This book was more than I expected. It had so much humour inside. Trapped in a car with your overprotective sister, a stranger found on Facebook and your ex and his friend, it's a recipe for disaster. Literally a car crash later and they are all crammed in the same car on the way to the wedding.
It gave me so many feels from anger to humour so I highly recommend reading this, no spoilers you'll just have to read it.
Full review is up on my blog, thank you again!

Thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I had previously read The Flat Share so was excited to receive this book to review. Told in a then and now sort of way, initially I wasn't sure and was on the verge of giving up as I didn't particularly care for any of the characters. However, about half way through things changed and in the end I really enjoyed it. 5 people stuck in a Mini on a never ending trip to Scotland, there are some really comical moments in this.

All in all a good read.

Loved this book. Like The Switch, the author uses the shared narrative technique so we hear both sides of the story.
Dylan and Addie were together, having met in sunny France. No longer a couple, they end up sharing a car to get to a wedding, along with 3 others. Their story, and why they split up is gradually revealed on a rather chaotic road trip.
I found myself racing through it wanting to find out what happened and especially what part Marcus, Dylan's best friend, had paid in the failure of Addie and Dylan's romance. Marcus is certainly someone you love to hate!
A satisfying, fun read, with great characters

Thank you NetGalley, Beth O'Leary and Quercus Books for the ARC of The Road Trip. This is my personal review.
I love taking a road trip and was so excited to grab this book and go on this epic road trip with Addie and her sister! Everything detail was set to make the trip to the wedding of a friend in rural Scotland. What could go wrong! They had it all set to spend this time together.
Then a car accident brings more passengers into the tiny car and then it just got weird for me. I could not imagine that many people in that tiny car and the dynamics of everyone just lost me on the book.
I read it but can say it truly was not one of my favorite books by Beth O’Leary.

Addie and Dylan meet during one glorious, sun-filled summer. Both have just finished uni and are considering their options; they fall deeply in love. This story follows their story- passionate, messy and happy until something happens that tears them apart. They meet up again on a journey to a friends wedding and their story and its fallout are gradually revealed. This is a story of true love, jealousy, passion and real life. A great read!

Beth O’Leary blew me away with her debut novel The Flatshare as it was a completely new concept that was written in a unique way. She then released The Switch which was another wonderful read which didn’t disappoint so I was excited for her new release The Road Trip.
Addie and her sister are about to embark on an epic road trip to a friend's wedding in rural Scotland. The playlist is all planned and the snacks are packed.

But, not long after setting off, a car slams into the back of theirs. The driver is none other than Addie's ex, Dylan, who she's avoided since their traumatic break-up two years earlier.

Dylan and his best mate are heading to the wedding too, and they've totalled their car, so Addie has no choice but to offer them a ride. The car is soon jam-packed full of luggage and secrets, and with four-hundred miles ahead of them, Dylan and Addie can't avoid confronting the very messy history of their relationship...

Will they make it to the wedding on time? And, more importantly, is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan?

This was a modern witty read with a bumpy romance along the way. With each chapter alternating between Addie and Dylan’s points of view we begin to build a true picture of their romance and I could see the chemistry between them was intense and that they were meant to be together so I was wracking my mind trying to work out what had happened to put an end to their relationship but what was revealed was not something I had expected at all and it really touched my heart for them both.
Addie and Dylan were both friendly, caring and honest characters who were both from very different backgrounds. Dylan’s friend Marcus was a live wire and I certainly had an air of caution around him as much as he helped to provide some of the humour along the way.
The storyline is uplifting and full of energy flowing at a fast paced with no dull moments for your mind to wander which is surprising considering some of the issues that are touched upon in the storyline. The author has made both her lead characters so life like with both Addie and Dylan having flaws that they both take ownership of and this was quite refreshing to have and made it feel like a more realistic storyline even if it was a huge coincidence that they happened to have a crash on the way to the same place!
I loved The Road Trip just as much has her debut The Flatshare and after three flawless novels I think I can now safely say I am a Beth O’Leary fan and will definitely be pre-ordering her next novel as soon as we are able to do so as her books are definitely ones not to be missed.

Having read other books by the same author I was looking forward to reading this one and it didn't dissapoint. Her books are very witty, well written, and very insightful. The characters are believable but not boring, and you find yourself completely involved in their lives.

Addie and her sister Deb are making the very long drive up to a friend's wedding in Scotland. They have already agreed to take another boy from the Whatsapp group with them, but 3 becomes 5 when they are involved in an accident and the other car has Addie's ex boyfriend Dylan and his best friend Marcus and the car is wrecked too badly to make it up to the wedding.

The story alternates between 'then' - when Addie met Dylan and their journey to their relationship's ultimate demise, and 'now' - the road trip and all its complications.

It's a fun, easy read. Witty and intelligent. It won't stretch you, but will leave you feeling good with a smile on your face. Would be a great beach read.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3915779515

A fun read but it was a bit of a slow starter and I felt that it wasn't as good as the previous two. I really didn't connect with a couple of the characters, and the whole thing lacked in comparison. Unfortunately a case of high expectations, as I loved the first two and I'm sure if I'd read this first, I'd have enjoyed it more.

The Road Trip told from the points of view of Addie and Dylan, then and now.
Now- Addie and her sister are going to their friend Cherry's wedding unfortunately they get hit my another car which turns out to be Addie's ex Dylan and his best friend Marcus . They agree to give them a lift as they are also heading g to the wedding. There is also another passenger Rodney.
Then- this goes back to when Addie and Dylan first meet a d how their relationship develops.
I found the actual road trip quite tedious. Some of the things that happen along the way are a bit incredulous. I also couldn't see the point of Rodney and near the end totally unbelievable.
The saving grace for me for this book and how it got 3 stars and not 2 was the back story.
Sorry not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for the ARC in return for an honest review

Addie and her sister Deb are on their way to a friend's wedding in Scotland along with Rodney. They happen to meet Addie's ex Dylan and his friend Marcus who are also going to the wedding. (The car crashes into Addie's car). Addie and Dylan had a tragic break up and the new road trip in the confined space of a car makes them revisit the past. The book is divided into Then and Now and alternates between Addie and Dylan's POV.

I am a huge fan of Beth o'Leary's The Flatshare. Perhaps because of this reason, my expectations are always high when it comes to her books. I keep expecting the similar (excellent) chemistry and charming characters. While the subplots in The Road Trip are shocking and have much bite, I did not love the read as much as I hoped to. Some of the twists towards the end (80% ish) did not sit well with me. The characters lacked the warmth and life and the romance did not grip me either. I think this book can be a hit or miss, and unfortunately it was a miss for me.

There are authors who wrote a bestseller and their next books struggle to beat the high bar they set. There are authors whose best book is yet to come. Beth O’Leary proves, with every book she wrote, that she is one of the latter.

This is a love story, sure. It’s witty and hilarious, sure. Yes, it’s a rom-com, but it has something in it. A story for growing up and finding your own path and setting your own priorities. It’s not a typical haters-to-lovers rom-com as well, it’s more strangers-to-lovers-to-haters-to-something(?).

It’s a humbling realisation: this is love, then. That explains a great deal about many irrational acts throughout history – every man who ever went to war must have really fancied somebody.

Addie and her sister Deb are heading to Scotland to attend the wedding of one of their best friends Cherry. They hit the road early in the morning, even before the sun rises, just how Addie likes to travel – empty road, no traffic. They had everything prepared – lots of snacks, country music, more time to spend just the two of them. Everything is perfect, they surely are going to be on time for the family barbeque prior to the wedding.

And then BANG.

A shiny new Mercedes drives into the back of Deb’s Mini. Most importantly – the driver is not just anyone, but it’s Addie’s ex Dylan and in the passenger seat is the person responsible for their separation, Dylan’s best friend – Marcus.

A bit of Mini advertising here (and the author should absolutely receive some commissions for such a great boast up), the Mini totalled the Mercedes and they all are forced to travel to the wedding together, sandwiched in Deb’s car. Oh, I forgot to mention that the girls took pity on a random guy who was looking for a lift to Cherry’s wedding. So this merry company of five head south packed in like a sardines in a can.


You can cut the tension in the car with a knife. Addie and Dylan didn’t end things good. They haven’t seen each other for twenty months. They still love each other. How this trip is going to end? Is everyone going to make it to the wedding? Safe and sound?

But why did they separate when they obviously still love each other? They met during a summer vacation in France. Cherry’s mom has a villa there and she rents it to tourists. She offered Addie and Deb a summer job there as housekeepers. The next reservation they expected was for a whole family, but it was only Dylan who turned up and they were immediately drawn to each other.
It was supposed to be a summer fling, but it turned out to be a lot more. But there was Marcus, the third wheel. He always messed up with their relationship and this led to their separation.

Why? What happened? What did Marcus do?

A masterfully switching between the present and past unfolds a story of love, friendship and betrayal. The past complete so good the present. The story is well written and balanced, the ‘then’ comes at the perfect moment to bring more clarity to the situation and help us understand what happened between Addie, Dylan and Marcus. Most importantly, ‘then’ stops at the right time so it doesn’t reveal more than necessary and keeps our attention till the very end. The perfect timing of the switching back and forth between now and then make this book a fast-paced, quick read. But do we really expect something less from the master of The Switch?

It’s not surprising that Beth O’Leary became one of my must-read authors. I was devoted to the story and read it in no time. She creates these lovable and sweet characters you’ll love to read about.


Here, we have a diversity of characters. Deb is careless, she lives for the moment, doesn’t give a damn what people think. Addie is a sweet minion, but she is the absolute opposite to Deb. Marcus is a manipulator, attention seeker, a rich spoiled kid who is used to have everything he wants. Dylan is weak. As much as I wanted to like him, to give him a credit because he is trying to change, I couldn’t. He is so easily led. He makes everything for his alcoholic best friend Marcus. He doesn’t see that Marcus is a puppeteer and he is a helpless doll in his hands. The way he acts, he speaks makes him look either stupid or just a person who found it easier to let other people determine his life. Yes, Marcus is a manipulator, sure, but he is an addict with lots of problems, I don’t like him much either, but he has my sympathy. While Dylan is simply spineless. I love Addie and Deb, they are a great combo and complement one another.

‘When do you give up on a person, you know?’
‘When they’re bad for you,’ I say before I can stop myself. ‘It’s like any relationship, romantic or friendship or family or whatever. If it’s toxic, you should walk away.’

A funny story including a super powerful truck driver, unwanted wedding creep, lots of secrets and love. One hell of a ride, that is going to change everybody and nobody (just because Deb can’t be bothered).

As brilliant as I hoped it would be. Loved the story, the now and then aspect. Loved seeing the characters deal with each other whilst stuck in an awful road trip up to Scotland. If you loved Beth’s previous books this won’t disappoint

A heartwarming read, I was pleased to get an advanced copy to review as I already have one of her other books and I enjoyed the premise. I recommend if you need a new woman’s literacy author to enjoy.

This is a love story. Unashamedly so. Not a soppy, slushy love story though. Real love, true love. I adored this book. Addie, her sister Debs and hanger on Rodney are driving from the south coast to Scotland for a wedding. Rear-ended not long after leaving, they find Addie's former boyfriend, Dylan, in the car behind, along with his best friend, Marcus - a man who the old-fashioned words bounder, scoundrel and cad were just made for! As they are all heading to the same wedding, it makes sense for them all to squash into Debs' mini for the road trip, doesn't it?
There follows drama, humour and no end of delays to the trip.
The love story is told in flashbacks from both Addie and Dylan's viewpoint.
You must read it!

The Road Trip was at times charming and sweet and at others extremely frustrating. I expected this to be a lot lighter than it was judging by the synopsis but in reality it has a far more serious tone - which isn't a bad thing necessarily but I think trigger warnings are definitely in order. Trigger warnings: depression, anxiety, neglectful parent, addiction, alcoholism, drug use, attempted rape, stalking, harassment.

I liked the whole 'second chance romance' element when Addie and Dylan reunite a year and a half after their tumultuous breakup and embark on a long car journey to a mutual friends wedding. I thought this whole plot was fun and the banter between all the characters; Addie, Dylan, Marcus, Deb and Rodney was enjoyable to read in the lighter moments for sure. They're all along for the ride - literally and the mishaps definitely made me laugh. I also really liked Addie and Deb's relationship, they're sisters and their dynamic was honestly so lovely - they can be brutally honest with each other, have a laugh and there's this unconditional love and support there which was so great to read.

Addie and Dylan's love story was sweet and realistic, they meet in a hazy summer in Provence and experience an intense attraction and become a couple. It's when reality hits and they're back in England that things start going downhill and every day things start getting in their way. I feel like this was very realistic, even if I lowkey wish they could have just been happy all the time, the issues they go through are legit and make sense for who they are as characters. There's a lot they have to discover about each other and while it was hard to read as they go through difficulties, it's reality I guess.

Perhaps my biggest problem with this story and what stopped me from really enjoying it and rating it higher was the character of Marcus. I fully understand that O'Leary has a strong message within the book of forgiveness and redemption and I appreciate this so much, however when it came to Marcus, I just didn't like him one bit and I don't think he's held accountable for his actions the way he should have been. [ Not only did he constantly degrade Addie to her partner aka Dylan, basically slut shamed her by calling her 'dark and sexual' all the time, like ??? Plus he was super manipulative and the fact that he was literally STALKING Addie felt like it was brushed under the carpet. I'm all for forgiveness and redemption but I want the character to have to earn it a little, especially in this case. Don't get me wrong, Dylan was also definitely at fault here for not sticking up for Addie and asserting himself more but Marcus was pretty reprehensible for the majority of the novel, notably in the flashbacks.

Overall, The Road Trip was so-so for me, some elements worked for me and others were just too frustrating to allow me to fully enjoy it, however I know there will be readers out there who will appreciate this one more than I did.

Having adored The Flat Share like many other readers, I was excited to dive into the author's third book.

I definitely have to agree that unfortunately this book simply didn't have the charm or warmth of Beth's debut which was a real shame.

I liked the alternating points of view and past and present chapters as we discover more about Addie and Dylan's relationship including the early days and their eventual split, for which the reasoning is teased throughout the book. But I struggled quite a bit with the characters. While I did like Addie and Deb, I found Dylan incredibly frustrating at times and wanted to throw something at him. It was lovely watching Addie and Dylan's love blossom but Dylan's blindness drove me crazy. Though arguably, perhaps that was the whole point.

Marcus, however, was on another level. I understand the reader is supposed to dislike him but as a character, he made very little sense to me. I felt there needed to be a lot more depth there to justify the things he said and how he behaved. I can appreciate that effort was made but as such a core character of the novel, more was needed to really make Marcus work and as such, his character arc was really disappointing.

Many of the other background characters such as Grace and Cherry I found to be be pretentious and over-dramatic representations of young adults, even if they were supposed to be from Oxbridge. Some of the things they said felt really forced and unnatural, especially for 20 somethings.

I also thought the whole Rodney storyline was unnecessary, silly and unrealistic, it really didn't add anything to the story for me.

Overall this was a really easy to read book and while I did enjoy it to an extent, I think it could have been longer and better developed to really do the plot some justice.

Addie and her sister suddenly find themselves having to share a cramped mini with her ex Dylan and his best friend plus a random guest. Its a traumatic journey where they are forced to face their past. We relive how they met and the bumps along the road which led to their breakup.

After reading The Flatshare and The Switch last year and loving them both, I was delighted to be approved for an advanced copy of The Road Trip. I went in with high expectations and I was not disappointed.

The story begins with Addie, her sister Deb and a fellow wedding guest (Rodney) travelling from England to Scotland for their friend Cherry's wedding. All is going well until Addie's ex boyfriend runs into the back of her car. As they are all going to the same wedding, Addie agrees to give Dylan and his friend Marcus a ride up to Scotland, in their Mini!

Now obviously this makes for long drive becoming an even longer drive with awkward silences and tension. If only that was the only thing to go wrong on this trip!!

The Road Trip had me laughing out loud but it also addresses alcoholism, drug abuse, destructive relationships and depression. There are moments you question whether you like the characters and I liked that we were told why things went down like they did.

Its another thoroughly good read from Beth O'Leary! Highly recommend!

3,5 ⭐️

When after several months pending my request for "The road trip" was approved on NetGalley I was ecstatic. Last year I read "The Switch" and I was truly Eileened, becoming one of my favorite reads of 2020. I was hoping for a similar experience this year but sadly I can't say this one is at the same level. While it was enjoyable and I was not bored at all, neither the story nor the characters oozed the same kind of charm her previous book did (and I've heard "The Flatshare" is also fantastic).

Addie and her sister Deb are on her way to Scotland for a friend's wedding when they suffer a fender bender. The culprit is none other than Dylan, Addie's ex, traveling with his best friend Marcus to the aforementioned wedding. With the guy's car totaled and no other way to get there the girls agree to give them a ride to the wedding along Rodney, another (weird) guest. 5 people, 2 exes, a Mini Cooper and a really long trip ahead will make for some crazy situations.

The story's rhythm seemed to mimic their driving situation, sometimes moving too slow and sometimes picking up the pace, for it to catch another jam a few chapters later. I think the dual timelines only manages to slow it even more. The past one certainly took its time to take off.

I wouldn't mind going on a road trip with Addie and, especially, Deb (she seemed fun), but I would not even share a taxi cab with Dylan and Marcus. I know the road trip was supposed to be to Scotland but I think it was in fact a road trip in search of Dylan's personality. Seriously, dude! Grow a pair! He was so easily manipulated by everyone it was frustrating to read. And Marcus, don't make me start on Marcus! Immature, conceited, annoying...I would have left him in the first service station I had passed. His behaviour towards Addie was absolutely outrageous!

Though the characters weren't as charming as I would have liked, some of their antics really made me laugh, so they were redeemed a little bit.

Despite not meeting my expectations it was still a good and enjoyable read that I'm sure will appeal to many. I, for sure, will be reading the author's next book (and the first one too, I promise to read the first one asap).

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two ex lovers forced to go on a road trip together??? Sign me up! I live for the drama and tension.

Dylan and Addie are ex lovers who, through an accident, wound up driving up to a mutual friend's wedding together. On this road trip they are joined by Addie's sister, Debs, Dylan's best mate Marcus and some random guy Rodney.

Now being a fan of Beth's books (I LOVED the Flatshare), I had high expectations for this one. However it fell flat. The first half of the book was quite slow and after a revelation at the motel things get going. However Dylan and Addie as characters weren't charming for me. I just didnt like them but I didnt dislike them either. I did however really dislike Marcus. The other character were meh. There were humourous parts of the book but overall I wasn't satisfied with this one.

3/5