Title: The Road Trip
Author: Beth O’Leary
Published: April 27th 2021
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Pages: 400
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary
RRP: $32.99
Rating: 3.5 stars
THE BRAND NEW NOVEL FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, BETH O’LEARY.
Addie and her sister are about to embark on an epic road trip to a friend’s wedding in rural Scotland. The playlist is all planned and the snacks are packed.
But, not long after setting off, a car slams into the back of theirs. The driver is none other than Addie’s ex, Dylan, who she’s avoided since their traumatic break-up two years earlier.
Dylan and his best mate are heading to the wedding too, and they’ve totalled their car, so Addie has no choice but to offer them a ride. The car is soon jam-packed full of luggage and secrets, and with four hundred miles ahead of them, Dylan and Addie can’t avoid confronting the very messy history of their relationship…
Will they make it to the wedding on time? And, more importantly… is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan?
Review:
A lively and entertaining crowd pleaser, The Road Trip is the latest contemporary fiction title from popular novelist Beth O’Leary. Following on from the global success of her previous two novels, Beth O’Leary is back with another fun tale filled with tension in the love stakes, witty banter and interesting problems to overcome. The Road Trip is a book with universal appeal, suitable for any reader.
The Road Trip follows Addie, a young woman bound for her friend’s wedding in Scotland when the story begins. But a fateful car accident occurs just as Addie and her sister have their whole road trip mapped out, even down to their music choices. This sends the whole journey into disarray, especially as the other car that was involved in the accident is Addie’s ex, Dylan. This sends Addie in a spin as she deals with a number of unresolved feelings following this break up. But with a wrecked car and wedding to attend, Dylan and his best friend are left with no choice but to join Addie in their car. This is a disaster waiting to happen, with the lack of space, traffic jams, simmering romance tension and distance to contend with. Dylan and Addie are forced to confront their issues head-on as they make their way to the wedding. Will the party get to the wedding in one piece?
Hampshire based author Beth O’Leary has achieved great success since the release of her debut novel The Flat Share in 2019. O’Leary’s books have been translated into more thirty different languages and The Switch has gained film rights from Steven Spielberg’s production company, making this latest release one highly anticipated read. Those who are fans of O’Leary’s work and contemporary fiction in general will find much to enjoy in this latest novel from the Sunday Times bestseller.
I loved the starting concept of The Road Trip, with ex lovers pitted against one another in crammed conditions, due to a twist of fate. Immediately I got a great British rom com film feel for this novel and I do hope the same production company that picked up O’Leary’s second novel will consider this one too. The Road Trip has all the makings for a fantastic movie experience. I could picture the British countryside and the roads rolling along as the cast made their way from the south of England through to Scotland. This sure was an eventful trip, filled with roadblocks, mishaps, tension, problems, issues and arguments, all in very tight conditions. I can’t say I would like to be a passenger on this journey, but I did enjoy playing the onlooker!
The cast featured in The Road Trip are quite varied and colourful. We have a good mix of characters from different backgrounds and positions. Some know each other a bit too well, while others do not. Some are hiding secrets, while others would like to share the problems that they face. O’Leary’s characters do engage in a lot of interesting banter and the dialogue is quite comical in places. I was also invested in the Dylan and Addie storyline, which was made more intriguing due to the shifting perspectives between these characters and the then/now viewpoint exchange. I was keen to seen how this relationship would eventuate. The plot was easy to follow and readable, but I don’t think it was overly memorable for me, just a nice and easy read that was slightly drawn out in places.
For those who wish to surrender themselves to a trip filled with both frivolity and some serious moments, The Road Trip is a story you should definitely consider.
The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary is published by Hachette Australia on April 27th 2021. $32.99.
https://www.hachette.com.au/beth-oleary/the-road-trip-the-heart-warming-new-novel-from-the-author-of-the-flatshare-and-the-switch
To learn more about the author of The Road Trip, Beth O’Leary visit here.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
