This is my first book by Audrey Ingram but won’t be my last. I’m usually not a big fan of timeline jumping, but in this case, both timelines held their own, and switching between them didn’t drag the story down.

The Group Trip follows a group of friends from college into adult life and adult problems and how the group dynamics can change over time.

I love a good found family story, and for Chloe, this is her found family and her struggle to not lose them. I happily went along for the ride even though some of Chloe’s decisions and logic drove me a bit crazy and I felt like a lot of the story happened to her rather than her making the decisions in the story. Yes, she had one big decision that is the core of the book, BUT so much of the past storyline is her just floating along which did get tiresome.

But, like I said, I love a good found family story and I love strong friendship stories and the friendships in The Group Trip are well done and highlight such a key component during a pivotal time in life! And if you’re lucky enough to find a couple of friends like this, you really have hit the friend lottery. They do exist and this book highlights the precious qualities of true friends.

The Group Trip is a fantastic summer read. If you need a lighter book in between dark books, this is a great one to add into the mix!

This book was a surprisingly wonderful 5 star read. It was highly relatable and I’m still thinking about it days after I finished. The story weaves between past and present following the friendship of 6 people that meet in college and all the highs and lows they experience together. Present day takes place 10 years after freshman year and the flashbacks provide the reader with an understanding of their deep, yet at times tumultuous, friendships. When Chloe says no to Luke’s long awaited proposal, leaving everyone in disbelief, the story beings leading up to her surprising decision. Saying no fractures the once tight knit group leaving Chloe alone in her grief as she feels lost without her friends that had become her family. After her (mostly) self imposed year long exile from her friends the leader of the group, Sloane, invites them all to a week long vacation at her lavish home on Florida’s Emerald Coast. She is clear the trip is to get Chloe and Luke back together, to right their wrongs and salvage the group. As the story unfolds we learn that they all have secrets they have been keeping from each other. Will their history and the love they have for each other survive?

I gave this book 5 stars because it kept my attention and I could relate to the characters. It starts out as present day then goes back and forth from this year to years ago. It ends in the present day but it will not make you forget what all happens.

I enjoyed that this book dove right into the complexities of decade long friendships, and the convicts that arise from romantic vs plutonic relationships. It's told in a non linear timeline in third person pov, and was still an easy vacation read.

I saw pretty early on where the author was taking us, but that didn't deter me. And while I had hoped she'd get us there a little faster, so see more into that relationship, I think the way it was told had to happen to tell the whole story.

Would recommend!

**Thank you NetGalley and [publisher] for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

A good book, but not a fantastic one.

I'm not sure, but I think that I have never read a book with so many unlikeable characters before. We have wishy-washy Chloe and a selfish Luke, Sloane, who forces everyone to do what she wants, and Wyatt, who is hiding the biggest secret of all.

I DO understand that this is a novel about growing up and personality growth, but still. Another problem I had with this book is that it had so many characters that most of them got lost in the background. They never get fully fleshed out. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem for me, as every book needs secondary and tertiary characters. However, the problem here is that this book is about six people who are friends during college and remain so after college, right into mature adulthood - they ALL should have gotten their tales told. But they didn't. That is, of course, just my opinion, and many other readers will see it another way.

This story is told in split timelines, starting in the present and then interspersing each 'present' chapter with past years and how things came to be. It works its way to the end when we finally get to understand why and what was happening in the prologue.


This book mostly centers on Chloe and her relationship with Luke. It then throws in other people who are all holding on to secrets (the biggest one is really easy to guess), and some are even telling lies.

*This ARC was provided by the publisher Alcove Press, the author, and NetGalley.

I loved this contemporary fiction arc! The story of six friends that began at a Waffle House during their college years! Its centered around two of the friends that dated for a decade and when it ended it put damage on their friend group. The story goes through how this group and romance started and present day. It has everything you want including lots of drama! Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this. I feel like I can’t rate it 5 stars because I doubt it’s going to be a book I think about a lot going forward, but it was just a super solid summer read. I loved the different timelines, getting flashbacks to when Chloe was in college and how the friend group developed and evolved over the years. Despite the short length (only 230 pages!) the friendships felt so lived in and I totally bought them as found family. I liked the slow reveal about Luke cheating and why they broke up and how Chloe had been trying to make herself fit into his world.

The tension between Wyatt and Chloe was great and them bonding over both being the poor(er) members of their friend group was nice. I liked that Chloe and Wyatt live in DC like I do now because I got such a kick out of the local aspects of it that I recognize. And I haven’t read Happy Place yet, but I really like that this one doesn’t end up with Chloe and Luke getting back together and it has them moving on separately, but getting to a place where their friend group can remain intact.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Group Trip by Audrey Ingram is a contemporary novel about a group of friends with all the secrets, foibles, and intricacies of being besties for years. The group met in college and formed a bond dancing on the tables at a diner. They have been there for each other and the various bumps and thumps with growing into an adult.

Chloe was the last to join the group. In her mind she feels that she is in the group because of her relationship with Luke. Then she refused Luke when he proposed, which threw the group dynamics into a mess. Chloe feels like she is alone, since to her mind, she has lost her true family.

All of the friends are expected to show up at the latest request. Reluctantly they all gather at the beach in Florida. Slowly secrets eek out as the ‘besties’ realize that there are unknowns between them. Questions, tearful confessions and even an explosion help these best friends find answers, but can they still be friends?

The Group Trip was told in a couple of timelines, helping the reader understand the past as they navigate the present. I liked the characters - well most of them. The Group Trip by Audrey Ingram was a good read.

Thanks for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. Loved following the story of a group of friends that meet in college and go through life. I enjoyed the past to present back and forth storyline. When your friends are all mutual to your relationship what happens if you break up. This is the story of a breakup and the fall out. Highly recommend. Could feel the emotions in her writing.

This is a great summer book. I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters. Great background. Great character development.

Apologies, I cannot provided feedback. I did not realized it archived multiple months before it released and it is not yet available at my local library.

*Spoilers*

This was a wonderful book of friendship. Jumping between present day and past, you’re able to watch as it grows between a group of friends, as some date for that length, others get married, yet their friendship continues.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Watching Luke and Chloe’s relationship change through the years, giving insight as to why, after almost a decade, Chloe refused his proposal. And then seeing the group friendship continue after this was inspiring. I loved watching their friends stick by both, not choosing sides through this.

I will say, I didn’t see Luke’s personality shifting as it did. I did not predict the reasoning for Chloe’s refusal, though looking back I guess I should’ve. Also, Luke’s response really should’ve given some insight. He was my least favorite character and I’m still not his biggest fan.

Also, watching them, even as they all go through different walks of life and struggles, stick together was amazing. You see some real trials and arguments, but watching them forgive and stay with each other regardless was a great testament of friendship. I really appreciated it.

Through it all, I just very much enjoyed this one, and hope to check out more by this author!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from the publisher and author through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

Having had the same group of friends since childhood, this book resonated with me. The way relationships evolve through adulthood is very relatable. Loved this story about six group of friends from college filled with relationship issues, secrets, friendship, and growth. Loved the characters and enjoyed the story throughout.

I really enjoyed this book. It follows a group of friends from college to present day, and is told from the perspective of one of the female characters. The story starts with a dramatic scene, then backtracks so you can learn who the characters are and how the scenario from the beginning of the book plays out, The timeline does flip back and forth, which helps give context to the friendships and how relationships progress along the way. I was able to deduct where one of the story lines was headed, but there were some twists and turns I didn’t expect. Overall, it was a great tale of prioritizing friendships. I can’t say I have a friend group like the one in the story, but this book certainly makes you think a bit about the people close to you. I give this 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend.

Friends from college, the group dynamics traverses from friendship to intense relationships (some within the group), to brutal honesty even when it's painful. Can they stay friends when college ends, and life moves them in different directions? Can the friendship survive when one of the couples breaks up?
At first the constant change in the timeline back to the beginning to the present and back and forth through the years was a challenge. However, I got into the rhythm of the timeline and could follow it easier.
I would have rated this a 5 star, but some of the open-door scenes was too detailed.
Releases Aug. 13th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was one that will make readers stop and think about all the friendships that have in their lives and how they evolve as we get older.
Chloe, Luke, Sloan, Alden, Wyatt, and Marianne have been friends since starting college. Being with them as their lives go in different directions is an adventure through their lives.
Things happen within the group and there are secrets among them. This is a book that was hard to put down as I was reading.
Thank you NetGalley, Audry Ingram and Alcove Press for the copy of The Group Trip. This is my personal review.

If you’re looking for a beachy summer read then the Group Trip by Audrey Ingram is it!! This book follows six friends that as they navigate life and friendship. The characters are lovable and I couldn’t put it down it let me wanting more.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book and my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Audrey Ingram for the ARC e-reader copy of this book!

This is a heartfelt story following a group of college friends turned family and how they navigate friendship, relationships, and the transition into adulthood. This story is told in third person and the timeline jumps from present day back into the years leading up to now. They discover they’ve all been keeping secrets in an effort to protect their friendships, when in reality those secrets are only pushing them further apart. Can they navigate the changes in their lives and come back together to keep their friendship unit together?

The first chapter immediately drew me in and I needed to know more about what was happening. It was dramatic and intense, and I knew it could become an emotional story.

This book was so sweet in that it encompasses all aspects of a lifelong unbreakable friendship. The book feels so real, and it has all the vibes you could ever want. Thank you Alcove Press for sending me this book.

Six friends, ten years. This is all about found family and the secrets we keep to keep our relationships. This group met at college and all seemed perfect until Chloe refused Luke's proposal. This pushes the others to think about themselves. There's nothing especially dark here (unlike some in the genre) and it moves back and forth in time to tell their individual and collective stories. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No big surprises but it's. good read for a lazy day.