🌟🌟🌟✨ (3.5) The Coach Trip by Izzy Bromley

“We make so many assumptions about old people. I assume they don’t return my smile in the street because they think young people don’t deserve common courtesy. It never occurred to me that they might be too lost in their own thoughts to smile, just like I am sometimes”

Emma screws up her best friend Mel’s Valentine’s Day when she forgets to give her the note from her boyfriend. The note tells Mel to meet him at the train station where he is waiting with a dozen red roses and a romantic meal planned.

In her order to make it up to her, Emma promises her a weekend in Edinburg for her birthday. But then double books herself by promising her Grandma she will accompany her on a coach trip, also to Edinburg, to scatter her Grandads ashes. So as not to disappoint Mel again she sells the coach trip to her and they all head off together.

However, Mel gets a shock when she realises there are no hot backpackers on this trip. Can Emma convince her that there is lots of fun to be had on a coach trip where no one is younger than 70?

This is a warm-hearted novel that centres around the perception young and old people have of each other e.g. youth is wasted on the young and old people are so grumpy. When they all get to know each other they discover there is much more dept than they realised. Hardships are exposed that have had a huge effect on their lives but beneath all their sadness, grief or loneliness there are human beings that are funny, intelligent, and kind with quite interesting stories to tell.

I wasn't blown away by this story by any means. It was very character driven rather than plot driven and although I did like the characters, none impacted me that much that I was left remembering them.

This was a great holiday read. I’ve never considered a coach trip but this one certainly made you think and how we all judge people without always getting to know who they are. And both the young and old can discount the other before getting to understand what they are going through and dealing with.
A lovely read.

Two late twenties females join a coach trip full of the older generation. Stereotypes are in play with generalisations on both sides.
As the trip makes it way round the historic towns back stories are unearthed
. Leading to common ground and friendships.
An enjoyable story that shows everyone is dealing with something that does not show on the surface

I really enjoyed this read about a couple of younger women who end up on a coach trip, typically for the more mature holidaymaker.
Emma wants to give her best friend, Mel, a birthday to remember, but double books herself when she promises to go with her grandmother on a coach trip, originally booked as an anniversary present for her husband. Sadly, Grandad passed away before the trip, but Emma wants to make her grandma happy.
Emma and Mel end up on this coach trip with many preconceived ideas about older people, and it is a pleasure to see how these misconceptions are sh=mashed as the week-long trip progresses.
Getting old isn't fun in many ways. It is often hard for the younger generation to sympathise with that old lady who takes so long to walk or the man who is holding up the supermarket checkout line...
This is a book that makes you rethink your ideas, and it definitely reinforced my already strong respect for the elderly.
And... Mel did have a great birthday too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.

A great read.
Emma and Mel (not Carmel) have an interesting friendship and its Emma's forgetfulness that leads this story.

A good mix of old/young aged perceptions, some sensitive subject matters delicately and well handled. Uplifting and sweet read.

What Emma do for her grandma is sweet, go on Coach Trip for memory lane of her late grandfather it is to celebrate their 50th marriage. Mel (Emma bestfrind) join the trip and she little bit annoying, can she think that would be her in 30 years? I enjoy the trip and enjoy how Emma and Mel grow and change. I glad Emma find her way, I glad Mel can tolerance and more understand old people, I glad grandma move on and live again.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheCoachTrip #IzzyBromley #AmazonPublishingUK #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley #ARC

A funny but serious at times. great story. How to try to have a weekend away when different things need to happen. Grab a copy of this book and enjoy the story.. Lovely characters and setting, I recommend this book to all.. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Thoroughly enjoyed this book which is the first written under the name of Izzy Bromley although the author has written I believe 9 previous books under the name of Imogen Clark. It took me back to the 1980's when I went with my family on coach trips and all the locations mentioned in the book are ones I myself have visited. So all very easy for me to relate to. I loved the balance of the book from bad luck and tragedy to good fortune and fun. I would describe this book as a 'feel good book' which is very uplifting for the reader. Having read many books from Nick Spalding I kept thinking of Izzy Bromley as a female Nick Spalding although perhaps not quite as zany. I am very grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication in return for an honest review. Looking forward to reading the previous books written under the name Imogen Clark.

Simply joyful! Warm, witty, laugh out loud funny but also tender and rescued me to tears at times. This is a wonderful story about being human, about preconceptions and how we never really know what someone else is carrying. A beautiful setting too - I’ll definitely be visiting the north east! I’ve already recommended this book and will continue to - a must read!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Izzy Bromley for the ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When Emma and her friend Mel decide to go to Scotland for Mel's birthday they are both excited however, Emma double books herself by accident when she signs up for a coach trip with her Grandmother, Phyllis that goes from Leeds to Edinburgh. It was supposed to be for her 50th wedding anniversary but unfortunately her husband died before they could go. Emma and Mel decide they will both join her on the trip. This is the story of Emma navigating grief and trying to have fun.

This book was really good, I liked the plot and felt the story moved at an okay pace. Emma is a very sweet character who doesn't really know what she is doing in life. Phyllis is struggling with the loss of her husband and wants to make some new friends on this trip as well as spend time with her granddaughter. They build connections with the group and the guide Robin. Despite a rocky start they have a great time and I loved reading about all the different characters. There are lots of twists and turns, some secrets and a mystery so plenty to keep you reading. This is also the debut novel for Izzy Bromley and I am very much looking forward to what she produces in the future.

This book is really good if you want a light hearted book with a easygoing plot and some really strong characters who have growth throughout the book. I would recommend it if you liked The Switch by Beth O'Leary.

Emma is very scatty. She has promised to spend the same weekend with both her best friend Mel and her beloved grandma. Her solution is to take them both on a coach trip designed more for OAPs than younger people. The result is sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant as forgotten secrets and unknown skills are discovered and the group start to bond. So much more than a holiday read but great fun too.

A great fun read, I even chuckled at times.
Mel and Emma join Emma's grandmother on a coach trip to Scotland, following the passing of her grandfather. The coach consists of all elderly people from all walks of life. They are initially resented by the other passengers but as the journey proceeds, circumstances bring them all closer together. An unexpected event even makes Emma rethink her career.
A lovely lighthearted read.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. Will recommend it to everyone I know!

This book was such a joy to read! The story is told by Emma, our slightly scatty protagonist. Emma has double booked herself for a girls night out in Edinburgh with her best mate Mel and a coach trip from Leeds to Edinburgh with her recently bereaved Grandma. Mel gamely agrees to go on the coach trip with Emma and her Grandma. What follows is a lovely tale of chaos and consequences, as the events of each day of the coach trip have a ripple effect on the passengers and their preconceptions and ideas about each other. I couldn't put this book down as I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next! I definitely recommend this debut novel and eagerly await the author's next book.

Two age groups on a coach tour from northern England up to Edinburgh.
Them and us.
Almost 30 years old flatmates, quiet Emma and in your face Mel wonder how they will cope with the oldies when acccompanying Mel's gran.
This novel is sugar coated and no surprise that the two groups that start off wary of each other and bringing out lots old cliches about the other bunch end up as best pals after some heartbreaking revelations and escapades. The retreat from the island was very dramatic but wholly unrealistic.
The softening between the groups is quite well developed through the book although the change in Mel near the end is a bit less believable.
It is not my usual type of book and i wondered if i would manage to get to the end but i managed quite easily as it was fast paced.
Thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book.

This is a very different genre to my usual but I was keen to read this book by Izzy Bromley.
I was attracted to the quirky cover and I actually really enjoyed it.
The book is full of warmth and humour and the characters are really relatable. so much so that I felt I was on the trip with them .
great summer holiday read

Crime fiction is my preferred genre but from time to time, I like to read light hearted books for a break and this one had plenty of warmth and laugh out moments, I lost all my grandparents before I reached my teens so I enjoyed the relationship between Phyllis and Emma as I would have hoped that as an adult, that I would have been as close to at least one of my grandmothers. I must say that Mel was my favourite character as she was funny, direct if sometimes blunt no nonsense lady that definitely gave the story a sense of fin and humour. If the author’s other books are as enjoyable as this one, then I have something to look forward to reading.

I came to this book not quite sure what to expect and at first when I read the 'chic lit' like valentine's date mix up start I thought I wasn't going to like it. However, I'm pleased to say I was very wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed every page after the first couple. The author sensitively deals with the difference in opinions between age groups. The beliefs they hold about each other and about a variety of serious and frivolous topics. The 'Odyssey' up through the North East cities was a joy. Especially as I live in that part of the country. The trip continued the theme of irritation, frustration, tolerance and understanding between the travellers.
I know Izzy Bromley is a pseudonym for an already very successful writer but as a first book under this name and genre I feel it will be a definite success. I look forward to the next one.
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this book for review. All opinions are my own.

The Coach Trip by Izzy Bromley which follows Emma and Mel as they set off on a girls trip to Edinburgh. There’s just one catch though, Emma’s had already promised to join her grandmother on a coach trip to Edinburgh the same weekend. I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be full of warmth and humour and as I knew most of the cities visited on the trip I felt I was almost a part of it. Great characters and a plot that gathered momentum as it went. Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author for the chance to review.

Emma and Mel have no idea at the start that their bus trip with a group of 70 somethings will change their lives but that's what happens. Emma's meant to be helping her grandmother spread her grandfather's ashes and she's also meant to be a on a trip to Edinburgh with Mel for Mel's birthday so they decide to combine things. It doesn't start off well (big age gaps!) but the group quickly breaks down their barriers and become pals. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This has a big heart.