nightingalereads
Written on Jan 8, 2019
In this romantic road trip story perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, a teen girl discovers the value of ordinary objects while learning to forgive her absent father.
A lot can happen on the road from lost to found…
Ali Collins doesn’t have room in her life for clutter or complications. So when her estranged father passes away and leaves her his only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—Ali knows she won’t keep it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. And especially not when a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast is offering enough money for the car to save her childhood home from foreclosure. There’s only one problem, though. Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift.
But her ex-boyfriend, Nico, does.
The road trip gets off to a horrible start, filled with unexpected detours, roadblocks, and all the uncomfortable tension that comes with being trapped in a car with your ex. But when Nico starts collecting items from the quirky strangers they meet along the way, Ali starts to sense that these objects aren’t random. Somehow they seem to be leading her to an unknown truth about her father. A truth that will finally prove to Ali that some things—even broken things—are worth saving.
- ISBN10 1481499211
- ISBN13 9781481499217
- Publish Date 2 October 2018
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Simon & Schuster
- Imprint Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 464
- Language English
Reviews
layawaydragon
Written on Dec 24, 2018
This is one book I don't think I would have picked up without it being free on RivetedLit. I almost quit early on, TBH since I'm so tired of the same old white girl teen romance fiction. And she didn't accept a full ride scholarship to her dream school! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
But I got wrapped up in the mystery and the writings good so I kept going to find it out.
Notes From Reading:
>>Almost quit w/ her not accepting the full ride
>>I'm with her mom just let it go
>>Nico is intriguing. The mystery of him & her name is the only reason I'm still reading.
>>Totally get Ali's problem with her dad, people's excuses for him & Nico.
>>AWWW lesbian chess nerd!!! 3
>>Okay, car problem got me.
>>Wow her dad's a putz.
>>Interesting take on chess but the secondhand embarrassment breaks my heart.
>>Well that was anticlimactic...
>>Mysterious found object creator & Kunjee 3
>>LOL the romance writer
>> Oh no the kid...the mother..
>>That Tomato & Vine scene doesn't make sense. It's only been 10 mins. He couldn't have eaten that much and that was such a stupid scene to cause.
>>Okay, I get the trouble with sending the acceptance before but isn't it too late?!? Okay, I did some checking while most acceptances are due May 1st, I found UC Davis doesn't send out award letters until the end of May/June...so maybe it works, and I'll def let it go but it just doesn't feel correct right off the bat.
>>Why didn't the mom dispute those debts, have him arrested for identity theft? Ali makes her sound so strong and badass but it's more like an enabler too scared to pull the trigger.
Sam@WLABB
Written on Sep 16, 2018
I was crying. I was smiling. I was crying AND smiling. I just loved this story.
Five things I really loved about The Geography of Lost Things
1. Brody really took me on a fantastic road trip. I got to travel through the picturesque Pacific Northwest, and Brody even took a little time out to visit some sights along the way.
2. This was both a physical and emotional journey. Ali learned a lot about her dad and herself. She discovered there were things were holding her back, and recognized that figuring out her relationship with her dad and her past was the key to her future.
3. Who knew Craig's List trading up could be so addictive. I found myself eager to see what they would barter for next, and even if it was fictional, I found the trades quite thrilling. I liked the additional characters these deals brought into the story as well. They all seemed to have some interesting personal stuff to add, which always had some sort of tie-in to Ali's situation. I also loved the idea of how an object can have multiple meanings depending on the person. This experience helped Ali see things in a different way, and each bit of progress she made was so gratifying for me.
4. There were two pieces of information Brody made me work for, which I was worried she wasn't going to reveal. One was Ali's legal name. It wasn't the name, but rather the origin of the name that got me right in the feels. The second thing was about Nico. It was forever before we found out his story, but it definitely made me understand and love him more. And seriously, Nico ❤️
5. There were all these little flourishes, which enhanced my enjoyment, such as: The Everything About Everything podcasts, all the little quizzes embedded in the narrative, the multitude of love for The Goonies, and the dogs! I believe I smiled every time one of these things popped up.
And I have to do a BONUS shoutout for the ending. Brody knows how to do an ending. I was so happy at that point in the books, I was bouncing up and down. Not only was it an ending that left me elated, it also answered a lot of questions, and for that, I am grateful.
Overall: A fun and emotional journey, which allowed Ali to untangle her past to make room for her future.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS