This modern-day Thelma and Louise —minus the violence but plus the hunk—buddy story of a college dropout with a grudge and an 84-year-old woman with a gun— on the run from a decades-long cold case has a lot of things going for it—well-developed characters, plot twists, witty dialog, and a lot of heart. I was really enjoying the read until I came to a plot element/explanation that for spoiler reasons, I cannot reveal. But suffice it to say, it was too similar to the one used in a well-known jewel heist book written for younger readers for me to ignore. It made it hard for me to enjoy the rest of the book, although I did care about the characters and I thought the backstory and reveals tied things up nicely. The ending was a nice surprise, too which makes me wonder if there is a sequel in the works. Oh and one more thing I wondered about—Does anybody know the statute of limitations on grand theft in Georgia?

i fell in love with colleen oakley's writing after i read You Were There Too years ago. that book had me SOBBING. like "cry so hard you get a headache" type of cry. and honestly thats the best compliment i could give a book and an author. i mean to be able to craft a story where someone connects so deeply with the characters that it elicits that type of reaction out of someone. but anyways! back to this story. this was so heartwarming and felt like a big hug. there was a little bit of everything. there was an unlikely friendship, a heist and even a romance. recommend for anyone looking for a sweet bookclub book.

After Tanner sustains an injury effectively ending her sports career, she finds herself in need of purpose. She begrudgingly takes a job as a caretaker for an elderly neighbor, who also is not thrilled with this arrangement. Something from Louise's past is unearthed, and the two unexpectedly take off on a cross country roadtrip.

Despite the Odd Couple nature of their friendship, they experience adventures and come to value what each has to offer. I love the way she explores the multi-generational friendship between these two, and how they become like family to each other (is this a new trope - enemies to found family?). The dialogue and situations they find themselves in at times is laugh out loud funny.

Overall, this is a a heart warming book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley is a delightful dramedy that explores the unexpected bond between a feisty octogenarian and a lost twenty-something. Tanner, struggling after losing her soccer scholarship, is forced to assist Louise, who is recovering from a fall but fiercely resists being treated like a child. Their reluctant partnership leads to a surprising cross-country adventure that unveils secrets and deepens their connection. Oakley masterfully balances humor with heartfelt moments, making this a must-read for those who appreciate character-driven narratives​.

I found this book enjoyable and a fun read. Hoffman has written a contemporary story that incorporates current technology. The two main characters are over 60 years apart in age, yet each character grew during their time together and became friends. It reaffirms the idea that people of different generations can develop bonds with each other.

This was a really whimsical book and although pretty far fetched, was a fun, light read and I would recommend it for a break from reality!

Great read. I was not expecting to enjoy this book. With characters like an elderly lady and a confused 20-year old, I was not expecting much. Boy, was I wrong - fun, memorable road trip adventure with two (maybe more!) mismatched characters. I highly recommend this book.

(Read and reviewed as BookBrowse member in 2022.)

The perfect oddball couple. A teenager and an octogenarian. A sweet tale of two people that don't understand each other forced to work together and figure out they aren't what they thought they were.

I loved both Tanner and Louise and how they came to understand the other. A little bit heartwarming and a little bit heartbreaking, but always entertaining. It is both goofy and a little nuts as these two work to solve their mistakes.

There is never any doubt where this one is headed but it is the journey where Tanner and Louise connect and understand each other that is the gem of this story. Part hijinks. part humor and a whole lot of touching moments made me love these characters. Flaws and all.

This was a heart warming and funny book. I love a good road trip book and the running from the law part added an extra bit of fun. I loved the back and forth between Tanner and Louise. This book made me smile.

This story is the MOST fun! Tanner, a young college student comes to care for Louise who, according to her, does NOT need care. Their ensuing adventure is hilarious and lovely all at the same time. I loved this story!

4 stars, I really enjoyed this very charming and quirky novel. I loved both the MC's a lot - their bond was so sweet and heart-warming. Nothing is quite what it seems on the surface & their road trip was a real hoot . My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary advanced digital review copy. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I liked following the adventures of Tanner and Louise, and their friendship story. We love a grumpy old person who befriends a quiet young adult. This read was cute, but lacked a lot of emotional depth where I think that would’ve worked better for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise was an incredibly fun story to read. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters, 21 year old Tanner and 83 year old Louise, and seeing what adventures they embark on.

**Thanks to NetGally and the publisher for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to provide feedback about this book.

This book was the most heartwarming. I love a stand-in grandparent, I love a road trip, and I love a friendship version of opposites attract! Tanner and Louise's banter was incredible--neither one of them wanted to be stuck with the other, but eventually they learned to admit they needed help. I was cracking up at the conclusions Tanner jumped to and at the truth of Louise's background. Oakley does a great job of balancing humor with a deeper lesson.

I absolutely loved this book. Tanner is in her twenties, and Louise is in her eighties. Tanner is hired as Louise’s caretaker; however, Louise didn’t really want - or need- a caretaker. Tanner slowly begins to notice odd things about Louise- things as a reader I never would have expected either! One night Louise is in Tanner’s room and says they have to leave right away, and off they go on an adventure of sorts.

Their story is so much more than that journey. The author touches on so many important issues like elder care, the need for independence for the aged, the dynamics between children and their aging parents, Parkinson’s Disease (wow, did this ever hit close to home, and I was so grateful to see it featured in this book), friendship, and second chances. There’s a zaniness to the story that keeps it fun and far from serious, but that’s countered with the heart and goodness in the story and its characters. Once again, Colleen Oakley has knocked it out of the park.

I received a gifted copy.

Louise and Tanner are such an odd, fun pair! Louise is an 83 year old woman who has broken her hip and Tanner is the girl hired to watch over the cranky old woman.

They come to a mutual agreement of ignoring each other until they end up headed on a road trip together! Because why does a notorious jewelry thief look exactly like Louise? Tanner drives her to her destination with both of them living like outlaws for a few days! Boy is it a trip.

I loved the witty banter between these two characters. It was a fun book and different from what I would normally grab for. Overall it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Is there a (non-romance) genre for books about two people who learn to like each other and bring out the best in each other? It often involves one character being much older than the other. Maybe a curmudgeon and brat genre? I'm not complaining because I have enjoyed a great many of these books. The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise is another book that fits right into this genre. However, I found the plot to be completely unexpected. I enjoyed the misunderstandings and the twists. It gave the story a unique place in the genre and I truly appreciated its originality. I grew to really like both of the main characters, just as they both begrudgingly began to realize that the other had a few good qualities. It ties up with a big happily-ever-after bow, and who can complain about that with this fun, easy to read novel. I recommend that you read this book, even if you are not a big fan of the curmudgeon and brat genre. I believe that book clubs will find plenty to discuss with this title, so I also recommend it to any book clubs looking for a light, pleasurable read. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thelma and Louise but one is younger and the other older, and, you got this book. It felt expertly crafted, witty and engaging; making it a joy to read.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise is such a delightful ride. I loved the interactions between Tanner and Mrs. Wilt and how they came to be a team and grew based on the brief number of days that they were together. This book made me laugh out loud on a few occasions and I loved the twist with George and how it leads you into thinking one thing several times along the way only to surprise you at the end. I also really enjoyed the portions of the book that break up the narrative on occasion as Mrs. Wilt's family comes to terms with her disappearance and the investigation. I recommended this book all summer long. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 big stars

Absolutely hilarious. I loved Louise. I want to be Louise when I grow up (minus the rap-sheet!) What a wonderful multi-generational story! Highly recommend!