Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

91 reviews

readingwithlibby_'s review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad 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

Ughhh what an amazing, heartwarming, beautiful and wonderful story. Addie was such a lovable and fun character. I loved that we saw both Addie and Dylan’s perspective from both past and present. It too a little while to warm up to Dylan but he captured my heart by the end of the book. Marcus is such a complex character. I wasn’t a fan of the reasoning behind his behaviour, but I really loved and appreciated the raw and truth to his journey through addiction and the shame felt once out of that dark place. I actually felt his character was really important in viewing how you can forgive, but not forget. Deb was such a powerful supporting character for Addie, and I loved the small roles Cherry and Grace played. Rodney was a brilliant addition for an added comedic effect to a book that is actually quite heavy. Whilst it is somewhat a romantic comedy, it delves much deeper into the complexities of rich family dynamics, party lifestyles, sexual assault and it’s aftermath and the heartbreak of losing the love of your life. I really loved every part of this book.. and the last line of the book filled my heart with so much joy. I think it was the perfect ending.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

your_true_shelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault

loverbot's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective tense fast-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

4.0

Na verdade, até entendo. Acho. O amor como um trato. Tipo, entregar o coração é assustador, mas exequível se a outra pessoa o fizer em simultâneo, como dois soldados a baixarem as armas ao mesmo tempo.

Mas o pavor que sinto não parece sabê-lo. O pavor sabe apenas que o futuro é vasto, e terrível, porque, inevitavelmente, faça eu o que fizer, irei falhar.

Aquela gargalhada soa a conforto, a simples prazer, ao deleite de sentir que a pessoa que amamos também nos ama.

Mas o quase é mesmo assim: podemos ter 99 por cento de certeza, podemos estar a uma unha negra de o fazer, mas, se nos impedirmos de transpor essa linha, nunca ninguém saberá quão perto estivemos.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Stalking, and Pregnancy

jen1804's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I have mixed feelings about this one. The book flicks between the ‘Then’ and the ‘Now’ which I really liked. The plot was mostly entertaining with comical almost slapstick things occurring throughout the road trip from Chichester to Scotland. Despite this however, it did feel slow at times. What compelled me to keep reading was that I wanted to find out what had happened in the past between Addie and Dylan to cause the tension in the car today. After O’Leary shares this with the reader, the last 50 pages or so were more difficult to read purely because there was no incentive to keep going. Therefore I clearly was not very invested in them as a couple, or invested in the other characters. Some of the relationships/friendships were largely unhealthy, but this is acknowledged within the book, and through use of time and therapy the characters show growth.
I did really love Deb’s character the whole way through though.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Vomit, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

rachaelm13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Wow, went into this book with very little info expecting a cute rom com. Came out with a rather heavy at times piece of literature. 

(Lots of trigger warnings in this book)

The writing was very good. I’m struggling what to rate this because the impeccable writing is whats bringing it up for me. The actual story concept was done as well as it possibly could have been done I’m just not sure I like the concept itself. I’m not a huge fan of second chance romance but if its going to happen therapy needs to happen and it did in this book so that was a check ✅

The two timelines keeps you reading because it flip flops between the two. I didn’t want to put this book down while I was reading but I didn’t have a hug draw to pick it up all the time until halfway probably. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Eating disorder

fabs2510's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, and Stalking

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Vomit

natgoe's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I thought it was solidly good. I think that when I picked it up I had imagined it was going to be more light and fluffy than it was. If you’re looking for that, this book might not be exactly what you’re looking for. It touches on a lot of dark themes and heavy subjects. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing but I am sure that if I had been more prepared for what I was reading I would have given us a higher rating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

ivknjige80's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Mental illness and Stalking

cristina_g_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I started reading The Road trip because it was on my TBR as it is a Beth O’Leary book, and I really loved all her previous ones, and secondly because of my previous read “Seatmate” that has a similar arrangement and I loved it, or so I thought.

I really enjoy the back and forth between then and now, even though in the beginning the contrast between these 2 times is so big that you are asking yourself constantly what might have happened between these two that they went from that passion and instant connection to becoming known strangers.

I went with the expectation of a “warm and good feeling book” and this one, definitely isn’t.
If you are used to Bet’s other books, be warned, she took this one on a different path. The way she deep dives into the characters and their thoughts, drivers, values is the same, but the mood, please read the disclaimers.

I still loved it… 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

kathrynmaclean_'s review

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Rape