Maya is a writer with a horrible job and a story in her soul. She also has a long-time boyfriend she's anxious to surprise during his trip to California. Unfortunately for her, when a stranger sends a text in response? The surprise is on her. The Lift driver then asks if she happens to be "the blonde in the red dress." Suddenly, what seemed like a beautiful idea becomes a heartbreak event until the same driver sends her on a lovely day trip via text message. And what could have been a horrible day turns into a life-changing moment with the potential for more. A creative twist on the classic meet-cute, author Olivia Lara leads readers through a thoughtful, joyful ride reminding her audience that sometimes your worst moments are your best.

I could not put this one down and just kept reading and thinking I can't wait to see how this plays out. The end felt a bit rushed to me and I wish it happened a little sooner with a bit more after it and more explanation. The beginning seemed to be choppy. But I think that was maybe the editing because the story and most of the writing was great. I am giving it a 3 because it needed more explanation to not make parts feel a bit stalker-ish and explain more of the instant love connection vs I'm following you around in the dark. Overall though I did enjoy this story!!

Unfortunately, this wasn't my favorite. The story is cute and it's a quick read that many readers will love it, it just wasn't for me. The tone of the writing seemed a little juvenile or YA and I felt like I was trapped in Maya's head, hearing every single one of her rambling thoughts. The majority of the plot focuses on Maya finding her mysterious Lyft driver which wasn't really enough to keep my focus, especially because I found his identity to be pretty obvious. The pacing is fast and it's a fun and breezy read which I think will appeal to a lot of lighthearted romance readers. Hopefully others enjoy this more than I did!

I'll add that I was confused by the fact that Lift wasn't spelled Lyft, like the real life ride share company. Also, there were a few other inconsistencies with words and phrases that I don't think an American would use, such as referring to a Steve Jobs style turtleneck as a "polo neck".

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Olivia Lara for allowing me to be an early reader.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this E-ARC in exchange for a honest review!

This was a cute and adventurous story! Maya gets fired from her job, and flies to California to surprise her boyfriend that is on a business trip. Mayas boyfriend ends up leaving his cellphone in the Lift Drivers car, and Maya keeps calling and texting the phone. The Lift Driver finally answers Mayas text messages, and Maya finds out that her boyfriend has been cheating on her.

Maya spends her time in California physically by herself, but is accompanied by text messages from the Lift Driver who tells her all these places to explore.

This book was easy to read, and I really liked Maya as a character. 🖤

TW: cheating

Maya discovers - on her birthday - that her boyfriend is cheating on her. Finding herself alone in an unfamiliar place, she spends the day following the instructions of a mysterious Lift driver.

This book is fairly light and predictable, with characters that were fine but unremarkable. I enjoyed it well enough, but it was nothing particularly special.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Found this book was okay but dragged a bit and I did get bored in parts. It’s ok for a holiday beach read but definitely not one of my favourites, I probably wouldn’t recommend it, sorry 😞

An unstoppable read, so cute…. Maya flies to California to surprise her boyfriend of five years. She calls but gets a Lyft driver who has her boyfriend's phone. He inadvertently lets her know that the guy is cheating on her. Instead of returning home the driver gives her directions to having a magical day in Carmel. Fast forward another year and Maya still can’t stop thinking about her texting day with the driver. She learns that an author has written a story based on that day so she returns to Carmel to see if the author will tell her the identity of her Lyft driver. Arriving in Carmel she takes a job in a local diner, starts making friends with locals and takes on matching making too! Grab yourself a copy of this book! I absolutely loved this! I read this book within a day, I couldn’t put it down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks NetGallery for the ARC!! Very cute story and can’t wait to read it once it comes out!! Loved the story and plot, but it lagged in some places and was very easy to guess at the mystery of it!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

RATING: 2⭐/5
There are NO spoilers in this review.

⭐ FULL REVIEW: The premise of this book really drew me in because I thought it was going to be a light, fun and cute read and for the most part, it delivered! However, if you know me, you’d know that one trope I absolutely despise is the insta-love trope and that can be found in this book. If the two main characters would have been given a bit more time before the romance aspect of it came into play, this would have been probably a 3 to 3.5 rating, but it was hard for me to get past the fact that a lot of things seemed to happen so quickly, and without the right foundation for me to actually truly enjoy it. It honestly felt like the pacing was little bit off.

However, if insta-love and miscommunication trope (but with a happy ending) is something that you enjoy, then you’ll definitely love this book! I have to admit that there were definitely cute moments in the book, like how the itinerary was well-planned, and it was very thoughtful, and I found it really, really, really sweet. The characters themselves were also pretty nicely written and you truly do end up rooting for them! They weren’t one-dimensional and we really got to see Maya’s thought process throughout the story, though this could also be considered a con since there was A LOT of it.

Overall, I think this book was a bit lacking, in my opinion. The chemistry between the characters was there most times, but I still couldn’t get over the insta-love aspect of it, because it felt like I had no choice but to root for them, which makes the chemistry disingenuous at times, if that makes sense? The lying that comes to light eventually also definitely soured the romance aspect a bit, and I just wish there were some things that were changed because I do believe that this had a lot of potential.

📖 WOULD RECOMMEND TO: Fans of the insta-love trope!

This was really just the cutest story! Especially the beginning third or so. A few strange decisions made by the characters at times, but really just so sweet and cute, and funny...a must read for just the smiles it will bring.

Oh my gosh, I really loved this one! It was witty, charming, romantic, and compelling and I would reread it again in a heartbeat! I fell in love!

this book was beautiful . even whilst you knew where it was going, it was incredibly moving and written in a almost nostalgic, euphoric way. ive never read a second chance romance before but this book has definitely turned me onto the trope, i went from hating the male mc to falling in love with him, which was completely surprising! 4.5/5 for me!

The premise and cover of this book immediately captured my attention. This was a wonderful idea for a modern romance. The writing left me wanting a bit as the relationships unfurled, but it was a light, interesting read.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Meeting Point" is the first book I've read by Olivia Lara and I really loved it. The first thing that caught my eye was both the cover and the synopsis. I find the way in which the main characters get to know each other and how they manage to create such a strong connection from the very first moment without seeing each other in person very original.

Another thing I really liked about this book is that it takes place in a coastal town. I live very close to the sea and reading all the descriptions made me feel as if it could happen here at any time.

As far as the characters are concerned, I have to say that I really liked both of them (except for some of Ethan's attitudes that I didn't like very much but I won't say so as not to make spoilers). I really like how Maya manages to bring out her inner strength and fight for what she wants. I think she has a very brave attitude, really. On the other hand, I think Ethan is a super interesting character, especially when you realize who he is and how hard he tries to get Maya to trust him again.

I liked the final part of the book the most. The way they solve their problems (which aren't really problems at all, but more of a misunderstanding) seemed very mature and realistic.

To sum up, a very sweet and very romantic book, perfect if you are looking for a very clean read without any explicit scenes.

I breezed through The Meeting Point. It was a cute, fun, and light romance that I managed to finish within two days. While I did enjoy it overall, I do have some thoughts.

It could have used more descriptions, especially for a destination book. I want to know more of the setting, character’s appearances, what the food looks and tastes like. Little details to make it more authentic and personal would have taken it a long way and really made me feel more connected to the world and the characters within it. Some people might appreciate the ambiguity to allow their imaginations creative reign, but I’m still curious to know the image within the author’s head. As for the setting, I’d have appreciated more of the finer details that would have marked this book as the work of someone who’d believably traveled to and loved these destinations. I never reached that point where Carmel-by-the-Sea was a place I felt I wanted to see for myself. Taking the time to establish the architecture, the smells, the culture, all would have enriched the experience and taken it to the next level.

As I mentioned, I absolutely breezed through this book, and that was almost entirely credited to the captivating plot and consistently short chapters, which I really love in a book. That being said, some of the chapter breaks ruined the flow a bit and I think it’d have been better to allow for the sporadic lengthier chapter in order to balance out the pacing properly. There were many instances where I was almost taken out of it by how abrupt and unnaturally a chapter came to an end, only to pick up directly where things had left off. It ruined the impact of many good moments solely because it interrupted the flow of the story.

Additionally, I found the synopsis to be a little misleading. It does not at all give credit to all that this book is. The events detailed within the synopsis cover perhaps 15% of the book or so, when it evolves into so much more. I myself was quite pleasantly surprised by how much more this book had to offer, and I think a clearer depiction of it would have expanded the demographic of the intended audience exponentially.

There was one scene that I found to be rather questionable between the MC and love interest.
“Relax,” he says. “I’m not planning to get you drunk and take advantage of you.”
I roll my eyes, but I tiny part of me says ‘Bummer.’
Look. I understand the intended purpose behind this line. But regardless, it did not really come across as cute or romantic to me. It was kind of creepy, and a little icky. It threw me off a bit, even if nothing was meant by it.

I really appreciated the female friendships present in this story, and wished we’d seen more of it leading up to the resolution. It did sometimes feel like they were sidelined in favour of the love interest— which is to be expected from a romance, of course— but given the prior emphasis on the MC’s concern that her actions could hurt her friend, it was jarring and a little unsatisfying to see it wrapped up to quickly, let alone off the page. It was because I enjoyed their dynamic so much that I’d wished there had been more of it.

I did find myself wishing for more communication between the two leads. Of course, given the plot of the book, it’s difficult to have complete transparency between them from the beginning, but some of the unnecessary and unrealistic leaps in logic and assumptions reflected poorly on the main character and there were times that I found myself getting impatient with her hypocrisy and obliviousness.

That being said, this was a quick and enjoyable read that I am grateful to have had the chance to try out, and I’d definitely be open to reading more from this author. I’d recommend it to anyone who is a fan of enemies to lovers, second chance romance (with a twist), mistaken identities, and small town romances. It gave me a bit of a Beach Read vibe by Emily Henry, so if that book was for you this might be right up your alley!

Overall, 4/5 ⭐️

Who doesn't love a RomCom like this? At the beginning the book was a little bit jumping from one thing to the next but it became lower paced and I devoured it. Even though it was clear who Max was, it is keeping you on as a reader and I adored the book.

You've Got Mail in the era of texting

What if you truly got to know someone before meeting them? What if you could find your HEA just when you find your boyfriend cheating on you? The Meeting Point answers this in super cute and fun way that is very reminiscent of Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks in You've Got Mail. But how can one risk one's heart when it has just been put through the grinder?

Olivia Lara takes this meet by misfortune, mistaken identity, semi-enemies to lovers story along a pretty and heart wrenching tale of taking a risk on a stranger(s)?

Loves:
- the drawn out suspense of who 'Max' is: while we the readers catch on pretty easily, Maya can't really see what's right in front of her leading to some pretty romantic parts
- the tight knit friendship between Maya and Alise. We all need friendships like that
- the chance/risk taking nature of love spilled out over the pages
- the competing storylines of the fateful day in Carmel
- the idyllic descriptions of Carmel & Monterrey. Get me there now!

Mehs:
- Like a few other readers called out, the suspense of Maya finding Max is a tad too long drawn out. While we are left to imagine the world after Maya finds out, it would have been nice to have a little more of a glimpse into the HEA
- the first 'act' of the book felt rushed while the second/third was too drawn out. Could have been a tad more balanced!

Overall, I loved this HEA read. One of my surprise faves of the past few years.

I was born in Carmel, California, grew up there, and lived most of my life on the Monterey Peninsula so this book caught my eye for that reason also the catchy cover. I of course knew and could picture every place and the places 'Max' leads her to. There are some inconsistencies and a bit taking liberties here and there but overall the plausibility is there.

The premise of the love story is unique and troupe at the same time. But enough mystery that it didn't feel like a cliche as much as it could have been. The setting of course appealed to me. A great setting for a love story.

The female protagonist, Maya, is the girl next door, almost every girl, who is not fully satisfied with her going-nowhere job with measly pay, a relationship that lacks passion, and a life where she hasn't created enough for herself but her imagination takes her to write stories as she is very inspired by people she meets where her imagination can quickly write and in that she finds solace in that imagination. But she meets someone who doubts even that for a while via text when she texts her boyfriend and is told of a betrayal. The person who tells her is a Lyft driver who feels empathy for her, especially when she discloses all this happened on her birthday going to San Francisco to surprise her boyfriend of five years. The Lyft driver suggests she leave San Francisco and go see Carmel-by-the-Sea celebrate her birthday and have a day in a beautiful place to forget her woes. Her day turns around as the day is filled with texts that make her smile from the Lyft driver who she names Max and he gives her a tour of Carmel via text directing where she should go and do, throughout the first half of the book. After this the book seems to drawl on a bit and could use some editing but overall the story is sweet albeit for a book with a great setting it lacked for me in regards to more depth into the character of Max.

The story's ending is a bit predictable but it is a nice HEA. The book could have benefited from an epilogue as the ending didn't have enough of what I thought could be a life elaborated with their love story in Carmel together.

Again the setting, the setting is perfect for a love story. The writing could use some editing but it was an enjoyable, sweet love story set in a place offering much opportunity.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara.

Sweet, funny, uplifting romance about how true love sometimes strikes when you least expect it

Maya travels to the west coast to surprise her boyfriend only o get the biggest surprise day of her life. Lead around a small town with text messages from a mystery man, Maya doesn’t know that everything is going to change for her.

I really enjoyed reading this story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is an adorable heartbreak turned romance story! Any single person who's ever had an attractive ride share driver has thought about the "what-if" situation, but what if you had never seen that driver, and he was the one who got to deliver the bad news to you that your boyfriend had been cheating on you?

I loved the way this story was written, and the way Maya just cant seem to forget about Max.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my review!