By Allyson Bales
In this splendidly bittersweet romantic comedy, enemies forced together by a mutual loss are led on a cross-country journey toward a second chance.
Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish, that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous 29-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at her brother's funeral, she would have killed him for this.
Sure, Dom was Josh’s life-long best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a series of farewell trips that span thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)
This is my first Lauren Connolly read and I honestly don’t know what I’ve been doing with my life not knowing about her. Thank goodness for holiday shopping because I’ve already added some of her books to my cart and I can’t wait to read them.
This story took me completely and pleasantly by surprise. This time of year is always so busy. I’ve been working all Thanksgiving weekend long, but every single spare minute I’ve had, I’ve been glued to this story. I loved meeting Maddie. She might just be my spirit animal. She loves puzzles and reading, has a bit of an anxious brain, and is just a down-to-earth girl that reminds me of my best friends. She’s going through a lot with the loss of her brother, and the grief she is grappling with is just so…moving. The way she’s dealing is so…vulnerable. Her brother Josh really leads this story with his letters and encouragement of his sister and best friend. I also love the way Maddie is with The Perry family and especially Dom.
Maddie and Dom are on an adventure and it spans a few years but it goes by wayyyy too fast. This book clocks in at a little over 400 pages but it definitely reads like a breeze. I love the destinations that Maddie and Dom visit, especially the glow worms and cozy cabin. (Message me when you’re done reading this so we can moon over the places together!) I loved their character development, their angst, and the way they learn and grow together. From the minute I met Dom I really, really liked him. He’s a mystery. He’s responsible. He’s used to always putting people first. I love what Maddie brings out in him.
This story has so much heart and I couldn’t wait to come back to be with the characters. It is such a heartwarming, thoughtful, tender read that I highly, highly recommend!
Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase P.S.: I Hate You here.
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