The Truth is in the Detours is a heartfelt, character-driven roadtrip romance with amazing banter and A+ chemistry. I’d recommend it without reservation to fans of Emily Henry and Clare Gilmore — if you love their work, don’t miss this one. It’s out 8/12 and I’ve already preordered a shelf trophy because I just love it so much!

Read for:
Childhood best friends to lovers
Road trip romance
Healing journeys
Divorced hero
A+ banter

Beau and Ophelia grew up as best friends, living next door to each other, until a falling out just before college. Years later, Beau is a nerdy academic planning a Pacific Coast road trip to conduct interviews for his new book about the deep secrets and lies people tell and why. Ophelia, back home packing up her childhood house after her father’s death, discovers a devastating secret he kept from her. Desperate to get AWAY, she offers to join Beau as his research assistant.

I couldn’t put this book down. The roadtrip is filled with the chaotic misadventures and LOL shenanigans you’d expect from a romcom, but it turns into a deeply personal journey for both of them. Beau and Ophelia feel so real — they’re just flawed humans figuring out how to handle what life’s thrown at them. Plus, there’s banter for dayssss, and their chemistry is OFF. THE. CHARTS.

One last thing — this book had the perfect mix of emotion and angst. I'm not in the right headspace these days for high-angst drama, but I still want to feel emotionally moved. TTIITD checked both boxes!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so real and relatable. I enjoyed the plot and the pace. It stirred all the emotions and I found myself not wanting to put the book down.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

This was such a sweet second chance/friends to lovers book! I enjoyed it so much because there was actually a greater plot than your typical cheesy (but fun) romance novel - don’t get me wrong there’s still enough cheese to please the masses. Thank you to NetGalley & the publishing team for this ARC!

Not sure how I feel about this one, it was emotional and full of family drama but I was also here for the forced proximity, road trip vibes and the he fell first and hardest, high school romance, friends to lovers, second chance vibes. It was great on audio narrated by Barrie Keahola (a new to me narrator). Highly recommended for fans of authors like Kate Clayborn. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

TW: parent with bipolar disorder, death of a parent, family secrets, infidelity

The Truth is in the Detours was a really good read! I am a big fan of friends to enemies to lovers and I thought this book was written well. I loved the growth and change after Ophelia discovered a family secret and road tripped for answers. The banter with Beau and hearing all of the secrets from his project were my favorite part of the book. The ending was so good and it tied everything together so nicely!

I was given an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Growing up, Ophelia and Beau were neighbours and best friends, but now they haven’t spoken in over a decade. When Ophelia’s father passes, and she finds evidence that her mom might not have died when she was four but actually given up custody, her entire world is turned upside down—and Beau is there to try and plant her back on her feet, though he’s currently also not going through an easy time.

But what better way to lay old grievances to rest than hunkering up in a car and go on a road trip along the West Coast, interviewing strangers about the lies they told while also trying to find more traces of Ophelia’s mom and figuring out what happened back then?

The Truth is in the Detours is an emotionally satisfying up and down, with well-rounded character arcs and surprise stops along the way. If you love your contemporary romances to have top-tier emotional development and characters that find themselves as they fall further into love, The Truth is in the Detours should be on your list!

I read this in under two days—I was completely consumed from the very first page. Mara Williams’ writing style is so captivating, and the characters she’s created? Unforgettable.
This is a romance, yes, but it also has many layers. It’s about grief, growth, and the choices we make when we stop letting life just happen to us. It’s about the messy middle—the detours we take that ultimately help us find who we really are.
Ophelia was a standout character for me. She’s flawed and complicated, and so relatable. Her childhood best friend, Beau, is her perfect opposite—strong, steady, and a presence that brings balance. The friends-to-lovers / second-chance dynamic between them was filled with tension, history, and love. Their dynamic captured me from the very beginning and I found myself cheering for them both.
The road trip element added so much depth and momentum to the story, and the pacing never once lagged. I was fully invested in every moment and every truth they uncovered together. I enjoyed watching them take this journey and watching them grow and work through their own lies.
I came into this book blind, but I am officially a fan! I’ll absolutely read anything Mara Williams writes next. I will be telling everyone I know to read this book!

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
Ophelia Dahl is grieving the death of her father when she stumbles upon a legal document that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her life.

The mother she was told had died when she was a child is, in fact, still alive.

She’s untethered and a ball of tangled, competing emotions when Beau Augustin, knocks on her door, offering support.

Except, though these two had been best friends since they were four years old - growing up inseparable as neighbors - events that happened when they were 18 drove a wedge between them.

Now he’s prickly and she’s angry so why not agree to go on a road trip together?

Beau is reeling from the end of his marriage and is writing a book about deception; Phe agrees to ride along to help…and maybe follow a faint trail leading to her mom.

Complicated feelings and past indiscretions plague these two who have always been in love.

𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
I have a lot of them.

The characters feel real and relatable. Her grief is a smokescreen that keeps her from seeing clearly, self-sabotaging and questioning things that are obvious to anyone else. Beau is wound tightly, guarding himself from what might hurt but also from what might help.

At times I found her too childish and him too inconsistent. The miscommunication - and lack of - can feel aggravating.

𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
The Other Side of Disappearing, Ross and Rachel the one with Prom

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
Yes, I’m glad I read it. The story feels universal and I like a romance that isn’t just romance. The road trip feels like its own character here, and I love that microtrope. At the core it’s about honesty and family and finding peace with the hand you’ve been dealt.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
Appreciate the ARC @netgalley and @lakeunionpub. Out 8/12/25.

It's always so refreshing to see real characters in print. The protagonists of this book felt that way. Some people don't like it. I love it. These characters have flaws, they have their petty moments, and because of that, the moments when they're good or finally surrender are so profound and beautiful.
And besides, it's a road trip. It feels like this book was made for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

DNF. This book was not the right fit for me. While I understand all the characters are flawed, I couldn’t get invested and the story didn’t pull me in. The writing style didn’t work for me. I never thought I would say this, but the frequent use of em dashes made it particularly difficult to stay immersed in the book.

A second chance friends to lovers journey to self and family. Ophelia and Beau were BFFs until they weren't but Beau has shown up for her in the wake of the shocking discovery that her mother is not dead. He's writing a book about family secrets and what better subject than Ophelia's. So they load up a car and head out in search of her. Beau's got some baggage too and this road trip is as much about unpacking that for both of them as it is about getting answers about her mother. There's good dialogue and a big heart here. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The Truth is in the Detours is a phenomenal debut novel, and I absolutely loved it - it is easily one of my favorite books of the year so far!

It had such an interesting and unique plot, and the action kicked off right from the first sentence. It’s an excellent romance - (excruciating slow burn, friends to enemies to friends to lovers, second chance, grumpy sunshine, roadtrip, great banter, forced proximity, one bed, etc) but also a riveting mystery and a heart-wrenching examination of deceit and grief. I thought the concept of Beau’s book, the jaw dropping confessions of the interviewees, and the way it connected to Ophelia’s discovery of her parents’ deceptions was fascinating. It was beautifully written and highly emotional, but it was also balanced so well with the romantic comedy elements of the story. I had a big goofy smile or tears in my eyes the whole way through the book, no in between.

I strongly encourage everyone to check out this beautiful book when it’s released on August 12th. I absolutely loved it, and can’t wait to read more by Mara Williams!

The banter is unrelenting, and the chemistry is full throttle.

Phe and Beau have known each other since childhood, growing up together as next door neighbors and friends. Like many of us as we enter our young adult years, our lives go in different directions, and Phe and Beau are no exception. Fast forward to their 30s, when each of them find themselves in difficult, emotive situations. Will their shared history be a safe haven and pillar of support or an obstacle that cannot be overcome?

I thought this was a sweet, swoon-worthy story with endearing characters that I quickly devoured. Congratulations to Mara Williams and the rest of her team for the release of this stirring story, and the creation of a book boyfriend worth replicating!

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for an advanced digital copy via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are entirely my own. Now go and find out why I am now craving anything with huckleberries.

(3.5 stars rounded up)

Beau and Phe’s story was gut-wrenchingly, heart-distressingly exquisite in every possible way.

Told with compassion and gentle respect for those with mental health struggles, and those that love them, I binged this in under 24 hours with a small baby in every spare moment I had.

A stark reminder that “The truth will set you free,” and that those who truly love you do so unconditionally, even when you annoy the heck out of one another, the proof is in the pudding with this delightful, albeit at many times heartbreaking, story that it’s so important to honour the healing journey instead of focusing on the destination.

Without giving away spoilers, I have a family member with the same familial connection as the one mentioned in the book with a similar mental illness, and a Dad and brother with the same illness as the character who has one in the book. So I know how important stories that lovingly speak about mental health in a gentle, kind, and respectful way, are.

I wish I could read this book as a new reader all over again.

Absolutely loved it. 🥰 Thank you Mara for this beautiful story. I didn’t know how much my heart needed it, and how healing reading it would be. 🫶🏻

I adored this book and I need everyone to read it when it comes out in August. Childhood best friends to strangers to lovers is the best trope and I can’t be convinced otherwise

A romance with mystery elements?
Swoonworthy scenes?
Road-trip vibes?
Beautiful vocabulary and expertly-penned chapters?
Yes, please!

Such a poignant and beautiful book! Her dad has recently passed and in process of emptying his house she uncovers a massive family secret. Cue a reunion with her estranged childhood best friend. They’ve grown apart and no longer in each other’s lives - despite being inseparable as kids. Backyard weddings and treehouse kisses made up their childhood, teenage angst fractured their friendship - can they find a second chance in adulthood?

I adored the perfect symmetry that they’re going cross country interviewing people who have secrets and their impact (for his latest book) all whilst trying to solve the mystery of her big family secret. This was so beautifully written - I was so surprised to find this was a debut as it has the poignancy of a seasoned author. It was just such a lovely book with a perfect balance of romance, humour and a heartbreakingly beautiful journey. It was a journey not only in distance, with the road trip the characters went on, but a journey of self discovery and discovering who they were together.

This will easily be one of the best books I’ve read this year - it’s a must read!

ARC copy provided by Lake Union Publishing & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

✨Book Review - ARC✨

The Truth Is in the Detours by Mara Williams

Mara Williams knocked it out of the park with this debut novel. The Truth Is in the Detours is an absolute treasure and easily a 5 star read for me. I would honestly give it 6 stars if I could.

I instantly fell in love with Williams writing style. The way she immediately created depth within her characters was beautiful. You become invested in their lives, future and past, quickly. I don't know if I have ever wanted to see character growth as much as I did in this book and Williams delivered.

Ophelia is a relatable FMC who has a hard time making decisions in life. She took the path of least resistance in most things until her dad passes and she discovers her dead mother was actually alive. The moment turns her life upside down and changes the way she approaches life. It's beautiful to see how much "Phe" grows throughout the story. She finds herself, her own voice, her wants and boundaries. This is a romance novel, but it is also a novel about finding oneself and gaining confidence through that.

Beau is a soon to be divorced MMC who recently went through a truly rough separation from his cheating wife who won't let him go easily. He is a professor and writer on the way to doing research for his new book about lies and deception. He is on a mission to discover why people lie to those they love, what their motivation is. Phe, quick to wanting a distraction during her grief, chose to go with Beau on his research roadtrip across California and Oregon.

Through this roadtrip, these old friends become acquainted again. They both have different perceptions of the past and have to learn to fix their miscommunication issues. I think Williams balanced the tight rope of having just the right amount of miscommunication that didn't have you so frustrated with the characters that you'd want to toss the book away. I absolutely applaud her for that triumph!

If there was one thing I'd want more of with this book, it would be Beau's POV. I'm here to advocate for this exact story from Beau's POV!! I would EAT. THAT. UP.

Bravo to Williams on her debut novel. This is a masterpiece and I cannot wait to read anything and everything she releases in the future.

Lastly, thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Mara Williams for providing this ARC for me to review!

5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️

Read if you love stories with:
- Slow Burn Romance
- Opposites Attract
- Forgiveness
- Second Chances
- One Bed
- Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
- Friends to Enemies to Lovers
- Roadtrip Romance
- Divorced MMCs

Trigger Warnings:
- Mention of Miscarriage
- Addiction
- Parent Death
- Loss of Parental Rights
- Grief
- Cheating
- Bipolar Disorder

I loved this one. The only thing that keeps it from being 5 stars is that there was a little too much miscommunication for my taste. Other than that, it was a perfect romance story about childhood friends who fall out as teenagers and then reconnect as adults. But it's also a story about reconciling difficult truths, personal growth, grief, and so much more.

Ophelia has just buried her father and is cleaning out his house when she finds some paperwork that shows her mother didn't actually die in an accident when Phe was a young child, as her father had told her. Just as she's making this shocking discovery, Beau shows up at her door. They bicker a lot, but also start to reconnect. And before long, Phe decides to join Beau on his research trip for his new book. She can be his research assistant, and maybe along the way they can try to find information about her mother. Win-win. And a ton of road trip fun.

I loved the dynamic between slightly chaotic Ophelia and uptight and kind of grumpy history professor Beau. Their rekindling friendship and growing attraction was beautiful to watch, and they are both dealing with some serious revelations about their families along they way. I loved how they supported and challenged each other. I also loved Beau's parents and his friends. (Not Ophelia's friends though, they are terrible.) The ending actually made me shed a few (happy) tears.

Their road trip takes them through California and Oregon, and I really felt like I was there along with them. The book was great at establishing the setting, and the writing overall was beautiful. I will definitely be looking out for more by this author. (I also had just read her second book, The Epicenter of Forever, and realized that the book Beau is writing here is mentioned in Epicenter. I like it when authors add these little Easter egg connections between their standalone books.)

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is ROMANCE. Honestly, I just kind of want to leave that as my full review because that's what it really comes down to.

Beau and Ophelia got married under his treehouse when they were six years old. Best childhood friends that drifted apart and reconnected as adults after Ophelia loses her dad. More things come to light and they find themselves chasing after truths to help them navigate their grief.

What transpires is a story of reconnection, of shedding grief and anger, honest and hard conversations, and some of the most romantic moments between two hurt and lonely people. There's a moment in a cabin that had me SWEATING and they didn't even KISS. His declarations? Beau, please.

There wasn't a single thing I disliked about this story and Mara Williams is here on our a forever auto-buy author for me. What a triumph of a story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.