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kmdowling90's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Classism
oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A very fun enemies to lovers travel based palette cleanser between some more serious books. I’d heard a lot of hype about this book and I’m not quite sure it lives up to the hype, but I still enjoyed it! For me the “to lovers” bit happened a bit too soon, I would have preferred a bit more build up so that I could enjoy the pay off more. That being said, the chemistry and the banter were fun and believable. The spice was nicely balanced by a genuinely sweet and interesting plot about the truth of family secrets and the way that grief impacts our lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying and Blood
mayareads4fun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for a while and somehow had the urge to read it, and I’m glad I did. It’s one of those miracle reads where you have no expectations and get blown away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
bookish_leslie's review against another edition
4.5
What To Expect:
- M/F
- MC's in their late 20s
- Enemies to lovers
- Old high school rivals
- Road trip
- Forced proximity
- One bed
- Single POV
- Social media references (TikTok)
Themes: secrets, relationships with grandparents, grief, healing, trust, enoughness, self-discovery and self-belief, the impermanence of good/bad and making the most of the here and now
Spice: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️(several open door scenes with detailed descriptions and explicit language)
Overall, I had a good time with this book and would be interested in reading more from this author. The premise was interesting, if a little weird. I’m not entirely sure why you’d want to go on a road trip inspired by your grandma’s broken engagement with a man 50-60 years ago, least of all with a perfect stranger and your old high school nemesis, especially when the grandmother had clearly and happily moved on from that relationship. But also, road trip! Plus it got the main characters together, and they did have great chemistry.
I’m feeling a little salty about the use of setting though. These characters were traveling to some iconic Western US spots, like Yosemite, Death Valley, Vegas, Zion NP, and the Grand Canyon. I so badly wanted an armchair travel experience alongside this romance, but for the most part, these settings were barely mentioned for the most part, let alone featured, and that not only felt like a big letdown, but also a missed opportunity.
That aside, I have to say that I really enjoyed the characters. Paul, Theo’s granddad, was such a sweetheart and probably my fav, but I also loved Noelle’s relationship with her brother and his girlfriend, and I could really feel the weight of her love, loss, and grief regarding her Gram.
“It’s so silent. It infuriates me that she can just be gone. That she left me like this, floundering for answers, talking to the sky.”
Noelle lying to everyone was off-putting, but I enjoyed the chemistry she shared with Theo, as I’ve already mentioned, and I liked that their connection wasn’t only physical, but sometimes had moments of emotional vulnerability sprinkled in, too.
“What’s that game called?’ he murmurs. ‘From last night?’
‘Tell Me a Secret,’ I manage, my heart in my throat.
His jaw ticks. ‘So, tell me one.’
I don’t want to admit it, but it’s the elephant in the room. His thumbs are inches from the spot throbbing worse than my knee.
‘I wouldn’t stop you if you kissed me right now.’ I say it quietly in case he changes his mind, but his eyes darken, pupils dilating. He doesn’t move, though his mouth parts like he can already taste it. ‘Now you.’
His breath dances over my lips. ‘If I kissed you right now, I wouldn’t stop.”
I thought the writing was solid; the dialogue/banter was especially well done. And I appreciated that there was depth in this otherwise light-hearted story, in the way Noelle grieved for her Gram. I really wish we’d had Theo’s POV alongside Noelle’s, though.
I thought the writing was solid; the dialogue/banter was especially well done. And I appreciated that there was depth in this otherwise light-hearted story, in the way Noelle grieved for her Gram. I really wish we’d had Theo’s POV alongside Noelle’s, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Cursing and Death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow I can’t believe I waited so long to read this book! I really enjoyed reading this book. It offers up banter and a fun interesting plot while also weaving grief throughout the story. Jessica Joyce did an excellent job of balance the elements of this book. Theo and Noelle are exactly what the other needed. Somehow despite being high school rivals (or maybe because they were) they each other so clearly. I enjoyed seeing their relationship progress and evolve over the course of the road trip. I loved that they had their journey together but also their growth as individuals. Side note don’t let the grief theme fool you this book can be sexy af at moments. Also, can I just talk about how much I love Paul? He is the sweetest little soul. Honorable mention to the psychic, sign me up for one of her readings. I recommend this for fans of Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun and Beach Read by Emily Henry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
kirstenpod_'s review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Death, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
juliaegreene's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
i did not mean to read this in a few days but i think that does say something about the book! (sorry melanie you haven't even gotten it yet and i'm already done ... we both knew this was a possibility)
this was FUN! the combination of adventure, connecting with a lost family member, unlikely crew, reconnecting with a passion and romance that you try to hold yourself back from but it's just inevitable = a fast and enjoyable read. this would be so good to read while on a summer trip. noelle as a narrator is perfect - no other character could tell the story like she does. her emotions are described very clearly and i rarely felt like i didn't understand her motivations. i do think the star of this book is paul, who is heartfelt and inspiring and present yet nostalgic and also cheeky! i love him. theo as a male lead balances broody and soft well, so that as the book progresses, we crave more of his genuine side where he lets down his walls and still pushes noelle's buttons, but in a a fun way. the kat/paul story started to feel a bit laggy towards the end of the trip, but i think the message of it and how it helped noelle feel closer to her gram was necessary to the story. third act fight felt like a natural result of noelle and theo's fears/issues, and i liked that everything coming to a head didn't feel like a blow up, just a big release of built up emotions. the writing at times felt a bit flowery and overdone, especially when listening on audio (i went back and forth between print and audio - kyla garcia did kill it though). i do wish there was a bit more done to address the little hints that they both had been interested in each other back in school, but there was a lot going on, so i can concede. as someone who lost their grandmother recently, this book made me choke up as i read and i think the grief storyline was done using a lot of care and love. a very good start to 2024 book club <3
this was FUN! the combination of adventure, connecting with a lost family member, unlikely crew, reconnecting with a passion and romance that you try to hold yourself back from but it's just inevitable = a fast and enjoyable read. this would be so good to read while on a summer trip. noelle as a narrator is perfect - no other character could tell the story like she does. her emotions are described very clearly and i rarely felt like i didn't understand her motivations. i do think the star of this book is paul, who is heartfelt and inspiring and present yet nostalgic and also cheeky! i love him. theo as a male lead balances broody and soft well, so that as the book progresses, we crave more of his genuine side where he lets down his walls and still pushes noelle's buttons, but in a a fun way. the kat/paul story started to feel a bit laggy towards the end of the trip, but i think the message of it and how it helped noelle feel closer to her gram was necessary to the story. third act fight felt like a natural result of noelle and theo's fears/issues, and i liked that everything coming to a head didn't feel like a blow up, just a big release of built up emotions. the writing at times felt a bit flowery and overdone, especially when listening on audio (i went back and forth between print and audio - kyla garcia did kill it though). i do wish there was a bit more done to address the little hints that they both had been interested in each other back in school, but there was a lot going on, so i can concede. as someone who lost their grandmother recently, this book made me choke up as i read and i think the grief storyline was done using a lot of care and love. a very good start to 2024 book club <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Death and Injury/Injury detail
cassidylee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
rickireadss's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
this broke me into a million pieces, but god, it was so worth it. i knew from some of my friends who have read this that i would cry but damnnnnn, this hurt my heart. grief plots usually hurt and make me cry, but this one just hit a little closer to home for me. i loved noelle and theo so much. the book was amazing beginning to end - like i was absolutely hooked. if i had not read a good chunk of this at work, i would have cried WAY more than i did, but alas, i didn't want to be caught boo-hooing on the job lol. i honestly just LOVED this book in its entirety. the 3rd act breakup part hurt, but i loved how it played out. it was honestly just like handled so maturely and realistically. like i really appreciate how jessica wrote their interaction at theo's house after noelle found out he left the company. the way that noelle realized that how theo reacted and how she reacted were different but that was okay as long as they both remembered that and worked on interacting with each other in a healthy way >>>>> like i just felt like this was realistic because it wasn't just a "okay, you hurt me with your reaction but lets just move on and live happily ever after" moment that is way too common in romance novels. i would 1000% recommend this book and i cannot wait to read more of jessica's books in the future!!!
⚠️: grief, death, sexual content, emotional abuse, blood
⚠️: grief, death, sexual content, emotional abuse, blood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail