DNF 65%

Float Plan is one of my most recommended books and one I reread often. I thoroughly enjoyed The Suite Spot and always recommend it to anyone that loved Float Plan. The abeck sisters are amazing! Off the Map however, I cannot put in the same category.

At 65%, I’m throwing in the towel on this one. Mostly because the more I read, the more I dislike Carla and lose respect for Eamon. It was becoming painful and not enjoyable.

I could go into the details of why I don’t like these characters, but I think many of the other reviews touch on my sentiments about these characters. So I won’t beat a dead horse.

If there are other stories in this series, I will definitely pick them up, based on my love for the first two books.

this one didn’t work for me unfortunately. I wasn’t really sure what this one was about but I love the first two in the series so I was excited to give it a go.

I honestly didn’t think there was much of a romance it’s more focused on our main character finding her way in life. which is fine I just guess I wanted more romance. too much insta-love and then the love interests being separated for too long just made me not root for the romance.

the dementia storyline was honestly not my favourite representation. I’ve seen dementia in someone really close to me and I felt like this storyline was added in as an emotional plot line that didn’t really make a lot of sense. the way her dad was progressing didn’t make a ton of sense to me but I know it is different for everyone. I just felt like in such a short novel like this that’s so hard to flesh out and I don’t think the ending was super necessary.
I also didn’t love Carla’s choices lol so she was necessarily likeable to me and I didn’t quite understand her I guess

anyways, I know this has been a good one for so many people so if it sounds like something you’d like give it a go it just didn’t work for me.

thank you to the publisher for the e-arc.

Off the Map is one of those stories I think EVERYONE should read. You might not like it, but you sure will learn from it. Carla and Eamon are about as opposite as they can be. Carla is a bartender that’s spent her years traveling, while Eamon is an accomplished tech man who ALWAYS has plans to follow. One wanders, while the other accomplishes things off his list. Yet, on a chance encounter, they start realizing that the life they are living might not be the life they want. In very little time, a lot of soul-searching is done! There’s anger, frustration, loss, and yes, sexy-time. Read this book if you’d like a rollercoaster of emotions!!!

A fun hookup turned into love. At first I wasn’t sold on the book, but by the time the end came around I was sobbing on the plane. The characters are beautiful, the story is fun and adventurous and it’s also a great story about friends and family

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the eARC of this beautiful story.

This short book begins with Carla, fresh off a trans-Atlantic flight to Ireland, who is taking a break from her world travels to attend her best friend’s wedding. She knows she’s supposed to be meeting Eamon, the groom’s brother and best man, at the airport to begin their cross country trek for the big day. He shoots her a text asking her to meet him at a local pub, and our Floridian waitress is always down for a fresh pint of Guinness. When their lips lock before a single word had been said, their fates might just be sealed.

What really drew me into this story was not just the excitement of traveling (which I wish I could do more of) or the rock-your-socks-off romance (and spice hehe) but the touching, real-life stress and angst that both our main characters are struggling to overcome separately. Suddenly, they are struggling to overcome these big life quandaries together. The chemistry, somehow, was written so well that the accelerated timeline was totally believable and butterfly inducing. I now immediately need to hop on a plane to go find my Eamon Sullivan.

I did not realize this book was the third in a series when I requested the ARC, but now I am so excited to dive into more work from this author. We love a solid back catalogue.

If you like fast paced romance (with some spice), traveling the world, and skillful character development, you should certainly get ready to hit buy when this gem hits the shelves.

Road trip + Ireland + one tent + forced proximity!

Carla had been traveling the world in her Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, only taking breaks when she needs more cash. She doesn’t do relationships & never goes home.

Eamon creates digital maps, and while he helps people find their way, he feels completely lost.

They’re both in Dublin for Carla’s best friend & Eamon’s brother’s wedding. When Eamon picks Carla up from the airport, what should be a quick road trip across Ireland turns into a several day adventure with unexpected detours & even more unexpected feelings.

Read if you love…
- Ireland
- road trips
- hiking
- camping / one tent
- open door
- insta-lust
- insta-love ish
- forced proximity
- cameos from previous characters

To be honest, I really debated DNF’ing this one when I hit 20%. Both MCs annoyed the heck out of me with how irresponsible they were in arriving at a major event on time.

But I also wanted to know what happened, especially after a pretty chaotic road trip scene (see cover of book). So I kept going.

For the most part, I ended up liking it. The MCs take a minor road trip in Ireland from Dublin to the opposite coast. It’s mostly insta-lust but kind of insta-love with a slow ishhh burn, which I liked & didn’t like with this one. Parts of it were done well; parts of it were cringy.

I did enjoy the cameos from previous books - mostly Keane & Anna (book 1) and minor mentions of Mason & Rachel (book 2). But all can technically be read as standalones.

Highly recommend checking the trigger warnings because without these being triggers for me, I cried for a decent chunk of the last 20%.

Thank you to St Martins Press & Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

PUB day: March 7, 2023

‼️Trigger warnings: parent with dementia, on page; death of a parent, on page

"Feel all the feelings, Carla. Let them hurt, then let them heal."

°•*⁀➷

<i>I loved Float Plan so much because it was a perfect absolute recollection of how grief reorders a life. I liked The Suite Plan because we got to watch a girl recognize what real love looks like. I love Off the Map because we got to watch Carla stop running away from the life she finds out she CAN choose.

Carla grew up knowing that life was meant to be experienced. With her Mom taking off and her father having no idea how to take care of a young girl, he decided to make their life one full of memories. They traveled to every park they could, camping and living off the land, there were no limits or expectations... just fun. Just love.

So what happens when those memories are lost? When her father is diagnosed with dementia, she has to find a way to keep all of those memories close enough for the two of them. Especially when he makes her promise to keep living, and keep experiencing, even when he can't be there next to her.

That brings her to Ireland for her best friends wedding. My Anna, from Float Plan. And Ireland brings her Eamon. There's a beautiful moment when she makes her way home for the first time in years where she tells her father, "Ireland was beautiful. And while I was there, I fell in love." For someone who's been traveling, and running away her entire life, I feel like my heart stopped with hers in that realization.

When someone you've known only a few days helps you to understand the importance of going home, there's something there, something so much more than Carla or Eamon seemed to be ready for.

I've spent so much of my life reading that sometimes I can't believe that books can still sneak up on me like this one did. This felt like a big hug. I mean, where else can you find a drunk bull and the perfect guy in the same place?

So, make sure you: Feel all the feelings. Let them hurt. Then let them heal. Carla needed to hear that and maybe you do, too. And if you can't do it on your own, do it with Carla. Grab this book on March 7 like I will be, and fall in love with the Beck sisters and all their friends!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

Carla, a wanderer, lands in Ireland for her best friends wedding. Eamon, the best man and the grooms brother, meets her a pub to give her a ride. The sparks fly right off the bat! They delay their arrival to the wedding multiple times to adventure and push past their comfort zones. After the wedding, they believe they have different plans for their lives and decide to go their separate ways. Soon, they realize that life really is too short to not fight for your person.

A very quick and fast paced read. The main characters fall a little too hard, a little too soon but given the length of the book, it makes sense. I read it in one sitting! Could be a favorite for those with wanderlust!

This was my first book by this author. It kinda of read likea novella. But I enjoyed it. It tackled some heavy topics in a short time and did a decent job of complet6th3 story. The end did seem a little abrupt. I was expecting it to show more struggles and hard days with Carla and her dad but I suppose it wasn't a bad thing to keep the story as light-hearted as possible.

I loved the vibe and setting of the story. As someone who loves traveling and hasn't ventured outside of the US (and who is also a native floridian) that part of it speaks to me on a deeper level.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read the arc in exchange for an honest review. It's worth a read as it's a quick one.

OFF THE MAP is a jaunty, jocular, joyful read! Seriously, if you need a laugh or two, pick up Ms. Doller's new book starring Carla Black, a beautiful bartender who works to make money to fund her adventurous traveling habit. She gives new meaning to the phrase, don't let grass grow under your feet, as she is never in one place long and is always on the go. Her cherished father suffers from Alzheimer’s. He explicitly tells her to go out, find adventure, because he doesn't want Carla seeing him worsen mentally and physically. He tells her to go experience things while she's in good health. Who knows what the future holds. Carla's dad showed her how to live life to the fullest growing up. They just didn't do relationships very well.

So, Carla heads to Ireland next for her best friend's wedding. Eamon, the best man, is to pick her up at the airport and take her to the wedding. They have never met but instantly click when they meet. Carla and Eamon go together like bread and butter. They both had horrible past relationships, so they declare friends only territory. Is fringe benefits a possibility?

As they proceed on their merry way to the wedding, detours ensue as they share bucket list wishes. After one adventurous diversion after another, time spent together heightens their attraction quotient. Is mattress tango in their future? Do they make it to the wedding?

OFF THE MAP is spur-of-the-moment fun in all the right places! The author perfectly balances emotional landmines concerning Alzheimer's, relationships, family problems, and dicey romantic entanglements. Carla's father is failing in health, but encourages her to find her happily ever after. Then, Carla meets quite possibly the man of her dreams. Eamon is the yin to her yang. But, escapades happen on the way to her best friend's wedding. This is a light, fluffy, romantic story with deep subjects. You might leak a tear or two. Incredibly funny but endearingly tender.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've loved Trish Dollars previous books but this one just wasn't for me. I had a difficult time connecting with Carla's character. I found her to be extremely selfish. The storyline felt rushed in many places especially as the beginning when Carla and Eamon met. I would've liked more of an emotional connection before it went to straight physical connection. I was just looking for more from this book.

This was my favorite of the Beck Sisters stories, I absolutely devoured it in two hours. I felt incredibly connected to Carla, a 33 year old woman with an extreme and awe inspiring case of wanderlust. She connects with an old fave from the first novel, Eamon Sullivan, and a totally new adventure begins. I loved living vicariously through these characters and I don’t hesitate in saying that this was Trish Doller’s best novel yet! I hope she continues to write in this Beck Sisters universe, I’ll be first in line for every story!

I went into Off the Map well aware that Trish Doller's romances usually deal with heavy and sensitive topics so I was not caught off guard that this book dealt with TW: parental abandonment, parent with dementia. However, I was surprised about how much of the book Carla's dad seemed to dominate. She talked about him all the time-- even to people she had just met or immediately after sex. This was a bit disarming to me as it feels unlikely someone in real life would do this or that other people would treat it as normal. Eamon was great-- a fantastic Irish book boyfriend who was very swoon-worthy. Carly is pretty mean to him but they do end up together-- honestly though, they feel like a book couple who won't last after the end of the book. A quick, sad read that people who are fans of her other books will enjoy. Not to my personal taste. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced copy. This book releases on March 7th, 2023. 2.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want a travel bug romance set in Ireland that’s spicy and bantery, but also has mature emotional growth to it?

Pre-reading:
Loved the first book. Absolutely hated the second. This is the one I was sent that made me start the series. I love cartoony romance covers.

Thick of it:
Why do all airports have those ugly sculptures lmao?

It calls to mind hot priests. I’ll see myself out.

Aww, Anna and Keane are getting married.

Eamon’s Keane’s brother right? (Yes, you idiot.)

Oh, I like Carla. She’s ballsy. Start right in on the horny. Love it.

Sag astrotrashhhh. Also here’s the travel bug Sag.

This book is horny.

I screeched at sexy tractor beam. Absolutely not.

No. No, no, no. No pity fuck. Book do not ruin the horny.

A paddle eh? Please, tell me this book is going there with the horny. (Only implied horny, 2/10.)

Lights on is not a kink honey. What the fuck.

We love an edger.

He gives me Scorpio or Cap vibes. Not Keane.

I already love them.

This bitch doesn’t use kink appropriately.

I. Like. Them.

I’m dying to see the northern lights.

Omg, a Capricorn. Such a Capricorn.

Computer skills get outdated so quickly though.

I also love being affectionately touched.

God, I want to go to Ireland.

I repeat Scorpio bitey vibes. Also, jesus christ, this book is so horny. How are these three written by the same author? They are three very different books.

I love Mr. Blue Sky.

Wow, I love her playlists too.

Also, I adore them.

Jesus christ this book is romantic.

So like what is his fatal flaw? How is this man single? (Well, he’s in a fictional romance book, and written by a woman. We can start there.)

HORNY BOOK. SINNERS, MY GOD. (SCORPIO)

They are so cute. I like this couple so much. They’re good for each other.

See! Hot priest! God, I love Ireland. God, I’m a sinner.

It fell 20 feet and it’s not injured? Bullshit.

OK, but like what’s wrong with him? Why is he single?

Oh, the “why are you like this?” question gets me every time. Fuck, I love problematic characters. That’s my favorite question people ask. It’s so spicy. Every single time.

It’s very Capricorn to be like I’ve never felt love before and that’s why I’m single. I don’t understand this author’s astrotrash. She’ll like put in that some characters are specific zodiac signs, but then the signs don’t fit their personalities. Like this man is a Capricorn. Keane is not.

Maeve is a much better name.

No, excuse me they need to be together.

Shut up, that’s such a romantic line. I’m very much on my period and overly emotional, but like oh my god, I’m getting teary-eyed. They’re so cute.

I’m not saying I want the dad to die, but I will trade the dead dad for them back together. Thank you. (Does this count as manifesting?)

She said Killian Jones. Now you really can’t convince me that the first book isn’t adapted Captain Swan fanfiction. Oh my god, the surge of adrenaline that just went through my body... I can spot horny and my husband from a mile away.

So much of this book is so good, and then, every now and then, there are cheese-ball lines that make me wanna vomit.

Post-reading:
Hi, hello, this is my favorite of the series. This series is so odd because the first one really gave you angst is candy. I don’t know what the fuck the second book was. And then this one is horny as shit. Which like sign me up. I love some spicy, emotional trauma. I feel practically high off the fact that I was correct that the first book was some Captain Swan fanfiction thanks to a reference made in this book. My horny radar is unmatched. I can, in fact, spot my husband from a mile away.

Anyways, it’s a travel lust romp of a rom-com. I love Ireland. I’m very stingy with my five stars, and I want a book to really wreck me if I’m gonna give it a five. This isn’t quite that, but it’s an easy read with enough spice and banter to have you ~invested.~ The romantic couple feels real and mature and healthy for each other.

Who should read this:
Travel romance lovers
Capricorn energy lovers

Do I want to reread this:
Maybe, and I wanna own it. Now I’m very conflicted because I want the first and third books, but I would feel weird not having the second book on my shelf with them.

Similar books:
* Book Lovers by Emily Henry-Capricorn and Scorpio romance vibes
* Sam by Allegra Goodman-tomboy heroine afraid of intimacy
* The Seaplane on Final Approach by Rebecca Rukeyser-heroine travels to find herself and grow emotionally while dealing with confusing romantic feelings

Another one that was fine. I found the unknown history very interesting but the story itself was choppy and fairly plain. Overall, not bad but not great.

Off the Map is a cute quirky romance novel. I am Giving it 4 stars out of 5. It starts with our protagonist Carla going to her best friend’s wedding in Ireland where she will meet with the Best Man and road trip down to the town where the wedding is taking place. Well, the best man turns out to be a smoking hot Irish man with a dry spell of 6 months. They have that lust at first sight and sleep together. They also both discover that they both love the idea of camping and off-roading. They make a lot of detours on their way to the wedding, and it just is fun read. My favorite scene was the bull drinking sangria. The main character Carla is also having anticipation grief with her father having dementia. The first part of the book has a bunch of sex almost too much sex which sort of ruined the book, until the last 40 % of the book it stopped being as much about sex, and started to be about emotions, and the main characters father. I believe this made the book way better and saved the book for me. I loved the quirky banter between the characters. I also loved the side characters. I think I the book focused more on the fun, and jokes, and some of the emotion it would have been a 5-star book in my mind. I did enjoy it, and I believe it will make an excellent rom com in the future. It was good lighthearted read, and brought laughter to me, and I cannot wait to see more of the author’s work.

The third book in the Beck Sisters series, this one focuses on Carla. For those who love traveling and adventure this book is for you. Packed full of adventures across Ireland with a few life lessons thrown, I couldn't put this book down. You'll laugh and cry along with Carla and Eamon. Definitely a perfect beach read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of Off The Map

I have not read either of the previous books in this series, but it wouldn’t be necessary for the reader. From the blurb, I was excited about a trip through Ireland, a little love and soul searching. There was all of these, but Carla and Eamon couldn’t keep their hands off of each other from the moment they met!
I throughly enjoyed the free spirit of Carla and wondering as the story progressed, if she would continue like this. Eamon was open to changing his ways, which led to some interesting adventures. But really, who would take off on a four day journey with a stranger? Parts of the story and the characters were wonderful and I couldn’t wait for what was next, which led to a quick read . On the other hand, again, the premise of those trip across Ireland was a little unbelievable to me.
I would be interested in trying out the two previous books, as I liked Carla and am interested in seeing how the series began.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced read in exchange for my honest review.

Once I started this story I couldn't stop reading which is what I usually find to be the case with Trish Doller's books. I absolutely loved this story of family and friendship and discovering the things that make you happy.

Eamon and Carla were so amazing from that first meeting in the bar to the very last page of the book. The pain of losing someone to dementia is so painful and seeing Carla face up to that pain and grab hold of it with both hands was lovely.

Thank you for the early copy of this! Can't wait to add it to my bookshelf!

First off, I absolutely loved the writing style and the vivid imagery that the author has portrayed. Moreover the word building was quite exceptional tooo. It was quite an easy yet unforgettable and entertaining read for me!!