While technically well-written the plot did not lift me up or draw me in. The to and fro of jumping from the present to the past, all the while knowing the main characters, at this time, were not a couple (in the blurb) was certainly not funny or uplifting. I was at 38% and I didn’t want to go on, but I did. Where was my lighthearted, fun story? This book was not uplifting until the very end. Not amusing. A big disappointment.

Another wonderfully hilarious book by Beth O’Leary.

Addie, Debs and Rodney are driving to an old friend’s wedding when a car comes into the back of them. The driver is Addie’s ex-boyfriend Dylan who is going to the same wedding with his pal Marcus.

With no public transport available on a Sunday morning, the boys have to get in the very small car with Addie and Debs to get to the wedding on time in Scotland.

Weddings and road trips are always full of entertainment and drama so with putting the two together, Beth O’Leary has provided a hilarious setting for her third novel. There’s also some discussion of sensitive topics which are handled gracefully.

I would definitely recommend for romantic comedy fans. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

I've loved Beth Oleary books since I read her first book, The Flat Share.
I'm happy to say her new book, The Road Trip didn't disappoint.
Built round the story of a mad road trip to a wedding to Scotland where the main character
Addie, ends up sharing a car with her ex boyfriend, her breast feeding slightly manic sister, her ex boyfriends best friend and the very strange Rodney. Fun and laughter as they journey but there is also another story which is revealed as the book goes in, keeping the storyline current.
I loved this book. Beth has a humorous approach and bits are side splittingly funny but then there's a much deeper storyline that is touched on (no spoiler here) which has you reaching for the tissues.
A great book that I would highly recommend.
#theroadtrip
#funny
#unexpected turn
#brilliant
#betholeary

"The Road Trip" is full of dysfunctional families and friends. The trip in question is to a friends wedding in Scotland, starting in Chichester, on a bank holiday weekend. This would be challenging at the best of times but when 5 adults are crammed in to a Mini it rapidly turns in to a nightmare. Throw in the back story of how 4 of those involved know each other and the drama sometimes gets farcical. The 4 main characters are all 20 somethings who seem to have issues with drink and/or drugs so don't always remember events clearly. This is a complex story with a rather melodramatic ending.

I’ve really enjoyed Beth O’Leary’s other books so was really keen to read this one - and I did really enjoy most of it. The split time periods that took the reader from the present - a long car journey to a wedding where ex boyfriend and girlfriend Addie and Dylan are thrown back into each other’s company, to the past - a summer spent in rural Provence were well written and engaging. It was also quite funny in places. I was ready to say that this was O’Leary’s best yet.

But then I got to the final section where we get to the denouement and find out what actually happened to Addie and Dylan and why they split up and suddenly I stopped rooting for them to get back together. As another reviewer said “I really wanted Addie to be happy just maybe not with Dylan”. It also just started to all get a bit silly once they arrived at the wedding.

It’s a shame as it was really good up until then. A really mixed bag of a book. Based on the first 3/4 of it I’d be give it 4 stars, based on the last 1/4 it would be about 2 stars.

Thanks so much to the publisher for my review copy.

I really wanted to love The Road Trip. I loved both of O'Leary's previous books (The Flatshare and The Switch), but this didn't work for me. With the previous books, I felt as though we had these adorable romances, wonderful bonds with family members and an amazing writing style. With The Road Trip, though, all of these things fell flat. In summary, I did not like a single character in this book. They're perhaps the most important part of a book for me and if they're not likeable, I find no enjoyment in a story because I don't particularly care to know what happens to them. It truly breaks my heart to review an O'Leary novel and say that I didn't enjoy it, but I just think this book was something wholly other from what I'm used to reading from O'Leary, so it didn't quite captivate me at all.

Unchanged and changed.

This is an amazing story of friendship, love, toxic relationships and heartbreak.
The story unfolds 'then' and 'now', told from Addie’s and Dylan’s POV's.
'Then' is back when Addie and Dylan first met and all the events leading to the breakdown of their relationship.
'Now' is five people crammed into a mini on the way to a wedding.

I absolutely adored all the characters in this book, even the generally unlikeable Marcus. It was interesting to see the groups dynamics change between the 'then' and 'now' and the character growth that happens over the course of the book.

O'Leary weaves tough, real life issues throughout the story with actual laugh-out loud moments and a fantastic cast of characters.

The Flatshare and The Switch are two 5 star reads for me, but this was a huge disappointment. It is incredibly pretentious and I really, really, really didn't end up relating to any of the characters. It's a second chance romance of sorts, following Addie and Dylan over two timeframes. They meet in France as Addie works in a holiday home and Dylan ends up there on his trip around Europe (he's a typical rich twenty-something Oxford Graduate with no idea what he wants to do in his life). The current timeline sees them both apart but pulled together on a road trip from the south of England to Scotland for a mutual friend's wedding.

Neither Addie or Dylan are relatable, but Dylan particularly grated on me. He has a somewhat toxic friendship with his fellow rich twenty-something Marcus. Marcus is the most unlikeable character in the whole book and the source of the majority of Addie and Dylan's problems. Their whole friendship was just really messed up and it wasn't really resolved for me.

I didn't like the pacing of the book either - Addie and Dylan's present timeline is just all over the place and I wasn't a fan of the resolution.

Anyway, good on Beth for trying something different but this one wasn't for me at all.

Beth O’Leary is my new favourite go to author for surefire intelligent contemporary romances. Having loved her previous offerings ‘The Flatshare and ‘The Switch’ I was genuinely thrilled to receive an advance review copy of ‘The Road Trip’.

The action kicks off with Dylan crashing into the back of a car. It quickly transpires that at the wheel is his recent ex, Addie. Dylan’s car is a right-off and as they’re all on their way to mutual friend, Cherry’s wedding in Scotland, Dylan and Addie together with Dylan’s arrogant entitled best friend, Marcus, Addie’s forthright protective sister, Deb, and errant car sharer and would be wedding guest, Rodney, cram into one Mini for an extremely cosy and eventful 400 mile road trip.

The narrative is a dual timeline told from both Addie and Dylan’s perspective in both the past and present. The journey is a tumultuous one to say the least, in the vein of ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ as their attempts to reach the wedding on time are constantly thwarted, forcing the fivesome to face up to the consequences of their behaviour in the past and unleashing a spectrum of feelings from regret, remorse, jealousy, love (requited and unrequited) with a stalker. The journey is a physical and a metaphorical one as the characters must confront their past and resolve a raft of issues to navigate their way to a different future rooted in trust, mutual respect and honesty.

The ‘stalker’ element of the story was didn’t add anything to the story for me, but this does not detract from charming, witty writing and engaging, likeable characters who completely absorbed and transported me for two consecutive days cover to cover. Thank you Netgalley for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book from Beth, an easy read that kept me entertained. Plenty of drama, laughs and fun characters.
Received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review

This is hands down my favourite of Beth O’Leary’s books yet. While I loved both The Flatshare and The Switch, I feel like The Road Trip showcases that Beth’s writing has been elevated to another level.

I loved the premise of this story - a 400+ mile road trip to a wedding in Scotland while trapped in a tiny car with your sister, your ex-boyfriend, his best mate that never liked you and some random guy who nobody is really sure why he’s there - it promises to be a wild ride and Beth absolutely delivered.

As expected, there is so much that goes on in this book, it’s a miracle that all of it could be fitted in but it also doesn’t feel like too much - sure, there are some situations that arise which, in the real world, would be beyond the realms of possibility but Beth’s magical writing skills make them seem entirely plausible.

It wouldn’t be a Beth O’Leary book without the romance and The Road Trip provides the reader with that in the form of Addie and Dylan. From their first encounter in Provence where Addie is spending the summer as a caretaker at the villa Dylan happens to be holidaying at, to the tense atmosphere they find themselves in nearly two years later, stuck in a car having been broken up and out of contact for a long time - their love story is so beautifully written, heartbreak and all.

I have 0 faults with this book, it was a pure joy to read. With plenty of adventures and mishaps to easily keep you entertained interspersed with poignant and touching moments that tug on your heartstrings and ultimately finishing with the happiest of endings, it has everything you could possibly want in a modern contemporary/romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read an loved both of Beth O’Leary’s other books and was really looking forward to reading The Road Trip after reading the details of the story. Initially I wondered where this book was going and the first half was quite slow going, I wondered about the back story of these five, obviously damaged, characters that end up on a very long road trip to Scotland, in a Mini Cooper and it takes a while before you get to glimpse what has gone on before in their lives. The story is told in Now and Then chapters, with each chapter spilt into Addie and Dylan’s point of view, and slowly you get to understand why their relationship is at the point it is now. There are a few difficult subjects covered, including alcoholism and sexual assault, however these are a vital part of the story. As the book reaches half way, the pace of the story steps up a few notches and I found myself caring more about the characters and even feeling sorry for the villain of the book! On the whole, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by Beth O’Leary.

I really enjoyed The Road Trip, a deeper than expected story about a young couple, Addie and Dylan, and the ups and downs of their relationship. The story is told not only from the perspectives of both Addie and Dylan but within that, the plot unfolds in a “now” and “then” timeframe. You might think that this would make the storytelling unwieldy but it worked so well in the hands of this author and added a lot to the flow of the story. I really like relationship stories that are told from both the female and male perspectives.

As you would expect from a story about a road trip (with 5 people in a Mini no less!), there are some very funny moments throughout aided by some great supporting characters (some you love and some you love to hate) but there were also more serious elements which I thought added to the story. This was an engaging and entertaining read! With her previous novels, The Flatshare and The Switch and now the Road Trip, Beth O’Leary has become an author that I can count on to tell a great story.

Thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an an honest review. The Road Trip is out on April 29.

Two exes forced to take a road trip together? What’s not to love? More than I’d hoped, unfortunately.

Addie and her sister, Deb, are on their way to Scotland for their best friend’s wedding. They are all set to have a fantastic road trip with awesome music and delicious snacks...and an odd man named Rodney in the backseat. That is, until they are rear ended by Addie’s ex, Dylan. He and his best friend, Marcus, are also going to the wedding. Addie hasn’t set sight on him since their breakup two years prior.

Marcus’s car is totaled, so against their better judgement, Addie and Deb agree to let Dylan and Marcus ride with them.

That’s 5 people + luggage in a Mini Cooper, in case you need a fun visual.

With hours of driving and plenty of mishaps on the journey, Addie and Dylan will ultimately have time to reflect on their past relationship. After all of the hurt, is there a chance to rekindle what was lost?

I am a HUGE Beth O’Leary fan, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters in The Switch and The Flatshare. Regrettably, I didn’t really fall in love with the characters in this one. I cared for Addie, and even Dylan on some levels, and Deb was a hoot...but they don’t light a candle to the characters in O’Leary’s previous gems. Dylan’s friend, Marcus, was heinous and ridiculously immature. I wish his character could’ve taken a back seat...in the story.

The main thing that prevented me from loving it more was the lack of charm. I expected so much more, and maybe that is on me having already read the aforementioned books which were OOZING with charm and good vibes. While there were some cute moments and laughs sprinkled in, they weren’t consistent throughout the journey.

Having said that, I still recommend it to fans of the author (I will always be a fan, and am already looking forward to her next book). I would also recommend this to those who haven’t had the chance to read her books yet - with the caveat that they will hopefully love her backlog even more.

Enjoyable, but didn’t reach my admittedly high expectations. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published in the U.S by Berkley on 6/1/21.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

The road trip is a lighthearted, entertaining read that chronicles a seemingly endless road trip to Scotland for a wedding!
Two sisters Addie and Debs,an ex boyfriend Dylan and his best mate Marcus and a random Rodney are all cooped up together in a mini and heading up to Scotland for the wedding of Cherry a mutual friend! Nothing runs smoothly from the start,with a car crash, busy bank holiday traffic, losing one of the sisters, a trip to A and E and an unplanned eventful stop over! During the course of this epic road trip, tempers run high, memories are rekindled, grudges are revealed, resentment abounds and plans are made!
Told in the present and the past we learn of Addie and Dylan’s relationship history and why they broke up will this road trip reconcile them or will it all end in disaster??
Thank you net galley for this early read.

This was delightful. I had never read Beth O'Leary before but I found her understanding of relationships, of her characters really good. This book made me feel all the feels but did not shy away from real conversations.

After loving The Flatshare and The Switch, I should have known I was going to love this too. I love how Beth O'Leary writes characters: messy, complex and multifaceted, but ultimately kind. In this book, all the characters were so well developed, not just the main characters, but the main side characters as well.

This is a second-chance romance, told in dual timelines: then and now. So you're basically reading two romances instead of one. I'm not always the biggest fan of second-chance romance, because people usually have a good reason for breaking up and I don't necessarily want to see them back together, but I did end up rooting for this particular couple, and I liked the growth there.

Throughout the book, I wasn't always sure if I would end up liking it. Mostly because some of the situations and the ways people behaved were really messy. But ultimately I really appreciated how it was handled, and I loved the ending.

I really enjoyed The Road Trip from Beth O'Leary, almost as much as I loved The Flat Share, which I thought was absolutely excellent. It is told from the point of view of Dylan and Addie. Dylan is a public school boy, spoiled, educated, academic and lost. Addie comes from modest backgrounds, is deep, interesting and captivating to Dylan. They meet in France and hit it off immediately. But true love does not run smoothly and we are treated to flash backs of their entire romance while they and three others are thrown together in a Mini Cooper on a road trip to Scotland. The book is funny, and many unexpected twists and turns occur adding drama and suspense to make this a thoroughly enjoyable, sit back and relax kind of a read. I'm certain I am going to see this recommended in the Book Clubs I've joined just as often as The Switch and The Flat Share already are.

I really enjoyed The Road Trip from Beth O'Leary, almost as much as I loved The Flat Share, which I thought was absolutely excellent. It is told from the point of view of Dylan and Addie. Dylan is a public school boy, spoiled, educated, academic and lost. Addie comes from modest backgrounds, is deep, interesting and captivating to Dylan. They meet in France and hit it off immediately. But true love does not run smoothly and we are treated to flash backs of their entire romance while they and three others are thrown together in a Mini Cooper on a road trip to Scotland. The book is funny, and many unexpected twists and turns occur adding drama and suspense to make this a thoroughly enjoyable, sit back and relax kind of a read. I'm certain I am going to see this recommended in the Book Clubs I've joined just as often as The Switch and The Flat Share already are.

I honestly was so excited for this book to be granted from NetGalley to me, I bumped it right up my March TBR.
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The book follows two timelines “THEN” and “NOW”, and features a #secondchance trope. I found the storyline to be charming as these four passengers take a disastrous trek in a #minicooper from England to Scotland.
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The relationship between Addie and her sister Deb was brilliant, and marks a true sisterly bond. They’re not above disagreements but at the end of the day - they’ve got your back. 💛
The love we see between Addie and Dylan in each timeline was heartwarming and charming, to see how they fit together and loved so deeply.
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I will say, that while I was charmed by this book, I felt there was a slowness and a little depth lacking in my connection to it. It picked up towards the end but unfortunately not enough for me to say that I truly loved the story, although I will say I enjoyed it. #theflatshare was so good and something I related to so profoundly, it’s a tough act to follow.