Like the rest of the world. I loved The Flatshare and this is right in the same mould, a captivating utterly engrossing romance, full of misunderstandings and words that should or shouldn't have been said.

Addie and her sister work a summer in a beautiful house in France, where Addie meets and falls for the equally smitten Dylan. At the end of the summer, they go in separate directions back to their different worlds

We know at the beginning of the book that they have fallen out and are no longer an item but what was it that led them to come apart?

A wonderfully woven tale of love and friendship, you wont be able to put it down

Beth O'Leary is one of my favourite authors and The Road Trip was one of my most anticipated reads for 2021. And, it did not disappoint! I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down.
I was intrigued by the concept and it was depicted flawlessly. It was the perfect source of escapism, and I was so invested in Addie and Dylan’s love story. I really enjoyed the dual timelines, especially their summer in France, which was dreamy and made for an addictive read. It also showed the characters in a bubble distant from reality and highlighted how much they change. Their development is written so well from both their perspectives, and the story builds to show the full reality of the relationship. I loved the romance, and as a fan of the second-chance trope, I thought it was executed brilliantly.
The book features an entertaining cast of characters whose interactions often made me laugh out loud. I loved Addie and Deb’s sisterly bond. Five people - including a former couple - trapped in a car is guaranteed to be entertaining and, of course, filled with obstacles.
It also covers some serious topics, which I felt were handled very well and made the characters more complex. It explores toxic masculinity, depression and sexual assault (TW), in a meaningful way and adds more emotional depth. There’s a really good balance between these scenes and the comedy, which I think makes it a perfect read.
I highly recommend this romantic, funny and moving book!

I absolutely adore Beth's books and this one did not disappoint.
The characters are so vivid that you fall in love with each of their quirks and totally understand how they think and behave.
Loved the plot twist of this one with such a mundane task becoming a proper adventure!
Highly recommend!!!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC of a book I have had on my wishlist for a long time!
Beth O'Leary is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors, with her brilliant, heartwarming stories. What I love most is that she writes love stories but there is so much development of other relationships and friendships interwoven throughout.
In this book, Dylan and his friend Marcus are driving to a wedding when they crash into another car. Of course, the car is carrying Addie (Dylan's ex), Deb and random Rodney to the same wedding. And here begins the road trip full of mishaps, mixed emotions and tension.
I really liked the characters and the way the story was told through flashbacks and present time, and it was such a great premise to throw the characters together on a long road trip in a mini. Another great book!

#review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick to read, easy to understand. Nice all round book.
Road Trip By Beth O'Leary

I have been a massive fan of this author since I read Flatshare so when I spotted Road Trip on Netgalley I NEEDED this book. I actually squealed when the acceptance email arrived and I changed all my plans to start this book straightaway yesterday.

I went into this book with no expectations as I didn't even read the blurb to begin with!
I knew it was based on a Road Trip and that was it. It was nice as it was a total surprise throughout the book as I learnt what the story was based on.

When I started page one I devoured the book and by bedtime I was over 70% in, I'm not the quickest of readers but this just shows how easy the book was to read and it flowed so easily.

The story is told from two view points, Dylan and Addie. I loved how Beth captured these characters on paper because once you got to know them you didn't even need the title to tell you who's POV the author was coming from.

The descriptions and tones used by Dylan was lovely and suited his poetry background well.

I would have loved to have known a bit more about Debs and her story though.

I can not recommend this book enough, it would also suit young adult reads as the characters are quite young and grow up as the story progresses.

As always Beth O'Leary did not disappoint and I am now awaiting the next one!

Ah, another great success for Beth O'Leary! This book was extremely funny and the love story between the two main characters was super romantic. I enjoyed every bit of it and can't wait to see what the author writes next!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this book. Having read the author's previous books I was really looking forward to this book and I wasn't disappointed, the characters were great and very real, and the story line drew me in from the first page. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

Beth O’Leary is so good at writing characters and the oddball combination in here are all brilliant. A road accident on route to a wedding 400 miles away results in five adults squashing into a Mini to make the journey which would be challenging enough but Addie and Dylan used to be a couple and after an emotional split haven’t seen each other in eighteen months and Addie despises Dylan’s friend Marcus, Addie’s sister Deb is very protective of her sister and Rodney, well he’s just there for the journey. As the miles pass by we see how the characters observe changes in each other since they last saw them and we also have flashbacks to Addie and Dylan’s relationship and what caused them to crumble. There’s a few humorous events along the way and it’s fair to say the journey is far from straightforward but it’s the relationships and dynamics that really make this story what it is, very bittersweet with quite a few damaged characters but still with love and hope.

Trigger Warnings*: addiction (alcohol, drugs), anxiety, depression, homophobia (parent not accepting their child's sexuality - mentioned a few times), injury (sprains, brief mention of blood), sexual assault, stalking (side character has an obsession with the female protagonist, and another character has an infatuation with another side character), throwing up, toxic parents, violence (a few punches are thrown)

*This is not an exhaustive list. These are the things I picked up on, there may be others. I've tried to label warnings as accurately as I can.

Oh, how I wish I liked this novel more! I had quite high expectations, considering how much I enjoyed The Flatshare, so I was proper thrilled when I got accepted for an e-arc via Netgalley! Alas, this was not the book for me . . .

What I did enjoy was the descriptions of summer in France. Oh god, I miss going on holiday. And ahhh, the food descriptions - they were killing me!! I also really liked the relationship between Addie and her sister Deb. I really liked how they were there for each other, and both had such distinct personalities. The only character I'd consider reading a spin-off novel for is Deb!

Now, what I didn't like . . .

I just couldn't see myself rooting for Dylan and Addie. I felt no chemistry between them, absolutely nothing. I couldn't see what they liked in each other, and thus I found it hard to invest in their relationship. Therefore, a lot of the novels emotional marks missed for me because I'm just like "Why would you take him back Addie?!" and I detested Marcus. I don't think we were meant to like Marcus, so that was successful at least. But eh. After all the stuff that happened with him, the way his story concluded...nah.

All in all, this novel was just a lot of misses for me. It was just an okay read, nothing I'd shout about from the roof tops, and I'd steer people to other romance novels - like The Flatshare - before I'd consider recommending this.

Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for sending me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A bright, fresh, sparkling read that ticks all the right boxes. I adored O'Leary's two previous books and this is no exception. O'Leary has a way with words that is hard to match and impossible to beat.

I cannot express how much I squealed when I got sent a copy of this book to read. Beth O'Leary has become one of my auto buy authors and that she brought out a third book made me do a happy little dance.

The book is about Addie and Dylan. They are ex-partners and haven't seen each other for some time. There relationship didn't end well and they are both still hurting and you can tell that they have feelings for one another. All is well though they haven't run into each other even though they live near each other - this however changes when they are both on the way to a Wedding in separate cars but it must be fate as they end up travelling together as well as three other passengers to their friends wedding. What could go wrong??

I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

The tension between Addie and Dylan was little oozing off the pages and let me tell you I blinking love a book with a bit of tension. Throw in some hilarious side characters in the form of Addie's Sister Deb who has just had a baby and a bit of a free spirit, Dylan's best friend Marcus - who seems a bit entitled and then you have the random guy who is also coming to the Wedding Rodney - he seems a bit suspicious to me but he adds an extra layer to the already tense road trip!

The book goes back and forth between the present and the past. It shows Addie and Dylan meeting up until there break up and then to the present. I liked that we had the back story as we were going along and that it wasn't dumped on us all in one go. It made you understand why they broke up and that you couldn't side with either Addie or Dylan, or at least I didn't.

All of the characters were flawed. they had issues they all needed to work out and that they were a little broken and real is what I love about Beth O'Leary's characters. You can just understand them, you can hate them a little when they are going about things the wrong way and cheer for them as well.

The book is tense at times but there is also humour to be had as well and this was brought in by Deb, Addie's sister. She made me smile and laugh out loud with her shenanigans.

Definitely a must read book.

A real love story! A great supporting cast with character and humour interlaced with a dramatic hiccup in the main characters love lives.
I think the only negative for me on this journey was the best friend, Marcus. I just couldn’t but into his story, although I could see immediately how the story would go and so had sympathy but just felt his actions towards Addie didn’t quite fit.
I genuinely though could imagine the uncomfortable journey with 5 grown ups plus luggage fitting into a mini!!

Sisters Addie and Debs a stranger Rodney are going to a friends wedding in Scotland, they get rear ended by not only her Ex Dylan who she hasn't seen in 2 years, he and Marcus are going to the same wedding so end up hitching a ride with the girls, what possibly could go wrong all cooped up in a Mini for 5 hours!

If I'm honest I didn't know what to expect a book set purely on a car journey but this tells the story from Addie and Dylan's points of view from the journey and then in the past when they was together.

I found this enjoyable and funny, some real laugh out loud moments, there was always something going on.

I really enjoyed the characters and the chemistry Addie and Dylan still had.

What I would now to go on a road trip.

Many thanks to the publishers for this ARC.

I was fortunate enough to receive an annotated ARC of The Road Trip from Beth O’Leary, and I can’t begin to describe my excitement for another one of her love stories. Both The Flatshare and The Switch (review) are beautifully heart-warming reads, so my expectations for The Road Trip were high. And unsurprisingly, they were met.

Adeline “Addie” Gilbert and Dylan Abbott were once in love. They had the kind of chemistry hopeless romantics daydream about. But it all came crashing down, ending with more than just two broken hearts. They part ways, never to see each other again. Until both Addie and Dylan (literally) crash into each other, and are forced to travel over 500 miles together with Addie’s sister, Deb; Dylan’s best mate, Marcus; and a random acquaintance, Rodney.

The Road Trip starts straight away. No lingering or lazy introductions, it’s just crash, Dylan and Addie are face to face. Again. I’m not the biggest fan of second chance romances, but Beth O’Leary maps out this dreamy tale so brilliantly, it could easily become one of my new favourite tropes.

The chapters alternate between Dylan and Addie. But at the same time, sections of the book bounce between the past and the present. And so, The Road Trip feels like two love stories at once. It’s a concept that breathes life into the book, adding an interest-grabbing quality that quickly becomes addictive. Rather than just tell the reader what happens, O’Leary takes advantage of flashbacks to build a solid foundation for Dylan and Addie’s relationship.

I love the subtle disparities in Dylan and Addie’s tone of voice. It refines their personalities, and contributes to the development of their characters. Dylan is a poet, and is much more whimsical than Addie. In his chapters, his words melodiously blend together to create word pictures with every sentence. Addie, on the other hand, is very matter-of-fact and has a charismatic confidence to her voice.

O’Leary’s writing style feels more sophisticated in The Road Trip compared to The Flatshare and The Switch. But I think the strong characters contribute to this. Her warm and inviting approach is ever-present, but the dark pasts and traumatic trials of the personalities in this book ground its airy and fluffy spirit. The author also perfectly laces humour and emotion together to move the plot along.

One of the great things about this novel, is that it feels like many stories in one. It’s full of life, not just in the dual timelines, but in the adventures and mishaps the five characters experience on their trip. There are twists that keep the subplots interesting. And they work brilliantly alongside the slow revelations of Dylan and Addie’s relationship. It’s more than a romantic comedy, and that’s what makes it so entertaining.

Another highlight of The Road Trip is the sisterly bond between Addie and Deb. I didn’t predict this to play such a major role in the story, but I’m really glad it’s there. While there’s plenty of emotion in the romance, this family tie just adds another moving coating that touches the heart. I can relate as I have a sister, but anyone reading this will surely love experiencing the Gilbert sisters in action.

The secondary characters are a wonderful addition to this story. They all have a charm too. Even those the reader is supposed to dislike, and their individual arcs intertwine flawlessly with Dylan and Addie’s love story. There’s an authenticity to every personality in the novel, whether it’s the way they perceive an event or react to trauma. Depression, sexual assault and alcohol abuse are mentioned in The Road Trip. But they are explored in a sensitive manner that it contributes to the complexity of the characters. And the unexpected grittiness is expertly layered into this hilariously adorable story of second chance love.

The bar for Beth O’Leary just keeps getting higher and higher, and she rightly deserves a spot on my auto-buy list. The Road Trip is the perfect escape. It has characters to love, quotes to remember, and a plot to truly get lost in. Does it beat The Flatshare? I’m really struggling to say for sure. But it’s certainly very close.

Beth O'Leary knocks it out of the park with her amazing new novel 'The Road Trip'. Dare I say, 'The Flat Share': step aside! We have a classic second chance romance for exes Addie and Dylan who have been thrown together in the worst possible circumstances - crammed into a tiny Mini on the way to a friend's wedding after a disastrous fender bender. With all manner of bad luck befalling the motley crew of road trippers, the reader wonders whether they will make it to the wedding in Scotland in one piece.

The present day antics are by far the most entertaining with several moments making me laugh out loud. This contrasts the flashbacks to Addie and Dylan's relationship, portraying them from the dizzy heights of new love to their relationship gradually falling apart. It was refreshing to see a novel which deals so candidly with mental health and the struggle to accept help is needed, particularly around the damaging actions of party boy and best friend to Dylan, Marcus.

This may be a rag tag group of characters but O'Leary allows each one of them to shine with their own fully realised story and personality. I was certainly rooting for Addie and Dylan but I also enjoyed the purity and love of Addie's relationship with her no-nonsense sister Deb. Overall, this was a heartwarming novel, dealing sensitively with some important themes but delivering an uplifting message for all readers. 5 second chance stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great read - the story of Addie and Dylan told between now, when they are forced to share a car on the way to a weddng, and then, when they first met and what happened when they split up. Will they get a second chance.

I liked how it is told from both of their points of view, but would have liked to have seen more of an elipogue

The Road Trip is another excellent read from this author.
Addie and her sister Debs are travelling to a friends wedding in Scotland, with them is Rodney who is also a guest and had put a post on Facebook to request a lift off anyone also attending, so they have never met, he’s and odd ball but appears harmless.
Suddenly as Addie has to make an emergency stop in her Mini she is rear ended by a Mercedes, the driver is none other than Dylan who was her boyfriend 2 years ago, after a traumatic break up they have not seen or contacted each other, also in the car with Dylan is Marcus a friend who was also around when they met and broke up. After much deliberation Addie allows them to travel in her car as the Mercedes is too damaged to drive.
As the journey progresses very slowly, we start to discover more about their past as the book alternates between now and then, and does so very successfully.
This is a story that has you laughing out loud at events happening in the present and your heart in your mouth with their past.
There is a lot of emotional depth to this book and during this journey we see Addie and Dylan slowly healing and deal with their past.
No spoilers, take this trip with them and enjoy.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

This is a hard book for me to review. I enjoyed the experience of reading the story. Slow for me to get into but page turning once I got into the flow of the book. I wish the romance element was more romancy.

As we enter another month of lockdown, reading about Summer holidays in France and a road trip to a wedding party was the breath of fresh air that I needed. This is a great read, with an emotional core, that kept me turning the pages, eager to discover whether Dylan and Addie had a chance together again.
Split between the road trip in present time and flash backs to the start of Dylan and Addie's relationship during a post graduation holiday in France. The chemistry between the pair is intense, and I loved getting to know them and wonder what led to their relationship breaking down. As I read further I started to get hints that their relationship was actually pretty toxic, and that neither of them were honest about their feelings. As they meeting again, two years later, the book looks at themes of redemption and forgiveness, about being true to your beliefs and having respect for yourself and others. This is all treated with an incredibly light touch, and the emotional depth is wonderfully offset by some utterly hilarious escapades as the group make their way to Scotland.
It's a lovely heart-warming read and I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

To say I had high expectations for this book would have been an understatement. But unfortunately it not only didn’t live upto but I had to struggle quite hard to even finish the book. The characters felt very shallow and superficial and I forgot them as soon as I close the book. Their stories failed to make me feel anything. In fact I found them to be very very annoying. The romance was something along the lines of insta love which I hate. So all in all not a book I enjoyed or would recommend but if you are a fan of Beth O Leary, you can maybe give it a try.