Member Reviews

First off thank you to NetGalley, the author, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a delightful slow burn. I thought the characters had great chemistry that continued to grow as the story went on. I appreciated many of the more left leaning angles in the book. Dylan could have easily fallen into a more stereotypical FMC if not for her railing against her conservative parents and standing up for her rights and choices. I flew through this ebook because I couldn’t wait for the moment when she and Jack finally took the plunge

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The last time I made out with a stranger in a bar, I didn't get to go on an around the world adventure. But I digress. I loved this book, even though we have the miscommunication trope, I think it was written well. I didn't want to have a temper tantrum waiting for them to figure it out. I wouldn't call this enemies to lovers but more like strangers who have made out to lovers. I would read a book by Elle Everhart again, anyday.


The novel "Wanderlust" takes the reader on a journey around the world with Dylan, a writer, and Jack, a man she randomly chooses to accompany her on her trip. Despite the initial awkwardness, an unexpected tenderness develops between them as they navigate the challenges of their careers. The depiction of their natural chemistry and their shared experiences with anxiety and panic attacks is a welcome representation in the novel.

However, the descriptions of the locations they visit could have been more vivid and immersive. In contrast to the synopsis, the novel often jumps between locations quickly, leaving the reader craving more detail and exploration. Overall, "Wanderlust" is an enjoyable journey with compelling characters, but lacks in its portrayal of the various destinations.

I just reviewed Wanderlust by Elle Everhart. #Wanderlust #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, G.P Putnam's Sons and Elle Everhart for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was fine. It had a ton of potential, but I found it lacking. I love traveling and the idea of falling in love with someone on an epic trip around the world sounds like a dream come true. The problem was, that I did not feel connected to Dylan, and the main characters had barely any chemistry. I also wish we got more of their trip in general. There was so much potential to explore the cities themselves and their experiences in each city. Instead, some of the cities were paragraphs while others were multiple chapters, which made the novel feel disjointed.

Dylan was not a great character. She was antagonistic for no reason and it took me to page 180 before I started to like her at all. I think the author was trying to push a grumpy/sunshine or enemies-to-lovers trope, but it felt really forced. I just did not believe that they fell in love and wanted to settle down together. I think we could have used more information about Jack as a person. The book might have been more successful as a dual POV. Further exploration into both of them as people might have helped me connect more to them below the surface level that we got.

Also, as a professional photographer, it is a bit offensive that someone taking iPhone photos somehow started a blossoming freelance photography career. There is so much time, training, and equipment needed to be a successful photographer, and while iPhones have come a long way it's just not the same. People in general have this misconception that it is easy to be a photographer and that is just not true. I am all for someone following their dream, so had Jack decided to go back to school or invest in learning, then I would have supported this plot line more.

Overall, it's a very fast read that has SO much potential, but ultimately missed the mark for me.

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If you love romantic comedies and lust after your next vacation, this book is for you!

Dylan, down on her luck, wins a round-the-world trip from a radio station out of the blue. What seems like a huge stroke of luck has a catch-she must take the first person the radio station pulls from her phone contacts at random. No matter who they are.

The station ends up pulling Jack, a grumpy lawyer who Dylan once kissed at a nightclub one time before her life turned upside down. Will the two of them make the most of it? Or will they argue and bicker the entire time they are traveling the world?

Very much like the Unhoneymooners, Wanderlust is a grumpy x sunshine romantic comedy that keeps you laughing and turning the page with its witty humor and banter. Both Dylan and Jack undergo a lot of development throughout their time traveling together, and you can’t help but root for both of them.

I really liked the trope of this book. I thought the around-the-world theme was clever and engaging. The characters were likable and the author put in a lot of great character development. That being said, I really think that the beginning and end of this book could be shortened or taken out. I almost put it down because of how slow and unengaging the beginning of the book was. The ending also had me yawning and wishing it were over. I was looking forward to when Dylan and Jack returned home, but the last 30 pages or so of this book were anticlimactic and disappointing. I also found the instagram piece of Jack’s career development a little cringy.

Despite some of the flaws found in this book, I really enjoyed everything else. Once Dylan and Jack hit the airport for the first time, it was well written and I flew through the book waiting for their next adventure!

Thank you @netgalley and Penguin Random House for the e-arc of Wanderlust in exchange for my honest review.

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Such a fun novel-except for the true to life sections on how social media can ruin everything-not fun. Enthusiastic Dylan is the perfect foil for posh Jack. She is crazy funny even while dealing with some awful online comments. Jack is mostly serious unless Dylan cracks his code. Loved it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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On a whim, magazine writer Dylan enters a BBC radio contest and wins a trip around the world for two, all expenses paid. But there’s one huge catch- her travel companion will be chosen at random from her phone contacts.

Just her luck, it’s Jack- the guy she made out with at a club weeks ago and then promptly ghosted. Starting off awkwardly, they slowly reignite their chemistry from their first meeting.

But just as they start bonding, Dylan, hoping to advance her journalist career, jeopardizes it all by going against Jack’s wishes -posting an article with personal details about him.

Now Dylan must find a way to gain back Jack’s trust, and try to salvage their budding relationship.

Debut writer Everhart has written complex characters with well developed backgrounds and plenty of entertaining banter.

Set against the backdrop of gorgeous international locales, this slow-burn romcom will appeal to fans of travel and social media storylines as well as the forced proximity trope.

Readalike Love and Other Flight Delays By Denise Williams

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Such a fun concept that definitely makes you daydream about traveling the world. A truly slow-burn romance, that took me awhile to get into, but ultimately I enjoyed. I wish books could step back from focusing on social media, but I guess that is now the times we live in. As a 28 year old I should be used to it, but sometimes I just wish in fiction instagram could not exist.

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy.

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What an awesome read! The premise caught my eye: a woman wins an around the world trip from a radio contest but the catch is the station gets to pick *anyone* from her contacts to go with her. Who do they select but the starchy, posh Jack— the guy she ghosted after a great night out.

The lush setting descriptions have you feel like you’re cruising around the world with Dylan and Jack from the comfort of your couch! I did find myself googling travel destinations after I finished the book…

I especially am a sucker for grumpy/sunshine dynamics and felt this match delivered! Would have loved if there was one or two more love scenes since the burn was slooowwww but I appreciated the anticipation! Also appreciated the bi-rep and depiction of online bullying.

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While Wanderlust by Elle Everhart was a fun read there were elements that continually took me out of the story.

Humor: 🤣🤣🤣
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Story: 📚📚📚
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved the premise of this novel: Girl meets guy. Girl ghosts guy. Girl wins jet-setting trip from radio station. Girl must take guy she ghosted or forfeit trip.

This was a new, creative idea for a romance novel. And while the writing style was solid, the story tried to impart so many nuggets of wisdom that it felt preachy at times. I appreciate a good message in my romcoms—all my favorites touch on one or two social issues—but I felt like Wanderlust overdid it. There wasn’t a single topic that I disagreed with, and yet I still felt lectured.

I appreciated the MFC, Dylan’s, “take no shit” personality and playful sarcasm. And Jack, MMC, was quite the trooper, even in moments when he was dealt a little more than he deserved. The descriptions of the locations the two visited transported me and had me feeling my own strong sense of wanderlust.

I also like any novel that has swearing and a bit of open door spice (even though the slow burn was so slow that when the time finally came it felt a little awkward and lack luster).

Overall, this book had some ups and downs and the unique, creative premise alone is enough for me to recommend it.

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Thanks to netgalley and publisher for arc.

Really liked this trip around the world! The details made me feel like I was in all those places! Jack is so sweet ah loved him! Biggest problem with this book was the painfulllllllly long slow burn and we got barely any of them as couple which was criminal! I also hated the big blow up fight didn't think it warranted such a big deal tbh.

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Review:
The premise of this book is so interesting. When we meet Dylan, she is feeling stuck. She wants a column and her editor keeps moving the bar to get one. When she kears someone turn down the trip of a lifetime because they have to go with a random person from their phone she knows that wouldn't stop her. The random contact turns out to be Jack, a guy she met at a bar the night before her life changed months ago.

I really enjoyed Jack and Dylan's banter. Both when they were arguing and not getting along and as they started to understand each other a little more. I loved hearing Dylan's descriptions of the places they were going. Although The Blue Ridge Mountains are quite a bit of a drive from Sydney. I was disappointed in the places they went where we just skipped over the descriptions and it didn't feel like we'd been there at all.

I was truly worried that Jack and Dylan wouldn't work out their individual and joint dramas before they got back to London and I would've loved to see them go back and forth as they try to work through it, but ultimately it was interesting as they started and ended this journey together.

Synopsis:
Feeling stuck at work and tired of London’s dreary weather, magazine writer Dylan Coughlan impulsively rings a radio station one day only to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world. The catch? Her travel partner must be a contact randomly selected on her phone. And of course this stressful game of contact roulette lands on a number listed only as Jack the Posho, an uptight, unbearably posh guy she met on a night out and accidentally ghosted.

The two couldn’t be more different, and as the trip kicks off, Jack seems like he’d sooner fling himself into the sun than have a conversation with Dylan. But more is hinging on this trip than the chance to see the world. For the past two years, Dylan’s been relegated to writing quizzes (and only quizzes) at her lifestyle magazine after an article about her past abortion went viral—and not in the good way. If she’s able to make a series about their trip successful, her overbearing boss will give her a chance at a permanent column. Dylan’s willing to do anything to make the series a hit, even if it means embellishing her and Jack’s relationship to satisfy readers. But as the column’s popularity grows, so does the bond between Dylan and Jack, and Dylan is forced to consider if the one thing she thought she always wanted is worth the price she'll have to pay to get there.

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A fun premise, but I was wanting more? I wish that there were more details about the various locations they went to on their vacation. So much time was spent at the first stop on the Sydney harbor bridge and then every other stop was rushed through, some only being a couple pages. I felt like I would have been more into the story if there was more detail about the places they visited and less about their awkward hotel encounters.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for providing this ARC!

Wanderlust is a rom-com that features Dylan, a women's magazine writer who wins a radio contest trip around the world. Dylan quickly discovers that there is a catch: her travel partner will be someone randomly selected from her phone's contacts. Enter Jack, a guy who met Dylan once at a bar and has not spoken with since. Jack surprisingly jumps at the opportunity to join the trip, much to Dylan's dismay.

This book had a lot of potential based on the plot alone. However, I felt like it could have been so much more. I could not help myself from making the connection between several plot points in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days to this book. It very much reads as "Andie Anderson How-to Girl who writes fluff for a magazine but wants to write more hard-hitting pieces".

The characters were not incredibly interesting, and I did not see much of a connection between Dylan and Jack. In addition, I felt that the travel piece was really lacking; some locations got several chapters, and some locations were barely covered in a page. All of the ideas were there, I just think they could have been executed better.

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I can honestly say I couldn’t imagine something happening like this but loved the premise of the idea. And think it would be the cutest tv show, too. We’ve all felt the feels Dylan is faced with in feeling stuck in a work rut and her actually winning the radio contest is one in a million, and the task of selecting anyone at random in your phone contacts, you just know the rom-com essence is going to end up with a strangers to lovers concept and overall an enjoyable read.

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I absolutely loved this book. I feel like I need more time to digest, so I may come back and edit this, but my overall feeling is just...this book is important.

This book is important for bi individuals who get shamed/told "its ok because you can still be in a relationship that LOOKS straight". Because its who Dylan is! She is a wonderful person and she doesn't fit in this box that her parents feel like she should be in. This book is important for people who are speaking their truth and telling stories about abortion that they got because they have that CHOICE. Dylan's life was really screwed up when she told her story. And when she tells Jack, thats the first glimpse that the reader, and Dylan, get that says "he's a good guy". Jack is so different on the inside then his box that HE was forced into.

I just can't love this book enough. And the fact that the cliche third act breakup doesn't happen, because it happens in the middle and then they COMMUNICATE and Dylan gets to apologize? It's amazing to me.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and my reviews are completely my own*

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I really enjoyed world traveling with Dylan and Jack. The whole premise of winning a radio competition like this is amazing.

The story started off so cute but overtime, I unfortunately started to dislike Dylan a bit. But nevertheless, Dylan and Jack deserved their ending and I couldn't stop my smile on the last few pages.

*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I’m a sucker for strangers to lovers, opposites attract, forced proximity, and travel trope romance books. Would one classify this as a second chance romance??

While at work, Dylan calls a radio station on a whim to enter a contest to travel around the world. Amazingly, she wins but has to take the trip with a rando from her phone contacts. And of course, Jack is picked. Jack from a pub many moons ago who she ghosted instead of going on a date with. But he agrees to go on the trip with her and unknowingly to them, sets up the perfect opportunity to connect & fall in love 🥰🥹

My first reaction is 4-4.5 stars. I love their interactions from the radio call to the very end. The ups & downs they had, including the fact that the third act breakup didn’t feel like it. It felt like growth in their friendship that was pivotal to their relationship.

I loved the character development and the flow of their relationship, my only complaint is the low spice. But honestly, it felt right and anything else wouldn’t have felt true to the story.

Huge thank you to NetGalley & Putnam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is a beautiful debut from Elle Everhart & I can’t wait to read more of her books.

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ARC Review

Rating ARC’s can be difficult because I review and rate based on how a book makes me feel, but I try to be more objective with these. I will say upfront that I loved this book! The premise was fun and just different enough to put a spin on familiar tropes, but not so outlandish that I couldn’t enjoy it.

Wanderlust is a single POV book that dips into rom-com territory but brings along a lot of big issues to tackle as well (abortion, family strife, LGBTQIA+ acceptance, online harassment and threats, and the environmental crisis).

What I really loved:
✔️ strangers to lovers
✔️ slow burn
✔️ grumpy/sunshine
✔️ second chance romance
✔️ forced proximity

There were a few things that had me wavering between 3 stars and 5 stars (so I split the difference) that either just weren’t quite right for me or may be difficult for others.

1. If a liberal view on big topics is a deal breaker for you, then this isn’t your book. I loved it, but some of the issues named above are very sensitive, so it won’t be right for everyone.

2. I feel like this book needed more development for Jack to understand his character better. It might have been better as a dual POV.

3. The unresolved nature of the ending makes my anxious brain itch! A lot of big issues were brought up and left hanging, and huge decisions were made and then… done. I don’t know if this was done intentionally so the author could continue the story in another book, or if other (less neurotic than me) readers would find it a satisfying conclusion but I felt like there was too much left open.

All in all, though, this was a really enjoyable book, and I’m putting this author on my list to watch for because I’d love to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to netgalley, Putnam books, and Elle Everhart for a chance to read this fantastic debut romance!

Read dates: 03/02/2023 - 03/04/2023
Goodreads review posted: 03/04/2023
Instagram review posted: 03/04/2023

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If you won a radio show contest where the prize was an incredible trip around the world but you had to go with a person randomly selected on your phone's contact list, would you go?

Dylan is on the brink of getting her own collumn. If she can write a good series about this trip, perhaps her overbearing boss will finally let her have her chance.

Dylan is willing to do whatever takes, even if it means embellishing the series as a "second chance romance" between her and her randomly-selected-contact vacation-mate Jack. But the more time they spend together, the more she gets to know Jack, the more their bond grows. Now she must consider if her dream job is worth the price she'd have to pay to get it.

This was such a fun and interesting premise! I loved that we got to visit so many places with them and it gave me a serious case of Wanderlust ✨️ I enjoyed the story, and appreciated all the other topics covered beyond travelling and the romance.

I do wish this was a dual POV; it would have been nice to have Jack's perspective. I also didn't care for Dylan too much but that's purely due to personal preference. Given those things, it was the reason I wasn't too invested in the romance aspect of their relationship.

Overall, a great debut by Elle Everhart.

Thank you for the ARC!

CW: abortion (past), strained family relationships

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This book was not for me. First let me say that the cover is misleading in that you think you are picking up a breezy, fun romance, but instead I found large parts of the subject matter to be heavy and dark. In keeping with current trends, this book ticks every Woke checkbox (abortion, LGBT main character, etc). Additionally, I found the main character to be very hateful and unforgiving toward her family for having beliefs different than hers, even though they made efforts through the story to hear her side.

I love to read romances for the heartwarming stories. Here, rather than reading a fun story, I felt like an agenda took center stage and was being shoved down my throat the entire time. If you are anywhere other than far left politically, I would steer clear.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam for my ARC.

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