Book Review: The Road Trip

After reading The Flatshare I was eager to get my hands on more of Beth O’Leary’s novels. To my shock (and equal delight), this new author had already written two other books. Her second book, The Switch, sounded right up my alley but her third, The Road Trip didn’t tickle my fancy quite as much. But after falling in love with the new cast of characters featured in The Switch, I decided to put my faith in my new favourite rom-com author and give her third novel a go.

Boy, am I glad I did. It took me by surprise in the best way possible and within a week, having turned the last pages, I was ready for more. The Road Trip takes you on a journey through the past and present and from balmy summer days spent in Provence to a drive through the English and Scottish countryside. For most of the novel, you’re wedged into an already cramped MINI Cooper with sisters Addie and Deb, Addie’s ex Dylan and his toxic best friend Marcus and Rodney, anything wedding guest they’re carpooling with. The story jumps from Addie’s to Dylan’s point of view and switches between the past and the present to reveal all the secrets that hadn’t previously been shared.

As always, O’Leary weaves big themes, like toxic friendships and depression to name a few, into an easily digestible narrative. While it is a bit more explicit than her previous books, there isn’t anything overly graphic. And there’s plenty to make you smile, plus all the usual rom-com stomach twisting moments that I’ve come to relish from Mrs O’Leary. It’s a fun, sexy summer read that’ll keep you turning page after page and overflowing with quick, witty and wicked one-liners like this gem:

“Interesting, you went for the one with a cock on his face.”

I can’t wait to see what O’Leary does next.