The Road to Zoe

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Pub Date 10 Mar 2020 | Archive Date 24 Mar 2020
Amazon Publishing UK | Lake Union Publishing

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Description

She ran away from the truth, but she can’t run forever.

Seven years after his sister vanished without a trace, Jude is on the road, determined not to return home until he has found her. He wants to reunite his broken family, but more than this he wants to know why Zoe left—what happened when they were kids, on that terrible day when everything fell apart.

They’d been enjoying the funfair—grasping a rare moment of happiness following their parents’ divorce—when after a ride together, Zoe had stopped speaking to her mother’s new partner. Though Mandy believed he was the man she’d waited all her life for, her love for her daughter trumped even that, and soon suspicions of an unthinkable betrayal shattered the family.

So finding Zoe would be just the start. If Jude can find her, then what happens next will depend on the story she’s been carrying with her all these years. Because when families are destroyed by dark secrets, can the wounds ever truly heal?

She ran away from the truth, but she can’t run forever.

Seven years after his sister vanished without a trace, Jude is on the road, determined not to return home until he has found her. He wants to...


A Note From the Publisher

Nick Alexander was born in 1964 in the UK. He has travelled widely and has lived and worked in the UK, the USA and France, where he resides today. Nick is the author of fifteen novels, including The Other Son, named by Amazon as one of the best fiction titles of 2015; The Photographer’s Wife, published in 2014—a number-one hit in both the UK and France; and The Half-Life of Hannah, the fourth-bestselling independently published Kindle title of all time. Nick’s novels have been translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, Turkish and Croatian. Nick lives in the south of France with his partner, three friendly cats and a few trout.

Nick Alexander was born in 1964 in the UK. He has travelled widely and has lived and worked in the UK, the USA and France, where he resides today. Nick is the author of fifteen novels, including The...


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ISBN 9781542014120
PRICE US$14.95 (USD)

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Featured Reviews

Having read All of Nick's previous books I was excited to receive this. Such a great storyteller, I felt like I was right there on every step of the journey, wonderful characters. Full of ups and downs and I'm a sucker for a happy ending. My only small niggles were the political parts, and that's only because I'm not interested in politics.

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NICK ALEXANDER – THE ROAD TO ZOE

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Nick Alexander is one of the top-selling indie authors on Amazon’s charts, whose novels regularly reach the top ten here (and around the globe in their translations), and often number one. And having read The Road to Zoe I would be surprised, slash that, astonished, if this little gem did not achieve the same status.

It is a story about a family searching for the truth about wayward Zoe, daughter to long-suffering Mandy, and sister to Jude, and why she became such a thorn in their sides, doing everything she could to disrupt, if not actually destroy, her loving family.

This is told not through Zoe’s POV but that of her tormented mother and – in a clever time shift – the adult version of her brother who, along with his girlfriend, attempts to track Zoe down years later. These parallel narrations allow us to see the disruption she caused at the time, together with Jude’s take, from his perspective many years later. Eventually the two time-lines merge, with an unexpected twist.

Nick knows how to tell a story, as can be witnessed from his considerable and successful back catalogue, and this one rollicks along with the best of them. My only problem with it was that I had to ration myself, to slow myself down, otherwise I would have finished it in one sitting - it was that fast paced. Not only do you care about the human characters and their predicaments, but the settings were well-realised characters too, especially the deliberate boo-hiss contrast between the grey socialist bleakness of rundown England, compared with the idyllic golden hued warmth and sunshine of the south of France where the author lives. You can smell the fresh baguettes and coffee.

This is an easy one to recommend.

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Absolutely wonderful read. The story itself is very well told , superbly written, and flows seamlessly between the fabulous cast of characters . I liked that the end story moved forward slightly into the future, it was a surprise, but it felt right. A number one best seller for sure!

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Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Another smashing read by Nick Alexander features Jude and his mother Mandy, both devastated by the disappearance of Zoe, who left home and hasn't been heard from since. When Jude and his girlfriend decide to look for her they end up on a lengthy trip during their vacation, all over England, ending up in France. Jude wants to know why his sister left his mum and him, leaving them behind heartbroken, without a word or warning.
I loved the trip itself, covering a lot of England, including Blackpool and then the beautiful setting of Nice, France and the fabulous surrounding area.
Jude and Mandy are very likeable, Zoe not so much! But when I found out the reason for her disappearance, I felt for her; but still wanted to shake her for causing so much pain to her family. Every book of Nick Alexander's is a treasure: his style, his sensitivity, his well drawn characters and the stories themselves are unputdownable must reads. Highly recommended.

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Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's. Another great book from Nick Alexander. Absolutely devoured this book. Characters are well developed and the issues raised in the book are current.

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I absolutely devoured this book! I have enjoyed Nick Alexander books for a long time but I think that this one is my favourite.

I love the way that he creates fun and quirky characters that I could actually relate to and get behind. Sometimes when you read a book, there's one character which is better developed than others, or one character that you struggle to understand their purpose in the book... but this story has amazing characters all round. From Jess with her quirky and fun personality to Mandy who is obviously very hurt and struggling... each character made me feel for them, they felt very real.

I could almost feel Mandy's frustration and desperation with Zoe. It made me think about my own life and what I would do if I was her, what approach would I take if one of my own daughters behaved in such a way.

I found that the descriptions of places were very good too - the darker sides of some the cities that we don't see as well as the warm sun on a wintery day in France... all made it feel very atmospheric. Yet the descriptions weren't too long, weren't pages and pages of setting a scene so it was just enough to paint the picture without losing the tension and the flow of the story. Perfectly done.

I liked how the book was also grounded in current-day issues; mentions of Brexit, Corbyn, Veganism... keeping it on trend with peppering the story with these little items.

I would fly through the pages, enjoying being lost in the world of others for a while. I devoured it within a few days and think it's Nick's best yet.

I think anyone who likes a story about well-formed characters, a bit of mystery, a journey to some kind of self-discovery will enjoy this.

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Road to Zoe. The characters are expertly written as a real dysfunctional family full of miscommunication, secrets, and raw emotion. Mandy, a divorcee trying her hardest to rebuild and find happiness after being betrayed. Zoe, overflowing with teenage angst, and Jude, just trying to be a normal kid but he cannot escape the emotional wounds inflicted by Zoe. In the beginning I thought this would be Zoe's story, however, the plot became just as much about Mandy and Jude.

Each chapter was a puzzle piece and it was challenging to put them all together. The book is initially written from Mandy and Jude's point of view but in two different time frames so you need to fit them together. Zoe's point of view is not made clear until the end, which finally makes the picture clear. I felt I was going to finish this book with a lot of questions but they were all answered in the end, so I'm happy with that!

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I made the most of a day off work and read The Road to Zoe in one sitting!

At first, as I was reading, I thought this was going to be a story about a child who died due to her eating disorders... But no!

The author has managed to deal and express Mandy's point of view so well, from the exasperation and frustration of dealing with a hormonal teenage daughter, to the worry and despair at her situation - the self doubt, the anger, the pain - all these emotions have been captured well, along with her giddiness at feeling love again!

Also, I am so glad the author had Jude explode in rage at his sister. In a typical selfish teenage way, Zoe really didn't understand the impact of her disappearance on the lives of those left behind.

We never really see Zoe's point of view till the end. So we are left in limbo, a bit like Mandy and Jude and everyone else who is affected by her disappearance.
I liked that. It certainly kept me turning the virtual pages!

I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it!

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This book flows beautifully and is hard to put down. It’s an “I’ll just read a little more” book that I read late into the night.. The characters are well drawn but the joy of this book is in the sensitively portrayed emotional journey of the main characters. Generally I’m happy to skip paragraphs If I’m not fully engaged but with this book I read every single word. I appreciated the fact that you don’t hear Zoe’s point of view initially so you are as much in the dark as Mandy and Jude and I loved the futuristic twist at the end. The characters are so well described that not only do we fully understand their emotions but they become real in your mind’s eye, especially colourful Jess.
Overall a well written book about relationships and family dynamics, eminently believable and wonderfully described.

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Excellent book, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Nick Alexander is one of my favourite authors so I was delighted to be able to read an advance copy of The Road to Zoe.
This book is basically the story of a marriage break up and the effect this has on the whole family. It is extremely authentically written and I could so identify with Mandy who is left to cope with her two children Zoe and Jude. Her daughter Zoe ends up disappearing as a young teenager and we follow her brother Jude and his girlfriend Jess who set out to find her years later. I love the quirky characters of both Jude and Jess and it is fun following them on their quest. and Zoe's 'difficult' teenage years are all too believable.
Nick always writes so movingly about families and relationships and you feel you have been on a journey when you read his books. I would thoroughly recommend any of them.

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Relatable characters and a believable story of a family life. All the twists and turns. I found this quite a compelling story and would highly recommend it

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This is my first Nick Alexander book and I'm loving him!
Jude's family is broken since his sister Zoe disappeared. So he makes it his mission to find her and reunite his family. Even though his parents are divorced, Jude things that he can make things better once he finds Zoe and finds out why she left. Did something happen with Zoe and her mother's new boyfriend.

It was such an emotional book that really focuses on emotions. Jude was a wonderfully flawed character who I loved. I've been through similiar experiences which is why I think this book affected me so much. Thank you so much to #Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

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Nick Alexander continues to beguile with his stories of - what appear - to be ordinary families. The twist in this one I did not see coming, a very modern take on a very modern problem. You will very quickly become totally involved in the dynamics of this story, an excellent read that I finished in about 6 hours straight. Roll on the next book.

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Brilliantly written! I couldn’t put it down and found myself itching to get back into it at every opportunity.
An excellent and very believable story that I can honestly say I enjoyed from start to finish.
The characters were very likeable and I found myself getting quite emotional towards the end of the book.
I have always been a loyal reader of Nick Alexander and he certainly hasn't disappointed me with his latest masterpiece. Congratulations on a wonderful book

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Zoe disappeared from her English middle class family. The story of her disappearance is narrated by the mother, Mandy. The search for Zoe is narrated by brother Jude.

Despite Zoe's disappearance, this isn't really a mystery. Rather it is the story of a disfunctional family in the wake of a divorce.

I wanted to like it but I found the book repetitive and a bit trite. The writing was very good, but the story was stale.

I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving my honest review.

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An absolutely wonderful book from Nick. Characters were great. Story flowed well. Will definitely look out for more by Nick.

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Wow, this one really got me. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a mother, or that I’ve been through similar experiences to Mandy & Zoe - actually it’s probably a combination of all three! Humans, their emotions and thought processes are so complex. I’ve read most of Nick’s book and I still love them. This one is so powerful that it actually kept me awake at night. I seriously hope you give it a shot, because it’s totally worth it!!

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It was a really good book. It took on you on a trip through people's lives and highlighted the effects of marriage and divorce on kids. It also reaffirms a parent's love for their children and that you can always come home again.

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I have enjoyed books by Nick Alexander in the past and this one does not disappoint, in fact it was a totally compelling read and hard to put down. It is very much a modern tale of family break up, with resulting mental health issues for some members. Quite a roller coaster of emotions which flowed well from start to finish. The characters are very believeable with the story being told from different perspectives and timelines plus up-to-date observations of modern Britain. The book is a joy to read as one gets carried along by the journey not only geographically but emotionally as well.

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The Road to Zoe by Nick Alexander

5 stars

A story where nothing means everything!

This story is of a family-based in the current day dealing with the after-effects of a marriage split and the effects it has on all members of the family for years to come.

I was hooked from the off, Ian casually leaves Mandy, Zoe and Jude after she finds him in bed with another woman. The story is told from Mandy the wife and Jude the sons perspective, mainly about the actions of self-centred teenager Zoe. The story is full of highs and lows, hope and despair, keeping you turning those pages.

My second Nick Alexander book, I really like his writing style, his books draw me in straight away and I am invested in the characters very quickly loving or loathing. At one stage I thought the ending was going to disappoint but instead I was wiping a tear from my eye.

Happy to recommend this great book and looking forward to reading the next Nick Alexander.

Taramindo

Corralejo reviewers received a copy of the book to review

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This book flows beautifully and is hard to put down. It’s an “I’ll just read a little more” book that I read late into the night.. The characters are well drawn but the joy of this book is in the sensitively portrayed emotional journey of the main characters. Generally I’m happy to skip paragraphs If I’m not fully engaged but with this book I read every single word. I appreciated the fact that you don’t hear Zoe’s point of view initially so you are as much in the dark as Mandy and Jude and I loved the futuristic twist at the end. The characters are so well described that not only do we fully understand their emotions but they become real in your mind’s eye, especially colourful Jess.
Overall a well written book about relationships and family dynamics, eminently believable and wonderfully described.

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A family centered story, packed with emotions, told from 2 POVs: wife/mom and son. The story is flowing very well, kept me reading without skipping any passages and also kept me interested in its evolution.
I especially liked Jude's (the son) chapters, he's a very well built character, and also Jess features a lot in these, and I totally loved Jess, so that was a plus.
Dislikes: felt some attempts of political manipulation; also, I would have stopped the novel after the emails, with no epilogue. The ending seemed forced, even if, emotionally, I was ok with it.

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Well, this author has taken me on many journeys since I discovered his work when I got my first Kindle back in 2011, but this one has to be one of the most emotional (and that's saying something!).
Mandy comes home early one day to find her husband Ian is being a bit of a naughty boy. He ups sticks straight away to live with his mistress, leaving Mandy with children Jude and Zoe. Zoe's always been a bit highly strung and a fussy eater but this split seems to spiral her issues. Long story short and she also ups sticks and leave home - but she doesn't tell, she just goes, and is gone, no sign... Seven years later and Jude is determined to find his missing sister. But when he set out with girlfriend Jess to Bristol, Zoe's last known official address little did he know the adventure he was going on or what he would find at the end...
Oh My Days, this was a bit emotional. Right from the start when Ian left Mandy (cos I've been Mandy, I've had someone leave the day I found out and it does spin you around somewhat) all through Zoe's issues and how they were like ripples in a pond, affecting everyone around her... We hear from Jude as he tried to track Zoe down, but also how he tries to figure out a lot of his own personal stuff along the way. We also hear from Mandy as she tells what happened from the split to when Zoe left. I hung on every word all the way through and stayed up way to late to finish it but I had to. I knew if I had put it down I wouldn't have slept. I cared about the characters. I needed to know what happened...
Told in the author's usual no nonsense, plain talking, way with no superfluous waffle or padding to distract, this story practically read itself to me, so easy it was to read. Well, I say easy, I did have to take a breath every so often, just to get my head straight. I told you it was emotional.
All in all, a cracking read that held my attention completely throughout and left me wholly satisfied at its conclusion. I know there was an epilogue which wrapped a lot of stuff up but I really would like to revisit the characters sometime. I'm not quite ready to let them all go just yet...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

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I absolutely love this author's writing and this is my new favourite by him.
Troubled teenager Zoe leaves home suddenly and without apparent reason. Suspicions are raised along with veiled accusations but nobody really knows why Zoe left home following a family visit to the fairground
Several years later, Zoe's Brother Jude is determined to find his much loved Sister and sets off on a wild goose chase around England and ultimately Europe with his veggie when it suits her girlfriend.
This is a story of family, of love and loss and of proof that whatever happens in life, family always comes first.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read an early copy of this amazing book.

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Rating: 4/5

After reading the first few pages and knowing little of the characters, I became curious of the route the author would take following the revelation that a father had left his family; a young son Jude, daughter Zoe and wife Mandy, in order to pursue a new found love. Soon after, sixteen year old Zoe disappears or rather runs away. No note and no explanation. For years, she doesn’t contact the family (apart from an occasional postcard, which also eventually cease) until Jude makes the decision to track her down. Along the way, we learn more about Zoe and the effect her choices had on those closest to her.

The chapters are told from Mandy’s and Jude’s point of view. Most of Mandy’s reminisce the past whilst Jude tells us about the present. Eventually the two entwine. Both offered great insight and kept up my interest. ‘The Road to Zoe’ is well written, with well developed but also the most frustrating characters. Frustrating - yes, but in a bizarrely good way. They felt authentic, their faults always out in the open; it was refreshing. It’s been a while since I’ve read something where one’s actions would grate my nerves so much as in this book, especially towards the end when truths were revealed. Yet I see this as a positive thing; the author managed to use the characters to somehow to convey life’s lack of logic and brutality in an almost different light, to show that despite all, it can still have its beautiful moments. The one aspect of the book that I can’t make up mind if I liked it to not, is the epilogue. I can understand why the author decided to include it, but perhaps it could have been left out. It felt too perfect and polished - a jarring comparison with the rest of the book. Other than that, I have no complaints.

In conclusion, it’s a great, complex story with plenty of ups and downs and which I’m confident will keep you glued to your seat right till the end.

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I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Road to Zoe’ by Nick Alexander in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Mandy’s husband leaves her and their two children Jude and Zoe to move in with Linda and her ready-made family. Mandy meets Scott who’s the love of her life but Zoe makes it clear she hates him and disappears on her 16th birthday, causing their relationship to fracture. Seven years later Jude and his girlfriend Jess decide to search for Zoe but will they find her and finally unearth the reasons why she left her home and never returned?

‘The Road To Zoe’ is a beautifully written story of a family torn apart by divorce, lies and the disappearance of a daughter, touching on mental illness and racism which are handled with sensitivity and compassion. The descriptions of the places visited by Jude and Jess were so vivid they made me feel I was there with them. The final chapter gives us a glimpse into the future and nicely rounds off a lovely story. The author has given us a novel that has been a joy to read and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

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A really cute story of Jude and Jessica on the search for his long lost sister Zoe. I thought this was brilliantly written and I really enjoyed the story of the hunt, mixed in with the story of her as a teenager. If I’m honest, I didn’t enjoy the ending as much as the book itself. I would highly recommend it though

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

When Zoe was 16, she disappeared, never to be seen again. Now, years later, her brother is out to find her. Told from the points of view of Jude and Mandy, Zoe's mother, we get the story of their past, and the build up to finding Zoe.

This was a good , steady novel. I don't have anything bad to say about it. The writing was good, the pacing was nice. I felt the ending was a little bland, but all in all, I'd read it again.

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I have read a few of Nick Alexander books and enjoyed them, so I was keen to review his latest - the road to Zoe.

This is a book about family struggles, divorces, teen angst and new relationships. It tells the story of what happens to Mandys family when her husband Ian up and leaves, and the devastating consequences one person's actions can have on a whole family.

I really enjoyed reading mum Mandys chapters, I really got a feel of what she was going through during really difficult times in her life. However, I wasn't so keen on Jude/Jess chapters, especially at the beginning - for some reason there is a fair bit of political talk, I'm not sure why? It doesn't really fit in with the theme of the book. Also, near the beginning they are disagreeing about spending an extra £5 a day on a hire car, but all of a sudden they are holidaying all over the country and even over to France. It keeps flitting between them not having enough money but then going out for expensive meals etc. This kind of bugged me.

Having said that, the story flows well and I was intrigued to find out what happened to Zoe.

Three stars

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This is another brilliant novel by Nick Alexander. A marriage breakup can have long lasting effects on a family. The story is told by the wife/mother and the son and deals with daughter Zoe's behaviour after Ian and Mandy divorce. As Zoe spirals into an eating disorder and other self-destructive behaviours, a comment by a therapist leads her to accuse Mandy's new boyfriend of abuse, without actually ever saying the words. Zoe's disappearance on her sixteenth birthday, leaves the family searching for answers.

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Love, love, loved this!!

Nick Alexander’s amazing books flow so naturally, making them so easy to read.

The Road to Zoe has characters that you will remember for a long time. I just adore Jessica.

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A story that will totally Immerse you. It's emotional and heart wrenching. All your feelings will invested in this well written gem of a book whether you want it or not. Absolutely pick up this riveting book. Happy reading!

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A good read about family, divorce, falling out and the love we have for our children. There are some strong characters and a good storyline which kept me reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

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This is the third book I've read from this author Nick Alexander The Road to Zoe by Nick Alexander was a brilliant read. It's a perfect book for a holiday read. Its beautifully written throughout and the story I can relate to from my childhood when my parents broke up.

Within this book you read about Mandy and her Husband Ian's bitter marriage break up. They have two teenaged children Zoe and Jude' This affected the whole family for many years to come. Mandy is left to pick up the pieces with their two children. Mandy meets someone called Scott she knows it's not going to be easy for them all however, Ian has moved on and it's time for her to have a life as well. Jude is ok with his mum's new boyfriend Scott but Zoe is having issues with him. Mandy is pulling her hair out and doesn't know what to do.

On Zoe's sixteenth Birthday Mandy holds a surprise Birthday for her. Everything is set, the Birthday cake has been made, Birthday food is on the table, a new Iphone is wrapped for Zoe.......
All her best and close friends, are there her Mum, Dad and his new wife and her children are there waiting with Zoe's brother to arrive at her surprise Birthday party...........But, she does not turn up!

Zoe has disappeared Where is she? Why?

Mandy is heartbroken.......and Jude doesn't know what to do!

Years go by and there's still no sign Zoe. Mandy is now single and has put their old family house up for sale. Jude and his girlfriend Jess sets out innocently looking for Zoe.

I loved this book and all the characters were so believable and it all came together.

But, Do they find her?

If they do! Where has she been and why did she leave her mum and brother!?!

Big Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.

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This is the story of a divorcee and her son's road to recovery after the disappearance of their daughter/older sister. Told in alternating POV chapters via the mother and son, this story takes you through an emotional ride as well as a trek through the UK and Paris. I feel like I can't properly review this as I don't want to include spoilers, but I will say that it has enough twists and turns that every time I thought I'd figured it out, it was never what I thought it was.

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Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Nick Alexander for the opportunity to read his latest novel - another great read! Alexander is the king of family dramas! 4.5 stars.

Mandy and Ian are happily married, or at least Mandy thinks so until the day she walks in to find him with another woman. But that was just the start of the drama in this family. Mandy eventually starts a new relationship with Scott and realizes just how happy she can be. Her son, Jude, loves Scott but Zoe, always a more difficult child, hates him. Things come to a breaking point after a family trip to a funfair. Something happened and now Zoe won't have anything to do with Scott or even be in the same room with him. Then she disappears. Years later, Jude and his girlfriend, Jessica, take a two-week holiday to see if they can find Zoe.

The book is told in alternating chapters of Jude & Jessica's adventures and more of the history of the family from Mandy's point of view. There was so much emotion in this book and it felt very real. Breaking up families is difficult for everyone and causes long-term issues.

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Why did Zoe leave and why hasn't she contacted her family in years? Those are the questions Jude is determined to answer. He loves his sister and he doesn't understand why she had to leave- much like his father left the family. His mother Mandy also wants to know but she has a slight different take on things than Jude does. This is told in alternating points of view- Mandy's and Jude's= and with slightly different time frames, as Mandy tells us what happened up to when Zoe took off. Jude's search along with his girlfriend, is a lovely (to be honest) tour of the UK and over to France. This pulls in politics, along with family dynamics. I found myself sympathetic to everyone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

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Zoe found it hard to cope when her parents split up and she was in even worse turmoil when her mum found a new boyfriend. But what happened to make her just walk away from her family and never come back!

7 years later, in a twist of fate, her brother Jude manages to find an address for Zoe, so together with his on and off girlfriend Jess, he decides to go and try to find her.

Nick is the master of creating believable characters who find a way into my heart and stay with me long after I have reached the end of their story. His art of portraying a conversation is awe inspiring, the banter, the arguments, the love and even the silences, every word and nuance is relevant and thought provoking.

I loved how Jude and Jess learnt a little bit more about Zoe’s life with each town they visited, the description of the less salubrious ones and how Zoe had to survive really pulled on my heartstrings.

Reading this book is like watching a play unfolding, but when it gets to the intermission you are so spellbound you daren’t move from your seat in case you miss the second half!

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A good strong family centred novel which focusses upon relationships. Told in two voices, it pulled me in and kept me reading. Recommended.

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I am a great fan of Nick Alexander’s books and this did not disappoint. I won’t give too much away but do read it, it will draw you in from beginning to end.

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As with all Nick Alexander books, this was an enjoyable read. It tells the story about a mother who is struggling when her husband leaves her for another woman, with two children, one of them a stroppy, difficult teenage girl. When Mandy eventually meets someone else, that teenager becomes more of a challenge and is set to tear them apart. Realising her father isn’t going to return and her mother is in love with someone else, the stroppy Zoe disappears and only Jude, her brother has any idea where she might be. Alongside Mandy’s story is the story of her now grown up son Jude and his girlfriend as they search for the then missing teen, now in her 20’s, and we quickly realise she has been missing for a very long time. The two stories come together nicely, and despite being told in different timescales, it’s never difficult to follow. His new girlfriend is desperate to help find her, even if he isn’t sure at all, and this leads to a real wild goose chase. It’s also a trip down memory lane for both him and his mother. As with all families and stories, nothing is straightforward and obviously things are complex when they do finally track Zoe down.
This book wasn’t shocking or full of twists and turns but it was a nice tale of love, family, difficult situations and how things can turn out in the end. Another beautiful novel by Nick Alexander.

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Jude’s sister vanished seven years ago. This is the story of his search for her.

I love Nick Alexander and will read anything he writes.

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I enjoyed this book and was gripped from the start. Great writing and characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I really loved this book, although I was slightly disappointed in the big reveal.
My favourite character was Jess as she always spoke sense into the others.
Ian didn’t seem to do that much in the aftermath of the breakup to warrant Zoe’s reasons and actions if I’m being honest.

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The page turner is redefined. I was propelled to the end because I wanted to know what happened to Zoe. This story was filled with family drama and secrets.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Nick Alexander is the king of writing rich family dramas. The Road to Zoe is no exception. Jude cannot get over the fact that his sister Zoe went missing seven years ago.

This book is about family secrets and how to balance life after tragedy

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

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Seven years after his sister vanished without a trace, Jude is on the road, determined not to return home until he has found her. He wants to reunite his broken family, but more than this he wants to know why Zoe left—what happened when they were kids, on that terrible day when everything fell apart. So finding Zoe would be just the start. If Jude can find her, then what happens next will depend on the story she’s been carrying with her all these years. Because when families are destroyed by dark secrets, can the wounds ever truly heal?

Oh what a beautiful, sweeping tale of family love this read is. I have to confess I did not think I was going to enjoy this but Alexander weaves a stunning story that I could not tear myself away from. His characters are sublime as well, so realistic, so likeable and incredibly interesting to get to know. I just adored reading this.

The plot is fairly simple; Zoe disappeared seven years ago and Jude and Jess decide the time is right to try and track her down, along the way everyone may learn a few things about themselves. Yes it is a cliché but this read really is a journey. We have the very literal journey of Jude and Jess hunting everywhere for Zoe and following up every lead they find. We also have the equally important journey the characters go on, Jude in particular, the Jude at the end of this is very different to the Jude at the start and I loved seeing the change.

I was not expecting to find the plot so gripping, it is not exactly full of twists and yet I found myself completely enthralled by the read and swept away by the raw emotion and agony Alexander creates. Every thought and feeling is well placed and I could imagine everything they were experiencing, this really is a beautiful read.

I now return to the characters and what a stunning cast this is. They are just so realistic, not over dramatic at all and extremely believable. This could have been a true story. No event was exaggerated, instead Alexander details the emotion behind the action which made it all the more powerful.

For me, 'The Road to Zoe' was a stunning read about family love that I will not be forgetting for a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy.

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THE ROAD TO ZOE - NICK ALEXANDER

Jude’s sister vanished seven years ago. This is the story of his search for her.
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I love Nick Alexander and will read anything he writes.
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Thank you @netgalley and @amazonpublishi

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I greatly enjoyed this book, thank you for giving me a preview copy. The plot was interesting and fast paced and I sympathised with the characters. This is the first novel I have read by this author but I hope it will not be the last!

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I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

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Realistic story of a troubled girl coping with her parents split, and the effects it has on everyone’s lives. I like that this author writes about characters and situations that could happen in real life - bringing a lot of emotions and different feelings for the characters. You think you have worked out how the story is going, only to find it doesn’t go the way you thought it would! This book was beautiful to read, had a good mix of characters and the story flowed well.
I have read a few books by Nick Alexander and felt that The Road to Zoe has a similar style to a previous book, The Half Life of Hannah, which I first read in 2013.
I recommend this book if you like depth to your characters and a believable story which could actually happen to you in real life.
Thank you to NetGalley for a complimentary copy for Kindle.

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I enjoyed this book. I found the characters all believable especially when going through a family break-up.
Through the pages we see how the family dynamics change, how other issues come the forefront; who will overcome the trauma?
An easy read.

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I tried to read this book several times but have had to admit defeat. I just couldn't get further than a third of the way in. Sorry, it just wasn't for me.

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I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book but what I got blew me away. Such a great and emotionally packed story. Told from Jude and his mums pov about the events that's lead up to his sister disappearance and the after math that followed. It really was a gut wrenching tale. The only think that stopped it being a 5 star was the epilogue it felt a little unnecessary for me personally.

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What An amazing book

The characters feel so real. It’s hard to accept that they are not real.
The plot is slowly fed to the reader making it feel so real. The descriptions in this book are great
This is a book about love and forgiveness.

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