Member Reviews

Really tried to start this book multiple times but could not get into it the storyline enough to enjoy it.

Was this review helpful?

3.5

It’s a nice story. It had a melancholy, maybe even serene feel to it. Almost fairy tale-ish? It’s a weird description of how I felt when I was reading it, but it felt like I was floating. It’s a nice, calm, summer read, if you want something non-chaotic.

I was having trouble relating to Gigi. I just can’t vibe with her. To me, the saving grace of this book were the secondary characters. Their stories and their character development. I loved it. The author did a great job of capturing every minute detail of the places they went to. They almost sounded magical.

The only thing that felt off for me was the name dropping of other authors, especially in the beginning. Although I do think it’s very sweet and thoughtful of her to give nods to fellow writers, it felt more like product placement for me. (Sorry, it’s a me problem).

Was this review helpful?

"Two for the Road" by Chantel Guertin is such a fun and sweet read! It's perfect for anyone needing a feel-good rom-com. The road trip aspect adds a great twist, and the characters are relatable. That said, some parts felt a bit predictable, and the pacing dragged occasionally. But overall, it’s a heartwarming story that’s definitely worth picking up if you’re in the mood for something uplifting.

*Jenna is our female protagonist who’s dealing with a rough breakup. She’s relatable and genuine, with a mix of vulnerability and strength that makes her journey of self-discovery compelling. Her wit and determination shine through, making her easy to root for.

Ben is the charming and down-to-earth love interest Jenna meets on her journey. He’s supportive, kind, and has a sense of humor that complements Jenna’s character perfectly. His laid-back attitude and genuine kindness add depth to his character, making him more than just a romantic foil.

Their chemistry and individual growth make their story both engaging and heartwarming, adding layers to the overall narrative.

Was this review helpful?

I wish I was able to actually read and review this one. There was an error and it wouldn't let me download it to my kindle!

Was this review helpful?

I wanted to love this book, but I dnf-ed at 30%

The premise sounded so cute, a woman falls in love with a man after hearing his voice in audiobook. Been there no?

Unfortunately, I didn't connect with any of the characters and I found the writing a bit juvenile. Some great potential, but I wish it had been fleshed out a bit more.

Thank you Netgalley and PRH Canada for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

A meet-cute set on a quaint bus tour through the English countryside. Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Canada for the arc of this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was really sweet! Enjoyed every sentence and I got sucked in immediately. Will be looking to try other stories from this author in the future.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this one! I worried at the start that I was going to find Gigi annoying but I quickly grew to love her. I also really liked the whole cast of characters she ends up on the tour with. And of course, the descriptions of England and the nostalgia for being on a bus tour only helped matters.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of this novel.

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute and enjoyable rom-com. I didn’t really connect with the plot line that she was in love with an audiobook narrator to that extent, but I loved the bus tour premise and all of the side characters. Gigi and Taj’s banter and chemistry was great - I was wishing for more!
I enjoyed the writing style and will definitely read more by this author.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars!

The cover and the description of this book immediately had me hooked! The fact that Gigi owned a bookstore had me feeling like she was the ultimate GOALS. I think the story overall sounded very promising and I mostly just had issue with the middle part.

Some parts felt like they dragged on a little and I am not sure I overall had the ultimate connection between the characters. Overall, I will definitely be recommending this book to people who want a fun quick read!

Was this review helpful?

This was such a fun read. Gig, the main character, is in love with love. Her parents met in a most romantic way, and Gigi has enshrined their relationship, especially after losing both of them at once, and taking over the family bookshop. She has changed it over to all romance, all the time, and has fallen for the narrator of the book her parents met over. She was so set on meeting her crush, that she was totally obsessed with him, without having met him. Her friends grouped together to get her a trip with Zane as the tour leader. Of course, the he was unavoidably detained, and was replaced ( by a sweet older fellow). She ends up having an adversarial connection with the bus driver, Taj, who is hot with a capital H.
The entire crew of this tour were delightful, and as we learn more and more about each of them, they become more interesting. The character development throughout was great for all the characters.
I was very pleased to see Gigi grow as the story progressed, and her idea of love and romance evolve. She had so much growth in this book, as did many of the other people.
All in all, a very fun enjoyable read. I look forward to more from this author

Was this review helpful?

This was a decent book but could have been better. The author could have fleshed out the side characters further. It was an interesting premise. Gigi falls in love with Zane's voice in an audiobook and her friends sign her up for a bus tour that he runs. He is held up and not there at the beginning and Gigi gets to know the bus driver, Raj. This is a light read that needed a bit more depth. Also I'm not that keen on books where the woman is having to chose between two men. But overall, a nice light read.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very cute, travel rom-com. I loved that the main character owned a bookstore - nothing better than a book lover reading about another book lover! I also have a soft spot for any book involving travelling - specifically travelling the UK, because it gives me the opportunity to feed my wanderlust! Overall, would recommended this one to anyone needed a cozy, travel read :)

Was this review helpful?

This was a good read. I found the book well written with good character development and easy to follow. I enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

i didn’t love the main character which made it difficult to connect with this book. she came across as really pretentious constantly putting down the “bus driver”’s job choice. she was so fixated on this weird love story she built up in her head that it just got old.

Was this review helpful?

2.5 ⭐️

This was a rough one to get through at times.

The MC, Gigi, owns a romance book store and is obsessed with romance and HEAs. She goes on a bus tour of England, gifted to her by friends, and discovers that an audiobook narrator she loves is the tour guide.

I listen to audiobooks, I get it, some people are really good at it. But this particular narrator (Zane) has only narrated one book and the reason she’s obsessed with it is because it’s the book that brought her parents together.

Her parents passed away a few years before this so she re-listens to that book constantly and she dreams about Zane saying the words in the book to her.

Joining the bus tour, she realises that Zane isn’t there, he’s had a family emergency and will be joining late.

The group is then with another tour director, Angus, and the driver, Taj.

Gigi develops a report with Taj, but once Zane joins the group, a few days in, she goes full in with Zane.

Only to realize that Zane is boring.

Sparks flicker (again) with Taj, but before they can do anything other than kiss, Zane tells Taj that Gigi came on the tour to see him (Zane).

Zane’s family owns the tour company so he fires Taj and Gigi realizes she’s screwed up.

She gets off the bus and finds her own way back to London, where she does eventually find Taj.

Gigi eventually has to return home and she wonders if she’ll be able to keep seeing Taj. But alas, Taj shows up at her book store! Love has saved the day.

That’s a really abridged overview, there’s some really interesting side characters (a man who has early onset dementia so he keeps a voice recorder on him to record moments form the trip, a makeup/true crime YouTuber, etc) and they may keep you reading if Gigi causes you to roll your eyes one too many times.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun and romantic read featuring an eclectic cast of characters who all brought something different to the story. I loved the concept of taking a bus tour in a foreign country to find love and the author did a great job of using the different locations to help advance the story. I’ll definitely pick up this author’s work in the future.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Chantel Guertin, Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the eArc! This book is the perfect summer romance pick! It has international travel, changed plans, sticky situations, humour, romance and lots of books! Gigi follows her heart, with the support of her friends, and learns a lot about herself along the way. Pack your travel bag and bring this book with you on your next adventure! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, I was unable to read it due to format incompatibility.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars. Gigi, the main protagonist, owns a bookstore in Ann Arbor, MIichigan. She came about owning the store after her parents were tragically killed and she took it over. She is thirty years old and is coming off a breakup of a long term relationship. Her friends band together and send her off on bus tour in England. Gigi has been fantasizing about this tour ever since she listened to the audiobook narration of the book that started her parent’s romance. The narrator has a voice that has comforted and sustained Gigi through lots of heartache. Upon researching the narrator, she discovers that his family runs a bus tour company in England, and he leads the tours.

This is a great summer read! If you like armchair travelling, and an inside view of what a group tour would be like with various personalities., With some self-discovery and romance sprinkled in, this book was very enjoyable.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for the electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?