Open Road Summer

by Emery Lord

A contemporary romance that hits all the right notes – the gorgeous first novel by Emery Lord, author of When We Collided, The Names They Gave Us and the Zoella & Friends 2017 Book Club title The Start of Me and You.

After finishing with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. Reagan’s best friend and country superstar Lilah Montgomery is about to kick off her 24-city tour, and Lilah is nursing a broken heart of her own – so this is 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.

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Jandy Nelson and Rainbow Rowell.

• ISBN10: 1408898705
• ISBN13: 9781408898703
• Publish Date: 14 June 2018 (first published 15 April 2014)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Imprint: Bloomsbury YA
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

This was so much fun with just the right amount of emotion.

I am always up for a summer road trip, and though Reagan was using Dee's tour as a way to escape her old life, it may have actually served as a way to a better one.

I loved Matt. I thought he was a great foil for Reagan. He was persistent and able to break down some of those walls she erected. BUT, Reagan was also good for Matt. She helped him work through some of his grief. They challenged each other and the banter and chemistry was fantastic between them.

I absolutely adored the friendship between Dee and Reagan. They were so different from each other, yet they were each other's port in a storm. Each was willing to drop whatever they were doing to be by the other's side, and they generally did so without (much) judgement. I loved their history and how strong their friendship was.

I would love to read a whole book from Dee's POV, because I really want to know her better. I loved what I saw, and with what happened at the end of the book, I just would like to get back there with her and see how it all worked out.

A fabulous and fun story of friendship, love, second chances, and taking chances.

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[Kelly]

Seventeen year old Reagan O'Neill is embarking on a summer of tour buses, plush hotel suites and watching from the wings as best friend and America's country music darling Lilah Montgomery completes the leg of her Southern tour. Behind the stage presence, Dee is heartbroken and nursing the breakup of her teenage sweetheart. Although the narrative follows Reagan's journey, best friend and superstar Dee is a wonderful secondary character, reminiscent of Taylor Swift's beginnings as a country music darling.

For Reagan, the summer long tour is an opportunity to mend, having escaped an abusive relationship, her alcoholism and underage drink driving charges. Her once single, now remarried father is repairing their parental relationship while maintaining his sobriety with the support of his new wife. When vicious rumours begin to surface surrounding Dee's private life and wholesome image, long time friend and fellow musician Matt Finch joins the tour creating a media distraction. With his boyish good looks and southern charm, the last thing Reagan needs is another distraction.

Reagan portrays a tough girl image, confident and often shallow. Beneath the surface lies an insecure young woman who is beginning to piece her life back together for her father she feels abandoned by, for her friend Dee but most importantly, for herself. The issue I found with Reagan is her assumptions and judgement of other females around her, especially in regards to Matt, after joining the tour.

Matt is lovely and clearly attracted to Reagan, she challenges him, frustrates him and the two share wonderful banter and chemistry. As a performer, Matt is also a heartthrob for teens and the young female audience, to which Reagan takes issue. Wearing slim, short, revealing clothing or heavy makeup does not equate to being sexually promiscuous. Even if a character chose to engage in sex with multiple partners, that's great as long as they're being safe and the sex is consensual.

Apart from the slut shaming not being addressed, it was a fun, wonderfully written, summer read with a loving friendship, swoony romance and beautiful moments of imperfections that make life perfect.

[Bianca]

But I want to be able to go get coffee with him when he’s home from school and hear about his life. I want to text him when I see something that reminds me of him. I want to leave that door cracked open, because what if we do decide we want to walk through it someday?

— Cute summer roadtrip romance. The main character hating and slut-shaming girls other than her best friend though? Not cute.

[Chelsea]

I really enjoyed the first half or so of this book but I didn't like the ending very much and that's why those stars got knocked off. I liked the idea of the super famous pop star struggling through her fame with her best friend. I liked the relationship between the two of them. It started going downhill when the main love interest came in.

I liked the romance but I didn't love it. It was mostly just a big game of "should I or shouldn't I" which got a little boring after a bit. I just didn't find that part of the story interesting at all. It was predictable and boring and couldn't hold my interest.

[Rowena]

I’ve been hearing great things about Emery Lord’s writing so I’ve been wanting to try her books out for a while now. I got to dig right into this book after I caught up on all of my review books for the month so I was pretty stoked.

This book follows Reagan as she spends the summer with her country superstar best friend Lilah Montgomery on the road for her summer tour. The summer was meant to be a best friends summer because Reagan was making some changes in her life and spending time with Dee, going from city to city was supposed to help her move on from the past she so desperately wants to leave behind. When Matt Finch joins the tour and starts hanging out with them, Reagan didn’t plan on liking him. She didn’t want to like him because he’s supposed to be playing the role of Dee’s boyfriend for the media (even though they’re not together) and she’s not the kind of person that will bring trouble to her best friend. But like Selena Gomez said, the heart wants what it wa-a-a-a-ants. And Reagan and Matt want each other.

I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting but I wasn’t expecting it to be so hard to like Reagan. Holy cow did she get on my nerves for a whole chunk of this book. I get that she’s been burned and treated badly but it was disappointing to see someone who was slut-shamed by others, slut-shame and judge the hell out of girls who approached Matt. Umm, you hated when those girls judged and shamed you at school so why would you do the same to random, means nothing to Matt girls? Reagan was very immature and her personality got on my nerves. I did like that she was super loyal to Dee (aka Lilah Montomery to the masses) but that loyalty didn’t really help with everything else that bothered me about her. Her snap judgments and her stubbornness got on my nerves and that stubbornness was still present at the end of the book, which was frustrating.

Matt was a good love interest. He was cute and swoony and everything that a pop star should be but I didn’t understand his attraction to Reagan. She was so mean and cold to him, not to mention how hot and cold she ran. One minute she was all swoony and all over him and the next, she’s pretending he doesn’t exist and ugh. When they finally do get together, I liked that all of the games Reagan played seemed to fall away.

The story progressed at a nice and steady pace and even though I was frustrated with Reagan, I wasn’t ever bored with the story. I liked getting a behind the scenes look at life on the road for a big summer tour. I liked seeing everything that went into being Lilah Montgomery and to be honest, I really liked and probably would have preferred reading about Dee and Jimmy. Their story was interesting, the big superstar and the guy she left behind…still in love but can’t be together…what happens? When they get back to Nashville and Dee goes to see Jimmy? That hug? Happy sigh. It was good stuff.

Anyway, the book as a whole had a lot that kept me interested but Reagan got on my nerves so I stayed frustrated throughout the entire reading. The whole bit with Matt’s best friend and Reagan, I wasn’t a fan of that. It felt forced and so obvious. I would have liked for something else to be the road block in their friendship and not something so contrived as that. But overall, I’m not mad that I read this book. I will probably read more from this author, I’ve already bought her other book so I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually.

Grade: 2.5 out of 5

[Leah]

I really, really enjoyed this. I don't have much to say about it - I loved the characters, I loved Reagan (I love a girl who stands out from the crowd and is snarky and awesome) and I adored Matt Finch.

It was the perfect way to while away a day, and I can't wait for Emery's second novel, which is coincidentally releasing this month - yay! :)

[e_rodz_leb]

The first thing I have to do before I start this review is:  thank you Valerie.  When Valerie started reviewing books for Reading with ABC she stated that this is one of her favorite books (see more here).  Well, you didn’t led me astray with your Let’s Get Lost recommendation and you hit a home run with Open Road Summer.

Can you tell how much I loved this book?  Shall we find out why?

Open Road Summer is a book about friendship and the power it has to heal, understand, and just let you “be”.  It’s about love and the power it has to change, evolve, and overcome. It’s about second chances, about wakeup calls, reality checks, about compromise, mistakes, and forgiveness. 

I feel in love with the characters almost instantly.  Reagan is snarky, sarcastic, with a “bad girl’ image and the police record to prove it.  She has been through a lot in her short life and made many mistakes.  An event in late spring is the turning point that incites a much needed change in her life.  She needs a break from it all and so she goes on tour with her best friend Dee. Reagan is fiercely loyal of Dee and those she loves.  She tries to be secure, but at heart she expects most people to let her down and let her go.  While on tour, they are joined by good boy, song writer and singer Matt Finch and sparks fly!

“This is the currency of friendship, traded over years and miles, and I hope it's an even exchange someday. For now, I do what all best friends do when there's nothing left to say. We lie together in all the darkness, shoulder to shoulder, and wait for the worst to be over.”

Dee (or Lilah for her fans) is a new up and coming country star starting a tour for his second album.  She’s so sweet, American’s new sweetheart. She separated from Jimmy, her long term boyfriend and love of her life because they want different things from life.  It is so hard to see how hard that decision has been for both of them. It is sometimes heartbreaking to see how much gossip affects Dee and those around her.  All the people that depend on her doing well, and all the people it takes to keep her life running smoothly.  Due to a gossip situation, Matt is invited to the tour to act as a distraction.

“I dig the toe of my shoe into the dirt. “It’s complicated.”

“Is it? Most complicated things in life are actually pretty simple at the core. We put so much extra nonsense in the middle that we can’t even see how easy it really is.”

Matt Finch is a good boy.  He was in a band with his siblings and now it’s attempting to revive a solo career that was put on hold when his mom fell sick.  As I said before, when he meets Reagan sparks fly almost immediately.  Matt is very honest, sweet, a nice guy at heart, and of course, a handsome devil.  He recognizes that Reagan needs to be treated with care and he tries his best to be what she needs.  Their relationship was so awesome to see!  At sometimes funny, others heartfelt and intense, and always real.

“His eyes are somewhere between gray and blue, and his hair is somewhere between brown and blond, and I am somewhere between hostile and attracted.”

I love road trip books and this is one of the best ever!  While Reagan and Dee travel all over the states, we travel with them.  I love to see Baltimore included since it’s so near where I live. The setting changes constantly, from arenas to stadiums, from one hotel to the next, from one dressing room to the tour buses and finally to Reagan’s house.  I drank it all and I was craving more.

“Because I've recently learned, in a very painful way, that life is short. And I don't want to waste my time with anyone who would make me feel...happy enough." He pauses, searching my face. "I'd rather duke it out with someone who makes me feel everything.”

The writing is a thing of beauty.  It’s lovely, insightful, and almost lyrical.  The story is not complicated, but it unfolds slowly, giving us a chance to get to know the characters and their history. It’s so refreshing that the famous singer is a girl and so is the “bad boy”. The ending is open, but I was quite happy with it and open endings is one of my pet peeves.  I see it, not as open, but as the “next chapter.”

Overall, Open Road Summer is an amazing read.  Emery Lord has found a fan for life in me. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to The Start of Me and You.This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC

[lizarodz]

The first thing I have to do before I start this review is:  thank you Valerie.  When Valerie started reviewing books for Reading with ABC she stated that this is one of her favorite books (see more here).  Well, you didn’t led me astray with your Let’s Get Lost recommendation and you hit a home run with Open Road Summer.

Can you tell how much I loved this book?  Shall we find out why?

Open Road Summer is a book about friendship and the power it has to heal, understand, and just let you “be”.  It’s about love and the power it has to change, evolve, and overcome. It’s about second chances, about wakeup calls, reality checks, about compromise, mistakes, and forgiveness. 

I feel in love with the characters almost instantly.  Reagan is snarky, sarcastic, with a “bad girl’ image and the police record to prove it.  She has been through a lot in her short life and made many mistakes.  An event in late spring is the turning point that incites a much needed change in her life.  She needs a break from it all and so she goes on tour with her best friend Dee. Reagan is fiercely loyal of Dee and those she loves.  She tries to be secure, but at heart she expects most people to let her down and let her go.  While on tour, they are joined by good boy, song writer and singer Matt Finch and sparks fly!

“This is the currency of friendship, traded over years and miles, and I hope it's an even exchange someday. For now, I do what all best friends do when there's nothing left to say. We lie together in all the darkness, shoulder to shoulder, and wait for the worst to be over.”

Dee (or Lilah for her fans) is a new up and coming country star starting a tour for his second album.  She’s so sweet, American’s new sweetheart. She separated from Jimmy, her long term boyfriend and love of her life because they want different things from life.  It is so hard to see how hard that decision has been for both of them. It is sometimes heartbreaking to see how much gossip affects Dee and those around her.  All the people that depend on her doing well, and all the people it takes to keep her life running smoothly.  Due to a gossip situation, Matt is invited to the tour to act as a distraction.

“I dig the toe of my shoe into the dirt. “It’s complicated.”

“Is it? Most complicated things in life are actually pretty simple at the core. We put so much extra nonsense in the middle that we can’t even see how easy it really is.”

Matt Finch is a good boy.  He was in a band with his siblings and now it’s attempting to revive a solo career that was put on hold when his mom fell sick.  As I said before, when he meets Reagan sparks fly almost immediately.  Matt is very honest, sweet, a nice guy at heart, and of course, a handsome devil.  He recognizes that Reagan needs to be treated with care and he tries his best to be what she needs.  Their relationship was so awesome to see!  At sometimes funny, others heartfelt and intense, and always real.

“His eyes are somewhere between gray and blue, and his hair is somewhere between brown and blond, and I am somewhere between hostile and attracted.”

I love road trip books and this is one of the best ever!  While Reagan and Dee travel all over the states, we travel with them.  I love to see Baltimore included since it’s so near where I live. The setting changes constantly, from arenas to stadiums, from one hotel to the next, from one dressing room to the tour buses and finally to Reagan’s house.  I drank it all and I was craving more.

“Because I've recently learned, in a very painful way, that life is short. And I don't want to waste my time with anyone who would make me feel...happy enough." He pauses, searching my face. "I'd rather duke it out with someone who makes me feel everything.”

The writing is a thing of beauty.  It’s lovely, insightful, and almost lyrical.  The story is not complicated, but it unfolds slowly, giving us a chance to get to know the characters and their history. It’s so refreshing that the famous singer is a girl and so is the “bad boy”. The ending is open, but I was quite happy with it and open endings is one of my pet peeves.  I see it, not as open, but as the “next chapter.”

Overall, Open Road Summer is an amazing read.  Emery Lord has found a fan for life in me. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to The Start of Me and You.This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC

[bumblingbookworm]

This review was originally posted on The Bumbling Bookworm

This was such a fun read, I read it in almost one sitting and couldn't put it down! I was a bit hesitant to start it given all the hype, but I knew I'd love it if I just gave it a chance and I'm so glad I did.

Check out the rest of my review here!

[Joséphine]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Ever got your emotions tangled up so much in a book, you didn't know where to draw the line between your mind and the book? That's how I felt about Open Road Summer.

Open Road Summer was actually not a book that I meant to read. I saw many praises for it online, particularly on Twitter, which is why I decided I would pass. I didn't even read the synopsis. I saw the cover with the awfully overexposed sky washing out the couple with that weird tone of a green for the title, and thought, Nah, not gonna read that. I pretty much ignored all the raving henceforth. But then, a brand new copy stared right at me at the library. It basically called out to me, telling me to give it a chance. I couldn't resist. I had to know what the hype was about.

Fast-forward, I have read Open Road Summer, and I enjoyed it tremendously! All the characters were so down to earth, which made them very likeable. No unnecessary drama, no bitch fests, or anything of that sort. Just Reagan trying to escape from the mess back home, hopping onto her best friend's tour bus for the summer. Dee, stage name Lilah, and Reagan were to have their best summer together yet. The experiences alone were enough to carry the plot. The story of a solid friendship between two girls whose personalities couldn't be any more different definitely charmed me.

Girls will move across the country with a boyfriend they've known for less than a year, and people think that's normal because it's romantic love. But living with your best friend? Or, for Dee, staying close to her parents and brothers? I don't think that's weird or codependent. I think it's basic: if you find people you love, you want to be near them.

This is the kind of book I've been looking for. It's a perfect summer read that portrays the happy side of life, while acknowledging that things aren't always perfect. In fact, Reagan's life up to the summer tour was anything but happy. She was always one step away from juvenile delinquency, and wasting her life on people and things that weren't good for her. Yet Dee stuck by her. For the summer, it was Reagan's turn to take care of Dee, who had to deal with whatever nonsense that came her way because of her fame.

Other people can't knock down the walls you've built, no matter how much they love you. You have to tear them down yourself because there's something worth seeing on the other side.

No summer book is complete without the romance, I guess. Even without it, I would've liked Open Road Summer a lot. In fact, it's often the romance that makes a book fall flat for me. That wasn't the case for Open Road Summer. Matt Finch was so endearing and I couldn't help but root for him. He was so undeniably sweet without going over the top. Even though he could be rather annoying at times, I couldn't hold it against him.

All in all, Dee, Reagan and Matt each brought something different to Open Road Summer, making that book a must-read for me.

This review was originally posted on Word Revel.