A review by bluebeereads
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

5.0

Istyria book blog ~ B's world of enchanted books

Why didn't I read this sooner? Tell me why, because I have no other answer than that I'm stupid. I hereby humbly apologize to Emery Lord for not reading this book sooner. I could've been gushing about it for so long, but I didn't read it when I first got my copy of it and I'm sorry for that. And I think I may have a new author to add to my favorites for contemporary.

Open Road Summer is about two best friends. Reagan and Dee. Dee is the famous country singer Lilah Montgomery and she's going on tour where she'll be the headliner for the first time and her best friend is joining her the whole summer. Both are nursing a broken heart. The last thing Reagan expects is to find someone, but then Matt Finch joins the tour and things only get more interesting every state they visit.

I loved this book so much! It was so cute and sweet and filled with swoony goodness. After the slew of amazing but heartbreaking books I read I needed this kind of read. Light and fun and the perfect summer read (which I read before spring even started officially... Go me). This is not just a summer romance book, it's also a road trip book and a friendship book! (And it teaches us to take the showbizz rumors with a giant grain of salt.)

The friendship between Dee and Reagan is as big a part of this story as the romance is and I loved that. They balanced each other out. I loved their friendship so much because it reminded me of me and my best friend. Though neither of us is a country star, unfortunately. Dee was such a sweet and delightful character and I loved her so much! She was the perfect friend for Reagan, who's had a rough couple of years behind her. I loved Reagan's tough exterior but she's also very loyal and sweet when she wants to be. She's a great friend to Dee too and I loved that!

The romance is almost too perfect for words. It builds slowly and when the first kiss was finally there, I just about melted in a puddle of swoon. Matt is such a great guy. He's not a "bad boy", he's a genuinely nice and caring guy who's also had a rough couple of years behind him and I loved his friendship with Dee. And honestly, who wouldn't fall for a guy who writes songs for you. Come on! I even liked Lissa! And Reagan's dad! And Brenda too, yes.

Open Road Summer is the perfect book to read on a hot summer day in the shade or on a cold winter evening snuggled up under a blanket. It's cute, sweet, light, fun and has a great romance and an even better friendship. Highly recommended to fans of Kasie West and Kelly Oram! And everyone else.

This review is also (or -soon- will be) posted on Istyria book blog