The Road Trip
by Beth O'Leary
On the way to a friend's wedding in Scotland, Addie and her sister crash into a car carrying Dylan, Addie's ex, and his friend. Forced to share one car on a long drive, the former couple must face what went wrong two years earlier. A funny, poignant second-chance romance told across then and now.
About This Book
The Road Trip is a contemporary romance novel by Beth O'Leary, first published in 2022 by Quercus. It runs 432 pages. Readers can expect second chance, forced proximity.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Second Chance
- Published
- 2022
- Length
- 432 pages
Where to read or listen
Get The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- After a car accident forces them together, two exes must confront the unresolved history of their past relationship during a long road trip to a wedding.
- Readers who enjoy emotional road-trip stories
- Fans of second-chance relationship arcs
- Reflective
- Features Second Chance
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Romance
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Equal, shared history
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate angst, moderate humor.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult contemporary romance readers
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
When Addie and her sister are involved in a car accident with Dylan—Addie's ex-boyfriend—and his friend on the way to a wedding in Scotland, the former couple finds themselves trapped together in a single vehicle. The long drive serves as a catalyst for them to revisit the events of two years ago and determine if there is a future for them.
Central Conflict
The forced proximity of a long road trip requires the two protagonists to navigate their lingering feelings and the unresolved issues that ended their relationship two years prior.
Setting
Scotland
Strengths
- Strong central hook
- Effective use of dual timelines
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Beth O'Leary
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Quercus
- Published
- 2022
- Length
- 432 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781529409093
The Road Trip: quick answers
- Who wrote The Road Trip?
- The Road Trip was written by Beth O'Leary.
- When was The Road Trip published?
- The Road Trip was first published in 2022 by Quercus.
- What genre is The Road Trip?
- The Road Trip is a contemporary romance novel, with second chance, forced proximity.
- How many pages is The Road Trip?
- The Road Trip is 432 pages long.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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