Oh man, this started out so strong, but then… it unraveled. I’m not entirely convinced that this couple SHOULD get back together, nor am I convinced that things will work out this time around. And that’s a big problem in a second chance romance, lol. But I really LOVED some of the concepts that are explored in this; the storyline is unique, and the character-filled road trip worked a lot better than I would’ve thought. It’s absolutely not what I was expecting based on O’Leary’s last two books – it’s heavier (and potentially triggering), and the storyline is more complex. This is more about toxic, tangled relationships and character growth than it is about romance – though there is romance at the heart of it. I have too many issues with this to rate it any higher, but there are some interesting concepts at play.
The story follows Dylan and Addie, two people who clearly have some unresolved feelings. We see their relationship play out in the past and present, showcasing the beginning and end of their love story. In the present day, Dylan’s car breaks down on the way to a wedding, and he catches a ride with Addie. There are five people stuck in one small car, and they each have a different understanding of how things played out in the past. As secrets are revealed and feelings are laid bare, the road trip becomes Addie and Dylan’s second chance at a happily ever after.
My suggestion for anyone who has read this author’s work in the past: adjust your expectations. This might not be what you expect based on that fun cover, the blurb, or her other books. It’s heavier and more complicated, touching on sensitive subjects – I’d recommend looking up the trigger warnings, if you have any. They’re storyline spoilers, so I won’t mention them here, but this is not a light or easy romance. I’d say that the story is more thought provoking than enjoyable, and I wish that it was executed differently. The constant back and forth between past/present made it difficult to follow (or connect to) this relationship in either timeline, and I wish it would’ve settled into one or the other for longer. Plus… I’ve got some issues with the relationship itself. There’s some damage done that will be extremely difficult to move past, and we only see a few hints as to how that will happen. I’m definitely going to be thinking about this one for awhile, but I would NOT say that I loved it. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this second chance romance.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w08UkL
Blurb:
Two exes reach a new level of awkward when forced to take a road trip together in this endearing and humorous novel by the author of the international bestseller The Flatshare.
What if the end of the road is just the beginning?
Four years ago, Dylan and Addie fell in love under the Provence sun. Wealthy Oxford student Dylan was staying at his friend Cherry’s enormous French villa; wild child Addie was spending her summer as the on-site caretaker. Two years ago, their relationship officially ended. They haven’t spoken since.
Today, Dylan’s and Addie’s lives collide again. It’s the day before Cherry’s wedding, and Addie and Dylan crash cars at the start of the journey there. The car Dylan was driving is wrecked, and the wedding is in rural Scotland—he’ll never get there on time by public transport.
So, along with Dylan’s best friend, Addie’s sister, and a random guy on Facebook who needed a ride, they squeeze into a space-challenged Mini and set off across Britain. Cramped into the same space, Dylan and Addie are forced to confront the choices they made that tore them apart—and ask themselves whether that final decision was the right one after all.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w08UkL
About the Author:
Beth O’Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than thirty languages. She wrote her debut novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from her job at a children’s publisher. She now lives in the Hampshire countryside and writes full-time.
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