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9780593335024

Beth O'Leary

Penguin Publishing Group

01 June 2021

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THE ROAD TRIP

by Beth O'Leary ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2021

A second-chance romance shows the many potential pitfalls of road tripping.

Years after a tumultuous breakup, a young woman finds herself crammed into the same tiny car as her ex for a dayslong drive to a mutual friend’s wedding.

Addie and her sister, Deb, are excited to be road tripping from their home in England to rural Scotland for their friend Cherry’s wedding. They’ve planned the trip so perfectly that they don’t even mind transporting a work friend of Cherry’s, an overly apologetic fellow named Rodney. Unfortunately, only a few hours after they set out, they get rear-ended. It turns out the driver is none other than Dylan Abbott, the man Addie has spent two years trying to forget. Worse yet, the car Dylan was driving now needs a tow, leaving him and his best friend, Marcus, without transportation to the very same wedding. Before she can stop herself, Addie invites the men to ride along with her, Deb, and Rodney. Everyone piles into the Mini Cooper, and with each mile they drive, Addie and Dylan find themselves assaulted by memories and unresolved feelings. Meanwhile, the group dynamic, as a whole, is also less than perfect. As the journey progresses, the bickering between the passengers only escalates, creating a slew of awkward moments and surprising revelations. Told alternately from Addie's and Dylan’s perspectives, the novel shifts between “Then,” when they were falling in love, and “Now,” when they are grappling with their unresolved feelings. As a picture of the past begins to crystalize, the author deftly portrays the passion the couple once felt for each other. Unfortunately, other than the sexual chemistry, they seem to be missing a true emotional connection, rendering their potential reunion somewhat less exciting. After the initial flashback scenes, which are quite engaging, Dylan gradually reveals himself to be so self-involved and undirected that his shortcomings weaken the intrigue of his pining over Addie. More fun is watching the other passengers in the car battle against each other as they navigate the uncomfortable ride, squishing into tight spaces and arguing over every possible topic. Despite its unevenness, the story is full of fun: quirky behavior, witty Briticisms, and gleeful slapstick humor.

Pub Date: June 1, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-5933-3502-4

Page Count: 400

Publisher: Berkley

Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021

FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | GENERAL FICTION

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BOOK REVIEW

by Beth O'Leary

Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

New York Times Bestseller

IT STARTS WITH US

by Colleen Hoover ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 18, 2022

Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.

The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.

Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.

Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Atria

Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022

ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION

More by Colleen Hoover

by Colleen Hoover

More About This Book

SEEN & HEARD

by Kristin Hannah ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024

A dramatic, vividly detailed reconstruction of a little-known aspect of the Vietnam War.

A young woman’s experience as a nurse in Vietnam casts a deep shadow over her life.

When we learn that the farewell party in the opening scene is for Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s older brother—“a golden boy, a wild child who could make the hardest heart soften”—who is leaving to serve in Vietnam in 1966, we feel pretty certain that poor Finley McGrath is marked for death. Still, it’s a surprise when the fateful doorbell rings less than 20 pages later. His death inspires his sister to enlist as an Army nurse, and this turn of events is just the beginning of a roller coaster of a plot that’s impressive and engrossing if at times a bit formulaic. Hannah renders the experiences of the young women who served in Vietnam in all-encompassing detail. The first half of the book, set in gore-drenched hospital wards, mildewed dorm rooms, and boozy officers’ clubs, is an exciting read, tracking the transformation of virginal, uptight Frankie into a crack surgical nurse and woman of the world. Her tensely platonic romance with a married surgeon ends when his broken, unbreathing body is airlifted out by helicopter; she throws her pent-up passion into a wild affair with a soldier who happens to be her dead brother’s best friend. In the second part of the book, after the war, Frankie seems to experience every possible bad break. A drawback of the story is that none of the secondary characters in her life are fully three-dimensional: Her dismissive, chauvinistic father and tight-lipped, pill-popping mother, her fellow nurses, and her various love interests are more plot devices than people. You’ll wish you could have gone to Vegas and placed a bet on the ending—while it’s against all the odds, you’ll see it coming from a mile away.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9781250178633

Page Count: 480

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023

FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | GENERAL FICTION | HISTORICAL FICTION

More by Kristin Hannah

by Kristin Hannah

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REVIEW: The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary

Two exes reach a new level of awkward when forced to take a road trip together in this endearing and humorous novel by the author of the international bestseller The Flatshare. What if the end of the road is just the beginning? Four years ago, Dylan and Addie fell in love under the Provence sun. Wealthy Oxford student Dylan was staying at his friend Cherry’s enormous French villa; wild child Addie was spending her summer as the on-site caretaker. Two years ago, their relationship officially ended. They haven’t spoken since. Today, Dylan’s and Addie’s lives collide again. It’s the day before Cherry’s wedding, and Addie and Dylan crash cars at the start of the journey there. The car Dylan was driving is wrecked, and the wedding is in rural Scotland—he’ll never get there on time by public transport. So, along with Dylan’s best friend, Addie’s sister, and a random guy on Facebook who needed a ride, they squeeze into a space-challenged Mini and set off across Britain. Cramped into the same space, Dylan and Addie are forced to confront the choices they made that tore them apart—and ask themselves whether that final decision was the right one after all.

CW/TW – depression, addiction, stalking, attempted sexual assault

Dear Ms. O’Leary, 

After hearing all about the first two books, I was excited to finally try one of your novels. Several of our other reviewers had great things to say about them and this blurb looked enticing. Though I thought I was going to get nothing but rom-com, the story is actually an examination of why insta-love is an iffy way to start a relationship, toxic friendships all crossed with a road trip from hell, more than a bit of introspection and laced with comedic touches. 

Via the dual timeline, the love and loss suffered by very posh Dylan and not-posh Addie is told. The two meet one lovely summer in Provence while Addie (and sometimes her sister, Deb) is looking after her uni roommate’s parents’ estate. Dylan appears, the two begin to spend time together and a week later, love is in the air. But when Dylan’s best friend (the slightly unhinged) Marcus arrives along with several of their other very posh buddies, Addie begins to worry that she’s not really in his social class. How can romantic, poetry writing, Oxford educated Dylan (who actually understands “The Fairy Queen”) truly love someone like average, school teacher-to-be Addie who was mainly trying on a persona over the summer?

Time passed, love flourished but dark storm clouds threatened their epic romance. Somehow it all came crashing down so badly that they haven’t spoken in almost two years. Then fate thrust them back together – along with a motley crew of people who sorta know what happened – on bank holiday packed roads as they journeyed to a wedding. Will the whole truth finally emerge, will they make it on time to the wedding, and is there a chance that somehow things can be made right again?

There is so much more to this story than romance or love. There are class differences, self discovery, deep reflection, toxic parent/child relationships, wonderful parent/child relationships, an absolute no-fucks given sibling, homophobia, homophila, breast pumps, google mapping, traffic jams, idyllic French countryside frolicking, gap year wandering, a crammed motel room, revelations, a stalker, a castle, and country music.  

Romance and laughter might get the book started but it’s soon obvious that whatever happened was dark, painful, and has scarred Addie and Dylan. The lead up is so easy and unobtrusive that this is a rare time that I was not rolling my eyes as yet another heavy hint gets dropped per chapter and I realize from early on what happened. No, this is subtle and shows how even the greatest and deepest love sometimes has to weather storms and people who think they know best and that not all people who are deeply in love can communicate worth a damn. We must see what brought Addie and Dylan together in order to understand how and why the breakup was as painful as it was. The revelation, when it arrives, is gut punching in many ways. The insights about this that arrive later are ones that needed time, therapy, and effort to be reached.  

Along the way to the wedding in Scotland, Dylan begins composing a poem with the line “Unchanged but changed” which perfectly describes both he and Addie. This is something I was delighted to see taken out of the box, shaken to get the wrinkles out, then discussed. Dylan and Addie immediately realize that the feelings are still there – both the good and the bad. They remember little things they shared and often find themselves glancing at the other when something amuses or annoys them. They’re still sympatico. And yet … some things are different. Some things have changed and before any future plans are made, these are talked about. Therapy is talked about and it isn’t just Dylan and Addie who have gotten it. Still, thinking back, there were so many times when Dylan irritated me – the way he was led by everyone he knew and how so many times he wouldn’t stick up for Addie. She is the one who makes the most accommodations and compromises to keep their relationship going, IMO.      

And yet, I was giggling and laughing at the bizarre assortment of people crammed in that mini and the snarky ways, at times, they interact. Kevin the Truck Driver was a great addition to the crew and the wedding is one for the ages. At times however, the actions of some of the characters made me want to shake them. Pill popping, massive drinking, out of control partying and other antics of the posh 1% are things I don’t like and don’t want to try and understand. Get over your privileged selves. By the current section, Dylan has apparently discovered self control and economizing when his rich parents cut off his access to the cash.

This is not a light and fluffy book as some characters are dark and or troubled. They are well written characters but not all ones whom people will like or cheer for. There are toxic relationships some of which I didn’t want to see continued but then, life is full of this. At one point, Dylan does finally offer a bit of insight into why he continues to hang out with one person and given how his father has always treated him, it makes sense. Other relationships are delightful such as Addie and her take-no-prisoners sister Deb and there’s one I didn’t expect involving another female friend of Dylan’s. The alternate POVs chapters assure that we, if not the other MC, know what is going on but at times Dylan and Addie’s voices read as “same same” to me making me have to double check who was relating the chapter.   

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Another long time reader who read romance novels in her teens, then took a long break before started back again about 25 years ago. She enjoys historical romance/fiction best, likes contemporaries, action- adventure and mysteries, will read suspense if there's no TSTL characters and is currently reading more fantasy and SciFi.

Looking forward to reading this, after enjoying the author’s first 2 books. I’ve read some reviews that complained because this one isn’t as light and fluffy as the others. That seems like a weird reason for a negative review. Beth O’Leary obviously doesn’t want to write the same book every time and I think it’s admirable that she is trying to grow as an author. Maybe blame the publisher if the blurb is misleading…?

Like SusanS, I’m also looking forward to reading this. I very much enjoyed the author’s first book but only sampled her second.

@ SusanS : I guess it’s readers wanting an author to “write the same thing but different.” These cartoon covers don’t help either as, to me, that signals “light and fluffy.” But then that’s been an issue for me with a lot of books in the past few months that are blurbed as “cute romcoms” but end up having much darker issues.

ETA: One recent book I was amused by the conflicting reviews of is “The Hail Mary Project.” Some reviewers were angry because it was exactly like “The Martian” and others were angry because it wasn’t anything like “The Martian.”

@ Kareni : Since I haven’t read either, I’d love to know what you think of this one and how it compares to “Flatshare.”

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book. Your review is great, it sounds like this is a bit deeper than a lot of Romcoms. Thanks.

Jennie and I have a joint review of this one planned, so I’m going to refrain from reading your post until we have it drafted. I’ll come back and read it then. But from looking at the grade I can say that you liked the book much better than I did.

@ Janine Ballard : Did having read her other two books influence how you feel about this one? There were some things that could have gone either way with me and perhaps went the other way with you.

@ Jayne : I don’t think so, except inasmuch as that The Flatshare was so good and it’s always a bummer when an author doesn’t live up to her full potential. But my biggest issues were that I thought the book was misconceived, that the characters’ motivations didn’t make enough sense, and that I hated Dylan.

About the angst, though, I will say this: I love emotional books, but here I felt that the humor and angst were not properly balanced. The present-day trip to the wedding was frequently funny and had an almost lighthearted tone while the flashbacks were where most of the angst was. It didn’t mesh well that their, and even more, the reader’s emotions would be so markedly different during the trip, even though the past was so heavy and was still with them/us. The book felt lopsided because of that and the jumps back and forth were jarring.

And now I must shut up so I can save some thoughts for the review.

Just popping in to say that I *knew* Janine was going to have problems with this book (as did I, but well…okay, I guess we’ll wait for the review).

@ Jennie : LOL. You know me well.

I listened to The Flatshare and loved it but I wouldn’t describe it as light and fluffy. I wouldn’t describe it as angsty either but it does deal with some heavier topics, particularly how Tiffy was gaslit by her horrible ex, Justin. I didn’t read the second book but after your review I’m thinking I might listen to this one.

@ Janine : Looking forward to your review. I don’t think I would consider the book to be misconceived, but I hated Dylan too. Swing and a miss for me.

@ SusanS : Sorry, I missed this before. Our review turned out looooooong and will be posted in two parts, most likely on Wednesday and Thursday.

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Review: The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary

Posted July 14, 2021 by Rowena in Reviews | 4 Comments

Two exes reach a new level of awkward when forced to take a road trip together in this endearing and humorous novel by the author of the international bestseller The Flatshare. What if the end of the road is just the beginning? Four years ago, Dylan and Addie fell in love under the Provence sun. Wealthy Oxford student Dylan was staying at his friend Cherry's enormous French villa; wild child Addie was spending her summer as the on-site caretaker. Two years ago, their relationship officially ended. They haven't spoken since. Today, Dylan's and Addie's lives collide again. It's the day before Cherry's wedding, and Addie and Dylan crash cars at the start of the journey there. The car Dylan was driving is wrecked, and the wedding is in rural Scotland--he'll never get there on time by public transport. So, along with Dylan's best friend, Addie's sister, and a random guy on Facebook who needed a ride, they squeeze into a space-challenged Mini and set off across Britain. Cramped into the same space, Dylan and Addie are forced to confront the choices they made that tore them apart--and ask themselves whether that final decision was the right one after all.

The Road Trip was one of the first books that I read by Beth O’Leary and while I did enjoy it, there were things about it that I didn’t really care for. The biggest thing was the back and forth between the past and the present. I almost DNF’d this book because I hated the jumping between the past and the present. If I wasn’t so invested in what happened to break Dylan and Addie up, I probably wouldn’t have finished this one. Also, the lightness of the illustrated cover made me think this was going to be a lighter romance than it actually was, and normally, it’s not a big deal to me but for some reason, it just didn’t completely work for me in this one. It might have been a mood thing because while I didn’t LOVE the book, it was still a pretty solid story.

This is a second chance love story between Dylan and Addie. They met while Dylan was vacationing in the house that Addie was working at over the summer. Dylan comes from money and Addie works for every penny she has but they found love in that French villa and things were going swimmingly…until it wasn’t and they break up. It’s been two years since they’ve broken up and they haven’t spoken to each other since. When their mutual friend, Cherry, gets married they know that they’ll probably see each other at the wedding but they didn’t expect circumstances to make it to where they had to squeeze into the smallest car on the planet and road trip it to the wedding together.

Like I mentioned earlier, this story is told between the past and the present, and in the beginning, it gave me whiplash. I was so anxious to find out what happened in the past to make their present so weird and awkward that it made me a little grumpy when the story didn’t move fast enough to suit me. I preferred the past until the shit hit the fan and the road trip to the wedding was full of Dylan longing for Addie that I rolled my eyes a lot. I also wanted to punch Markus in the junk at every turn too. Past and present, though present Markus less so. Sure, I wanted to knee him in the balls in the present a time or two but he’s a different Markus from the past and I eventually came to not hate him.

This was a heavier book than I anticipated but I am glad that I finished it. I was satisfied with the way that the book came together in the end. I did end up enjoying Dylan and Addie’s characters and seeing them come together again after years and years of pain made for a satisfying end so I would recommend that you read this book if you’re in the mood for a love story that is heavy on the angst, but solid all around.

3.5 out of 5

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4 Comments Tagged: 3.5 Reviews , Beth O'Leary , Contemporary , Quercus , Romance , Rowena's Reviews

4 responses to “ Review: The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary ”

Thanks for sharing your review, Rowena. I’m curious to read this and see if my thoughts align with yours.

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The Road Trip

The utterly heart-warming and joyful novel from the author of the flatshare, by beth o'leary, this title was previously available on netgalley and is now archived., send netgalley books directly to your kindle or kindle app, to read on a kindle or kindle app, please add [email protected] as an approved email address to receive files in your amazon account. click here for step-by-step instructions., also find your kindle email address within your amazon account, and enter it here., pub date 29 apr 2021 | archive date 23 apr 2021, quercus books | quercus, general fiction (adult) | romance.

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Description

The instant Sunday Times Bestseller from the author of The Flatshare 'Read this! Absolutely loved it!' Christina Lauren 'This book is perfect' Rosie Walsh ' Beth is quite rightly earning her title as "Queen of Uplit"' Prima Addie and her sister are on an epic road trip to a friend's wedding in rural Scotland. But, not long after setting off, a car slams into theirs. The driver is none other than Addie's ex, who she hasn't seen since their traumatic break-up two years earlier. Dylan and his best mate are heading to the wedding too, so Addie has no choice but to offer them a ride. And with four hundred miles to go, they can't avoid confronting the very messy history of their relationship . . . Will they make it to the wedding? And, more importantly, is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan? 'Funny, relatable and tender' Red ' If Richard Curtis and Nora Ephron made a story baby' Zoella Book Club 'So romantic and moving and brilliantly told' Louise O'Neill 'O'Leary does it again! The Road Trip is another sure-fire hit, filled with characters you won't forget' Mike Gayle 'An achingly tender love story' Richard Roper

The instant Sunday Times Bestseller from the author of The Flatshare 'Read this! Absolutely loved it!' Christina Lauren 'This book is perfect' Rosie Walsh ' Beth is quite rightly earning her title as...

Advance Praise

HEAR WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING ABOUT BETH'S FIRST TWO NOVELS:

'I adored every page of this super-smart, brilliantly funny romcom' Rosie Walsh on The Flatshare

'The new Jojo Moyes ... This has all the ingredients of Me Before You... seriously funny' Cosmopolitan on The Flatshare

'Touching, funny and skilful, a delightful read' Katie Fforde on The Flatshare

' The Flatshare is a huge, heart-warming triumph' Josie Silver on The Flatshare

'Beth has done it again! Warm, witty, and a cast of characters I wish I was friends with - I truly loved it!' Laura Jane Williams on The Switch

'Eileen Cotton proves you don't have to be in your thirties to be Bridget Jones. A triumph of a second novel' Anstey Harris on The Switch

'I am blown away. I didn't think Beth could top The Flatshare but she has. It sparkles with wit, warmth and compassion. It deserves to be huge!' Gillian McAllister on The Switch

'The new Jojo Moyes ... This has...

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The Road Trip Book: 1001 Drives of a Lifetime Hardcover – March 13, 2018

• Print length 960 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Universe
• Publication date March 13, 2018
• Dimensions 6.5 x 2.3 x 8.6 inches
• ISBN-10 0789334259
• ISBN-13 978-0789334251
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Universe (March 13, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 960 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0789334259
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0789334251
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.6 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 2.3 x 8.6 inches
• #244 in Road Travel Reference
• #380 in General Travel Reference
• #1,175 in Tourist Destinations & Museums Guides

About the author

Darryl sleath.

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 68% 13% 9% 6% 4% 13%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 68% 13% 9% 6% 4% 9%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 68% 13% 9% 6% 4% 6%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 68% 13% 9% 6% 4% 4%

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Customers say

Customers say the pictures are nice, but they don't do much to sell the book. They also appreciate the worldbuilding, saying it gives you road trips from all around the world.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the visuals in the book. However, some reviewers say the pictures are nice but not enough to sell the book itself.

"The road trips look amazing and I am looking forward to doing some of them. The book is arranged West to East. That is fine with me...." Read more

"...Instead it's a travelogue that gets repititious. The photographs are nice ...." Read more

"...Instead of just a general written description of the rout. The pictures are nice but they do not do a lot to sell interest in the trips...." Read more

Customers find the worldbuilding in the book awesome and say it gives them road trips from all around the world.

"What a fun tour of the world . Road trips from everywhere...just leafing through the pages is a trip. I loved getting this book." Read more

"This book is really awesome! Gives you road trips from all around the world!" Read more

"...However, it did have quite a bit of road trips . I just wish they would have produced it in a full 8 1/2 x 11...." Read more

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13 Best Books About Road Trips to Satisfy Your Summer Wanderlust

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The classic American road trip book has been interpreted and reinterpreted over the years, from On the Road by Jack Kerouac to Cheryl Strayed's Wild . At this point, there's a road trip-themed pick for everyone, including YA romps about couples on the run ( I Wanna Be Where You Are ) and family-friendly audiobook options ( Walk Two Moons ) . Only the bold of heart should try out a road trip thriller , however.

For many who've had their vacation plans break down this summer, now might also be a perfect time to get on the open road to explore all the weird nooks and crannies this country has to offer. If you're planning to drive to a far-off destination, try listening to these road trip books on tape —between belting these classic car songs , of course.

Or, you know, you could just read one of these quintessential road trip novels from the comfort of your own home. Either way, the following 13 books—including a couple of comical romps, a pair of 1950s classics, a semi-surreal comic book, and more—will inspire you to put on your sunglasses, or your reading glasses, and leave your old world behind.

The Red Car by Marcy Dermansky

Tautly told and drolly smart, Dermansky's third novel centers on a woman in Queens locked in a loveless marriage . The key to her freedom, and to unlatching her sense of self, is the titular red car, bequeathed to her when her beloved mentor passes away. If you want an entire novel that captures the gleeful, devil-may-care liberation of Thelma and Louise driving off a cliff (and believe us, you really, really do) then this one's for you. 

I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest

Here's something you should know about Chloe Pierce: She's an excellent ballerina, and a terrible driver. Still, in an effort to get into the school of her dreams, Chloe breaks her mom's rule (whoops) and steals the car (double whoops) to drive to an audition in D.C. Her irritating neighbor, Eli, insists on hitching a ride. Kristina Forest's heart-warming YA debut captures a girl on the cusp of adulthood, pushing the limits of her independence—and dealing with the consequences. 

Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli

In her review for O , acclaimed author Carmen Maria Machado said of Luisell's inventive novel: "Not since  Lolita  has a road trip so brilliantly captured the dark underbelly of the American dream, the gulf between its promise and reality." This story of a family traveling southwest in search of answers to our nation's troubling past and present was one of our favorite books of 2019 . 

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

Beware—once you meet Charlie Manx, the immortal villain of  NOS4A2 , you'll forever fear seeing his haunted car drive by you on a quiet road. By then, it'll be too late.  NOS4A2 is a road trip novel, made sinister: Characters travel on roads that don't exist on any map.  Manx transports children in his car to "Christmasland," a place far more sinister than it sounds. On her magic bike, Vic McQueen is able to travel to Christmaslands and other realms, and is the one person who can stop him.  NOS4A2  comes with horror pedigree: Joe Hill, the author, is Stephen King's (very talented) son.

The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

Highsmith's 1952 novel—originally published under a pseudonym—is perhaps most famously the basis for the film Carol , a queer modern classic starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. But saying that it's just a book that was turned into a movie would take away from the quietly revolutionary sumptuousness of the text itself. Highsmith's wintry tale of two women in mid-century America who drive across the country together to escape society's expectations is a must-read. 

We All Loved Cowboys by Carol Bensimon (translated by Beth Fowler)

More forbidden love on the run! Translated from Portuguese, this exquisite and wistful novel by Bensimon—named one of Granta's Best Young Brazilian novelists—follows former friends Julia and Cora on a car trip through Brazil as they attempt to mend their once-solid relationship. Complications arise when the pair realize they might not just be gal pals. 

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

Soon to be a miniseries on HBO co-produced by Jordan Peele, Ruff's chilling thriller is set during the Jim Crow era and stars an army veteran whose father has disappeared. He drives from Chicago to New England alongside his uncle, the publisher of a guide on how to travel while Black. Much more Get Out than Green Book , the tale takes a turn toward terror when they arrive at a mansion owned by a family of former slave-holders. Also: ghosts. 

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Maybe you read this in high school, maybe you dated a boy like Jess from Gilmore Girls who referenced this book nonstop (guilty and guilty), but there's no denying: reading Kerouac's Beat Generation classic of aimless American wanderlust is basically a rite of passage. 

Lake Success by Gary Shteyngart

Speaking of On the Road , the Super Sad True Love Story author delivers a hilariously scathing romp through America starring a boorish hedge funder who, after a fight with his wife, hops on a Greyhound for an inspired journey into the country's heart—and his own. 

Find Me by Laura van den Berg

Short fiction scribe Laura van den Berg taps into her singular eeriness for her first novel, about a directionless young woman who discovers she's immune to the sudden sickness spreading across the country. Her epic yet intimate journey takes her from Kansas, where she's admitted as a hospital patient and subjected to myriad tests, to Florida, where she believes her birth mother might be. 

Flaming Iguanas by Erika Lopez

Erika Lopez's "all-girl road novel thing" is a fierce amalgamation of words and images chronicling biker babe Tomato Rodriquez's wild cross-country motorcycle ride. It's as fun and freeing as having the wind blow through your hair. 

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

Want more illustrated cool-girl goodness? Combining dreamily gorgeous artwork and lyrical, sophisticated storytelling, Eisner award-winning graphic novelist Tillie Walden has emerged as a master of her craft. Here, she channels Murakami with a magical realist road trip starring two women and a mysterious cat. 

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

If you're seeking a family-friendly audiobook to listen to in the car, look no further than Sharon Creech's Newberry Award-winning classic. Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle journeys across the country with her grandparents. All the while, she entertains them with stories of a girl who's quite like herself—a girl who wants to be reunited with her mother.  Walk Two Moons  is a strange, funny book that will speak to children of all ages.

Michelle Hart is the Assistant Books Editor of O, the Oprah Magazine. Other writing of hers has appeared on the Millions, the Rumpus, and the New Yorker . Her fiction has appeared in Joyland and Electric Literature. She has been awarded a fiction fellowship by the New York State Writers Institute and was once profiled in her hometown newspaper for being in the process of writing a novel--a novel she is still in the process of writing.

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Homeschool mom shares how to turn a road trip into an epic field trip

September 5, 2024 // By Jessica Cole

By Jessica Cole September 5, 2024

As a homeschool mom, one thing I enjoy about homeschooling my kid s is the flexibility to travel at almost any time of the year. This past spring, our family took advantage of this by traveling to Austin, Texas, to view the most recent total solar eclipse.

Rather than pay airfare for seven family members, we chose to drive to Texas from our home near Raleigh, North Carolina. Facing 20-plus hours in the car, I decided to make our drive part of the experience, transforming our family road trip into one giant field trip!

We stopped at fun and educational places — museums, tourist attractions, and the like. I learned many lessons along the way. If you're planning a family road trip, here's how to turn it into a memorable field trip.

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Choose a road trip route that offers variety

Once you identify your ultimate destination (we spent three days in Austin), you'll need to decide on your route to get there. For us, there were three recommended routes with a few hours' difference among them. We decided not to take the most direct route. Instead, we went slightly north to North Carolina and then through Tennessee and Arkansas before arriving in Texas. On the way back, we passed through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. This way, we were able to stop at more attractions and experience a greater variety of environments — in climate, landscape, wildlife, and culture.

Tie planned stops to family and educational interests

Once I had the general route mapped out, I began searching for things to do and see in each state. First, I considered which attractions hit on areas of interest for members of our family or tied in with something the kids were learning in school. Next, I looked at how far out of the way we would have to drive to reach those points of interest. As a final measure, I considered how long a typical visit would take and made sure the attraction would be open at our desired date and time.

Read several reviews before booking hotels

I booked our hotels through a popular travel site, heavily relying on their star-rating system. As it turns out, I probably should have checked the reviews in more detail and maybe checked reviews from a few different sources. Most of the hotels were a hit, but one turned out to be a real miss.

Consider waiting to make reservations at attractions

While it was helpful to reserve hotels in advance, I didn't reserve tickets to most of the museums and other attractions until the day of our visit. This allowed us some flexibility to trade one stop for an alternative at the last minute.

On the other hand, we would've never gotten into one particular museum if I hadn't made an earlier reservation, so it's important to check each destination for any likelihood of selling out.

Figure out parking ahead of time

Parking in big cities can be challenging, but modern technology makes things easier. Besides looking on a location's website for parking suggestions, you can check your map app for nearby lots. I found Google Maps street view to be especially helpful in determining which lots would work best for us. Some attractions and even cities (street parking) will allow you to reserve parking spots in advance online.

Consider renting a van for your road trip

With five growing kids, my husband and I had been toying with the idea of trading in our minivan for a 12-passenger. Partly with this trip in mind, we took the plunge. The gas mileage isn't great, but the extra room for packing and spreading out is amazing!

Of course, buying a van isn't necessary for most, but it might be worth your money to rent one for a longer road trip.

Pack a suitcase for each day, not each person

When stopping at multiple hotels, packing hacks can simplify the process. Rather than dragging out seven individual suitcases every night, the kids and I pre-picked and packed our outfits into one suitcase for each day, rather than for each person. We then packed bathroom supplies and an extra outfit or two in the kids' backpacks. It made loading and unloading so much easier.

Also, it wouldn't hurt to bring a few dollars' worth of quarters for coin-operated laundry, as I learned when my preschooler accidentally dirtied his favorite blanket!

Factor in time zone changes when planning your road trip

If crossing several states on a fairly tight itinerary, don't forget that you may cross time zones. Overlooking this fact worked in our favor on our way westward, but it led to one late arrival time on a planned activity as we headed back east.

Pack food and save money on dining out

We have several food sensitivities in our family and we rarely eat out, so we packed a ton of food. We bought a good quality cooler and brought a second, more basic one for backup. We refreshed the ice regularly and made sure to stay at hotels with refrigerators/freezers. Although we supplemented with food at a few convenience stops, we managed to avoid dining out at restaurants and saved quite a bit of money.

In the end, we visited some amazing destinations, including the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; the Space Center in Houston, and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The only thing I regret is that we didn't have more time to explore some of these places. But, of course, there's always next year!

About Jessica Cole

Jessica is a homeschool graduate and homeschooling mother who contributes to the Home School Legal Defense Association blog. Besides writing, her favorite activities include singing at church, teaching literature and theater at homeschool co-op, and planning escapades that push her routine-oriented husband outside his comfort zone. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and five children.

Read more about Jessica Cole here.

Connect with Jessica via: Website

Drive My Car: 20 Must-Read Road Trip Books

Isabelle Popp

Isabelle Popp has written all sorts of things, ranging from astrophysics research articles and math tests to crossword puzzles and poetry. These days she's writing romance. When she's not reading or writing, she's probably knitting or scouring used book stores for vintage gothic romance paperbacks. Originally from New York, she's as surprised as anyone that she lives in Bloomington, Indiana.

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An apocryphal quote floating around dictates that all great literature is either a man going on a journey or a stranger coming to town. Leaving aside the limited thinking evident in this quote — what about the great literature where an animal goes on a journey??? — I am inclined to agree with one part of it. Road trip books make for some of the best literature around. The setting provides so much opportunity for discovery: of landscapes, fellow travelers, and of characters’ true selves. Traveling inevitably creates unforeseen problems to solve and prompts vulnerability for characters out of their element. Road trip books typically have a goal, even if the real treasure ends up being the friends made along the way.

I wanted to dig a little deeper than some of the obvious standards, like On the Road or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas . I’ve toured the world of books by car, picking roadside stops among fiction and nonfiction, middle grade books and historical romance novels. Many people think of road trip books as a distinctly American genre, so I wanted to challenge that notion as well. In the end, I have a very special vacation slideshow to share with you, if I do say so myself. 

In the Face of the Sun by Denny S. Bryce

A dual timeline is one of my favorite formats for a novel, so one with a road trip woven in is sure to catch my attention. This novel alternates between 1968 and 1928. In the latter timeline, audacious Aunt Daisy is rescuing her pregnant niece, Frankie, from her abusive marriage by escaping along Route 66. Meanwhile, we follow young Daisy in 1928 Hollywood, chasing her journalism dreams by writing for Black-owned papers. This compelling story is ideal for anyone who enjoys a family saga steeped in Black history.

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

A YA romance road trip story that takes place on an influencer tour bus? Yes. Moon Fuentes is in the shadow of her famous twin sister, but agrees to sling merch for her over a summer. The forced proximity with her new nemesis, Santiago, blooms into something unexpected in this gorgeous book tinged with magical realism.

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal

This book highlights the ways religious pilgrimage intersects with the road trip format. Following three sisters who’ve drifted apart in adulthood, the novel reunites them in India. There they are carrying out their mother’s last wish to carry out her final rites at the ​​Golden Temple in Amritsar. This poignant novel navigates the complexities of tradition and modernity for the three British-born women while providing them with unexpected moments of discovery that are by turns humorous and heartbreaking.

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In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshall III

The sad truth is that most road trip books set in America forget whose land they’re driving through. This heartwarming novel, however, provides readers an education in Indigenous history as the main character, Jimmy McClean, gets a lesson in his Lakota roots from his grandfather. Their travels bring them to sites relevant to the life of Tasunke Witko, better known as Crazy Horse.

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

This might be my desert island romance novel. Minerva and Colin’s journey from Spindle Cove to Scotland, with Minerva’s fossil in tow, is the very best in historical road trip romance. It’s a nerdy woman meets charming rake story, and even writing this little blurb makes me sure it’s time for another reread. The entire Spindle Cove series is top tier romance, but it’s perfectly fine to start with this one.

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

Road trip books do turn up among graphic novels as well. Are You Listening? chronicles the journey across West Texas for Lou and Bea, two women struggling with grief and trauma. There’s a touch of magic in this book, represented by a cat who joins the trip. This is a demonstration of the opportunities for connection and real listening provided by a long, lonely road.

Getting Mother’s Body by Suzan-Lori Parks

I love when novels can provide two opposing characters with equally compelling motivations. When a letter arrives notifying Billy Beede, poor and pregnant, that a supermarket is going in where her mother’s body is currently resting, Billy takes action. She needs to find out whether Willa Mae Beede really was buried with a fortune’s worth of gems. Meanwhile, Dill Smiles, Willa’s love, wants to keep her in the ground. It’s a twist on William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying that deeply examines desire, need, and greed.

All My Mother’s Lovers by Ilana Masad

While road trips are one of my favorite settings for books, characters discovering they never really knew someone close to them is one of my favorite plots. So All My Mother’s Lovers is right in my wheelhouse. In it, Maggie hand delivers letters on behalf of her suddenly deceased mother. The recipients of these letters upturn everything Maggie thought she knew about her family. This story’s meditation on grief, identity, and family is powerful and bittersweet.

The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño

There is a simple way to describe the road trip in this novel. Two poets in Mexico City, ​​Arturo Belano and Ulises Lima, travel to the desert to find another poet who has vanished. But that simple goal turns into a much more complex story that tracks Belano and Lima’s lives 20 years later. This novel, jam-packed with characters and ideas, is the ideal book for when you want a challenging book whose impact will travel with you through the decades.

Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers knew that kids deserve stories with real complexity, filled with believable characters and symbolism younger readers can grasp. Somewhere in the Darkness features the cross-country trip of 14-year-old Jimmy and his father Crab. Crab’s on the run from the law, but he’s seeking the man who can exonerate him. The road trip does not magically fix their troubled relationship, but it shows how understanding can blossom into forgiveness.

Nevada by Imogen Binnie (June 7)

As the old saw says, wherever you go, there you are. This is true for Maria Griffiths, a trans woman living in Brooklyn. When she feels like her life is falling apart, she steals her ex’s car and heads west. When she meets someone at a pivotal moment in their life, she finally realizes what she’s avoiding. This is a book that resonates with many trans readers for its honest depiction of the experiences, emotions, and thought patterns of its trans main character. Likewise, cis people can benefit from reading such a nuanced character study. 

Love Is an Ex-Country by Randa Jarrar

Among nonfiction road trip books, Love Is an Ex-Country is vital for showing how travel in the United States functions very differently depending on what you look like. Jarrar is a fat, queer, Muslim, Arab American who recounts her trip from California to Connecticut in 2016. She encounters hostility, but as a victim of abuse as well as online threats against her life, she knows well how survival mode functions. It’s a brazen book that doles out plentiful laughs along with copious tears.

Night Hawk by Beverly Jenkins

One of the great things about Beverly Jenkins’s bibliography is that so many readers have different favorite books. Another of the great things about her work is that characters connect across series and time periods. So once you read Night Hawk , the historical romance in which bounty hunter Ian Vance is tasked with bringing sassy Maggie Freeman to justice, you’ll have to read everything else she’s ever written.

The Aeneid by Virgil

If it’s possible to underappreciate a classic, I dare say The Aeneid has met this fate. Retellings and adaptations of Homer’s epic poems abound. I say The Aeneid is due for such a treatment! The tale of Aeneas follows his journeys from the fall of Troy until he winds up in Italy, the ancestor of Romans. I love a good journey to the underworld, and The Aeneid has an especially heartbreaking one.

The New Life by Orhan Pamuk

Books about books! I can never get enough. Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk’s entry in the road trip canon chronicles the journey of Osman. He becomes enchanted by a novel and sets out to create for himself the life it promises. Reading this, you’ll wonder whether Osman has lost his grip on reality while you vicariously experience his travel from Istanbul to the Anatolian steppes.

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

The stories of the assassinations of U.S. presidents are so much wilder than what I was ever taught in school. Sarah Vowell has an incredible knack for storytelling and inspiring her readers to take an interest in the rich details in history. She uncovers fascinating stories wherever she goes. Because of reading her books, I find myself pausing to read the signs whenever I come across a historic place in my travels, a habit I have found deeply enriching.

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Jesmyn Ward’s novel, at its essence a road trip Leonie takes with her children to reunite with their father, just released from the Mississippi State Penitentiary, is a true southern gothic Odyssey. This is a road trip book that nods to hallowed literature while investigating the claustrophobia that can accompany being enclosed in a car. Cars can be haunted houses, too.

Girls on the Verge by Sharon Biggs Waller

While many road trips are undertaken for fun, plenty come out of brutal necessity. Girls on the Verge follows Camille, who is pregnant in Texas and needs an abortion. When her best friend disagrees with her decision to end the pregnancy, she reaches out to a near-stranger for a ride. Then her friend has a change of heart, and the three end up in the car together on a journey demonstrating the lengths pregnant people have to go to to have control over their bodies.

Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli

Here’s an ambitious and multi-media road trip book. Following a family traveling to the Southwest to learn more about Apache history, their story becomes embroiled with those of refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border. If you’re looking for a novel that is both incredibly daring while remaining true to its road trip roots, this one is timely and thought-provoking.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

I’m sure I’m not the only one who loves books about animal journeys, as I mentioned up top. The Incredible Journey hit me at a very formative time. The Travelling Cat Chronicles feature a man named Satoru and his adopted stray, Nana, traveling around Japan in a silver van to visit some friends. You will not be surprised to find that the journey ends up having deeper meaning, as journeys always do. Yes this book does feature the cat’s perspective and — spoiler alert — yes, the book does follow to the end of the cat’s long and happy life.

I come by my love of road trips honestly. As a kid, all of my travel was by car, and I’ve driven in 48 of 50 states — I’m coming for you, Wisconsin and North Dakota! I’m even planning a couple of road trips for this summer. If you, like me, truly love a road trip, you’ll want even more suggestions, I’m sure. We’ve got thought-provoking and feel-good road trip books . And if you need an audiobook while you’re on a trip , pass me that aux, we’ve got some listening to do. Let’s hit the road.

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The Ultimate List of Epic Road Trip Books

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A great book has the power to not just take you along for the ride with the author but to instill in you the burning desire to hit the road yourself. This list of the best road trip books is sure to keep you busy for a while and will make you want to hand your boss your two-week notice and start packing your bags.

I put this list together as I get ready to launch my own road trip book, The Road Always Leads West , another one you should check out! 🙂 

While this is mostly for inspiration or entertainment, be sure to check out my road trip planning guide if you need more comprehensive and practical information about logistics and organization.

5 Best Road Trip Books

On the road by jack kerouac.

We might as well get this one out of the way first, it’s easily the most well-known road trip book ever written, a book which has inspired generations and countless imitations.

Kerouac’s classic book On the Road that details his travels with his friends as they travel across America. The book was heavily steeped in the jazz and poetry culture and is considered the defining work of the Beat Generation, which so influenced the counter culture movement of the 60s.

The book is available as it was first published or you can get the Original Scroll version which was released as written by Jack Kerouac on a continuous sheet of paper 120’ long and which features the real names of his friends, not pseudonyms.

Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon

Heat-Moon set out to put the past behind him by setting out on the open road. The premise of the book is his travels along the smaller roads, marked blue on the map, and discover small-town America.

His travels to small-town America show a country on the verge of change with the increasing homogenization through fast-food culture and strip malls.

Heat-Moon does a great job featuring the lives of the people he meets along the way, a curious cast of characters who live in “those little towns that get on the map—if they get on at all—only because some cartographer has a blank space to fill.”

Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck

In September of 1960 John Steinbeck, already a successful author, set out to rediscover an America that he worried he had lost touch with. According to Steinbeck’s son, the real reason for his journey was that he knew he was dying and he wanted to see the country one last time.

Steinbeck set out on a giant cross country journey from New York, up to Maine, across to the west coast, down to California then across the southern half of the states back east, before venturing back up the East Coast. Essentially completing a massive circular journey through America.

He had his French poodle Charley in tow throughout his journey through a “New America” that was on the cusp of some great upheaval.

Steinbeck was 58 when he set out on this journey alone (well, with a dog), which just goes to show that isn’t just for young, aimless, 20-somethings.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig

Part philosophical treatise and part motorcycle road trip across the northern stretch of the United States and then down to California.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance tells the story of a father and son motorcycle trip with a pair of friends but also delves into fundamental questions about how to live life and tries to reconcile science, religion and more.

A powerful read that will not only inspire you to hit the road but inspire you to examine your own perspectives on some of these central themes of life.

The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless Across America by Mike McIntyre

Not a traditional road trip book where the driver is behind the wheel on the open road, but rather Mike decided to hitchhike across the country from San Francisco to Cape Fear, North Carolina, which would be challenging in and of itself. But Mike decided to do it without so much as a penny.

He would have to rely on the goodwill and help of complete strangers on the open road in order to find rides, eat, and have a place to sleep.

It’s an incredible journey and an even more incredible story which highlights the stories and generosity of the folks that he meets along the way.

Five books aren’t enough for you? Well, I’ve got another 10 awesome road trip books below and then a number of reader suggestions.

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10 More Great Books About Road Trips

The new american road trip mixtape by brendan leonard.

Brendan Leonard has become one of the leading modern voices for road trips and the transformative nature of nature and the great outdoors.

Post-breakup Brendan set out by himself to explore the American West as he lived in the back of his station wagon. This book tackles the American Dream and the call of the open road in Brendan’s humorous and unique style.

His most recent book, Sixty Meters to Anywhere , is another incredible read about overcoming alcoholism and finding himself through climbing.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Krakauer’s book is not strictly a road trip book, nor is it a first-person book about a road trip, but rather traces the incredible story of Chris McCandless and his nomadic wanderings.

After graduating college back east, Chris donated what remained of his college fund and drove west, eventually abandoning his car and hitchhiking across the west for a number of years. His travels led him to a Walden’s Pond type existence in the Alaskan bush where he was found dead.

The book has a sad end, but the story of his travels and Krakauer’s incredible writing will inspire you to hit the road in Chris’ footsteps undoubtedly. I know it did for me. This is one of my favorite books ever written.

The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson is one of the best travel writers out there, able to turn the simplest or seemingly boring concepts into insightful, interesting, and often humorous reads.

After living abroad in the United Kingdom for many years, Bryson sets out to rediscover America by visiting its small towns.

Bryson’s book about hiking the Appalachian Trail, A Walk in the Woods , is still one of my favorites.

Drive Nacho Drive by Brad Van Orden

Drive Nacho Drive tells the story of Brad and his wife Sheena quitting their jobs, giving up the American Dream and driving south in their old beat-up Volkswagon Van named Nacho.

The road takes them through all of Central America, past the Darien Gap to South America and finally to the “end of the earth” in Patagonia where the Pan-American Highway finally ends.

A pretty incredible read that might just inspire you to think about taking your road trip internationally ( like we did ).

The Cruise of the Rolling Junk by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Another of America’s finest authors sets out on the open road, this time F. Scott Fitzgerald of Great Gatsby fame, who sets out with his wife Zelda on a drive from Connecticut to Alabama.

These serialized articles compiled into a book of their journey in a dilapidated car (the rolling junk) and tell the story of a younger America.

Killing Yourself to Live by Chuck Klosterman

Chuck Klosterman set out on a road trip exploring the deaths of famous musicians across America.

He covered nearly 7,000 miles as he visited the place where Buddy Holly’s plane crashed, where Kurt Cobain committed suicide, or Jeff Buckley drowned in a river.

An interesting basis for a road trip book, for sure, especially if you love music.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

A wild and drug-fueled road trip to Las Vegas by the one and only Hunter S. Thompson.

The book, beyond the manic drug-addled scenery, paints a different picture of Las Vegas, one that had not yet been taken over by the larger than life hotels and commercialization of the Strip.

Side Note: While Vegas isn’t necessarily my favorite place it is a great place to base yourself for some epic road trips from Las Vegas .

American Nomads by Richard Grant

Richard Grant spent more than 15 years wandering the American West alongside the hobos, truckers, retirees, and hippies, documenting the lives of those who wander the American West.

Grant examines the myths and realities of the often romanticized open road, while also examining the sedentary nature of the American Dream.

He contrasts the stories of modern wanderers with the historical characters, the frontiersmen and conquistadors, who set loose upon this same landscape centuries ago.

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

Neal Cassady, who also is featured prominently in Kerouac’s On the Road, set out to drive Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters’ bus across America in a psychedelic LSD-fueled mission that takes road “trip” to a whole new level.

The book offers a look into the hippy, counter-culture movement of the 1960s.

Jupiter’s Travels by Ted Simon

Ted Simon spent an astonishing four years driving around the world on the back of a motorcycle in the late 70s. I actually had the chance to meet Ted at the Overland Expo .

He set out from London for more than 63,000 miles through 45 countries in Africa, South America, Australia, Asia, before arriving back home.

An incredible journey in the days before cell phones and the internet, and all done solo with no support team or social media updates.

7 More Reader Suggestions for Best Road Trip Books

I reached out to friends, followers, and readers of this blog for a few of their favorite road trip books. Here’s what they recommended.

Traveling Music by Neil Peart

The drummer for Rush explores the inextricable link between road trips and music, how music is the soundtrack to our lives, by telling autobiographical stories based on music from a solo road trip.

Road Scholar by Andrew Codrescu

The Romanian-born writer sets out in the shadows of Kerouac as he discovers America behind the wheel.

One for the Road by Tony Horowitz

Tony set off on a 7,000-mile adventure through the Australian Outback.

Roads: Driving America’s Great Highways by Larry McMurtry

Larry has written an homage to the road itself, where the route is the destination and not just a means.

Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham

A journey by bicycle through Mexico, Japan and on to Vietnam as Andrew (born in Vietnam but raised in California) travels he also confronts issues of cultural identity, immigration, and more.

Ghost Rider by Neil Peart

Another book by the drummer from Rush, this time Neil hits the road soon after losing his wife and daughter within a year of one another.

A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins

More than 25 years ago Peter set out to walk from New York to New Orleans in the company of his trusty dog, not quite a traditional road trip, but definitely in the same spirit.

What road trip books would you add to this list? Sound off in the comments below.

The Road Always Leads West

Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention that you check out my book The Road Always Leads West if you love a good road trip story… 🙂  

More Book Recommendations

• 26 Books to Inspire Your Next Epic Summer Road Trip from Buzzfeed
• The Obsessively Detailed Map of American Literature’s Most Epic Road Trips
• Books to Inspire the Ultimate American Road Trip
• The 9 Best Road Trip Books from Adventure Journal
• Road Trip! 10 Books About Cross-Country Adventures
• 10 Must-Read Travel Books from Desk to Dirtbag

Tips to Book Your Trip Now & Save Money

Book Your Flight Book a cheap flight with Momondo , they’re my favorite search engine. Or better yet, start travel hacking so you can fly for free. Another great search engine is Skyscanner .

Book Your Accommodation Book cheap accommodation in advance. For hostels I recommend HostelWorld , for hotels I use Booking.com or Hotels.com , and for apartments or longer stays, I use Airbnb . I like to check reviews on TripAdvisor prior to reserving.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance This is easy to overlook but SO important. It will help protect yourself from illness, injury, and theft while traveling. VERY important. And be sure to read my article about international travel insurance for more details

• SafetyWing (best for digital nomads)
• World Nomads (most comprehensive)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my budget travel resources page for the best companies to use when traveling. I list all the ones I use and recommend to save money when I’m on the road.

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Hilarious story and travelogue about fulfilling a foolish bar bet – Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks

Great list. Could suggest a fictional road trip list: The Road – McCullers Grapes of Wrath – Steinbeck Cold Mountain – can’t remember

I am sure you have more. Steve

Wow. All books written by white men. Would love to see more diverse voices.

Please feel free to contribute any non-white men voices, I’m always looking for cool new road trip reads!

Like Nomadland by Jessica Bruder.

Oh yeah, Nomadland has been on my list to check out… Thanks for the reminder.

William Least Heat-Moon is native American. I would also add River-Horse by him as well.

The road narrative has historically been a white male thing. There aren’t a ton of other voices. I would recommend Valeria Luiselli, The Lost Children Archive. She does an admirable job Paying homage to previous road works. I loved it.

Thanks for the list. I read a lot while travelling. It’s very meditative and relaxing for me. A few of these I have read, but I plan on adding to my list with a few of these books. I always use my kindle too, as it’s much lighter and holds thousands of books.

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Diamondbacks optimistic for Ketel Marte return during road trip

Sep 4, 2024, 6:18 PM

Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks fields a ball prior to the 94th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Globe Life Field on July 16, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

BY ALEX WEINER

Diamondbacks reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

SAN FRANCISCO — It is looking increasingly likely Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Ketel Marte will follow Christian Walker back to the field before this road trip is over.

The D-backs finish their series at Oracle Park on Thursday and head to Houston for three games against the Astros over the weekend. Manager Torey Lovullo did not have a definitive answer, but he said he feels based on Marte’s progress (high-ankle sprain) that the second baseman will be back in the lineup on this trip.

“I feel like some of the information I’m seeing, nothing anybody’s telling me, but I’ve been around long enough to know that when I see certain habits and see certain things written or told to me, that it’s going to be sooner than later,” Lovullo said. “So yeah, I’m hoping to keep my fingers crossed before the trip is over.”

Assistant general manager Mike Fitzgerald shared a similar sentiment with Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke .

“We’re hopeful that we see Ketel possibly this weekend, he was pushing himself pretty hard physically yesterday,” Fitzgerald said. “The plan was to do that again today, see how it responds. Then hopefully we get to see him in that Houston series.”

Marte got in some higher-intensity running on Tuesday along with his hitting and fielding work.

As for how the D-backs plan to ease Marte back in, Lovullo said Marte might be the designated hitter for a couple spins first before playing the field.

Lovullo said the club is confident Marte would be able to play just about every day once reinstated, but the team will be cautious like with Walker (oblique strain). Walker played his first game in over a month on Tuesday , was out of the lineup Wednesday but will be back in there Thursday as he works through the expected soreness.

Marte put together one of the best months in baseball before the initial injury, with a 1.208 OPS and a league-leading 12 home runs from July 10-Aug. 9. He suffered an ankle injury on Aug. 10 when Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs slid into his leg, and the club put him on the injured list more than a week later on Aug. 19 .

Lovullo had said Marte’s return during the road trip was a possibility before the team departed.

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Rays' fading playoff hopes hinge on tough road trip

This story was excerpted from Adam Berry’s Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here . And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- On Sunday, manager Kevin Cash said the Rays needed to “ get hotter than hot ” to keep themselves in the American League Wild Card picture down the stretch. Splitting series would no longer cut it. Even winning two out of three would only go so far.

Of course, the Rays went out and split their first series of September, dropping their first and last games against the Twins while winning the two in between. That left them right where they started the four-game set: two games under .500, albeit now at 69-71, with long and unrealistic odds of reaching the postseason.

As of Friday morning, FanGraphs gave the Rays a 1.1% chance to reach the postseason. Baseball-Reference put their playoff odds at 2.5%. They’re 6 1/2 games behind the Royals, who occupy the third and final AL Wild Card spot heading into a big series against the Twins. Also of note: There are three teams -- Detroit, Seattle and Boston -- between Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

“It’s difficult. We knew we ... would have given ourselves a better chance had we found a way to win the series or ultimately sweep it,” Cash told reporters after Thursday’s 4-3 defeat at Tropicana Field. “We knew we weren’t going to do that after [losing] Game 1. And then [Thursday], it felt we were one swing of the bat [away] multiple times and just came up a little short.”

That is, in a way, the story of the Rays’ season -- and not just because they’ve spent the whole year around .500.

Their pitching staff ranks 13th in the Majors with a 3.95 ERA and fourth (3.41 ERA) since the All-Star break. But they rank 28th in baseball in runs scored (545 in 140 games), and their .675 OPS as a team is the Majors’ sixth-worst mark. They’re tied with the White Sox (who are now 32-109) for the Majors’ lowest batting average with runners in scoring position.

And now, here come the Orioles, Phillies and Guardians. Yes, the Rays are set to face three first-place teams during the 10-day road trip starting Friday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

“We need to win right now. Everyone needs to come together,” outfielder Jonny DeLuca said Thursday. “Baseball’s hard, and it’s the time of the year where we need to get it together. We’re going to try to do that. Obviously, on this road trip we’re facing some pretty good teams, so hopefully we can pull out some victories.”

“No doubt that we’ve known for over a month now that these three teams are very, very talented,” Cash said Thursday morning. “We’ve got to play good baseball.”

The Rays haven’t fared well against the Orioles this season, going 2-8 (with a pair of one-run victories) while being outscored by 27 runs (52-25) in those 10 matchups. Then it’s on to Citizens Bank Park to see the Phillies, who are tied with the Dodgers for the best record (84-56) in MLB.

There’s no reprieve after that, either, as Tampa Bay will draw a Cleveland club with a four-game lead in the AL Central.

“We’re not out of it, and I think we know that,” said starter Shane Baz, who will pitch Friday’s series opener. “It’s fun to play meaningful games against good teams, so I think it’ll be a good road trip.”

If the Rays can’t beat the odds, they could still play spoiler down the stretch considering how many playoff hopefuls they will face over the final three weeks of the season. And they have plenty to play for individually, given how many players have something to prove as they approach the end of a largely disappointing regular season.

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If nothing else, a strong finish could generate some hope for better things to come.

“I think everyone in here wants to make the playoffs and be able to have a winning record,” DeLuca said. “Yeah, the individual stats and how you finish does matter, and it’s important. I think every guy in here wants to play good and wants to finish well.”

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Mets seeing ‘locked-in’ edwin diaz again in rebound from rough road trip.

Edwin Diaz’s first four pitches in the ninth were fastballs that missed the strike zone.

But just when it seemed the Mets closer might be reverting back to the trouble he found in back-to-back games on the recent road trip, Diaz came back and got the final three outs of Wednesday’s 8-3 win over the Red Sox.

And he finished it with three straight fastballs that were clocked over 100 mph.

“I have that in my back pocket,’’ Diaz said of the added velocity on his strikeout of Romy Gonzalez that finished the game — and a seventh-straight Mets win.

With the Mets still chasing the Braves for the final NL wild-card spot, they will almost certainly continue to lean heavily on Diaz, who has mostly pitched well since mid-June before blowing back-to-back save opportunities, first in San Diego on Aug. 25 then Arizona three days later.

Since then, Diaz has allowed one baserunner in four innings — the leadoff walk to Triston Casas on Wednesday — and whiffed nine batters, including two more Wednesday.

It’s as many strikeouts as Diaz has had in a four-appearance stretch this season.

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His strikeout rate is still not close to what it was during his otherworldly 2022 season, but Diaz’s ability to finish hitters off is what helps set him apart from other closers and what the Mets believe can get them to the postseason.

“I think he’s locked in,’’ Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s ‘go-time’ mentality. He got hurt by a couple sliders on the road trip and after that, stayed on the attack.”

He kept that up Wednesday.

“Watching him hit 101 [mph], he’s aggressive,’’ Mendoza said. “It’s a good sign.”

One they’ll need to see more of in the final weeks of the season if they want to get to the playoffs.

Diaz expects plenty of work before the end of September.

“It’s really tough,’’ Diaz said. “We’re really close to the playoffs, so every game counts as a closer, so I have to do my job.”