Joyride has a cute and unique premise! I love that it's told in two POVs between a daughter and her father and how both are trying to figure out life. Joybird is a struggling young woman, trying to make a business life coaching out of her car - like uber with a life coach! And her dad is struggling to write a screenplay after his career crashed and burned. The writing is comedic and sweet and I I kept turning pages to find out if Joybird is able to help her father find his long lost love AND whether or not she would learn to prioritize her own happiness and joy in the process. The book is heartfelt, witty and enjoyable.

Joyride by Ellen Meister is a delightful and heartwarming story that explores the themes of self-discovery and second chances. The witty, relatable protagonist embarks on a thrilling road trip that leads to unexpected revelations about love, loss, and personal growth. Meister’s clever writing and humor make for an enjoyable read, while her exploration of deeper emotions adds substance to the lighthearted plot. Though the ending feels a bit predictable, the journey is so engaging that it’s easy to overlook, making this book a solid four-star experience.

This is a warm, funny, and heartfelt novel about Joybird, a 31-year-old former Uber driver turned life coach. With her sunny outlook and genuine compassion, Joybird helps others while navigating her own complicated relationships, particularly with her manipulative, narcissistic father, Sid. Though deeply flawed, Sid is written with nuance, making him both frustrating and oddly compelling.

Joybird’s friends are another highlight—Betty is fiercely loyal and protective, while Devon brings quiet warmth and depth. Their support contrasts the dysfunction in Joybird’s family and adds richness to the story.

Though the big reveal at the end is somewhat predictable, the emotional payoff is still satisfying. The novel encourages optimism and self-reflection without being preachy. With its relatable characters and uplifting tone, Joyride is a feel-good story that lingers, and Joybird is the kind of character readers will truly miss. A sequel would be more than welcome.

We're going to see how many words other than 'cute' to describe this read because it really is just so cute and upbeat. It's fun, it's quirky - the humor is fantastic and Joybird is just nothing short of amazing. Joybird is, well, a joy - the whole uber driver aspect mixed with being a life coach and navigating some pretty messed up scenarios? I could not put this book down!

From the complex narcissistic alcohol deadbeat of a father, to Betty, Devon and just every single minor character - they all made this book into what it was an how amazing it is.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Montlake for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to like this book, but it was a struggle read for me, even more than Meister's last book.

Joybird Martin is an Uber driver and aspiring life coach. Her dad, a former well-known tv writer, is crashing at her Brooklyn apartment. He's trying to re-invigorate his career after leaving L.A. Unfortunately, his class humor and old school way of thinking got him canceled. (Read: misogyny and a little MeToo)

Joy meets Devon, who is a "Wall Street" guy. He suggests she take her life coaching on the road. Devon is attracted to her and asks her out, but he's not her type. Instead, she prefers Noah, a former houseless addict and barista, who is just not that into Joybird, other than casual booty calls. Meanwhile, Joy takes Devon's idea and starts her JoyRide business. Two things are clear to me: she's not in the position to be *anybody's* life coach, and she's got a toxic positivity that's bordering on unlikeable. Also, her dad had abandoned her twice, both when her parents divorced, her mom died, and he later moved back west. Her dad is a schmuck. Sorry not sorry.

Joy takes it upon herself to find a woman that her dad saw in passing that he once hooked up with at a high school party. She thinks finding this woman, Donna, is the key to her dad's happiness. Meanwhile, he befriends his daughter's older neighbor, Betty. It was really predictable.

I didn't understand or care for a lot of Joybird's choices. While she helped a few of her clients, she's not a licensed therapist. I liked Devon, but I felt like he actually deserved someone who wasn't so judgmental and faux virtuous.

2/5☆ available 4/22/25. Trigger warning for parent death, abandonment, teenage suicide attempt, and discussion of addiction.

Publication Date: April 22nd, 2025

Joyride is a heartfelt and witty story about second chances and personal growth. Ellen Meister’s writing kept me engaged, and the characters felt real and relatable.

Thank You Netgalley and Montlake

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Joyride is a heartwarming and uplifting read that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story follows Joybird, a naturally optimistic Uber driver with dreams of becoming a life coach. When a passenger suggests she turn her rides into a mobile advice service, it feels like the perfect opportunity.

Meanwhile, she’s dealing with her washed-up, grumpy father, Sid, and navigating a love triangle between her long-time crush and the charming Devon. As Joybird helps others, she slowly learns to stand up for herself and take control of her own happiness.

With a quirky cast of characters, humor, and plenty of heartfelt moments, Joyride is a delightful story about personal growth and finding joy in unexpected places.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for and honest review.

Amazing romance, Loved the Joy in this novel, it was a cute novel inspiring romance that had me fantasing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for allowing me to read an ARC of Joyride by Ellen Meister, in exchange for my honest review.

Delightful and cute, with quirky characters and witty dialogue!

Joybird is such a genuine and optimistic treasure, and I really enjoyed riding along with her while she navigated her relationships. It was heartwarming to see her grow.

I adored Betty and would love to have her as my neighbor!

I look forward to reading more by Ellen Meister!

Joyride by Ellen Meister has an interesting premise—Joybird Martin works as a cab driver, but after a customer’s suggestion, she starts offering life coaching sessions while driving people to their destinations. At the same time, she tries to help her unemployed father find his high school crush and navigates her own love life.
Unfortunately, the execution falls flat. The characters feel bland, and the whole story lacks depth. Joybird’s romantic decisions didn’t make much sense to me—I’d say Devon deserves better, but honestly, I have no idea what he sees in her, so that’s on him. The entire Donna storyline is absurd, and the way Riley’s #spoiler (suicide attempt) is handled feels too lighthearted.
I personally wouldn’t let Joybird life-coach me, thank you very much.
Thank you to Montlake for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Joyride was a really cute book centering on a young woman named Joybird. Her sunny disposition is the perfect fit for her career, an Uber driver. After meeting a handsome young man named Devon who encourages her to start a mobile therapy business, she blossoms as she helps others with their problems. If only she could help herself...

Her ex-Hollywood writer father is living with her and her love life has her confused. She is interested in poet/barista Noah, but there's something about Devon. Joybird hopes to help her depressed father reconnect with 'the one who got away', a woman from high school who he never stopped thinking about.

She's so good at being optimistic and happy, but what happens when her personal and professional lives collide in ways she never expected?

I thought this was a fun, cute novel. I wanted to shake Joybird, especially regarding Noah, but overall I enjoyed this story! I really like Ellen's writing and look forward to her next book.

I found this story to be fairly shallow; I wanted more from it. The father character was immature and grated on my sensibilities. I had a hard time believing he would spend his entire life pining over a teenage kiss with a person he had virtually no knowledge of. I did enjoy the descriptions of NYC and surrounding boroughs but thought the ease and speed with which Joybird was able to navigate around the city in a car was a little optimistic. Each potential pitfall, whether it was with Joybird & Devon or Joybird solving her clients' problems in one short Uber ride, seemed too easily solved and put to bed. With the exception of Riley, which ultimately also resolved itself quite neatly. This may be a good quick read for some audiences but as it was a departure from my usual choice of historical fiction (I chose it because it was set in NYC) it did not resonate as a winner with me.

Thank you Ellen Meister and Netgalley for the ARC.

On one hand, I really enjoyed this premise and portions of this read. But then also, it felt like there was little to no character development all around. Joyride starts the book holding onto toxic positivity and ends the book there as well.

Her father was emotionally neglectful when she was a kid, and emotionally abusive when she's an adult. Joyride suspects he has assaulted multiple women while working in Hollywood, but she "doesn't want to know", so avoids asking. And "accepts him for who he is", while letting him run her into debt.

There is a happy ever after, but it feels unrealistic/unearned?

I struggled with this one. I can understand why many people would like Joybird, but I really could not stand her unfortunately.

Joybird is an endearing main character with an infectious positivity. She is quirky, and a little bit self conscious but her unwavering optimism is both her charm and her strength. You can't help but root for her. When Joybird’s father, Sid—a former hotshot Hollywood writer—ends up penniless and jobless, Joybird lets him move in with her and tries to help him get back on his feet.

The novel beautifully explores the personal journeys of both Joybird and her dad. As they navigate their relationships with themselves and others, I found myself cheering them. Their path to self-discovery revealed that having faith in their own abilities would show what they needed most had been right in front of them all along.

* I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. cute!

Joyride is the cute read I needed right now - a time when the world feels so bereft of optimism. Joybird, so compassionate and earnest, seeing the best in people, was an MC I wanted to simultaneously root for and shake some sense into. This book takes on the task of telling the story of how hard it is to love someone complicated and flawed, like Joybird’s father, and succeeds. it was incredible reading Joybird grow into herself without losing herself, which is a fine line to walk (so bravo to Ellen Meister!). The story is bolstered with a cast a characters that feel real and fleshed out to the point that I want more writing about them.

I’m not sure how I felt about the love triangle, and how Devon and Noah were treated/developed in the story, but if that is a dynamic you enjoy in books, this is a great read for you.

Joyride by Ellen Meister couldn't be titled more aptly. It is a joy of a ride!  Uber driver Joybird Martin has just completed her life coaching training and she desperately wants to start her business. When she picks up handsome Devon as a fare, her upbeat personality opens him up and he comes up with the idea of her becoming a traveling life coach - while also sparking interest in her personally.

Joybird has no reason to be so optimistic and delightful. As a little girl, her father left and moved across the country to become a comedy writer and then her mother died at an early age. Now, down on his luck, her father Sid has landed on her doorstep needing her help while he attempts to pitch one more winner of a script.

What makes Joybird such a compelling character is her absolute determination to help others. She wakes up every day and decides to have a positive attitude and her genuine compassion is a breath of fresh air. Meanwhile, her father struggles with alcohol issues, regret over a long-lost love, and a now seemingly closed-to-him industry that's passed him by.

The laughs flow, the wit is irreverent and sharp, and romance crackles off the page in Joyride. This is a fast, fun, heartfelt novel filled with surprisingly intriguing characters. Loved it!

This was such a breath of fresh air. My only two gripes were how Joybird was so understanding of everyone except for Devon, assuming with ZERO evidence that he was shallow and superficial JUST BECAUSE OF HIS JOB, and then the Noah storyline.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.