Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed reading this book and read it in one day. I loved the characters and the storyline. I thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Mara Williams for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc in exchange for an honest review!

The truth is in the detours is the story of childhood bestfriends Ophelia, who recently lost her father and uncovered an important truth about her life, and Beau, an acclaimed author in the middle of a completely new and different project. The two of them set off on an adventure in search for the truth, and along the way they discover each other again.

This book is the perfect mix between an emotional read and a rom-com, there's funny moments but there's a lot of growth and reflection. I really enjoyed both characters, but I have to say that I did find them a little irritating at times. But I guess that's the point, we, as readers, are in this journey with them and the whole point of it is to see them grow and overcome the obstacles life threw at them.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and I will definitely check out her other works, her style made the story even more enjoyable. I liked how she captured the characters but I really really liked how she wrote the road trip, her descriptions made me feel like I was there with them.

The Truth is in the Detours
Mara Williams
4 stars

“Our truths are pieces of ourselves”

🚗San Diego setting + road trip
🏡childhood friends reconnect after a parent passes away
🧡is that a local mama I hear?? I think Beau’s mother was my fav character
📖fans of You, with a View and Wish I Were Here would LOVE this

I loved the mix of bringing back childhood friends as they both help each other with present problems while also reexamining their history. There was chemistry and romance while also pressing into the human tendency to lie. I can’t wait to read more of Williams’ stories and its characters!

Phe and Beau are real. Probably one of the realest couples/friends/enemies, etc. I've read.

Their story, of many decades, is filled with firsts, laughs, mistakes, tears, utter heartbreak, reconciliation, and most of all, so much love. It's not always the most upfront, but it's always there.

The touch of Hawaii via Beau's mom felt like a little hug for me. I knew all the words and all the foods, thanks to my husband heritage.

I would definitely recommend this book!!

Thanks to Netgalley, and the publisher, for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have a new favorite author and her name is Mara Williams. I can’t help gushing over THE TRUTH IS IN THE DETOURS and I encourage everyone to read it, especially for fans of Emily Henry and Yulin Kuang. This is one you don’t want to miss.

Ophelia Dahl is grieving the death of her father, but while going through his things she discovers a secret he’s kept from her all these years: the mother she thought had died had actually left and may still be alive.

She and her childhood best friend, Beau Augustin, have drifted apart since high school, but find themselves supporting each other amidst this difficult time. Beau is a professor and author who is about to drive across the West Coast interviewing people about deception, giving Ophelia a chance to join him and find her mother. The road trip brings them closer, thawing the rift that ended their friendship, but also begins to uncover more truths along with the ones they’re searching for.

This is one of my new favorite books this year. I knew going in that I was going to love it, yet it still snuck up on me surpassing my expectations with a few tears shed. The idea of the truth is a heavy topic when you really think about it, but searching and finding meaning behind it and why it's often withheld carries a different kind of weight. It’s this idea that drew me in and how well Mara Williams explores it while seamlessly tying it with Ophelia and Beau’s story.

Their journey is not just literal, but personal. They both have their reasons for this trip, but as they meet and listen to various people sharing their hidden truths, it also helps them reflect on their own. There’s a deeper love within their history of friendship and I enjoyed every minute of their banter and simmering tension as they gradually unraveled it.

Mara William’s writing is the best part of this novel that makes it what it is. It’s one thing to have a good story, but it’s another when it’s written sincerely. Before I even finished this book, I immediately ran here to NetGalley as soon as I saw her next book, The Epicenter of Forever, available to read now because I’m so eager to read more from her.


Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC!

what a beautiful and stunning book. from my first sight of this cover i somehow felt involved. reading the blurb and i was in even more. then as soon as i opened and started reading i new i was a gonna to this book. and im not sad to have been so. it was such a detailed, tight and clever bit of writing. ever layer fit together. every part of the story was more than other books but somehow still managed to make it fit. make it important. make it with so much more than a rom-com. but amongst all that there was STILL the rom-com element that had that heart soaring you get from those books.
i cat not tell you how much you need to read this book. you will thanks yourself for doing so thats all i need to say. then you'll want to thanks brilliant authors and all the teams that bring books to us. reading a book like this reminds me of how lucky we are to have them.
this book brings us Ophelia who has recently lost her dad. amongst his personal effects she finds something that rock her world. its a document that makes all she thought she new come to a halt. because that mother who she thought died all those years ago, didn't. in fact this document states she abandoned Ophelia. so what happened, and where is she now? with some help from kind others this is exactly what Ophelia is going to go and find out.
we also get introduced to Beau who is a successful author. he was best friends with Ophelia when they were children. but that all changed and its still fizzing all these years later. but Beau's current book in progress is about something that hits home to Ophelia, hes writing about family deceptions. and its going to take him across the country and exactly what Ophelia needs. so she proposes her own idea to him. that he uses her life for his book. they both get what they want out of this then. right?
agreed upon what they both want they set off together with more than just psychical baggage piled up in that car with them both.
Ophelia is determined and there's a lot more to Beau's research as hes letting on. and as the stretch of roads go by detours happen, old things stifle and come up for air. things are said, things are felt. and as they get closer to learning and finding what they need to out there, they also get closer to finding out what they need closer to home, to heart to.
this is going to be a life changing trip. in so many more ways they thought possible setting off.
aaaaand i was here for every second of it! it was fun, intriguing and layered with such heart and important moments. its not all easy, its not all slot together perfect. but its true, filled with warmth and somehow hopeful through it all.
the way they journey not just on the roads but also within themselves and each other was so well done.
and of course the romance part is vital. and it was still there shining its own star brightly throughout the book. and this only made the other parts even more significant and meaningful and vice versa.
once again we need to learn communication is key.i wanted to shake them both at times. but i also sooooo got it. we all, every time can feel like this from the outside. but when you go through this stuff personally you never ever talk or say, or share what needs to be said. we all keep things to ourselves. sometimes big and sometimes small stuff. and do we ever share or communicate. nope. we all do it. and we never learn lol. so miscommunication is something that reverberates between most mishaps in life. i get it.
i loved this book and its going onto my favourites list for sure.

Wow. This book was truly a rollercoaster of emotions and angst, and I adored it!

Mara Williams has perfectly captured a complicated yet tragic themes — of grief, abandonment, and the flaws within a person’s self — in this emotional, romantic book centered on a woman’s quest in search of her mother, whom she believed was dead, alongside her childhood friend.

While this book is advertised as a romance, it primarily focuses on Ophelia and her own personal arc, which is rooted in her mother’s abandonment and her father’s death. It leans more into a fiction/character driven plot, and I actually loved that the author primarily focused on Ophelia, with the romance being a bit of a subplot.

However, the romance is well-written, as were the characters, which I feel allowed me to connect more to the characters’ individuality and their romance. Ophelia and Beau have such good chemistry despite years of history and animosity between them, and I thought the author handled the balance between the romantic relationship and theme of self discovery in terms of the characters’ individual arcs perfectly.

This is not a fast-paced or action-packed novel, but then again, it doesn’t need to be. This is character-driven romance/women’s fiction. Both Ophelia and Beau are well-rounded characters and immediately sympathetic. Their banter is funny and relatable. The premise for their road trip feels a bit forced, but just go with it and enjoy the ride. There’s a light mystery to solve, and ultimately this is a great story about self discovery and the realization that detours are not necessarily a waste of time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

THE TRUTH IS IN THE DETOURS is an emotionally-charged second chance love story about two former friends finding their way back into each others' lives. Ophelia is dealing with the loss of her father and the shock of a secret her father hid from her and is being checked up on by her first friend then teenage nemesis, Beau, who is also dealing with a secret of his own. The embark on a road trip together, Ophelia helping Beau with his next book that leads to Ophelia finding more answers about her own family. I really liked Beau's interviewing of people who hid huge, life-altering secrets from their families, and discovering the why of their decisions/deceiving. A romance with depth, a believable connection and great banter that will have you rooting for Beau and Ophelia from the very beginning.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Ophelia Dahl returns to San Diego and while cleaning out her father’s house after his death she finds a document that reveals that her mother did not die when Ophelia was four years old.

Ophelia’s childhood friend Beau offers to help Ophelia find her mother.

Ophelia and Beau set out on a road trip, following leads to try and find Ophelia’s mother.

This was a fun read. Ophelia and Beau both have secrets.

I loved the way Ophelia and Beau interacted during their road trip. Lots of twists and turns and sharing of grief and happier memories.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Lake Union for a chance to read and review this E-Book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mara Williams’ *The Truth Is In The Details* is a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance (errrr or maybe enemies to lovers?) with a twist of mystery that kept me turning pages even when the pacing lagged. I was initially drawn in by the gorgeous cover (yes, I’m that person), and the opening delivered a jaw-dropping surprise that instantly raised the stakes. Ophelia and Beau, childhood besties turned reluctant road trip partners, set off on a journey to uncover long-buried truths, and the need to solve the central mystery gave the story its momentum. What happened to Ophelia’s mother (don't worry, not a spoiler, you find out on page two)? Why did she leave? And what secrets is Beau keeping close to the chest? These questions propelled the story forward, even when the pace felt more meandering than I prefer.

Midway through, I was hovering at a solid 3/5 stars—engaged, but not fully swept away. Ophelia’s self-deprecating streak wore thin, and the pacing dragged just enough to test my patience. But then came the emotional payoff. The epilogue had my eyes a little damp, okay, fine, I sniffled too. Williams delivers poignant reflections on truth, history, and the stories we tell ourselves. One quote that hit hard: “Lies can change history, or our perception of it.” That ending earned the book an extra star from me, bringing it to a heartfelt 4/5. Beau’s complexity and the simmering tension between him and Ophelia kept me invested, and the book’s tone reminded me of *This Summer Will Be Different* by Carley Fortune - perfect for fans of introspective romance with emotional depth. And that line, “I’ve never received a compliment drenched in so much vitriol”, was pure gold. While the pacing wasn’t ideal for me, I’m glad I stuck with it, and I’d absolutely read more from Mara Williams. Big thanks to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for the gifted ARC—opinions are all mine!

Wow, what a book

Both MCs are incredibly relatable and genuine. Their interactions are so fun, the banter is amazing, yet they can be open and vulnerable. The writing definitely helps with that; you feel like you’re there with them at every stop of their road trip.

A very emotional read, with moments of laughter and tears, a touch of mystery, and plenty of self-discovery. Highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC.

4.5 rounded up

Heartfelt and more than a romance, I felt the grief in my bones and my family saw the evidence in the tears streaming down my face. There were a few moments when I felt so sad for these two characters who’d drastically misunderstood and missed out on so many years of friendship, but the journey was worth it for them and for me as a reader.

www.cassieetter.com/eclecticallybookish/reviews/the-truth-is-in-the-detours

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for the digital review copy in advance.

4.25⭐

The Truth is in the Detours is one of those books that doesn’t rush you, but still keeps you hooked the whole way. Mara Williams writes characters that feel like actual people, they were messy, funny, and occasionally frustrating. The story has this nice balance of humor and heart, with moments that sneak up on you and hit harder than you expect.

It’s not a high-speed, twist-every-five-pages kind of read, and that works. The slower pace gives the emotional beats room to land, and even when a scene wanders a bit, it still feels like part of the bigger picture. By the end, you really buy into the idea that detours aren’t wasted time—they’re where all the good stuff happens. Thoughtful, engaging, and just the right amount of sharp!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Truth Is in the Detours by Mara Williams is such a funny, clever and heartfelt debut!
This character-driven roadtrip romance was utterly delightful.
The characters are well-developed, with realistic flaws and I had the best time following their journey.
A fun and engaging road trip full of friendship and finding true love.

I can’t wait to read The Epicenter of Forever in 2026!

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

One of my favorite things about reviewing ARCs is discovering a new author I love. The Truth is in the Detours is Mara Williams's debut novel, and it is incredible!

Ophelia has just lost her father unexpectedly, and her childhood friend Beau checks in on her as she cleans out her Dad’s house. They end up taking a road trip together along the West Coast to interview subjects for his next book. Along the way, they confront ghosts and disappointments from their past, and attempt to find a new future together.

As Ophelia packs up her childhood home, she discovers a court document that changes everything she knows about her past. During the road trip, she searches for information about her mother and tries to come to terms with her past.

This book was a beautiful, emotional story about healing from the past, and repairing important relationships. The plot moved quickly and the tension and feelings between the main characters was gut-wrenching. Both Ophelia and Beau are so vulnerable and supportive of each other. I really loved their story!

Thank you to Mara Williams, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

THE TRUTH IS I THE DETOURS by Mara Williams is a poignant, angsty, women's fiction type romance.

That is to say, while they do fall in love, I think the main emotional arc is more the life and troubles of Ophelia as a whole, rather than specifically with Beau. But the grand gesture, ending, and epilogue are certainly classic romance beats, so it really has it all.

The plot: Ophelia is going through her dad's house after he died, and discovers a piece of paper that proves that her mom isn't dead, she abandoned her when she was four years old. Being back home also brings her back into Beau's orbit, her former next door neighbor and best friend. He's about to take a research trip up California and Oregon to interview subjects for his book on lies and deception. So Ophelia invites herself along as a research assistant, and along the way they can check out her mom's last known addresses.

The running theme is obviously truth and perception. The things they each thought they knew about what happened when they were teens, their perception of the other's actions. Ophelia's parents, her ex boyfriend, her best friend, Beau...everyone has things they kept from her.

I really liked it, particularly that there really weren't any clean answers. Your dad is dead, you can't interrogate him about his choices. You don't have to have a relationship with the mom who abandoned you, but you'll probably never have what you yearned for as a kid. People lie, make mistakes and they have their reasons, but you have to make your life with your own choices. A little bit of life advice with a side of smoochin, if you will.

You know I love a good road trip story, and this one had so many things I love, childhood friends turned frenemies, family secrets, healing after loss, gorgeous West Coast scenery, and a slow-burn romance that totally hooked me.

It’s emotional, fun, and charming; the kind of story that leaves you smiling and a little bit teary. Perfect summer read!

*Thanks to Brilliance Publishing/ Lake Union Publishing for early copy for review*

3.5 rated up

This has so many elements to be my perfect romance. Later in life friends to lovers. Grumpy/Sunshine pairing. He fell first. The biggest thing is that it features a roadtrip of self discovery. On this road trip Beaunis working on an academic book of people keeping secrets and Ophelia is uncovering a secret she found from cleaning out her recently deceased father's house. This type of dynamic should be perfect for me, however, I don't think it delivered what I wanted. I wanted literary fiction with romance, but this is a romance novel. Wanting more from it was my own fault. This want tainted my enjoyment and left me with the rating that I have.

While reading I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job bringing a voice to all the characters

When I closed the final page of The Truth Is in the Detours, I felt both invigorated and tender—like I’d been on a road trip through grief, forgiveness, and the sparks of second chances.

Ophelia Dahl’s journey begins in a place of loss: after burying her father, she stumbles upon a revelation that shatters everything—the mother she believed died decades ago is not only alive… but abandoned her. That twist sets her on an unplanned journey across the West Coast—and what better co-pilot than Beau Augustin, childhood best friend turned teenage rival, now an acclaimed author with a project about “family deceptions”? Ophelia proposes a perfect partnership: his next book, her life. And so, in a Subaru brimming with baggage—emotional and literal—they hit the road