The Weekend Trip by Joanna Bolouri is a great book for anyone looking for a fun read about a group of friends who graduate college, promise to keep in touch, and not be able to keep that promise as life changes and each friend goes their separate ways. I will admit, the book but a bit of a slow burn at first. There's was a lot of musical references and name dropping of artists which I don't usually like while reading. However, learning more about each character and reading about their reunion after 10 years was engaging, funny and full of drama! I'd recommend this book for anyone looking for a good romcom that highlights the beauty of friendship and the connections that time cannot break.

Thank you to @Bookouture and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Publishing for the opportunity to review The Weekend Trip. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tara, Erin, Becky and Beth have been roommates and best friends all throughout university. With graduation approaching, they decide to have one last party at the LoughView House where they make a pact to always be there for each. 10 years later after Erin’s husband dies, she decides to sell the house, getting everyone together one last time. Can the girls get back to the friendship that they had with each of them holding on to a secret or baggage they don’t want the others to know?

This book was great. It has the realism of growing up and the problems people face, addiction, grief, health problems and just trying to find your true self. The non linear timeline let the reader see how they friendship came to be while trying to help out each other in the present with enough humor and drama to keeper the reader engaged. Overall, a fantastic quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Weekend Trip follows 5 old friends from college who after 10 years apart meet for one last time at Erin's beachfront home, where they last spent time together, before it sells… or before the changes the years have wrought tear them apart.

I enjoyed this novel, and it's simplicity. I read it in one sitting and I appreciated that there were not any slow moments but there WERE rushed moments, which, ugh. Is always a let down.

My favorite part really beyond any romance or setting was that… after so many years apart there were of course, monumental changes internally and externally which each of them. But when the all stepped in that house again for the first time it was as if for a moment, they forgot all about that and laughed and cried just as they did in college.
As the one friend from college who moved away, and has spent ten years wondering what changes my friends are going through that I may not know about… and sometimes feeling guilty for that… I just especially enjoyed how well this was written. BOTH can be true: You can laugh and cry and joke as no time has passed, and you can feel like strangers who've only just met. That is the beauty of friends-- it doesn't matter, you'll work through it, laugh it off, and likely go through it all over again in another ten years (lol).

Ok Rant over, this was a cute, light read but it was lacking in the ROM and the COM department as stated in the books description of romantic comedy. I think focusing on the friendship was enough, and the romance felt forced. There was absolutely no chemistry and if this WAS a romantic comedy, then there was a foundation to build that chemistry, absolutely but again, this was a tale of 5-friends and that is ok, LET it be.

Bolouri's writing style is breezy, with a knack for sharp, relatable dialogue and hilarious descriptions. She captures the intricacies of old friendships and the awkwardness of new romances in a manner that is both endearing and heart-warming. The characters are excellently drawn out; they feel like people you could know in real life. Each of their struggles and triumphs resonates strongly, making you root for them, laugh with them, and at times, want to shake some sense into them. A perfect summer read for fans of women's fiction!

When reading the pitch of this story (first person narrative), it might seem like it's Alex and Aiden story... which is only partially true.

It is mostly about friendship and how friends grow apart even when they are like sisters and promise each other to maintain the bond no matter what.

Alex is just one of the five friends of this novel and when they meet again after 10 years, they all have changed tremendously, not knowing each other anymore.

Each one has her own arc which is pleasant but hard to follow at the beginning, maybe because of the third person narrative (and Beth and Becky were too close names for me not to mix).

Overall, it was a very fun read and I recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for provinding an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Five girlfriends reunite ten years late after not seeing eachother since "uni". Some have secrets and some have been living unhappily.

This was a fun, traditional, romcom that bounces back and forth between present day with snippets of the past. I found this a quick read and felt it was easy to connect with the story to see what was going to happen with these friends.

Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

5 former college roommates speak out their intentions at a beach house weekend together. 10 years and so many life changes later, they gather once again. I loved reading about Tara, Beth, Alex, Becky, and Erin. There’s so much truth and so much life breathed into this book! Definitely reccomend.
Read this beautifully written story to see how the next 20+ years of their lives progress.

This had to have been one of my favorite reads in a while! It had romance, grief, friendship, family dynamics … it had a little bit of everything! It’s set in Ireland, so it was fun hearing the different terminology (if you haven’t been to Ireland or used to the terminology, it could be confusing). Five friends who went to university (aka college) together reunite 10 years later after losing touch. There are secrets and self conscious factors at play, rediscovering yourself, new love and so much more. I loved how it showed the past, present and the future (but in a few chapters, not just epilogue). I loved the entire story!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This book is about 5 college friends who reunite after 10 years, and ultimately about the friendships that stay strong throughout busy lives.

I was concerned that I’d get confused with all the characters, but it was surprisingly easy to keep up. This story has elements of romance in it, but it is a story of friendship. The 5 women all have wildly different personalities, but work together so well, and I honestly liked every character, which is unusual, I felt really invested in the story, and felt the whole thing was relatable in many ways. The story had humour, and emotion, and all in the right doses. A great read by this author.

I devoured this book in a day. I will admit it took me a bit to get into it, I did not like the 3rd person point of view, it made it very hard to keep up with the characters. There were 5 main characters and constantly bouncing between them, then there would be random flashbacks to years before and that was hard to follow also. Once I got use to the writing style, the story seemed to get better.

This was a rom com about 5 friends who make a promise to stay in touch, but do not end up keeping their word. 10 years later they have a reunion and it seems that everyone has been keeping secrets, and living unhappy.

This book made me laugh, but also teared me up, their friendship was such a beautiful story.

This was such a fun and endearing read! We meet 5 college friends who meet up 10 years later for a reunion, life has gotten in the way and they haven't stayed as in touch as they would have liked to. Throughout the weekend it's revealed that maybe they don't quite know each other as well as they used to, but that doesn't mean that they can't be that close again.

Through secrets revealed, hearts broken and a lot of fun cocktails, the women learn what true friendship entails and who they truly want to be as individuals. I loved the multiple POV's, allowing the reader into each character's minds as they struggled with their own choices and hardships.

This was truly a heartwarming book about female friendships written with some hilarious witty banter!!

Thanks so much to Bookouture and NetGalley!

Five friends meet up for a reunion.

That's really the base of the story. It's been written before. They are friends but are they really friends? I really only liked Aiden and Alex's story, and I want more of them. Maybe Beth too. I didn't really care for the other characters. Some diversity would've been nice as well. A quick read !

The book was well written however, it was not very unique. I honestly felt I have read this same story previously... it was a story about 4 friends who went shared a house together during college, went their separate ways, and reunited 10 years later when one of them wanted to sell the house. It flowed from character to character as we learned of their backstory and secret - each woman carried a secret except Erin who was grieving the loss of her husband. It seemed odd to me that not even one of the friends came to the funeral (or wedding for that matter) but they still insisted they were "family". At one point one of the ladies' husbands pointed out that they were not such good friends and I am honestly glad someone admitted it. They were old friends but not current friends which is why the "big betrayal" was really not that much of a betrayal after all. It was all very predictable. Also, the names Becky and Beth are too closely related that I had a hard time separating their story lines.

There was no diversity - all of the women were white and wealthy. Also, the whole epilogue could have been left out of the book, it was unnecessary and tried too hard. If the book ended as they left Kerry for the reunion, it would have been better.

I did not hate the read - it was nice for a summer day but it could have been better.

Cute and funny book about female friendship. It was an easy to read book that was well written and worth your time.

Ahh, what a book!

I devoured this novel so quickly it was that good. The drama hiding between all the friends had me on edge and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about each characters background and their current struggles. Of course it has a happy ending as well which was a bonus.

Overall, a great read which had me hooked.

Some heartwarming and funny moments! Finished in two days. Absolutely brilliant. It has bestseller written all over it. What a book!

Book : The Weekend Trip
Author : Joanna Bolouri
Pub Date : 07 Aug 2023

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Do you enjoy a sweet romcom that focuses on friendship that will bring you out of a good book hangover? This book is for you. I picked this book up after I read a really dark emotionally draining book and this pulled me right out of that hangover in a jiffy. The pace is perfect and the story line is so good.

The characters feel so real and have so much depth to them. This made me think of my group of friends, each bringing something different to the table and meshing so well together. I felt like I was right in the story with all of these girls throughout the entire thing.

If you are looking for a fun fast paced sweet romcom with the perfect about of drama and all the feels then you need to pick up this book!

The story begins with Erin, Becky, Beth, Tara, and Alex as they enjoy their final moments together at Loughview, the beachside house Erin inherited from her grandad. They're celebrating their graduation from University, bidding farewell to their time of flat sharing, and embarking on a journey into the world. Around a bonfire on the beach, they affirm their hopes and dreams (though not everyone matches Becky's level of enthusiasm). Nevertheless, they all vow to stay in touch.

Fast forward ten years, where life has taken them on different paths with limited contact. They find themselves reuniting at Loughview, accompanied by some of their significant others.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, revealing little backstories of each character, all serving a purpose in the present narrative. It glides along at an easy pace, sprinkling humour throughout and touching upon some sensitive subjects.

Out of all the characters Alex was my favourite ... "I didn't get this arse from playing nicely with a packet of chocolate digestives" .... same Alex, same!!

This book is an absolute delight - a perfect summer read that will fully immerse you in its pages. Its magnetic storytelling and irresistible blend of humour and heart make it utterly unputdownable. Prepare to laugh, feel, and be reminded of the enduring power of friendship.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was looking for an easy, breezy, quick summer read when I requested The Weekend Trip, and that’s just what I received. Contrary to the Goodreads description above, the story is told in multiple 3rd person POV. There’s Alex, the popular novelist who has been unlucky in love and is full of self-image issues because she’s not stick thin. She had a five-year relationship with a guy; the relationship ended with him living behind her in her mother-in-law house, and they share custody of a dog. She meets a guy at the airport who gets her Spidey sense tingling. They end up sitting next to each other on the plane and realize they have a special connection. Aiden mentions he’s going to meet the family of his girlfriend. Regardless, they trade phone numbers.

Erin, the host, is a rising star on the silver screen, and was married to a big wig caterer and chef who died some months earlier. Erin is set to sell her beachfront house that she inherited from family; it was where she and the women she has invited home for several years while at uni. The group drifted apart and only kept in contact with the occasional like on a Facebook or Instagram post.

Beth and Paul have been together since university and live a quiet life. She’s always been sort of a klutz, and even in her early 20s, she’s had tingling in her limbs. Two years ago she was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, MS, and currently uses a cane. She does not want to make Erin feel any worse after losing her husband, so Paul reluctantly agrees to keep her diagnosis from her friends.

Becky has always been the free spirit of the group. She was always into holistic healing, crystals, chakras, Ouija boards and anything that was not society’s norms. She’s a lesbian, and for the past few years has lived with a psychiatrist, but Becky senses time is running out on her relationship. She’s changed herself so much for Christine, the way she dresses, the career she has, even the way she expresses herself.

Tara got out of rehab several months prior, after living the high life in New York. She met a great American guy named Aiden, who works in a veterinarian’s office. Like Alex, she suffers from self-worth issues, and has always been the wild child of the group. When she and Aiden arrive at Erin’s house, Alex is floored to see her Aiden, the guy from the plane, whom she has told everyone there she wants to date if he dumps his girlfriend. She decides to pretend he is not THAT guy and Aiden goes along with it.

The seemingly different personalities meld once they get together again, although they are all keeping secrets from each other. I really enjoyed how this story unfolded. The Aiden problem plays a big part of the plot, as does Becky’s toxic relationship. Each of the women featured in the story has some realizations about their life that need to be made, and with the help of the group, they reconnect and reaffirm their lives’ decisions.

I connected with Alex immediately because she’s always struggled with her weight and has horrible internal self-esteem issues. Even though she’s this great success and sells millions of her books, she hasn’t found satisfaction with her personal life. And who could not empathize with Erin, who had all her dreams come true, only to have her life shattered in an instant? Then there’s Beth, who struggles with her illness in silence; all she ever wanted was a husband and a family, and now that seems unlikely.

This was a great beach read for summer 2023! And it’s so affordable on Kindle that this is another Bargain Sleuth-approved book!

“The Weekend Trip” is by Joanna Bolouri. This book is about five college friends who, after celebrating graduation, vow to stay in touch. Ten years later, they reunite - after not having stayed in touch. I will say that after a few chapters it was pretty easy keeping the five main characters apart, though for a while I did keep getting two character mixed up. This book touches upon some hard topics - friendships (and what does “friendship” mean), abuse (both emotional and substance), dealing with death, dealing with illness, and still harboring old grudges/feelings. It’s not always easy to return to “how we were,” but sometimes it’s nice to visit - if you can. I found the last few chapters (set in 2032) to be a bit long; I would’ve preferred a simple wrap-up opposed to four additional short chapters. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I did find it interesting and could see this as a quick summer beach read - if this is something that floats your boat. Overall, a 3.5 rating, but rounding up to 4 because I was engaged and curious about these characters.