Wow! This is an amazing book.  My emotions were all over the place and that is a fantastic thing to say about a story.  When the reader becomes so involved in caring about the characters, the situations happening, and the ultimate outcome, that shows the great skills of the author.

Joy at age 13 made a bad decision.  That decision then was made worse by decisions others made.  She did the best she could at that young age, but now as an adult, she carries the guilt of what happened inside her, not wanting to express her feelings or truly feel free to live her life.  

The guilt is eating Joy’s spirit away and she cannot see a way to be rid of it. In an attempt to relieve some pain, she takes a road trip on Route 66.  This was a life goal of her sister Judy and she had a list of things to do on the trip.  The fact that Judy is not around anymore and cannot take the trip herself is part of Joy’s guilt.

Joy meets Dylan near the beginning of her journey on Route 66 and he also is carrying burdens with him.  They agree to travel together in Joy’s convertible Bug.  Their relationship begins as driving companions, to temporary friends, to much more over the ten days of the journey.  They become a salve to each other, to heal the wounds of the past.  

The details of the journey on Route 66 were so interesting to experience.  I never have taken the trip, but now, I feel like I did.  There is a strong theme of music being felt deeply in the soul and what a musician’s life is like in this story. That was so informative and enjoyable to me, since I love music.  

I believe the core of the story is about self-forgiveness and living “your” best life. I think that might be the bravest thing to do.  To live the life you want and to be strong enough to achieve the goals you desire.

I highly recommend this book!  It will be released on July 7, 2020.

I am a huge fan of this author’s work and I think this is a wonderful addition to her collection.  I want to thank Kerry Lonsdale and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of being an advance reader.  My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Omg!
Kerry has done it again.
I’ve laughed, I’ve cried (big fat ugly tears) and I have loved every minute of this journey..
Joy is travelling Route 66 to complete her dead sister Judy’s bucket list, before moving to New York to marry her fiancé Mark. She plans to cross of all the things Judy wanted to do in her memory.
Stooping at a roadside cafe she meets Dylan ,who is travelling the same route performing in various venues on the way. After hs car breaks down she agrees to give him a lift, as long as they agree to 3 rules: No last names, Whatever happens on the road stays on the road, and if one of them wants to take a side trip they both have to agree. They spend the next 10 days together before separating at JFK.
The story is told in both Joy and Dylan’s perspectives and weaves brilliantly between before and after

I would highly recommend. I’ve also loved listening to the Side Trip playlist that accompanies this book

Thanks go to Kerry and her Team Side Trip And Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book

Wow! This is Kerry Lonsdale’s best writing yet! Every book I read I think that she can’t write a book I like better, happily I continue to be wrong! I loved Joy and Dylan! I loved that I could actually feel the emotions that Kerry was portraying through her characters! There was so much “Joy” reading this, tears as well (you will experience these emotions too I promise)! 
I just cannot recommend Kerry as an author more! If you are reading this, take a “Side Trip” with her other books she has written as well! You won’t be sorry!

WOW!! Kerry Lonsdale has done it again -- given her readers a fantastic story with realistic characters that keep you turning pages to the end. I have read every word that this author has published and she has become one of the few authors that I will buy her books without knowing anything about them because I know that they'll be fantastic.

Joy is driving from California to New York City to start a new job and move in with her fiancé. She is travelling on Route 66 holding on to her deceased sister's bucket list as she tries to experience all of adventures that her sister wanted to do but never had a chance before she died. In Arizona, she meets Dylan who is also headed to NYC but with his car broken down at a greasy spoon restaurant, he isn't sure how he'll get there. He is a musician and has several stops to make along the way to perform at various bars. They make a deal. She’ll drive him to New York and he’ll pay for gas. Only three rules apply: no exchanging of last names; what happens on the road, stays on the road; and if one of them wants to take a side trip, they both must agree. After spending 10 days together on their trip, they say goodbye at JFK airport in NYC and spend the next 10 years wondering 'what if'.

This book is full of romance and music and suspense. It asks the question whether planning out your life and adhering strictly to your plans is the way to find happiness? Or does life need some spontaneity to be happy?

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.