I didn't realize this book is part of a series when I requested it. It was still enjoyable even though I have not read the first book. I really enjoyed the plot and Maya's character. I was drawn to the book because of the fun cover art.  I definitely want to read more of Janice Horton's books, now. 

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

A very cute story about picking up the pieces of a broken engagement. Enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

When I first heard about this book I imagined it was going to be like Katy Colins The Lonely Hearts travel club series. You know about a bride-to-be that ends up with a husband and instead decides to travel the world to heal her heart. I was disappointed. I honestly don't know what it was that made me not like the feeling of this book. I knew they were gonna be different - but still expected the same cozy and heartwarming feeling with a nice dose of romance sprinkled into it.(plus a desire to travel) that I got the when I read Destination Thailand. 
Instead of feeling hopeful for the future after finishing The Backpacking Bride I felt... nothing? The book had such a little impact on me that I almost forgot that I had read it.

‘I’ve decided I’m going to take one day and one adventure at a time and seize every moment.’

The Backpacking Bride by Janice Horton provided some enjoyable armchair travel with descriptive passages on locations and traditions from India to Hong Kong to Singapore. This is the story of Maya (see Synopsis) and the journey - both literally and figuratively - she goes through after the death of her fiance. Not the happy, light book I had originally imagined.


‘I’ve quickly come to the realisation that everyone who comes here must be searching for something. Nobody in their right mind comes here just for a holiday.’

This book is very much in the ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ theme but apart from the descriptions of locations and a few reflective gems, this was a book that skimmed along the surface, never really diving deeply into anything. The parts in India were drawn out, often providing nothing more than what sequentially occurred in her day. Yes, Maya’s lesson was to struggle in a lifestyle so foreign but it never really reached the mark. It falls flat with character interactions and relationships, too many convenient coincidences and a rushed ending. The timeline was confusing from grief to love in such a seemingly short time period with me holding grave reservations of her need for a partner to be happy. 

If you are after a light, simple journey of growth and the chance to travel to some interesting destinations then this could be the quick read you are after.

‘What lessons had I learned here and what was it that I was taking away with me?’






This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This was not what I expected at all.  I thought it was going to be a fun, quirky, feel good book from seeing the cover.  I tried to keep at it in hopes something would click and take my interest.  But, nope, it just kept right on perplexing me.  Maybe it was me 🤷🏼‍♀️.  My husband kept asking me why I was sighing so much while reading.  I told him I just can’t get into this story.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and give my honest opinion about this book.

Maya had done everything right in terms of her career, but never quite managed to chuck it all aside to travel and live life. Until she met Jon, a new client, with stories to tell and experiences to share.  Soon the two are finding their instant attraction is so much more, and are off to Italy to marry.  Until Jon’s sudden death before the vows are complete, and Maya’s life is tossed into uncertainty.  

But Jon left her a list – their honeymoon itinerary, fully paid for, and her own need to ‘connect to him’.  From an ashram in India to food in Singapore and the fireworks in Hong Kong, she’s got a list and tentatively, but not without a bit of grumbling, she sets off.  Throughout the story, with a sense of her pushing her limits and stretching her dreams to encompass possibilities, Maya’s previously reserved and rather reticent nature starts to reform as she finds peace with Jon’s death and the aftermath, and learns to both love herself and let herself be vulnerable to take more chances.  

Full of lovely and scenic moments, plenty of spiritual food for the ‘seekers’ and lots of emotion that one can easily see can become a prison of its own making, readers will care about Maya, want to see her happy once again, and perhaps gain a bit of their own emotional settling as she finds joy in life again.  A clever and fun story that takes rather heavy emotional moments and allows us to come out the other side feeling lighter and more hopeful.  

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.  

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aLb /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I didn’t realise this was the third book in a series, although for me it made no difference. I really enjoyed it; it was a lovely heart-warming easy read. I do like books that make me feel like I’m on a journey too, and this one didn’t disappoint. 

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This book did not appeal to me on many levels. Unfortunately the story layout was a big miss for me. 

Maya is on a journey to heal from the death of Jon. It’s that and her honeymoon. I didn’t know enough about Jon to feel her pain. Perhaps if the first quarter of the book was about their love, only their love, I would have been able to feel her sorrow. The back and forth time jump did not help me connect with her emotions. 

Maya also describes all of the places she is visiting. Most of this fell flat for me. Not sure why. Amazing locations that just came off as, meh.

A little to depressing for me. She looses her husband to be on her wedding day and decides to take their honeymoon starting in India. DNF to strange to finished.

**************I received an ARC for my honest opinion through NetGalley.***

The following review will be published on the below mentioned blog and other social media on 24 July

Book Title: The BackPacking Bride

Author: Janice Horton

Genre: Fiction

Publishing Date: 10 July 2020




Line Summary:

From Goodreads: When Maya’s fiancé drops dead just moments before he’s set to kiss the bride, her life is spent spinning out of control. Now, Maya setting off on the mystery honeymoon her fiancé had planned for them, she finds that there is life after loss, that fate has its own way of helping you heal and that those with the courage to grasp love will never go lonely

My Review:

My expectations for this book were high from the beginning and I felt this one didn’t fulfill it! It may be my mood but the story is not engaging! The storyline is very good, and traveling scenes were brilliant, but somehow it lacks emotional depth! I couldn’t feel Maya's lost, her sorrow anything at all! Everything is in words but not touching the heart! The travel scenes were neither serious nor humorous and so failed to impact me. The "India" scenes hurt me, I could understand the cultural shock, and in orderly behaviors of people, dirty Ganges, etc but still, it hurts ( maybe I am a too much pride Indian) after the story reached Hong Kong everything is so dramatic! Though the storyline picked up , the twists were unbelievable! Very melodramatic for me! But I loved the final twists in the race and the climax! If you are looking for a good laid back enjoyable uplifting story you would enjoy it!

Thoughts while reading:
From the beginning, Maya's character seemed weak! There is no strong definition and so couldn’t make a connection with her emotions!!
The "India" scenes were made me uncomfortable and the way she felt the divine power and all felt dubious than blissful!
The Ashram related scenes were neither funny nor serious!
The scenes are lucid but the way she made connected it with fate and divine power kind of feel like a cliche (believe me I am a believer of divine power, cosmic ordering everything ).
Once she reached the Hongkong, the story is filled with unbelievable events, followed by Maya's dilemma and justifying thoughts !! its kind of boring to read the repeated dilemmas in each and every situation!
I loved the final race twists and the climax! But it took a long time for me to reach there as the story lagging in the engaging part!


Thanks to #netgalley and the publishers #harpercollinsuk #onemorechapter for this ARC. This review is straight from my heart not biased in any way!

I recently re-read Eat Pray Love and this book (The Backpacking Bride) reminded me so much of that book - even the reason she is traveling to these countries seems very similar. The main character herself refers to Eat Pray Love at one point. 

Her journey started with India (Rishikesh and the ganges, to be precise). In this day and age, after so many books have been written and movies have been made about India, the author's description of the place seemed caricature-ish  and ignorant. The philosophies described by "Swami Nanda" are white-washed bullshit that you would pick up by a quick Google search and there was nothing more to it. It was dragging on for a few pages, and voila! there is a sudden transformation in her for no reason.

I did not like the central character and was unable to finish the book. 

The writing in itself was okay. 

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing an ARC.

Unfortunately I DNF'd this one, even though the premise sounded really good! The first few pages were a little off-putting to me, where she arrives in India, and reacts as if she hadn't done any research about the country, it felt like a big stereotype. Regardless, I kept reading and stopped about 100 pages in, I had a difficult time keeping myself going. I've heard that other Janice Horton books are really good though, so I'll definitely check those out.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC version of this book. 

Since this was an ARC version I don't want to be very judgmental but this cover is totally misleading and somehow makes no sense. I hope that publishers are going to take note of this since it's a story of a 50 year old woman that didn't even go to visit Taj Mahal. 

To be completely honest Maya got on my nerves very often in the story, especially in the beginning since she couldn't find a sense in life without a man. In today's age and time this seems a little far-fetched even though I completely understand there are people that just can't function in this world without a partner. That's what got me thinking that this book maybe just isn't for me. 

Her travel to India? Why did it had to get dragged so much? I wanted to leave the book a couple of times right there when she was India, because nothing at all was happening before the last 2 days. 

The writing of the part of the book that takes place in Hong Kong is a little bit better and somehow Maya seems a totally changed woman there but that was also a problem for me. :/

It seemed that the portray of Maya changes a lot and it really kept bugging me and I couldn't get on board with it.

For some reason, I've never had much desire to visit Asia.  I'm not sure why, because I love traveling.  But that has now changed, since I've read Janice Horton's "The Backpacking Bride."

The story is about Maya, a 50-something financial planner who figured she had passed the age where she could still meet the man of her dreams and live happily ever after.  Then one day a handsome, worldly and sophisticated 60-year-old man named Jon walks into her office. He had recently retired and moved back to England from Asia, where he had lived for many years. He wanted advice on how to best manage his investment portfolio. The two of them hit it off immediately, even joking about the actual shock (of the static electricity kind) they gave each other when they shook hands for the first time. After a six month whirlwind courtship Jon proposes and they plan the perfect wedding in a romantic little chapel in Tuscany, Italy, after which Jon has planned a "magical mystery tour" of a honeymoon to all the places he would like to show Maya.  They are just ready to say their vows, when suddenly Jon collapses of a brain aneurysm.  

Maya is devastated and shocked. Then those feelings progress to anger, and she asks the universe what she did wrong to deserve such a fate--that her only true love was taken from her before they could enjoy life as a husband and wife.

Maya knows she needs to get away for a while, so she can come to grips with the sorrow of losing Jon, and try to think about how she will live the rest of her life without him. When Jon's brother gives her a portfolio filled with the tickets and itinerary for they honeymoon, Maya decides to take the honeymoon herself, hoping it will help her feel closer to Jon as she explores all the places he planned to show her, and checks off the little Post-it note activities in Jon's travel portfolio.

The first leg of the adventure takes her to a ashram in India, where she learns more about herself and the universe through yoga, meditation, and wisdom of an Hindu guru. What happens there sets up divine providence (or karma, or fate), which follows her as she continues the next leg of her trip to Hong Kong.  In Hong Kong, she coincidentally meets one of Jon's oldest friends, an attractive 50-something man named Henri. 

I will stop telling the story because some surprising things happen once she meets Henri, and I don't want to spoil the whole story.  But -- hint -- it definitely has a happy ending!

I really enjoyed the story and going along on Maya's journey of self discovery.  I definitely shed a couple of tears over Maya's terrible luck in losing her fiance in such a tragic way.  I felt her sadness through the pages of the book. 

My favorite part of the book was the way the author described Maya's adventures in India, Hong Kong and Singapore.  I now want to visit these places and experience an ashram, the outdoor Symphony of Lights in the Hong Kong harbor and enjoy a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel, where that drink originated.  

If you like books where you follow along with the heroine's growth and discovery of herself, check out this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and Janice has left me hoping for a sequel. I was transported to India, Hong and Singapore and hope that Maya’s story will continue. Thank you Janice for yet another wonderful adventure.

This was a whistlestop tour of Asia and the setting and descriptions were lovely and detailed. It doesn't make me want to visit an ashram, though, but it worked for Maya in that she was able to find an inner peace and relief from her grief. 

The book delivers the powerful message that life is short (and becomes progressively shorter the older one gets!) which is why Maya grabs a second chance of happiness despite only being 'widowed' an incredibly short time ago.

Enlightenment and moving on are the two major themes in the book, with a smattering of romance and drama to give it added bite.

Such a great read! Loved every minute of it. It's got some sad parts, but so well written that you know they were necessary.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley.

Maya suffers an horrific experience on her wedding day but decides to continue on the honeymoon; visiting India, Singapore and Hong Kong. Her experiences at the Ashram were very entertaining and in India she meets Belle and Maddy who help her to focus on her future with their own experiences.

In Hong Kong, she meets Henri. I found it difficult to understand their personal situation in light of the first part of the book, but that could be personal prejudice. 

My favourite quote: 
"I imagine cosmic ordering works the same way as when you order something from Amazon. You simply decide that you want it. You order it. Magically, it arrives!"

I didn’t realise this is the 3rd in the Backpacking series (although the characters are different) so I now need to read the first two!

This was a really fun read! I was a little worried that I hadn’t read any other books in this series, but I loved this from start to finish! One of my favorite aspects of a book is growth through travel and this was right up my alley. Janice Horton did an incredible job. I loved watching Maya come to terms with her new reality as she travelled across Asia. I will absolutely be reading the other books in this series.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. 

While the premise behind this book sounded fun and interesting, unfortunately the execution of the book was a little lacking. The main character wasn't super likable, there was just a little too much coincidence and there was so much detail about her time in India, but the other cities seemed to be a lot shorter and the ending was quite abrupt. 

I liked that she was more mature. 

Also, the cover and the book don't match. She never goes to the Taj Mahal yet that's on the cover!