The Most Likely True Story of Tanner and Louise was the first book of Colleen Oakley’s that I have read. I will definitely be reading her backlist, as I LOVED her latest book. This was a heartfelt and lovely book that I really enjoyed . Once I started this book I was flipping through the chapters quickly. The book had me re~living my own teenage years, as well as laughing at a good portion of the story.. I absolutely loved the characters, especially Tanner. I liked the premise of this book and also the alternative POV’S. I felt the author did a great job with the ending, as well. 5 big stars for this one, I definitely recommend other readers read this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise" is a fun ride from beginning to end. The story follows a young woman named Tanner, who after losing her soccer scholarship and having to move back home with her parents, is struggling to find her place in life. It also follows Louise, an elderly woman with a mysterious past, who is coming to terms with her failing health. When Tanner's parents tell her to move out, she ends up having to move-in with Louise, and become her care-taker. At first the ladies can't stand each other, but after Louise has to go on the run to save a friend, they forge a beautiful bond through the ups and downs on a dangerous road trip to California.

I loved this book! I really found myself in Tanner, because I've been in a place where I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. Louis was so much fun! She reminded me of my grandmother. Their banter had me laughing out loud at times. I loved getting to read both perspectives on life, love, and womanhood. It really shows how different generations view these things through different lenses. There is a romantic sub-plot that I enjoyed, but the real star is the relationship between Tanner and Louise.

The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the twist at the end.

Overall, I would read this book again.

Quite enjoyable light mystery novel. I liked Louise’s character, and could relate to her no-nonsense way of looking at things. Tanner’s character was a bit of a stretch for me, but what the heck - it’s fiction, right? She filled a role and provided balance. The character that really bothered me, though, was august. Is there a word for a female misogynist? Cause he was all beefcake all the time. As the mom of boys, i cringed at the author’s depiction of him throughout the book as a boy toy. Ugh. The story kept me engaged and interested, and i liked the ambiguity of the last page or so. I thought this one was just slightly better than average fiction.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise is an utter delight! A recommended first purchase for most collections.

First Two Chapters
So, in Chapter 1 a woman calls the police, stating that her eighty-four year old mother has vanished--none of her usual cronies have seen her, and she lives several hours away. She wonders if her mother was abducted but the chapter ends with "Though she knew deep down that Louise Constance Wilt had never done anything against her will in her entire life."

In Chapter 2 we meet Louise, whose will is being thwarted by the one thing none of us can avoid (except by dying) namely, age. We also meet the new housemate her children have forced on her. Finally this chapter introduces a letter and while we don't know what it says, the chapter ends with Louise realizing "she was going to have to run". Ok, I'm hooked, but its time to go back to work, more later.

Zooming Through the Rest
This book was a fun read and I devoured it in one evening--so much for blogging through the book.

There were so many things that made me smile/laugh: The mother of a college student asking a police detective who thought a phone had been accidently left behind, if she knows any 20 year olds, pointing out that their phones are practically appendages. The old lady telling the college student that life rarely goes as planned and we can either mourn the life we had or live the life we have. Louise wanting to be called Mrs. Wilt because it reminded her of her late husband.

On the other hand the whole resolution part of the plot was so....unbelievable. By the end of the story we know Louise's secrets, and no I don't really think real life goes down that way. But Tanner's ending was also hard to believe.

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. Grade: B

This was a first class read! It read quickly, it unfolded beautifully and believably, it had surprises rather than predictability, and it is a book I can recommend to any age. A story about an unhappy 21 year old and an unhealthy 84 year old worked! I predict this will be popular, passed from one reader to the next.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise is definitely not just mostly an exceptional book with mystery and intrigue throughout its whimsical yet mostly believable pages. With an eighty-four year old and a twenty-one year old on a cross-country road trip-each more headstrong than the other escaping from justice. Secrets and daring risks plague them at each turn with even romance thrown in for the imagination. I loved it.

Thank you Berkley for an eARC of this very funny and entertaining read!

Synopsis: When twenty-one-year-old Tanner’s dreams get crushed after a terrible injury, she loses her soccer scholarship and is forced to take a gap year from school. Needing money and a place of her own, she takes a job as a live-in care giver for an elderly woman named Louise. The two have absolutely nothing in common and at first, spend their days ignoring one another. That is until Tanner is watching the news and sees a lead in a jewelry heist case nearly four decades later and the women looks like a carbon copy of Louise. Around the same time, Louise gets a call from someone from her past causing her to wake Tanner up in the middle of the night, pack up, and leave town. What starts as a road trip on the run turns into an odd but special friendship you will not be able to get enough of.

Thoughts: While the concept of this book was quite bizarre and nothing like I read before, I could not get enough of the story! It was unique, charming, witty and funny. I loved Tanner and Louise’s unexpected friendship, the suspense embedded into the plot and all the unexpected twists. And the ending was GREAT! As this was my first Colleen Oakley book, I need to decide which from her backlist I’m going to read next.

Read if you like:
-Road trips
-Cozy mysteries
-Women helping women
-Thelma and Louise

I blew through this early read in less than 24 hours, and was engaged the whole time! This story approaches themes of expectations (What do we expect from the elderly? What do we expect from women, particularly of certain ages, what is the cost of challenging these expectations?), assumptions (what do we infer about people based on their appearance, their perceived limitations, their surface presentation, their age), and unconventional friendships (an elderly woman and a younger woman, both vulnerable and dependent in their own way), it also has enough of a mystery to keep one guessing while charmed by the flawed, but ultimately endearing characters. I’ve been reading a lot of dark and heavy novels lately and this was a welcome respite, while still having substance and provoking both thought and emotion. I think it will appeal to a wide range of readers as it doesn't shy away from themes of family, finding our place, the importance of friendship, whether it is more moral to follow the rules for the sake of following them, or to eschew the rules in favor of doing what's "right," it dips it's toes into women's issues without ever feeling overbearing or telling the reader how to feel.. There is a lot of humor throughout the book, and I found my son asking me frequently about the book as I was chuckling to myself a lot.
Tanner and Louise will keep you guessing where they are going, in life, in friendship, and in unraveling a cold case mystery. I really enjoy stories that include quirky and unconventional friendships, such as this one and found it easy to read without being overly simplistic. In my opinion this book is a great choice for when you want to have a quick read that keeps you involved. This was exactly what I needed!

What a fun read! I loved the bond between the 2 main characters and all the plot twists along the way!

Unique, unusual and captivating are the words that come to mind when I read a book by Colleen Oakley. I think I’ve read everything by this author and I am always fascinated by her storylines! This book is an exploration of a most unexpected friendship between 21 year old Tanner and 84 year old Louise (aka Patty) whose daughter insists she has a live in nanny. Louise is running from the law and although Tanner doesn’t exactly know why, she is willing to help. Both of them need a friend even though they weren’t really looking for one. It’s a delightful Thelma and Louise type story that grabs you from the start. Well done and I am a forever fan! #TheMostlyTrueStoryOfTanner&Louise #ColleenOakley #NetGalley

Friendship is one of life’s greatest gifts. Tanner is in need of a friend. After having to drop out of college, she has become bitter and isolated. She moves into the home of an 84 year old woman, ostensibly to help her out. They help each other as they embark on a cross-country trip, though tanner isn’t quite sure why they’re doing it. You don’t have to have much in common to be friends - you just have to open your heart to the possibility.
Heartwarming and enjoyable reading.

I loved this book! This was my third Colleen Oakley and probably my favorite.

What I enjoyed:
- the unlikely friendship between Tanner and Louise
- the unexpected twists! (George being a woman, Louise actually stealing the diamond, Jules being Sal’s daughter)
- commentary on domestic violence against women
- mix of important topics (gender, aging, injury, etc.) with humor
- the writing

Overall I really enjoyed this! There were a few random plot points that took away from the story (the detectives backstory) and I didn’t buy into the romance between august and tanner, but overall I really enjoyed it.

4.5/5

I love this author! Such a fun, charming story. I love books that have multigenerational relationships. Lots of wit and heart.

There's so much to love about THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER & LOUISE: The unlikely pairing of the two protagonists, the relatable absurdity of the road trip gone wrong, the strong themes of women helping women, the triumph of friendship against the odds. I just adore Colleen Oakley and everything she writes. With deep appreciation to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this one early—what a treat!

This is the first book I've read by Colleen Oakley and I'm now a big fan! This has to be one of the most FUN books I've read! You think you're on a Thelma & Louise adventure - two women on an "escape" ride and a hunky male sidekick - but this turns out to be a beautiful ending...with a little twist. Fantastic book!!!

My first Oakley book, so I had no idea what to expect but thought the cover and title sounded fun so I figured “why not?” Oh goodness, this was such a delightful, heartwarming read! I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh so hard. The characterizations of Tanner and Louise was incredibly well done and they are officially my favorite odd-ball duo. Tanner starts off the book as a huge brat, but learning about the reason she is acting this way, as well as how her character progresses was written in such a real, earnest way. Louise was a firecracker from start to finish and I really enjoyed reading her inner monologue and interactions with other characters. Aside from the fantastic titular characters, I also really enjoyed the pacing, the side characters, the humor, and the twists and turns of the plot. I’m a huge fan of mysteries and the one in here was a nice addition to the story, kept me guessing right until the very end. Overall, just an incredibly fun read that will have you smiling all the way though. Highly recommend!

I have only read two of Colleen Oakley's previous books but I loved both of them so much. I am always telling myself I need to read more of her books, so I'm so glad I got the chance to read <i>The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise</i> early.

Once I picked this one up, I had a very difficult time putting it down. The twists and turns are exciting and unexpected, and I loved the unlikely duo of Tanner and Louise. It is filled with so much charm and wit, accompanied by characters that will delight and surprise you at every turn. It really is such an utterly heartwarming story and I sincerely enjoyed every minute.

4 stars

I can’t explain how much I loved this book. It came full on with the nostalgia of the 80’s and 90’s pop culture. It’s quite a fun and refreshing novel to dig into.

I expect we will see more of these kinds of odd-couple pairings as the Me Generation ages into the truly geriatric. A buttoned up Zoomer who self-punishes for not reclaiming her space, an elderly widow whose on the run and tons of fun ... A likable pairing and a great escape.