Why did Zoe leave and why hasn't she contacted her family in years? Those are the questions Jude is determined to answer.  He loves his sister and he doesn't understand why she had to leave- much like his father left the family.  His mother Mandy also wants to know but she has a slight different take on things than Jude does.  This is told in alternating points of view- Mandy's and Jude's= and with slightly different time frames, as Mandy tells us what happened up to when Zoe took off.  Jude's search along with his girlfriend, is a lovely (to be honest) tour of the UK and over to France.  This pulls in politics, along with family dynamics. I found myself sympathetic to everyone.  Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Zoe found it hard to cope when her parents split up and she was in even worse turmoil when her mum found a new boyfriend. But what happened to make her just walk away from her family and never come back! 

7 years later, in a twist of fate, her brother Jude manages to find an address for Zoe, so together with his on and off girlfriend Jess, he decides to go and try to find her.

Nick is the master of creating believable characters who find a way into my heart and stay with me long after I have reached the end of their story. His art of portraying a conversation is awe inspiring, the banter, the arguments, the love and even the silences, every word and nuance is relevant and thought provoking. 

I loved how Jude and Jess learnt a little bit more about Zoe’s life with each town they visited, the description of the less salubrious ones and how Zoe had to survive really pulled on my heartstrings.
 
Reading this book is like watching a play unfolding, but when it gets to the intermission you are so spellbound you daren’t move from your seat in case you miss the second half!

A really cute story of Jude and Jessica on the search for his long lost sister Zoe. I thought this was brilliantly written and I really enjoyed the story of the hunt, mixed in with the story of her as a teenager. If I’m honest, I didn’t enjoy the ending as much as the book itself. I would highly recommend it though

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

When Zoe was 16, she disappeared, never to be seen again. Now, years later, her brother is out to find her. Told from the points of view of Jude and Mandy, Zoe's mother, we get the story of their past, and the build up to finding Zoe. 

This was a good , steady novel. I don't have anything bad to say about it. The writing was good, the pacing was nice. I felt the ending was a little bland, but all in all, I'd read it again.

I have read a few of Nick Alexander books and enjoyed them, so I was keen to review his latest - the road to Zoe.

This is a book about family struggles, divorces, teen angst and new relationships. It tells the story of what happens to Mandys family when her husband Ian up and leaves, and the devastating consequences one person's actions can have on a whole family. 

I really enjoyed reading mum Mandys chapters, I really got a feel of what she was going through during really difficult times in her life. However, I wasn't so keen on Jude/Jess chapters, especially at the beginning - for some reason there is a fair bit of political talk, I'm not sure why? It doesn't really fit in with the theme of the book. Also, near the beginning they are disagreeing about spending an extra £5 a day on a hire car, but all of a sudden they are holidaying all over the country and even over to France. It keeps flitting between them not having enough money but then going out for expensive meals etc. This kind of bugged me. 

Having said that, the story flows well and I was intrigued to find out what happened to Zoe. 

Three stars

This is another brilliant novel by Nick Alexander.  A marriage breakup can have long lasting effects on a family. The story is told by the wife/mother and the son and deals with daughter Zoe's behaviour  after Ian and Mandy divorce.  As Zoe spirals into an eating disorder and other self-destructive behaviours, a comment by a therapist leads her to accuse Mandy's new boyfriend of abuse, without actually ever saying the words.  Zoe's  disappearance  on her sixteenth birthday, leaves the family searching for answers.

Love, love, loved this!!

Nick Alexander’s amazing books flow so naturally, making them so easy to read. 

The Road to Zoe has characters that you will remember for a long time. I just adore Jessica.

Rating: 4/5

After reading the first few pages and knowing little of the characters, I became curious of the route the author would take following the revelation that a father had left his family; a young son Jude, daughter Zoe and wife Mandy, in order to pursue a new found love. Soon after, sixteen year old Zoe disappears or rather runs away.  No note and no explanation. For years, she doesn’t contact the family (apart from an occasional postcard, which also eventually cease) until Jude makes the decision to track her down. Along the way, we learn more about Zoe and the effect her choices had on those closest to her. 

The chapters are told from Mandy’s and Jude’s point of view. Most of Mandy’s reminisce the past whilst Jude tells us about the present. Eventually the two entwine. Both offered great insight and kept up my interest.  ‘The Road to Zoe’ is well written, with well developed but also the most frustrating characters. Frustrating - yes, but in a bizarrely good way. They felt authentic, their faults always out in the open; it was refreshing. It’s been a while since I’ve read something where one’s actions would grate my nerves so much as in this book, especially towards the end when truths were revealed. Yet I see this as a positive thing; the author managed to use the characters to somehow to convey life’s lack of logic and brutality in an almost different light, to show that despite all, it can still have its beautiful moments. The one aspect of the book that I can’t make up mind if I liked it to not, is the epilogue. I can understand why the author decided to include it, but perhaps it could have been left out. It felt too perfect and polished - a jarring comparison with the rest of the book. Other than that, I have no complaints. 

In conclusion, it’s a great, complex story with plenty of ups and downs and which I’m confident  will keep you glued to your seat right till the end.

As with all Nick Alexander books, this was an enjoyable read. It tells the story about a mother who is struggling when her husband leaves her for another woman, with two children, one of them a stroppy, difficult teenage girl. When Mandy eventually meets someone else, that teenager becomes more of a challenge and is set to tear them apart. Realising her father isn’t going to return and her mother is in love with someone else, the stroppy Zoe disappears and only Jude, her brother has any idea where she might be. Alongside Mandy’s story is the story of her now grown up son Jude and his girlfriend as they search for the then missing teen, now in her 20’s, and we quickly realise she has been missing for a very long time. The two stories come together nicely, and despite being told in different timescales, it’s never difficult to follow. His new girlfriend is desperate to help find her, even if he isn’t sure at all, and this leads to a real wild goose chase. It’s also a trip down memory lane for both him and his mother. As with all families and stories, nothing is straightforward and obviously things are complex when they do finally track Zoe down. 
This book wasn’t shocking or full of twists and turns but it was a nice tale of love, family, difficult situations and how things can turn out in the end. Another beautiful novel by Nick Alexander.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Road to Zoe’ by Nick Alexander in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Mandy’s husband leaves her and their two children Jude and Zoe to move in with Linda and her ready-made family.  Mandy meets Scott who’s the love of her life but Zoe makes it clear she hates him and disappears on her 16th birthday, causing their relationship to fracture.  Seven years later Jude and his girlfriend Jess decide to search for Zoe but will they find her and finally unearth the reasons why she left her home and never returned? 

‘The Road To Zoe’ is a beautifully written story of a family torn apart by divorce, lies and the disappearance of a daughter, touching on mental illness and racism which are handled with sensitivity and compassion.  The descriptions of the places visited by Jude and Jess were so vivid they made me feel I was there with them.  The final chapter gives us a glimpse into the future and nicely rounds off a lovely story.  The author has given us a novel that has been a joy to read and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

I absolutely love this author's writing and this is my new favourite by him. 
Troubled teenager Zoe leaves home suddenly and without apparent reason. Suspicions are raised along with veiled accusations but nobody really knows why Zoe left home following a family visit to the fairground  
Several years later, Zoe's Brother Jude is determined to find his much loved Sister and sets off on a wild goose chase around England and ultimately Europe with his veggie when it suits her girlfriend. 
This is a story of family, of love and loss and of proof that whatever happens in life, family always comes first.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read an early copy of this amazing book.

A family centered story, packed with emotions, told from 2 POVs: wife/mom and son. The story is flowing very well, kept me reading without skipping any passages and also kept me interested in its evolution.
I especially liked Jude's (the son) chapters, he's a very well built character, and also Jess features a lot in these, and I totally loved Jess, so that was a plus.
Dislikes: felt some attempts of political manipulation; also, I would have stopped the novel after the emails, with no epilogue. The ending seemed forced, even if, emotionally, I was ok with it.

Well, this author has taken me on many journeys since I discovered his work when I got my first Kindle back in 2011, but this one has to be one of the most emotional (and that's saying something!).
Mandy comes home early one day to find her husband Ian is being a bit of a naughty boy. He ups sticks straight away to live with his mistress, leaving Mandy with children Jude and Zoe. Zoe's always been a bit highly strung and a fussy eater but this split seems to spiral her issues. Long story short and she also ups sticks and leave home - but she doesn't tell, she just goes, and is gone, no sign... Seven years later and Jude is determined to find his missing sister. But when he set out with girlfriend Jess to Bristol, Zoe's last known official address little did he know the adventure he was going on or what he would find at the end...
Oh My Days, this was a bit emotional. Right from the start when Ian left Mandy (cos I've been Mandy, I've had someone leave the day I found out and it does spin you around somewhat) all through Zoe's issues and how they were like ripples in a pond, affecting everyone around her... We hear from Jude as he tried to track Zoe down, but also how he tries to figure out a lot of his own personal stuff along the way. We also hear from Mandy as she tells what happened from the split to when Zoe left. I hung on every word all the way through and stayed up way to late to finish it but I had to. I knew if I had put it down I wouldn't have slept. I cared about the characters. I needed to know what happened...
Told in the author's usual no nonsense, plain talking, way with no superfluous waffle or padding to distract, this story practically read itself to me, so easy it was to read. Well, I say easy, I did have to take a breath every so often, just to get my head straight. I told you it was emotional.
All in all, a cracking read that held my attention completely throughout and left me wholly satisfied at its conclusion. I know there was an epilogue which wrapped a lot of stuff up but I really would like to revisit the characters sometime. I'm not quite ready to let them all go just yet...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

It was a really good book.  It took on you on a trip through people's lives and highlighted the effects of marriage and divorce on kids.  It also reaffirms a parent's love for their children and that you can always come home again.

I have enjoyed books by Nick Alexander in the past and this one does not disappoint, in fact it was a totally compelling read and hard to put down.  It is very much a modern tale of family break up, with resulting mental health issues for some members.  Quite a roller coaster of emotions which flowed well from start to finish.  The characters are very believeable with the story being told from different perspectives and timelines plus up-to-date observations of modern Britain.  The book is a joy to read as one gets carried along by the journey not only geographically but emotionally as well.

The Road to Zoe by Nick Alexander

5 stars

A story where nothing means everything!

This story is of a family-based in the current day dealing with the after-effects of a marriage split and the effects it has on all members of the family for years to come.

I was hooked from the off, Ian casually leaves Mandy, Zoe and Jude after she finds him in bed with another woman. The story is told from Mandy the wife and Jude the sons perspective, mainly about the actions of self-centred teenager Zoe. The story is full of highs and lows, hope and despair, keeping you turning those pages.

My second Nick Alexander book, I really like his writing style, his books draw me in straight away and I am invested in the characters very quickly loving or loathing. At one stage I thought the ending was going to disappoint but instead I was wiping a tear from my eye.

Happy to recommend this great book and looking forward to reading the next Nick Alexander.

Taramindo

Corralejo reviewers received a copy of the book to review

This book flows beautifully and is hard to put down. It’s an “I’ll just read a little more” book that I read late into the night.. The characters are well drawn but the joy of this book is in the sensitively portrayed emotional journey of the main characters. Generally I’m happy to skip paragraphs If I’m not fully engaged but with this book I read every single word. I appreciated the fact that you don’t hear Zoe’s point of view initially so you are as much in the dark as Mandy and Jude and I loved the futuristic twist at the end. The characters are so well described that not only do we fully understand their emotions but they become real in your mind’s eye, especially colourful Jess.
Overall a well written book about relationships and family dynamics, eminently believable and wonderfully described.

This book flows beautifully and is hard to put down. It’s an “I’ll just read a little more” book that I read late into the night.. The characters are well drawn but the joy of this book is in the sensitively portrayed emotional journey of the main characters. Generally I’m happy to skip paragraphs If I’m not fully engaged but with this book I read every single word. I appreciated the fact that you don’t hear Zoe’s point of view initially so you are as much in the dark as Mandy and Jude and I loved the futuristic twist at the end. The characters are so well described that not only do we fully understand their emotions but they become real in your mind’s eye, especially colourful Jess.
Overall a well written book about relationships and family dynamics, eminently believable and wonderfully described.

Excellent book, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Nick Alexander is one of my favourite authors so I was delighted to be able to read an advance copy of The Road to Zoe.
This book is basically the story of a marriage break up and the effect this has on the whole family. It is extremely authentically written and I could so identify with Mandy who is left to cope with her two children Zoe and Jude. Her daughter Zoe ends up disappearing as a young teenager and we follow her brother Jude and his girlfriend Jess who set out to find her years later.  I love the quirky characters of both Jude and Jess and it is fun following them on their quest. and Zoe's 'difficult' teenage years are all too believable. 
Nick always writes so movingly about families and relationships and you feel you have been on a journey when you read his books. I would thoroughly recommend any of them.

Relatable characters and a believable story of a family life. All the twists and turns. I found this quite a compelling story and would highly recommend it