Jack is the wholesome boy next door, perfect grades, perfect girlfriend, perfect life and future ahead of him. Well from the outside looking in you see perfection but what you get in reality is a boy who doesn’t want to start his internship or follow in his late fathers footsteps he’s needs to find his way and hopefully find his brother.

Then we have Hallie, the girl that disappeared and finished school from home graduating ahead of her peers. Her friend had just told her some heartbreaking news and she wants to go and visit him in Oregon before it’s too late.

In a weird twist of fate the pair end up on a ride share together both heading to the bus stop and this is where their random adventure begins. The two get to know each other and after bus delays somehow end up in a car with the rise share guy on the way to San Francisco.

After 24 hours together they both feel happier than they have both been in a long time. They seal the deal with matching tattoos and decide that in 6 months from now they will meet at this same spot and reconnect.

This book makes you want to reassess your life and do what makes you genuinely happy. Think all the bright places cross November 9th. It was beautiful and tender yet raw and heartbreaking. The cover for this book roped me in but the story was absolutely sublime.

So much can happen in just 24 hours.

This was a heartwarming tale of two unlikely former classmates who take a road trip that changes their lives. They hit many road blocks along the way and change their course, which brings them right where they need to be. This book is full of that feeling that the world is at your door step after you graduate from high school. When you discover that you are the master of your own destiny. Jack and Hallie allow themselves to open up to each other in a way that they haven't been able to before, even with their friends.

Even with the somewhat dark pasts of both the main characters, this book had a hopeful and lighthearted tone.

This isn't a romance. I actually liked that the ending was open as it was; I feel like the connection they made would have been cheapened (?) in a way if it had went that route.

While the language is a little too flowery and pandering to me at times, and the dialogue a little stilted and dated, I feel that many young adults will be able to get something out of this novel.

Overall, a lighthearted and refreshing summer read.

Where the Road Leads Us by Robin Reul gives you the feeling of going on this life-changing adventure, without ever having to leave your home. (which seems to be the kinds of adventures we need recently) As you’re reading this story you have no idea what is coming next in their journey, causing you to never want to put it down. You start reading and you won’t stop until the book is over.

Listen, I am a sucker for the geographical cure trope. I mean come on I am a major John Green fan from the age of 11. I can’t help but love the idea of going somewhere to find yourself or someone else. Where the Road Leads us is one of those books that made me want to pick up my keys and a bag and go on an adventure somewhere with someone I barely know. The idea that Reul shows in this novel, of finding answers being free in a car, and making friends is the feeling I want to experience right now after being stuck inside for so long.

Not only does this book cover the idea of finding answers and going for them. Reul talks about grief, loss of loved ones from death, or addiction. How quickly life can change, the issues and can cause but the love for life it can bring to a person. Both of the two main characters are struggling with loss, and the fear of more loss coming. Their lives are not perfect, they don’t have much but they are learning to keep the loss they have experienced from controlling their lives.

This is one of those books I can see myself reading over and over again, anytime I feel I need an escape from reality I can slip into this story and find myself in someone elses world.

While it’s not out now (it comes out April 6th so you won’t need to wait that long) you can preorder this book now

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first picked up this book. I experienced a wide range of emotions and this book took me on one hell of a ride. This is a series of fortunate events that leads from one crazy secanero to the next, but between the shenanigans, Hallie and Jake had quiet moments of raw vulnerability that I was pleasantly surprised to read in a YA book.

Both Hallie and Jake are on a journey with a clear destination, but the path to it is uncertain. There’s this intense connection between Hallie and Jack that resonates through the pages and allows the reader to feel it as they read. What these two experience between themself is so intense you feel as if you are a part of this special relationship. There’s deep conversations about life that go beyond the regular conversations I feel go on with other young adults their age. They touch on topics that resonate with both young and older audiences. This truly was a thought provoking story that opened up the conversations on tough subjects such as regret and death.

There is something special about this book though it’s unfinished, much like life, it’s still a magical read. It is realistic without being dramatized and speaks truthfully in a way that every reader can connect with the story. The author's writing brought a tenderness to this beautiful story about finding your path in life. This is a book that I feel everyone should read and experience. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC.

I absolutely adored this book.
The characters were very well developed, relatable and real. They were not caricatures of young people - I work in a secondary school, so I appreciated this very much.
I loved Jack's character development, and only wish we could have had a bit more from Hallie.
I laughed out loud at several parts, and also deeply felt the wistfulness, and anxiety they both felt at different points in the storyline.

I would like to thank the publisher’s and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I expected this book to be one that would be quite heavy however was pleased to find that it was the complete opposite whilst still invoking heartfelt emotions. Most books have the main characters fall in love but the thing that stood out in this book was the beautiful friendship that Jack and Hallie develop over the course of their road trip. Their respective characters were distinct with strong personalities that enabled them to compliment each other, share in light banter and work through their problems. There wasn’t any unnecessary drama thrown in to hype the story, which I greatly appreciated as it served as a reminder than the difficulties that the characters were undergoing was just another piece in their puzzle. The highlight for me was Oscar who was their driver for the duration of the trip and served as their guide, best friend and confidante. Definitely a read that I would highly recommend for those seeking a warm and feel good story about the magic of life and friendships.

A girl suffering from cancer tries to meet a dying friend. A grieving boy with severe anxiety wants to find his estranged brother. The pair end up travelling together due to wildfires cancelling buses. Accompanied by a cab driver who wants to stop his ex's wedding, they set off on a memorable road trip.

I was expecting this to be a heavy/dark read, given the themes involved, but it's really not. That's not to say the themes aren't beautifully-handled! Reul tackles cancer, mental health, grief, and a host of other tough topics with a wonderfully light, sensitive touch. The book shows both teens at a moment where they're confused about their future. Hallie's online friend is dying, while she waits for news about her own illness. Meanwhile, Jack's about to go to the superb college his dad attended, but isn't sure if he wants to. Over the course of a weekend, they - and a few other characters - help each other work out what they want in life. I love character-driven novels and this is heavily character-driven, and filled with superb ones. The main pair are wonderful, both as individuals and in the way their relationship develops. At the start, they recognise each other slightly from school before Hallie's cancer caused her to drop out. As the weekend progresses, they open up to each other, expecting this to be the only time they communicate, allowing them to be more honest with each other than they have been with most people.

I thought the dialogue here was exceptionally strong, and loved the way characters talked about their problems. I really appreciated the thoughtfulness with which Robin Reul looked to the future for the characters. Despite being a teacher myself, I don't think going straight to college is necessarily the best thing for everyone. Seeing Jack consider whether going straight to a top university was what he wanted, and talk to people about it, was interesting. I also really liked Jack's consideration of his mental health issues. (Yay for positive portrayal of people getting help to deal with issues like this!)

Massively recommended and I'll be reading Reul's debut, My Kind Of Crazy, which also sounds great, ASAP!

Hallie and Jack find themselves questioning their futures as they finish senior year of high school. When an unexpected road trip brings their paths together, the serendipitous union leaves them both wanting more.

Full of teen angst, uncertainty, and hope for the future, this multi-narrator YA novel reminds readers what it's like to second-guess yourself at a time when each decision feels pivotal.

**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so great! I tend to shy away from sad stories, so I was hesitant to request this. But the reviews claimed it was lighter than it looked, and thankfully they turned out to be right. It was a freaking delight. I loved the characters, and I loved the road trip. The banter was top notch. Overall, it was just a perfect escapist read. I'm excited to get the author's previous book now!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Where the Road Leads Us in exchange for an honest review.

Based on the praises from other authors and description, Where the Road Leads Us sounds heavy and emotional and while I think that tonally that doesn't quite fit the story, this book is definitely still full of a lot of emotion and insights on life. It just tells it in more of a lighthearted, comedic style that makes the emotional moments even more poignant (the best comparison I can think of is the tonal style of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl). That definitely works to the stories advantage because what could have been a "sad boy and girl go on sad roadtrip" story ended up being full of humor, charismatic & easy to root for characters, and a whole lot of heart.

This book is one of my favorite reads of 2020. It was wholesome, sweet, and above all, a tale of two friends finding themselves on a road trip. I went into this expecting a romance, and I've never been happier to read a book that wasn't even slightly romantic. Sure, Hallie and Jake would've worked together, but I love the way Reul crafted this story.

Blurb
Jake is determined to go see his estranged brother before he leaves for college. Hallie is determined to go meet her online friend for the first time before he dies. After they end up sharing the same rideshare, and both of their trains get delayed, they decide to make their way to their destinations together.

I strongly believe that friendships in books are better than romances. Yes, I love a good romance, but I love a strong friendship even more. It might be because I just find friendships more relatable, but that's not relevant. Anyway, the friendship between Jake and Hallie is going to stick in my mind. I feel like this really conveyed their bond well. They were both such eclectic characters, and I loved them together. Being there as they worked through their own problems, and talked their way through a road trip was amazingly fun.

Any good contemporary requires strong characters, and that's exactly what this book had! I loved how they were distinct, I always knew whose perspective I was reading from. The interactions between Hallie and Jake were hilarious, and I could've read another 100 pages of just them interacting. Oscar however, is the highlight of this book. On top of being utterly hilarious, he was such a fun character. The scene with them trying to get their car back by using all of the mannequins was amazing, I was cracking up.

When the bomb about Hallie having cancer was dropped, I got real worried. I hate cancer love stories. I rated The Fault in Our Stars one star. They just don't work with me. This book did though! Hallie having cancer didn't feel like it was the plot, it just felt like another piece of Hallie. I really enjoyed it, which was a pleasant surprise.

If you're in the mood for a summer tale of friendship and adventure, this is for you! I'm not even a contemporary fan, and yet I still love this. I'd definitely recommend it!

Thanks to Robin Reul and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

The synopsis is a little bit misleading. Yes, it's all accurate but it may lead you to believe that this is a heavy book; it's really not. It's actually such a fun book and just a real delight to read.

It's been a hard year for everyone (I read the book and wrote this in 2020), and I really needed this story. I can't even tell you how many times I laughed out loud and how many times I smiled and how many times I hugged my Kindle. (No judgment--hard year.)

Everything about this story is completely perfect and exactly what I needed to read. It's a very fun book but, at the same time, there are really quietly profound parts. There are thoughts about grief and how to change your life's path, basically how to break inertia and to start trying to actively choose how you want your life to go. (I think a lot of us can remember the time before college, and how it can sometimes feel like it's an expected choice and not a deliberate one.)

This is exactly what I needed and I hope you preorder it. This is even better than her debut, which is the highest bar.

Highly recommended.