I believe Janice Horton is fast becoming one of my favourite armchair travel authors, and this is a wonderful addition to her Backpacking Housewife series.

Although this time we have a Backpacking Bride, who is determined to go on the magical mystery tour of a honeymoon her fiancee Jon had planned for her, despite the fact he died suddenly before he could say I do on his wedding day.

Maya though has always wanted to travel but has barely ever gone further than Scotland, so although distraught, decides to take the trip to honour Jon and make her feel closer to him.

This is an adventure that crosses multiple Asian countries, and the level of detail if phenomenal. I felt as though I was in the Ashram with Maya (although I have no intention of ever visiting one myself), and her initial thoughts of Hong Kong matched so closely with the memories I have of an even shorter time in the country.

We are treated to the sights, smells, scenery, sounds and sensations of each place she visits along with some new friends she meets and connects with, including some other backpacking brides!

It is fabulous to see how her initial thoughts of a place alter, and just how baffling her first destination must have seemed when she has never been anywhere remotely like it in her life.

This is just a wonderful story of well fate, of following your heart and of coming to terms with a horrific situation. It's a journey of growth and discovery for Maya with a perhaps surprising outcome.

What may not come as a surprise to you is when I say I want more, I want more from Maya, and I really hope a direct sequel is written as I would love to know what happens after the exhilarating ending to this book.

I always love reading Janice Horton's books on holiday, and although I clearly wasn't going anywhere this year, it still was a very enjoyable sunny day in the garden, during lockdown sort of a book, where you are able to escape and join a virtual journey. What more could you ask for?

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Maya's fiance Jon dies right as they are about to get married. Instead of letting their honeymoon go to waste she decides to embark the adventure Jon had planned for them. The book follows her journey from India to Hong Kong to Singapore. She meets people along the way who help her along the way. Henri, a friend of Jon's ends up being a romantic interest for Maya. Overall I thought the book was a light and easy read. I did think the ending was a little rushed and abrupt. I wish there was one more chapter to tie up the story nicely.

I enjoyed this book.. it’s about loss but also finding yourself and friendship on your journey after loss.

Imagine how horrific it would be to wait to be married late in life for only your husband to be to die at the altar before he says I do? This story walks us through the aftermath of our main character's husband to be's death and her decision to take their life changing honeymoon.

A great story for satisfying those travel blues as a woman goes on a journey in every sense of the word. A woman in her 50s gets married to a well travelled man and they plan so many adventures! But then tragedy strikes. What happens next is at the core of this book.

A great story but it was so sad at the start and throughout really! I just felt so sad about things and the journey which followed. It was a lovely and moving gesture and the descriptions about the places were wonderful. I really want to go there myself now.

The story is the journey is the story so there's little I can say about the plot apart from the fact that you have to go along with the characters yourself and question how you would cope and what you would do.

This writer is a well seasoned traveller herself and that comes out loud and clear in the storytelling!

Really enjoyed this sweet read .Perfrct story to take me out of my world into the lives of the characters.Part of a series I will be catching up to all the romances.#netgalley#harpercollibsuk

This book was well written, but just didn’t feel the connection with the story and characters. I enjoyed watching the main character continue to grow throughout the book.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an early review copy.

A novel about a woman who loses her fiancé when they are about to get married. .

Maya decides to follow what he had planned for their honeymoon to India(the place he went 40 years ago) as well as the other countries.

I liked the way the authors descriptions were, especially while Maya is in India, as well as throughout the book.

At 50, Maya has always led a pretty mundane life, although she's dreamt of traveling, she never actually has, she has led a pretty unadventurous life. When she met Jon, it was like her life was finally beginning, they were meant for each other, he encouraged her to live life to the fullest and that began with getting married. Unfortunately, Jon passes away just as they are about to say "I do".

Devastated, Maya decides to go on the surprise honeymoon that Jon had planned for them, with only an itinerary and post it's with random notes to guide her. Her journey takes her from an ashram in India to luxury in Hong Kong and beyond.
I'm not sure how I felt about this book. It started off as what I assumed was a spiritual journey,I figured it would be like Eat, Pray, Love or something; but it ended as chick-lit. I personally loved the chick-lit part and admit to Googling a lot of her journey and wishing I was there too!
I had a hard time accepting how quickly the story played out, but I still appreciated the happy, but abrupt ending. I think personally wanted to travel some more, lol! Even though I felt the beginning was a bit slow and very different from the rest of the book, I still enjoyed it and it was a quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC of this book.

I loved this book from the moment I saw the cover and then started to read it. It was a great story.How they were naughty in India and to Maya found happiness. I enjoyed the description of India and Hong Kong. .The ending was perfect not cliche. Excelent book

A great read for during lockdown to help with the travel blues! Didn’t realise it was part of a series but it didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the book.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC of The Backpacking Bride. It was a well written, easy read.

I liked how descriptive the author was, especially while Maya is in India. I liked the lesser characters like Belle, as well.

I felt like the ending came up a bit short. It just ended when it could have been wrapped up a bit better. I give this book 3.5*.

Thank you to netgalley for this advance review copy. (For reference I read this during Covid lockdown)

Classic women’s fiction about a women coping and excepting the unexpected death of her partner.

When Maya's fiance dies just before the I Dos, she is at a lost. When his brother brings her a folder with their honeymoon itinerary, from India to Hong Kong to Singapore, Jon had wanted to show her the wonders of travel in Asia, and had places planned and things to do all throughout. To honor him, she decides to go, and the honeymoon becomes a pilgrimage instead. Meeting new people and learning to adjust her point of view on grief and anger, she ends up meeting old friends of Jon's too, including Henri in Hong Kong. Enjoyed this one, and found it hard to put down. Would highly recommend.

Good women's fiction novel about a woman who loses her fiancé when he succumbs at the moment of their vows.

She decides to follow his instructions for their honeymoon to India (he went there 40 years ago and she had always dreamed of traveling). I liked the fact the main character is middle aged. I have not read the other books in the 'backpacking' series, but that was ok as this is a standalone. There were a lot of descriptions though, for me it stalled the story a bit. But overall I enjoyed it!

The Backpacking Bride is book 3 in a series. I didn't realize it was part of a series until after I started reading it. If you dream of traveling to far away places like India and Hong Kong then this book is for you. Interesting details about each place Maya goes. As I am not that much into international travel, this wasn't the best book for me. I'm sure it would be great for others.
Thanks to netgalleny and Harper Collins UK for the arc

The Backpacking Bride by Janice Horton is the perfect read if you are looking for some inspired escapism to break the monotony of sheltering in place. Ms Horton takes us on a journey from India to Hong Kong, from Macau to Singapore, and this is a trip you don't want to miss.

Maya Thomas has finally, at a later stage in life, met the man of her dreams in Jon. On the day of their wedding, Jon suffers a fatal brain aneurysm, devastating Maya. The loss is shocking and unfathomable, and Maya can barely function through her grief. Remembering that Jon has planned an ultimate magical, mystical tour for their honeymoon, Maya somehow musters the courage to take the trip solo as a way to honour Jon's memory. Where the journey will lead will exceed Maya's expectations in fortuitous and unimaginable ways.

This is a wonderful story of coping with loss, and finding a way back to happiness at any age. This is a virtual and vicarious journey that you must take, particularly now. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC.

A really good read. I have really enjoyed this read. It has kept me hooked and entertained
It’s been a great escape.

A great, emotional women's fiction read. It was lush and exciting and tugged at every one of my heartstrings. 4 Stars!