Beth O'Leary is on my list of authors who I will squeal whenever I hear of a new book coming out. If you have not read The Flatshare or The Switch-- put them on your TBR. O'Leary is fantastic at writing funny romances that touch on the real pain and flaws of the characters.

In this one, Addie and Dylan meet during a hot, French summer. They are driven apart by some of the real-life problems that young adults face-- where to work, live, friends who are needy, past traumas, etc. The book is told in alternating timelines, then and now. Then, we see the history of the couple unfold, In the now, fate has put them in a tiny car together (with 3 other people) on the way to a mutual friend's wedding two years after their breakup. It's the mark of a great book when every time the chapter would end, I would be wishing to stay in the timeline I was in at that moment! I laughed out loud (on a plane) several times!

I cannot recommend O'Leary's books enough, and this one does not disappoint.

Another hit from Beth O'Leary! The Road Trip was a satisfying blend of a humorous road trip and the pain and introspection of looking at a past relationship. Once again Ms. O'Leary brought a balanced story and likeable characters.

4 joyful + darling + sheer fun stars to this cute novel by Beth O'Leary. Fans of The Flatshare and The Switch, prepare your hearts for another playful love story full of endearing characters and a creative plot.

Addie and her sister, Deb, are on a road trip to their friend's wedding in Scotland that starts off on the wrong foot when they get into a fender bender with Addie's ex, Dylan, and his best friend, Marcus. Forced to all travel together in Deb's Mini Cooper, everything that could possibly go wrong - and then some- happens in this comedy of errors. Despite their relationship ending poorly , Addie and Dylan still have a lot of chemistry and unresolved feelings between them. The novel flips back and forth from the summer when they first met to the present day road trip- told from both Addie and Dylan's perspectives.

This book absolutely charmed me! A heartwarming story with plenty of laugh out loud moments and themes of love, forgiveness and friendship. Pub day is June 1st- make sure to pre-order your copy. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to like this book, really I did. I loved The Flatshare and hoped for another fully developed romance between two great characters. Unfortunately, I couldn’t buy into any of The Road Trip. The main relationship felt contrived, or at the very least, lust, not love. The characters felt flat and poorly developed. Dylan repeats over & over that Addie is amazing but we are never really sure what makes her so great. The plot about getting stuck in a Mini Cooper with 5 adults on a disastrous car trip could have been hysterical but it just felt claustrophobic. I’m hoping that I’ll enjoy Ms. O’Leary’s next book more than this one.

This second-chance romance told in dual storylines did not draw me in, and reading it ended up feeling like a chore. I gave up at 60% because I was increasingly annoyed by the characters, the lack of forward momentum in the plot, and the fact that we hadn't learned anything useful from their past. I didn't like the characters at all (except maybe Deb who I would read a book about), and the chemistry between the two main characters was non-existent. I expected to love this book, but I ended up not liking it at all.

3.5 stars, rounded up. I love Beth O'Leary's writing (<i>The Flatshare</i> was one of my favorite romances I read last year), so I was excited to get my hands on an eARC of this from NetGalley. I love Addie and her relationship with her sister Deb, and I'd happily go on a road trip with them. I would not, however, set foot in a car with Marcus, who I found to be pretty much irredeemable. I'm on the fence about Dylan — I thought his and Addie's story was sweet, but I disagreed with a lot of the decisions he made, and that definitely clouded my perception of this second-chance romance.

That being said, this was a quick, charming read that I flew through in less than 24 hours. O'Leary has a gift for writing laugh-out-loud dialogue and quirky characters, and regardless of some issues I had with this book I will still happily read anything she writes.

The word that comes to mind for this book is "blithe."

The Road Trip begins with an impact--but is this fender-bender the meeting of Dylan and Addie or a culmination?

That's the story that unfolds as two sets of passengers merge into one Mini for the eight-hour drive to Scotland, the only things crammed closer are the lives of two lovers squeezed between ghosts from the past.

In parallel paths, O'Leary describes the Mini-encased trip to Scotland as well as tracing the history of Dylan and Addie who met at a summer rental in the south of France three years earlier. Their romance is a whirlwind, with tastes of wine and summer evenings at the pool. Dylan is an aspiring poet, much to the disgust of his hard-driving father. Addie will begin teacher training at the end of her summer working as the caretaker of the rental. Theirs is a summer love that could make the leap--given the love and the grace that every lasting relationship needs.

And in the Mini with Addie and Dylan are Deb--Addie's older sister, a new mum with breast pump in tow--Marcus, Dylan's best friend, and a random guy from the wedding Facebook group named Rodney who has bummed a ride.

The pit stops between London and Scotland are numerous and many adventures ensue, even as Dylan and Addie are pressed closer in the compressed space of the Mini.

The final scene at the friend's wedding was a real highlight, a Shakespearean-style tying together of plot lines and lost loves that brought to mind Twelfth Night.

Bottom line: The Road Trip is a fun, light romance that will bring to mind summer loves and close spaces and a destination for loving couples' journeys.

Special thanks to NetGalley for letting me preview the book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely not a fan of this trip.

Addie Gilbert and her sister, Debi, are the only redeeming part of this story, and any stars given are only due to the writer's ability to keep me reading to the end of a story I just wasn't enjoying.

Addie and Debi are traveling from England to Northern Scotland for their friend Cherry's wedding. Cherry was Addie's roommate at University. This is an interesting mix since Addie's family are middle class while Cherry's family at least has the money to own a large vacation villa in France and rent a castle in Scotland for the wedding. While in traffic at the beginning on their approximately 8 hour journey, Addie's mini cooper is rear-ended by a large Mercedes driven by none other than Addie's ex-boyfriend Dylan and his BFF Marcus. Their car is now toast. They are also on their way to Cherry's wedding so Addie agrees to let them squeeze in for the ride.

The book is broken up into Now and Then and as we travel up toward Scotland, which is not a smooth ride as you can imagine, not only with ex-boyfriends in the car but every kind of traffic problem you can imagine, including someone hoping out to pee on the side of the road and being left behind when the traffic stop (of course) suddenly opens up. When we hit the Thens, we learn how Dylan and Addie first met, how their relationship developed and ultimately what tore them apart.

I really liked level-headed Addie, who meets Dylan on her last summer vacation before she begins teaching. Her friend, Cherry, had Addie and her sister working as the caretakers of the French villa for the summer. Dylan's family rented the villa for several weeks but Dylan was the only one to show up as he family does not get along. Addie seems very mature and confident but eventually we do see some cracks as she decided to be carefree and sow some wild oats that last summer and worries that Dylan will be bored with average Addie once they return to England.

My biggest problem with this story is with Dylan and especially his friend Marcus. They and their friends suffer from poor little rich kid syndrome. Their families have so much money and they can't spend it quick enough. They also don't seem to have real life problems so they create them with drug abuse and undetermined futures. Dylan graduated with a English Degree in poetry and no idea what to do with his life. They get drunk, do drugs and travel mindlessly with no concerns. At first, after Dylan's vacation in France is over, he and Marcus go to Asia to backpack around and just keep extending their trip because he doesn't want to deal with this father's constant harassment of what he is going to do with his life. The father is a real piece of work who ignores the fact that his oldest son is gay, writing him out of his inheritance and when came out at 12 and not allowing his fiancé to come to any family gatherings. He is a tyrant and verbally abusive. What I don't understand is the extravagant spending. While I don't believe Dad has a title, they live in a large estate house, which the father refuses to sell to a preservation society, even though they can't afford the upkeep or heating the entire building and have wings closed up and unused. If your wife is wearing layers of sweaters in the house because you can't heat it, why are they renting an expensive French Villa for weeks? This is also why he is insisting that Dylan get an actual job. Between the abusive father who constantly tells him that he is worthless, and the lifestyle of the rich and lazy, Dylan is a mess. Maybe it is being an older reader, but I can't see the attraction to Dylan. I mean, I understand when Dylan and Addie first met that it was attraction and lots of sex, but between the social/economic differences and Dylan's many, many issues, I can't see why Addie didn't just walk away, especially considering Marcus.

Now the biggest issue I had was with Marcus. Part of the problem is that Dylan and Marcus were "like brothers" and inseparable but it comes down to Marcus living life with no boundaries, moral compass or consequences and dragging Dylan down with him. Since they shared women before, Marcus is unhappy when Addie says No Way! Marcus then spends the next two years sabotaging Dylan and Addie's relationship. The big question that kept me reading was whether that was because Marcus was obsessed with Addie or with Dylan or both? Like I said, Marcus doesn't like to be told no and he also didn't like when his buddy Dylan was otherwise engaged spending time with Addie. Marcus kept whispering in Dylan's ear about how manipulative Addie is, how controlling, all the while trying to drag Dylan down into drunken parties or simply spiraling himself with drugs and alcohol until Dylan had to run and rescue him. Dylan and Marcus's relationship was extremely unhealthy and I can't understand why level-headed Addie was allowing herself to be dragged down with them.

We do find that Now Dylan was turning his life around and was a much more grown up and interesting character so Dylan and Addie truly needed the time apart to be ready for a meaningful and long lasting relationship even though Marcus was still an obstacle to be dealt with.

I will say that although I wasn't a fan of Dylan or Marcus, the author's decision to bounce back and forth between the time line and adding issues to a simple road trip keep me going through some of the slower parts and keep me wanting to find out what ultimately destroyed their relationship. While I did read the entire story, I can't say I really enjoyed it.

Pack your bags, put on your swimsuit, and get the car! We're going on a trip! The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary is a delightful and thoughtful story that follows the tale of two sisters, an ex, a best friend, and a wildcard as circumstances push them to come together for a long road trip. The story flashes between the present and the past as the reader pieces together the rise and fall of Dylan and Addie's previous relationship. O'Leary does a magnificent job of highlighting the nuance and growth of each character. I loved that this was a romcom in its essence, but it was so much more than that! Each character had their own strength and their vulnerabilities, and the interplay between them was fascinating.

Of course, the road trip ends in a magnificent wedding (I won't tell you whose!), but life is more about the journey than the destination, isn't it?

Thank you, @netgalley and @BerkleyRomance for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review! The Road Trip by @betholearyauthor is hitting shelves on June 1! In the meantime, check out The Switch and The Flatshare!

Great book. Loved how it was written "then" and "now". Intriguing and compelling. Easy but fun read!!

The Road Trip is a story about sisters, some random stranger and the guy who broke your heart packed into a small car on a road trip to a wedding. Addie and Dylan are forced to confront their messy relationship while jammed in a car. The story is told from pasts and present dual perspectives. I really enjoyed the dual POVS, it helped make the story more complete to see both POVs. However, it did make the story drag in places. Overall I enjoyed The Road Trip. The writing was funny and charming. The characters were great as well.

Author Beth O'Leary shows her versatility with a new novel, unlike either The Flatshare or The Switch, about a former couple who meet again after months apart on an unexpected road trip to a wedding. The trip, like the nightmare where you can't get to where you're trying desperately to go, is an excruciating journey that puts Addie and Dylan, Addie's sister Deb, Dylan's friend Marcus, and the unknown Rodney into a mini Cooper with failing air conditioning on a cross-Britain attempt to attend friend Cherry's wedding in the Highlands. Told in alternating viewpoints and time periods, this examines a romance gone wrong, family dynamics, subversive friendships, and strong sisterly bonds. The misadventures on the motorway, and the difficulty in getting to your destination reveals the difficulties in becoming fully adult, and there is a lot here for a book group to discuss. Although I prefer the author's two previous novels for their neatness in structure and charming characters, this says a lot about motivations, character development, family troubles, class differences, and so on. Recommended for the author's fans, readers of family fiction and second-chance romances.

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary didn't charm me as much as her previous book, The Switch did, but I enjoyed this! I don't typically read contemporary romance or lit, but I make an exception for O'Leary's thoughtful, reflective characters.

This is a tricky book. It's first person POV switching between not only the two main characters but also time hopping from "then" and "now." While I generally really like this structure, in this book it resulted in some very repetitive reflections, actions, and descriptions. The book is fueled the drama and tension between all 5 characters stuck in the car together, so it's frequently one character thinking about how awkward it is then switching to the other character who also thinks about how awkward it is, and so on.

But even with those quirks I didn't like, this book is a stunning picture of the definitions and differences between forgiveness, reconciliation, and repentance. I enjoyed and felt immersed in the twisted and twisting relationships, just barely closed door romance, and the funny shenanigans that occurred on the road trip itself.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

On the way to a mutual friend's wedding, exes Dylan and Addie are involved in a fender bender that results in them sharing a ride from England to Scotland to reach their destination. The road trip crew also includes Addie's sister Deb. Dylan's best friend Marcus, and a random guy from Facebook, who all have thoughts on the lovers' reunion. But as they're stuck together in the backseat, Dylan and Addie revisit the events that led to their breakup and decide whether they made the right decision 2 years ago.

This book is a dual timeline, second chance romance, which are two of my least favorite things in literature. Fortunately, I didn't hate it here! Beth O'Leary weaves the flashbacks with the current timeline seamlessly, and the downfall of the relationship almost plays out like a mystery. The supporting cast of characters is HUGE but also very enjoyable. I felt like we got to know the important supporting characters well and the rest provided colorful background.

My one complaint is that the breakup story was really tense, so the ultimate reunion almost felt too easy to me. I doubt whether Dylan and Addie can stay together long term without some serious effort made to work through what had happened in their relationship.

Thanks to Netgalley, Berkley, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I very much enjoyed the first two thirds of this book. The characters are compelling, sweet, real - if a bit self-involved. However, (spoilers, I guess) it goes on to deploy sexual assault as a plot device and, despite what I'm sure were good intentions, that feels pretty gross. This is not to say that sexual assault cannot be handled in the romance genre. How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams is a recent example of how it can be written compassionately, with nuance, and successfully. But in this book, it is kept from the reader in order to build suspense for a "twist." The decision to shape the plot in this way, followed by two less than wonderful and played for laughs instances of women being stalked ultimately made this an uncomfortable and disappointing read. Despite the strong start, it's not one I would feel comfortable recommending to people.

The Road Trip was my first Beth O'Leary book, and it didn’t disappoint! From the very first page, I was completely smitten with this rambunctious and adorable cast of characters who set out on an unexpected journey full of second chances.

On their way to their friend’s wedding, Addie and her sister accidentally are put together in the same car with Addie’s ex, Dylan, and his insufferable best friend. Throughout the road trip across Britain to their destination, we venture from the past to the present and watch as love grows and is possibly given another shot.

I loved this book! It was very real and had me clutching my heart, all teary-eyed from bits of laughter and heartache. I adored that both of the main characters are ABSOLUTE cinnamon rolls! You can’t help but fall head over heels for them and their sweet romance. Also, I liked that this book was about more than romance; it focused on all types of relationships, from friendships to family dynamics to love stories, and it was a perfect heartfelt escape.

4.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Beth O'Leary has a way with words! I love the descriptive language in her writing, there's something so fluid and romantic about it. In The Road Trip, Addie and Deb are on their way to a wedding Scotland when car trouble finds them sharing a ride with Addie's ex, Dylan, and his friend Marcus (and I can't forget Rodney, the ride share who is coming along with Addie and Deb, too!) They're all going to the same mutual friends wedding so it makes sense for them to ride together. Addie and Dylan did not end on the best of terms and Addie and Marcus have a strained history so the ride is awkward at best, painful at worst.

I laughed out loud at the personalities and banter between the characters - they were great! I loved the flashbacks to "then" and the way the story flowed back and forth from then to now. I thought O'Leary did an excellent job of normalizing therapy and seeking help for mental health. There were a few issues towards the end of the book that I felt could have used a bit more attention, but overall this was an excellent read! Funny, Touching, Romantic, and the HEA we all love to see!

Addie and her sister Deb are road tripping to their friends wedding when they get rear ended by none other than the man who broke Addie’s heart, and his friend that did everything he could to break them up. With one totaled car, and everyone making their way to the wedding, there is no choice but to all pile in together. Will Addie survive the road trip with the man she has spent almost 2 years trying not to think about?

This book had all the warmth, laughs, and charm I have come to expect from Beth O’Leary! Talk about the road trip from hell. First of all, Mother Freaking Marcus!! Omg he was the absolute worst! I wanted to smack him so many times while reading, and I wanted to smack Dylan for not recognizing the way he treated Addie and sticking up for her. I just loved Addie and Deb and how they looked out for one another, and when he wasn’t being an idiot about Marcus, I loved Dylan too! Rodney was such a weird storyline, but I kind of feel like he added that fun extra element to the story. This was an adorable second chance romance, and if you have O’Leary’s other books, it will not disappoint!

Thank you so much for the chance to review this book and give an honest opinion.

I am going to give this a 3.5. I found myself way more attached to the “then” storyline than the “now” storyline

It started very strong, I love the characters and the character development. I was genuinely rooting for each of them to find their way back to each other. It really showed how strong forgiveness can be, and what people are willing to do to make genuine changes and become better versions of themselves.

I loved the time in Provence, and seeing their love form. Marcus was too much though

And it wasn’t really touched upon enough that Marcus was almost obsessive and stalking her which is rather creepy and scary and not sure he should’ve actually been forgiven. It all felt too weird and messy. Even if in the end he stuck up for her...

I started to lose interest at the wedding and Rodney storyline, I felt I could’ve done without it
The ending was perfect - the final kiss !

I had enjoyed the quirky meet cute of The Flatshare so I thought I'd give The Road Trip a try. I enjoyed the concept of the "then and now" and I did root for Dylan and Addie, but I found there were too many superfluous characters to keep track of that I found really distracting. I also found the additional Rodney plot unnecessary.