Member Reviews

In this sparkling debut, "Wanderlust," readers are taken on a whirlwind journey as magazine writer Dylan Coughlan wins a contest for a trip around the world—with an unexpected travel partner, Jack the Posho, an uptight guy she once ghosted.

Dylan, feeling stuck in her career and longing for adventure, must navigate the challenges of traveling with someone so different from herself. The trip is not just about exploring the world; it's also a chance for Dylan to revive her writing career after a viral article derailed her aspirations. As they embark on their journey, tensions rise, but so does an unexpected bond between the two.

The author skillfully captures the heart of their evolving relationship while exploring themes of ambition, self-discovery, and the complexities of love. With witty dialogue and engaging characters, "Wanderlust" is a delightful read that combines adventure with romance, making it a perfect escape for readers.

Was this review helpful?

Fun and swoony romance with rich character development and a conclusion that will leave you feeling wonderful. It's a must-read for anyone who loves stories about love, growth, and the joy of finding your perfect match.

Was this review helpful?

Why did I wait so long to read this book? I absolutely loved it! A trip around the world with a guy you went out with once? Yes, please. Sign me up. I also loved how deep this one got and how you got to see both MCs journeys to discovery.

Was this review helpful?

I kept seeing people say this book was “Unhoneymooners” meets “People We Meet on Vacation” but it just missed the mark for me. Maybe because it was too unrealistic? I had high hopes and just don’t think it was necessarily for me but I did enjoy parts of it.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved Wanderlust by Elle Everhart! It’s the perfect mix of humor, heart, and adventure. The dynamic between Dylan and Jack had me hooked from the start—full of sharp banter and hilarious tension that builds into a deeper, more meaningful connection. Their enemies-to-lovers journey felt fresh and fun, with real emotional growth that made me root for them all the way.

The travel aspect adds so much vibrancy to the story, and the descriptions of each destination are so vivid, it’s like you’re traveling with them. This book gave me all the feels—romantic, funny, and uplifting. If you love a rom-com with adventure, this one’s a must-read!

Was this review helpful?

Wanderlust by Elle Everhart is a delightful slow-burn rom-com that beautifully captures the essence of travel and self-discovery. The story follows Dylan, a relatable protagonist navigating her life against the backdrop of stunning international locales, which adds a vibrant flair to her journey. Everhart skillfully weaves entertaining banter and complex character backgrounds, making it an engaging read, especially for fans of the forced proximity trope. With a mix of humor and heartfelt moments, this debut novel is sure to charm readers looking for a romantic escape.

Was this review helpful?

Wanderlust by Elle Everhart. Pub Date: July 4, 2023. Rating: 2 stars. The premise of this novel seemed so fun and fresh with an around the world trip provided by a radio station with the catch of they get to pick a random contact from the winner's phone to travel with that person. I think readers go into this book thinking it will be a romance, but unfortunately I felt the characters did not mesh well and honestly I thought the author added too much of a political front to this storyline as well. I also am not a huge fan of the lack of communication trope, which this book highlighted. This was a miss for me. Thanks to #netgalley and #penguingrouputnam for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I had to DNF this after attempting to read it multiple times in spite of the writing and plot being good. I feel that I am not the intended audience for this story, and that others will be able to relate to the main character in a way that I was unable to.

Was this review helpful?

I thought this was a really cute summery travel story! I have not read anything like it before so I liked that. It wasn’t my favorite book I’ve ever read, but it was cute!

Was this review helpful?

"Wanderlust" by Elle Everhart is a charming but uneven read. It follows Cassie, a travel blogger, on her journey across Europe. The vivid descriptions of destinations are a highlight, making you feel like you're right there with her.

Cassie is a fun and spirited protagonist, and her interactions with locals and fellow travelers are heartwarming. However, the pacing is uneven, and some parts of the story drag. Cassie’s character development feels superficial, and the self-discovery aspect doesn't go deep enough.

The romance subplot is sweet but lacks depth and complexity, making it feel predictable.

Overall, "Wanderlust" is enjoyable for its beautiful settings and adventurous spirit but falls short in character development and pacing.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a fun and cute premise for a story! I really enjoyed the characters and the journey we went on with all of them. I'd recommend this for a fun vacation or anytime read. Thank you for the chance to read this story!

Was this review helpful?

This book is a sweet rom com, perfect for a quick and enjoyable read. The characters are likable, and the story is charming. Cute vacation read!

Thank you NetGalley and Elle Everhart!

Was this review helpful?

As someone who suffers from a great deal of wanderlust, but unfortunately, cannot break the ties of my desk frequently enough, Elle Everhart's debut novel Wanderlust had a lot of appeal. Dylan, a magazine writer, wins a radio station contest for an all-expense paid trip around the world, but there's just one catch ... someone will be accompanying her on this trip. Someone who is randomly selected from the contacts in her phone.

If you are like me, forever not storing numbers, then this would not be the dire predicament that it turns out to be for Dylan. Because who is selected from her phone? Random posh guy who she once met on a night out and hasn't thought of since. "Jack the Posho," as he is so affectionately labeled in Dylan's phone, will be traveling for the next two months with her, seeing the sights and sharing meals ... and even a hotel room (two beds, of course!) If these two weren't such opposites, perhaps this wouldn't be a problem. But opposites they are, so you know they are going to butt heads throughout this trip.

When Dylan experiences a bit of a work crisis, and the two break down barriers and get to know each other a little better, they discover that traveling and new experiences is good for the soul, and that there may just be a little more behind this trip than they originally anticipated.

As promising as it seemed, Wanderlust was unfortunately only a middling read for me. Part of my frustration with the novel came in the form of Dylan and her job. Dylan was not at all an endearing character, and I found myself disliking her more and more as the novel progressed.

SPOILERS AHEAD ... One of the major conflicts that Dylan has in this story comes in the form of a prior abortion revelation in article she once wrote, which received scathing comments. This is the first instance of many in this novel that I had to suspend disbelief. Granted, while there will always be abortion naysayers, the age-old "I had an abortion" thread is not so uncommon, and while people may express their discomfort with another's abortion in the comments of an article, I had a hard time believing that Dylan's life was absolutely ruined by this admission in her article.

Furthermore, when Dylan's career as a magazine writer goes south toward the end of the book, she does a quick 180 and instantly becomes a rising influencer without struggle. Considering that I did not find her content to be even mildly compelling (frankly, it was pretty basic), it is hard to believe that she would find success so easily. And not only does Dylan make it as an influencer, but she convinces Jack to ground his future career in social media as well!

Unfortunately, these unconvincing plot points really soured my mood toward this book.

Was this review helpful?

Wanderlust was a quick read perfect for summer (even though it is set in January or February) in my opinion. I enjoyed getting to know Dylan and Jack and seeing the world with them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my digital ARC!

Was this review helpful?

This was a great beach read! It was light, romantic, and fun. This book reminded me of The Unhoneymooners. It wasn’t a super unique idea but still fun to read.

Was this review helpful?

This book was not for me. I appreciate the publishers and netgalley giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

Incredible concept - I loved the travel aspect to this. But unfortunately, it just fell flat for me. I had a hard time staying interested in this one. I only finished it to give it a fair chance since this was an ARC. However, it wasn't an enjoyable read for me.

Was this review helpful?

I love a good travel read and this did not disappoint. It’s a slow burn, which I love, and we watch the two main characters dance around their feeling for each other while also reading about their travel. The lack of communication isn’t my favorite and watch a FMC make decisions that she’s knows are wrong did bump this down in rating.

Was this review helpful?

This read reminded me quite a bit of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (minus the fact that she’s not trying to lose this guy). What I loved here is that she really tried hard to do right by him. Wanting to prioritize feelings as best she could and making amends as quickly as possible when she failed.

Romance with a plot line as well as contending with real issues are always my favorites!

Was this review helpful?

I unfortunately had to DNF this book. I found myself putting it down frequently and it took too much effort to pick it up again.

Was this review helpful?