take a spontaneous and hilarious road trip, one that could bring them to their better selves and maybe even closer to each other.

This story depicts the meaning of serendipity in the most beautiful of ways. You meet someone and get to know them for a given period, find yourself going on different life paths for a while, and the universe might just bring you back together again. However, the driving force behind this book is not love, but a very meaningful friendship between two people who learn more about themselves and a want to chase their dreams without anyone standing in their way.

The relationship and dynamic between Jack and Hallie were so special because of how they portrayed themselves as people and the ways they went about achieving their goals. Robin Reul did such an amazing job of building this relationship because there was little to no awkwardness in their interactions, and I felt their communication flowed very well too!

The development of the characters and the background they come from really carry this entire novel from beginning to end! Jack choosing between his family’s expectations versus his own happiness was very relatable, and Hallie is someone who does what is necessary even if it means hiding it from those she loves most. The dialogue being said between both characters was so cleverly written and very comedic given the genre and setting of the story.

The worldbuilding was quite easy to visualise since this novel is in a very realistic setting. The plot centers around both characters embarking on a road trip, the scenery being developed within California were colourful, and beautiful to see (especially in the Big City areas). This was creatively done and made me want to road trip all over California again!

Where The Road Leads Us is such a fitting story for the YA genre because of its characters, the strong development of story, and how it centers around the themes of coming-of-age, trauma, and growth. The rating of this book makes my own love for it evident because I feel readers are able to see Jack and Hallie within themselves. I recommend this novel for anyone who loves a good story centered around friendship, travel, and a need for spontaneity in their life! It will for sure show you not everything goes according to how you plan it, and taking the bumpier road can be so much more fun.

I started reading Where The Road Leads Us at the perfect time. Escaping on a road trip with Jack and Hallie was just what I needed right now. I’m so glad I discovered this gem of a novel. WTRLU comes out next week, so please take a screenshot/save this review as a reminder to buy this book then. YOU NEED IT IN YOUR LIFE. 🥺😭

My favourite thing about YA realistic fiction is how relatable the characters are. Both Hallie and Jack from WTRLU are at a crossroads in their lives ~ just like I am since I’ll be starting university soon. That alone made the story very real to me. The author included thought-proviking quotes all throughout the story and made reading this book such an uplifting ride. I saved a lot of notes and highlights on my Kindle while reading it, and I’m going to write those down for when I need a little “pick-me-up” ❤️

The friendship between Jack and Hallie was just the best thing ever. The banter and their thoughtful conversations felt like cherries on top of an already beautiful cake. I deeply connected with their individual stories and cheered them on throughout the book. I loved how it was evident that they became different, better versions of themselves after the road trip ended. It made my heart so happy!

I will keep my review short, because I think Where the Road Leads Us is a book which you should explore all by yourself. I can’t recommend it enough.

Where the Road Leads Us, by Robin Reul, was such a delightful treat of a novel. I expected the content to be a lot heavier based on the synopsis, but the actual thick of the plot was lighthearted and fun! While the themes of grief, death, strained family relationships, and uncertainty about one's future certainly did come up in the novel, it didn't play center stage. Instead, the tale of three strangers taking a once in a lifetime roadtrip to right some wrongs, figure out where they're at in their own life and find out some more about themselves played out in a light hearted and upbeat adventure. How else can a road trip happen in a bright yellow buddha cab? The friendship forged between Jack and Hallie via this chance roadtrip is one that is not to soon be forgotten.