Title: Open Road SummerPublisher: Walker (according to GR)
Source: Borrowed from the library
Rating: 3.5 out 5 stars
Synopsis: After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O'Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind.. and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah's 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.
Review: Okay, so I really, really wanted to like this book. I think the hype got to me a little bit. I was expecting this book to be one of those perfect beach reads that you want to make everyone around you read. While I would still recommend this book, because I really liked it, I have some big problems with the MC.
I love many aspects of this books, the road trip, country music, music road-tripping, a country boy love interest(intriguing since you don't see a lot of those!) and a friendship with a girl that has been said to be very similar to Taylor Swift. But when I started the book, I was instantly drawn away from it by Reagan's attitude. Here are a few things I wanted to tell her as I was reading...
"I get it, you're one tough chick, but making fun of other people you don't even know is a bit immature and ridiculous"
"Really....."
"I'm not sure that happened that way, don't assume things"
"You're not better than everyone else, please stop acting like you are"(most commonly thought)
"Having a song written about you is incredibly romantic, stop acting like an idiot"
Guys, was I the only one that was completely annoyed with her sometimes? I just couldn't stand the way she put down everyone around her and acted like she was better than everyone else. Okay, rant over.
I really enjoyed the relationships between Reagan and Dee. I wanted to hear more about Dee. This book was equal parts friendship as it was romance and I really liked that aspect. Speaking of romance, Matt Finch. Matt freaking Finch. What a great guy. I think I may have a new book boyfriend here. He was perfect for Reagan if only to get her to change her stinky attitude.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. Reagan got on my nerves, but I devoured this book in a day. I couldn't put it down - I had to know what was going to happen next and I couldn't get enough of Matt Finch. Put this one on your summer reading lists, people. I don't think you'll regret it.
I actually just read this one the other day and I really did love it although I can definitely see why Reagan would get on your nerves. The whole having a song written about her and freaking out was so crazy. I would freak out in a good way if a guy ever did that for me. Matt Finch totally helped make up for that though. So dang cute!
ReplyDeleteAnd if you haven't read it, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is one of my favorite road trip novels!
Great review!
Thank you! I'm really glad you loved this book! Matt Finch was definitely a highlight for me! I appreciated the fact that he also kind of put in her place at moments; those moments made me like him even more.
DeleteI'm bumping Amy & Roger's Epic Detour up my tbr pile - after your recommendation (thank you!) and also I recently finished Since You've Been Gone and have been craving another book by Morgan Matson.