Wish Lists and Road Trips by Lauren H. Mae

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Headline Eternal and Netgalley.

Blurb

Two stranded travellers. One unexpected journey.

Makeup artist Brit Donovan wants one thing: to prove to her overbearing family that she can be independent. After breaking off her engagement to her cheating ex, she sets off on her honeymoon cruise alone to recharge before opening her own studio.

Nick Callaway isn't on a pleasure trip. Armed with his brother's ashes and a list of places, he's on a mission to fulfill a dying wish. Burdened with survivor's guilt and on a countdown to get home in time to help his family's company, the only thing he wants is to get this trip over with.

When they're both stranded in Costa Rica after missing their cruise ship, Nick and Brit team up to make their way back to the US. Complete opposites, their initial frustration - heightened by the obstacles of grounded flights and delayed trains - gives way to a searing attraction, and the feeling this may be a journey that neither will want to end.

My Opinion

I love a road trip, so the title and cover drew me in with a little help from the blurb. Nick and Brit have both managed to miss the cruise ship and so must make their own way home. Their journey together is anything but straight forward but was very enjoyable to read about.

Whilst reading this, you will feel the chemistry between Nick and Brit and can't help but root for them. This was such a sweet read with some emotional parts. For me, Lauren H. Mae was a new author and so this was a great introduction to her writing and I am sure I will be back for more.

Rating: 4/5

When makeup artist Brit Donovan meets Nick Callaway, she has just broken off her engagement with her fiancé. Having decided that her parents’ desire to have her marry him despite his cheating ways, was not enough, she sets off on her honeymoon cruise alone. Nick is not on a holiday but instead, fulfilling his brother’s dying wish and to travel to all the places he had wanted to go. Nick is spreading his ashes in Costa Rica, when he teams up with Brit to find their way back to the US. Despite their differences, they gradually make their way back, only to find themselves enjoying each other’s company.
I loved this romance which whilst sweet, was tinged with sadness. Whilst Brit has wealth, she suffers under her parents’ expectations. Nick feels guilty that he has survived and finds the challenge of life without his brother, difficult. Together, Brit brings gaiety to Nick’s life whilst he gives her confidence in herself. Their family challenges brought reality to this engaging read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @headlineeternal for an early copy of Wish Lists and Road Trips by Lauren H. Mae. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Wish Lists and Road Trips tells the story of two stranded travelers in Costa Rica after missing their cruise ship. Makeup artist and influencer Brit, and real estate developer Nick team up to make their way back to the US. They are complete opposites, and their initial frustration from the obstacles of grounded flights and delayed trains gives way to their building attraction for each other.

This was such a fun and light novel to read! Although unfortunate for Brit and Nick initially, I love how all the mishaps and delays they encountered going back to the US brought them closer to each other. With Brit wanting to prove to her overbearing family that she can be independent, especially after breaking off her engagement with her cheating ex, and Nick with his brother’s ashes and a list of places his brother left him to fulfill his dying wish plus survivor’s guilt, they were able to unload all their troubles while getting to know each other. I enjoyed Brit’s bright personality in that despite her shortcomings and doubts about herself, she just pushes on with her business goals, and Nick just gives her the right amount of push to believe in herself. On the other hand, Nick was a tougher one to crack. He’s had a lot of responsibilities under his belt ever since he was young, and I liked how Brit was able to let him enjoy their trip, loosen up, and realize that not everything needs to fall on his shoulders.

Did I mention that the ending was so satisfying (especially with Brit’s family and her ex)? You have to read this book to find out what happens!

Rating this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5. Wish Lists and Road Trips is a fun read to pick up this summer; grab it when it releases April 18th, 2023!

Such a good book!

But feelings. All of the feelings. Every one happens in this story. Nick and Brit are the best but they go through it all in this book. Not only does every travel plan get cancelled/delayed/missed but also in their personal lives.

This book is filled with witty banter from the fun, carefree girl and grumpy, loyal boy. Definitely read and fall for these characters one misfortune at a time!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to NetGalley who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

We have the wonderful pleasure of being immersed in Nick and Brit’s adventures as they try to find their way home. They have a chance meeting after both of them miss their cruise ship and become stranded in Costa Rica.

I loved both Brit and Nick and together they had wonderful chemistry and plenty of great banter too - which I loved.

This book was such an easy read and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as i just wanted to know what was going to happen next. From chapter to chapter it just pulls you in and leaves you wanting more.

This was a wonderful, heartwarming romance, full of humour and fun too and i loved it…….

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

Brit is lost. After ditching her cheating fiancé, she sets off on a cruise to find herself. Nick is lost. After loosing his older brother, he sets off on a journey to complete a list of challenges his brother left for him. When they meet, it seems like fate. Especially since they both missed the boat and have to find their way back to the states together.

There wasn’t much about this book to dislike for me. I liked the opposites of Brit and Nick. They played so well off each other and I wanted them to get together so bad. Their journey is hilarious and I honestly didn’t want it to end. This was a romcom that has a whole lot of heart and some good spice as well!! Great for fans of Christina Lauren and Abby Jimenez!

This book hit me right in the feels. Brit and Nick were brought together by circumstance and these two broken imperfect people couldn’t be more perfect together. Brit is fresh off a break up, in fact she just called off her wedding to the man who slowly but surely broke her down and made her believe she was simultaneously not enough but also too much. Needing to get away from the pressures her family have put on her to marry the man who is the golden boy at her fathers company she decides to go on their honeymoon cruise, only she gets stranded in Costa Rica when she accidentally misses the ships departure. As luck would have it, Nick finds himself in the same situation and together they start on an adventure to get them back home.

I love Brit, she is a bright and colourful person full of sunshine, her family however are not, leaving her to feel like she needs to be less herself to fit into the mold of the person they would prefer her to be. Coupled with being in a relationship with a man who is second in command in her fathers company she has lost her way and her confidence in who she really is. I really felt for Brit, she is young but has never been allowed to be herself or truly make decisions for herself so when she calls off her engagement she is determined to prove she can be independent.

Nick is an all around good guy, he is reliable, he picks up the pieces and tries to hold the family together in any way he can. Unfortunately, this has impacted his relationships and with a little help he is starting to realize he has never put himself first.

I loved how their relationship progressed, they start off being two strangers in the same unfortunate situation but slowly they start to open up and become friends until they can no longer deny the attraction thats growing between them. Nick understandably comes off as a bit of a grump but I loved that despite the grief he is battling he still encourages Brit to be her true self and not make herself smaller. They grow so much throughout the book, I especially loved the scene in the snow. Nick was such a cinnamon roll and while Brit still has some growing up to do I think Nick is the perfect person for her. He encourages her and gives her the freedom to make her own choices. I would love to see where these two end up.

This was my first book by author Lauren H. Mae, I absolutely love her writing style and cannot wait to read more of her books

CW: death of family member, alcohol abuse, cheating

Thank You to Headline Eternal for the gifted eARC provided through NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book and I leave my honest review voluntarily.

Brit’s family is under the impression that she is unable to do anything without their protection and advice. After breaking off her engagement she decides to go on her honeymoon cruise alone.

Nick is on the same boat, but he is following instructions from his brother whose dying wish was to spread his ashes throughout the trip.

The two end up getting stranded in Costa Rica and together endeavour to get home. All the while making discoveries about themselves and each other.

A fun, engaging read.

Road Trips and Romance…yes please!!

Strangers Nick and Brit meet in Costa Rica when they both miss their cruise ship reboarding.  Deciding it would be easiest to stick together, they begin the process of trying to get back home.  But bad luck seems to strike at every opportunity, further delaying them.  But is that really a bad thing?
I loved that Nick, who is more level-headed and grounded and a planner, and Brit, who is all heart and emotion and up for adventure, are stuck together on this journey back home, and really on their own journeys of self-growth and love.  I loved that grumpy Nick encouraged Brit to be nothing less than her outgoing self.  And the fun banter between the two of them throughout.

While the emotional aspect to both of their storylines added some depth, I couldn’t help but wanting to dive even deeper into these and of course I wish I would have gotten more of their time actually together.

If you are looking for a fun romcom that will get you in the mood to book your next vacation, hoping a delay might lead to your very own meet cute, make sure to pick this one up when it comes out later this month!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: April 18, 2023

Thank you NetGalley Lauren H Mae and Headline Books for this complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wish Lists and Road Trips from Lauren H Mae was a utter joy to read. I loved it from start to finish and want to state it now - this would make such an epic movie!

Wish Lists and Road Trips is the story of Brit and Nick, the only two people who didn’t manage to make it back to their cruise ship on time before it left port. So begins what turns out to be an epic journey to get home. From grounded flights, to delayed trains, to drives across states this pair is in for one heck of a journey. But what happens when initial frustration turns to searing attraction and the feeling that this may be a journey neither one wants to end?

I loved both out MCs in WL&RT and felt for each of them and for what they were trying to escape/deal with. Brit was just sunshine on a page, but had had her confidence so deeply eroded by her horrid ex Sean and her controlling father. Meanwhile Nick was trying to deal with the grief over the loss of his brother, on top of dealing with all his other responsibilities at home.

Mae deals with some really heavy issues within our characters stories but she does so with great care and respect. That said there are elements that may need CWs for some. This really is one of those wonderful romances that has great depth running alongside its huge heart.

There are so many other things to love about WL&RT including:
💖dual pov
🚢 initial grumpy/sunshine
💖 road tripping that goes all kinds of wrong leading to new adventures
🚢 so many close quarters and only one bed situations
💖 sizzling chemistry, loads of tension and then the steam 🔥
🚢 MCs who come to understand each other in ways others haven’t been able to
💖 brilliant character arcs for both our MCs
🚢 a third act break that actually makes sense in the context of the story (as opposed to the type that makes you pull your hair out going but whyyyyyyyyyyyy)
💖 super sage wisdom from Annie - you’ll love her

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it.

Wish Lists and Road Trips follows Nick and Brit, two strangers who both end up stranded in Costa Rica. Abandoned by their cruise ship, the pair decide to team up to get back to the US. As you can imagine, there are many misadventures that derail their plans. But by the end, they're falling in love.

Nick and Brit are total opposites. Brit embarked on her honeymoon cruise after calling off her engagement to her cheating ex. She's determined to prove to her family that she can be independent. Meanwhile, Nick is in Costa Rica fulfilling his brother's dying wish.

While the grumpy/sunshine pair inevitably clash, this just leads to great banter and sexual tension. I also thought they truly brought out the best in one another, with Nick accepting Brit as she is.

The book wasn't without depth either, as we follow Nick's grief journey.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable road trip romance.

When two strangers miss getting back on their cruise ship, they agree to travel together to get back to the States. Neither seems to be in a good place to embark on a new relationship: beautician Brit has recently called off her wedding (the cruise was to be her honeymoon) to a man who works with his dad in the family business, while real estate developer Nick is fulfilling his deceased brother's charge to scatter his ashes on a number of adventures. On their journey, they encounter multiple setbacks that hint they may not make it to their final destination in time for Brit to purchase the auctioned property that will launch her business and new, independent life; Nick is determined to help her get there on time.

Road trips tell you a lot about a person, from the snacks they select to the music they choose to how they deal with travel snafus. The plot works wonderfully to reveal character. Watching Nick and Brit get vulnerable was heartfelt, but sometimes he was written a little too overprotectively, diminishing her agency.

Pair with Seat Mate by Cara Bastone when you're looking for good road trip books that delve into relationships, obligation and career goals as well as romance.

I received a free advance readers review copy of #WishListsAndRoadTrips from #NetGalley.

Fun, sexy romance!

Brit is what some would describe as a poor little rich girl. She's got a trust fund, her parents are wealthy and have raised her with only the best, she had a handsome husband-to-be and she was miserable. All she wanted was to have her parents love her, her boyfriend not cheat on her and be able to open her own business in a location she chose. Instead, she walked away from the boyfriend, who also happens to work for her father, which in turn made her father very displeased, taking the boyfriend's side. To take a break, Brit heads off on the cruise that would have been her honeymoon - alone.

Nick recently lost his brother and is taking a cruise so that he can respect his brother's last wishes and deposit his ashes throughout the trip. Nick has been resentful of his brother and views this trip as the ultimate pain in the tail. When he misses his cruise ship's departure from port in Costa Rica, and winds up sharing a plane trip with Brit, he's not very happy.

What follows for both Nick and Brit is a wonderful story. Grumpy to happy romance, while traveling back to NY using various modes of transportation. I loved Brit's quirkiness and her bubbly, positive personality. Nick was someone who had a lot of responsibility dumped on him since childhood (I identify with this!) so it was hard for him to let go and have fun, but maybe Brit is exactly what he needs. Or is she? I'm looking forward to finding other books by this author.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Wish Lists and Road Trips was a really cute grumpy/sunshine rom com! Nick & Brit meet when they both miss their cruise ship after its stop in Costa Rica - Brit because she misunderstood the time to be back and Nick because of car troubles on his way back. This helps allude to their personalities - Nick is very responsible and by the book, Brit is much more carefree and living in the moment. But as they’re pushed together to travel back home, to northeast US, they very much grow on each other. However, they’re both dealing with a lot of personal issues. During their whirlwind romance they teach each other a lot which helps them come out stronger and braver on the other side. I really enjoyed their dynamic and how they really listened to each other to help them deal with the heavy feelings they were each experiencing. Brit has always been told by everyone around her that she’s too much. Even though Nick’s personality is very much the opposite, he’s adamant that she not dull herself for him and really takes her as she is, which I loved.

Brit wants one thing: to prove to her overbearing family that she can be independent. Nick isn't on a pleasure trip. Armed with his brother's ashes and a list of places, he's on a mission to fulfill a dying wish. When they're both stranded in Costa Rica after missing their cruise ship, they team up to make their way back to the US.

"Brit.... please don't tone yourself down."

Road trips/travel romance is such a refreshing trope to refreshing trope to read about. Especially with opposite characters like Nick & Brit.

Brit & Nick's personalities were so different, yet they found a way to tone it down & bond. The backstory of either of them added a very personal & vulnerable touch to their romance.

This story was sweet, steamy, and romantic, but I did want a little more emotion/depth from the relationship.

Thank you NetGalley & Publisher for for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Brit.... please don't tone yourself down."

Road trips/travel romance is such a refreshing trope to refreshing trope to read about. Especially with opposite characters like Nick & Brit.

Brit & Nick's personalities were so different, yet they found a way to tone it down & bond. The backstory of either of them added a very personal & vulnerable touch to their romance.

This story was sweet, steamy, and romantic, but I did want a little more emotion/depth from the relationship.

Thank you NetGalley & Publisher for for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I chose to DNF this book at 20%, because I just couldn't get into it. There was definitely potential for an emotional story with Nick's grief, but I wasn't invested in the characters enough to wait for that backstory to be revealed more. Brit was also a hard character to root for. She was a bit too in your face for my liking. I understand that she grew up being treated like she was incapable of making good choices, but she also didn't prove to me that she was able to get out of the missed cruise ship situation on her own. She really did need Nick's help, even though she tried to act like she didn't. Thank you to the publishers for the ARC, but unfortunately this one just didn't work for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars

🚢The first thing that stood out to me was the cute, catchy title and the illustration on the cover. I didn’t know what the story would be about but I was hooked immediately!

🚢Brit just broke off her engagement and is taking her honeymoon cruise alone. Nick’s older brother just passed away, and he is on a mission to check every item off of his brother’s wish list, one of which is being on the same cruise. The two worlds collide when both Brit and Nick miss their cruise’s departure time. It sets off a chain of events that get from bad to worse. You honestly can’t think what more bad luck they could have while trying to get back to the Northeast. It’s comical, and their banter adds to it!

🚢I loved the back and forth between perspectives of Nick and Brit in their “will they or won’t they” story. Nick is more level headed and grounded while Brit is all emotion and heart. They balance each other out well and I thought they were both adorable!

🚢I’ve read a few rom coms recently and this is better! (Hello Stranger is still at the top, but this was way better than The Plus One and French Holiday)

LOVED this. I couldn’t put it down. It somehow managed to capture of the romantic tension of a slow burn despite it only taking place over a week! I loved the opposites attract element of this, and the way it made Nick and Brit just seem perfect for each other.

The premise of this book was so intriguing to me, but for some reason I just never connected with it. I got an advanced copy two months ago and tried to get into it multiple times and it just wasn’t happening. I thought maybe once I got further in, the story would hook me, but I found myself just wanting to skim it.

All of that is to say that this wasn’t for me. I didn’t find the way the characters spoke to feel natural. I’m so over reading about pocket sized women (especially when literally described as looking like a Victoria’s Secret model, and that only come up to the man’s chin while wearing heels), which is a personal preference.

I am really glad to see that this book is getting lovely reviews, because it’s such a fun setting. My opinions about it are purely personal and I’m glad others are loving it.

Thank you to Headline & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!