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noni_m's review against another edition
3.0
I went into this book pretty blind. Someone said they wanted to read it, and I was looking for something short and sweet and thought this would be the perfect fit. This book was kind of beautiful. Not at all what I expected. Especially the ending. It’s a bit of a decide for yourself kind of ending. The book itself is about finding yourself and accepting that sometimes it’s just up to fate. There are no wrong paths in life just do what you love. Be authentic. I definitely recommend this book but it’s really not a romance like I initially thought so know that before going into it. It's kind of a coming of age kind of story.
localhero's review against another edition
3.0
If you're not into road trip narratives than I can't really recommend this because it definitely falls prey to the sillier tropes of the genre but the dialogue was inspired at parts (and really cheesy the rest of the time) and it was so good at generating catharsis that it squeezed a few tears out of me!
bookstagramblonde's review against another edition
5.0
10/10
Oh my god. Oh my fucking god. This book was amazing. Easily one of my favorites of the entire year. Thanks to the Book Drop subscription box for sending me this masterpiece.
Okay. So. Jack. Hallie. Oscar. Princess. Owen. Alex. All of these amazing characters that fit into this one weekend, this one life-changing 48 hour trip.
I love Jack. I love him. He addressed a lot of feelings about grief, about wanting more time to figure out life. He also spent the entire book coming to the realization that maybe he wasn't as content with his life as he thought he was on page one. And even on page 1 he was struggling.
Hallie learns throughout the whole book that it's not a crime to trust people and let them in. She realized, with the passing of one of her closest friends drawing so near, that there was life outside of her room, and sometimes, the risks outweigh the consequences.
Oscar is literally the only reason this story happened, and I loved him so much. GoodCarma gets a 5-star review from me, even if they are fake. If he hadn't been headed to LA, if he hadn't been able to pick up Jack that night, none of this story would have been possible.
The ending was so amazing, I think it reflected the book perfectly. It actually reminded me of Jack's "Choose Your Own Adventure" novel that he was writing. We see Hallie and Jack agree to meet up in the future, and I think that their ending is decided by each individual reader, just like a CYOA book. If you're an optimist, Jack and Hallie meet again, time leads them back to one another. If you're a pessimist, then for whatever reason, they don't meet.
This book showed every reader to expect the unexpected, to roll with life, and to never, ever stay on the ground, no matter how many times life throws you down.
This story is told in a beautiful, unconditional, witty way. I grew to love and feel for every single character. I will go through every adjective I know to describe this book, because it deserves all the praise. I definitely have a new favorite.
Oh my god. Oh my fucking god. This book was amazing. Easily one of my favorites of the entire year. Thanks to the Book Drop subscription box for sending me this masterpiece.
Okay. So. Jack. Hallie. Oscar. Princess. Owen. Alex. All of these amazing characters that fit into this one weekend, this one life-changing 48 hour trip.
I love Jack. I love him. He addressed a lot of feelings about grief, about wanting more time to figure out life. He also spent the entire book coming to the realization that maybe he wasn't as content with his life as he thought he was on page one. And even on page 1 he was struggling.
Hallie learns throughout the whole book that it's not a crime to trust people and let them in. She realized, with the passing of one of her closest friends drawing so near, that there was life outside of her room, and sometimes, the risks outweigh the consequences.
Oscar is literally the only reason this story happened, and I loved him so much. GoodCarma gets a 5-star review from me, even if they are fake. If he hadn't been headed to LA, if he hadn't been able to pick up Jack that night, none of this story would have been possible.
The ending was so amazing, I think it reflected the book perfectly. It actually reminded me of Jack's "Choose Your Own Adventure" novel that he was writing. We see Hallie and Jack agree to meet up in the future, and I think that their ending is decided by each individual reader, just like a CYOA book. If you're an optimist, Jack and Hallie meet again, time leads them back to one another. If you're a pessimist, then for whatever reason, they don't meet.
This book showed every reader to expect the unexpected, to roll with life, and to never, ever stay on the ground, no matter how many times life throws you down.
This story is told in a beautiful, unconditional, witty way. I grew to love and feel for every single character. I will go through every adjective I know to describe this book, because it deserves all the praise. I definitely have a new favorite.
ameliahat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
brinley's review against another edition
5.0
This book is one of my favorite reads of 2020. It was wholesome, sweet, and above all, a tale of two friends finding themselves on a road trip. I went into this expecting a romance, and I've never been happier to read a book that wasn't even slightly romantic. Sure, Hallie and Jake would've worked together, but I love the way Reul crafted this story.
Blurb
Jake is determined to go see his estranged brother before he leaves for college. Hallie is determined to go meet her online friend for the first time before he dies. After they end up sharing the same rideshare, and both of their trains get delayed, they decide to make their way to their destinations together.
I strongly believe that friendships in books are better than romances. Yes, I love a good romance, but I love a strong friendship even more. It might be because I just find friendships more relatable, but that's not relevant. Anyway, the friendship between Jake and Hallie is going to stick in my mind. I feel like this really conveyed their bond well. They were both such eclectic characters, and I loved them together. Being there as they worked through their own problems, and talked their way through a road trip was amazingly fun.
Any good contemporary requires strong characters, and that's exactly what this book had! I loved how they were distinct, I always knew whose perspective I was reading from. The interactions between Hallie and Jake were hilarious, and I could've read another 100 pages of just them interacting. Oscar however, is the highlight of this book. On top of being utterly hilarious, he was such a fun character. The scene with them trying to get their car back by using all of the mannequins was amazing, I was cracking up.
When the bomb about Hallie having cancer was dropped, I got real worried. I hate cancer love stories. I rated [b:The Fault in Our Stars|11870085|The Fault in Our Stars|John Green|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360206420l/11870085._SY75_.jpg|16827462] one star. They just don't work with me. This book did though! Hallie having cancer didn't feel like it was the plot, it just felt like another piece of Hallie. I really enjoyed it, which was a pleasant surprise.
If you're in the mood for a summer tale of friendship and adventure, this is for you! I'm not even a contemporary fan, and yet I still love this. I'd definitely recommend it!
Thanks to Robin Reul and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Blurb
Jake is determined to go see his estranged brother before he leaves for college. Hallie is determined to go meet her online friend for the first time before he dies. After they end up sharing the same rideshare, and both of their trains get delayed, they decide to make their way to their destinations together.
I strongly believe that friendships in books are better than romances. Yes, I love a good romance, but I love a strong friendship even more. It might be because I just find friendships more relatable, but that's not relevant. Anyway, the friendship between Jake and Hallie is going to stick in my mind. I feel like this really conveyed their bond well. They were both such eclectic characters, and I loved them together. Being there as they worked through their own problems, and talked their way through a road trip was amazingly fun.
Any good contemporary requires strong characters, and that's exactly what this book had! I loved how they were distinct, I always knew whose perspective I was reading from. The interactions between Hallie and Jake were hilarious, and I could've read another 100 pages of just them interacting. Oscar however, is the highlight of this book. On top of being utterly hilarious, he was such a fun character. The scene with them trying to get their car back by using all of the mannequins was amazing, I was cracking up.
When the bomb about Hallie having cancer was dropped, I got real worried. I hate cancer love stories. I rated [b:The Fault in Our Stars|11870085|The Fault in Our Stars|John Green|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360206420l/11870085._SY75_.jpg|16827462] one star. They just don't work with me. This book did though! Hallie having cancer didn't feel like it was the plot, it just felt like another piece of Hallie. I really enjoyed it, which was a pleasant surprise.
If you're in the mood for a summer tale of friendship and adventure, this is for you! I'm not even a contemporary fan, and yet I still love this. I'd definitely recommend it!
Thanks to Robin Reul and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
annareadshere's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such a lovely surprise. It’s a story about finding yourself, and going on all the journeys you need to in order to find yourself. As teenagers, most of us are quite clueless about our lives, and we do what we think we want to do because our parents or other family members have convinced us that’s the right thing to do. And in Where The Road Leads Us, that’s what Jack is going through. He’s stuck and he’s looking for a way to make sense of everything. And not only does he get his chance, he also meets interesting people along the way that makes the journey that much more special.
I love books that feature road trips or actual journeys that are metaphors for the journeys we go through in life. Jack and Hallie both have an end goal with this journey and they don’t expect to find it together, but it all just fits. While the context might make it seem heavy and complicated, what I loved about the story was how entertaining it was. You don’t expect that going in, especially with the struggles the characters are facing. But every person they meet along the way, every stop they make and every choice they face leads to something exciting.
While some might think it’s a romance - because of Jack and Hallie - that’s only a small part of the story and not at all what the book is about. It’s light, it’s relatable, it’s fun and it’s an absolute delight to read. I’m a huge fan of books that focus on the love between friends as opposed to the love between a couple. It’s rare to find a lot of that these days, but when I do, I hold onto these books and snuggle them real tight, because those are the special ones.
Thanks to Robin Reul, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love books that feature road trips or actual journeys that are metaphors for the journeys we go through in life. Jack and Hallie both have an end goal with this journey and they don’t expect to find it together, but it all just fits. While the context might make it seem heavy and complicated, what I loved about the story was how entertaining it was. You don’t expect that going in, especially with the struggles the characters are facing. But every person they meet along the way, every stop they make and every choice they face leads to something exciting.
While some might think it’s a romance - because of Jack and Hallie - that’s only a small part of the story and not at all what the book is about. It’s light, it’s relatable, it’s fun and it’s an absolute delight to read. I’m a huge fan of books that focus on the love between friends as opposed to the love between a couple. It’s rare to find a lot of that these days, but when I do, I hold onto these books and snuggle them real tight, because those are the special ones.
Thanks to Robin Reul, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
angelsmomreads's review against another edition
5.0
Don't judge a book by its cover..but what do we do always? Book lovers gravitate towards the pretty cover..and at first glance this photo speaks to me of a spontaneous post graduation joy ride road trip to San Francisco.
You can stop right there because this book was so much more.
This was my first five star YA contemporary for 2021.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Dual POV- Mental Health - Addiction
PERFECT..there is not one weakness in this story except I wanted more of Hallie!
Jack has everything going for him a popular girlfriend, he has been accepted to Columbia, he has an internship set up in NY the Monday after graduation. His life is neat , organized and everything people expected out of him.
Until his birthday breakfast the morning before graduation...and bit by bit Jack begins to question everything he has ever wanted.
Hallie is fighting cancer..her mom runs the diner that Jack and his friends are sitting and eating pancakes, doing all the carefree things a senior would do. She dropped out and took her GED to avoid the questions about her illness.
Little do they know..their lives are going to Colide..
Yeah que Howie Day..that song is frickin perfect ..right here right now.
This book is one every high school senior should get as a gift at graduation, because the author covers every single hurt, happiness.and question about life in its pages. Some lessons that aren't taught in a book, in a classroom, in a lecture.(.geez I am tearing up just writing this caption.)
Lessons like..
You can stop right there because this book was so much more.
This was my first five star YA contemporary for 2021.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Dual POV- Mental Health - Addiction
PERFECT..there is not one weakness in this story except I wanted more of Hallie!
Jack has everything going for him a popular girlfriend, he has been accepted to Columbia, he has an internship set up in NY the Monday after graduation. His life is neat , organized and everything people expected out of him.
Until his birthday breakfast the morning before graduation...and bit by bit Jack begins to question everything he has ever wanted.
Hallie is fighting cancer..her mom runs the diner that Jack and his friends are sitting and eating pancakes, doing all the carefree things a senior would do. She dropped out and took her GED to avoid the questions about her illness.
Little do they know..their lives are going to Colide..
Yeah que Howie Day..that song is frickin perfect ..right here right now.
This book is one every high school senior should get as a gift at graduation, because the author covers every single hurt, happiness.and question about life in its pages. Some lessons that aren't taught in a book, in a classroom, in a lecture.(.geez I am tearing up just writing this caption.)
Lessons like..
kaycee_k's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
inkslinger's review against another edition
4.0
ARC provided by Sourcebooks Fire and Robin Reul via MTMC Tours. All opinions are mine and freely given.
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04-06: 'Where the Road Leads Us' by Robin Reul is a dual narrative about a pair of teens who find themselves at a different, but equally life-altering crossroads.
Jack is pretty much the golden boy. He's such an over-achiever that he's stacking self-taught AP studies on top of those he's been scheduled for in school. Here, literally getting ready to pack up and leave for college, life throws him a curveball.
Reeling from the unexpected, Jack finds himself rethinking everything. Before he follows that pre-designated path.. he wants to locate his estranged brother and set some things to rest.
Hallie seems more free-spirited. Life has been kicking her while she's down for awhile and it's forced her to adopt a sort of 'roll with the punches' approach. When she gets some upsetting news about a friend, she makes a spur of the moment decision to go see him while she can.
Generally speaking, this is a sweet, quirky novel. Though there are some heavy topics being dealt with, the story is never really sad. There's a concerted effort both between the characters and clearly by the author to sort of recalibrate the emotional perspective whenever something potentially negative occurs in the story.. which supports the whole 'bright side' theme.
Jack and Hallie have a really cute, warm dynamic and their rideshare driver turned newfound friend actually adds to that feeling within the story. Though some of the dynamics that pop-up between side characters throughout the book are a little clunky, 'the trifecta' as I like to call them, doesn't suffer from it at all.
Their adventures as they travel together are a bit wild and some might even feel they're unrealistic, but as someone who's made road trips with similarly strange incidents littering the way, it just made me laugh and keep reading.
I enjoyed the way Jack and Hallie tended to be each other's true North. Whenever one of them would get lost along the way, sort of faltering with their personal struggle.. the other would be there to right them and keep them going.
This is a story full of hope.. and with the last year we've all had, I don't think we can have too much of that. If you're looking for a light read, that still has some emotional depth as the characters deal with their traumas, this might be the book for you.
Mild caution for triggers regarding loss of loved ones and severe illnesses.
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