Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

29 reviews

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

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

s_baker_19's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Stalking, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, and Drug use

Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Drug abuse

beckyremillard's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

Addie is forced to take a road trip to her friend’s wedding with her ex-boyfriend after he rear ends Addie and her sister. Obviously some old feelings are stirred up, and they aren’t all positive. 

I wasn’t a fan of the middle of the book. Everything happening in the past was kind of boring. I get it’s needed for backstory but it was too much for me. The last 1/4 or so picked up though. 

I also normally like having the guy’s perspective because having his side often makes him more likable. However, I didn’t really feel this way with Dylan until the end. 

I couldn’t stand most of the characters in the end. They all seemed more whiny than they needed to be and that most of their problems could be solved if they had some adult conversations. There were definitely some bigger issues but if Dylan and Addie could actually communicate then they would have been fine. 

I wish the Rodney subplot had been a bit more in depth. I thought that was hilarious and immediately captured my interest. 

The ending was cute and whatnot but I needed more Rodney drama.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Stalking, Homophobia, Vomit, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Sexual assault

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Car accident, Stalking, Sexual content, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness

Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, and Eating disorder

laurataylor's review

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Medical trauma, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed reading The Road Trip. Beth O’Leary blends romance with heavy in a way that worked for me. I thought the road trip element was a lighthearted romp that was evened out by the heavier elements of the “then” storyline. I think if this book had been fully one or the other the storylines would have been too much, but together they work. 

I had some issues with Marcus.

Namely, that Dylan would remain friends or friendly with him after all the abuse Addie suffered, when Dylan broke up with Addie at the drop of a hat for maaaaybe cheating on him (all he had was a sketchy photo of a guys leg on her thigh? And Marcus had literal years of emotional/verbal abuse on Dylan and Addie? I dunno. This part just left me feeling complicated.

A quick read and not too bad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Vomit, and Stalking

Minor: Emotional abuse, Car accident, and Pregnancy

eligru's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Addiction, Car accident, Stalking, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Blood, Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Violence

Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, and Pregnancy

hmatt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny slow-paced

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

3.75

Classic Beth O'Leary here: a hilariously-told and very cute romance with complex characters and a slightly ridiculous premise. This one felt just a little too long for me with a bit of weird pacing, like the antics were slightly too ridiculous and then the ending creeped up and it was all wrapped up too fast. I also felt like the characters were less relatable than those in the author's other books, but that has more to do with their younger ages and how many of them were posh English people than how they were written. This author always does a fantastic job of writing rich and flawed characters that feel very real, and I once again came away wanting to "check up" on all the primary and secondary characters after the novel finishes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Car accident, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, and Stalking

Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Violence, and Vomit

Minor pregnancy tag for breastfeeding and discussions of becoming pregnant. Minor homophobia tag for several brief mentions of a minor homophobic character.

t_higgsreviews's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

4 Stars
CAWPILE = 7.43 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Moderate: Blood, Car accident, and Pregnancy

amibo's review

emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, Medical trauma, and Stalking