Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on
The number one reason why I come back for Waxman's books is her humor. She never fails to make me laugh, and I really enjoyed this amusing and heartwarming story. For me, it was a tale of a mother and daughter trying to figure out where they fit into each other's lives. Needless to say, I related to this story. I remember how my relationship with my daughter morphed and changed as she grew older. It challenging trying to allow your child to exercise their autonomy, while still having some say-so in their life. I thought that idea was beautifully and realistically explored in this book. I legit felt Jessica's pain and frustration, when she had to hold her tongue or resist giving her daughter a push in the right direction. But, she couldn't argue with the end results.
I obviously connected with the mother part of this mother-daughter story, but I also enjoyed getting to know Emily better. She felt like a typical teen to me, and her interactions with her mother were signature teen girl. However, she had a lot of hidden depth. I especially like how she was grappling with what to do after high school. She was expected to go from her tony private school to college, but Emily wasn't sure that was the right path for her. I always like seeing this in books, because I agree, that college isn't for everyone. I, therefore, definitely welcomed this to the story, and when she finally shared her passion and how it was acquired, it sort of pulled at my heartstrings.
The book was filled with fun antics, and a lot of meaningful discussions and self reflections. As much as Jessica wanted this trip to help her get to know her daughter better, it also allowed her, and Emily, to learn a lot about themselves. Both women figured out a lot of important things about the impact their mothers had on their lives, and the influence they had on each other.
Overall, I had an incredible time on this road trip. Not only were Jessica and Emily fantastic, but they were accompanied by a full cast of fabulous characters, who all added to the fun. As always, Waxman managed to both fill my heart with warmth and laughter, but she also me wistful and wanting to relive those days with my own daughter.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Reading updates
- Started reading
- 21 May, 2020: Finished reading
- 21 May, 2020: Reviewed