A THOUSAND MILES by Bridget Morrissey is one of those romances that's flown somewhat under-the-radar in recent years, but it deserves just as much hype as books currently trending online! This author's writing is fantastic.

I knew I’d love this because I knew from her first book that I’m addicted to Bridget’s writing.

Ben and Dee are some of the most vivid characters I’ve ever read. They’re challenges are as complex as their together.

The car trip was forced proximity to the max, and their chemistry and banter was through the roof.

Plus, I love that the last third of the book sun has tension without making the characters doing something to ruin everything.

A must read romance of the year!!

road trip, estranged high school sweethearts, friends to lovers, second chances, and podcasting. what's not to like?

Podcaster Dee makes it her business to share all her secrets with her audience…except for one. Name Redacted has long been a mystery to her listeners, while Dee shares stories of their childhood relationship. But after ten years of silence, Name Redacted shows up on Dee’s doorstep, asking her to road trip to Colorado with him, because “a promise is a promise.” Will forced proximity help the pair come to terms with their high school fight or will the ten years apart prove to be too much for the pair to overcome?

review

I absolutely loved Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey, so I was really hoping I would feel the same about A Thousand Miles. Ultimately, the book fell flat for me. I wanted to love it so much, but many times I felt bored with the back and forth road trip commentary. And even though a lot happened, it also felt like very little happened.

In a similar vain to People We Meet on Vacation, the reader spends the first half of the book trying to figure out what happened to break up Ben and Dee back in high school. The pair dance around each other in a state of awkwardness. Neither one of them talking about the elephant in the room or being brave enough to face their feelings. At times I wanted to shake them both out of pure frustration. But then when they finally get together, it feels like they go from 0 to 100 without truly facing their demons, which is just setting them up to fail in the future.

the characters

Dee’s character took some time for me to get behind. She is extremely impulsive, saying things for shock value in the moment in order to hide her true feelings. Her backstory does justify her actions – a toxic relationship with her mother and poverty in childhood. But it took some time for those stories to come out, which added to Dee’s at times frantic behavior. However, the maturity Dee shows in the last 20% of the book really redeemed her character for me.

Ben was the saving grace in this book for me. I loved the depth of his character arc, from the grief of losing his grandmother to the truth about his childhood. The stakes were higher for Ben and instead of shutting down and being emotionally unavailable, Ben was vulnerable, sweet, and so tender with Dee. Not afraid to cry, Ben wears his emotions on his sleeve and I loved that a hero was depicted this way. It’s not common in books, which ultimately made me love Ben more.

I also loved the inclusion of the podcast transcripts. This mixed media element added depth to the story, while allowing readers to see a different side of Dee. It also introduced us to her podcast partner, Javi, who was absolutely hilarious and totally stole the show for me.

in conclusion

A Thousand Miles is a force proximity, second chance friends to lovers romance with mild steam, perfect for fans of People Me Meet on Vacation.

GIVE ME ALL OF THE FRIENDS TO LOVERS! Seriously, I loved this road trip, childhood friends to lovers romance. it was hilarious, but also really sweet, and I just really enjoyed it from start to finish.

A charming second chance romance! I enjoyed the snippets of Dee's podcast, and the connection between her and Ben felt genuine, even as they had to work through their hurts and trouble spots. Some nice humor and road trip shenanigans, as well!

I enjoyed the the premise of this one- a second chance romance set over course of a road trip! Overall was a cute and fun read although I felt some parts of the romance/relationship could have been flushed out more. Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for my copy.

A road trip! Second chance romance! Lovable characters! A cat!

This was so fun and endearing, and full of all the shenanigans you'd expect a road trip romance to include, while at the same time being emotional even a bit heavy at times. A really lovely romance.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. The writing style just didn't work for me - the story wasn't compelling and the characters were a lil too one dimensional for my tastes.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me advance access to this title. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. As a reader, I am really motivated by character driven stories and I found myself quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Full review to come.

A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey takes readers on a bumpy road trip filled with nostalgia, unresolved feelings, and the potential for second chances. With a decade of silence between them, Dee and Ben embark on a journey to fulfill a long-forgotten promise, resulting in a heartwarming and captivating tale.

The premise of the story, centered around a road trip to open a buried time capsule, immediately draws readers in. The unresolved history between Dee and Ben adds a layer of tension and intrigue, making the journey all the more compelling. Morrissey expertly captures the emotions and complexities of reconnecting with a lost friendship, keeping readers engaged and invested throughout the book.

Dee and Ben are well-developed and relatable characters. Their dynamic and chemistry shine as they rediscover each other on the road trip. Morrissey skillfully depicts their shared history, showcasing the depth of their connection and the unresolved feelings that linger between them. The evolution of their relationship feels natural and authentic, allowing readers to root for their reconciliation.

The inclusion of the podcast element adds an interesting twist to the story. Dee's role as a cohost, interviewing family, friends, and past lovers, brings an additional layer of depth to her character and provides a unique perspective on her journey of self-discovery. It also offers opportunities for introspection and reflection as she grapples with her unresolved feelings for Ben.

Morrissey's writing style is engaging and evocative, capturing the essence of the road trip experience. The pacing is well-balanced, with a mix of introspective moments and exciting encounters along the way. The author skillfully conveys the emotions and scenery, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the journey alongside the characters.

As the story unfolds, the unresolved attraction between Dee and Ben becomes impossible to ignore. The gradual rekindling of their friendship and the exploration of their feelings adds depth and tension to the narrative. However, there are moments when the plot feels slightly predictable, adhering to some familiar romance tropes.

In conclusion, A Thousand Miles is a heartfelt and enjoyable read that explores themes of friendship, second chances, and the power of reconnecting with the past. Bridget Morrissey crafts a compelling story with well-developed characters and a captivating road trip backdrop. If you're looking for a heartfelt journey filled with nostalgia and the possibility of rekindled love, this book is definitely worth a read.

The second chance in this book is sweet. The timeline in the book is fine, but I feel like it should have been extended due to it feeling somewhat rushed. I didn’t really like that she basically just broke up with her boyfriend and then got together with Ben. Overall, it’s a decent book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was a great close-proximity book and I loved every minute of it. It was awkward at times but that really added a lot to the story.

another cute romance novel that anyone can get to enjoy! highly recommend to any new coming romance readers! This book had me laughing & aweing almost every page!

I was not able to finish this novel before its release date. The consortia I belong to owns several copies.

I love a road trip book!
This was a friends-to-lovers/second-chance trope book.

I thought the adventure of the road trip was great. I loved the dynamic between the characters, I felt like it was all building up well and I was excited to see what happened when they reached their destination.

It fell a little flat for me in two areas. 1. I was never clear on exactly why they had to stop talking/being together. and 2. It didn't seem like anything happened once they reached Colorado. It felt very platonic and then it seemed like they stopped communicating all together.

A second chance and best friends to lovers romance-- a couple of my favorite tropes all wrapped into one! This story definitely gave off some nostalgia as it reminded me of a Midwest road trip that I took a couple of years back. Plus...rescue cats! Despite the fun idea, I never really felt super invested in the romance. It was cute, but also seemed to happen really quickly and there wasn't enough tension for my liking. There were still some laughable moments and situations that were fun and overall I'd say it was still a nice book to escape into!

I loved this book so much! Her writing is always spot on and this was no different! Such a great story and strong characters

I love second chance love stories and this was the perfect book for me!
It’s been ten years since Dee and Ben have seen or talked, so she’s shocked when Ben approaches her and asks her to take a road trip with him. His grandmother has recently passed and he would like her help sorting through his grandmother belongings. Ben and Dee experienced a bad breakup ten years ago, and she’s a podcaster, Dee has talked about nearly every part of her life. There is only one issue she won't talk about, or a name at least and you guessed it Ben! If she brings up anything that surrounds him he’s known as Name Redacted.
They made a promise ten years ago that they would repeat their road trip from Chicago to Denver. The original trip was made during spring break of their senior year of high school, to make things more interesting they buried a time capsule to open up ten years later as well, Dee decides to fulfill the promise and she accompanies Ben on the thousand mile trip to his grandmother's home. As we follow their trip we get alternating points of view, we see that never stopped loving one another. They begin to work through all their baggage and they begin to wonder can they ever leave the past in the past and see what’s right in front of them? I loved the the bits that shows Dees podcast! This was a great read!