The car share is a different sort of story.

Two people sharing a car and a journey they make such a difference to each other’s lives.

Heartwarming read

Oh prepare yourself for this beautiful read! Alex is driving to Brussels as part of a car share with 90 year old Maxine who intends on ending her life at a clinic. Alex is suffering with depression but Maxine can see a kindred spirit in him.
This was such a genuinely lovely read and I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a love story of a total different kind. Alex is looking for a person to do a car share with him to help spread the cost of travel and also for a bit of company on the journey.
Max answers his advert for the share. Both are going to Brussels. Here is where I stop about the story because you need to read it yourself and I know I can not say more without intruding on the storyline.
What I can say is I was very unsure about this book as I don't usually read books based in country not the UK. This book had me laughing crying and also on the edge of my seat. It had me hoping and praying that the outcome would be what I wanted. I have not enjoyed such a haphazard book the way I enjoyed this book. It really is worth the read.
The author was also new to me.
Zoe Brisby thank you for such an enjoyable book.

Really enjoyed this quirky story. - Alex and Max incredible characters and in a short space of time make such a difference to each other. So much happens it is impossible to comprehend that it takes place over a few days. Highly improbable but get lost in the fantasy

“Bumper cars are like life. To keep moving, you have to dodge the other cars. You can choose to play it safe and stay at the edge, but that’s terribly boring! To have fun, to live, you have to take risks. You have to get in the thick of it and be ready to take a blow or give one when necessary. Plus, life and bumper cars are both rides that don’t last long, so you have to enjoy them while you can.”

If you need a laugh out loud, light hearted summer read THIS IS IT!

An absolutely divine and comedic journey with "old soul" Alex, shy and depressed but witty and romantic and gorgeous whiskey loving Alzheimer suffering Max who I dare you not to adore.

Full of hilarity, wisdom and tender realisation this book will hit your soul and stay with you long after you have read the last page.

5 out if 5 and I will most certainly be looking for Zoes next book! Thanks NetGalley - I am so glad you granted me this ARC!

Y’all my heart ❤️ #thecarshare #zoebrisby #netgalley #hodderpaperbacks is the MUST read book of the summer. Imagine. A depressed young man. Lost in his way of life. Looking to escape heartache and his self in Brussels. But. He must share the ride. We meet Max. She is a vivacious woman who isn’t what one might think at first glance. As they begin their journey a friendship and a bond begin. What will happen on their journey? Laugh. Cry. And enjoy this moment with our friends as you embark on the most remarkable adventure of the summer. #bookstagram #readmorebooks #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #bookclub #netgalleyreviewer

A heartwarming and funny read. Very well written and I loved seeing the friendship between Maxine and Alex develop.

4 stars

A light funny read. The book is different, promotes positive thoughts. Liked it.

The conversations between Alex and Maxine were interesting and amusing. Though, details of why Alex was depressed were either not provided or was not very convincing, however, Maxine’s reasoning, her experiences, and her encouragements to bring Alex out of depression was enlightening.

Also at some points it didn’t seem practical that a 90+ lady can do all those activities that have been mentioned in the book. We definitely hope to be able to do them when we are that old. But it seemed to move the story ahead in an interesting way.

Would recommend this book to someone who doesn’t like the serious kind of/ thought provoking books.

This is an excellent story. It is extremely funny, though at times bitter-sweet, even sad. It involves Max (Maxine), a 90-something old lady who goes online and arranges a car share to Brussels with Alex, a seriously depressed young man. I assumed for ages that they were travelling from somewhere in England for their 500 mile journey, but I think the journey begins in southern France. I am not sure why the starting point of the journey is not mentioned.

They seem a most unlikely travel companions, but they bond in no time, and prove to be very good for each other. It is hard to talk about without giving away the plot, but they get into some really hilarious scrapes. Max has an answer for everything, and carries a large bag which is filled with useful items which will sort out any scrape they get into - and there are quite a few. As they travel they tell each other about their lives, and by the end of the story have been able to provide each other with the one thing that they need to fulfil their lives.

A very amusing read to brighten the day!

This was a book had all the makings of a really great story but it really fell flat for me. I really did enjoy Maxine (her bottomless purse) and Alex as characters. Their flaws, quirks and eccentricities made them fun and engaging.

The slapstick style of comedy in which both depression and assisted suicide were used throughout this story really did not sit well with me. Additionally, the fact that Alex's depression radically diminished (and almost vanished) because of his adventure with Maxine is quite a stretch. It is possible to write about heavy topics in a comedic way, but I don't think it was done well here.

A case of mistaken identity sees Alex and Max team up and share a carpool for a trip to Brussels.

Each are taking this trip for very different reasons but along the way they strike up a firm friendship. This was a great read and full of laughter. Just what I needed right now!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an echange of an honest review.

Really a great book. Highly recommended it.

This was a DNF for me. I tried to get into it but I did not really like the writing style so I was unable to finish. Neither one of the characters really drew me in, I know they're going to be shaped by each other and what not but I just could not bring myself to read until that happened.

Thank you for the opportunity to review.

This book covers the 2 day adventure of a young, depressed man and a sprightly old woman that orders a ride share from her retirement home. Once Alex discovers that Maxine is heading to Brussels to be euthanized, he is determined to change her mind and show her that Alzheimer's is worth living with. Maxine's humorous personality coupled with Alex's lack there of makes this story cute and entertaining!

What an absolute joy of a book! I came into it with no expectations at all and found a really uplifting story with one of the best couple of characters I’ve read in a long time.

In the same vein as Ove, Eudora Honeysett or Eleanor Oliphant, Maxine has gone straight into my podium of unforgettable characters.

Alex is 25, depressed and heartbroken. Maxine is 90 and in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. When they share a road trip to Brussels, 48 hours will be enough to change their lives while having the trip of their lifetimes.

This was my second book this year involving a road trip and it was everything I wished the other one was and sadly wasn’t. You just gotta fall in love with Alex and Maxine. Although some of the issues the story deals with are quite sad and serious, they’re done in a very beautiful and charming way. There were also some hilarious moments. Maxine’s bag of tricks was a wonder and all her turns of phrase made so much sense! Her body might be 90 but her soul definitely isn’t! I just loved her take on life.

Even though this was translated from French it did not feel stilted at any moment as it’s sometimes the case with translations. I hope some more books by this author are translated into English soon or I’ll have to start refreshing my French.

The author’s note had a really nice surprise that I would definitely love to read.

If you’re in the mood to get on the road with a couple of memorable characters to live fun, absurd and heartwarming situations, The car share should be at the top of your TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now this is what I call a good book about a “Road Trip”! What a lovely, adorable story with warm & endearing characters this turned out to be!

25 year old Alex, who is on an escapade to Brussels from Paris, meets Maxine, a nonagenarian fleeing her retirement home, as his partner with his car share. While Alex looks like a “drug addict” is depressed with his life, Maxine is suffering from Alzheimer’s. As their journey together begins, they initially can’t trust each other. Soon they go on to develop a wonderful friendship, influencing each other’s lives forming the unlikeliest bond ever.

I really enjoy older protagonists in books more & more. There’s just so much to learn from all the experience & wisdom, they have to offer. This book was no exception. Maxine stole my heart with all her quirks, eccentricities, wacky humour & expressions. Although she has her share of regrets, she is just ever young at heart, so full of life, passion & zeal.

Though it was difficult for me to warm up to Alex to begin with, I could totally understand his state of mind. Dejected & low on self-confidence, he would be constantly sulking & overthinking every situation they found themselves in. While Maxine’s optimism & carefree attitude, was just the perfect antidote to Alex’s problems, Maxine herself finds a renewed purpose of life with Alex as her companion too.

The witty banter & leg pulling between these two was just so sweet & loveable, it melted my heart. As they start opening up to each other, finding joy in the present, learning to let go & accept life as it comes, they regain their strengths to overcome all their fears & inhibitions. Alex is brought out of his shell & Maxine gets the greatest gift of her life.

Despite dealing with heavy topics like depression & euthanasia, it never affected the light-hearted & funny vibe of the book. The writing was beautiful, fast paced & had an easy flow to it.

The readers are definitely in for some pleasant surprises as Alex & Maxine’s car ride starts taking wild & unexpected turns!

Thanks NetGalley & Hodder Books for the ARC

I was only a few chapters in and laughing out loud!
This book was so good. It was funny and heartwarming all in one. Maxine and Alex are such great people. You basically feel like you know them in real life. Once Maxine was on the scene and described I’m sure you could picture a little old lady you’ve met before. Truly such a heartwarming story!

Thanks Netgally for letting me read the e-book.

A jolly story with two unlikely friends. This genuinely did make me laugh out loud in some places. A gentle read.

May contain triggers for depression

Alex has just suffered a disappointment in love and at the height of his depression decides to take a break and leave on a trip to Brussels. To help cover the costs of the trip, he decides to register on a "car share" site, that is, a site where the person places where they are traveling and is willing to take someone in their car to the same place in exchange of a sum of money. Alex then receives a request from a person named Max, but he could never imagine that Max is actually Maxine, a 90-year-old woman who suffers from Alzheimer's. From the moment Maxine gets into Alex's car and they leave for Brussels their lives will change forever.

The car share is a comedy book, but with a bit of drama, and the author knew how to work on heavy subjects like depression and Alzheimer's very well. On the trip to Brussels we see the relationship that grows between the characters and how close and confidant they become. The conversations between them, the lessons given by Maxine, brought me countless reflections about life and especially about living.

Like I said this is a comedy book and look: I had a big laugh with this story, especially with Maxine. It had been a while since I laughed so much with a book. At the same time I loved the comedy, some scenes in between were a little forced, bordering on shame, and that's why the book wasn't perfect for me.

Despite not being a perfect book, it touched me in a way that has become a favorite and I recommend this story a lot!

What an absolute treat... this book took me through a range of emotions from laughing out loud to shedding a tear. I learnt quite a few lessons from Maxine.

A peculiar plot written so well that it strikes the perfect balance and doesn't over commit to anything, be it comedy or emotional scenes. You will definitely feel good at the end. I just loved that about it.

Can't wait to read how they get on 5 years later!