Author: Amelia Diane Coombs
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: The Voice in My Head by Dana L Davis
In Real Life by Jessica Love
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Florie’s OCD and her mother’s worrying have kept her from a lot of things, like having an after-school job and getting her driver’s license. And now that she’s graduated high school, while her best friend Kacey is headed off to Portland in the fall, Florie’s taking a parent-sanctioned gap year off before starting college. When the decision was made, Florie was on board, but now she can't ignore the growing itch to become the person she wants to be and venture outside the quaint, boring Washington town she grew up in.
Winning tickets to see her favorite true crime podcast’s live show in California gives her the opportunity to do just that, if only for a few days. So—unbeknownst to their parents—Kacey and Florie set off on a road trip to San Francisco. The only downside in Florie’s opinion? Sam, Kacey’s older brother and Florie’s forever crush, is their ride. The Samson Hodge, who Florie hasn’t seen since winter break, and who she’d prefer to never see again, if possible. But Florie is willing to put up with Sam if it means one last adventure with her best friend.
Making it to San Francisco and back to Washington without their parents catching on isn’t a given, but one thing is for sure: this trip will change everything.
My opinion: Stories about road trips tend to have one of two conclusions - the protagonist either changes their view of themself or of someone close to them. And when your protagonist has major struggles with mental illness and seems resigned to a quiet, restrained life, you can guess where the plot is headed. That predictability could make for dull reading if these weren't such charming characters. Florie's struggles with her OCD ring true. She is trying to challenge herself to try new things but also recognizes situations that are beyond her reach in the moment. She recognizes her limits. The plot, overall, follows extremely predictable pathways so this isn't a mind-blowing book. But it's a solidly engaging and pleasant book, a decent choice for a beach read.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
No comments:
Post a Comment