Where The Road Leads Us is a heartwarming YA story about destiny and discovering who and what you aspire to be in life with it all packed into a one-day road trip between two strangers who know each other better than they think.
Jack and Hallie are near strangers to each other, but they are two people from very same, but different worlds. Both are seniors at the same high school, but nothing could be more different than their personalities, interests, and especially their backstories. On one hand, Jack practically has his future lined up for him with a summer internship in New York and being accepted to Columbia University in the coming Fall means his career in medicine is just about to get started. Before this happens, Jack wants to find his older brother, Alex, and make amends among their late father’s passing. On the other hand, Hallie receives some devastating news about a friend who lives in Oregon, and an opportunity arises to see him before his time runs out.
However, Jack and Hallie do share an ounce of common ground together: They took a class together a few years back and have not shared or heard a word of each other since. Although seemingly different, both have more in common than they could have ever imagined. Seeking out to see someone they care deeply about, Jack and Hallie end up in the same rideshare to the nearest bus terminal, but is this just mere coincidence or is a hand of Fate playing a role in their lives? With fires raging across Los Angeles and Southern California, Jack and Hallie have no other choice but to take a spontaneous and hilarious road trip, one that could bring them to their better selves and maybe even closer to each other.
This story depicts the meaning of serendipity in the most beautiful of ways. You meet someone and get to know them for a given period, find yourself going on different life paths for a while, and the universe might just bring you back together again. However, the driving force behind this book is not love, but a very meaningful friendship between two people who learn more about themselves and a want to chase their dreams without anyone standing in their way.
The relationship and dynamic between Jack and Hallie were so special because of how they portrayed themselves as people and the ways they went about achieving their goals. Robin Reul did such an amazing job of building this relationship because there was little to no awkwardness in their interactions, and I felt their communication flowed very well too!
The development of the characters and the background they come from really carry this entire novel from beginning to end! Jack choosing between his family’s expectations versus his own happiness was very relatable, and Hallie is someone who does what is necessary even if it means hiding it from those she loves most. The dialogue being said between both characters was so cleverly written and very comedic given the genre and setting of the story.
The worldbuilding was quite easy to visualise since this novel is in a very realistic setting. The plot centers around both characters embarking on a road trip, the scenery being developed within California were colourful, and beautiful to see (especially in the Big City areas). This was creatively done and made me want to road trip all over California again!
Where The Road Leads Us is such a fitting story for the YA genre because of its characters, the strong development of story, and how it centers around the themes of coming-of-age, trauma, and growth. The rating of this book makes my own love for it evident because I feel readers are able to see Jack and Hallie within themselves. I recommend this novel for anyone who loves a good story centered around friendship, travel, and a need for spontaneity in their life! It will for sure show you not everything goes according to how you plan it, and taking the bumpier road can be so much more fun.
Where The Road Leads Us is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of April 6th 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Jack is on the verge for leaving for college, but before he does, he wants to track down his estranged brother, Alex and find some closure in the wake of their father’s death. Meanwhile, Hallie has just found out some upsetting news about a friend in Oregon, and she has a small window to go see him before it’s too late.
Jack and Hallie are practically strangers. They shared a class together years ago and haven’t seen each other since, though they have more in common than they’d ever imagine. And when fate puts them into the same rideshare to the bus terminal, it kicks off an unconventional and hilarious adventure that may lead them to their own true selves…and maybe to each other.
