A coming of age story told in a parallel timeline.

"Sloane and Alden. Chloe and sometimes Luke. Steady Marianne. Reserved Wyatt. The six friends meet in their freshman year of college and quickly become inseparable as they navigate the bumpy road into adulthood." The characters are likeable and relatable. These are all people that have appeared in our friend groups at one stage or another. While I found Chloe annoyingly dependent and overly self-pitying at times, I could still relate to how she became like this. I think they each develop well and convincingly throughout the story.

"But when Chloe inexplicably refuses Luke’s long-awaited proposal, their breakup fractures the close-knit group. Uncertain about the future of their friendship, they all reluctantly agree to gather for a luxury getaway on Florida’s Emerald Coast. As Chloe struggles to mend what she broke, the friends discover they’ve all kept secrets from the people who are supposed to know them best." And when an accident occurs while they are on holiday and one of them might be lost forever, we learn that the things we thought were broken may be for the better.

A story of love lost and then found again.

This book made me long for the carefree days at university and the many friends that have long grown apart. I wonder what it would be like to get together again and see how our lives have all changed. Would we still get along? It also made me glad for the friends I am still close to.

One of the best books I've read so far in 2024.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

3.5 rounded to 4.

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? This story fits in the contemporary women’s fiction genre.

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. I did feel like it was missing a little spark for me somewhere along the way, but I did overall enjoy it. I would definitely say there are some trigger warnings that people should be aware of, because I wasn’t necessarily prepared for a few of the sensitive topics that were addressed. Without spoiling anything be aware of the following topics: loss of parent, infertility, loss of property, and infidelity. Overall, I enjoyed this story and found myself wishing for such an intimate group of friends.

The essence of the novel - how childhood friends grow and evolve - was compelling, to say the least. Many of us can relate to these life changes, and I found myself rooting for the friends to find a way through their rough patches. Some aspects of the story were predictable and the flashbacks were more frequent than I would’ve liked at times, but this was a fun, nostalgia-filled summer read.

Think Happy Place by Emily Henry, with deeply woven story lines. After reading Friends In Napa, I was happy to roll into another friends from college character line up. The entire story weaves between past and present. They experience loss and gains together and truly have become a “framily”. They experience realistic events that at times bring them closer but others times nearly break them. Organically they shift apart but the true question throughout the story is can they repair the damage they have done?
It was an enjoyable read that kept me coming back for more. I didn’t become particularly attached to any one character as I identified at different times with all of the female characters. It was a tale as old as time, finding your self in your adult life as well as understanding how to fit in with your long time friends.

A story following a group of friends over the span of a decade through the good, the bad and the ugly was a storyline I knew would draw me in. And while it was well written, it didn't hit me to the point where I think it's the kind of story I will remember for a long time after.

A feel-good story about life, love, friendship, and the power of all three.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I laughed (a lot) and cried (a smidge - you’ll see why) but mostly I was just happy reading about Chloe and her friends and how they’ve navigated through a decade-long friendship.


Thank you NetGalley, for the e-copy of this book.

I absolutely loved to follow these college friends on their journey over the years. Life isn’t always perfect but friendships like these pull you through. It was an easy read and I really enjoyed it!

I really enjoyed this book about friendships that started in College and watching it grow through adult hood. All the trials and tribulations that we go through as we adult and may or may not share with our friends. We all experience lows, her break and wonderful highs and should hide any of it because our friends are there to support us no matter what. This book reminded me to always be real with my friends so we can cheer for each other and be an ear or a hug when things are sad or tough.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy.

Chloe met Luke her freshman year of college and became his girlfriend and part of his friend group. The six friends—Chloe, Luke, Sloan, Alden, Wyatt, and Marianne make it through their college years, and then Luke decides to propose to Chloe. She turns him down, and ALL the relationships are impacted. In a last ditch effort to bring everyone back together, Sloan invites to a get-together at her beach house in Florida. No one knows what happened between Chloe and Luke, but the friends soon realize they’ve all been keeping secrets.

This group of friends is admittedly a bit codependent. They are enmeshed in each other's lives, and the breakup seems overly dramatic. Maybe I just never had a group of friends quite like this, but I don't remember being gutted when people broke up or moved on. I like my friends, and they were like family when I was college age, but these people seem really dysfunctional. I appreciate how loyal and protective they were of one another (sometimes at the expense of their own happiness), but all in all, it was just too much for me.

If you like a melodramatic piece of fiction, or if you REALLY love and depend on your friend group, then this might be the book for you. I appreciate the opportunity to read the ARC. "The Group Trip" wasn't a bad read, it just wasn't one of my favorites

The first line of the description for Audrey Ingram’s “The Group Trip” is what captured my attention and had me requesting an early copy. Having read both “Firefly Lane” and “Happy Place” I wasn’t sure how the two necessarily went together for this book since, at their heart, they’re completely different books. One of my friends made me realize the commonality between the comparison was the friendship aspect.

This book is about six friends who met in college and have remained friends for the last 10 years. The reader is introduced to Chloe, Luke, Sloane, Alden, Marianne, and Wyatt. All six friends have agreed to have their annual getaway at Alden and Sloane’s house down in Florida. When the book starts, it’s a year after Chloe said no to Luke’s long-awaited proposal. The chapters are fairly short and the book alternates between present day and previous summers, which lead back up to the present day. Chloe is the narrator throughout the book.

I adored this book. I loved the author’s writing style and how she wrote the banter between Chloe and her friends. Towards the end of the book I realized I wanted to see what happened, but I also didn’t want the book to end.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

I loved the beginning of this novel. It started with a bang (sorry the pun) but at the core story is how this group of friends evolved. Relationships are messy. Some are messier than others.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read, review and give an honest opinion of an ARC.

Love isn’t enough. You have to figure out the love you need in return. A quote from the book that really hit home.
A great summer read of 6 friends from university who navigate life together as much as they possibly can for 10 years. Through death, marriages, births, celebrations and disappointments. I had to read it when I read it was firefly lane meets Gilmore girls. It definitely gives off firefly lane vibes more than Gilmore girls. You don’t really get in too deep with most of the characters but you definitely understand their personalities and why the group has such a strong bond. It’s a connection most of us wish we had. I know I do.
I wouldn’t really classify this as a romance novel. It does have a romantic undertone in this book. Definitely a heartfelt read tho.
I would recommend this to someone who wants something that really reels you in to friendships, love and life.

When I saw that people had referenced this to Firefly Lane , I knew I had to read it. I really enjoyed the characters in this one. I cant recommend this book enough. Loved it.

The Group Trip was such a good read! While it did take me a couple of chapters to get fully invested, once I got past those I was completely hooked and read the rest over pretty much one 24-hour period.

I loved watching the different dynamics play out between the group of friends! The ending was a bit predictable, but I genuinely did not mind that at all. Chloe was such a relatable character, and her longing to keep her friendships was totally understandable.

One character’s storyline got maybe wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly in the end (I would not have forgiven them nearly so quickly), but maybe that’s a me problem. Haha! I just don’t think they redeemed themselves enough? Again, maybe I just hold a grudge a little more than the characters in this book.

I wholeheartedly recommend this if you like books about friends with long histories and some complicated dynamics!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Group Trip is a story that will slowly reel you in. Audrey Ingram masterfully navigated between the present and the past to paint a picture of found family in all its imperfections.

#TheGroupTrip
#AudreyIngram
#FoundFamily
#NetGalley

Actual Rating is 3.75. The verbiage just felt off a few times.

Loved loved loved this book!!! This was a fun, well written story of 6 friends who met in college and continue to stay in touch after as they navigate through life and their friendships. Would highly recommend this book! Great summer read.

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC! I look forward to reading more books by this author and publishing team.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Chloe, Luke, Wyatt, Marianne, Noah, Sloane, and Alden have all been friends for over ten years. But things have been just plain awkward for the friend set since Chloe refused Luke's marriage proposal. But Chloe is encouraged to attend the friend reunion at the beach house. As events in the present show, Chloe is not the only one struggling. As the chapters alternate to the past, it is clear to see that as beautiful as the friendship was, Chloe and Luke had a very complex relationship.


When I started this novel, I felt that I was going to enjoy it but the opposite became true. Perhaps more time in the present would have been better. Maybe it would have been better if Luke and Chloe had talked earlier in the novel. I felt Marianne and Sloane's storylines were more angsty and relatable, I would have preferred them to Chloe.


Expected Publication Date 13/08/24
Goodreads Review 12/07/24
#TheGroupTrip #NetGalley.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this! Easily 4.5 /5 stars
This is a multi-timeline story about a group of friends from college, focusing on various trips they take together as the story jumps back and forth. Chloe, the female lead, breaks up with longtime seemingly perfect Luke at the very beginning, threatening the dynamic of the friendship group (Chloe, Luke, new mom Marianne, Wyatt, and married couple Sloane and Alden).
What I loved about this is the completely authentic view of friendships and the impact relationships can have. For me this hits incredibly close to my life in college and it felt like almost looking through a window to the past. I've been Chloe so I immediately connected to her fears of abandonment and worth. I loved that they were all hiding something from each other, but almost every secret was done out of genuine love for each other. I also really loved going back in time and understanding why Chloe would say no to the 'love of her life', and the introspection on how you can lose yourself in a relationship. It's not everything all at once.
I did think Wyatt's storyline was very obvious from the beginning, but I still really enjoyed it. I kinda wish Luke wasn't built to be SO kinda crummy, but it still works, and while the ending is overall cheery and maybe a bit too sunny, it is the best kind of summer read. I love happy endings and this delivered.

If you’re looking for your next 5 star beachy, summer read then The Group Trip by Audrey Ingram is it!! This book follows six friends as they navigate friendship & life in general. The characters are lovable, the story is captivating & I couldn’t put it down. This is one you don’t want to wait to read!

Thank you NetGalley & Alcove Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Group Trip follows a group of 6 best friends from college in a dual timeline that features the "now" and the "then" through the years. Loved the relationships between the friends and how the events unfolded.