Friday, March 30, 2018

Release Day Review: Summer Ride by Susan Laine


Title: Summer Ride
Author: Susan Laine
Release Date: March 30, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 112

Dreamspinner Press

High school best friends Toby Billings and Jim Maverick went their separate ways after graduation. Five years later, they meet by chance. Toby needs a ride, and Jim offers to give him one.
During a journey across several states, with stops at roadside diners, state parks, and cheap motels, small talk turns to serious discussions of lives that didn’t turn out the way either of them dreamed. Their choices are catching up to them, and neither is on an innocent summer vacation. Renewing their friendship will mean painful admissions and secrets coming to light. Yet they discover they have more in common now than they ever guessed, and going their separate ways at the trip’s end won’t be easy.

After aimlessly wandering the country, all roads lead back home. But first they must decide what home means.





3.5 Stars

I loved the premise of the story, two high school best friends meet up after not seeing one another for five years, both heading west, they embark on a road trip, but it just wasn’t really believable.

I enjoyed the story and I loved both Jimmy and Toby, although they frustrated me at times.

While the book was good, I was left wanting more. I wanted them to further explore their feelings for one another. Some of the getting-to-know-you-again conversations felt stilted and unnatural. They didn’t always flow well and I wanted a better explanation of why they hadn’t spoken in five years.

I loved traveling along the interstate with Jimmy and Toby while they discovered that their feelings for one another ran deeper than just friendship, but I wish the ending hadn’t felt so rushed. Also, some of the conversations, talking about sexual exploits with other guys, well, I don’t really want to read that. *sorry*

One thing that can’t be denied was the amazing chemistry and smoking hot sex between Toby and Jimmy. (I’ll re-read the book just for the sex scenes alone! Haha)

All in all, while I was left wanting more, this was still an enjoyable and recommendable read.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

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