I loved this book! The author's development and depth of character in Dylan and Jack were excellent, and it was refreshing to read a rom-com-style book that had characters dealing with real, complex, and difficult problems. This made Jack and Dylan seem so much more real and relatable to me, and the characters' vulnerability created an even greater sense of intimacy. The only thing I would change is that I'd love even more description and action in each of the destinations they visited; some of the cities and countries on the trip were more fleshed out than others, and that left me craving more!

This book reminded me a lot of Emily Henry's style of writing, which I find to be very engaging. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys rom-coms and travel. This will be such a fun beach or vacation read this summer, or alternatively, a fun way to travel without leaving your house!

Cute and special, I got wanderlust reading this! As an international educator, I loved the conversations this book can bring up about travel and culture. It will be a great addition to my collection of novels that feature more worldly views. The romance was also quite tender and I loved the anxiety and bi rep!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Wanderlust is a debut novel and I think it was a very solid first book! For one, the characters are British, and anyone who knows me knows I love a good British rom-com! This had the wit and humor I appreciate along with travel which is fun. I loved how Dylan was a strong female character, and she felt very real in the way she was written. I enjoyed her journey throughout the book. Jack at first is seen as uptight and throughout the book, he becomes less what he is expected to be and more of who is wants to be and I really like how that was done as well. This did touch upon some heavier issues-abortion- but overall this is a light, fun read. Great for a beach/poolside read!

I was invited by the publisher to read this book through NetGalley and was immediately smitten by both the premise and the comp to Sophie Cousens, a favorite new author and one that is an auto-buy for me.

This is NOT like a Sophie Cousens book.

I've made it almost 25% through and I'm calling this a DNF, because, as they say, life is too short and there are far too many books that are better for me.

Which is a shame, because when I first opened the book, the writing sparkled and I thought that this would be a light, breezy, easy rom com.

But so far it's just angry, awful people. I'm not a prude, but sailor-mouthed main characters is subjectively off putting to me, as is Dylan's oh-my-god-why-is-life-and-my-job-so-haaard attitude (for reference, she makes makes quizzes for a sex toy magazine, has just won a free trip around the world, and her boss had the "audacity" to ask her to turn in some pictures of it. Doctor in a warzone she is not). When we got to her angsty "men are taught to be nice to women--oh only white cis women so they can weaponize niceness against everyone else," nope, I'm out. And the absolute zero chemistry between the supposed love interest makes me have no desire to read on. This isn't "enemies to lovers," this is just horrible people.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I liked the story and the characters, but I felt like parts of the story just needed to be developed more. It seemed like the author either developed the relationship or the travel story but not both at the same time. I wish she talked more about the things they did in each place because some locations were just mentioned and then said something about how Dylan and Jack didn’t talk all week.

Overall cute story and fast read so it’s a “maybe recommend” from me.

This book was pitched to me to be for fans of Just My Type by Falon Ballard. Well JMT was much better, but Wanderlust does have a journalism aspect that I appreciated as a journalist.

However, I found the story to be a little unbelievable, very so-so and not super super memorable. The only aspects that I felt like I enjoyed and agreed with the 2023 topics of importance were Dylan’s article on her abortion, and her pride about being bisexual.

Otherwise, the rest of the book was fine but no great shakes. I liked how many travel destinations that they went to, but felt like the lack of great descriptions about the destinations was a bit of a let down.

I hated Chantel (Dylan’s boss) with every core of my being. Yes I know sucky bosses exist but really felt like she was a bit overkill. Maybe a bit Miranda Priestly vibes actually.

Thank you to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting big things from this book since it was travel and romance based, two of my favorite things, but I felt that there really wasn't much travel content to it besides going to so many places. I did not really see the chemistry between the two main characters but I just expected more overall.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

trying to get out of my post fourth wing reading slump and needed a cute little rom com, and this one did the job!

Wanderlust follows Dylan, a gal wanting more from her job, after she wins a radio contest sending her on an around the world vacation. Unfortunately for her, the radio station picked who got to go with her using her phone— and of course it’s the guy from a drunken night out she might have ghosted 🙈.
This book was flirty and fun and made me want to pack a suitcase and head off to the airport, while discussing a few heavy topics as well. Dylan annoyed me the first half of the book just like she annoyed Jack, because I cannot stand people without a plan 😂🙈 but overall, a cute book about seeing the world, falling in love, and taking risks to live your dream 💕💕 thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up! Wanderlust follows Dylan after she wins a radio contest for a trip across the world. The catch? The radio station gets to pick a random contact from her phone to invite along with her. Of course, the choice is a long lost potential fling named Jack. We are taken on an amazing adventure through various countries while learning more about Jack and Dylan's backgrounds and feeling the simmering sparks that ensue. I LOVED the description of the places they traveled and felt like I was there especially with the energy of Japan and the delicious foods of Mexico. The slow burn was the perfect pace for me, but sometimes the sub plots of Dylan's past took away from the main story and romance and did not need as much of the spotlight. All in all it was a good story that I think will be a perfect beach read this summer.

This publishes in July! Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I just adored this book. The characters were fresh and delightful and the plot wasn't cookie cutter even though it relied on a common trope. I loved how it developed and the travel descriptions and food were wonderfully done.

This one gave me the same vibes as an early 2000's Romantic Comedy in the best ways. By no means is it earth shattering, but it is exceptional mind candy. A priority purchase for large libraries.

Magazine writer Dylan decides on a whim to call in to a radio station and wins a huge prize, a trip around the world! The catch to it? The station gets to pick her travel partner by selecting randomly from her phone contacts. The number they pick? Jack The Posho is his name in her contacts, the unbearably posh guy she met at a club and never called.

First, please check trigger warnings for this book as big conversations are had that could be upsetting for some. This book was such a fun read! The repertoire between Jack and Dylan was my favorite part. I love the quick wit and I love some bi representation. Their relationships with their parents were so relatable and real. I would call this a veryy slow burn rom-com adventure. It didn’t get a full five ⭐️s cause it did bounce around quite a bit for me to keep up but there was a lot of travel to cover. Catch this gem coming out July 4th!

Thank NetGalley for giving me this opportunity for a wonderful read!

I had no preconceived notions of this book other than its a vacation romance, it's opposites attract, forced proximity and it's second chance, and boy did I enjoy this one. Like, dang, it's so much fun and was so cute that I literally devoured this ARC while (fittingly) sitting on a plane. Wanderlust features so much compelling language and banter in spades, plus Elle Everhart's characters are so dynamic and authentic. I truly did not want to put this one down, I dug it.

As a journalist who's been bashed for writing the truth (insert eye roll here), protagonist Dylan's perspective really resonated with me especially with that isolating feeling that comes with it and not wanting to burden anyone with your problems. Like, these people who hide behind their anonymous profiles truly suck. And like, yes, we can block them and act strong but it's tough as hell to process. It hurts so bad and no one should have to deal with that. I admire Everhart for including this as a poignant message of what to/not to do.

Wanderlust, all in all, was very, very, very cute and fun, and like, well Jack is such a melt but in the best way and I'd totally get the ick IRL but on the page, it's just super sweet and endearing. I just wish I could start from scratch and read for the first time all over again.

3.5 out of 5. I thought i was going to love this book. Travel + romance in my book meant it was destined to be great. In the end it was good but not fully great. It wants to be People we meet on Vacation but it does not get to that level of greatness. What did i like: The concept of course. As absurd as it seems, a travel around the world with a hot stranger has an epic premise. I love reading and I love travel so this was made to me. Also I really liked Jack as a character. The writing is also very agreeable and its a quick and enjoyable read. some of my qualms: I really wanted more of the travel, I think the first locations were very detailed and then the rest of the world goes on with a blur – i would have liked some more travel content. Also Dylan was a bit exasperating. Side note that maybe only me will think about: how do they do all these locations and all the different plans plus all the different outfits they talk about in 1 bag? this book should have a travel guide in the end

When is it my turn???? Super cute. Very tame, that was the only thing I was left wanting more from. There was a great spicy scene but I wanted more!

The premise of this book was promising—winning a trip around the world with a person chosen randomly from your contacts. Unfortunately, that was the most exciting part of the book for me.

I did enjoy learning about some of the places they visited on the trip.

Thank you to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review

Wanderlust is the debut romance novel be Elle Everhart. This book follows Dylan, a magazine writer who wins an all expense paid, mulitcity trip from a radio station! The only catch is that her travel companion will be chosen from her phone contacts randomly. As Dylan is someone who never deletes contacts, this could be anyone from her best friend to someone she doesn’t even know. It ends up landing on Jack, a man described as “posh” in her phone who she actually ghosted a few months before. Can they make things work on their trip of a lifetime?

I had high hopes for this one. The premise sounded just off the wall enough to be a fun summer read and I always love books that have a lot of travel in them for the summer. This book is written in third person and from Dylan’s perspective so it feels very one sided. Jack felt very basic and overly mean for no real reason. They also went to so many cities, I felt like I was getting whiplash. I wish it would have focused on just one city instead and the focus was on them really exploring the city.

These is a lot of focus on instagram and online presence to the point where I don’t think someone who isn’t online a lot will be able to connect with those parts. While there were some interesting conversations about internet safety and etiquette, a lot of it came off instructional instead of flowing well with the story.

I never felt any chemistry between Dylan and Jack because Jack seemed so cold through the entire book. I was waiting for his walls to come down and even when they did, it didn’t feel like there was a reason other than to push the romance forward. Also a lot of Jack’s views about the trip just gave me an ick that I can’t really go into without spoiling it.

I just didn’t really enjoy this one much at all. There were also some heavy topics in this book that need content warnings before going in. If you are at all sensitive to the topic of abortion or doxxing, you may not want to pick this one up. These are conversations surrounding these topics that can be very nuanced and well done but the way they were in this book felt like they were in the book just to have them. I just feel like having this conversations in books and it being literally an exact copy and paste of stereotypical situations doesn’t really add to anything.

I hate that I didn’t enjoy this because I really love to promote new authors when I can but this just wasn’t a book for me. It seems like a lot of other early reviews are positive which makes me happy for those readers. It just wasn’t a book for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

When I read the synopsis on Netgalley it read: “People We Meet on Vacation meets The Unhoneymooners” -Sold. I had to read this book, and I’m SO glad I did.

I’m still crying and thinking about the story because it was so perfect. Dylan is a writer trying to get her own column, and Jack is the one-night stand that never was. I’m not sure if enemies to lovers and second love romance can be tropes together, but I’m declaring that it’s possible right here, right now. My heart was aching for Jack and Dylan, even though I could anticipate they’d live HEA, the journey had me at the edge of my couch.

The book covers a myriad of social issues, including social media influence and the negative (and positive) impacts it can have on your life, abortion, LGBTQ acceptance, climate change awareness, and my personal favorite, societal and parental expectations. At the end of the day, follow your dreams. Having support and acceptance from parents is validating and beautiful, but when it’s not there, you have to bet on yourself. You have to love yourself and believe in yourself - that’s what Jack and Dylan teach us.
The slow burn was absolutely delicious in this swoonworthy story full of travel and adventures. I can’t wait to add this to my bookshelf because not only was the story freaking phenomenal, the cover is really pretty, too.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun one. I would say if you like a really really slow burn and a lot of references of Instagram (I am not saying this in a bad way) then this book will probably make you giggle and laugh and get teary eyed. Gets a bit heavy in spots and I thought the author handled it well. Really enjoyed myself with this one. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read it early!

This book was everything my romance and travel loving heart could have hoped for! I love when I can live vicariously through the characters of a book, and being able to hop across the globe with these main characters was so much fun. Mexico City, Cape Town, Marrakech and Sydney have all shot up on my travel bucket list, and while that happened the story of their budding relationship was such a source of joy. This is a really fun, lovely read.